In Dumbledore's eyes, Wentworth, who was making the Acolytes even stronger, was now standing nervously in the middle of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Facing him was Cassandra.
After Professor Ilona had explained the Disarming Charm, she had the Hufflepuff and Slytherin first-years split up to practice. But just as the morning lesson was about to end, Ilona suddenly called everyone together.
"Everyone, I'm sure you understand what the Disarming Charm does and how to cast it. So, would anyone like to come up and demonstrate it for the class?"
As soon as Ilona finished speaking, Cassandra raised her hand, just as expected. But when she walked to the center of the classroom, she suddenly turned her gaze toward the Hufflepuffs.
"Wentworth, where do you think you're going?"
Seeing Cassandra move to the center of the classroom, Wentworth had a bad feeling. He was just about to quietly slip into the middle of the Hufflepuff crowd.
But Cassandra clearly had no intention of giving him that chance. She called him out by name.
"I wonder if any of the Hufflepuffs would like to come up and spar?"
Although Cassandra phrased it as a question, her gaze remained fixed on Wentworth.
And when she finished speaking, every Hufflepuff first-year turned to look at Wentworth, the most well-known among them.
Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Wentworth stopped trying to run. He took his wand and strode straight over to face Cassandra.
At Professor Ilona's signal to begin, they both raised their wands.
"Expelliarmus!"
A spell shot from Cassandra's wand. Wentworth seemed not to react at all. He neither chanted an incantation nor waved his wand, and simply took Cassandra's Disarming Charm head-on.
His wand immediately flew away.
When Cassandra saw that she had knocked Wentworth's wand out of his hand, the corners of her mouth began to curl upward. But Wentworth spoke first.
"Did you all see that? That's what the Disarming Charm does. Once you're hit by it, the wand in your hand will fly away on its own, just like mine did. For most wizards, losing their wand means losing their ability to fight."
As Cassandra and the other first-years stared at him in astonishment, Wentworth walked over, picked up his wand, then smiled at Cassandra and said:
"Cassandra, you're a girl, after all. The Disarming Charm isn't especially dangerous, but it still hurts when the magic hits you. As a boy, how could I let you suffer through that?"
"If one of us had to take the spell, I'd rather it be me. I'd never let a girl face that danger. After all, I'm a Hufflepuff!"
Wentworth finished speaking and stood there quietly. For a moment, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom fell silent. Then thunderous applause erupted!
The Hufflepuff first-years behind Wentworth gazed at him with admiration. Many of the Hufflepuff girls looked at him with undisguised affection. Even some Slytherin first-years applauded, though they quickly stopped under Cassandra's gaze.
Cassandra glared at Wentworth as he stood there, calmly accepting the Hufflepuffs' cheers. She had meant to use this opportunity to get back at him, but somehow things had turned out like this instead.
Just then, Professor Ilona, who had been watching from the side, clapped lightly and spoke.
"Excellent! You've both done even better than I expected. Cassandra showed extraordinary talent for magic, and cast a perfect Disarming Charm. Ten points to Slytherin!"
"Wentworth, meanwhile, showed the honesty and kindness expected of a Hufflepuff. He risked getting hurt by taking the Disarming Charm head-on, showing true grace and chivalry. Twenty points to Hufflepuff!"
Looking at Wentworth standing in the middle of the room, with the jubilant Hufflepuffs behind him, Ilona couldn't help reflecting:
Was he trying to win people over? Perhaps not. Perhaps Wentworth really was like his Master and always treated his own people with sincerity. That must be why so many outstanding wizards followed him so loyally. And Wentworth was doing even better than Master had at the same age! Back then, Master hadn't had so many wizards cheering for him.
As soon as Ilona finished speaking, the Hufflepuffs erupted in cheers again. Wentworth, meanwhile, stared in disbelief. That worked?
Only Wentworth knew that he could just barely cast a Disarming Charm—and he really did mean barely. He wasn't just sure he could match Cassandra; he wasn't even sure he could hit her!
Better to save face by taking the initiative than let a girl humiliate me! That was what Wentworth had thought when facing Cassandra.
But he hadn't expected anyone to believe him! Hogwarts really is a place of simple, honest folk!
So Wentworth gave Cassandra a gentlemanly bow, then bowed to Professor Ilona as well. With the Hufflepuff first-years cheering, he sauntered back to the crowd.
In high spirits, Ilona announced, "There's no homework for today's lesson!"
Even the Slytherins cheered at that, and the applause rang out once more.
After class, Wentworth returned to the Hufflepuff Common Room, surrounded by the first-years. The moment he stepped inside, several streamers snapped against him.
Wentworth looked around in surprise. Cedric, Coke, and the others were already waiting in the Hufflepuff Common Room.
As soon as Wentworth walked in, they applauded him too!
Coke threw his arms around Wentworth, looking so excited he seemed ready to plant a kiss on his cheek.
"Wentworth! Thank you! I'm thanking you on behalf of Hufflepuff! I've hated Slytherin for five years! Do you know what I've had to put up with all this time? Slytherins bully us Hufflepuffs whenever they feel like it, and when a fight breaks out, we're usually the ones who lose points!"
"I waited five years to become a Prefect. It wasn't to prove how great I am. It was to tell everyone that I'll take back with my own hands what I lost!"
"What did you lose?"
Wentworth asked, surprised, as he looked at Coke's furious expression.
"Plenty of things. Like all those points they took from us. But the most important thing was our dignity!"
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