Professor Flitwick couldn't help but feel a twinge of helplessness as he noticed Gilderoy Lockhart still stubbornly lingering by the dueling stage, showing no intention of moving away, as though he were deliberately opposing him.
His earlier words weren't merely directed at the young wizards present; they were also meant for this former student of his.
As the head of Ravenclaw House, Flitwick knew better than anyone the true nature of this peculiar individual's abilities. He never truly believed that the adventures described in Lockhart's books were his own experiences. To him, it seemed far more likely that Lockhart had pieced together information from various books and documents, weaving them into imagined tales.
Though he had never been fond of Lockhart's flamboyant demeanor—something that had only grown more exaggerated after his graduation—Flitwick still considered him a former student, even if only in the past.
Of course, if Professor Flitwick knew the actual methods behind how Lockhart published his books, his opinion might have been quite different.
"Professor Lockhart, you are not wearing a dueling badge. Once Professor Snape and Professor Hawthorne begin their duel, you might be in danger," Flitwick warned after some consideration.
Though he didn't think the aftermath of a duel between Severus and young Glenn would be overly dangerous, a warning was still necessary.
As an experienced dueling master, Flitwick was well aware of how perilous dueling could be. Not to mention the brutal and deadly life-or-death duels where one party perished completely, even in the most standard duels, it wasn't uncommon for participants to suffer broken limbs. Occasionally, even spectators were accidentally struck by stray spells.
Even with his extensive experience, Flitwick couldn't guarantee the safety of everyone near the dueling stage. Only by maintaining a certain distance could he confidently neutralize any stray spells before they reached the innocent spectators.
Reflecting on this, Flitwick couldn't help but admire the protective badges crafted by Glenn using alchemy. Though not entirely foolproof, they were far superior to having no protection at all.
Times had certainly changed. The once-brutal duels of history had evolved into a sport and were now an activity for young wizards to train and have fun.
"Don't worry, Professor Flitwick. I'm confident in my ability to protect the ladies around me while keeping myself safe," Lockhart replied with his signature smile, even performing a chivalric bow. This caused the young witches surrounding him, who had already received their dueling badges, to swoon with admiration. Their gazes, filled with adoration and infatuation, clung to Lockhart, and they leaned closer, seemingly losing their sense of propriety.
Despite this, Lockhart made no move to shield the young witches, standing firmly in the center of their circle.
Having done his due diligence, Professor Flitwick decided not to press further and turned his attention back to the duel about to commence.
"Shall we begin?" Flitwick asked.
Neither Glenn nor Snape responded. Upon hearing Flitwick's declaration, both had already focused entirely on each other, merely nodding slightly.
Seeing that neither party intended to engage in any pre-duel formalities, Flitwick decided to skip the usual rituals and began a countdown.
"Three—"
Glenn steadied his breathing, silently channeling the immense magic surging within him. Though he continued to suppress the Obscurial within, he had adjusted himself to peak condition.
"Two—"
Draco and Neville exchanged glances, recognizing a familiar aura emanating from their Nightwatcher professor. Their eyes reflected mutual doubt and speculation, and they both confirmed their suspicions.
"One—"
The crowd held their breath, eagerly anticipating the display of dueling prowess from both Professor Snape and the mysterious newcomer.
Hermione suppressed the urge to shout Glenn's name, her eyes filled with fervent excitement as she stared at the cloaked figure on stage.
"Duel, begin!"
"Expulso!" "Finite Incantatem!"
A violent explosion erupted briefly at the center of the stage, only to vanish as quickly as it appeared. However, the initial shockwave swept across the arena, lifting the hair of the young wizards nearby. Instinctively, they raised their arms to shield their faces.
Those closest to the stage stumbled, some even falling to the ground.
Hermione braced herself against the wind, her bushy brown hair billowing wildly. She knew this was only the beginning of the clash.
Lockhart's hat flew off once again, landing far away. His smile froze on his face.
Only now did he realize the caliber of opponent he had chosen.
The Expulso spell, naturally cast by Glenn, was unleashed at its maximum power, its explosion encompassing the entire dueling stage. Although Glenn's total magical reserves were only four to five times that of his peers, each wizard's magic carried unique attributes. Perhaps influenced by the Obscurial, Glenn's magic leaned towards instability, ferocity, and destruction.
This opening move wasn't just to force Snape into a defensive stance by casting counter-spells or protective charms; it was also a test of the effectiveness of the dueling badges.
With Hermione equipped with various alchemical, magical, and sorcery tools, Glenn was confident that even his full magical output wouldn't harm her. Thus, he had no concerns about her safety.
However, it was clear that Snape, familiar with Glenn's tactics and intentions, chose to bypass the contest of wits. Instead, he directly cast Finite Incantatem, targeting the magical essence of the spell itself to neutralize it.
The timing was impeccable, effectively dissipating the explosion before it could expand.
Yet, neither combatant's strategy was so straightforward. For them, dual casting was second nature.
A second explosion erupted at Snape's feet, successfully detonating the stage floor on his side. Dust and debris scattered everywhere, only to be controlled by Professor Flitwick before leaving the stage.
Unaffected by his own explosive spell or the ensuing dust cloud, Glenn swiftly sidestepped. Sure enough, a faint red light pierced through the smoke, narrowly missing him.
It was a Disarming Charm, hidden behind Snape's Finite Incantatem.
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