The light rain that had fallen during the evening had finally taken away the oppressive, scorching heat from the air, leaving behind a pleasant coolness and the fresh scent of wet stone.
As night fell over Hogwarts castle, perhaps due to the torches placed on the walls burning too vigorously, the atmosphere in the quiet Physical Education classroom always carried an unusual fervor, an electric anticipation.
Even the two rows of battered, listless statues of armors on the walls seemed affected by the energy. They were making an effort to straighten their chests and stand at attention, as if remembering their original purpose.
Dozens of young witches and wizards from all four houses who could now rightfully be considered elite, the best of their years were in remarkably high spirits tonight. They stood in loose formation, eagerly looking toward the classroom door in keen anticipation, barely able to contain their excitement.
Whispered conversations filled the air. Nervousness spread from the group to group.
The moment the tightly closed classroom door was finally pushed open with a creak, the thunderous cheers and enthusiastic applause that suddenly erupted in the previously silent classroom created a literal gust of wind. The force of their joint celebration caused visible distortions in the flickering flames of the torches!
Some students jumped, others pumped their fists in the air.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen—"
Bryan walked calmly into the midst of the young wizards, his footsteps restrained and leisurely despite their enthusiasm. He carefully observed each face that had grown somewhat more resolute over the past months, noting the changes, and finally revealed a gentle, warm smile.
"I'm truly delighted to still have the opportunity to continue teaching you Physical Education," He began, his voice easily resounding through the entire space.
"Because Professor McGonagall told me today that she had planned half a month ago to remove a bad apple like me—someone so irresponsible as to disappear for months, from the teaching staff completely, lest I corrupt the other professors with my terrible example."
His tone was light, self-deprecating.
A burst of cheerful laughter rang out again throughout the classroom. Amid the commotion and continued applause, Ernie MacMillan from the Hufflepuff student group raised his hand enthusiastically high and shouted loudly over the noise,
"My father wrote to tell me that the Magical Congress of the United States of America was planning to invite you to take the position of Director of their Security Department! I told him it was completely impossible—you wouldn't abandon us!"
His voice was tinged with absolute conviction.
"Oh, thank you very much for your trust and confidence, Mr. MacMillan—"
Bryan smiled faintly with a trace of amusement in his expression.
"The truth is actually somewhat less noble. President Samuel Quahog of MACUSA and I simply couldn't reach an agreement on appropriate salary compensation, so I came back here where I'm properly appreciated."
The deadpan delivery made it clear he was joking.
Harry grinned broadly from his position in the crowd, his earlier tension was now melting away. Through Professor Watson's humorous little joke, his heart, which had been unsettled and anxious for some time was rapidly calming down, finding its center again.
It felt good to have Professor Watson back.
"My father told me in his last letter that you helped MACUSA defeat an entire group of vampires!"
Cedric Diggory spoke up, his handsome cheeks flushed red with excitement and admiration.
"Could you tell us more about it, Professor? Please? Who's more formidable in combat—vampires or werewolves? I've always wondered."
"There's really not much worth telling, Mr. Diggory—"
Bryan spread his hands in a dismissive gesture and shrugged his shoulders, continuing to smile modestly.
"Perhaps I'm just particularly good at destroying evil forces that threaten innocent people. It's a specialty of mine. In any case, I didn't feel there was any significant difference between fighting the two species—both fall to the right spells."
He said it as casually as if discussing the weather.
"He's so cool!"
Fred gave a loud, appreciative whistle that pierced the air, then joined everyone else in applauding vigorously.
Indeed, that handsome face visible under the flickering firelight, paired with those unusual purple eyes and the genuinely modest demeanor of casually downplaying what was clearly another remarkable achievement worthy of front-page news, truly captivated all the young wizards present.
Many girls looked at Bryan with literal stars in their eyes, their expressions had turned dreamy. Harry, who inadvertently glanced sideways at Hermione to share the moment, suddenly froze in place.
He found Hermione's particularly ardent gaze somewhat disturbingly familiar, triggering a memory.
After a moment's thought, his expression shifted to one of sudden realization—it seemed remarkably similar to the look Hermione had worn when she first met that fraud Gilderoy Lockhart years ago.
That same openmouthed admiration.
"All right, thank you all very much for still welcoming me as the professor of this course despite my long absence. Now then... Miss Granger?"
Bryan called out Hermione's name, piercing through the chatter.
Hermione, who had been listening intently to Professor Watson's every word with rapt attention, hadn't expected to be suddenly called upon in front of everyone.
She responded somewhat flusteredly. She quickly squeezed past Draco Malfoy who was standing in front of her, and came to the front of the group.
"I trust that while I was away in America, order in this class remained relatively normal, Miss Granger? You were in charge, after all."
"Umm—"
Hermione nodded quickly, perhaps too enthusiastically. She took a steadying breath and answered as briskly as she could manage,
"Everything was completely normal, Professor Watson. No one was absent from a single session. Luna was in charge of supervising the daily running exercises to ensure no one slacked off or cut corners, and Neville was responsible for maintaining order during the actual Physical Education class sessions."
She paused to draw breath.
"Um, I was in charge of answering questions when we practiced spells on the suits of armor for target practice... But without you here to supervise, we couldn't conduct the siege and counter-siege training exercises."
"That's quite good enough, Miss Granger, excellent work, in fact—"
Bryan nodded with evident satisfaction, letting Hermione return gratefully to the student group. Then he scrutinized the young wizards who were looking at him with eager, attentive faces, waiting for what came next.
"Before today's actual training session begins, I intend to tell you about some of my plans for this course going forward—"
Bryan began pacing back and forth in front of the students as he spoke, his hands clasped behind his back.
"First, as I've told you all before, Physical Education will officially end before the conclusion of this term, and before it ends, there will be a comprehensive final examination to test everything you've learned."
A murmur ran through the group.
"What will it be, Professor Watson? What format?"
When it came to anything examination-related, Hermione was always particularly attentive and forward—especially for Physical Education, because unlike other 'academic' subjects like Transfiguration or Charms, she wasn't as confident she could handle purely practical assessments.
Theory was her strength.
"The specific content of the examination..."
Bryan looked at Hermione with meaningful intent, smiling mysteriously as he said,
"I will inform you all well in advance, naturally. But not today—it's too early. What I can tell you now is that this examination will be quite spectacular to witness."
After waiting for the young wizards to whisper excitedly among themselves for a moment, speculation running wild, Bryan continued his explanation,
"Starting next academic year, Physical Education will be officially incorporated into the elective courses available for students entering their third year. At that time, I will personally screen the new third-years who wish to participate in Physical Education training to determine who has the physical and magical ability to conquer this demanding course."
He paused, scanning the group.
"What is it, Miss Greengrass?"
Bryan stopped his pacing and looked toward Astoria Greengrass, who had raised her hand.
"I'll be entering my third-year next year, Professor Watson—"
Astoria blinked her eyes and asked in a clear, loud voice,
"Does this mean I'll have the opportunity to go through the initial training again from the beginning?"
"Oh, that is indeed technically the case,"
Bryan acknowledged gently.
"But I don't particularly recommend you sign up for the new course again from scratch. It won't be as intensive as what you've already experienced here—you've had the advanced version. I plan to spread the training across three full years, allowing the new students to adapt gradually and progressively to the demands."
He smiled at her.
"Since you can already keep up with this year's course quite capably, Miss Greengrass, just maintain your daily training regimen. There's no particular need to start over from the very beginning again... Of course, I respect your decision—"
Actually, if given the genuine opportunity, most people in the room would be quite happy to follow the new course to consolidate their skills and fill in any gaps. Many casted openly envious glances at Astoria for even having the option.
The latter blinked her eyes thoughtfully, pondered the choice for a few seconds, then nodded in understanding and returned to her position beside Draco.
"Continuing where I left off in my explanation—"
Bryan went on, resuming his pacing.
"Because the first official Physical Education O.W.L.-level examination will begin three years from now, the older students currently here can no longer catch up with that particular track. The timeline doesn't work.
So, everyone in this classroom right now—if you can successfully pass this year's Physical Education final examination with acceptable marks, then when you enter your sixth year, you will automatically gain admission to the N.E.W.T. advanced class I'll be opening next term."
He let that sink in.
"Of course, since the formal introductory course has already ended for you, you now have the complete right to decline this opportunity. I'm not forcing anyone to enter the advanced class if they feel it's not for them."
Give up entering the Physical Education advanced class? What kind of fool would make such a decision?
One by one, the young wizards gazed at Bryan with burning, determined eyes, silently expressing their absolute commitment and determination.
Not a single person looked uncertain.
Sensing the young wizards' unanimous attitude, reading it in their faces, Bryan wore a satisfied smile. He felt deeply gratified by their dedication.
Magic wasn't necessarily about combat, about fighting and dueling. In today's generally peaceful wizarding world, magic was far more often used to make wizards' daily lives convenient and comfortable through household charms, transportation, communication.
But Bryan always believed firmly that an elite armed force was absolutely necessary for maintaining long-term peace and stability in the wizarding world—something that should never be abandoned or neglected in any era, no matter how peaceful things seemed.
History proved that peace never lasted forever.
The first proper Physical Education class in two long months ended far too soon amid the young wizards' reluctant grumbles and protests. They wanted more time.
Bryan waved his wand in a motion to make the training equipment and spare desks pile themselves neatly against the wall in organized stacks. He gave the young wizards who were lingering, waiting respectfully for him to leave first, a gentle, warm smile of dismissal.
Finally, his gaze settled deliberately on Draco Malfoy.
"Draco, come with me for a moment, please."
The existence of Physical Education class and the tangible physical and magical improvements he'd personally experienced over the months had made the laziness and the aimless drifting caused by having too much characteristics that had defined this young man from a prestigious pure-blood family increasingly thin.
Some of the genuinely bright spots in his personality, previously buried, were now being revealed and strengthened.
Though curious about why he was being singled out, Draco didn't presume to ask what it was about during the entire journey following Professor Watson through the corridors. He simply walked quietly beside him, waiting.
"Go on in—"
Upon arriving in front of the Student Safety Office on the third floor, Bryan tilted his chin toward the door and smiled at the bewildered, confused Draco.
"Professor Snape is inside waiting. Oh, and your father is also there waiting for you."
————————————
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy