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Stepping out of the washroom, Ian found William once again curled up beneath his blankets.
'Perhaps he was sending another enchanted missive home?' Ian, recalling the peculiar circumstances surrounding the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, fastened his robes and made his way to the Ravenclaw common room.
"Good morning, Ian!"
"It's little Professor Ian! He'll be teaching us again tonight!"
The first-years greeted him with noticeably more enthusiasm than the previous evening, some even calling him "little professor" with uncontainable excitement. Their eagerness put Ian more at ease.
He noted the boy who had first called him that; he seemed quite promising. Ian resolved to focus on addressing his concerns and questions during tonight's lesson.
"Look, I brewed this Boil-Cure Potion during breakfast! Isn't this intoxicating yellow-green color splendid? One silver Sickle for tuition was truly worth it!"
Not all first-years had attended last night's lesson, but one wizard was proudly displaying his handiwork, inadvertently giving Ian's little class some advertisement.
Hmm.
'Another promising student!' Ian had indeed taken the teaching seriously, and the young wizards' improvements were undeniable.
It wasn't that Snape's teaching was lacking— otherwise, Ian wouldn't have gained such a significant boost in his Potions proficiency from Snape's notes.
Many students had struggled with the material simply because Snape preferred students who could think for themselves. In class, he would only outline the expected results for each step of the potion-making process.
As for the finer details involved in the process?
Those had to be deduced by the students themselves.
Perhaps, in the eyes of someone as brilliant as Snape, this approach was the most logical. But for young wizards just starting out, it was an immense challenge.
Compared to Snape, Ian's teaching style was far more accessible to first-years; he explained every step in detail, including the exact temperature to maintain and how many seconds to refine each ingredient.
Failures stemmed from a lack of experience.
Ian turned his own learning journey into a structured approach for others; it had a bit of a rote-learning feel but ultimately helped students overcome initial hurdles.
"If you grind the snake fangs a bit finer, the quality will improve. Compare it to a strand of hair— it should be just slightly thinner than that."
Ian offered the tip to a classmate who had yet to touch his breakfast.
With Level 3 Potions proficiency, he had already surpassed many upper-year students. He could easily identify the young wizards' shortcomings and provide precise guidance.
It was a blend of elite wizarding education and hands-on instruction.
"Okay, okay, I'll try again!"
The young wizard received the advice with renewed determination.
Ian left the common room with high expectations.
"Can someone tell me what's going on with the Defense Against the Dark Arts class?" Ian inquired upon reaching the common room, and sure enough, the situation was as strange as Michael had described.
Ronnie Ehrlich had truly gone missing.
Dumbledore and the professors had searched the entire castle, but the professor was nowhere to be found.
The last person to see him had been Snape, and rumors had already started circulating in Gryffindor that Snape, jealous of Professor Ehrlich, had done something to the new teacher.
Everyone knew that Snape had long coveted the Defense Against the Dark Arts position; the gossip spread quickly throughout the school, though the sharp-minded Ravenclaws weren't so easily convinced.
"Who would go that far just for a teaching post?"
"Even if Snape was envious of Professor Ehrlich, harming him wouldn't be a smart move— Dumbledore and the other professors aren't blind."
"Maybe the professor ran away himself. There's always been a rather sinister legend surrounding the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
...
The so-called curse on the position was well-known among upper-year students—they were well aware that no professor lasted more than a year.
However, Ian found it hard to believe that fear alone would drive someone like Ehrlich away. After all, as an acolyte of the old Grindelwald, he had likely come to Hogwarts for his young master, Aurora.
Not to mention, acolytes wouldn't be ignorant of the curse's existence. Given their loyalty to Grindelwald, they wouldn't abandon their mission so easily.
William's grandfather hadn't even been an acolyte, yet his loyalty had remained unwavering throughout the years. How much more so for wizards who had once stood beside Grindelwald himself?
"Aurora might know something, but… discussing the affairs of acolytes is tricky. There's more to this than meets the eye." Ian suppressed his curiosity.
He had only met Professor Ehrlich twice and wasn't familiar with him at all. Whatever had happened to him had little to do with Ian.
After all, it was just another year, another missing Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. If Dumbledore couldn't find a replacement, who's to say Grindelwald wouldn't send someone else?
"For all we know, he went looking for the Chamber and got eaten by my dear basilisk." With morning classes canceled, Ian decided to spend his time in the library. He brought some sweets for Madam Pince, who, in a rare display of warmth, smiled and didn't pressure him to return last night's books.
'The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection'
'Intermediate Transfiguration Guide'
'Standard Spells, Level 2'
'Standard Spells, Level 3'
...
After yesterday's run-in with Peeves, Ian realized he needed to ground himself. Pursuing powerful magic alone wasn't always the answer.
The book 'Advanced Dark Magic Revealed' had indeed provided him with means, but it didn't negate the need for a solid foundation. The coursework across all seven years of Hogwarts held valuable lessons.
A truly formidable wizard.
Must be well-rounded, without weaknesses.
"Dumbledore is the benchmark."
Ian immersed himself in his studies, absorbing knowledge and his talent, which allowed him to grasp concepts quickly, while his personal panel faithfully recorded his progress.
A qualification is permanent.
Provided one first proves themselves.
Mastery of magic and the understanding of theory must always be in harmony.
"Disarming Charm…"
As Ian reached for a more detailed explanation of the spell, the library doors suddenly burst open. Ravenclaw's Prefect, Penelope Clearwater, rushed inside.
"Silence in the library!" Madam Pince shot a furious glare at the flustered girl.
But Penelope didn't stop. She ran straight to Ian.
"Ian, the Headmaster wants to see you immediately."
Her face was pale, tinged with panic.
"Huh? What for?" Ian asked, bewildered.
Could it be that Peeves actually went and reported him?
"Professor Ronnie Ehrlich is dead! I saw the body!"
Penelope grabbed Ian's wrist and pulled him from the library, her grip surprisingly strong. As they hurried down the corridor, she spoke in a low, urgent voice, barely restraining her indignation.
"The new professor was found in pieces. A Slytherin student was the first to discover the body, and that rotten little rat claims he saw you do it!"
(End of Chapter)