The sight of Moody's stern face sent shivers down the spine of every student in the room. They quickly retrieved their copies of "Dark Magic: A Guide to Self-Defense," anticipating the start of the lesson. An unusual silence enveloped the classroom, a stark contrast to the usual buzz of activity.
"Put those away," Moody commanded in a gruff voice as he made his way to the front of the classroom, leaning heavily on his crutches before taking a seat. "You won't be needing textbooks today."
The students exchanged puzzled glances before reluctantly stowing their books. Ron, having heard tales of Moody's unconventional teaching methods from Fred and George, was particularly intrigued.
Moody began the class with roll call, a simple yet effective way to familiarize himself with the students. Without needing to glance at the list, he called out names, his normal eye scanning the list while his magical eye roamed the room, locking onto each student as they responded.
"John Wick," he called.
"Here," John replied calmly, his voice cutting through the eerie silence.
Moody paused briefly at the mention of the name but continued without further comment.
Once roll call was completed, Moody delved into the heart of the lesson. "I've been briefed by Professor Lupin about your progress last semester. You've mastered a considerable amount dealing with creatures of dark magic," he began, invoking the name of the students' beloved Professor Lupin, which seemed to embolden them slightly.
However, Moody quickly shifted gears, his tone growing stern. "But when it comes to handling spells, your knowledge is lacking. Severely lacking!" he declared, tapping his wooden leg on the ground for emphasis.
His magical eye swept over the students, who were now hanging on his every word. "This year, I'll be teaching you how to confront the darkest aspects of magic..."
Before he could finish, Ron, unable to contain his nervousness, blurted out, "What did you say?"
Moody's magical eye fixed on Ron, who immediately regretted his outburst, fearing he had just sealed his fate. However, to Ron's surprise, Moody chuckled.
"You're Arthur Weasley's son, aren't you?" Moody asked, his demeanor softening slightly. "Your father helped me out of a tight spot recently. Yes, I'm only here for a year, doing Dumbledore a favor before I retire."
Ron breathed a sigh of relief, realizing Moody wasn't offended by his interruption. Malfoy, however, couldn't resist a snide chuckle, which didn't go unnoticed by Moody. His magical eye fixed on Malfoy, who quickly stifled his amusement, though his expression remained smug.
Moody then turned his attention back to the class, ready to dive into the first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson of the semester. "Do any of you know which spells are considered the most heinous under Wizarding Law?" he asked, his voice now carrying a hint of challenge.
Several hands shot up, trembling slightly, including Ron and Hermione's. Moody pointed at Ron, his tone softer yet still commanding. "Weasley."
"Um, my dad mentioned one... the Imperius Curse, I think?" Ron said uncertainly.
"Ah, yes!" Moody exclaimed, his approval evident. "The Imperius Curse has indeed caused the Ministry a great deal of trouble."
He swiftly wrote the Imperius Curse on the blackboard and limped over to his desk, from which he retrieved a glass bottle containing three large black spiders. Ron's heart sank; he had hoped to avoid any encounters with spiders.
"As far as I know, some of you have already had experiences with the Imperius Curse, haven't you?" Moody said, his magical eye lingering on John as he spoke. Moody delved into the bottle with a fearless grip and extracted a spider, placing it thoughtfully on his open palm for all to see. With his wand aimed, he whispered, "Imperio." Under the spell's influence, the spider leaped from Moody's hand, swinging and somersaulting through the air before landing on the table. It then stood on its hind legs and performed a tap dance, eliciting laughter from the students. Moody's lips curled into a slight smile. "You find this amusing, do you?" he asked in a gruff tone. "How would you feel if I did it to you?" The laughter ceased instantly.
Moody's gaze shifted to John, who had been silent since entering the room. "The one under control is completely at the mercy of the spell caster. I could make him jump from a window or even drown himself. Worse yet, I could force him to commit murder." His blunt words drained the color from the students' faces. As Moody's stare intensified on John, he added, "Wick should be particularly moved by this, given his involuntary experience with such manipulation."
The classroom's attention turned to John, who had been subjected to the Imperius Curse in his first year. Despite this, John's expression remained composed, and he reassured Daphne with a slight shake of his head, indicating he was untroubled. He had only pretended to be under the curse's influence, allowing him to dismiss Moody's comments.
"Years ago, the Imperius Curse ensnared many wizards, causing turmoil within the Ministry of Magic as they struggled to discern the truth from lies among those claiming to be under its influence," Moody continued. "Resisting the curse is possible, but it demands a strong will. The best defense, however, is to avoid its grasp entirely."
After scrutinizing John's reaction, Moody abruptly exclaimed, "Remember, always be vigilant!" He then carelessly tossed the spider back into the glass bottle. When he inquired about other spells, Neville surprisingly raised his hand. Acknowledging him, Neville mentioned the Cruciatus Curse in a soft yet clear voice.
Moody's gaze softened momentarily as he looked at Neville. He then enlarged a second spider to the size of a tarantula, causing Ron to recoil. With a gentle utterance of "Crucio," the spider contorted in silent agony, its distress evident. Neville's face went pale, and he shut his eyes to block out the sight. Hermione's plea of "Stop!" halted Moody's demonstration. He reduced the spider's size and returned it to the bottle, remarking softly on the curse's excruciating pain.
"Who knows another spell?" Moody asked. Hermione, raising her hand again, whispered, "Avada Kedavra," her voice barely audible as if fearing the mere mention could cause harm.
"Yes, the most unforgivable of them all—the Killing Curse," Moody said, his lips twisting into a grim smile. Despite the students' protests, he proceeded with the demonstration. "Avada Kedavra," he murmured, as gently as a goodnight wish. A flash of green light left the spider lifeless, its body sliding towards Ron, who recoiled in horror.
"This curse is merciless, leaving no room for resistance," Moody explained, his normal eye on Harry and his magical eye on John. "Only one person is known to have survived it, and that's when it was cast in earnest."
The students exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Moody's lessons sinking in. The demonstration of the Unforgivable Curses not only showcased their power but also the importance of understanding and resisting dark magic. Moody spoke with a calmness that belied the gravity of his words. "Casting Avada Kedavra requires a formidable amount of magical power as its foundation. You may all draw your wands, aim them at me, and recite the spell," he suggested. His laughter that followed was as chilling as the Killing Curse itself, carrying a sinister edge. "I suspect the worst I'd suffer would be a nosebleed, much like Wick's unfortunate experience. He was pitifully lucky. The caster was exceptionally weak, likely possessing even less magical power than you currently wield."
John couldn't help but curl his lips in disdain upon being addressed for the second time. The thought crossed his mind, 'There's another who survived Voldemort's killing curse. Must you keep reminding us?' The Unforgivable Curses were deemed unforgivable for a reason: their use was a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Of course, Moody was exempt from such consequences. It was a harsh reminder that not everyone could be judged by the same standards.
As the class concluded, the students hurried out like rabbits escaping a predator, their pace quick and their discussions about the lesson fervent.
"John, you've now been targeted with two of the three Unforgivable Curses," Malfoy remarked, a hint of mockery in his tone.
In a moment of clumsy camaraderie, Goyle, who was walking and talking with Crabbe, accidentally collided with Malfoy, sending both of them tumbling into the mud. Amidst the chaos, it was Goyle who ended up most disgraced, covered in mud from head to toe.
The incident, though minor, served as a momentary distraction from the heavy atmosphere left by Moody's lesson, reminding them of the lighter, more humorous aspects of their school life amidst the dark undertones that often pervaded their world.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge