"The reason Dark Arts are said to corrode the heart is actually because the stronger a wizard's negative emotions, the more powerful the Dark Arts they can unleash become."
"In pursuit of this extreme power, most wizards lose control over their desires and negative emotions, which is a process of allowing themselves to fall into depravity."
"It's like a thief; the more successful the theft, the bigger the next heist they desire, ultimately ending up as the crazed and terrifying Dark Wizard in the eyes of most people."
"White Magic, driven by positive emotions, is not weaker than Dark Arts. If your positive emotions are strong enough, you can still overcome all the Dark Arts in the world."
"..."
Ian naturally added some of his own interpretations during the lecture, which is an unavoidable issue for any scholar or professor. Everyone incorporates their thoughts during the process of learning and understanding.
After a basic introduction to the Dark Arts and Defense Against the Dark Arts, just as Ian was about to begin the actual magic teaching, a Little Wizard raised their hand to ask a question.
"Professor Ian, do you know the Dark Arts?" The inquisitive look came from the Chocolate Frog boy, whose question immediately made a dozen little eyes look up at Ian.
"..."
Ian wanted to say that such knowledge requires a different price, but he obviously couldn't openly start an evil Dark Wizard gathering for Golden Galleons, so he chose a clever way to respond.
"Even Dumbledore praised that I possess a twentieth of his charisma. Do you think the world's greatest White Wizard knows the Dark Arts?" Ian's words left a group of Little Wizards with disappointed expressions.
When it comes to the unknown,
any Little Wizard can't help but be curious.
"But isn't your uncle Snape? I heard he knows a lot of Dark Arts…" A Little Wizard lowered their voice, with a slightly timid tone.
Ian's expression nearly slipped, but fortunately, he maintained composure, giving a timely retort, "Who hasn't had a few ancestors who've strayed from the right path? At least my uncle has turned over a new leaf now, hasn't he? It's his business if he knows the Dark Arts, it doesn't mean I do too."
A deeply meaningful sentence.
No one noticed the particularly subtle use of "doesn't necessarily" by Ian, but Little Wizards in families with siblings immediately empathized and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, yes, my brother is so bad, he always loves to tease me."
"To be honest, my uncle was actually a Death Eater, he died in the aftermath of the battle between the Mysterious Man and Dumbledore, and our whole family says it's something worth celebrating."
"My little brother is also a rascal, he's already stolen three pairs of my underwear to sell."
...
Finally, the situation was smoothed over.
Ian waited for the Little Wizards to chatter about which of their relatives was worse, then signaled everyone to quiet down and began teaching a magic spell that he had only recently learned.
"Obstacles Everywhere!"
Ian waved his wand and performed the teaching spell, allowing the ten or so Little Wizards to each experience the feeling of something blocking their path, unable to move forward.
This spell can momentarily stop the enemy from approaching during combat, and it can temporarily restrict an opponent's movement range, making it a practical magic in case of attack.
Of course, as in today's Extraordinary World where wizards are the ruling force, swordsmanship has declined, and the application scope of the Obstacle Curse is nowhere near as broad as it was centuries ago.
"So hard to learn!"
"Why is this magic so difficult!"
"Oh my gosh! Is this just an entry-level spell? Might as well let the Dark Arts kill me!"
...
After starting practice, even the Ravenclaw Little Wizards made slow progress with the Obstacle Curse. It was indeed much harder than spells like the Lighting Spell or Wingardium Leviosa.
Many Little Wizards attempted repeatedly, were corrected many times, yet still found it difficult to complete the entire magic structure. Ian encountered such a situation for the first time in his little classroom.
In the past,
these Little Wizards would learn once Ian helped them clarify the details.
But today's magic was an unfamiliar realm for everyone, they hadn't even been able to step through the door of the spell, naturally not giving Ian the chance to help with the details.
"When you wave the wand, the Magic Power should be driven along, focus on the target object."
Ian continued to teach his classmates hands-on, but because the Obstacle Curse was indeed a knowledge blind spot for the Little Wizards, they found it difficult to truly understand the magic's essence.
Ian realized something that made him feel a bit powerless.
"Can't you feel the rhythm of the magic at all... it's... it's... look, it's moving, ah, you did it wrong! Wrong!"
Ian caught a Little Wizard's mistake but could only see the Little Wizard's bewildered expression. He helplessly covered his forehead, realizing there might be some issues with his teaching.
"Can't you see that rhythm at all? Even just a little bit?"
Yet Ian was still a little unwilling to give up.
"What is moving?"
Most Little Wizards looked at each other, bewildered.
"My ears can move, look." A Little Wizard tried to lighten the mood, flapping their ears vigorously, drawing exclamations from many Little Wizards.