Read 20+ Chapter's Ahead in Patreon
Dumbledore rose to his feet, and in the midst of thunderous applause he announced the results of the exhibition duel.
As the professors' display officially came to an end, no one noticed the exact moment when Baffelus slipped quietly out of the hall. The Great Hall was drowned in a tide of jubilation, every corner echoing with cheers and laughter so loud and unrestrained that his departure passed entirely unseen.
The reporters, however, were relentless. Like nifflers who had just caught sight of glittering treasure, they refused to miss a single detail. Flashes from enchanted cameras burst one after another, filling the air with incessant bursts of white light.
And sure enough, by that very afternoon, the rushed edition of the Daily Prophet had already been printed and sent out. Its front page was claimed in bold headlines by none other than the "Ice Queen." The four Hogwarts professors who had taken part in the exhibition were relegated to a corner, their combined images squeezed into a space barely larger than a postage stamp.
As for the vanquished side, Professor Baffelus of Durmstrang, who was defeated in the blink of an eye, was mentioned repeatedly throughout the articles, though seldom with words of kindness.
༺✧─────────────✧༻
"Icebound Judgment: Professor Nixia Fells Durmstrang's Duelling Master in an Instant, Sending Shockwaves Through All Three Schools!"
One Frost Spell Ignites Heated Debate in the entire Wizarding World, Durmstrang Headmaster Storms Out in Fury.
By Festek Moore
༺✧─────────────✧༻
When Durmstrang's "Iron-Blooded Professor" Baffelus had entered the duelling platform with his trademark insincere smile tugging at the corner of his lips, he likely believed he was facing nothing more than an ordinary Potions mistress.
Yet not half a minute later, the ancient stone walls of Hogwarts bore witness to a moment destined to be remembered in the annals of duelling history. The Ice Queen of Beauxbatons, Veiliss Nixia, lifted her wand with the grace of a winter breeze, and with a single incantation, turned the proud duelling master into what onlookers would forever recall as the "Durmstrang Ice Statue."
What drew even more attention was that, just before the match began, Professor Baffelus had let slip certain words to Professor Nixia that provoked no small controversy. Whatever was said was enough to drive Headmaster Karkaroff into a rage so fierce that he stormed out of the venue immediately after the duel's conclusion.
According to those familiar with Durmstrang, this incident was not without precedent but rather tied to the school's long-standing culture of gender prejudice.
"He deserved it!" declared one Hogwarts girl, who refused to give her name when questioned by this reporter. "Professor Nixia gave him the sharpest slap in the face possible, and she did it in the most elegant way imaginable."
Indeed, the instant Professor Baffelus was frozen in place has already been hailed as one of the most breathtaking moments in recent magical history.
His twisted features, with anger still carved deep upon his brow, the wand lifted high in defiance, and even the last flicker of astonishment that lingered within his eyes, were all captured and preserved inside flawless ice. The ever-present curl of his lips, that habitual mocking smile, was sealed in place as well, yet now it had become grotesquely distorted, frozen into the shape of a ridiculous question mark. When the sunlight spilled across the crystalline sculpture, its refracted light glittered with a brilliance that seemed almost merciless, casting back a radiance that mocked him more cruelly than words ever could.
And so, in what must surely be counted among the most humiliating moments of his professional life, the president of the International Dueling Federation sent forth his judgment by owl. The statement was brief, yet its meaning could not have been clearer: "Without doubt, this was the most exquisite application of frost magic in actual combat that we have witnessed in the last ten years."
————————————————————
"I have always said Professor Nixia's abilities are far greater than brewing potions alone," Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons declared with open pride in an exclusive interview with this paper. "She was once selected as the youngest candidate to serve as a training officer for the French Ministry of Magic's Auror Corps. She declined that honor only because the duties would have conflicted with her teaching time."
"This is precisely why I insisted on inviting Professor Nixia to participate in this exchange," said Madame Maxime. "She has shown everyone that Beauxbatons does not stand only for elegance, but also for true power."
————————————————————
(Continued on Page Three: "Tracing the Roots of Ice Magic – A Rune-Based Analysis of the Spell Professor Nixia Employed")
The accompanying images printed with the article numbered four in total:
Figure 1: At the very center of the dueling platform, the breathtaking instant when Professor Baffelus was frozen completely solid.
Figure 2: A close-up of Professor Nixia at the precise moment she raised her wand with flawless poise and elegance.
Figure 3: Headmaster Karkaroff storming out of the venue in outrage, his face twisted with barely restrained fury.
Figure 4: The students of all three schools erupting in unprecedented cheers, the stands shaking with their wild excitement.
With the cascade of articles and headlines, Nightingale name swept across Europe in less than a day, carried on every owl and whispered in every gathering of witches and wizards.
————————————————————
Even before the echoes of cheering from the exhibition match had fully died down, Hogwarts itself was already moving into the next stage with urgency and purpose.
With the careful recommendations of the professors and the eager self-nominations of the students, eight elite duelists were finally chosen. They would bear the weight of representing Hogwarts in the upcoming Triwizard Dueling Tournament, entrusted with the honor and responsibility of defending their school's pride.
From Ravenclaw came two: Penelope Clearwater and Orris Alcott.
From Hufflepuff came two: Cedric Diggory and Gabriel Truman.
From Slytherin came two: Terence Higgs and Charlene Avery.
From Gryffindor came two: Percy Weasley and Eloise Dufresne.
This list instantly became the newest and hottest topic of discussion inside the castle.
Apart from Hufflepuff's Cedric Diggory, who was already renowned for his composure and strength far beyond his year despite being only a fourth-year, the other seven were all outstanding students in at least their fifth year or above.
Among them, half were prefects, the male and female leaders of their respective houses. Although their dueling badges had only recently been approved, each already held an impressive rank in both house and school-wide combat standings. Their strength was by no means to be underestimated.
As the foremost fighters among Hogwarts' current students, they were about to step onto the stage of the Triwizrad Dueling Tournament, facing the elite chosen from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.
The moment the news was announced, the atmosphere in the corridors of the castle shifted sharply, no longer calm as before.
Those who had been selected instantly became the focus of attention. Wherever they walked, eyes followed with admiration, and whispers of awe or speculation trailed in their wake.
In the Great Hall, the notice board at the very center was surrounded by a crowd, students pressing in to check and re-check those stirring names. Excitement and anticipation hung thick in the air, mingled with a faint, anxious tension that came with fighting for honor.
"Percy, congratulations!" In the Gryffindor common room, Fred and George slung their arms over their elder brother's shoulders, grins brimming with mischief. "Looks like you've really become a man of 'importance' now."
Percy straightened his back and adjusted his glasses, trying hard to maintain the dignity of a prefect, yet the corners of his mouth betrayed him by curling upward, revealing the excitement he could not quite contain. "This is a responsibility, Fred, George. I'm representing Hogwarts, and I must give it my all."
"Listen to that. What an inspiring speech!" Fred teased with mock admiration.
"Indeed. No wonder you're Gryffindor's prefect." George winked slyly. "But honestly, want us to sponsor you with a few… off-the-field props?"
"The effect would definitely be outstanding, though the safety might be a little questionable." Fred added, his tone turning mischievous again.
"You two, that's enough!" Percy's face darkened as he spoke with grave seriousness. "I'm representing Hogwarts in this tournament. How could I possibly stoop to something like that?"
"Oh, don't get so worked up." George's grin never wavered. "We're only offering a suggestion. Whether you take it or not, that's entirely up to you."
"Exactly!" Fred jumped in eagerly. "And you should know, it wasn't easy for us to put these together. We spent a good deal of effort on them. Right now, they're practically limited edition."
————————————————————
Not far away, Ron and Hermione were trying to comfort a rather downcast Harry.
"Don't lose heart. We're only in our second year," Hermione said softly. "Once we reach fifth year, you'll definitely be one of the students representing Hogwarts."
"Yeah, your Disarming Charm is brilliant, Harry…" Ron's tone was firm, leaving no room for doubt. "I'd bet anything that plenty of upper years can't even manage it half as well as you do."
"Stop trying to cheer me up," Harry muttered. "I understand full well the gap between us and the older students is still huge. If I really went up there now, I'd only drag Hogwarts down."
"It's good that you understand that much." Hermione snapped her book shut with a decisive sound. "But Professor McGonagall said it herself. From now on, Hogwarts will hold these kinds of dueling contests every year. As long as you master this book inside and out this year, I can promise you, Harry, next year you'll be among the ones chosen."
"But Hermione, the knowledge in this book is so hard. And trying to catch up to the older years in just one year… isn't that pretty much impossible?" Harry asked hesitantly.
"Why should it be impossible?" Hermione looked at the two of them with serious determination. "Don't forget, Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff is only in his fourth year."
"You don't like that Diggory bloke too, do you?" Ron frowned suspiciously. "Loads of people fancy him already."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Hermione shot him a glare. "What I mean is, give it another year and we'll have the chance to match him in every respect."
"In another year we'll still only be in third year…" Ron muttered.
"But we've got spells!" Hermione said forcefully, her voice brimming with conviction. "Have you forgotten what Professor Greengrass taught us? 'Sleep Banishment' and 'Waking Requiem' — with those charms, as long as we make use of every single minute, I'm certain that by next year we'll stand out from the crowd and earn the right to represent Gryffindor in the duels!"
"Well…" Ron hesitated, scratching at his hair.
"It doesn't sound entirely impossible, does it?" Harry's eyes had begun to brighten as well, a spark of hope flickering to life.
"But wouldn't that be pushing ourselves too hard?" Ron asked, still wavering.
"Whether you push yourselves or not is up to you." Hermione crossed her arms, chin tilting upward with confidence. "But I'll remind you of this: if next year I'm the one standing on that stage, then the two of you will only be able to sit in the crowd and cheer for me."
The two young wizards' eyes instantly lit up.
"You're right, Hermione! Of course we've got to study!" Ron declared at once, his voice even a little theatrical in its fervor. "If for nothing else, then at least to do our part for Hogwarts!"
Harry gave a resolute nod, his agreement firm and unshakable.
**
**
[IMAGE]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Chapter End's]
🖤 Night_FrOst/ Patreon 🤍
Visit my Patreon for Early Chapter:
Extra Content Already Available