Chapter 550: The Cost and Clubs
Chapter 550: The Cost and Clubs
Upon hearing the dismissal, the students all but ran out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Wade stayed behind, under Michael's gleeful gaze.
Even when it came to special treatment, most students wouldn't envy those singled out by Professor Moody.
Once everyone had left, Moody's tone softened slightly as he addressed Wade. "Your spellwork is impressive, but in my Defense Against the Dark Arts class, you'll face many more opponents... Are you afraid?"
Wade replied, "Of course not."
"Good lad", Moody grinned. "Starting this Sunday, set aside an hour each week. I'll show you what dark magic spells look like and how to counter them."
Wade asked, puzzled, "You don't plan to teach this in class?"
"In class? To those little brats who lack even the basic instinct for self-defense?" Moody sneered, shaking his head.
Wade hesitated. "Actually... they're not that bad."
He genuinely believed this, as many had used the Disarming Charm, and a few had even managed the Shield Charm.
Wade remembered from the books that many students, including older ones like Cho Chang, only learned these spells in their fifth year, thanks to Harry.
"Their spellwork is a bit better than I expected, but their eyes tell a different story. They're just children in adult clothing. On a real battlefield, they'd be gone in two rounds."
Moody said with disdain, "Have they seen death? Can they endure pain and fight back without screaming? Have they experienced the power of dark magic and still resist the temptation to indulge in it?"
Leaning on his cane, Moody hooked a chair with his prosthetic leg and sat down, exhaling deeply.
He continued, "Some doors should never be opened. I've seen many young people slip into darkness and either end up crippled, mad, or in Azkaban... A quick death would be better for them."
Wade asked, "Aren't you worried I might slip as well?"
Moody glanced at him and said, "I see it in your eyes. You've seen darkness, but you won't enjoy it... I bet you think Voldemort is a fool?"
Wade smiled but said nothing.
"Pride is dangerous", Moody muttered. "But it's better than being both stupid and greedy."
He uncorked a bottle and took a large swig.
Wade sniffed, detecting a faint scent of potions.
He instinctively glanced at Moody's head, then relaxed.
Moody noticed Wade's movement and grinned. "This isn't alcohol... it's the cost, Wade."
"The cost?"
"Some damage from dark magic can't be healed. It's not just a scar on your skin."
Moody's facial muscles twitched, and his voice grew grim. "It hurts all the time, like ants gnawing at your bones, like someone scraping your nerves with a dull blade... Potions help me manage the pain and stay lucid."
Wade looked at Moody's scarred face and hands, and his nose, which was missing a large chunk. He thought of the fierce, lion-like man who now struggled to stand from a chair due to his pain.
"Is there no other way?" Wade asked, concerned. "Phoenix tears or unicorn blood, perhaps?"
Moody smiled. "Go back, child, and don't forget to attend your lessons on time."
Clearly, he had already tried every possible remedy and had long given up hope of a cure.
Besides, could a seasoned Auror with his experience know less than a student like Wade?
Wade didn't say anything more and left the classroom.
...
In the afternoon, during his free period, Wade brought his homework and books and visited the Umbrella House for the first time in a while.
As soon as he walked in, he heard Padma telling Hermione about what happened in class.
"...Then I used a Tripping Jinx to take down Pansy, but before I could catch my breath, Michael, that despicable guy, attacked me from behind..."
"Sorry, you were just standing in the perfect spot", Michael said with a grin.
Neville, looking pale, said, "So... we have to duel like that in Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"
"Neville!" Harry placed a hand on Neville's shoulder and said, "You've been through the maze so many times. What's the difference between this and dealing with the bugs in the maze?"
"There's a huge difference", Theo said, exasperated. "At least the bugs make some noise before they attack!"
"Aren't you scared too, Theo?" Michael raised his voice.
"Michael." Lian suddenly asked, "Why did you only mention the second time? What about the first duel? Why didn't you talk about that?"
Michael: "..."
He was secretly mustering his courage, thinking of how to gloss over the truth, when he saw Wade walk in. Instantly, he jumped up and shouted, "Hey, Wade, you actually ambushed me!"
"Sorry", Wade said with a smile. "You were just standing in the perfect spot."
Michael: "..."
Padma couldn't help but laugh, and soon everyone was laughing.
They wrote essays, practiced spells, and before they knew it, it was time for dinner.
After dinner, it was the scheduled time for the extra charms tutoring.
Anthony was quick to action. He had already posted a message on the Friends' Ledger at noon, saying he had cleaned up the club's classroom and even named it the Charms Study Group for simplicity.
Although Wade felt that the Ssc members didn't need to attend this Charms Study Group, it was their first activity, so they all went to see what it was about.
They climbed to the fifth floor of the main castle, took a few turns, and then saw a long corridor with various signs on the classroom doors. Some were enchanted with decorative spells, while others simply had names written on them.
Wade saw signs for the Gobstones Club, Wizard Chess Club, Potions Research Society, Magical Creatures Enthusiasts Group, Charm Innovation Society, and even a sign for the Baking Magic Society, with a wooden plaque shaped like a cake and emitting a sweet, sugary scent.
Almost at the very end, he finally saw the sign for the Charms Study Group.
The hastily written wooden sign still had wet ink, with some intricate patterns around it. Upon closer inspection, the patterns turned out to be coiling silver snakes.
Wade was slightly taken aback. Anthony didn't even have time to write the club's name, yet he still had the time to add these little decorations?
This sign... could it have been there all along, just with a different name?
Wade pointed his wand at the wooden sign and whispered, "Revealing Spell!"
A faint silver light appeared beneath the ink, gradually forming a series of characters—
【Midnight Society·V】.
Wade looked at the final "V" and the familiar font, and his lips twitched.
Could this "V" be the "V" from Lord Voldemort?
Could the club room Anthony applied for have originally belonged to Voldemort's secret student society?
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
