Chapter 31: Dark Arts Defense

Soon it was time for this week's Dark Arts Defense class. Allen decided to ask Professor Quirrell for guidance today, so he sat in the front row for the first time, causing Hermione, who always sat there, to give him a strange look.

Harry and Ron probably sensed that Allen's behavior was unusually abnormal today. They were very loyal and actually followed him to sit behind him, even though Harry and Ron usually sat quite far back in class.

The lesson began quickly. As soon as Professor Quirrell entered the classroom and saw the three of them sitting in the front row, he froze for a moment. For some reason, his expression became stiff, and he spoke more stutteringly than usual. The good thing was that the smell of garlic in the classroom today was not so strong.

So classroom order lost control once again. Students below were doing their own things: some were chatting quietly, some were openly passing small notes on their desks, and some had already started snoring.

Allen heard the two friends behind him whispering about Quidditch, then suddenly silence fell. This piqued Allen's curiosity. He turned his head and found the two had made two "swords" out of parchment, fencing back and forth! Soon Harry lost the "duel" because he was "stabbed" too many times. He clutched his chest as if struck, speaking his "last words" with "difficulty."

It made Allen want to join in. But Allen knew he had a mission today, so he forced himself not to pay too much attention to what was happening behind him, trying to focus on Professor Quirrell and listen to the lesson as seriously as possible.

But soon Allen could not listen anymore because he found that Professor Quirrell, for some reason, was even more stuttering than usual. No one was paying attention to him at all! Everyone was busy with their own affairs, and Allen couldn't figure out why Professor Quirrell could read so stutteringly even from a book.

"Maybe it's severe social anxiety; he acts like this in crowded places!" Allen made excuses for Professor Quirrell in his mind.

Since Allen had put most of his energy on Professor Quirrell today, he noticed that Professor Quirrell would occasionally glance in his direction, then quickly avert his gaze. This made Allen's spirits rise greatly.

"It seems my seriousness has caught Professor Quirrell's attention; I have already been noted in Professor Quirrell's mind!" Allen thought with some secret joy, then straightened his back even more...

But Allen had a vague feeling that Professor Quirrell was not glancing at him, but was always looking behind him. However, Allen quickly drove this thought out of his mind.

"There are only two poor students who don't study behind me; why would Professor Quirrell pay attention to them? Professor Quirrell must be paying attention to me. It seems my plan will make great progress today!" Allen quickly convinced himself.

Then, the next time Professor Quirrell glanced in his direction, Allen felt he should respond to Professor Quirrell's attention. So he took out what he considered his brightest smile and nodded respectfully to Professor Quirrell...

But Allen never received a response from Professor Quirrell, and their eyes never met. Allen felt that Professor Quirrell was playing hide-and-seek with his gaze. In the end, Allen could only awkwardly withdraw his smile.

"It seems Professor Quirrell's social phobia is very severe! I need to work even harder to win his favor!" Allen thought silently in his heart.

The class passed quickly like that. The bell rang on time. Professor Quirrell, who spoke poorly during the lecture, was very efficient at dismissal. Before the bell had even finished ringing, he had already packed up various books and teaching aids, ready to leave.

Allen hurriedly got up and chased after him. The two friends behind him, who did not understand the situation, actually followed and chased up as well.

Unexpectedly, Professor Quirrell walked quite fast. Allen had to jog to catch up with him, but Professor Quirrell ignored the catching-up Allen and walked even faster.

Allen had to call out to stop Professor Quirrell: "Professor Quirrell,

I have a Dark Arts Defense question I want to ask you!"

At this moment, Professor Quirrell could no longer ignore Allen, so he had to stop his steps, looking at Allen with wandering eyes.

At this time, Harry and Ron also caught up. They were panting from running. If they were facing Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, they would probably be very nervous and would not come close at all. But facing Professor Quirrell, who usually had no established authority, they actually came close out of curiosity.

Professor Quirrell involuntarily took a step back, tightly hugging the book to his chest, and stuttered to Allen: "W-w-w-wh-what... is it?"

"It's like this. I have been previewing the Petrification Spell recently and encountered a few questions I want to ask..." Allen said quickly.

"Petrification... S-s-s-spell... We... we... haven't learned it yet. Let's talk about it when we learn it!" Then he turned and left.

Allen helplessly watched Professor Quirrell leave, feeling a bit of frustration in his heart, even beginning to doubt his own decision.

At this moment, Ron came close: "Why did you start learning the Petrification Spell? That's content for next year!"

Allen thought for a moment and still decided to reveal some information he possessed. He said quietly: "I always feel something bad is going to happen at Hogwarts, so I want to strengthen my abilities and make some preparations."

"Hogwarts is the safest place in This is the world; nothing bad can happen!" Ron scoffed at Allen's statement.

Harry had a different idea and reminded Ron: "Don't you remember that three-headed big dog on the fourth floor? I think Allen's worry has some merit."

"Don't think nonsense. If we really encounter an event of that level, having one more spell or one less spell makes no difference." Ron shrugged and said.

Then he seemed to suddenly think of something, grabbed Allen, and asked quietly: "Are you trying to learn the Petrification Spell to deal with Malfoy?"

Allen scratched the back of his head, feeling he couldn't explain it clearly to Ron, and said helplessly: "Where did that come from? The Malfoy incident is already over!"

Ron did not want to let go of this topic and said excitedly: "Actually, the spells we cast now are not very powerful. You might as well just punch Malfoy while he is chanting a spell!"

Harry, standing aside, indicated that this tactic was very feasible. He was also very interested in dealing with Malfoy.

And Allen watched Professor Quirrell's retreating figure, looking at his conspicuous purple turban, with mixed feelings in his heart.

Suddenly, Professor Quirrell turned his head. Their gazes collided, and then he quickly winked at him.

Allen almost thought he was having a hallucination and wanted to confirm again, but Professor Quirrell had already lightly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Allen looked in the direction Professor Quirrell had left, feeling somewhat excited in his heart, and thought silently:

"It seems I still have to visit Professor Quirrell's office!"