A Demonstration

"Is it the power of those rings?" Snape frowned, his eyes fixed on the ten delicate rune rings adorning Lockhart's hand. Suddenly, a realization dawned on him.

Turning his head, Snape observed Luke and Hermione in the corner of the classroom, the young Slytherin and Gryffindor couple engrossed in conversation and laughter.

It struck him then.

Luke and Hermione also possessed identical rune rings on their hands.

Though he couldn't decipher the meaning of the ancient runes inscribed on them, Snape recognized their significance.

Lockhart's ten rings bore different runes, each unique.

Could they signify ten distinct spells?

Snape harbored a suspicion, one that seemed to align with reality.

"Cough-cough-"

Meanwhile, Lockhart, recovering from his shock, opened his eyes to witness the blue light emanating from the ring on his finger. He couldn't help but feel a surge of elation. "Six seven three," he muttered, acknowledging the efficacy of Geralt's craftsmanship.

Had it not been for the ring, Snape's lethal strike would have rendered him incapacitated.

With this realization, Lockhart directed a scrutinizing gaze towards Snape, who sat opposite him, wand in hand.

It was a revelation. Who would have thought that Snape, known primarily as a potions professor, possessed such formidable spellcasting prowess?

Lockhart's palms clenched with determination. He had already tested the capabilities of the ten rings above and knew them inside out.

"I have to admit, Professor Snape is still very formidable," Lockhart forced a smile, trying to save face. "But, it was evident that I wasn't giving it my all just now."

"The duel starts now!" Lockhart announced, snapping his fingers under Snape's frosty stare. A ring shimmered, and a cascade of fiery flames engulfed him.

"Nice ring," Snape remarked, eyeing the blazing inferno and then glancing at the rings with surprise.

"Didn't expect even Vulcan to be carved into it? And these rings are products of alchemy..." Snape mused.

"Blasting Curse!" Snape seized the moment, his wand targeting Lockhart amidst the flames.

Even with ten rings, Snape thought, Lockhart's dueling skills are sorely lacking, evidenced by how easily Snape's spell intercepted Lockhart's wand movement.

"It's futile. I still have this," Lockhart chuckled confidently, renewing his Iron Armor Charm.

A ring can be reused multiple times, but the Iron Armor... Snape narrowed his eyes, swiftly casting the Invisibility Shield spell. A green light pierced through the flames toward Lockhart.

"It's Shenfeng Wuying!" Hermione exclaimed, recognizing the spell she had been practicing for a week, though puzzled by Lockhart's defensive strategy.

"Why didn't he use those flames offensively or counter with a levitation spell against Snape?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Who knows what Lockhart, the self-proclaimed wizard extraordinaire, is thinking. He's engulfed himself in flames, offering no defense against spells," Luke remarked dryly.

"Lockhart is about to lose," Luke added quietly, observing the limitations of Lockhart's ring, which could only withstand the Iron Armor Charm twice, and even then, the second application was unstable.

Against Snape's Shenfeng Wuying, Lockhart's chances were slim.

"You're finished," Lockhart began confidently, but before he could finish his sentence, his body lurched and he was thrown backward, crashing into the nearby wall.

The Iron Armor Charm shattered along with the ring, unable to withstand the force of Snape's spell.

Lockhart staggered to his feet, blood trickling from his nose.

"I didn't even see you use the other eight rings," Snape remarked coldly as he levitated Lockhart upright.

"The ring is impressive, but it's not your power."

Lockhart struggled to regain his composure, his smile strained under the weight of Snape's unexpected prowess.

"You see, this was all planned... I negotiated with Professor Snape. That spell you just witnessed was the Flip and Disarm technique, which you'll learn next," Lockhart attempted to salvage his reputation.

"Liar. That wasn't a flip in the air," Hermione interjected softly, her skepticism palpable.

"Whatever he says, it's quite pitiful," Luke observed quietly, watching Lockhart's forced smile with a mixture of sympathy and disbelief.

Despite his collection of ten magical rings, Lockhart couldn't withstand even five moves from Snape. He appeared utterly ineffectual.

"Alright then, pair up and take your positions on the stage," Lockhart announced, still visibly embarrassed with blood trickling from his nose.

Unable to cast spells until his nose healed, Lockhart had suffered a humiliating defeat. One of his Iron Armor Spell rings had been damaged in the process. Perhaps he would need to visit Luke to purchase replacements; after all, they could be lifesaving.

"Alright, let's begin!" Lockhart declared sullenly, signaling the start of the wizarding duel.

"Fluensia!" Harry exclaimed, casting his spell directly at Malfoy.

The downside of vocal spells became evident; shouting them telegraphed the caster's intentions.

"Levitate!" Malfoy swiftly dodged and retaliated.

Harry was hurled backwards, crashing heavily onto the stage.

As the dust settled, a small, piebald snake emerged, surprising many nearby.

"Oh, a snake?" Lockhart remarked to Snape, seeking acknowledgment, but Snape ignored him completely, lost in his own thoughts.

As Harry lay dazed on the ground, Snape declared Geralt the winner of the match.

.....

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