It was hard to tell whether Twycross had failed to realize there was a problem with his teaching.
Standing on the platform and facing such complete chaos, he still didn't come up with any effective solution. He just kept dryly repeating the same few lines over and over...
"It's fine, it's fine."
"Set the wooden hoops properly and return to your places..."
"Try again."
There was obviously no progress at all, yet he still had no intention of demonstrating it himself, much less explaining the details of how to cast the spell.
This style of teaching felt almost deliberate.
If you managed to learn it, then you were lucky.
If you couldn't, then it meant you lacked talent.
A few of the sharper students could vaguely sense that something was wrong.
So Hermione, who had already given up hope in that so-called Professor Twycross, could only turn to Draco with a pleading look. "Can't we get another professor to teach us?"
She didn't want the entire morning to end with her learning nothing.
After all, although Apparition came with many restrictions and a certain degree of danger, it was still such a convenient spell that Hermione couldn't help being tempted by it.
Unfortunately, Draco shook his head. "It's obvious Snape and the others have no intention of stepping in. Maybe they have a purpose."
"A purpose?"
"For example, maybe they don't want us mastering this magic too easily, or maybe they want us to understand something..."
Before Draco could finish, a sharp scream suddenly rang out beside them.
It seemed to have come from the direction of Hufflepuff...
Everyone turned at once, only to see Susan from Hufflepuff swaying unsteadily inside a wooden hoop.
It looked like she had succeeded, but in reality, her left leg was still several meters away where she had originally been standing.
That horrifying spray of red blood made Longbottom roll his eyes and faint on the spot.
In a way, although Susan's Apparition had failed, it had still managed to produce a devastating psychological effect.
That terrifying sight and result instantly made all the young wizards, who had been harboring a strange sense of anticipation about Apparition, stop trying at once. Even the reckless, bold little lions of Gryffindor stiffly lowered their wands.
After all, no one wanted to lose a part of their body.
Especially the boys who abruptly clenched their legs together...
...
The first to react to the sudden accident was not Twycross on the platform, but the four Heads of House, who had clearly been mentally prepared for this all along.
Judging by how practiced they looked, this was something they had dealt with countless times before.
In an instant, they appeared beside Susan and gave their wands a quick flick...
Bang!
With a loud crack, purple smoke billowed over the site of the accident. When it finally cleared, everyone saw that Susan's left leg had already been restored.
Even the glaring bloodstains seemed as if they had never existed.
Still, although the Heads of House had intervened in time and resolved the problem perfectly, Susan, lying on the ground and sobbing, still wore a look of deep terror.
It was obvious that until she overcame that mental barrier, she would never be able to attempt Apparition again...
While Pansy and the others were still staring blankly at how things had unfolded, Draco finally resumed what he had been saying. "A bloody example. Perhaps the Heads of House were waiting for exactly this kind of example to appear."
Just as Draco had said.
The young wizards who had been casual about it moments ago, who hadn't taken it seriously and had even treated it like a game, were now all pale-faced as they carefully tried Apparition again.
The more timid ones were no longer even willing to pick up their wands...
Seeing this, Snape spoke in a dark voice. "Splinching, the separation of part of the body, occurs when one's determination is insufficient. Clearly, this foolish student has given everyone an excellent demonstration of what splinching is."
"..."
As soon as Snape finished speaking, the atmosphere grew even heavier.
The bloody smell that had just faded seemed to return to everyone's noses, and Susan's sobbing grew even louder.
McGonagall, clearly having a headache over Snape's somewhat excessive behavior, stepped forward and said, "Remember the three Ds. They are essential if you want to succeed. And don't be afraid of failure. The other professors and I will step in in time."
"I'm not as optimistic as you, Minerva. Still, perhaps we can try a different approach."
Although Draco had no idea what Snape was planning this time, the moment he noticed Snape's gaze suddenly shift toward him, he instantly sensed trouble and raised a brow.
Sure enough.
"I think our outstanding Mr. Malfoy can give everyone a demonstration of what successful Apparition looks like. After all, from the very beginning, Mr. Malfoy has looked completely at ease."
"..."
So this was revenge for Hermione saying earlier that his expression had looked strange?
Surely Snape hadn't somehow noticed the emotional analysis Draco had just been making about him in his head too?
Hermione, who had also realized the reason, quickly shot Draco an apologetic look.
She thought she had dragged him into this...
...
Snape's suggestion had basically shoved Draco straight onto the fire.
If it had been an ordinary wizard put in that position, they would very likely have made a fool of themselves under all those watching eyes and that kind of pressure, let alone agree to Snape's unreasonable demand.
But.
Draco, who was clearly unlike everyone else, let out a soft laugh under the gaze of the entire room.
"It really isn't difficult for me."
"..."
"..."
That confident response earned all kinds of looks.
Admiration and infatuation from the girls.
Envy and jealousy from the boys.
Pride and smug satisfaction from his companions.
Hatred and ridicule from his enemies.
Basking in all those stares, Draco calmly drew the wand hidden in his cane.
He had no intention of convincing anyone with words. He would prove everything with action and results.
"You must keep your focus on the destination at all times. Don't panic. Stay calm... like this!"
Draco stepped forward, raising one foot as if he were about to cross space itself.
As he silently recited the incantation, he spread his arms as though embracing death.
The next second.
That pale blond figure spun gracefully. As his noble robes flared through the air, Draco vanished from where he stood and appeared directly inside the wooden hoop not far away.
That clean, composed, elegant movement left every young wizard present staring in stunned silence.
Even the Heads of House, Snape included, could find no flaw at all in the Apparition Draco had just performed.
If this had happened during a future Apparition exam, they would have given exactly the same evaluation.
That was...
Perfect!!