MTLNOVEL Chapter 49: "Chaos in the Dueling Class"
"Chaos in the Dueling Class"
I was going to play Hogwarts Legacy to get some ideas, but it runs poorly on my PC, so I'll just play Skyrim for the hundredth time.
"Dumbledore, you must do something about that boy. His existence is dangerous—perhaps even more than the Dark Lord himself!" spoke the portrait of Headmaster Black, while other headmasters also began to voice their opinions.
"I don't think it's necessary. The boy explained how his magic works, and I don't see anything resembling dark magic in it."
"Every time he speaks of dark magic, it's as if he despises it. He is nothing like the Dark Lord."
Several headmasters did not see Stephen as a threat, considering how much he had been helping the wizarding world—whether through magical technology or by creating light-based magic.
"Not only that. The magic he normally uses is perfect for countering dark magic. The fact that he told Dumbledore about his master is also a sign of trust," commented one of the former headmistresses, focusing on a specific point.
"His master? Who's to say he isn't lying? The longest-living people known are Nicolas Flamel and his wife. Do you seriously believe someone lived twice as long as them?" protested Black, once again proving why he was the most disliked of the headmasters.
"And why wouldn't it be true? There are legends about near-immortal wizards. Even today, Horcruxes are still being discovered in ancient pyramids, proving that many sought immortality."
"That doesn't mean anything. Legends are just that—legends. Likely bedtime stories for children."
The debate was heating up, though it was mostly Black arguing against the other headmasters.
"There's something you're all overlooking—several things, in fact. The main one is that he spoke of a plane where time does not exist and that it has ceased to exist. The other is that his master didn't just die—he was murdered."
Upon hearing that, many headmasters fell silent.
"As we all know, a wizard's magical power increases as they grow older. If someone was able to kill a wizard with the strength of someone over a thousand years old, I believe they could be more dangerous than the Dark Lord."
These words cast a deathly silence over the office, so deep it felt like a graveyard.
"I don't think we need to worry about such a killer," said Dumbledore, breaking the silence.
"Do you know something, Dumbledore?" several headmasters asked, staring at him intently.
"For now, only suspicions," he replied mysteriously.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, Dumbledore. That boy could bring about the destruction of the wizarding world—perhaps even the entire world," Black declared.
"I believe it might be the opposite, Phineas. Perhaps it is the wizarding world that needs him to move forward," Dumbledore said as he stood up and walked to his room, pausing only to gently stroke Fawkes' small head.
"Hmph. Do as you please," Phineas Black huffed, turning away in his portrait and ceasing to pay attention to the other headmasters.
A few days after the Gryffindor disaster—an incident they obviously kept secret to avoid embarrassment at school—Stephen and the twins were tasked with inspecting and repairing the transportation system so they wouldn't have to go to the teachers' lounge every time they wanted to access the Gryffindor Chamber.
The professors had, of course, conducted a thorough search of the chamber and discovered, thanks to a diary belonging to a former student of Godric Gryffindor, that the room had been created to allow Gryffindors to train in peace. They had faced the same issues as Stephen and the others, with the other houses mocking them for their barbaric way of fighting instead of dueling like proper wizards. So, Gryffindor, with the help of Rowena Ravenclaw, created the chamber while his students traveled the world in search of books on martial arts.
The walls and door were made of an anti-magic material—created thanks to an extinct creature that could negate all magic but nothing else. Arrows and spears had led to its extinction.
"Well, boss, that makes four transportation frogs."
"Now we have four different ways in and out."
The twins, their faces covered in soot and their clothes filthy, emerged from one of the chamber's four frog entrances, each exit scattered across the castle.
"Alright, that's done. Let's clean up and head to the new dueling class," Stephen said, putting away his tools.
"Sigh Boss, do we have to go? Our daily training is already enough."
"That's right, boss. We love dueling and fighting, but I doubt Lockhart can teach us anything useful," the twins said dejectedly.
"Obviously, we have to go. I wouldn't miss the first dueling class. Don't worry, it'll be fun," said Stephen with a mischievous smile, making the twins realize he had something planned.
"I see. Count us in, boss."
"Dueling class. Obviously, we can't miss it," said the twins as they followed Stephen.
After leaving the chamber, they found Flitwick and McGonagall in the teachers' lounge.
"Professors, we've finished repairing the toads and the door. No one will get stuck anymore. We also created a small hole so the MagicPhone signal can get through," Stephen quickly explained to the professors.
"Well done, Stephen. That will help keep the school courtyard intact, right, Minerva?" said Flitwick with a smile.
"I suppose. I just hope they don't learn anything strange now that they're out of everyone's sight. Remember, we professors will come in to check on them from time to time," said McGonagall, who was pleased but didn't want to show it.
"By the way, Stephen, I'd like to ask if you could accept some Ravenclaw students to learn with you. If I'm not mistaken, little Luna is learning a type of summoning magic, which has caught the attention of several students," Flitwick commented.
"Hmm, sure, I don't mind. But summoning magic is special. I doubt anyone besides Luna can use it. But if they want to learn eldritch magic and can endure the training, I have no problem with it."
"That's good. The truth is, many students always wanted to approach you, but since they saw that everyone was from Gryffindor, they were afraid of being rejected. Until Miss Lovegood showed up," Flitwick said, relieved, since although he believed Stephen wouldn't reject them, he didn't want to impose it on him either.
"As you know, professor, to prevent ill-intentioned people from taking advantage of the materials in the chamber, I spoke to the headmaster to keep it secret. Obviously, the four heads of Hogwarts houses will also know, but I created a magical contract that prevents disclosure. If someone tries to force the secret, it will temporarily erase itself from their memory."
"Don't worry, little one. The headmaster told us everything. Although it's a bit problematic, you're right. Wizards can be quite petty sometimes—especially those who prevent non-purebloods from learning powerful magic," Flitwick said, quickly understanding the racism present in the British wizarding world, being a half-goblin himself.
"Alright, Flitwick. No need to talk about that. Mr. Flamel, Mr. Weasleys, you may leave. If I'm not mistaken, you have a dueling class with Professors Lockhart and Snape," McGonagall said, interrupting Flitwick's serious conversation—though everyone knew it was true. It wasn't the right time or place to discuss something that had harmed the magical world for years.
"Right. See you, professors. Send the students from other houses who want to learn. I'll test them in the courtyard later," said Stephen as he ran off, followed by the twins.
"Hehe, maybe you should secure the courtyard just in case, Minerva," Flitwick said teasingly.
"Sigh. That would be the wisest thing to do," McGonagall replied as she headed to the inner courtyard of Hogwarts, where everyone usually trained.
Meanwhile, Stephen and the twins had already arrived at the dueling class, where most Gryffindors were waiting for them.
"Stephen, Fred, and George! You guys took forever! We thought you weren't coming. So, how did it go? Did you manage to fix, you know what?" Lee Jordan asked in a mysterious tone.
"It's all done. Now we just have to enter through one of the rock toads scattered around, and we'll be in the training chamber," Stephen said with a smile, while the Gryffindors celebrated, earning inquisitive looks from the others.
"By the way, some students from other houses will come to see if they're fit for training. So we'll test them in the usual courtyard first to see if they're trustworthy enough to enter the training chamber."
"The snake too!?" Ron shouted, drawing everyone's attention. The Slytherins who heard him glared at him with daggers in their eyes, not knowing what he was talking about but sensing that it wasn't good.
"Smack. Idiot! You don't know how to keep a secret," Fred said, smacking his younger brother on the forehead.
"Ronnie, maybe we should make your confidentiality contract a bit more... violent," George commented after his twin.
"Sorry," Ron said, rubbing his sore forehead and realizing his mistake.
"It's fine. Don't bully the little fool. And to answer your question—yes, Ron, believe it or not, there might be trustworthy people among the snakes. Obviously, we have to choose carefully," Stephen said to Ron, who looked a bit unhappy about sharing space with Slytherins. Thanks to Draco Malfoy and his constant bullying, Ron didn't see them in a good light.
Thanks to Stephen, bullying at Hogwarts was at its lowest in decades—possibly even centuries. The only one who continued, despite being punished, whipped, thrown to a three-headed dog, and hung from the ceiling, was Draco Malfoy. One had to admit, he was quite tenacious in that regard.
The peace was quickly broken by Lockhart's grand entrance, with Snape following behind him with the coldest expression imaginable.
"That's right. Your professor in this Dueling Club is me—Gilderoy Lockhart, Knight of the Order of Merlin, Third Class; Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. But I don't need to say that—it wasn't with a smile that I defeated the banshee," Lockhart said with a grin, causing many of his fans to squeal excitedly. Even Hermione and Angelina were among them.
"Boss, when does the plan start?"
"Yeah, boss. It hasn't even started yet, and I already want him to shut up," the twins said, jealously watching the girls admire Lockhart.
"Don't worry, it's about to begin," Stephen said with a smirk as he watched Lockhart invite Snape to help with a demonstration.
"...Don't worry, you'll still have your Potions professor when I'm done with him," Lockhart said charmingly and confidently. Snape, hearing that, showed a fleeting expression of contempt on his stoic face.
The duel formalities began. They greeted each other, took several steps back, and got into position.
"One. Two. Three," Lockhart counted, but before he could cast a spell, Snape's Expelliarmus sent him flying through the air. Snape had even pronounced the incantation deliberately slowly.
That was when Stephen's plan began. The spot where Lockhart landed was enchanted, sending him bouncing back into the air—straight into one of the walls. That wall was also enchanted, making him ricochet, and so on. Everyone watched as Lockhart bounced around the room like a ball.
"My God!" Hermione exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock at the chaotic scene. Meanwhile, the twins could barely contain their laughter.
"Stop it! Stop it, Severus!" Lockhart screamed as he was flung through the air.
Snape, in the midst of the commotion, finally flicked his wand, ending the enchantment and making Lockhart crash onto the floor with a heavy thud, completely stunned and disoriented. The room fell silent for a few seconds before the Weasley twins burst into laughter, soon joined by many others.
Stephen, with a satisfied smile, watched as Lockhart struggled to get up with a forced grin, trying to pretend that everything had been intentional.
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