After sitting down, Neville let out a long breath, slumping softly against his chair.
"I thought I was going to lose points..." he said to Seamus beside him. "Should I always carry my Remembrall with me?"
"No, that ball has no use at all, Neville," Seamus said to him helplessly.
Back at the podium, Adrian waved his wand and the classroom tables and chairs automatically moved to both sides of the classroom, clearing a large space.
After placing the box on that space, Adrian beckoned to all the students. "Alright, come over, class is starting."
The students curiously gathered around, forming a circle around the box. Among them, Harry and Ron squeezed to the front.
"What do you think is inside?" Ron whispered in Harry's ear.
"Definitely not textbooks," Harry casually replied, his eyes fixed on the box. "Maybe some magical creature."
In fact, everyone was intently staring at the box.
Adrian cleared his throat, his wand elegantly tracing an arc in the air, then said: "Today, we will learn the Leg-Locker Curse."
The students instantly began discussing again.
Ron said disappointedly: "Just that? I thought we would learn something more powerful..."
Hermione straightened her back beside him, raised her head proudly, and said: "Actually, I already know this spell."
Upon hearing Hermione's words, Ron couldn't help but purse his lips.
Harry didn't speak beside them because he also knew it.
"Quiet," Adrian pressed his hands down, signaling everyone to settle down, and explained: "The Leg-Locker Curse is a very common minor hex, often used in duels and battles. Of course, if you encounter enemies without legs, you'd better abandon the idea of using these spells. Understand, Mr. Longbottom?"
Hearing Adrian call his name, Neville was immediately startled. "Yes, Professor."
"Very good," Adrian nodded, then continued: "To help everyone practice these spells better, I have specially prepared suitable training targets."
The students instantly understood that what was in the box must be their training target for today.
Adrian gently tapped the lid of the box; after three crisp sounds, movement could be heard from inside the box.
Ron nudged Harry with his elbow, saying with a smile: "Seems like a little fellow."
However, when the thing in the box appeared before his eyes, Ron couldn't smile anymore.
Before them was a basketball-sized, fluffy black spider, looking around in confusion.
"Acromantula!" Adrian introduced grandly. "Although it's a newborn one, it's big enough for you to practice spells properly."
In fact, this was a baby Acromantula that had just hatched a few days ago, a local specialty borrowed by Adrian from the Forbidden Forest.
For safety reasons, Adrian had also set up a transparent protective barrier around the spider.
Upon seeing the Acromantula, the students instantly reacted, and retreated in unison.
Ron let out a terrified scream, staggering backward several steps, nearly knocking over Seamus behind him. Then his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.
The students instantly became chaotic.
Harry and Hermione supported the fainted Ron on either side, looking helplessly at Adrian.
Adrian was stunned for a moment; he had almost forgotten that spiders were Ron's greatest fear.
"Rennervate!"
Adrian waved his wand, and a gentle golden light fell on Ron's face. His eyelids trembled and slowly regained consciousness.
Then, Adrian winked at Harry.
"Harry!"
Harry instantly understood and took out a vial of Calming Draught from his small bag he carried and poured it down Ron's throat.
Adrian was calming the other students: "It's just a small spider, children, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Seeing Adrian's composed manner, the students gradually calmed down.
When Ron awoke, he instinctively looked around. When his gaze fell on the fluffy Acromantula again, his legs immediately began to tremble uncontrollably.
But this time, thanks to the Calming Draught, at least he didn't faint again.
"It's okay, Ron," Harry held his shoulder tightly, deliberately softening his voice. "It's confined within the barrier; it can't harm you."
Hermione also leaned over, comforting him: "And look, it's actually quite cute... like a stuffed toy."
"Stuffed toy?!" Ron's voice distorted, his fingers gripping Harry's robe tightly. "That thing has eight legs! Eight! And it moves!"
Harry steadied Ron to prevent him from tearing his robe, whispering: "It's nothing, Ron. The three-headed dog was much scarier."
"That's different..." Ron replied shakily.
"Alright, focus your attention here," Adrian took out his wand, pointing it at the confused baby Acromantula. "The incantation is 'Locomotor Mortis.' Understood? I'll repeat—"
"Locomotor Mortis!"
A thin spell shot from Adrian's wand, hitting the baby Acromantula.
The baby Acromantula's eight legs instantly stiffened, sticking together crookedly.
It tried to walk but could only rock back and forth like a stone.
"See?" Adrian waved his wand lightly to dispel the curse. "That's the effect of the Leg-Locker Curse. Now—who wants to come up and try first!"
Hermione and Harry both raised their hands; both already had their wands in hand.
Adrian's gaze shifted between the two, so...
'I've decided on you!'
"Mr. Weasley!" Adrian displayed a kind smile, and said to Ron between the two. "Come to the front, will you?"
"Me..." Ron had just recovered from his terror, and finding that Adrian had called his name, he pointed at himself. "Me?"
Harry gently pushed Ron's back, encouraging him softly: "Go on, Ron. Just pretend it's Snape's head."
Ron's face changed from deathly pale to a strange purplish blue.
"O-okay..." Ron's voice was as faint as a mosquito's, his legs moving as slowly as if filled with lead.
Even as Ron stood in front of the baby Acromantula, he still looked confused.
Adrian guided him gently: "Remember the key points of the spell; your wrist should be like this..."
He demonstrated the standard motion.
Ron nervously stood in place, his eyes tightly shut, his wand pointing randomly forward. "Lo... Locomotor Mortis!"
A crooked red light shot from the wand tip but deviated, hitting the ceiling of the classroom.
However, fortunately, after two ricochets, the spell accurately hit the spider. Two of the spider's hind legs instantly got stuck together.
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