The Shield Charm, Guaranteed to Learn

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Snape had already begun his examination; he first picked up Geoffrey's wand, held it up to his eyes, and examined it against the light.

He examined every detail of the staff – shaft, core, tip – even bringing it close to his nose to smell it.

He put it down after reading it, then drew his wand, pointed it at Geoffrey, and uttered Nonverbal Spell.

No one could hear what he was saying, but everyone saw Geoffrey's body tremble.

Come and see, super reliable

Snape frowned and read it again.

Then he stepped forward, pried open Geoffrey's mouth, and leaned in to smell him.

This action is direct, even a bit rough, and not very elegant.

But Snape was very focused, his expression as if he were handling a rare Potions ingredient, without any extraneous emotions.

Geoffrey was being held down by his mouth and didn't dare to move.

The lounge was quiet for almost two minutes before Snape straightened up and turned to Regulus.

"I've had it," he said, trying to keep his voice steady and appear composed. "It's an amplification Potions. The exact ingredients need further confirmation, but it's definitely one."

A murmur arose from the surrounding crowd.

"You really drank it..."

"You've got guts."

"Who gave him this? How could he get his hands on this kind of medicine?"

"Whoever gave it to me, I drank it, that's all."

Snape stood still, noticing the gazes around him.

Some Pure-bloods who would never normally give him a second glance now looked at him with a different expression, it was hard to tell whether it was admiration or scrutiny, whether they wanted to accept him or use him.

But in any case, he was being seen; at least for this moment, everyone was watching him.

Snape liked this feeling. He lowered his gaze, not letting anyone see the emotions in his eyes, and then looked at Regulus.

The others also looked at Regulus.

He discovered that Geoffrey was drinking the Potions, he stopped the final duel, and he was the one who called Snape up. Both Prefect were standing by, watching him.

Regulus stood up and walked out of the sofa area.

The surrounding crowd automatically parted to make way for him, and no one said a word.

He walked to the center of the field, where Snape stood beside him, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.

Regulus caught a glimpse of his expression out of the corner of his eye and knew that he was a little excited and wanted to show off his abilities to more people.

But at least he knew to consider his own perspective first, so he hadn't lost his mind.

Regulus glanced at him.

Snape was looking at him, meeting his gaze.

There was nothing in his eyes—no emotion, no threat, not even a proper gaze; it simply swept over and then looked away.

But Snape understood it.

He pursed his lips, lowered his gaze, and withdrew his thoughts.

Regulus walked up to Geoffrey, who was completely numb, his face ashen, and his eyes vacant.

He watched Regulus approach, instinctively took a step back, then stopped.

Regulus glanced at him and realized that the excitement and exhilaration he had felt earlier had completely vanished, leaving only fear in his heart.

But that something that didn't belong to him was still burning inside him; it seemed to be stabilizing on the surface, but it hadn't stopped burning at all.

That restlessness was no longer linked to his emotions; it was moving and burning on its own.

Regulus could help him suppress it, but there's no need.

Regulus turned to Veronica Yaxley: "It's confirmed. Announce the winner."

Veronica looked at him and nodded.

She felt no resentment, nor did she feel offended by Regulus's intervention.

The relationship between the two families is one aspect, but more importantly, given tonight's situation, if Regulus hadn't discovered it, and something had really gone wrong, she and Polius, as Prefect, wouldn't have been able to escape responsibility.

She cleared her throat. "The Head of New Students this year, Rosalie Selwyn, is disqualified from Geoffrey Selwyn."

The lounge instantly came alive; some clapped, some whistled, and some clinked glasses.

The sixth-grader from the Selwyn family was surrounded; a group of people were laughing and patting him on the shoulder.

Rosalie stood in the center of the field, her expression still calm, but Regulus knew that the girl was excited inside; she was just able to suppress it.

No one gave Geoffrey another glance. He was still standing there, but everyone had already bypassed him to congratulate those who deserved it.

Snape, who had been standing to the side, saw that the matter was over and that it was no longer his concern, and turned to leave.

Regulus's gaze swept over again, Snape immediately stopped moving.

Just then, the door to the lounge was pushed open, and Professor Slughorn strode in.

His clothes were fairly neat, but his hair was a bit messy and his breathing was somewhat unsteady, clearly indicating that he had rushed here, and in a great hurry.

As soon as Slughorn entered, his gaze swept across the crowd, and when he saw Regulus, he immediately walked over to him.

He was actually a little uneasy.

Regulus personally sent word that there was something going on in the common room. Of course, he knew that tonight was the Slytherin Welcoming Party and the battle for the Chief.

He just hoped that no one else had dared to provoke him again.

Slughorn thought to himself, and quickened his pace.

The little girl was panting as she ran, only saying that there was something in the lounge and that Mr. Black had sent her, but she couldn't explain what it was about.

The less clearly something is explained, the more uncertain people feel.

Slughorn strode through the crowd, about to ask Regulus what was wrong, when he suddenly caught sight of someone out of the corner of his eye.

Geoffrey Selwyn.

Slughorn paused for a moment, then stopped and took a closer look.

He noticed the problem at a glance. He walked over quickly and drew his wand when he reached Geoffrey's side.

He pointed his wand at Geoffrey, quickly chanting a few incantations. Geoffrey's body trembled, his face turning from ashen to pale, then regaining a little color.

But it's not completely healed; the restless Magic Power has only been suppressed somewhat and temporarily stabilized.

Slughorn put away his wand, breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at Regulus and breathed another sigh of relief.

Only then did he have time to look around and roughly understand what was going on.

A reckless freshman, in his quest to win, drank Potions he shouldn't have, and that was all; he didn't think much of it.

Polius Greengrass approached, looking somewhat uneasy. "Professor, I..."

Slughorn waved his hand, interrupting him. "It's alright, Mr. Greengrass, it's normal that you can't tell the difference in this kind of Potions."

His smug grin returned, and he patted Polius on the shoulder. "Let's continue. Don't let this little thing ruin the Welcome Party."

Polius also breathed a sigh of relief.

Veronica walked over and whispered a few words. Slughorn listened, nodded, and glanced at Regulus.

Since it was Regulus, it's not surprising that he could discover this Potions.

Slughorn spoke a few words to the two Prefect, then pointed at Geoffrey: "I have to take Selwyn with me; he's a bit tricky to deal with."

Both Prefect nodded in agreement.

Slughorn then turned to Regulus.

Regulus met the professor's gaze and glanced at Snape: "Professor, Snape confirmed that Selwyn took Potions."

Slughorn's gaze fell on Snape, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He certainly knew this student; he was of the Prince family bloodline, Potions, and had been a member of his club in his second year.

She's just too quiet and always stays in a corner, so she's not as likable as Lily.

He glanced at Regulus again, a knowing look flashing in his eyes, then smiled, "Severus, perhaps you can help?"

Snape paused for a moment, his body stiffening slightly, but he quickly relaxed, his expression remaining unchanged.

But Regulus could sense that his emotions were fluctuating greatly—excitement, surprise, and an awkwardness that even he found unsettling.

It really was Snape.

He looked at Regulus, his expression complex.

Regulus didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.

Snape turned back, nodded to Slughorn, and said calmly, "Yes, Professor."

The two men, one after the other, led Geoffrey out of the lounge.

The door closed behind me.

The Welcome Party continued in the lounge.

While everyone's attention was focused on Professor Slughorn, Lina and Samuel quietly slipped in.

The two returned to stand behind Alex, their expressions natural, as if nothing had happened.

Regulus glanced in that direction.

They were peering into the bustling crowd, looking at Rosalie, who was surrounded by people, with envy.

Regulus thought these two were interesting.

He was methodical in his work, and when he returned, he didn't make a fuss or seek credit; he simply stood back in his place as if nothing had happened.

The fact that such a small thing was handled well shows that the person is meticulous.

For Regulus, his little group needed someone like that.

Avery is the face of the business, Alex is the link, Hermes is the fighting force.

But there are always some small things that need to be done, and Lina and Samuel are perfect for filling those positions.

They're not core members, but they can be used, and they know how to stay in that position.

Polius Greengrass walked over and stood in front of Regulus, his expression more polite than before, without that aloofness.

"Mr. Black," he bowed slightly, "In the next segment, the new Chief can challenge the previous Chief and receive guidance. What do you think..."

Regulus readily agreed; he had a conjecture that needed verification. He nodded, "Yes."

Polius breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned and walked over to Selwyn, the sixth-grader, and whispered a few words to him. Selwyn nodded and walked over with Rosalie.

Rosalie followed behind her cousin, her expression remaining calm and composed.

Sixth-grader Selwyn walked up to Regulus and extended his hand. "Black, thank you for your help."

Regulus shook his hand. "Of course."

Selwyn stepped aside to let Rosalie step forward.

"Rosa, watch carefully and learn from him. Black was the Chief last year, his level..."

Regulus looked at Rosalie, a short girl with brown hair tied in a ponytail, standing ramrod straight.

Rosalie was also looking at Regulus, her eyes bright, but she kept her expression well under control.

Regulus said gently, "Miss Selwyn, you played well tonight."

Rosalie pursed her lips, her voice clear and steady. "Thank you, Mr. Black."

But Regulus could tell at a glance that the little girl was very excited.

Compared to when I was announced as the winner, I'm even more excited now. No matter when or where, Cola -Cola is always your most loyal companion. It feels a bit like a fan meeting their idol.

He wanted to behave properly and didn't want to lose face, but he couldn't hide his determination.

Polius began clearing the area. "Make way, give Mr. Black and Miss Selwyn some space."

The crowd stepped back, leaving an open space in the center of the lounge.

Avery leaned back on the sofa, legs crossed, looking quite interested.

Alex was also interested and glanced at the field several times.

Hermes remained expressionless, finding the duel, which was more of a training exercise, utterly uninteresting to him.

Lina stood behind Alex, her face full of envy.

She looked at Rosalie, thinking, "When will I be able to stand there too?"

Samuel was watching too, but he saw things differently than Lina.

Lina envies Rosalie, but she longs for Regulus.

The area was cleared, and Regulus and Rosalie stood facing each other, about seven or eight meters apart.

The surroundings quieted down, and all eyes turned to them.

Regulus looked at Rosalie, her Magic Power surfacing in his consciousness.

By his standards, it was faint, as if a breath would extinguish it.

But it was bright enough, and at that moment it was swaying slightly with its the Master's mood, appearing lively.

For a first grader to reach this level is truly impressive.

Regulus's tone remained gentle. "Miss Selwyn, you can attack with confidence, use any spell you like."

Rosalie nodded vigorously, gripping her wand tightly.

Regulus added, "Giving it your all is also acceptable."

Rosalie paused for a moment, then looked up at him.

Do your best?

She definitely didn't go all out; in the previous matches, she had been holding back some of her strength—it's a habit.

When I practiced at home, my father always told me to always save energy for a counterattack.

He figured it out?

The thought flashed through Rosalie's mind, but she immediately felt it was only natural.

This is Black, after all. She's heard so much about him at home over the past year.

Every time my cousin comes home for vacation, he always talks about how amazing he is and how he has won over the older students.

The more you hear it, the more different feelings arise in your heart.

So she wasn't surprised that she'd been seen through; on the contrary, she felt a sense of "I knew it."

Rosalie took a deep breath and raised her wand. "Mr. Black, I'm about to begin."

The first spell was cast. "Incendio!"

Orange-red flames shot from the tip of the staff, swirling towards Regulus.

Regulus stood there without moving, and only when the flames were almost upon him did he raise his wand and gently wave it.

The flame seemed to be pushed aside by something, veering to the side and passing by him without burning anything.

Rosalie had changed positions; as she moved, she cast Spellcasting: "Repelling Charm!"

An invisible impact struck.

Regulus tapped his wand, and the spell exploded and dissipated in the air.

Rosalie continued to shift her position, "Impedimenta!"

Purple light shone from the side.

Regulus slightly turned to the side, dodging the attack.

Rosalie gritted her teeth.

"Stupefy!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Expelliarmus!"

The three incantations were fired in quick succession, not very fast, but very rhythmic.

Regulus tapped his wand twice.

The first strike caused him to Stupefy, veering off course. He collided with Petrificus Totalus. The two spells clashed in mid-air and exploded into a ball of light.

The second time, the Disarming Charm was sent flying, passing over his head and striking the stone wall behind him.

Rosalie had already circled around to his side and behind. "Impedimenta!"

Another Slowing Charm.

Regulus didn't turn around, but simply took a step to the side. The spell passed right through the spot where he had been standing and hit empty air.

Rosalie continued to move, her movements more agile than before, each step seeking an angle, a position Regulus might not be able to defend against.

The incantations continued one after another, without stopping.

Regulus either deflected the incoming spells with his wand, dodged them by sidestepping, or let them come at him and then gently brushed them aside.

He didn't utter a single spell from beginning to end.

Several older witches stood together, their eyes shining.

One of them whispered, "Look at his movements..."

What action?

"It's that one, when she turned around, it was especially..."

Before she could finish speaking, someone next to her chimed in, "It is quite beautiful."

"It's more than just good-looking!!"

Rosalie's movements began to slow down, and the power of the spell also diminished.

She was panting, beads of sweat on her forehead, and her steps were not as nimble as before.

Regulus watched as her Magic Power swayed violently, almost collapsing.

He glanced at Veronica.

Veronica understood and stepped forward. "Stop!"

Rosalie stopped what she was doing, lowered her wand, and gasped for breath.

Veronica said, "Thank you for Mr. Black's guidance, and Miss Selwyn's performance was also commendable."

Sixth-grader Selwyn walked over and extended his hand. "Black, thanks."

Regulus shook his hand. "Rosalie is very talented."

Selwyn shook his hand slightly, then said nothing more.

Rosalie stood to the side, her breathing gradually calming down. The blush on her face hadn't faded, and the light in her eyes was even brighter than before.

Regulus watched her, and waited a while until her Magic Power began to stabilize.

Just as Veronica was about to announce the end of the segment, he interrupted, "Veronica, wait a minute."

She stopped what she was doing, and seeing that he seemed to have something to say, she stepped aside to make room for him.

Regulus looked around.

Once all eyes were on him, he spoke, "The idea of a new Chief challenging the previous Chief is brilliant."

Passing on knowledge, providing guidance, and showing newcomers what lies ahead—this aligns with the spirit of Slytherin.

The surroundings quieted down; some nodded, some exchanged glances, and some showed expressions of surprise.

Regulus continued, "Therefore, I have a proposal: starting with me, the new Chief can designate a Magic to be taught by the previous Chief."

There was a moment of silence after he said that. Several older students exchanged glances, looking unsure of what to do.

Regulus always felt a sense of detachment within Slytherin.

He doesn't participate in those cliques, doesn't get involved in academic politics, and is rarely seen.

When others act this way, they might be seen as aloof or unsociable, but when he does it, most people perceive it as him being superior and looking down on others.

What does it mean that he suddenly brought this up?

Some people had their doubts, while others thought that what was said made sense.

Selwyn, the sixth-grader, reacted the fastest, immediately agreeing for Rosalie: "That's a great suggestion! Rosalie, why don't you thank Black?"

Rosalie paused for a moment, then looked at Regulus.

Regulus ignored Selwyn's question and instead looked at Rosalie: "Miss Selwyn, tell me yourself, what do you want to learn?"

Rosalie met his gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.

She had always wanted to learn the Shield Charm.

But after many attempts, I could only create an incomplete barrier, a thin layer that would break easily with a single poke.

My father said that the Shield Charm wasn't easy to learn; it required practice.

My cousin talks about Black's Shield Charm the most at home. Last year in the Chief Prix, that barrier could deflect other people's wands from a great distance.

The father then said, "That's an advanced technique; don't think about it yet."

Rosalie looked up, her eyes shining. "Will the Shield Charm work?"

Regulus's lips curved into a smile, "Okay."

Regulus gestured to Rosalie, "Put one down first so I can see."

Rosalie nodded, raised her wand, and took a deep breath. "Protego!"

A faint Silver Light spread from the tip of her staff, forming a semi-transparent barrier in front of her.

Thin, soft, with blurred edges, like a soap bubble that might burst at any moment.

It was indeed unformed, let alone possessing any defensive capabilities.

Regulus stepped forward and stood beside Rosalie: "Maintain this."

Rosalie paused for a moment, then gripped her wand tightly and increased her Magic Power output.

Regulus raised his wand, the tip pointing at her wand.

Those around him only saw a faint light emanating from the tip of his staff, but on a Magic Power level, what he did was far more complex.

The Magic Power probed through the wand, touching Rosalie's Magic Power traces.

Loose, disordered, and lacking cohesive direction.

He didn't forcefully intervene; he simply used his Magic Power to gently push her, as if guiding her hand to feel the correct way to apply force.

At the same time, a wisp of Bellatrix's Guardian Image flowed along the Magic Power towards her barrier.

Let her experience what Protection should look like.

Rosalie's spell began to change; the thin barrier started to narrow at the edges, becoming clearer from its previous blurry state.

The color changed from pale silver to silvery white, and the thickness changed from transparent to translucent, then became thicker.

A few seconds later, a complete Shield Charm barrier stood firmly in front of her.

Rosalie's eyes widened.

A collective gasp filled the air.

"It really worked?"

"Is this the Shield Charm?"

A younger student whispered, "My dad said he doesn't know how to do it and told me to practice on my own."

The person next to him chimed in, "You're lucky. When my brother was teaching me, he beat me. It took him half a year to finally succeed."

"What method is Black using?"

"I don't know, but it's definitely not the normal method."

The sixth-grader Selwyn, stood to the side, his expression somewhat complicated. When he was practicing the Shield Charm, it wasn't this easy.

Regulus said to Rosalie, "Remember how you felt just now, go back and practice more."

Rosalie looked at the barrier in front of her; the layer of silvery-white light was thicker and more stable than any she had ever released herself.

She removed the barrier and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Black."

His voice was still steady, but his eyes were a little red.

Regulus didn't say much, he just nodded.

He looked at Veronica.

Veronica stepped forward and clapped her hands. "The Welcome Party is over for tonight. Everyone, go home and get some rest."

The crowd began to disperse.

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