A great professor needs many abilities, but understanding students' thoughts and knowing how to capture their attention are paramount.
Professor McGonagall exemplified this skill — with just a mention of final exams, she could make students forget their holiday pleasures and immerse themselves in intense studying.
As her colleague, Professor Flitwick demonstrated the same mastery.
"Today we'll learn the Softening Charm." Standing on his platform of books, he squeaked, "Just as its name suggests, this charm instantly softens hard objects. It's a practical spell that adult wizards use frequently.
For example, in Quidditch — a sport you all love — the Softening Charm protects players who fall from their brooms.
In duels, it serves as an excellent trap. When the ground becomes soft, your opponent may expose weaknesses — the perfect moment to strike.
I may not have mentioned this before, but I once used the Softening Charm in a dueling tournament to force my opponent to surrender her wand, securing that year's championship."
The combination of Quidditch, the wizarding world's favorite sport, and the thrill of dueling instantly captured the young wizards' attention.
"Professor, you won a dueling championship?" Katie from Gryffindor asked, raising her hand.
She looked doubtful — given his short stature, could he really overcome other wizards?
"That was in my younger days." Professor Flitwick said with a playful smile, "But yes, I won the championship — more than once, actually. Curious students can find the details in 'Dueling Champions of the 20th Century.' The school library has a copy."
"Wow..."
His revelation prompted a chorus of amazed exclamations.
The young wizards could hardly believe that their modest Professor Flitwick possessed such remarkable skill.
"Professor, I want to learn this!" Exclaimed an enthusiastic Gryffindor.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you." Filius replied with a casual wave, "Besides, practical spells like this often appear in final exams, so pay close attention — it might be on this year's test."
"Yes, Professor Flitwick!" The class chorused.
Throughout the lesson, the young wizards practiced diligently under his guidance, thoroughly engrossed in their work. Each student seemed to envision themselves as a future dueling champion, treating the stones before them as worthy opponents.
When class ended, the students reluctantly put down their stones and filed out of the Charms classroom, including those who hadn't submitted their homework.
Since they had other classes soon, their homework make-up session was scheduled for that evening under the professor's supervision — the kind where you stay until you finish.
Kyle lingered behind, holding a library book and asking Filius some questions.
"I read this book in my day too, and it taught me a lot." Professor Flitwick touched the book's cover nostalgically before answering each of Kyle's questions in detail.
Ten minutes later, Kyle closed the book, "Thank you, Professor Flitwick. That's all for now — I haven't read the later parts yet."
"That's quite all right; a good book should be read slowly." Filius said with a smile, "If you have any more questions, you can always find me — my office is on the eighth floor. Oh, and thank you for the Christmas gift. It's been thirty years since I received a pear wood charm with a dueling badge... brings back memories."
"I'm glad you like it."
After saying goodbye, Kyle left the Charms classroom.
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Meanwhile, in the corridor corner outside the classroom, his two roommates were hiding.
"Michael, are you sure Kyle will pass through here?" Ryan poked his head out to look, "It's been so long — hasn't he already left?"
"Impossible." Michael said confidently, "Our next class is Defense Against the Dark Arts, and this is the only way to the second floor. Kyle must come this way."
"But..." Ryan began, but Michael interrupted him.
"Don't worry, it can't be wrong."
"No..."
"Be patient... for the homework."
"Professor Flitwick has already left!" Ryan covered Michael's mouth and whispered urgently, "And he even closed the door!"
Michael suddenly froze, rushed over, and pushed open the Charms classroom door.
It was empty inside.
Michael: (⊙▂⊙╬ )
"This is crazy…" He scratched his head, "That corridor is the only way to the second floor — how did Kyle leave?! Unless..."
He instinctively looked at the opposite wall.
"Ryan, do you think Kyle knows how to walk through walls?"
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Today's last class, Defense Against the Dark Arts, proved equally fascinating.
Despite Professor Oren's limited teaching experience, his class remained one of the most anticipated among the young wizards.
On the first day of school, he introduced a group of Cornish pixies and allowed students to handle them using any spells they had learned — without restrictions.
The little badgers were overjoyed — this was simply another form of dueling to them. They eagerly stepped forward, eager to experience what being a "Duel Master" felt like.
Though most of their spells missed their marks, Professor Oren's presence ensured the pixies couldn't harm the students. The creatures could only hover in the air, howling in frustration.
The sight of these tiny beings' helpless anger filled the classroom with laughter and joy.
The young wizards' delight only increased when Professor Oren didn't check their homework.
At the end of class, the Hufflepuffs showered him with praise — understandable, since more than half of them hadn't completed their assignments.
By their reckoning, Hufflepuff had just saved at least thirty house points — naturally, they were elated.
However, from Kyle's perspective, Professor Oren's decision about house points hardly mattered anymore.
After Charms class, Hufflepuff's position was firmly set in third place — nearly a hundred points behind Ravenclaw and a hundred points ahead of Gryffindor in last place.
Their position was rather awkward — neither advancement nor regression seemed likely.
✭✭✭
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