A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Friday.

As the new day began, the young wizards were still enthusiastically discussing yesterday's open class. Their enthusiasm was like a surging wave, injecting a powerful boost into their otherwise mundane school life.

What was the topic they were discussing a few days ago?

The perfectly handsome Professor Lockhart?

But now this news has faded into obscurity, not only because Lockhart's performance in class was truly disappointing—in fact, the word "disappointing" was even the result of some die-hard fans controlling the comments.

More importantly, Professor Hep has become a new generation of idol professor, and is showing a tendency to replace Professor Lockhart, who has the title of "heartthrob".

This greatly annoyed a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Lockhart paced back and forth in his office, his once smooth and flowing golden hair now somewhat limp, and the dozen or so portraits hanging in the office also wore the same irritable expression.

"I have to think of something, yes, something... Good heavens! He's a real show-off!"

Before coming to Hogwarts, he thought the only person qualified to compete with him for the front page of the Daily Prophet was the famous Harry Potter, and he was prepared for that. But now he had to admit that he had met a formidable competitor.

This reminded him of that despicable woman, Rita Skeeter. A few years ago, he had competed with her for the title of bestselling author. Although he lost in the end, it was because that woman cheated. She actually published his dark history from his school days in the newspaper!

However, she was not one to be trifled with. Did Skeeter not know how badly she was disliked in school?

Professor Lockhart loosened the tight-fitting robe around his chest; those were truly passionate years! He felt his fighting spirit return.

"A tough opponent, huh?" He stopped in front of a full-length mirror, trying to bolster his courage. "Gidero, you're facing a battle now. Someone wants to beat you! You'll have to do something!"

Seeing himself in the mirror, he relaxed a little. With such a handsome face, how could he possibly lose?

Putting aside the incident that occurred in this small office, Felix's popularity among the young wizards has reached a new high, and everyone is looking forward to his formal lessons.

"Maybe he'll continue the magical puppet battles in class? You know, a lot of people didn't get a turn yesterday." Ron held a beef pie in his left hand, picked up a potato with a fork in his right, and kept talking.

"Maybe," Harry said more rationally, "but we're only in our second year. Remember Ron? We'd have to wait at least a year to get into his class."

Ron's eyes widened. "Harry, you've ruined my first dream of the year." He nudged him with his elbow. "You know what I was thinking? I was just fantasizing about beating Malfoy to a pulp with magical golems..."

Ron closed his eyes, making a fantasizing expression. "Malfoy's robes were set ablaze by the fireball. He tried to dodge, but it was no use; my magical golem was too fast! He also tried to cast a curse, but that was useless too, because the magical golem was too small; he couldn't aim at it at all!"

Harry ate his pie in silence, thinking that only Ron would miss, since his wand had broken in two.

Hermione, who was eating breakfast and reading a book nearby, looked up and corrected him, "Ron, I have to remind you, Professor Hyp said in his open class that for the safety of the young wizards, the magical golems only release the most basic flames, which are not as powerful as the Flame Spell we cast ourselves."

Ron seemed to choke on his beef patty, speechless. He didn't remember Professor Hyp saying that, but Hermione was always right in those matters. He muttered under his breath, "It's your Blazing Fire Charm. Neither Harry nor I know it. I think you've forgotten."

Hermione snorted.

"Weren't you reading a book? Haven't you finished reading it yet?"

"I think I just told you yesterday that I have twenty books on my reading list!"

Ron fell silent.

Harry became interested when he heard Hermione's words, and he couldn't help but ask her, "Hermione, how much do you know about this professor? Ron and I missed the opening banquet." He was referring to the fact that he and Ron had driven across most of England in Mr. Weasley's car.

Therefore, he and Ron had to live in fear in Snape's basement, terrified of being expelled. Fortunately, they were neither expelled from school nor did they lose points for the house; Professor McGonagall even provided them with food.

However, given what happened, it was impossible to return to the banquet openly, and Ron missed his sister Ginny's Sorting Ceremony because of it.

Hermione quickly and fluently recited the information she had heard at the dinner party, "Professor Hyp graduated from Slytherin House at Hogwarts—"

"Slytherin!" Ron suddenly called out, but was glared at by Hermione and lowered his head to eat his pie.

"Yes, Slytherin. He's nine years older than us, and just graduated three years ago. But he's very famous; all the upperclassmen in the school know him. Professor Hyp is skilled in ancient runes, spells, transfiguration, and Muggle studies, and of course, dueling."

"A duel?" Harry was somewhat taken aback. In his memory, Professor Hyp was clearly not the imposter Lockhart, but he also seemed gentle and refined, somewhat like a teacher he had when he was in Muggle school.

He found it difficult to associate Professor Hyp with the word "duel".

"That's right." Hermione glanced around, then carefully lowered her head and said in a low voice, "It's said he's Muggle-born, and when he enrolled, Lord Vader had just fallen from power, so the Slytherin students weren't very friendly towards him, but..."

"But what?"

"However, he retaliated fiercely with a spell, and the older Slytherins were afraid of him because they had been taught a lesson."

Harry and Ron's faces were filled with longing.

To be honest, they also wanted to beat up a few Slytherins.

However, the rumors Hermione heard were clearly wrong. When the current seventh-year students entered school, Felix would already be a fifth-year student. Why would he need to lecture them? Of course, someone would teach them a lesson.

During Potions class, the young wizards were still discussing yesterday's open class. Harry clearly saw Malfoy among the Slytherin students loudly boasting about his "relationship" with Professor Hyp, claiming that his cousin and Professor Hyp were close friends.

Harry couldn't help but think that maybe their friendship was "forged" through fighting.

Ron also exaggeratedly described his battle with magical puppets in the open class. Judging from his words, it seemed that he was not fighting with magical puppets, but rather he and Harry were having a real-life PK.

"Quiet!"

Snape's voice came from the back of the classroom, and the young wizards instantly fell silent. The professor walked with a commanding presence, his black wizard robes rustling softly, exuding an aura of power that increased by 10.

He glanced around, his gaze lingering on Harry Potter, which made Snape tense. But Snape looked away, this time fixing his gaze on Ron, and said sarcastically in his characteristically deep voice, "Ronald Weasley…yes, you've certainly been making quite a splash these past few days. But you should be focusing on improving your awful Potions grades; I don't want to add another T to your final exam."

The Slytherin students burst into laughter.

Ron's face turned bright red, clutching the broken wand taped back together, wishing he could unleash a curse on Snape's face.

"And Miss Granger, put away that extracurricular book. This is Potions class, not some ancient spellbook. You still have a year before your electives."

Hermione angrily packed the book away.