Chapter 50 "Unwinnable Duel"

As Cassandra looked on helplessly, a wooden door materialized on the once-vacant wall, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Wentworth offered an explanation, "This is the Room of Requirement. All you need to do is concentrate, envision the setting you require, and walk back and forth in the corridor three times. The room will then manifest."

With that, Wentworth pushed open the wooden door and entered the Room of Requirement.

Cassandra hesitated momentarily before following suit.

Inside, they found a spacious area with a standard dueling arena at its center.

The miraculous sight left Cassandra awestruck as she scanned her surroundings.

Not long after Cassandra and Wentworth stepped into the Room of Requirement, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape appeared outside the room.

"Severus, how did you come to know that Cassandra was planning a duel with Wentworth tonight?" Professor Dumbledore inquired, his gaze fixed on the blank wall.

Professor Snape responded, slightly puzzled, "Given Cassandra's history, I was concerned something might happen to her. I had the students keep an eye on her. Her duel with Wentworth was an unexpected bonus."

"Even though Wentworth deliberately suppresses his abilities during the Hufflepuff-Slytherin duel, we can still discern Cassandra's prowess. We'll simply wait here and deduce Wentworth's current spell level based on the outcome of their duel," Professor Snape explained.

Listening to Professor Snape's rationale, Professor Dumbledore nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, the wooden door reappeared on the previously blank wall.

Professor Dumbledore remarked, "The duel has concluded more swiftly than anticipated. They should be emerging shortly."

As Professor Dumbledore spoke, he and Professor Snape vanished from view.

Soon, the wooden door swung open from the inside, and Cassandra exited the Room of Requirement, her expression seething with anger.

Without looking back, she stormed away, her cheeks flushed crimson.

Shortly after that, Wentworth emerged with a sheepish expression, covering his eyes as he hurriedly followed Cassandra.

He repeated her name softly as though seeking to explain, but Cassandra continued walking, ignoring him.

Once Wentworth and Cassandra disappeared from view on the eighth floor of Hogwarts Castle, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Snape reappeared.

"So, who emerged as the victor?" Professor Snape inquired, his expression conflicted.

Professor Dumbledore shook his head, his reply uncertain. Turning, he headed toward his headmaster's office, stating, "Let's convene and discuss it. You investigated the scene earlier today, correct?"

Professor Snape followed, and the two went to Professor Dumbledore's office together.

"Based on my investigation and input from the Ministry of Magic's Aurors, traces of dark magic were indeed present at the scene. However, I doubt it's the work of Death Eaters," Professor Snape reported.

As they conversed, they entered Professor Dumbledore's office.

Meanwhile, when Wentworth returned to the Hufflepuff common room, it was bedtime for everyone.

Cedric and Prefect Green hadn't retired to their dormitories and were waiting in the common room.

Observing Wentworth's return, Cedric and Prefect Green approached.

"How did it go, Wentworth? You...oh my...what happened to your eye?" Cedric exclaimed upon seeing Wentworth's left eye.

Meanwhile, Prefect Green giggled.

"It's pretty clear Cassandra gave you a punch!"

Grinning mischievously, Prefect Green leaned in, sniffing as he spoke.

"How can you tell it was a punch? Maybe it's some kind of strange magic?" Cedric inquired, his curiosity piqued.

Confidently, Prefect Green replied, "Don't worry, Cedric. I can never mistake that smell. My mother often uses it on my dad!"

"But I'm curious, Wentworth. What on earth did you do to provoke Cassandra into punching you directly? Considering how you treat other girls..."

Before Prefect Green could finish his sentence, Wentworth waved his hand dismissively and announced, "Yawning, I'm exhausted. I'm heading to bed."

With that, he brushed past the two and headed for his bedroom.

Left behind, Cedric was baffled, while Prefect Green wore a sly grin.

Wentworth and Cedric sat at the long Hufflepuff table for breakfast the next morning.

It was widely known that Wentworth had somehow managed to upset Cassandra the previous night, but details remained a mystery.

"Prefect Green, mark my words, I'll find a way to get back at him sooner or later," Wentworth muttered resentfully as he observed Prefect Green describing the comical incident of Wentworth's return last night to the amused Hufflepuff students.

At that moment, a fleet of owls swooped in, drawing the students' attention.

Items and letters were deposited haphazardly on the long Hogwarts table, splattering food and vegetable soup.

The latest edition of the Daily Prophet was among the letters sent by various families of Hogwarts students.

However, given Wentworth's disdain for a particular unscrupulous Daily Prophet reporter in his past life, he abstained from reading the newspaper and wasn't subscribed to it.

Soon, a chorus of exclamations erupted throughout the hall as students clustered around the Daily Prophet.

They then turned their attention to Slytherin, whispering amongst themselves.

Noticing the commotion, Wentworth furrowed his brow.

However, before he could investigate further, Prefect Green approached with a solemn expression, holding a copy of the Daily Prophet.

"Senior, what's going on?" Wentworth inquired as Prefect Green came.

Holding the newspaper, Prefect Green sighed and lowered the cover, revealing the front-page headline:

"Head of the Auror Office Attacked: Condition Unknown!"

As Wentworth read the headline, he finally understood what had occurred with Cassandra the previous day.

After all, Cassandra had repeatedly mentioned her father's position as head of the Auror Office at the Ministry of Magic.