Sudden Realization

Coke hugged Wentworth excitedly, Cedric high-fived him, and the other Hufflepuff students applauded Wentworth one after another.

"Wentworth, as long as you're not hurt, that's all that matters."

"Well done, Wentworth! Your surrender was clean and crisp!"

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Wentworth was the winner of the duel.

Unlike the warm cheers Wentworth received upon returning to Hufflepuff, Vane, the victor, felt rather awkward at this moment.

This was because Ilona, a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts and one of the judges for this duel, was currently glaring at Vane with fury, her wand held tightly in her hand.

"Even when facing a strange wizard, if the opponent declares their surrender during a duel, you should stop your spell!"

"And you, facing your own classmate, actually cast a spell after he had declared surrender and while his back was turned to you! Are you ignoring me?"

Seeing this, Vane quickly lowered his wand and began to explain:

"Professor Ilona, you've misunderstood. I didn't do it on purpose; I just couldn't stop myself at that moment!"

Facing Vane's explanation, Ilona sneered and said with utter disdain:

"Slytherin, ten points from! Because you are treating us professors like fools!"

Hearing Ilona deduct ten points from Slytherin without a second thought, Vane's body stiffened. At the same time, a burst of mocking laughter reached his ears. Vane looked in the direction of the laughter and saw Wentworth, who was surrounded by Cedric, Green, and the others.

Wentworth looked at Vane with a gaze of pity for the mentally challenged, a smile playing on his lips.

In fact, the reason Wentworth dared to turn his back on Vane and call out his surrender without even making a move to dodge was precisely because of his trust in the Hogwarts professors.

Look at the lineup of judges tonight: Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, the Charms professor and former Dueling Champion, plus the mysterious and powerful Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Ilona. If he could come to harm right under the eyes of such a lineup, Hogwarts would hardly have its current reputation.

As for Vane, who dared to pull such a petty trick right in front of them, Wentworth could only sigh to himself: the simple-minded truly do have more fun.

Meanwhile, Vane, bearing the full brunt of Professor Ilona's fury, felt like a small boat caught in a storm at sea; even the magic within his body began to surge uncontrollably.

Fortunately, Professor Snape stood up at this moment and spoke:

"Professor Ilona, this matter was indeed Vane's fault. I will punish him after the duel!"

Hearing his Head of House speak, Vane finally let out a long sigh of relief. Under normal circumstances, when Snape said this, other professors would give him some face.

But this time, Professor Ilona did not let Vane off the hook; instead, she spoke directly:

"Since Professor Snape has said so, then we shall proceed according to his suggestion! However, there is no need to trouble Professor Snape with the punishment; I will handle it myself. For the next month, Mr. Vane will come to my office every evening to assist me in preparing teaching materials for the next day. That shall be his punishment!"

Immediately, without waiting for Snape to speak again, Professor Ilona continued:

"Furthermore, I will emphasize one point again! If anyone tries to play any more petty tricks in this Dueling Club—if the opponent has clearly given up resistance and you continue to attack—then whatever spell you use, I will use that same spell to stop you!"

"If your spell can counteract mine, then so be it. If it cannot, the spell will rebound, and the damage you suffer will be your punishment! Is that understood?!"

Hearing Professor Ilona's words, Snape, who had intended to say more, silently swallowed his words. Seeing that Dumbledore did not express any opposition to what Professor Ilona had said, the students of the four houses all indicated that they understood.

Seeing that no one else raised any objections, Professor Ilona nodded slowly and then said:

"In that case, I announce that the winner of the first match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin is—Slytherin!"

Hearing Professor Ilona announce Slytherin as the winner, the Slytherin students, who had been worried that she might use this opportunity to declare Vane's victory void, immediately felt relieved and burst into enthusiastic cheers.

In contrast, the Hufflepuff students seemed completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened, with some even offering a symbolic round of applause.

Once the cheering gradually died down, Professor Ilona continued:

"Next, we will proceed to the second duel between Hufflepuff and Slytherin!"

"For the second duel, Slytherin's representative is Mike from the fourth year!"

"And Hufflepuff's representative is their Prefect, Green from the fifth year!"

Upon hearing Professor Ilona announce the lineup for the second match, the scene erupted into an even greater uproar, and everyone began to discuss it heatedly!

Amidst the clamor, a few crisp claps could be heard. Following the sound, one could see many Ravenclaw students applauding in amazement.

In another direction, the Hogwarts professors seemed to have understood Hufflepuff's plan. Snape, the Head of Slytherin, stood up from his seat instantly, his eyes wide with fury as he glared toward the Hufflepuff side.

But unfortunately, no one on the Hufflepuff side was looking at him; everyone was busy cheering for Green.

Snape then turned his gaze toward Dumbledore, only to see Dumbledore looking at Wentworth with an expression of admiration, also not looking at him.

Scanning the scene, Snape realized no one was paying attention to him. He took one last look at Wentworth's direction and slowly sat back down, his expression grim.

By now, with the explanations from the Ravenclaw students who had started the applause, the other students gradually understood Hufflepuff's plan, and the news quickly reached Slytherin.

Only then did Vane and the others realize that Hufflepuff hadn't made a mistake at all—they had arranged it this way on purpose!

By pitting first-year Wentworth against fifth-year Vane, Wentworth simply surrendered, which meant Hufflepuff lost the first match.

But for the remaining four matches, Hufflepuff could pit their older students against Slytherin's younger ones!

Although Hufflepuff's overall strength was weaker than Slytherin's, that was only when comparing the same year. One had to remember that students at Hogwarts were in a critical period of magical growth; a one-year difference meant a significant gap in magical power.

Thinking of this, Vane and the others were nearly driven to madness!

Thanks again to the big boss Meow Meow Wu for the tip!

The boss is generous and will make a fortune!

May the boss have everything go as planned and all wishes come true in the new year!