The Chamber of Secrets incident had everyone on edge.
Professor McGonagall was also inclined to believe that teaching the students some duelling would help them protect themselves.
So, not long ago, she had agreed to Snape's request to establish a Duelling Club together with Li Wei.
Before eight o'clock on Thursday evening, a group of students had already gathered in the Great Hall early, claiming the best spots.
More students kept hurrying in during that time.
By a moment before eight, nearly every Hogwarts student from first year to seventh year had gathered there, packed shoulder to shoulder. Everyone held their own wand, their faces brimming with excitement.
The long dining tables had vanished, and a gilded stage had appeared along one wall, illuminated by hundreds of candles floating overhead. The ceiling had once again turned as black as velvet.
Filch stood near the main doors, his gaze flickering as he stared at the center of the stage, gripping his alchemical pistol tightly in his hand.
Amid the students' cheers, Snape and Li Wei took the stage together.
Seeing that Li Wei was expressionless and seemed to have no intention of speaking, Snape raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.
The students' enthusiastic applause immediately died down, leaving only the Slytherin students desperately applauding their own Head of House.
Snape's lips curled upward—he had been looking forward to this day for a long time, but Dumbledore had always stopped him before.
If he could not be Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, then being a founder of the Duelling Club would at least ease his thirst.
"Just by looking at you, I can tell that most of you came here knowing absolutely nothing.
"Perhaps you were even expecting to watch flashy spells and dramatic collapses, as though you were watching