Chapter 66 How to Easily Handle a Basilisk
"I'm struggling with how to deal with a Basilisk," Harry said casually, then immediately reacted. "Oh, I don't need you to directly give me the answer, Professor. I know you need me to think for myself. I was just thinking about what you just said."
"'Find their characteristics and create targeted solutions'..." he repeated the sentence.
Lockhart nodded. "Then tell me, what are the characteristics of a Basilisk? You've researched so much, you must know them very well."
Harry blurted out, clearly having given this some thought, "Lethal gaze, deadly fangs, massive body, three characteristics."
Mentioning these, he was actually quite troubled because he couldn't solve any of them.
Oh, his good friend Ron seemed to be able to solve one of them.
He had once knocked out a troll with a "massive body" using the Levitation Charm.
It wasn't that he wasn't smart enough; it was just that second-year wizards hadn't encountered enough magic yet.
Lockhart thought for a moment, considering this a good topic for Defence Against the Dark Arts, and simply explained specifically, "Please remember this everyone, when looking for solutions based on characteristics, you must change your thinking."
"That is, treat dark creatures, magical animals, and all magical beings and plants as if they were wizards!"
"This is also why the three major areas—facing dark magic from dark wizards, facing dark creatures, and dueling—are collectively called the subject of Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"When we are looking for targeted solutions based on characteristics, we should equate the Basilisk's 'lethal gaze' with the Killing Curse cast by a dark wizard."
"Seek solutions from this perspective."
Mentioning this, Lockhart looked at the young wizards and began calling out names. "George, tell me, what would you do if faced with a dark wizard's Killing Curse?"
George had plenty of ideas.
He had just faced this problem not long ago. The dark wizard who had infiltrated Hogwarts had cast the Killing Curse at Fred. If it hadn't been for the grey wolf summoned by Professor Lockhart to block the attack, he couldn't even imagine how bleak his future life would have been.
Every time he drifted off to sleep, he would be awakened by such terrifying nightmares.
Then he would constantly think about what he should have done at that time.
"Obstruction Charm, make oneself or Fred… I mean, make the dark wizard or the target being attacked fall down, so they won't be hit by the Killing Curse."
"If the opponent has just attacked, you can also use the Disarming Charm, the Tongue-Tying Curse…"
"…"
He listed over a dozen countermeasures, analyzing various possibilities and responses, as if he had rehearsed them thousands of times in his mind.
Fred beside him patted his shoulder comfortingly, indicating that he was alive and well right next to him.
"Excellent!"
Lockhart praised him and looked at the young wizards. "Did you all notice a problem with what George just said?"
"That is, when we have no way to defend against the 'Killing Curse,' we will try to find a way to deal with the dark wizard casting the Killing Curse!"
"Find a way to prevent the 'Killing Curse' from taking effect."
He stroked his wand, walking among the young wizards, watching them fall into thought one by one, continuing to guide them from the side.
"Returning to our previous topic, facing the three characteristics of the Basilisk, how should we seek solutions?"
He smiled slightly. "In this class, I hope you can develop this way of thinking and find your own suitable solutions."
"Let's start with the Basilisk's 'deadly fangs'."
"When we have no way to concoct an antidote for the Basilisk's venom, just like we have no way to defend against a dark wizard's Killing Curse, our line of thinking is—"
"Prevent it from biting, or find a way to shut its mouth."
"Thinking from the direction of 'preventing it from biting,' you will naturally come up with many answers." He looked down at Harry Potter, whose eyes had lit up, and nodded for him to speak.
"Flying broomsticks!" Harry exclaimed excitedly. "Sit on a flying broomstick, Professor!"
"Very good!" Lockhart looked at the other young wizards, asking them to each provide a response based on their own strengths.
See, it wasn't difficult.
"Then, from the perspective of 'finding a way to shut its mouth'? Wizards probably have too many methods for that. Many of the spells taught in our regular classes are sufficient to deal with it." Saying this, he smiled at Ron. "For example, the Slug-vomiting Charm, of course, it would need a more powerful effect."
"Here, I recommend a very effective spell to everyone, one that George just mentioned, the Tongue-Tying Curse."
"Its effect is to make the victim's tongue curl backward and stick to the roof of their mouth, making it impossible for them to open their mouth and speak again."
"This is sufficient to deal with many situations. For example, when you are engaged in a wizarding duel, such a move is enough to prevent the enemy from casting any spells."
Mentioning this spell, a mischievous smile appeared on his face as he looked at Harry and the others.
"When I first entered Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a senior student who had just entered his fifth year was already admired by his classmates for inventing too many spells."
"Yes, he generously taught many students, and everyone benefited from it, which also earned him a lot of fame."
Regarding this, it seemed that old Snape had also gone through a "trying to prove himself" phase.
He looked at Cedric, who was now highly regarded by the professors. "Yes, around your age, he had already invented many powerful spells, including the very useful Tongue-Tying Curse."
"The Tongue-Tying Curse, the Muffliato Charm, the Levicorpus…"
And the Sectumsempra he invented in his sixth year but never taught to his classmates.
Cedric felt somewhat ashamed. No, he even felt that he probably could never do it—inventing magic in his fourth year? And such powerful magic?
Not just him, all the other young wizards exclaimed in unison.
Listening to Professor Lockhart recount the achievements of this senior student, they felt that such a genius was simply too far removed from them. Could they really achieve such a feat at their age?
Especially Hermione, who had always longed for the magic in her hands to perform more skillful changes, never expected that someone had already reached such a level during their student years. Her heart was immediately filled with admiration.
"This senior of mine…"
Lockhart raised an eyebrow, looking at everyone's expectant expressions. "Is your Professor Snape!"
"!!!"
As soon as these words came out, Harry and his friends were stunned. All they could hear was everyone's exclamations of surprise and astonishment.
"I'm not at all surprised that Professor Snape can easily deal with a Basilisk," Lockhart introduced with a smile. "The Levicorpus he invented, along with his own powerful magical abilities, are enough to suspend the Basilisk in mid-air, completely nullifying its 'massive body' and 'deadly fangs'."
"And exploring his train of thought in inventing magic, the consistent approach of the 'Tongue-Tying Curse' and the 'Muffliato Charm,' it would be extremely simple to cast a spell that makes an enemy close their eyes."
"Make the enemy shut their mouth, so the deadly fangs lose their effect."
"Make the enemy close their eyes, so the lethal gaze loses its effect."
"Make the enemy unable to find leverage, so the massive body also loses its effect."
Lockhart tapped his head with his wand. "So do you understand? We shouldn't focus on what the enemy's most powerful strength is. We should think about how to make the enemy's most powerful strength meaningless, prevent them from displaying their power."
"This is…"
"Seeking solutions based on characteristics, the most practical direction of exploration in all areas of Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Now…"
He leaned on Harry Potter's desk with both hands, smiling at the Boy Who Lived and then at the other young wizards. "Do you still think dealing with a Basilisk is difficult?"
Just then, he raised his head with some confusion, looking towards the open door of the office.
There, Senior Snape had been standing for who knew how long, a smug look on his face, the corners of his lips slightly upturned.
Seeing Lockhart look over, his face instantly fell, and he strode forward, pushing Lockhart aside again. He slightly raised his chin and surveyed the surrounding young wizards with his nostrils.
"If~~~ you wish to better learn the Tongue-Tying Curse and Levicorpus, as well as spells to make monsters or wizards close their eyes, I can teach you."
Saying this, he lowered his head, his gaze fixed darkly on Harry Potter. "Of course, you must understand who you should use them on, and who you should not use them on!"
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