Professor Flitwick, relying on his mastery of charms, was the first to act, casting a Disarming Charm.
As the red light streaked toward him, Tver didn't respond with a Shield Charm. Instead, he sidestepped to the left, deftly avoiding the two consecutive spells that followed.
Yes—two spells.
At the same time, with a subtle flick of his wrist, a red beam shot from Tver's wand straight toward Flitwick. But that wasn't all. Flitwick suddenly felt a faint tremor beneath his feet, as if something were about to burst out of the ground.
Fully alert, he lifted his wand, conjuring a compact Shield Charm in an instant. He instinctively stepped forward—the outstretched hand emerging from the floor grazed his heel, narrowly missing him. It had been a Transfiguration spell.
In that same instant, his Shield Charm shattered, the transparent barrier flaring briefly with white light.
Watching from the sidelines, Professor McGonagall, serving as commentator, couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent! In just a few seconds, both have already displayed such refined spellcasting technique!"
Students: ?
Are we watching the same duel?
From their perspective, Professor Flitwick had fired a single spell, Professor Fawley dodged and counterattacked, and then Professor Flitwick blocked with a Shield Charm while stepping aside to avoid a Transfiguration spell. The only thing that amazed them was the sheer speed of the two professors' casting.
Professor McGonagall's eyes gleamed as she looked out over the students.
"Professor Flitwick actually cast two spells at once!" she said. "When two charms are fired directly in line, the first one obscures the second from view. If Professor Fawley had relied on just a Shield Charm, he wouldn't have blocked the second attack. Even if he had, the impact would have thrown him off balance, costing him the initiative."
"Professor Fawley's counterattack was equally remarkable—two spells in rapid succession, and a Transfiguration spell as well. By transfiguring only a hand, he minimized magical interference and achieved a perfectly timed surprise strike."
Students: ?
That was one red flash—how could it be two spells?! And that wrist flick—how could it release multiple kinds of magic?!
Their understanding of magic shattered completely.
All this time, they'd been taught that one incantation and one wand motion produced one spell. But now both professors were casting without clear gestures—sometimes almost wordlessly.
Flitwick, however, remained utterly focused, his concentration unwavering despite the students' confusion.
This had only been an opening exchange—a simple probe. He had thought his little trick might catch Tver off guard, but instead, he found himself the one under pressure.
What an extraordinary young man.
After several quick exchanges, Flitwick adjusted to the rhythm of combat, the old instincts from his dueling days coming back to life.
Soon, spells were flying everywhere, bursts of colored light flashing across the hall—each one intercepted by Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration.
The students quickly realized that their Transfiguration professor was also a master in her own right.
With a wave of her wand, she transformed the loose magic into fluttering birds that darted precisely through the air, dispersing stray spells with surgical accuracy.
Tver noticed the situation but could only sigh inwardly. Professor Flitwick's small stature made him an elusive target, and most spells missed entirely, scattering in every direction. His own low-angled shots often struck the ceiling instead.
So, he shifted his focus to Transfiguration.
Compared to standard spellwork, his skill in Transfiguration clearly surpassed even the Charms professor's.
"The whirling ropes are reinforced with a Binding Charm—textbook Transfiguration combined with spellwork," McGonagall narrated enthusiastically. "Seventh-year advanced Transfiguration students, take notes! Use something like this in your N.E.W.T.s, and you're guaranteed at least an Outstanding in both Transfiguration and Charms."
"A beautiful double-spell technique," she continued. "Few realize that charms can interact with one another. Professor Flitwick's Disarming Charm was affected by his own Levitation Charm, giving it an irregular trajectory that made it nearly impossible to predict."
"And did you see Professor Fawley's movement? He was adjusting his own position while cutting off his opponent's. Never focus solely on attack or defense—doing so will only put you on the losing end."
Under Professor McGonagall's vivid commentary, the young wizards finally began to grasp the subtle complexity hidden within what had seemed like ordinary spells.
The problem was—they couldn't perform a single one of them!
The third-years recalled their combat drills with Professor Fawley, their understanding of movement, spellcasting, and defense deepening as they watched.
Proudly, they repeated the lessons to students from other years. Though the material had already spread across the school, seeing it demonstrated in such a real and vivid way made everything click into place.
Professor, we want to learn that!
As the duel went on, even the most fundamental descriptions no longer sufficed to capture the precision and brilliance before them.
Spells filled the air, flashing one after another, and Professor McGonagall's commentary grew increasingly complex. Even the top seventh-years could barely keep up, their minds spinning as they tried to follow her words.
But one thing was obvious—Professor Flitwick was retreating!
With their limited knowledge, that was the only way most students could judge who had the upper hand.
In truth, the moment Tver began using Transfiguration, Flitwick had started to struggle. He had to defend against an unending stream of spells while also guarding against objects suddenly springing to life around him.
Like Professor McGonagall, Flitwick's command of Transfiguration was far from weak despite his focus on Charms. Yet against Tver, he was at a clear disadvantage—his own transfigured objects were being reversed and turned back on him, even used to attack him.
This boy's Transfiguration skill is extraordinary!
A bead of sweat rolled down Flitwick's forehead. He didn't dare wipe it away, letting it fall freely.
But in that brief moment, unseen by anyone, the droplet morphed from water into a fine, needle-like shape. It was almost invisible, but its presence could be felt clearly.
A sharp sting shot up his calf, and Flitwick's movements faltered for a fraction of a second.
At that instant, Tver smiled for the first time. With a swift twist of his wrist, he dispelled two incoming spells, while the others—charms shaped like tiny birds—circled agilely around Flitwick.
The sting alone wasn't enough to stop him. With his skill, Flitwick could still raise a Shield Charm to block attacks coming from one direction.
But birds attacking from every side were another matter entirely. Though their speed was slower, the sheer number of them made it impossible for him to respond to all at once.
Then, in the next second, a golden barrier enveloped his entire body. The birds struck it and bounced harmlessly away, their light scattering into shimmering fragments before the golden shield slowly faded from sight.
Both wizards lowered their wands at the same time.
You're not playing fair, kid.
Professor, you're the one bending the rules!
"A magnificent duel!"
Professor McGonagall's face was flushed with excitement, her wand trembling slightly as sparks flickered from its tip.
"Did you all see that?"
Students: See what exactly?!
"Filius's control over his charms has reached a level of pure instinct. Every spell he casts carries subtle variations," she explained with awe. "I'd wager you could spend an entire year studying just his Disarming Charm alone."
"And Tver's fusion of spellwork and Transfiguration—the way he reshaped magic itself—was a perfect harmony of both arts! A masterpiece!"
A seventh-year student hesitantly raised a hand. "Professor McGonagall… when do we get to learn that?"
"In your next life!"