"...Just giving everyone a demonstration, and making up for the after-school tutoring I missed."
Snape stood at the edge of the stage, with a half-smile.
Demonstration?
Anyone who wasn't blind and saw Lockhart being carried off the stage just moments ago couldn't possibly believe Snape's excuse - because he had said the same thing earlier, and then Lockhart silently went into dreamland.
Now, why was Snape targeting the transfer student?
Many little wizards weren't aware of the relationship between the two. They initially thought Snape would find a sixth or seventh-year Gryffindor student, but who could imagine he chose a first-year who had only been at Hogwarts for half a year?
...Is this the cost of being late?
"...If it really doesn't work, how about not going?" As William moved through the crowd, Cedric grabbed his arm. He knew very well the relationship between William and Snape, not great, just utterly awful. "You can completely refuse; Snape can't force you."
"You all act like I'm heading to the gallows..." Looking at the group of Hufflepuffs with expressions of bidding farewell to a hero, William felt a bit helpless.
"But..." Cedric wanted to say something in a low voice.
"It's fine. I originally thought I'd have to fight tonight, but ended up being flattered..." William shook his head, indicating for the crowd to stay calm. "Perfect, time to loosen up a bit, the Forbidden Forest isn't much of a challenge anymore. I've almost cleared out a few nests of spiders, barely encountering any trolls, and the poachers are gone..."
"What?" No one heard William's last mumbling statement.
William didn't answer, he walked through the crowd, stepping up to the stage.
"You're here..." Snape's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't use clichéd lines."
"?"
"Weren't you about to demonstrate?"
"...Richard, you still don't seem to understand the situation," Snape's eyes narrowed insidiously. "Regardless, I am still your teacher now, and you must always address me as 'sir' or 'professor.'
"Alright, Professor, why does your head look pointy... no, I mean, it has a scent." William stepped back two paces.
"..."
"By the way, sir, I remember Professor Lockhart selling Bird Snake Egg Yolk Shampoo, it's probably the only genuine product under his name—just a bit pricey, but the professor's salary at Hogwarts should be decent?" William paused a moment, not suppressing his volume. "Oh, right, I remember the Potter family too..."
"Shut up, now, stand over there."
Snape's facade seemed to crack a bit, taking a deep breath, he struggled to contain his rage.
"Professor, as a staff member, you should pay attention to your image." Stationed on the opposite side of the stage, William continued his "earnest" persuasion, while cheers resonated in his ears, realizing his actions gained audience admiration.
"...Hope you can still laugh afterward, now, draw your wand," Snape said coldly.
William obediently raised his Redwood Wand vertically before him, bowing shallowly under Snape's gaze—reminding him of those days at the Bell Tower Duel Club a century ago.
"Now, attack with your spell..."
"Expelliarmus."
A red light flashed, and with no chance to dodge, Snape was hit with a stumble. His wand flew out and landed in William's hand.
"..."
The hall remained silent before a surging wave of applause erupted.
"Woo-hoo!"
Harry almost jumped with excitement, earlier thinking William helped him dodge another disaster, feeling a bit guilty. But seeing William's performance now, he felt excited enough to jump on stage and kiss him.
Making Snape visibly falter is a great achievement many little Gryffindor wizards attempted but failed to achieve!
"Calm down, look at Snape's face. I feel like William's in trouble," Hermione blocked Harry, pointing at the stage. As she said, Snape's face was dark enough to drip water.
"What do we do?" Harry swallowed, reacting in concern.
"I think we need someone to stop Snape... you watch here, I'll find Professor McGonagall." Hermione hesitated momentarily, feeling her parchment, then turned and ran out of the hall.
"Wait..."
Before Harry could say he wanted to join, the girl vanished behind the hall's door.
...
"...Very well, next is practical teaching."
Snape's voice drew the attention of all little wizards once more.
Taking his wand from William's grip, Snape stepped back to position with a scowled face. Contrary to expectations, he didn't pursue William's premature surprise attack, merely speaking through gritted teeth after a brief silence.
Alright, letting down the provocation worked enough.
William re-raised his wand vertically before himself—
Trash talk can significantly elevate an opponent's magical attack skill. This is the experience William concluded after single-handedly clearing the Ashwinder group from the Scottish Highlands in his sixth year, armed with a magic wand (and a patch of Chinese Chomping Cabbages in the garden).
During that time, overwhelming combat experience led to boredom in battles, often resolving them using several Crucio and a Killing Curse, causing an unconscious mental shift—
At that point, he hadn't tried tapping into the Secret Vault's forces.
Noticing the internal shift, he realized Dark Arts were eroding his soul... Not a promising sign, not wanting a future as a scarred Black Wizard, wearing a tattered black robe, growing three arms, enticing kids to his shabby cabin for experiments...
That wasn't the future William wanted.
Thus, throughout the seventh year, he nearly gave up carnage, all magic aimed solely at self-improvement—with assistance from Ancient Magic, Secret Vault, and other Guardian portraits, he finally shook off emotional interference.
The "Black Wizard Slaughter Machine" emerged from the castle after a year, then... then... ended up a hundred years into the future.
So this constituted his first official duel following his return, hopeful for a surprise from the opponent... at least breaking through his Iron Armor Spell would be something, otherwise truly boring.
Both mutually bowed, almost simultaneously raising their wands—
"Stupefy!"
"Protego."
Snape's wand sparked, a blinding red shoosh significantly thicker than the one hitting Lockhart rushed at William, halting inches from the boy, clashing with air, eliciting violent purple ripples.
"Well-played Iron Armor Spell..." Snape's expression fell slightly, raising his wand. "Is this your supposed 'talent'?" He evidently remembered William's claim in the Headmaster's Office, "What Love Potion did you feed Dumbledore..."
"I fed Dumbledore Love Potion?"
William blinked, Snape took advantage tossing three charms rapidly, colliding with the boy's pale purple barrier until both vanished interiorly—clearly not Snape's ideal, face looking displeased.
"...Want a glimpse of my talent, Professor?"
"Be my guest."
"Then," William recalled the scene from the night before, "Sectumsempra."
"...?"