That evening, the Duelling Club officially began.
At the entrance, Harry handed his registration form to Filch, who eyed him suspiciously for a moment. "Why are you only handing this in now?" Filch demanded.
"Is there a problem?" Harry countered.
Filch glared at Harry fiercely, then grudgingly took the form, ticking off a name on his list. As Harry entered the Great Hall, he noticed Madam Pomfrey standing by the door with a medical bag slung over her shoulder. Passing by, Harry overheard her muttering, "I'm definitely going to make Albus give me a raise. So many young wizards... if anything goes wrong, I'll be swamped..." Harry couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. Hermione quickly elbowed him in the ribs, then told Madam Pomfrey, "Thank you for your hard work, Madam Pomfrey."
Inside, the four long house tables had vanished, replaced by various soft mats. The chairs on the High Table were also gone, replaced by two incredibly lifelike dummy models. The Hall's windows had transformed into blackboards, continuously displaying various duelling scenes.
"Harry, look! That's Bud Olsen, this year's European Duelling Champion!" Hermione exclaimed, excitedly grabbing Harry's sleeve.
Harry clasped Hermione's hand in his. "Are you talking to me? Wasn't someone planning not to speak to me all day?"
Hermione swiftly pulled her hand away. "You're still talking about that!"
Harry raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, alright, I won't say another word, Miss Bossy and Argumentative Granger." Hermione felt like she must have a fever; why else would her face feel so hot? "It's all your fault!" Hermione said, glaring fiercely at Harry. Harry, seeing Hermione's bright red earlobes, wisely decided to remain silent.
Lockhart, clad in flamboyant lilac duelling robes, was standing on the teachers' dais, striking dramatic poses with Professor Flitwick, looking rather like a peacock flapping its wings. Harry noticed that Professor Flitwick had forgone his usual smart suit, opting instead for a practical, streamlined robe. Professor Flitwick also spotted Harry and took the opportunity to escape Lockhart, making his way over.
Harry and Hermione greeted him together. "Good evening, Professor Flitwick."
Professor Flitwick wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Good evening, Harry. I thought you weren't going to make it."
"Professor, is Lockhart truly in charge? Why isn't it you?" Harry asked curiously.
Professor Flitwick gave a wry smile. "Some girls aren't particularly interested in duelling magic, but Gilderoy can gather the entire school..." Thinking of the girls with their heads full of pink fantasies, Harry nodded empathetically. "Lockhart certainly has a knack for attracting attention." Hermione, though she agreed with Harry, didn't want to discuss one professor in front of another, so she could only offer an awkward smile.
"Sometimes I really don't want to admit Gilderoy graduated from Ravenclaw," Professor Flitwick said, noticing Hermione's strange expression and adding, "Miss Granger, I was only joking." After the Deathday Party incident, Hermione's attitude towards Lockhart had done a complete U-turn, but she hadn't expected even Lockhart's own Head of House to dislike him so much.
"Professor Flitwick, what did you say? It's too crowded here, I didn't quite catch it," Hermione said, shaking her head.
"Miss Granger, I recall you being quite a fervent fan of Lockhart's. What made you change your mind?" Professor Flitwick asked, surprised.
Hermione shook her head, not answering the question. Instead, she asked, "Professor Flitwick, is the wizard on the wall Bud Olsen? How did you get the footage of this duel? The papers said it was a secret duel."
Thankfully, Professor Flitwick didn't seem to mind Hermione's evasion. He glanced at the scene Hermione was referring to. "Though I haven't dueled in decades, I still have a bit of a reputation. I happened to be one of the witnesses to that particular duel."
"No wonder Headmaster Dumbledore put you in charge of the Duelling Club," Harry interjected.
Professor Flitwick shook his head. "Thank you, Harry. However, the Duelling Club's Head is Lockhart; I'm merely his assistant."
"In my heart, you're the one in charge of the Duelling Club," Harry said stubbornly, and Hermione nodded in agreement. Professor Flitwick burst into hearty laughter.
On the podium, Filch approached Lockhart with the list, said a few words, and then Lockhart boomed, "Filius, everyone's here."
"Harry, I must go, Gilderoy needs my assistance," Professor Flitwick said, then hurried off.
After a brief exchange with Flitwick, Lockhart tapped the podium with his wand. "Sonorus! Everyone, look this way, children!" Once everyone was silent, Lockhart made a theatrical bow. "It's an honour that Headmaster Dumbledore invited me to be the Head of the Duelling Club. I originally didn't wish to accept, as my work and writing have already left me quite dizzy. But for the sake of you young wizards better learning magic, I have accepted this responsibility..."
Boos erupted from the crowd, but Lockhart continued his speech undeterred. After a good while, Lockhart pointed to Professor Flitwick beside him. "And Professor Flitwick has volunteered to be my assistant. He'll help you all cast spells better in places I can't see. I hear this old chap is even a European Duelling Champion! Feel free to ask him any questions you have. Of course, you can ask me too, but I might not have the time."
Professor Flitwick could only offer an awkward smile. The boos from the audience grew louder. Lockhart then cleared his throat. "It seems you're all impatient! So today, we'll start with the very basics—the Disarming Charm!"
Lockhart demonstrated, raising his wand. "Like this, shout 'Expelliarmus!'" A weak, soft red light flew from his wand, hitting the dummy at a speed even Ron could have dodged. The dummy merely wobbled slightly when hit. Sparse applause followed, mostly from Lockhart's fan club. More people, however, booed. Even Professor Flitwick's lips twitched upward. George, leading the charge, shouted, "Professor, I didn't quite see that, could you do it again?"
Fred also loudly questioned, "Does that spell actually work? I feel like a punch would be more effective!"
Lockhart's face instantly turned green. He looked at Professor Flitwick with a pleading gaze. Professor Flitwick had no choice but to smooth things over. "Gilderoy is right, but I'd add this: the incantation needs to be quick! And you need firm resolve. Like this, 'Expelliarmus!'"
The students below only saw a flash of red light. The spell hit the opposite dummy with a "bang," sending it flying. The audience immediately applauded. Seeing the atmosphere restored, Lockhart shamelessly stepped forward again. "Now, everyone, pair up and practice. Be careful!"
Everyone immediately found a partner and enthusiastically began practicing. Harry levitated a thick mat over and enthusiastically told Hermione, "Hermione, let's start too. I can teach you this spell—"
"Wait, Harry. I need to understand the spell's principles first. I remember it's in this book..." Hermione pulled out a thick notebook from her bag and started reading. Seeing Hermione engrossed in her book, Harry could only idly observe the others practicing.
"Ah!" Ron screamed, falling to the ground. Seamus stood awkwardly with his wand. Predictably, Seamus had accidentally cast a Blasting Curse instead of a Disarming Charm, hitting Ron unexpectedly.
"I knew it, I knew it!" Madam Pomfrey stormed over, pulling out a bottle of dittany and applying it to Ron's injury.
"Everyone, be careful! Don't rush into casting spells, the prefects will be in charge of teaching you!" Professor Flitwick quickly announced, seeing the scene. Harry then noticed that prefects from all the houses were in the Great Hall, walking among the crowd, correcting the young wizards' casting stances. Older students were overseen by the Head Boy and Girl.
"Ginny, your stance is all wrong..." Percy told his youngest sister.
"Percy, come here!" George called out loudly, but Percy simply waved him off impatiently.
"Sometimes I really envy Ginny... Ow! Angelina, you cheated!" Fred merely muttered a few words before being hit by Angelina's spell.
"Marcus Flint! If you could only take your eyes off my chest, you wouldn't be worse than a Squib!" Gemma Farley scoffed derisively. Flint's face immediately turned a furious shade of purple. He mumbled a few words, but Gemma Farley had already walked away.
At this moment, Hermione finally put down her book. "Come on, Harry. I feel incredibly powerful now."
Harry raised an eyebrow at the confident Hermione. "Are you sure you're ready? If so—'Expelliarmus!'" With Harry's incantation, Hermione's wand immediately flew out of her hand.
"Hermione's wand to me!" Harry picked up the wand and handed it back to Hermione.
Hermione took the wand with a defiant look. "That doesn't count, it should be me casting on you—'Expelliarmus!'" Harry, already prepared, dodged Hermione's spell. "Hermione, your movements before casting are too obvious..."
"You stand still, let me see the effect first," Hermione said stubbornly. Harry had no choice but to stand still. After a flash of red light, his wand flew to the floor.
As Harry picked up his wand, he saw Professor Flitwick walking over. Professor Flitwick whispered to Harry, "Harry, there might be a demonstration segment later. I hope you can help out."
Harry nodded. "No problem, Professor." Having received Harry's affirmative reply, Professor Flitwick hurried off again.
Just then, Malfoy approached with Crabbe and Goyle, a familiar sneer on his face. "Well, well, the Boy Who Lived. Truly the Charms Master's favourite. Even at the Duelling Club, old Flitwick is still looking out for you."
Harry looked at Malfoy with surprise. "Did you take the wrong potion today? You actually dare to provoke me? Didn't the last petrifying curse teach you enough of a lesson?" Malfoy's face immediately flushed crimson. "Potter! I warn you—"
"Are you sure you want to practice with me?" Harry raised his wand, and the surrounding students quickly stepped back, clearing a space. Lockhart happened to walk over. Noticing the situation, his eyes lit up, and he yelled, "Excellent! Let's see a duel between two champions—Mr. Malfoy, use the stance I taught you!"
Malfoy completely ignored Lockhart the clown, stood his ground, spat out a few threats, then slunk away in embarrassment.
"Mr. Malfoy might have suddenly gotten a stomach ache," Lockhart awkwardly explained amidst the students' jeers. He then pointed at Wood and Flint. "But no matter, let's see the results of these two champions' practice!"
Meanwhile, Wood and Flint had somehow collided. Hearing Lockhart's words, Flint immediately glared fiercely at Wood, who glared back defiantly. After a roar, both of them simultaneously threw down their wands and began to brawl.
"Stop it, both of you! I told you to use the Disarming Charm," Lockhart said futilely from the side.
"Professor, quickly stop them!" Parvati reminded him.
Lockhart seemed to snap out of a daze. He finally pulled out his wand, trying to do something, but after a clumsy fumble, he produced a mirror instead. Lockhart laughed awkwardly. "A small mishap has occurred." But everyone was busy watching Wood and Flint fight, and no one noticed the mirror in Lockhart's hand.
"Rubbish, you don't even deserve it!" Flint roared, punching Wood in the nose. Wood took the blow head-on. He ignored his bleeding nose and returned a heavy punch to Flint's stomach. Flint let out a pig-like shriek of pain, then punched Wood in the face again.
"Go on, Wood! Beat those blasted Slytherins!" George shouted loudly.
"Flint, don't you dare lose to Gryffindor!" the Slytherin students shouted back. The onlookers immediately split into three groups: Gryffindor and Slytherin hurled insults at each other while cheering on their house Quidditch captains, while Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students stood by, observing coolly. The two continued to trade blows, one punch after another, as if engaging in some kind of gentlemanly duel.
Meanwhile, Gemma Farley, a Slytherin prefect, stood among the Ravenclaw crowd.
Professor Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey finally arrived. "Separation Charm!" Professor Flitwick used a spell to separate the two, and Madam Pomfrey quickly stepped forward to examine their injuries. Seeing them finally separated, Gemma Farley let out a sigh of relief, and her tightly gripped wand hand quietly relaxed.
"Thank you very much, Filius," Lockhart said, wiping non-existent sweat from his forehead. "Though I could have separated them myself, I believe..." The surrounding young wizards' boos drowned out the rest of Lockhart's words.
"I thought you'd give Malfoy a good thrashing," Fred said, having appeared at Harry's side at some point. He sounded disappointed.
"Considering he provided the vodka, I cut him some slack," Harry explained. Hearing Harry say this, Fred frowned. He hadn't realized the vodka Ginny gave him was supplied by Malfoy.
"Malfoy has Muggle alcohol? Harry, are you sure?" Fred asked.
"You didn't know? Didn't you give me the vodka?" Harry asked, surprised.
Fred hesitated for a moment, then decided not to mention Ginny. "Harry, are you sure it was Malfoy who provided the vodka?"
"I'm certain, because I saw the same kind of drink at Hagrid's," Harry paused, then continued, "I can't tell you the specifics, if you want to know, ask Hagrid."
Fred nodded. "Thank you, Harry." With that, he hurried off to find George. Harry shrugged, not bothering with the story behind the vodka, and turned his attention back to teaching Hermione the spell.
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