Ancient Wizards Return to Hogwarts...

Chapter 512 Suddenly a Madman Sharpens His Knife at Night, the Imperial Star Sways and Mars Rises High

After watching Salazar tear the book in front of him in half, Godric knew something was wrong. Upon closer inspection, he noticed that his old friend's eyes had turned bloodshot, and he understood that Salazar was furious.

Godric's mind was racing as he tried to calm his best friend down. But as the old saying goes, "When a country is going downhill, someone has to sit in the driver's seat and step on the gas." Just when Rice was about to be overwhelmed by anger, Umbridge appeared and poured oil on Rice's raging fire.

"Linte, are you feeling unwell? Should Miss Parkinson take you to the infirmary?" Umbridge noticed Rice's unusual behavior and came around from behind the podium, asking in a sickeningly sweet tone.

She could tell that something was wrong with Rice Lint. Considering that the Lint family had recently donated a large sum of money to the ministry and were favorites of Minister Fudge, Umbridge decided not to argue with Rice and offered him a way out.

"No, I'm perfectly fine!" Rice, still furious, had no intention of accepting this lousy favor and answered Umbridge's question stiffly.

The students, who were already not interested in studying, now focused all their attention on Rice. Harry and Ron exchanged quick glances, unable to hide their smiles.

Rice actually clashed with the new professor? This is way too good to be true!

"I see..." Umbridge narrowed her eyes and continued, "Then please continue reading."

She drew her wand, ready to use a repair spell to restore Rice's textbook, which had been torn in two, but Rice simply threw the textbook on the desk and stood up.

Even though he wasn't an adult yet, Rice was still a full head taller than Umbridge. When he stood up, he was like a small mountain, casting Umbridge in his shadow.

Godric's eyes gradually became unfocused: It's over, things have completely escalated now.

Umbridge, who had been publicly humiliated time and time again, could no longer tolerate it.

The fake smile on her face vanished without a trace, but her voice became even sweeter.

"Rice Lint, please sit down and turn to page five—"

"That makes no sense," Rice interrupted Umbridge.

"What?" Umbridge didn't react for a moment and asked instinctively.

"This book doesn't teach us how to defend against black magic; reading it is a complete waste of time."

Whether it has meaning or not is not up to you to decide. This was carefully selected by the Ministry of Magic—

"Rubbish?"

Umbridge's eyes widened; he could hardly believe what he was hearing. The other young wizards in the classroom buried their heads in their arms to avoid being seen laughing hysterically by Professor Umbridge.

Many Gryffindor students' impressions of Rice were beginning to subtly change at this moment.

Based solely on what was said in class today, they support Rice.

For these Gryffindors, it was simply unimaginable that they would one day agree with what Rice said.

"This book is full of empty nonsense." Rice picked up the pages he had torn out of the textbook, then tore them into strips and threw them at Umbridge's face.

"There are many things we should be doing now, but reading a book like this is not one of them."

Rice's movements were so smooth and swift that Umbridge didn't have time to react before Rice finished the job.

After throwing the textbook fragments at Umbridge's face, Rice's anger finally subsided somewhat, and his rationality gradually returned.

He was still filled with rage, but that rage could no longer interfere with his thinking. Rice knew exactly what he should do next.

He picked up his schoolbag and walked towards the door.

"Rays Lint!" Umbridge's anger finally erupted. "I'm warning you, if you step out of this classroom today, you can forget about passing Defense Against the Dark Arts this year! The same goes for the OWL exams!"

Rice turned around, looked at Umbridge with an expression as if she were an idiot, and then asked a question that would be remembered by the whole class.

"Ms. Umbridge, do you think we learn Defense Against the Dark Arts just to get a good score on the exam?"

Umbridge's face was turning liverish by now. She took two deep breaths and then forced a smile: "What else? A student's duty is to learn the valuable knowledge left by their ancestors and to get high enough scores in the exams."

"Are students who haven't even mastered the Ironclad Charm supposed to pull out their OWLs exam certificates to defend against dark magic when facing a dark wizard?"

Umbridge clenched his fist.

"The Ministry of Magic has highly trained professionals capable of protecting the safety of ordinary wizards—"

"Oh? Really? I heard that Potter was attacked by dark creatures during the summer vacation? Where were the professionals from the Ministry of Magic at that time? If Potter didn't know a few defensive spells, he probably wouldn't be here alive!" Rice looked coldly at Umbridge, trying hard to suppress his killing intent.

His second wand seemed to sense his intention, radiating an astonishing heat in his arms, like a red-hot iron rod.

"Ah—" A look of sudden realization appeared on Umbridge's face. "So that's how it is... Lint, you're still young, and your ability to process information is still lacking. Sometimes you can be blinded by rumors without reliable sources—"

"Are you saying I'm lying, Professor?" Harry hadn't expected to get caught up in the argument while just watching. He had intended to sit back and observe, but after hearing Umbridge's words, he couldn't help but retort.

"In my class, students have to raise their hands before they can speak!" Umbridge made up an excuse to Harry and forcefully changed the subject, but Hermione raised her hand at this moment as well.

Umbridge looked at her, and although she sensed that the girl wouldn't say anything to make her happy, she still called Hermione up.

"Your name?"

"Hermione Granger, Professor, Harry's ordeal has been proven true by the Wizengamor Court—"

"That's not the topic for today, child!"

"Then let's continue with this book. Not a single word in it mentions how to use defensive spells," Hermione said, patting her textbook and expressing a similar view to Rice's.

"I would never allow my students to be attacked in class, so I cannot imagine a situation where you would need to use defensive spells in my classroom. You are not specially trained educational experts by the Ministry of Magic, and you are not qualified to judge the quality of teaching materials."

Our latest learning program and materials were designed and developed by wizards who are much older and wiser than you. You will learn defensive spells in a safe and risk-free way.

Upon hearing "much older and much smarter," Rice and Godric both let out a strange laugh.

In terms of age and intelligence, no one present could compare to the two of them.

Umbridge ignored the strange noises and continued firmly, "I don't want to criticize some of the school's methods, but in this class you have come into contact with some very irresponsible wizards, and even some particularly dangerous half-human, half-beast."

Umbridge's assessment of Professor Lupin angered the Gryffindor students, who raised their hands one after another, announced their names, and then questioned Umbridge.

The situation gradually spiraled out of control until Harry uttered something truly shocking.

"Who do you imagine would attack little kids like you?"

"Hmm, let me think? Maybe—Voldemort?"

When this taboo name appeared in the classroom, many people were frightened.

Ron gasped, Lavender Brown let out a low scream, and Parvati nearly fell off the bench.

"Gryffindor -10 points." Umbridge's face showed a satisfied expression.

"Alright, let me get a few things sorted out." Umbridge walked back to the podium, placed her hands on it, leaned forward, and looked at the students in the classroom. "Someone told you that a dark wizard had come back to life. That's nonsense."

Harry was enraged and shouted, "He's back! I fought him!"

"Gryffindor, another ten points deducted." Umbridge's expression remained unchanged, even somewhat smug. "Mr. Potter, you've earned yourself a day of solitary confinement. Tomorrow evening at five o'clock. In my office."

"Listen up, everyone. The story of the Dark Wizard rising from the dead is pure nonsense. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you will not encounter any danger from the Dark Wizard. If anyone tries to scare you with this nonsense, I am ready to help you, because I am your friend. Now, please continue reading page five, 'Introduction to the Basics'."

At this point, apart from Godric, no one was paying attention to Rice standing by the door anymore.

Harry stood up from his seat and walked into the aisle between the two tables.

"So, according to you, Cedric died by accident? No, he was murdered! Voldemort killed him, and you all pretended not to hear for the entire summer, acting like nothing happened!!!"

The classroom was completely silent.

Looking at the furious Harry, Umbridge behind the podium whose fake smile had completely vanished, and the students in the classroom trembling at the mention of Voldemort's name, Rice felt as if something in his mind had snapped.

He burst into laughter, his laughter growing increasingly manic.

He successfully attracted everyone's attention.

Rice casually tossed his backpack to the ground, then walked back and strolled to the front of the classroom.

"A lousy, third-rate wizard has turned Hogwarts into a mess, disturbing everyone's peace of mind. What a depravity! Hogwarts has fallen!" Rice glanced at the "classmates" in the classroom.

"You don't even dare to call him by his name, and you're Gryffindors! Godric Gryffindor is watching you! I, a Slytherin, am ashamed for you."

"It's time to end this farce, Umbridge. I'm giving you a choice."

Umbridge looked up in confusion, as if she hadn't understood what Rice was saying.

"Resign from your position as instructor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts and return to your Ministry of Magic. You are not suited for this position, and the Ministry has no right to interfere with Hogwarts. This is my last act of mercy and goodwill, and I hope you will not be ungrateful."

Everyone stared wide-eyed, questioning their own ears.

What is Rice saying? He actually asked a professor to resign on his own? What gives him the audacity to say such a thing?

"I am the Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, and my appointment was made personally by Minister Cornelius Fudge—"

So you're refusing to resign?

"How dare you—"

Before Umbridge could finish speaking, Rice raised his hand.

His movements were so fast that almost no one saw what he did; all they saw was Umbridge's head spinning off her neck.

Everyone was stunned, while Godric sighed.

Rice used a Summoning Charm to retrieve Umbridge's head, then said calmly, "You see, there are still situations in your classes where defensive spells are needed. If only you could cast the Ironclad Charm in time."

The students then realized what was happening, and screams echoed throughout the classroom. Those near the door ran towards the door like madmen.

Rice watched them flee quietly, and soon only Godric, Harry, Ron, and Hermione remained in the classroom.

"You were too impulsive, Rice," Godric said reproachfully. "What are you going to do now—"

"Whatever, I just want to have some fun. Do you think if I go and kill Voldemort, it will cause a huge disruption to fate?"

Godric nodded with a complicated expression.

He understood that his old friend had completely lost control, and no one could stop him. Fortunately, he didn't choose the cruelest approach: to wipe out everyone at Hogwarts.

Harry, Rhys, and Godric were completely bewildered. They had no idea why things had turned out this way. Rhys and Godric were clearly talking in English, but they couldn't understand a single word.

They had so many questions in their minds that even Godric seemed like a stranger.

"I sensed the fluctuations of fate; my guess was correct." Rice tossed the severed head to Godric.

"You can continue playing house with the kids, I have to get down to business." Rice seemed to have already heard the footsteps coming from the corridor. He walked slowly to the classroom window, smoothed his hair, opened the window, and jumped out.

Rice, who jumped out of the window, did not fall to the ground, but instead glided close to the ground like a bird.

When Professor McGonagall and the others rushed into the classroom, they only saw the back of Rhys Lint flying towards the Forbidden Forest in the distance.

He left Hogwarts again.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Update delivered, goodnight!

(End of this chapter)