A Different Kind of Class

The silvery-white glow of the Patronus mingled with the light of hundreds of candles, Winky the entire Great Hall.

Loren dodged the few young wizards who were attacking each other with Patronus Light and stepped into the area where the Slytherin students were.

Although all three teaching assistants are Gryffindor, they can't all be crammed into the Gryffindor area. Otherwise, people might think that Professor Lupin is showing favoritism and giving them special treatment.

The young Slytherin wizards looked at Loren with complicated expressions, especially the members of the Slytherin Quidditch Team and some members of the Potions Club.

Loren wasn't on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, but he could drive the Slytherin players crazy just by commentating from the commentary booth. What was even more puzzling was that their own Head of House Professor Snape, seemed to have a very good relationship with this Gryffindor, as he was often seen going in and out of the Slytherin Head of House's office...

The young Slytherin wizards couldn't quite explain the feeling; it was as if their own Head of House had betrayed them.

Loren observed the young Slytherin wizards without making a sound.

There were students from both lower and upper grades. He had a few familiar faces who had taken classes with him, but most were unfamiliar.

The Slytherin Quidditch players were easy to spot—they were burly, had fierce faces, and stared intently at him, as if they wanted to shoot spells from their eyes.

There were also some familiar faces among the remaining members of the Potions Club.

Aside from the Quidditch players, the others didn't seem to hate Loren much. They glanced at him for a moment, then quickly looked away and continued practicing their Patronus Charm.

Loren observed for a while.

It is said that Slytherin is home to many evil dark wizards, and the Patronus Charm is used to identify them. Surprisingly, these young Slytherin wizards have practiced the Patronus Charm quite well.

Several senior wizards, their radiance soft and solid, had already touched the edge of summoning a physical Patronus.

However, most young wizards are still at the stage of summoning a small ball of light.

No one asked Loren any questions, and he didn't linger. He walked over to Draco, observing him and the other young wizards practicing with great interest, occasionally offering a few words of guidance to demonstrate his presence as a teaching assistant.

"Daphne Greengrass, your movements are too stiff and rigid. The casting motion must be in harmony with your body shape."

"..."

"Pansy Parkinson, that's your name, right... Don't look so angry. People can do anything when they're anxious and angry, but the Patronus Charm is an exception. Be patient, Miss Parkinson."

Pansy Parkinson was furious and seemed to have completely ignored Loren's advice.

Loren shook his head, sighed regretfully, and stepped towards the next person:

"Theodore Nott, your casting motions and incantation are very precise, but the most important aspect of the Patronus Charm is the infusion of joyful memories..."

Theodore Nott stopped casting his spell, frowned and pondered for a moment, then asked Loren very seriously, "Assistant Morgan, I have a question."

Loren became interested. "You tell me!"

"According to theoretical speculation, the summoning of Patronus relies on happy memories and emotions. So, if I take Elixir of Joy before casting the spell, will it help to promote the formation of the Patronus?"

"Hmm, that's a very insightful question..."

Loren, chin in hand, adopted the air of a teaching assistant, frowning as he pondered for a moment, "The happiness brought by the Elixir of Joy is illusory. Even if you experience a great deal of happiness after taking the drug, you won't feel happy when you recall that memory later. From the perspective of the spell's principle, the Elixir of Joy cannot promote the formation of Patronus."

"However, from another perspective, a moderate amount of Elixir of Joy can put your mind and body in a good state, which is helpful for spell practice."

The ambiguous answer left Nott somewhat bewildered, and he watched in a daze as Loren walked to the next young wizard.

"Astoria Greengrass, right? I remember you're only a first-year student. You're not ready to learn this magic yet."

Astoria blinked.

"..."

Draco put away his wand, looked at the stunned Astoria and teaching assistant Morgan, and was somewhat speechless. He patted Astoria on the shoulder and told her to go back to the Common Room first. Draco said to Loren, "I asked her to come, teaching assistant Morgan."

Loren glanced at him reservedly, observed him for a few moments with the air of a teaching assistant, and said calmly, "Well, like other Slytherin students, you haven't poured enough happy memories into your spells... You know, memories and emotions are the key to your Patronus."

Draco nodded expressionlessly, it was unclear how much he had taken in. "Assistant Morgan, I also have some questions I'd like to ask."

"Um?"

Draco led Loren to a corner against the wall, where everyone had crowded around the stage and the area with the candles, leaving a space empty.

"During the Christmas holidays, people from Ilvermorny came to my house again," Draco said softly, his eyes reflecting a dim light as he looked at the candles and Patronus Charm flickering in the Great Hall. "They only stayed for an hour, demanding that my father scrape together nearly ten thousand Galleons, and then left once they got the Galleon."

Loren dropped his jovial tone, paused for a moment, and asked, "Can you find out what they're doing with the funds?"

"Galleons are stored in wizards' storage spaces or in Gringotts ' underground vaults, both of which are very difficult to trace..." Draco shook his head.

Loren wanted to say something lighthearted to comfort him, but looking at Draco's indifferent face, he felt there was no need to say anything.

"If you need any help, you can contact me."

"Um..."

Just as the two remained silent, a tsunami of cheers suddenly resounded throughout the entire Great Hall:

"Cedric! Cedric ..."

"Neville Lomberton! Lomberton ..."

Amidst the chaotic discussions among the young wizards, words like "physical Patronus" occasionally reached Loren's ears.

Loren had a vague guess in his mind, and he looked towards the most crowded and chaotic center of the crowd—

George and Fred, one holding Cedric's shoulder and the other pushing Neville, squeezed the two onto the stage amidst the crowd.

Lee Jordan of Gryffindor and Justin of Hufflepuff shouted excitedly:

"Cedric, demonstrate!"

"Quick! Let us see!"

Cedric smiled, his lips pursed. He glanced at the girl in the Ravenclaw area, brushed a stray strand of hair from his forehead, and relaxed his grip on his wand, palm up, rotating his wrist.

"[Patronus Charm] "

The tip of the staff emitted a silvery-white light, which swirled a few times like a gentle breeze, and then gathered in the air in front of the stage to form a robust four-legged animal.

Almost all the young wizards in the Great Hall opened their eyes wide, trying to identify what kind of animal Cedric's Patronus was as soon as possible.

Its whip-like tail swished slowly, its solid body was almost imposing, and two curved horns protruded from its triangular head.

"It's a buffalo..." Cedric turned his head and explained softly to Neville, which slowly calmed Neville's panicked heart. "Don't worry, just follow my demonstration once. You've already succeeded once, haven't you? It's okay if you fail."

"Okay, okay."

Neville's forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat, whether from excessive excitement or exhaustion, he waved his wand with a slightly trembling hand: "[Patronus Charm]"

The silvery-white light slowly coalesced into a majestic lion with its head held high, sharp teeth, large claws, and a mane that seemed to sway as if a gentle breeze was rising.

"A lion, it's a lion..."

"It's the Gryffindor Lion..."

The Gryffindor wizards were too excited to speak. The arena was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly erupted in even more enthusiastic cheers. Surrounded by the many young Gryffindor wizards, someone shouted, and Neville was quickly lifted up and tossed around in the air.

On the side of the stage, Cedric dispersed the Buffalo Patronus and joined the group of young Ravenclaw wizards.

At the side door next to the High Table, several professors leaned against the wall, watching the events unfolding in the Great Hall with smiles on their faces.

"Compared to the majestic lion..." Professor Flitwick raised his hand to stroke his beard, only to realize with a start that he had shaved it off when he touched his somewhat rough chin. He smacked his lips and continued, "The down-to-earth water buffalo seems more reassuring."

"Yes, Pomona, Hufflepuff has a wonderful young wizard," Professor McGonagall said softly.

Professor Sprout couldn't suppress a smile, his eyes gleaming with pride. "Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, then suddenly stripped of everyone's admiring gaze, yet still able to maintain composure... Cedric..."

Professor Snape suddenly remarked casually, "Your good student is pestering another girl for a reward."

The professors followed his gaze to Cedric and Cho Chang, paused for a moment, and then burst into even more joyful laughter.

Ilvermorny College, Mount Greylock, Massachusetts, United States.

"Oh, that's really hard to judge..."

The new professor, Tom Professor Gunt, frowned, his expression one of utter disdain. "You're already second-years. Last semester's last lesson was about how to deal with Flobberworm? Are you sure you were taking Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

To be honest, although Voldemort always believed that he was well-suited for the position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts and capable of fulfilling it, he still felt somewhat irritated by these naive and somewhat foolish little wizards.

The second-year wizards of the Ilvermorny Goblin House remained silent, while a few of the young wizards from the Thunderbird House seemed to agree, also finding the Flobberworm boring.

Their silence made Voldemort realize the situation, and he quickly forced a smile, "Excuse me, what I mean is, you have Magic Power, you have miraculous talents, I think you should learn some more practical magic."

"But!"

A young wizard from Thunderbird House spoke up, a golden Gordian Knot pinned to his chest. Meeting Voldemort's deep gaze, his voice trailed off, almost a muttering.

"But Professor Amos said that we are only second-year wizards and our Magic Power is very weak. It is more important to use the caterpillar to inspire our thinking than to struggle to learn specific magic."

With one person taking the lead, the young wizards at the Goblin House also gained courage and added in their childish voices, "Professor Amos hopes that we will develop the mindset to deal with dark Magical Creatures, so that when we learn various powerful spells in the future, we can easily find suitable spells to deal with them."

"That makes a lot of sense, my dear children..." Voldemort forced a smile as he manipulated the Wormtail of his body. "But Professor Amos has chosen the wrong person."

The young wizards stared at him expectantly.

"You can only deal with insects, no matter how many you crush. If you want to deal with ferocious beasts, you must face them head-on."

As Voldemort spoke, he waved his wand and used Transfiguration to conjure a ferocious giant bird engulfed in flames.

The crimson giant bird was enormous, taking up most of the classroom. Broken bone fragments extended from its wings, and crimson blood splattered on the floor. Flames spread and rolled along the blood, and the bloodstains quickly burned and solidified, turning into ashes.

Bright flames surged and raged, even the transparent air seemed to be distorted by the heat, the stench of blood and the smell of burning began to permeate the air, and waves of scorching heat echoed through the classroom.

The young wizards cowered in fear, and several girls from the Goblin House even burst into tears.

"Don't be afraid, it's just an illusion, it can't hurt you..." Voldemort said gently, "This is the first lesson I want to teach you: overcome fear!"

Upon hearing the professor's explanation, several daring young wizards from Thunderbird House reached out and touched the flames. Their tender palms passed right through the flames, unharmed, only feeling a little hot.

The young wizards exchanged glances, their fear turning into astonishment:

It was just an illusion after all!

Voldemort waved his wand at them, and a gash appeared on the neck of the gruesome firebird, spurting out crimson blood. Manipulated by Magic Power, the blood drifted towards the young wizards, and illusory flames swirled around them a few times before dissipating into the air.

"Come on, let's start with the brave Thunderbird House! Throw your wands into this firebird's body, sting it, kill it, and conquer your fear!"

Voldemort's words were like sparks falling into the hearts of the young wizards, igniting the seeds hidden in the shadows and causing a strange flame of excitement to rise in their eyes.

Pfft

Pfft

With a slightly sticky sound, the wand, like a sharp dagger, pierced flesh without resistance, splattering blood onto the young wizards' hands, clothes, and faces.

It was hot and a little slippery.

"Don't be afraid, don't worry about getting your clothes dirty! These are all illusions!" Voldemort breathed in the increasingly thick stench of blood in the air, unable to suppress a satisfied laugh, "Heh ha ha ha..."

The eerie voice made a young Witch from the Goblin House next to her shrink back. She asked in a childish voice, "Professor Gunt, why are you laughing so happily?"

Voldemort knelt down and wiped the bloodstains from her face, smearing crimson all over half of her cheek:

"Because the professor is happy for you..."