Hey, I Ruin Stories Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Introductory Class


[Hallways of Hogwarts]

{Harry James Potter}


“Come on, Harry!” 


Oh, how devilish!


“We will be late!”


It was barely morning and we had barely had anything to calm our roaring stomachs, and with nothing but a glass of water to fill the gap, we had to rush through the halls to the class.


“Only if you make the habit of getting up on time.”


“You know we try, Hermione.” Ron said, leading the way. “We just messed up lots after all the adventures we had been having!”


Staying up late, running around the school hallways ruined our sleep cycle.


“And you are late too!” Ron said, immediately drawing a scowl from Hermione. 


“And whose fault is that?” She yelled, “I called you out so many times, but because of you I am even late!”


“Who—”


Before Ron could draw more of her wrath, I had to get in between them.


“Thank you, Hermione.” I gave her a smile, running next to her. I could have overtaken her, but she waited for us, so I could also wait for her. “For not leaving us.”


“But now…” Ron yelled, running as fast as he could. “Run! It's DADA class, and I heard there will be a new professor!”


“Surely, he won’t scold us in his first class… would he?” I couldn't help but ask. No professor would be that cruel, would they?


“And have you forgotten our precious Snape?” Hermione quipped, almost mockingly —but not offensively.


“I forgot.” I did forget that Snape had us stand over the benches on our first day.


“Quick, we are almost there!” Ron said hastily. I could hear him losing breath, but he didn't dare pause his feet. “There! I don't see anyone!”


He meant teachers. And he wasn’t wrong, there were no teachers, just students looking towards the door —seemingly waiting for the professor.


We have a chance!


“But why do they look like they have been anticipating us?” Hermione said, but Ron yelled.


“Doesn't matter! Just get in before the professor enters from somewhere!”


And we couldn't refute. Even if a professor was late, we could not punish him.


But if we were late, he could most definitely punish us.


And so all three of us increased our pace to the highest. Almost holding our breath as we dashed towards the door.


Big mistake.


“Ahhhh!”


Because the moment we felt like we had entered the room, our faces came crashing on what felt like solid concrete —nearly smashing our faces.


All while hearing a certain new voice.


“And that, children, is how you erect a shield to protect yourself from incoming threats.”


Oh God, he was worse than Snape!


…

…


The entire class erupted into laughter as three late arrivals wriggled around on the ground holding their noses.


“Now, it can also be that your spells accidentally end up hurting your friends instead of your foes.” Scooting down and taking out my wand —which most certainly did not work and only was attracted to my magic— I chanted, “Episky!”


It was a real spell, just not one I could cast. I just used my magic of protection which did not necessarily heal wounds, just removed debuffs —in this case pain.


“That should fix it.” I said, the three finally stopped wriggling, their noses still a little red from the hit. “Keep the little mark as a punishment for being late.”


It's just that I could not heal wounds, just take away the pain as it counted as a debuff.


The spectacled boy, who I knew of very well, rubbed his nose. Certainly the pain had vanished but it must still be mildly uncomfortable.


Characters like him were interesting as the moment you meet them, you can tell that they are important. 


The spectacled boy had bright green eyes, an interesting looking lightning shaped scar across his forehead and an aura, magical, that annoyed the dark magic inside me.


A main, no. THE main character. Even if you did not know his name, you would have been able to spot him without a doubt.


“So, good morning, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger.” I gave them my best smile, “And welcome to the DADA class.”


“So much for a good morning…” The red head muttered, trying to check if his nose was broken —luckily not otherwise it would have been a little annoying to fix. 


But after embarrassing the three and almost breaking their noses, I also decided to help them.


“I have heard a great deal about you three,” I said, extending my hand. “The three musketeers of Hogwarts.”


Harry and even the girl, Hermione, took my hand to get up. But the little red head, Ron, the feisty one jumped on his own and walked towards his seat.


He was blazing, understandably.


But the other two were surprisingly more poised.


“We apologize for being late, sir.” Harry said, “It will not happen again.”


“And good morning, sir.” The messy haired girl said, “We woke up a little late.”


“It's fine.” I said, I already used them being late enough. “Make sure to be on time from now on… or don't.”


This made them curiously look at me.


“But just be ready to be the test dummies for the class again.” This made them sudder, I could even see Ron shuddering in his seat from the corner of my eye. “Go to your seats.”


Nodding strongly, they practically bolted to their seats. 


As they finally got to their places, I once again looked at everyone’s faces before pointing towards the blackboard already painted with my name.


“Since we have three new participants for the class, let me once again introduce myself.” There were a few faces that I recognised. 


A weird faced kid with hair so palish blonde it appeared white, with a style of sitting that almost spoke like he owned the class.


I knew who he was, Draco Malfoy the antagonist… side antagonist?


Basically the annoying recurring character.


And behind him were his two sidekicks, whose name I could not recall.


By God they were ugly. I thought kids their age were supposed to look adorable, but they appeared… almost inbred with deformed facial features.


And there were few more, like the two Indian sisters, who for some reason sat totally apart. And of course a nervous looking kid who I believed was Neville.


Wasn't he the promised one and not Harry? Or is that some fan made theory that I am recalling?


Probably fan-made… definitely fan-made.


But he is someone to look into.


“Darius Safar?” Ron mumbled, “Are you not from around here, sir?” 


It was not in any rude tone or note, but the boy seemed genuinely curious.


“My origins are that of the Middle East.” I said, “And I have gotten here not too long ago.”


“Will you be teaching us about Middle Eastern magic, sir?” Not just Hermione, but seemingly quite a few students had the same question.


“Once you are able to excel in the magic that is in your course, why not?” 


This wasn't going to be easy.


“Now, how many of you know about the Dark Arts?” 


Not so surprisingly, the one to raise their hand was Hermione. 


“Yes, Miss Granger.”


The girl excitedly stood up.


“Magic that is often used by the dark lords and has the capability to corrupt the mind of the user is called Dark Magic.” She gave almost the textbook definition of it.


Of course I know about it because I too read about it just last night.


“Very good Miss Granger.” Somehow, I feel like I might not need to read the books or remember the definitions. “You have most certainly read your course book.”


She nodded with pride, “I have read it just last week, sir. And it is very interesting.” She paused for a bit, “Although it is a little scary.”


“I can understand your worry.” I assured her, “Dark Arts, as a concept, is scary. It is said even the most capable wizards fall into madness because of it. But I will not be teaching you Dark Arts.”


As I said this, the students appeared confused. “If you do not recall, I will be teaching you the Defense Against the Dark Arts, as is the name of the subject.”


This almost got them all nodding.


“I will teach you shields, mind protection, purifying magic and counters to help against dark spells and even ways to dodge or stay unaffected from them.”


It would be in the books, so not a worry there.


“The shield itself, that I casted just a while ago, was a show of how even simple magic can stop Dark Arts.”


This however, made one of the students, namely Malfoy, raise his hands.


“Yes, Mr. Malfoy.”


He seemed surprised that I knew his name but that surprise instantly turned to a look of pride.


“Basic magic is irrelevant in front of the Dark Arts.” He said, “And dark spells are not like idiots who run their head onto shields.”


“That little—”


“Quite the good analogy, Mr. Malfoy.” I said, not wanting a rat fight on my first day as a professor. “But to explain that, I have to first go a bit more over the concept of Dark Arts.”


I walked back and got on the podium right below the black board, increasing my voice enough that even the last bencher would hear.


“As Miss Granger previously said, the general description and concept of Dark Magic or the Dark Arts is something that is inherently evil and corrupts the mind of the wielder and causes immeasurable harm to others.”


Everyone agreed with the description.


“But that is not the full description of it.” The moment I said that, I could see a lot of confused faces. “I would go as far as to say that it might even be wrong, or semi-wrong at least.”


Many —which included Hermione— looked stunned, “Are you saying that the books are wrong, sir?”


I gave them a shrug, “Not wrong in the sense that it is wrong, but in the sense that the meaning is slightly twisted or made simpler so that children can understand.”


“So, what is the real definition?” Ron asked, curious yet also annoyed. 


Cannot be because of the barrier trick, right? 


“Let me explain it in the most simple way possible.” I said, looking at each of their expressions. “Not too complex but not without twisting or making it overly simple either.”


All of them nodded, somewhat interested after I called the books wrong.


“As Miss. Hermione previously said… Dark Arts is magic that is used to harm others and it can drive the user towards madness.” Hermione nodded hearing that. “The first part is without a doubt, accurate. As for the second, it is only half correct.”


This caught them curious.


“What I mean is that it is not the magic that turns the users insane, although there are spells and curses that can do that, but it is not the trademark of the magic that does that.” 


“Then why do most dark wizards go insane, professor?” Harry asked, mostly because Dark Art was quite related to his story and life.


“Dark Magic has the tendency of making the user feel good after using it. It makes the person feel stronger, it inflicts pain on others and it can allow you to do things that conventional forms of magic do not allow you to do.” 


The students seemed deeply invested in my words, possibly because the previous professor did not bother explaining this.


For a reason, obviously.


“It is because a person is mentally on the weaker side that once they taste the power, they feel like using it more and more —at the expense of the safety of others. They inflict pain on others because it makes them feel superior and stronger. They get addicted to using it, get absorbed in it and soon, they do not bother with other forms of magic and only stick to the dark magic —the magic that is primarily meant to cause harm.”


Everyone was silent, as it did make quite a bit of sense.


At least theoretically.


“Dark Arts is called the dark arts because of the tendency and dark urges a man has after using it —the addiction and the feeling that they are better.” Sort of true, “A powerless wizard wielding dark arts is more susceptible to turn to madness than one with a strong heart and mind. But because it is possible that the addiction turns to dependency, we call it madness.”


“Ultimately, it is the person and not the magic that is evil.” I explained with a sigh, “Dark Magic is as bad as it is unethical. Magic meant to cause harm is not magic that should be endorsed and it is also why this magic is frowned upon.”


“So…” One of the students, a thin looking boy with dark circles around his eyes asked. “Is Dark Arts not bad?”


“It is bad.” I said, “It is not a magic that should be taken lightly and it should be a magic that you should stay away from. But if it is for the cause of saving someone dear to you, dark magic can work but it is up to you if you can handle it, if your mind and heart is strong or not.” I looked at them all, “In the end, it is how you use it that defines ethical and unethical, so do not walk towards dark magic as most of you have a heart of a child. Only the ones who are able to control their urges, can even think of studying Dark Arts, much less wield it.”


None of them spoke a word.


“Magic is not evil, a person’s mind is.” I said walking down from the podium. “And I believe that would be enough for an introductory class. We will be delving deep into the defenses from next class starting from the basic ways and spells.”


Debunking one theory was enough for one day.


“Till then you may go through your books and notes of your former professor.” I could see Harry and his two friends going stiff for a second. “But for now, that's it.”


“And make sure that you are not late for the next class.”


I looked at Harry and smiled. 


“Till then, class… dismissed!”