As Wentworth walked to the center of the arena and stood opposite Vane, everyone finally realized that the first champion representing Hufflepuff House really was Wentworth!
The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students erupted into an uproar. Some looked disbelieving, others wore mocking expressions, and still others seemed thoughtful.
"Green! What are you doing? I told you ages ago that I'd be the first one out! Our Slytherin lineup is supposed to go from fifth year to first year! And you've let a first-year take your place?! Are you scared?"
Seeing that the person standing before him wasn't his old rival Green, but a Hufflepuff first-year, Vane felt as though he'd been humiliated. He turned toward the Hufflepuffs and shouted.
Green acted as if he hadn't heard a word. He simply carried on chatting with Cedric beside him, ignoring Vane completely.
Professor McGonagall, however, saw the order of the contestants and kindly pointed out:
"Green, have you Hufflepuffs got your order backward? Did you forget to line up from fifth year to first? If so, I can make an exception and let you change the order now."
Green could ignore Vane when he spoke to him, but he still had to answer Professor McGonagall.
He turned and addressed her with considerable respect.
"No need, Professor McGonagall. As agreed beforehand, once the list has been handed to Professor Ilona, it can't be changed! This was a rule we Hufflepuffs came up with ourselves, so naturally we should stick to it. That way, no one can refuse to accept the result after losing!"
As he spoke, Green rolled his eyes in Vane's direction, making Vane grit his teeth in anger. But there was nothing he could do, so he turned his gaze toward his own Head of House, Professor Snape.
Snape didn't seem to notice Vane's look at all. At that moment, he was busy exchanging meaningful glances with Dumbledore.
Snape: Dumbledore, does Wentworth really think his spellwork is already beyond the fifth-year level? That can't be right! Even if he's mastered the spells, he's only eleven. He can't have that much magical power!
Dumbledore: Why are you looking at me? How should I know?
Snape: Couldn't you use Legilimency to take a look?
Dumbledore: If I could use Legilimency, I'd have done it already! That boy Wentworth has learned Occlumency!
Snape: ...He's only eleven. I keep revising my opinion of him upward, and yet I still underestimated him.
Dumbledore: Let's wait and see.
Meanwhile, Vane saw that Professor Snape, his own Head of House, hadn't even glanced at him. He hurriedly turned to look at the tall, thin wizard behind him. He was the third-year Slytherin representative Snape had chosen.
"Hey, Hufflepuff may have mixed up their lineup. That means you third-years could end up deciding the match. Are you confident?"
The boy glanced toward the Hufflepuffs, wearing a smug smile as he answered confidently:
"Don't worry, Prefect. Apart from two Ravenclaws in my year, I'm confident there's no third-year who can beat me. Hufflepuff? They're even less of a challenge!"
Hearing his teammate's answer, Vane finally relaxed. He turned back to Wentworth and sneered.
"Wentworth, bad luck running into me. Don't worry, your senior won't use any nasty curses on you. But if the force of a spell sends you flying and you get hurt, don't blame me!"
Wentworth replied with an unconcerned look:
"Go ahead and try, Vane. If you can manage it, that is—assuming you can hit me!"
Seeing that neither side had any more objections to the duel lineup, Professor Ilona stepped into the center of the arena and announced:
"Since both sides are ready, the duel will now begin! Bow to each other!"
At Professor Ilona's words, Wentworth and Vane each bowed to the other. Then they raised their wands to their faces, held them upright in front of their noses, and lowered them sharply.
Once they had lowered their wands, Wentworth and Vane each turned and walked away from the other, waiting for Professor Ilona's final instructions.
The atmosphere grew tense. Even the usually rowdy Weasley Twins from Gryffindor had fallen silent, watching the two contestants anxiously.
Dumbledore, Snape, and even Professor McGonagall watched Wentworth without blinking, hoping to catch every one of his movements.
As Vane and Wentworth neared the far ends of the dueling ground, Professor Ilona called out:
"Begin!"
At Professor Ilona's signal, Vane spun around and raised his wand toward Wentworth, shouting:
"Expelliarmus—"
But unlike Vane, Wentworth didn't even turn his head. He calmly raised his hand and said:
"I surrender!"
The crowd erupted. The Gryffindor and Slytherin students in particular broke into a chorus of boos.
Dumbledore and Snape exchanged a glance, both looking taken aback and growing more serious.
They were thinking the same thing: They never would have expected that even under these circumstances, Wentworth still wouldn't reveal his abilities. It was clear he was hiding countless secrets!
Vane, who had been dueling Wentworth, nearly choked on his own spit. He'd won the duel, but somehow it felt utterly pointless!
Just as Wentworth was about to step down from the dueling ground, Vane gritted his teeth. He didn't stop the spell he'd already begun casting—instead, he went through with it!
"Expelliarmus!"
It all happened in the blink of an eye. When Wentworth surrendered, Vane had still carried on attacking. A wave of gasps swept through the crowd. After all, Wentworth had his back turned to Vane.
"Finite Incantatem!"
But at that moment, another spell shot out faster, colliding with Vane's disarming charm in midair and dispelling it completely. The one who had cast it was Professor Ilona, one of the judges for the duel.
Hearing the noise behind him, Wentworth calmly turned halfway around, as if he'd expected it, and glanced back at Vane with a mocking smile.
"I told you, Vane. You have to be able to hit me first!"
Without waiting for Vane to react, he turned and walked back to the Hufflepuff lineup.
Unlike the boos from Gryffindor and Slytherin, Wentworth's return to Hufflepuff was greeted by a burst of raucous cheers.
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