In recent days, the most noticeable change at Hogwarts was the increased difficulty of the lessons. Professors seemed eager to teach as much as possible, pushing their students harder than ever. At the same time, they were clearly trying to ease the pervasive fear of Voldemort. The upcoming second Quidditch match provided the perfect distraction.
During a match, everyone's focus would be on the pitch, their cheers and screams for each goal offering a temporary escape from fear. As the game approached, the castle's atmosphere began to feel noticeably less gloomy.
"So, are you confident? If we win the Quidditch Cup again this year, it would mark an unprecedented fifth consecutive championship," Professor Sprout said excitedly to Kyle during Herbology class.
"Other houses have achieved five consecutive championships, but Hufflepuff hasn't had such a dazzling run in nearly two centuries. This year is the closest we've ever been to making history."
"Before this, when Minerva and the others talked about Quidditch, I always felt too embarrassed to join in."
Her enthusiasm was evident, though Kyle thought she was exaggerating a little. Surely, the professors didn't only talk about Quidditch when they gathered. Besides, only Professor McGonagall was a true Quidditch fan; the others were mostly indifferent.
Still, Kyle understood why Professor Sprout was making such a show of it. Saying this in front of everyone was her way of emphasizing the importance of the upcoming match and steering attention away from You-Know-Who and the escaped Death Eaters.
"Of course we're confident, Professor," Kyle replied with a cooperative grin. "We have no intention of giving up the Quidditch Cup."
His words stirred two distinct reactions.
The Hufflepuffs cheered loudly, full of pride and excitement, while the Ravenclaws, who shared the class, responded with a chorus of boos. As Hufflepuff's opponents in the upcoming match, the Ravenclaws were adamant they wouldn't lose.
For a moment, the small greenhouse bristled with tension. Fortunately, Professor Sprout quickly diffused it by turning the focus back to their lesson.
"Today, we'll be working with Snargaluff," she announced. "A very versatile plant—its pods and leaves are key ingredients in many potions..."
"And snacks," Kyle muttered under his breath.
He couldn't help but think of Fawkes. The phoenix had a peculiar fondness for Snargaluff pods and often crunched on them like popcorn. Harry had once caught Fawkes at it while practicing Occlumency.
For this lesson, they were tasked with building trellises for the Snargaluff and encouraging the plants to produce pods. Despite the heavy snow falling outside, the greenhouse was warm, thanks to the special torches Professor Sprout had set up around the room.
Kyle was the first to finish his trellis and was rewarded with a small bag of Snargaluff pods—a perfect treat for Fawkes.
The next day was the weekend, and the snow outside had piled up to nearly a foot deep. Many students chose to stay cozy in their common rooms, chatting or playing chess, but the sixth years had to bundle up and attend their first Apparition class.
This special class, reserved for sixth years, was initially supposed to take place on the grounds. However, due to the deep snow, it had been moved to the Great Hall. Scheduled for Saturday morning, it wouldn't interfere with their regular lessons.
When Kyle and Kanna entered the Great Hall, they noticed all the desks and chairs had been removed, making the space seem even larger than usual.
The four Heads of House, including Professor McGonagall, were already present, joined by two wizards from the Ministry of Magic.
Kyle's attention was immediately drawn to the thin wizard standing at the center. His pale complexion, nearly translucent eyelashes, and wispy hair gave him an ethereal appearance, as if the slightest breeze could carry him away.
Kyle assumed this must be their Apparition instructor. His delicate physique seemed almost tailor-made for the task—Kyle wouldn't have been surprised if his Apparitions were completely soundless.
As for the other wizard, it was none other than Nymphadora Tonks, an old acquaintance. Today, however, her hair was dyed a practical black, so much so that Kyle almost didn't recognize her at first glance.
"Hello, everyone," said the short wizard from the Ministry of Magic as the students gathered. "My name is Wilkie Twycross, and I will be your Apparition Instructor for the next twelve weeks. My goal is to help you pass the exam."
"My name is Nymphadora Tonks," added Tonks as she stepped forward. "I'll be teaching you Concealment and Disguise. While this subject won't be included in the exams, it's very important. It could mean the difference between blending into a crowd or being identified and hunted by certain wizards."
A Concealment and Disguise Course?
A wave of murmurs rippled through the Great Hall. The students had only been informed about the Apparition lessons; no one had mentioned anything about a Concealment and Disguise Course.
"Quiet, please!" Professor McGonagall's stern voice cut through the noise, and the room fell silent.
"These two," she explained, "are the Aurors the Ministry has sent to assist with teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts. They are your new instructors."
"Assist... Professor McGonagall, we're only assisting Madam Umbridge," Tonks interjected quickly, clearly unwilling to take on the title of professor.
Professor McGonagall simply nodded in response, offering no further comment.
"I know what you're thinking," Tonks continued, her tone lighter. "Don't worry, my Concealment and Disguise Course won't take up your weekends. It'll be held during your regular Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons. I'm only here because I needed to deliver something from the Ministry to Hogwarts, and it's a good chance to get to know you all."
At the mention of not losing weekend time, many students audibly sighed in relief and responded warmly to Tonks. Her casual demeanor and relatable approach made her instantly likeable. As an Auror who had only recently graduated herself, she seemed to understand the students as well as she understood her own past experiences.
Tonks glanced around the group, her gaze eventually landing on Kyle. She gave him a cheeky wink, the only familiar face in the crowd.
Wilkie Twycross resumed his explanation.
"As you may know, Apparition is not normally allowed within Hogwarts. However, Headmaster Dumbledore has temporarily lifted this restriction for one hour—within the Great Hall only."
"Let me be very clear," he said, his tone serious, "if you attempt to move beyond these walls, you'll find yourself in significant trouble."
The students nodded in understanding.
"Now," Twycross continued, "I need everyone to stand in their own space, leaving at least five feet in front of you."
The students shuffled around until each had enough room. Once everyone was settled, Twycross waved his wand. Old-fashioned wooden circles materialized on the floor in front of each student.
"This is your target," he said, launching into a detailed explanation of Apparition, emphasizing the three D's: Destination, Determination, and Deliberation.
Kyle listened attentively. The process sounded almost identical to what Chris had taught him previously, which made sense—Chris likely learned from the same standard guidelines.
After nearly half an hour of explanation, Twycross finally demonstrated.
As Kyle had expected, Twycross's Apparition was nearly soundless. He disappeared from one circle and reappeared in another five feet away, as if he had simply melted into thin air.
If most Apparitions were like a stone splashing into water, Twycross's was like a leaf floating down—silent and effortless.
"Did everyone see that?" Twycross called out. "Good. Now, you'll try. If you're struggling to find the right state of mind, try spinning in place to focus."
"Now, everyone, give it a shot!"
The students began twirling in their spots, some looking determined, others uncertain.
"That's it," Twycross encouraged as he walked among them. "Relax, focus, and remember the three D's. Your target is the wooden circle in front of you."
"On my count... go!"
A loud cacophony of thuds and cracks echoed through the Great Hall.
It wasn't the sound of successful Apparition but rather the sound of bodies hitting the floor. Many students, dizzy from spinning, had lost their balance and collapsed in awkward heaps.
"Haha, I made it!"
An excited shout erupted from the crowd.
Mikel stood in the middle of a hoop, jumping up and down, waving his arms. "Look, Professor! I somehow managed to get into the hoop. I must've learned Apparition!"
"No, you haven't... get out of there," Twycross replied flatly, his tone devoid of enthusiasm.
Mikel looked confused, but Twycross had seen everything. The boy hadn't Apparated at all—he'd spun himself dizzy, lost his balance, and stumbled into the hoop... someone else's hoop, no less.
Did he not realize he was in the wrong place?
Apart from Mikel, it seemed the other students had also just hopped into the hoops without success.
"Never mind, never mind," Twycross said dryly. "Everyone, return to your original positions, and we'll try again."
The students grudgingly set up their hoops once more and moved back to their starting spots.
"Don't be discouraged," Twycross said, attempting to restore some order. "Apparition is not a simple magic that can be mastered in a day or two. I expect it to take at least three lessons."
He held up three fingers for emphasis.
"If all goes well, the most talented among you should be able to truly Apparate by the third lesson. As for the less talented... well, it may take longer. I've seen people who couldn't move an inch after twelve weeks of practice—and naturally, they failed the exam."
"That's not necessarily true..." Mikel muttered, still clinging to the belief that he had Apparated earlier. "What if someone learns it today?"
"If anyone manages that," Twycross said with a faint smile, "I'll buy them a year's supply of sweets." His tone made it clear he thought the prospect was absurd.
"Alright, now everyone, focus on what you were feeling before—"
Pop!
The crisp sound of Apparition cut him off. Twycross stiffened and slowly turned his head toward the noise.
There, standing confidently in the middle of a wooden circle, was Kyle.
"You... you didn't go back to your original position just now, did you?" Twycross asked, his voice tentative.
Kyle simply smiled and said nothing.
Pop!
Another sharp sound echoed through the Great Hall as Kyle vanished and reappeared in the wooden circle in front of another student.
"Oh!" The room erupted into cheers. Even Professor McGonagall, who had been observing quietly, allowed a small smile to cross her face.
Snape, on the other hand, snorted disdainfully. "Childish."
Tonks tried to suppress her laughter but failed miserably; half of her hair turned a bright blonde in response.
Twycross, still recovering from the shock, felt his face grow hot as it turned an angry shade of red. "You must've been in on this together," he accused.
"No, Professor," Kyle said calmly. "In fact, I succeeded the first time—you just didn't notice."
"Yes, I can vouch for that," Professor Sprout interjected with a proud smile. She had been keeping a close eye on the Hufflepuff students, particularly Kyle, and had witnessed his success.
Twycross looked utterly at a loss. Amid the earlier chaos, he truly hadn't noticed Kyle's Apparition among the other students' antics.
"Alright, alright, I admit defeat," Twycross said with a begrudging laugh. "I'll keep my promise."
Despite himself, he couldn't help but chuckle.
As a teacher, he was genuinely thrilled to see such remarkable talent. The ability to Apparate before the age of sixteen was a rare accomplishment, and the younger the student, the greater the indicator of magical aptitude.
"Okay, you can stop learning," Twycross said, waving Kyle off to the side. He seemed oddly pleased, as though Kyle's success had rekindled his hope for the class. At the same time, it made him even more eager for the next lesson.
If one person had succeeded this early, could there be a second?
With renewed energy, Twycross shouted the password again.
Unfortunately, the second attempt was no better than the first. Twycross strained his eyes, watching every wooden circle intently, but no one else managed to Apparate.
Finally, on the third attempt, something happened.
Cho suddenly appeared in her wooden circle—but only halfway. Her upper body stood unsteadily inside the hoop, while her right leg remained behind at her original position.
The sight was followed by a terrible scream from the crowd.
"Don't panic! This is a very common occurrence," Twycross said calmly, attempting to reassure the students. "Remember what I said earlier? Splinching is the most frequent mishap when learning Apparition."
As he spoke, Professor McGonagall strode quickly to Cho's side, retrieving her leg with practiced ease.
"Pomona, Dittany..." she called out.
"Is this it, Professor?"
A bottle of Essence of Dittany was suddenly held out to her.
"Yes, thank you," Professor McGonagall said, looking up to see Kyle offering the bottle. She took it, applied the Dittany to Cho's wound, and seamlessly reattached her leg as though piecing together a jigsaw puzzle.
"Don't worry, dear," she said gently to Cho. "Take a few steps and see how you feel. Splinching is not a terrible ordeal; as long as it's treated promptly, you'll be perfectly fine."
Cho's face was pale, but she took a deep breath and cautiously stepped forward. To her relief, everything seemed back to normal.
"Next time," McGonagall added, "don't hesitate, and don't dwell on the possibility of failure. We're here to help you if something goes wrong."
Cho nodded and returned to the group, though her shaken expression hinted that the experience had left an impression.
Whether it was Cho's Splinching or a general lack of confidence, no one else managed to Apparate successfully for the remainder of the session. Even Cho herself, now more tentative, only managed to spin in place and awkwardly into her hoop.
Twycross, while slightly disappointed, understood. Kyle was clearly an outlier, and for most students, this was a perfectly normal outcome. After witnessing the unsettling reality of Splinching, maintaining composure and determination was significantly harder—a critical reason why Twycross had insisted that success usually came after the third lesson.
"Alright, that's enough for today," Twycross finally said, pulling on his cloak. "Remember: Destination, Determination, Deliberation. We'll meet again next Wednesday."
"Wait a minute, Professor," someone interjected. "Aren't Apparition lessons only on Saturdays?"
"That's correct," Twycross replied, "but I've also been assigned to assist Madam Umbridge with Defence Against the Dark Arts. The Ministry wanted to send two Aurors, but most were busy with more pressing tasks and couldn't be spared, so they sent me."
Kyle noticed Tonks standing a short distance away, her hair an even darker black than before. She was glaring at Twycross with thinly veiled irritation, her teeth clenched in frustration.
It didn't take Kyle long to figure out why. If all the other Aurors had "more pressing tasks," then Tonks was likely the only one at the Auror Office without an important assignment.
The realization made him chuckle—until Tonks's fierce glare turned toward him. He quickly shut his mouth.