"I wonder who will teach us today," Hermione speculated as she made her way to the front of the group. "I have heard it said that Flitwick was a duelling champion in his youth, perhaps he was the one who taught us how to duel…"
Harry suggested that Professor McGonagall might be the one teaching…
"I thought you'd be able to guess who it belonged to just by looking at this gilded stage…" Ivan's merciless blow to their heads shredded their fantasies…
"You don't mean…" Looking at the gold-inlaid stage, Harry's mind conjured a figure, and he gulped, hoping for the best.
"It can't be…" Ron was in despair. He didn't think he should have come.
"That's right, Lockhart!" Ivan said, pointing to the entrance to the Great Hall.
The trio looked over and saw Gilderoy Lockhart.
However, Lockhart seemed to be different today. In addition to his purple-red robe, he also had a golden-red cloak on his back and a rectangular piece of magical tape on the side of his face.
"Hello, everyone!" Lockhart enthusiastically greeted the assembled wizards as he stepped onto the stage.
As he raised his hand, the gold ring on Lockhart's finger, which was encrusted with sapphires, was revealed to the crowd.
The crowd booed as Lockhart took the stage.
Lockhart pretended not to hear him, cleared his throat, and continued loudly.
"Gather around, everyone closer! Listen to me!"
"Well, your Headmaster, Dumbledore, gave me special permission — your Defence Against the Dark Arts professor — to open this duelling club!
The aim is to train you well in case you ever need to defend yourselves, and use the knowledge I have taught you…"
As Lockhart was speaking, Marcus interrupted him impatiently.
"Professor, can we leave now? I think I'd rather stay in my room and play Wizard's Chess."
Marcus was not alone in his belief that the Duelling Club was run by Lockhart, and the crowd's hopes were dashed.
"No, it can't! I have to tell you, it's extremely humiliating to avoid duels in the wizarding world!" Lockhart shook his head.
Lockhart then pointed at the door and shouted.
"So to prevent anyone from leaving a mark of shame, I have locked the door to the hall, and no one is to leave until the lesson is over!"
The group of young wizards turned to look at the closed doors of the exhibition hall, speechless…
"How could he do that?" Ron complained.
Ivan, on the other hand, understood that Lockhart was desperate to use the Duelling Club as an opportunity to salvage his reputation at Hogwarts.
Lockhart was certainly not going to let anyone go in order to get a bigger audience for the big show.
Swish ~
As they argued, a blinding red light shot up from the top of Lockhart's wand.
The light from the spell hit the ceiling and exploded, creating brilliant sparks that attracted everyone's attention.
Lockhart nodded his head in satisfaction.
Although it wasn't the spell he wanted to cast, it worked just as well, didn't it?
"Ahem… Now, I will teach you duelling techniques. I will choose someone to be my assistant and demonstrate…"
Lockhart's gaze swept across the audience as he tried to decide who should be chosen for his debut…
This target could not be weak, so he could not be a first year, but he could not be too strong either, or he would not be able to win…
Lockhart looked at Ivan for a moment, remembering how close he had come to death the day before, and shuddered. He then turned to a Slytherin student, confirming his aim.
"You! That's right, don't look at anyone else… it's you, Marcus!" Lockhart pointed at Marcus, who had previously insulted him.
"Me?" Marcus was nonplussed, but remembering that Lockhart was an idiot of a professor, he went on stage.
Ivan was surprised Lockhart hadn't asked Snape to give a demonstration. Had he learned his lesson?
"Look, the cloak on Lockhart's back is torn!" Ron sneered.
When Lockhart turned around, Ivan noticed that there was a large tear in his golden-red cloak.
Ivan thought about it for a moment and realized that this must be the Protective Cloak, which had taken a hit from his enhanced Shadowless Blade and caused some damage.
This does not prevent the normal use of the protective cloak, but the protective effect may be weaker…
"Good! Let's begin!" Lockhart shouted from the stage, raising his wand.
"Now bow!" Lockhart gave a flamboyant bow, indicating that Marcus should do the same.
Marcus's action was perfunctory, and he only lowered his head slightly before he eagerly gripped his wand.
Marcus felt he would soon be able to knock out a professor in full view of the crowd, something he could boast about for years.
Lockhart explained how to hold a wand during a duel and reassured everyone that this was not a real duel and that he would not take Marcus's life!
Even if he could easily do it!
"Shall we begin, Professor?" Marcus's face darkened at Lockhart's attempt to belittle him.
"Of course." Lockhart looked at Marcus, who was growing impatient, and raised his eyebrows in a duelling gesture, counting down.
"One… two… three…"
"Tarantella!" Marcus shouted as soon as Lockhart uttered the last word.
The speeding charm passed through the air like a bolt of red lightning,
Lockhart didn't look as if he had time to react. Marcus's lips curled into a smile, and he looked scornful.
Marcus could almost see Lockhart's terrified face as he performed a comical dance on the stage, which was why he chose this spell.
Lockhart's face remained calm as the spell closed in on him. He pretended to point his wand at himself and the spell bounced off.
The red light hit Marcus faster than it came, and his body did a funny dance…
There was a sudden silence except for Marcus's terrified cries…