Friday evening draped the castle in calm. The usual daytime uproar had vanished as most of the students drifted back to their houses, settling in for a long night of chatter and relaxation—the weekend break finally within reach.
Inside the Dueling classroom, Ethan stood near the front, one hand resting lightly on the edge of the dueling platform. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were attentive. He watched as students filed in one by one.
Since the class consisted mostly of senior students, none of them came rushing or whispering loudly like younger years. They entered with composure. Confidence. Pride.
Each student greeted him in their own way.
"Good evening, Professor."
"Hello, sir."
He nodded in return, sometimes offering a quiet response.
"How are you today, Miss Watson?"
"Evening, Mr. Weasley."
"Good to see you, Miss Clearwater."
His voice held a calm, genuine warmth—inviting yet composed, never crossing into over-familiarity or aloofness. It was the tone that had quietly won him something extraordinary at Hogwarts: respect across every house.
The benches filled gradually. Robes rustled softly against stone; murmured conversations blended into a gentle background hum. Beyond the tall windows, the final light of autumn twilight slipped into dusk.
Ethan crossed the room to close the door.
It opened again before his hand touched the wood.
A small figure stood framed in the opening.
Professor Flitwick.
Behind him waited a presence that commanded the space without effort. Tall. Unmoving. Cold and precise as a blade hidden in frost.
Professor Amalai Crave.
Flitwick smiled up at Ethan, eyes shining with warmth.
"If you permit it," he said cheerfully, "Professor Crave and I were hoping to observe your class. We thought it might be… educational."
Ethan blinked once, then smiled easily.
"Of course. You are more than welcome. Honestly, I am glad you came. This class draws heavily from both of your fields. Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts are the foundation of what we practice here."
He stepped aside and gestured inward.
"Please."
Flitwick chuckled softly as he walked in, clearly delighted. Professor Crave followed in silence, his expression unreadable, his presence drawing attention like gravity.
The moment they entered, the room stirred.
Students whispered. Some straightened instinctively. Others exchanged glances.
Flitwick clasped his hands together happily.
"Oh, this takes me back," he said. "It has been quite a while since I sat in a classroom as a student rather than a professor."
He glanced at Crave.
"Come, Professor. Let us sit among them."
Crave gave a small nod and followed him to the back rows. They did not sit at the front like observers. They sat among the students. Watching.
The murmurs slowly faded.
Ethan closed the door and stepped forward to the center of the arena.
He faced the class.
"Well then," he said, voice steady. "Welcome back."
He let his gaze sweep across them. Gryffindor. Ravenclaw. Slytherin. Hufflepuff. All present.
"Today we have guests. Your professors. You already know them well. They are here to observe, not interfere. So try not to embarrass yourselves too badly."
A few students laughed quietly.
Ethan allowed a faint smile.
"Now. Before we continue with our regular training… I think we should begin with something more direct."
He paused, letting his gaze drift over the room. The students' eyes met his without surprise, steady and ready, just as he knew they would be.
"A duel."
The effect was immediate.
The room shifted. Backs straightened. Eyes lit up. The atmosphere thickened with excitement.
"Yes," Ethan continued calmly. "From now on, each week we will begin with a dueling session. One hour. Voluntary. Anyone may challenge anyone."
A ripple of energy spread through the students.
He raised a hand.
"However. This is not an excuse to bully weaker students. Choose your opponents wisely. But remember this. In the real world, you will not always choose your battles. Sometimes battles choose you."
Silence followed his words. The students sat quietly, waiting, their attention steady and complete as they looked to him.
Then he spoke again, more lightly.
"And let us be honest. None of you want to lose. Especially not to a rival house."
Now the room truly reacted.
Students glanced sideways. Some smirked. Others narrowed their eyes at familiar rivals.
Ethan folded his arms.
"So," Ethan said evenly, his gaze sweeping the benches, "who among you wishes to begin? Name the opponent you desire to challenge."
For a heartbeat, the classroom held its breath. No one stirred. Students glanced at one another—some shrinking from eye contact, wary of being called out, while others met gazes with playful, wicked smirks designed to rattle nerves. Finally, a single hand rose.
"Professor," a girl's voice said clearly. "I would like to challenge Hannah Selvanos. The head girl."
All eyes turned to her.
Cassia Malfoy stood tall in the room, chin raised with the effortless arrogance of someone who knew exactly how she appeared. Silver-blonde hair captured the light, turning it into a soft, cold halo.
Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Miss. Malfoy," he said calmly. "You wish to challenge the head girl."
Then he turned toward the front row.
Hannah Selvanos sat perfectly still and composed, her smile serene and almost amused at being challenged to duel. Silky dark hair drawn back in a neat tie, the Ravenclaw badge caught the faint light from the high windows and gleamed softly against her robes.
"Miss Selvanos," Ethan said. "Do you accept?"
Hannah rose smoothly.
"Of course, Professor," she said with a soft smile. "It would be rude to refuse. Especially when my house's honor is being challenged. And in front of my dean."
A few Ravenclaws chuckled quietly.
Cassia rolled her eyes at first, brushing off Hannah's talk of house honor as melodramatic. Then again Hannah made it clear: this duel would stand for the dignity of Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Cassia's gaze steadied and sharpened, determination settling in—she would meet the challenge on those terms.
The two girls stepped down into the arena.
They faced each other.
The shift in atmosphere was instant.
This was no longer a classroom.
This was a battlefield in miniature.
At the back, Crave clicked his tongue softly, irritation flickering across his face as his gaze settled on Cassia.
Flitwick leaned forward, eyes bright with interest.
"Well now," he murmured. "This should be quite something."
Ethan stepped between the two girls briefly.
"Rules," he said calmly. "No lethal spells. No dark magic. Everything else is permitted. If things become dangerous, I will intervene."
Both girls nodded.
Ethan stepped back.
"You may begin."
They raised their wands.
And for a heartbeat, the world held still.
Cassia spoke first, voice sharp with determination.
"I lost last week. This time I will win."
Hannah chuckled softly.
"You are adorable when you try so hard, junior. But don't worry. I will not go easy on you like last time."
The arena erupted in noise.
Students leaned forward, whispering, cheering softly. Ravenclaws rallied behind Hannah. Slytherins watched intensely, pride burning in their eyes.
Then it began.
Cassia struck first.
"Expelliarmus!"
A jet of red light burst forward.
Hannah twisted sideways with graceful motion. The spell skimmed past her shoulder.
In the same motion, she countered.
"Protego."
A translucent shield flared as Cassia fired again, chaining spells rapidly.
"Stupefy. Incarcerous."
Red light slammed into the barrier. Ropes lashed forward but struck the shield and unraveled.
Hannah's expression shifted slightly.
Approval.
Not mockery.
Cassia pressed forward aggressively, feet light, wand movements sharp and controlled. She was not reckless. She was trying to restrict her opponent from reacting to her attacks.
"Diffindo."
A slicing curse cut through the air.
Hannah dropped low, rolled, and flicked her wand upward.
"Impedimenta."
The jinx caught Cassia mid-step. She staggered but forced herself forward through sheer will.
The crowd exploded with reactions.
"She resisted it!"
"She looks beautiful."
"Okay, enough—focus on the duel!"
"Come on, when do we ever see our Head Girl move so seductively? Total Veela energy!"
"Hey! You creeps—talk about her like that again and I'll jinx you to kingdom come!"
"Shush, you loudmouth. Those girls will eat you alive. They basically worship Hannah."
"I know… but I worship her too." Exaggerated sigh.
"You're drunk, mate."
"Drunk on love's fine wine, my friend."
Flitwick's small eyes gleamed in the soft light of the dueling chamber.
"Excellent control," he whispered, barely audible above the hum of the room, his attention locked on every graceful flick and parry of his student's wand.
Hannah's gaze sharpened.
Now she moved.
Her style changed completely. Less reactive. More fluid and dangerous.
She stepped forward and unleashed a rapid sequence.
"Expulso. Tarantallegra."
The first spell struck the ground near Cassia, exploding stone fragments upward and forcing her back. The second hit her legs.
Cassia's feet jerked into frantic, uncontrollable movement.
Gasps echoed.
But Cassia reacted instantly.
"Finite."
The counterspell snapped the jinx away.
She retaliated immediately.
"Glacius!"
A stream of frost shot across the floor.
The arena surface iced over in seconds.
Hannah slid, balance disrupted.
Cassia's eyes flashed.
'Now.' As she thought.
"Stupefy!"
Hannah slammed her wand downward.
"Protego Maxima."
A stronger shield flared to life, deflecting the stunning spell in a burst of red sparks.
The ice beneath her cracked as she pushed off and leapt sideways, landing smoothly.
Now she was smiling.
Hannah's smile held no taunt. It was alive with thrill as she met her opponent's gaze.
Cassia caught the difference. She answered with a smile of her own, but it was sharp, cold, and deliberately cruel.
The duel rose to a new level.
Spells flew faster now.
Shields flared and shattered. Light flashed across stone walls. The arena echoed with impacts, footsteps, sharp breaths.
Cassia used the terrain cleverly, firing curses at angles, forcing Hannah to move where she wanted.
Hannah adapted just as quickly, using deflection instead of brute defense, redirecting spells with subtle wand work.
At one point, Cassia conjured a swarm of birds.
"Oppugno!"
They darted forward like arrows.
Hannah spun.
"Ventus."
A blast of wind scattered them instantly.
The students roared.
Even Ethan's eyes showed approval now.
This was not a reckless duel.
This was a chess match at full speed.
Cassia tried a feint next.
She fired low.
Hannah blocked low.
Then Cassia snapped her wand upward.
"Levicorpus."
The invisible force caught Hannah's ankle.
For a split second, she was lifted off the ground.
The room exploded in shock.
But Hannah reacted instantly.
"Liberacorpus."
She twisted midair, broke free, and landed in a crouch.
And when she stood, something had changed.
The warmth vanished from her expression.
Now she was serious. Truly serious.
Cassia raised her wand again anyway.
Because backing down was not an option.
They moved at the same time.
Cassia launched a rapid barrage.
Stunning spells. Binding curses. Cutting hexes layered together with surprising sophistication.
Hannah did not block them all.
She flowed through them.
Dodging. Redirecting. Breaking rhythm.
Then she stepped inside Cassia's casting range.
She was too close.
Cassia's eyes widened in surprise.
Hannah spoke quietly and coolly.
"Expelliarmus."
A precise, controlled disarming charm hit Cassia's wrist.
Her wand flew from her grip and clattered across the arena floor.
Silence fell over the classroom.
Heavy and absolute silence.
Cassia stood frozen, chest rising and falling.
Hannah lowered her wand slowly.
The duel ended.
The classroom burst into life.
A wave of cheers crashed against the stone walls. Sharp gasps cut through the noise. Applause rolled in waves, punctuated by buzzing, excited whispers.
Ravenclaws glowed with pride, shoulders back and smiles wide. A few Slytherins sat rigid, jaws tight with barely concealed frustration.
Cassia stared at her empty hand.
Then she exhaled slowly.
She lifted her chin slowly, her gaze locking onto Hannah. Her eyes were cold, sharp, and devoid of any trace of emotions.
"I will challenge you again," Cassia said, her voice quiet but carrying unbreakable firmness.
Hannah's smile remained gentle, though a teasing lilt colored her reply.
"I will always be waiting to teach my juniors."
From the back, Flitwick began clapping enthusiastically.
"Marvelous. Simply marvelous. That was a beautiful display of control and intelligence from both of you."
His eyes shone with genuine delight.
"Miss Malfoy, your aggression is impressive. But what pleased me most was your adaptability. You did not rely on brute force alone."
Cassia bowed her head slightly, flushed but proud.
Flitwick turned to Hannah.
"And Miss Selvanos. Masterful control over the situation. Precise, smart timing in every cast. Restraint in the moments that demanded it. And at the close, a flawless disarming spell. That is what dueling should be. You showed every one of us a perfect dueling mindset today."
Beside him, Professor Crave uttered not a single word.
His silence, however, was louder than any lecture.
His eyes remained locked on Cassia—cold, measured, and unmistakably displeased.
The message cut through the air: You lost. And you have embarrassed us.
Several Slytherins straightened instinctively, shoulders tensing under the chill of that gaze.
Cassia registered his look. But she held his gaze evenly, unmoved by his clear disapproval or the sting of his dissatisfaction with her loss. For a moment defiance flickered across her face, a quiet challenge. Then she straightened her shoulders once more.
To a Malfoy, surrendering pride in public would have been an unforgivable defeat—far worse than the duel itself.
At the front, Ethan stepped forward at last.
He picked up Cassia's wand and handed it back to her.
"Well fought," he said quietly.
Then he looked at both girls.
"This is what I expect from all of you. Intelligence. Control. Growth."
He turned to the class.
"Remember this moment. Not because someone won. But because both of them improved considerably compared to last week."
His gaze lingered briefly on the watching students.
"Now. Who is next?"