A wizard duel.
Taken literally, it means a magical showdown between two wizards, each accompanied by an assistant, using only spells.
In ancient times, the rules of wizard duels were simple—but the brutality went far beyond imagination.
Why?
Because the victor gained control over everything the loser possessed, while the loser lost it all.
With such high stakes, it's easy to understand how cruel and merciless those duels could be.
They followed only one rule:
Only magic could be used, and victory or defeat was determined purely by power—a law of the magical jungle.
Live by the wand, die by the wand...
Of course, as the wizarding world evolved, these ancient and savage rules were eventually discarded.
Modern wizard duels gradually became more of a performance.
Events like the All-England Wizarding Duelling Competition are products of that shift.
Though still dangerous, fatalities in official duels have become extremely rare.
Especially when it comes to duels between young wizards—
Most of whom only know a few prank-level spells.
The danger is virtually nonexistent...
...
Slytherin common room.
After a full day of classes, most Slytherin students preferred to spend their time here.
Unlike the Ravenclaws, who flocked to the library, or the Gryffindors, who wandered Hogwarts like they were hoping for some fated encounter in a storybook castle.
Draco was no different.
He lounged lazily in an ornate armchair by the fireplace, toasting his hands and casually flipping through a book.
The scene gave him the air of a refined young noble...
In truth, recent events had been stirring quietly among Slytherin.
Most students now deliberately avoided the area around Draco, treating it as his personal domain.
Only Pansy, always trailing after Draco like a devoted shadow, and Goyle and Crabbe—his unofficial bodyguards—remained at his side like always.
"Wizard duel? You two?"
"With that Weasley?"
Pansy raised a brow, staring at Goyle and Crabbe with a strange expression after hearing it from Goyle.
It was unclear whether she was questioning how those two gorillas had come up with such a challenge... or if she just pitied Ron Weasley for actually agreeing to it.
"I can already picture how that'll go."
It wasn't even about what kind of spells they could cast.
But one thing Pansy was certain of—
Goyle and Crabbe would absolutely settle things with their fists...
Draco, overhearing the conversation, simply shook his head.
Who knew if he was bored by it all, or if he'd already foreseen how it would end?
"Let them be."
"A bit of physical exertion might do them some good."
Draco didn't ask why they were dueling.
He had no plans to stop them, and even less desire to get involved himself.
No matter how eagerly Goyle and Crabbe stared at him, hoping he'd join—he wasn't biting.
Still...
Something drifted across Draco's mind, and his gaze unfocused from the page.
"If I'm not mistaken, Weasley's assistant is Harry Potter, isn't it?"
Draco wasn't interested in ego-driven duels like this.
But he was curious to see just what made the so-called Chosen One so special.
Was his reputation backed by real power?
As Draco mused...
Pansy suddenly asked, "Aren't students forbidden from dueling by school rules?"
"Relax, relax."
"No one else knows, and we're doing it at midnight."
"As long as we don't get caught, we're fine."
Goyle and Crabbe, clearly hyped, rubbed their hands together with eager, almost savage grins.
Draco's eyelid twitched at the sight.
Hmm... might be worth reminding them—
Don't go for the vital organs when throwing punches…
…
Just as Draco finished talking about the duel, someone approached him.
It seemed they had waited deliberately for the conversation to end.
"Um... someone's looking for you outside the common room."
Draco lifted his head slightly.
He didn't recognize the nervous Slytherin standing in front of him—someone so anxious he couldn't even meet his eyes. Draco vaguely recalled that the boy was a fellow first-year, but that wasn't important.
What mattered was the message he brought.
"Someone's looking for me?"
The unexpected news made Draco's fingers pause briefly over his book.
"They... seem to be from Gryffindor."
Draco hadn't had much interaction with students from other houses so far.
For a Gryffindor to not only seek him out but to come all the way into the "evil" Slytherin's territory—it had to take some nerve.
And as far as Draco could recall...
There was probably only one person who'd dare.
"I see."
He gently closed his book with a soft thump.
Ignoring Pansy, who was puffing out her cheeks with suspicion at the sudden development, Draco reached over and lightly patted her head.
Then, with a nod to the classmate who looked stunned to have been acknowledged, Draco stood, straightened the folds of his elegant robe, and headed toward the corridor that required a password to enter.
His gray eyes narrowed in amusement.
He had a feeling the one waiting outside—
Was that proud little wildcat.