Chapter 576: Training Session 2
"How do we train?" Harry eagerly gripped his wand and stepped forward, eyes bright with anticipation. "Are there any rules?"
"The rule is—there are no rules! Use whatever means you can to beat me!" Sirius Black retreated to the center of the open space, his wand dangling casually at his side as he grinned at Harry. "Ready, Harry?"
"Ready..."
"Stupefy!"
Before Harry could finish his sentence, a spell shot from across the field. He didn’t even have time to dodge, letting out a frustrated cry: "I knew this would happen!"
With a forceful flick of his wand, he shouted: "Petrificus Totalus!"
Sirius Black never stopped moving. Harry’s spell missed entirely, striking a pine tree nearby instead.
"Expelliarmus!"
Harry barely rolled clear in time. Still unsteady on his feet, he saw Sirius Black’s next spell already hurtling toward him—no incantation, no warning. By the time Harry turned, the streak of light was inches from his face.
"Shield Charm!"
Harry threw up the barrier just in time, but it wasn’t enough. His legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed to his knees.
"Silent Leg-Weakening Spell!" Sirius Black tapped his palm with his wand, a smug smile playing on his lips. He made no attempt to hide his amusement. "Third-years all master silent spells by now, Harry. You can't keep relying on your opponent shouting their spell names at you."
Harry gritted his teeth. "I know... but can I master silent spells in a month?"
He could cast a few spells without speaking—but their power was cut in half, and he’d grown so used to vocalizing his incantations that it felt unnatural to suppress them.
"Then why don’t you just whisper?" Sirius Black teased, flicking his wand at the spell’s counter-charm.
Harry stared blankly.
Well… he did know that trick. But when the adrenaline kicked in, the words just slipped out before he could stop them.
"Go rest for a bit," Remus Lupin said, pulling Harry to his feet. "Your legs won’t fully recover for at least ten minutes."
"Alright, Wade," Sirius Black said, still buzzing with energy. "Let’s see what you’ve got!"
Wade said nothing as he strode toward the center of the clearing. He hadn’t even stopped moving when both wizards raised their wands simultaneously.
Spells collided in midair—light flares exploding like fireworks. Sirius Black’s eyebrows shot up in surprise when, almost imperceptibly, Wade gave his wand a tiny, almost invisible twitch.
"What—?"
Sirius Black lunged sideways just in time. The spell whistled past his shoulder, exploding into the ground behind him and carving a small crater.
The sudden evasion put him on the defensive. Wade’s next spells came in rapid succession—so fast the streaks of light seemed to blur into a continuous line, flowing like water, forcing Sirius Black into constant retreat. Every attempt to counter was effortlessly deflected.
Harry watched, wide-eyed. This was the first time he’d seen Wade fight at full power.
The boy’s jaw was clenched, muscles taut around his mouth, a fine sheen of sweat glistening on his forehead. His movements were lightning-fast—precise, relentless. His feet shifted constantly, never staying in one place too long, avoiding Sirius Black’s spells with instinctive grace.
Under Wade’s relentless pressure, Sirius Black had no time to speak his incantations. Both men were casting silently now, their spells flashing through the air, colliding against invisible barriers, sparking like firecrackers in the summer night.
Harry’s own sweat began to trickle down his temples.
No matter how he imagined himself in Sirius Black’s place—or in Wade’s—his mind kept whispering the same conclusion: He’d be defeated in seconds.
Remus Lupin had been watching the duel closely, but out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed something shift.
He turned his head—just in time to see Harry’s body twitch involuntarily. His arm moved slightly, mimicking a spell cast or a dodge, as if his mind was already rehearsing the fight in his head. The motion was unconscious, a reflexive echo of the battle he was mentally reliving.
Remus smiled faintly. He didn’t interrupt. Instead, he squinted ahead, watching the dance of light and shadow.
The clearing was alive with spellfire. The two wizards weaved through each other’s attacks, relying on experience and split-second reactions. Slowly, Sirius Black began to regain control.
Then—Sudden awareness.
Wade noticed that Sirius Black had unconsciously drifted back to the very spot where he’d been standing moments earlier. Without hesitation, Wade’s lips curled into a faint smirk. He raised his wand, releasing a spell he’d been holding in reserve.
Sirius Black reacted instantly, throwing up a Shield Charm—only to realize the spell wasn’t aimed at him. It struck the ground beside him.
A warning.
His instincts screamed. Something’s wrong here.
He twisted aside—too late.
A vine erupted from the earth like a serpent from a trap, lashing out with shocking speed. It wrapped around Sirius Black’s ankle and yanked hard, dragging him off balance.
His own spell flew wildly off course, and his wand was instantly disarmed by a second, precise charm.
"Nice one," Sirius Black admitted, picking up his wand. He tried to stand—but the vine still clung, trying to pull him down again. With a flick of his wand, he unleashed a burst of flame, forcing the vine back. "That was impressive, Wade. Really."
He rubbed his sore wrist, glancing at the twitching vine. "When did you set that trap? I didn’t see a thing."
"I used Professor Sprout’s technique—temporary growth. I triggered it just now," Wade said, a hint of pride in his voice. "Want to keep going?"
"Ah, don’t get cocky, kid," Sirius Black said with exaggerated mock severity. "Next round, you won’t get a second chance."
Then he paused, shifting tone. "But now it’s Remus’s turn… Harry, how’s your leg?"
"Fully recovered," Harry replied, standing up and bouncing lightly on his feet. He took a few deliberate steps forward, his expression hardening. His eyes sharpened, his posture straightened—like a soldier stepping onto the battlefield.
The duel between Wade and Sirius Black had ignited something deep inside him. The fire of rivalry, the hunger to prove himself. He was no longer just a student. He was a warrior, ready to fight.
Remus Lupin raised his wand and walked forward. As he passed Sirius Black, the older wizard grabbed his arm.
"Kid almost took my head off," Sirius Black murmured, voice low. "Don’t let your guard down, Remus. Take this seriously—like it’s real."
Remus chuckled. "After what I just saw, how could I not?"
He paused, then added with a teasing grin: "But Sirius… since when did you start admitting you’re getting old?"
As Remus walked toward Harry, Sirius Black rolled his eyes and flopped onto the ground. Only then did he realize his clothes were soaked through with sweat, his arms aching from the effort.
Beside him, Wade sat on the grass, rubbing his wrist, eyes locked on the two figures ahead—watching, waiting, absorbing.
Even though Harry was his godson, Sirius Black couldn’t help but imagine the moment when Wade would one day lift the championship trophy.
This kid… a prodigy, yes—but also relentless. Hard work? Understandable. But the lack of arrogance, the absence of overconfidence… that was extraordinary.
And though Harry’s skill was still far behind Wade’s, Sirius Black saw it clearly in the way Wade watched him—not with pity, not with condescension, but with sharp, honest observation. He was studying Harry’s patterns, probing his weaknesses, acknowledging his growth—treat him not as a pupil, but as a worthy opponent.
(End of Chapter)
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