Hogwarts: Starting with full Unforgivable Curses

Harry was the first to react, excitedly saying, "You mean, the Patronus Charm becomes a 'lifeline' that our bodies instinctively grasp when they're acting in accordance with their 'survival instinct'?"

“That’s right!” Dylan nodded emphatically, confirming his guess. “In the dangerous underwater environment, the ‘survival instinct’ makes us subconsciously grasp the power that protects us—that’s the power of the Patronus Charm. It not only helps us maintain the spell’s effect, but also ‘clings’ to this protection like a lifeline until we are completely out of danger, never letting go easily. Even if we are distracted in the fight, as long as the will to survive remains, the spell’s protection will not disappear.”

He paused, then added, "The reason I was able to think of using the Patronus Charm in this way is actually thanks to the theory of 'harmonious herbs.' This theory taught me to think about and explore the essence of magic from more diverse perspectives, rather than being limited to traditional spellcasting methods. It was because of these additional perspectives that I realized I could use 'survival instinct' to assist in spellcasting, which would both ensure the effectiveness of the spell and free up more energy to deal with other dangers underwater, achieving two goals at once."

After hearing the explanation, Harry immediately gripped his wand tightly, his eyes brimming with eagerness: "Since the principle is so reliable, why don't we go to the Black Lake and try it out now? Practicing in a real underwater environment beforehand will help us adapt faster and be more composed during the competition."

"Go to the Black Lake to practice the Patronus Charm?" Draco immediately frowned, objecting without hesitation, his tone wary. "Have you considered the risk of being exposed? Although the warriors from other magic schools might not understand what we're doing, don't forget, those headmasters are still at Hogwarts. They are all experienced wizards. What if they discover that we're acclimatizing to the underwater environment in advance, or even cracking the secret of the golden egg? Wouldn't that cause us trouble?"

"It can't be that serious, can it?" Harry blinked, instinctively thinking of Durmstrang's headmaster, Karkaroff, his tone tinged with a hint of relief. "Look at Karkaroff, he was injured by magical fireworks a while ago and has been recuperating in the school hospital. He only showed up yesterday or the day before. Although he seems fine, his chin is now bald, and he no longer has to bother with his goatee. He's probably still worrying about his appearance and doesn't have time to pay attention to our movements."

Draco clearly guessed Harry's thoughts and couldn't help but chuckle: "Igor Karkaroff was an accident. Not all headmasters can be as careless as him, can they? Mrs. Maxime of Beauxbatons, and Headmaster Dumbledore of our school, aren't they all meticulous people?"

“What did Professor Moody repeatedly emphasize before? Have you forgotten? ‘Stay vigilant at all times and don’t give your opponents any opportunity.’ What’s more, this is a three-way battle for supremacy. Every detail could affect the final result. We must firmly maintain our advantage and not take unnecessary risks because of impatience.”

“Draco is right, the risk of exposure does need to be considered.” Seeing this, Cedric quickly tried to smooth things over, not wanting the two to argue over their differing opinions, but also wanting to push forward with the practice. “But practicing in advance is also very necessary. After all, casting the Patronus Charm underwater is a completely new attempt. Only through more practice can we master it and maintain an advantage in the competition.”

He thought for a moment, then suddenly came up with a compromise and his eyes lit up: "How about we practice in the prefect's washroom? There's a large bathtub there, deep enough and with adjustable temperature, perfect for simulating the environment of the Black Lake to practice the Patronus Charm. It should be more than enough. Besides, only the prefect can go in there, so it's very private and we don't have to worry about being seen by others. It's both safe and convenient."

“I’ve been to the prefect’s washroom a few times,” Draco said, raising an eyebrow at Cedric’s suggestion. “As for the bathing experience, it’s alright. The water temperature is consistent, and the space is large enough.”

The only problem is the limited selection of bubble bath products; there are only two kinds: mint and lavender, which doesn't meet my requirements for a high-quality bath.

“We’re discussing the location for practicing the Patronus Charm, what does this have to do with bubble bath liquid?” Harry couldn’t help but interrupt him, his tone tinged with helplessness. “We’re going there to practice magic in an underwater environment, not to enjoy a bubble bath. Getting hung up on the type of bath liquid is ridiculous.”

“Wait, I haven’t finished speaking yet.” Draco looked at Harry and continued slowly, “The bathing experience is just a side note. What I really want to emphasize is the environment there. Isn’t the core of Dylan’s Patronus Charm usage to rely on our instincts to maintain the spell’s effect? ​​And what is the Prefect’s bathroom? It’s a luxuriously decorated bathroom like a noble manor, with the water temperature always kept at the most comfortable level, and even the air is filled with a faint fragrance. It’s a place that makes you completely relax.”

He paused, his eyes becoming serious: "In such a comfortable environment, can we really sense danger and thus trigger our instincts? Is this kind of atmosphere really suitable for practicing underwater guardian spells that require dealing with crises? I think it's difficult—a comfortable environment will only make people lower their guard, which is not conducive to simulating the real conditions at the bottom of the Black Lake."

“You’re right.” Cedric nodded in agreement after listening, his tone tinged with apology. “I only thought about the privacy and water depth of the prefect’s washroom before, but I overlooked the water temperature. The water temperature there is fixed and cannot be adjusted to the icy cold of the bottom of the Black Lake, nor can it simulate the sense of urgency brought by the cold. It is indeed not conducive to stimulating one’s instincts, and the training effect will be greatly reduced.”

Harry didn't say anything, but just shrugged silently, clearly agreeing with Draco's statement. Although he wanted to practice as soon as possible, he also understood the importance of simulating a real environment. He couldn't let the convenience cause him to fail at a crucial moment.

“If you don’t mind, perhaps we can practice right here.” Just as the three fell silent, considering other options, Dylan suddenly spoke up, pointing to the abandoned classroom where they were.

"Practice here?" Cedric, Draco, and Harry exclaimed in surprise at the same time, their faces full of astonishment. Although the abandoned classroom was spacious, it was filled with dilapidated desks, chairs, and teaching aids, and it didn't look like a place that could simulate an underwater environment at all.

But they also had a sliver of hope, wanting to know what Dylan's plan was.

“I can’t recreate a space as large as Black Lake here, given the limited environment,” Dylan said, pulling his wand from his pocket. “But it should be more than enough to simulate the cold, water pressure, and darkness of the bottom of Black Lake for practicing the use of the Underwater Patronus Charm.”

Dylan's gaze swept across the corner of the classroom and finally landed on a drawer.

It was an old oak desk with an open drawer.

“This will do. It’s the right size and easy to get in and out of, unlike other teaching aids which are cluttered.” He walked to the desk, pointed the tip of his wand at the drawer, and chanted a spell.

Cedric, Draco, and Harry rushed over, but before they could even wonder how Dylan was going to modify the ordinary drawer, the spell's effect was already showing.

First, a strange sound came from inside the drawer, like the sound of rushing water, with the dullness unique to underwater. Then, an indescribable smell spread out, a mixture of the fishy smell of fresh water, the musty smell of decaying leaves, and the earthy smell of silt, almost exactly the same as the smell they had smelled on the shore of Black Lake.

The three looked curiously into the drawer, and the sight before them completely stunned them. The once empty drawer was now filled with murky lake water, which was still slowly churning. Fine particles of silt could be clearly seen floating in the water, and looking down through the murky surface, a layer of dark mud could be seen at the bottom of the drawer, just like the bottom of a black lake. Even more amazingly, although the lake water in the drawer was almost overflowing, it was blocked by an invisible barrier, and not a single drop leaked onto the floor outside the drawer, as if the inside and outside of the drawer were two completely independent spaces.

At this moment, all three of them felt as if they were in a dream. Although their feet were still firmly planted on the dry floor, they could see the surging water and deposited silt at the bottom of the lake through the drawer window from a parallel perspective. The visual impact and sensory realism made them forget to speak for a moment.

"Magic...it's absolutely amazing!" Harry was the first to come to his senses, unable to help but exclaim, his eyes fixed on the underwater world in the drawer, his tone full of amazement.

Draco pursed his lips, a hint of amazement flashing in his eyes. He had actually wanted to express his admiration, but he held back, thinking of his usual image. He simply stared at the drawer, carefully observing the details inside, trying to find the flaw in this spatial magic.

“That’s right, magic is that amazing.” Dylan nodded in agreement, said nothing more, and took the lead towards the drawer.

When his body touched the "water surface" inside the drawer, there was no resistance. He felt as if he were immersed in water, and in the blink of an eye, he entered the underwater world constructed by the drawer.

Harry and the others stared wide-eyed, clearly seeing that Dylan's body changed direction after entering the space. His head was facing outwards from the drawer, and his feet were pointing towards the mud at the bottom of the drawer. He was like an upside-down person at the bottom of a lake, yet he was completely unaffected by gravity and could still move freely.

It wasn't until then, using Dylan's body as a reference point, that they were surprised to discover that the underwater space inside this seemingly small drawer was much larger than they had imagined. Dylan's body moved around inside without any restraint, looking as free as if he were at the bottom of a real lake.

“This space…” Cedric carefully examined the water in front of him, his tone carrying a hint of confirmation, “is more than twice as spacious as the bathtub in the prefect’s private washroom!”

Dylan stepped into the water first, the cool lake water washing over his ankles and spreading up his calves. The soft mud at the bottom of the lake clung to his skin, providing a naturally moist touch.

He moved slowly in the water, his fingertips tracing the surrounding currents, feeling the water temperature, pressure, and every detail of the underwater environment. Only after confirming that the actual state of the bottom of Black Lake had been accurately replicated did he turn around and wade back to the classroom area on the shore.

Back on the dry ground, he raised his wand, a soft white light flashing at its tip, and whispered the spell: "Pure as ever!"

As the incantation ended, the lake water remaining on his body evaporated instantly, the mud and dirt on him disappeared completely, and his clothes returned to dryness and cleanliness.

“I have recreated the environment at the bottom of the Black Lake as accurately as possible,” he said, putting down his wand and glancing at the people present. “Including the water temperature, the speed of the current, and the subtle topographical undulations at the bottom, everything is exactly the same as the real thing.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Dylan seemed to suddenly remember something important, and turned slightly to walk towards the drawer on the wall.

He held his wand and gently tapped the edge of the drawer. Three thick, sturdy ropes immediately extended from the edge, one end firmly fixed inside the drawer, and the other end dangling into the water below, just long enough for someone diving into the water to easily reach.

"If you need to return underwater, just grab these ropes and climb up to get back here." He reached out and tugged on the ropes to make sure they were secure before explaining their purpose to the group.

Before Dylan could finish his instructions, Harry, unable to contain his eagerness, almost immediately took a step and rushed toward the drawer.

Without pausing, he bent down and plunged headfirst into the water that replicated the Black Lake environment, his movements so fast that no one could stop him.

Seeing that Harry had already taken action, Draco, on the other side, naturally did not want to fall behind.

He had just lifted his foot, about to follow Harry's footsteps and rush towards the drawer, intending to enter the water in the same way, when his wrist was suddenly gently stopped by Cedric's outstretched hand.

“Draco, don’t rush,” Cedric’s voice was gentle but carried an undeniable reminder, “You haven’t cast the Bubble Head Charm yet.”

Draco paused, a fleeting hint of embarrassment crossing his face, before quickly adjusting his posture, stretching his arms and legs to appear composed.

“I don’t plan to go down now,” he coughed lightly, his tone deliberately relaxed. “I’m just stretching my muscles first. I’m not like some people who rush into the water without even doing the most basic preparations.”

In just a few seconds, the rope lowered into the water was suddenly pulled upwards. (End of Chapter)