Crup, Painless Severing Charm

The Crup is a dog breed developed by wizards, bearing a striking resemblance to a Jack Russell Terrier, though the Crup's tail is forked.

This breed is extremely loyal to wizards, but remains fiercely aggressive toward Muggles.

Once the lesson began, Professor Kettleburn instructed the students to form groups of four to get acquainted with a Crup puppy.

"These little fellows, they can eat almost anything."

Professor Kettleburn shuffled among the students, bending down from time to time to affectionately pat the dogs on the head.

"Now, you may feed these little ones the food I have prepared, and try to build a bond with them."

Scott and Roger were in a group with the Weasley twins, and Professor Kettleburn assigned them a puppy with jet-black fur.

At that moment, they were squatting on the ground, surrounding the puppy.

The puppy whimpered uneasily, clearly wary of them. It only wagged its forked tail happily when Professor Kettleburn petted it.

"Oh, little fellow?"

Fred wrinkled his face, using a twig to pick out some beef offal from a small bucket nearby.

"Want a bite, little fellow?"

The black puppy leaned in to sniff it, then immediately pounced to feast.

"See? The little fellow's tail is wagging, which means he approves of me." Fred looked triumphant again.

"I think we all need to get to know this little guy, so let's take turns feeding him!" Roger followed suit, picking up a twig and dipping it into the bucket, stirring through the disgusting offal.

A foul, fishy stench wafted up, and Scott covered his nose, stepping away in disgust.

"No, I'll pass!"

Just then, Professor Kettleburn asked the students loudly: "Can anyone tell me what one must do to obtain a license from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures to legally own a Crup?"

Scott's spirits lifted.

It was time for some classroom bonus points!

With the mindset that he shouldn't pass up a free opportunity, he quickly raised his hand.

"Then please..." Professor Kettleburn's gaze swept over the students with their hands raised, finally landing on Scott. "Please, Mr. Trollope, answer the question."

Good luck!

Scott stood up with a victorious smile. "Yes, Professor."

He began to recite the textbook answer.

"Any wizard wishing to apply to keep a Crup must complete a simple test before they can receive a license from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

The owner of a Crup is legally obligated to use a Painless Severing Charm to remove the Crup's unique tail when it is six to eight weeks old, so as not to attract the attention of Muggles.

Furthermore, wizards wishing to keep a Crup must also prove that they can control the breed within a Muggle residential area."

"Well said, Mr. Trollope." Professor Kettleburn gave Scott a thumbs-up with his only remaining hand. "I have nothing to add to that, so I shall award ten points to Ravenclaw."

This was Professor Kettleburn's usual practice during class. He would only ask one question per lesson, and if a student answered correctly, he would use up the entire lesson's point-awarding quota at once.

Moreover, these questions were usually not very difficult; it was almost as if whoever was called upon would get the points.

This made everyone eager to raise their hands in Care of Magical Creatures.

"The Crups you are getting to know now are five-week-old puppies." Professor Kettleburn continued the lesson. "Over the next two weeks, you must try your best to get familiar with them."

He announced with some excitement: "In two weeks, you will personally remove their unique tails using the Painless Severing Charm!"

Amidst the uproar from the students, Professor Kettleburn added loudly: "So, during these two weeks, you must not only learn to care for these little ones, but you must also review your charms in your spare time. You must ensure that no accidents occur when you cast the Painless Severing Charm."

"Oh, you poor little thing." George immediately patted the puppy's tail with malicious intent. "You're about to lose half of your tail!"

Unfortunately, the puppy was busy burying its head in its food, unaware of its impending tragic fate.

At the end of the class, Professor Kettleburn assigned homework—the history of wizards breeding Crups.

"Painless Severing Charm? Is it this one?"

After class, on the way back to the castle, Fred said with a laugh, raising his wand.

"Diffindo!"

A bright pink light flew from the tip of his wand, severing a branch in front of him.

"That's a Severing Charm, but it might not be painless. Perhaps you could try using it to cut off Percy's nose and see if he howls." George said.

"Good idea!" Fred said excitedly. "Without a nose, Percy won't be able to dream of becoming Minister for Magic, and our future might be a lot easier."

At this, he high-fived George happily, a look of eagerness on his face.

"..."

Scott really wanted to ask what kind of devils these two were, and he felt a deep sense of sympathy for Percy once again.

And... something about having no nose, why did that sound so familiar?

With brothers like these, perhaps a nose-less Percy might indeed give up his dream of becoming Minister for Magic... and instead choose the more promising career of a Dark Lord.

"Professor Kettleburn must have made a mistake; we haven't learned the Painless Severing Charm. I remember it being a spell used for clinical surgery, likely only used by the Healers at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries."

Roger was recalling the books he had read in the past.

"Perhaps we could go to the hospital wing and ask Madam Pomfrey for advice."

"No, we can't go to the hospital wing!" Fred immediately shook his head vigorously.

George said in an accusatory tone, "Madam Pomfrey has strictly forbidden us from going anywhere near her territory!"

"Just because we gave Harry a school toilet seat as a gift while he was unconscious in the ward last school year!"

"Madam Pomfrey has blacklisted us!"

"Unless we completely sever our own hands and feet."

"Otherwise, we won't be able to step half a foot into the hospital wing!"

"..."

Scott didn't know what to say. Every time he felt these two guys were already bizarre enough, they would inevitably do something even more bizarre.

"Leave this matter to me and Roger," Scott said. "I can also go and ask Professor Flitwick for guidance, and once we've learned it, we'll teach it to you."

Roger also said helplessly, "Let's do it that way."

"Thank you, Scott! Roger!"

"May Merlin bless you!"

Fred and George began to praise the two of them loudly and dramatically again, only stopping once they couldn't stand it anymore.