"Professors, as long as you can keep most of the Acromantulas outside Hogwarts, even if a few manage to slip through your defenses, we students should be able to take them down if we work together."
"But if you stay here to protect us and the battlefield shifts into the Hogwarts castle, that would be the real trouble."
Hermione declared resolutely, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
She had already thought through the best course of action when she came to inform Professor Flitwick.
Professor Flitwick, out of his protective instincts for the students, had subconsciously dismissed this method. But now, under the impact of Hermione's firm words, he finally came to his senses.
"…Alright, I'll leave this to you and Glenn."
"Take care of yourselves. We'll be back soon."
Professor Flitwick took a deep breath, making up his mind. He nodded at Hermione, unable to say much more given the urgency of the situation, and chose to trust her.
"Dumbledore has already sent his phoenix to call for reinforcements..."
Snape hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, though not without his usual sharp tone. He let out a cold snort.
"Hmph, don't get yourselves killed."
"Yes, I understand, Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick. You two should go now."
Hermione didn't mind Snape's venomous words, knowing that this was the professor's way of showing concern.
Since Professor Flitwick had told Glenn he didn't need to come to work, Glenn had opted to stay in the Room of Requirement, studying the creation of alchemical golems, rather than joining the dueling club in the Great Hall.
Having completed her task of delivering the message, Hermione quickly cast the enhancement spells Glenn had taught her—those best suited to her—and then dashed through the crowd towards the eighth-floor Room of Requirement. Meanwhile, after swiftly organizing the students present, Professor Flitwick left with Snape.
The students in the Great Hall fell silent for a moment after hearing about the Acromantulas' full-scale mobilization. Then, chaos erupted.
A sense of unease began to spread among the crowd. Although the prefects from each house were trying to maintain order and calm the younger students, the situation was proving difficult due to the overwhelming panic.
Restlessness, agitation, and noise fed into each other, creating a vicious cycle. With the powerful professors gone, the students felt like a headless flock, lacking any sense of security.
"QUIET!!!"
Amid the cacophony, an angry roar instantly drowned out all other voices, stunning everyone present.
The Great Hall fell silent at once.
A Slytherin wizard with pale blonde hair stomped onto one of the dining tables, looking down at everyone with a sneer.
"Your panicked behavior is utterly disgraceful. Are you seriously scared out of your wits by something so trivial?"
"Pathetic. You might as well go home and cry to your mummies!"
The signature pale blonde hair and mocking tone—there was no mistaking it. It was Draco Malfoy.
Before anyone could react and glare at the boy for his broad insults, Draco continued shouting:
"Slytherins, form groups of three and disperse into teams—just like we discussed before. Cover all the entrances to the Great Hall and don't miss a single sound!"
"If the other houses want to sit around and wait for doom, that's their problem. We won't!"
Draco's shout snapped the Slytherin students out of their daze. Compared to the other houses, they were noticeably calmer. They exchanged glances, nodded, and immediately formed teams according to their pre-discussed arrangements. The teams scattered like stars in the night sky, each group supporting one another and guarding an entrance.
Each team adopted a triangular formation, a strategy they had privately rehearsed.
Ever since Glenn had single-handedly defeated the entire Slytherin house last year, the Slytherins had developed a grudging admiration for him. Despite their inherent pride, they couldn't help but respect the unique young wizard.
Determined not to be outdone, they threw themselves into studying and practicing spells. When they felt their skills had improved significantly, they sought out Glenn to challenge him again.
But Glenn turned them down.
Left with no choice, they sent Draco, who had the closest relationship with Glenn, to negotiate a way to earn a duel with him.
"I'll accept challenges, but only if each challenger agrees to fulfill one reasonable request from me afterward."
This was Glenn's "price."
After much deliberation, the Slytherins agreed. To them, becoming stronger was worth the cost of a small favor.
Draco relayed the message, prompting Glenn to raise an eyebrow but say nothing more. He added one more condition:
"Each challenge must involve at least three opponents at once. Anything less is a waste of my time."
Draco, slightly embarrassed, omitted the last part of Glenn's statement when passing on the condition. After further discussion and three visits to the Room of Requirement to consult Glenn, the Slytherins finalized their team arrangements and roles for the duels.
Position One: The front-liner, closest to the enemy, responsible for defense.
Position Two: Positioned behind and to the side of Position One, aligned with their dominant hand, responsible for offensive spells.
Position Three: Positioned on the opposite side of Position One, responsible for casting enhancement spells on allies and debuffing enemies, serving as a support role.
Each team member had a specific role, ensuring mutual support. For students with limited individual abilities and a narrow range of spells, this division of labor significantly enhanced their overall effectiveness. Together, their combined strength far exceeded that of three scattered individuals of the same skill level.
While individual skill is undoubtedly important, teamwork is an equally critical element in battle.
Glenn understood this better than anyone. Compared to the solo battles of his past life, having Hermione—a partner who could coordinate seamlessly with him—had elevated his combat experience to a whole new level. With Hermione by his side, Glenn could focus entirely on offense, unleashing even more of his potential.
The story isn't over...
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