At Dumbledore's question, Lupin quickly caught on. He had once visited the Practical Lesson Classroom Douglas had designed: the lake, the boat, the island in the middle, the darkness that light could barely penetrate.
This layout was practically identical to the sixth-year Practical Lesson Classroom. It was hard not to suspect that Douglas had been here long ago.
At that thought, he quietly explained it to a bewildered Sirius, and both men leaned forward to listen.
But Douglas showed no sign of nerves. He secretly began using Occlumency, then said casually, "Explain what? Explain why the obstacles Voldemort set up are at the level I teach sixth-years?
"Look at how unimaginative his design is. Does an obstacle this unoriginal deserve to be plagiarized by an outstanding novelist like me?
"Comrade Headmaster, you have to understand that times are advancing and society is developing. Voldemort has grown old, and Hogwarts' teaching methods have grown old too. Look at the students it has produced-not a shred of creativity. Such simple, crude defensive mechanisms... Of course, I'm not blaming you, Professor. After all, this happened decades ago.
"But Hogwarts is still ignoring developments and changes in the outside world, paying too little attention to innovative thinking. Muggle society is in an age of rapid change and constant progress. Technological development, changes in social structures, and emerging problems all demand that Muggles have the ability to adapt and innovate...
"In short, outdated education will leave wizards struggling to keep up with the times, unable to respond effectively to the challenges brought about by social change. After all, the wizarding world cannot remain isolated from the Muggle world forever..."
Dumbledore blinked and politely interrupted Douglas's lengthy speech.
"Aha, sorry, Douglas. Today is Christmas, and I think the Hogwarts Headmaster ought to be allowed a day