"Hello everyone!"
Lockhart, like a peacock, strutted into the classroom through the side door, head held high.
"How disgusting,"
Ron muttered.
"Doesn't he know we all see right through him?"
Hermione sighed.
"It's not fair to say that, Ron. Your brothers were caught by him last night, so he must have some ability…"
Ron snorted.
"That's just because you're still his fan and have a crush on him. Fred and George probably didn't get caught by him—this is Hogwarts, after all. The professors' offices all have built-in defenses. They probably just tripped one."
Lockhart's expression darkened slightly as he reached the front of the class. Suddenly, he raised his wand and pointed it at Ron. In the next moment, Ron's tongue curled back into his mouth—he could no longer speak.
"In my class, it's best to remain quiet,"
Lockhart said, his usual frivolous smile replaced with a faint air of nobility.
"If it happens again, I'll have to ask you to leave."
He turned away from Ron and addressed the class.
"Does anyone know what spell I just used?"
No one answered. They weren't sure if answering would result in being dragged into one of his melodramatic performances.
"If someone can answer, I'll add five points to their House."
Hermione raised her hand immediately. She was willing to play along—for points.
"It's the Tongue-Tying Curse, Professor! The incantation is Rictusempra!"
But to everyone's surprise, Lockhart didn't invite her up. He simply nodded.
"Excellent answer, Miss Granger. I am a man of my word—five points to Gryffindor."
With a flick of his wand, the old blackboard floated over from the corner of the room.
[Tongue-Tying Curse]
The spell appeared on the board in large, ornate lettering.
"This charm causes the tongue to curl and stick to the roof of the mouth, rendering the target unable to speak,"
Lockhart explained.
"Now, everyone, repeat after me—"
"Rictusempra!"
"Very good,"
Lockhart nodded.
"This charm may seem trivial—perhaps even a prank—but in combat against Dark wizards, it can be surprisingly effective. Harry, tell me, what could this charm do in a duel?"
Harry paused, then said cautiously,
"It could stop someone from casting spells? But Professor… what if they can cast nonverbally?"
Lockhart smiled and nodded.
"Exactly. But let me ask you this—how many wizards can actually cast spells without speaking? In Britain, that number is under a hundred. Over ninety percent of wizards rely on verbal casting.
So, for a spell that's easy to learn, easy to use, and can disable over ninety percent of wizards, what do you think of it now?"
The students' eyes lit up.
This charm actually seemed… useful.
"Now, take out your wands. Watch my movements. Just practice the wand motion—don't actually cast the spell yet."
"Rictusempra!"
"Rictusempra!"
"Very good,"
Lockhart said.
"You're all doing well. But practical application is the best way to learn—so, let's line up and cast the spell on me, one at a time."
He waved his wand, and the desks and chairs shifted to the sides, opening up a wide dueling space in the center.
"Don't worry about hitting me,"
he added with a smile,
"I'll block every spell before it lands."
Neville was the first up. He pointed his wand and shouted—
"Rictusempra!"
Nothing happened—only a small leaf sprouted from the wand's tip.
"Mr. Longbottom, pronounce the spell clearly, and picture me shutting up. Again."
"Rictusempra!"
The spell shot out. Lockhart raised his wand and effortlessly deflected it before it could reach him.
"Well done, Mr. Longbottom! Next!"
The students murmured in amazement.
Was Professor Lockhart really this capable? It was like he had become a different person overnight!
"Rictusempra!"
"Excellent, Miss Granger. Nicely done!"
Hermione stepped back, satisfied but slightly disappointed—she hadn't broken through Lockhart's defense either.
"Rictusempra!"
A red-glowing spell flew from Seamus Finnegan's wand. Lockhart frowned and blocked it—this time directing it to the floor instead of the ceiling.
Boom!
The spell exploded on impact.
"Mr. Finnegan, that looked more like an Exploding Charm than the Tongue-Tying Curse."
One after another, the students stepped forward. It quickly became less about learning the spell and more about who might be the first to get past Lockhart's defense.
"Rictusempra!"
"Be sure to pronounce the spell clearly!"
Only a few students remained, and all eyes eventually turned toward Dana, who stood quietly at the end of the line.
Dana was recognized as the strongest among them—after all, what first-year wizard published papers in Charms and Transfiguration journals?
At last, Dana stepped forward.
Lockhart gave him a polite nod.
"You're the last one, Dana. Let's see if your charm work is as good as your Quidditch playing."
Dana raised his wand and cast the spell nonverbally.
Lockhart froze in shock.
Nonverbal casting?!
He immediately raised his wand to deflect the spell, but instinct warned him—this one wasn't going to be so simple.
"Protego!"
The green barrier shimmered in front of him. But—
Bang!
Dana's Tongue-Tying Curse shattered the Shield Charm on impact and slammed Lockhart directly.
He flew backwards three meters, tongue locked to the roof of his mouth. If it hadn't been stuck, his tongue might've twisted three times midair.
Still, Lockhart managed to regain balance and land cleanly.
With a wave of his wand, he dispelled the curse.
"Amazing! Dana Emrys's spellcasting ability is truly outstanding. For that, five points to Gryffindor!"
But he wasn't angry—in fact, he looked delighted.
Why?
Because he had found the perfect next host.
You.
Dana Emrys.
End of the Chapter.
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