Each demonstration of high-risk magic was accompanied by Sagres's calm, almost cruel explanation.
The students watched with pale faces and clammy hands, yet something heavy and urgent began to replace the fear in their eyes: a thirst for knowledge ignited by cruel truth.
The ferocious fangs and deadly shadows hidden beneath the dazzling facade of the magical world, along with the vast gaps in their own understanding, were starkly laid bare before them.
"Fear stems from the unknown," Sagres concluded. "What I showed you today are some of the known beasts lurking in the darkness. But I taught you their habits, their claws, and their weaknesses not so you can hunt them, but so that when you unfortunately encounter them—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"—you will have a little more vigilance, a little more courage to struggle, and a little more chance to survive."
He emphasized once more, "Some people always claim that the Dark Arts corrupt the soul, that pursuing their power will inevitably lead to self-destruction. But only by understanding the enemy's weapons can you better protect yourself."
The bell rang, yet the classroom remained deathly silent.
"Class dismissed." Sagres waved his hand. "However, I must remind you all that aside from the defensive spells mentioned in this lesson, everyone is forbidden from privately discussing the details of the Unforgivable Curses, and practicing them is strictly prohibited."
The students rose heavily and left. No one spoke.
Sagres stood alone at the empty podium as twilight gathered outside the window.
He knew this lesson would cause an even greater stir, but he also knew that the loss of a young life had already proven the foolishness of the ostrich policy.
He needed these future witches and wizards to open their eyes and see clearly. Only then could they avoid withering away like that Ravenclaw graduate because of a small oversight when the real storm arrived.
Professor McGonagall had appeared at the doorway at some point. Her expression was equally solemn, and the eyes behind her glasses were filled with deep sorrow.
"Albus… already knows. He… understands your intention. But Sagres, the Ministry of Magic…"
"Whoever it is, tell them to come find me."
Sagres's voice remained unruffled. He calmly put away his textbook. "If the price of making students face reality is bearing everyone's blame, then I will not shy away."
Even if it means becoming a Dark Lord…
…
…
The shock caused by this subversive lesson far exceeded everyone's expectations.
The young witches and wizards gathered in small groups, discussing in hushed tones. It even overshadowed the excitement surrounding the new instances.
For the first time, the long tables in the Great Hall seemed to lose their house boundaries. School uniforms of different colors mixed together as everyone discussed the same topic.
"He… he actually cast all those spells…"
Ron's face was still a little pale. He clutched a half-eaten pie tightly in his hand as if it were some kind of protective charm. "I mean, green light, red light, and all those colorful spells… right there in the classroom!"
"But Professor is right," Hermione said with a serious expression. "If we haven't even seen them, how can we possibly know how to deal with them?"
"Hermione's right." Harry continued. Although the chilling feeling when the green light flashed was still vivid in his memory, he still believed Sagres was right. "Think about Auroris. If he…"
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
"I also think Professor Greengrass is right," Ginny suddenly said, her tone unusually firm. She remembered being controlled by Riddle's diary in her first year. "Ignorance won't protect us. It will only make us more vulnerable when danger strikes. And understanding itself is a form of defense."
Fred and George were uncharacteristically serious.
"For example, if you encounter Fiendfyre, you should turn and run. Such a simple truth." Fred stroked his chin.
George nodded in agreement. "And that 'Soul Wail,' cover your ears? That reminds me, maybe we could develop some little contraption that instantly plugs your ears?"
Percy sat a little further away, his brow furrowed. "But this isn't according to the rules."
Everyone looked at him, so Percy continued, "This violates Article 37 of the 'Restrictions on Dark Arts Education Act,' which states that demonstrating and thoroughly explaining the three Unforgivable Curses and other high-risk Dark Arts to students creates panic and severely harms the psychological well-being of underage witches and wizards."
He paused before finishing, "And how can Professor guarantee that no student will privately…"
"Oh, come on, Percy," Ron couldn't help retorting. "Are we going to be safe by pretending these things don't exist? Or are you going to guarantee that there won't be a second Auroris?"
Percy opened his mouth but fell uncharacteristically silent.
Ron quietly added, "And I believe that if anyone dares to practice those things privately and use them on others, Professor Greengrass will be the first to make sure they don't get away with it."
Not far away, Cho Chang leaned closer to Cedric, her face full of worry. "Do you think… is this really good? Those spells… just knowing they exist makes people feel even more uneasy."
Cedric's expression was solemn. "Fear is normal, Cho. But Professor Greengrass is right. Fear comes from the unknown. Before, we only saw their names in books. Now… we at least know what they look like and how Dark Wizards might use them. It's like… seeing a trap ahead of time. It's frightening, but at least we know where to hide."
He fell silent for a moment. "Think about Auroris… he might have just lacked that little bit of foresight."
As he spoke, he repeated it, his voice even lower. "He might have had a chance…"
Another Ravenclaw senior pushed up his glasses and joined the discussion. "And Professor has completely broadened the practical uses of many defensive spells."
"'Swooping Evil' can not only clean classrooms but also disperse poisonous fog. The Bubble-Head Charm isn't just for underwater breathing; it can also serve as a basic barrier. He connected textbook knowledge with real life-and-death combat situations, which is very meaningful."
At the Slytherin table, Pansy Parkinson, listening to the surrounding discussions, couldn't help raising her voice and interjecting shrilly, "If you ask me, he's inciting panic! Creating fear! I even think he should immediately be sent to the Ministry of Magic for review, be suspended, and ideally prosecuted!"
"But every word he said was the truth," Malfoy's voice rang out coldly. "Does danger stop existing just because you bury your head in the sand?"
Without waiting for an answer, he snorted again, his words sharp. "You should know that avoiding problems won't solve them. It will only add another grave to your family's cemetery."
Pansy choked on Malfoy's blunt words, shrinking back slightly, but she still huffed stubbornly. "Just wait and see. He's being so blatant and reckless. The Ministry of Magic won't let him off."
"So what?" Malfoy sneered, a cold glint in his eyes. "The fact that he dares to do this proves he isn't afraid at all."
Deep down, Sagres's words, "Survival is the only goal," resonated strongly with him, perfectly aligning with his father Lucius's frequent teachings about "the Slytherin way of survival."
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