"Wait, Edward, what's gotten into you? This isn't what we agreed on!"
Malfoy was the first to speak up.
He'd been banking on Edward stepping in to turn things around if he couldn't handle Potter himself.
He'd long realized Edward wasn't soone he could boss around like Crabbe or Goyle.
But one against five? That's not a duel, is it?
Co on, I'm supposed to be on your side!
"Don't look so shocked, Draco. Compared to Harry, I bet you've been itching to take on for a while now. Or did you forget what happened at Ollivanders?" Edward said calmly.
Malfoy's mind flashed back to over a month ago.
If he'd known how formidable Edward was, he'd never have provoked him.
But, he had to admit, Edward's words hit ho.
Compared to Potter, Malfoy's feelings toward Edward were a tangled mix of envy, jealousy, and frustration.
Sure, Edward saving his life had wiped the slate clean of past grudges, but a sliver of resentnt lingered.
Pride ran deep in the Malfoy bloodline.
One-on-one, he knew he'd lose. But with Potter, Weasley, and Granger on his side? Maybe…
Four against one—advantage: us!
Longbottom didn't count; he'd be more useful keeping watch.
Malfoy was stunned to realize he was actually considering Edward's proposal.
This guy's words were dangerously persuasive!
"Five of us against you? That's not how duels work!" Ron protested.
"And teaming up with Malfoy? How do I know he won't hex in the back?"
Ron's mind shifted gears fast. If they were here to duel, what did it matter how it happened?
His only worry was Malfoy pulling sothing sneaky.
"The noble Malfoy family doesn't stoop to backstabbing, right, Draco?" Edward said with a wink.
Malfoy instantly scrapped his plan to curse Harry from behind.
He'd completely forgotten the duel's original point: teaching Potter a lesson.
"Potter, Weasley, I'll show you the glory of the Malfoy na. Stay out of my way," Malfoy snapped, stepping out from behind Edward, shooting Ron a glare, then positioning himself behind Harry and Ron.
"Wait, hold on! I don't get you boys. Do we have to duel today? We could just go back to the common room!" Hermione whispered urgently.
"In case you forgot, all six of us are breaking school rules right now!"
"Oh, co on, Hermione. Who's the one always muttering about beating Edward in every class?" Harry said, shaking his head, already drawing his wand.
"This is your chance, Hermione! Don't you want to test Edward's skills yourself? It might be your only shot to beat him this term!" Ron chid in.
Even Neville nodded in agreent.
"Ugh, my stupid competitive streak," Hermione groaned, rolling her eyes. After a mont's hesitation, she drew her wand too.
Neville had already ducked behind a corner in the corridor, peeking out nervously.
He was stuck outside the common room for forgetting the password, but he had no interest in dueling. He barely knew how to use his wand.
"Looks like you're all on board. Great. Muffliato! *Protego Totalum!*"
Edward casually cast two spells, a faint ripple spreading outward.
He was making sure the noise didn't attract Filch or wreck the trophy room, even with the protective charms on the glass cases.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco gripped their wands tightly, eyes locked on Edward a short distance away.
They were still wrapping their heads around how they—people who couldn't stand each other—were suddenly fighting side by side.
But they didn't dare lose focus. They knew how formidable their opponent was.
Even if he was just a first-year like them.
Edward, though, looked completely at ease, a warm smile on his handso face. He hadn't even drawn his wand.
Outside, drifting clouds veiled the bright moon, dimming the light that had been spilling into the castle.
Shadows crept through the stained-glass windows, swallowing Harry and the others bit by bit.
Perfect timing!
"*Densaugeo!*" Malfoy unleashed a spell he'd been dying to hit Edward with.
"*Tarantallegra!*" Harry had just learned this one that afternoon.
"*Jelly-Legs!*" Ron knew this one from Fred and George's pranks.
"*Petrificus Totalus!*" Hermione had been studying this spell for weeks.
Four spells shot from their wands, hurtling toward Edward from different angles.
Harry and the others felt victory was in their grasp.
The spells fanned out, covering every direction in front of Edward at breakneck speed—so fast even they hadn't expected it.
But sohow, Edward drew his wand and sword with blinding speed.
"*Engorgio!*"
With a flick of his wand, he enlarged not an object, but his own straight sword.
The blade tripled in size, stretching nearly six feet, shielding Edward completely.
The spells struck the massive sword with a few crisp clinks, utterly ineffective.
The four young wizards froze, dumbfounded.
That actually works?
Edward didn't give them ti to react. Hoisting the giant sword onto his shoulder, he surged forward, Breathing Technique in full force.
"Stop him!" Draco yelped, panicking like a cornered dodo.
Harry and Ron were stunned. They'd seen Edward's speed before, but when it was aid at them, it felt like everything happened in a flash.
Only Hermione kept firing spells relentlessly.
But Edward targeted her first.
"*Incarcerous!*"
A thick rope shot from his wand, binding Hermione from head to toe, even gagging her mouth. Her wand clattered to the floor.
Harry and Ron panicked, their wands only shooting red and green sparks now.
Edward's movents were uncanny, as if he could predict their attacks. Every spell hit the broad side of his sword.
Malfoy, hiding behind the others, tried to sneak in a curse but was hit by a precise spell.
"*Expelliarmus!*"
His wand spun out of his hand.
Harry and Ron knew they were done for.
"We surrender! We surrender! You win, Edward!" Ron shouted, throwing his hands up high without a shred of sha.
Harry, though embarrassed, followed suit, raising his hands.
"Surrender? There's no surrender in a duel!" Edward roared, leaping forward, his giant sword swinging down.
The diagonal slash was wide enough to cover Harry, Ron, and Malfoy in one sweep.
Hermione, trussed up like a caterpillar, and Neville, watching wide-eyed, gasped, certain the three were about to lose their heads.
The three young wizards felt the hairs on their necks stand up, pinned by the overwhelming pressure, their minds blank.
The sword stopped inches from their faces.
The three collapsed onto the floor, shaking with relief.
"Now, do you understand what a real duel is?"
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