Chapter 462: Lockhart: Vampire's Food?
Chapter 462: Lockhart: Vampire's Food?
At Hogwarts, the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor is one that changes frequently, and with each new professor, the office's style changes as well.
Wade followed Professor Trocara into his office. As soon as they entered, the candles on a dozen candlesticks silently ignited, their flames leaping up, but the room remained dim. Professor Trocara clearly had no intention of pulling back the heavy curtains.
He hadn't added much furniture, only placing many magical books, various notes, and student progress records on the shelves.
In the corner stood a wine cabinet, filled with bottles of red wine. But Wade had the feeling that the liquid in the glass bottles looked more like blood.
"Please sit, Wade", Professor Trocara said, sitting down and folding his hands. "I have a few things I'd like to discuss with you."
"Of course, Professor. What would you like to talk about?" Wade asked as he sat down.
"Well, I've recently come to understand something—most of the professors believe that your knowledge has already... far exceeded that of your peers, so they've granted you permission to audit classes from other years."
As Professor Trocara spoke, he took a folder from the bookshelf beside his desk, opened it, and continued:
"I've also noticed that your two assignments since returning to school have been exceptionally well done... especially the one on werewolves... I can only say I'm very impressed and pleasantly surprised. Do you have any interest in submitting articles to magazines? I know a few reliable editors."
"Thank you, Professor", Wade said. "But currently..." He looked a bit hesitant and added, "...it's just an assignment, Professor. I don't think it's up to the standard for publication."
For Wade, this level of recognition was already unnecessary, but polishing an assignment to meet publication standards would undoubtedly take a significant amount of time. He didn't want to waste his time on such things.
Professor Trocara, sensing Wade's polite refusal, smiled and didn't insist. "Alright... if you change your mind, feel free to come to me."
"Of course, I will", Wade said.
"Additionally, based on your recent assignments and your performance in class, I believe your skills in Defense Against the Dark Arts are quite reassuring. Can you share with me?" Professor Trocara blinked and asked, "What level have you reached through self-study?"
"If it's content from the textbooks, I've learned all the spells from the first to the seventh year, but I feel I still lack practical experience", Wade said after a moment of thought.
"Oh?" Professor Trocara looked surprised. "Do you know the method to counter a Confundus Charm?"
Wade answered without hesitation, "Occlumency, or you can use an Anti-Confundus Charm, and there are also Warding Charms."
Professor Trocara raised an eyebrow. "Occlumency isn't part of our regular curriculum, nor is it in our textbooks. Even sixth and seventh-year students haven't been exposed to it. It's a very advanced and obscure magical skill..."
As he spoke, he looked at Wade with a disbelieving expression and asked, "—Don't tell me you've learned it?"
Wade nodded.
"Well, Merlin..." Professor Trocara muttered in amazement.
He didn't ask Wade about his proficiency, as Occlumency requires extensive practice to master, and at Wade's age, Trocara didn't think Wade had studied long enough.
He then recalled another advanced topic and asked, "Do you know how to deal with Dementors?"
Wade replied succinctly, "Patronus Charm."
"Oh..." Professor Trocara smiled. "Indeed, the Patronus Charm is the most effective way to drive away or even destroy Dementors. However, since most people haven't mastered this spell, the correct answer is to move away from the Dementor quickly and stay with a group, avoiding solitary actions..."
He suddenly seemed to remember something, and his smile faded. His slightly melancholic eyes looked at Wade as he said slowly:
"—Wade, you can cast a Patronus Charm?"
Wade nodded again.
Professor Trocara took a deep breath, telling himself it couldn't be true, and then said, "Show me."
Wade drew his wand and pointed it at the window. "Expecto Patronum!"
A silver eagle flew out of the wand tip, circling the classroom twice. Professor Trocara was taken aback, stepping back hastily. His chair clattered to the ground, and he accidentally knocked over a vase in the corner.
He paid no attention to his beloved vase, his eyes wide with shock and a hint of fear as he watched the bird land on Wade's shoulder. "—A corporeal Patronus?"
Then he looked at Wade again. "The newspaper said... the student who summoned an eagle Patronus to stop the Dementors on the Hogwarts Express was you? Not a professor?"
"It was me", Wade said, waving his wand. The Patronus turned into silver sparks that sprinkled on his shoulder before vanishing.
Professor Trocara let out a sigh of relief—corporeal Patronuses can harm all dark creatures, including vampires, and extremely powerful Patronuses can even make them feel as if they are being burned by sulfuric acid.
He tried to hide his unease, repairing the vase with a wave of his wand and making the water and roses inside leap back in, while forcing a smile:
"You truly shocked me, Wade... is there any spell you can't do?"
"Besides the two spells Professor just asked about, the others I know are quite basic", Wade said modestly.
Trocara noticed the sincerity in his words and couldn't help but twitch his lips, wanting to say something but swallowing it back.
Thinking about it... with such an outstanding student, as a Professor, he should feel reassured... although this student is a bit dangerous for a Professor...
After a moment of self-persuasion, Trocara finally said, "Alright, I completely believe your skills are up to the standard for the final wizarding exams. It's just that... you still lack some practical experience, right?"
"Yes, Professor."
"In that case, I think you need a personalized schedule..."
Professor Trocara reviewed his notes and class plans, tapping his wand lightly on the parchment.
"Wade, this is your schedule from now on... mostly practical classes, and some are my own methods for teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. You can arrange your listening times according to your own plan."
...
Finally, he managed to send the overly talented student out the door, and Trocara touched the curtain that the Patronus had brushed against, feeling a lingering sense of unease. He then pulled out a new notebook and recorded the students' performance in class today.
When he accepted this position, Trocara genuinely wanted to do a good job. To prepare, he had even secretly sought advice from excellent teachers in Muggle schools, asking them how to be a good Professor.
At first, he worried that the students wouldn't take him seriously as a new Professor, so he maintained a stern face and occasionally demonstrated powerful magic to reinforce his authority.
However, as classes went on, the students gradually noticed his gentle nature and became more daring in his class.
For Trocara, his enthusiasm and interest in this profession were quickly waning, replaced by an overwhelming sense of fatigue.
Being responsible for all the Defense Against the Dark Arts classes in the school meant he had endless assignments to grade and classes to teach. Every day, he woke up to a never-ending stream of emergencies. The students' enthusiasm and energy were indeed vibrant, but their constant chatter was also a headache.
He understood why the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor was so frequently replaced.
Trocara felt that even as a vampire, he was struggling to keep up, wondering how previous human Professors managed to last a year.
Fortunately, he only had to stay for half a year...
Initially, he thought that the grand event in the second half of the year would bring many people to Hogwarts, increasing the risk of his vampire identity being exposed.
Now, he realized that his decision to stay only half a year was truly wise. He just needed to get through these few months...
Trocara sighed wearily.
Suddenly, he heard a tinkling sound like a stream, and he pressed the communication bean. Hearing the voice on the other end, he said in surprise, "Gale? How..."
He glanced at the window covered by the curtain and whispered, "...How did you get to Hogsmeade?"
After so long, Trocara wasn't completely isolated and had learned that his nephew and his friends were on the Ministry's wanted list.
Vampires on the wanted list weren't unusual. After asking Gale, Trocara knew he wasn't randomly preying on innocent people, so he decided to shelter his pitiful nephew but didn't intend to bring them to his school.
"I had no choice, Uncle Ryan", Gale said, squatting in the dark forest with a pained expression. "This is the only place in Britain without Dementors, and we barely managed to escape here!"
He looked at the seemingly lifeless Lockhart and asked, "Uncle Ryan, can you send us some money and food? Some Polyjuice Potion would be even better. I want to find a proper place to stay and take a hot bath..."
Trocara sighed helplessly and said, "Not now, wait until tonight... I'll send it all to you tonight."
"Thank you, Uncle Ryan! I love you! I really, really love you!" Gale said happily.
"Just don't cause me any more trouble", Trocara warned. "And keep an eye on your friend. If I hear that someone in Hogsmeade suddenly lost their memory..."
"It won't happen, absolutely not!" Gale quickly assured him. "We'll stay quiet and harmless, like a Puffskein... I swear!"
Trocara hummed, "You better be."
As evening fell, Lockhart and Gale waited anxiously in the forest. When it was completely dark, they finally saw two owls struggling to fly over with large packages.
Gale hurried out to meet them, and just as he grabbed the package, someone tapped him on the back.
"You're late, buddy", a stranger standing behind him said with a smile. "Come on, everyone's waiting over there."
Gale was confused, "You know me?"
"What? Of course not", the stranger laughed. "But I can recognize a fellow vampire from a mile away..."
As he spoke, he looked at the long-haired Lockhart squatting beside them and couldn't help but grin.
"Ha, you're here for business, and you even brought your own snack... well done!"
Lockhart's eyes widened, and he tried to draw his wand, but was suddenly kicked over by Gale.
"Yeah..." Gale said with a forced smile. "If you like it..."
As he spoke, several bats flew out of the darkness and transformed into human form, surrounding Lockhart and placing their hands on his shoulders.
Feeling the cold breath on his back, Lockhart froze, not daring to move.
(End of Chapter)
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