For My Honor, Please Die

Gemini ultimately bought a Firebolt from the Weapon Shop, spending over a thousand Pounds Sterling...

As for how he was supposed to explain suddenly having another broomstick, if he couldn't explain it, then he simply wouldn't—he, Gemini, had lived his life as he pleased. Why should he explain himself to anyone else?

With Legilimency and Memory Weaving at his command, Gemini had no fear of Legilimency. Even if Truth Serum took two laps through his body, getting more than three seconds of effect out of it would count as potent. The powerful immune system granted by Spider Serum made Gemini immune to the effects of most poisons, let alone Truth Serum, which barely even qualified as poison.

Besides, even if he couldn't explain it, it was only a broomstick. Dumbledore would not trouble him over something so trivial, and Snape certainly would not.

On Friday, after Potions Class ended, a boy named Adrian Pucey approached Gemini.

"Let's get acquainted. Adrian Pucey."

"Gemini Fox."

Gemini shook Adrian's hand warmly.

Adrian looked down at the boy who only came up to his chest and smiled amiably. "Thanks to you, I became captain. Professor Snape has already told me about you. Do you know much about Quidditch?"

Gemini smiled gently. "I know a little. I want to be a Seeker. Is that possible?"

"Of course." Adrian nodded.

"Then the team's current Seeker..."

"He'll switch positions." Adrian said indifferently.

Gemini suddenly felt that these little Slytherin snakes were not entirely without merit. At the very least, talking to them was easy. Compared with students from the other houses, these little snakes really knew how to conduct themselves.

After lunch, Adrian carried a broomstick in one hand and dragged a large box with the other as he led Gemini to the flying lesson grounds.

"A Seeker only needs to focus on two things during training: avoiding Bludgers and catching the Golden Snitch." Adrian handed the broomstick to Gemini. "Ride my broom. Let's do a practice run first."

Adrian released the Golden Snitch from the box. The instant it emerged, it shot into the sky. Without another word, Gemini mounted the broom and chased after it.

Adrian's broom was a Six-Barreled Sweeper. While it could not compare to the fastest broom currently on the market, the Nimbus 2000, its overall performance could barely rival that of the Nimbus 1700. Moreover, the Sweeper series had exceptional turning ability. Though it lost out somewhat in speed, its agility was not inferior to the Nimbus series in the slightest.

This was the fastest broom Gemini had ever ridden, whether compared to the school brooms or the one he had previously dug out of the Room of Requirement.

In less than a minute, Gemini descended with the Golden Snitch in his hand.

Adrian stared at Gemini in astonishment, not knowing what to say.

He had just watched Gemini soar into the sky, keeping tightly on the Snitch's tail. Then, during a sharp turn, Gemini swept out an arm and snatched the Golden Snitch directly from the air.

Generally speaking, a Seeker found it easiest to catch the Snitch during straight-line acceleration. Given the Golden Snitch's speed, if it suddenly changed direction, human eyesight could barely even follow it, much less see it clearly.

"Is my skill level acceptable?" Gemini asked.

Adrian considered for several seconds, then looked at Gemini with utter seriousness. "What do you think of the captain's position?"

Gemini: "..."

In the end, he politely declined Adrian's suggestion. At present, he could only fly; he knew absolutely nothing about Quidditch tactics or team strategy, and he had no interest in leading a team.

What interested him right now was something else.

At dinner, Draco excitedly told Gemini all about his heroic exploits.

The matter had gone roughly like this: after flying class yesterday, he had exchanged a few harsh words with Harry, and they had agreed to duel in the Trophy Room that night.

After making the arrangement, Draco had not gone. Instead, he informed Old Filch that Harry would be heading to the Trophy Room that night, thoroughly making a fool of Harry.

"What a shame they're still in the school." Draco muttered regretfully. "I thought Filch would catch them. That useless old fool..."

Gemini looked in Harry's direction. Seeing Harry and Ron whispering about something, Gemini fell into thought.

By now, they had probably already encountered that infernal Three-Headed Dog, hadn't they?

"You have nothing to say?" Draco asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Say what?" Gemini looked confused. "Do you want me to comment on how you avoided the duel?"

The moment those words fell, Draco's face turned pale.

He suddenly realized just how foolish a thing he had done!

In the Wizarding World, duels were sacred and serious. If two people suffered casualties because of a duel, even the Ministry of Magic would not interfere. That was something that had remained unchanged for thousands of years.

Not just in the Wizarding World—even in today's civilized Muggle society, duels had still been common only a few decades ago.

The eldest son of the Malfoy family had arranged a duel with someone, yet failed to appear and answer the challenge, instead using despicable means to avoid the fight.

If this matter got out, the Malfoy family's glory of a thousand years would be nailed to the pillar of shame because of his actions. A few centuries ago, such cowardice might even have earned him execution within the family.

Slytherins could be despicable and cunning, but when it came to duels, even human trash like Voldemort would bow to Harry.

In the age when dueling was prevalent, even some women would take up blades and challenge the male opponents who had sullied their honor to a duel!

There was even less need to mention male nobles. A few sharp words could practically spark a duel to the death.

In the wizarding world, Godric Gryffindor had been an especially avid duelist. Whether his opponent was a Muggle or a wizard, his goblin-forged Gryffindor's Sword had been forged for the sake of dueling.

For my honor, please die—this was a duel staked on honor and life itself!

If word of this got out and his father learned of it, he would not actually kill Draco, but a savage beating would likely be unavoidable—because the Malfoy family was not merely a wizarding family; it also held a hereditary title in the Muggle royal court...

"You don't need to take it so seriously. Even if it gets out, no one will make much of it. You're still children, after all. With your current abilities, I'd guess you would just swing your fists and smash each other hard in the nose."

Resting his chin on his hand, Gemini spoke carelessly. "Harry and the others probably will not spread it around. If the teachers found out they had been wandering around at night, they would lose points. And besides... I doubt they truly understand what your actions mean. You got lucky."

Malfoy's expression was extremely ugly. For someone who valued family honor, this was utterly unacceptable.

No matter the reason, avoiding battle was still avoiding battle. That was an unchangeable fact.