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Chapter 18: Chapter 18 So profitable

The students were delighted; after years at Hogwarts, they finally had a reliable professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts!

Next, the gossiping students began discussing Professor Dracula's looks, and then moved on to discussing his abilities.

First-year students said Professor Dracula could effortlessly toss out five adult wizards like Quirrell; third-years claimed Professor Dracula was immune to spell damage; fifth-years boasted that Professor Dracula could cast dozens of spells instantly...

Initially, they based their analyses of the new professor's abilities on existing evidence and classroom performances. However, as these speculations circulated among the gossiping students, they became increasingly outlandish:

Some swore that Professor Dracula had been able to duel Voldemort during the war; others claimed to have seen Professor Dracula single-handedly subdue a fierce giant dog; even more wildly, some speculated that Professor Dracula was a devil who had been asleep for thousands of years and would stir up trouble when the time was right...

Supporters of the professor argued fiercely with those who made these guesses, insisting that such speculations were absurd. The professor was so handsome; he could not possibly be an evil devil!

...

During the lively midday, Fred and George Weasley were moving back and forth along the Gryffindor table.

"Let me tell you a secret—our first class of the term was taught by Professor Dracula," they mysteriously shared with students from other years.

"Wood, let me tell you, Professor Dracula didn't even blink while fending off all our attacks. He didn't even flinch!" George said, draping an arm over a burly Gryffindor student's shoulder.

"That's old news. Can't you share something new?" Wood asked disdainfully, pointing toward the Slytherin table.

At that moment, a Slytherin student was vividly describing Professor Dracula soaring into the sky, the scene so detailed it was as if it had really happened.

"Look at what you're saying!" Fred said, jumping up from the bench. "We're about to reveal some fresh first-hand news. Get ready to be amazed!"

"We just had two pots of butterbeer with Professor Kettleburn," George said proudly. "From him, we learned some even juicier news. Want to hear it?"

Gryffindor students gathered eagerly around the twins, excited to hear this more explosive news.

"According to Professor Kettleburn, Professor Dracula once had a brief encounter with Snape!" Fred managed to tantalize the crowd. "He said the two professors had a minor showdown at the hall entrance."

"Let's start the betting! Come and place your bets on who's stronger, Professor Dracula or Snape. The odds are 1 to 2!"

Before Fred could finish, George pulled out a makeshift betting table, with a dividing line in the middle.

"I knew it, Weasleys, it's just another one of your schemes to make money!" Wood rolled his eyes but placed a silver sickle on the betting table to hear the latest news.

The twins looked at the betting board and noticed that most Gryffindors had bet on Professor Dracula being stronger. They exchanged glances, clearly dissatisfied.

So, they turned their attention to Slytherin, "What about it, Slytherin's wealthy students? Aren't you betting on your house head? Or are you afraid of Professor Dracula?"

Hearing Fred and George's taunts, some Slytherin students couldn't sit still.

A haughty first-year boy stepped forward. He had neatly styled platinum blonde hair, a pointed chin, silver-gray eyes, and was tall and thin. Two chubby followers followed him closely.

"Why is Professor Dracula's odds so much lower than Professor Snape's?" he demanded indignantly.

"Because Professor Dracula has much higher support compared to Snape," Fred said with a grin.

"You two ignorant Weasleys, I'll show you the financial power of the Malfoy family!" He pulled out several gold coins from his pocket and tossed them into the mixed pile of copper and silver coins.

Seeing the Malfoy heir placing his bet, other pure-bloods also joined in, placing their gold galleons on their house head.

In no time, with the influx of Slytherin's pure-blood money, the odds for Dracula and Snape became 1:1, nearly even.

Once everyone had placed their bets, the twins huddled together mysteriously.

Fred made a mouth gesture to George—"We've made a fortune."

George smiled knowingly and collected the various colored coins.

"Listen up, everyone, the final result is—Professor Dracula won! He defeated Snape with just a glance!"

A loud cheer erupted from the Gryffindor side, while Slytherin fell into silence.

"You don't have any evidence!" Draco Malfoy said angrily. "Why should I believe your nonsense? You can't guarantee that this news is accurate!"

The twins exchanged knowing glances and, as anticipated, pulled out a large ear from their pocket.

They pressed a button on the ear, and Professor Kettleburn's voice came out of it.

"Oh, you're talking about Dracula? He simply used a glance to drive Snape away!" Professor Kettleburn's tone was boastful. "I didn't expect that with the current poor reputation of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dumbledore could find such a reliable professor."

...

Draco Malfoy, fuming, left, leaving behind a pile of glittering galleons in the wooden bucket under the betting table.

This money might be insignificant to the Malfoy family, but to Fred and George, it was more than a few months' worth of income.

The twins marveled at the pile of galleons.

Just then, an angry voice rang in their ears, echoing through the entire hall:

"Weasley, how dare you set up another betting pool?!"