The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

After leaving the red deer herd, a sign reading Big Cat stood at the intersection to welcome them.

Close the windows, ladies and gentlemen. Anthony looked at the safety warning on the sign and said, We are going to pass by respected predators. It's best to maintain respect for them.

Amid cheers, the car windows were closed. Ian began to distribute his snacks again, but to his disappointment, his classmates were now all focused on the left and right windows. The smell of feed and the hairy feeling of the red deer's snout remained on their hands. No one noticed. Come and enjoy his Honey Crucible Cake.

The green-to-yellow grass was cut into two pieces by the road, and water droplets dangling from the leaves splashed on the roof of the car from time to time. Following the slow motorcade, they slowly passed through the tiger's living area. As far as the eye could see, they could only see trees in early autumn, which were no different from the woods near Hogwarts.

Are we already in tiger territory, Professor? Ian asked vaguely, chewing Super Bubble Gum.

Yes, Anthony said, and then he looked ahead and repeated, Yes, Mr. Williams, look in front of you.

Um...oh! Oh my god!

The people behind grabbed the front seats and leaned towards the driver's seat. The convoy had come to a complete stop. A tiger was standing on the lawn on the right, hunched its shoulders, stood up, looked around, and slowly approached them.

It's coming, it's coming, it's coming... Ian muttered softly.

Apart from him, there was no other sound in the carriage. Everyone watched with bated breath as the tiger walked slowly in fascination. Its tail hangs down behind its back, with only the tip of its tail slightly hooked upwards, and its feet are surprisingly wide. Under the striped fur, the rolling muscles are clearly visible.

The tiger walked indifferently past the car parked in front of Anthony, probably because the distance between the cars there was just wide enough to satisfy the tiger. The six students loudly or quietly - but without exception - let out a disappointed sigh, watching helplessly as its colorful fur disappeared between the blue and black cars.

Where is it going? Cedric asked.

Go wherever it's going, fifth-year Ravenclaw Anne Scott said subconsciously. Angelina gave her a strange look.

Sorry, said Anne, that sounds too much like the kind of question our lounge door would ask.

The tiger slowly disappeared into the woods on the other side of the road, showing no interest in the group of moving tin boxes of different colors and sizes. To it, maybe the car is just some weird, unpalatable natural phenomenon that flows along a specific route every day.

…

With this encounter, the students were full of expectations when entering the lion's territory. Angelina, the only Gryffindor present, loudly announced that the lion would pass in front of their car.

“Did you know that lions are social animals?” she said proudly like a lioness. “Lions work in teams and live in groups, so we don’t just see one lion – we see a group of them.”

Roger reminded her: They don't necessarily like to go out on rainy days.

The rain has stopped, the student on Cedric's other side retorted vaguely. He was a taciturn Hufflepuff who seemed to be napping most of the time except for accepting snacks from Ian.

Roger's doubts only strengthened Angelina's description: They will line up and pass in front of us. Long-maned lions, just like the Gryffindor flag; agile and combative lionesses , just like - just like a lion should be; and there are cubs, they will follow the group...

…

But the lions didn't. They did see a group of lions, but they just lay quietly in the grass, like a group of yellow, furry statues with bellies rising and falling with their breathing.

At the students' pleas, their car couldn't go any slower. Anthony felt that they could hardly call the car running but should describe it as lurching.

Why don't they come?

A lioness yawned and raised her head, glanced in their direction, and lay down to rest again. Behind the group, through the rear window, they could see a certain lion passing the convoy in search of a comfortable resting place.

From where we came in, through the zebras, monkeys, red deer, and then to the lions here, the place where they live is all part of the noble manor. Anthony said, trying to divert the students' attention, Many nobles will Opening the estate to the public to maintain expenses or make more money - or maybe just because you're bored and want to do something interesting.

Sure enough, the students no longer stared disappointedly at the lion outside.

Muggle nobles keep lions on their estates? Roger asked. I thought it was quite dangerous for them.

If I had such a large piece of grass and woods, I would definitely want to raise a lion. Angelina said understandingly, Dark yellow, light yellow, brown...

And the monkeys? Anne asked. They were cute, yes, but that's because we were only with them for less than half an hour. They were like the Muggle equivalent of Cornish elves. I I’ve never heard of anyone trying to keep a Cornish elf – some adventurers don’t even know how to cage them.”

You don't believe those rumors, do you? Angelina said in surprise, Professor Lockhart just wants to test the practical skills of the second grade students! Look at his books -

I've read all his books, and there's really nothing in them about putting elves back into cages, is there? Anne said. I'm just saying that he probably brought elves into class without giving it a second thought. They do. Not dangerous, but annoying, and Professor Lockhart is good at dealing with dangerous things.

But he's so smart, he definitely knows what to do! Do you know Malfoy? Professor Lockhart just waved his wand beautifully, and he spit out all the slugs and got the punishment he deserved. !”

Since you mentioned this - even if it does mean that he has strong magic ability, he is still a professor, and he should not use magic to punish students!

If you don't know what Malfoy said, you should go find out! Angelina shouted. If I talked like him, I would be willing to spit out thousands of slugs and turn my neck into a disgusting Looks like this!”

No matter what Malfoy said, Professor Lockhart should never use magic on his students! I mean, come on, he's a professor and he has a hundred ways to punish students that are allowed by school rules, but he chose to use magic ! Next time someone says something that dissatisfies him, will he show off the evil curse to expel the snowman? Will it be black magic next time?

Scott! Angelina stared at her in disbelief, Do you think that word is just 'something that dissatisfies Professor Lockhart'? That is obviously the most vicious word he can think of and say! I I didn’t expect you to be a pure bloodist!”

Girls— Anthony said, but his voice was lost in Anne's reply.

I'm not a pure-blood! Anne exclaimed, seriously offended. I know what Malfoy said, and I think it's terrible, but just because Malfoy did something wrong doesn't mean Professor Lockhart did the right thing. ! Oh my God, I finally understand that Professor Lockhart’s reputation was ruined by people like you who pursue him unconditionally.”

His reputation has been ruined by your slander that you think is objective. Angelina said, On the contrary, I think Malfoy should be taught a lesson like this. Will confinement and deduction of points be of any use to him? Last school year, Professor Anthony almost deducted all Slytherin points——

She stopped abruptly, realizing that Anthony was in the same car as her and was not deaf.

Wow, the lion just roared for a long time, did you hear it? Ian in the passenger seat turned back, That's a really good lion.

Roger said, I heard two.

Cedric handed two packets of biscuits to the front row.

I'm sorry, Professor Anthony, Angelina whispered.

No, don't take it to heart. Anthony said, unable to turn his head because he was looking at the road ahead. In fact, I was quite happy to hear such a discussion, especially after realizing that none of you tried to pull out the wand. . If I could be an argument in that, that would be an honor.

I'm also a fan of Professor Lockhart's books, Anne said. I just...well, forget it, it's really nice to see Malfoy like that.

Angelina apologized to her: I guess I shouldn't have called you a pureblood. I mean, you took Muggle Studies. This is probably the hardest class to find purebloods in.

Anthony took over the topic: Let's go back to the zoo. The zoo is not part of the manor, and I don't think the lions are either. The owner of the manor very innovatively decided to open the manor while adding a little fun, that is, the lion. Voluntarily put himself Humans in cages— he motioned to the slow-moving car, and lions out of cages. Did I mention the word topology?

In the passenger seat, Ian stopped joking about Angelina and Annie and showed a somewhat embarrassed look. Angelina glared at him, but looked equally guilty.

No, Professor, Cedric said firmly. What does that mean?

Anthony began to explain why circles and ovals are equivalent, squares and circles are equivalent, donuts and teacups and people themselves are equivalent after certain simplified approximations, why a lion in a cage is equivalent to a person in a cage equivalent.

Did I make myself clear? Anthony asked, looking at the students in the rearview mirror. They were leaning on their seats, staring out the window at the receding brown tree trunks.

I think I need a little extra research... Cedric said, No, I don't understand, Professor. That's weird.

Anthony smiled and asked, Where does this start to feel a bit overwhelming? Don't worry, I bet this won't show up on any Muggle Studies exams.

When you start talking about sets, Cedric said, open sets, closed sets... I don't really know what that means.

I guess so, said Anthony. That's okay, Mr. Diggory, I assure you not many Muggles in Britain understand.

Professor Anthony, Ian asked breathlessly, as if he was afraid the question might actually be heard, will I pass Muggle Studies?

Anthony recalled the results of Ian's in-class test: Your courses in the first half of last semester were very good, and the second half of last semester was also very good, but there may be other things that delayed it...

Albacore Club, Professor.

Okay. Is it more stressful for fifth graders to face the O.W.Ls exam? Anthony asked Ian and Anne, Miss Scott's grades are excellent and very stable. Mr. Williams, if you really want If you pass, you can read the end-of-chapter summary of each chapter this semester.

Ian nodded sadly: I know...it's just that my uncle received a big order during the holidays and is still replenishing the goods, so he always asks me to help him look after the store on weekends.

What order?

Snake gummies, Ian said.

Anthony was satisfied to find that the slightly stagnant atmosphere in the carriage had been completely washed away by the knowledge of Muggle Studies. When he announced that they were about to drive out of the park and go to lunch, everyone became happy, even Angelina and Annie.