Chapter 212: 213: The Dueling Club

Words : 1144 Updated : Oct 10th, 2025

Nolan's expression darkened. Because standing on the stage, wearing his beloved purple robe, was none other than Gilderoy Lockhart, flaunting himself like a peacock in full display. Beside him stood Snape, whose face was so black it could rival the bottom of a cauldron. Nolan guessed that the poor Potions professor must have just realized that one of his precious collections had been stolen. Of course, there was also a high probability that Snape simply despised Lockhart. After a brief exchange of glances, Eve and Cho quickly reached a unanimous decision—yes, Snape definitely just hated Lockhart. "Can everyone hear me?" Lockhart waved enthusiastically, grinning like a fool. "A big thank you to Professor Dumbledore for allowing me to open this little club! Here, I can impart some essential wizard dueling techniques to all of you. You see, one day, you young witches and wizards will undoubtedly face your own duels, just as I have countless times before. Of course, your situations may not be as perilous as mine—after all, not everyone is chosen for such grand adventures..." Lockhart droned on, but only a handful of lower-year girls seemed genuinely interested in his self-aggrandizing tales. Even Hermione was starting to look exhausted. "And now, let me introduce my assistant—Professor Snape!" Lockhart clapped a hand onto Snape's shoulder, laughing heartily, his face beaming with self-satisfaction. "Professor Snape has generously agreed to help me demonstrate a few basic moves—" At that moment, Snape, who had been scowling the entire time, suddenly caught sight of Nolan in the crowd. His eyes lit up. "I've changed my mind," Snape murmured. Lockhart's smile faltered. "I'm sorry, what?" "I said, I've changed my mind." Snape repeated the words without moving his lips, his tone quick and sharp. "Every Hogwarts student should know that among them stands a truly exceptional duelist. Wouldn't you agree, Eve Stock?" All at once, every student in the room turned to stare. Eve's mouth twitched as she muttered under her breath, "That damn bat..." "Eve Stock, last year's runner-up in the European Wizard Dueling Championship, Youth Division." Snape continued, his voice dangerously smooth. "A most... promising student. And tell me, Miss Stock, who trained you in dueling?" Eve sighed heavily, giving Nolan a helpless glance before reluctantly admitting, "Nolan, Professor." Swish. As if choreographed, every student in the room simultaneously shifted their gaze toward Nolan. "Ah, of course. Our ever-talented Mr. Von Draugr." Snape sounded almost amused now. "I do believe he would be far more suited to assisting Professor Lockhart with today's demonstrations. Wouldn't you agree?" "Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you? I think you would!" Lockhart blurted out in a panic. "Oh! Nolan is also highly skilled in wizard dueling! I certainly wouldn't mind demonstrating a few techniques with him! Nolan, come up here, quickly!" As Nolan walked past Hermione, he heard her whisper desperately, "Go easy on him!" Then, as he brushed past Snape, the professor murmured coldly, "Go all out." Nolan smirked. He knew exactly what to do. Lockhart, watching Nolan's darkened expression, nervously twirled his wand between his fingers. He forced a laugh and reassured the audience, "Oh, of course, ladies! You can rest easy! I certainly won't harm dear Nolan—he'll be returned to you in one piece!" Nolan's lips curled ever so slightly. "Is that so? I don't think so, Professor Lockhart." "W-what?" "We are standing on a dueling platform, Professor." Nolan stomped his foot twice on the wooden stage, his right eye narrowing into a blood-red slit as he said in a low voice, "No one wants to watch a pathetic charade. We should both fight seriously and give everyone a true demonstration of what a wizard's duel is supposed to look like." "Er..." Lockhart, sweating profusely, hesitated. "Oh, well, if that's what you think... but I still suggest—" "I insist." Nolan tilted his chin up, his crimson eye gleaming. "A fine evening calls for an equally spectacular duel, don't you think, Professor Lockhart?" From the audience, Hermione groaned and rolled her eyes. "This is going to be a disaster." "What? What's a disaster?" Ron asked, puzzled. "Nolan's planning to humiliate Professor Lockhart. How could he do this?" Hermione huffed. "I really don't understand why he dislikes him so much." "...You do, though." Ron hesitated before muttering, "Right?" Harry, meanwhile, was grinning from ear to ear. "I don't know if Hermione understands, but I do know that one of them is about to be in serious trouble. Ron, any bets on who?" "Lockhart, obviously. That idiot has no real skills." Harry nodded in agreement, then sighed regretfully. "Shame they can't both take each other out." The room buzzed with excitement. The school's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor versus the Slytherin Prince? There was no better form of entertainment! The boys were jealous of Nolan, but they despised Lockhart more, so none of them cheered for the over-glorified fraud. The girls, however, were divided—about thirty percent supported Lockhart, while the remaining seventy were firmly on Nolan's side. On stage, Lockhart and Nolan raised their wands. Nolan's face remained cool and impassive. Lockhart, however, was still trying to keep up his smile—though upon closer inspection, one could see the sweat trickling down his forehead. Lockhart gave a dramatic bow. Nolan simply tilted his head slightly. Lockhart still had the nerve to explain the process, saying, "As you can all see, we are now fully prepared. In a moment, we will begin on the count of three, and we shall both cast our spells at the same time! Naturally, we do not intend to harm each other." After a slight pause, he cautiously added, "Right?" Nolan pressed his lips together, and many students noticed—he was smiling. "Oh, of course not... Professor." "Excellent! Now, let's count down! Three—Expelliarmus!" Lockhart shrieked, firing a red spell at Nolan. Nolan flicked his wrist casually. The red spell exploded into a shower of sparks before vanishing into thin air. At the same time, Nolan softly uttered, "Levicorpus." Lockhart let out a high-pitched scream as he was suddenly yanked into the air, suspended upside-down. His extravagant purple robes flipped over his head, covering his face—exposing, however, a pair of even more extravagant underpants. Several girls squealed in embarrassment, while the boys burst into riotous laughter. Lockhart had no idea what had happened—his limbs flailed wildly as he wriggled around inside the folds of his robe. "White with pink hearts?" Nolan blinked in surprise before smirking. "Not bad, Professor Lockhart. Petrificus Totalus." A jet of light struck Lockhart, and instantly, his limbs snapped together, leaving him frozen in place. A moment later, he plummeted from the air, rolling across the floor in a ridiculous heap—half-naked and completely motionless.

Chapter 212: 213: The Dueling Club

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