A hush fell over the Great Hall as everyone watched the stage, where Lockhart and Snape stood facing each other, wands at the ready.
"First, we must observe proper dueling etiquette. It's essential," Lockhart announced grandly.
The two bowed—or rather, Lockhart did. He embellished his movents with extravagant hand flourishes, looking more like he was performing for an audience than preparing for a duel. Kyle, who had seen Professor Flitwick demonstrate proper dueling etiquette at the Charms Club, couldn't help but roll his eyes. Lockhart's so-called "form" bore no resemblance to standard dueling at all. In fact, 99% of his hand movents seed invented, with no practical use.
In a real duel, anyone pulling off such moves would be a laughingstock. But here, at Hogwarts, it was just more theater, and so students actually cheered for Lockhart's showy display.
And then, three seconds later...
"Expelliarmus!"
A red flash shot from Snape's wand, and Lockhart was blasted backward off the stage, slamming into the wall before collapsing to the floor, clutching his stomach. His wand went flying, landing sowhere in the crowd behind Snape, who didn't even bother to catch it or glance in its direction.
The Slytherins burst into applause and cheers, clearly delighted. Lockhart scrambled to his feet and imdiately began muttering excuses.
The floor was too soft... the stage lighting had thrown him off... the atmosphere was simply too gloomy...
In short, he blad the venue, not his own lack of skill. Given a different setting, he assured everyone, the outco would have been different.
"I have to say, Lockhart's pretty quick on his feet," Cho giggled, covering her mouth. "He's able to co up with so many excuses in just a few seconds."
"That's a real talent," Cedric chuckled, barely able to keep a straight face.
By now, everyone had figured out that Lockhart was a fraud. Even though no one knew exactly how he'd fabricated the grand tales in his books, his pathetic performance at Hogwarts was proof enough. In comparison, even last year's Defense professor, Quirrell, had been more competent.
Lockhart finally wrapped up his excuses and, with a tight smile hiding his frustration, ended the demonstration. He glanced at Snape, whose expression was murderous.
"Thank you, Miss Brown," Lockhart said with forced cheer as he retrieved his wand from the crowd. "Now, let's move on to pairing everyone up for practice duels. Professor Snape, would you kindly assist?"
Snape, silent and scowling, stalked off the stage to start pairing students, a gesture that served as his reluctant agreent. He and Lockhart moved through the crowd, organizing students into pairs.
Before long, Lockhart reached Kyle's group.
"Ah, let's have the two young ladies here—Miss Chang and Miss Kanna—pair up," he announced. Next, he paired Fred and George, much to their amusent.
Cedric, eager to partner with Kyle, stepped forward, but Lockhart shook his head. "Now, now, Mr. Diggory, you're a year older, so that wouldn't be fair. You'll partner with Mikel instead."
Kyle suppressed a groan. "Professor, I'd prefer..."
Before he could finish, a silky voice interrupted.
"I think it would be unfair for soone who has defeated a werewolf and received the Order of rlin, Second Class, to duel against soone in his own year," Snape drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Surely, the youngest Order of rlin recipient should not trouble himself with an ordinary sixth-year student."
Lockhart hesitated, visibly uncomfortable. "But, Professor Snape, pairing him with soone three years above his level... that hardly seems appropriate."
Kyle tried to look uncertain, though inwardly, he was thrilled. If there was one person at Hogwarts he dreaded dueling with, it was Mikel—even more than Dumbledore or Snape. At least with a professor, he'd survive. But Mikel was another story entirely. His control over magic was alarmingly unpredictable, and Kyle still rembered the disastrous Lighting Charm incident back in first year.
Professor Sprout might have helped Mikel improve his spellcasting, but Kyle wasn't about to risk it. What if, in the heat of the duel, Mikel forgot everything he'd learned? The thought of facing Mikel's "forbidden charm" version of Expelliarmus was too horrifying to consider.
But now, thanks to Snape, he was off the hook. For the first ti, Kyle found himself silently thanking Professor Snape—he truly was a man who looked out for his students!
Fearing Snape might change his mind, Kyle didn't waste a second. "If that's what you want, Professor, I can give it a try," he replied smoothly.
"Very well," Snape replied icily. "Flint, step forward and show us all just how talented a recipient of the Order of rlin can be."
A murmur rippled through the Slytherins as Marcus Flint, their Quidditch captain, swaggered up to the front with a smug grin. He had nursed a grudge against Kyle since last year's Quidditch match, and now he finally had the chance to teach him a lesson.
"Oh, I'll take real good care of you," Flint sneered, his eyes glinting cruelly. The Slytherin Quidditch players behind him erupted in laughter.
Kyle gave a mild smile, looking completely unbothered.
"Uh-oh..." Fred whispered to Ginny beside him, "Better not get too close, Ginny, or you might get splattered with blood."
"Looks like Flint's got a soft spot for the Hospital Wing," George remarked, shaking his head. "He just got out and already wants to go back."
Ginny looked a bit alard. "But Kyle's got good grades in Charms, sure, but Flint's a sixth-year!"
"Ginny, you're new to Hogwarts. There's a lot you haven't seen yet," George said reassuringly, patting her shoulder. "Trust , you'll see soon enough."
Once all the students had their partners, Lockhart climbed back onto the stage. "Face your partners!" he called out. "Bow!"
"On the count of three, cast your spells. Rember, only the Disarming Charm!"
The students complied with Lockhart's instructions, but the mont the duels began, it was utter chaos. Spells flew in every direction, filling the Great Hall with bursts of colorful light like fireworks.
So of the younger students quickly abandoned their wands altogether, opting to throw fists instead, turning their duels into a free-for-all wrestling match.
Marcus Flint wasted no ti in casting a jinx directly at Kyle. "Furnunculus!"
"Protego!" Kyle's shield charm flared up instantly, and the jinx rebounded, flying back toward Flint.
"Engorgio Sku..." Kyle murmured, watching Flint with a calm expression.
Focused on preparing his next curse, Flint didn't even see the rebounded jinx until it slamd into his stomach. He staggered back, clutching his middle, as large scorch marks began to appear on his robes, causing him to collapse in pain.
"Disarming Charm only!" Lockhart's horrified voice echoed through the hall as he watched the mayhem unfold.
Snape, observing from the stage, rely shook his head. Kyle had demonstrated the Shield Charm last year for several students on the train. Flint, the fool, hadn't bothered to prepare. It was as if he had Longbottom's potions cauldron for a brain.
Seeing Kyle about to raise his wand again, Snape swiftly stepped forward and barked, "Enough! Finite!"
A green mist unfurled across the Great Hall, washing over the students and dissolving the effects of every spell. Flint scrambled to his feet, his face flushed with humiliation. He gripped his wand, ready to cast another spell at Kyle, but one of his teammates held him back.
"Calm down, Professor Snape's watching you," they warned.
Feeling the weight of Snape's cold gaze, Flint reluctantly lowered his wand, snorting with frustration as he stomped away.
"Is that it?" Fred sighed, looking disappointed. "Well, that was anticlimactic."
Nearby, Lockhart was weaving through the crowd, frantically assessing the damage.
"Stand up, Macmillan... Oh dear, broken leg... Miss Fawcett, press down hard on that cut, the bleeding will stop... Boot..."
Lockhart, looking completely rattled, gathered himself in the middle of the hall. "I don't think any of you understand what a duel is supposed to be!" he said in a trembling voice. This was definitely not how he'd envisioned things going.
"Perhaps another demonstration would help..." Lockhart scanned the room, his eyes reluctantly flicking toward Snape before darting away. "Who would like to join for another example?"
Snape's fingers twitched slightly as if restraining himself.
"We'll do it!" Flint shouted, springing forward and looking directly at Kyle with a nacing grin.
Kyle didn't hesitate; he t Flint's gaze calmly and stepped up onto the stage.
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