Chapter 367: The Monster Bird and the Illusion
Chapter 367: The Monster Bird and the Illusion
Due to the annual change of professors, the classroom for Dark Arts Defense Against the Dark Arts was never permanent, changing locations every year.
Last year, Lockhart had chosen a spacious classroom filled with sunlight to display his large self-portraits adorning the walls.
Unlike Professor Lupin, who had neither self-portraits nor many photos, opting instead for a regular, empty classroom.
When they finally arrived, there were only a handful of students chatting inside.
They sat down and waited a while longer before Professor Lupin entered the room with a faint smile on his face, placing a worn-out old box on the teacher's desk.
Perhaps it was because he had enjoyed some hearty meals lately, but his complexion looked much healthier than it had been on the train. Coupled with a clean new robe, he seemed like a different person altogether.
"Good morning," he said cheerfully. "Please put away your textbooks. Today we will be having a practical lesson, and all you will need is your wand."
The students put away their books, exchanging curious glances. They vaguely recalled someone saying the same thing... It was Quirinus Quirrell during their first year.
He had done the same, asking them to put away their books and focus on practical learning.
Some of the students started to get excited.
Although Quirrell was a dark wizard, it was undeniable that the first-year Dark Arts Defense Against the Dark Arts class had been the most interesting, and he had genuinely prepared for each lesson.
Unlike a certain two professors who had been perfunctory in their teaching.
They weren't good people, but the difference in their dedication was stark... This was probably also the reason why only Quirrell managed to escape in the end.
"Now," Professor Lupin said, seeing that everyone was ready, and taking out a large cage covered with a curtain, "I have a little surprise for you."
At this, everyone's expressions became even more peculiar.
Quirrell had done something similar during his first lesson, bringing out a cage containing Billywigs and claiming to have a surprise for them.
Ignoring the creature inside, their actions and opening lines were almost identical.
These two weren't related in some way, were they...
Father and son? The ages didn't match up.
Brothers? But they didn't look alike at all!
However, Professor Lupin was oblivious to their thoughts. He whisked away the cloth covering the cage, revealing a bird with vibrant feathers.
Its head feathers were fluffy, yet its claws were tiny, resembling an upside-down water droplet.
"A professor told me that the progress in Dark Arts Defense Against the Dark Arts over the past two years has been minimal, so your..."
His gaze lingered on Kyle for a moment, "...most of your foundations are not very good."
"We also defeated a werewolf." A Ravenclaw student spoke up quietly: "In Lockhart's play, there were also trolls, vampires..."
Everyone around understood, and a burst of laughter filled the room.
"Well, but that's not your true strength."
Professor Lupin didn't laugh. He merely tugged at the corner of his mouth and changed the subject. "So I asked Professor Hagrid to bring this from the Forbidden Forest to give you a little test to determine how much you have learned."
"First question, who can tell me what kind of creature this is?"
Kyle raised his hand. "A Monster Bird."
"Correct, it is indeed a Monster Bird. Five points to Gryffindor," said Professor Lupin. "Now, what special ability does it have?"
Autumn was even faster to raise her hand this time.
"The song of the Monster Bird can drive people insane, causing them to act very abnormally."
"Very correct, five points to Ravenclaw."
Professor Lupin continued, "When encountering a Monster Bird, it is best to cover your ears immediately... But don't worry, this particular bird has just drunk a large glass of brandy and is still drunk. I believe its song can, at most, make your head dizzy for a while, nothing more.
"The spell to counter the Monster Bird is also very simple. You just need to prevent it from making any sounds.
"Let's try the spell without our wands first. Please repeat after me... Lock Tongue Seal Throat!"
"Lock Tongue Seal Throat!" the entire class chorused.
"Very good," said Professor Lupin, raising his hand to signal for everyone to stand up. They then moved their desks and chairs to the side of the room.
Professor Lupin opened the cage.
The Monster Bird seemed to be drunk, standing there with its eyes closed. Kyle could even hear its long, steady breathing...
"Are you ready?"
Professor Lupin took out an old-fashioned record player and, after receiving a confident reply from Kyle, he cued the needle.
The classroom filled with cheerful drumbeats.
It was "A Hot Chili Pepper" by the Weird Sisters, a fast-paced song that had been extremely popular over a decade ago.
As the music played, the Monster Bird's feathers visibly trembled. It opened its eyes and immediately started singing along to the beat, its voice cheerful.
Some students immediately covered their ears, but a few others chose to trust Professor Lupin's words.
To their surprise, the Monster Bird's song was not an ear-piercing noise but a pleasant melody. Its voice was crisp and melodious, like raindrops falling on leaves, or the sound of blooming flowers... Strange, why would flowers make a sound?
It wasn't until a burst of enthusiastic applause filled the room that they snapped out of their trance.
The lead Monster Bird had its mouth open, but it made no sound.
"How do you feel?" Professor Lupin asked with a smile.
"Amazing!" a Ravenclaw girl exclaimed. "I heard so many sounds, and I even saw a Forbidden Forest filled with blooming flowers."
"It seems this Monster Bird can hold its liquor. I should have given it more to drink."
"But this is fine, too."
Professor Lupin addressed the class, "As you can see, this is the effect of the Monster Bird's song. It can make people hear or see things that aren't really there... just like what happened to them."
He gestured around the classroom to those who hadn't covered their ears. They had mostly stepped out of line but were not far away, just a couple of steps.
"If this were a normal situation, they would have started adventuring in the Forbidden Forest by now, and you would have seen a series of strange and comical actions."
Most of the students wore disappointed expressions, as they had been hoping for something more exciting.
Professor Lupin continued, "This leads me to my second point. The name 'Monster Bird' may sound unfriendly, but their song is actually very pleasant. Unknowingly, one can become immersed in their own illusions.
So, no matter what, you must always stay alert.
"At some point, I will lift the enchantment on the Monster Bird, and you must only recite the spell after hearing its song. Understand?"
"Yes, Professor!" everyone replied.
"Good, next."
Kyle stepped aside, and Ryan immediately took his place, staring intently at the Monster Bird.
Once again, some students covered their ears, but a few others chose not to, evidently curious to see the Forbidden Forest filled with flowers.
Compared to the previous excitement, the spell to counter the Monster Bird suddenly seemed less important.
Professor Lupin did not stop them, watching with amused interest.
As the end of class neared, the Monster Bird's song suddenly became much more high-pitched, perhaps as the effects of the alcohol wore off.
Several students who had been goofing around became stiff, with one student mimicking a climbing motion by stretching his arms and legs.
Another student imagined himself as a fish in the Black Lake, lying on the ground and wiggling his legs.
The classroom erupted in laughter.
Ryan, clutching his stomach, ran over to Mick and imitated his movements.
Mick, also ear uncovered, was trying his best to stretch his neck and bite his own heel.
Amused, Professor Lupin chuckled and reached out to pull back a student who had climbed onto the windowsill, apparently intending to dive off the high platform.
"I think they understand the dangers of the Monster Bird's song now," he said.
The students' laughter grew louder.
However, this situation didn't last long, and by the time the bell rang, everyone had mostly returned to normal.
As soon as the bell signaled the end of class, they rushed out of the room, eager to leave, creating a chaotic scene.
(End of Chapter)
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