Taking On The Magical World 22 Chapter 22

So far, I have split Defense Against the Dark Arts into two parts to make things easier to understand, the first part is how to deal with dark creatures, and the second part is spells like Jinxes, Hexes, and Counter-Curses.

Us, first years are learning about X ranked magical creatures, which are boring since they cannot do anything to you at all, the only reason why I even try to learn about these creatures is that some of their parts could be used as ingredients in potions. The second thing we first years are learning is Jinxes, which for those of you who do not know is a branch of dark magic and it is the most harmless of that branch, that is why students are allowed to learn it at Hogwarts. Jinxes are mostly used for the amus.e.m.e.nt and they only cause minor discomfort of the victim.

We have been learning spells like; the Knockback Jinx, which knocks your opponent over, the Impediment Jinx, which temporarily slows your target, and the Jelly-Legs Jinx, which collapses your victim's legs.

The twins instantly fell in love with Jinxes and all semester they scoured the library for more Jinxes spells, I also joined them too and we learned Jinxes like; the Trip Jinx, which trips your victim causing them to fall, the Pimple Jinx, which makes boils erupt on your victim, the Dancing Feet Spell, which forces the victim to dance wildly.

Armed with these spells me and the twins were able to up our game against Filch and cause him much trouble. I was even able to catch that dang cat, Mrs Norris, when she was outside by itself, with a powerful Jinx that I found in my mother's study called the Tempest Jinx, which strikes the target with lightning bolts. For a moment there, I thought I took it too far with the prank when the cat was all charred up and not moving at all, I hide right when Filch came through the gates leading outside.

"Where are you, Mrs. Norris?" calls Filch, as he looks around the grounds he sees her charred body lying on the ground and comes running to her.

"What happened to you girl," says Filch through violent sobs.

I sort of feel bad for the man, then I hear a weak meow.

"Oh, you are alive, let me get you to Madam Pomfrey," says Filch with relief and runs along with the cat in his arms to the school's healer.

I also let out a sigh of relief, and promise to myself not to try out dangerous spells until I leave Hogwarts so I do not end up expelled.

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After that incident of nearly killing Mrs Norris, I take a break from making trouble for Filch and get back to practicing Non-verbal casting and working on my school work, but it seems like I cannot avoid trouble.

One day, Filch caught up to me in hallways as I was going to the library to study.

"The other teachers and Dumbledore may think it was just a random lightning bolt that struck Mrs Norris, but Mrs Norris told me it was you who did that to her. You did well to not leave any evidence, boy, but I am watching you and as soon as you slip up I will make sure you get expelled," says Filch with a vicious snarl plastered up against his face.

"What you are doing up agais't the studant, Filch," came a booming voice.

I turn away from Filch and look at the direction the voice came from and I am greeted with the sight of a giant man walking toward us.

"I was just giving this student a warning, Hagrid," says Filch and he gives me one last vicious look and walks away.

"You a'lright, ah.. you are that Lovegood boy right, who's good the'm potions and all," says Hagrid to me.

"Yes, and you must be the Keeper of Keys and Grounds, Rubeus Hagrid," I say back to him and hold out my hand, which I instantly regret as Hagrid shakes my hand and nearly tore it off.

"I was wondering if you can help me by making som'e potions for the magical creatures, I do not want to bother the Professors and what not," Hagrid said to me with hope in his eyes.

This is a great opportunity, I wanted to meet with Hagrid for a while now and talk to him about magical creatures, but I had no idea how to approach him, now I can.

"Yeah, sure I could make you loads of potions, but I need ingredients to make it," I say with a look of sadness on my face.

"I could help yo'u with that if you want," says Hagrid with reluctance.

"How?" I say with curiosity on my face, but I already know how.

"There are loads of them magical creatures in the forest, I could get you the ingredients you need," Hagrid answers back.

I fack a sigh of relief, but inside I am delighted, the Forbidden Forest is a very old place that houses many magical creatures, some dark and dangerous, others friendly. With Hagrid's help, who is the only person that has a clue about the Forbidden Forest, I could get my hands-on ingredients that I could only dream of and take my potionnering to greater heights.

"That could work out, here some potions during the meantime," I take out some potions in my pouch and give it to Hagrid. "Let's meet on the weekends at your hut so I can tell you the ingredients to look out for, how does that sound."

Hagrid nods his head and says to me, "Until next time," and walks away, I also leave make my way to the library.