In Hogwarts, tardiness is not a rare occurrence.

Most students spend years, possibly without ever figuring out the exact location of the male and female common washrooms on each floor, or which shortcuts, aside from the main castle thoroughfare, offer the quickest route to their classrooms.

If a certain year's "navigator" gets confused, it can even result in half a class being late.

However, such situations usually only occur in the lower grades.

And in this "Magical Masters in Training" class, comprised of outstanding graduates from previous years, apart from the Muggle Studies transfer student, Aileenna Caslana, there has never been another instance of tardiness—as for Bill Weasley, most of the time, people consider his lateness as "the headmaster's task": taking care of Miss Caslana in the class.

Whenever a student tries to tease Aileenna during class breaks, Bill Weasley would vehemently fight back.

Not to mention that as one of the only two students in Hogwarts' history to graduate with straight O.W.Ls, and a senior curse-breaker at Gringotts, Bill Weasley is already one of the top wizards of his age in terms of magical counterattacks and combat.

More importantly, the Weasley family is especially large, and once a duel starts, it becomes a gauntlet.

After several duels in a row, people have tacitly agreed not to provoke the little girl.

As for Professor Quirrell's almost blatant favoritism towards Aileenna, the students don't complain much.

The students in the class are at least eight or nine years older than Aileenna, and their dissatisfaction is mostly directed at Bill Weasley, who uses his privileges to monopolize Aileenna and prevent others from getting close to her, rather than the seemingly quiet, well-behaved, and adorable little angel.

After all, what bad intentions could such a cute little loli have?

"This idiot, if you want to target Muggle Studies, come directly at me! Why resort to mutual destruction right from the start!"

Quirinus Quirrell's mouth twitched slightly, his gaze sweeping over Aileenna's adorable face as he roared inwardly.

The turning point in his life was last year in the Forbidden Forest, the Third Generation Dark Lord facing off against the disgraced Voldemort.

In the end, the young Dark Lord achieved an overwhelming victory.

He witnessed Voldemort groveling on the ground, humbly licking the dirt, a scene Quirrell would never forget.

At that moment, Quirrell thought that if he were to face Aileenna Caslana again one day, he would turn around and run without hesitation or fluke. Now that this life-or-death question was right in front of him, Quirrell had to seriously consider whether this would be his only chance in this life.

He believed that the Dark Lord's forces had achieved such terrifying dominance in the past because Voldemort's strength was crucial.

The world might welcome a witch countless times more terrifying than before, and Dumbledore was already old. Protecting Hogwarts and other more distant matters were destined to be inherited by these younger professors.

And before that, if he was labeled as an enemy in advance...

Professor Quirrell's gaze slowly swept over Umbridge, pausing meaningfully for half a second.

Forget it, although he really wanted to know what the young Dark Lord would do when faced with provocation, if Grindelwald found out that he was fueling the fire, he would probably be the first to die. He should just try to muddle through it.

In short, it was best not to have any vested interests with the big toad, at least... not to die in his classroom.

"The Muggle Studies class on Friday is at two o'clock in the afternoon, Miss Caslana. Please remember not to be late next time."

Quirinus Quirrell smiled slightly, then picked up the chalk to continue writing on the board.

"Alright, now let's continue where we left off. In order to travel long distances, Muggles use steel to forge all kinds of transportation, and use 'technology' to imitate magic, so that they can move on their own..."

"Ahem, cough—"

But Umbridge was obviously not satisfied with this answer, and she cleared her throat loudly.

"Just like that? You're just letting her off with a warning after being so late?"

"Hogwarts Castle is quite complex and vast," Professor Quirrell said, explaining gently, "Not to mention a lower-year student like Miss Caslana, even we professors sometimes get lost. Ten minutes of lateness is nothing."

But Umbridge still didn't intend to let it go, and a terrifying smile squeezed out of her pale face full of fat.

"Without punitive measures, it is easy to create imitation, I mean, perhaps... deducting points and detention."

Deduct points? Detention?

Punish Aileenna Caslana, the Fairy Empress, the Third Generation Dark Lord?!

Fine beads of sweat began to ooze from Professor Quirrell's smooth back of the head.

This vicious, idiotic Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, was she planning to drag him down with her?!

"There is no need for that at the moment," he said, his expression becoming somewhat annoyed. "If you feel it is necessary, then deduct five points from Gryffindor, because Mr. Weasley was late—Professor Umbridge, if you continue to dwell on this, then I won't be able to continue this class. I can't delay the whole class for the tardiness of an individual student."

As someone who had served the past, future, and present three Dark Lords, Quirrell was not afraid of any Ministry officials.

Since Professor Umbridge didn't know what was good for her, he would naturally state his position as soon as possible to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Oh? This young man...

Umbridge narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, pursing her lips tightly, and did not continue speaking.

Undoubtedly, just as she had guessed before, this young professor who had stayed at the school to teach directly after graduation was a veteran "pro-Dumbledore" supporter, and this resistant attitude was perhaps the school's true feelings towards the Ministry of Magic.

And one of the hidden tasks for Cornelius Fudge to send her to Hogwarts was to find a way to find this evidence.

Ignoring Umbridge, Professor Quirrell looked around the class.

"Before Professor Umbridge interrupted me, I was just talking about how Muggles live in a world without magic, and the magical tools they created to imitate magic in pursuit of convenience—"

"Professor Quirrell, I think the students should know what trains, ships, cars, and airplanes are."

Professor Umbridge said with a sweet smile, "At least in this special 'Magical Masters in Training' class, this knowledge is obviously not in line with the Ministry of Magic's expectations. If this can be regarded as a 'Muggle Studies Master', it is too—"

"I'm sorry, this is the third time you've interrupted my class, Professor Umbridge."

Quirinus Quirrell quickly glanced at the smile at the corner of the "Empress's" mouth, and said confidently and coldly.

"Of course I know that the students have seen these things, but there is a fundamental difference between 'seeing' and 'understanding'. If you think that the principles of the above Muggle vehicles are common knowledge in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic, then why don't you come to the podium and explain them in detail? As the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and High Inquisitor, you should know these basic common sense, right?"

"Professor Quirrell, are you questioning the Ministry of Magic's ability to recognize professional knowledge and common sense?"

Umbridge straightened her body subconsciously, and said in a threatening voice.

The students in the class suddenly became energetic, and the remaining drowsiness of the afternoon disappeared instantly. All the students were now staring intently at the two professors, and everyone's face was filled with anticipation and excitement of "fight, fight."

Undoubtedly, as the youngest professor in Hogwarts today, Professor Quirrell is not as slick and sophisticated as other professors.

"No, don't misunderstand... I'm not questioning the Ministry of Magic."

Professor Quirrell shook his head, his expression changed rapidly for a few seconds, and finally settled into a wooden one.

"I mean, the entire magical world lacks the most basic common sense in this regard... Just as Muggles come to the magical world, most wizards, after breaking into the non-magical world, may even have some difficulties in basic self-care. What my class studies is not the technological products that are visible to the naked eye, but something deeper—"

Quirrell picked up the chalk and first wrote "Technology" on the blackboard, then wrote a word next to it.

"—Science."

"But, Professor Quirrell," Umbridge said with a sneer, and she couldn't control the cooing tone she had before.

"As wizards, why should we understand the Muggles' clumsy skills of imitating magic? It's like no one would learn how to cut raw meat in order to live in a giant tribe. The world that Muggles see is not even truly—"

"Professor Umbridge," Quirrell said, his tone was dead calm, "I think I should be the professor of Muggle Studies, not you. If you plan to teach me how to teach, or have an academic debate, it is better to change the time, rather than disturb the normal class order here." He paused for half a second, "Or you can just come up and continue my lesson plan?"

"...Quirinus Quirrell, Professor—" Umbridge's eyes instantly became vicious.

"Please be quiet. If you were a Hogwarts student now, your house would have lost at least fifty points."

Quirrell said expressionlessly, without the slightest intention of compromise.

Anyway, this position was arranged for him by the three Dark Lords. If such a stupid politician could get him fired from Hogwarts, it would actually make him feel relieved. Unfortunately, she couldn't do it.

"I'm very sorry, if you continue like this, I may have to ask you to leave."

They're fighting! They're really fighting!

A burst of excited whispers instantly sounded in the classroom.

Compared to those underage students who have not yet experienced the beatings of society, most of the students in this class have experienced a round of social baptism—which also means that they will have a stronger rebellion in their hearts when facing officials from the Ministry of Magic.

"You! Huff—Okay, I'm very sorry, I was a little impatient just now."

Umbridge looked around the class, took a deep breath, and said softly in a sweet and greasy voice.

A trace of gloom flashed in her eyes, and she didn't continue speaking, trembling as she opened her notebook and wrote on it.

As the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, she had seen too many such reckless youths. Umbridge knew very well that when facing such young wizards who were not afraid of tigers, one must not collide head-on—they would not care about authority when they became stubborn.

As Umbridge took the initiative to admit defeat, the devil's whispers lingering in Quirrell's ears finally stopped.

"Very good, let's continue the class, Professor Quirrell..."

Aileenna raised the corner of her mouth, and the wand hidden under her skirt gently lifted, dispelling the magic.

It must be admitted that this magical version of "one-way voice transmission" improved by the First Generation Dark Lord is indeed quite clever. In the absence of corresponding countermeasures or eavesdropping magic, this magic is too suitable for issuing "Aileenna's Task".

"So, now let's go back to the textbook. I said before that Muggles imitate magic mainly in two ways."

Quirinus Quirrell lowered his head, glanced at the lesson plan revised by the "Empress", and said softly.

"Who can tell me what these two methods are? And in terms of those four means of transportation, which 'scientific' method do you think was used respectively? Those who answer correctly will get eight points of 'Muggle Points'."

All the students in the class raised their hands in unison—except for Aileenna—she listened quietly as usual.

"Weasley, oh, Charlie doesn't need to look back, I mean you."

Quirrell said with a smile, skillfully opened his classroom bonus notebook, and took out a ballpoint pen.

"The rules are the same as before. If the answer is not correct, the bonus points will be halved. The next question will be answered by someone else. After five wrong answers, everyone's homework will increase by 10%, and the person answering the question will have double the happiness."

"Muggles have two major scientific methods: boiling water and throwing stones."

Charlie stood up and answered confidently.

"Ships, trains, and cars should be advanced versions of boiling water. I have seen their chimneys smoke. As for airplanes, this should be an advanced application of Muggles throwing stones, right? Yes, it must be."

"Unfortunately, you only answered part of it correctly." Professor Quirrell shrugged and happily drew a line on the blackboard.

"Airplanes, ships, trains, and cars all use the 'boiling water' method. In short, it is energy conversion, but I'm curious why you think the latter two are throwing stones?"

"...Huh, aren't they?"

Charlie Weasley scratched his cheek a little awkwardly.

"I heard Dad say that airplanes are like that, like being ejected directly like a slingshot..."

"This can only show that the Muggle experts in the Ministry of Magic are not necessarily completely correct, right? Of course, it is also possible that you mixed up what Mr. Weasley said. If it is a rocket or a missile, it is somewhat close to this description..."

Quirinus Quirrell said with a smile, casually glanced at the pink toad huddled in the corner.

He suddenly became curious about how much this temporary reviewer and self-proclaimed noble High Inquisitor could understand.

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Yay!