After Penelope finished laying down the rules, it was finally the main attraction's turn to take the stage.
"First of all, thank you all for placing your trust in me and choosing me to serve as the instructor of this study group."
"For me, that is a tremendous honor."
Lewis began with remarkable humility, immediately earning a round of applause.
"Since you've placed so much faith in me, I naturally won't disappoint your expectations."
"Within this study group, I will do everything I can to teach everyone the magic needed to combat Dementors."
"And perhaps…"
"If everyone is interested, I may teach a few other things as well."
"In any case…"
"I hope every one of you gains something valuable from participating."
"From this day forward…"
"Dementors will no longer be a threat to us!"
The classroom erupted into cheers and applause once again.
His words expressed exactly what everyone hoped to achieve.
When the applause finally subsided, Lewis continued.
"Of course…"
"No single person can accomplish everything alone."
"If this study group is going to function properly, I can't do it by myself."
"So…"
"I'd like to introduce my assistants."
"First…"
"Our Head Girl, Miss Penelope Clearwater."
"I'm honored that she was willing to spare time from her already demanding studies and responsibilities to help establish this study group."
"She has contributed tremendously behind the scenes."
"From now on…"
"She will be responsible for organizational matters."
"Attendance."
"Announcements."
"Scheduling."
"Organizing activities."
"If you need to request leave, wish to join, or decide to withdraw from the study group…"
"Please speak with her."
As Lewis spoke…
Penelope stepped onto the platform and stood to his left.
Her expression was serious.
The natural authority she possessed as Head Girl was immediately apparent.
Once everyone understood her responsibilities…
Lewis continued.
"Next…"
"I'd like to introduce my most important teaching assistant."
"Ciri Riannon."
"Everyone knows Ciri and I are the best Quidditch partners in Ravenclaw."
"But what many of you don't know…"
"…is that she's also my finest comrade."
"Whenever I fight magical creatures…"
"She's always beside me."
"I trust her enough to leave my back entirely in her hands."
"So…"
"When it comes to magical ability…"
"You can trust her just as much as you trust me."
"During future lessons…"
"She'll assist me with demonstrations."
"And she'll also help guide everyone individually while practicing spells."
Ciri walked calmly through the crowd and took her place on Lewis's right.
She was immediately greeted with enthusiastic applause.
As Ravenclaw's Quidditch star and the acknowledged beauty of the house…
She was extremely popular.
"The third assistant is a little special."
Lewis smiled.
"But I guarantee most of you already adore her."
"My most important magical companion…"
"Aiyu."
The instant Lewis finished speaking…
The little dragon shot out from behind him and landed proudly on his shoulder, spreading her beautiful rainbow-colored wings as though showing them off.
"In future lessons…"
"Aiyu will serve as our medic."
"After all…"
"The original purpose of establishing this study group is to fight Dementors."
"If we want everyone to master the Patronus Charm as quickly as possible…"
"We'll have to rely on certain special teaching aids."
"And during that process…"
"Some people are inevitably going to be affected by Dementors."
"When that happens…"
"We'll need Aiyu's abilities."
"I'm sure all of you witnessed her healing powers on Halloween night."
The applause this time was even louder than before.
Within Ravenclaw…
Almost nobody disliked Aiyu.
Especially after she had helped Steve and Kevin recover from the Dementors' attack.
Thus…
Lewis completed the introduction of the study group's leadership.
Among the three assistants…
Penelope's responsibilities were by far the heaviest.
One could almost say she held all authority over the group's daily operations.
There was naturally a reason for that.
In Lewis's opinion…
Personnel management was the easiest job to make enemies with.
If he handled all those matters personally…
His prestige would inevitably suffer.
It was far better to let someone else take charge of the administrative work while he remained the inspiring leader everyone admired.
As for the possibility that Penelope might someday use her authority to sideline him…
Or interfere with his decisions…
That simply wasn't possible.
The study group's foundation rested on only two pillars.
First—
The students' fear of Dementors.
Second—
Lewis himself.
Or more precisely…
His reputation.
As long as Lewis remained…
The study group existed.
If Lewis disappeared…
The group would dissolve on the spot.
Under those circumstances…
There was no need to sacrifice his own prestige simply to retain absolute administrative control.
Delegating important responsibilities…
And becoming a proper hands-off leader…
Was clearly the better strategy.
Finally, Lewis said,
"Our study time is limited."
"Our teaching equipment is also limited."
"So every practice opportunity is extremely valuable."
"For that reason…"
"Until we can obtain a larger venue and more teaching materials…"
"We'll temporarily limit new admissions."
"And…"
"We won't be accepting students from other Houses."
The announcement immediately changed the expressions of everyone below the stage.
By deliberately creating an "outsider" group…
And excluding those outsiders…
Lewis subtly gave everyone present the feeling that they had been specially chosen.
Instantly…
A powerful sense of pride welled up inside them.
"That's right, Lewis!"
"We're not letting them in!"
"We've got Lewis!"
"They can stay jealous!"
At that moment…
The study group no longer felt like an ordinary study club.
It felt more like a proper organization.
And Lewis…
No longer seemed like a mere instructor.
He looked like the leader of a movement.
Almost no one present realized what he had just done.
Except…
Penelope.
Lewis noticed the brief flash of surprise in her eyes.
When she looked at him again…
Her expression had grown even more complicated.
After the cheering finally died down…
Lewis asked his assistants to step off the platform.
The lesson officially began.
"Before we begin practicing…"
"I think we should first understand both Dementors and the Patronus Charm."
"Especially for the younger students."
"So…"
"Who can explain what a Dementor is?"
Lewis looked down at the students beneath the podium, every bit the image of a real professor asking a question.
The first hand to shoot up belonged to Cho Chang.
Whenever Lewis taught…
She naturally wanted to support him.
Lewis smiled and nodded.
Cho immediately stood.
"Dementors are Dark creatures."
"They're considered among the most horrible beings in the world."
"When they draw near…"
"They drain away every happy feeling and joyful memory you possess."
"That's why anyone near them is overwhelmed by depression and despair."
"Very good, Cho."
Lewis nodded approvingly.
"Unfortunately…"
"Just like last semester…"
"I still don't have the authority to award House points."
His joke immediately drew laughter throughout the classroom.
Cho sat down, smiling.
"But that's all right."
"As a private reward…"
"I'll give you some homemade biscuits after class."
"Aiyu absolutely loves them."
"Now then…"
"Would anyone else like to add something?"
To everyone's surprise…
The second person to raise her hand was Luna Lovegood.
Normally…
She almost never volunteered answers in professors' classes.
After Lewis nodded…
Luna spoke in her usual dreamy, sing-song voice.
"Besides stealing positive emotions…"
"Dementors possess another ability."
"The cruelest one of all."
"The Dementor's Kiss."
"They can suck a person's soul from their body."
"The victim is left as nothing more than an empty shell."
"They'll never recover."
"It's a fate even worse than death."
"Thank you, Miss Lovegood."
Lewis smiled and added her explanation to the lesson.
"Now that everyone understands…"
"How dangerous Dementors are…"
"And exactly how they harm people…"
"It's finally time…"
"To discuss the spell created specifically to drive them away."
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