Wizard duel?
Upon hearing Jemma Farrell's words, the classmates watching were instantly in an uproar.
Fifth-year students openly initiating a duel against first-year newbies in front of everyone.
Is this the distortion of human nature, or the degradation of morality?
Harry raised his head and met Jemma's pair of sea-blue eyes.
"Miss Farrell, you want to have a wizard duel with me?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter." Jemma's expression was serious, but she didn't draw her magic wand: "You choose the time and place, no assistants needed, we'll duel one-on-one."
As the Class Prefect of Slytherin, even though she knew it was unreasonable, she still had to step forward.
Otherwise, how can the team be led if people's hearts are scattered?
"Why?" Harry asked.
It's not that he's feeling any pity for her; there were plenty of beautiful women among the dark wizards a century ago when Harry threw explosive barrels at their pretty faces without the slightest remorse.
He only wanted to ask a simple question.
"You can defeat seven sixth-year students, proving your skill is not merely at a first-year level," Jemma said, "If you win, I promise no Slytherin student will come looking for trouble with you; if you lose, then apologize to Slytherin College."
"No, I don't care about trouble." Harry said, nonchalantly, "If I win, I want Parkinson and Flint to apologize to Hermione—besides, as for the troubles Slytherin might pose me, I don't think they're troubling."
Harry really detests the Flint name.
In Hogwarts a hundred years ago, of course, there was discrimination against Muggles too.
He knows the word Mudblood from a person named 'Derek Flint.'
That person even deliberately knocked over his dinner tray while Harry was eating, for which Gareth stood up for him and got a fierce retaliation.
However, Derek Flint hadn't troubled him since, and Gareth said it seems it was because Drake Marcus's father was severely warned by the School Board, which made him behave.
Though Gareth repeatedly stated his aunt Professor Weasley was not a member of the School Board, even the principal couldn't interfere with any of its decisions, Harry still feels that it was the result of the Deputy Headmistress dealing with the School Board.
Why doesn't the School Board manage Cassandra Malfoy? He wondered at the time, as a first-year, Malfoy would mock him for being lazy, arrogant, and not loving to study whenever she was idle, and even wanted to take him as an underling. She truly was annoying.
Jemma furrowed her brows slightly; she didn't actually want to clash with Harry. Initiating a wizard duel with Harry was merely because he spoke disrespectfully to Slytherin.
If she were an ordinary Slytherin student, it would be fine, but she happened to be the Class Prefect.
Position brings not only honor but also obligations.
"Draw your magic wand, Senior Farrell." Harry said.
He drew his magic wand, signaling his partners to step back to avoid being caught in the spells later.
"Harry..." Ron, somewhat worried, said, having heard Percy mention Senior Farrell more than once, saying she was Slytherin's best student.
What Percy affirmed about Senior Farrell was not only her outstanding grades but also her "not so Slytherin" character.
"Don't worry, Ron." Harry smiled at Ron, "Take care of Neville, hitting the back of his head must be uncomfortable, this is on me."
Ron still wanted to say something more but was yanked aside by Hermione tugging at his sleeve.
"I'll be the judge!" Draco popped out of nowhere, looking at Harry with malicious intent.
The classmates watching also gave way to both sides, Jemma standing in the middle, uncertainly asked, "Mr. Potter, don't you need a break?"
"Thank you, but no." Harry gracefully bowed to Jemma, "Miss Farrell, I don't need to teach you the basic etiquette of dueling, do I?"
Jemma held her magic wand horizontally across her chest, bowing to Harry in an impeccable dueling manner.
"Three!" Draco raised his hand high.
"Two!"
"One!"
"Expelliarmus (Disarm)!"
Almost simultaneously, the two cast Disarming Spells at each other.
Accompanied by a crisp 'snap' explosion, a burst of orange flame blasted open between them, where their spells collided.
Jemma lightly flicked her wrist, and the statue behind her seemingly came to life, striding aggressively towards Harry.
Seeing Jemma use the Transformation Spell, Harry also waved his magic wand, making the two suits of armor at the doorway come to life, brandishing long spears toward the statue.
At some unknown time, a vine quietly crept up to Harry's feet.
Harry casually used Flaming Bear to burn the vine, then used Armor Protection to fend off the Evil Curse Jemma shot over, promptly returning her with a Stupefied spell.
Such a splendid wizard duel, for the classmates, was their first time witnessing it, especially for the first-year students, each holding their breath, staring wide-eyed at the dueling duo in the center of the scene, even forgetting to breathe.
Seeing the spell flying forward, Jemma dodged to the side, only to unexpectedly encounter a red spell heading towards her.
It was Harry, predicting her direction of evasion, preemptively casting an Expelliarmus.
"Protego (Shield Charm)!" Jemma waved her magic wand, blocking the Disarming Spell.
But aside from this Disarming Spell, there was another spell following closely behind.
The energy of the Armor Protection that blocked the Disarming Spell was already insufficient, it was too late to add another Shield Charm, and Jemma could only watch helplessly as the spell hit her.
"Incarcerous (Bind)!"
The spell struck Jemma's body, and a rope appeared abruptly, binding her tightly, causing her to fall into the snow.
The Hogwarts uniform, loose and comfortable, was tightly bound by the rope, completely revealing the figure originally hidden under the magic robe.
With its master's magic support gone, Jemma's statue also toppled to the ground.
The two armors, holding long spears, crossed on either side of Jemma's neck, seeming as if they would spill her neck's blood if she dared to resist.
"You lost, Miss Farrell." Harry said elegantly.
He thought himself quite the gentleman because he saw women as full-fledged opponents to pummel.
"I concede." Jemma candidly admitted her defeat.
Harry waved his hand, the two armors returned to their original positions, and the ropes on Jemma disappeared.
Among the crowd watching, it was unknown who sighed, seemingly regretting the disappearance of the ropes.
"Now, it's time to keep your promise, Miss Farrell." Harry extended his hand.