Darcie felt bored.
Charms were easy, Potions were easier, and Transfiguration classes were the easiest.
She had reached out to Madam Villanelle to request that Herpo the Foul begin her training immediately.
All Darcie had received in reply was a few sentences.
You need rest, dear, Madam Villanelle had said. Everyone does. There's no use in pushing things beyond their limits. Not yet. Not in your case, at least. Learn, and help others learn. I have already talked to Professor Dumbledore about this.
Darcie hadn't realized what the reincarnated Biblical Witch had meant by that.
Only a few days ago, she had received her conscription letter, forcing her to take on the job of a Facilitator for second and third years.
Darcie had almost burned that letter, if it wasn't for one benefit.
Along with the Credits that these Battle Workshops would award her for the Triwizard Tournament to be held next semester, there was one more prize that the Facilitator with the highest Credits would get at the end of this semester.
A vial of Felix Felicis — Liquid Luck!
The potion had interested Darcie the most, as, even after all these years, she hadn't succeeded in brewing Liquid Luck with perfect efficacy. The fact that it required six months to brew didn't help her case, either.
Also, most of her time was spent on crafting Wands anyway.
Darcie felt that she was incredibly close to figuring out the Core Aging Method. A year ago, she had already mastered the Core Switching Method. But that was the simplest of its kind. Not to mention, without perfecting the Core Aging Method, she couldn't head on toward the Core Resurrection Method, either.
If it weren't for the grandest treat, Felix Felicis, she would have never accepted becoming a Facilitator.
Now that she had, she wouldn't shy away from carrying out the responsibilities as expected of her, giving her best.
Even if that meant… teaching unruly, brainless idiots like Arlen Black.
Darcie saw his eyes land on her unusual getup, and a small smile surfaced on her lips.
Not only Black, but all the boys and girls, including Hermione and Daphne, with whom she hadn't shared her becoming a Facilitator, looked at her, shocked.
"Third years will have their Battle Workshops every Sunday," Darcie said in a cold, flat voice. "After today, there will be two Workshops of two hours each every Sunday, which will be repeated on alternate Sundays."
No one said anything.
They all kept looking at the choice of t-shirt and jeans, taking furtive, pitiful glances at Black.
One of the Hufflepuffs hesitantly raised his head.
"You don't need to raise your hand," Darcie said. "I am not a Professor."
Black sniggered. "Are you sure about that?" he commented. "You sure act like one."
Darcie looked at Black briefly before nodding toward the Hufflepuff. "Yes?"
"Mmm…" The boy gulped. "Will it happen here? I mean… I don't mind if you want to hold the Workshop in the corridor. I was just…"
Darcie sighed inwardly.
It had come as a great respite to her that the students at Hogwarts were not constantly following her around this year anymore.
Half of it was because of her busy schedule, she knew.
The other half was due to the matter of the Magical Suitcase.
Just remembering what happened with her Suitcase brought Miss Clutterbuck's face to her mind, making Darcie frown.
Saying nothing, she turned around and faced the large wall behind her, closing her eyes.
Slowly, an outline of a door began appearing on the empty wall, drawing gasps from the students.
"The Room of Requirement!" Daphne and Hermione exclaimed.
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"It's a secret room which only appears when a person is in great need of it," Hermione said, everyone listening to her. "It is said that the Room has the unique ability to provide or transform itself into anything that one requires of it at that moment in time."
The students shared glances as a complete, arched door appeared on the wall.
Darcie pushed open the doors and walked in, the students stepping forward one by one.
And the moment they walked in, their eyes widened, their mouths taking the shape of O.
It was huge.
It was so huge that the only place bigger than this they knew in Hogwarts was the Great Hall, where they had just eaten their breakfast.
Despite the black-green walls and tiled floors, the place was well lit.
Giving the students a moment to look around, Darcie turned around to face them.
"Shield Charm," she said, drawing attention. "Today's Workshop is entirely dedicated to that. I know many of you practiced it last year for the Tournament, but you barely scratched the surface. But I want you all to cast it… reflexively. There should be no gap between an enemy attacking you and your casting of the Shield Charm."
"And what makes you think you are qualified to teach us that?!" Black asked.
Harry, Ron, and Draco pulled him back, but he stormed toward Darcie anyway.
"Didn't I almost defeat you last year?" he asked, walking forward. "You didn't cast the Shield Charm, then… reflexively."
Darcie remained quiet.
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed, and the end of her hair lifted, a heaviness settling in her surroundings.
Daphne was the first to move, grabbing Hermione by the wrist.
In the next moment, a force exploded out of Darcie and hit Black with a BAM, sending him flying.
He hit the ground with a grunt as students rushed left and right, and skidded back on the smooth, reflective floor before coming to a painful stop.
Darcie tied her hair in a bun, wrapping Lilith around it, and took out her wand.
The floor to her left and right gave in, and dozens of statues came out, each carrying a wand.
"A Shield Charm grows with you and can even knock back enemies," Darcie repeated. "As such, it's best taught over the years, a practice that Hogwarts follows. We don't have that much time. The best and fastest method to learn it, in my opinion, is pain. For the next two hours, you will be hit by all kinds of curses. You must use the Shield Charm to either block the Curse or deflect it. You already know the Incantation."
Faces had never paled more than this.
Even Daphne looked at Darcie, knowing she wouldn't show her any mercy.
As if that wasn't enough, Darcie slowly pointed her wand to her right, where a row of potions appeared.
"Don't worry about rest," she said, the corners of her lips arching again. "We have plenty of Invigoration Draught potions for you."
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