The two young wizards didn't seem thrilled about the situation.
"Let's give them some encouragement!" Lockhart shouted, clapping enthusiastically and calling out their names.
Having fans came in handy here—his energy was contagious. Hermione, who'd been trying to slip Harry some last-minute tips, jumped to her feet and joined in with wild applause.
People are sheep, after all. In no time, the entire Great Hall erupted in cheers.
Draco Malfoy started off reluctant, but as all eyes turned to him and his fellow Slytherins shouted, "Way to go!" "Show some spirit!" and "Don't embarrass us!"…
Tom!
No, wait—Harry!
Draco was starting to get what Lockhart meant by "storybook romance." This moment, with the crowd's attention fixed on him, wasn't it exactly the spotlight he'd always craved?
With a flourish, he drew his wand, shot Harry a provocative smirk, and swaggered toward the stage.
Could Harry let that cocky attitude slide?
Not a chance. He instantly shook off his nerves, striding forward with purpose, his gaze so intense it was like he was about to take down a Dark Lord.
And yeah, Lockhart had nailed it—Draco was a Dark Lord in Harry's eyes. Well, maybe not quite, but definitely a slimy Slytherin.
This was the guy who'd faced down Voldemort himself in his first year, after all!
Soon, both boys were on the stage, practically radiating battle-ready tension.
But Lockhart stepped in, placing a hand on each of their shoulders to rein in their eagerness. He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, like some devil tempting them.
"Now, Harry, picture this evil Slytherin as the scheming, no-good mastermind he is. He's plotting something sinister every second of the day. It's up to you to step up, stop him, and save the world!"
Harry nodded. Easy enough—he already saw Malfoy as exactly that kind of creep, and he was dead set on stopping whatever evil plot was brewing.
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Lockhart turned to Draco. "And you, imagine you're working on something great, something right. But there's always some reckless brute who doesn't care about your plans and just wants to tear them apart."
He guided Draco's thoughts, his voice smooth and persuasive. "They won't even listen to your ideas or consider your plans. They're so convinced you're evil that everything you do is automatically wrong, and they're out to ruin it all. Doesn't that just infuriate you?"
Draco pressed his lips together and gave a slight nod. Honestly, Lockhart's words were getting him worked up. He was already glaring at Harry with pure irritation.
"I know this is tough," Lockhart continued, "diving into this baseless, storybook romance mindset. But trust me—lean into the fairy-tale vibe, embrace the role, and you'll tap into a strength you've never felt before!"
Draco wanted to scoff and say it wasn't hard at all—he was already itching to wipe that smug look off Harry's face.
But then he noticed Harry actually trying to get into the mindset Lockhart described, his face set with determination. Draco's expression hardened, and he focused, listening closely to Lockhart's whispers.
No way was he losing this.
"Excellent," Lockhart said, pleased, as the two boys locked eyes like roosters in a cockfight. He turned to the crowd of students below. "The key to storybook romance is fighting with a sense of purpose under the weight of everyone's expectations, in front of an audience that's watching your every move."
"Now, cheer for the classmate you're rooting for! Shout their names!"
In an instant, the Great Hall nearly shook apart with the noise.
"Harry!"
"Malfoy!"
"Harry Potter!"
"Malfoy!"
"The Chosen One!"
"Malfoy!"
On stage, the two boys were glaring daggers, each trying to outdo the other with sheer intensity. Down below, the crowd was screaming themselves hoarse, feeding off each other's energy. Caught up in the atmosphere, Harry and Draco's expressions shifted, their emotions fully ignited.
To make sure things didn't spiral out of control, Lockhart invited the other professors onto the stage, claiming it was so they could observe the performance up close.
He added that in a classic "hero versus villain" tale, the expectations of the older generation were just as crucial.
That only cranked up the pressure on Harry and Draco.
But that was the magic of the moment. With so many people chanting their names, Harry was gripping his wand so tightly it might snap, breathing heavily, while Draco was taking deep breaths, both of them utterly swept up in the intensity.
"Begin your duel!" Lockhart announced, waving his wand with a flourish and stepping back to give the stage to the two young wizards.
He retreated behind the line of professors, where no one was paying attention to him anymore.
Even Dumbledore was watching the scene with a thoughtful look, his eyes fixed on Harry with keen interest.
Draco struck first. He wasn't about to waste time on dueling etiquette with a brute like Harry. Fully immersed in the "storybook romance" vibe, he cast the spell he was best at—and the one that looked the most sinister.
"Serpensortia!"
With a flick of his wand, a dark shadow shot from the tip, hitting the ground and materializing into a massive python.
Maybe it was his "unwavering resolve," or the "spark of imagination" from the atmosphere, or maybe his "overflowing emotions"…
No, it was definitely the "storybook romance" vibe.
For a moment, Draco genuinely felt like a visionary leader trying to reshape the world, staring down this infuriating brute who opposed him without question, acting like some hero in a cliché battle against a Dark Lord. The sheer annoyance of it all burned in his chest.
And then, something incredible happened.
Unlike the usual two-meter snake he'd conjured in the past, this python was enormous, coiling on the stage with a body thicker than Draco's head, its length impossible to gauge.
The gasps and screams from the crowd only made the moment sweeter.
But then…
"Expelliarmus!"
A blinding flash of light shot toward Draco. Before he could react, he—and his wand—were sent flying.
And not just him. The giant python he'd conjured was launched into the air as well.
Thud!
Draco slammed into a pillar at the edge of the stage, collapsing to the ground. Before he could catch his breath, his eyes widened in terror as a massive shadow loomed over him. "No!" he shouted.
Boom!
The python crashed down on top of him, nearly knocking last night's dinner out of his stomach.
Professor Snape, who'd been watching with high expectations, glanced down at Draco with a hint of disdain. He bent down, yanked him up, and dragged him back to face Harry, signaling for the duel to continue.
"That was the best Serpensortia and Expelliarmus I've ever seen!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed, waving his arms excitedly and turning to Lockhart. "You've unlocked their potential, Professor Lockhart!"
Lockhart flashed his signature dazzling smile, raising an eyebrow smugly. "Pretty fun, right?"
"Absolutely!" Flitwick gushed. "Immersing them in that storybook romance vibe makes their magic come alive. It's a brilliant discovery!"
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