Chapter 57: The Dueling Club

At eight in the evening, the inaugural Dueling Club was about to begin. Augustus, Malfoy, Lilian, and Loki made their way to the Great Hall, where the long dining tables had vanished. A gilded stage now stood along one wall, illuminated by hundreds of floating candles. The ceiling had once again transformed into a velvety black night sky. The hall was packed with nearly every student in school, each holding their wand and brimming with excitement.

"I wonder who will be teaching us," Lilian mused, brushing her long hair back as they squeezed through the chattering crowd. She pressed her fingers to her forehead and added, "Someone told me that Professor Flitwick was a dueling champion in his youth. Maybe it'll be him."

Just as she finished speaking, Gilderoy Lockhart stepped onto the stage, clad in a dazzling magenta robe. He was accompanied by none other than Professor Snape, who wore his usual black attire. Lockhart raised his hands to silence the crowd and announced loudly, "Gather around! Can everyone see me? Can you hear me? Wonderful!"

"It's like this: Professor Dumbledore has graciously allowed me to establish this little Dueling Club to train you all in self-defense. You never know when you might need to protect yourself—just as I have done countless times. For more details, refer to my published works!"

He gestured grandly toward Snape and added, "May I introduce my assistant, Professor Snape. He tells me he knows a thing or two about dueling and has generously agreed to assist with a small demonstration. Don't worry—I promise to return your Potions Master to you unharmed after we're done!"

Augustus's eyes glimmered with a hint of amusement. A popular saying had been circulating through the school recently: If you don't court disaster, disaster won't come to you. It seemed perfectly fitting for Lockhart—assuming he survived this so-called demonstration.

Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed. At least, Lockhart bowed, adding unnecessary flourishes with his hands, while Snape merely gave a curt, impatient nod. Then, they raised their wands in the standard dueling stance.

"As you can see," Lockhart explained to the hushed crowd, "we hold our wands in the proper dueling posture. On the count of three, we cast our first spell. Rest assured, no one here is in mortal peril."

"I wouldn't bet on that," Harry muttered as he watched Snape bare his teeth.

"One—two—three!"

Both wizards slashed their wands upward.

"Expelliarmus!" Snape shouted.

A flash of bright red light surged forward, sending Lockhart flying off the stage. He slammed into the wall, crumpling to the floor in a heap.

Malfoy and several other Slytherins erupted in applause. Hermione, meanwhile, gasped, standing on tiptoe in alarm. "Do you think he's okay?" she squeaked, covering her mouth with her hands.

"Who cares?" Harry and Ron said in unison.

Lockhart staggered to his feet, his hat lost and his golden curls now standing on end. "There you have it!" he wheezed, wobbling back onto the stage. "That was a Disarming Charm—Expelliarmus! As you saw, I lost my wand. Ah, thank you, Miss Brown. Yes, wonderful move, Professor Snape. Though, if I may say so, your intent to disarm me was painfully obvious. If I'd chosen to counter, it would've been child's play!"

Snape's expression darkened ominously. Lockhart seemed to notice and hastily declared, "Demonstration over! Now, Professor Snape and I will each choose a skilled student to demonstrate a duel."

Without giving Snape a chance to respond, Lockhart announced, "Cedric Diggory, step forward! You'll be my representative. Professor Snape, you may choose someone to represent your side."

Lockhart's smug smile suggested he had utmost confidence in his choice. The Slytherin students booed loudly, jeering Cedric's selection.

Snape, however, merely smirked. "Augustus," he said smoothly, "step forward. Show Mr. Lockhart what true dueling skill looks like."

The Slytherins fell silent for a moment at the mention of Augustus's name before erupting into wild cheers. Even some students from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw joined in with applause.

Lockhart's face paled slightly at the enthusiasm surrounding Snape's choice. He beckoned Cedric over and nervously whispered a few pointers, performing exaggerated wand gestures that Cedric barely acknowledged. Cedric gave a polite but skeptical nod, clearly unimpressed by Lockhart's advice.

As Augustus and Cedric stepped into the dueling circle, Augustus remained silent, his calm gaze fixed on his opponent. Cedric's palms grew damp. Though he had never interacted with Augustus before, he was well aware of his reputation. From Augustus's legendary duel with the Head Boy to his critical role in protecting the Philosopher's Stone last year, everything pointed to him being a formidable opponent. Cedric resolved to act decisively, knowing hesitation could cost him the duel.

Without warning, Cedric cast the first spell—a Control Charm aimed at restricting Augustus's movement. A streak of blue light shot toward Augustus.

Augustus's lips curled into a faint smile. It seemed his opponent understood the importance of control over brute force—a sound dueling strategy.

With a flick of his wand, Augustus conjured a wind wall. The gale formed a swirling barrier in front of him, rustling his golden hair and billowing his robes. The blue light was caught in the turbulent winds and shredded into nothingness.

The crowd erupted in gasps and whispers. It was the first time many had witnessed silent casting, and the unfamiliar spell left even upper-year students, including Cedric, baffled.

Snape's eyes gleamed with approval. Such refined technique at Augustus's age was truly remarkable. Making Cedric his opponent seemed almost too easy.

Malfoy, watching from the crowd, grinned. A Tier-4 spell like the Wind Wall—perhaps he, too, could master it someday. As he basked in the admiring and envious stares of his peers, a peculiar sense of pride surged within him. He realized his life trajectory had fundamentally shifted since meeting Augustus. All he needed to do now was follow in Augustus's footsteps, no matter the challenges ahead, and pursue the ultimate truths of magic.

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