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Chapter 72: Why Are You Wearing a Hat?
While a group of students were stunned by his almost shameless speech, William calmly straightened his robe, which had become a bit disheveled from using the Disillusionment Charm.
"Still thinking it over, children?"
"I've reviewed the grades of every student in this class and found that you have a rather excellent foundation in Defense Against the Dark Arts—but that's not enough."
William wagged his index finger at all the students, his expression confident.
"You've been studying at Hogwarts for a full six years, relying on professors and self-study—well, I imagine it's been mostly the latter—"
Someone in the class snickered.
"Don't laugh, don't laugh, children. That's just how this course is. You've been at Hogwarts longer than I have, so you know exactly what it's about."
But William laughed along with the students, then made a very exaggerated gesture of pressing his hands down.
"Alright, regardless, you are all quite excellent students. You've completed the vast majority of this course's content mostly on your own and achieved outstanding grades."
William scanned the students, looking at each of them with an approving expression.
"I dare say, some of you have even finished self-studying the Seventh Year textbook ahead of schedule. Even if you were to take the N.E.W.Ts exam right now, you could easily get an E or even the highest grade, O."
"I also dare say that at least half of you have read through the textbook and self-studied more than just one chapter."
"This is a commendable course of action—of course, I'm not saying this because it makes my job of teaching easier, or makes it more convenient for me to scrounge a salary from Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Don't laugh, everyone. Tricking money out of the foremost white wizard is no easy feat. But considering I've only just arrived at the school, we won't discuss such behavior for the time being."
Amidst the students' quiet laughter, William placed the textbook in his hands on the lectern.
"It seems none of you have any objections to my view that you've been self-studying."
"Very good. It seems that in this class, we can learn something unrelated to the textbook's content, but still related to the course."
"You came to Hogwarts from your homes at eleven, and now, at seventeen, you are of age. You have already studied in this castle for a full six years. In the coming year, you will begin the final sprint according to the career paths you chose in your Fifth Year—leaving school, finding a position, applying for an internship, balancing your studies and internship, and finally, passing your N.E.W.Ts and successfully starting your careers."
"This is the process most Hogwarts graduates go through. Of course, we don't rule out exceptions—some people always find a different path during their sixth and seventh year."
William couldn't help but think of the prisoners in Azkaban who had left Hogwarts during their sixth and seventh year for various reasons—many of them had become criminals after failing to chase their dreams and running into financial difficulties.
But this had nothing to do with what he was about to teach.
"Although some of you may have been bullied in this castle—well, I'm still not entirely sure about that, because generally speaking, students who excel in this course don't suffer much, since they're too good at fighting."
"Bullying definitely exists in this castle. And I can say with certainty that it still exists to this day."
"But I believe the Prefects and Professors have already done their best to balance these injustices. I'm not here today to be an armchair critic and dismiss their efforts. Honestly, the castle is too big and there are too few professors. Maintaining things as they are is already quite an achievement."
"What I want to say is, you can still rely on professors and Prefects to help you avoid most of the bullying at school. But after you leave Hogwarts, it will be very difficult to find people to take on that role."
"Although everyone here is looking forward to their internships, I have to pour a bucket of cold water on you all."
"Let's take the simplest example, just like what we experienced at the beginning of class."
"I was the first to arrive at the classroom, then I deliberately delayed my appearance, which caused the students to grumble behind my back, and then I deducted five points from Gryffindor."
William smiled, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally resting on the face of the girl called Nymphadora.
"So, was that fair?"
Encouraged by his gaze, the students quickly responded.
"Unfair."
"Of course it was unfair—but at least I gave an explanation. As I said, I can be even more unreasonable."
William crossed his arms over his chest and began searching for a target.
Soon, a student wearing a wizard's hat, who was short enough to be a fourth-year, caught his eye.
"That lovely girl over there, can you tell me your name?"
"Yes, yes, you. The especially lovely one. Don't be shy, say your name."
The students started hooting wildly, and the girl over there, blushing, said her name.
"Susan, Susan Green, Professor."
"Excellent. A name as lovely as the person." William paid no mind to the students' hooting.
"However, young lady, why are you wearing a hat in my class? I was going to deduct ten points, but since you're so lovely, I'll only deduct two."
The classroom, which had been buzzing with excitement, fell instantly silent. The girl named Susan was left completely stunned.
After a long moment, a student finally reacted.
"Professor! You originally said you would deduct points for *not* wearing a hat."
*Clap, clap, clap.*
William applauded with an approving look.
"Exactly right! It seems this student was paying close attention. That is indeed what I said at the beginning, because there's no question about deducting points for *not* wearing a hat."
Just as most people thought they had successfully refuted the professor, William spread his hands with a helpless expression:
"But, when I wanted to deduct points, she was wearing a hat."
This shameless statement from the professor stunned everyone present. As for Susan, the girl who had been singled out, her eyes were practically spinning into spirals.
"You see, there are many similar excuses, but the essence of it doesn't change. The hat is just a pretext. A round hat, a straw hat, a sun hat, all sorts of hats... I could even find an excuse to deduct points based on someone's slightly different hat. It's simple, isn't it?"
"It doesn't even have to be hats. Shoes, gloves, books... even if you do everything perfectly, as long as I want to, I can still find fault and deduct points."
"And most importantly—you all seem to be fixated on the hat right now, but why am I able to deduct points based on a hat?"
(end of chapter)
While a group of students were stunned by his almost shameless speech, William calmly straightened his robe, which had become a bit disheveled from using the Disillusionment Charm.
"Still thinking it over, children?"
"I've reviewed the grades of every student in this class and found that you have a rather excellent foundation in Defense Against the Dark Arts—but that's not enough."
William wagged his index finger at all the students, his expression confident.
"You've been studying at Hogwarts for a full six years, relying on professors and self-study—well, I imagine it's been mostly the latter—"
Someone in the class snickered.
"Don't laugh, don't laugh, children. That's just how this course is. You've been at Hogwarts longer than I have, so you know exactly what it's about."
But William laughed along with the students, then made a very exaggerated gesture of pressing his hands down.
"Alright, regardless, you are all quite excellent students. You've completed the vast majority of this course's content mostly on your own and achieved outstanding grades."
William scanned the students, looking at each of them with an approving expression.
"I dare say, some of you have even finished self-studying the Seventh Year textbook ahead of schedule. Even if you were to take the N.E.W.Ts exam right now, you could easily get an E or even the highest grade, O."
"I also dare say that at least half of you have read through the textbook and self-studied more than just one chapter."
"This is a commendable course of action—of course, I'm not saying this because it makes my job of teaching easier, or makes it more convenient for me to scrounge a salary from Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Don't laugh, everyone. Tricking money out of the foremost white wizard is no easy feat. But considering I've only just arrived at the school, we won't discuss such behavior for the time being."
Amidst the students' quiet laughter, William placed the textbook in his hands on the lectern.
"It seems none of you have any objections to my view that you've been self-studying."
"Very good. It seems that in this class, we can learn something unrelated to the textbook's content, but still related to the course."
"You came to Hogwarts from your homes at eleven, and now, at seventeen, you are of age. You have already studied in this castle for a full six years. In the coming year, you will begin the final sprint according to the career paths you chose in your Fifth Year—leaving school, finding a position, applying for an internship, balancing your studies and internship, and finally, passing your N.E.W.Ts and successfully starting your careers."
"This is the process most Hogwarts graduates go through. Of course, we don't rule out exceptions—some people always find a different path during their sixth and seventh year."
William couldn't help but think of the prisoners in Azkaban who had left Hogwarts during their sixth and seventh year for various reasons—many of them had become criminals after failing to chase their dreams and running into financial difficulties.
But this had nothing to do with what he was about to teach.
"Although some of you may have been bullied in this castle—well, I'm still not entirely sure about that, because generally speaking, students who excel in this course don't suffer much, since they're too good at fighting."
"Bullying definitely exists in this castle. And I can say with certainty that it still exists to this day."
"But I believe the Prefects and Professors have already done their best to balance these injustices. I'm not here today to be an armchair critic and dismiss their efforts. Honestly, the castle is too big and there are too few professors. Maintaining things as they are is already quite an achievement."
"What I want to say is, you can still rely on professors and Prefects to help you avoid most of the bullying at school. But after you leave Hogwarts, it will be very difficult to find people to take on that role."
"Although everyone here is looking forward to their internships, I have to pour a bucket of cold water on you all."
"Let's take the simplest example, just like what we experienced at the beginning of class."
"I was the first to arrive at the classroom, then I deliberately delayed my appearance, which caused the students to grumble behind my back, and then I deducted five points from Gryffindor."
William smiled, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally resting on the face of the girl called Nymphadora.
"So, was that fair?"
Encouraged by his gaze, the students quickly responded.
"Unfair."
"Of course it was unfair—but at least I gave an explanation. As I said, I can be even more unreasonable."
William crossed his arms over his chest and began searching for a target.
Soon, a student wearing a wizard's hat, who was short enough to be a fourth-year, caught his eye.
"That lovely girl over there, can you tell me your name?"
"Yes, yes, you. The especially lovely one. Don't be shy, say your name."
The students started hooting wildly, and the girl over there, blushing, said her name.
"Susan, Susan Green, Professor."
"Excellent. A name as lovely as the person." William paid no mind to the students' hooting.
"However, young lady, why are you wearing a hat in my class? I was going to deduct ten points, but since you're so lovely, I'll only deduct two."
The classroom, which had been buzzing with excitement, fell instantly silent. The girl named Susan was left completely stunned.
After a long moment, a student finally reacted.
"Professor! You originally said you would deduct points for *not* wearing a hat."
*Clap, clap, clap.*
William applauded with an approving look.
"Exactly right! It seems this student was paying close attention. That is indeed what I said at the beginning, because there's no question about deducting points for *not* wearing a hat."
Just as most people thought they had successfully refuted the professor, William spread his hands with a helpless expression:
"But, when I wanted to deduct points, she was wearing a hat."
This shameless statement from the professor stunned everyone present. As for Susan, the girl who had been singled out, her eyes were practically spinning into spirals.
"You see, there are many similar excuses, but the essence of it doesn't change. The hat is just a pretext. A round hat, a straw hat, a sun hat, all sorts of hats... I could even find an excuse to deduct points based on someone's slightly different hat. It's simple, isn't it?"
"It doesn't even have to be hats. Shoes, gloves, books... even if you do everything perfectly, as long as I want to, I can still find fault and deduct points."
"And most importantly—you all seem to be fixated on the hat right now, but why am I able to deduct points based on a hat?"
(end of chapter)
