With the arrival of the first snowfall, the temperature dropped rapidly. Hogwarts was soon covered in a blanket of silver, looking especially clean and dazzling.
Perhaps because of the cold, students preferred to stay in their common rooms, where roaring fireplaces enchanted with warming spells made everything feel like spring.
Before long, Christmas was approaching.
At Thursday lunch, a new notice appeared on the board outside the Great Hall.
"Dueling Club?"
The moment students saw the title, excitement spread like wildfire.
"The school is restarting the Dueling Club?" a sixth-year exclaimed. "The last one was nearly ten years ago!"
Students crowded around, eagerly discussing.
"The last time it was held was right after the Death Eaters fell with the Dark Lord. It was meant for self-defense training," Lewis analyzed calmly from the crowd. "If they're restarting it now… that probably means something."
"You're not just fearmongering, are you?" his roommate Steve shivered.
"Who's running it? Professor Flitwick?" Kevin asked hopefully. "I heard he was a dueling champion when he was young."
Lewis immediately crushed that hope.
"With how loudly they're advertising this, like they want everyone to know? My guess—Lockhart."
"…You're kidding."
Given Lewis's reputation, many students believed him instantly.
Their excitement dropped sharply.
After so many embarrassments, only Lockhart's die-hard fans still supported him.
Still, plenty of students remained interested.
Even if Lockhart was useless—
They could at least duel each other.
After all, dueling in the corridors was forbidden. Many students had been itching for a proper chance.
Lewis himself was somewhat interested.
After enduring Lockhart's smug face every week asking for autographs, he was reaching his limit.
Maybe this was his chance to watch someone beat Lockhart up.
So, at eight that evening, Lewis arrived at the Great Hall.
The long dining tables had vanished. In their place stood a golden stage along one wall, illuminated by hundreds of floating candles.
The ceiling had turned into a deep velvet black.
Nearly the entire school had gathered, shoulder to shoulder, wands in hand, faces full of excitement.
Most students didn't even know who organized the club.
They were still looking forward to it.
Finally, the doors opened.
Lockhart strode in first.
Dressed in an extravagant purple robe, he walked as if on a red carpet, arms spread wide, flashing his signature dazzling smile—like invisible cameras were snapping photos of him.
Students were about to laugh or applaud—
Then they saw who followed behind him.
Snape.
Clad in his usual black robes, gliding forward like a shadow, lips curled in a cold smirk.
Originally, Lockhart had wanted Flitwick as his partner.
Snape had taken the role instead.
On the matter of beating up Lockhart—
He and Lewis were in perfect agreement.
Lockhart raised his hand for silence.
"Gather around, gather around! Can everyone see me? Hear me? Excellent!"
"Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this Dueling Club, to train you all in self-defense—the very methods I have used countless times! For more details, please refer to my published works."
"He really won't miss any chance to promote his books…" Steve muttered.
"Too bad we bought pirated copies," Kevin added with a grin.
Both had been Lewis's customers.
"Now, let me introduce my assistant—Professor Snape!" Lockhart beamed. "He tells me he knows a little about dueling and has kindly agreed to help demonstrate."
"But don't worry! After the demonstration, I'll return your Potions Master to you completely unharmed!"
That joke made Snape's lips tighten instantly.
Lewis nearly laughed.
Lockhart clearly had confidence—
That he wouldn't hurt Snape.
But whether Snape would return him intact… was another question entirely.
Soon, the demonstration began.
They walked apart, turned, and raised their wands.
Lockhart performed an elaborate bow, nearly dropping his wand.
Snape simply gave a curt nod.
They raised their wands.
"One—"
"Two—"
"Three!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Snape's incantation was so fast it was almost inaudible.
Lockhart didn't even react.
He was blasted backward several meters, landing flat on his back with a loud thud, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Fortunately, the platform was carpeted.
Otherwise, that might've been a concussion.
His wand flew into the crowd.
Malfoy and several Slytherins applauded enthusiastically.
Many girls, however, screamed in concern for their "idol."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"That's it? That's the training? This is worse than what you taught us."
Lewis crossed his arms, nodding in boredom.
Then—
Cho Chang, cheeks slightly flushed, asked:
"When are you going to start a training class, Lewis? Public or private lessons are fine."
Her advances had been getting more direct lately.
Even Lewis felt a bit overwhelmed.
Before he could answer, Hermione cut in sharply:
"Lewis is busy. He has to go to the library. He doesn't have time to teach."
Her tone carried unmistakable hostility.
Cho, however, didn't back down.
"That's fine. If there's no time during school, what about the holidays? How about this Christmas?"
…Oh.
So that was the plan.
Hermione's expression darkened.
The算盘珠子 practically hit her in the face.
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