Chapter 181: The Unforgivable Curses

Luo En was hit on the head by Zhang Qiu again. He glared back angrily, and suddenly remembered something, changing the topic. "By the way, what about the elves? You didn't really intend to liberate them, did you?"

"Oh right, this is also interesting; it was Tang Tang Nade who told me." Hermione was also in a hurry to change the topic from oppressive political conspiracies to interesting things. "House-elves don't actually need to be liberated. They work for wizards not really without any reward."

"What?"

"According to the latest research results of Miskatonic University, house-elves actually steal a part of the wizard's spellcasting ability through some complex magical ritual, which can be traced back to the agreement signed between wizards and elves in ancient times. Modern scholars believe that this has to some extent become the instinct of elves."

"That's too ridiculous, right?" Luo En frowned. "Is it true? I don't believe it."

"If you ask me, it's entirely possible." Harry retorted.

"I don't see it; he's just padding the article." Zhang Qiu said disdainfully.

Hermione smiled politely but awkwardly, and then said: "Alright, this itself is just a conjecture. Then I'll go back first. Is the club matter currently being handled by Zhang Qiu?"

"It's best to hand it over to Ivy." Zhang Qiu tapped the table lightly. "However, I will write a charter first, discuss it with her as soon as possible, and then we will meet together."

"Wait, Hermione, there's one more thing." Harry called her. "You might also know that Hogwarts is very likely to be attacked this year."

Hermione turned back to look at him.

"So, I want to spread some simple self-defense spells among the students. Do you have any understanding of this?" Harry asked, knowing the answer.

"Of course," Hermione nodded. "Tang Tang Nade taught me many useful spellcasting techniques, and I originally intended to popularize them a little in the girls' club."

"That's good." Harry showed a big smile, and then watched Hermione stride away.

Luo En sighed lightly and said: "Who would have thought that Hermione is such a beautiful girl?"

Zhang Qiu happily flipped the notebook to the first few pages and then crossed out a to-do item.

Harry pointed to Luo En's book with amusement, reminding him: "Time to do homework."

"Ah, oh, of course." Luo En scribbled with his quill, but his heart was still swinging, thinking about the two girls he had noticed.

In the next few days, under Harry's observation, Zhang Qiu, Ivy, and Hermione drafted the development plan for the girls' club and had each started inviting the first batch of members. This matter not only hung on Harry's mind, making him consider the development of the situation and the power of the students from time to time, but also hung on Luo En's heart, because he found that Hermione was very willing to learn makeup, and she inexplicably invited Lavender.

It wasn't until Thursday that they had their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and the two shifted their attention back to learning.

Professor Moody was worthy of being an Auror. After introducing himself, he quickly shifted the topic to Dark Magic, which was exactly the same as Tang Tang Nade.

"Deng Buliduo praised your courage greatly, and the Wizarding World is not as stable as it used to be now. Therefore, I intend to let you understand these terrible spells as early as possible, so that we have a year to practice how to defend against them."

"First," Moody paused, his magical eye spinning around, "does anyone know which spells are subject to the most severe punishment?"

Hermione raised her hand upright, but Moody didn't intend to call her, instead picking Neville, who was sitting slightly crooked.

"Mr. Longbottom, you look very unimpressed. Could it be that you already know everything?" Moody asked sternly.

"I know, Professor." Neville sat up straighter. "It's the Killing Curse, the Cruciatus Curse, and the Imperius Curse."

"Very well said," Moody nodded, looking slightly surprised, and then asked, "Then how do you think we should protect ourselves in front of these spells?"

"For the Killing Curse, we have no way to defend, we can only dodge." Neville replied. "But for the Cruciatus Curse and the Imperius Curse, we need to use an iron-like will to resist. There is another way, which is to strike down the Dark Wizards before they cast the spell on us."

"Neville is showing off again." Luo En whispered sourly.

"You don't know how much he paid for this." Harry persuaded very seriously.

"Weasley!" Moody suddenly shouted. "I know you're whispering, answer the next question!"

Luo En showed a surprised expression; he was clearly facing away from Professor Moody just now.

"Tell me, what spells can help us strike down Dark Wizards?" Moody stared at Luo En with his own eye, while that fake eye was still spinning around.

"Use the Disarming Charm or the Stupefy spell; these are spells that work directly. To ensure the hit rate of these two spells, we also need to use a series of small spells or Transfiguration to limit the opponent's actions." Luo En thought for a while and added, "If the wand is not around or is knocked down, you can also use a fist infused with magic power to beat the enemy."

Moody's two eyes blinked one after another, then he whispered: "Deng Buliduo is right, you are indeed more excellent than I expected. However, theory and practice are different after all. In the following lessons, I want to focus on teaching you how to resist the Imperius Curse, which is the 'iron-like will' that Mr. Longbottom mentioned."

"But for the first lesson, I think you still need to copy some notes, such as the Killing Curse. It not only requires you to have powerful magical power, but also requires you to be filled with murderous intent." Moody said. "If you don't have the determination to kill, you can't use the Killing Curse. If you use it yourself, it will drain your magic power, only making others bleed a little from the nose, and then you will have to be locked into Azkaban, never to come out for the rest of your life."

"So, whether it's a conflict in daily life, or you really encounter a Dark Wizard," Moody said seriously, "you cannot use this spell, understand?"

"As for the Cruciatus Curse, it acts on the soul rather than the body. People tortured by the Cruciatus Curse will feel like they are better off dead, but there will be no wounds left on their bodies." Moody continued to talk about the Cruciatus Curse. "But don't think you can use it on others casually. Damage to the soul is irreversible. Wizards who become crazy or idiots after being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse are everywhere. I'm not joking."

"Even if you hate someone to the extreme, you cannot do this. If he really has done something wrong, then you should send him to Azkaban; that is more tormenting than the Cruciatus Curse." Moody said this while his magical eye kept staring at Neville. "And anyone who uses the Cruciatus Curse privately will have to pay the price of sending themselves to Azkaban, which in a sense is more miserable than the victim."

"And the Imperius Curse, it is the spell with the lightest aftereffects and the least damage. But the effect is also the worst. Wizards controlled by the Imperius Curse can break free with their own will. If the caster's magic power is not strong, then it is even easier to break free." Moody tapped the blackboard with his wand. "Even so, once you use the Imperius Curse, it is also Azkaban, for life."

"Although you have already understood these spells in detail, I am just emphasizing them again." Moody supported the podium with both hands and said very seriously, "But what I want to say next is more important. Everyone must listen carefully."

"Dark Magic, headed by these three spells, all require you to harbor some negative emotions when casting, otherwise they won't be effective." Moody looked at Harry with his real eye when he said these words, while his magical eye darted between Neville and Luo En. "A kind person cannot use Dark Magic, and those who use Dark Magic will always be affected by negative emotions, and over time will become cruel, irritable, gloomy, and cold."

"I am not worried about you being at a loss in front of Dark Wizards now; what worries me is that some of you will use Dark Magic because of hatred." Moody said softly. "I don't want my students to go down that path, understand?"

Harry saw Neville nod solemnly, but it wasn't until after class that he heard Neville's true thoughts.

"Dark Magic has side effects and isn't necessarily effective; only Voldemort treats it as a trump card." He sneered. "If I meet him, I must use a sword to cut off his head."

"You use the Time-Momentary Curse, you can approach him in an instant, and then punch through his chest." Luo En suggested. "Or use a flying kick to break his neck from behind."

"What era is it, still using the traditional Killing Curse." Harry made a gesture of holding a gun. "You should learn Muggle Killing; shoot his head off from eight hundred miles away."

Just as they were discussing how to deal with imaginary enemies happily, they didn't notice a rhythmic *thump-thump* sound coming from behind. Professor Moody said in a serious but voiced tone, "You children, you'd better come to my office."

The three stopped talking all at once, exchanged a helpless look, and then obediently followed him to the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher's office. The furnishings here hadn't changed much since the second year; neither Lupin nor Moody were the kind of people keen on decorating the office environment.

"I don't blame you." After Moody sat down, he sighed first. "Anyone with your experience, it's impossible not to resent the Mysterious Person. Boys of this age also mostly don't know the severity of things. Whether you intend to use any method to avoid the Killing Curse, or just want to cast the Killing Curse directly, I can understand."

"However, children," Moody whispered, "there is something you don't know. The Mysterious Person will not be easily killed, no matter whether you use magical or non-magical means." ===== CHAPTER 182 =====