"This is completely unfair! How is this even duelling?"
Hermione's voice carried sharp worry as she watched Professor Kahn step forward into the makeshift arena. Her earlier admiration for Lockhart had long since curdled into disgust, but his current behaviour still managed to shock her with its shaless audacity.
"Exactly! If he can't fight back, isn't he just standing there getting beaten up?" Ron's face flushed red with indignation. "I can't believe Professor Kahn actually agreed to those ridiculous terms!"
Yet their beloved Care of Magical Creatures professor appeared remarkably relaxed as he strolled casually toward the centre of the hall. He hadn't even bothered to draw his wand, walking with the unhurried confidence of soone heading to afternoon tea rather than a magical duel.
Observing that his opponent hadn't even produced a weapon, Lockhart's practised smile flickered with montary uncertainty.
Was this young upstart truly looking down on him to such an extent?
"Haha! It seems Professor Kahn is feeling quite confident. Excellent! For proper duelling, a relaxed mindset is absolutely crucial!"
Though his voice maintained its cheerful timbre, anger simred beneath Lockhart's polished exterior. After executing a theatrical bow toward his younger colleague, he didn't wait for Evans to ready himself before levelling his wand directly at the man's chest.
"Stupefy!"
Deep crimson light erupted from Lockhart's wand tip, but just as the stunning spell was about to strike its target, silver-white brilliance flashed through the air. Evans vanished from his original position like morning mist, reappearing in an open area several tres away. He looked completely at ease, even going so far as to stifle a delicate yawn.
"Impedinta!"
"Confringo!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Two minutes elapsed in rapid succession, and beads of perspiration began forming on Lockhart's increasingly flushed forehead. He desperately tried to lock onto his opponent's position, but regardless of which spells he employed, none could so much as graze Evans's robes. The young professor moved like quicksilver, always one step ahead of every curse.
These two minutes of futile combat allowed Evans to thoroughly assess Lockhart's capabilities, and the evaluation was less than impressive.
Calling him completely worthless would be unfair. His spell work showed competent fundantals, and he demonstrated occasional tactical awareness during their exchange. In terms of pure duelling ability, he marginally exceeded typical Hogwarts graduates, though not by any significant margin. Even a freshly recruited Auror would vastly outclass his limited skills.
Such diocre abilities were woefully inadequate for a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.
After effortlessly sidestepping another poorly aid hex, Evans shook his head with growing disinterest.
Ti to end this embarrassing farce.
As the seconds ticked by, Lockhart's anxiety reached fever pitch. He couldn't determine whether any journalists lurked among the assembled students, but he knew with absolute certainty that losing to soone so much younger would provide delicious fodder for the scandal-hungry press.
What if he employed a mory Charm? Just enough power to disorient his opponent montarily...
Just as he began contemplating more underhanded tactics, Lockhart discovered that his elusive target had completely vanished from sight.
The next instant, sothing cold and sharp pressed against the vulnerable skin of his throat, while Evans's voice whispered directly into his ear with deadly calm.
"I haven't used any offensive magic. That shouldn't count as cheating, should it?"
"N-no... not cheating at all..."
Terror transford Lockhart's voice into a strangled squeak. He didn't dare move so much as a muscle, paralysed by the fear that Professor Kahn might accidentally slip and open his throat. Even wizards possessed limited defences against certain physical thods. Perhaps true Transfiguration masters could transform a blade into harmless flowers before it touched their skin, but Lockhart harboured no illusions about his own inadequate abilities.
"Um... Professor Kahn..." He attempted to swallow, his Adam's apple moving carefully against the cold steel. "Perhaps we could..."
Before he could complete the thought, Evans released a low, sardonic chuckle. The threatening pressure disappeared from his neck as the mysterious object was pressed into his trembling palm.
"Hold onto this, Professor Lockhart. After all, it's your bread and butter."
The surrounding students erupted in thunderous cheers and applause. Footsteps gradually faded as Evans departed from the designated duelling area, leaving Lockhart alone in his confusion.
After several seconds of stunned paralysis, Lockhart finally looked down at his shaking hand.
Under the warm glow of the floating chandeliers, the object in his grasp caught the light with an innocent silver gleam.
It was nothing more than an ordinary dining spoon.
Amid the students' continued celebration, Evans returned to Snape's side with casual satisfaction.
"That's it?" Snape's sideways glance carried distinct disappointnt. "I was expecting sothing more... dramatic."
"I originally intended to be more aggressive," Evans replied, studying Lockhart's frozen form with mild disinterest. "But I suddenly realised how pointless it would be. What's the satisfaction in defeating soone who can't distinguish between a knife and a spoon?"
"True enough." Snape's expression twisted into a mask of cold amusent as he shifted their conversation to other matters.
After nearly a minute of mortifying silence, Lockhart finally processed what had occurred. His trademark smile returned, though it appeared notably strained around the edges.
"Ahem! Professor Kahn's duelling technique is certainly... adequate. However, I believe everyone present could see that I was rely holding back for educational purposes. If I had truly exerted my full capabilities, he wouldn't have posed any real challenge whatsoever..."
His voice grew progressively quieter as he realised the students below weren't listening to his desperate explanations. Instead, they were engaged in animated discussions about the demonstration they'd just witnessed.
"The magic Professor Kahn used wasn't Apparition, was it?"
"That was Flash Step! I heard Professor Kahn teaches that technique to students he recognises, but only if they join his Magical Creatures Club!"
"My God! That club is incredibly exclusive! But for magic like that, I'd be willing to try anything!"
"First you'd need to find a magical creature willing to bond with you..."
As the conversations grew louder and more excited, Lockhart could no longer tolerate being so thoroughly ignored. He clapped his hands sharply, barely managing to recapture the students' wandering attention.
"Alright! Our demonstration concludes here. Next, I'll divide you into pairs so everyone can experience the exhilarating art of duelling firsthand!"
He moved to implent random opponent assignnts based on year groups, but a familiar voice interrupted his plans.
"I think random assignnt might not be the wisest approach."
Turning in surprise, he discovered that the young professor who had just humiliated him had sohow materialised behind him once again.
"Lower-year students lack sufficient duelling experience to begin with. Random opponents might make them feel overly restricted and discouraged."
Evans's gaze swept across the assembled crowd with knowing amusent. "As for the upper years..."
His attention lingered on the Slytherins and Gryffindors who were eyeing each other with the hungry anticipation of long-separated lovers finally granted permission to reunite.
"I suspect they all have very specific opponents they'd prefer to face."
As his words settled over the crowd, countless excited shouts imdiately rose from the older students.
"Absolutely, Professor!"
"I've been waiting ages to teach him a proper lesson!"
"Finally, a chance to settle so scores!"
The hall erupted in enthusiastic agreent as house rivalries and personal grudges suddenly found a legitimate outlet.
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