Chapter 153: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Everyone knew Phineas wasn't fond of Quidditch, so it wasn't surprising that he hadn't realized Lee Jordan had become the new Quidditch commentator.
They also understood how busy Phineas had been this semester.
The group chatted for a little longer before Phineas finally said,
"Alright, I have to go. I've got class first period. Oh, by the way—"
He pointed his wand at the Marauder's Map and said,
"Mischief managed."
As the spell activated, the map in Lee Jordan's hands reverted to an ordinary piece of blank parchment.
After Phineas left, the three friends didn't return to the dormitory or go do anything else. Instead, they remained in the empty classroom, still marveling at the Marauder's Map. Such a magical object stirred their curiosity—they wanted to figure out how it worked.
Normally, they might have asked Phineas, but since he'd gone off to class, they could only study it on their own.
Of course, even Phineas—with the knowledge he'd inherited from Ravenclaw—couldn't fully unravel the secrets of the map's enchantments. So it was no surprise that George, Fred, and Lee, as second-years, couldn't make much sense of it either.
Still, they did discover some of the charms layered into the parchment, particularly the magic that revealed different words and images. Even without the specific enchantments used to create the Marauder's Map, these smaller discoveries sparked ideas for prank products—exactly the kind of thing that excited Fred and George.
For them, who already dreamed of opening a joke shop one day, the goals were simple: develop products, and save money to fund their dream.
Phineas hadn't offered to provide money for their shop—not because he was unwilling to part with a few Galleons, but because he understood the kind of people they were.
A joke shop didn't require much capital—especially not for someone like Phineas. Many of the properties in Diagon Alley belonged to the Black family, and even if they didn't, he could always lease a place from the Ollivander family. But Phineas knew Fred and George wouldn't want that kind of help.
He could assist them in developing products or teach them various alchemical techniques, but financial support? They would never accept it.
This wasn't just their ambition—it was the pride of the entire Weasley family.
The Weasleys might seem poor, but they were rich in integrity. Molly's brothers died fighting Voldemort. She never claimed the Prewett family's fortune, taking only one keepsake from each of her brothers and leaving the rest to their heirs.
Arthur's side of the family included several well-off relatives, many of whom had offered help, but Arthur and Molly had always refused. Even their eldest son, Bill, now worked as a Gringotts curse-breaker earning a decent salary. Still, Arthur and Molly never expected him to contribute to the household. They continued to offer him a room and meals, but no longer gave him pocket money.
That was the Weasley spirit: they faced hardship with pride and warmth—and never leaned on others if they could stand on their own.
Fred and George clearly inherited that strength. They were close with Phineas, but they never envied his wealth or expected favors.
Maybe one day, in a tight spot, they might ask to borrow some money—but they'd be quick to pay it back.
Phineas valued that kind of friendship—pure and unclouded by personal gain. That's why he never brought up financial support. Even after learning about the Black family's wealth, Fred and George never once asked for help. Everything between them remained balanced and respectful.
While the three continued to explore the Marauder's Map, trying to unlock its secrets and imagine its possibilities, Phineas had gone off to class.
His next lesson was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Sakaski Riche. Phineas remained cautious during these lessons—he had little trust in Riche, who clearly had hidden motives and might even pose a direct threat.
He paid close attention to Riche's every move.
The textbook for second-year Defense Against the Dark Arts was still The Dark Arts: A Guide to Self-Defense, the same one used the previous year.
But unlike last year's focus on protective charms, this year's lessons had started leaning toward actual combat.
"In the last class," Riche said, standing at the front of the room and surveying the Ravenclaws and Slytherins, "we discussed the preparations needed before entering a duel—gathering intelligence, surveying the field, and other preliminary tactics."
"In today's lesson, we're going to focus on what to do when there's no time to prepare—when the attack is sudden and you have to respond immediately."
"Wizards do fight. It happens more often than you think. Things have calmed down now, but ten years ago, when the Dark Lord was still alive, conflict was constant in the wizarding world."
"And surprise attacks? Those were common. Even today, if a duel breaks out, there usually isn't time to plan. What we covered last class is great for organized duels, like those once held in the British Wizard Duel Championship."
"That competition has been suspended for years, but your own Professor Flitwick was once the champion—and he held that title for many years."
"In the coming lessons, I'll be teaching you how to respond to surprise attacks and introduce you to common combat spells. Of course, some of the techniques we already studied are still relevant."
"Take the Disarming Charm, for example. For young wizards like yourselves, without much combat experience or magical power, it's one of the most useful spells available. It can defend against many curses and disarm your opponent."
"For wizards, a duel without wands is the fairest kind of battle."