Chapter 1059: Toads Don't Have Fangs
Chapter 1059: Toads Don't Have Fangs
Ever since his last conversation with Anderson, Harry had been contemplating disbanding the DA—or, as it was now called, the "Dark Magic Defense Study Group." He had discussed this idea with Hermione and Ron, as well as Fred, George, and Cedric, expressing his concerns. However, as Cedric had pointed out, the club had gained so many members, all eager to learn useful dark magic defense skills. Disbanding the group now would likely disappoint a lot of students.
Fred and George even told Harry not to worry and assured him that if any problems arose, they would take the blame.
The yet-unveiled schemes of Umbridge were more concerning.
While the DA gatherings continued, Harry found himself subconsciously reducing their frequency. He knew that if Umbridge truly had her eye on the DA, decreasing the number of meetings might not make much of a difference. Nonetheless, he persisted, changing the recent lessons to focus on the Patronus Charm, doing his best to avoid giving Umbridge any excuses to target him or Dumbledore.
Harry was now curious about when Umbridge would reveal her true colors and show her fangs. He was waiting for that day, but it never seemed to come. Perhaps Umbridge intended to play a game of patience with him.
"Still no luck!"
Hermione frowned in concentration, her wand tip emitting a stream of silvery gas that failed to coalesce into a corporeal Patronus.
This situation wasn't unique to Hermione; none of the DA members, aside from Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, who had mastered the Patronus Charm long ago, had managed to summon a corporeal Patronus.
"Don't rush it," Harry advised as he walked between the two rows of students, sharing his own experiences with the charm. "The more anxious you are, the harder it will be. It took me a long time to cast my first corporeal Patronus. You need to think of something happy, a joyful memory, to increase your chances of success."
"It's so difficult," Angelina muttered softly. "I don't know how you all managed it." Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were the only ones aside from Harry who had achieved a corporeal Patronus, and even Cedric had not yet been able to do so.
"We've been practicing for years, while you've only had a few months, or even less," Fred reassured her. "Mastering the Patronus Charm is harder than you might think. One of the keys is confidence; believing in yourself improves your chances of success. As Albert always says, if you don't believe in your own spell, why should it work?"
"That guy always speaks in riddles, but he does make sense," Shan Na added with a laugh.
"Maybe he should publish a book of Anderson's Quotes," Alia teased.
"The Patronus Charm is widely considered an advanced spell," Harry explained. "It took me, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan a lot of time and effort to master it. So, if you haven't been able to summon a corporeal Patronus yet, don't feel ashamed. Many witches and wizards never manage to do so."
"Are there some people who just can't learn the Patronus Charm, no matter how hard they try?" a Hufflepuff girl asked, her hand raised.
"Of course not," Harry replied, aware of the group's low spirits but unsure of how to improve the situation. "Most people who can't cast a corporeal Patronus simply haven't put in the time and effort, or they lack the natural talent. If you're willing to dedicate yourself to practicing, you have nothing to worry about. As long as you have happiness in your heart, you'll get there eventually."
"Let me go over the key points to keep in mind when learning the Patronus Charm," Harry said, holding up a finger. "First, this charm requires a strong foundation in magic, which is why younger witches and wizards may struggle more. But don't let that discourage you. With enough practice, as you get older, you'll be able to master it more easily. I've spoken to Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, and they all faced similar challenges. So, don't compare yourself to others and get discouraged. There's only one Anderson, a genius who mastered the Patronus Charm in his second year, and trying to match him will only bring frustration."
"Second," Harry continued, "the Patronus Charm is a positive spell, rooted in happiness and hope. Before casting it, you need to focus and recall the happiest moments of your life. And a word of warning: do not attempt to use this charm with malicious intent. It could backfire horribly, and the consequences could be terrifying. Most Dark Wizards don't bother with the Patronus Charm, not because they can't learn it, but because they don't need it, and they're not willing to risk the potential backlash."
"So, while it's believed that only those with pure hearts can cast a Patronus, that's not entirely accurate," Harry clarified. "Rumor has it that our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's Patronus is a cat. Do you think she has a pure heart?"
"Really?"
The room buzzed with surprise at the revelation that Umbridge had managed to cast a corporeal Patronus. No one wanted to believe that someone like her could summon a Patronus.
How could someone so despicable achieve such a feat?
"I've only heard rumors, and I'm not sure of the details," Harry said, raising his hand to quiet the whispers. "I mentioned this because I want you to understand that while pure-hearted people may have an easier time summoning a Patronus, others can still succeed with enough effort. So, don't give up."
"Third, confidence, focus, willpower, the correct wand movement, and the correct incantation are all crucial," Harry guided them. "And, as I said before, recall the happiest memory you can think of. Every detail I've mentioned is important." He continued, "Now, close your eyes and think of the happiest memory you can. Then, raise your wands and say 'Expecto Patronum.'"
"Expecto Patronum!"
Following Harry's instructions, the students waved their wands and chanted the Patronus Charm.
Silver smoke billowed from their wand tips, filling the room with mist. But it was Cedric's wand that drew everyone's attention, as the silvery smoke coiled and swirled in the air, forming a corporeal Patronus.
He had done it! A silvery swan-shaped Patronus took flight, circling the Room of Requirement.
"It's beautiful!"
Cho beamed with delight at the sight of the swan, her eyes then softening as she looked at Cedric, proud of his accomplishment.
"Look, Cedric's done it!"
Everyone's attention was drawn to Cedric's swan-shaped Patronus, and his success undoubtedly boosted everyone's confidence.
"So it's a swan?"
Cedric murmured softly as he gazed at his Patronus.
Once, he had asked Albert what his Patronus was, and Albert had said it might be a swan.
At the time, Albert had joked that it had something to do with his fondness for Autumn, and that Autumn's Patronus might also be a swan since swans usually came in pairs. He had thought it was just Albert teasing him, but it turned out to be true.
Harry looked at Autumn and Cedric, took a deep breath, and started to lead the applause.
After the applause died down, Harry cleared his throat and reminded everyone, "Although it's a bit of a buzzkill to say this now, I still need to remind you that casting a Patronus in a well-lit classroom is one thing, but facing a Dementor is another. Only a Patronus that has withstood the test of a Dementor can be considered a true Patronus, because many witches and wizards still fail to cast one in the presence of Dementors."
As others turned to look at him, Harry continued, "This is something Albert reminded me of, and now I'm passing it on to you. The reality is that when facing Dementors, it's very difficult to recall happy memories, and this is from my personal experience."
"Okay, quiet down. Cedric, would you mind sharing the secret of your success?" Harry nodded at Cedric, knowing that everyone needed a success story to boost their morale.
Just as Cedric was about to stand up, the door of the Room of Requirement was suddenly opened.
Hearing the disturbance, everyone turned their heads towards the entrance and saw a figure standing in front of the open door.
A person they least expected.
Dolores Umbridge stood there with a fake smile on her face, but no one knew how she had managed to open the door to the Room of Requirement.
Some students were bewildered, while others were anxious, but most of them realized that something was amiss. Harry had warned them more than once that Umbridge was not to be trusted and that she might be pretending, only to cause them trouble again.
Harry was obviously right, and anyone with half a brain could sense that Umbridge's intentions were not good.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense, and many students instinctively raised their wands, aiming at the uninvited guest.
"What's the meaning of this?"
Harry took out a bottle from his pocket, popped a Calming Draught into his mouth, and took a deep breath before stepping forward to face the toad-like woman.
This woman's "harmless" act had indeed been a facade, and now she was finally showing her true colors.
For some reason, Harry didn't feel nervous at all; instead, he felt relieved.
"Mr. Potter, I have received a report that you are holding an illegal gathering here." Umbridge surveyed the room, her smile stiff as everyone glared at her with hostility.
"Our gathering has your approval," Cedric frowned and reminded her.
"Yes, I find that quite strange. But someone reported to the Ministry of Magic that you are training in Dark Magic as a group, and as you know, that is not permitted." Umbridge's face remained plastered with her usual insincere smile, making everyone want to punch that toad-like face of hers.
"Dark Magic? Are you sure the Patronus Charm is Dark Magic?" Fred threatened, his wand raised. "Or is it that any magic you deem to be Dark Magic, regardless of what it actually is?"
"Be careful, Weasley, you..."
Many students raised their wands, their eyes narrowing at Umbridge. They had thought that the toad would behave herself, but it seemed they were wrong.
In less than a month, Umbridge was back to cause trouble again.
Many students regretted not heeding Harry's warnings.
Both Harry and Fred and George had reminded them to be cautious of Umbridge and not to let their guard down.
At the time, not many had taken it seriously, but now...
"You have something to say?" Harry raised his hand to calm the students down. After taking the Calming Draught, he had also regained his composure. Confronting Umbridge head-on wasn't a good idea, and he had just seen some people outside who were probably employees of the Ministry.
"Since your club has so many members, both the school and the Ministry must remain vigilant. So, I suggest you pay a visit to the Headmaster's office and explain the situation in front of the Minister of Magic and Dumbledore to avoid any misunderstandings." Umbridge's fake smile was nauseating, and her sudden change of attitude made many students feel like they had been treated like fools.
"Harry, don't listen to her. That woman is a liar." George interrupted, "The moment Umbridge shows up here, she's not to be trusted. If she really wanted to resolve the issue, she would have brought Dumbledore and Fudge here to clarify things in front of all of us."
"Mr. Weasley, if I may..." Umbridge's words were cut off halfway through her sentence.
"You can go and fetch the Headmaster and the Minister of Magic. I think everyone here would love to see them. After all, the Headmaster's office can't accommodate so many people." George turned to the students behind him and asked, "Who wants to come with us?"
"We'll come with you," someone shouted from the crowd.
"We'd love to hear the Minister's opinion on this."
"I think he should explain the recent prison break attempt."
"Many people know that Death Eaters tried to break out. Why didn't anyone from the Ministry stop them?"
"It's a disgrace for all the Ministers of Magic, and he should step down."
The two Aurors outside exchanged worried glances as they watched the students pouring out of the Room of Requirement. They knew that if this situation wasn't handled properly, it could escalate into a full-blown conflict.
"With Dumbledore here, I believe she won't be able to pull anything." Harry raised his hand to calm the students' emotions. "Also, I'm curious about who reported us?"
Harry followed Umbridge, but that didn't mean the others would do nothing. They all filed out of the Room of Requirement, wands raised and eyes flashing with determination.
"Let's go. I think Professor Dumbledore is waiting for us. Let's not keep them waiting any longer." Harry glanced at Umbridge and headed towards the Headmaster's office.
Watching the students blocking the entrance to the Headmaster's office, Umbridge wasn't worried. She knew that the Ministry would soon send more Aurors to prevent the situation at Hogwarts from getting out of hand.
"Go find Albert and tell him what's happening here." George deliberately slowed down and whispered to Lee Jordan, "I think he'll know what to do."
(End of Chapter)
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