This was the classroom for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Colored light streamed through the stained glass windows and spilled across the floor in shifting patterns of red, gold, and green.
"Bah, the old man's gone soft!" Ian slouched in his seat, sighing inwardly. He was convinced that Grindelwald had grown senile. How else could he have overlooked the fact that Ian was clearly the best substitute teacher?
Serpensortia... What a dull spell. The true path of Defense Against the Dark Arts is fighting dark magic with dark magic! "Crucio" countered with "Crucio," "Avada Kedavra" clashing against "Avada Kedavra." Now, that was the real meaning of fighting poison with poison. If one could chant "Avada" quickly enough, what Dark wizard could stand against them?
"My good friend still isn't bold enough."
Ian twirled his wand idly, occasionally glancing up at the professor's desk where "Lockhart", that is, Aurora in disguise, stood.
Wearing Lockhart's face and dressed in the professor's robes, Aurora stood tall and composed. She was fully absorbed in explaining the proper way to cast Serpensortia.
"Serpensortia, an ancient and dangerous defensive spell."
Her voice was soft yet clear, and her lips curved into a gentle smile. But, unlike the Lockhart of yesterday, there was patience behind that smile.
"This spell allows the caster to summon a venomous snake, an offensive creature meant to fend off the forces of darkness. But take heed: use this magic with caution. If you lose control, the consequences could be disastrous."
"The incantation must be spoken carefully: Serpensortia. Pay special attention to the second syllable, it should rise slightly, and on the 'ser,' the tip of your tongue should lightly press against the roof of your mouth."
As she spoke, she demonstrated, her wand moving with grace and precision, every flick a textbook example. "And remember, the grip is important. Keep your wrist relaxed. Only then can you channel your magic properly."
One had to admit, Disguised as "Professor Lockhart," Aurora explained the spell far more thoroughly and patiently than Grindelwald ever had. Her foundation was solid. From the articulation of the incantation to the precise wand movement, everything was clear. The students were enraptured.
Ian let his gaze drift across the classroom. One by one, his classmates sat up straight, eyes fixed on Aurora. This always happened when learning offensive magic, everyone became serious all of a sudden.
Perhaps it was the violent streak buried deep in every Hogwarts student's heart.
Next came Aurora's questions.
She deliberately ignored Ian's hand, which was already raised so high that it nearly brushed the ceiling, and instead called on students who she knew struggled the most.
After they fumbled through their answers, she offered targeted feedback, patient corrections, and encouragement.
No one understood students better than another student.
Once she was satisfied that the class had grasped the theoretical basics, Aurora clapped her hands lightly and smiled. "Now, pair up. One of you will cast the spell to attack, and the other will defend. Practical application is the only true test of mastery."
Her voice was gentle yet firm, leaving no room for refusal.
The students stiffened for a moment but then let out breaths of relief almost in unison. Ian looked around, noting the way everyone's faces relaxed.
Of course. Compared to the horrors they had been forced to face in previous lessons, creatures designed to scar them for life, today, they only needed to deal with conjured magical snakes.
For children living under Grindelwald's constant psychological shadow, this was nothing short of paradise.
The classroom immediately buzzed with whispers as everyone began searching for a partner.
Ian did the same. Confident as ever, he stood up, certain that finding a partner for the duel would be effortless, after all, he had always prided himself on being popular.
Well, maybe it wasn't exactly vanity.
His popularity was genuine. But the moment the other students realized he wanted to team up with them, almost every single one of them shook their heads in timid hesitation.
Was being too strong a fault?
Sometimes, yes.
Clearly, no one had the courage to team up with Ian, whose reputation at Hogwarts was legendary. Stories about Ian and the Slytherin clique were still the stuff of myth among the students.
"Cho Chang, want to team up with me?" Ian turned toward the Asian girl nearby, offering a friendly smile. Yet, even the usually outgoing Cho Chang hesitated and shook her head.
"I don't want to end up in the infirmary." Compared to the others, Cho spoke plainly. Like Ian's two roommates, she had no desire to become one of his "easy defeats."
"Plastic friendships! All plastic friendships!"
After hitting so many dead ends, the students couldn't help but sigh dramatically. Just then, Aurora, who had been standing on the professor's desk a moment ago, still wearing Lockhart's face, appeared nearby.
"Looks like Ian can't find a partner," Aurora announced in a loud, clear voice, with a hint of amusement in her tone. Adopting Lockhart's exaggerated style, she glanced around at the other students.
"How about Ian and I give a demonstration for everyone?" Her eyes sparkled slightly as though she were secretly hoping for something.
Ian was momentarily speechless.
The students quickly agreed, thinking it was a brilliant idea.
"Perfect!"
"Ian should duel the professor!"
"This will be a duel between two super wizards! It's going to be amazing!"
The classroom erupted in cheers of approval.
It had to be said that Lockhart's persona, crafted under Grindelwald's guidance, carried significant weight in the minds of the Hogwarts students. Some even claimed that he would surpass Dumbledore in the future.
And with such an image firmly in their minds, seeing Ian spar with "Lockhart" only reinforced how formidable they believed him to be.
"Me... duel with you... the professor?" Ian looked at Aurora, noticing her deep blue eyes sparkling with curiosity and challenge.
Suddenly, he understood.
"All right then."
He fixed his gaze on his friend, who despite wearing someone else's face, retained her quietly competitive personality. This was no longer the first time he had met Aurora.
Now, the gap between them was significant, but Ian wasn't reckless. He certainly wouldn't overpower a girl. He decided that making Aurora cry once would demonstrate high emotional intelligence.
"You don't mind?"
Aurora's eyes met his.
"Of course not," Ian replied, twirling his wand deftly between his fingers. A few younger girls nearby murmured in awe. The little tricks he had learned from Riddle certainly had flair when it came to showing off.
The two of them moved to the center of the classroom and stood face to face. The other students automatically formed a circle around them, their faces brimming with anticipation and their eyes fixed on the pair.
As Aurora lightly drew her wand, the two of them bowed to each other. A scene resembling a proper wizarding duel quietly began to unfold.
"Professor, why don't you cast the spell first and then guide me?" Ian suggested. Aurora didn't refuse; she raised her wand and cast a silent spell.
In an instant, a venomous snake, gleaming with a cold light, shot out from the tip of her wand.
The snake was nearly two feet long. Its scales shimmered with a metallic glint in the sunlight, and its bright red tongue flicked rapidly, emitting a chilling "sīīī" hiss.
Clearly, the snake that Aurora had summoned was a real venomous serpent. It was fast, highly toxic, and aggressive. The moment it hit the ground, it coiled its body and lunged at Ian with astonishing speed, heading straight for his face.
"Oh, heavens! That snake is huge!"
"My goosebumps are standing on end!"
"It looks so poisonous!"
The students all gasped. Cho Chang covered her mouth, and Michael took a half-step back, the snake looked far fiercer than they had imagined.
"Hm?"
Ian, however, remained calm and unshaken.
The other students might have thought the snake was incredibly fast, but to Ian's eyes, which were no longer entirely human, the snake's speed was mediocre at best.
"Expelliarmus!"
Ian's voice rang out clearly as he cast his spell with precision. A bolt of red light shot from the tip of his wand like a lightning strike and struck the snake.
(To Be Continued…)
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