Professor Oren not only skipped checking the first-years' homework but ignored homework from every year. This decision instantly made him Hogwarts' most popular professor, without question.
"He must be able to break the curse and become Hogwarts' first Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in fifty years to serve consecutive terms."
Lee Jordan, the well-known Quidditch enthusiast and second-year Gryffindor student, publicly declared in the Great Hall:
"If someone as excellent as Professor Oren can't break the curse, then there's no hope for this subject — might as well cancel it altogether."
His statement gained support from both Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.
Of course, where there's support, there's opposition. Even as Lee spoke with great enthusiasm, derisive laughter erupted from the Ravenclaw table.
"Tch, are you really this excited just because he's not checking homework?" A somewhat handsome Ravenclaw student shot him a disdainful look and said, "This decision is extremely irresponsible, even negligent. We've already agreed to file a joint complaint to Headmaster Dumbledore about this behavior."
"What did you say?"
The Gryffindor cubs turned hostile looks toward the speaker.
At Hogwarts, a professor who doesn't check holiday homework is rarer than a ballet-dancing troll. Now that they'd finally found one, these bookworms not only failed to appreciate it but wanted to file a complaint against him?
Is this something a decent person would do?
This was more than the Gryffindors could bear. Several lions immediately stood up, slamming their hands on the table, "Do you dare to repeat what you just said?"
"I remember you, Roger Davies from Ravenclaw." Lee said, hands in his pockets, head tilted back, looking down his nose at the other student, "You're the one who mocked us Gryffindors in Charms class the other day... Tsk tsk, you're quite brave, aren't you? Better watch your step when walking at night."
Seeing their house member so blatantly threatened, the Ravenclaws couldn't sit still either.
"Don't be afraid, Roger." A senior student wearing a prefect badge stood up and gave Lee a cold smile, "Gryffindor, are you looking for a fight?"
"Prefect, you shouldn't jump to conclusions." Fred wagged his finger, "My friend was just worried your first-year might trip and fall — how did that turn into looking for a fight?"
"Oh, I get it." George said, "You want to tell Professor McGonagall, don't you? Falsely accuse us of wanting to fight so she'll dock our points."
Fred raised an eyebrow, "That way you can win the House Cup."
"And no one can stop you from complaining about Professor Oren."
"So that's how it is." Lee's eyes lit up as he quickly joined in, "As expected of the smartest Ravenclaws, always so devious."
Listening to the three's back-and-forth, the prefect's face turned green.
House Cup... they were in last place — what right did they have to talk? And with their measly two-digit house points, he'd have to be crazy to scheme against Gryffindor.
"We won't go to the professors." The Ravenclaw prefect said, taking a deep breath, "What I mean is that Hogwarts' paths are quite even. Roger won't trip, but if anyone has ill intentions, we won't stand idly by."
His words boosted Ravenclaw's morale.
"That's right, we're not afraid of Gryffindor!"
"Bring it on! Whoever tells the professor is a snitch!"
"Don't be scared, Roger. With Prefect Edward here, they can't do anything."
With everyone's support, Roger grew bolder, raising his head to stare at Lee as the tension between both sides grew thicker.
"What do you think, Kyle?" Over at the Hufflepuff table, Cedric asked worriedly, "They won't actually fight, will they?"
"I'm just watching." Kyle said unhurriedly, putting a piece of steak in his mouth, "As long as they're not stupid, they won't actually fight."
It was just an argument — Gryffindor and Slytherin argued every day, and they never actually came to blows. Besides, Ravenclaw didn't want to lose their second place in house points, and Gryffindor didn't want to give Slytherin an easy advantage.
So trash talking was as far as it would go.
As for whether they might try something underhanded in private... Kyle estimated it probably wouldn't happen, unless they really wanted detention. After all, the whole castle knew about this now — the target was too obvious, and ambushing someone was no longer feasible.
Of course, this only applied to Ravenclaw — if it were Slytherin, that would be a different story entirely.
"What are you doing!"
At that moment, Minerva suddenly walked in, her lips pursed as she surveyed the people at the center of the conflict with a scrutinizing gaze.
"I hope you're not arguing, gentlemen, or else..."
"Of course not, Professor McGonagall." Fred was the first to react, "We were just discussing Quidditch."
"Yes." George quickly added, "We all think it's such a shame Ireland lost to Canada this year."
Lee was the slowest to react, only speaking up hurriedly after George kicked his foot, "They'll definitely win the championship in four years."
"Hmph, that's the most foolish opinion I've ever heard." Whether deliberately playing along or genuinely thinking so, Roger immediately retorted, "Bulgaria is the strongest team — Ireland isn't even worthy of polishing their shoes."
"Ha, so what did your Bulgaria achieve this year?" Fred asked.
George said sarcastically, "Don't you remember, Fred? They didn't even make it to the semifinals!"
"That's only because their Seeker was terrible!" Roger shouted, his neck straining, "If they could replace their Seeker, they'd be the strongest team!"
Kyle wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but Roger seemed even angrier than before.
The incident ended rather anticlimactically. Professor McGonagall didn't deduct any points, only reminding them "no shouting in the Great Hall" before coming to Kyle's side.
"Dumbledore wants to see you." She discreetly gestured toward him, "If you're finished eating, could you go to the headmaster's office?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall."
Kyle swallowed his last bite of steak and left the Great Hall with her.
As they walked out the door, he clearly heard Minerva muttering under her breath, "Young wizards these days... Scotland is clearly the strongest team."
✭✭✭
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