Chapter 289: First is Evasion
"Sorry, Professor, but Hogwarts has never had a precedent where professors force students to be teaching assistants and deduct large amounts of points when students refuse.
Of course, you can deduct points. That's your right as a professor. But I equally have the right to refuse and report this unfair point deduction to my Head of House, Professor Snape; the Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall; and the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore."
Moody's magical eye spun wildly as he looked at Sean, suddenly breaking into a smile that looked worse than crying: "Of course, of course. I almost forgot this is Hogwarts. You're not a dark wizard, and I'm no longer an Auror. You can certainly refuse me. There's no problem with that. I won't deduct points from you, of course not."
Turning somewhat maniacally toward the others, Moody suddenly looked at Hermione: "You're... Granger, right? Would you be willing to be my teaching assistant? You wouldn't need to do anything too troublesome. You'd just need to demonstrate the curses and dark magic I explain. Cast them at me, and then I'll show everyone how to respond. What do you think?"
Hermione looked nervous. As a girl, she naturally felt somewhat afraid of a professor with such a terrifying appearance and manic demeanour. She didn't want to agree and even had refusal written clearly on her face, which Harry, Ron, and even the surrounding Gryffindors could see.
But Moody showed no intention of giving up and continued looking at Hermione.
At this moment, Sean raised an eyebrow slightly. Setting aside other considerations, if being Moody's teaching assistant only involved using curses or dark magic against Moody, with Moody then defending or responding, wasn't that essentially duelling?
Even if the duel didn't determine a winner, as long as it stopped midway, it would be recognised by the system as a draw, like when Sean's duel with Borrell was stopped by Gavin last year. Although this would only grant one chance to extract the opponent's abilities, the opponent was Moody. Or rather, Barty Crouch Jr. This guy was a skilled Death Eater with fourth-stage Transfiguration. Such a person couldn't be passed up!
"Professor Moody, I'll agree to be your teaching assistant. Don't make things difficult for Hermione."
At this moment, Sean appeared righteous, causing even Moody to pause.
Hermione looked at Sean as if seeing a saviour.
Moody turned to look at Sean, his magical eye stopping its rotation to stare at him while making clicking sounds: "Quite gentlemanly behaviour. One point to Slytherin."
"Professor, the teaching assistant duties are limited to what you just mentioned. If they exceed those boundaries and include very dangerous content, I will refuse to perform those duties. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course, of course. This is Hogwarts. I won't include any dangerous content, right?"
"I hope so. Then now, I am your teaching assistant."
"Good, then come up here with me to the platform!"
Moody limped up to the platform with Sean following behind.
Standing on the platform, Moody looked at the students below: "For the first lesson, I won't teach you anything too difficult. Today, I will teach you how to deal with a very common minor hex."
At this point, Moody turned to take chalk and wrote the hex's name and incantation on the blackboard.
"Blasting Curse!"
"Confringo!"
As Moody spoke the name and incantation of this so-called minor hex, Sean suppressed his urge to complain.
Only wizards like Moody would call the Blasting Curse a minor hex and claim it wasn't too difficult. Eighty percent of the students present probably couldn't use this level of spell properly.
Moody turned to look at the students in the classroom: "The Blasting Curse can shatter solid matter. This includes people, of course. But there are things the Blasting Curse cannot shatter. Gases and liquids!
In other words, using gases and liquids can completely defend against Blasting Curse attacks. Now I'll demonstrate for everyone how to defend against Blasting Curse attacks. You must remember!"
At this point, Moody turned to look at Sean: "You should know how to use the Blasting Curse, right?"
Sean didn't speak; he just nodded.
Seeing this, Moody didn't waste words and directly told him: "Good, then next, use the Blasting Curse to attack me. I'll demonstrate for you how to use the most convenient method to deal with Blasting Curse attacks."
"Professor, I'm going to cast the spell."
"Come on, Bulstrode."
Hearing Moody's words, Sean hesitated no longer. With a wave of his hand, his wand appeared, and he cast the Blasting Curse at Moody. Although Sean deliberately slowed his speed, under the enhancement of various talents, his casting speed had reached quite an astonishing level. Even when deliberately suppressed, it still reached a degree that amazed the students.
However, the instant Sean raised his hand, Moody's magical eye caught Sean's casting trajectory. He chose neither to draw his wand nor make any response but instead crouched down and darted behind the platform at remarkable speed, easily avoiding Sean's spell.
Sean's Blasting Curse hit the platform, exploding and leaving a huge crater.
At this point, Moody stood up again and said to the bewildered students: "When facing magic, if your abilities are lacking, the best approach is to find cover and hide behind it!
Don't think that wizards should just stand in place with wands casting spells.
This is a very wrong perception. Magic isn't everything. Often, very simple methods can solve many problems. As long as you dodge in time, even the Killing Curse cannot harm you!"
"But Professor, not everyone has a magical eye like yours. They might not be able to catch the opponent's casting direction and magical trajectory. Often, deadly curses come from behind!"
Hearing Sean mention deadly curses coming from behind, Malfoy, who had been sitting quietly below, looked up at Sean once before lowering his head again, lost in thought.
At this moment, Moody nodded, agreeing emphatically with Sean: "Exactly, you're absolutely right. This is precisely why I need to teach this class. Finding cover and hiding certainly can't solve all problems. If it could solve all threats, then I wouldn't need to teach at all.
But this is a prerequisite, a way of thinking when facing danger. When confronting enemies, you should first consider whether you can dodge and find cover. If not, then consider the various response methods I'll teach you next for dealing with curses and dark magic!"