"Snore… snore…"
The September weather still carried lingering heat. Warm sunlight streamed through three stained-glass windows into the History of Magic classroom, illuminating the rows of old desks so brightly that it almost made one dizzy.
From time to time, snores echoed through the stuffy classroom.
Two of them were especially loud.
"I seriously don't understand how those two can still sleep after sleeping all day," Draco groaned, lifting his head off the glaring desk surface.
He had almost dozed off himself while listening to Professor Binns's lecture and had been just about to nap.
But the thunderous snoring from behind—Crabbe and Goyle—had started first, completely ruining his chance to sleep.
"Maybe the lullaby works too well," Lykos replied casually, forcing his eyes open.
He had struggled to stay awake through several minutes of the History of Magic lecture and discovered that although Professor Binns sounded like a rusty old vacuum cleaner, the content he was teaching contained a lot of information not found in the textbook—some of it actually quite useful.
"…The early British magical community was chaotic and disorderly. Wizards were frequently hunted by other factions, and most were unable to properly cast spells until the late 10th century, when the four founders established Hogwarts…"
Professor Binns floated above the podium, speaking endlessly.
If not for his dry, grating tone, the lecture itself would have been packed with valuable information.
"Lykos, so those disappearing staircases really were traps meant to defend against enemies?" Draco whispered as he leaned closer. "I thought you were just messing with me."
"Of course," Lykos replied lazily with a nod. "Otherwise, do you think Lady Ravenclaw designed them just to torture her own students?"
"…After the 12th century, the increasingly organized magical community formed the Wizard's Council, which later became the predecessor to the British Ministry of Magic established in 1707… However, an even older department existed before the council—a mysterious Department of Affairs with almost no surviving records…"
Professor Binns continued talking without pause.
It was as if he never needed to breathe—which, as a ghost, he truly didn't.
By now, even the Ravenclaw students, famous for their dedication to studying, were struggling to stay awake. One by one, they slumped over their desks.
"Hey, Lykos… do you think he ever actually looks down at the classroom?" Draco whispered mischievously.
Watching Binns stare only at his transparent notes, Draco's mind began wandering.
"This ghost doesn't even care if people sleep in class. His eyes don't move at all. If we sneak out of the classroom, he probably wouldn't notice, right?"
"What if he calls roll before the end of class?" Lykos replied lazily, propping his chin on his palm.
"What's there to be afraid of? I bet he's too lazy to care," Draco scoffed. "Besides, my father's a school governor. It's not like he can expel me for leaving early once."
Without further hesitation, Draco hunched his back and began creeping toward the shadows of the classroom where sunlight didn't reach, clearly planning to sneak out.
"Mal-manure, what are you doing?"
The dry, vacuum-cleaner-like voice suddenly stopped.
Draco froze mid-step.
With the "lullaby" abruptly cut off, the drowsiness in the classroom vanished instantly.
Many of the sleepy students lifted their heads and turned toward Draco.
One Ravenclaw student sitting by the window even helpfully pulled open the curtain halfway, letting sunlight shine down like a spotlight directly onto Draco's face.
Draco slowly straightened up, unable to figure out how the ghost professor—who seemed completely uninterested in students—had noticed him.
"I… my name isn't Mal-manure. It's Malfoy," he said, attempting to correct the professor while frantically thinking of an excuse for being caught leaving early.
"Very well, Malfor. What are you doing?" Professor Binns replied smoothly, though he still failed to pronounce Draco's name correctly.
"I… I had a stomachache just now," Draco said, his face turning red.
"A poor excuse. In my teaching career, I have heard that reason not ten thousand times, but at least several thousand. One point from Slytherin."
Professor Binns's voice remained as dry and flat as ever.
"Return to your seat, Malzahar."
Draco sat down miserably, feeling like a complete fool.
"I'm such an idiot. Truly," he whispered painfully to Lykos. "This ghost has been teaching for hundreds of years. He's seen every trick students try. Why did I think I could sneak out right under his nose…"
"It's fine. At least you livened up the atmosphere," Lykos said approvingly. "Didn't you notice? The classroom that was previously dull and lifeless is now filled with joy."
Draco turned his head stiffly and realized that the once sleepy students were now wide awake, grinning as they watched him.
After all, seeing some entertainment during a boring History of Magic class was a rare delight.
Except for two people still sleeping.
"Crabbe! Goyle!"
Draco gritted his teeth and immediately shifted the blame onto his two henchmen.
"If it weren't for your snoring keeping me awake, I wouldn't have tried to sneak out, and I wouldn't have become the joke of the whole classroom!"
The angrier he got, the harder he slapped their thick arms.
Crabbe and Goyle still didn't wake up.
But Professor Binns noticed something.
"What was that sound?" the ghost asked.
Draco froze again, holding his breath and praying the professor hadn't discovered what he was doing.
"No need. There's really no need to be so polite," Professor Binns suddenly said.
For the first time, his expression changed.
A smile—more painful than a grimace—appeared on his face.
"Just take notes carefully. There's no need to applaud. I'm not such a vain ghost."
He waved his hands repeatedly, as if someone had actually been clapping for him.
"…Lykos," Draco whispered with a strange expression. "Do you think this professor is mentally ill?"
"Well," Lykos said seriously, "teaching day after day without emotion would drive anyone a little crazy."
"Professor Binns just happens to be a ghost, so it's harder to notice."
"And after so many years of teaching, he's probably received nothing but bad reviews from students. That must hurt."
"Maybe… he just lacks a little positive feedback."
As he spoke, Lykos suddenly leaned closer to Draco and whispered a few words in his ear.
"Th-this… will that actually work?" Draco asked, stunned.
"Go on, young man!" Lykos patted him on the shoulder. "Don't you want to make up for your earlier mistake? Or do you want to remain the joke of History of Magic class?"
Draco swallowed hard.
Finally, he nodded fiercely.
"Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!"
He suddenly began applauding loudly while shouting,
"Professor, that was an amazing lecture!"
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