Tom was immersed in the joy of escaping one danger without realizing he had become entangled in a larger and more dangerous whirlpool.
He opened "Clearing the Mist to See the Future" and began to seriously analyze his future following the instructions in the book.
"Mars and Jupiter are unfortunately in conjunction, which means I'm likely to feel uncomfortable... but it seems that something good will also happen that day..." Tom wrote quickly, completing his interpretation for the next month. In the last line, he wrote, "On Monday night, I will have a conflict with someone due to the appearance in the twelfth house of the zodiac."
"Tom, can you see my future?" Parvati held the card under Tom's nose. Seeing Parvati's gesture, Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm." Tom had turned into an unfeeling divination machine. Without saying a word, he took the star chart and began to predict Parvati's future.
"Hmm... the stars indicate that next month you shouldn't have any major problems, maybe some minor difficulties, like the risk of burns on Monday... this could be related to your Care of Magical Creatures class."
Tom's little joke made Parvati and the others laugh.
"Can you take a look at our long-term future... like in love and stuff?" After completing their assignments, the three girls didn't want to leave. They chatted and surrounded Tom, hoping he would help them see their own future.
"Alright, according to the star chart, Lavender, you need to take the initiative, while Parvati and Padma, you just need to wait patiently... around Christmas, there will be a small opportunity, so make sure to seize it..."
Tom was fully engrossed in his words when he looked up and saw Crookshanks crouched on the empty chair next to him, gazing at him with deep, impenetrable eyes. His expression was identical to Hermione's. It was almost as if they were the same.
Tom quickly pushed the star chart aside, indicating it was time to finish, and they needed to leave quickly. "Don't run into Filch on the way back."
Lavender and the other two finally ended their conversation with some reluctance.
After they left, Hermione, who had been silent for a long time, snorted coldly, "Take the initiative? Wait patiently? And what should I do?"
When the attention shifted away from divination, Tom's emotional quotient returned to normal. Seeing Hermione's reaction, he immediately realized: Was she jealous?
"You don't have to do anything." After saying these words, Tom quickly got up, kissed her briefly, and walked away while Hermione was still processing what had happened.
Hermione touched the spot where Tom had kissed her, feeling annoyed but also amused, and said to Crookshanks, "Do you think he can escape the consequences with just that? How naive!"
Crookshanks lazily flicked his tail.
"Meow!"
The following days passed uneventfully until the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Before the Ravenclaw students started Moody's classes, they had heard some vague comments from friends who had already had their classes. This made everyone anxious about Moody's classes, to the extent that many arrived early to the classroom to secure a good spot.
Tom and Hermione arrived early, so they managed to occupy seats right in front of the platform.
After the bell signaling the start of the class rang, they heard Moody's distinctive footsteps in the hallway outside the classroom; as he had a prosthetic leg, his steps resounded dully.
When Moody entered the classroom, his first sentence was, "Put away your books, you won't need them for my class."
The students got excited immediately: Defense Against the Dark Arts without books, it was sure to be very exciting!
Moody quickly wrote his name on the chalkboard and then began taking attendance. Each student called was subjected to a scrutinizing gaze from Moody.
After the last name was also marked with a checkmark, Moody closed the attendance book and said roughly, "I did some research. Professor Lupin systematically taught you how to deal with dark magical creatures, which is very good. I also heard that two years ago, an imposter replaced the original Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who was supposed to come here and taught you for a year..."
The young wizards in the audience nodded.
"If I ever come across that guy, I'll definitely send him to Azkaban," Moody muttered, "Although he's a scumbag, I agree with his educational approach."
Hearing this, the young wizards in the audience were surprised. They thought that the good and the bad didn't get along, and they expected Moody, as a former Auror, to be against the fake Lockhart. No one expected him to agree with that person's educational approach.
"It's true that all of you lack skills in handling curses, even many adult wizards can't cast a Protego Charm!" Moody slammed his staff on the floor, "So, this year, I will teach you how to deal with dark magic... but what I have to teach you is much more detailed than what that impostor taught you, so you'll have to work hard... time is limited."
Moody smiled.
"In any case, I suppose he talked to you and showed you the Three Unforgivable Curses, right?" After receiving an affirmative response, Moody nodded in satisfaction.
"That saves me a lot of trouble... So, as the first lesson of the school year, I've decided... to take turns using the Imperius Curse on you."
The students became agitated. They didn't expect Moody to openly use the Unforgivable Curse on the students! Tom was also confused; he didn't know if someone like Moody, a retired Auror, would really use the Imperius Curse on common students.
Could a retired Auror really do such a thing? Tom began to doubt Moody's identity.
"But that's illegal," said Hermione, almost standing up in surprise, "Before... it was said that using the Imperius Curse on a wizard-"
"Both Dumbledore and I think it would be good for you to experience the Imperius Curse," Moody's two eyes looked at Hermione simultaneously, and he said firmly, "You need to have an idea of what it feels like so that in the future, when subjected to this curse, you can respond better and even free yourself from the control of the Imperius Curse. I'm sorry, Miss Granger, but it's necessary."
With that said, Moody waved his wand and cleared a large space in the center of the classroom. After arranging the area, Moody began asking students to approach one by one to receive the Imperius Curse. Under the effect of the Imperius Curse, they all started acting unusually: some began to dance frenetically, others started exercising in the classroom, and Seamus even astonishingly mimicked a rabbit.
"Hermione Granger." Finally, Moody called Hermione by name. She walked to the center of the classroom with some unease.