"Kappa!" Professor Lupin rapped the large aquarium beside him as if he were awakening some creature inside. The water churned violently, stirring up large amounts of mud from the tank's bottom. The already yellowish water now became murky.
However, the more observant wizards managed to see a scaly claw quickly pass by the glass edge.
"Has any of you studied in advance in the book and knows what kind of creature a Kappa is?" Professor Lupin posed a question, with an expectant expression, hoping the young wizards would respond.
As expected, Hermione raised her hand.
"Very well, Miss Granger, please tell us about Kappas," Professor Lupin pointed to Hermione after seeing that the other students didn't seem inclined to answer.
Many times, Hermione was the only student who answered questions in class. After years of responding enthusiastically day after day, the others had grown accustomed to this dynamic. Sometimes, even when other students knew the answer, they unconsciously let Hermione answer.
"The Kappa is an aquatic creature from Japan that primarily feeds on human blood. It attacks unsuspecting individuals who cross ponds and strangles them," Hermione recited the description of the Kappa just as it was in the textbook, word for word.
"Completely correct, Miss Granger. However, I will ask you an additional question, a challenge beyond the book. Where is it most common to find Kappas? Other students can also try to answer," Professor Lupin was satisfied with Hermione's response but not entirely.
He felt that Hermione relied too much on memorization and didn't allow herself flexibility in her thinking. That's why he decided to pose an additional question and challenge her to expand her thinking.
This question puzzled Hermione: Where is it most common to find Kappas? Clearly, in Japan! Hadn't they read in the textbook that Kappas originated in Japan?
Hermione was worried that the question seemed too easy and began to doubt.
However, the other students in the classroom didn't understand Hermione's confusion. Some of them were eager to answer: if Granger didn't respond soon, they would attempt to answer and earn points for their houses.
For young wizards at Hogwarts, house points were quite enticing. Only students like Tom were indifferent. After all, most students cared about those few house points even when they reached the seventh year.
"Japan?" Hermione said somewhat uncertainly.
To the surprised looks of everyone, Professor Lupin shook his head.
"The most common place to find Kappas is not Japan, but Mongolia. In fact, in densely populated countries and regions, the number of wild magical creatures is almost insignificant," Professor Lupin patiently explained to the confused young wizards.
"For a place to have wild Kappas, several requirements must be met: it must have streams and swamps, it must have a sparse but not non-existent population. Therefore, in the end, it turns out that Mongolia is the place where Kappas are most common."
Hermione: o('Д')っ!
She hurriedly took her seat and quickly noted down the new knowledge she had heard.
"In fact, the existence of magical creatures has always been a challenge to the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy. If you have time, you can consult Professor Scamander and ask him how many problems magical creatures have caused for wizards."
The Statute of Secrecy could limit wizards, but it couldn't limit the countless number of magical creatures. It's easier to control large creatures like dragons by setting up a "protected reserve" and closely monitoring them, but it's challenging to control smaller creatures like the Snidget.
"Well, it's time to get to the point. Today, I'll teach you how to deal with Kappas," Professor Lupin took out his wand and turned to the chalkboard behind him.
"Fortunately, this setup hasn't changed," he muttered under his breath, and then tapped the four edges of the chalkboard with the tip of his wand.
Something magical happened: the chalkboard split in two. The two halves of the chalkboard slid to the ends of the room, revealing an empty classroom.
The young wizards present were sure they had never seen this room before. Unlike other abandoned classrooms in the castle, this room was completely clean, as if it had just been renovated, with no tables or chairs.
"Swamp," Lupin said, looking at the empty classroom. Instantly, the classroom underwent a transformation that exceeded the imagination of all the young wizards: the classroom floor began to twist, and mud, water, and moss slowly emerged, completely covering the classroom floor. On the classroom walls, vines grew, leaving the classroom looking like a real swamp.
It was as if someone had cut a piece of swamp from somewhere and stuck it in Hogwarts.
Although this magical classroom was a bit small, it was enough for teaching space. With a classroom like this, Lupin could teach freely. He had always believed that the only way to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts was through practice.
So he sought out a Bogart by all means, prepared a swamp and a Kappa, and many "teaching materials"...
The Kappa is actually not a very powerful magical creature: its rating is only four stars, and it is a magical creature that skilled wizards can handle. However, it typically chooses to attack its enemies by surprise and can cause trouble when one is unprepared.
For third-year students, this level of training was suitable.
"The Kappa looks a bit like a monkey, but more unpleasant due to its scales. The Kappa is not friendly to humans and will try to drown those who approach unsuspecting through ponds..." Although Hermione had already answered this question, Professor Lupin explained in detail about Kappas.
After that, he gave some tips on how to deal with Kappas, capturing the attention of the young wizards.
"If you throw a cucumber engraved with your own name at a Kappa, it may not attack you..."
"On top of its head, there's a hollow filled with water, and that water provides energy to the creature. If you trick a Kappa into bowing, the water from the hollow on its head will spill, and it will lose its strength..."
The interest of the young wizards was awakened in this way, without the need to emphasize or take notes, as they had memorized the knowledge about Kappas.
Professor Lupin opened the lid of a water tank. In the next moment, a scaly, web-handed monkey leaped out of the water and dove into the swamp.
"Does anyone want to try facing this Kappa? Don't worry, I'll be behind you to ensure your safety." Professor Lupin scanned the students present but was disappointed to find none were very excited.
The reason was simple: the Kappa had hidden in the swamp, and if they fought it, they would undoubtedly end up covered in mud. No one wanted to finish soaking wet and smelling bad.
"Nobody?" Professor Lupin asked again, finding no volunteers. "Then I'll have to designate someone. Yodel, come here and show everyone."
Tom: ...
He didn't want to go into the swamp either! But since he was pointed out, he had no choice but to enter the swamp behind the blackboard.
The ground at the edge of the swamp was still muddy, but after taking two steps forward, puddles appeared one after another. The surface of the puddles was covered with floating plants, and beneath them was stagnant water that hadn't been replaced in a long time, and at the bottom was bottomless mud...
Tom didn't want to take another step. He had the feeling that if he moved forward, he would end up sinking into the mud up to his calves.
"Damn Kappa, why don't you show up?" Tom was in a dilemma. After taking two deep breaths, he made a decision and took a step forward, truly venturing into the swamp.
He could feel the water soaking his shoes, drenching and cooling his pants. The cold sensation spread from his calves.
After advancing a little further, the water reached his waist. Each step forward required a lot of effort.
Suddenly, there were exclamations from his classmates. Tom didn't hesitate and threw a punch backward. He felt like his fist had struck a fish, and there was a "thud" sound.
Tom turned around and saw a strange creature holding its face and showing its teeth not far from him.
"Disgusting," that was Tom's first impression of the creature. Just think about it, a monkey covered in scales...
The Kappa didn't want to fight but seemed to be trying to escape.
"Stupefy." How could Tom let it go? He cast a Stunning Spell at the back of the Kappa and knocked it unconscious.
Tom easily solved the Kappa problem and exited the swamp.
"Very good reaction!" Professor Lupin approached Tom holding a chocolate bar. First, he wiped away the moisture and dirt from Tom, then gave him a large piece of chocolate. After doing that, he also woke up the unconscious Kappa and watched it flee into the swamp.
"You all saw it," Professor Lupin said aloud after Tom returned to his seat. "The Kappa doesn't have much courage and loses its bravery when facing Yodel..."
"Professor, what if you can't dodge its surprise attack?" Megan Jones from Hufflepuff raised that question. She thought Tom's ability to react quickly was what allowed him to succeed. She saw it clearly, almost the moment the Kappa jumped out of the water, Tom's fist was already in motion.
To be honest, she didn't believe she had that reaction speed. If it were her, most likely she would be strangled and dragged into the water, right?
"Good question," Professor Lupin brightened up a bit at a student's question. "I will show you a way to handle it."
Because he had to let the Kappa strangle him, this demonstration would be dangerous. Professor Lupin planned to face it personally.
He entered the swamp. Soon, a monkey head appeared behind him, stealthily following him by several meters. Lupin seemed unaware, simply continuing to walk without paying attention.
The Kappa followed him a few steps, sensing it was the right moment. It leaped from the water's surface and grabbed Professor Lupin's throat with both hands.
¡I did it!" The Kappa rejoiced within itself.
The students, spontaneously, let out a cry of surprise, and some young wizards instinctively stood up.
The Kappa was extremely strong; it almost managed to knock Lupin down when it squeezed its hands around his neck. However, Lupin was prepared, and the Kappa's powerful attack only made him stagger.
He quickly drew his wand and aimed it at the Kappa's fingers on his neck.
"Spongify!"
The Kappa's fingers released Lupin's neck uncontrollably. Weakly, they slid down Lupin's body and fell into the swamp, then were tied by a rope Lupin conjured.
"A simple spell can get us out of trouble, but the most important thing is to stay calm." Under the applause of the young wizards, Professor Lupin calmly explained the measures he had taken.
"However, the method I just used is still very dangerous. If the Kappa were a little stronger, it could have dragged me into the water. Or worse, my own spell could have struck me in the neck. That would be a disaster."
"So, kids, in places like the swamp, you must be alert. The best way to deal with Kappas is to scare them or render them unconscious."
After Tom's and his own demonstration, Professor Lupin thought the students should be able to handle Kappas. He signaled to the young wizards in the audience to approach the swamp one by one and face the Kappa.
However, he realized that his judgment seemed to have failed. The young wizards were even more fragile than he had imagined.
After several young wizards entered the swamp, they shrunk like frightened partridges, trembling and not daring to move. The Kappa could easily knock them down and drag them into the stagnant water of the swamp.
At this point, there was basically no hope. Lupin could only smile bitterly and personally intervene to rescue the young wizards, helping them clean their clothes and vomit the contaminated water they had swallowed.
"This reaction is not enough," Tom said while sitting in his seat, eating chocolate, and criticizing his classmates. "They really need real combat training."
The students of Hogwarts turned out to be completely incapable of facing Kappas, which was surprising. Last year, he even tried to teach them a combat class; how is it possible that it had no effect?
"Hermione Granger," Professor Lupin called out as he spoke.
"Cheer up!" With Professor Lupin's encouraging gaze, Hermione entered the swamp.
After walking a few steps, some bells suddenly sounded from the water beneath her. Hermione immediately went on high alert, pricked up her ears, and listened carefully for any nearby movement.
She detected something abnormal: water sounds behind her!
She turned around directly and cast a levitation spell from the tip of her wand, hitting the Kappa and leaving it suspended in the air.
The Kappa struggled desperately, but it lost its balance and ended up head down, with water flowing from its empty head.
The flow of water drained its energy and left it weakened until it finally fell unconscious.