An Unconventional Defense Against the Dark Magic Class

Until it was time for bed, Avada listened to Shabi and his three other roommates talk endlessly about the culinary achievements of Hufflepuff, as well as the cooking magic supposedly left behind by Helga Hufflepuff herself, until he was nearly driven to hunger.

Fortunately, a certain senior arrived just in time to put an end to this late-night act of culinary torture. He then went to the kitchen and returned with a plate of fragrant, freshly baked cookies...

In the end, Avada couldn't resist the temptation and tearfully ate several cookies before bed, to the point where he couldn't even finish his breakfast the next morning.

What was even more tragic was that the first class of the morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Avada had just learned from Shabi yesterday that the real Defense Against the Dark Arts class was vastly different from how it was portrayed in the original story: since one had to defend against dark magic, one surely had to fight, right? And since one had to fight, one surely needed a fit body, right?

Therefore, Defense Against the Dark Arts not only taught various hexes and knowledge about dark creatures but also functioned as a physical education and combat class. It was perfectly normal for students to run laps around the Black Lake or put on protective gear to spar in pairs during class.

I hope there won't be any strenuous activities in the first lesson...

Avada prayed silently as he followed the main Hufflepuff group into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, followed by the Ravenclaws in their blue-lined robes—this made Avada feel much more at ease; at least if there were any combat exercises, he wouldn't have to face the brave and unstoppable Gryffindors.

When the bell rang, a tall, thin, and refined-looking middle-aged wizard stepped into the classroom, smiling and waving at the students.

"Good morning, everyone! Although Headmaster Dumbledore introduced me at the start of the term, I must repeat it for those little ones who might have been too excited to listen carefully at the time..."

He turned and raised a hand, causing a piece of chalk to float on its own and neatly write a name on the blackboard.

"Benjamin Baker, member of the International Federation of Defense Against the Dark Arts Council, and also an adventurer. I have traveled and adventured throughout Greece, Eastern Europe, and Africa, and have clashed with dark wizards and dark creatures many times. Therefore, I believe I have some experience in dealing with dark magic and should be qualified to be your professor, teaching you enough practical knowledge."

"He must be so cool." Avada heard a faint voice from the Ravenclaw side, seemingly from a girl: "He's an adventurer and has been to so many places! Maybe he's as cool as Gilderoy Lockhart!"

"When I first started, many old professors told me..."

Professor Baker ignored the hushed discussions below and continued on his own: "They told me that I should let the freshmen experience the charm of this subject in their first lesson to spark their interest and enthusiasm. So, I have specially prepared this..."

He took out a magical device that looked somewhat like a projector from under the podium, then took his wand and pointed it at his temple, slowly extracting a strand of white light and merging it into the "projector."

"Everyone, pay attention."

He tapped the projector with his wand, and the device projected a screen in mid-air, displaying dazzling images:

On the screen, Professor Baker, wand in hand, was engaged in a fierce battle with a masked figure in ornate black robes.

The masked figure unleashed several blue light blades, forcing Professor Baker to dodge to the side, then fired a brilliant green light at the spot where he was about to land, as if he had foreseen it. At that moment, the ground beneath Professor Baker's feet melted like water, allowing him to sink into the earth and avoid the green light.

Then, Professor Baker suddenly emerged from behind him and fired a fireball. The masked figure hurriedly raised a shield, only to find it was all an illusion; the real Professor Baker was standing invisibly not far away, gathering an incredibly powerful spell. Realizing he had been tricked, the masked figure immediately unleashed raging flames to burn everything indiscriminately, forcing Professor Baker out.

Subsequently, the two began a fierce head-on confrontation, sometimes engaging in close-quarters combat, using their wands and magic as stealthily and lethally as daggers; other times, they widened the distance, showering each other with various brilliant, high-powered spells like a waterfall. Later, the masked figure even summoned a dragon, whose steel-like claws and scorching breath once put Professor Baker in grave danger...

After nearly ten minutes of grueling battle, Professor Baker, having the upper hand, slew the dragon and used a combination of Transfiguration to alter the terrain and illusions to trick the masked figure, catching him off guard with a fierce assault to defeat him completely.

The projection ended there. Professor Baker put away the projector and looked at the students below with satisfaction. They were already lost in a daze, their pale faces filled with tension and excitement, having even forgotten to breathe.

Professor Baker clapped his hands, snapping them out of it, and the classroom was suddenly filled with the sound of gasping.

"Merlin, that was terrifying!"

"My heart seemed to stop when that dragon suddenly appeared..."

"And that purple light arrow—I was stunned when it hit the professor's shoulder..."

Avada was slightly better off, but he was equally shocked. The battle shown on the screen was comparable to a big-budget blockbuster; the long-range exchange was no less intense than the duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort in the Order of the Phoenix movie, and the close-quarters combat was as fast-paced and sharp as the most thrilling martial arts films.

Even though Professor Baker's mental power was clearly a notch weaker than Dumbledore's, he was terrifying in actual combat!

Professor Baker let the students discuss for a while before clapping his hands to restore silence. A look of reminiscence appeared on his face as he began to speak:

"What you just saw was the most thrilling and proudest battle of my adventuring career. While it certainly pales in comparison to the legendary duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald, it holds a certain commemorative value."

He paused and continued: "My opponent at the time was a Greek man. You may have heard of his title, 'Aethelred the Ever-Ready,' a terrifying dark wizard who once ruled Greece and nearly became the 'Shadow King.' His name is on the Chocolate Frog cards."

"True to his title, Aethelred was incredibly cautious. When he was fully prepared, he was almost invincible. I was investigating his dark wizard organization in Greece at the time and had defeated many of his capable subordinates, so he decided to take action himself to finish me off."

"He spent months laying the groundwork, investigating my information, spreading false intelligence, sending attacks to drain my energy, and using moles in the local Ministry of Magic to pressure me... At the same time, he crafted an incredibly insidious arena to be my final battlefield: it was anti-Apparition, impossible to leave once entered, filled with toxins in the air, and the ground was cursed..."

"Fortunately, I wasn't completely unaware, and many of his methods failed. But even so, under his traps and powerful personal strength, I nearly died. However, I emerged victorious in the end. It was after this battle that I received the honor of being a council member of the Defense Against the Dark Arts League."

Seeing the excited and admiring gazes of the young wizards, Professor Baker couldn't help but smile: "I suppose by now, everyone fully understands the charm and purpose of Defense Against the Dark Arts. So, let us begin our first lesson—"

"How to use your wand."

"Many might be curious as to what kind of lesson this is. Isn't using a wand just holding it, waving it according to standard procedures, and chanting a spell? In daily life, that is indeed the case, but if you encounter a fierce battle, that alone is not enough."

"How should a wand be held to be most comfortable and stable? What stance should one take during battle to cast spells most rapidly?"

"These are the most important foundations of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and the knowledge within them is something even veteran Aurors may not have fully mastered."