"Still can't get through these specialized protection wards?"
Smacking his lips, Evans looked with great regret at the clearing not far away, which was covered by strange patterns.
Just now, they had tested quite a few common protection wards. The most basic wards had no effect on the flash, but slightly more complex ones, those with properties to ignore Portkeys or the Floo Network, the flash couldn't pass through.
Not to mention the large-scale wards of forbidden places like Gringotts.
"This is normal. If it could pass through most wards, then it wouldn't be magic," Professor Flitwick said, shaking his head with a smile. "After all, most magic is limited by magical strength and its own nature. You can never use an Undetectable Extension Charm on a non-container object, nor can you perform Transfiguration on a living creature."
"By the same token, wards specifically designed to counter Portkeys or the Floo Network either turn themselves into the destination of the teleportation or simply turn the starting point into the destination. Since your flash was inspired by Portkeys, it's naturally restricted by them."
"Besides, why are you always thinking about passing through protection wards?"
As he spoke, Professor Flitwick looked at Evans with some suspicion. "I think your ideas are a bit dangerous."
"Haha, it's nothing. By the way, I don't think I've seen Professor Dumbledore for a few days. Where is he?"
Stiffly changing the subject, Evans asked with some curiosity.
Ever since that group from the Ministry of Magic left, Dumbledore had seemed to vanish. He had gone looking for him several times but couldn't find him.
"Probably looking for a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? Quirrell has been missing for a week, and the school can't go without someone teaching the class."
As he spoke, Flitwick shrugged helplessly.
"But you know, with the reputation of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, very few wizards would want to teach here."
"Defense Against the Dark Arts, huh," Evans shook his head slightly.
"I hope the Headmaster can find a fairly reliable teacher."
Thinking of this course, which had changed professors seven times in a row during his own school days, with each one having different teaching ideas and methods, Evans couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts class... was truly hard to describe.
After finishing testing the magic with Professor Flitwick, it was almost noon, so Evans didn't return to his hut but went directly to the Great Hall with Professor Flitwick.
But the moment he stepped through the Great Hall doors, he felt the atmosphere was a bit off.
Many students in the Great Hall weren't eating but were holding newspapers and whispering to each other. After seeing Evans enter, those young wizards looked up, most of their eyes filled with worry.
Hmm, not including the Slytherin students. They didn't look up at him at all but were eating with their heads down. But he saw a sense of impending redemption in them.
What was going on?
Amidst those gazes, Evans and Professor Flitwick beside him exchanged a look, both seeing some confusion in the other's eyes.
Strange.
After a puzzled glance around, Evans shook his head, preparing to eat first.
But just as he started to walk again, a panting little witch ran over from the side corridor, holding a newspaper in her hand.
"Professor Kahn! You absolutely don't need to pay attention to those people's slander!"
Running up to Evans, the little witch handed him the newspaper while trying to speak calmly and comfortingly.
"What slander?" Taking the newspaper from Hermione with some confusion, Evans's attention was caught by a line of text after just one glance.
Evans Kahn: Animal Expert or Criminal Mastermind?
[Author: Rita Skeeter]
[Today, I will expose the most terrifying imposter in the wizarding world...]
This was a report published in the Daily Prophet. The headline was very striking, and although it wasn't the top story, it occupied a very prominent position.
The content of the article was roughly about his experiences in America and Egypt, but after every incident, a large section of subjective speculation was attached, which sounded quite reasonable at first listen.
It directly packaged him as a terrorist who relied on dangerous magical creatures to plunder, murder, and commit arson in reserves everywhere.
At the end of the article, this author even stated bluntly that because he was suspected of killing Quirrell, he would soon be investigated by the Ministry of Magic and would quickly lose his professorship.
After reading, Evans shook his head indifferently.
It was all just grasping at shadows, nothing interesting.
Only the part about Quirrell was actually related to him, but the specific events were vague, clearly fabricated.
However, the person who wrote these things had clearly received very professional training. The accusations were piled on one after another, each more outrageous than the last, almost describing him as the third Dark Lord of modern times.
Uninteresting. Better to have a good meal.
With an indifferent expression on his face, Evans planned to eat first and deal with it later.
But this expression of his seemed to provoke the little witch beside him.
Seeing the somewhat indifferent expression on Professor Kahn's face, as if he had already accepted his fate, Hermione felt anxious and lowered her voice to say quietly.
"Professor, we all know, Quirrell was actually killed by Snape, right?"
"He murdered Quirrell for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, wanting to monopolize the course."
"And you, Professor, were just framed!"
As she spoke, Hermione looked at Evans again, her eyes filled with determination.
"Don't worry, Professor. Even if no one believes you, Harry, Ron, and I will always stand by your side!"
"...Huh?"
Listening to Hermione's explanation, a question mark gradually appeared on Evans's face.
Although the little witch's explanation sounded quite reasonable and fit most students' stereotype of Snape.
But Quirrell was killed by Snape? How come I don't know about this? Didn't I take off Quirrell's arm?
At this moment, Evans felt his memory blur for a moment.
Could it be that, Head of House, you personally went to kill Quirrell and Voldemort to protect me?
You're so great, I could cry.
I won't bad-mouth you for at least a month!
However, thinking about it, that was impossible.
After that incident, Quirrell definitely wouldn't dare to appear in public again, and the Voldemort attached to him wasn't that easy to kill.
If he could have been killed, Dumbledore would have killed him long ago, instead of fishing there.
You don't really think the world's greatest white wizard is some chivalrous person who never takes advantage of others' misfortune, do you?
But, Head of House, if you really had this intention, I would be very moved!
Alas, unfortunately, this was just an illusion.
Thinking of this, Evans's eyes dimmed a little, but he still forced himself to cheer up and gave Hermione a comforting smile.
"It's alright, Miss Granger. These little rumors aren't enough to knock me down."
"It's just a little grievance. In my life, I've suffered more than just this little bit of grievance."
It's just that the people who wronged him would usually be fiercely retaliated against.
"Don't worry, these little rumors won't last long."
"Three days at most?"
After speaking, Evans's eyes flickered for a moment. Three days later would be Saturday.
The forecast for Saturday... Inauspicious for classes. Auspicious for travel, leisure, and taking revenge on certain bad people who studied journalism until their brains rotted and dared to spout nonsense about anything.
Hmm? The format isn't quite right, but never mind.
As everyone knows, if someone slanders you for privately possessing weapons, you'd better really have them.
But if I really do have them, how will you respond?
[Chapter Complete]
***
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