When Harry and Ron described what had happened in Divination, Tris saw a look of unmistakable disdain on Professor McGonagall's face.
"I would rather not comment on how other professors teach, but in my view, divination is not a sufficiently rigorous discipline. Mastering it depends far too much on talent rather than hard work.
"Besides, ever since Professor Trelawney began teaching, she has predicted one student's death every year. Yet all the students whose deaths she has predicted during her time at Hogwarts are still alive and well."
Those words eased the students' anxiety a little.
Some students, however-mostly a few of the girls-seemed to have already put their faith in Professor Trelawney and did not quite believe Professor McGonagall.
Tris could not help smacking his lips at Professor McGonagall's words, either.
It was not because of her attitude toward Trelawney. Tris saw nothing wrong with that. What he found debatable was Professor McGonagall's apparent belief that other subjects did not require talent.
Magic was often much like scientific research. It required a tremendous amount of talent.
Did Professor McGonagall think she owed it all to hard work?
Well, her diligence was certainly beyond question. But her talent was equally one in ten thousand.
That afternoon, they had to choose between muggle protection and studies and care of magical creatures and studies.
Tris, Harry, and Ron had all chosen fantastic beasts, while Hermione had signed up for both courses.
"Hey, where's Hermione?" Ron looked around, puzzled when he could not spot her. "I don't think I saw her earlier, either."
"Is Hermione in muggle protection and studies right now?" Harry asked uncertainly.
"She's from a Muggle family. Why would she take a course like that?" Ron scratched his head in confusion. "And didn't she sign up for fantastic beasts, too?"