Harry hadn’t expected Lockhart to call on him, but now he felt somewhat eager.
The class seemed rather fun—no boring textbooks, no annoying lectures.
Even the occasional explosion was better than fiddling with potions at a desk.
But Lockhart didn’t immediately tell him what to do.
Instead, he first repaired the windows.
“Reparo!” Lockhart shouted at the windows.
The shattered glass fragments flew up from the windowsill and reassembled on the window frames.
If Lockhart were to vote for the “most useful spell” in the wizarding world, he definitely wouldn’t choose the Killing Curse, Fiendfyre, or the Imperius Curse, but this Mending Charm.
As long as one knew an object’s original state and retained the vast majority of its entirety, a wizard could use this charm to restore it to its former condition, and it didn’t consume much magical power.
Even housewives could use it.
The significance this held for production far surpassed any destructive charm.
If the future Elon Musk knew such a thing existed, he’d surely be willing to spend billions to train wizards in rocket science and to become astronauts.
A pity it was in the hands of wizards.
He sighed softly and turned back to the students.
“I believe, after the demonstration by yours truly and Mr.
Finnegan, everyone understands what kind of charm this is.
It’s a ranged charm that disturbs the air, and there’s a delay after the incantation before it takes effect.
I can assure you all, this charm will definitely not hit a Billywig.”
“Won’t hit?” several students echoed in unison.
If it can’t hit, why is the professor teaching it to us?
Lockhart nodded in acknowledgment.
“Yes, of course it won’t hit.
Billywigs are quite sensitive to air currents.
At the slightest disturbance, they’ll immediately flee the area.
However, if you can use Expulso to eliminate the Billywig’s escape routes or force it to stop flying around erratically, then hitting it with a Knockback Jinx or Freezing Charm becomes much easier—spells have width too.
And this is the first lesson I want to impart to you: dueling, or spell combat, is never about foolishly waving wands and flinging spells at each other.
It’s a comprehensive contest between opponents involving timing, space, mental state, spells, and magical power…
Mr.
Potter!”
“Here, sir.” Harry quickly stepped forward.
“I hear you’re the youngest Seeker in Hogwarts history.
I imagine you must be quite agile, correct?”
“Er…
while it might not be as exaggerated as the rumors, since no one has objected, I suppose so,” Harry said nervously.
Lockhart: …
‘Blast it, of course the Savior gets to show off!’
“Good, then you’ll be responsible for catching it.” Lockhart pointed to his case.
“In a moment, Mr.
Goldstein and I will use Expulso together to force the Billywig down to the ground.
Your job will be to hit it with a Knockback Jinx or Freezing Charm.
Can you do that?”
Harry gripped his wand.
“I can try, sir, but…”
“But what?”
“Can I just grab it with my hand?” Harry asked again.
This answer once again took Lockhart by surprise.
However, an excellent teacher must always learn to teach according to the student’s aptitude.
He felt he should encourage student initiative, although he didn’t think Harry could catch a 1.4-centimeter-long, highly agile insect barehanded.
“You may, but you must wear your gloves,” Lockhart said.
Once Harry had his gloves on, Lockhart carried the buzzing hive to the center of the classroom and told the other students to stand back.
“Protego Maxima.” Lockhart pointed at the ceiling above and incanted again.
With a jab of his wand, a golden protective shield materialized, encasing the center of the classroom like an eggshell.
Lockhart inspected his handiwork, very pleased.
This was one of the three great protective spells Professor Flitwick cast on Hogwarts during the final battle.
The defensive shield of “Protego Maxima,” the reinforcement of “Fianto Duri,” and the repulsion of “Repello Inimicum.” If the attackers hadn’t been Voldemort, this defense alone would probably have left the Death Eaters helpless.
Lockhart had spent considerable effort practicing this charm in his basement, taking over a month to learn just one of these three supreme defensive charms, all for the purpose of showing off in front of students.
Due to his relatively short practice time, he couldn’t cast a shield enveloping the entire Hogwarts like Professor Flitwick, and its defensive capability was far inferior, likely breaking after five or six moderately powerful spells.
But it was absolutely sufficient to impress sixth and seventh-year students.
Unfortunately, Harry and the others were only second-years, probably unaware of how difficult this charm was.
Lockhart would have to admire his own prowess in solitude.
…Actually, that wasn’t entirely true.
Judging by Hermione’s and Terry Boot’s gaping mouths, at least those two knew how difficult this charm was.
The Boot family was an ancient wizarding line, so Terry knowing this was normal.
But Hermione knew purely from her extensive reading.
“Alright, no need to worry about it flying away now.
Mr.
Potter, Mr.
Goldstein, ready!” Lockhart shouted with full vigor.
Harry and Anthony quickly raised their wands.
Lockhart opened a compartment in the case and released a small blue flying insect.
Seeing the outside light and fresh air, the Billywig immediately transformed into a blue streak, darting out of its confinement.
After circling once, it buzzed towards the window.
Unfortunately, while Lockhart’s protective shield seemed almost intangible, it was a genuine legendary-level charm.
For a mere insect to think it could fly out was to underestimate the word “legendary.”
So it didn’t fly far before colliding with the golden shield, unable to escape, like a fly bumping against a glass pane.
Seeing this, Lockhart quickly nudged Anthony beside him.
“Mr.
Goldstein?”
Anthony, as if waking from a dream, jabbed towards the Billywig’s location.
“Expulso!”
The charm really wasn’t very difficult, so even on his first try, Anthony managed it.
But the Australian insect was far more alert than anyone imagined.
The moment the air began to expand, it sensed danger and immediately flew back.
Anthony’s Expulso naturally missed.
The blast wave impacted the protective shield.
The golden shield merely shimmered slightly, with no other reaction.
“Oh dear, that won’t do!” Lockhart called out loudly.
“Remember what I just said!
Your goal isn’t to hit it, but to herd it to where you want it to go!”
(End of Chapter)