On the dueling platform, the dazzlingly handsome Lockhart greeted the young wizards. "Gather around, gather around! Can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me? Wonderful!"
He focused the lights on himself and spoke with a flourish. "In light of the series of terrifying events that have taken place over the past few weeks, Professor Dumbledore has authorized me to open this Duelling Club. It will give you all some valuable training, so that if you ever need to defend yourselves, you can protect yourselves using the methods I've employed countless times. For details, please see my published works."
Bing Huan raised one eyebrow and lowered the other, looking at Lockhart strangely. "Sorry, unless I'm mistaken, Professor Dumbledore asked me to run the club."
Lockhart didn't get angry at being called out. He was always good at managing his emotions—or at least, he always wore a beaming smile in front of his fans. "That's right. Mr. Bing Huan is leading the club, and he chose the most qualified person in the school to educate you all—me."
"No." Bing Huan was expressionless. "I only called for Snape. You shamelessly shoved your way in."
"Ahem..." Lockhart chuckled awkwardly. "Let's welcome my assistant, Professor Snape. As far as I know, he knows a thing or two about dueling. He was generous enough to agree to help me with a little demonstration before the lesson. Don't worry, I'll return your Potions teacher to you in one piece."
Bing Huan glanced up at Snape and whispered, "How about hitting him with Sectumsempra?"
Snape shot Bing Huan an expressionless look. "How about I hit you with one first?"
The two adult men stepped onto the stage and faced each other, holding their wands before their chests like swords. After completing the formalities, they moved to opposite ends of the stage and took their positions.
"One, two, three!"
"Expelliarmus!"
A dazzling red light flashed across the stage. Since there were students below, Snape pronounced the spell clearly and properly. Of course, that made it much slower than he would have been in a real fight—but Lockhart still failed to react in time.
The celebrity teacher went flying backward off the stage and slammed into the wall.
Bing Huan: "Beautiful!"
Harry: "Brilliant!"
Ron: "I'm starting to like Snape."
Draco: "As expected of Professor Snape!"
Lockhart shakily got to his feet and walked back onto the stage. Shaking his head, he smiled as he approached the center. "Professor Snape certainly showed them that spell quite well. But, if you'll forgive me for saying so, your intentions were too obvious. Anyone could see it coming. If I wanted to stop you, it would be easy."
Harry wore an expression like he'd swallowed something unpleasant. "Why didn't Snape hit him harder?"
Bing Huan flicked Harry on the forehead and said crossly, "What are you thinking, Harry? Snape pronounced the spell that way to demonstrate it for us. He's highly skilled at Nonverbal Spellcasting. If he actually wanted to deal with Lockhart, we wouldn't have Dark Arts Defense lessons for the next week."
Harry and Ron, who had always been afraid of Snape, stared at Bing Huan in surprise. "I thought he was just mean. I didn't know he was that powerful."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Come on, he's the head of our Slytherin House."
Since he didn't want to get hit again, Lockhart fast-forwarded to the students practicing against each other. Perhaps he'd heard the cheers from below as he flew through the air. Lockhart decided to split up the Gryffindor trio. (Bing Huan was the professor's assistant and wouldn't be taking part.)
"Weasley, you can pair up with Finnigan." Then he stopped Harry, who was heading toward Hermione. "Harry, you can pair up with Malfoy. Miss Granger, you can partner with Miss Sprout."
Hermione's opponent was a Slytherin girl. She was tall and stout, with a thick, sturdy build, and her heavy chin jutted forward aggressively. Just looking at her made Bing Huan want to hit someone. Hermione managed a strained smile, but the girl ignored her.
Yeah, now he wanted to hit someone even more. For some reason, he always saw a hint of Marcus in her. Bing Huan hoped he was just being uncivilized and seeing everyone through biased eyes.
"Face your partners and bow!" Lockhart shouted. "Raise your wands and get ready. On the count of three, cast a spell to disarm your opponent. Remember! Just disarm them."
Harry and Draco stared intently at each other. "This should be our first proper magical duel, Potter. I'll go easy on you."
"You're the one who'd better watch out. Don't start begging for mercy right away, Draco."
"Potter, let's just go all out. We don't have to do what that man said."
"Of course. Who'd listen to him?"
"Cheering Charm!"
"Tarantallegra!"
They attacked at the same time, their spells colliding and canceling each other out in midair. A well-matched duel could teach them a lot. Harry and Draco grew more and more practiced with their spells. Both were drenched in sweat, but excitement shone in their eyes.
"Ah!"
A sudden cry of pain came from Hermione's side. Millicent didn't seem to have any intention of using magic. Taking advantage of her size, she had trapped Hermione's head in her arms. Bing Huan was about to rush over and help, but a tall figure blocked his way. It was Marcus.
His Troll-like face broke into a grin. "Don't get worked up. What Millicent's doing is any different from what you, a barbaric Oriental, do?"
Bing Huan sneered. "So that's why I want to punch you whenever I see you. You're behind this. Move!"
He shoved Marcus aside and, without caring that his opponent was a girl, punched Millicent in the face. "Are you all right?" He carefully checked Hermione for injuries and was about to comfort her when Marcus's furious voice sounded behind him.
"Are you brave enough to duel me? Magic only."
After making sure Hermione was all right, Bing Huan turned to stare at Marcus. A moment later, he suddenly burst out laughing, cheerful and carefree. "Pfft—ha! Hahahahaha! So you think I fought you because I'm no good at magic?"
Marcus drew his wand. "Obviously. Anyone who knows the noble art of magic wouldn't choose to fight in such a crude way."
"So magic is noble, and fighting is crude, is that it? If you said that in China, you'd be lucky to make it out of the country in one piece. My countrymen would have to be feeling charitable."
Bing Huan sized Marcus up like prey, then jumped onto the stage and drew his wand. He beckoned to Marcus with his left hand.
"Here, kitty, kitty..."
Hermione frowned deeply. Bing Huan was still smiling, but his eyes looked even more terrifying than they had in the Pensieve.
Lockhart felt he ought to do something, so he hurried over to stop them. "Wait, wait! Whatever the circumstances, it's completely unreasonable for a sixth-year student to duel a second-year!"
"It's fine." Bing Huan looked unconcerned. "Even if a worthless person is a few years older, he's still just a bigger worthless person. It makes no difference."
"I'll make you pay. Reducto!"
"Drop the damn wand!"
The red and white lights didn't clash as everyone expected. Marcus was knocked flying in an instant. Bing Huan calmly picked out the worst-tasting healing pill from his storage space and tossed it into Marcus's mouth.
The pill dissolved as soon as it entered his mouth. Its intense bitterness woke Marcus, who had nearly passed out. "Don't worry! It's just medicine to heal you. It's only a little bitter. If you're recovered, come back and keep fighting. Not coming? Then I'll come to you!"
Bing Huan stomped his right foot, and several pebbles bounced up from the floor. "Oppugno!"
Marcus could only curl up in the corner, trying to minimize the damage from the pebbles.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Snape finally intervened.
"You're going to stop me, Snape?"
Snape stepped in front of Bing Huan. "You've gone too far."
"Who was the one who kept picking fights?"
"I'll see that you get an explanation, but you can't cross the line."
Bing Huan met Snape's gaze without flinching. "What if I insist on teaching him a lesson myself?"
"If Mr. Bing Huan is determined to work up a sweat on the platform, I'd be happy to show him what I can really do."
"Bing!" Though she had "never seen" it before, Hermione could tell he had murderous intent. If he took someone's life out of hatred, he would never be able to turn back. Hermione was so anxious that tears were about to fall. "Please don't..."
"...I'll wait for your explanation." With that, Bing Huan left the stage without looking back. Snape secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If Hermione hadn't stopped him, Snape couldn't have guaranteed he would be able to subdue Bing Huan without hurting him.
Unfortunately, some people were just born rotten. While everyone was distracted, Marcus secretly pulled out his wand.
"Serpensortia!"
A long black snake suddenly appeared and flew toward Bing Huan, who was comforting Hermione. But, having misjudged the distance while lying down, it landed in front of Harry instead.
"Don't move, Potter. Let me handle this." Snape walked over, intending to deal with the venomous snake.
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