Chapter 281: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Chapter 281: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Several days passed, and the topic of the beast in the Forbidden Forest remained a hot issue. Even the professors were curious about what kind of creature lurked within its depths.
Some imaginative students linked this incident to the school motto of Hogwarts, speculating that there was a dragon lurking in the Forbidden Forest, secretly kept by the school.
Idle minds and boredom often led to the spread of rumors, but if those students were faced with the actual beasts, they would likely be scared out of their wits.
In the afternoon, during the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, someone finally couldn't contain their curiosity any longer and brought up the topic to Professor Smith, who was rumored to have been in the Forbidden Forest helping to drive away the beast.
"Unfortunately, I didn't get a clear look at the creature," Professor Smith replied with a hint of disappointment in his voice as he faced the expectant gazes of his students. "At the time, Professor Dumbledore and I were searching for traces of the beast separately. I'm not sure if it was good luck or bad, but I stumbled upon the headmaster, and he mentioned a dangerous creature of considerable size."
Noting the disappointed expressions on the students' faces, Professor Smith offered some consolation with a smile. "Although I didn't encounter the beast you're all talking about, I did come across another dangerous creature in the Forbidden Forest."
"What kind of creature was it?" Lee Jordan asked eagerly.
"An Acromantula," Professor Smith said with a twinkle in his eye. "You may recall seeing one during Professor Bins's class. The very thing that scared Messrs. Weasley was indeed an Acromantula."
A buzz of whispers filled the classroom.
"You may not be aware, but there have been rumors about a large population of Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest," Professor Smith continued, not forgetting to issue a warning to everyone. "I believe this to be true, and it is one of the reasons why Professor Dumbledore strictly forbids students from entering the forest."
Due to the recent incident with Malfoy, there had been an increase in students venturing into the Forbidden Forest in groups, much to Hagrid's dismay. He had even put up several signs at the forest entrance, threatening to impose detention on anyone who dared to venture in.
"Who can tell me the magical classification of the Acromantula?" Professor Smith clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back to the lesson.
"XXXXX," Fred spoke up.
"Very good," Professor Smith said, scanning the room. "Acromantulas are giant spiders with a cruel nature. They can understand and speak human language, but they also have a taste for human flesh. So, do not underestimate their intelligence."
"With your current level of magic, if you were to encounter an Acromantula, you would likely not even be able to escape."
"Then what should we do?"
"The best course of action is to stay as far away from them as possible," advised Professor Smith. "Don't be overconfident just because you've learned a bit of magic. Don't foolishly venture into the Forbidden Forest, as that would be irresponsible for your own safety. If you were to perish, Hagrid would have to go into the forest to retrieve your remains. Even I would lose my life if I were to be ambushed by an Acromantula."
"Do Acromantulas really speak human language?" Most of the students were undoubtedly shocked by Professor Smith's words, but a few still had their curiosity piqued.
"Yes, Acromantulas do indeed speak human language," he confirmed.
Fred and George, who had actual experience facing Acromantulas, exchanged glances, feeling that Professor Smith was exaggerating a bit. After all, the person sitting next to them was a bona fide Acromantula-fighting champion who had single-handedly taken on hundreds of the giant spiders.
"No, Professor Smith is right. Acromantulas are dangerous, and not everyone is as lucky as you two," Albert spoke up, agreeing with the professor. To underestimate Acromantulas would be extremely foolish. When facing them in the forest, one had to be vigilant and cautious to avoid being ambushed.
Of course, Albert believed that he could hold his own in a face-to-face battle with an Acromantula.
"All right, let's put this topic to rest," Professor Smith said, raising his hand to signal a stop. "Moving on, let's begin today's lesson. Let me introduce you to a fascinating creature known as a Kappa, with a magical classification of XXXXX."
"To be honest, Kappas are not commonly found in Europe, but since it's mentioned in the book..."
In Albert's eyes, a Kappa was essentially a Japanese version of a water sprite, dwelling in shallow ponds and rivers. Its classification as XXXXX was due to its propensity to suck human blood and attempt to choke those who waded through the ponds without caution.
As an interesting side note, the method to deal with a Kappa was rather amusing. One simply needed to throw a cucumber inscribed with one's name, and the Kappa would not harm that person.
To defeat a Kappa, one had to trick it into bowing. As there was a hole filled with water on top of its head, bowing would cause the water to spill out, leaving the Kappa completely drained of its strength.
Undoubtedly, this newfound knowledge amused many of the students.
"I don't expect you, who have not yet faced danger, to fully understand," Professor Smith said with a slight frown, offering a warning. "Your job is to stay away from danger and always stay alert."
"Stay away from danger and always stay alert. Understand?" Professor Smith repeated, emphasizing the point. "This advice is more useful than any knowledge I've taught you today."
"Never underestimate any magical creature with a classification of XXXXX, or you will surely suffer dire consequences, even lose your life."
The classroom fell into a solemn silence as the students stared at Professor Smith, perplexed by his sudden sternness.
Despite this unexpected turn, Defense Against the Dark Arts remained an intriguing subject. Professor Smith always managed to bring their lessons to life, sometimes even bringing magical creatures into the classroom. But today's lesson was a first in that regard.
"All right, for your homework, simply submit an essay about Kappas after class. For the next topic, we will be learning how to identify and deal with werewolves. You can turn to page three hundred and ninety-four."
"Professor..."
"In my opinion, the most important knowledge in this book is the section on werewolves," Professor Smith interrupted, raising his hand. "Werewolves are extremely dangerous. Although the chances of you encountering one are slim, if you are ever bitten or scratched by a transformed werewolf, your life will be utterly ruined. It is a torment worse than death itself."
"In the wizarding world, most werewolves have come to detest wizards due to the oppression and discrimination they face, and they deliberately attack others," Professor Smith explained. "Not all werewolves are like this, but do not expect the majority of them to be able to control themselves. Individual cases never represent the whole."
"During a full moon, a werewolf has no choice but to transform, and they will forget their own identity afterward. They may even seize the opportunity to kill those closest to them. So, it is crucial that you learn how to protect yourselves, and this knowledge is of utmost importance."
The students in the classroom looked confused, but they were eager to learn more about this topic. In the wizarding world, the fear of werewolves among wizards was on par with that of giants and Death Eaters.
(End of Chapter)
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