Although Conna successfully transformed it into a button, it still had the legs of a beetle, from a distance it looked like a malformed turtle.
"Pfft..."
Kael couldn't help but laugh.
Conna quickly covered her half-transformed beetle in embarrassment and anger said, "What's so funny? Maybe you're not even as good as me!"
Kael didn't say anything, just waved his wand lightly.
The beetle on his desk instantly transformed into a delicate button with a turtle pattern.
The young wizards around immediately gasped in astonishment; they hadn't expected anyone to complete the task so quickly.
Professor McGonagall seemed a bit surprised too, but she soon nodded in satisfaction, picked up the button to show to the class, and gave Kael a rare smile.
"Ten points to Hufflepuff!"
Kael turned around and shrugged at Conna.
"..."
Conna flushed with anger, turned her head and ignored him.
It wasn't until class ended that Conna finally succeeded in turning her beetle into a button.
As a reward, Professor McGonagall waived their homework, while the others, would have to submit a paper at least two feet long before the next class.
After leaving the classroom, Mikel looked deathly pale, continuously muttering Professor McGonagall's earlier words.
Usually, those ten-inch assignments were already torturous enough, but two feet... it was literally killing him!
Mikel turned his head, looking at Kael with eyes full of hope: "Save me... you must let me copy your assignment this time..."
"Sorry."
Kael felt a bit guilty, but still patted him on the shoulder and said, "Did you forget? I don't have to write it."
The light in Mikel's eyes instantly faded.
After Transfiguration Class, everyone was eagerly looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Even though Oren was a Dark Wizard, it's undeniable that his practical classes were very engaging. He managed to spark the young wizards' keen interest in Defense Against the Dark Arts within just one school year.
Professor Quirrell chose a classroom on the third floor, a cramped room that was much less spacious than last year's.
Moreover, it contained only one window, making it appear very dim even in broad daylight.
Upon entering, everyone's hearts sank with a sense of foreboding.
And when Professor Quirrell finally arrived, that feeling only intensified.
No serious professor should smell like garlic all over!
Moreover, the scent was so strong it seemed like the garlic itself had come to life.
Several students immediately covered their noses, wanting to open the window, but Professor Quirrell stopped them.
"No... no opening the windows."
Professor Quirrell stammered, "During the holiday, when I dealt with... an Inferius, I got hit with its curse and can't be exposed to the wind."
Saying this, he pointed to his large scarf.
"This is... a gift from the African prince I saved... it can protect me well."
Inferius?
The young wizards immediately became interested.
Gryffindor's Katie Bell curiously asked, "Professor Quirrell, what does an Inferius look like?"
"It has... several inch-long... fangs, its body is like... steel, and it can... resist charms... very terrifying!"
"Wow~~"
Everyone gasped in astonishment; their view of Professor Quirrell also changed.
A body like steel and immune to charms... even an Auror would find it difficult to deal with such a creature.
Who would've thought this clown-like professor was actually such a formidable expert.
The young wizards looked at Professor Quirrell with admiration; even the strong scent of garlic on him seemed less offensive.
"He must be using it to ward off vampires he encountered on his travels, afraid one might come back for him."
Someone confidently declared, "The thing these creatures fear most is garlic, that must be it."
Professor Quirrell glanced at him with a hint of surprise, then silently nodded.
That reason was brilliant, much better than what he'd thought up.
"Professor Quirrell."
At this moment, Katie asked again, "Inferius are so powerful, how did you defeat it, could you tell us?"
"This... I, I..."
Professor Quirrell's face turned red as he mumbled, "Well, um, and then like this... it involves very advanced... magic, if I said... you wouldn't understand."
Watching the inarticulate and evasive Professor Quirrell, everyone's gaze shifted once again.
This expression was almost like openly telling everyone, he was lying.
Katie, undeterred, asked again, "No problem, Professor, just tell us. If we don't understand the charms, we can look them up in the library."
Others chimed in:
"Yes, Professor."
"Professor, please tell us."
"Even just a brief explanation would be fine."
...
Professor Quirrell's face grew even redder, and after hesitating for a long time, he ignored everyone's words, turning his head to look out of the window.
"I don't like... the weather in the United Kingdom, it's too rainy... Romania's much better."
With this, their suspicions were confirmed.
No need to guess, Professor Quirrell certainly lied earlier; he definitely didn't encounter any Inferius.
Everyone felt extremely disappointed. Although they had anticipated that this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor might not be reliable, they hadn't expected him to be a complete fraud.
And one with a love for garlic, no less.
They preferred Oren over him.
Interest in the lesson vanished instantly, replaced by distractions beneath their desks.
Writing letters, finishing homework, even playing with toads...
Professor Quirrell noticed all of it but said nothing, simply reading the content of "Dark Power: Self-defense Guide" verbatim.
Someone unknowing might think it was Professor Binns possessing him.
As Kael listened, he began to feel drowsy and for a moment even missed Oren.
Both were Dark Wizards, yet the difference was immense.
Kael struggled to stay awake, barely making it to the end of class.
"Terrible," Conna couldn't help but complain during lunch, "I don't understand why the Headmaster would have him teach us Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Probably because they couldn't find anyone else." Cedric thought for a while and then said, "You all know, the position for this subject's professor has always been scarce."
"But just reading from the textbook isn't acceptable either."
Conna was still a little dissatisfied, "If that's the case, they could just find a ghost like Professor Binns, there wouldn't even be any worry about curses."
"Uh..." Cedric opened his mouth, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Suddenly, he realized how much sense that statement actually made.