With so many Slytherin students in tow, Wentworth made quite a spectacle as they walked along, naturally attracting plenty of attention. Of course, some people had already run off to the professors' offices to tattle.
By the time Wentworth and the other Slytherin students reached the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room, a crowd of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students had already gathered behind them. After all, everyone loved a good spectacle.
Green, who had already gotten word, had also led a group of Hufflepuff students to wait outside the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room.
"Wentworth, what are you trying to do? Are you declaring war on Hufflepuff on behalf of Slytherin?"
Green immediately followed Cassandra's example from that morning, pinning a huge accusation on Wentworth before he could say a word.
"You're right. I am declaring war on Hufflepuff on behalf of Slytherin!"
To Green's surprise, Wentworth admitted it without hesitation.
"War? Fine! All Hufflepuff students, follow my lead. Raise your wands and prepare the first volley of fire... What was it called again?"
Green turned to Wentworth and asked.
"An artillery barrage, Senior Green! With so many of us in Hufflepuff, instead of fussing over the accuracy of each little spell, we might as well increase their range by ten meters! Today, we'll show our Slytherin classmates what it means to fear insufficient firepower!"
Standing behind Green, Wentworth kept his eyes fixed on the Slytherins opposite them as he spoke.
This was the plan Wentworth had just discussed with Green. If Slytherin really had come looking for trouble, then Hufflepuff wouldn't hold back either. If they couldn't win one-on-one, surely they could just fire twice as many spells at them!
Seeing the Hufflepuff students raise their wands and aim them at him, Wentworth found the forest of wands rather terrifying and hurriedly said:
"Green! This is our challenge! Are the Hufflepuffs too scared even to accept it?"
Green looked at Wentworth, who was holding a piece of parchment, and said disdainfully:
"Wentworth, next time, remember to hold up a blank piece of paper!"
Despite his words, Green signaled to Cedric to go over and take the parchment from Wentworth.
The parchment read:
For the thousand-year friendship between Slytherin and Hufflepuff, for the sake of unity at Hogwarts, and to enrich the students' leisure time... and so on...
At six o'clock tonight, Slytherin House invites Hufflepuff House to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom to compete in their spellcasting skills through a series of duels.
Each house will select one representative from each year, from fifth year down to first year, for a total of five matches. The winner will be the first to win three matches.
Neither side may use spells that could cause serious harm to the competitors, including curses. Only primarily defensive spells, such as Expelliarmus and Protego, may be used.
... and so on...
All Slytherin students await Hufflepuff House's arrival tonight!
After reading the parchment, Wentworth and Cedric exchanged glances, while Coke looked rather grim.
Just then, Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore arrived at the scene. Seeing that Slytherin and Hufflepuff students looked ready to start another large-scale conflict, Professor McGonagall shouted:
"Everyone, stop! What do you think you're doing? Hufflepuff, put away your wands!"
Wentworth, however, smiled as he said from the side:
"Professor McGonagall, look at Hufflepuff! They've actually raised their wands against their fellow students! It's simply unbelievable!"
Professor McGonagall gave Wentworth a cold look and said irritably:
"Then tell me, why are so many Slytherins gathered outside the Hufflepuff Common Room?"
Wentworth was at a loss for words!
Just then, the other professors arrived one after another, including Professor Pomona Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff.
Coke handed the parchment Wentworth had given him to his Head of House. Professor Sprout glanced at it, then carried it over to Dumbledore and McGonagall.
As Professor Sprout walked away, Wentworth quietly edged over to Green and asked:
"Senior Green, you look a little down."
"Wouldn't you be? If we follow the terms on Wentworth's parchment, Hufflepuff won't stand a chance! Maybe Cedric could beat Slytherin's second-year, at least saving us from being completely shut out."
Wentworth, however, seemed unconcerned. Smiling, he asked:
"Prefect Green, would you like revenge? A chance to get back at Wentworth, good and hard?"
At Wentworth's question, Green turned to look at him in confusion. Wentworth said meaningfully:
"Prefect Green, if you want revenge on Wentworth, this duel is a golden opportunity handed to us! Since they were the ones who proposed it, it wouldn't be unreasonable for us to add a wager, would it? For example, the losing side's prefect has to resign!"
Green rolled his eyes and said:
"I thought you had something else in mind! I told you, if we follow the terms on Wentworth's parchment, Hufflepuff will definitely lose. You're just pushing me into a fire..."
But Green suddenly stopped speaking and stared at Wentworth. Wentworth, in turn, was smiling at Wentworth.
A moment later, Wentworth suppressed his excitement and glanced around. Everyone seemed to be watching the professors, and nobody was paying attention to them. Even so, he gave Cedric a look. Cedric understood and stepped in front of them, blocking the others' view. Only then did Green whisper:
"Wentworth, you have a plan, don't you? You know how to make Hufflepuff win?"
Wentworth nodded slightly and replied with complete confidence:
"That's right, I have a plan. Though it's not exactly honorable..."
Green didn't even hear the rest. He wrapped an arm around Wentworth.
"That doesn't matter! I'll take all the blame! What should we do? Just tell me!"
"As long as we can beat Slytherin this time and get Wentworth out of the prefect's position, I'll do anything you ask! If you really pull this off, I'll be your lapdog from now on! The kind that licks your feet!"
Wentworth stared at Coke in shock, once again sure that unless this boy died young, he was destined for greatness. He was the kind of guy who'd go so far that he'd even throw himself under the bus!
"What if I have athlete's foot?"
Wentworth quietly asked.
"I'll still lick them clean for you!"
Coke replied without hesitation.
After a moment of silence, two words escaped Wentworth's lips: "You're insane!"
"Listen. In a moment, say this. First..."
Wentworth leaned close to Coke's ear and quietly began giving him instructions.
Before you continue