Never had any news spread so quickly at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
From the first two periods of class on Thursday morning until lunch, in just half a morning, news of the unheard-of and novel teaching methods of Professor Ares Delfino, the new addition to the teaching staff this year, had spread throughout the entire school.
Of course, the professors definitely got the news a bit later.
However, they were equally very interested.
After all, for teachers, daily life at Hogwarts was actually quite monotonous.
They weren't like students, full of vitality and holding a keen interest in everything.
Besides the repetitive and heavy teaching work day after day, there weren't many novelties worth their energy.
So—
The timid Neville Longbottom might have the potential to develop into a "gossip monger" in the future, but among the teaching staff, the Head of Ravenclaw House, Professor Flitwick, who was always friendly with students, could be counted as an experienced "know-it-all."
"I heard about the entire process of your two classes this morning, Ares!"
Professor Flitwick's voice was always particularly high-pitched when he was excited.
In the Great Hall, students were still trickling in from all directions, while the staff had arrived earlier.
Professor Flitwick jumped onto his high stool, and before he could even stand steadily, he put on a beaming, excited expression and leaned close to the drowsy Ares.
"In all my years of teaching, I've never heard of such an imaginative and novel teaching method!"
Just hearing Professor Flitwick's voice, one knew something new must have happened.
The other professors at the table, regardless of what they were doing, cast interested glances at Ares. Of course, this included Dumbledore sitting in the large golden chair—the surface of his blue eyes sparkled with interest, but deep down, there was a flicker of unease.
"Imaginative and novel teaching method?!"
Of course, Dumbledore wasn't the only one feeling uneasy. Before Ares could respond, Professor McGonagall jumped out first.
She wasn't as enthusiastic as her colleagues... instead, she put on a stern face.
"Sounds like you've overturned some traditions, Ares?"
"Oh, exactly!"
Professor Flitwick said excitedly.
"Ares let the students study completely on their own!"
"Completely on their own?!"
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows shot up to her hairline, her brown eyes sharp as a falcon's.
"I..."
Ares tried to explain, but Professor Flitwick beat him to it again.
"Oh, yes, but Ares came up with an excellent way to motivate the students—I heard it went like this... blah blah blah!"
Professor Flitwick chattered incessantly for a full twenty minutes, perfectly recreating the match between the Slytherin team and the other three houses this morning. By the time he finished and paused for breath, the previously empty Great Hall was almost full!
And the professors at the staff table, after listening, collectively fell into a stupor.
Novel teaching method...
They could understand this point, but Ares's teaching method wasn't just novel; it was completely unrestrained, a total subversion of traditional teaching!
Severus was the first to snap out of it. After hearing the entire confrontation process, he first glared angrily at Draco Malfoy, who looked gloomy and unwilling in the hall below, then lost interest in the matter and lowered his head to start eating.
"This sounds—"
The second to speak was Madam Hooch. She looked at Ares with slight displeasure.
"—like an alternative Quidditch match, Ares... But the first-year students haven't undergone systematic flight training yet!"
"No wonder!"
The librarian also voiced her opinion. Compared to Madam Hooch's veiled dissatisfaction, her angry expression was much more direct.
"A bunch of students swarmed into the library this morning, clamoring for books about Nogtails and Red Caps. Order was completely out of control!"
"So, I did manage to mobilize the young wizards' enthusiasm?"
Ares smiled, picking up his fork to start eating roasted chicken wings.
"This isn't a matter of enthusiasm, Professor Delfino!"
Madam Pomfrey pulled a long face.
"There are still several students with broken bones lying in the Hospital Wing, needing constant care. I don't have extra energy... Minerva, you say something too!"
Madam Pomfrey suddenly dragged Professor McGonagall into it.
Strangely, Professor McGonagall, who had jumped up first, remained unusually silent after hearing Professor Flitwick describe the "Protect the Captain" competition. Her black eyes behind the square frames even flickered with a sheen... as if suppressing something.
"What do you want me to say, Poppy... Oh—um!"
Professor McGonagall snapped back to reality. First, she glared at Ares, then turned her head to look at Dumbledore, her tone very cautious.
"How do you view this matter, Albus... I mean Ares's teaching method?"
Dumbledore, with slightly furrowed brows, pondered for a moment before looking at Ares. With just one glance, his heart tightened.
He found Ares staring at him with expectant eyes... That definitely wasn't expecting praise for his novel teaching method.
So, what was he expecting?
As a "veteran of the workplace"... no, Dumbledore, who had conscientiously engaged in education for most of a century, thought for a moment and said gently:
"Hmm... how should I put it, it's inconvenient for me to draw a conclusion for the time being, Minerva..."
"What do you mean inconvenient to draw a conclusion, Albus!"
Professor McGonagall was not easily fooled. Her "workplace experience" was actually not much less than Dumbledore's.
Glaring at Severus, whose lips curled into a sneer, Professor McGonagall glared "coldly" at Dumbledore.
"Of course you have to express an opinion, Albus. You are the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, aren't you? Moreover, you personally invited Ares!"
"I look forward to your objective and fair evaluation, Professor Dumbledore."
Ares also stretched his head over, looking at Dumbledore with a beaming smile.
"Do you think I should continue this kind of teaching?"
The atmosphere at the staff table suddenly became a bit tense, but Professor Flitwick didn't seem to notice. He maintained his beaming expression.
"Of course you should continue, Ares. I even want to try it myself... Is it possible to have a staff 'Protect the Captain' match?"
Honestly, Professor Flitwick's proposal actually received some support.
For example, Professor Kettleburn shouted:
"Although my rheumatic arthritis tortures me day and night, Ares, I'd be happy to try—of course, I'd have to write a will first, in case I die on the field, haha!"