Chapter 318 — The Beginning of the New Semester
No one knew what kind of entanglement had taken place on that remote island.
Meanwhile, the new semester at Hogwarts had officially begun.
Dolores Umbridge continued to serve as Minister for Magic, meticulously drafting and planning her authoritarian "Educational Decrees" to further demonstrate her authority.
She couldn't bear to give up her current position and come here to become some "lowly" Principal, especially as an acting one.
The position was instead filled by Pierce Thicknesse, the former Minister for Magic.
Fudge's former colleague, Umbridge, had transferred him from his position as Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement within the Ministry of Magic.
He was a middle-aged man with a hooked nose and a full beard. Judging from his appearance alone, he was much more pleasant than Umbridge and far less likely to inspire dislike.
If everything had gone according to the original timeline, Fudge would not have stepped down at this point. Instead, he would have done everything possible to maintain stability, creating the false impression that Lord Voldemort had not yet returned.
He would have used The Daily Prophet as a propaganda platform, accusing the so-called Boy Who Lived of lying out of vanity and a desire for attention.
Eventually, Fudge would be controlled by a Death Eater, lose his own will and thoughts, and become nothing more than a puppet Minister.
Compared with that fate, Thicknesse's current situation seemed rather fortunate.
He was much easier to deal with than Umbridge and nowhere near as obsessed with control as that woman.
He liked to stand at the back of the classroom with a smile, quietly listening to the lessons without expressing too many opinions.
As a result, many people, whether students or teachers, felt far less hostility toward him.
Mad-Eye Moody even invited him onto the platform for a practical demonstration during Defense Against the Dark Arts.
As a Hogwarts graduate, Thicknesse was quite skilled. Although he wasn't a professional Auror, he was still able to exchange blows with Mad-Eye Moody, who wasn't using his full strength.
It was worth mentioning that Barty Crouch Jr.'s understanding of Thicknesse's thoughts and personality was indeed remarkably accurate.
Even now that Thicknesse was physically present at Hogwarts, he behaved almost exactly as he had in the original timeline, with little difference in his tone or manner of teaching.
The students were almost confused.
The fake Thicknesse had been nearly indistinguishable from the real one.
"Weasley, come up here for a moment."
After finishing a practical demonstration, Moody suddenly called Ron's name and gestured for him to come forward.
Ron stiffened.
He stood up hesitantly, still unable to meet Moody's gaze.
Moody's magical eye spun wildly in its socket, seemingly capable of seeing straight through him.
The immense pressure felt like a boulder pressing down on Ron's chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.
He had once been carefree and uninhibited, but now that he was a Prefect, every move he made seemed magnified, and any embarrassing moment could easily become a laughingstock.
Ron cautiously held onto the table and slowly walked toward the front of the classroom.
Seeing his embarrassed expression, the students immediately burst into laughter.
The Slytherins were especially enthusiastic. They had always enjoyed irritating Gryffindor, and watching one of their rivals make a fool of himself was naturally entertaining.
Even though the test hadn't begun yet.
In the end, it turned out they hadn't been wrong to laugh.
"Although a Dark Wizard doesn't care about etiquette or morality, since this is our first confrontation, we can at least bow to each other and treat it as a duel. Weasley, what do you think?"
Moody's magical blue eye continued spinning in its socket.
Ron nodded and gave Moody a shaky bow.
"Expelliarmus!"
Moody's wand shot upward.
Ron hurriedly raised his own wand to resist, but he was too nervous to even speak properly. The harder he tried to force the incantation out, the more his mind seemed to freeze.
Moody's wrist flicked.
The tip of the old wand in his hand emitted a dazzling flash of light.
The spell shot forward like a living creature and struck Ron directly on the wrist.
His wand flew high into the air before landing neatly in Moody's hand.
The powerful impact sent Ron staggering backward several steps before he slammed into the dusty wall.
He slid down it and collapsed onto the floor.
"Again."
Moody tossed Ron's wand back to him and let him pick it up himself.
His expression remained completely indifferent, revealing neither pleasure nor anger.
But his dissatisfaction was obvious.
"Okay."
Ron stood up, his body trembling slightly.
He desperately tried to salvage what remained of his dignity. He didn't want to become a laughingstock in front of everyone.
But when Ron's wand was knocked from his hand for the seventh time and flew into Moody's grasp, the laughter in the classroom nearly lifted the roof.
Moody seemed determined to embarrass Ron, completely ignoring the students' laughter.
Ron's face flushed bright red, then quickly deepened into an almost liver-colored crimson.
"So this is all the new Gryffindor Prefect is capable of?"
Pansy sneered from her nearby desk.
The Slytherin students immediately joined her in laughing.
The fifth-year Defense Against the Dark Arts class consisted of students from both houses, further intensifying the rivalry.
Competition between the houses would become an important part of Moody's training.
Especially now that Lord Voldemort had been resurrected, strengthening the students' practical Defense Against the Dark Arts skills was more important than ever.
No one could protect them forever.
More often than not, they would eventually have to face danger on their own.
"Actually, as someone who was previously attacked, I don't have much reason to teach you anymore."
Moody paused.
"But looking at the state you're in now, I'm still more than capable of teaching you. That fake probably didn't teach you anything at all."
Of course, in reality, Barty Crouch Jr. had been quite responsible in his teaching.
After all, if he wanted to deceive Dumbledore, he had to make his performance convincing.
"And Weasley."
Moody's magical eye fixed itself on Ron.
"Suppose that one day Hogwarts also has to join the war against that You-Know-Who."
"As a Prefect, will you stand behind the younger students and let others protect you?"
"Or will you bravely stand in front of them?"
Ron was speechless.
Before ending the lesson, Moody ordered Ron to come to his office.
He told him that as a Prefect, he shouldn't be at such a low level and that he needed proper training.
Therefore, at lunchtime, only Harry and Hermione went to eat together.
Moody had said that he would only let Ron go once he was at least somewhat satisfied with his progress.
Hermione saw this as an opportunity to fulfill the promise she had made to Dumbledore at the end of the previous semester.
She had been instructed to keep as few people as possible aware of the matter.
Even Ron was to remain in the dark.
It wasn't that she didn't trust him.
There simply wasn't any need for him to know.
The secret connection between Harry's thoughts and Lord Voldemort was not something that should be publicized.
Later, in the Gryffindor common room, Harry was just about to return to the boys' dormitory for a nap via the spiral staircase when Hermione called out to him.