After being jinxed, Draco didn't say a word, feeling utterly humiliated, and turned to walk toward the Slytherin long table.
Ron and Harry followed behind Charlie, laughing uncontrollably.
"Hahaha, did you see that? The way that ferret scrambled around on the floor." Ron was laughing so hard he was bent double.
"Those four little short legs moving so fast, it was absolutely hilarious."
Harry couldn't hold back his laughter either, covering his mouth with his hand.
Ron closed his eyes, his face full of nostalgia.
"Malfoy's face turning into a ferret... Ah, I'll never forget that sight for the rest of my life."
Hermione picked up the stew on the table and served some to Charlie.
"But Professor Moody's behavior was too much; he really could have injured Draco." She looked at Charlie.
"It's a good thing Charlie stopped him."
Ron opened his eyes and glared angrily at Hermione.
"Why did you have to ruin the happiest minute of my life?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, ignored him, picked up the remaining food on her plate, and began to devour it.
Harry watched her eating, worried she might choke.
"Hermione, why are you in such a rush?"
Hermione swallowed the food in her mouth, picked up her cup, and took a large gulp of pumpkin juice.
"I have to go to the library; I have a mountain of things to do."
Ron was stunned.
"But Professor Viktor didn't assign any homework, did he?"
"It's not schoolwork." Hermione stuffed another large spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth.
"Never mind, I can't talk to you guys, I don't have time."
"Charlie knows what I'm going to do."
She turned to look at Charlie and winked.
Charlie suddenly realized.
She was likely preparing ways to help the House-elves.
Last night, Hermione had stopped obsessing over freeing the House-elves, but she still hoped to improve their living conditions.
"I understand." Charlie nodded.
"Tell me if you need any help."
Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Really? That's wonderful!"
She quickly finished her last bite of food, grabbed her bag, and ran out.
"I'm leaving now!"
Shortly after Hermione left, Fred and George sauntered over like street ruffians.
The two of them sat down on either side of Charlie, and George lowered his voice.
"You won't believe what Moody taught in class."
Harry and Ron immediately leaned in; what Moody had just done was enough to pique their interest.
"What did he teach?" Charlie asked casually.
"Don't tell me he taught Avada Kedavra."
Fred's smile instantly froze, George opened his mouth, and both their faces fell.
"You're no fun, Charlie." Fred sighed.
Charlie was stunned.
"No way, seriously?"
"Pretty much." George shrugged.
"He taught the Three Unforgivable Curses."
Fred added, "Imperio, Crucio, and Avada Kedavra."
Charlie raised an eyebrow.
Last year they were still learning Riddikulus, and this year it's straight to Avada Kedavra? What kind of crash course in Spells is this?
Ron gasped.
"Merlin's long underwear."
"So we should apologize for saying Moody was mad before." George said solemnly.
"He is mad, but he teaches the real stuff." Fred nodded.
Ron pulled out his timetable, glanced at it, and his face fell: "I don't have Moody's class until Thursday."
Charlie also took a look at his own timetable.
Defense Against the Dark Arts Class was in the afternoon... When the afternoon class started, Charlie walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom with Justin and Ernie.
The three of them found seats in the middle of the classroom.
Ernie and Justin pulled out this term's textbook, The Dark Arts: A Guide to Self-Protection, from their bags and placed it on the desk.
The Hufflepuff students were whispering, having clearly heard about Moody's performance in the Gryffindor sixth-year class.
"I heard he demonstrated the Three Unforgivable Curses right there."
"And he used a spider for the experiment."
Thump, thump, thump.
Heavy footsteps sounded from outside the door, each step accompanied by the sound of wood striking the floor.
Moody limped into the classroom, his magical eye spinning wildly in its socket, scanning every student.
As he stepped onto the dais, his claw-like wooden foot was visible beneath his robes.
Moody's magical eye stopped on Charlie, staring for several seconds.
Charlie looked straight at him, not flinching at all.
Moody withdrew his gaze, and his normal eye swept across the class.
"Put your books away." His voice was rough and deep.
"We won't be needing this rote learning material."
Ernie and Justin were startled and quickly stuffed their textbooks back into their bags.
Charlie hadn't taken out his book in the first place, and his hands remained folded on the desk.
Moody raised his hip flask and took a swig, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He put down the flask, and his magical eye spun once in its socket.
"I received a letter from Professor Lupin," Moody began.
"He informed me of your progress in class."
"To be honest, you lot are better than I expected. You know enough about many magical creatures."
"But when it comes to dealing with the Dark Arts, you haven't learned enough."
The classroom quieted down, with only Moody's voice echoing.
"Although you are not yet sixth-years, I shouldn't be telling you what Dark Curses look like." Moody paused.
"But Professor Dumbledore greatly admires your courage and ability."
"Therefore, I believe the sooner you know, the better."
Justin and Ernie gasped.
The Dark Arts! The Three Unforgivable Curses! Here they come!
"Hannah!" Moody suddenly turned, his magical eye fixed intensely on the corner of the classroom.
"Put away that thing under your desk!"
Hannah jumped, her face instantly flushing red. She hurriedly bent down, pulled out a crystal ball from beneath the desk, and clumsily shoved it into her bag.
That was a prop used in Divination Class.
Clearly, that magical eye could see through obstructions.
Charlie suddenly felt a chill and instinctively pulled at his robes.
Holy cow, that old man is wearing X-ray glasses!
Charlie had never realized this before; he had only assumed the eye could see through Invisibility Cloaks.
But now seeing that his eye could see through wood, it could naturally see through clothes... Charlie's expression turned grim.
He recalled the few seconds Moody had stared at him just now and felt violated.
Moody turned back around, his magical eye continuing to spin in its socket, scanning every student.
"Now, let's begin the lesson."
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