Chapter 104 "Imperio"

In the second week of school, not much excitement unfolded.

On Thursday, Professor Moody declared an unconventional demonstration during the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. He announced his intention to cast the Imperius Curse on each of his classmates in rotation to showcase the spell's magic and evaluate their ability to resist its influence.

As he spoke, a loud bang reverberated through the classroom, and discussions erupted like a torrent, flooding the room with a myriad of voices. The students were taken aback, not anticipating that Moody would dare to perform such an act, considering that casting an Unforgivable Curse on another wizard carried a penalty of life imprisonment.

Undeterred by the reactions, Moody urged the students to take turns and experience the Imperius Curse.

Under the influence of the spell, the students exhibited peculiar behaviors. Blaise hopped around the classroom, Pansy mimicked a squirrel, and Neville executed astonishing gymnastic movements, feats he could never achieve under normal circumstances. None of them appeared capable of resisting the spell, returning to normal only after Moody lifted the enchantment.

"Draco Malfoy," Moody declared in a deep, rumbling voice, "it's your turn."

Draco nonchalantly shrugged and walked to the center of the classroom. Moody raised his wand, pointed it at Draco, and intoned, "Imperio!"

Skyler observed that a split second before Moody's incantation, Draco's eyes flickered with a green light, and black energy began emanating from his body. Draco's entire demeanor changed drastically, taking on a darker and more ominous tone.

"Draco, what happened to you..." Skyler asked inside his heart after noticing the obvious sign of his malicious energy.

Contrary to expectations, the Imperius Curse had no effect on Draco. He stood unaffected, smiling at Moody.

Skyler discerned that the black gas resembled a nimble dragon, circling Draco's mind. At the precise moment the Imperius was cast, the black gas substituted for Draco and was dissipated by the curse.

Draco smirked contemptuously, remarking, "Professor Moody, it seems that the Imperius Curse is not as challenging to resist as you claimed!"

The room fell into a hushed silence. Professor Moody wore a deep frown, clearly taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. The idea that Draco might resist the Imperius Curse had crossed his mind, perhaps engaging in a mental struggle for control.

However, he hadn't anticipated the direct invalidation of the curse. Without a word, Moody gestured for Draco to return to his seat and proceeded to call out the next name on the list.

The next student in line was Skyler. "Skyler, come forward. Let's see whether you could do the same like what your brother has just done." Professor Moody called out.

Skyler confidently strode to the center of the classroom, a smirk playing on his lips. Secretly, he relished the opportunity to showcase his formidable willpower.

While Skyler hadn't actually cast the Imperius Curse himself, his knowledge of the spell far surpassed the staged theatrics being presented.

The true essence of the Imperius Curse lies in magically paralyzing the cerebral cortex and prefrontal lobe of the human brain. This results in the subject losing reason, logic, and decision-making capabilities, succumbing to external influences that manipulate emotions.

In simpler terms, those under the curse find joy in obeying orders and feel compelled to continue indulging in the submissive emotions they elicit.

Skyler understood that the most effective counter to the Imperius Curse wasn't Occlumency, as many believed. Occlumency primarily focuses on concealing emotions (specifically, the limbic system) rather than cognitive and rational abilities.

However, this isn't to say that Occlumency is entirely ineffective against Imperius; practicing it can grant individuals better control over their emotions, making them less susceptible to external influences.

To combat the Imperius Curse successfully, one needs a combination of stronger emotions and an unwavering will.

As Moody intoned the words, "Imperio," Skyler initially felt a fleeting sense of tranquility, a light and fluttering pleasure enveloping his thoughts.

However, in the blink of an eye, Meredith's face flashed across Skyler's mind, igniting a fiery anger. Skyler swiftly regained his icy composure, and the nascent flame of pleasure was extinguished before it could fully ignite.

With a confident smile, Skyler remarked, "Professor Moody, if this is the extent of the magic, it doesn't seem as formidable as you described! Is it truly necessary for us to learn to resist this curse in the fourth grade?"

Professor Moody's expression darkened. Two consecutive failures left him unable to uphold his chosen teaching method. He had previously emphasized the importance of learning to resist the Imperius Curse, portraying its power in exaggerated terms.

Even seasoned adult wizards had struggled against it, but now, after being thwarted twice in a row, it seemed that the Imperius Curse might lose its intimidation factor in the eyes of the young wizards.

Struggling to convey his message, Moody conceded, "In that case, let's proceed with the lesson here." He continued, "Both Mr. Malfoys successfully resisted the Imperius Curse and overcame it completely! Seek their advice and learn from their experiences, ensuring that others cannot easily manipulate you."

The rest of the class unfolded in an unusual atmosphere, marked by a tense silence. No one dared to break the stillness as they focused on taking notes about resisting the Imperius Curse.

Moody remained seated by the podium, his face indecisive, seemingly pondering some internal dilemma. The other young wizards kept their heads down, diligently recording the intricacies of resisting the Imperius Curse.

It wasn't until the bell signaling the end of the class rang, and Moody exited the room, that conversations resumed among the students.

The Slytherin youngsters eagerly surrounded Skyler and Draco, requesting insights into their successful resistance against the Imperius Curse. While the Gryffindor students felt a twinge of envy, they refrained from impulsive inquiries.

Casting a discerning look at the expectant Slytherin crowd and the huddled Gryffindor students, Skyler nonchalantly declared, "Since Professor Moody wants us to acquire this skill, I see no reason to keep it a private matter. Gryffindor's lot, if you're interested, feel free to join in. Participation is entirely voluntary; no one should feel compelled."

Curiosity about combat-related magic drew the Gryffindor lions closer, positioning themselves conscientiously behind their Slytherin peers.

Skyler, raising his voice, proclaimed, "Listen up, everyone! There's actually no secret to resisting the Imperius Curse; it primarily hinges on willpower. Now, can anyone articulate what willpower is?"

A thoughtful silence enveloped the group. While everyone grasped the concept of willpower, succinctly defining its essence proved more challenging.

Ever the insightful one, Hermione spoke up, "Does willpower involve using reason to combat subconscious desires?"

Skyler's gaze briefly intersected with Hermione's, exchanging understanding in those fleeting seconds.

Initially unnerved, Hermione steeled herself, maintaining a steady gaze. The slight challenge in her eyes did not escape Skyler's notice, and a small smile played on his lips. It seemed that Hermione had matured during the summer break.

Turning his gaze to Ron, Skyler noted with a wry smile that some things remained unchanged; Ron still exuded the essence of a carefree kid.

"Our friend, Ms. Granger is spot-on," Skyler commended. "Here's my take—will is consciousness, the willingness to forgo personal desires in pursuit of one's goals. For instance, they sacrifice sleep and leisure to secure good grades in exams. However," Skyler's eyes gleamed, his voice lowering, "it may also entail relinquishing a friendship to protect those close to you."

Skyler purposefully avoided looking in Hermione's direction, yet the image of Illuminating Insight vividly mirrored Hermione's red eyes and tightly pressed lips in his mind. Clearing his throat, he began, "Learning to combat the Illusion Curse requires introspection—what is your purpose in learning this? How much are you willing to sacrifice for it?"

"As you cultivate your consciousness, you lay the foundation to resist the Imperius Curse. The Imperius Curse aims to paralyze our reasoning and use our emotions to control us. The most effective strategy against it is to employ stronger emotions, breaking free from the opponent's dominance."

"When someone casts the Imperius Curse, you'll experience a light, fluttering sensation—an illusion of freedom. All you need to do is release your reason, relinquish control of your body, and embrace a certain spiritual freedom—a sense of pleasure."

"At that moment, contemplate the potential consequences for the person or thing you care about most. If you genuinely awaken—" Skyler paused, Meredith's face surfacing in his thoughts, causing a twinge of pain. However, his expression remained impassive as he continued, "You'll feel anger, unwillingness, and an intense, fanatical desire to break free from control."

"Personally, this is how I overcame the Imperius Curse—through sheer willpower."

Returning to awareness, Skyler noticed the awe-filled gazes of the surrounding young wizards.

"Magic is profoundly spiritual," he remarked casually. "A wizard's true power emanates from the heart." Glancing at Draco and Hermione, he added, "Once you've truly awakened and are willing to risk everything for it, I believe you've become a qualified wizard."

With that, he gracefully donned his Night Star Cloak and departed along the path the young wizards had willingly cleared for him.