After an indeterminate amount of time, Wade's heart gave a sudden jolt, and he woke up with a start. The room around him was pitch dark, with only faint light seeping through the gap in the curtains.
His whole body felt like it had been trampled by an elephant—there wasn't a single part that didn't ache.
Wade glanced at the time; it was just past sunset. As usual, he recited the Animagus incantation, and his voice seemed to alarm someone nearby. Soon after, he heard someone say:
Soft white light filled the corner of the infirmary, illuminating two familiar figures sitting by his bed.
Wade propped himself up on the bed and asked, "What are you two doing here?"
"We heard you were injured and unconscious, so we decided to stay the night and keep watch. Didn't want those Slytherin lot using this chance to pull anything," Ryan said, jerking his chin toward the side. "Those over there? All Slytherins." Check latest chapters at novel✶fire.net
Wade looked over and saw a thick curtain blocking his view.
Theo stifled a laugh and whispered, "And at least half of them are here because of you."
"So if they want revenge, it's only fair, right?" Ryan added as he lit a nearby candle.
"Michael and the others wanted to stay too, but since they're injured and there wasn't enough space, we convinced them to go back and rest." Ryan explained.
Wade sighed helplessly. "If they couldn't handle it, they should've backed off. If they can't even block a reflected spell, how is that my fault?"
"You can't expect everyone to match our standards!" Theo said. "From what I heard, even the fifth-years haven't mastered the Shield Charm yet!"
"Do you want something to eat?" Ryan asked. "We saved you some dinner—roast meat, sausages, sandwiches, mashed potatoes, carrots, and hot chocolate."
Wade shook his head. The thought of food made his stomach churn. Clutching his midsection, he said uncomfortably, "I just want some water."
Theo immediately got up and poured him a glass of water. When Wade took it, he noticed it was the temperature he liked best—hot enough to be slightly uncomfortable in his hands.
He sipped it slowly, and the warmth began to ease his discomfort.
Hot water had a magical effect on Wade, much like how chocolate worked wonders for Harry—it seemed to cure almost anything.
As he set the glass down, Wade realized his two friends were watching him silently.
After a moment, Ryan finally broke the silence. "Wade, how did you end up fighting the professor to the point of passing out?"
"Exactly. Weigh the pros and cons, know your limits—aren't you always the one reminding us about those things? So why didn't you leave with Michael and the others during the day?" Theo asked.
"Uh..." Wade tilted his head, thought for a moment, then said, "Got a bit carried away?"
Theo and Ryan both smirked and drooped their eyelids, silently conveying: "What a flimsy excuse. I'll pretend to believe it, though."
Wade couldn't help but laugh, but his expression soon grew slightly more serious:
"Actually... It's because I think Professor Abigail is different from traditional wizards. She seems to have undergone some kind of professional, militarized training."
Theo pondered for a moment. "You mean she might be... um... an Auror from another country?"
"No, I'm talking about Muggle-style training—completely unrelated to magic. Physical conditioning, combat, reconnaissance, various weapons... and firearms training."
Ryan caught on. "You're saying she might've served in a Muggle army? That would explain her teaching style—she treats her students like soldiers."
"Are Muggle armies all ? Sounds pretty brutal," Theo asked curiously.
Ryan thought back to scenes he'd occasionally glimpsed on TV and nodded confidently. "Yes, that's exactly what they're like."
"Wow, what a peculiar hobby," Theo said incredulously. "A wizard voluntarily choosing to suffer in a Muggle army."
Ryan turned to Wade. "So you got beaten up just to confirm this theory?"
Wade was silent for a moment before replying, "She seems to carry a gun... I'm not entirely sure, though. I didn't get the chance to examine it up close."
He had tried all the plant-based magic Professor Sprout had taught him, but he still couldn't knock the suspected handgun off Professor Abigail.
Theo fell quiet for a moment, with a little confusion on his face. Then he asked, "A gun... what's that?"
Wade was momentarily speechless.
Ryan stepped in to explain.
"A metal wand," he said with certainty. "A weapon Muggles use to kill each other."
"...Is it dangerous?" Theo followed up.
"If it hits a vital spot, you die," Ryan said, trying to recall what his Muggle relatives had told him. "But if it hits your arms, legs, or stomach, it's like putting a hole in your body."
"Doesn't sound worse than when Harry broke his arm last time," Theo concluded.
"It's very dangerous," Wade said seriously. "Guns are extremely dangerous, and they're incredibly fast. Once a shot is fired, there's almost no chance to dodge."
The two Hufflepuffs' expressions grew serious.
"Can the Shield Charm block it?" Theo asked.
"I don't know," Wade admitted. "And different types of guns vary in power significantly."
Ryan took a deep breath. "Could it be... someone like Quirrell again? Sent by You-Know-Who or some other force to cause trouble at the school..."
"But Hogwarts doesn't have the Philosopher's Stone anymore," Theo pointed out.
"Hogwarts has plenty of things worth coveting, and it's not just the Philosopher's Stone," Wade said. "Still, if Dumbledore hired her, he must know something about her. Maybe I should try to talk to him..."
Though Wade wondered whether the headmaster would still be at the school by morning.
Abigail was a character who hadn't been mentioned in the original storyline at all. Wade knew nothing about her, which made it impossible for him to feel at ease.
Perhaps Dumbledore knew her background, but when it came to the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, Wade found it hard to trust the headmaster's judgment.
—Dumbledore seemed to have a talent for picking the most problematic person out of a vast sea of candidates.
Even Remus Lupin, whom Wade trusted and liked as an older friend, was still a werewolf—a ticking time bomb for ordinary young wizards.
Who is Abigail, really? What is her purpose in coming to Hogwarts? Wade couldn't stop thinking about it.
Of course, her "battle mage" demeanor and straightforward "aesthetics of violence" were equally fascinating to Wade.
The mastery of technique and raw strength were evident in her physique, showcased in her taut muscles, like those of a sleek cheetah—a direct and elegant display of power.
Wade pinched the muscle on his own arm and sighed lightly.
--------------------------------
🙏🙏Please consider supporting this translation project by becoming a P@treon member!!!
Your support is greatly appreciated!
Available on my P@treon page for just $4!!
Early access to the following translations:-
⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +213 Chapters
⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA)(⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 460
⭐Famous Police Detective in Detective World (FPDDW)- +165 advance chapters
⭐Marvel: Little Genius (MLG) (⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 450
[email protected]/Lightreaper457
--------------------------------