The Opponent Kyle Feared Most

The Great Hall was silent, everyone's eyes fixed on Lockhart and Snape standing opposite each other on the stage.

"First and foremost is dueling etiquette; this is essential."

The two bowed to each other... at least Lockhart bowed, his hands making a variety of gestures.

At the Spell Club, Kyle saw Professor Flitwick demonstrate standard dueling etiquette... well, it had absolutely nothing to do with Lockhart's Knut of movement.

Especially that set of fancy hand gestures, 99% of them were useless... or rather, Lockhart made them up himself.

Anyone who dares to pull this kind of stunt on a real duel stage will be talked about for a lifetime.

However, at Hogwarts School, it doesn't matter.

Lockhart's stylish combo even won applause from many people.

However, three seconds later...

"Expelliarmus!"

With a blinding red flash, Lockhart was thrown backward off the stage, crashing into the wall before sliding down and curling up on the floor, clutching his stomach.

His wand spun and flew toward Snape.

However, Snape made no attempt to catch it, not even glancing at it, and let it fly into the crowd behind him.

The Slytherin students began to applaud and cheer.

Lockhart got up from the ground and began muttering various excuses.

The floor is too soft and uncomfortable to walk on...

The cheers around him distracted him...

The sky was too depressing...

In short, it all boils down to one thing: it's a matter of venue, not skill. If the venue were different, he definitely would have won.

"I must say, Lockhart's reaction was quite quick," Qiu said, covering her mouth with a laugh. "He was able to come up with so many excuses in just a few seconds."

"That's a talent too," Cedric replied, unable to suppress a chuckle.

A month into the semester, they realized that Lockhart was just a figurehead.

Although it's unclear how he managed to recreate those experiences in the book, judging solely from his performance at school, he's not even as good as Quirrell from last year.

At least Quirrell could answer most of the students' questions.

At this point, Lockhart finished explaining his excuse and ended the demonstration amidst Snape's murderous expression.

"Thank you, Miss Brown."

He took his wand and continued, "Now I need to divide you into pairs, Professor Snape. If you'd like to help me..."

Snape didn't say anything, but turned and walked off the stage, which was taken as his agreement.

They moved through the crowd, pairing people up.

Lockhart quickly arrived in front of Kyle and the others.

"How are things going with the two ladies together...?"

Cho and Kanna were grouped together, followed by Fred and George.

Cedric originally wanted to be paired with Kyle, but Lockhart thought it was unfair that he was a year ahead, so he pulled Mikel over instead.

Kyle's eye twitched.

"Professor, I think..."

He was about to say something when a sinister voice came from beside him.

"I think it's unfair to make someone who has defeated a Werewolf and earned the Order of Merlin, Second Class, duel with someone in his own grade."

Snape drawled, "As the youngest member of the Order of Merlin, an ordinary sixth-year student shouldn't bother you, should it?"

Lockhart hesitated. "But Professor Snape, fighting across three years... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Kyle also wore a troubled expression, but in reality, he was practically laughing his head off.

If there's one person in the entire school that Kyle least wants to duel, it's undoubtedly Mikel... He'd even rank ahead of Dumbledore and Snape.

He had little chance of winning a duel with the professor, but at least he could come back alive... but Mikel's chances were uncertain.

His control over magic is the biggest destabilizing factor... Kyle still remembers the Wand-Lighting Charm that caught everyone's attention in his first year.

Although Professor Sprout has corrected the problem, Kyle is hesitant to gamble...

What if he gets so excited during the duel that he forgets everything he's learned? Kyle doesn't want to face a "forbidden" version of the Expelliarmus.

But the problem is now solved.

Professor Snape... he really is a kind person who cares about his students!

Fearing he might change his mind, Kyle hesitated for only a second before immediately saying, "If this is your arrangement, Professor... I can give it a try."

"Very well," Snape said coldly. "Flint, come here and let us see just how extraordinary the members of the renowned Order of Merlin truly are."

A commotion immediately arose among the Slytherin crowd as their Quidditch team captain, Marcus Flint, strode over with a smug grin on his face.

He had disliked Kyle since last year during the Quidditch Match and wanted to teach him a lesson, but he hadn't found the opportunity.

I never expected that this wish would actually come true here.

"I'll take good care of you," he grinned, revealing a cruel smile.

Behind him, several Slytherin players immediately burst into laughter.

Kyle smiled too, a gentle smile that made him seem harmless.

"Tsk tsk..." Fred suddenly whispered to Ginny, "Don't get too close later, or you'll get splattered with blood."

"Looks like Flint really likes the Hospital Wing," George said, shaking his head. "He just got out and he already wants to go back and visit."

"You've got it wrong," Ginny said worriedly. "Kyle may have good grades, but Flint is only a sixth grader!"

"Ginny, you've only just started school, there are many things you don't know."

George patted her on the shoulder. "Trust me, you won't think that way in a minute."

After everyone had found their partners, Lockhart returned to the stage.

"Facing your partners," he shouted, "Bow!"

"I'll unleash the magic when I count to three. Remember, it can only disarm weapons..."

Everyone did as instructed, but the ensuing duel was completely unexpected by Lockhart.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten what he had just said.

Inside the Great Hall, various spells rose and fell, and colorful lights shone like fireworks.

Some of the younger students, after symbolically casting two spells, simply threw away their wands and started flailing their fists and wrestling.

Marcus Flint did the same, and he didn't hold back in casting a curse on Kyle.

"Furnunculus!"

"Protego!"

A beam of red light was suddenly deflected less than two inches from Kyle.

"The Densaugeo..."

Marcus Flint, who was preparing his second curse, had no time to dodge and was struck in the stomach by the red light.

"I said, just disarm!" Lockhart shouted in terror to the fighting crowd from above.

Marcus Flint fell to his knees, struck by his own spell. Large burn marks began to appear on his body, and he writhed in agony on the ground.

On stage, Snape watched this scene with cold indifference.

Last year on the train, Kyle skillfully used the Protego Charm in front of many students, and that idiot Marcus wasn't even on guard.

Was his brain just fished out of Longbottom's cauldron?

Seeing Kyle extend his wand, Snape immediately took over Lockhart's authority.

"Stop it, all of you!" he shouted.

"Finite Incantatem!"

A wisp of green smoke drifted into the air above the Great Hall... Wherever the smoke passed, the effects of all the spells vanished.

Marcus Flint got up from the ground, and filled with shame and anger as he thought about what had just happened, he raised his wand, ready to strike Kyle again.

However, someone next to him grabbed him.

"Calm down, Professor Snape is watching you."

Noticing Snape's cold gaze from the stage, Marcus instantly snapped out of his daze. He lowered his wand, gave a cold snort, and left.

"That's it..." Fred pouted in disappointment, clearly not satisfied with the result.

On the other side, Lockhart jumped around in the crowd, observing the consequences of their duel...

"Get up, Macmillan ... Damn it, your leg is broken... Miss Fawcett, squeeze hard, the bleeding will stop immediately... Boot ..."

"I think you probably don't understand what a duel means," Lockhart said, looking flustered as he stood in the center of the Great Hall.

This was completely different from what he had expected; the students were not listening at all!

"Perhaps I should give you another demonstration..." Lockhart glanced at Snape, then immediately looked away. "Who would like to come up and demonstrate...?"

Snape's fingers, which were resting on his chest, twitched.

"We're coming!" Marcus immediately ran over, then turned to look at Kyle.

Seeing this, Kyle did not hesitate and followed him onto the stage.