Chapter 7: Lesson 3: Preparedness class
I looked the kids up and down as they stared at me from their desks. Teddy was in the front, his hair a little more pale than normal but still as determined as ever. I had been working with him and the Weasley girls for the past week on the Patronus Charm and how not to be scared when you get attacked. Or, rather, how to control that fear.
Teddy had finally produced a full shield three nights ago, though we hadn't seen the animal form yet. Even when practicing without my trapped boggart the animal form didn't come out. The girls were behind him, Viccy managing a small shield about buckler size and Molly has only stopped cowering in fear every time the being came forth. For her rough and tough attitude she sure didn't know what she was doing.
Teddy had even stepped up in class, helping every other student that was having difficulties learn to pull up a shield. Now that this class had the first of many defensive spells beneath their belts, it was time to move onto the next topic.
"Alrighty kiddos," I started, "how do we know what day to prepare to be attacked?"
They scratched at their heads and shrugged.
"Is it because you get a telegram from the bad guy, monster, or just some criminals?" I suggested, "Does it say: "Attention Wizard McWizardface, I, the bad guy, will be attacking you on October thirteenth at eleven twenty-six in the morning on your way to lunch, please attend. Hugs and kisses, creature of unspeakable horror inhabiting a stuffed bear"?"
The responses were a mixture of:
"No one send telegrams Professor Dresden. Not since like the Forty's."
"Are you that old, Professor?"
"What's a Telegram?"
"Can I send a telegram to my mum?"
"Not the point!" I half laughed and half barked a littler harsher than I meant to. The kids looked up at me in sudden shock. Teddy, however, looked slightly more sullen. I noted he had been silent during the cacophony. Not overly surprising since we've been working together outside of class.
"The point is, kiddos," I continued in a softer tone, "that you NEVER know when someone may attack or how. So you have to ALWAYS be ready to defend yourself, especially as a wizard or witch since we have the accountability of using our powers responsibly. You know what Uncle Ben said, "with great power comes great responsibility". And look how Spider Man turned out."
"The guy from the rice?" A voice asked from the back confused. It was the same girl that pointed out that no one sends telegrams.
I sighed heavily. "No, not the guy from the rice box."
Rolling my shoulders I shook my head and continued. "So, you need to train and memorize your spells, keep your wand or other foci ready to wield. Practice drawing them, know your spells and technique inside and out, as well as developing that awareness of your surroundings I talked about first class. The Romans knew this. They taught that drill should be bloodless battle, and battle should be bloody drill. In teaching my apprentice I have had to relearn and improve at things that I myself was not as good at as I should have been in order to teach her properly. Generally, responsibilitybis I'm talking about, but it all has to become just part of you, a reflex and not something you have to think about. It has to become like walking or breathing."
An eager hand went up, "Were there Roman wizards?"
"Almost certainly. But again off track." I paused after the answer and took a chance on another pop culture reference. "You guys know Bruce Lee?" About a quarter of the students nodded eagerly, some of them whispered who he was to those who did not know. Cool, kids loving Kung Fu movies is one of my universal truths of life.
"Bruce Lee wasn't a wizard as far as I know, but he knew a different kind of magic: how to learn, that there was magic in willpower, in practice, and in the seeking of perfection. So he taught himself to do a maneuver over and over and over again until it was a reaction, then he could adapt it to any situation."
I paused, letting the students soak in the information. "He said that you trained not just one technique, but all techniques, including kicks and punches." I said as I kicked and punched the air, my lanky limbs whooshing along to make my point, and probably didn't look too shabby thanks to Murph's training.
"Kicks, punches, blocks, and counters should all become one and then become nothing." I continued. "Then you could be formless and shapeless and adapt to any situation, sorta like water. Bruce Lee said "Water looks weak, but it can penetrate rock, it can creep and crash. Pour it in a tea cup it becomes the tea cup, in a pot it becomes the pot. Be like water."" To emphasize the quote I let out a little will and said "Ventas Servitas." My staff flew across the room to my hand and I gave it a little Jedi-like spin before slamming the base to the wooden floor with a resounding thunk.
The students for the most part flinched as the staff flew across the room on air currents. I smiled as I spoke. "So, you kids have to start training today to be prepared for that attack. You don't get to pick how many of, whatever, attacks or when or how or even where the attack will be. All you get to pick is what you will have with you and how much preparing you will do before. As such, I recommend starting with practicing with your foci, specifically for you guys that means your wands. The faster you can get that wand up and on target the more time you have for everything else."
With my left hand I flicked out my blasting rod within a blink of an eye from where it hung in my sleeve. A soft effort of will brought the tip and runes along the edges glowing to life. "When it come time to do battle, not just every second counts but every single fraction of a second counts. Most fights are over in thirty seconds or less, often much less. So, if your wand is up and ready in one tenth of a second instead of two seconds that may be the difference between life or death, for you or someone you love. Speed also has to be accompanied with accuracy, so you have to practice fast and correct. If you miss or screw up the spell then you could accidentally hit and hurt or even kill an innocent bystander, and that's on you."
"How do we get fast?" One boy asked while doing a cowboy quick draw with his finger.
"Great question. You get fast by going slow." The kids looked confused at my answer.
I smiled and elaborated. "Slow is smooth, smooth is fast a cop friend of mine says. You focus on doing the movement slowly and deliberately and perfectly, maybe break it down in to little pieces." I slid my blasting rod back to its hiding spot and slowly drew it back out, snapping my wrist into place and very slowly bringing the tip and runes to glow again.
"She practices her draw by starting with just popping her holster retention like fifty times, then retention and hand on grip, then break retention hand on grip and pull and on and on till she's at full draw and aim." I mimed out the actions as I spoke with an air gun instead of the totally real firearm in my office. "Then she goes in reverse, dropping it off piece at a time till she's back to just breaking the retention. I've seen her draw, and that tiny lady is as fast as magic, in some cases even faster. Just imagine what you guys can do if you focus like that."
They looked eager to start with big excited smiles. Even Teddy had a sly smile on his face. For a kid he was getting good on the draw. I assumed Potter had been helping him as well.
"One more thing before we move to drills." I grew serious. "Watch your emotions, especially anger. Yes, there is power in emotions as we have learned with the Patronus Charm, however, feelings like anger or lust can cloud your judgment and affect how fast you react. So, learn to keep your emotions in check when fighting."
"Now, lets moves some desks and do some wand drills." I said.
The kids quickly leapt to their feet and started moving desks.
"Form two lines, watch your partner, and NOOOOOO CASTING! You hear me?" I asked trying not to sound like a drill sergeant.
"Yes Professor Dresden." They said not at all in unison.
We began with moving our hand to our wand in a smooth movement. clearing our clothes as we did and getting our balance by putting our feet shoulder width apart and leaning slightly forward for balance.
I wondered if this was how Murph felt teaching new folks in the Dojo. I smiled as the kids focused on every movement and detail of what they were doing. They were getting the biggest lesson, so much of magic isn't about magic, it's about thinking and being ready. It's about being willing to learn and focus and practice the art.
I really was starting to like these kids.
Teddy in particular already had a fast draw. He had been picking up speed over the past week since Grasshopper would never give warning as to when she'd open up the door to the boggart, and even had, at times, hid the fact that she opened it with one of her illusions.
He had to learn how to draw fast, or risk himself or the girls getting hurt.
And he had stepped up to the challenge just as fast as any of my Warden students had at Camp Kaboom.
I smiled as I watched him work over the steps with his partner. If there's another involved he steps up faster than when he's alone. I'd have to work with him one on one at some point to make sure self defense is as drilled into his head as defense of others.
After about a half hour of practice I strode calmly up to my office. Teddy kept an eye on me, as did a few others. Good, they were learning. I opened the door and leaned on the stone frame, talking to the Padawan.
"You're going to let the boggart at the kids today?" She asked.
"Yup. They're ready. Today it'll be random, think you can get it in a wardrobe or a chest or something for the next batch of classes?"
"Well yea. It likes me." She smiled brightly.
"How do you even know that?"
"For starters cause it's staying in dementor form when we asked?" Molly shrugged. "Also, Hagrid told me so."
"He would know, wouldn't he?" I shook my head. "Anyway, lemme get out of the way of the stairs, then release, just like we've been doing this past week."
"On it, boss." She stood up from behind my desk and stretched a little as she lazily made her way to the hidden door.
I calmly walked back downstairs, leaving the door about half open behind me. I stood aside and waited, ready to watch who had the fastest reaction.
Molly waited a few minutes, and by then those who had been watching me go up to the office had brought their attention fully back to their draw and holster practice.
Teddy still gave me and the half open door a wary glance. A week of him protecting the Weasley girls was paying off. He knew I was up to something. His hair had even taken on a more gray tone, tips starting in reds.
I was actually starting to get impatient when the room suddenly darkened, though no candles went out nor did any clouds go before the sun.
The office door was flung open all the way, and a dark, hooded figure filled the empty space where the door was.
There was a moment of hesitation from most of the students, though Teddy was already moving. The rest were at best a half second behind him, if not more.
"Expecto Patronum!" He shouted.
A small, lanky wolf pup sprouted from his wand. The ears and paws were too big, and legs and tail a little too long.
They say that the animal form that your Patronus takes tells much about the caster. I had Soul Gazed Molly, I understood how hers could be a snake. I was confused at my own being a beat up, old wolf. Teddy having a young wolf made sense with his Loup Garou heritage.
While I was glad for him being able to call forth an animal defensive spell, I was worried for what this could mean for the boy in general.
The pup bounced around, trailing the silvery blue smoke behind it, as it cut off the path of the boggart-dementor and growled, or rather squeaked, and held the being at bay.
About the same time a glowing orb encased the students as each one pulled up a Patronus Shield. Their combined efforts melded together, forming a full wall between them, and the being in the office doorway.
After a couple seconds, which to the students probably felt like an eternity, the boggart returned to the safety that its' side room gave it and all the shimmering shields and the pup faded away and the rest of the light returned to normal.
Grasshopper appeared in the doorway. "How'd they do?" She called down the steps.
I stepped forward, smiling softly. "Surprisingly well." I turned to face the students. "Though, had it been a real dementor you'd still have been in trouble."
Teddy looked down, though there was a smirk on his face, and the others looked at each other in confusion.
"That," I continued, "was a boggart. They can take the shape of what you fear most, though we convinced this one to keep the shape of a dementor in exchange for a warm place to stay alongside whatever it needs to survive. As such, the effects it gives are lesser, and it moves a touch slower. Though it still can be repelled by the charm we've been working on."
I stopped by my desk and again leaned against it. "Teddy did the best, casting a charm that also had the offensive capabilities to keep a dementor away. However, there was a moment of hesitation from everyone. In that moment another dementor could have come up at you from the side, or from behind you. They don't normally travel alone, so you need to be careful."
"Yes, Professor." Came a low chorus.
"Now, keep practicing your speed draws and the charm. Next class you'll go one on one against the boggart." I smiled widely at them. "Once you got moving you guys did great, the spell merging into one, cohesive shield to protect all behind it. I am proud of you kids, you're all making great progress, but there's still so much to learn to make sure you all can stay safe."
They started gathering up their books to head out. "Oh, one more thing, reset the classroom please. Desks back where they were. Thank you."
They did as they were asked as they left. Teddy approached me after sliding his desk back in place.
"Professor, now that I know the Patronus Charm, are we going to move onto something else?" He asked.
I thought a moment. It wouldn't be fair to keep him working on something he's gotten pretty good at. He did just prove that when it counts he can go above and beyond. "You're right. Though we still need to work with the girls and I'd like you to work as their tutor when I'm not with them. But yes, I think it's time to start on another defensive spell."
"Why are we just working on defense right now?"
"We're not." I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder. "The Patronus Charm has the capabilities to go offensive, which you just showed everyone is possible."
He smiled, his hair shifting green and his eyes gaining the glow of gold.
"Besides, this charm is only effective against dementors and things that look like them. Next I want to show you a true shield that you can alter to protect against things like heat and physical threats."
"Really?"
"Yup." I thought a moment. "Tomorrow evening let's take the girls and Mouse for a walk, I'll start explaining the basics to you then. For now, keep working with Molly and Viccy, they can use your help while I'm teaching other students."
He smiled brightly. "On it, Professor. I'll see you at normal time tonight!"
With that, he ran off to his next class.
"Still the same thing tonight?" Molly asked, coming down from the office.
"Yes, though I'll have him step back to get the girls to defend themselves. Maybe that will get them a little stronger. They need it in this world."