Chapter 598: Tricked Again
Chapter 598: Tricked Again
Gilderoy Lockhart was far from a competent professor. He enjoyed wasting time and energy on flashy displays in an attempt to attract more attention from his students.
Moments ago, Lockhart had been waving his wand about, trying to create intricate patterns in the air with it, but then... he accidentally dropped his wand, causing an awkward silence.
Albert could even see the sneer on Snape's face. Clearly, the Potions Master was well aware of Lockhart's true nature and held him in contempt.
"Poor Harry," Fred and George shook their heads, unimpressed by the duel. What else could this idiot Lockhart do besides messing things up? They hadn't forgotten how he had landed Harry in the hospital wing the last time.
In fact, it was obvious to everyone that when Snape whispered something to Malfoy, Lockhart didn't offer Harry any useful advice. He merely patted Harry on the shoulder and said, "Just do what I did, Harry!"
Yes, it was so quiet that even Albert, who was standing at a distance from Harry, could clearly hear Lockhart's words.
Just do what he did?
"Drop his wand on the floor?" Jordan Lee scoffed.
"He didn't teach Harry anything," Fred also scorned Lockhart's perfunctory attitude.
"I bet Lockhart doesn't even know what he's doing himself," George whispered mockingly. "How dare he organize a Dueling Club?"
"Adults can be shameless creatures," Albert commented as he watched Lockhart. "I think Dumbledore invited him to teach at Hogwarts to show us what not to become."
"Your insights are always so profound."
The trio agreed with Albert's view. Otherwise, why would Headmaster Dumbledore invite such a person to teach at Hogwarts? Surely, Dumbledore wasn't just filling a quota.
"Do you think you can get me a duel with him?" Jordan Lee was itching to get on the stage and teach Lockhart a lesson himself.
On the stage, to hide his embarrassment, Lockhart pretended not to hear Harry and urged the two duelers to get ready. He started the countdown, leaving Harry Potter to face Malfoy, who had just learned a new curse from Snape.
After another duel, Mr. Malfoy still hadn't changed his dirty tricks. He began the curse before the countdown ended.
There was an explosion at the tip of his wand, and a long, black snake suddenly appeared, slithering onto the floor between the two boys.
In an instant, the crowd screamed and backed away, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
"There's no way Malfoy could have learned such Dark Magic on his own," Albert doubted Malfoy's ability to learn and cast such a spell instantly.
Most Dark Magic required strong magical power to support it. Summoning a snake out of thin air was no easy feat.
With Malfoy's skill level, it was impossible for him to learn and successfully perform such a spell on the spot.
Even Albert, back when he was learning summoning magic, had spent several months before he could successfully summon a chrysanthemum out of thin air, and summoning a living creature was even more difficult.
Even with his current abilities, without cheating, he wouldn't be able to learn and cast that Dark Magic spell in just a few seconds.
No one could skip the process of familiarization and instantly master a spell.
Unless, of course, the author had given Malfoy a plot armor.
"You lose,"
A dazed Harry came back to his senses and shouted at Malfoy, "You cheating scumbag, you started the curse before the countdown ended again!"
Just as Harry was admiring his own wit, the situation took another turn. Lockhart stepped forward, pushed Harry aside, and raised his wand, threateningly waving it at the snake, trying to defeat the large serpent and save the weak, pitiful, terrified, and helpless Harry Potter.
"Stop!"
Harry tried to stop Lockhart from making things worse.
However, it was too late.
There was a loud bang, and Lockhart's spell not only failed to make the black snake disappear but also made it even bigger. The serpent coiled and rose to a height of more than ten feet.
Before the crowd could scream louder, the large black snake, enraged by Lockhart's spell, raised its head, baring its fangs and hissing menacingly. It was about to strike a hapless student standing next to the stage.
And why wasn't it Lockhart? Because the moment he realized he had messed up, he sneaked behind Harry, intending to use the poor boy as a human shield.
Things were changing faster than a spinning top, and before anyone could react, they heard a bone-chilling hiss coming from Harry Potter, who was now facing the giant serpent.
Then, the large black snake calmed down and obediently stared at Harry as if it were a tame pet.
The room erupted in whispers as people began to murmur, their eyes filled with unease and awe as they looked at Harry Potter.
Albert witnessed the entire transformation in just a few seconds.
In fact, he couldn't understand why everyone was giving Harry that awe-struck look, especially when Ron pulled Harry away, and the crowd even made way for the two boys.
As Harry left, a puzzled Snape waved his wand and turned the giant snake into a wisp of black smoke.
"Do you think Harry might be a descendant of Slytherin?" Jordan Lee blurted out. In fact, he wasn't the only one with this thought; the entire school probably had the same suspicion.
Perhaps, Harry Potter was Slytherin's great-great-great... great-grandson.
"The British wizarding community has a history of intermarriage. It wouldn't be strange if Harry Potter had some blood relation to Slytherin,"
Albert glanced at the anxious students around him, a hint of mockery playing at the corners of his mouth. "Perhaps, the famous Harry Potter is the heir of Slytherin himself."
The students around him stared at Albert in surprise.
"Perhaps, he's on his way to the Chamber of Secrets right now, having tea with his fanged servant and discussing their next target," Albert continued, unconcerned by the stares he was attracting.
"You don't seem very surprised," Fred muttered.
After spending so much time with Albert, they could tell that he didn't buy into the rumors about Harry being Slytherin's descendant or any other speculation.
"Of course, I know Parseltongue is a symbol of Dark Wizards," Albert interrupted, making it clear he didn't want to discuss the topic further.
In fact, Albert was quite looking forward to the idea of the savior turning into a Dark Lord.
That would be incredibly interesting.
"You need to use your own eyes to see, your own ears to hear, and your own brain to discern right from wrong, instead of being swayed by fear or the words of others," Albert said softly. "Only fools are easily manipulated."
The truth was simple—Harry had been tricked by Lockhart again.
The duel continued, but Lockhart had lost the attention of the crowd. Everyone was now whispering about Harry being a Parselmouth.
"Seize the opportunity. I don't think there will be another Dueling Club after this,"
Albert was just stating the facts to Jordan Lee. He certainly wasn't inciting him to cause trouble for Lockhart.
(End of Chapter)
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