40. Defense.

The news spread like wildfire through the castle—Dumbledore himself would be taking over Defense Against the Dark Arts for the rest of the year.

The excitement in the Great Hall the following morning was palpable. Students from every house buzzed with eager anticipation, whispering about how rare it was to be taught directly by the Headmaster. Even the normally reserved Ravenclaws couldn't help but speculate on what kind of lessons he would bring to the classroom.

"Do you think he'll teach us high-level magic?" a Gryffindor whispered excitedly.

"Maybe dueling! He defeated Grindelwald, after all!"

Ryan merely sipped his tea, listening to the chatter with mild amusement. Across from him, Yue delicately bit into a croissant, unbothered by the noise, while Rachel leaned forward with an eager glint in her eyes.

"At least this year won't be completely dull after all," she remarked.

Hermione, sitting nearby, had an almost reverent look on her face. "This is an incredible opportunity! Professor Dumbledore is one of the most powerful wizards in history. We might learn things that aren't even in the curriculum!"

Ryan smirked. "Hopefully, that means less of the useless stuff. If I have to read another dry chapter on 'basic wand movements,' I might start using my book as a bludgeon."

Rachel snorted. "Oh no, not wand movements. How will you ever survive?"

Their banter was interrupted by a new wave of whispers rippling through the hall.

"Did you hear? Hagrid's hut burned down last night!"

Ryan didn't even have to look at his friends to know they were all thinking the same thing.

"Norbert?" Yue mused, not looking up from her book.

"Definitely Norbert," Ryan confirmed.

Rachel grinned. "Hagrid probably tried to teach it tricks."

They all nodded in silent agreement before moving on, the topic holding little importance beyond mild amusement. Hagrid would be fine—he was too stubborn not to be.

As breakfast wound down, the morning owl post arrived, and several students found themselves receiving congratulatory letters from home. It was the time of year when grades were evaluated, and Ryan, Yue, Rachel, and Hermione were all ranked at the top of their year.

Hermione beamed with pride as she read the results, though she did cast a wary glance at Ryan. "You barely study," she accused, though there was no real heat behind her words.

Ryan shrugged. "I read fast."

Rachel smirked. "Or maybe he just cheats time itself to get things done."

Yue, completely unbothered, continued flipping through a new book she'd picked up. "It's not surprising. We've all put in effort where it counts."

Ryan stretched, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Well, at least this means we can slack off a bit more for the rest of the year."

Hermione gasped. "Ryan!"

He laughed, dodging the half-hearted swat she aimed at him.

The excitement over their rankings quickly died down as students prepared to leave for their first DADA class with Dumbledore. As the group rose to leave, Ryan caught a glimpse of Serenity lurking in the shadows as always, her eyes watching everything with quiet amusement.

"Guess we'd better get moving," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Time to see what makes the greatest wizard of our age tick."

With that, they headed for class, the anticipation in the air practically electric.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom felt different the moment they stepped inside. It wasn't because of any drastic changes in decoration—everything remained as it had under Quirrell—but rather the presence of the man now standing at the front of the room.

Albus Dumbledore, in all his eccentric brilliance, was an imposing figure even when he radiated warmth. His robes were a deep shade of violet today, embroidered with golden constellations that seemed to twinkle in the candlelight. His long silver beard swayed slightly as he greeted the class with a twinkle in his piercing blue eyes.

"Ah, welcome, welcome!" Dumbledore said, his voice carrying easily through the room despite its gentle tone. "I daresay I haven't taught a formal class in quite some time, so you must forgive me if I am a tad rusty. Though, between you and me, I do believe I still remember a trick or two."

Excited whispers spread through the students, and even Ryan had to admit he was curious to see how Dumbledore would approach the subject.

"Now then," the Headmaster continued, clasping his hands behind his back. "As you are all aware, Defense Against the Dark Arts is a subject of great importance. Not merely for the sake of passing your examinations, but because knowledge, when used wisely, is the greatest shield one can possess."

He raised a single finger, and in an instant, a swirl of golden light formed in the air before him, weaving itself into a delicate pattern before vanishing with a soft shimmer.

"Magic is not merely about power," he continued. "It is about understanding. About control. And, most importantly, about choice."

Ryan leaned back slightly in his chair, watching as Dumbledore effortlessly held the class's full attention. Even Hermione looked completely captivated, her quill poised but unmoving, as though writing notes would somehow break the spell the Headmaster had woven over them.

"Today," Dumbledore said, "we shall begin with something that is, perhaps, overlooked in standard teachings—intuition. Tell me, what is the most important aspect of defending oneself against dark magic?"

Several hands shot up immediately, Hermione's among the first.

Dumbledore smiled, gesturing toward her. "Miss Granger?"

"Knowledge," Hermione answered confidently. "Understanding different types of curses and counter-spells is essential."

"An excellent answer," Dumbledore nodded. "However, not the only one."

More hands went up.

"Reflexes!" a Gryffindor called out.

"Strength of will!" a Hufflepuff added.

"Proper spellwork!" a Ravenclaw suggested.

"Constant Vigilance!" Ryan shouted jokingly.

Dumbledore chuckled softly at that last one. "My friend Alistor would certainly agree with that Mr. Grim. All valid responses, yet there is one element that ties them all together—perception. You see, my dear students, knowing a counter-spell is of little use if one does not perceive the threat in time. Reflexes matter only when they align with awareness. Strength of will is invaluable, yet one must recognize what they are resisting to truly withstand it."

Ryan tapped his fingers on the desk, intrigued. This was a different approach than what he had expected.

Dumbledore continued, raising his wand. "Allow me to demonstrate."

With a flick of his wrist, the candles in the room flickered and dimmed. A soft, eerie mist crept along the floor, and an unsettling presence filled the air. It wasn't a spell, not in the traditional sense, but an atmosphere—an illusion of sorts. Yet it was enough to make several students shift uncomfortably in their seats.

"Do not rely solely on your eyes to sense danger," Dumbledore said. "The greatest threats often lurk where sight cannot reach. Feel it. Recognize it."

Ryan narrowed his eyes, focusing. The trick wasn't in the mist—it was in the way Dumbledore subtly manipulated their awareness, guiding their instincts.

Hermione shivered slightly. "This is... unnatural," she muttered under her breath.

Yue, on the other hand, merely observed with quiet amusement, her crimson eyes glowing faintly. Rachel had an intrigued smirk on her face, clearly enjoying the demonstration.

And then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the sensation vanished. The mist receded, the candles brightened, and the warmth of the room returned.

Dumbledore smiled. "A simple exercise in perception. In time, you will learn that magic is more than incantations and wand movements—it is the flow of intent, the shaping of reality itself."

The class sat in stunned silence before a slow murmur of excitement filled the room.

Ryan smirked slightly, exchanging a glance with Yue and Rachel.

Well, at the very least, Dumbledore was going to make this class interesting.