Adrian paused, as if remembering something important. "Oh, and Malfoy? You still owe Hermione a proper thank you. Don't forget that."
"Blackwood!" Malfoy's wand was out and pointed at Adrian before the words had fully left his mouth, his pale face flushed with rage. "That was your despicable attack on me!"
"Even if I fell from the sky and died, even if they locked me in Azkaban..." Malfoy's voice rose to near-hysteria, "I would never thank a mudblood!"
Crabbe and Goyle drew their wands in solidarity, but quickly noticed the sea of angry Gryffindor faces surrounding them. Starting a fight here would end very badly for the three Slytherins.
The slur hit Adrian like a physical blow, his expression hardening dangerously. Ron shot to his feet, chair scraping against stone.
"Malfoy! We accept your challenge! Tonight, I'll teach you some manners!"
"Perfect," Malfoy sneered, apparently satisfied with the reaction he'd provoked. "I'll be waiting."
He swept away with his cronies, leaving the Gryffindor table in tense silence.
"What exactly is a duel?" Harry asked once Malfoy was out of earshot. "Do we stab each other with swords?"
"Of course not," Ron said with obvious pride in his knowledge. "That would be barbaric. In a proper wizard's duel, you stand opposite your opponent, bow respectfully, then raise wands and fight with magic. The assistants take over if someone falls, and it continues until one side can't continue."
Ron's excitement was building as he spoke, anything was better than endless studying, and he'd been itching for a chance at Malfoy.
"Someone could die?" Harry's voice cracked slightly.
"Ron's being dramatic," Adrian interjected calmly. "It's just a standard wizard's duel. Disarming charms, maybe some jinxes, honestly, you'd probably do more damage with your fists."
"Adrian, you're coming tonight, right?" Ron looked at him expectantly.
"No. I already told you I have other business tonight." Adrian's tone was final. "I don't have time for Malfoy's games."
He found the whole concept ridiculous, standing face-to-face trading spells like some formal dance. Real magical combat was about strategy, surprise, and overwhelming force. This honor-bound nonsense belonged in storybooks.
Seeing Ron and Harry's stubborn expressions, Adrian decided to offer some practical advice.
"You realize Malfoy might not even show up? This could easily be a setup to get Filch to catch you out after curfew."
"Impossible," Ron protested. "This is a wizard's duel! There are rules, honor involved!"
Harry nodded agreement, though he looked less certain.
Adrian shrugged and picked up his copy of Advanced Flying Techniques. He'd warned them; what they did with that warning was their choice. He wasn't their babysitter, they could make their own decisions.
According to his memories of the original timeline, tonight's adventure would end with them discovering the Philosopher's Stone's hiding place. Even if something went wrong, Dumbledore would intervene before any real harm came to his chosen savior.
"Ron," Harry said quietly as they returned to the dormitory after dinner, "are we really doing this? What if Adrian's right and Malfoy doesn't show?"
"Of course we're going! This is a matter of honor!" Ron's determination hadn't wavered. "If Malfoy shows up and we're not there, we'll never live it down."
"But without Adrian, there are only two of us against three..." Harry pointed out.
"We'll bring Neville! That makes it even!" Ron seemed pleased with his solution, apparently forgetting Neville's general incompetence with magic.
Harry opened his mouth to object, then closed it again. Somehow, including Neville made him feel less confident, not more.
Maybe they should just go as a pair...
At midnight, Adrian set down his flying manual in the empty Gryffindor common room. Several hours of study had pushed his Flight skill nearly to Level 2, no more embarrassing performances in Madam Hooch's classes.
Harry, Ron, and a reluctant Neville had snuck out ten minutes earlier, following the portrait hole passage. Adrian wished them luck, they'd need it when they encountered Fluffy.
Checking that the common room was truly empty, Adrian slipped through the portrait hole himself. The Fat Lady was absent from her frame, probably visiting friends in other portraits.
Midnight Hogwarts felt oppressive in its silence. The corridors stretched endlessly in near-total darkness, lit only by occasional guttering candles every few meters. Adrian's footsteps echoed despite his attempts at stealth.
At least ghosts weren't actually frightening in this world. He'd chatted with several during his explorations, they were more curious than threatening. Still, he found himself mentally cursing the system's choice of reward delivery method.
Why couldn't it just appear in my trunk like a normal magical reward?
The spiral staircases proved their usual annoying selves, seemingly more mischievous at night. They'd rotate away just as Adrian reached them, forcing him to wait or find alternative routes. After the third such incident, he decided on a more direct approach.
"Wingardium Leviosa," he whispered, using the levitation charm to float across gaps between staircases. When one staircase tried to rotate while he was crossing it, a quick "Petrificus Totalus" locked its mechanism in place until he'd safely reached the other side.
Several portrait subjects watched his magical staircase navigation with interest, a few even offering polite greetings. Adrian responded courteously, no point in making enemies of potential sources of information.
The library's heavy oak doors were locked, naturally.
"Alohomora," Adrian murmured, smiling as the lock clicked open thanks to the new spells he'd learned a few days ago. He slipped inside and gently closed the door behind him.
"Lumos," he whispered, his wand tip flaring with white light before dimming to a manageable glow.
Now to find whatever the system had hidden in the Restricted Section.