Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 290 Guardian Spell Open Class

A ring of candles encircled the center of the auditorium, and the students' attention was focused on the podium.

Melvin arrived at the Great Hall side hall just in time. Before he could even greet everyone, he saw Snape standing by the wall in his long robes, expressionless and with indifferent eyes. Beside him were the other required course professors, who were nodding and smiling, each with an expectant look on their face, as if they were watching their colleagues work overtime on vacation.

Lupin Remus, who was in the midst of a full moon cycle, was also present, looking pale as he waited in a corner. When he saw Melvin greet him, he still managed a gentle smile.

The elective course professors occupied the other side of the hall: Professor Barbling, Professor Victor, and Professor Sinister, all with bright smiles. Trelawney was nowhere to be seen; he was probably hiding somewhere, drinking heavily.

The students had already gathered, and the area around the podium was divided among the four houses, each standing in one of the four quadrants, with Gryffindor and Slytherin quite far apart.

Melvin roughly counted the number of attendees; almost all seven grades of the school were present.

"A freshman was lying in his dorm with a cold, and a fourth-year boy tried to use a levitation charm to fly, but broke both legs and several ribs. Apart from that, everyone else was there."

Professor Flitwick shrugged. "You've put on a good show, Melvin."

"let's start."

Melvin walked to the podium carrying a briefcase. He glanced around and the young professor's face wasn't particularly serious, but his deep, dark eyes quickly silenced the surroundings.

"Melvin Levent greets everyone. As you may have heard, tonight's lesson is about the Patronus Charm."

"Just two weeks ago, the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams played a game in a storm, and we witnessed a thrilling and exciting match, but Dementors broke into the school and roamed freely over the field."

"The white fog they created made the weather even worse, and close contact caused Seeker Harry Potter to fall into a coma, ultimately leading to Gryffindor losing the game."

"This isn't the first time Harry has fainted; it happened on the Express too."

Melvin's opening remarks were somber and slow, creating a somber atmosphere that made the students' hearts clench.

“Professor… there’s no need to emphasize being unconscious.” Harry raised his hand, weakly defending himself, “I’m not the only victim.”

He regretted saying those words as soon as they left his mouth. Almost the entire school turned to stare at him, some with inquisitive and curious eyes, others with mocking and teasing looks, and the Slytherin students openly showing their contempt.

And then there's Cho Chang, the Asian-looking Seeker from Ravenclaw.

His cheeks flushed slightly.

"Yes, any one of you could be attacked."

Melvin put down the suitcase, tapped the clasp, and the tightly closed black leather suitcase opened up, revealing its dark and deep interior.

A cool, white mist billowed from the box, like dry ice used in stage performances. But instead of a princess, there was a tall, slender figure in a black cloak and hood, his gray-black attire resembling a shadow in a dimly lit attic.

Faced with a group of energetic students, especially those who had inhaled trace amounts of euphoria, the Dementor was like a starving prisoner who had suddenly smelled the most delicious food in the world, and was so excited that he couldn't help but tremble all over.

However, out of fear of the young professor, the Dementors hovered in place, not daring to do anything rash. They could only take deep breaths and sniff, the air rushing through their throats and making loud, guttural sounds that sent chills down one's spine.

Everyone gasped. A genuine... Dementor!
The white mist drifted to the walls, and a gust of cold air rushed into the once warm and comfortable room. Sprout rubbed the goosebumps on his hands: "This is Boggart in disguise, right? How come it looks so good?"

"probably?"

Flitwick was a little unsure.

Professor McGonagall remained silent, the effects of the euphoria wearing off, and her expression turned somewhat grim.

"A dark creature born on a remote island in the North Sea, a desperate guard of the wizarding prison Azkaban, a Dementor."

Melvin's voice was extremely gentle, which somewhat mitigated the fright caused by the Dementor. "Some of you have heard of it. Here is a monster that is incredibly close to real, a Boggart mimicked by Professor Lupin of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Based on the characteristics of Boggarts, it can be assumed that this can simulate a near-realistic Dementor. I hope you will train to defeat it."

What kind of training?

"Is it a guardian spell?"

George and Fred worked together seamlessly, two dutiful straight men.

"Yes, the Guardian Charm."

Melvin nodded and smiled, “The Ministry of Magic refuses to lift the guard on the Dementors. Although it is agreed that they are forbidden to approach, given that these are just dark creatures that follow their instincts, accidents can happen at any time... Headmaster Dumbledore and the professors sincerely hope that each of you has the ability to protect yourself.”

The students were a little nervous, but they listened more attentively.

"Wizards and scholars in the magical world generally believe that only wizards with pure hearts can summon a Patronus. The most famous example is the dark wizard Ratchidon, who suffered a backfire when he tried to use the Patronus Charm, and the maggots that appeared devoured him."

Melvin paused briefly, his tone suddenly becoming lighter, "However, this is just a fallacy. That dark wizard was from Birmingham, with a heavy accent, and made a mistake while chanting the spell, just like that guy who used the Levitation Charm to summon a bison."

Laughter immediately erupted in the auditorium.

"In fact, the main reason why dark wizards have difficulty mastering the Patronus Charm is that their souls are twisted, their personalities are extreme, and their tempers are volatile, making it difficult for them to access their happy memories. Can you imagine a Death Eater laughing from the heart, instead of a cruel and evil grin?"

"Ha ha……"

For the next half hour, Melvin talked about the theoretical knowledge of the Patronus Charm, summarized interesting cases from various materials, and incorporated some stand-up comedy techniques, making the students laugh non-stop.

"According to ancient woodblock prints and scrolls, the Guardian Charm has been used for thousands of years and is a true form of ancient magic."

"Listen carefully to the incantation, calling upon the gods for protection means expecting a guardian."

"There is also another way of understanding it: the spellcaster is the guardian. He casts the spell with the belief of protection, recalling the beautiful memories of the past in his mind. That is what the Dementors want to take away, and what you want to protect."

Melvin's voice echoed in the auditorium, and the students below the stage gained a lot.

Even the professors who were observing the class were pleasantly surprised, gaining a new understanding of the familiar incantation.

"A call to God...guardian?"

Snape drifted off into thought, recalling the green-eyed girl he had met in the park. He remembered the slightly upturned corners of her eyes when she smiled. Was this the reason for the change in his Patronus?
After the theoretical lesson, everyone took out their wands and began practicing, including the professors who were auditing the class. They moved among the students, using their seasoned experience to correct any incorrect casting movements and any incantations they thought were free of accents. Wisps of silvery mist appeared in the Great Hall, dimming the candles floating in the air and the stars and moon on the magical dome.

"Spell with the belief of protection...recall happy memories."

Ron muttered impatiently, seeing everyone around him summoning silver mist while his own wand remained motionless, he wished he could split his head in two.

Harry and Hermione had already taken tutoring classes, so why is Neville progressing so fast?
And then there's Seamus and Dean, whose staff tips are glowing!
This kind of magic is so anti-human! How can one person think of so many things at the same time? Couldn't ancient wizards have made magic simpler?
"Calm down, think carefully about what you want to protect," Hermione reminded her from a short distance away.

"How do I know what I want to protect? Do the silver coins in my pocket count?" Ron took out a few silver coins from his pocket, and seemed to have really found his rhythm, casting spells much more smoothly.

"Don't be so superficial, there's something more important..."

Hermione guided his thoughts. Organizing and copying the materials was tiring, but she also learned a lot. "Like friends, think of Scabbers!"

"Banban?"

"Think about all the wonderful times you've had with Scabbers. If a Dementor attacks Scabbers, how will you protect it?"

[Expected Guardian]

Ron chanted the incantation with a resounding voice, waved his wand, and a surge of magic flowed into the willow wood, causing the tip of the wand to light up, and the unicorn hair responded to the protective belief.

A wisp of crystalline, thread-like mist appeared, like the morning mist of autumn, light and agile, detached from the tip of the staff, circled Ron twice, and quietly dissipated.

"By Merlin! I have learned the Patronus Charm!"

Ron was delighted to see this change. "I understand now. I will protect Scabbers and cherish the wonderful memories I shared with them!"

"Actually... we could think about more important things."

Harry watched from the beginning and felt something was off. "Like family and friends, you know what I mean."

“Those people are stronger than Ron and don’t really need his protection. A weak pet is more likely to inspire a protective instinct.” Assistant Hermione smiled sweetly. “If Scabbers can help, it would be very happy.”

Silver light flickered intermittently, and occasionally Professor McGonagall's Patronus appeared in the sky above the Great Hall—a lively tabby cat.

Professor Lupin claimed that the children needed guidance that was closer to their own level, and Snape surprisingly agreed. Seeing this, the other professors also agreed, almost all of them summoning a cloud of silver mist.

"Protector of God..."

Harry extinguished the silver light at the tip of his wand again and looked around.

The students around them were all focused on practicing, constantly waving their wands and muttering spells. Seamus and Dean were immersed in the joy of the growing silver mist, their smiles radiant, the euphoria and sense of accomplishment working together.

The older students, with their more refined skills, quickly grasped the core of the Patronus Charm tonight thanks to the professors' insightful explanations, hands-on guidance, and the aid of the euphoric drug.

A few high-achieving students, such as Cedric and Percy, slowed down their practice. They began to notice that the silver light was no longer growing, and the silver mist showed no sign of solidifying. In addition to skills and knowledge, a change in mindset was also needed.

Only by confronting Dementors can one truly feel the danger and gain a deeper understanding of joy and protection.

The professors are still providing guidance, and only a very small number of students need practical exercises. Most students are still in the basic stage, and they have not yet reached proficiency in theoretical knowledge and skills.

There probably won't be any practical exercises in the near future.

Then he saw Hermione standing alone outside the practice circle, watching the others practice. He wanted to go up and give her some pointers, but he was worried about bothering her, so he looked conflicted.

Harry suddenly relaxed, stopped practicing, and leaned over: "Hermione, these past few weeks you've been copying down information on the Patronus Charm. Did any of those books explain why Professor Levent's Patronus is a longhorned water snake?"

"Haven't you read that book yet? Don't you even know that?" Hermione turned her head and stared at him.

"That book Professor Levent recommended during summer vacation? I've already read it, which is why I'm confused. The book says that guardian spirits are all ordinary animals without magic, so why are there magical creatures?"

“Those materials have it all! They describe the various common Patronus forms, and a few special ones.” Hermione rolled her eyes at him. “You didn’t even look closely!”

Hermione's reprimand was quite forceful, but Harry immediately forgot about it. There were plenty of materials recommended by the professors for each subject, and apart from Hermione, he had never seen anyone actually read all of them or even memorize them.

Ask Hermione when you don't understand something; this is a consensus among third-year students. Hermione, the "Mr. Know-It-All," went from being a teasing nickname to a genuine compliment.

"So why is that?" Harry asked honestly.

"The patron deity of ordinary wizards is a common animal, but very few wizards have magical creatures. Andros once summoned a giant patron deity. Among living wizards, the most famous in the entire British magical world is Dumbledore's phoenix patron deity."

Teaching assistant Hermione tirelessly explained the knowledge from the book, "Now there's another example: Professor Levent's longhorned water snake."

"Is it possible that our Patronus is special?" Harry asked with a chuckle.

Hermione paused, then realized what he meant and pondered, "The reason Headmaster Dumbledore has a phoenix as his Patronus is because the bloodline of the Dumbledore family is very special and has a special connection with the phoenix. You should have seen Fawkes in your office; that was a genuine phoenix."

She shook her head, somewhat dejected: "Professor Levent is connected to the longhorned water snake. As you've seen, Yulm has been by the professor's side since he was a child."

Harry was somewhat disappointed upon hearing this; he too wanted such a majestic Patronus.

The Great Hall came alive with activity. Candles floated in the air, their silver light illuminating the sky. Harry resumed his tedious practice, but perhaps the euphoric potion was working. Watching the beautiful silver mist emanating from the tip of his wand, his spirits slowly lifted.

Even if they don't have cool magical creatures as their guardians, they can at least repel Dementors and avoid fainting upon encountering them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry caught a gloomy gaze. It was Snape. Harry calmly looked away, took two steps forward, and used Neville's imposing figure to block the way.

For some reason, Snape seems to be paying extra attention to him lately.

He guessed that Snape was not satisfied with the advantage brought by Quidditch and wanted to find an opportunity to deduct his house points, completely erasing Neville's 50-point lead.

Harry is no longer a freshman at Hogwarts. Having learned from his experiences in the previous two years, he knows very well that the best way to deal with this is to stay away from Snape and not give him a chance to cause trouble.

(End of this chapter)