Chapter 379: Practice Duel

Chapter 379: Practice Duel

Chapter 379: Practice Duel

A makeshift field was surrounded by about twenty students, scattered in small groups on the grass, bringing the total to nearly thirty with the professors included.

They watched intently as two figures in the center exchanged spells, moving back and forth, attacking and defending.

"Cedric, go for it!" Roger Davies shouted loudly.

"Victor, keep it up!"

Cedric dodged a spell with a quick sidestep. "Armor Shield!" He raised a magical barrier, catching his breath as the opposing spell shot toward him like a sword, striking the shield with a loud bang.

The boy with the surname "Graves" had neatly styled black hair, and his spells were incredibly powerful. He grinned, looking confident of victory.

"Watch your feet, Victor!"

Victor Graves was suddenly startled to find two thin streams of water winding their way through the grass and dirt, stealthily approaching his feet.

He raised his wand, trying to do something, but Cedric suddenly charged forward, a red light shooting from his wand tip. Graves hurriedly turned to defend himself, but the spell missed him entirely.

The nearby water exploded, and a thick cloud of scalding steam rose from the grass, enveloping both Cedric and Graves. Their figures became hazy and indistinct, barely visible through the mist.

"Thunderclap!"

It seemed like a long time before Cedric's spell incantation reached the ears of the onlookers.

In the mist, Cedric quietly cast an Enhanced Perception Spell on himself, enhancing his senses to try and pinpoint Graves' movements.

The spectators held their breath, even the group of five, including Draco, who had just arrived, stopped a few feet away, their eyes fixed on the gray mist.

Quick!

Too quick!

Everything happened in a matter of seconds, and many onlookers were still processing what had occurred.

Flitwick praised, "Impressive! Cedric set a trap, and everything went according to his plan."

Felix nodded. "He seems to have been well-prepared."

"Indeed, he asked me about a few spells... I already had an idea of what he would do next", Flitwick said expectantly.

The mist grew thicker. Not just the mist, but large clouds of white smoke quickly spread, sealing off a space of about thirty to forty feet, like an inverted goblet covering everything inside, completely obscuring the view.

The arcs of spells flashed like lightning, briefly illuminating the cloud, and the onlookers retreated.

"It looks like Cedric intends to use the dense fog as a battlefield. This is probably designed for large Magical Creatures, making it easy for both fighting and retreating... I didn't expect it to work so well against Wizards."

Felix thought for a moment and said, "He needs to improve in two areas—cutting off his opponent's line of sight, blinding them, and enhancing his detection methods, ideally making the smoke irrelevant."

"He's good at redirecting spells", Moody commented.

As they spoke, the clouds churned violently, and a layer of black began to spread from a single point. It was like ugly mold growing on pristine spores, quickly expanding and accompanied by a pungent smell of gasoline.

"Did Cedric do that?"

"No, that's dark magic."

Flitwick waved his wand, and the mist parted to either side, avoiding them.

After about half a minute, the two figures burst out, coughing violently, their eyes watering and red from the fumes.

"Clear Cough."

Felix pointed at Cedric, and his expression immediately relaxed.

The other student also calmed down. They approached each other, shook hands, and their eyes were still red.

Professor Wilkinson from Ilvermorny called out, "Well done, kids, you both did a great job... wait, who are these people?"

Felix and Flitwick had already noticed Harry and the others but hadn't said anything. Moody spoke up, "I told you, Professor Wilkinson, they're the underage ones..."

Byers, standing in the crowd, glanced at Neville with surprise. Many of the people around him were friends from Gryffindor, and he had asked about their year. Apart from the twins, most were fourth-year students.

Professor Wilkinson eyed Harry and the others suspiciously. Harry tried to stand up straighter, making himself appear taller. "What about this young lady?" He pointed at Astoria. "Did she pass your selection?"

"Surprisingly, yes", Felix shrugged. "She's only in her second year and didn't participate in the training due to her age, but the others have received the same treatment as the sixth and seventh-year champions at Hogwarts."

"Alright, as long as they don't scream and disrupt the order..." Wilkinson reluctantly agreed, dropping the matter. The group breathed a sigh of relief.

"The best part is that Professor Mcgonagall isn't here; she left midway", Fred winked.

George gave a thumbs-up.

In the following minutes, the professors discussed the recent battle, particularly the use of dark magic. When it was Felix's turn, he reminded the Hogwarts students, "Don't forget, some of you can use Luminos to dispel magical fog..."

Collins stared at him, her eyes wide. She hadn't chosen the Ancient Runes class and wasn't a member of the Rune Club. In this regard, she even fell short of Astoria, as Dumbledore had very generously allowed the young girl to join the Rune Club to appease her.

Next, the students took turns, each duel ending very quickly.

Not the kind of “quick” Harry had experienced in Dueling Class. After much thought, he finally came up with a suitable word.

Rhythm.

The offensive rhythm of both sides was incredibly smooth, a smoothness he had never felt in Dueling Class. He had only experienced something similar when dueling with Sirius or in the seventh classroom.

As for the special summer training in second year and the few encounters with Professor Hup, he had been thoroughly dominated throughout, with no pleasant experience at all.

An hour later, every upper-year student had their turn.

Felix glanced at Harry and the others, who were looking at him eagerly, and smiled slightly. He said to Professor Wilkinson, “Professor Wilkinson, how about letting the lower-year students give it a try?”

“Sure, no problem.”

Professor Wilkinson nodded in agreement. He didn’t find it challenging, even though the professors at Hogwarts were generous with their praise. He believed it was an exaggeration. These students were several years younger than true champion candidates, and the age gap wasn’t easy to bridge.

Moreover, he had specifically asked, and most of the students here hadn’t passed their O.W.L.s exams.

Ilvermorny had similar exams, and he naturally knew the kind of transformation students underwent after a year.

“Go ahead and have some fun! No dark magic,” Professor Wilkinson told the Ilvermorny students. Then, he lazily sat down on the grass, pulled a bottle of wine from his cloak, and took a swig.

Uriah and Bethany exchanged a helpless look, and Uriah said, “Byers, you go.”

Byers nodded in agreement.

He stood in the center, grinning, which made Harry and the others eager to join.

“Neville, let’s give it a try,” Byers unexpectedly offered.

Neville hesitated, then walked to the center of the field, muttering, “I’m not that good.”

“It’s fine,” Byers said with a smile. It was just a friendly match, and it would be a good way to change the mood.

However, the reality took him by surprise. Neville had a firm grasp of various basic spells, especially in Stunning Spells and Shield Charms, where he showed a lot of natural talent. Moreover, he cast these spells silently.

Silent Spell!

Neville’s movements were somewhat stiff, repeating the same few steps. After adapting for a while, Byers found the pattern, but this stiff movement seemed well-tested and refined. He felt as if he was facing a rock.

Neville didn’t initiate attacks much, usually letting Byers cast the spells while he used Shield Charms and kept a distance. He always stayed face-to-face with Byers, occasionally shooting a Stunning Spell or a Disarming Charm during the gaps in Byers’ spellcasting.

His face was tense, matching his dueling style.

Flitwick mumbled, “This kind of movement isn’t taught in the school’s Dueling Class. It looks simple, but it requires a lot of practice. Every tiny movement has a unique purpose.”

Moody gripped his cane and said in a deep voice, “This style seems familiar. I have a memory of it.”

“It was probably taught by Frank Longbottom,” Felix said.

“So that’s it…” Flitwick marveled, “His father was an excellent Auror. He must have tailored this style for Neville, and it fits his personality well.”

“Yes, it’s a very resilient style,” Felix commented.

On the field, Byers was getting a bit anxious. Though friends, he was a champion candidate, and he increased his magical output, his wand casting bright arcs of light.

But Neville remained like a stubborn rock, steadfastly holding off his attacks. He muttered something under his breath, “Steady as a rock, light as a feather, still as a pond, swift as a spring thunder…” Occasionally, he boldly stepped out, sending a red flash that startled Byers, then hid again.

Neville’s magical barrier broke about six or seven times, but each time he managed to barely re-erect it.

Uriah fell into deep thought, and the wine in Professor Wilkinson’s hand seemed to lose its appeal. Bethany watched her brother struggle, puzzled, and asked, “What’s going on? Why can’t Byers break through that kid’s defense?”

“Byers isn’t using spells with high damage, which is one reason. Also…” Wilkinson hesitated, “The kid’s movements are good and very well-formed. And his use of the Shield Charm is excellent. All his tactics revolve around this one spell. I’ve seen at least thirteen or fourteen techniques, each very specific.” He took another sip of wine and chuckled, then focused intently on the duel.

"This is also a test for Byers. He should learn to use his brain."

After a tense standoff of several minutes, Byers finally found the key to breaking the deadlock. Bright flames shot from the tip of his wand, forming a blurry large bird that charged toward Neville.

Amid the astonished gazes of the onlookers, Neville hastily cast a second Shield Charm, blocking the flames effectively.

"Wow!" Ron looked at Neville in surprise, his impression of Neville seemingly reshaped.

The fiery bird broke through the first barrier and then crashed into the second Shield Charm, nearly disintegrating itself. But Byers waved his wand repeatedly, and the fiery bird reformed, this time circling around and attacking from the side.

Neville conceded gracefully.

"You could have held out a bit longer", Byers said, approaching him and shaking his hand solemnly.

Neville shook his head. "You've found the loophole", he said, scratching his head bashfully. "Actually, Dad had planned other tactics for me, but I couldn't use them right now."

"Alright, it looks like you have a good dad", Byers said with a sigh.

Neville smiled brightly in response.

Next, the Ilvermorny students became more serious. They suddenly realized that the students, who were on average two to three years younger, were not easy to handle. They took turns, choosing their opponents proactively. Following Professor Wilkinson's orders and Byers' example, they refrained from using dark magic and powerful spells. However, with their superior magic and casting skills, they quickly defeated Susan Bones, Emmert, and Zabini. The Ilvermorny students finally breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that not all of these students were as tough as Neville.

It wasn't that Neville was particularly strong, but his strategy effectively countered technique-oriented opponents.

Draco also performed very well. He went back and forth with an Ilvermorny witch, nearly succeeding with a powerful spell he had used in the third-year dueling competition. However, the Ilvermorny students, who were carefully selected as potential champions, were not to be underestimated. Any one of them had the skill level of a new Auror.

If the positions were reversed, and the Hogwarts students were to attack proactively, the Ilvermorny students would have been able to wear them down until their magic gave out.

...

As his classmates were picked off one by one, Harry grew increasingly anxious. Why wasn't he chosen?

Was it because he was shorter? Did he look weak?

He stared at Astoria, who was pouting—no one was even looking at her, despite her standing at the front of the line.

Harry suddenly felt a pang of frustration.

Even Hermione had taken the field. Her opponent was the wizard with the surname "Graves." Graves smiled and said, "I've heard your name quite a few times these past few days, Miss Know-It-All?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow; his tone was far from friendly.

"Can we start?" she asked calmly, raising her wand.

"Of course", Graves grinned.

"Whoosh!"

A Disarming Charm shot out swiftly, and Graves hurriedly jumped to the side, looking at her in surprise.

"So this is your best spell? Many people don't understand that a single Silent Spell isn't very effective."

Hermione said sternly, "You'll see." She waved her wand repeatedly, casting spell after spell, temporarily overwhelming her opponent and forcing Graves to erect a curved magical barrier to protect himself completely.

Flitwick asked in surprise, "When did Granger master the Silent Spell? And she can apply it to multiple spells, which doesn't look like she just learned it."

Moody watched Hermione's agile casting in silence, his magical eye fixed on Ron, who was gaping in astonishment.

Felix explained, "She's always had exceptional control over magic. When I asked her to write an essay on the Dueling System, she put the Silent Spell at the top."

"Why?"

"Her spells..." Felix thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "are quite conventional. She often surprises with the details that showcase her control, but the power of her spells leaves something to be desired."

Flitwick immediately understood. "That's not a bad thing. Granger's casting is very stable, which is her greatest strength. Once she comes of age, she can fully leverage her advantages and use compound spells... Oh my!"

On the field, Graves broke the previous agreement.

Black flames expanded, splitting into a dozen orbs that hovered in the air. As his wand sliced through the air like a blade, the flames plummeted from above.

Hermione erected a magical barrier, immediately feeling the intense heat. Her hair began to smell of singed, and she realized the danger. She quickly ran away, seeing the barrier burned through by the black flames.

"What is this?"

"Devil's Fire. I said no dark magic, especially not such powerful dark magic", Wilkinson said sternly. "Graves is losing control; he cares too much about his honor... We need to be ready to separate them."

Several professors moved closer in unison. Flitwick shrilled, "We should stop this duel. It has gone beyond the scope of a friendly match."

Felix remained calm and said, "I share your concerns, Filius, but I trust Hermione Granger."

Dozens of black flames slammed into the ground, scorching the grass to a crisp, leaving marks that looked like the footprints of a devil descending from the sky. Hermione's eyes widened as she dodged clumsily, casting Shield Charms to defend herself.

Harry and Ron stood by, anxious and restless, wishing they could rush in to help. However, with the professors present, they managed to restrain themselves, watching as the black flames transformed into twisted serpents, coiling their bodies before advancing toward her.

"What are the professors waiting for?" Harry asked, puzzled. He drew his wand, the tip glowing. He wondered to himself: What spell should I use now? Disarming Charm, Stunning Spell, Shield Charm, or Patronus?

None of them seemed right... He pointed his wand at "Graves", considering whether to cast a curse.

Hermione wasn't too panicked; she still had her final trump card. She glanced at Felix, who nodded in response. She stopped moving, allowing the black flames to surround her, her fingertips glowing with a golden light.

Wilkinson had already raised his wand, and Bethany handed her wand to Uriah. "Quick!" Then they heard a strange incantation from the girl.

Golden flames poured from Hermione's palm. Compared to the tiny flames she had demonstrated over a month ago in the Ancient Runes Office, this was now a massive force. The golden flames surged like a flood, colliding with the black flames that were charging at her. The black flames disintegrated upon contact, breaking into fragments.

Graves' expression froze.

The golden flames continued to contract, eventually forming a massive golden phoenix. It was far more intricate than the magical sketches byers had drawn. The golden flames trailed from the phoenix's tail feathers, and a white flame burned atop its head, resembling a phoenix.

The phoenix let out a high-pitched, resonant cry. In an instant, the golden phoenix appeared before the stunned Graves, a foot away from him. His hair curled and turned to ash, and his pupils reflected the long, golden beak.

"This is what I wanted to see", Felix said, nodding in satisfaction, in the silence that followed.

...

Graves was led away, his expression dazed, his eyes lingering with an unshakeable fear.

Professor Wilkinson walked over, somewhat silently, and apologized to the Hogwarts professors. "Graves... He took this championship tournament too seriously. He carries the hopes of many, wanting to restore his family's glory..."

"Graves?" Flitwick repeated, "That name sounds familiar."

"He is the descendant of one of the twelve Aurors, just like me, which made me feel a kinship and relax my supervision", Wilkinson explained, "Over seventy years ago, the American magical community experienced a scandal. The head of security at the Magical Congress—Percy W. Graves—was impersonated", he added somberly, "causing significant chaos, nearly exposing the entire American magical community."

"Impersonated?" The professors looked over.

"This is a very secretive matter", Wilkinson whispered, "Not many outside know about it."

"Who impersonated him?" Felix asked, intrigued.

"Grindelwald." Wilkinson only mentioned the surname, but everyone present knew who he was referring to.

"To be involved with Grindelwald!" Flitwick exclaimed, "So the boy just now..."

"Victor Percy W. Graves", Wilkinson said, "Percy W. Graves is his grandfather, which is why he had such issues. I can assure you, if he causes any more trouble, I will send him back."

The professors said nothing more. It was an accident, a student who had broken the rules, and they couldn't blame others. Besides, the Hogwarts students hadn't suffered any losses; rather, it was Graves who would likely carry many psychological scars.

Not just him, but the other Ilvermorny students were also deeply impressed, staring at Hermione. In their minds, this messy-haired witch had become one of the students they dared not provoke.

Even Professor Wilkinson, before leaving, asked, "That young girl... You don't plan to make her a champion, do you?"

"No, she's not old enough", Felix replied.

Wilkinson learned about Dumbledore's age restriction from Flitwick and praised the approach. "I think it's very necessary... yes, very necessary. Champions bear a great psychological burden, and it's best not to let younger students participate..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end