Lesson 2

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The anticipated moment had arrived, and the second-year wizards at Hogwarts were on the verge of experiencing their own wizard close combat class. The class, once again, took place on the Quidditch pitch, bringing together students from all four academies.

The Quidditch field buzzed with excitement as the first-year wizards eagerly awaited the start of the close-up defense class. Anticipation was palpable, and the enthusiasm was undeniable.

As the little wizards gathered in the classroom, they were greeted by the sight of peculiar practice puppets scattered across the Quidditch pitch.

Professor Ethan entered the Quidditch court with a graceful demeanor, preparing to commence the class. Rather than launching into immediate instruction, he cast a gaze over the little wizards with his amber cat eyes. Those who caught his eye instinctively averted their gaze, and a sudden hush fell over the Quidditch pitch.

After a brief silence, Ethan posed a question, "Before we begin, can anyone tell me the purpose of the wizard's close combat class?"

To everyone's surprise, the first hand raised belonged to Crabbe, a Slytherin student who had been eagerly anticipating Professor Ethan's close combat class for the past few days. Believing he had discovered a way to earn points for Slytherin, Crabbe eagerly shot his hand into the air.

"You may answer, Mr. Crabbe," Ethan acknowledged, somewhat surprised by Crabbe's swift response.

"To lose weight" Crabbe blurted out his prepared answer with eagerness. However, the irony of Crabbe, who was a bit on the heavier side himself, suggesting weight loss elicited laughter from his peers.

Amused by the response, Ethan couldn't help but smile, "Mr. Crabbe, what you said is indeed one aspect. Slytherin earns five points."

Crabbe, reveling in the glory of securing extra points for his house, lifted his head proudly. Even his fellow Slytherin students looked on at Crabbe with newfound astonishment.

"I didn't graduate from Hogwarts. In my school, close combat is prioritized over magical instruction."

Ethan's revelation left the little wizards in awe. They were first surprised to learn that their professor didn't graduate from Hogwarts, and second, they couldn't fathom why a school would emphasize melee combat over magic.

"Professor Ethan, may I ask which magic school you are from?" A curious little wizard couldn't contain his inquisitiveness and spoke up.

"I come from Kaer Morhen, the Witcher school," Ethan responded.

Ethan's answer sparked excitement among the little wizards. While they were unfamiliar with Kaer Morhen and the Witchers, the mere mention of the Witcher's name was enough to captivate their imagination.

Questions began pouring in from the little wizards. As Ethan shared that Kaer Morhen was a school-training witcher specialized in hunting monsters, the little wizards' eyes widened in fascination. Any fear or hesitation stemming from Ethan's peculiar eyes had long vanished, replaced by an eagerness to hear stories about monster hunting.

Ethan, wanting to leave an approachable impression, casually recounted a few of his past monster-hunting commissions. The little wizards listened avidly to tales of Ethan confronting a water ghost that had harmed a farmer, dealing with a griffin that had stolen a farmer's horse, and eliminating a female ghost causing harm in a well. Enthusiastically, the little wizards wished they could have been part of those adventures.

As the class reached its peak, Ethan demonstrated some of his skills. Taking out five flying knives, he turned his back to a training puppet and effortlessly threw the knives without looking, creating a spectacle. When the little wizards inspected the puppets, they were amazed to find the flying knives skillfully embedded at various angles on the bullseye points on the puppet's head, resembling a blooming steel flower.

The move elicited cheers and applause from the little wizards, dispelling any lingering doubts about Ethan's abilities compared to Lockhart's mere eloquence.

With eyes glowing and faces flushed, the little wizards eagerly wished Ethan would teach them the skill immediately, envisioning themselves showcasing it to their parents and friends back home.

Amidst the excitement, Hermione raised her hand, seeking attention.

"Miss Granger, do you have a question?" Ethan acknowledged Hermione's raised hand.

"Professor Ethan, I have read extensively on magic schools and the history of magic from various countries, but I have not found any mention of the Kaer Morhen school. Why is that?" Hermione inquired.

Hermione was profoundly curious about Kaer Morhen after Ethan's mention. Unable to recall any records about it in her extensive readings, she couldn't resist raising her hand to seek clarification.

The once lively classroom fell into sudden silence, as other little wizards also became intrigued by the mysterious Kaer Morhen.

"You won't find any records, Miss Granger, because Kaer Morhen was destroyed in a massacre long ago," Ethan's tone took on a somber note.

Hermione and the other little wizards listened in astonishment, struggling to fathom why an academy with students as powerful as Ethan would meet such a tragic fate.

Choosing not to reveal his identity as a traveler between worlds, Ethan recounted a story of a fortress attacked in ancient times by zealous haters incited by public defamation of Witchers. With the help of a dark wizard, this group of fanatics overran the castle, slaughtering all the Witchers within. Only a few who were away survived, along with the tutor of the school who managed to hide under the corpses. The remaining witchers, working tirelessly, kept the memory of the Academy alive, but now only Ethan remains.

The emotional impact of Ethan's narrative left many little witches in tears, and the other little wizards in solemn silence. It was unfathomable to them that the humorous young professor had such a tragic past, becoming the lone survivor of his academy.

Hermione's eyes reddened with regret, blaming herself for prying into Ethan's scar out of curiosity. Even Professor McGonagall, sitting at a distance and steadfastly observing Ethan's class, couldn't hold back her tears. The poignant tale deeply moved her.

Professors Flitwick and Sprout, having given up on supervising Ethan due to their belief in his competence, saw no danger posed by him to the students. It was only Professor McGonagall, acting on Dumbledore's cautious instructions, who had continued monitoring. She had long sensed that Ethan wasn't a threat and couldn't comprehend why Dumbledore was so wary of him.