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Two people stepped onto the dueling platform: both men, both "slightly" over thirty. They are similar and at the same time completely different.
The first is a bright writer who loves both himself and his image. He takes everything from life and even more. The second is his opposite: gloomy, withdrawn, embittered, hating both himself and everyone around him. He closes himself off from everyone in his dungeons, spending hours, days, months, years on one thing that is still dear to him - potions.
But what do they have in common? What do these two people have in common? Secret. Each of them keeps something in their soul that no one can know about. Stealth. Show in public only what is beneficial to them and only them. Ladies' man and magically inept goofball - please. A cynic who despises everything and everyone - take two. They are different, but so similar. Like two sides of the same coin.
Standing on both sides of the platform, they looked at each other with attentive glances. One smiled, the other did not.
- Who do you think will win? — the question of one of the freshmen was heard a little louder than it should have been.
"Obviously, Professor Snape," one of the Slytherin first-years answered him in a loud whisper. All this sounded so that as many people as possible could hear it. "I hope he doesn't hurt him too much," he grinned slightly at the end.
- You are lying. Of course, Professor Lockhart will win," one of the writer's fans could not tolerate such an obvious mockery of her idol. - He's a Hero. He accomplished so many feats that you could never even dream of - the eternal female "Phi".
"Why are you even..." the wearer of the green-silver tie couldn't stand it. He still has to learn and learn.
"Children, there is no need to argue," the smiling writer drew attention to himself. "I give you my word, after our duel, Professor Snape will leave on his own two feet," and a dazzling smile at the end.
The devilish gleam in the eyes of the Dungeon Horror made it clear that the "scribbler" would not get off so easily.
"Kol," a quiet whisper so that only I could hear came from Astoria. - Who are you betting on?
"Now - Professor Snape," I answered also quietly.
-Are you so sure of him? — Nev, who heard our conversation, said with a slight smile.
"No," I shake my head. — I'm confident in Processor Lockhart.
- What…
"Bow," the sonorous voice of the half-goblin interrupted Astoria mid-sentence. In response to his words, the two opponents bowed to each other. - One, two, three... Let's start.
- Protego! — a spherical shield appeared around the writer, flickering with a bluish light.
- Expellisrmus! — yellow lightning reached the shield in an instant. A moment and she cuts through it like a hot knife through butter. The design of the spell has gone to pieces, and a mass of energy, like a battering ram, accompanied by a yellow glow, demolishes the lean body of the DADA professor.
*Bam! Smack! * The blond's body hit the wall with a deafening sound, and then fell to the ground in a limp heap.
There was a little silence. Some of the students looked at this in shock and disbelief, while others looked at it with gloating. The Potions professor only smiled at the corner of his lips, and then again became gloomy when he saw something that no one except Flitwick, me, and maybe Potter could notice—Lockhart's smile.
For all the students, it looked like this: Snape broke through Lockhart's shield with one spell, and then threw him out with it, despite the protective dome around the podium. But that was not all, there was something else that I (magical vision) and Professor Flitwick (battle experience) noticed. The potions professor, with one flick of his wand, cast not one spell, but two. The first is Expelliarmus, and the second is unknown to me, which broke through the shield and then destabilized the disinfecting spell. After all, they don't work like that, these spells only snatch the weapon from the hands, and do not knock over the magician.
But Lockhart also created two spells: Protego in the form of a sphere, and Protego encircling the entire body. And the second spell was many times stronger than the first.
- I told you so! - the Slytherin shouted proudly. "So your "beloved and ardently adored" professor has merged," he venomously threw at the girl who had argued with him before.
There was a commotion. Everyone considered it a matter of honor to discuss what had just happened. Of course, the Horror of the Dungeons defeated the world Hero with one "blow". Nonsense.
"Hmm, you were right," Nev chuckled barely audibly. - True, I didn't understand the meaning of the second phrase...
"Look further and you will understand everything," I said, nodding towards the lying professor.
Having looked at me incomprehensibly, Astoria and Nev simultaneously turned their attention to the lying pile.
In a single, united movement, the previously lying body rose to its feet. There was no trace of such a tight fit on him, only his hair was slightly disheveled. But he corrected her at the same moment. Now it says nothing at all about his crushing defeat.
"Ha-ha-ha, wonderful, just wonderful," Lockhart dissipated loudly, attracting attention to himself. "Exemplary use of disarmament charms with a slight twist," he emphasized the last word with intonation, which clearly indicates that he understood everything. As, indeed, the following words. "I immediately saw through your train of thought, but still decided to show the children that underestimating the simplest spell can turn into a fatal mistake."
"Flattered," Snape spat through clenched teeth, and then, turning on the spot, walked away from the platform.
The next forty-five minutes flew by in a blur. Flitwick spoke first. He spoke in detail about the rules of dueling (mostly boiling down to a couple of axioms: if it is not a mortal duel, killing is prohibited. Starting a duel ahead of time is prohibited. Well, ritual movements: bow, salute with wands, etc.), safety rules, and also in more detail talked about the podiums.
To summarize, we can find out the following: each platform is a unique artifact. All spells cast within it cannot leave the dome. It also protects against external threats (interfering in a duel is prohibited). He also made visible for a brief moment all the runes that were used to create the rune circles. I bet that after such a demonstration, many will be interested in such a school of magic.
After all these speeches, we were all divided into pairs (Nev was with me, and the snake was with Luna. The latter was not very happy about this division), they were taken to the mannequin area and given the task: first, together, send stunners to the mannequin. Second task: one holds the active shield enchantment around the dummy, and the second sends spells. Then change. And the third task: one defends, and the other attacks with the help of the same stunners.
Any violation is strictly punished, up to and including "expulsion" from the hall (the poor couple of a lion and a snake could not keep their hostility towards each other in check. So they switched to more serious charms). So they watched us very closely. If someone did not understand something, they explained it clearly. Snape and Lockhart also explained, though each in his own way (with "insults" and "praises" of his beloved).
Finally, after forty-five minutes, it was all over. Of course, practice is still needed, but everyone understood the basics.
"Well done," Gilderoy began to push his speech again, pacing from side to side on the podium. — Each of you was able to master the data of the spell to one degree or another. Great. Now we'll move on to something more interesting, for example..." here he turned sharply in his seat and stared straight at Potter. - Harry Potter - get up.
Everyone looked in surprise as the "former" hero, and now the "one hundred percent" heir, climbed to the podium. Finally rising, Potter looked (looked) at the smiling professor with some disdain.
"Great," he was delighted. "Now I want to see what the best of you are capable of." One of them is young Potter, and if you remember the rumors that are circulating about him at school, for a moment his lips stretched into a grin, but after half a second a familiar mask fell on his face. - And his opponent will be...
"Draco Malfoy," Severus's gloomy voice interrupted the writer. - To the podium.
A minute later, two people stood next to the professors, looking at each other defiantly.
"So," Lockhart took the floor again. "Now these two," with a wave of his hand. "They will show us what the best second-year students at Hogwarts are capable of." Disperse.
The two rivals silently went in different directions. Armed with their chopsticks, they looked at each other carefully.
"Remember, following the rules is the most important part of duels," said the DADA professor, looking carefully at the students. - On the count of three. One, two...
- Expelliarmus! - already at two, Malfoy released the location.
Harry silently accepted the protego spell. The shield sparkled and stood. A wave of the wand and a repellent spell flies at the numb Slytherin. Taking it onto his chest, Malfoy flew about a meter back and then fell.
- Impedimenta! — not allowing him to come to his senses, Harry (Harriet) sends a slowing spell at the lying guy. - Incarcio!
The last swing of the wand in this match and the defeated opponent is entangled in ropes.
- The winner is Harry Potter! - Lockhart said happily, smiling at everyone.
No one clapped, because everyone was afraid of the "heir." And Potter is exactly that, in their opinion. Harry (Harriet) himself only looked at everyone with disdain. What does he (she) care about their opinion?
*Clap-clap* Single claps broke the silence. Turning their heads towards the sound, they saw me (we continue to attract attention and work for a reputation.... When they find out that she is not the heir...) clapping her hands. A few seconds later Luna joined me, followed by Nev and the last Snake.
- Serpensortia! — while everyone was looking at our group, the offended and humiliated Malfoy decided to strike from the quiet. After all, he is still a spoiled child.
The snake that appeared flew towards Potter with its mouth open. However, Harry did not make a mistake and instantly recreated the shield against which the snake hit. And then Snape stepped in, destroying the snake with one swing.
"Mr. Malfoy, you upset me," the writer shook his head disapprovingly. "I'll have to write about your behavior to your father and mother." I also ask you to visit me today after dinner. An entertaining workout awaits us.
Clenching his fists in impotent anger, Draco walked off the platform with his head down.
- Well, since we're done, then...
"I think that's not all," the half-goblin intervened in his speech. Oh, I don't like this. Not good. — I think the last battle did not satisfy us, right? - Flivik addressed the children, who nodded their heads vigorously. "So I propose another fight involving Mr. Potter."
"But he just finished the fight and must be tired," the writer objected.
- So why not ask him yourself? - Snape suggested, who had previously whispered something in Draco's ear. The poor guy's face turned pale. "Potter," he turned towards the named person. -Can you continue the "fight"? - all this was said with obvious challenge, as if he doubted the hero's abilities.
Of course, Harry (Harriet) could not help but respond to this teasing.
"Of course," he nodded. - I'm full of strength.
"Then your opponent will be..." Gilderoy began his search.
"I just hope my opponent will be stronger than the last one, otherwise it will be completely boring," Harry said, almost yawning.
- Too weak? - Snape hissed. "I see you have a very high opinion of yourself, Potter." Excellent - a sharp turnaround on the spot. - And which of them is worthy of your attention? - wave of the hand in our direction.
Oh fuck. All my feelings are screaming that this someone will be me. Well, why? I don't need this... Moreover, I can't lose (it's too unprofitable), and winning... is also not advisable... for now.
The gaze of green eyes began to wander around the crowd. From his actions, everyone on whom his attention fell somehow shrank, hiding their heads in their shoulders. Potter himself was also not very happy about such prospects, he only frowned in annoyance.
After half a minute, his gaze fell on the Moon, and then moved on to me. Faced with my gaze, N immediately burst out with contentment and gloating (he completely underestimates me. Well, if I can't jump off, it'll be a shame for him).
"I chose," Potter turned to Snape.
- And who is this worthy one in your humble opinion? — malice just rushes out of all the cracks.
"He," the hero's wand pointed directly at me. — Calder Wilson.
And again all eyes turned to me. Only this time they were supplemented by teachers. Only Flitwick caught my eye and grinned, winking with his right eye. That's a goblin.
- Wilson? - Snape asked. - Are you sure?
"Don't worry, Professor," Harry said sarcastically, looking at me expectantly. "I won't hurt him too much."
"Well, well," Snape muttered barely audibly, but I heard thanks to my hearing. "We'll take a look," he added much louder. — Wilson. To the podium.
- Can I refuse? — I made an attempt to escape this fate.
"You can," the professor said. "But you won't like it," they said in one voice. Tch.
Shrugging my shoulders at their words, I still went up to the podium. Without waiting long, I immediately went to "my" part of the platform. Harry followed my example.
Taking out my wand, I bowed to my opponent as a sign of greeting and stood in a comfortable position for an attack (relaxed pose, one hand lowered, the other raised the wand. Turned half sideways). The Hero mirrored me.
"I remind you: we follow the rules," Flitwick was our judge this time. - On the count of three, you can start the fight. Once.
Oh, how I didn't want to fight her.
- Two…
But apparently my prayers were not heard. Or, on the contrary, they were heard, but everything was done the other way around.
- Three. The battle!
Off we go.
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