Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 96: Magic Without Labels
🕑 Added 2025-05-03 18:54:32 +0000 UTCThe next morning, the fourth-year Gryffindor and Slytherin students filed into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, their murmurs fading as they took in the unexpected sight before them. At the front stood Professor Malfoy, his silver eyes scanning them with detached interest. And in the back Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore sat watching, their expressions unreadable.
McGonagall had insisted on observing, "to assist if needed." Dumbledore had come out of sheer curiosity. Dante didn’t so much as glance at them.
The lesson began. Without preamble, Dante waved his hand. Stacks of thick, leather-bound handbooks materialized on each desk, sliding smoothly in front of every student—including Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"The school’s curriculum is below standard when it comes to the unforgivable curses," Dante stated flatly. "This handbook replaces it." McGonagall’s lips thinned, but she opened the book—and froze. Dumbledore’s eyebrows rose.
The handbook contained detailed, exhaustive documentation on the Unforgivable Curses.
Incantations.
Mechanics of how they worked.
Effects on the soul, mind, body, and magic.
history and legal restrictions.
Counterspells—including complex magical circuit designs to block them.
No book in Hogwarts had ever covered the subject with such clear details. McGonagall’s grip tightened on the pages. Dumbledore’s eyes flickered with something between alarm and fascination. Dante didn’t stop at theory. He demonstrated.
With a cold face, he cast each Unforgivable Curse on a crab he brought. Imperio made the crab dance absurdly.Crucio had it convulsing silently, its limbs twisting unnaturally. Avada Kedavra snuffed its life out in an instant.
The students watched and listened carefully. And at the end of the class Dante gave them their first assignment "Your first assignment is an essay on why the Unforgivable Curses are not evil."
The room erupted in whispers. Even Dumbledore and McGonagall stiffened at such a topic. After class, the two elder professors approached Dante.
"That was… thorough," Dumbledore admitted carefully. "But the essay topic may raise concerns."
McGonagall’s voice was sharper. "Calling the Unforgivables not evil is wrong."
Dante didn’t look at them. "I don’t like the class name. Defense Against the Dark Arts implies magic itself is the enemy." His silver eyes flicked to them. "Magic is magic. Only people are dark." he paused for a moment then continued "I hope the name will be changed eventually. But for that, I need to change the students’ minds."
Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged a glance. They had come to supervise. Instead, they were left speechless, unsettled—and undeniably curious. What was Dante thinking? And where would this lead?
___________
The whispers in the corridors of Hogwarts had taken on a new intensity. Dante Malfoy’s unorthodox teaching methods had become the talk of the school, and with each passing day, the students grew more accustomed to—if not entirely comfortable with—his unusual approach to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Every lesson followed the same pattern. Dante with emotionless face would summon leather-bound handbooks to each desk—books that put Hogwarts’ standard texts to shame.
The older students—those studying advanced spellwork—found themselves dissecting spells with a level of detail that bordered on unnerving. Dante didn’t just teach them how to cast; he taught them how the magic worked. The mechanics, the history, the consequences.
And then came the essays.
"Explain why Emerald Potion is not a sinister potion."
"Argue for or against the necessity of Fiendfyre."
"Discuss the ethical implications of using Legilimency without consent."
The younger years, meanwhile, were given a different task. Instead of spells, they studied creatures—creatures most would label "dark." But Dante’s assignments forced them to reconsider.
"Why do Dementors exist? Are they evil, or are they simply misunderstood?"
"How do Acromantulas contribute to their ecosystem?"
"Should Bundimuns be classified as pests, or do they serve a purpose?"
The students scribbled notes, debated in hushed tones, and occasionally glanced at their professor.
One of the most jarring adjustments was Dante’s complete disregard for the House Points system. A Ravenclaw could present the most brilliant analysis of a curse, and Dante would simply nod and move on. A Gryffindor might hex a classmate out of frustration, and Dante would watch, unimpressed, before continuing the lesson as if nothing had happened.
When Ron Weasley finally worked up the nerve to ask why, Dante’s response was cryptic
"Points served a purpose originally. The students and the staff ruined it and what left is a joke"
For the sixth-years, the situation was especially surreal. Many of them had sat next to Dante in classes in the past. Now, they sat before him, listening as he dissected magic with the same cold expression he had once used to humiliate and crush Gilderoy Lockhart 2 years ago.
Draco Malfoy, who had taken every opportunity to mock Gryffindor in every class, now was behaving the best he could in front of his brother, his usual arrogance muted but everyone can see the pride in his eyes..
Hermione Granger’s hand shot up more than ever—not to argue, but to understand. Even she couldn’t deny the depth of Dante’s knowledge, no matter how strange his methods.
Even Severus Snape, who had taken to lurking in the back of the classroom like a disapproving shadow, occasionally jotted down notes with grudging interest. He has always been interested in dark magic and potions, and Dante at this moment felt like more of a dark arts library than the restricted section.
___________
A week into Dante’s tenure, an announcement echoed through the castle by the headmaster "All students and staff are to gather in the Great Hall immediately."
The other schools—Beauxbatons and Durmstrang—were invited but not required to attend. Yet curiosity won out, and soon, the hall was packed.
McGonagall, lips pressed into a thin line, turned to Dumbledore. "Why have you called this gathering?"
Dumbledore sighed. "I didn’t. Dante requested it. He said he had a demonstration for the school."
McGonagall’s nostrils flared. "Albus, there must be a limit to how much you indulge him, regardless of how strong he is!"
Dumbledore didn’t answer.
The doors swung open and Dante walked in, Astoria Greengrass at his side. The Slytherin girl looked nervous, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her robes. Without a word, Dante conjured a chair and gestured for her to sit.
Then he turned to the crowd. Every eye in the Great Hall was fixed on him. The professors, the students, the visiting delegations—all waiting. Dante’s voice cut through the silence.
"Today, you will learn why magic is neither light nor dark."
The Great Hall was utterly silent as Dante stood before the frozen crowd, his silver eyes sweeping over students and professors alike with cold disappointment.
"I have never approved of the ridiculous labels—'dark curses,' 'dark potions,' 'dark arts,'" he began, his voice cutting through the stillness. "These terms only prove how stupid and blind modern wizards have become. Since the creation of the International Confederation of Wizards, magical understanding has deteriorated into superstition and fear."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, some professors frown slightly.
"Not long ago," Dante continued, "a buffoon called himself Voldemort and was hailed as some 'great Dark Lord.' He was nothing special. Most of his magic came from books in the Restricted Section. Yet your parents cowered before him—some out of fear, others out of pathetic belief that he was something extraordinary. Mine included."
His gaze flicked to Dumbledore. "And here sits the so-called 'greatest white wizard.' You revere him, yet I see nothing impressive. He wouldn’t rank among the top twenty wizards in history—not in achievement, nor in strength."
The air grew heavier, many students and professors frowning at his words. They all held Albus Dumbledore in high regard.
"This generation is the worst in many centuries," Dante said flatly. "So we start by correcting your misconceptions. There is no 'dark art.' There is only magic—and the wizards who wield it. The fault lies not in spells, but in those who use them."
He paced slowly, his tone scathing. "For a week, I challenged you to think differently. And what did you give me? Blind regurgitation of the same narrow-minded garbage you’ve been fed. Today, you’ll see how wrong you are—professors included."
He waved to Astoria to walk closer to him, which she did. He continued “This is Astoria Greengrass, she was inflicted by a bloodborne curse. The curse is weakening her continuously and will claim her life eventually. Many of you here have already heard of that I presume. For those who don’t know, the bloodborne curse has no cure and the greatest wizards of this day all agree on that”
Dante paused for a moment, letting his words sink before he continued "The Killing Curse," Dante said, "the so-called 'worst of the Unforgivables.' An 'evil' spell that will send you straight to Azkaban. I asked you to explain why it isn’t inherently evil. None of you could."
Turning, he raised his wand "Expecto Patronum."
A silver light burst forth, coalescing into a shimmering replica of Astoria herself. Then, without hesitation "Avada Kedavra."
Gasps choked the hall and surprised people, this was taboo to them. The green bolt struck the Patronus, merging with it. The spectral Astoria stepped forward, pressing into the real Astoria’s chest. Silver and green light pulsed beneath the girl’s skin before fading.
Dante lowered his wand. "The blood curse that doomed her is gone, headmaster care to confirm it for them”
Dumbledore walked forward intrigued by what he just witnessed, he got closer to Astoria and checked her carefully. Finally he spoke out with a surprised tone “I see no traces of the curse on her anymore. There is no doubt she is cured”
Dante nodded then continued to the surprised crowd “The 'worst' Unforgivable just saved a life without taking one." His voice turned icy. "Dementors—creatures you fear and hate—helped save Ginny Weasley. If the 'darkest' magic and creatures can heal and protect, what does that say about the rest? Your ignorance has made you the most pathetic generation of wizards to exist. Reflect on that—if you’re capable of thinking at all."
He turned and left. No one moved. No one spoke. Students and professors alike were surprised by him.
