Practical Combat Training (1)

After sending the letter, Lin Du didn't just sit back and wait.

Using his status as a professor, he spent the next few days conducting a thorough and covert search of Hogwarts with Chao Feng, under the guise of "familiarizing himself with the castle's security structure."

He investigated almost all the known abandoned classrooms, behind suspicious statues, and even used magic to detect cavities and pipe routes within the walls.

The results were fruitless.

Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets seemed to have never existed, leaving no magical traces that could be tracked.

Although Chao Feng could vaguely sense the cold, evil power flowing through the pipes, it couldn't pinpoint its source, as if some powerful ancient magic was interfering and shielding it.

"It's like chasing a shadow in a maze," Lin Du whispered to Chao Feng, who was perched on his shoulder, standing at the end of an empty corridor.

He tapped a seemingly ordinary wall beside him, but only a solid, muffled thud echoed back.

"Slytherin's methods aren't that simple," Chao Feng flicked its tail. "Unless the 'heir' acts again and opens the Chamber of Secrets themselves, it'll be hard for us to find the entrance."

Lin Du fell silent for a moment.

Passive waiting wasn't his style, especially in the face of potential danger.

Since the problem couldn't be solved at its source for now, it was imperative to strengthen their ability to deal with crises.

"It seems it's time to change the focus of my teaching," a determined glint flashed in Lin Du's eyes. "While theoretical foundations are important, the students of Hogwarts need practical experience more right now."

Chao Feng, perched on his shoulder, glanced at him, its voice carrying a hint of amusement:

"Tsk, suddenly so concerned about the students? Why do I feel like you're plotting something mischievous, looking for a legitimate excuse to 'hone' them?"

Lin Du's expression was unreadable. "Maximizing their survival rate in the face of potential danger is the duty of the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Whether they feel 'pain' during the process is not within my consideration."

"High-sounding rhetoric," Chao Feng scoffed, but didn't argue further. It knew Lin Du's decision was based on more practical considerations.

And so, in the following Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, the students were horrified to discover that Professor Lin Du's teaching style had undergone a drastic change.

"Put away your textbooks," Lin Du said on Monday morning, standing before the fourth-year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"From today onwards, we will be conducting practical application training. Theoretical knowledge assessment will only account for thirty percent of the final grade."

A wave of suppressed groans filled the classroom.

"Silence." Lin Du tapped his wand, and large characters appeared on the blackboard: [Practical Response to Dark Magical Creatures].

"Hogwarts is safe, but that doesn't mean the world you'll face in the future will be equally safe. The O.W.L.s exam not only tests what you know, but more importantly, what you can do with the knowledge you've learned. And I hope you survive the exam, and survive any future dangers you may encounter."

His words were like a basin of ice-cold water, drenching every student unexpectedly.

The practical training was arranged in a specially modified empty classroom on the fourth floor.

As the first class of students lined up in the corridor, they whispered nervously.

The classroom door was sealed with powerful shielding and spatial extension charms, making it impossible to see or hear anything from the outside.

"The content of this class is very simple," Lin Du said, looking at the anxious students before him, his voice clearly reaching everyone.

"I will simulate several scenarios of attacks by dark magical creatures that may appear in the O.W.L.s exam or be encountered in the wild. You will need to use the knowledge you've learned over the past few years to assess the situation, cast appropriate spells, and safely pass the checkpoint or subdue the target."

"See? Simple, right?" He even smiled slightly, but the smile sent shivers down the students' spines.

Simple? It sounded terrifying just hearing it!

Who knew what awaited them inside? An upgraded version of Cornish Pixies? Or something even more terrifying?

"Miss Brown," Lin Du called out to a pale-faced girl from Ravenclaw, "You're first."

The girl trembled as she raised her wand, took a deep breath, and pushed open the classroom door. The door closed behind her, and the students outside could only wait anxiously.

Ten minutes later, the door opened, and the girl named Brown walked out. Her robes were half-soaked, her hair still had strands of seaweed clinging to it, and her face was pale, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brilliance.

"I... I did it!" she exclaimed to her companions. "Inside was a pond with Grindylows! I used the Freezing Charm to freeze a small patch of water and then ran across quickly!"

Her success gave some courage to those behind her, but then, as the second and third students entered, they either failed and were brought out early by Lin Du, or barely passed, emerging in a sorry state.

The scenarios inside the classroom seemed to change randomly, sometimes it was a dark forest environment (to deal with Red Caps), sometimes it was a narrow tunnel (to deal with Kabas), and the most troublesome was that eerie pond.

When it was the fourth-year Gryffindors' turn, the most conspicuous among them were the Weasley twins – George and Fred.

Even though they had been caught by Professor McGonagall the previous night for testing some kind of "portable swamp" in a castle corridor, nearly causing Filch to experience "muddy feet up to his ankles," and were given a rather severe detention, it seemed to have no effect on their current spirits.

The two were still exchanging winks and nudges in the line, whispering their guesses about the situation inside the classroom, as if they were about to face an exciting adventure rather than a dangerous practical test.

"Mr. George Weasley," Lin Du said calmly, looking at the two who were trying to swap identities, "or Fred? If you can't decide who is who, I wouldn't mind asking Professor Flitwick to help identify you. I'm sure he'd be happy to give you some extra tutoring in Charms class."

Under the threat of "extra tutoring," George finally emerged with a pained expression, raised his wand, and walked into the classroom as if facing certain death.

As soon as he entered, he was blocked by the pond emitting a damp aura.

The pond water didn't seem deep, but it was murky and green, making it impossible to see what was beneath the surface.

Lin Du followed behind him, his gaze sweeping over a spot on the water's surface where a sickly green creature with sharp horns –

a Grindylow – was extending its slender claws in George's direction.

George cautiously slipped into the water, a shiver running through him from the icy chill.

He tried to swim across quickly but immediately felt a powerful resistance, as if he were sinking into a mire.

"Swamp Curse..." George understood instantly. He slowed his movements, and the resistance indeed lessened.

He triumphantly made a face at Lin Du.

However, just as he let his guard down, thinking he had figured it out, a cold, slimy hand suddenly grabbed his ankle!

George was terrified and instinctively struggled with all his might. This struggle instantly intensified the Swamp Curse's effect, leaving him almost unable to move.

He tried to pull out his wand and point it underwater, but as he opened his mouth, the icy pool water rushed in, and he could only let out a string of helpless bubbles.

Underwater, the Grindylow grinned and forcefully dragged him deeper.

The lack of oxygen made George's face turn a deep red, and fear seized him.

Just as he was about to give up, in the chaos, his foot randomly kicked out, unexpectedly and forcefully hitting the Grindylow's head!

The Grindylow, in pain, released its grip.

But George, due to his violent struggles, was trapped even deeper by the Swamp Curse and was too weak to surface.

Outside the classroom, only three minutes had passed.

Lin Du watched the dwindling bubbles on the water's surface and shook his head. With a light wave of his wand, a rope placed on the bank shot into the water like a living snake, precisely wrapping around George's waist and quickly dragging him out.

"Cough! Cough, cough, cough..." George knelt on the ground, coughing violently and spitting out several mouthfuls of pool water, his face pale.

Lin Du tapped his back with his wand, and an efficient Drying Charm instantly dried his robes. Then, he handed George a small bottle of pungent smelling invigorating potion.

George pinched his nose and downed it, feeling a warm current spread through his body. His coughing immediately stopped.

He looked up at Lin Du with a wronged expression, "Professor, this... this is too dangerous, isn't it?"

Lin Du glanced at him, "Real Grindylows wouldn't let go so easily just because you kicked them, and they usually hunt in packs. Remember this lesson: when facing underwater threats, staying calm is more important than any spell. Five points deducted from Gryffindor for your recklessness and lack of preparation."

George opened his mouth, but finally, he dejectedly followed Lin Du out of the classroom.