"Professor Lupin's teaching methods have been proven to have numerous problems." Umbridge's smile stuck back on. "His curriculum did not meet the Ministry of Magic's standards."
"But we did encounter a Boggart," Harry suddenly spoke up, his voice louder than usual, "and we actually used what he taught us."
"Mr. Potter." Umbridge turned to him, narrowing her eyes.
But it was too late. Like a lit fuse, more and more hands went up. Dean Thomas said Lupin taught them how to deal with Red Caps. Parvati Patil said they learned to deal with Kappas. Seamus Finnigan even mentioned that Lupin taught them offensive spells—although he admitted he hadn't fully mastered them.
These students genuinely believed that learning defensive spells was for "just in case." They didn't know what was about to happen, didn't know Voldemort had returned, and didn't know war was right on their doorstep.
Most of them, in fact—influenced by their families' words and attitudes—didn't believe what Harry said.
But they intuitively knew that the world outside was dangerous.
You could underestimate the wisdom of these young wizards, but you should never underestimate their intuition.
The woman on the podium was using her sickly-sweet voice, trying to press everyone's heads into their books, pretending the danger didn't exist.
"Enough!" Umbridge's voice finally tore through that layer of disguised sweetness, becoming sharp and piercing. "You are collectively violating classroom discipline! I will say it again—in this classroom, there is nothing so dangerous that requires you to learn and practise spells! This is a school, not the outside world!"
"Then what about everything waiting for us outside?" Harry stood up abruptly, his chair legs scraping harshly against the floor. His green eyes glared at Umbridge like two clusters of burning flame. "Don't we need to be prepared?"
Umbridge glared back at him, the smile at the corner of her mouth becoming cold and sharp. "I am telling you, Mr. Potter," she said, enunciating every word, "there is—nothing—waiting for you outside."
Seeing this, Leon was finally certain that the world he had transmigrated into was truly the novel version, not the film version of Harry Potter.
Although so far, all the original characters he had seen looked similar to their actors, how could the film version of Harry ever be as brave as the novel version?
Anyone who had read the books knew that the films gave most of Harry's highlight moments to Hermione—which made people who only watched the movies think the series was a chronicle of "Hermione and Her Two Useless Sidekicks."
For example, in the film version of Order of the Phoenix, Harry chose to be sullenly withdrawn rather than righteously furious, completely losing out in terms of presence.
But this Harry—this Harry was staring fixedly at Umbridge, the unwillingness and indignation in his heart practically about to explode.
He couldn't believe that these Ministry people dared to deceive themselves to this extent, insisting that Voldemort hadn't returned. Did Cedric trip and fall to his death on the road last year?
The classroom was so quiet that the sound of the wind in the Forbidden Forest outside the window could be heard.
At this moment, a voice rang out from the Hufflepuff side.
"Professor, I have a few questions."
Umbridge clearly hadn't expected anyone to take the initiative to stand up and ask a question—at this critical juncture. Her smile loosened, then stuck firmly back on. "You are... that transfer student? Mr. Leon?"
"Yes, Professor." Leon's tone was peaceful, even carrying a hint of genuine curiosity. "You just said that the school is not the real world. I would like to ask you—if we don't learn how to deal with attacks in school, then where should we learn? Outside of school? Learn on the spot when we actually encounter an attack?"
Someone gasped.
Umbridge's smile completely disappeared. She stared at Leon, the eyes beneath her baggy eyelids flashing with a cold light. "You are misinterpreting my meaning, Mr. Leon. I said, the school environment—"
"You said," Leon interrupted her, still using that peaceful tone, "you said 'there is nothing waiting for you outside.' But Professor, I'm curious—is Voldemort the only Dark wizard?"
Suddenly, the temperature of the air seemed to rise a few degrees because so many people gasped at once.
That name was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, stirring up ripples. People shrank in their seats, but not a single person spoke up to stop him. Harry stared at Leon, his eyes astonishingly bright.
Aside from Harry, there was actually another person bold enough to call Voldemort directly by his name.
In fact, if it had been before he enrolled, Leon wouldn't have dared either. Because he knew this name possessed magic. If he had called Voldemort's name directly when he first entered the magical world, he really might have been tracked down through the magical connection and killed on the spot.
But it was different now.
Leaving aside the fact that he had obtained maxed-out Stunning Spells and Shield Charms, as well as several perks—this was Hogwarts.
Those who didn't understand felt that since people died at Hogwarts fifty years ago, and from 1991 to this year it had encountered major crises several times, with a person dying just last year... how could it be called the safest place in the world?
But think about it differently. In a place where everyone was armed with a wand, only two people had died in over fifty years. There was no safer place in the world.
How much courage would Voldemort need to come to Hogwarts and face Dumbledore directly?
"What about other Dark wizards?" Leon continued. "Those who sell contraband in Knockturn Alley, those former Death Eaters who hurt people with Dark Magic, those who attack Muggles just for fun—are they not dangerous?"
"Mr. Leon!" Umbridge's voice was as shrill as nails on a blackboard. "You are spreading panic! Knockturn Alley is a key regulatory area of the Ministry of Magic, everything there is—"
"If you're going to say there are no Dark wizards there," the corners of Leon's mouth turned up slightly, "then what is in Knockturn Alley? Ghosts?"
Someone couldn't hold back and let out a snort of laughter.
An unnatural flush surged onto Umbridge's face, spreading all the way from her neck to her forehead. Her eyes widened so much they almost popped out of their sockets, and those baggy eyelids could no longer conceal the fury inside.
"Professor, do you dare guarantee that we won't encounter Dark wizards after we graduate? Do you dare guarantee that Dark wizards no longer exist in this world?"
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