Chapter 304: Kyle's Most Feared Opponent
Chapter 304: Kyle's Most Feared Opponent
The hall fell silent as everyone fixed their eyes on the stage, where Lockhart and Snape stood facing each other.
"First, let's go over the dueling etiquette, which is essential."
The two bowed to each other... or at least Lockhart did, with a flourish of his hands, adding in some fancy moves.
Kyle recalled the standard dueling etiquette demonstrated by Professor Flitwick in the Charms Club. Lockhart's elaborate hand gestures, however, bore no resemblance to the proper form.
In fact, ninety-nine percent of those flashy hand movements were useless, or one might say, entirely of Lockhart's own invention.
Anyone attempting such antics in a real duel would be ridiculed endlessly.
But here at Hogwarts, it seemed to matter little.
Lockhart's slick combination of moves even earned him a round of applause from some of the students.
However, three seconds later...
"Expelliarmus!"
A dazzling red light flashed, and Lockhart was sent flying backward off the stage, crashing into the wall before sliding down to the floor, clutching his stomach and curling up.
His wand spun through the air, heading straight for Snape.
But Snape made no move to catch it, not even glancing at it as it flew past him into the crowd behind.
The Slytherins erupted in cheers and applause.
Lockhart picked himself up from the floor, mumbling and making excuses.
He complained about the softness of the floor, how it distracted him, the oppressive color of the sky...
Anything and everything but his own lack of skill.
"You have to admit, Lockhart's quick on his feet with those excuses," Autumn said with a giggle, covering her mouth. "He came up with so many in just a few seconds."
"It's a talent, I suppose," Cedric replied, struggling to keep a straight face.
It had become evident to them within a month of school starting that Lockhart was all show and no substance.
While they couldn't fathom how he'd managed the exploits described in his books, his performance at Hogwarts left much to be desired. He couldn't even hold a candle to last year's Quirinus.
At least Quirinus could answer most of the students' questions.
As Lockhart finished making his excuses, the demonstration came to an end, Snape's expression cold and deadly.
"Thank you, Miss Brown," Lockhart said, retrieving his wand. "Now, I'll pair you up in twos. Professor Snape, if you would be so kind..."
Snape said nothing but turned and walked off the stage, indicating his agreement.
They began moving through the crowd, pairing students together.
Soon, Lockhart reached Kyle and his friends.
"How about pairing the two ladies together..."
Autumn and Connor found themselves paired up, followed by Fred and George.
Cedric had wanted to partner with Kyle, but Lockhart deemed it unfair due to their year difference and pulled Mikkel over instead.
Kyle's eyes twitched at the corners.
"Professor, I think..."
Before he could finish, a sneering voice cut in.
"I believe that for someone who has defeated a werewolf and earned the second-level Order of Merlin, it would be unfair to duel someone from the same year."
Snape drew out the words. "As the youngest member of the Order of Merlin, a mere sixth-year student shouldn't pose any challenge for you."
Lockhart hesitated, "But Professor Snape, dueling across three years... it doesn't seem quite appropriate."
Kyle feigned reluctance, but in truth, he was fighting the urge to burst out laughing.
If there was one person in the entire school Kyle wanted to avoid dueling, it was Mikkel. He ranked even higher on that list than Dumbledore and Snape.
Dueling a professor meant little chance of victory, but at least he'd walk away alive. With Mikkel, there were no such guarantees.
His control over magic was the biggest wildcard. Kyle still remembered the stunning spell from their first year, a display that had left everyone in awe.
While Professor Sprout had corrected that issue, Kyle wasn't willing to gamble.
What if, in the heat of the duel, Mikkel forgot everything he'd learned and unleashed a 'curse' version of Expelliarmus? Kyle had no desire to find out.
But now, it seemed his problem had been solved.
Professor Snape... truly a teacher who cared for his students! Afraid he might change his mind, Kyle hesitated only a second before speaking up. "If this is your arrangement, Professor... I'll give it a try."
During the Quidditch match last year, he had taken a disliking to Kyle and wanted to teach him a lesson, but he hadn't found the opportunity to do so until now.
Little did he know that his wish would come true in this place.
"I'll take good care of you," he said with a cruel smile, baring his teeth.
Behind him, several Slytherin players also burst out laughing.
Kyle smiled too, gently and harmlessly.
"Tsk tsk..." Fred suddenly whispered to Ginny, "Don't stand too close later, or you'll be splattered with blood."
"Looks like this Flint guy really likes the school hospital," George also shook his head, "He just got out, and now he wants to go back for a visit."
"Are you guys crazy?" Ginny said worriedly, "Kyle has excellent grades, but that Flint is a sixth-year student!"
"Ginny, you're just a first-year, there's a lot you don't know yet."
George patted her on the shoulder, "Trust me, you won't be thinking that way in a moment."
After everyone had found their duel partners, Lockhart returned to the stage.
"Face your partners." he shouted, "Bow!"
"I'll count to three, then release your spells, remember, it's just disarming..."
Everyone followed his instructions, but the subsequent dueling completely caught Lockhart off guard.
It seemed like everyone had forgotten his earlier words.
In the Great Hall, spells flew left and right, and colorful lights flashed like fireworks.
Some of the younger students even threw a couple of symbolic spells before discarding their wands and engaging in fistfights.
Marcus Flint was no exception, as he ruthlessly cast an evil curse at Kyle.
"Incinerate!"
"Armor Charm!"
A streak of red light was deflected just inches away from Kyle.
"Skull-Exploding Curse..."
Marcus Flint, who was preparing a second evil curse, couldn't dodge in time and was hit in the stomach by the red light.
"I said, just disarm!" Lockhart shouted anxiously at the dueling crowd.
Marcus Flint knelt on the ground, his body starting to show large scorched marks from the effects of his own spell, causing him to roll on the ground in pain.
On stage, Snape watched coldly.
Last year on the train, Kyle had skillfully cast the Armor Charm in front of many students, and that idiot Marcus had been completely unprepared.
One would think his brain had just been scooped out of a cauldron in Lunabad.
As he saw Kyle raise his wand, Snape immediately took over Lockhart's authority.
"Everyone, stop!" he shouted.
"Spell Binding Curse!"
A greenish mist spread throughout the Great Hall, neutralizing the effects of all spells in its path.
Marcus Flint climbed to his feet, and as he thought about what had just happened, he was filled with shame and anger. He raised his wand again, ready to strike at Kyle once more.
However, someone pulled him back.
"Calm down, Professor Snape is watching you."
Noticing Snape's icy gaze from the stage, Marcus came to his senses. He lowered his wand and left with a cold huff.
"That's it?" Fred pouted disappointedly, clearly unsatisfied with the outcome.
On the other side, Lockhart was hopping around in the crowd, assessing the aftermath of the duels...
"Get up, MacMillan... Damn, his leg's broken... Miss Fawcett, squeeze tighter, the bleeding will stop soon... Butt..."
"I think you don't understand the meaning of a duel." Lockhart said anxiously to the students in the Great Hall.
This was not at all what he had envisioned, as the students blatantly disregarded his instructions!
"Perhaps I should demonstrate again..." Lockhart glanced at Snape and quickly averted his gaze, "Who wants to come up and demonstrate with me...?"
Snape's fingers, which had been resting on his chest, twitched.
"Me!" Marcus immediately ran forward and turned to face Kyle.
Without hesitation, Kyle also stepped onto the stage.
(End of Chapter)
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