Chapter 401: The Guardian Charm Club
Chapter 401: The Guardian Charm Club
Cedric had thought about it all night, and the next morning at breakfast, he still looked like he hadn't gotten a good night's sleep.
"Come up with anything?" Kyle asked.
"Of course," Cedric said casually. "If you can pull ahead of Gryffindor by 150 points in 20 minutes, we still have a chance."
"Is that your plan?" Kyle looked at him in disbelief. "Are you still asleep, or did you leave your brain in the dormitory?"
"You've done it before," Cedric said. "Remember the match against Ravenclaw?"
"That was two years ago!"
Kyle replied irritably, "And it wasn't just me. Harris was a huge help... Plus, the Ravenclaw team played like they were giving away points, so we were able to get that far ahead."
"Well, Harris has graduated now," Cedric continued. "And Fred and George apologized to me after our first match, saying they wouldn't let the Quaffle get within ten feet of you."
"Do you realize what that means? With them and Wood as the goalkeeper, I'll have to get past at least three people to score!" Kyle exclaimed.
"But it's our only option," Cedric said with a faint smile.
He had thought about it all through the night and realized that the Firebolt was an unbeatable advantage... Any tactic seemed pale in the face of sheer speed.
Unless they secured victory beforehand.
"I'll get everyone to cooperate with you," Cedric said. "The upcoming tactics will revolve around you."
"Alright," Kyle nodded.
After breakfast, they left the Great Hall and headed to their respective classrooms.
Today was the day Professor Lupin's Guardian Charm Club was starting, and many students were so excited that they couldn't focus on their classes.
The professors had obviously noticed this, but it didn't seem to bother them much; they simply addressed it with a word of warning.
"No whispering in class, Mr. Filch. Slytherin will lose five points!"
During their Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall knocked on her desk and said seriously, "If any of you lose more than ten points in this class, you'll be confined to the library at 8 p.m. to clean those shelves!"
As soon as Professor McGonagall finished speaking, everyone straightened up immediately.
8 p.m. was precisely when the club was supposed to start, and there were hundreds of shelves in the library... By the time they finished cleaning, the club would probably be over.
"Very good!" Professor McGonagall nodded in satisfaction. "Now, let's continue with what we were discussing. The most important thing about the Transformation Charm is to be decisive and not hesitate..."
After that, she seemed to have shared this approach with the other professors, as the students noticed that all the teachers were particularly strict in the following classes, making sure no one stepped out of line, lest they be confined to the library in the evening.
...
Finally, 8 p.m. arrived.
Some students had come early and were already waiting in the Great Hall, while others had simply stayed there after dinner.
By the time Kyle and his friends arrived, there was already a sizable crowd.
The long tables had been pushed to the sides once again, and the enchanted ceiling revealed nothing but a starlit sky when they looked up.
Right on time, Professor Lupin walked in at 8 p.m. It seemed like it was his first time facing so many students, as he appeared a bit nervous.
"Relax, Remus," Professor McGonagall whispered reassuringly. "Just treat it like a regular class."
Not only was Professor McGonagall there, but Professor Flitwick and Snape had also come, along with Madam Pomfrey from the school hospital.
This lineup was infinitely more impressive than last year's Dueling Club.
However, Kyle soon understood why.
Everyone stared at the box in front of him, guessing what was inside, and they began to murmur, backing away unconsciously.
A large area around Professor Lupin quickly cleared.
"That's right, just as you've guessed, inside this box is a Dementor kindly provided by the Ministry of Magic."
He clapped his hands, and the box began to shake violently.
The murmurs grew louder, and some of the younger students started glancing towards the door, ready to bolt.
"Please don't worry," Professor Lupin continued, "I won't be releasing it during our first club meeting, and with several professors here, everyone's safety is assured..."
Professor Lupin had to use his wand to quiet the growing commotion.
"Of course, if any of you wish to leave, I won't stop you. It's your choice..."
Professor Lupin waved his wand, opening the doors to the Great Hall.
Some students hesitated for a moment, then left, but most chose to stay.
"It seems you've made your decision," Professor Lupin said. "Those who want to leave are free to do so at any time. For those staying, please remain quiet as we begin our lesson on the Patronus Charm."
"Firstly, we need to understand this charm," he explained. "It is a highly advanced spell, far beyond ordinary wizarding levels. I can't guarantee that all of you will be able to master it, but I will do my best to teach each of you."
Due to the large number of students, Professor Lupin didn't call on individuals to answer questions as he usually did in class, but instead, he explained the concept himself.
"The Patronus is a positive force—an embodiment of hope, happiness, and the will to survive... But unlike humans, it doesn't feel despair, which is why Dementors can't harm them..."
Clearing his throat, Professor Lupin continued, "You must focus all your will on a particularly happy memory. Only then will this spell work...
"Do you remember the assignment I gave you before the holidays? Those happy memories... Now, I want you to take some time to recall them."
Soon, everyone's expressions began to change.
"The incantation is..." Professor Lupin said clearly, "...Expecto Patronum!"
"Expecto Patronum..."
"Now, focus your thoughts on those happy memories and say the incantation."
Following Professor Lupin's instructions, everyone began to cast the spell.
Soon, silvery-white vapors began to float in the Great Hall, resembling a thin morning mist.
The vapors gathered in the hall, becoming more and more dense.
"Very good," Professor Lupin said with a smile. "It seems you've all grasped the basics. Are you ready to take it a step further?"
"Yes," everyone whispered, holding their breath and gripping their wands tightly.
Professor Lupin gently pressed his hand on the box.
The box didn't open, but several small holes appeared on its surface.
The students at the front heard a long, drawn-out inhalation.
A bone-chilling cold began to spread, causing the silvery mist floating in the Great Hall to dissipate rapidly.
Some students started trembling, unable to hold their wands steady, and they wanted nothing more than to flee. Others gritted their teeth and continued to chant the spell more fervently.
"Expecto Patronum..."
"Expecto Patronum!"
The silvery mist continued to dissipate, but at the same time, new mist formed to replace it.
"Snap!"
After an unknown amount of time, Professor Lupin closed the holes on the box.
The chill disappeared as quickly as it had come.
(End of Chapter)
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