Everyone Loves Going to Class

"Then have people actually seen Inferi?"

Parvati Patil asked in her shrill voice, "Is he really using Inferi?"

"The Dark Lord used Inferi in the past,"

Snape said. "That means we should assume he will use them again.

All right..."

He walked around to the other side of the classroom toward the podium again, his black robes swaying behind him, and the entire class's eyes followed him once more.

"...I imagine you are all still unfamiliar with using nonverbal spells.

What are the advantages of nonverbal spells?"

Hermione immediately raised her hand.

Snape slowly surveyed the whole class and, seeing no other options, said stiffly, "Miss Granger?"

"The opponent does not know what spell you intend to cast," Hermione said. "That gives you an advantage for a split second."

"That answer was copied word for word from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6,"

Snape said contemptuously, "but it is basically correct.

Yes, casting spells without saying the incantation aloud can achieve an element of surprise.

Of course, not every wizard can do this.

It requires great concentration and willpower, and some people,"

his gaze settled on Harry's face again, "do not possess those things."

Harry knew Snape was thinking of those utterly dreadful Legilimency lessons last term.

But he refused to lower his eyes and merely glared at Snape. In the end, Snape was the one who looked away.

"Now, you may divide into pairs,"

Snape continued. "One person will attempt to curse the other without speaking aloud.

The other will try to repel the curse, likewise without speaking.

Begin."

Snape did not know that Harry had taught half the class how to cast the Shield Charm last term.

However, none of them had ever cast that spell silently.

As could be expected, there was a great deal of