Chapter 145 – Grindylows
"Hmph. Fine, I'll sit," Malfoy snapped viciously, as though he'd somehow won the exchange.
Russell ignored him. He clapped his hands to quiet the class — with limited success. Being only a second-year clearly diminished his authority.
His expression darkened.
Time to make an example of someone.
His gaze swept across the Slytherins and quickly settled on two ideal targets — Malfoy's loyal bodyguards, the ever-reliable duo: Crabbe and Goyle.
Perhaps fearing he'd be next, Malfoy fell unusually silent.
"Wingardium Leviosa."
Crabbe and Goyle, who had been chatting happily, suddenly felt their robes tug upward. Before they could react, they were hoisted into the air and plastered against the ceiling.
Their shrill screams echoed through the classroom.
The rest of the class fell instantly silent.
Russell nodded in satisfaction and flicked his wand, lowering the two pale-faced boys back to the floor.
"Excellent," he drawled. "Now, we begin."
"I know Professor Quirrell's teaching style — reading from the textbook while you slowly suffocate. But Defense Against the Dark Arts is a practical subject."
He snapped the open textbook shut and set it aside.
"Close your books. Wands out."
With that, he lifted a water-filled tank onto the desk. Inside, several grotesque green creatures floated sluggishly.
"Ugh, that's disgusting."
"It's hideous."
"I'm going to be sick just looking at it."
"Silence." Russell rapped his knuckles sharply against the podium.
"Who can tell me what this creature is?"
Lavender Brown's hand shot up instantly — faster even than Hermione's.
"Miss Brown. Go ahead."
"Er… it's… it's…" Lavender faltered. She had absolutely no idea. She'd raised her hand purely because Russell had asked.
A whisper drifted to her ear.
"Grindylow."
Without thinking, she repeated it. "Grindylow."
The moment she said it, regret flooded her. That voice had been Hermione's. Surely Hermione had fed her a wrong answer to make her look foolish in front of Russell.
But Russell nodded approvingly.
"Correct. Sit down."
Lavender blinked in disbelief. She glanced at Hermione — who wasn't even looking at her, only at the tank.
A surge of guilt rose in Lavender's chest.
She'd been badmouthing Hermione behind her back — and Hermione had still helped her.
After class, she resolved, she would apologize.
"Now," Russell continued, "how do we deal with a Grindylow?"
This time, Wednesday raised her hand — causing a ripple of surprise. She never volunteered answers, though when called upon she was flawless.
"Miss Addams," Russell said formally.
Wednesday frowned slightly at the unfamiliar address.
"Killing Curse. Blasting Curse. Fiendfyre," she replied evenly.
Several students shuddered.
Those spell names alone were terrifying.
"That might be… excessive," Russell said dryly. "Any alternatives?"
Hermione raised her hand.
"Break their fingers, or use the Revulsion Jinx."
"Very good," Russell nodded. "However, first-years haven't learned the Revulsion Jinx yet. And we are wizards — not butchers."
He turned and tapped the blackboard with his wand.
"Professor Quirrell has already covered the Knockback Jinx. I'll review it."
"The incantation is 'Flipendo' — it repels hostile creatures."
"For example."
He pointed his wand at the textbook. It transformed into a motionless Grindylow replica and floated into the air.
"Flipendo!"
With a sharp flick, the floating Grindylow shot backward at tremendous speed and slammed into the rear wall of the classroom.
Excited murmurs filled the room.
Even Malfoy looked eager. For all his bragging, he'd never actually fought a Dark creature.
Russell ordered the desks and chairs pushed aside, clearing a wide circle in the center of the room.
"Today," he announced, "you will practice."
Russell set the tank containing the Grindylow in the center of the cleared space and looked around at the students.
"We'll start with Gryffindor. One Gryffindor, then one Slytherin. Understood?"
"Understood!" they chorused, barely containing their excitement. After being subjected to months of Quirrell's droning lectures, it was only natural they were eager for something real.
Russell flicked his wand. The lid of the tank snapped open.
The previously dormant Grindylow stirred, its yellow-green eyes blinking awake. It bared its needle-like teeth and began scrambling toward the edge of the tank. But when it saw nothing but dry stone floor beyond the rim—no water in sight—it hesitated and drew its head back warily.
The first to step forward was Seamus Finnigan.
The moment Russell saw him, he tensed.
Seamus's reputation for explosive "talent" was legendary. Russell kept a sharp eye on him, worried the boy might accidentally blow the Grindylow to pieces—ending the lesson before it properly began.
Seamus took a deep breath and stepped into position.
Seeing he was ready, Russell shattered the tank with a sharp motion of his wand. Water spilled across the floor, and the Grindylow flopped free, exposed to open air.
It hissed viciously and lunged at Seamus.
"Flipendo!" Seamus shouted.
But nerves got the better of him. The spell fizzled.
The Grindylow kept coming.
Russell calmly intervened. With a light tap of his wand, he cast, "Impedimenta."
The creature's movements slowed dramatically, as if wading through thick mud.
"Don't panic. Try again," Russell said, clapping Seamus on the shoulder.
Seamus nodded hard. "Flipendo!"
This time, the spell connected with a thunderous crack. The Grindylow was blasted backward and hit the floor, only to scramble upright again, seemingly unharmed.
"Well done. Keep going."
Russell moved through the circle, calling on students one after another.
The Knockback Jinx was not particularly difficult. They already knew the incantation; what they'd lacked was practice.
Though Russell remained highly focused—wand ready, Shield Charm primed—trouble still found its way in.
When it was Neville's turn, he swung his wand with too much force.
"Flipendo!"
The spell shot slightly off target. It grazed the Grindylow's head and slammed into Pansy Parkinson behind it, sending her flying backward.
Russell's face changed instantly. He strode forward. The Grindylow attempted to seize the distraction and attack—but Russell stunned it with a flash of red light before it could move.
"Longbottom, look what you've done!" Malfoy snapped, his expression darkening. Pansy could be annoying, but she was still his ally.
Russell ignored him and knelt beside Pansy.
"She's fine."
A soft green light flowed from his wand over her body. The girl, who had been wailing dramatically, suddenly relaxed, eyes half-lidded in comfort.
"You say she's fine and that makes it true?" Malfoy sneered. "As substitute professor, you failed to protect a student. That makes it your responsibility."
"My arm's broken! And my back hurts so much!" Pansy cried louder, clearly encouraged.
"I—I'm sorry," Neville stammered helplessly.
Russell looked at Pansy with a faint smile. "Is that so, Parkinson?"
"If your injuries are that serious, perhaps I should fetch Professor McGonagall to examine you personally."
The smile didn't reach his eyes.
At once, Pansy scrambled upright. "Actually—no need."
Malfoy's expression soured further.
He didn't dare challenge Russell directly, so he turned a venomous glare on Neville.
In his mind, Neville must have done it deliberately—revenge for past bullying.
"Just wait, Longbottom," Malfoy hissed.
He pointed his wand threateningly. Neville flinched and squeezed his eyes shut.
The Slytherins burst into laughter.
"Malfoy," Russell said coldly, "is humiliating your classmates entertaining?"
Before Malfoy could retort, Russell continued.
"You're proud because your father is a school governor. That's all you have."
A mocking smile curved his lips.
"Without him, you're nothing."