Hermione shrugged. Helplessly spread her hands.
Then picked up a Chocolate Frog. Fed it to Luna.
Lockhart completely helpless. Could only look toward Gryffindor again. Re-nominated. "Harry, why don't you go instead."
In all Hogwarts, he was most familiar with Hermione and Harry. Now could only pick on acquaintances first.
Harry nodded. Didn't refuse.
Though Lockhart wasn't very capable—especially narcissistic and theatrical—had to say, he'd been pretty decent to him. No malice.
Hearing the opponent changed to Harry, the previously terrified Malfoy immediately perked up.
He speed-climbed from the ground. Patted dust off. Shot Harry a provocative expression.
Watching Malfoy's lightning-fast mood shift, Harry fumed.
Fine, fine, fine. Only afraid of Hermione. Not afraid of me at all, huh.
I'll show you later.
The two never got along. Today finally had a chance for officially sanctioned wizard dueling. Both couldn't ask for more.
They walked to kissing distance before stopping.
"Scared, Potter?"
Malfoy said sinisterly.
"Dream on."
Harry not backing down. Cold snort.
Both holding the guiding principle of "teach him a harsh lesson"—the gunpowder smell between them grew thicker.
"Wands ready."
Host Hermione's voice timely sounded. Interrupted their virtual standoff.
"Both sides only use Disarming Charm. First to successfully disarm opponent wins."
Hermione simply announced the rules. Harry and Malfoy couldn't wait to turn around. Assumed dueling stances.
"Three, two, one... Begin!"
Words just fell. Malfoy struck first.
"Tarantallegra!"
White flash. Harry hit on the spot. Entire body flipped several times in the air. Fell to the ground.
Malfoy showed contemptuous expression.
Harry immediately climbed up. Not backing down.
"Rictusempra!"
His wand tip also emitted white light. Hit Malfoy. The latter flew backward. Grimaced on the ground.
Fortunately both had low magic power. Spell power insufficient to truly harm. Just embarrassing.
Watching the two turn-based brawl, Hermione secretly grinned.
Malfoy climbed up. Reassumed stance. Seemed quite angry about being knocked down publicly.
"Serpensortia!"
A beam shot from his wand. Transformed into a cobra mid-air. Landed before Harry.
Snake, snake, attack!
The cobra flicked its tongue. Slithered toward Harry.
Seeing this, Snape immediately stepped forward. "Don't move, Potter. I'll remove it."
"Please let me, Professor Snape!"
A voice interrupted Snape's action.
Lockhart never missed any chance to show off (embarrass himself). Preemptively cast. "Alarte Ascendare!"
Spell hit. Cobra launched skyward on the spot. Then landed under everyone's gaze. Completely unharmed.
Everyone: "..."
Not a complete failure though.
Didn't see it "vanish," but at least "ascend" worked.
Before Lockhart found an excuse, the cobra seemed provoked. Opened its mouth wide. Revealed sharp fangs. Looked at the nearest Justin.
"Hiss hiss..."
These sounds seemed to trigger some switch. Harry's gaze immediately became distant. Lips trembled slightly. Emitted a hissing, low sound. Not human language.
"Sshassah..."
While murmuring, unconsciously walked toward the cobra.
Parseltongue!
Hermione nearly blurted out.
The cobra exhaled. Eyes showed humanized confusion. Stared blankly at Harry. Then hissed twice.
Instantly, the entire classroom dead silent. Could hear a pin drop.
Even Lockhart showed shock. Forgot to make excuses for himself.
Snape looked at Harry with disbelieving eyes.
No, impossible...
Hermione sighed.
Great. Teaching accident 3.0.
"Vipera Evanesca!"
Hermione cast a spell. The cobra vanished into smoke.
But too late. All students looked at Harry with unspeakable dread.
"I just said—only use Disarming Charm. You treating my words as background noise?"
Hermione suddenly raised her wand. Pointed at Harry and Malfoy.
Next second, both felt grabbed by an invisible hand around their necks. Slowly lifted. Suspended mid-air. Couldn't move.
"Hmm?!"
Hermione radiated terrifying aura.
Harry and Draco's faces flushed red. Felt the invisible force growing stronger. Even breathing became difficult. Throats making choking sounds.
"Enough, Miss Granger. Are you trying to kill them?"
Snape seeing Hermione had no intention of stopping, finally couldn't help speaking. Wand also subtly redirected.
Hermione's gaze sharp. Shot toward Snape.
He felt her fierce aura. Actually trembled inwardly. Momentarily lost focus.
Coming to, Snape's face extremely ugly.
He—the great Potions Master, Dark Arts expert, Half-Blood Prince—actually intimidated by a second-year girl!
Utter humiliation!
But just now Hermione indeed gave him that fear only felt facing that person.
Perhaps power still far from that person. But other aspects even surpassed!
"S-sorry..."
The two in the air intermittently emitted weak voices.
Hearing this, Hermione withdrew the spell. Both fell to the ground. Greedily gulped air.
After this commotion, everyone silent as cicadas in winter.
But fear clearly transferred from Harry to Hermione.
At this time, no one had the mind to study.
After silence, Lockhart announced early dismissal.
Hermione took Luna. Under everyone's gaze, left without looking back.
Ron and Harry exchanged glances. Hurriedly chased after.
In the corridor.
"Hermione, wait!"
Scattered footsteps came from behind.
Harry and Ron ran before Hermione. Panting.
"Sorry, Hermione, I shouldn't have..."
Hermione waved her hand. Impatiently said, "Apologize once is enough. But next time you dare ignore my words—won't be this polite."
You call this polite?
Ron and Harry both speechless.
What would you be like when NOT polite?
Only Luna showed no surprise.
"Also, thank you." Harry continued.
"Oh?"
"I know—you did that to help me." Harry's expression serious.
Though young, his childhood experiences made him quite mature.
When others thought Hermione just lost her temper from anger, he keenly realized she was helping him draw fire.
Though didn't know why people's attitudes toward him suddenly became weird... But to make people ignore him, the most direct method was having a more dangerous, terrifying presence appear.
Hermione successfully proved—compared to Parseltongue, she was the most terrifying person.
Hermione snorted. Didn't speak. Tacit acknowledgment.
Luna looked at her with eyes flickering with inexplicable meaning.
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