Professor Vampire.

Chapter 17: The real Defense Against the Dark Arts course

A cold wind swept through the Dark Arts classroom, dispelling the strong perfume Quirrell had used to mask Voldemort's presence and clearing the students' drowsy state.

D Dracula observed the students' refreshed demeanor and nodded with satisfaction.

"So, this is your first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, right?" He leaned forward on the desk, carefully scrutinizing each young witch and wizard present.

"Yes, Professor," the students answered in unison.

"Then I must admit, having Quirrell teach the class was somewhat irresponsible," Dracula said, having just resolved his issues with Nicolas Flamel. He was in a good mood.

He smiled and even gave a slight bow to the class.

"I apologize for putting you through such a trial today."

Seeing the noble and profound professor bowing, the students felt a sense of being greatly honored, and any lingering resentment quickly faded away.

The room erupted in enthusiastic applause as the students eagerly looked up to Dracula, anticipating what the real Defense Against the Dark Arts class would entail.

Feeling the students' anticipation, Dracula took out a pure black wand for the first time in front of others.

The wand was thirteen and a half inches long, entirely black, with intricate patterns carved into the grip, revealing a hint of a deep, mysterious aura through the openwork.

The wand's tip was embedded with a transparent crystal, glowing with a translucent light, like a dark-colored moon.

Ollivander had crafted the wand days ago and sent it to Hogwarts along with the remaining materials.

As Dracula held the wand, he felt a sense of natural affinity, as if the wood and core were perfectly attuned to him.

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He waved the wand, and a bold inscription appeared on the blackboard behind the podium:

What is Defense Against the Dark Arts?

Dracula turned to let the students see the inscription clearly and then asked, "Can anyone tell me, what is Defense Against the Dark Arts?"

Instinctively, Hermione in the front row raised her hand high.

Dracula nodded at her.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts, abbreviated as D.A.D.A., is the course that teaches students how to protect themselves from dark magic. It includes methods for dealing with dark creatures, dark magic, and dueling!" Hermione answered confidently.

"Very good definition!" Dracula nodded approvingly.

In truth, he didn't fully understand the textbook definition, but seeing the impressed expressions of the other students, he felt this answer was likely acceptable.

"And your name?" he asked.

"Hermione Granger, Professor," the young witch replied proudly.

"Excellent, Miss Granger. Five points to Gryffindor," Dracula said, nodding to her and signaling her to sit down.

He continued, "Of course, in my view, Defense Against the Dark Arts shouldn't be so narrowly defined. We need to defend against much more than just dark magic and dark creatures."

"The knowledge of defense should be applied to every aspect of life—whether you're being bullied by older students or encountering ruffians outside, you can use defensive techniques."

"In the magical world, learning cultural subjects is meant to help you speak calmly with rogues, while learning defense is meant to make them speak calmly to you!"

Hearing Dracula's words, the young witches and wizards were both puzzled and excited, feeling like they had opened a door to a new world.

"Of course, since you're still young and lack extensive magical foundation, you need to learn to use other resources for defense—such as alchemical armor, external weapons, or the simplest and most effective method, calling for help!"

Laughter of understanding filled the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

"Don't laugh; I'm serious," Dracula said, tapping the desk. "For you young witches and wizards, seeking help from adults isn't shameful; it's actually the wisest choice."

"For instance, when you go on adventures with adults, the most convenient way is to buy two magical mirrors. If you find yourself in danger alone, press the emergency button on the mirror, and the paired mirror will emit an alert, guiding your elders to your location."

"Additionally, red and green firework spells can also serve as effective alarms and communication methods. Study these two spells on your own, as we will cover them in the next class."

"However, I do not recommend using firework spells to signal danger," Dracula said. "These signals will be visible not only to your friends and elders but also to your enemies, revealing your location."

"So, it's important to mention some concealment spells, such as the Disillusionment Charm..."

Dracula spoke at length from the podium, drawing on his thousands of years of life experience to make the most basic defensive knowledge engaging and vivid. The students listened intently, even those who were usually disinterested in studying found the class full of valuable insights and began taking notes with their quills.

Suddenly, the Hogwarts dismissal bell rang out melodiously.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts class had already been half-overdue, and with Dracula and the students fully engaged, time flew by, and before they knew it, the class was over.

Hearing the bell, Dracula paused for a moment.

He hadn't felt time pass so quickly in a long time.

"Alright, that's all for today. Remember to review the green and red firework spells in your textbook, as we'll check your understanding next class," he said with a relaxed smile, putting away his wand and taking out a spooky wooden cross pendant from his pocket.

"Also, since I've taught you so much about using external means for protection, I have a small gift for you."

The center of the cross pendant was engraved with an ancient symbol representing the moon. Unlike the church cross, its shorter horizontal bar was slightly tilted upward, resembling a pair of outstretched wings.

"This is a talisman I made out of boredom. It can ward off many dark spells and is quite practical," Dracula held up the pendant for the students to see. "The top student in Defense Against the Dark Arts at the end of each term in the first to third years will receive this talisman."

"So, study your Defense Against the Dark Arts well!"