The auditorium was silent, and everyone was intently watching the stage where Lockhart and Professor Snape stood facing each other.
"First is the duel etiquette, which is essential."
The two bowed to each other... at least Lockhart did, displaying a lot of fancy hand movements.
Kael had seen Professor Flitwick demonstrate the standard duel etiquette at the Charm Club... How should I put it, it had nothing to do with Lockhart's series of moves at all.
Especially those flashy hand movements, ninety-nine percent of them were useless... or rather, Lockhart simply made them up himself.
If anyone dared to pull such tricks on a real duel stage, it would certainly be talked about for a lifetime.
But at Hogwarts School, it didn't matter.
Lockhart's graceful little combo even earned him quite a bit of applause.
However, three seconds later...
"Expelliarmus!"
Accompanied by a dazzling red light, Lockhart was suddenly blown off the stage, struck the wall, and then slid down, curling up on the floor clutching his stomach.
Meanwhile, his wand spun towards Snape.
Snape, however, had no intention of catching it, not even sparing it a glance, allowing it to fly into the crowd behind him.
The Slytherin students began to clap and cheer.
Lockhart got up from the floor, mumbling various excuses.
The floor was too soft to stand on comfortably...
The cheers around him distracted him...
The color of the sky was too depressing...
The bottom line was, it was all about the venue, nothing to do with skill. If the location was changed, he could definitely win.
"I have to say, Lockhart's reactions are quick." Cho covered her mouth and laughed, "He can come up with so many excuses in just a few seconds."
"That's a talent too." Cedric said, struggling to keep a straight face.
A month after the start of school, they had already realized Lockhart was just a showboater.
Although they didn't know how he accomplished those feats in his books, based on his performance at school, he was even worse than last year's Quirrell.
At least Quirrell could answer most of the students' questions.
By this time, Lockhart had finished making excuses and concluded the demonstration under Snape's murderous expression.
"Thank you, Miss Brown."
He retrieved his wand and continued, "Now I'm going to pair you up. Professor Snape, if you'd be willing to help me..."
Snape did not speak, turned, and walked off the stage, indicating his agreement.
They moved through the crowd, pairing everyone up.
Soon, Lockhart reached Kael and his group.
"How about the two ladies together..."
Cho and Conna were paired up, followed by Fred and George.
Cedric wanted to be with Kael, but Lockhart thought it was unfair as he was a year older, so he pulled Mikel over.
Kael's eye twitched.
"Professor, I think..."
Just as he was about to say something, a sinister voice came from beside him.
"I think for someone who has defeated a werewolf and earned the Order of Merlin, Second Class, it's only fair that he duel someone from his own year."
Snape drawled, "As the youngest member of the Merlin Knight Order, an ordinary sixth-year student shouldn't trouble you, right?"
Lockhart hesitated, "But Professor Snape, isn't it a bit inappropriate to fight across three grades?"
Kael also showed a troubled expression, but inside, he was almost laughing out loud.
If there was anyone in the whole school Kael least wanted to duel, it was undoubtedly Mikel... he would even rank above Dumbledore and Snape.
Dueling with a professor just meant no chance of winning, at least he'd come back alive... but Mikel was another story.
His lack of control over his Magic Power was the greatest instability... Kael still remembered that Lighting Spell in first year that amazed everyone.
Although Professor Sprout had corrected this problem, Kael dared not risk it...
If, in the heat of the duel, he forgot everything he'd learned and cast a "Forbidden Spell" version of Expelliarmus, Kael did not want to face that.
But now the problem was solved.
Professor Snape... was truly a caring person for the students!
Afraid that Snape might change his mind, Kael hesitated only a second before quickly saying, "If that is your arrangement, Professor... I can try."
"Good." Snape responded coldly, "Flint, come here, let's see how different from the rest the famed member of the Merlin Knight Order really is."
A stir erupted among the Slytherins, and their Quidditch team captain, Marcus Flint, swaggered over with a smug grin.
During last year's Quidditch match, he had taken a dislike to Kael and wanted to teach him a lesson, but hadn't found the chance.
Little did he expect that his wish would come true here.
"I'll take good care of you," he said, revealing a cruel smile.
Behind him, several Slytherin players also burst into laughter.
Kael smiled too, very gently, looking harmless to both humans and animals.
"Tsk tsk..." Fred suddenly whispered to Ginny, "Don't stand too close later, unless you want to get splattered with blood."
"Looks like Flint really enjoys the Hospital Wing." George shook his head, "He just got out, and he's itching to go back."
"You're getting it wrong." Ginny said worriedly, "Kael may have good grades, but Flint is a sixth-year!"
"Ginny, you just started school, there are many things you don't know."
George patted her shoulder, "Trust me, you won't think like that in a moment."
Once everyone found their partners, Lockhart returned to the stage.
"Face your partners!" he called, "Bow!"
"When I count to three, we'll cast spells. Remember, only disarming... "
Everyone followed suit, but the next duel phase went entirely against Lockhart's expectations.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten what he had just said.
In the auditorium, various charms flew in succession, colorful lights making it look like a fireworks display.
Some younger students, after symbolically casting two spells, simply dropped their wands and started wrestling with their fists.
Marcus Flint was no exception, mercilessly casting a jinx at Kael.
"Furnunculus!"
"Protego Totalum!"
A red flash was deflected back just two inches away from Kael.
"Head something..."
In the middle of preparing a second jinx, Marcus Flint couldn't dodge in time and was hit in the stomach by the red light.
"I said, only disarm!" Lockhart shouted in horror at the clashing crowd.
Marcus Flint collapsed on the ground, struck by his own spell, burning marks appearing all over him, making him writhe in pain on the ground.
On the stage, Snape watched coldly.
Last year on the train, Kael had deftly used the Protego Totalum spell in front of many students, yet Marcus, the idiot, hadn't a clue.
Was his brain just fished out of Longbottom's cauldron?
Seeing Kael raise his wand, Snape immediately seized control from Lockhart.
"Everyone, stop!" he shouted.
"Finite Incantatem!"
A cloud of greenish smoke spread across the auditorium... wherever the smoke passed, all spell effects disappeared.
Marcus Flint got up from the ground, full of shame and anger at what had just happened. He raised his wand again, ready to strike Kael.
But the person next to him grabbed him.
"Calm down, Professor Snape is watching you."
Noticing Snape's icy gaze from the stage, Marcus suddenly regained his senses. He lowered his wand-wielding hand, grunted, and left.
"Is that it..." Fred pursed his lips in disappointment, clearly dissatisfied with the outcome.
On the other side, Lockhart was jumping through the crowd, examining the results of their duels...
"You, get up, Macmillan... Damn, a broken leg... Miss Fawcett, pinch hard, the bleeding will stop soon... Boot..."
"I think you all don't quite understand the meaning of a duel." Lockhart said frantically in the center of the auditorium.
This was nothing like he imagined, the students just wouldn't listen!
"Perhaps I should give you another demonstration..." Lockhart glanced at Snape, then quickly looked away, "Who would like to come up and demonstrate..."
Snape moved his fingers, resting on his chest.
"We'll come!" Marcus immediately ran up, then turned, looking at Kael.
Seeing this, Kael didn't hesitate and followed him onto the stage.