Chapter 282: Examination Theory

Theoretically speaking, it is unrealistic to want to build a society where pure-blood wizards and Muggle-borns are completely equal. Muggle-borns arrive in the Wizarding World all alone; how can they compete with pure-blood families that have been passed down for generations? Unless private ownership is abolished in the Wizarding World and a communist society is established, but that is still too far off.

Therefore, in the current environment, Harry believes there is already an answer to the so-called "more reasonable pure-blood theory," and that is the Muggle Lives Matter movement. Even if it is just out of political correctness, as long as wizards no longer discriminate against Muggles or Muggle-borns, that is enough.

But in reality, this is compatible with the pure-blood nobility argument proposed by Lu Xiusi. Harry feels that Draco must be calculating this: he is preparing to tell Lu Xiusi, with sound reasoning, that instead of relying on dishonorable means to seize the Greengrass family fortune, it would be better to directly persuade the Order of the Phoenix to support him.

"It's a pity, your idea might not work," Harry said with a smile, shaking his head. "Although we two could work together to build the Wizarding World with a more harmonious philosophy, your father will not give up his plan for this. He wants to swallow up the Greengrasses; this is purely for his own ambition."

"I just knew it, Mr. Lu Xiusi is no longer loyal to the Dark Lord," Pan Xi said, her tone slightly helpless. However, under Harry's gentle gaze, she cautiously added, "I didn't expect him to be so brave."

Can courage born of ambition still be considered courage? Harry feels this is a question worth exploring, but not one to discuss today. However, this question reveals another potential hidden danger: if Lu Xiusi's ambition is crushed, will he turn back to the Dark Lord?

Harry took a slow breath. Even without considering this question, facing Draco, who does not know (or is unwilling to say) about the Horcruxes, he feels he should not prematurely point out the matter of the diary.

"The Dark Lord cannot return, without a doubt," Harry said. "This is something the Order of the Phoenix will do everything in its power to achieve, so, Pan Xi, I suggest you persuade the Parkinson family to seriously consider which side to stand on."

"As for Draco, I think you can think carefully about how to rely on Torchwood and Hogwarts to convey your protest to your father," Harry emphasized again. "The Order of the Phoenix only does one thing, and that is to ensure the Dark Lord can never return to this world. As for whether this can be of help to you, it depends on how you prepare to operate."

"You're right, I will study carefully how to use this point," Draco also let out a sigh of relief. "Although I can't think of any plan right now, as long as there is room for negotiation, there will always be a way."

Harry looked at his watch with a smile; today's gathering was also coming to an end. Before going to sleep, he still needed to finish copying that self-aggrandizing article, but the good news was that the first period on Monday was History of Magic, so he could catch up on sleep during that class.

The next morning, under Luo En's reminder, the two applied the Disillusionment Charm, then leisurely finished breakfast and prepared to go to class. Perhaps because everyone had finished their homework, they only ran into one student from another house looking for "Harry Potter" all morning.

After catching up on sleep during History of Magic, a refreshed Harry and Luo En walked into the Potions classroom and sat down, only to see Professor Snape, who was pale, with sunken eye sockets, looking like a vampire.

"Today we continue to learn the Draught of Peace; I have left the recipe on the blackboard," Snape's tone carried a trace of exhaustion. "A small number of students who are already proficient in brewing the Draught of Peace can preview the upcoming lessons or help your idiot friends."

"Why does the old bat look so listless?" Luo En whispered.

"Think about how much he has to do now: preparing lessons and grading homework for all seven years of Potions classes, his duties as Headmaster, and a bunch of high-end meetings he needs to attend, as well as short meetings organized within the school," Harry said, lowering his voice. "He also has to participate in meetings for both the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters, and he has to rack his brains on how to stir up trouble between them. I bet he's going to exhaust himself."

Luo En said with a hint of sympathy: "Actually, I wouldn't mind changing Potions teachers."

It is hard to say whether this sentence expressed his consideration for Snape or his disgust.

This was perhaps a rare Potions class where Luo En was not berated by Snape. Firstly, it was because Harry provided him with a lot of help, and secondly, Snape did not have the extra energy to fly into a rage over mediocre potions.

By the afternoon's Care of Magical Creatures class, some students asked about Hagrid's situation. Professor Grills said he was currently searching for a Chimera and gave a verbal introduction to this creature, which is considered the most dangerous magical animal, before starting to train the students in the Shield Charm and the Stunning Spell.

Immediately after, Sir Arnold used the excuse "you just happened to train defensive spells in the last class" to spend an entire period explaining the "basic principles of Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"... We strictly limit the scenarios for using defensive arts; only in very urgent states can limited defensive spells be used," he said unhurriedly. "For the judgment of whether a defensive spell can be used, one must consider urgency and proportionality."

"The judgment of urgency has always been one of the test points. Note that only when you are about to be harmed but have not yet been harmed can you be considered eligible to use defensive arts. For example, if someone who appears to be a dark wizard reaches into their pocket in front of you, and you use a spell to knock them down, is that okay?" Arnold looked at the students with a smile.

"No, him reaching into his pocket doesn't necessarily mean he's going to take out a wand," Hermione raised her hand and said.

"Very correct, one point to Gryffindor," Arnold nodded. "And if he takes out a wand and points it at you, can you use a defensive spell?"

"No, because he doesn't necessarily want to hurt me," Neville looked at the book and then raised his hand to answer.

"Excellent, another point to Gryffindor," Arnold continued. "Then, if he utters the three syllables 'Avada', can you use a defensive spell at this time?"

"No," Harry felt he understood a little. "He might be trying to tell an 'Avada joke'."

"Very reasonable," Arnold nodded in deep agreement. "And if he utters the real Killing Curse, can you use a defensive spell at this time?"

"No," Luo En said. "I'd probably be dead by then."

"Good, then if you are dead, can your friend next to you start using defensive spells?" Arnold asked in an indifferent tone, completely ignoring the children's laughter.

"No, because the unlawful infringement has already ended by then," Harry nodded.

"Therefore, it must be while the Killing Curse is in flight, and the person targeted by the Killing Curse is the one who can use defensive magic. I think you are very clear about the definitions in the book," Arnold said with a calm expression. "This is the content written in the book. No matter how we prepare to protect ourselves in reality, we must write it this way during the exam. Do you understand?"

"But how should we actually protect ourselves in reality?" Seamus raised his hand and asked.

"Very simple, before he draws his wand, you tell him loudly that you are Harry Potter's roommate. He will likely be wary and not dare to attack you," Arnold said, then suddenly stood up. "By the way, where is Harry Potter? Did he not come to class today?"

Harry raised his hand and replied: "I used the Disillusionment Charm, Professor, because there have been too many people looking for me lately."

Arnold ignored Harry's slightly dissatisfied tone and continued to say with a smile: "A more creative way is that in the future, you can even say that you are Harry Potter yourself."

"Good, then let's return to the textbook and talk about this issue of proportionality. Even if we are acting in legitimate self-defense, we cannot use any Unforgivable Curses," Arnold said. "The law stipulates that the recommended spells for use in self-defense are the Knockback Jinx and Apparition. Note that the Disarming Charm and the Shield Charm are not included."

"Once a Disarming Charm or Shield Charm is used, or even some spells such as the Full Body-Bind Curse or Fire-Making Spell, it is very likely to be judged as excessive defense," Arnold said seriously. "The law suggests that when we are attacked, we should prioritize using Apparition to escape."

"But we are only in our fifth year, we don't know how to Apparate," a student asked.

"You can write that on the test paper first, pretending you already know how," Arnold answered without hesitation.

Under the dissatisfied gazes of the students, he coughed lightly and added: "Of course, if you insist on killing the dark wizard attacking you under legal premises, it's not entirely impossible."

"What about this situation: after he uses the Killing Curse on you, you can immediately dodge to the right while the Killing Curse is in flight, then use the Summoning Charm to pull him in front of you, then adjust your position with Apparition, and use the Knockback Jinx to knock him into the flight path of the Killing Curse. In this way, at a triangular angle, let him be killed by his own Killing Curse," Arnold said. "Have you learned it?"

In the suffocating silence, he picked up the book again. "Of course, generally speaking, the Disarming Charm can be used. If you use the Disarming Charm on a dark wizard after dodging the Killing Curse, this is completely acceptable, because this does not deny that you possess good defensive awareness and defensive recognition. But we must also say, if the timing of using the Disarming Charm is inappropriate, what consequences will it produce?"

"The first thing to say is using it beforehand; it is very likely to be sentenced for the crime of intentional destruction of property. For example, if you are arguing with someone and he draws his wand, and you immediately use the Disarming Charm, causing the wand to break, you need to compensate for the wand, because he might have wanted to Apparate away, right?" Arnold explained the defensive theory that was completely detached from reality. "In a situation where danger is not imminent, defensive spells cannot be used for preparatory acts..."

"I really hope the person who wrote this book faces Voldemort and see if he can continue writing like this," Luo En said, rolling his eyes while taking notes.

"Or is it possible," Harry said, "that it is precisely because he died at Voldemort's hands that this book was able to be published without changing a single word?" ===== CHAPTER 283 =====