Chapter 65: Dueling Club (Part 1)
"Have you heard? The Dueling Club is starting again!"
Ron said with great importance as he sat in the Great Hall eating lunch. "It's been years since they last held it."
"What's the Dueling Club?" Harry asked, holding a goblet of pumpkin juice.
"Dueling Club is wizard dueling!" Ron said excitedly. "Two wizards use all their skills to defeat their opponent..."
"Strictly speaking, not all their skills," Hermione interjected. "Dark Arts are not allowed."
Makes sense... Harry nodded, agreeing with Hermione. If you could use Dark Arts freely... wouldn't the Killing Curse be a bit like cheating?
"But I heard it was stopped because of an accident," Hermione mused for a few seconds. "It seems a second-year student died."
"Huh?" Ron pressed his lips together and asked instinctively, "Is it dangerous?"
"Of course..."
"Ah, Weasley, are you already shaking in your boots?" A mean voice drifted over. Ron turned his head slightly and saw the annoying boy.
"Malfoy, this doesn't seem to concern you, does it?" Harry looked up at the blond boy.
"Of course it does," Malfoy winked. "If Weasley gets hit with..."
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Ah!" Ron screamed in fright, but it was obviously just Malfoy's cruel joke.
Seeing Ron's pathetic state, Malfoy laughed loudly. "Just you wait, Weasley. If we get to duel..."
"I'll beat you without even using my wand."
With that, he waved his hand and walked away arrogantly.
"What a jerk," Harry frowned at Hermione, who was comforting a pale Ron.
"If there's a chance, let me duel him," Harry said, tightening his grip on his wand.
"Or me," Hermione muttered unhappily. "I'll knock his front teeth out."
Well, although the communication between the young wizards wasn't friendly, it did show that the Dueling Club was extremely popular at Hogwarts.
By the afternoon, the Great Hall, where the Dueling Club was being held, was packed with students. From first years to sixth years, almost every student who didn't have class was gathered in the already set-up hall.
"I wonder what Professor Lockhart will teach us," Hermione said excitedly, sitting in her chair. "He must be very good at dueling."
"I hope he doesn't teach us how to defeat spells with a stupid grin," Ron muttered from the side, earning an eye roll from Hermione. But seeing that he had recovered, she didn't say anything.
Only Harry asked curiously, "A wizard duel requires two people. One is Professor Lockhart, but who will the other be?"
"I don't know," Hermione shook her head. "We asked Professor McGonagall this morning."
"She didn't seem to know either."
"Could it be Professor Flitwick?" Harry thought for a moment and asked. He had heard that the short Charms professor used to be a European Dueling Champion.
"Possible," Hermione pondered for a few seconds and nodded. "Professor Lockhart's opponent definitely won't be weak."
"If the difference in strength is too great... the duel would just be bullying."
"I know who it is." Suddenly, an ethereal voice drifted over, causing the three of them to look.
It was a girl with long, silvery-blonde hair. She tilted her head, her shimmering eyes holding a hint of dreaminess.
"You are..." Harry looked at her with a confused expression.
"I am Luna Lovegood. You are Harry," Luna seemed to recognize the three. "And you are Ronald and Hermione, right?"
"You actually know me?" Ron said, surprised. "And you called me Ronald."
"That is your name, isn't it?" Luna tilted her head.
"So who is dueling Professor Lockhart?" Hermione had no interest in small talk. She interrupted Ron and Luna's conversation. "Is it a professor too?"
"Mhm," Luna nodded seriously. "It's Lyra."
"Lyra?" The three exchanged glances.
"That's Professor Hamilton's name, right?" Hermione asked, pursing her lips.
"It is Professor Hamilton," Luna nodded, confirming Hermione's question. "But I prefer calling her Lyra."
"Isn't that a bit impolite?" Hermione pressed her lips together. "Professor Hamilton is an exceptionally outstanding wizard... Wait, so she's the one with Professor Lockhart?"
"Mhm." As Luna spoke, she looked at the top of Hermione's head. There was nothing there, but she said, "I seem to see Nargles on your head."
"They'll interfere with your judgment."
Her sudden, somewhat mystical words silenced all three of them.
"Ah... I'm going to find a good spot," Luna smiled and shrugged, then clambered onto a chair using both hands and feet.
It seemed to be a chair she had just brought over.
"Are all Ravenclaws like that?" Ron whispered.
Harry and Hermione exchanged a look.
Bang.
The doors to the Great Hall were pushed open, and Professor Lockhart strode in. He was wearing magnificent golden robes embroidered with the Hogwarts crest and his own signature.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen and ladies of Hogwarts!" He walked briskly from one end of the hall to the other, a smile as bright as a flower on his face.
"Through my tireless efforts, Headmaster Dumbledore has finally agreed to reopen the Dueling Club!" He raised an eyebrow as he spoke, seeming to show off or take credit.
This made Harry and Ron instinctively feel a bit nauseous.
But Hermione seemed very happy; she even started applauding Lockhart's speech.
"Alright, my dear fans, no need for overly enthusiastic applause," Lockhart waved his hand. "I didn't convince Dumbledore just for your applause."
"I did it because I want everyone to learn how to fight!" He raised his wand and pointed it at the closed doors of the Great Hall. "Next, please welcome my assistant, and helper in the Dueling Club."
"Professor Lyra Hamilton."
Amidst somewhat surprised murmurs, the doors slowly opened.
A petite figure in black robes, wearing a mask, appeared there. She looked silently at everyone, then slowly began to walk.
As if by the students' instinct, the applause and discussions gradually faded. Everyone watched in silence as the equally silent professor walked to Lockhart's side.
"Thank you for your help, Professor Hamilton." Lockhart smiled lightly at Lyra, then quickly raised both hands. "Please give Professor Hamilton a round of applause, won't you?"
"Because in just a moment, we are going to present to you a wonderful, magnificent duel that will go down in Hogwarts history!"