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Chapter 91: Professor Lockhart Has Arrived
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
Nancy was in a daze.
The professor at the podium was going over the exam paper at an incredible speed. On the blackboard, a piece of self-writing chalk was wearing itself down just as quickly, reproducing a mountain of knowledge that Nancy had already mastered.
She froze for a moment, then quickly began to copy that knowledge into her notebook—on any other day, she would have glanced at it and ignored it.
'This is just First Year material, so why is there so much knowledge I never noticed before?'
Not a single student's whisper could be heard in the entire classroom. Only the rustling of quills against paper, accompanied by the squeak of the chalk, served as the backdrop to the professor's voice, making the class feel exceptionally solemn.
Nancy had studied the Fifth Year course material in advance over the summer holiday, but the new professor spoke unusually fast, showing no intention of even asking questions. The difficult points, which should have been opportunities for top students to answer and earn points, were instead steamrolled by the professor with copious explanations and examples, making the lesson's pace abnormally quick.
She even felt her breathing become a bit ragged. When the professor at the podium finally announced that class was dismissed, Nancy felt like she could finally release the breath she'd been holding in her chest.
At the same time, she heard countless gasps for air all around her.
---
"Class dismissed."
William put down the textbook in his hand and announced to all the students.
Watching their sluggish movements as they relaxed, William couldn't help but glance at his own thick paper bag.
"I have four sets of exam papers here. All students who received an 'A' are to complete these papers on their own and write an essay on the Fifth Year material, no less than two thousand words. The three students who received an 'E' do not need to complete the papers, but you must still complete the essay."
William looked at the students, who no longer had the energy to object, and gave a relaxed smile.
"If your foundation is weak, you need targeted training. There's no other way around it. Alright, go and prepare for your next class."
Pulling the remaining exam papers from the paper bag, William tucked the empty bag under his arm and waved cheerfully. "Prefects, please distribute the papers. I'll see you all next week, students."
As William left the classroom with a light step, the group of students, just recovering from the terrifying course, finally realized what had just happened.
"Four exam papers, one essay, two thousand words!"
A boy let out a cry comparable to someone hit by an Impediment Jinx, the echo loud enough to startle everyone out of their relieved, end-of-class mood.
"Two thousand words?"
"Two thousand words!"
The person who asked fell silent. In the past, essays were measured by the inch. This made it quite convenient for professors to calculate the length, and it was obvious at a glance whether enough had been written.
But this method allowed many to find ways to slack off. With larger handwriting and wider line spacing, an essay could have up to one-fifth less content. Now that it was based on word count, cheating was practically impossible.
"Four exam papers? Is the professor trying to murder us?"
"Murder us? Not likely, but if you'd studied harder and gotten an 'E', you wouldn't have to do them."
"Have you seen who got an 'E'?! Is it even possible to get an 'O' on that paper? Nancy—"
The speaker called out to the Prefect from a distance.
"I'm here. What is it?"
"If you could take it again, do you think you could get an 'O' on that exam paper?"
"I missed too many details. If I took it again, I think I could."
...
The two looked at each other and fell into silence.
---
'It seems these kids can adapt to cramming, but keeping up this pace isn't ideal. Besides, magic is different from ordinary exams; it involves practical application.'
Inside the library, William carried stacks of materials while planning his upcoming lessons.
'Considering the previous professor's lesson plans, and following the principle of "sharpening the axe doesn't delay the woodcutting," a three-to-one ratio of theory to practical classes would be best. The practical classes can incorporate a large number of already mastered spells for review, preventing students from feeling defeated by the tedium of failed spellcasting. With that in mind, the workload for practical classes can be increased—anything that can't be completed in the classroom can be assigned as homework.'
'Fifth Year students are the easiest to teach, after all. With the Ordinary Wizarding Levels exams looming, I can just overwhelm them with the practice overload tactic. There's no need to worry too much about motivating them. Plus, they still have two years of advanced classes to complete their understanding of Magical Society, so I don't have to be too concerned with teaching them things beyond the coursework.'
...
By the time William had more or less finished revising his new teaching plan, the end-of-class bell for the second lecture rang.
'It's strange, now that I think about it. Is the end-of-class bell at Hogwarts physically or magically operated?'
With this doubt in mind, William arrived at the Great Hall.
Adams had arrived long ago and was now giving William a mischievous grin.
"Go on, what's the bad news?"
William asked with complete composure. He was all too familiar with that smile of Adams's; it was the same one he wore back in the day when he had to inform someone they'd been summoned to the teacher's office.
Adams raised an eyebrow. "Guess what new nickname the Fifth Year students have for you?"
"The Tyrant?"
"You're overthinking it, William. Unless Dumbledore announces that all holidays at Hogwarts are cancelled and institutes mandatory remedial classes, that title won't be appearing at Hogwarts."
"So you're saying the Headmaster has the potential to be a tyrant?"
"No, I'm saying that after Dumbledore makes the decision, Professor McGonagall, who announces the command, will be the one to earn that title."
"Pfft, hahahahaha..."
William didn't laugh, but Professor Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures professor next to them, burst into a wild, unrestrained fit of laughter—not that he was ever very proper to begin with.
And the old professor's laughter was incredibly infectious, causing a corner of the staff table to erupt in frantic laughter.
Even as Professor McGonagall shot a look in their direction, silencing the group of professors and their unseemly behavior, William still hadn't figured out what his new nickname was.
But just as he was about to press the matter, Adams's ears turned red.
Before William could turn his head out of curiosity, Professor Lockhart's characteristically magnetic voice rang out.
"Professor William, it seems you're all having a good time over here. Might I join in?"
"Of course, Professor Lockhart. Please, feel free."
After a few pleasantries, William quickly understood why the professor, who usually sat squarely in the middle of the dining table, had come over to this side today—he had heard that William had created an exam based on first-year material that was being widely discussed among the students.
"You know, Professor William, replying to all those fans takes up so much of my time. Although I am more than capable of handling my teaching duties, I simply don't have the spare time to create a special exam for them."
*Ahem, Professor Lockhart, you don't need to explain. The entire school knows you don't really have a talent for teaching. You are a great adventurer, but this whole teaching business... it really doesn't seem to suit you.*
However, William didn't voice any rebuttal. Instead, he happily handed over the exam paper.
It was just an exam paper for students, after all, with no money or anything involved, so he didn't mind. Besides, there was a reason he was a bit too embarrassed to mention—truthfully, he coveted the great adventurer's trunk.
*At least three SRs, right?*
(end of chapter)
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
Nancy was in a daze.
The professor at the podium was going over the exam paper at an incredible speed. On the blackboard, a piece of self-writing chalk was wearing itself down just as quickly, reproducing a mountain of knowledge that Nancy had already mastered.
She froze for a moment, then quickly began to copy that knowledge into her notebook—on any other day, she would have glanced at it and ignored it.
'This is just First Year material, so why is there so much knowledge I never noticed before?'
Not a single student's whisper could be heard in the entire classroom. Only the rustling of quills against paper, accompanied by the squeak of the chalk, served as the backdrop to the professor's voice, making the class feel exceptionally solemn.
Nancy had studied the Fifth Year course material in advance over the summer holiday, but the new professor spoke unusually fast, showing no intention of even asking questions. The difficult points, which should have been opportunities for top students to answer and earn points, were instead steamrolled by the professor with copious explanations and examples, making the lesson's pace abnormally quick.
She even felt her breathing become a bit ragged. When the professor at the podium finally announced that class was dismissed, Nancy felt like she could finally release the breath she'd been holding in her chest.
At the same time, she heard countless gasps for air all around her.
---
"Class dismissed."
William put down the textbook in his hand and announced to all the students.
Watching their sluggish movements as they relaxed, William couldn't help but glance at his own thick paper bag.
"I have four sets of exam papers here. All students who received an 'A' are to complete these papers on their own and write an essay on the Fifth Year material, no less than two thousand words. The three students who received an 'E' do not need to complete the papers, but you must still complete the essay."
William looked at the students, who no longer had the energy to object, and gave a relaxed smile.
"If your foundation is weak, you need targeted training. There's no other way around it. Alright, go and prepare for your next class."
Pulling the remaining exam papers from the paper bag, William tucked the empty bag under his arm and waved cheerfully. "Prefects, please distribute the papers. I'll see you all next week, students."
As William left the classroom with a light step, the group of students, just recovering from the terrifying course, finally realized what had just happened.
"Four exam papers, one essay, two thousand words!"
A boy let out a cry comparable to someone hit by an Impediment Jinx, the echo loud enough to startle everyone out of their relieved, end-of-class mood.
"Two thousand words?"
"Two thousand words!"
The person who asked fell silent. In the past, essays were measured by the inch. This made it quite convenient for professors to calculate the length, and it was obvious at a glance whether enough had been written.
But this method allowed many to find ways to slack off. With larger handwriting and wider line spacing, an essay could have up to one-fifth less content. Now that it was based on word count, cheating was practically impossible.
"Four exam papers? Is the professor trying to murder us?"
"Murder us? Not likely, but if you'd studied harder and gotten an 'E', you wouldn't have to do them."
"Have you seen who got an 'E'?! Is it even possible to get an 'O' on that paper? Nancy—"
The speaker called out to the Prefect from a distance.
"I'm here. What is it?"
"If you could take it again, do you think you could get an 'O' on that exam paper?"
"I missed too many details. If I took it again, I think I could."
...
The two looked at each other and fell into silence.
---
'It seems these kids can adapt to cramming, but keeping up this pace isn't ideal. Besides, magic is different from ordinary exams; it involves practical application.'
Inside the library, William carried stacks of materials while planning his upcoming lessons.
'Considering the previous professor's lesson plans, and following the principle of "sharpening the axe doesn't delay the woodcutting," a three-to-one ratio of theory to practical classes would be best. The practical classes can incorporate a large number of already mastered spells for review, preventing students from feeling defeated by the tedium of failed spellcasting. With that in mind, the workload for practical classes can be increased—anything that can't be completed in the classroom can be assigned as homework.'
'Fifth Year students are the easiest to teach, after all. With the Ordinary Wizarding Levels exams looming, I can just overwhelm them with the practice overload tactic. There's no need to worry too much about motivating them. Plus, they still have two years of advanced classes to complete their understanding of Magical Society, so I don't have to be too concerned with teaching them things beyond the coursework.'
...
By the time William had more or less finished revising his new teaching plan, the end-of-class bell for the second lecture rang.
'It's strange, now that I think about it. Is the end-of-class bell at Hogwarts physically or magically operated?'
With this doubt in mind, William arrived at the Great Hall.
Adams had arrived long ago and was now giving William a mischievous grin.
"Go on, what's the bad news?"
William asked with complete composure. He was all too familiar with that smile of Adams's; it was the same one he wore back in the day when he had to inform someone they'd been summoned to the teacher's office.
Adams raised an eyebrow. "Guess what new nickname the Fifth Year students have for you?"
"The Tyrant?"
"You're overthinking it, William. Unless Dumbledore announces that all holidays at Hogwarts are cancelled and institutes mandatory remedial classes, that title won't be appearing at Hogwarts."
"So you're saying the Headmaster has the potential to be a tyrant?"
"No, I'm saying that after Dumbledore makes the decision, Professor McGonagall, who announces the command, will be the one to earn that title."
"Pfft, hahahahaha..."
William didn't laugh, but Professor Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures professor next to them, burst into a wild, unrestrained fit of laughter—not that he was ever very proper to begin with.
And the old professor's laughter was incredibly infectious, causing a corner of the staff table to erupt in frantic laughter.
Even as Professor McGonagall shot a look in their direction, silencing the group of professors and their unseemly behavior, William still hadn't figured out what his new nickname was.
But just as he was about to press the matter, Adams's ears turned red.
Before William could turn his head out of curiosity, Professor Lockhart's characteristically magnetic voice rang out.
"Professor William, it seems you're all having a good time over here. Might I join in?"
"Of course, Professor Lockhart. Please, feel free."
After a few pleasantries, William quickly understood why the professor, who usually sat squarely in the middle of the dining table, had come over to this side today—he had heard that William had created an exam based on first-year material that was being widely discussed among the students.
"You know, Professor William, replying to all those fans takes up so much of my time. Although I am more than capable of handling my teaching duties, I simply don't have the spare time to create a special exam for them."
*Ahem, Professor Lockhart, you don't need to explain. The entire school knows you don't really have a talent for teaching. You are a great adventurer, but this whole teaching business... it really doesn't seem to suit you.*
However, William didn't voice any rebuttal. Instead, he happily handed over the exam paper.
It was just an exam paper for students, after all, with no money or anything involved, so he didn't mind. Besides, there was a reason he was a bit too embarrassed to mention—truthfully, he coveted the great adventurer's trunk.
*At least three SRs, right?*
(end of chapter)
