Chapter 13: Astronomy Class (Part 1)

Hogwarts had an abundance of staircases, some of which would lead to different locations every Friday, while others would disappear halfway through the ascent. Even some doors weren't meant to be opened, and others were simply solid walls. Fortunately, although Eisen hadn't fully grasped the intricacies of the castle during his previous visit, he was at least familiar enough to find his way to the classrooms.

Like in the Muggle world, the first class at Hogwarts began at 9 a.m. The following morning, after the young wizards had breakfast in the Great Hall, they embarked on their first-ever class.

However, Eisen's plan hit a snag. He had intended to audit the classes, but he found the professors' content too elementary. Although Eisen had only studied magic for a year, perhaps due to his innate talent, he had an exceptional command over his magical abilities. As a result, he progressed rapidly in learning spells.

Previously, Eisen hadn't given much thought to his abilities. But after auditing a few Charms and Transfiguration classes, he felt his skills were on par with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick.

Of course, this was only based on the abilities they had demonstrated. Eisen had no idea how much they were holding back.

Feeling that auditing lower-level classes wouldn't be as helpful as he had anticipated, Eisen decided to change his approach and seek private tutoring from the professors instead.

Over the next few days, although Eisen's abilities didn't grow significantly, he gained deeper insights into magical theory and spell-casting techniques.

Clearly, engaging with experienced professors was more beneficial than self-study.

During the first Transfiguration class for the young wizards, Professor McGonagall demonstrated her Animagus transformation, and while the students didn't understand its significance, Eisen recognized its difficulty.

According to records, only seven registered Animagi existed in the wizarding world, including Professor McGonagall. The number of unregistered illegal Animagi was unknown, but the scarcity highlighted the challenge of achieving this skill.

Although Eisen had no interest in becoming an Animagus, he couldn't deny its potential lifesaving benefits. For instance, the notorious Rita Skeeter, the gossip-mongering journalist for the Daily Prophet, had an Animagus form of a beetle.

Rita had likely spied on countless private moments without being detected, thanks to her Animagus form. Similarly, Wormtail (Peter Pettigrew) had lived as a rat named Scabbers in the Weasley household for years without being discovered.

This demonstrated the powerful protective abilities of an Animagus transformation.

Unfortunately, the animal form an Animagus takes is unpredictable, so Eisen didn't plan to pursue it. More importantly, his natural talent provided him with ample opportunities to enhance his abilities.

On Wednesday evening, after dinner in the Great Hall, the young wizards didn't return to their common rooms. Instead, they gathered at the Astronomy Tower at 9 p.m.

As the tallest tower at Hogwarts, the Astronomy Tower was typically off-limits, accessible only during Astronomy classes.

"Welcome, everyone. I am Professor Eisen Turner, the Astronomy professor. I believe you all know me by now." Inside the tower, Eisen stood by the window, silently casting a Sonorus Charm to amplify his voice, ensuring everyone could hear him clearly.

"Unfortunately, although Astronomy is a required course from first to fifth year, there is only one class per week. That means we'll be meeting here every Wednesday evening." Observing the excitement on the young wizards' faces, Eisen found it unsurprising.

After all, Astronomy was relatively straightforward and an easy way to earn credits, making it a popular class among students.

"Now, the original Astronomy curriculum focused on observing the movements and learning the names of the planets. However, for our first class, I don't plan to ask you to do that." While the standard curriculum began with identifying the planets and moons in the solar system, Eisen intended to make some changes.

"Then what will we be doing, Professor Turner?" A bold young wizard promptly inquired as soon as Eisen finished speaking.

"Of course, we'll have a good chat!" Eisen shrugged and smiled.

"As you can see, I'm the youngest professor at Hogwarts. So, I don't need to put on the stern demeanor of those old codgers!" With a wink, Eisen's remark elicited cheers from the students.

"Alright, before we start, let me ask – what do you know about Astronomy? Whether it's about the solar system or the night sky in general." Clapping his hands, Eisen interrupted the cheers and posed a question.

Immediately, a young Gryffindor girl raised her hand.

"Miss Hermione Granger, please share what you know," said Eisen, recognizing Hermione's academic prowess as a Muggle-born.

"Yes, Professor Turner. I know the solar system comprises one star and nine planets – the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto..." Hermione spoke confidently, showcasing her knack for knowledge.

"Correct, and two points to Gryffindor!" No wonder teachers favored studious pupils; having such students made it much easier to engage the class.

"However, do many of you know why wizards study Astronomy?" Eisen asked another question after acknowledging Hermione.

"To learn Divination!"

"To predict the future..."

Several young wizards called out.

"Precisely, we study Astronomy to learn Divination and predict the future." At this point, Eisen's smile broadened. "Perhaps you're unaware that I lived in the Muggle world for a long time, which has somewhat shifted my worldview."

"Professor Turner, what's a worldview?" A student interrupted, but Eisen didn't mind. He realized that for the isolated wizarding community, the concept of a "worldview" might be unfamiliar.

"A worldview refers to one's fundamental outlook and perspective on the world. In simple terms, everyone has a different worldview – a fixed set of beliefs and perceptions about the world formed through their experiences." Eisen couldn't delve too deeply into the subject.

"Let me give a simple example. Many of you were raised in wizarding families, so using a cleaning charm to tidy a room is a natural concept. However, for Muggle-born students, the idea of reciting an incantation to clean would have seemed impossible before encountering magic. Clearly, this difference in worldview stems from different upbringings and environments." Seeing the students' understanding, Eisen moved the discussion along.

"So, after my worldview shifted, I suddenly felt that using Divination to predict the future is not only unscientific but also unmagical!" Eisen stated a conclusion that surprised the young wizards.

"Professor Turner, if it's neither scientific nor magical, why does Hogwarts offer such a course?" Hermione challenged Eisen's statement without raising her hand, her curiosity piqued by his bold assertion.

Evidently, having witnessed the wonders of magic, Hermione struggled to comprehend Eisen's outright dismissal of an authority like Hogwarts's curriculum, which represented the pinnacle of wisdom in the wizarding world.

"True, although I don't find it scientific or magical, it does exist. For instance, Professor Sibyll Trelawney, your Divination teacher, possesses a natural gift that allows her to predict the future to a certain extent through Divination." Eisen nodded, not refuting Hermione's point.

(Chapter continues)