Chapter 188
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"You may be wondering why your house is being treated differently from the others."
Moody's gaze slowly swept across the Slytherin students.
His tone was solemn.
"That's because your predecessors and elders were not capable enough."
A sinister smile appeared on his scarred face.
"If you've heard anything about me," he continued, "then you should know that half the prisoners in Azkaban were put there by me."
His voice carried a hint of pride.
Perhaps he was remembering the long years he had spent hunting Dark wizards.
"But what you may not know," Moody added slowly, "is that half of those prisoners came from Slytherin."
Both his normal eye and his magical eye now radiated a frightening intensity.
The Slytherin students felt the hostility immediately.
"This lesson," Moody said harshly, "is meant to correct your thinking."
"Some of your parents are not decent people."
"I suspect that under their guidance many of you may grow up to be the same kind of trash."
"I have no interest in teaching future Dark wizards who will later use the spells I teach them to commit crimes."
He paused for a moment.
"And what I want even less," he added meaningfully, "is to one day personally arrest my own former students."
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"This is prejudice!"
A Slytherin student suddenly stood up and shouted.
"If that's what you want to call it," Moody replied coldly, "then feel free."
"Also, Mr. Brace, I suspect that your widowed mother—who has remarried seven times—is involved in several suspicious deaths."
"She inherited all of her husbands' property, and their wills raise many questions."
"Perhaps I should investigate the matter someday."
Moody glared at him.
The student immediately turned pale and sat back down.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
He did not dare speak another word.
---
"Next," Moody continued calmly, "I will give you a small test."
"You only need to answer yes or no."
"Very simple."
"But I expect you to answer truthfully."
As he spoke, Moody pulled out a strange object.
It resembled a twisted golden antenna, humming softly.
"Hm," Moody muttered approvingly as he examined it.
"A Dark Detector," he explained.
"You'll like it."
"It vibrates whenever it detects lies or conspiracies."
He shook his head slightly.
"Unfortunately, your headmaster did not permit me to use Veritaserum."
"That potion is normally used on criminals."
"So I had to settle for something less… official."
"My own little toy."
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"Nott!"
Moody suddenly barked.
The boy jumped to his feet.
"Have you ever used Dark magic at home or outside Hogwarts?"
"No—no, I haven't!"
The antenna immediately began buzzing loudly.
"You're lying," Moody growled.
"I'll give you another chance."
"I—I…"
Under Moody's terrifying stare, the poor boy completely collapsed.
He began confessing everything.
Not only about forbidden spells—but also about cheating during exams, pranks, and copying homework.
Even things Moody hadn't asked about.
"Hah," Moody chuckled quietly.
Then he marked something on the roster.
"Next."
The boy collapsed back into his seat, looking as though he expected to be arrested at any moment.
---
The class soon turned into something like a trial.
One by one, students stood up.
Many cried while confessing their mistakes.
Finally—
"Draco Malfoy."
Moody called his name.
Malfoy sighed.
"This is truly boring," he thought.
He stood up calmly.
"What do you wish to ask?" Malfoy said coolly.
"As far as I'm concerned, your current position is teacher, not Auror."
"Even Aurors are responsible only for arresting criminals—not judging them."
"And this is not a courtroom."
"It is a classroom."
---
"You dare talk back to me?" Moody snarled.
His expression turned savage.
"Boy, don't think that just because you helped me last year I'll treat you gently."
"I don't owe you anything."
"Don't expect mercy from me."
His wooden leg struck the floor repeatedly.
Tok. Tok. Tok.
The sound created a heavy pressure in the room.
Malfoy did not look away.
He understood perfectly what "Moody" was doing.
The man's eyes carried a mocking amusement.
Only Malfoy dared look him directly in the face.
The other students had already lowered their heads.
---
"Careful," Moody said coldly.
"You might regret this."
"Even if Dumbledore asked me to treat you kindly, I wouldn't mind bending the rules a little."
"How about it?"
"I haven't used Transfiguration in a while."
"My skills might be rusty."
"Shall we try something?"
"Mr. Malfoy."
He tapped his cane against the floor.
"Perhaps I could turn you into a ferret."
"I think that would suit you quite well."
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"I'm only defending our rights," Malfoy replied firmly.
"If you insist on abusing authority that doesn't belong to you, then I have no choice but to resist."
He pulled out his wand.
The room fell silent.
Teacher and student stood facing each other.
A duel seemed about to begin.
---
Suddenly—
Moody laughed.
The students thought he was laughing in anger.
But instead—
He began clapping.
His eyes shone with approval.
"This," Moody said deeply, "is exactly what I wanted to teach you today."
"You must have the courage to resist authority."
"One day you may face enemies stronger than you."
"With more power than you."
"But when that moment comes, I don't want you to simply surrender."
"The key to defending against Dark magic—just like using it—is willpower."
---
"Today," Moody continued, "I deliberately violated your privacy."
"You are students."
"Of course you are curious about forbidden spells."
"That curiosity does not give me the right to abuse my authority."
"But when the time comes, you must learn to challenge unjust commands."
"If a true Dark wizard threatened your lives, would you still obey him the way you obeyed me today?"
He looked around the classroom.
"Your performance was barely acceptable."
"Mr. Malfoy stepped forward."
"Without him, you would have remained completely passive."
Moody nodded slightly.
---
"And remember," he added,
"everything I said earlier was not merely an act."
"As a teacher, I truly hope you choose the right path."
"Remember this."
"Besides Azkaban, there is another prison called Nurmengard."
"Above its gates is a sentence carved into stone."
For the Greater Good.
"The man who said those words now spends the rest of his life alone inside that prison."
"Slowly wasting away."
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"Your choice of stance is important."
"Very important."
Moody shook his head slowly.
"The choices you make will determine whether your actions have meaning."
---
At that moment, the bell rang.
Moody immediately ended the lesson.
"Class dismissed."
All the Slytherin students—except Malfoy—let out long sighs of relief.
The class had left a powerful impression on them.
Moody stepped toward the door.
Then suddenly stopped.
"Oh, one more thing."
His hoarse voice made everyone jump.
"Some of the students who confessed their mistakes earlier…"
"I remember a few names."
"I'll be reporting them to Professor McGonagall."
"Cheating in exams?"
"Copying homework?"
"Heh."
"How interesting."
A twisted smile appeared on Moody's scarred face as he left the classroom.