Hogwarts students' class hours, apart from Astronomy at night,
ran from half past eight in the morning to five in the afternoon.
With so few teachers, the students did not have classes all day.
Hogwarts had not started out with such a hands-off approach to teaching. After all, there were so many empty classrooms.
But as the number of teachers dwindled, they had no choice but to shorten the students' class hours.
Douglas had thought of this problem long ago, which was why he had selected class representatives from each house and year for his classes.
He had not done it merely to make teaching easier for himself.
More importantly, with teaching resources so scarce,
he wanted to arrange more supervised group study periods for the students.
Not the sort of studying in common rooms that depended entirely on self-discipline.
Once the students got used to memorizing their textbooks, couldn't he arrange morning reading sessions too?
Douglas still felt that starting lessons at half past eight was a little late.
When Douglas thought of the students having three or four extra periods every day in the future, even if the other professors caught on,
and took some of those morning reading and self-study periods for themselves, he would still come out ahead.
After all, wouldn't more lessons mean more points for him?
So far, the system had not revealed anything particularly impressive.
But he believed that as his points increased, he would surely unlock more of the system's features.
Now was not the time to talk about that, though. It was only the first day of term.
The advantages his teaching methods held over Hogwarts' traditional methods had yet to show themselves.
He could only work toward it gradually.
Douglas handed the documents he was holding to Professor McGonagall, bringing their previous topic to an end.
Professor McGonagall took the documents and looked at the names on them.
"That's no problem. The school still has plenty of unused classrooms. You can choose one as a venue for practical instruction."
Douglas said nothing and gestured for Professor McGonagall to keep reading.
As Professor McGonagall's expression grew increasingly grave, Douglas rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"Douglas, your idea is certainly very good, and as a professor of a core subject, you do have the authority to do this.
"In fact, Hogwarts used teaching methods like these a long time ago, but they really were rather dangerous.
"Back then, there were simply too many injured students.
"In the end, with the Ministry of Magic's intervention, the school's lessons became relatively safe.
"But how will you guarantee the students' safety?"
Professor McGonagall fixed Douglas with a piercing gaze, with a measure of admiration and regret in her eyes.
Douglas nodded, very much agreeing with Professor McGonagall.
So he leaned closer and spoke quietly...
Professor McGonagall frowned and used the documents in her hand to push his approaching head away.
"There's nobody else here. Why are you being so furtive?"
Douglas coughed awkwardly.
"I'm just worried word might get out and give the students time to prepare."
After the two finished their discussion,
Douglas had only just returned to his office and brewed himself some tea
when he heard three loud knocks on the office door!
"Come in!"
Six people filed inside.
They were all class representatives he had appointed that day.
"Good evening, Professor!"
Douglas poured six cups of tea and gestured for them to sit.
"Yes, good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
"Have some tea first, and then I'll give you your tasks."
Shirley, Ravenclaw's fifth-year class representative, the twins, and Hermione pulled up chairs and sat down without any fuss.
Valentine Webb, Hufflepuff's third-year class representative, hesitated before pulling the first-year Maltz Xiu beside him down to sit as well.
Douglas gave what he thought was a very gentle smile,
picked up two stacks of parchment from his desk, handed them over, and instructed them:
"Miss Shirley, Messrs. Weasley, your task is to mark the test papers your classmates completed today.
"Then, after taking them back, choose a time yourselves to explain every question to everyone.
"The answers are in the room next door.
"Can you do that?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shirley took the stack of parchment test papers for her class.
After seeing that the first paper had already been filled in with the correct answers, she nodded earnestly.
"No problem, Professor!"
In fact, even without Douglas's instructions, some Ravenclaw students with excellent memories
had already written out the questions from memory and begun searching for the correct answers.
George and Fred pulled miserable faces.
"Professor, sir, I think there's a problem!"
"Isn't this taking up our free time?"
Douglas ignored their appeals and put the papers straight into their hands.
"Time is like the water in the Black Lake. There's always some to be found!
"Do your best. I believe in you.
"Next lesson, I'll call on people at random. If even one person gets an answer wrong...
"Heh heh..."
The Weasley Twins wilted.
They exchanged wry smiles, then took the papers and muttered under their breath.
When she saw Douglas turn to her, Hermione took out the roll of parchment she had prepared.
"Professor, this is my completed homework. Please take a look at it for me.
"So far, three people have memorized the text.
"The others are reciting it in the common room.
"I've already urged those three to start their homework..."
Douglas gave Hermione a surprised look. He really had not expected her to get the most boisterous Gryffindors to obediently memorize their text in the common room.
Beside her, Webb, Hufflepuff's third-year class representative, glanced at Hermione.
He knew of Hogwarts' famous Miss Know-It-All. He had not expected her to truly be so capable.
"Sigh..."
Webb sighed silently as he thought of his classmates.
They felt there was still time before the next lesson and were currently enjoying fruit at their leisure in the Hufflepuff Common Room.
This made Xiu, the first-year class representative, lower his head in even greater embarrassment.
He had not actually memorized his text yet, and of course, neither had his classmates.
Xiu had not expected Hogwarts to be so competitive.
Someone had actually memorized the text on the very first day.
Douglas took the third-year textbook from Webb and handed it to Hermione.
"Miss Granger, sorry for the trouble, but please listen to Mr. Webb and Mr. Xiu recite their texts.
"I'll look over your homework first."
Xiu raised his hand, his face red, and said:
"Professor Holmes, I haven't memorized the first text yet... I..."
Douglas was not particularly surprised. He told Hermione and Webb to go over to the desk to recite first.
Then he said to Xiu:
"That's all right. You can memorize it here in the office first and go back whenever you've learned it.
"Of course, this isn't a punishment. If you want to do a good job as class representative,
"you'll need to put in effort that the other students don't...
"I have high hopes for you!"
Xiu nodded earnestly.
"Professor, I won't let you down.
"I've actually almost memorized it. I only need a little more time. I'll definitely be able to recite it."
Douglas patted the little fellow's head.
"Keep it up!"
For a moment, Douglas seemed to see himself back when his Chinese teacher had called him into the office to recite texts.
Of course, back then, he had gone to the office to recite because he was a struggling student.
Douglas sipped his tea as he read Hermione's short essay.
It was competently written, if conventional.
He could tell that Hermione had put her heart into it.
She had even cited some Ministry of Magic regulations in the essay.
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