Though Professor McGonagall strongly objected, the wagered duel still began early the next morning, at the insistence of both parties involved.
The two sides arrived at the agreed location—near the Stone Circle—where an arena had been built.
On several rows of wooden racks beside the arena sat countless potion ingredients—Severus Snape had practically emptied out his entire stock for this wagered duel.
In the center, two potion worktables had been set up separately.
On Severus Snape's worktable sat a folding cauldron, along with a knife, tweezers, a pestle, a mortar, and all sorts of bottles and jars. It was almost no different from the worktables students normally used to practice potion-making.
Murphy's worktable, however, looked much stranger. Leaving aside all those odd glass instruments, there wasn't even a cauldron on his table; instead, there were many more devices like gauges and meters.
The two of them were now standing beside their respective worktables, staring at each other.
"If I lose, I'll cancel the practical class, restore the tradition of the four Houses eating separately at their own tables, and stop interfering in the school's daily teaching and management," Murphy said. This was the stake they had agreed on yesterday.
Many young wizards had gathered around below the stage. In fact, almost all the teachers and students in the school had come, except Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore.
After all, they had never before seen two professors hold a wagered duel on the spot.
At that moment, as soon as Murphy finished speaking, whistles and cheers erupted from below the stage.
Murphy glanced over. Most of them were students in fourth year and above, and not just from Slytherin—there were Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and even Hufflepuffs too.
It was not as if there were no voices of doubt in the school regarding his