Sagres stood in the stands, his gaze sweeping across the students still struggling through the workshop on the projection screen, occasionally cheering when they discovered key pieces of information.
Professor Babbling and Professor Sprout were still enthusiastically discussing the students' performance.
He gave the two professors a slight nod.
"It seems they've begun to grasp the method. My apologies, Professors, but I must take my leave. I have two more Advanced Spell Theory classes to teach."
"Oh, of course, go ahead, Sagres," Professor Sprout said kindly. "We'd like to stay here a bit longer."
Professor Babbling, still immersed in her excitement, waved a hand without even turning around.
"Thank you, Sagres!"
Sagres turned and left the lively duelling arena, his figure disappearing into the shadows of the corridor leading back to the main castle.
His steps remained steady, but his thoughts briefly drifted to the Bronze Feather scholarship fund he had just mentioned.
The 200 Galleon scholarship was not a spur-of-the-moment reward, but one of the organisation's long-term plans.
Snowy Owl, as a highly capable and far-sighted operative, had already generated considerable wealth for Bronze Feather through trade with the increasingly friendly centaur tribe in the Forbidden Forest.
Those unique herbs, exquisite bone carvings, and rare minerals possessed significant value within certain magical circles.
Part of the profits went towards maintaining Bronze Feather's operations, including the acquisition of various potion ingredients. Another portion was donated to St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries to compensate for any potential funding shortages from the Ministry of Magic.
The remaining surplus was invested in education and the cultivation of promising young witches and wizards. After all, meaningful change required fresh blood.
Thinking of the centaurs, a faint softness appeared in Sagres's eyes.
Ever since he had personally returned the body of the centaur warrior killed by the vampire, their attitude towards him had fundamentally changed.
The former caution and transactional relationship had gradually been replaced by genuine trust and understanding.
Now, Snowy Owl could conduct routine trade negotiations independently without requiring Sagres's presence as a deterrent or intermediary.
This saved him considerable time and represented a rare peace built upon mutual respect.
Setting those thoughts aside, he quickened his pace towards the classroom.
When he pushed open the classroom door, a number of students were already seated inside, most of them auditors from different Houses.
They usually arrived early to secure good seats.
However, one section of the classroom that should have been occupied by Gryffindor students from a particular year was conspicuously empty.
The bell rang almost the moment Sagres stepped into the room.
Just as the final echoes faded, the classroom door was abruptly thrown open, and a group of students in Gryffindor robes rushed inside, panting heavily.
They had barely made it, slipping into the classroom at the very last moment as the bell stopped ringing.
The group hurried to their seats and sat down, doing their best to avoid the calm gaze Sagres directed at them from the podium.
Sagres did not speak immediately.
He simply set the Advanced Spell Theory textbook in his hand onto the podium with a soft tap.
His gaze lingered briefly on the group of students who had clearly just rushed there, noticing their attempts to hide their heavy breathing and the nervous glances they exchanged.
This was highly unusual.
Although Gryffindors were known for their impulsiveness, they generally maintained a healthy respect for his lessons, and a collective near-late arrival like this was rare.
Sagres did not pursue the matter. Instead, he opened his textbook.
"Turn to page one hundred and twenty-seven. Today we will continue our analysis of..."
Just then, a few hushed whispers drifted up from the seats below.
"...Did you see that spider? It was twitching so badly..."
"...That green light! It was terrifying. The spider stopped moving instantly!"
"...He really used it on you? Right there in class?"
A male student who still seemed shaken whispered back,
"Of course... Professor Moody said we had to experience it ourselves to understand how terrifying it was..."
Sagres frowned slightly.
"Quiet."
His expression remained impassive as he looked across the classroom.
"This is a classroom, not a marketplace. If you cannot control your emotions, I do not mind using magic to help you achieve that goal."
The students immediately fell silent, though the excitement in their eyes had yet to fade.
Sagres's sharp gaze swept across the room. After a moment, a hint of interest finally appeared in his eyes.
"So, who can tell me exactly what happened to leave all of you so flustered?"
Hermione immediately raised her hand. There was still a trace of fear on her face.
"Professor Greengrass! Professor Moody explained the three Unforgivable Curses today! Not only that, he demonstrated them on live spiders! The Cruciatus Curse, the Imperius Curse... and... and the Killing Curse!"
Her voice involuntarily dropped when she spoke the last curse, carrying a note of fear.
Sagres's expression did not change, but a faint look of understanding flickered deep within his eyes.
He spoke slowly, his tone as steady as ever.
"So? Understanding the Dark Arts you may face in the future is an important part of Defence Against the Dark Arts. Is there a problem with that?"
"But, Professor," another student interjected.
It was Ron, and his eyes carried a complicated expression.
"He also used the Imperius Curse on all of us! He said he wanted us to experience what it felt like firsthand..."
That statement made one of Sagres's eyebrows twitch almost imperceptibly.
He had heard of Moody's teaching methods, but using an Unforgivable Curse on every student still exceeded his expectations.
"The Imperius Curse..."
"Sagres repeated, his voice noticeably lower, "He made you personally experience the effects of the Imperius Curse?"
The students nodded repeatedly, eagerly describing the strange sensation of their will being invaded and their bodies no longer obeying their own commands.
Sagres listened in silence until they had finished speaking and the classroom had fallen quiet once more. Only then did he begin pacing slowly.
"A very Moody-like teaching method..."
He frowned slightly before asking again,
"What did you learn from it?"
Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff looked hesitant.
"Actually, Professor, we told him that you'd already explained those curses in class last year."
Sagres paused mid-step.
"And what did Professor Moody say?"
"He said you were right!"
Ernie answered, still sounding somewhat shaken.
"He said that when it comes to the Dark Arts, ignorance is more dangerous than knowledge. However..."
His voice dropped suddenly.
"He still insisted on demonstrating them to us."
Sagres's gaze swept across the students, noting their uncomfortable expressions.
"And then?"
Several students exchanged glances.
Padma spoke in a low voice.
"Then he used Imperio... to control us one by one. Every single one of us."
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