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By the time class was over, the news had spread like wildfire. Everywhere Harry went, the whispers of excited students followed him, eager for the evening's promised spectacle. It wasn't long before nearly the entire school knew what was coming.
At dinner in the Great Hall, the air buzzed with anticipation. Students from every house were talking about it, their voices blending into a constant hum of speculation. Some wondered if Umbridge would actually show her skill, while others were already placing bets on how badly the "demonstration" might go. Even a few of the professors exchanged knowing glances, though they kept their expressions neutral.
As Harry sat with his friends, a sly grin tugged at his lips. He could already tell this would be one of those nights Hogwarts wouldn't soon forget.
Later in the Duelling Club, the air was abuzz with chatter, everyone excitedly waiting for Umbridge to make her grand appearance. Even Fred and George, always the loudest in the room, had stopped their usual antics just to wait for the show to begin.
"Well, look who's all eager," Tracey said with a soft giggle. "You really think she's going to show?"
Harry shrugged, still smirking. "She has to. It'd be too embarrassing for her if she didn't after the whole class egged her on."
Daphne leaned back in her chair. "If she does show, it'll be the most fun we've had all year."
Neville couldn't help but chuckle. "It's going to be a disaster, isn't it?"
Harry glanced over at Neville, his grin widening. "Definitely."
The anticipation in the room was growing by the minute. Students from every house had come to watch what was sure to be an unforgettable duel. Professor taking seats at the back.
"Think she'll actually manage to teach us something for once?" Tracey asked, only half-joking.
"Teach? That's pushing it," Daphne responded dryly. "She'll be lucky if she walks out of here with her pride intact."
"Showtime," Fred muttered under his breath, glancing towards the door.
Umbridge entered the room, looking at Professors with irritation. She was putting on a show of confidence, but it was clear she wasn't thrilled about being here. The students' whispers grew louder as she made her way to the front of the room, her wand held delicately in her hand.
"Good evening, students," she said. "I've come to demonstrate some proper Ministry-approved defensive spells for you all. Now, I expect you to pay close attention."
Harry stood up as he gave Umbridge a polite nod. "Of course, Professor," he said, gesturing toward the large, slightly ominous structure at the back of the room. "This way, please."
The room's attention shifted, all eyes following Harry as he led Umbridge toward a maze-like challenge he had carefully set up earlier. It wasn't an overly complicated setup—just a series of winding paths, with progressively difficult challenges waiting at different turns. But for those who had witnessed Harry's similar test with Pettigrew in his rat form last year, the design was unmistakably familiar. Quiet chuckles rippled through the crowd, the students recognizing Harry's subtle jab, though Umbridge remained blissfully unaware of the underlying message.
"Ah, just a simple test of defensive spells," Harry explained. "Should be no problem for someone with your expertise."
Umbridge straightened her back, a smug smile crossing her face. "Indeed, Mr. Potter," she said, her tone thick with condescension. "I'm sure this will be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the Ministry's superior methods."
As Umbridge approached the entrance of the maze, the first challenge appeared—a small flock of harmless pixies fluttered into view. They darted about in playful chaos, occasionally nipping at the air. Harry stepped back, watching as the professor raised her wand.
"Locomotor Mortis!" she cried out. A flash of red light shot from her wand, striking the pixies mid-flight. One by one, they dropped to the floor, immobilized by the simple spell.
The students remained quiet, though Harry noticed a few hidden grins among the crowd. Not much of a test, but he didn't expect the pixies to pose any real challenge. He leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, and motioned for her to continue.
"Very well done, Professor," Harry commented, his tone respectful but flat. "Let's move on."
The next section of the maze introduced something a bit more aggressive—dozens of small, spiny creatures scurried out from the shadows. They were fast but low to the ground, making them difficult targets. They weren't dangerous, just designed to trip up those who weren't paying attention.
Umbridge, however, looked unfazed. She flicked her wand again, sending a wave of light in their direction. "Petrificus Totalus!" she snapped. The creatures froze, their small bodies locking into place.
Harry nodded, still keeping his face neutral. "You're certainly handling this well, Professor."
She smirked, not bothering to hide her self-satisfaction. "Naturally. These are rather elementary challenges, Mr. Potter. Is this really the best you could come up with?"
Harry shrugged lightly. "There's more, of course."
As she proceeded deeper into the maze, the challenges grew more intense. First, a fire crab emerged from one of the corners, spitting small bursts of flame in their direction. Umbridge dispatched it with a well-placed freezing charm. Then came a pair of Grindylows, their bony fingers reaching out to grab at anyone who ventured too close. Again, Umbridge neutralized them with relative ease, her arrogance growing with each success.
As Umbridge confidently moved past the frozen fire crab, the air around her began to thicken with an eerie mist. She hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure, but then waved her wand, dispelling the fog with a sharp flick.
Out of the haze, a swarm of tiny creatures materialized—Doxies, their sharp little teeth bared as they zipped toward her. Umbridge faltered, swatting one away before regaining her composure. "Impedimenta!" she shouted, sending a ripple of magic through the air. The Doxies froze mid-flight, dropping to the ground like stones. A few students snickered quietly at the scene, but Umbridge was too focused to notice.
"That was a close one," Harry muttered to Daphne, who smirked in agreement. "She's pushing through it, though."
With the Doxies behind her, Umbridge squared her shoulders and continued deeper into the maze, her confidence visibly returning. But just as she turned the next corner, the ground beneath her shifted, turning into a thick, sticky bog. Her polished shoes sank into the muck, and she let out a frustrated gasp as she struggled to free herself.
The students watching leaned forward, clearly entertained by her predicament, as Umbridge yanked her foot free with a squelching sound. "Scourgify!" she snapped, cleaning the mud from her shoes before marching forward, her irritation now plainly visible on her face.
Finally, she reached the penultimate stage: two towering dementors appeared from the shadows, their cloaked figures gliding forward with a chilling presence that filled the room. The temperature dropped noticeably as the creatures approached, their ghostly hands outstretched.
Umbridge froze, her wide eyes locked onto the two towering dementors that had appeared before her. The memory of her encounter with these creatures earlier in the year washed over her. Although oblivious to the fact it was Harry's doing, manipulating the situation to trap her. Her mind was a jumbled mess, and she struggled to form the Patronus. Her breath hitched, and she stumbled back a step.
"W-why are you here?" she stammered, her voice trembling with fear. "You're under the Ministry's orders. Why do dementors listen to a student?"
The Dementors, ignoring her panicked pleas, moved closer, their ragged cloaks brushing the ground with a whispering sound. They had been tormented to submission by Harry, and now they obeyed him without hesitation. Umbridge took a shaky step back, her wand useless in her trembling hand. She couldn't form a Patronus—her fear paralyzed her.
Seeing no way out, Umbridge turned and bolted, her earlier smugness evaporating into pure panic. The students watching couldn't help but exchange amused glances. Some even snickered under their breath as they witnessed the professor, who had spent months lecturing them on "proper conduct," reduced to a panicked mess.
Umbridge ran deeper into the maze, her breath coming in short bursts, face pale as she pushed past a series of enchanted obstacles. But then, just as she thought she was in the clear, she stumbled to a halt. In front of her was a rattling chest. She hesitated, wand raised, her eyes fixed on the chest as it slowly creaked open. From within, something began to emerge.
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