Chapter 5: Defence Against the Dark Arts
The next day they had History of Magic, which was a bit of a joke. Professor Binns' voice was so boring that most of the class fell asleep. Sylvia decided to read on her own as the ghost got the names wrong for the third time.
"It's a complete waste of time," Mora yawned, "Why did they set this subject in the first place?"
"They probably set it before Binns turned up," Davina sighed, "Or just to let us get some extra sleep."
"Think on the bright side: we can give it up after O.W.L.s exams." Said Matilda.
"That's your bright side?" Sylvia snorted, "We'll find you kissing the Giant Squid next."
Thankfully, History of Magic was the only boring subject so far. They had Astronomy that night taught by Professor Sinistra, one of the wandless classes. Herbology took place on the same day in the greenhouses, they came across weird magical plants with Professor Longbottom.
They had agreed to all spend their free time in the library instead of Ravenclaw common room, as spending about five to ten minutes trying to figure out the riddle once per day is quite enough.
As usual, Sylvia took her place a bit distant from her dorm-mates, for she didn't want to be interrupted too much for her unusual researching subject – Animagi. Instead of seeing Matilda as expected, she found herself looking up to Tim Davies when someone said hi.
"You duelled with Lestrange and his gang?" Tim asked.
Sighing as she realized there wasn't much chance for her to continue reading, she closed the book, "Yes, and you only ask now?"
"He attacked me as well." He admitted.
"When?" She pushed the book away.
"Yesterday after class." Tim answered.
"Did you?" Sylvia narrowed her eyes, "What was the outcome?"
Tim shrugged as if it was an obvious answer, "Interrupted by Professor Bowen."
"He does seem to show up everywhere," She nodded slowly, "Did he say anything else?"
"Yeah, about the Defence Club thing." He replied, "What're you reading?"
"About Animagi, Professor Winger mentioned it in our first class." Said Sylvia.
"We'd better go, then. It's nearly seven." Tim got up.
They walked into the Duelling classroom together, the older students were already there. It was a large room with dark burns on the walls.
"Why are they here?" The Ravenclaw prefect they had met on the train asked, "They're first-years!"
"I invited them," Professor Bowen replied coolly, "And they already know as many hexes as you do, Mr Rivers."
Rose Granger-Weasley looked slightly surprised, "Really? It's only their third day in this school!"
"Do I have to remind you it's the fourth night?" Tim chuckled.
"There are upper years here?" Tiffany Toran came in, "I didn't expect that. Good evening, professor." She added to Professor Bowen.
"Now that we are all here," Said Professor Bowen, "We may as well begin. I have invited you here to learn more about self-defence against dark arts, and to form a powerful alliance when needed. We'll start with how to alert each other and the school. Any ideas?"
"Shoot sparks into the air," Tiffany's hand shot up automatically, "And if possible, the Patronus Charm."
"Good, and can you tell me how to cast a patronus?"
"The spell is Expecto Patronum," It was Rose who answered this time, "To cast it, you have to focus on your happiest memory, which is the exact opposite of a Dementor."
"A patronus can also be used to repel Lethifolds." Sylvia couldn't stop herself to add.
"Sir, you're not going to tell first-years to cast a patronus, right?" Hayden Rivers asked.
"No, it's too advanced, a simple Periculum should do," Said Professor Bowen, "However, a patronus is much more useful when it comes to passing on a message. Not everyone would have their eyes on the window at all times. You can try, but a corporeal patronus is definitely not compulsory for your age.
"Next step: after you alerted for help, you'll need to hold the attackers back or try to get yourself out without getting killed. Let's move on to practical."
"Are we going to duel properly, professor?" Hayden asked with a doubtful gaze at the three first-years.
"Does a Dark Wizard ask you nicely and wait for you to prepare?" Professor Bowen raised his eyebrows, "No. Now get started. First-years against you two."
"Protengo!" Tiffany yelled instantly. Hayden stabbed his wand at the shield and it was repelled by a non-verbal spell.
"Steleus!" Tim shouted but was blocked by Rose.
"Avis! Oppugno!" A dozen of yellow birds shot at the direction Sylvia's wand was pointing at like bullets.
"Protengo!" Hayden used the shield to protect himself from the bird attack, "Immobulus!"
"Incendio!" Tiffany recognized the freezing charm and the two jets of light both vanished as they met each other for the exact opposite temperatures.
"Impedimenta!" Sylvia shouted.
"Nebulus!" Tim made a wall of fog between them.
"Impervius!" Rose's voice came from the other side and the mist vanished, "Titillando!"
"Tentaclifors!" Hayden hissed.
"Tarantallegra!" Tim dodged the spells and yelled.
"Engorgio Skullus!" Sylvia bellowed.
"Rictusempra!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Stupefy!"
"Obscuro!"
"Oscausi!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Magicus Extremos!"
"Mimblewimble!"
"Langlock!"
"Mucus ad Nauseam!"
"Alarte Ascendare!"
"Diffindo!"
"Everte Statum!"
"Flipendo!"
All sorts of hexes flew back and forth between the two sides. The older students soon realized they were not against normal first-years, and began pulling on their limits.
"Furnunculus!" Tiffany cast.
"Protengo." Hayden attempted to repel the shield again but realized it was made by Professor Bowen. Somehow, they all weren't actually hit by anything during the duel.
"That's enough practical for tonight," Said Professor Bowen, "What have you learned?"
"Never undermine your opponent." Hayden muttered, causing Tim to snigger as he leaned against the wall to catch his breath.
"Protect yourself as well as your team-mates." Tiffany answered.
"Good," Professor Bowen nodded, "That was only wizarding duel. Can someone tell me what happens if there are... other creatures?"
"Riddikulus for Boggarts," Tiffany opened her mouth to answer, but Rose beat her to it, "Conjunctivitis Curse for dragons, and multiple stunning spells for most of other creatures."
"Again, good. But I doubt anyone would use dragons as they are impossible to tame," Said Professor Bowen, "Anything else?"
"What happens when you come across a Swooping Evil, professor?" Sylvia suddenly remembered the curious creature, "They're able to block spells."
"Just try not to let it get close to your head." Professor Bowen replied, "It's nearly curfew, I believe you'll be expected in your dormitories. Same time next week."
"What about Quidditch trainings, sir?" Hayden asked, "The tryouts are next week."
"We don't want you getting more training than us, too." Rose, who was the Gryffindor Chaser, glared at the Ravenclaw Beater.
"We will try to arrange suitable times." Professor Bowen dismissed them.
"That was insane!" Tim breathed as they picked up their bags, "I've never duelled like that."
"If that went on for any longer, I would have used the black fire shield." Sylvia smirked and walked out of the classroom.
"Come again?" Tiffany asked.
"Black fire shield," She replied, "The spell's Protengo Diabolica. Only affects the enemies. They'll have to drink the Black Fires potion to get past it."
"That's really advanced magic." Tim commented, "Really, it is only the third day of our first-year!"
"You said it yourself," Tiffany chuckled, "It's the fourth night. What is a Swooping Evil, anyways? It's not in Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them."
"There're load of thing that aren't in that book, like Zowu, Qilin, Jian bird, Xiangliu," Sylvia answered, "Chinese Magical Creatures. Swooping Evil is something like a blue and green living glider with an animal's skull for the head. It feeds on human brains. It's bigger than a dinner plate when fully stretched, but can shrink into a small cocoon. When fully trained, it can be used to erase memories."
"Cool," Tim breathed, "Where can you get one?"
"Beg pardon?" Sylvia turned, "It's considered as Dark Creatures. Unless your parents let you into Knockturn Alley, there's no chance."
"Is Ollivander scared?" A silky voice came straight to them, "Did you get yourself a girlfriend, Davies? How sweet."
"I won't attack three students who just came from duelling lesson all by myself if I were you, Lestrange." Sylvia lashed out her wand, "What're you doing here at this time, anyway?"
"I have my own reasons," Rodfort hissed, "Sectumsempra!"
"Protengo!" Tim blocked the spell, "Really, Lestrange, it's unwise to warn your enemy before you attack. What was that spell again? Learned Dark Magic from your glorious friends? From your Death Eater daddy?"
"You shut up about my father. Langlock!" The spell bounced off the shield harmlessly.
"We'd better go," Sylvia sighed, "Before curfew."
"Scared?" Rodfort taunted.
"No, to get you into trouble," Tiffany responded, "We're on third floor, our common rooms are much closer than yours."
"I believe Gryffindor common room is on seventh, about the same distance to the dungeons." Lestrange retorted.
"Can you count?" Sylvia asked in mock anxious.
"Now!" Tim roared and ran for the closest staircase, "Impedimenta!"
"Change to another staircase on fourth floor," Sylvia hissed as Lestrange tried to throw hexes at them from below, "Makes it easier to outrun him."
"Stupefy!" Tiffany yelled and pointed her wand over her shoulder.
They charged out of the current staircase on fourth floor and rushed to another one. When they were nearly on fifth floor, Lestrange got really close.
"Ventus!" Shouted Sylvia and a great force of wind knocked the chaser down. She felt something tingle in her body as she cast the spell, but didn't know what exactly.
"You wait! I swear I'll..." Lestrange scrambled to his feet and shouted at them.
"You'll what? Make us nest in your messy hair?" Tiffany rolled her eyes. They left him and went to an empty corridor, "Was that the wind spell?"
"Yep." She replied.
"But it's supposed to cause a breeze, not knock people over. Ventus." Tim pointed his wand at her, and it only caused her hair to flatter, "The stronger version is Ventus Duo."
"Dunno," Sylvia shrugged, confused, "Maybe it's the wand movement?"
"Maybe," Tiffany let out a long breath, "I'd better go. Two more floors to climb." And she strode off.
"What do you think there are out there?" Tim asked her, "I mean, Voldemort is defeated, and it's not like there will be a Dementors attack."
"Well... there's a rumour about Voldemort having a child, and you saw what former Death Eaters are like," Sylvia replied.
"True," Tim agreed, "I won't be surprised if Lestrange is to follow his dear daddy's footsteps."
"Wait, about the Dementors... I thought they're free now? the Aurors are guarding Azkaban after being arranged by Kingsley Shacklebolt."
Realization came to Tim, "Then they could attack under some Dark Wizard's order. We need to learn the Patronus Charm."