After lunch, there were still three classes left: Flying at 3:00 PM and, at the end of the day, History of Magic, the last class being the most special. The first one was taught by Professor Binns, a ghost who had died in his sleep and continued to teach to this day. The second one was led by Madam Hooch, a woman with piercing yellow eyes, reminiscent of a hawk's eyes.
The flying class itself didn't catch Asterion's attention; he could fly on his own without any problem. But as a man, he felt particularly revolted sitting on those broomsticks. Even after years living in the magical society, he still didn't understand how witches and wizards could sit on those brooms without hurting their private parts. That was the first flying class and the last one he would attend because he would never sit on a broom again.
Instead of hurting himself by sitting on a broom, he would rather ride Nidhogg and fly on top of a damn dragon!
As for what the school would think of him skipping classes, Asterion couldn't care less. If anyone complained, Baskerville was especially hungry those days, and he wouldn't mind feeding his faithful companion.
The penultimate class of the day was History of Magic, during which Asterion nearly dozed off while hearing about the Goblin Rebellion and the Giant Wars, topics as antiquated as Professor Binns himself. The ghost seemed to have a strange enthusiasm for history, something the Black heir couldn't comprehend.
After the end of the History of Magic class, it was time for the class Asterion was slightly interested in: Defense Against Cursed Spirits, taught by Edward Milleton, a veteran Auror from the Ministry of Magic.
This class was one of the two that were exclusive to the reality of this magical world, the other being Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training.
Edward was a middle-aged man, around forty years old, with partially gray hair and cold gray eyes. A scar marked his face below the eyes, extending to the jaw. He wore black trousers and a gray vest over a white shirt.
His posture was firm and imposing, like someone who had witnessed many things and faced many challenges.
The Defense Against Cursed Spirits class took place in a vast open space, with students from all four houses present, hundreds of teenagers nervously watching the professor.
Asterion's small group was in the front row of Slytherin members.
"Are we going to face cursed spirits on the first day?" Tracey murmured, clearly nervous, as she looked at the cages behind the professor with a hint of fear in her eyes.
No one responded to her; even Daphne seemed nervous. Perhaps the only people who appeared perfectly calm were Asterion and Rose, and as for the reason for this calmness, it didn't need explaining.
Edward looked at all his students in silence and began to speak, his voice reaching everyone present effortlessly. "I am Professor Edward Milleton, the instructor for Defense Against Cursed Spirits."
He paused to let everyone process the information and continued, "Unlike Defense Against the Dark Arts, which specializes in combating Dark Wizards and shadowy creatures such as Vampires, Werewolves, and others, this class is exclusively focused on efficiently combating Cursed Spirits."
Walking across the floor covered in brown tiles, he gestured towards the huge cages covered with white sheets behind him.
"Some of you may have noticed the cages behind me, and as you might imagine, they contain Cursed Spirits."
As he said this, all the students became agitated, and not without reason. Regardless of their background, they were, after all, just teenagers and had never seen a particularly fierce Cursed Spirit without parental supervision.
"Silence," Edward frowned, speaking coldly. His rough, cold voice made the agitated teenagers fall silent.
"In this class, we won't be fighting Cursed Spirits. The goal is simply to get you accustomed to seeing them, which will help prevent you from freezing completely when encountering them on your future missions."
His words alleviated some of the tension in the room, but only slightly; everyone was still nervous.
That said, he waved his wand and removed the sheets covering the cages, revealing the Cursed Spirits.
In the four cages made of a special alchemical material, four Cursed Spirits appeared, all four of them as grotesque as possible, clearly chosen to make a significant impact on the new students.
"Disgusting."
That was the sentiment shared by everyone as they saw the grotesque monsters writhing in the cages.
Some, with more sensitive minds, bent over and vomited immediately. No one blamed or mocked these teenagers; the Cursed Spirits in the cages were truly disgusting, with a repulsive mass of fat and eyes that twisted grotesquely.
Edward spoke calmly, his gray eyes observing everyone with serenity. "Some of you are here to determine whether you will be assigned to the Exorcism Course or the Auxiliary Course. Although the school may make this choice based on your performance at the end of the school year, it respects your opinions. Therefore, you can choose now whether you want to remain in the Exorcism Course or switch to the Auxiliary Course."
He continued calmly, "There is no shame in being in the Auxiliary Course. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. If you believe you will do better in the Auxiliary Course, do not hesitate to make that choice. But it's not necessary to decide now; you have until the end of the school year to choose. Otherwise, the school will make the decision for you."
Every word from Edward had a profound impact on the hearts of these teenagers, who expected a world full of brightness and magic. However, reality was cruel: they were not just students but soldiers in training.
"Let's begin," he said. "Unlike humans, cursed spirits can regenerate infinitely as long as they have negative magical energy, so the easiest method to kill them in most cases is to cut off the head and destroy the body."
"But it's not a mandatory rule. Some may still survive even with their body cut into four parts."
Edward continued his lecture regardless of what the students were thinking. To provide an example, he drew his wand and incanted a spell towards the cursed spirit in the cage.
[Bombarda!]
A red flash appeared at the tip of Edward's wand and struck the cursed spirit, exploding a significant portion of the creature, splattering purple blood to the sides, staining the ground with a purple hue, and a putrid smell hung in the air.
Such a bloody scene left all the students pale, but they all looked with a certain curiosity as the monstrosity regenerated extremely quickly, and within seconds, it seemed intact again, as if nothing had happened.
Indifferent to the bloody scene, Edward lowered his wand and explained sternly, "That's the healing factor of Cursed Spirits, so when you're on a mission, never let your guard down under any circumstances, as like any living creature, Cursed Spirits also have a basic instinct for self-preservation."
Listening to the entire lecture and vivid example, Asterion nodded in satisfaction. Edward was worthy of being a veteran Auror; the man knew how to teach survival without kind and flowery words—the reality was much crueler, as the man personally demonstrated.
"He's a good teacher, not a charlatan with blonde hair and impeccably white teeth," Asterion said to his small, private group, not forgetting to ridicule a certain plagiarizing writer.
Though they didn't quite understand the second part, everyone nodded in agreement with his words. They could also see that Edward was a good teacher; he didn't hesitate to expose cruelty and blood to the new students, shattering the beautiful illusion that teenagers had about the wizarding world.
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Author's Thoughts: Some of you might find these classroom chapters boring, but to make the world more coherent, I have to do this. I hope that you enjoyed
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Next Chapter: Chapter 49 - First Class of Defense Against Cursed Spirits (2), Chapter 50 - Request (1), Chapter 51 - Request (2), Chapter 52 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (1), Chapter 53 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (2), Chapter 54 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (3), Chapter 55 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (4), Chapter 56 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (1), Chapter 57 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (2), Chapter 58 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (3), Chapter 59 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (4), Chapter 60 - School Council, Chapter 61 - Mission (1), Chapter 62 - Mission (2), Chapter 63 - Mission (3), Chapter 64 - Mission (4), Chapter 65 - Mission (5), Chapter 66 - Consequences of the Attack (1), Chapter 67 - Consequences of the Attack (2), Chapter 68 - Invasion of Hogwarts (1), Chapter 69 - Invasion of Hogwarts (2), Chapter 70 - Invasion of Hogwarts (3), Chapter 71 - Invasion of Hogwarts (4), Chapter 72 - Invasion of Hogwarts (5), Chapter 73 - Invasion of Hogwarts (6).
"Are you okay, Mione?" Rose asked, concerned, observing her friend's pale face.
"Just shocked by everything," Hermione whispered, looking at the purple blood spreading with a repugnant sound. She knew about cursed spirits, but she had only seen small and insignificant ones until now. Witnessing one so grotesque up close and the bloody scene deeply impacted her.
For the first time, she felt that the wizarding world wasn't as bright as she had previously imagined. It was a world based on blood and power, cold and prejudiced against people like her. However, the curly-haired girl didn't let herself be frightened for long. She had the determination to stand firm in this world, and she would. She didn't want to be just another statistic reported on TV and would protect her parents.
"Rose, have you seen worse?" Hermione asked without taking her eyes off the cursed spirits in the cages.
"Yes, much worse. These monsters are truly disgusting when they're devouring people," Rose didn't hold back and spoke calmly. In her eyes, it was much better for Hermione to get used to the concept of death as soon as possible to avoid accidentally harming herself in the future. Hermione seemed to take a deep breath, clenching her fists as she spoke, "Rose, can you help me get stronger?"
"I won't go easy on you, Mione," Rose said, looking at the girl with a smile.
"No need to go easy," Hermione replied determinedly.
Rose smiled and continued to listen to the professor.
"Each house, form a line and approach the cages," Edward ordered coldly, regardless of the pale faces of the teenagers.
In the Slytherin line:
"Don't you dare vomit on me, Zabini," Theodore taunted his friend with a challenging look.
"Those are my words," Blaise replied calmly.
"Boys are so childish," Tracey murmured, rolling her eyes as she watched the two.
Beside her, Daphne nodded in agreement as she approached Asterion, seeking some comfort as she leaned her body against his.
Unfortunately for her, Asterion simply coldly withdrew and said, "Daphne, I understand it's scary, but you must face your fears head-on. Seeking comfort won't save you in the future."
Daphne felt abandoned upon hearing his cold words. Although she knew he said it for her own good, she still looked at her future husband with resentment and turned her face away, refusing to meet his gaze.
Then, Daphne and Tracey muttered quietly to each other, casting critical glances at Asterion.
Asterion simply shrugged, indifferent. He wouldn't go easy on her just because she would be his wife; on the contrary, he would be especially demanding of her. Although Daphne's chances of becoming a Special Grade Witch were slim, they were much higher than most witches. With rigorous training and a bit of luck, Daphne would have a significant chance of achieving that status.
The first in line from Slytherin was Asterion, who looked boredly at the Cursed Spirit. Unlike the other first-year students, he was familiar with Cursed Spirits, especially with the horrible taste they left behind.
"I heard of your work exorcising Special Grade Cursed Spirits, Lord Black," Edward said, looking at Asterion with hidden admiration behind his stern gaze.
"Not as good as I hoped," Asterion murmured, staring coldly at the Cursed Spirit. Suddenly, the image of twenty thousand bodies flooded his mind, and for a brief moment, his bloodlust leaked out, drastically lowering the temperature around him.
The students around felt a sudden chill and rubbed their arms, puzzled by the sudden drop in temperature.
"Lord Black," Edward spoke with a tone louder than usual.
Asterion snapped out of his reverie and looked apologetically at the man, suppressing his bloodlust.
"Professor, will these images ever disappear?" Asterion asked in a low voice.
After that, one by one, everyone faced their fears head-on. Some were terrified, others vomited again at the sight of a Cursed Spirit up close, while some tried to appear calm, or at least, controlled.
But Asterion doubted that any student present would dream of anything good tonight; this was a truly memorable experience for everyone.
The class ended with the last person facing the Cursed Spirits.
"The next Defense Against Cursed Spirits class will be in a month, by which time you will probably have learned some lethal spells from Professor Flitwick," announced Edward, his voice echoing and capturing everyone's attention.
A shared thought formed in the minds of the students.
We're going to fight cursed spirits!!!
"Yes, it's exactly as you're thinking, you'll be facing Cursed Spirits," confirmed Edward, as if he were reading their minds, his cold voice reinforcing everyone's concerns.
He continued regardless of the incredulous expressions on their faces. "Before you go, I'll give you a tip: instead of socializing and playing with friends, I advise you to study well. Because I'll only help you when your life is at risk, which means I'll remain indifferent to broken bones and fractured ribs."
Everyone swallowed hard upon hearing this. They definitely wouldn't die, but the prospect of getting hurt was almost a certainty in the professor's words. It terrified them completely. No one wanted to end up with a broken arm or leg, especially while fighting Cursed Spirits.
Unconcerned with the students' reaction, Edward left without looking back, leaving behind hundreds of students alone with the Cursed Spirits still in the cages.
The atmosphere became even more tense and frightening. The outdoor classroom quickly emptied out, with students practically running outside, even with the Cursed Spirits still trapped; no one wanted to be near them without a teacher present.
Asterion almost laughed seeing everyone panicked, thinking they would have to face a powerful Cursed Spirit. He was almost certain they would be Grade 4 or 3 Cursed Spirits, nothing too dangerous, but the students didn't seem to think so.
"Daph, I'm going to study hard from now on," said Tracey, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She was clearly nervous about the class next month.
Daphne beside her also didn't seem calm at all. The news came very suddenly, and she was still processing the whole situation, even though she was almost a Grade 1 Witch. It showed how lack of experience could affect even someone with some training like her.
Even the most talkative in the group, Theodore, was silent, thinking about the next class. Blaise seemed to be the calmest of the group, his expression remaining serene despite the tense atmosphere.
"They can't do this!? If something happens to me, I'll tell my father," exclaimed a loud and fearful voice, causing everyone to look at the platinum blonde teenager with a strange look.
"If I were your sister, I'd break off my engagement," Tracey said with a playful tone, the teenager managing to change the entire atmosphere of the class with her sudden outburst.
Daphne looked at Draco and shook her head, thanking Merlin that her husband would be Asterion, not Draco. Although Asterion seemed cold most of the time, she knew that behind that icy exterior, he was a lovely and loving marshmallow with his own family.
Compared to the spoiled Draco, Asterion was the perfect husband in her eyes: powerful, handsome, coming from a powerful family, and loving (in his own cold way).
The other members of Slytherin couldn't help but look strangely at the Malfoy Heir. So what if his father was part of the school board? This was Hogwarts; even the most powerful wizard in the world couldn't control it, let alone his father.
Dorea Malfoy even distanced herself from her twin brother when she noticed the looks she was receiving. She glanced irritably at Draco and remained silent, even if she said something, he would ignore her.
It had always been like that; her father, Lucius, always favored Draco over her, despite her showing more talent. But in his eyes, she was just a girl who would marry and leave the family.
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Author's Thoughts: I think I wrote the Draco personality right... >.> Well, Lucius being patriarchy isn't surprising.
Support me to write more and read chapters ahead of all regular readers!
P-atreon.com/HPSCB
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)
Next Chapter: Chapter 50 - Request (1), Chapter 51 - Request (2), Chapter 52 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (1), Chapter 53 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (2), Chapter 54 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (3), Chapter 55 - A Treacherous Game of Chess (4), Chapter 56 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (1), Chapter 57 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (2), Chapter 58 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (3), Chapter 59 - Magical Self-Defense Tactical Training Class (4), Chapter 60 - School Council, Chapter 61 - Mission (1), Chapter 62 - Mission (2), Chapter 63 - Mission (3), Chapter 64 - Mission (4), Chapter 65 - Mission (5), Chapter 66 - Consequences of the Attack (1), Chapter 67 - Consequences of the Attack (2), Chapter 68 - Invasion of Hogwarts (1), Chapter 69 - Invasion of Hogwarts (2), Chapter 70 - Invasion of Hogwarts (3), Chapter 71 - Invasion of Hogwarts (4), Chapter 72 - Invasion of Hogwarts (5), Chapter 73 - Invasion of Hogwarts (6).
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