Victor was strolling leisurely through the hall, offering advice to those who needed it. For the first-years, the tasks were simple: practicing basic charms like Lumos or Wingardium Leviosa. But three newcomers had received special permission to train alongside the older students—Adele, William, and Astoria.
Leaning his back against the cold stone wall, Victor watched William. Daphne approached and stood shoulder-to-shoulder beside him.
— He is quite strong for his age, — she remarked quietly.
Victor nodded, not taking his eyes off the boy.
— Yes. I always considered my sister to be head and shoulders above her peers, but looking at him, I realize I was mistaken.
— Your sister is impressive, too; she doesn't lag far behind him, — Daphne countered.
— That is undeniable. But look at William's movements—you can feel the practice in them. He is confident in every motion. It's clear he has been training since childhood, perhaps even before he knew how to cast spells.
— My sister was also taught at home, — Daphne nodded toward Astoria, — but compared to these two, she is significantly behind.
Victor laughed:
— No worries, we'll whip her into shape. The main thing is that she joined us. I didn't even have to bind and strangle her.
Daphne smiled, glancing at him:
— Yes, thank you for sparing her that.
While they chatted cheerfully, Adele watched their closeness from the corner of the hall. After watching for a few minutes, the girl frowned and strode toward them. Her gaze, fixed on Daphne, was full of unconcealed animosity.
— I want to challenge you, — Adele said firmly.
Daphne raised her eyebrows in bewilderment:
— What? Why me?
— Ha, Adele, — Victor sighed, — we were just talking.
— I feel like you've become closer; she didn't look at you like that before, — Adele cut in with an icy voice, never taking her eyes off Daphne.
Victor shook his head and headed to the center of the hall.
— Little demons! Clear the space! — his voice echoed through the dungeon. — The first duel of the year is about to begin!
The students instantly stopped their training and hurried to the walls, anticipating the spectacle.
— Victor, what is happening? — Daphne asked, confused.
— Daphne, it's hard to explain... Just accept the challenge and duel my sister.
Daphne frowned, looking at the girl, and what she saw in Adele's eyes sent a chill down her spine. Adele was trembling slightly. Her pupils had dilated, almost completely swallowing her irises, and her gaze had become vacant and eerie.
— First that Hermione... then Luna... — she whispered so quietly that the words sounded like a snake's hiss. — And now this one too. Why? Why are they all trying to take him away from me? He is mine...
The air around the girl seemed to thicken, becoming heavy and sticky. Daphne, feeling the threat radiating from her, involuntarily stepped back, moving into the center of the hall. She looked at Victor questioningly, a silent question in her eyes: "What is happening to her?!"
— Don't worry, everything is under control, — Victor smiled calmly, not in the least bit concerned by his sister's state. — Adele! Pull yourself together. The ring is ready.
Her brother's voice acted on her like a splash of ice water. The darkness in Adele's eyes didn't vanish completely, but her gaze focused. She slowly walked to the center, gripping her wand with white-knuckled intensity. Daphne reluctantly raised hers. Victor stood between them, raising a hand.
— Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the first match of the Fight Club!
Victor began the introduction, stretching out his words with theatrical pathos:
— Little demons, meet them! In the right corner of the ring... The person dearest to me. The most beautiful, sweet, and unique—my little sister, Adele Moss!
The entire hall erupted in applause. When everything fell silent, Victor continued:
— And in the left corner... The person who involuntarily got dragged into this madness... Our loyal ally, a master at enduring my antics, my sweet assistant—the unstoppable Daphne Greengrass!
Daphne's support was stronger: the hall responded with ovations and shouts of "Hurrah!"
— The rules are simple: fight until the first disarming or until one of you cannot continue. And remember—I am the law here! The referee is incorruptible; no need to bat your eyes at me.
He held a dramatic pause, feeling all attention focused on them.
— So, if you are ready...
— One...
— Two...
— Three!
— Expelliarmus! — Adele shouted the moment the count ended.
A red beam shot from her wand, but Daphne, without even flinching, raised a shield with an elegant motion:
— Protego!
Adele's spell ricocheted into the floor, throwing off a shower of sparks. The girl didn't stop—she attacked fiercely, showering the older student with a hail of basic but incredibly powerful spells for her age. The air in the hall buzzed with tension. Daphne moved smoothly in a circle, reflecting blow after blow. She acted like an experienced duelist: minimum movement, maximum efficiency. She didn't want to hurt Victor's sister, so she waited patiently for her to tire out.
Adele frowned, and her wand flared with a dark purple light.
— Incendio!
A stream of flame licked Daphne's magical shield. Greengrass narrowed her eyes—it was time to end this farce before Adele caused real trouble. Seizing a split second between attacks, when the girl wound up for a new strike, Daphne sharply closed the distance.
— Expelliarmus! — she said clearly and coldly.
A silver flash struck Adele in the wrist. The girl's wand flew from her fingers, described a high arc, and landed right in Daphne's free palm.
Dead silence fell over the hall. Adele froze. Her shoulders were trembling, her head was bowed low, and her fists were clenched convulsively. All the frightening energy that had been surging within her a moment ago vanished, leaving only a void.
Victor walked to the center of the hall.
— The winner is Daphne, — he announced with a light, almost fatherly smile. — Excellent work. Now, everyone is dismissed; get back to training.
He approached his sister, who had still not raised her eyes, and took her hand.
— Let's go, — he said gently, all the referee's playfulness gone from his voice.
Without glancing at the hushed Slytherins or Daphne's worried gaze, Victor led Adele out of the hall.
Entering his room, Victor turned to his sister with a soft smile.
— Incendio? — he drawled, raising an eyebrow. — I don't recall teaching you that spell.
Adele, still dejected after her defeat, barely audibly grunted:
— I learned it myself. Found it in your book.
Victor smiled, gently pulled her by the hand, and sat her in a deep armchair, letting his sister settle comfortably in his embrace. Adele immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, pressing against his chest.
— You need more practice, — he whispered, brushing her hair. — Your magical power is fine, but your technique is lacking. But that is fixable.
Adele nodded shortly, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She pulled away and looked him straight in the eyes:
— Why did Daphne start looking at you like that?
Victor sighed, leaning his head back on the chair.
— Yesterday I showed her more affection than usual.
Adele shuddered, and her grip became almost painful.
— Do you love her?
Victor laughed sincerely, shaking his head.
— No, hardly. — He paused and squinted cunningly. — Actually, I am head over heels in love with Luna. So, what, are you going to attack her next?
Adele froze, realizing he was mocking her. She pouted and buried her face back in his chest.
— I know Luna has hooked you, — she said dully. — But she is too naive and strange to even realize what is happening around her.
— All the better, — cold notes slipped into Victor's voice. — It is much easier to take advantage of a girl like that.
Adele pulled away sharply and squeezed his shoulders, a dangerous fire igniting in her eyes.
— Don't you dare, — she cut him off. — Don't even think about it.
Looking at her enraged little face and how fiercely she defended her friend, Victor burst out laughing again. He pulled her to him and kissed her firmly on the cheek.
— How I adore you.
The door opened without a knock. Daphne stood frozen on the threshold. Seeing Victor and Adele sitting in an embrace, she involuntarily frowned.
— I brought your wand, — she said, showing Adele her item. — And also... someone is waiting for you here.
From behind Greengrass, Luna peeked out timidly and smiled softly:
— Adele, are you okay?
— Oh, she came to me herself, — Victor winked cheerfully. — Luna, come in, don't be shy.
But Adele suddenly broke free from her brother's embrace. She walked up to Daphne, silently snatched the wand from her hands, and said, looking her straight in the eyes:
— Next time, I won't lose.
Then she decisively grabbed Luna's hand and, without saying another word, led her out into the corridor. Victor, watching them leave, leaned back in his chair and laughed quietly. Daphne waited until their footsteps faded and looked at him with complete seriousness:
— She is too obsessed with you.
Victor stood up slowly, stretching.
— I know. She loves me very much.
— But why was she so angry at me? — Daphne frowned.
Victor smirked and walked right up to her. He was taller, and Daphne had to tilt her head back to meet his gaze.
— You tell me that, — he whispered persuasively, a sly smile touching the corners of his lips. — Why did my little sister decide that you were looking at me today... in some special way?
Daphne felt the heat rushing to her cheeks. She tried to maintain a cold mask, but under his intent gaze, she looked away in embarrassment. Victor laughed softly again and, without saying another word, walked past her, heading back to the hall.