Defence Against the Dark Arts: Running Away

That afternoon's Defense Against the Dark Arts class certainly did not disappoint.

Professor Bard Broad was a witty, humorous old man. On his first day teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, he said this to the class:

"You may not know this, but the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor is cursed. No one has ever managed to stay 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."

That statement was truly shocking.

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

"I'm afraid... no!" Professor Bard Broad shook his head. "Over the past few decades, quite a few Defence Against the Dark Arts Professors have tried, but without exception, they all failed. And if even Dumbledore can't do it, I don't think I can. A person should know their own limits. All right, turn to page five of The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. Class is about to begin."

Professor Bard Broad had barely begun before he went off-topic. He started telling them stories from his travels, such as how he had dealt with a starving vampire using a Bloody Lollipop.

Professor Broad told them that vampires did not truly need to drink blood. They simply craved the taste of blood.

"Girls need to be especially careful when they encounter vampires, because most vampires like to target young ladies," Professor Broad said jokingly.

Of course, most vampires and werewolves were now registered with the Ministry of Magic, but that did not mean there were no strays who had slipped through the net.

When it came to werewolves, Professor Bard Broad's advice was to keep a respectful distance.

Because if one was bitten by a transformed werewolf, one would be turned into a werewolf as well. Werewolves were shunned by wizards, found it difficult to get respectable work, and most even went down the wrong path.

"If I encountered a transformed werewolf outside, the first thing I'd do would be to Apparate away," Professor Broad said. He 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 Broad, what should we do if we encounter a werewolf?"

"I think it would be difficult for you to encounter one under your current circumstances. Of course, if you are unfortunate enough to meet one, you can only save yourselves. In an area with many buildings, you can use the Locking Spell to lock the doors from the inside. As magical creatures, werewolves transformed from either wizards or Muggles usually lose their reason. Lock the door, then fire Red Sparks to call for help."

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

"If that happens, I think all you can do is pray to Merlin," Professor Broad said helplessly.

"Can't we use our wands to subdue a transformed werewolf?" someone else asked.

"You can. Powerful wizards can do it." Professor Broad nodded. "But I would never tell you to try challenging a transformed werewolf. That would be an utterly foolish idea—courting 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 terrifying than death."

"That means you'll become a werewolf," he repeated.

"What if we're bitten by a werewolf that hasn't transformed?" Albert suddenly asked. "That's a good question." Bard Broad looked at Albert and nodded. "If a human is bitten by a werewolf that has not transformed, they 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 wounds caused by werewolves requires a mixture of Silver Powder and dittany.

Bard Broad clapped his hands, drawing the entire class's attention. "Why don't you write all that down?"

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

Before Defense Against the Dark Arts ended, Professor Broad taught them two spells: how to use their wands to shoot Red Sparks and Green Sparks into the sky.

Red Sparks generally signified danger and an urgent call for help. Green Sparks could mean gathering, finding a target, or any other signal agreed upon between people.

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

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

He was a reliable Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor.

That was Albert's assessment of Professor Bard Broad. The old man was witty and humorous. Rather than teaching them according to The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, he taught from his own experiences—practical advice indeed.

"I really hope Professor Broad teaches us some useful spells." Albert had heard people complain about this more than once, looking as though they could not wait to rush out and fight a werewolf to the death.

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

"Don't be so greedy. You haven't even completely mastered the Lumos Charm yet, not to mention Transfiguration and the Unlocking Charm." Albert mercilessly poured Cold water on George. "Now you also need to practice using your wand to fire Red Sparks and Green Sparks."

The three of them immediately wilted like frostbitten eggplants.

Yes, they still had many spells they had not fully learned. Even if Professor Broad taught them useful spells, it would be difficult for them to master 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 Countermeasures Against Dark Magic that I can lend you." As they passed a corner, Albert smiled at the three of them. "I found the Shield Charm from this morning in it. It's a very practical book."

The three of them immediately lit up, as though they could not wait to start learning at once. They had already thrown their earlier complaints to the back of their minds.

Practical Defensive Magic and Its Countermeasures Against Dark Magic was a book introducing defensive magic. All its counters to Dark Curses and Poison Curses came with colored animated illustrations. Just as Albert had said, it was a very practical book. Of course, it was not cheap either.

The three of them could barely take their eyes off it.

"You've learned all of it?"

Not only Lee Jordan, but even the Twins looked at Albert expectantly, as though they planned to ask him to teach them spells when he had time.

Yes, teach them himself.

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

As for teaching themselves, that was still somewhat difficult.

"How could I have? I haven't learned many of them myself." Albert spoke irritably. "And you two, weren't you planning to master the Unlocking Charm first?"