In the afternoon, the Defense Against the Dark Arts class did not disappoint.
Professor Bud Brod, a humorous old man, began his lesson with an unexpected declaration:
"You may not know, but the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is cursed. No one has held it for more than a year. I don't expect to be an exception. Before I leave, I'll teach you what you need to know".
Such words left the class in stunned silence.
"Professor, can't you break the curse?" Roger Davis asked.
"I'm afraid not," Professor Brod admitted, shaking his head. "For decades, many have tried and failed. Even Headmaster Dumbledore himself doesn't claim to be able to break it. Self-awareness is an important trait children. Now, turn to page five of Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Defense—let us begin."
Professor Brod frequently went on tangents, sharing tales of his travels, including how he once used a bloody lollipop to distract a hungry vampire.
"Vampires crave the scent of blood more than the need to drink it," he explained. "Girls, be particularly cautious; vampires often target young women".
While most vampires and werewolves are registered with the Ministry of Magic, some remain rogue. When the topic shifted to werewolves, his advice was straightforward: run away.
"A bite from a transformed werewolf will turn you into one" he warned. "Due to this Werewolves face rejection in society, struggle to find work, and often end up on dark paths. If I encounter one, my first idea is to Apparate to safety."
"What if we can't Apparate?" a student asked fearfully imagining himself in the scenario.
"In densely housed areas, lock yourself in, cast a locking spell, and send red sparks for help. In the wilderness, all you can do is pray to Merlin".
"Can't we subdue a transformed werewolf with our wands?" another asked.
"Powerful wizards can," Professor Brod replied, "but I'd never advise trying. It's reckless. Even if you survive the encounter, being bitten is a fate worse than death some would say".
Albert raised his hand. "What happens if bitten by a werewolf who hasn't transformed?"
"Good question," said Professor Brod, nodding. "You won't fully transform but may develop werewolf-like traits. The wounds will heal poorly, requiring treatment with silver powder and dittany".
Professor Brod clapped his hands, drawing the class's attention. "Write this down and remember: Stay alert, avoid werewolves, and don't get bitten".
Before the class ended, he taught two essential spells: red sparks to signal for emergencies and green sparks for communication or gatherings. Learning them became their homework.
Albert had a favourable opinion of Professor Brod after this class 'He's reliable' he thought. The professor shared practical knowledge based on experience rather than sticking strictly to the textbook or god forbid sharing his experience like the future up-and-coming Quirrel.
"I wish he'd teach us more useful spells," some students grumbled.
Albert sighed and admonished them. "You haven't even mastered the Lumos spell properly, let alone the Unlocking Charm. Focus on the basics first. Dont jump the train before the station".
The twins and Lee Jordan wilted at his words, realizing their limitations. Magic wasn't as easy to learn as they'd hoped. For most first-years, even simple spells required consistent effort.
"If you want to learn more," Albert offered, "I have a copy of Practical Defense Magic and Its Use Against Dark Magic. You can borrow it."
The trio's eyes lit up. The book, filled with colorful illustrations and detailed explanations, promised to be an invaluable resource.
"Have you mastered everything in it?" Lee Jordan asked.
Albert shook his head. "Not even close. And shouldn't you two focus on the Unlocking Charm first?"
Despite his protests, they were determined to learn more spells—with Albert's guidance, of course.
The End.
Hey Guys I hope you're liking the new way I started translating this ff.I first corrected the grammar using grammarly and went through each line and changing things for lore accuracy as well as more comedy and more depth in situations like the quirrel comment which was not in the original. Hope you like it!