——————[Mr. Lamp]... is our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for this term?
As soon as the words left Harry's mouth, everyone sucked in a breath of cold air!
They stared at him in astonishment!
In their minds, buried memories surfaced.
They recalled the terrifying silhouette suspended high in the night sky amidst the soaring flames that night.
That pure white mask.
It had become a nightmare for countless people.
Although [Mr. Lamp] only first "revealed his talent" at the Quidditch World Cup last summer vacation, his incredibly powerful magic—far beyond what wizards could imagine—and his blunt declaration of world destruction instantly made him the greatest threat to the magical world today!
Faintly, he even seemed to overshadow Lord Voldemort!
It was only because [Mr. Lamp] never appeared again after that incident that he gradually faded from people's memories.
Yet now...
"You're saying that terrifying madman is Professor Nuhn?"
Ron was dumbstruck, his face turning pale in an instant.
"He's been lurking right beside us??"
"H-How is that possible!"
"Exactly," Hermione chimed in, frowning. "Dumbledore wouldn't just sit back and watch."
After all, Professor Nuhn had taught them real skills and brought them an unprecedented subspace teaching experience.
Seeing his two best friends refute him, Harry pursed his lips.
A wave of irritation slowly rose within his heart, and he lied:
"I-It was Ethan who told me..."
Ron: "Oh, so that's it. No problem then."
Hermione nodded, full of admiration: "As expected of Ethan! He really has the ability to see through appearances to the essence!"
Harry: "..."
You guys just believe whatever Ethan says!
Have you two been brainwashed by Ethan or something?!
Am I your best mate, or is Ethan?!
Harry felt a sudden burst of anger.
Being an adolescent boy, his temper was flaring. Nourished by the food at Hogwarts and Sirius's place, his sturdy chest heaved violently a few times.
He stared indignantly at his two friends who had started discussing the matter, wishing he could throw these two "traitors" to feed the Giant Squid.
"Since Ethan said so, it must be true," Hermione said, her brow furrowed.
She sank into thought, completely failing to notice her friend's emotions, which were as sensitive and delicate as a cherry blossom maiden.
"To think Professor Nuhn is actually [Mr. Lamp]... it's incredible. How on earth did he deceive Dumbledore?"
The Weasley twins raised their hands: "I'd like to know which Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is innocent!"
"Your Professor Quirrell in first year had Voldemort on the back of his head!"
"Maybe this time, it's just part of the play between Dumbledore and [Mr. Lamp]!"
"Now that you mention it," Justin said in horror, "The reason [Mr. Lamp] always wears a mask might be because behind it, he has that terrifying swirling face!"
"Hiss! That makes sense...!"
"You make a valid point..."
"You flatter me, you flatter me."
With the absolute endorsement of "Ethan said so," the crowd let their imaginations run wild. After some twisting and turning deduction, they reached a final conclusion———————
Ethan being caught by the Ministry was definitely [Mr. Lamp]'s doing!
The naturally evil Demon King of World Destruction disguised himself as a professor and ultimately sent the poor, innocent model student Ethan to the courtroom.
Ethan definitely didn't go in voluntarily.
He was forced!
Detestable [Mr. Lamp]!!
"I-Is that so?"
Harry looked bewildered, his anger fading.
His glasses slid crookedly down the bridge of his nose, making him look like the foolish son of a landlord.
Harry was very confused.
He felt what they said made so much sense, yet something felt wrong.
...But regardless.
Making them wary of Professor Nuhn was enough.
"Alright!"
Hermione clapped her hands together with a snap, summarizing:
"Then our plan to save Ethan requires us to be on guard against Professor Nuhn! We absolutely cannot get caught by him!"
"Actually, the ban issued by the Ministry of Magic forbids us from holding group activities."
"Ethan isn't here, so we must rely on our own strength!"
"Find a suitable meeting place, formulate a rescue plan, and practice spells!"
Hermione thrust her fist into the air, her small face flushed.
Lowering her voice, she shouted passionately:
"The [Enlightenment Society], never give up!"
"Oh, oh, oh———————"
Listening to the passionate shouts of his companions, Harry pursed his lips and ultimately swallowed his suspicion of Ethan.
...Ethan, what exactly do you want to do?
Why deceive us? Are we just kindling for your fire to you...?
Harry wasn't the only one with a heavy heart.
Meanwhile.
Neville kept his face tight.
He clutched his pocket tightly, as if a gold brick were inside—————
In fact, it was more precious than a gold brick.
It was a sparkling golden cup.
Helga Hufflepuff's relic.
Just then.
Bang. The door flew open.
Professor McGonagall surveyed the stiff students standing with their hands raised.
She sighed heavily.
Hands on her hips, she said sternly:
"You may go to sleep now, gentlemen and ladies."
For this incident, all four houses were deducted one hundred points.
But because they were all deducted together, it was equivalent to no deduction at all.
The students exchanged glances, finally feeling sleepiness wash over them.
Swaying as they stood up, they yawned and filed out of the classroom one by one.
Luna trailed behind.
Leaning against the wall, she walked slowly in the shadows.
As she passed a portrait, she suddenly spoke softly:
"Eavesdropping isn't very nice behavior~"
She raised her eyes, her blue gaze fixing on a figure within the portrait.
Curving her lips, she said each syllable clearly:
"Ethan"
The moonlight shifted, and the shadows on the canvas retreated, fully revealing the painted figure.
——————It was unmistakably the appearance of Professor Nuhn!
The iconic swirling face.
The slender figure wrapped in an immaculate suit.
At this moment, he was leaning leisurely against a desk with one leg bent.
He had scared the painting's former owner into squatting under the desk, holding his head and shivering.
Seeing he was discovered, that distorted swirling face twitched.
It seemed to grin.
He raised an index finger and placed it before what would be his mouth————
Shh~
Luna's eyes curved into crescents.
She watched Professor Nuhn's figure fade behind a door in the painting and vanish.
"Miss Lovegood, is there a problem?"
Professor McGonagall asked puzzledly.
She looked at the blonde girl standing motionless in front of the painting.
Luna turned her head, shook her small head, and said brightly:
"Nothing, I was just saying hello to a visitor in the painting~"
Professor McGonagall nodded slowly and urged:
"Go back to sleep quickly, Miss Lovegood. My class is your first one tomorrow."
"Okay, Professor McGonagall."
Watching Luna bounce out of the classroom, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but mutter:
"What a strange girl..."
She turned her head to look at the portrait Luna had stopped at.
Aside from a wizard "sleeping" on the floor, there was nothing.
The moonlight spilled in, plating the classroom in a layer of cold silver brilliance.
For no apparent reason, Professor McGonagall shuddered.
She scanned the room with alert suspicion.
Rubbing her arms, she quickly walked away.
...It just feels like... there's something unclean in the classroom.
Meanwhile.
In the center of the distant North Sea, Azkaban.
Ethan slowly opened his eyes.
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