Frightened by Moody's actions, the class proceeded to take notes.
When the class was about to end, Hermione couldn't help but ask.
"Professor Moody, why did you teach us about the Unforgivable Curses?
I read that it's supposed to be taboo stuff, and the Ministry doesn't allow it in class, and we're only in our fourth year…"
Moody stopped and looked back at Hermione, then at the wizards, who were equally curious, and explained.
"That's a good question! Normally, you wouldn't be taught this until you graduate from Hogwarts, but things have changed recently, and Headmaster Dumbledore thinks you need to know more about the Dark Arts so you can protect yourselves in the future!"
"Apparently, I'm better suited to this than anyone else! That's why Dumbledore asked me to be Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts!"
Moody strutted around the classroom, glaring at the wooden legs, before adding, "I'm only here as a favour, of course, to teach you for a year, after which, if things settle down, I'll return to my quiet retirement."
"Professor, do you think we might be in danger in the future? Like being hunted by a Dark Wizard who knows the Killing Curse?" Seamus sneered.
"Yes! It's quite possible, Mr. Finnigan! I'm not joking with you!" Moody looked at him sternly. "And you shouldn't wait for danger to come and regret not learning enough!"
Moody's words stunned Seamus, and he didn't reply for a long time. Moody ignored him and looked at the other students in the room.
"When I was an Auror, I met many naive people like you, including some of my trainee Hitters.
At that time, the Shield Charm was a must-learn spell, but there were always those who did not put enough thought into it, and it was only when they were facing a real battle that they realised they did not have enough defensive magic!"
"Perhaps they thought their opponents would go easy on them, like a house-wizard duelling," Moody continued mockingly, his voice cracking.
"Unfortunately, they were mistaken, and the Dark Wizards showed no mercy when they took their lives!"
Hearing this, the young wizards could not help but laugh.
However, he was interrupted by a roar from Moody.
"There's nothing funny about it! I'm not telling you any more stories! I guess you don't expect what happened to these people. One of them was hit in the chest by a Dark Wizard's Smashing Charm during a fight and died instantly! We didn't even have time to get him to the hospital… understood?"
Under Moody's intense gaze, the students nodded eagerly.
"If you understand, then write it down!" Moody shouted.
The only sound in the classroom then was the "shasha" as the quill moved across the page, and no one dared to ask any questions for the next few minutes.
This went on until the bell rang, and when Moody left the classroom, the wizards were relieved to see him, and there was a great deal of discussion.
"Oh my God, did you see Professor Moody when he cast the spell? That was horrible!" Seamus was horrified as he recalled Moody casting the Killing Curse.
"Where's the horror? Killing a spider?" one of the students called back.
"That's a Killing Curse," Seamus protested. "You wouldn't say that if Professor Moody used it on you…"
All but a few of the students were talking about the spells with awe, as they tried to show their bravery by holding on to the young wizard.
The only one who was excited about this was Malfoy, who shouted at Goyle and Crale as he passed Ron's desk.
"Actually, those Unforgivable Curses are no big deal. My father taught me them a long time ago, and I can guarantee you that I learned them before I came to school. I just never had the chance to use them!"
"But the Killing Curse must have been quite a powerful spell for some people, like Weasley…God, he was horrified in class!"
Malfoy then cleared his throat and, mimicking Ron's horrified expression in class, screamed, "No, I wouldn't dare…Professor!"
Goyle and Krall followed and laughed foolishly.
Malfoy was so pleased with himself that he shouted, "This is the first time I've seen him so scared, and if I hadn't seen him so clearly, I would have thought Professor Moody was trying to put a curse on Weasley!"
Malfoy made no attempt to hide his voice, which Ron naturally heard.
"Malfoy! Do you dare to duel me? I'll show you if I'm capable of those Unforgivable Curses!" Ron shouted through gritted teeth, his face as red as his hair as he drew his wand and tried to confront Malfoy.
Luckily, Hermione and Harry managed to stop Ron from having the most nosebleeds…
Malfoy couldn't be bothered to deal with Ron, so he verbally took advantage of the situation and fled with his two henchmen at an indescribable speed — he wasn't afraid of Ron, but he knew they had no chance of winning a three-on-four.
Ron, who was pulled along by Hermione and Harry, scolded Malfoy for not daring to face him in a duel.
After cursing for several minutes, Ron was able to calm down, and then he explained to Ivan and the others.
"Don't listen to Malfoy. Was it because I was afraid to cast the spell? I was afraid that if I did, Professor Moody would die!"
Ron insisted on boasting about his timidity as a last resort.
He stated that if he accidentally killed Moody, Professor Dumbledore would expel him!
Yvonne rolled her eyes.
Yes, yes… if you do it on a whim, Moody will have to beg for mercy…
Harry, on the other hand, gave a few reluctant words of agreement so that Ron would look good and not be too embarrassed.
"Ron, stop it. Fear of the Unforgivable Curse is not something to be ashamed of. It's very dangerous Dark Magic," Hermione snapped, not giving him any face.
"That's enough! I said I'm not afraid of this—" Ron began, clearly annoyed, and tried to argue further, but Hermione cut him off.
"Professor Moody's not too far away. He probably heard everything you said!" The little witch gestured toward the end of the corridor.
Ron's mouth immediately shut… as he saw Moody turn his head and stare at them with his blue magical eyes.