When George and Fred brought their classmates to the classroom door on the fourth floor.
George handed Douglas the slip of paper he was holding, looking miserable.
"Professor, Professor McGonagall told me to give you this!"
After reading it, Douglas's mouth twitched.
What talents. Back when he had made mistakes himself.
He would always behave for a while afterward, lest Professor Sprout increase his punishment.
And make him haul manure specifically used to fertilize magical plants.
But the Weasley brothers had only just gotten into trouble last night, and already dared to cause more today.
Offending three professors at once-what talents indeed.
Douglas put the slip away and indicated that he understood.
Then he had all the students form a long line in the corridor.
The sight drew the Slytherin students nearby, who were about to attend Charms, to stop and watch.
Their next lesson was Defense Against Dark Magic, and just like Gryffindor, they would be taking a practical exam.
Unfortunately, no one dared skip Professor Flitwick's class.
When class time arrived, they all hurried into the classroom.
Meanwhile, in this corridor, Douglas began his speech:
"Students, don't be nervous.
Today's lesson is very simple. We'll just be reviewing some of what you've learned over the past three years.
I've selected some dark creatures that will appear in your future OWLs exams.
Your main task is to use the knowledge you've learned.
To defeat or subdue them.
Well? Simple, isn't it?"
Ha. Simple?
Everyone exchanged glances.
They had forgotten almost everything covered in their textbooks from the past three years.
Although many of them had looked through their old textbooks again because of the test last lesson.
There had been so many dark creatures covered in those three years. How could they possibly remember them all?
Everyone had thought the practical exam would simply involve casting spells they had learned before.
Who could have imagined they would have to use the right spell at the right moment?
Douglas did not interfere as everyone whispered among themselves in the corridor.
He simply called out a name:
"Mr. George Weasley, as the class representative, you'll go in first!"
One of the twins promptly pushed the other forward.
"George, the professor wants you to go first!"
The one who had been pushed forward hurriedly said:
"Oh, heavens, George, how could you? Professor, I'm Fred. He's George!"
Honestly, Douglas could not tell which one was George and which one was Fred either.
"Messrs. Weasley, if you think this is amusing.
How about adding Charms to your detention assignments?
The Charms classroom happens to be nearby. I don't think Professor Flitwick would turn down my suggestion!"
Douglas kept wondering whether he had made their detention assignments a little too harsh, causing the brothers to stop even trying.
In the end, under Douglas's threat, George finally stepped forward himself.
He raised his wand and cautiously entered the classroom.
Douglas told the other students to wait outside and followed him in.
As soon as they entered, they were surrounded by a small pond. Only by crossing it could they reach the next stage.
The pond was about two meters deep.
All he had to do was swim safely across.
George looked at the pond. There seemed to be plenty of waterweed below, but the water was somewhat murky, making it difficult to see clearly.
He hesitated, glanced at Douglas, then looked back at the water before him.
In the end, he slowly walked into the water.
Douglas stared at a particular spot in the pond, where a sickly green creature with small, pointed horns could just be seen. It made faces at Douglas and George, constantly flexing its long, slender claws.
This creature, which looked somewhat like the water monkeys of legend, was a Grindylow.
Douglas had caught this Grindylow in the Black Lake.
Strictly speaking, it was not a particularly dangerous creature, as long as you remained calm enough.
It generally attacked anyone who came near it, dragging them underwater with its long, slender claws.
But unlike the water ghosts of Chinese legend, it had a physical form.
As long as you stayed calm enough when they caught you underwater.
A hard stomp on their heads would let you break free.
Clinging to the edge of the pond, George tested the water and sensed no danger.
So he boldly began paddling forward without concern.
His waterlogged robes felt extremely uncomfortable, and he wanted to reach the other side as quickly as possible.
Then use magic to dry himself off.
Before long, he sensed something was wrong.
The faster he paddled, the more clearly he could feel an inexplicable resistance forming in the water.
It was like being trapped deep in a swamp.
Drawing on years of experience with pranks, he quickly realized that the pond must have been enchanted with an effect similar to the Portable Swamp.
The bigger his movements, the more easily he would become trapped.
The corner of George's mouth lifted slightly, and beneath the water, he secretly raised his left middle finger at Douglas.
Sure enough, when he slowed his movements, the resistance in the water instantly diminished.
Just as he was feeling pleased with himself,
He noticed that something seemed to have grabbed his ankle.
His heart tightened, and he instinctively began paddling faster.
The Portable Swamp's effect immediately kicked in.
On top of that, the thing underwater was quite strong.
Before long, the Grindylow dragged George beneath the surface.
Douglas watched the stream of bubbles rising through the water.
He could not help shaking his head. This boy was not calm at all.
Through the surface, Douglas could see that George had actually drawn his wand underwater and aimed it at the Grindylow.
But as soon as he opened his mouth, a stream of bubbles rose to the surface.
Finally, amid a flurry of wild kicks from George, whose face had turned red from lack of oxygen.
He accidentally struck the Grindylow's head.
The pain forced the Grindylow to release its grip.
But because George's movements were too violent, the water around him was like a swamp.
It trapped him deep within it.
Douglas checked the time. Only three minutes had passed.
With a sigh, he flicked his wand, and a rope beside him moved as though it had eyes.
It flew underwater, wrapped around the visibly exhausted George, and swiftly hauled him to the surface.
Back on the bank, George knelt beside Douglas, coughing desperately.
Douglas gently tapped George's back with his wand, and his soaked clothes quickly dried.
Then Douglas took a potion bottle filled with pitch-black liquid from inside his robes and handed it to George.
George pinched his nose and gulped it down, and soon stopped coughing.
He looked at Douglas with an innocent, aggrieved expression.
"Professor, isn't this far too dangerous?"
Douglas rolled his eyes at him, then simply led him out through the door.
The inside and outside of the classroom were like two separate spaces.
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