In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom - Chapter 85: The Tension Grows

“Okay, everyone. Put down your books today. We are going to do practical training. I heard a lot of you have joined a duelling club. I am very supportive of this.

However, in real life, most of the things you will learn in duel club might be used to fight the dark arts or catch the loose, violent magical beasts.

So, today I present to you a notorious yet not-so-dangerous creature – Gnomes.”

Professor Bill Weasley moved to one side and showed the kids cages of small Gnomes who were watching the kids with a slightly curious look.

“Can anyone tell me, what kind of creatures are they?” Professor asked the class, but no one raised their hands up.

It was during these times, that people would remember their trump card of house points, Hermione Granger who is still recovering from the attack in the Infirmary.

“Well, since no one volunteers, why don’t, Potter, yes…Potter why don’t you tell us to class something about Gnomes.”

Professor Weasley picked Harry Potter because he knew Harry spent last summer vacation with his family and in their family’s garden, there are always Gnomes.

“Umm…Professor, they like to live in gardens, hide in the ground and they are funny and not so dangerous.” Harry replied after racking his brains and thinking about all the details he could remember.

“Well, almost a good answer but one key point was the wrong Potter. Gnomes are not dangerous until they are provoked. Please sit down.”

Professor Weasley then told the class a small story as he usually does about a group of Gnomes were living under an old Wizard’s Garden but then the Wizard grew old and cranky and one day unleased a jarvey to hunt them.

This resulted in many Gnomes being killed in horrific ways and then their dead bodies became food for Jarveys as they preyed upon gnomes.

So, after this incident, Gnomes hid under the ground for several months before the Wizard removed the Jarvey and then one night, he was attacked when he went to sleep.

Without his wand, he was caught off-guard, and the Gnomes dig under the house from the garden and directly entered his room from under his bed.

More than 70 Gnomes attacked the old wizard and even though the old man was able to use many spells without the wand, he needed a new nose, and a new eyeball and spent more than a year healing himself.

Now, you understand why they must be treated with caution and not violence. Remember kids, violence is often not the correct answer. I will show you how to deal with Gnomes.” Professor said and then he released one Gnome from the cage.

The Gnome carefully walked out of his cage, looking around the giants that were sitting on wooden logs and then decided to run for his freedom. He just needs to reach the ground and he can finally escape from ‘dark traps’.

“FLURRDOOM!” The ugly Genome shouted (Freedom) and ran on all his fours and then jumped on Bill’s desk and wanted to make a jump but just when he was in the air, he was caught by Professor Bill easily.

“Okay, so to deal with these Gnomes, you must shake them crazily… Remember to shake them until they are dizzy and lose all ability to think or do anything and then, put them in a cage and then release them in some forest area.”

Professor Weasley said before shaking the Gnomes crazily and then putting it back in the cage and locking it.

“Okay, everyone, get ready to catch it, shake it and put it back. Don’t use any dangerous or powerful magic on these.” Professor Bill Weasley then waved his wand, and all the gates of cages were opened.

Students also took out their wands and moved away from their chairs.

Everyone remembered their first class and hence this time, they were more prepared.

“Flurrrdom!” Many Gnomes shouted crazily and ran in different directions.

In the end, the class was filled with laughter and joy and relived a lot of that tense and scary atmosphere that was present ever since the students read that message on the wall or heard about it.

“Professor, Professor….” Suddenly a sixth year Ravenclaw student barged in.

“What happened Mister Davis?” Professor asked this Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain.

“Professor it will be better if you can come and see for yourself.” Davis urged the professor and both walked out of the class.

“No one will leave until the class is over and after that, go straight back to your dorms,” Professor told the students before shutting their classroom’s doors.

Professor Bill Weasley came with Roger to the empty Quidditch ground where he found a large number of chairs painted with the red words “NO MORE MUDBLOODS”.

“Merlin’s pants!”

Professor Bill Weasley was shocked at the rampant display of bigotry, prejudice, and hatred openly displayed on the sacred grounds of Quidditch.

Before he could say something, A fire suddenly lit up a few feet away from him and Professor Dumbledore walked out with his phoenix.

Professor Dumbledore didn’t say anything but the rampant magical power being concentrated around him reflected his anger.

“SWISH”

With a flick of his hands, all the painted letters simply disappeared as if they were never there in the first place. However, this was just the beginning.

Headmaster Dumbledore used his magic to find traces of footsteps and some paint drops on the ground and then cast an unknown spell.

An arrow made of golden flickering lights then appeared in the air and then the arrow guided Headmaster and Professor Weasley towards the fourth-floor boy’s washroom where they found a passed-out student.

“Help him, Professor Weasley,” Headmaster said in a very serious voice.

“Headmaster… it feels like…” Professor Weasley wiping out his sweat from his forehead checked the condition of the boy and tried to say something but Headmaster already knew what he was trying to say.

“Yes, The Imperius Curse. An Unforgivable Curse used to control other Wizards against their will. Take this boy to the infirmary. I will check who is so bold in our Hogwarts.” Professor Dumbledore was already fuming in anger.

Students attacked and cursed with an unforgivable curse inside his own school! His Hogwarts! When was the last time anything so outrageous happened in his school?