Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 160 The New Teacher for 4th Grade

Amidst their playful banter, they arrived at the auditorium.

"Why are you all so wet?"

Thea stared in surprise at Harry and Ron, who were dressed in a disheveled state, and skillfully waved her wand to evaporate all the water stains on them.

"Peeves was causing trouble just now... It was only with great difficulty that Professor McGonagall chased him away..."

"Thank you, Thea, your drying spell is really good."

Praise always makes people feel good. "Thank you, Hermione!"

Draco, too lazy to watch Thea and Hermione being all lovey-dovey in front of him, turned to Harry and said arrogantly, "Potter, you should practice your spells. After all, Thea won't always be there in time."

Harry felt that his tolerance for Malfoy had indeed increased a lot, to the point that he could now laugh and retort, "If I remember correctly, your Charms class ranking is lower than mine."

Draco choked on his words, then angrily dragged Zabini and Theodore into the auditorium.

Harry was in high spirits after successfully turning the tables, and even Professor Snape's cold face couldn't affect his mood.

The auditorium remained magnificent and grand, with hundreds of candles suspended above the tables, illuminating every corner of the hall.

"What's wrong with him now?"

Thea looked at Daphne with a questioning gaze.

Daphne suppressed a laugh and slightly raised her chin toward the Gryffindor table.

Thea instantly understood. Sure enough, apart from Potter, no one else could make Draco this angry.

After this year's Sorting Ceremony, Dumbledore simply said, "Eat!" and ended his speech.

Thea slowly began to eat her dinner, glancing habitually at the Gryffindor table. When she saw Hermione sulking and refusing to eat, Thea realized that Hermione must know that the house-elves were working at Hogwarts…

Thinking about this, Thea suddenly lost interest.

She knew perfectly well where this world was headed, knew that a precipice lay ahead, yet she was powerless to turn back this colossal ship that was about to slide into the abyss…

She's too weak, so weak that no one will listen to her...

"All right!"

Dumbledore's words interrupted Thea's unusually low mood.

"Now that we've all eaten and drunk our fill, I have a few announcements to make. Mr. Filch, the castle's caretaker, wants me to tell you that several more items have been added to the list of prohibited items for use in the castle this year. The entire list includes about 437 items, which can be found in Mr. Filch's office. Anyone who is interested can go and check it out."

"In addition, I regret to inform you that the Academy Quidditch tournament will not be held this year."

"What?!" countless young wizards exclaimed in surprise.

"Because a huge event is starting in October and will continue throughout the entire school year! I am very excited to announce that this year at Hogwarts—"

"Oh!"

The auditorium doors suddenly opened, accompanied by a loud clap of thunder, and a strange man limped into the auditorium.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the other's unusual actions. Thea even heard the Gryffindor twins' unusually excited voices: "That entrance was so cool!"

But their exclamations came to an abrupt end when they saw what the other person looked like.

His face seemed to be carved from a small piece of wood, every inch of his skin was scarred, his mouth was like a crooked gaping mouth, and his strange, ever-turning blue eye became the nightmare of countless timid little wizards.

He seemed used to the surprise people felt when they saw him. He walked onto the stage as if no one was there, exchanged a few words with Dumbledore, and then sat down in an empty seat next to the professors' table and cut a piece of sausage with a knife and fork to eat.

"Please allow me to introduce our new Defense Against Magic teacher," Dumbledore cheerfully broke the silence, "Professor Moody!"

Unlike the usual enthusiastic applause that welcomes new professors, this year everyone seemed frightened, and no one applauded.

Dumbledore didn't seem to mind and changed the subject, "As I just said, we will be very honored to host a very exciting event in the coming months: the Triwizard Tournament!"

You're kidding!

The twins' surprised tone successfully swayed Dumbledore's thinking.

"Speaking of jokes, I suddenly remembered a joke..."

"Cough cough cough..."

Professor McGonagall's cough reminded Dumbledore, who immediately became serious and naturally shifted the topic to the Triwizard Tournament.

"If you are under 17, I urge you not to waste your time submitting an application."

"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive in October and spend most of the academic year with us."

After announcing these things, Dumbledore abruptly ended the evening's dinner.

Just as Thea was about to leave the Great Hall for the lounge, she caught a glimpse of Hermione standing to the side, looking at her with a hesitant expression.

It was obvious that the other person would definitely ask me about house-elves.

After waving goodbye to Gellar and the others, Thea greeted Hermione with a relaxed expression, "Is there something you need, Hermione?"

"Thea... I don't quite understand..."

Seeing Hermione's posture, ready for a long talk, Thea couldn't help but feel a bit of a headache, but she still maintained the image of a caring older sister.

"Would you like a piece of chocolate? It's a new product from Honey Duke Candy Shop, and it tastes much richer than before."

Thea smiled and handed Hermione the chocolate from her pocket, then popped one into her own mouth as well.

Hermione had no appetite, but seeing Thea's expectant expression, she still unwrapped the chocolate and put it in her mouth.

The slightly bittersweet taste effectively dispelled Hermione's gloom.

Hermione didn't speak until the chocolate had completely melted in her mouth. "Thea, do you know what house-elves are?"

Thea didn't answer, and Hermione wasn't surprised. She continued, "House-elves do the vast majority of the work in a household, yet they don't receive any compensation, not even the most basic sick leave or allowance..."

Hermione went on and on, while Thea remained silent.

Is this practice any different from slave labor?

Hermione ended her outpouring with a question.

Seeing the girl's troubled eyes, Thea simply stroked her loose, hanging hair.

"Hermione, have you ever thought about this? Perhaps you are the only one in the entire wizarding world who has this idea. It is a very, very shocking idea."

"But so what? Wrong is wrong!"

Hermione's words were firm and resounding.

"...This path is difficult. The ideas that the wizarding world has held for hundreds of years cannot be changed overnight."

"But if even I don't do it, then who in the wizarding world will care about them?"

Thea remained silent for a long time this time, until Hermione said goodbye, then she chuckled softly, "Truly worthy of Gryffindor..."

------

"It's such a pity, if only this competition could have been postponed for a few years..."

Inside the dormitory, Daphne looked at Thea with regret, saying that in her opinion, no one in the entire grade was more suitable to be a warrior than Thea.

Who might be the champion of Hogwarts this time?

"It should be Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff. I heard he was the best student in that grade."

"So it was him..." Thea pictured a tall, handsome boy who excelled in all aspects of life—a boy favored by the Creator.

But his ending was completely unworthy of his perfect persona.

He died alone in that cemetery...

It seems that his purpose in appearing was to highlight the cruelty of war, and that he was the key to opening the prelude to this war.

So, should she save him?

Or rather, can she save her?