Chapter 81. Leg-Locker Curse
Neville sat down and 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 be carrying my Remembrall all the time?"
"No, that ball is no help at all, Neville," Seamus told him helplessly.
Back at the lectern, Adrian Wesson waved his wand. The desks and chairs slid themselves to both sides of the classroom, leaving a wide open space.
After Wesson hauled a box onto the empty floor, he beckoned to all the students. "All right, over here. Class is starting."
The students gathered in curiosity, forming a ring around the box.
Harry and Ron squeezed into the front.
"What do you reckon is in there?" Ron whispered in Harry's ear.
"Whatever it is, it's not a textbook," Harry answered offhand, his eyes fixed on the box. "Might be some sort of magical creature."
In truth, everyone was staring intently at the box.
Wesson cleared his throat, traced a graceful arc in the air with his wand, and said, "Today we're learning the Leg-Locker Curse."
The class immediately broke into chatter.
"Just that?" Ron said, disappointed. "I thought we'd learn something flashier…"
Hermione straightened up beside him, lifted her chin, and said with pride, "As a matter of fact, I already know that spell."
Ron couldn't help curling his lip at Hermione's words.
Harry said nothing—he could do it too.
"Quiet," Wesson pressed both hands down to calm them and explained, "The Leg-Locker Curse is a very common minor jinx, often used in duels and fights. Of course, if you're up against an enemy without legs, you'd best abandon the idea of using either of these two spells. Understood, Mr Longbottom?"
Hearing his name, Neville jolted. "Yes, Professor."
"Good," Wesson nodded, then continued, "To help you practise these two spells better, I've specially prepared some very suitable sparring targets."
The students instantly understood: the box must contain today's practice target.
Wesson rapped lightly on the lid. After three crisp knocks, there was movement within.
Ron nudged Harry with his elbow and said with a grin, "Sounds like a little one."
But when the thing inside the box came into view, Ron's smile vanished at once.
In front of them was a black, furry spider the size of a Quaffle, looking around in bewilderment.
"Acromantula," Wesson announced with due ceremony. "It's only newly hatched, but more than enough for you to practise your spells."
In fact, it was a baby Acromantula only a few days out of its egg, a local speciality Wesson had borrowed from the Forbidden Forest.
For safety, Wesson had set up a transparent protective barrier around the spider.
At the sight of the Acromantula, the students reacted in unison, all stepping back together.
Ron let out a terrified screech, scrambled backward on his knees, and nearly knocked over Seamus behind him.
A second later, his eyes rolled up and he fainted.
The class erupted into commotion.
Harry and Hermione took Ron by the arms, one on each side, and looked to Wesson, not knowing what to do.
Wesson froze for a beat—he had nearly forgotten that spiders were what Ron feared most.
"Rennervate!"
Wesson flicked his wand, and a soft golden light fell across Ron's face. Ron's eyelids fluttered; he slowly came round.
Then Wesson gave Harry a quick wink.
"Harry!"
Harry caught on at once, took a small bottle of sedative from the pouch he carried, and got it down Ron's throat.
Meanwhile, Wesson soothed the rest of the class. "It's only a little spider, children—nothing to be frightened of."
Seeing how composed Wesson was, the students gradually settled.
When Ron woke, he instinctively looked around. The moment his gaze landed again on the furry Acromantula, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.
This time, though, thanks to the sedative, he at least didn't pass out again.
"It's all right, Ron," Harry said softly, gripping his shoulder. "It's inside a barrier. It can't get to you."
Hermione leaned in to comfort him as well. "And look—it's actually rather cute… like a plush toy."
"Plush toy?!" Ron's voice went shrill as he clutched at Harry's robes in a death grip. "That thing's got eight legs! Eight! And they move!"
Harry steadied him so he'd stop tearing at his robes and murmured, "It's nothing, Ron. A three-headed dog is far scarier."
"That's different…" Ron quavered.
"All right, eyes over here," Wesson said, drawing his wand and pointing at the dazed baby Acromantula. "The incantation is 'Locomotor Mortis.' Have you got that? I'll repeat it once more—"
"Locomotor Mortis!"
A thin streak of magic shot from Wesson's wand and struck the baby Acromantula.
All eight legs went rigid at once, sticking together at odd angles.
It tried to walk, but could only sway left and right like a rock.
"See?" Wesson gave a light wave of his wand to lift the spell. "That's the effect of the Leg-Locker Curse. Now—who'd like to come up and try first!"
Hermione and Harry raised their hands at the same time, wands already in their grips.
Wesson's gaze moved between the two. Well then…
It's decided—it'll be you!
"Mr Weasley!" Wesson said with a kindly smile, addressing Ron between them. "Come to the front, would you?"
"Er…" Ron had only just recovered from his fright when he heard Wesson call his name. He pointed at himself. "M-me?"
Harry gave him a gentle push between the shoulder blades and whispered encouragement: "Go on, Ron. Just pretend it's Draco's head."
Ron's pallor shifted to a strange shade of greenish purple.
"F-fine…" he squeaked. His legs felt like they were filled with lead as he shuffled forward.
Even when he was standing before the baby Acromantula, he still looked utterly at sea.
Wesson guided him gently. "Remember the key points of the spell. Your wrist goes like this…"
He demonstrated the standard movement.
Ron stood rooted to the spot, eyes screwed shut, his wand jabbing vaguely ahead. "L-lo… Locomotor Mortis!"
A wobbly red flash shot from his wand tip, veered off course, and hit the classroom ceiling.
By sheer luck, after two ricochets the spell struck the spider squarely.
Its two hind legs stuck together at once.
Like this story Leave a review ; it would really help me out a lot.
Want to Read Ahead in Advance?
Join my Patreon!
+75 Chapters
Support me in
Patreon.com/BestElysium