Chapter Nineteen: Strange Eyes

“So now, by my command, the two of you come and sit in the center of the first row!” Professor Lorre’s tone was unyielding.

“But…” Abu tried to protest, but the professor cut him off.

“As you are all well aware, the current state of the wizarding world is fraught with tension. In times like these, all wizards should be united, allowing no room for division! Yet you persist in clinging to your prejudices, treating students from different Houses as enemies?” His gaze swept coldly over the young witches and wizards below the dais.

The students from both Houses hung their heads guiltily, avoiding his eyes.

Moody fell silent, then gathered his things and silently took a seat in the very center of the front row. Abraxas, however, remained stubbornly rooted to his spot until Professor Lorre’s eyes turned slowly upon him.

Unable to endure the pressure, Abu gritted his teeth, left his seat, and slumped heavily into a chair in the center of the first row, making his displeasure all too clear.

Shiwen noticed that both boys had dragged their chairs as far to the sides of the desk as possible, leaving nearly an entire desk’s width between them.

Ignoring their petulance, Professor Lorre finally began his lesson.

“Defensive Magic against the Dark Arts will teach you how to handle the threats posed by dark wizards and dangerous creatures. In times such as these, this subject is of the utmost importance.”

“The most crucial question is: how do you ensure your own safety?” he continued. “Now, who can tell me what you should do if you encounter a dark wizard or a dangerous creature?”

Abu shot his hand up, the same defiant look still plastered across his face.

“Mr. Malfoy?” Professor Lorre gestured for him to answer.

“I’d let my father and his friends deal with them!” he declared proudly.

A wave of laughter swept through the young wizards, and Abu’s face darkened considerably.

Professor Lorre raised his hands to silence the class.

“There is nothing wrong with that approach,” he said. “Does anyone else wish to answer?”

Moody stood and replied, “I would use the spells listed in our textbook, matching the counter-curse to the threat and driving away the dangerous creature.”

Professor Lorre nodded, neither affirming nor denying. Then, as his gaze swept the room, he caught sight of Shiwen, who was so drowsy he couldn’t help but yawn.

“This student looks a bit tired,” he remarked with a hint of amusement. “What is your name?”

“Shiwen Rosier, Professor,” Shiwen answered, raising his eyes to the professor, his voice listless. The two black-circled-eyed wizards, one young and one older, exchanged glances, an oddly comical sight.

But Professor Lorre wasn’t about to let him off. “Do you have any unique insight on the question just posed?” he pressed.

Resigned, Shiwen stood and replied perfunctorily, “Run. I suppose at our age, most of us are no match for dark wizards or dangerous creatures.”

“Quite reasonable,” Professor Lorre nodded, motioning for him to sit.

“All your answers make sense. When faced with danger, we must not focus solely on defeating the enemy. Remember, fighting is always the last resort when solving problems!” he emphasized.

“The most important thing when encountering danger is to protect yourselves. There are three practical strategies, just as the three of you have mentioned: call for help, drive the enemy away, or escape as quickly as possible.”

“However, reality is rarely so simple. As Mr. Rosier just pointed out, wizards your age can hardly hope to overcome deadly foes or creatures, so the option of fighting them off is nearly untenable. As for running—none of you have learned Apparition yet, nor do you carry broomsticks or portkeys, so escaping pursuit is easier said than done.”

“Therefore, sometimes summoning a nearby adult wizard for help is truly the best option.”

At this, Abraxas flashed a triumphant, swaggering smile at Moody, who ignored him entirely.

Professor Lorre pressed on, “Today, I will teach you to cast the red and green sparks used for signaling. Green sparks indicate your location is secure, while red sparks tell your companions that you are in danger and require assistance.”

He drew his wand and flicked it toward the empty left side of the classroom.

“The incantation is—Ruddy Sparkle.”

Red, smoke-like light erupted from his wand’s tip, bathing the wall in crimson.

“To extinguish it, use the same spell as with Lumos: Nox.” Gradually, the red glow faded away.

“As for the green sparks, the spell is Verda Sparkle.”

This time, a green light shone from Professor Lorre’s wand. He walked to the window, holding the glowing wand aloft.

He turned to address the students. “Let me show you an advanced application, though it is not required for today’s lesson.”

“Spark spells are typically paired with another incantation: the Ascension Charm.” Professor Lorre extended his wand out the window, angling it skyward.

“Ascendio!”

A powerful beam of green light shot forth, tracing a brilliant arc into the sky. At its zenith, the green glow blossomed like fireworks, leaving a vivid stain across the heavens even in the glare of daylight.

Turning back, Professor Lorre saw his students craning eagerly, eyes wide with awe. He allowed himself a satisfied smile. “Now, let’s go over some important points when casting these spells.”

…

The remainder of the class was a chaotic practice session, with sparks flying in all directions. Occasionally, a desk would catch fire or someone’s hat would smolder. Professor Lorre was forced to dash about, extinguishing flames to prevent the classroom from burning down altogether.

Shiwen, having already mastered both spells at home, demonstrated them to Professor Lorre and was promptly excused from further practice.

He spread his book on the desk, pretending to preview the next lesson. In truth, he was half-dozing, eyes barely open, leaving Elciona to practice spells alone and keep an eye out to wake him if the professor approached…

…

After Shiwen’s head had dropped onto his desk several times, the class finally ended. Still sleepy and famished, he grabbed a quick meal in the Great Hall and then trudged back to his dormitory, yawning all the while.

Before going to bed, he sat on the edge of his bed and, almost absentmindedly, glanced at the cat cage that once housed his little feline companion—

But the cage was no longer empty; some creature seemed to be inside. Shiwen’s exhausted eyes widened, straining to see what it was—and unexpectedly met a pair of strange, bright yellow eyes.

Those eyes seemed to hold a peculiar magic. Shiwen felt himself drawn inexorably toward them, while the events of the past two days flashed rapidly through his mind—his worry when the kitten vanished, the group’s anxious search in the common room, the tension while wandering alone outside the castle at night…

His vision grew increasingly blurred.

Then he collapsed onto his bed, sinking into a deep, heavy sleep…

…