Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

It was undeniable that Snape’s insights into the Dark Arts were much deeper than Umbridge’s scripted approach.

Those who did not have a certain understanding of the Dark Arts could not say such things.

But the tone of his voice and the hidden meaning in his words were very unpleasant, and he subtly advocated The Dark Arts.

Only the Slytherin students showed obvious interest on their faces, and Malfoy stared at Snape intently.

The look he wore seemed as if Snape was not about to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but the Dark Arts themselves.

“Therefore, your defenses,” said Snape, a little louder, “must be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures” — he indicated a few of them as he swept past — “give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse” — he waved a hand toward a witch who was clearly shrieking in agony — “feel the Dementor’s Kiss” — a wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed, slumped against a wall — “or provoke the aggression of the Inferius” — a bloody mass upon the ground.

“Professor, has an Inferius been seen, then?” said Parvati Patil in a high-pitched voice, staring at the bloody mass on the picture. “Is it definite, is he using them?”

Evan touched the locket around his neck; Parvati should go to that cave and see it. Then, she wouldn’t ask such questions, he thought.

“Inferi are very common Dark creatures, useful and cruel enough. Many Dark wizards have created them, and the Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past,” said Snape, “which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again. Now …”

He set off again around the other side of the classroom toward his desk, and again, they watched him as he walked, his dark robes billowing behind him. There was a hint of curiosity in the tense atmosphere.

“… you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?”

Hermione’s hand shot into the air. Snape took his time looking around at everybody else, making sure he had no choice, before saying curtly, “Very well — Miss Granger?”

“Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you’re about to perform,” said Hermione, “which gives you a split-second advantage.”

“An answer copied almost word for word from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six,” said Snape dismissively, “with no personal insight, but correct in essentials. Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some” — his gaze lingered maliciously upon Harry once more — “lack.”

Evan finally understood why Harry disliked Snape’s class so much. Snape’s contempt and provocation towards Harry were undisguised. It was the first time he took Snape’s class with Harry. Although he had heard about it many times before, he had never felt it as strongly as he did when he saw it in person.

The Slytherins’ quiet snickering, backing up Snape’s taunts, only fueled a surge of indignation.

Next to Evan, Harry’s reaction was also strong.

He refused to drop his gaze, but glowered at Snape, as though the professor had said nothing.

The whole class looked at the two of them, and finally Snape looked away.

“They do this all the time!” Hermione whispered to Evan.

As long as Harry was there, the atmosphere in Snape’s class was so tense and weird.

“You will now divide,” Snape went on, looking away from Harry, “into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on.”

Evan paired with Hermione, and Ron wasn’t there, Harry ended up with Neville.

Nonverbal spells were magic that students learned only in their sixth year, marking the N.E.W.T. level.

Only trained wizards could skillfully cast nonverbal spells.

Evan had started learning it in his third year, and while he had mostly mastered it by now, he still wasn’t proficient.

He’d also encouraged D.A. members to practice this skill last year. The effect was not very ideal, as most people found nonverbal spells difficult and eventually gave up, deciding that the time would be better spent learning additional defensive spells.

In the end, Hermione was the only one who persisted.

As one might expect, a reasonable amount of cheating ensued; many people were merely whispering the incantation instead of saying it aloud.

Snape swept between the students, his robes dragging, looking just as much like an overgrown bat as ever.

There was a buzzing sound in the classroom, and whenever Snape drew near, students would stop and hold their breath, faces flushing red.

Ten minutes into the lesson Hermione managed to cast a Leg-Locker Curse without uttering a single word, and Evan skillfully blocked it with his wand.

But Snape pretended not to see it. As before, he deliberately stayed away from Evan and Hermione, but intentionally lingered to watch Harry and Neville’s practice.

Snape was too close and Neville became visibly nervous. He’d probably never imagined he’d be in Snape’s Defense Against the Dark Arts class again.

But thanks to following Hermione’s strict study plan, Neville’s O.W.L. scores had turned out unexpectedly well.

His only weak subject was Transfiguration; in everything else — including Potions — he’d done quite well. Compared to Harry and Ron, Neville had studied almost without distractions. He did not participate in any club activities, did not have a girlfriend, and there was no inexplicable thing waiting for him like serving as a Chosen One to save the world.

Although he was very forgetful, Neville was able to calm down and review seriously like a candidate who was really preparing for an exam.

Therefore, there was no reason for him to fail the exam…

The result of doing well, however, was that he had to continue enduring Snape’s “torment.” He pointed his wand at Harry with a painful expression.

Harry, too, had his wand raised, waiting on tenterhooks to repel a jinx that seemed unlikely ever to come.

Snape watched for a while and quickly lost his patience.

“Pathetic, Longbottom!” he said. “You’ll never get any magic out of this pitiful way, and you’ll just suffocate yourself. Here — let me show you —”

He turned his wand on Harry so fast that Harry reacted instinctively; all thought of nonverbal spells forgotten, he yelled, “Protego!”

His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk.

At the sound of the collision, the whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling.

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