https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-81-Hufflepuff-s-Unusual-Group-Activity/12538184/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-83-Be-Careful-When-You-Walk-Alone-at-Night/12538187/
Chapter 82: Master Duelist
Chapter 82: Master Duelist
A talented professor must possess numerous abilities, one of which is the crucial skill of understanding their students' thoughts and knowing how to engage them in the lesson.
Professor McGonagall was adept at this. With a mere mention of the upcoming final exams, she effortlessly shifted the students' focus from their joyful and carefree holiday memories to the pressing need to study.
Her colleague, Professor Flitwick, was equally skilled in this art.
"Today, we will be learning about the Softening Charm," Professor Flitwick announced in his high-pitched voice from the lectern constructed of books. "As its name suggests, this charm can instantly soften hard objects. It is an extremely useful spell and one of the most commonly used by adult witches and wizards.
For example, it is often employed in Quidditch, your favorite game, to protect players who fall from their brooms.
It can also be used to set traps during duels. Softening the ground can cause your opponent to stumble, creating an opportunity for you to strike.
I may not have mentioned it before, but during my time in the Duelling Club, I used this very charm to force my opponent, a witch, to surrender, ultimately winning the Duelling Championship that year."
The mention of the wildly popular magical sport, Quidditch, coupled with the heroic tale of dueling, instantly piqued the young witches and wizards' curiosity.
"Professor, did you really win the Duelling Championship?" asked Katie Bell from Gryffindor, her hand raised. She found it hard to believe that the diminutive Professor Flitwick, who was shorter than her, could best other witches and wizards in a duel.
"That was a long time ago," Professor Flitwick replied with a hint of mischief. "But yes, I did win the Duelling Championship, and not just once. If you're interested, you can read about it in the book, 'Duelling Champions of the Twentieth Century,' which documents it in detail.
By the way, you can find that book in the school library."
"Wow..."
Professor Flitwick's revelation elicited a chorus of astonished murmurs from the students.
They had never imagined that the unassuming Professor Flitwick was such an accomplished duellist.
"Professor, I want to learn this charm!" exclaimed an excited Gryffindor student.
"Rest assured, I will teach it to you," Professor Flitwick assured with a casual wave of his hand. "Practical spells like this often appear in final exams, so pay close attention and practice diligently. Who knows, it might be on this year's exam."
"Yes, Professor Flitwick!" the class chorused in response.
During the lesson, the young witches and wizards applied themselves with utmost seriousness. Under Professor Flitwick's guidance, they practiced repeatedly, never finding the task tedious.
Each student seemed to envision themselves as the next Duelling Champion, facing off against the stones in front of them as if they were their opponents.
Only when the class ended did they reluctantly put down their stones and leave the Charms classroom.
Those who had not completed their homework also departed, as they had another class coming up. Their time to make up the assignment was scheduled for that evening, under the strict supervision of the professor. They knew they wouldn't be allowed to sleep until their work was finished.
Kyle lingered after class, holding a book he had borrowed from the library. He asked Professor Flitwick a few questions, which the professor answered in detail, fondly running a finger along the cover of the book as he recalled his own experiences with it.
"By the way, thank you for the Christmas gift. It's been thirty years since I last received a rowan charm engraved with a dueling badge... It brings back memories."
"You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it."
After bidding farewell to Professor Flitwick, Kyle left the Charms classroom.
Meanwhile, Kyle's two good roommates were lurking furtively around the corner of the corridor outside the classroom.
"Mike, are you sure Kyle will pass by here?" Ryan peeked out and asked, "It's been a long time. Hasn't Kyle already left?"
"Impossible," Mike said confidently. "Our next class is Dark Magic Defense, and this is the only way to the second floor. Kyle will definitely come this way."
"But..." Ryan seemed to want to say something, but Mike interrupted him.
"Don't worry, we can't be wrong."
"It's not that..."
"Be patient... for the homework."
"Professor Flitwick is gone!" Ryan clapped his hand over Mike's mouth and said quickly, "And he even closed the door!"
Mike froze, then hurried over and pushed open the door to the Charms classroom.
The room was empty.
Mike: "(Д≡Д)
"
"Damn it." He scratched his hair. "That corridor is the only way to the second floor. How did Kyle leave? Could it be..."
Mike subconsciously glanced at the wall opposite the door. "Ryan, do you think Kyle knows a wall-penetrating spell?"
...
The last class of the day, Dark Magic Defense, was equally interesting.
Although Professor O'Ren didn't have much teaching experience, his class was always one of the most anticipated by the young witches and wizards.
On the first day of school, he had brought in a group of Cornish pixies and let the students practice the spells they had learned on them.
There were no restrictions on which spells they could use.
The badgers were thrilled, seeing it as another form of dueling. They eagerly took turns experiencing what it felt like to be a "Master Duelist."
Although most of their spells missed, with Professor O'Ren there, the pixies couldn't do much to the students, and they angrily squeaked and squawked in midair.
The little creatures' furious antics filled the entire class with a joyful atmosphere.
What made the young witches and wizards even happier was that Professor O'Ren hadn't checked their homework yet.
By the end of the class, the students were singing the professor's praises.
After all, more than half of them hadn't done their homework.
With this, Hufflepuff had effectively gained at least thirty points, which naturally made them happy.
However, in Kyle's opinion, whether Professor O'Ren deducted points or not had become less important.
After the Charms class, Hufflepuff's house points were already sitting comfortably in second-to-last place.
They were nearly a hundred points behind Ravenclaw in second place and a hundred points ahead of Gryffindor in fourth place.
This position was a bit awkward. It would be neither easy to advance nor to retreat.
(End of Chapter)
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