Beaten for a Week

Snape, wanting to capitalize on the hype, changed the course schedule at the last minute.

"Today we'll teach you about fire extinguishing agents."

"It can suppress the vast majority of fire spells, whether poured onto the ground or applied directly to the surface."

"They can effectively defend against fire attacks, making them useful life-saving items in the arena."

Harry instantly recalled the Potions he had chosen by sheer luck during his adventure last year.

"The use of Potions is permitted in duels, but with strict restrictions."

Snape paced slowly, then suddenly stopped beside Ron, turned sharply, and said in a cold voice.

"Weasley, answer me, what are the specific restrictions?"

Ron was completely dumbfounded, his big, innocent eyes wide open, his face showing utter ignorance.

"Very good, Gryffindor loses two points."

Seeing the Gryffindor students grit their teeth in anger but dare not retaliate, Snape was in a good mood and continued the lesson.

"The rules are simple: only Potions you brew yourself are allowed in duels."

"A top Potions Master, with ample preparation beforehand, can be invincible in a duel."

"Don't think that wielding a wand and fighting head-on is a duel. Use your brain. Even if your opponent is weak, never underestimate them."

"I will heed your teachings, Professor!" Malfoy immediately raised his voice and answered, his face full of obsequiousness.

The Slytherin snakes instantly understood and burst into laughter, their mockery palpable.

Ron was so angry that he stood up on the spot, but luckily Harry reacted quickly and grabbed him.

"Don't be impulsive!" Harry whispered reassuringly. "He's just deliberately trying to provoke you into making a mistake and losing points! Once we beat Malfoy in Duelling Club, we'll hold our heads high and get our revenge!"

Ron gritted his teeth and suppressed his anger.

After class, Hermione dragged Tom to the library for the entire afternoon.

Tom didn't leisurely return to the Slytherin Common Room until dinner was over.

Malfoy had been waiting outside the lounge for a long time, craning his neck and staring longingly at the entrance to the corridor.

Upon seeing Tom, he immediately rushed forward, adopting an extremely humble posture.

"Tom, help me! Help me!"

With practiced ease, he reached out and stuffed a heavy bag of gold coins into Tom's pocket.

Tom found it somewhat amusing. "Are you serious? You can't even handle Weasley?"

At this moment, Malfoy was no longer the arrogant and domineering man he was during the day; his face was full of fear and unease.

"The Weasley family may look poor, but they're a long-established Pure-blood family. My father said Arthur Weasley is quite powerful, so the family must be hiding some kind of secret magic."

"Besides, his older brothers are all highly skilled; they might secretly help him out."

"Tom, help me think of a foolproof way to win! I not only want to beat Ron, but I want to completely crush Potter!"

By the end, Tom was gritting his teeth. He realized that Malfoy's chain of hatred was actually ridiculously simple.

Ron was the first stumbling block between him and Harry.

Once Malfoy kicks that rock away, Harry will be the only person he sees.

However, Malfoy's current perception is completely reversed; in his eyes, Ron is a far greater threat than Harry.

As long as he could easily defeat Ron, he assumed he could easily control Harry Potter, which is a typical case of temporary blindness.

To ensure victory in this duel, Malfoy deliberately took a sum of money from his home.

It's a classic case of spending money to save face, and also a way to boost Tom's favorability.

Tom weighed the money bag in his hand; it probably amounted to two or three hundred Galleon.

This small amount of money no longer bothers him much.

However, it must be said that Malfoy has now toned down all his arrogance and domineering behavior in front of him.

Whether it's deliberate flattery or genuine goodwill, at least their manners are generally agreeable, and they've consistently taken the initiative to maintain relationships.

If an acquaintance is there and the tip is there, it's no harm in helping out.

"Draco, how's your practice of the Iron Armor Charm that Professor Wilkinson taught you coming along?" Tom asked casually.

Malfoy was taken aback, then spread his hands helplessly. "It's barely passable, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, it's completely unstable."

"That's already pretty good." Tom nodded, slowly painting a rosy picture for him.

"You just need to focus on the Iron Armor Charm from now on. As long as your defense is maxed out, Ron and Harry's spells will basically be unable to break through your shield, and you'll be practically invincible."

"Even if you're terrible at offensive spells, your margin for error will be maximized, guaranteeing a win."

Malfoy's eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded frantically in agreement.

The image of the Megatron grassland immediately flashed into his mind, where no matter how many students attacked it, it couldn't break through his defenses.

In the end, it was only through the professor's personal intervention that the powerful enemy was forced to reveal its true form.

Isn't this the perfect template?

If I stand still and let Ron hit me as he pleases, wouldn't I be invincible like Megatron? That would be equivalent to me being a top-tier fighter!

Before his pleasant fantasy could last even two seconds, Malfoy's face instantly fell, filled with worry.

"But Tom, there's only a week left until Duelling Club. Can I really master the Iron Armor Charm in such a short time?"

Tom stroked his chin, feigning thought for a moment, then said with a mischievous grin, "There really is a quick way."

"I guarantee you'll master it, but the process might be a bit tough. Are you brave enough to try?"

"What's the plan! Tell me quickly!" Malfoy instantly perked up; what did he care about hardship as long as he could win?

Before they knew it, most of the lower-year Slytherin in the common room had quietly gathered around.

Everyone was holding their breath; they all disliked Gryffindor to begin with.

If Malfoy loses to Ron, not only will he lose face, but the entire Slytherin will be ridiculed by the other side.

Being able to quickly learn defensive spells is a good thing for everyone.

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Tom casually uttered two words: "Get beaten up."

Everyone was completely dumbfounded, their faces full of question marks.

"Two people train together. One person is responsible for continuously casting spells, while the other is not allowed to dodge or run away. They have to withstand the spells the entire time."

"Forcing myself to instantly cast the Iron Armor Charm to block."

"The core principle of the Iron Armor Charm is to actively isolate all harm."

"This kind of high-pressure, real-world training is ten times more efficient than blindly practicing in the air."

"As long as you're not completely dense, a week is enough to at least get you proficient."

"To be beaten for a whole week?" Malfoy shuddered; the mere thought sent chills down his spine.

"Just taking the beatings isn't enough," Tom added, providing more detail. "You'll need a reliable Potions to accompany you."

"Practice using only ordinary spells, then use purification potions to remove negative status effects in time."

"Don't use spells with too much impact, or you'll suffer serious injuries and end up lying flat on your back afterward. It's not worth it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zabini, standing next to him, immediately straightened his back, glanced sideways at Malfoy, and smiled.

"A purification potion is nothing to me. Malfoy, do you need me to lend a hand?"