Dumbledore stood up, applauding. "What a splendid duel! Although it ends in another draw, I believe this Transfiguration showcase has more than demonstrated its brilliance."
"And now," he continued, raising his voice, "Professor Nixia of Beauxbatons will face Professor Baffelus of Durmstrang. This will be the final exhibition match of the day, and I hope it proves just as thrilling!"
As his voice faded, Nightingale and Baffelus had already stepped into the center of the dueling arena, facing each other. A knowing smile played on Baffelus's face.
"Professor Nixia," he began, keeping his voice low so only the two of them could hear, "the previous two matches ended in draws. If ours produces a winner, it will leave only one definitive loser today."
He paused, the implication clear.
Nightingale's expression remained utterly calm. For the duel, she had temporarily removed her veil, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face to the entire audience without reservation.
"Is Professor Baffelus suggesting that I'll be the unfortunate loser?" Her voice was clear and cool, without a trace of emotion.
"Of course not…" Baffelus's smile deepened, as though sharing a private joke. "I'd never wish for Professor Nixia to be in such a position. But… naturally, that depends on a small condition."
"It seems Professor Baffelus is quite confident in his own strength." Nightingale's tone didn't waver.
"In the field of Potions, I'll admit I'm no match for you. But when it comes to dueling…" Baffelus gave a soft snort, carrying the signature arrogance of Durmstrang, "Durmstrang's strength has never been in question."
"So, what is Professor Baffelus trying to say?"
"I've heard Miss Nixia has many admirers, yet you remain indifferent to them..." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Perhaps... I may call you Vellis?"
"I believe it would be entirely appropriate for you to address me as 'Professor Nixia,'" Nightingale replied, her voice steady and devoid of emotion.
"So you're determined to refuse? Even if it means becoming the only loser today?" Baffelus's smile froze mid-expression, his tone darkening with veiled threat. "Professor Nixia, you must understand that right now, you represent all of Beauxbatons—not just yourself."
"There's no need for you to worry, Professor…" Nightingale answered calmly. "Allow me to remind you that Professor Greengrass has just informed me that every word spoken here before the scene is selected is clearly audible to the entire audience."
Baffelus froze.
He whipped his head around to look at the audience—only to see Karkaroff staring at him, face pale, eyes like ice picks drilling into him.
The students from all three schools were also watching him, their expressions ranging from shock to quiet disdain.
"You…!" He choked, barely managing a single syllable.
"Professor," Nightingale said at just the right moment, her voice calm and even, "I hope whatever you're about to say has been carefully considered."
"Heh…" Baffelus forced a stiff laugh through gritted teeth, the muscles in his cheek twitching. Swallowing the surge of shame and embarrassment, he spoke in a dry tone, "It was just a joke… I hope Professor Nixia won't take it to heart."
"Of course I won't mind," Nightingale replied, revealing a faint smile. "After all, it was quite funny."
That breathtaking smile lasted only a moment, but Baffelus no longer had the heart—or the composure—to appreciate it.
All he wanted now was to defeat this woman who had completely humiliated him—swiftly, viciously—and then escape this suffocating place where he felt like he was sitting on needles.
The two quickly selected a random scene, and the light on the stone tablet shifted and swirled before finally stopping on: "Shallow Swamp."
As the tablet slowly sank back into the ground, the entire arena twisted and warped around them.
A damp mist rose as foul-smelling bubbles emerged constantly from the mud, filling the air with a stench of sulfur.
The murky water reflected Baffelus's distorted expression—his shame had fully ignited his warped sense of pride.
He would make her pay for the disgrace.
"Confringo!"
Baffelus practically roared as he swung his wand, launching a brilliant scarlet beam of light straight at Nightingale's face.
Gasps erupted from the crowd, and the Beauxbatons students even stood up in alarm.
But Nightingale didn't so much as blink. She didn't even raise her wand with any of the dramatic flair they expected.
The ornate wand in her hand traced a lazy arc, and the scarlet Blasting Curse was cleanly intercepted by a beam of pure ice-blue light, instantly dissolving into nothingness.
With another flick of her wand, Nightingale caused frost to visibly crystallize in the air, and a wave of cold surged toward Baffelus.
Baffelus's half-spoken incantation broke off abruptly as a lake-blue spell light shot directly at him.
"Protego!"
The Durmstrang professor now demonstrated impressive reflexes. He raised his wand and cast a near-perfect Shield Charm. Though slightly rushed, it successfully deflected the incoming spell toward the ground.
But the moment the spell hit the earth, Nightingale thrust her wand forward with precision and speed—
"Glacius Maxima!"
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted at the impact site.
The swampy ground was blown open into a massive crater, and the mud and filthy water froze instantly, forming a ring of jagged, radial ice spikes around the pit's edge.
The young wizards in the audience jumped in surprise at the sudden, tremendous blast.
And at the bottom of the pit stood a blue ice sculpture radiating biting cold.
Frozen within it was Baffelus, captured mid-expression, his twisted face and raised wand immortalized in ice—so lifelike that even the shock and disbelief in his eyes remained clearly visible.
His entire body, including his heavy Durmstrang fur cloak, was completely encased in steel-hard ice—not even a single strand of hair remained visible.
Sunlight struck the ice sculpture, casting dazzling, frigid reflections.
The frost steadily crept inward around Baffelus, and just before he was completely overtaken, Nightingale lowered her wand.
"Eh? That's it? Tsk~ Professor Baffelus appears to be the only loser today."
With that, she turned and gracefully bowed to the audience. As she straightened, a white light coincidentally lit up around Baffelus.
The stone tablet rose slowly from the muddy ground, and as the light danced upon it, Nightingale had already turned and exited the arena.
She didn't even glance at the match result displayed on the stone tablet.
The audience exploded.
The students from Hogwarts and Beauxbatons were the first to leap from their seats.
Applause, stomping, whistles, and exuberant cheers erupted like a tidal wave of enthusiasm.
Even several Durmstrang students raised their arms and waved toward Nightingale—because in Durmstrang, strength was always respected.
As the young wizards roared with excitement, Madame Maxime offered a reserved smile while explaining to the ever-clicking reporters:
"Vellis Nixia, Beauxbatons' Potions Professor, is outstanding in every regard. She managed to significantly raise her students' Potions grades in under a year…"
Only Karkaroff, whose already sour expression had grown even darker, didn't stay to wait for Dumbledore to announce the day's results. Instead, he rose abruptly and left the dueling arena without a word.
The young wizards, however, were brimming with excitement. Both boys and girls enthusiastically discussed Nightingale.
"Merlin's beard! Just one move! Only one move!" Ron was so worked up he could barely speak, sloshing half his pumpkin juice without noticing.
"That big oaf from Durmstrang was practically asking for it..." Hermione, unusually animated, had a bright gleam in her eyes.
"You said it!" Neville chimed in, louder than usual. "He was taken down instantly by Professor Nixia!"
"Didn't he say before the match that Professor Nixia had a lot of admirers?"
"Well, no surprise there! Because I'm one of them now!" a seventh-year declared, eyes gleaming, prompting a burst of laughter around him.
"Count me in," George added, leaning over with a grin.
"Me too..." Fred followed immediately, conjuring a large bouquet of singing red roses. "And while we're at it, sign up Percy and little Ron for us as well."
"Don't be ridiculous, Fred!" Percy said stiffly, his face bright red.
"Hey, count me in too!" Kestrel called out, poking her head into the circle with a wide smile.
"Pfft~ Ahahah!"
Harry and Ron were still cheering loudly at Nightingale's retreating figure, while not far off, Hermione quietly put her book away and gave a discreet thumbs-up in her direction.
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