"HP: Too Late, System!"Chapter 352: Truly a Disciple of Professor Holmes
Dumbledore surveyed the assembled young witches and wizards, as well as the Aurors.
"Young witches and wizards, remember—today's arena is not a battlefield but a chessboard. There are no kings or queens here, only thinkers wielding wands."
He paused, letting his gaze linger on the magical insoles. "The Void-Walking Insoles—an extraordinary invention. Truly remarkable…"
Douglas Holmes instinctively edged back, as if to deflect attention.
Dumbledore pressed on, his voice rich with warmth and pride. "Within this invention, I see the wisdom of Ravenclaw—each step demands calculation; the patience of Hufflepuff—only by standing firm can you move forward; the courage of Gryffindor—to dare to dance in midair; and the cunning of Slytherin—agile footwork that keeps your opponent guessing."
He turned to the three chosen Aurors, nodding with a gentle smile. "Garrick, Minty, Kingsley—I'm pleased to see my memory hasn't failed me yet. I still recall your days at Hogwarts as if they were yesterday.
It's wonderful to see you all as guardians of the wizarding world. Ahem—don't look too pleased, Minty; I'm not just here to shower you with praise.
Now, to our students: your opponents, too, once had their wands stolen by Peeves, got lost among the shifting staircases, and even snuck into the Forbidden Forest. That scar on Kingsley's arm? A little souvenir from third year, courtesy of the Forest."
A ripple of laughter swept through the crowd.
The three Aurors could only manage wry smiles.
But for the sixth-year students about to compete, the tension that had been weighing on them seemed to ease. The pressure melted away, replaced by a sense of camaraderie.
Suddenly, Dumbledore raised his voice, his words ringing out across the pitch.
"The purpose of this competition isn't to prove who's strongest. It's to show the world that Hogwarts students can both master silent spellwork in the classroom and wield the spells that suit them best in the arena."
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the stands.
Fudge's face, however, was another story…
Douglas rubbed his temples. No wonder the Ministry was always at odds with Dumbledore—the man was simply too formidable, utterly unfazed by Ministry politics. But he seemed to forget that he wasn't fighting alone; behind him stood his followers and all of Hogwarts.
Spurred on by the students' response, Dumbledore seemed to get carried away. He waved his hands like a conductor, and the students in the stands played along, their applause rising and falling with his every gesture.
He actually managed to conduct the rhythm of the Weird Sisters' "Let the Cauldron Bubble."
No one dared interrupt him—not in this moment.
At last, realizing where he was, Dumbledore blinked in mock regret and motioned for silence.
"Well then, let's not forget our main characters today.
Aurors, please remember—these young people may be your future colleagues. So if they dazzle you with a Stunning Flash Bomb, try not to take it personally.
After all, real dark wizards won't give you a warning before tossing a bomb."
The crowd roared with laughter.
When the laughter faded, Dumbledore's tone grew solemn.
"And finally, a word of advice from Merlin himself: 'The best defense is not armor, but understanding.' In these duels, learn to observe your opponent's casting. Only then will these battles truly mean something."
With a flourish of his wand, the four House crests shimmered into the air.
"Gryffindor's courage, Ravenclaw's wisdom, Hufflepuff's tenacity, Slytherin's insight—may you carry all four lights, and step beyond the shadow of the Sorting Hat."
As his words faded, the House crests merged into one—a shining Hogwarts crest, which floated down and settled over the nine sixth-year champions, forming a glowing badge on each of their chests.
The duel was about to begin.
Sirius Black strode out, walking on air.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Hogwarts Student versus Auror Duel! I am your referee, Sirius Black—and tonight's official sponsor of magical items."
Lupin discreetly covered his face, pretending not to know his old friend. The product placement was so pointed, it was almost as if this whole showcase had been crafted just to needle the Ministry—which, in truth, it had.
Douglas was thoroughly satisfied. A seasoned salesman needed exactly this kind of shameless flair.
"And now, let's welcome our contestants! From Gryffindor: Alicia Spinnet; from Ravenclaw: Meg Erin; from Hufflepuff: Valentine Webb; and from the Auror team: Mr. Garrick!"
As Sirius finished, four beams of light shot from the octagonal arena, illuminating the four competitors. All had been briefed in advance and offered no resistance.
In truth, only an Auror might have resisted the arena's summons—Douglas had designed it specifically to ensure Hogwarts students couldn't.
Garrick, stepping into the ring, was just about to begin the standard dueling protocol.
But the sixth years—hardened by two years of Douglas's training—moved as one. Their wands flashed up in perfect unison.
"Impedimenta!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Gravitas Duplex!" (Gravity Doubler!)
Sirius, floating overhead, provided a running commentary:
"Well, that's a surprise! Straight into combat, no hesitation at all—truly the new generation of Hogwarts students, every bit a credit to Professor Holmes!
Poor Garrick—his Shield Charm went up almost reflexively. Well, that's basic Auror training for you. Fifth years thinking of applying to the program, take note…"
The students in the stands snickered quietly at the mention of "Professor Holmes' true teaching"—but only quietly. The man himself was right there, after all; no one wanted to get on his bad side.
The dignitaries on the platform, however, had fewer qualms.
Scrimgeour was blunt as ever. "Are you teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts with dark wizard tactics?"
Professor Flitwick, a former dueling champion, looked a touch regretful—but his eyes were glued to the action below, keenly interested.
Fudge's expression had grown positively sour. Watching these children, he saw the shadow of war flickering back to life—a deeply unsettling feeling.
And when he heard that this was all Douglas's teaching, any lingering goodwill evaporated. Once again, he felt that Hogwarts was slipping further and further from the Ministry's grasp.
"And Garrick's launching his counterattack—a Serpens Ignis—three fire serpents at once! You have to hand it to the Aurors, they've got style. Let's see how our young witches and wizards respond…"
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