Witcher at Hogwarts

Read up to chapter 20 on Patreon for free -patreon.com/Dark_sym

-----

Luna earned herself the nickname "Crazy Girl" among her classmates, and unfortunately, it wasn't merely a playful moniker. Luna was genuinely perceived as different from the other children. Her unique dress sense, penchant for sharing eccentric ideas with anyone willing to listen, and a certain detachment from the mainstream set her apart. Luna became the butt of jokes, often referred to as "Loony Lovegood".

She even used to tuck her wand behind her ear as a precaution and sported a carrot earring.

Classmates routinely played pranks on her, stealing her belongings and hiding them. On the last day of each semester, Luna had to resort to putting up signs pleading for the return of her items. Her unconventional quirks, like using butterbeer corks and carrots as jewelry, made her an easy target for teasing and mockery. However, Luna demonstrated remarkable patience and tolerance in the face of such behavior. Despite being aware of the teasing, she never retaliated and often seemed oblivious to the ridicule.

Contrary to the perception of her eccentricity, Luna was quite intelligent, evident from her placement in Ravenclaw, a house known for its exceptional intellect. However, children can be somewhat xenophobic, deliberately teasing and bullying those who appear lonely, strange, or simply different. Luna found herself in this predicament.

The current situation underscored this reality as Luna was being marginalized by her teammates. Unfazed, Luna continued trying her best to evade the onslaught of the wolf-toothed flying saucer.

Observing this, Ethan frowned and quietly snapped his fingers. The pursuing wolf-toothed frisbee abruptly halted, redirecting its attention to a gloating Ravenclaw witch. The witch initially amused, soon found herself targeted by multiple frisbees. The chaotic scene unfolded as several wolf-toothed frisbees surrounded and attacked her, leading to her cries of distress.

The moment the little witch began crying, the wolf-toothed frisbees lost their force, falling to the ground like ordinary ones. The disturbance quickly subsided, and Luna, seemingly sensing something, smiled at Ethan. He nodded in acknowledgment, understanding that a subtle intervention had been made to restore balance.

The joyful time always passes quickly, and Ethan's inaugural wizard's close-defense class concludes. Nearly all the little wizards sported messy and wet hair, looking somewhat embarrassed yet still eagerly discussing the recent events. Even after Ethan announced the end of the class, they lingered, reluctant to part ways. In groups of twos and threes, they enthusiastically reviewed the intriguing game they had just experienced. There was no doubt that news of this distinctive class would soon circulate throughout Hogwarts, especially the incident with the wolf-toothed flying saucer. The little witch who had been targeted by the frisbee was assisted by her roommate, walking back to Hogwarts Castle with a dazed expression.

Ethan had already noticed the onlookers from the lobbying group. Once the little wizards had departed, he approached the trio of professors and politely sought their feedback on his inaugural class. Professor Flitwick was genuinely excited, offering high praise for Ethan's innovative teaching method. He was so intrigued that he delved into Ethan's teaching experience on the spot, contemplating incorporating some aspects into his spells class.

Professor McGonagall appeared a bit concerned initially, fearing that the playful teaching method might encourage the little wizards to indulge in fun. However, Ethan's subsequent explanation reassured her. He clarified that the ultimate goal was to foster teamwork among the first-year wizards and enhance their physical fitness. Given that Quidditch was the only sport at Hogwarts, and it involved a limited number of players, Ethan emphasized the need to provide more opportunities for the wizards to exercise. Professor McGonagall, after careful consideration, found merit in Ethan's reasoning and apologized for her initial skepticism.

Ethan adopted a serious demeanor when discussing Luna potentially being bullied on campus. Professor Flitwick, upon hearing this news, immediately became serious as well. Being of short stature, he had experienced subtle bullying during his time at Ravenclaw, understanding the impact firsthand. Professor Flitwick assured Ethan that he would pay close attention to the matter.

News of Ethan's first class quickly reached the ears of the first-year wizards. Harry and Ron, listening with envy to the accounts of an engaging lesson, were also a bit apprehensive. Their unpleasant encounter with Ethan at the beginning of the school year made them worry that he might single them out, adding to their existing concerns with Snape.

Hermione, seated next to Ron and Harry, wore a constant frown. Much like Professor McGonagall, Hermione was a person of rigorous standards, finding the new professor somewhat unreliable. When she expressed her concerns to Ron and Harry, the two little wizards stared at her in disbelief.

Contrary to Hermione's reservations, Ron and Harry had a positive impression of Ethan. This was primarily due to Ethan not holding Ron entirely responsible for his injury and significantly reducing the compensation owed to the Weasleys. Ron, especially, couldn't comprehend why Hermione, a Lockhart fan, deemed Ethan unreliable.

"Merlin's beard. The only truly unreliable professor is Lockhart! Professor Ethan didn't release a bunch of Cornish pixies on us" Ron exclaimed, utterly perplexed by Hermione's inexplicable admiration for Lockhart.

"Professor Lockhart merely aims to train us to handle such emergencies," Hermione explained in a hushed voice, her face flushed due to Ron's outburst. Their conversation drew curious gazes from many little wizards in Gryffindor.

Ron and Harry exchanged disbelieving glances. If Hermione's other actions were not entirely normal, they might have suspected that she was under the Imperius Curse cast by Lockhart.

Hermione persisted in defending Lockhart, urging, "You should read Professor Lockhart's book. The content and knowledge in it are genuinely solid and extensive"

"Lockhart might have stolen someone else's knowledge. If he were as good as his book claims, how could he have been defeated by Cornish pixies and fled?" Ron countered, and the doomed debate concluded with Hermione leaving in frustration.

In the principal's office, Dumbledore sat in a chair, cradling Fawkes in his arms, while Professor McGonagall reported on Ethan's class performance. Upon hearing Ethan's reminder to Professor Flitwick regarding Luna, a faint smile played on Dumbledore's lips.

After Professor McGonagall departed, Dumbledore gently stroked Fawkes's feathers, and Fawkes closed his eyes in contentment.

"Oh, the wonders of it," Dumbledore murmured to himself.