Defense Against the Dark Arts: Running Away

The afternoon Defence Against the Dark Arts class certainly did not disappoint.

Professor Burdock Broad was a witty, humorous old man. On his first day teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, he told everyone:

"You may not know this, but the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor is cursed. No one has ever remained in the post for a full year. I doubt I'll be an exception, so before I leave, I'll teach you the knowledge you need to master."

Such a statement was truly shocking.

"Professor, even you can't break the curse?" Roger Davies raised his hand and asked.

"I'm afraid... not!" Professor Burdock Broad shook his head. "Over the past few decades, quite a few Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors have tried, but they all undoubtedly failed. And if even Dumbledore cannot do it, I don't believe I can. One must know one's limits. All right, open Dark Forces: A Defensive Guide to page five. Class is about to begin."

Professor Burdock Broad had barely begun lecturing before he went off on a tangent. He was telling them about things that had happened during his travels, such as using a Blood Pop to deal with a desperately thirsty vampire.

Professor Bludger told them that vampires did not truly need to drink blood; they merely craved the taste of it.

"Girls need to be especially careful when they encounter vampires, because most vampires like to target young ladies." Professor Bludger said it in a joking tone.

Of course, most vampires and werewolves were currently registered with the Ministry of Magic, but that did not mean there were no stragglers.

When discussing werewolves, Professor Burdock Broad's advice was to keep a respectful distance.

If one was bitten by a transformed werewolf, one would become a werewolf. Werewolves were rejected by wizards, found it difficult to get respectable jobs, and many of them eventually went down the wrong path.

"If I encountered a transformed werewolf outside, the first thing I'd do would definitely be to Apparate away." Professor Bludger believed it was best not to get entangled with a transformed werewolf in any way, because that meant risking being bitten.

Being bitten by a transformed werewolf meant enduring something crueler than death—becoming a werewolf.

"Professor Bludger, what should we do if we encounter a werewolf?"

"I think it will be difficult for you to encounter werewolves in your current circumstances. Of course, if you are unfortunate enough to meet one, you can only save yourselves. In a densely built-up area, you can use the Locking Charm to lock doors from the inside. As magical creatures, whether wizards or Muggles who become werewolves, most lose their reason. Lock the door, then fire red sparks to seek help from others."

"What if we're in the wilderness or on a plain, with nowhere nearby to hide?"

"If that happens, I suppose you can only pray to Merlin." Professor Bludger said helplessly.

"Can't we use wands to subdue transformed werewolves?" someone else asked.

"You can. Powerful wizards can do it." Professor Bludger nodded. "But I absolutely will not tell you to try challenging a transformed werewolf. That would be an incredibly foolish idea—it would be seeking death. If you are bitten by a transformed werewolf and fail to receive treatment in time, you will certainly die. Even if you survive, you will have to face something more frightening than death."

"That means you will become a werewolf," he repeated.

"What if you're bitten by a werewolf that hasn't transformed?" Albert suddenly asked.

"That is a good question." Bade Blod looked at Albert and nodded. "A human bitten by an untransformed werewolf will not be completely turned into a werewolf, but their body will develop some werewolf traits. The bite wound will also be difficult to heal. Treating werewolf wounds requires a mixture of silver powder and Dittany.

Professor Burdock Broad clapped his hands, drawing the entire class's attention. "Why not write all this down?"

"Remember: stay vigilant at all times, keep away from werewolves, and do not get bitten. That is the best way to protect yourselves."

Before the Defence Against the Dark Arts class ended, Professor Bludger taught everyone two spells: how to fire red sparks and green sparks into the sky with their wands.

Red sparks generally signified danger and an urgent call for help. Green sparks could mean gathering, finding a target, or any other meaning agreed upon by people beforehand.

As Professor Burdock Broad explained, everyone hurriedly wrote it down in their books.

As for their Defence Against the Dark Arts homework, it was naturally to practise the two kinds of sparks.

He was a reliable Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.

That was Albert's assessment of Professor Burdock Broad. The old man was witty and humorous. Rather than teaching from Dark Forces: A Defensive Guide, he taught them based on his own experiences—highly practical advice.

"I really hope Professor Bludger can teach us some useful spells." Albert had heard people complain like that more than once, looking as though they could not wait to rush up and fight werewolves to the death.

They simply did not understand Professor Bludger's good intentions!

"Don't be so greedy. You haven't even fully mastered Lumos yet, not to mention Transfiguration and the Unlocking Charm." Albert mercilessly poured cold water over George. "Now you also need to practise firing red and green sparks with your wand."

The three of them immediately wilted like frost-bitten eggplants.

Yes, they still had many spells they had not fully learned. Even if Professor Bludger taught them useful spells, they would have difficulty mastering them in a short time.

That reality was simply too cruel for the three of them—no, for most first-years.

"If you want to learn magic, I have a copy of Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts that I can lend you." As they passed around a corner, Albert smiled at the three of them. "I found this morning's Shield Charm in it. It's a very practical book."

At once, the three of them's eyes lit up, as though they could not wait to start learning. They had already tossed Albert's earlier remarks to the back of their minds.

Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts was a book introducing defensive magic. All its counters to jinxes and curses came with coloured animated illustrations. As Albert had said, it was a very practical book. Naturally, it was not cheap either.

The three of them could barely tear their eyes away from it.

"You've learned all of it?"

Not only Lee Jordan, but even the twin brothers looked at Albert expectantly, seemingly intending to find time to ask him to teach them spells.

Well, teach them personally.

Because of the remarkable things Albert had demonstrated, the three believed they could learn other spells from him.

As for self-study, that was still somewhat difficult.

"How could I have? I've only learned a few myself." Albert said irritably. "And you two, weren't you planning to master the Unlocking Charm first?"