The days after Halloween were heavy with unease.The words scrawled in blood upon the stone wall still echoed through every corridor — The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware.
Students whispered in corners. Prefects patrolled twice as often. Even the portraits muttered nervously when they thought no one could hear.Letters flooded Dumbledore's office — angry, fearful owls from worried parents demanding action.
And in the midst of it all, Gilderoy Lockhart had what he called a brilliant idea.
By breakfast, a new notice glittered on the board in the Great Hall:
DUELING CLUB — Learn to defend yourself the proper way!✨Hosted by: Professor Gilderoy Lockhart (Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, Five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award)**Assistant: Professor Severus Snape**
Half the Great Hall groaned. The other half buzzed with curiosity.
Roy merely sighed. "This will end with someone in the Hospital Wing," he muttered, sipping his pumpkin juice.
Still, curiosity won. He and his friends — Hermione, Cassandra, Daphne, Astoria, Cho, Penelope, Ginny, Luna, Harry, and even Ronald — all registered.
The Dueling Club Begins
That evening, the Great Hall had been cleared of tables. A long golden platform stood at the center, surrounded by curious students.
Lockhart stood upon it in peacock-blue robes that shimmered obnoxiously under the torchlight."Gather round, gather round!" he called, grinning so brightly it could probably rival the chandeliers."And may I introduce my assistant for this evening—Professor Snape!"
The Potions Master stepped out from the shadows, his expression pure disdain."Enthusiastic as ever, Lockhart," he said silkily.
Lockhart laughed too loudly. "Yes, well, every great dueling club needs an example! Now, observe closely as I demonstrate the proper way to disarm an opponent."
He raised his wand with theatrical flourish. Snape, by contrast, simply pointed his wand lazily.
"Expelliarmus!"
A flash of red — and Lockhart went flying across the stage, his wand spinning out of reach before he landed in a heap. Gasps and laughter rippled through the students.
Lockhart sprang up, brushing off his robes. "Ah—yes! See? A perfect demonstration! You see, I was testing Professor Snape's reflexes! Excellent form!"
Snape's smirk could have frozen fire.
The Student Duels
"Now then!" Lockhart clapped. "Let's have some volunteers!"
Hermione stepped forward first, partnered with a Slytherin. Within seconds, her opponent was flat on their back from a well-timed Petrificus Totalus.
Cassandra followed, disarming her partner with ease.Daphne's ice magic slipped subtly through her wand, freezing her opponent's boots to the floor.Astoria's duel ended in a single elegant spell, Cho's in a dazzling flurry of charms, and Penelope's with a clean disarm.
Ginny and Luna's match drew applause — both girls evenly matched, ending in a polite draw.
Roy watched quietly, impressed by the control and grace of his friends. His eyes then turned to Ronald Weasley, who had just won his own duel against a Hufflepuff boy with surprising speed.
Roy's brows furrowed slightly. That's… different. He's improved faster than expected.
For weeks, Roy had assumed the cursed diary would be with Ginny — but seeing her uncorrupted warmth and light-hearted cheer, always seeking his company, his suspicion shifted.So it's Ronald. The diary's with him.
He leaned back, thoughtful. As long as it's him and not Ginny, I can manage it.
Harry vs. Draco
Finally, Lockhart's voice rang out again."Now, let's have a proper show! Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy!"
A wave of excitement surged through the crowd. The two boys took their places on the platform.
"Wands ready… one, two, three!"
"Serpensortia!" Draco shouted. A large green snake burst from his wand, hissing menacingly as it slithered toward Harry.
Lockhart stepped forward, flustered. "Don't worry, I'll just—"
"Don't," Snape warned coldly, too late.
Lockhart's counterspell backfired spectacularly, sending the snake lunging. Harry raised his hand instinctively — and hissed something softly.
The snake froze. Its head lowered.
But the silence that followed wasn't relief — it was dread.
Students stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Did you hear that?" someone whispered."He spoke Parseltongue…""Like a snake—like Salazar Slytherin!"
Harry blinked, confused. "What are you talking about? I just told it to stop—"
But the whispering grew louder. Fearful glances. People stepping back.
Even some of the Gryffindors.
Later that night, the castle was silent save for the whisper of wind.Harry sat alone in the common room, his face pale and troubled.
And in the Hufflepuff dorms, Roy's thoughts were elsewhere.He'd noticed Ronald's condition — pale, sleepless, clutching something under his pillow.
The diary is feeding on him now, Roy realized grimly.He leaned back against his bed, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Time to prepare," he murmured. "I'll deal with that cursed relic soon."