"The spell to manage Billywig creatures is simple, but it demands focus. You need to concentrate fully and stay clear about your objective," Professor Oren explained carefully. "Billywigs move fast, so there won't be a second chance if you miss."
After his detailed explanation, he instructed the class, "Let's practice without wands first. Repeat after me, relaxing your strength while you release your energy."
"The strength is loosening!" the students echoed in unison.
"Excellent." Professor Oren nodded, satisfied. "Next, we'll test the effectiveness of your spell."
He organized the class in a line, inviting each student forward to practice on a caged Billywig. Kanna, who had somehow ended up at the front, was surrounded by curious Gryffindor students who wanted to see what made this young witch so special in Professor Snape's eyes.
"Brave girl," Professor Oren smiled. "I remember your name is Kanna, right?"
"Yes, Professor," Kanna replied, showing more composure than in previous lessons. She was still nervous, but now she could focus enough to answer questions instead of feeling the urge to flee.
"Don't worry," Professor Oren reassured her. "It's just a simple spell. Concentrate, you can do this."
Taking a deep breath, Kanna closed her eyes, gathering her energy before extending her wand. "Strength, strength, release!"
With a sharp "swish" slicing the air, Professor Oren instinctively took a step back. Although her spell lacked finesse, the effect was clear; the Billywig worm in the cage dropped to the floor, and the professor awarded her a point for Hufflepuff.
Yesterday's lesson, where he had only three Billywigs for Ravenclaw and Slytherin, hadn't gone as planned. By the time one Billywig recovered, another was down again, and he found himself staring awkwardly at the students. To prevent this, he brought ten Billywigs today, confident it would suffice.
"Santos, you're next," he called. Santos approached, trying to maintain his composure as he recited, "The strength is loose, the energy drains…"
Nothing happened. The Billywig continued to buzz around happily in its cage.
"Relax," Professor Oren said gently. "You're too tense. Recite the spell clearly—your final note was too soft. Try again."
Santos nodded and lifted his wand again. "The force is loose and the energy is released!"
This time, the spell succeeded, and Professor Oren encouraged him with a nod. "Good job. Next!" he said, moving on to the following student.
Seeing two successful attempts in a row bolstered everyone's confidence, and the students eagerly awaited their turns. But in their excitement, some forgot Professor Oren's instructions entirely, recklessly casting spells without targeting the Billywig in the cage. In one instance, a student's misplaced spell shattered the cage, causing Professor Oren to hastily repair it.
Despite his vigilance, another mishap ensued. A Gryffindor student at the back, tired of waiting, quietly rehearsed the spell under his breath, accidentally wielding his wand. Professor Oren, in the middle of casting a repair spell, suddenly felt his legs buckle as he crumpled to the floor.
Fortunately, he wasn't injured, but his repair spell was interrupted. One Billywig managed to break free from the cage and buzz angrily toward the students, finally seizing an opportunity for revenge. Chaos erupted as some students dashed in every direction, while others raised their wands to attempt a hasty spell.
"The force is loose and the energy is released!"
Several spells missed the Billywig, but they at least stopped its advance. This small success exhilarated the students, who were thrilled to try again, treating it like a target game.
"Stop!" Professor Oren shouted from the ground, managing to grab his wand just as the Billywig darted past him. With quick reflexes, he cast a petrification spell on the classroom.
He caught the Billywig, returned it to its cage, and stood, rubbing his sore waist. Realizing firsthand why the Defense Against the Dark Arts position was such a challenging role, he addressed the students, "Is everyone okay? No one got stung?"
"No, Professor," they replied, visibly relieved.
"Good." He repaired the podium and instructed, "From now on, only the first student in line should have their wand out. The rest, put them away."
Though somewhat disappointed, the students complied, cautious after witnessing Professor Oren's strict reaction. Now that they were more restrained, they each successfully cast the spell in turn, making smoother progress than before.
Despite this improvement, Professor Oren stayed tense throughout the lesson. When class ended, he dismissed them without any homework and left the classroom immediately, eager to take a break.
Back in his office, he drew the curtains, took a long sip of black tea, and finally began to relax. He was relieved the lesson was over, even if it had involved unexpected challenges.
However, a quick check of the cages revealed something troubling—there were only nine Billywigs instead of ten. A large, fist-sized hole gaped in one of the cages.
"Merlin's beard…" he muttered, hurrying back to the classroom to search. But he found nothing.
"It must have been those stray spells that hit the cage!" he realized with growing frustration as he noticed the open window. Watching it swing slightly in the breeze, he shook his head. "Fifty Galleons, just gone!"
----------------------------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
patreon.com/Johnwick007
Extra Content Already Available