The dueling arena on the grounds of Hogwarts was buzzing with anticipation as students from all four houses, along with a mix of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, gathered to attend one the most famous activities in the school, one of the only few things they all agreed on. The enchanted stands creaked under the weight of eager spectators, the air tinged with a charge of magical energy and the cool bite of autumn. Torches flickered around the arena, casting long shadows and giving the whole setup an almost gladiatorial atmosphere.
From my position at the center of the arena, I could see everything—the restless shifting of students, the whispered predictions of who would triumph and who would be humiliated. My gaze lingered on the platform, It was a simple raised stage, charmed to absorb stray spells and contain all the action within its boundaries. My magical studies are really coming along.
As I prepared to announce the next duel, my eyes caught sight of Draco Malfoy lounging with his usual smug arrogance among the Slytherins. He was surrounded by his lackeys, but there was a hint of tension in his posture. The scathing looks I had been giving him had put him on edge, good.
I stood, letting the crowd's chatter die down before speaking. "Welcome, everyone, to today's dueling session! We have some very exciting matches lined up, featuring some of the most promising talents from Hogwarts and our esteemed visiting schools."
My voice echoed due to the sonorous charm, drawing everyone's attention. "For our opening duel, I'd like to call forward two competitors who I believe will provide us with a rather… spirited demonstration. Draco Malfoy of Slytherin, and Loup Geroux of Beauxbatons."
A ripple of surprise and curiosity spread through the crowd. Draco looked momentarily startled, but quickly masked it with a sneer. Loup, on the other hand, looked like he'd been waiting for this moment his entire life. He stepped onto the platform with the cold, calculating demeanor of someone who had nothing to lose—and everything to prove.
You see Loup Geroux has a grudge to settle with the malfoys, last year due to some political shenanigans by Lucius, the Geroux family lost a lot of their wealth to the malfoys, now here I am giving Loup a chance for some kind of revenge.
As they took their places, I addressed them with the usual formalities, though my words were laced with intent only Loup could fully grasp. "Remember, this is a test of skill, strategy, and control. I trust both of you to demonstrate the precision and respect that dueling demands."
With a flick of my wand, I signaled the duel to begin.
Draco wasted no time, firing off a Disarming Charm that was more about showing off than strategy. Loup deflected it effortlessly, his eyes narrowing as he prepared his counterattack. What followed was a masterclass in calculated humiliation. Loup didn't just duel Draco—he dismantled him. Every curse, every hex was perfectly timed to disrupt, embarrass, and undermine Draco's composure.
The crowd roared with laughter as Draco stumbled, tripped, and flailed under the onslaught. Loup hit him with a series of jinxes that left him twitching and gagging, his face twisted in fury and shame. I could see the cracks in Draco's confidence widening with each failed attempt to retaliate. He was being utterly humiliated, and everyone was watching.
When I finally called an end to the duel, Draco looked more like a disheveled first-year than the proud Slytherin he fancied himself to be. Loup bowed theatrically to the crowd, his victory obvious in every inch of his posture. Draco, on the other hand, slunk off the platform, his face burning with a mix of rage and humiliation.
But the day's lesson wasn't over for him yet.
After a few more matches, it was time for the final event, and I knew exactly how to put the final nail in Draco's pride. "For our last duel of the day," I announced, letting the tension build, "I want to see two of our brightest students face off. Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger—please take your positions."
The stadium fell silent for a moment, then buzzed with excitement and disbelief. Everyone knew about the animosity between these two. For years, Draco had belittled Hermione, always quick with a slur about her blood status. But today, I would make sure those taunts came back to bite him.
Hermione stepped onto the platform, her expression set with a determination that bordered on fierce, her teeth had fully recovered from yesterday, and even if I thought she was beautiful before, the reduction in size of her two front teeth made her even more mesmerising.
Draco, still reeling from his earlier defeat, shot her a glare, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. He was rattled, and I knew exactly how to push him over the edge.
As Hermione and Draco raised their wands, I leaned in close to Hermione and whispered, "Don't hold back, Miss Granger. Show him what a you can really do."
She didn't need more encouragement. The moment the duel began, Hermione was relentless. Her spells came fast and sharp, each one a calculated strike designed to overwhelm and expose Draco's weaknesses. And it worked. Within minutes, Draco was on the defensive, struggling to keep up with the barrage of hexes and jinxes flying his way.
The crowd was on their feet, cheering as Hermione unleashed her full power. There was no hesitation, no mercy. She was taking back all the dignity Draco had tried to strip from her over the years, and doing it in the most public, humiliating way possible. When her final Disarming Charm sent Draco's wand spinning into the air and his body crashing to the ground, the stadium erupted in applause.
I couldn't help but smirk. Draco lay there, stunned and utterly defeated by the very person he considered beneath him. It was poetic justice in its purest form.
As the students began to file out of the stadium, still buzzing with the excitement of the duels, I watched Draco slink away, broken and humiliated. This was exactly what I wanted—a wounded, desperate Draco who could be easily manipulated in the future. And as for Hermione, she had just proven herself to be a formidable duelist, one I will steer in useful directions when the time came.
The crowd began to disperse, and as the excitement of the dueling club settled, I made my way to Hermione. Her face was flushed, but it wasn't just from the thrill of victory—it was from the deep satisfaction of finally getting the upper hand on someone who had tormented her for years. Her eyes sparkled with pride as she looked up at me, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Well done, Miss Granger," I said smoothly, my voice laced with genuine praise. "You proved today exactly why you're regarded as the brightest witch of your generation. You didn't just defeat him; you outclassed him."
Hermione's face lit up at my words. For a brief moment, she looked like the young girl she still was, happy and content. But her compassionate nature quickly resurfaced. "Thank you, Professor, but… I think it's enough. He won't bother me anymore after this, and I'd rather not hold onto any grudges."
Her request was predictably noble—Hermione was always concerned with fairness and second chances. But I wasn't interested in giving Draco Malfoy a reprieve. The humiliation he felt today was just the beginning. I needed to ensure that he wouldn't forget his place or dare to act against Hermione—or anyone else—again.
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "You're a better person than most, Hermione. But this isn't just about you. What happened to you yesterday was unacceptable, and I can't allow him to think he can get away with it. People like Draco only understand one thing: consequences. And I intend to deliver those."
Hermione's expression softened as she heard the protectiveness in my tone. She didn't realize, of course, that it was all a carefully constructed act, well not all of it. Her trust was exactly what I needed. "I appreciate that, Professor, really. But please… don't be too harsh. I have my peace of mind now, and that's enough."
I nodded, feigning understanding, but in truth, I had no intention of letting Draco off lightly. "I'll take your wishes into account, Hermione," I said reassuringly, though I knew full well she would be none the wiser to the punishments I'd planned. "But I'm not satisfied yet. No one hurts you and gets away with it."
Her eyes shone with gratitude, and for a moment, I could see she was truly touched. It was almost amusing how easy it was to gain her trust, but I kept my expression carefully neutral, allowing her to feel the warmth of my supposed concern.
"Oh Harry asked me to tell you that he was meeting with Sirius so he couldn't come." She tells me, changing the subject with a shy response.
I smile at her, "I know they are in my office after all, go ahead, enjoy the rest of your day."
She looks at me with a considering gaze before she steps forward and envelopes me in a hug.
"Thank you professor for everything" she mumbles into my robes and then runs off with a huge blush. I smile to myself at her actions, it's coming along nicely.
As the last of the students filed out, I finally turned my attention to Draco, who was hanging back near the exit, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. "Malfoy!" I called out, my voice snapping like a whip. He flinched but turned to face me, his expression sour.
"Come here," I ordered.
He slouched over, trying to muster some semblance of dignity, but the nervous twitch in his face betrayed his discomfort. I waited until he was standing in front of me, then let my expression turn cold.
"Your performance today was nothing short of pathetic," I began, my voice laced with disdain. "But worse than your lack of skill was your cowardly behavior yesterday. Attacking a fellow student, especially one who's done nothing to deserve it—do you think that makes you powerful? Do you think that makes you worthy of respect?"
Draco's face turned red, and he opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off. "Save your excuses, Malfoy. You've brought shame to Slytherin with your actions, and you'll pay the price for it. You're going to serve detention with me every week for the rest of the year, and Slytherin will lose 100 points."
His eyes widened in shock. "You can't do that! My father—"
"Your father," I interrupted icily, "isn't here, and he certainly isn't in a position to protect you from the consequences of your actions. In fact, I know more than enough about Lucius Malfoy to make sure he stays out of this. Do you really want to test me?"
Draco's face drained of color. The bravado he'd been trying to cling to crumbled, replaced by a flicker of panic. He bit his lip, clearly trying to think of some way to deflect, but he was in over his head.
"For talking back to a teacher, I'm deducting another 50 points from Slytherin," I added coldly. "And I'll make sure the entire school knows exactly why. Maybe then you'll learn some humility."
For a moment, Draco looked like he might explode, his fists clenched at his sides, his pale face trembling with barely contained rage. But he knew he was beaten, and the realization settled in with a mix of shame and fear. He turned on his heel and stalked off, his shoulders hunched in defeat.
As I watched him retreat, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smirk. Draco was a spoiled child who had been allowed to believe that his father's wealth and connections would shield him from the consequences of his actions. But here, within these walls, I held the power, and I intended to use it as I saw fit.
His humiliation, coupled with Hermione's trust, would serve my purposes perfectly. I was sowing seeds of control and influence in every corner of this school, and each of these interactions only brought me closer to what I wanted.
As I left the dueling grounds, I couldn't help but relish the thought of how this little game would continue to play out.
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