A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 56: Magical Linguistics Contest

As the Christmas season drew near, the festive atmosphere grew stronger, but the enthusiasm for learning among many young wizards plummeted.

Although the professors kept saying that students couldn't slack off, they didn't apply too much pressure, as evident in the amount of assignments given.

However, this leniency didn't apply to fifth and seventh years. They had to prepare for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels (OWLs) and Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests (NEWTs) respectively, which were the standard and advanced wizarding exams.

Ancient Runes class, fifth year.

Felix Harp emphasized once again the importance of OWLs, "You have only six months left until your Ordinary Wizarding Levels. If you subtract holidays and weekends, how much time is left?"

"Let me calculate for you. Six months, that's about twenty-five weeks."

In the puzzled expressions of the young wizards in the audience, the professor began calculating, "Two classes per week, one double period lasting two hours, and one single period lasting one hour, which adds up to..."

"A total of seventy-five hours."

"Do you have that much study time outside of class? Even if I calculate, it's still less than two hundred hours."

Seeing Professor Harp's regretful expression, the young wizards fell silent.

But Felix Harp was in a good mood today. He decided to conduct a student survey.

"What subject do you think you're least skilled at?"

A timid young witch spoke up, "Does Ancient Runes count?"

"No!"

"Then it's History of Magic," said the Hufflepuff girl. "Professor Binns always makes us memorize a lot of content, and my memory isn't that great."

"He never emphasizes key points in class, unlike other professors who give some hints," a disgruntled Ravenclaw said.

Professor Binns belonged to the type that thought "everything I say is crucial, everything mentioned in class is a potential question." Moreover, he was known for his monotonous and unvaried tone, sounding as though he were reciting scriptures.

His lectures were supremely hypnotic.

"History of Magic... Very well, Miss Salton, Mr. Pardis. Anyone else?"

"I struggle with Astronomy; I always mix up the positions of planets."

"The practical part of Herbology is fun, but I can't remember the properties of magical plants."

"Don't you find Arithmancy too complex?"

"Divination is an absolute nightmare!"

Immediately, someone retorted, "Nonsense! Divination is the easiest!"

"Trelawney is just a lunatic!"

"Professor McGonagall is quite strict."

"Kettleburn's class is always filled with dangerous magical creatures."

"Professor Snape is terrifying."

The young wizards engaged in fervent discussions, quickly deviating from the topic. Felix Harp promptly intervened, wondering how it had escalated into criticizing various professors.

He summarized the students' viewpoints, "So, in theoretical and memory-intensive courses, your performance is generally less stellar, such as Ancient Runes, History of Magic, and Astronomy."

Felix Harp had a sudden idea and decided to try it out, "Let's do this, we'll play a game."

"Two students, please... hmm, Miss Salton and Mr. Pardis, I need your cooperation."

The two young wizards stepped forward curiously.

The young wizards in the classroom suddenly perked up.

"Take out your wands."

Salton and Pardis eagerly retrieved their wands, their eyes fixed on Felix Harp.

Professor Harp's teaching was always filled with various novel twists—this reputation had spread widely among other years, though it was relatively lesser known to the fifth and seventh years.

"Let me think..." Felix Harp flicked his wand, and a nine-square grid appeared in front of each of them.

In each square were nine runic vocabulary words sparkling with magical fire.

And above the heads of the two young wizards appeared two embossed golden names—Petra Salton and Warren Pardis.

"Professor, what's this?"

Curiously, Hufflepuff's Petra Salton asked. A friend pointed to her head, making her notice her own name overhead. Strangely, next to the name was the number "0."

"We're having a Magical Linguistics contest. Next, I'll provide definitions of runic words, and you need to quickly find the corresponding runes and touch the grid square with your wand."

"You need to be faster than your opponent to earn a point."

"The first to reach one hundred points wins."

Felix Harp looked at the two, "Let's give it a try."

He uttered a string of definitions, "Light, illuminating the path ahead, also symbolizing the brilliance of knowledge."

Petra Salton and Warren Pardis stared intently at the floating runes in mid-air. When Professor Harp reached the second sentence, Petra's eyes brightened. She quickly tapped the bottom left corner of the grid with her wand.

"I know, it's Ken!"

As her wand touched the rune, that area suddenly turned into a bright gold, and simultaneously, a "+1" symbol appeared above her head, disappearing after a two-second delay.

Petra belatedly looked at the top of her head—where the initial "0" had become "1." She glanced at the professor. "Did I win?"

"In a sense," Felix Harp said. "I think you both understand the rules now?"

Both of them nodded simultaneously; this game was indeed interesting. Warren, on the other side, couldn't help but tighten his grip on his wand—he had been a bit slow just now.

Felix Harp waved his wand, causing the first grid to disappear, and a second grid appeared in front of them.

"The second word: reward, symbolizing victory, satisfaction—"

Warren quickly flicked his wand to the middle of the grid, watching that area turn into a dazzling gold. His face flushed with excitement. "It's Wyn, Professor."

"Correct answer," Felix Harp nodded, and a "+1" symbol appeared above Warren's head, and his score became 1.

The contest continued, "Poverty, hardship, also representing some form of misfortune."

Without hesitation, Warren tapped his wand on the top left corner, but this time, the area quickly turned into a dismal gray.

"Wrong answer, Mr. Pardis." Felix Harp waved his wand, and a "-1" symbol appeared above his head, resetting the score to zero.

Warren frustratedly clenched his fist.

By now, the young wizards had fully grasped the rules of the game—correct answers gained points, wrong answers deducted points, and the first to reach one hundred would win.

"Harvest, crops, or a growth cycle—"

Petra bit her lip, and Warren fidgeted with his fingers.

"Peorth, Peorth." Some of the young wizards watching couldn't resist and quietly provided the answer.

Petra's eyes brightened, and she tapped her wand on the correct answer.

Felix Harp neither approved nor disapproved; he didn't stop the whispers from the young wizards below, nor did he give the two additional points.

He simply replaced the grid with another.

The two understood the professor's intention: next, they would be competing against the entire class of young wizards.

The two exchanged a glance, both looking a bit troubled.

But the young wizards in the audience grew excited. In the following dozen or so grids, they collectively put their heads together, chirping and chattering incessantly. Meanwhile, the two on stage each only managed to earn one point.

The bell for the end of class rang, but no one moved.

The score was stuck at 99:98.

The young wizards fell silent, not uttering a word.

Felix Harp quickly said, "The power of the sun, conquering demons and darkness—"

"Sigel." Petra's wand tip landed in the center of the grid, causing golden light to sparkle.

"I won, I won!"

Amid her jubilant scream, Professor Harp waved his wand, causing brilliant fireworks to burst forth in the classroom.

"Thanks to both students for their splendid performance. Gryffindor gains ten points, Ravenclaw gains five."

"Now, class dismissed!"

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