Practicing a New Spell

Amidst everyone's horrified gazes, the green light struck the Gnome.

A green light flashed, Gnome paused for a moment before continuing to struggle in Riddle's grasp, even attempting to bite him.

Riddle smiled with satisfaction, waved his hand, and the Gnome flew back into the box.

"Does anyone know what spell I just cast?"

Hermione swallowed hard, but before she could raise her hand, Riddle picked up the student roster and casually said, "Let me see... Sean Wallerup?"

Sean stood up and gave the other person a deep look. "I've only heard of it... it's Killing Curse."

"Correct! And what about its effect, Mr. Wallop?"

"This is Killing Curse; it will take the life of the one cast upon it..."

Riddle nodded in satisfaction, then gestured for Sean to sit down.

"But the Gnome is still jumping around. Is my magic not enough?" He smiled and spread his hands, looking at everyone, but no one answered him, as if he had told a bad joke.

"Obviously not, which brings us back to the topic we were just discussing." He put his hands behind his back and continued softly in a fascinated tone, "The unknown breeds awe and aversion."

"And for every spell, the wizard still determines its effect."

Hermione raised her hand.

"Miss Granger?"

"Sir, I don't think your actions are correct!" Her lips trembled slightly. "The casting of Dark Arts often requires the caster to harbor immense malice. Perhaps you can control... the Killing Curse, but this is not the realm we should be venturing into!"

Riddle showed no displeasure. He waved for Hermione to sit down. "Miss Granger, you're overlooking something. This course is called Magical Attack and Defense in Newmontgard, and we don't teach a bunch of mentally deranged lunatics."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips, "If the malice used in casting a spell is removed, then wouldn't so-called Dark Arts become a powerful weapon in the hands of wizards?"

The students of Newmontgard stood tall, their faces beaming with pride.

"I'm here to teach you an age-old truth: magic is just magic, and those who wield it are always wizards."

The Hogwarts students began to murmur amongst themselves, unable to contain their aversion to what they had learned from Professor Riddle.

Only Sean frowned slightly.

He didn't feel good. Riddle's idea sounded perfectly correct, and he had provided a reasonable example. There seemed to be no flaws to point out.

However, Riddle omitted one point.

What about breaking the curse?

Dark Arts is feared for a great deal because there is no way to undo the curse, and those afflicted by it suffer endless pain.

In Riddle's hands, Avada Kedavra might be a trivial Avada Kedavra, but how many people in this world are as familiar with Dark Arts as he is?

Grindelwald? Who else? Sean couldn't think of any other names.

Grindelwald's Fiendfyre was as docile as a cat's, but some people would only burn themselves to death if they used it.

Moreover, Sean noticed something: the Gnome that Riddle used as an example was actually a humanoid creature...

He glanced unconsciously in the direction of Slytherin; Malfoy and his followers were excitedly discussing something.

Sean sighed inwardly. The seed had been planted... Was this Riddle's goal?

On the podium, Riddle did not stop the students' discussion. After the noise subsided a bit, he smiled and said, "Of course, some things are still far away from you. Today, let's learn a little spell."

"Hmm, who will give me a demonstration, oh, Oaks?" He pointed to a student from Newmontgard.

The short, brown-haired boy reluctantly stepped down, while the other students of Newmontgard chuckled softly.

"Relax, Oaks, this is a first-year project, you should have already studied it." Riddle patted the boy on the shoulder.

He stood opposite the boy and explained, "This is an attack spell. The effect is simple: it will give the person affected by the spell a feeling of being pricked by needles. It is quite effective at distracting others."

"Of course, some people use it for little pranks." Riddle shrugged, as if the spell was just a trinket.

He made a gesture, indicating that everyone should follow his example. After seeing everyone wave their wands, Riddle nodded in satisfaction.

"Acupunct Internus," he emphasized the word 'in, "Remember to emphasize it, and at the same time visualize a long, transparent needle piercing your body."

"Read after me, 'Acupunct Internus' (Acupunct Internus)."

"Acupunct Internus"

"Very well," Riddle turned to the stocky little fat man, "Oaks, are you ready to duel with me?"

Oaks nervously squeezed his wand, and finally nodded firmly.

"Okay, come on."

The chubby boy looked extremely nervous, but to everyone's surprise, as soon as Riddle finished speaking, Oaks raised his wand. His movements were swift and precise, and the spell came out instantly.

"Acupunct Internus!"

Riddle dodged the spell with a swift movement, then lazily waved his wand. "Acupunct Internus."

Oaks cried out in pain and then clutched his shoulder.

"Not bad spell, Oaks, but you still need to practice." Riddle waved for the other to return to his seat. The chubby boy was still clutching his shoulder, seemingly quite badly pricked.

"Alright, pair up and start practicing. Don't worry about how much pain you'll suffer. Your current level is about the same as a mosquito bite."

Whether by coincidence or accident, the Hogwarts students' opponents were all their classmates, except for Sean, who was assigned to a student from Newmontgard.

"Wallerup, he's only studied for half a semester longer than you, don't worry," Riddle said with a smile.

But the others looked at Sean with some worry. They were learning this spell for the first time, but the students of Newmontgard had clearly mastered it completely, as demonstrated by that Oaks.

The tall, dark-haired boy revealed a malicious smile and slowly raised his wand.

The other students from Newmontgard also looked on with amusement.

Sean shrugged; he had just taken a moment to glance at his panel.

Avada Kedavra (Dark Arts) Lv0: Proficiency 100/3000

Acupunct Internus (Dark Arts) Lv0: Proficiency 200/1000

My talent for Dark Arts does seem to be somewhat outstanding...

"Begin!" Riddle commanded.