Chapter 274 - Surprise Test (1/2)
”Your defenses,” said Snape, a little louder, ”must, therefore, be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures”— he indicated a few of them as he swept past —”give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the Cruciatus Curse”— he waved a hand toward a witch who was clearly shrieking in agony —”feel the Dementor's Kiss”— a wizard lying huddled and blank-eyed, slumped against a wall —”or provoke the aggression of the Inferius”— a bloody mass upon the ground.
Many of the students gasped. Chris sat straighter in her seat.
Snape set off again around the other side of the classroom toward his desk, and again, they watched him as he walked, his dark robes billowing behind him.
”. . . you are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?”
Ginny slightly raised her hand. Snape took his time looking around at everybody else, making sure he had no choice, before saying curtly, ”Very well — Miss Weasley?”
”Nonverbal spells gives us the element of surprise against our opponents,” answered Ginny. ”Because they don't hear what spell we are using or going to use.”
”Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some lack,” sneered Snape.
Ginny, Colin and Chris exchanged a few looks.
”You will now divide,” Snape went on, ”into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on.”
A reasonable amount of cheating ensued; many people were merely whispering the incantation instead of saying it aloud. Chris and Colin faced each other while, Ginny faced Alex, a roommate of Colin and a DA member. Colin always struggled with nonverbal spells, so Chris patiently waited to repel his jinx. Colin was purple in the face, his lips tightly compressed to save himself from the temptation of muttering the incantation.
”Pathetic, Creevy,” said Snape, after a while. ”Here — let me show you —”
He turned his wand on Chris and instinctively conjured a shield and Snape's jinx bounced back against her shield. Chris dissolved the shield but Snape attacked her again. Chris blocked it with her wand. Several people gasped, including Ginny. Snape attacked again, Chris made a shield again.
”Surprise me,” said Snape lazily moving his wand to attack again. ”Only blocking spells won't help you to pass.”
Surprised Chris blocked him again, then quickly became serious and tried to attack Snape. The entire class stared wide-eyed and gasped repeatedly as Chris and Snape started to duel without uttering a single incantation. Chris attacked Snape blocked, Snape attacked Chris blocked. Finally, Chris found an opening and attacked Snape but soon she realized it was a trap. Snape's spell knocked Chris off-balance and she hit a desk.
”Never think your enemy will give you a chance,” scowled Snape. ”It's always a bait.”
*****
”Did he really duel with you?” Harry's mouth dropped open later that night at the common room.
”And you really duel with him?” Ron said looking awestruck.
Chris shrugged.
”She is being modest,” said Colin grinning. ”She didn't let Snape win that easily.”
”But he won,” said Chris.
”Everyone knew he is going to win,” said Ginny. ”But you gave him a fight, that's what matters.”
”Yeah,” said Hermione nodding. ”And I think Snape was impressed with you.”
”Snape and impressed?” Harry repeated shocked.
”Yes, why do you think he gave that advice at the end of the lesson?” Hermione said in a matter of fact tone. ”Anyway, you won't believe what Professor Slughorn offered us as a prize today. Felix Felicis. He asked us to make the Draught of Living Death potion and who makes it best will get it.”
”Felix Felicis? The liquid luck?” said Chris surprised.
Hermione nodded and opened her mouth looking excited but Ginny interrupted.
”So I guess you got it?”
Hermione's face fell.