Chapter 25: The First Lesson
Chapter 25: The First Lesson
The model Sherlock placed on the lecture table was a humanoid creature, resembling a goblin but wearing a bright red cap on its head. It was a magic creature.
The young wizards leaned in to get a closer look at the Red Cap. Even the pureblood young wizards, whose parents were both wizards, had rarely seen such a creature before.
In fact, dark magic creatures were not commonly seen in the magical world.
As Muggles spread their presence across every corner of the world, wizards' exploration of magical creatures gradually hit a bottleneck.
Creatures that could be tamed and used as helpers, such as kneazles, owls, and rats (which are different species in the magical world compared to the normal world), became pets.
Dangerous creatures that could potentially be tamed by professional wizards were kept in protected areas, with the most notable example being fire dragons.
However, dangerous creatures that could not be tamed or were not worth the effort were driven to remote forests, rivers, or deserts, to prevent them from threatening Muggles or wizards with low magical abilities.
Therefore, first-year wizards, unless they were professional adventurers, rarely had the opportunity to encounter real dark magic creatures.
The Red Cap model Sherlock displayed was purchased from an alchemy shop in Diagon Alley. He was intrigued by the lifelike fire dragon models in the display cabinet and approached the shop owner to commission a series of dark magic creature models.
Creating these models was much simpler than making fire dragon models, so the alchemy shop owner readily agreed. Given the volume of the order and the lack of technical complexity, Sherlock paid a reasonable price.
These models were perfect for teaching first-year students. They could see the real-life appearance of dark magic creatures without any danger.
The Red Cap model on Sherlock's lectern, once placed on the ground, brandished a wooden club that was disproportionately large compared to its size. It strutted around the lectern, gnashing its teeth and waving its club, as if ready to strike any young wizard who caught its eye.
"It's so ugly!"
One student remarked.
"It looks like the goblins guarding Gringotts, but it's even more menacing."
"The red cap on its head is quite interesting."
"The cap isn't a good thing—it's a symbol of its evil."
A floating voice caught Sherlock's attention. It belonged to a Ravenclaw girl with dark golden-brown hair, whose name he had noted during the roll call.
Luna Lovegood.
A name he recognized, a character with a significant role in the original story.
Sherlock tapped the lectern with the tip of his wand, drawing the students' attention back to him. He began to introduce the dark magic creature.
"The Red Cap is a dark magic creature primarily found in the battlefields and forests of Northern Europe. They resemble goblins and are naturally violent, using their sharp claws and wooden clubs as their primary weapons."
According to records, in the nearly 100 years since 1900, there have been 86 Redcap attacks across Europe, resulting in 43 deaths. Of these, 42 were Muggles, and one inexperienced Wizard died from a crushed skull.
Hearing these grim statistics, all the young wizards' breathing became heavy, and they no longer looked at the Redcap model with the same initial excitement.
"They are named for the red caps they often wear on their heads. Does anyone know why this dark magic creature only wears red hats?"
Sherlock timely posed the question to liven up the classroom atmosphere.
Clearly, few young wizards knew the answer, but the little girl Luna, whom Sherlock had just noticed, raised her hand.
"Miss Lovegood."
Luna stood up, her silver eyes seeming to always be lost in a distant world, not focusing on anything in front of her, giving her a slightly eccentric appearance.
"Blood. Redcaps dye their caps with the blood of their victims. When their caps fade, they seek out new prey."
Hearing her answer, Sherlock nodded slightly, not offering praise but giving the most direct reward.
"Five points to Ravenclaw. Miss Lovegood has provided a standard answer."
"Wearing caps dyed with blood—this is the origin of the name for this dark magic creature."
"However, although this magical creature is brutal, it poses only a moderate threat to wizards. In the Ministry of Magic's Magical Creature Danger Classification, Redcaps are rated as Xxx."
"Any magic used against them, regardless of its effectiveness, will scare them away. This is why the wizard killed by a Redcap in this century has become a laughingstock in many mouths."
"I don't want any of my future students to become such a laughingstock. After today's Defense Against the Dark Arts class, each of you must write a ten-inch parchment detailing the habits, weaknesses, and correct response methods when encountering a Redcap. Submit your essays in the next class."
"I will choose the best essay and award this Redcap model as a prize."
Hearing Sherlock's words, the girls remained unenthusiastic about the reward, as Redcaps are quite unappealing. However, the boys became excited.
After all, they are all 11-year-old children; who wouldn't be fascinated by a living magical model?
Before the Defense Against the Dark Arts class ended, Sherlock showed them the pouch in his hand.
"Inside this pouch are the dark magic creatures we will study this semester. Based on your assignment performance, I will award these models as prizes. The student with the most models by the end of the semester will be exempt from the final exam and receive an O (Outstanding) grade."
This statement sparked the girls' enthusiasm as well.
The appeal of getting an O without taking the exam was significant, and the first-year students from both houses looked forward to their future Defense Against the Dark Arts classes.
Sherlock's first class with the first-year students was a resounding success.
However, the biggest challenge for him today was not teaching these newly enrolled students who hadn't even learned a single spell yet.
It was the second-year students' class in the afternoon.
(End of Chapter)
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