Final Exams Approaching

Eli had barely finished his brief speech when someone below raised a hand in objection.

"Professor Flitwick, why him? I mean, shouldn't you be the president?"

The room fell frighteningly silent, then low murmurs began spreading again after he finished speaking.

Apparently, he was far from the only one with that question. In fact, quite a few people shared it.

Draco stood closest to the dueling platform. The moment he learned that Eli had founded a Dueling Club, he had immediately demanded to join.

He turned around irritably, putting on the airs of young Master Malfoy again. "If not him, then you?"

A burst of inexplicable laughter rose around them. The boy looked unconvinced, but said nothing.

Eli immediately stepped forward. He understood that if he did not show these people his strength, this Dueling Club probably would not last.

"All right, all right. Everyone has the right to raise objections, and as president, I have the obligation to address those objections."

The young Wizards around him all nodded. Eli's words were perfectly reasonable; no one could find fault with them.

But his next sentence was like a stone dropped into a placid lake, stirring up a huge uproar among the crowd.

"Since everyone doubts the strength of their president, I'll stand on this dueling platform from now on. Anyone may come up and challenge me. If I lose, I'll resign voluntarily."

Arrogant. Fucking arrogant!

The students below were not all first-years. Aside from the sixth- and seventh-years busy with their N.E.W.T.s, students from every other year had come.

But regardless of year, they all thought this first-year Wizard had to be out of his mind.

Harry and the others standing closest grew worried, while Hermione Granger kept calling softly from below the stage, telling him to calm down.

Eli gave them a faint smile and made a reassuring gesture to Hermione Granger.

Professor Flitwick had not expected things to develop this way and hurriedly tried to stop the farce.

Eli stopped him. "Professor, if I can't withstand their challenges today, this club will lose all credibility. Trust me, Professor."

Professor Flitwick hesitated greatly, but Eli repeatedly promised to be careful, and only then did Flitwick step aside.

"Attention! Sparring matches must stop short of causing harm. Damaging spells are forbidden!"

Professor Flitwick called out loudly, then stood to one side with his wand as both referee and safety officer.

"I'll go first!"

A second-year boy stepped onto the platform.

Most first-years knew something of Eli's abilities and did not dare challenge him. The older students felt that beating a younger student would be beneath them and could not bring themselves to challenge him, so a second-year happened to step up.

The two completed the dueling formalities. Eli stood as calm and composed as a nobleman.

"Densaugeo!"

The second-year wanted to seize the initiative. The moment the formalities ended, he impatiently launched his attack.

Eli did not hurriedly dodge, as though he had failed to react in time.

Some people below revealed disdainful or gloating expressions, while Hermione Granger cried out in fright.

Bang!

With just a light flick, that single motion knocked the spell aside.

The surroundings fell silent again. This was even more effective than Snape's intimidation.

The second-year froze. He had just flicked it away?

One spell might not have been enough to defeat Eli, but it should not have been neutralized so easily!

Hermione Granger stared wide-eyed from below.

Eli smiled faintly. "Locomotor Mortis!"

It was such a light, casual spell, yet his opponent panicked so badly that he forgot to dodge.

He fell to the floor with a thud. No matter how he struggled, his legs remained locked together and would not move.

With the fight over, Eli began showing off. He clasped his hands behind his back and raised his head at a forty-five-degree angle toward the... ceiling.

"Mr. Hall wins! An ingenious application of magic!"

Professor Flitwick announced loudly, praising Eli's move as very clever.

In truth, Eli had learned it from the possessed Quirrell the night before. Of course, Quirrell had used the Shield Charm with great skill, while Eli had simply and brutally smashed the spell away with raw magic.

But they looked more or less the same, and it was certainly not something other young Wizards could accomplish.

"I'll go!"

Another challenger came up, also a second-year. It seemed someone still believed the previous match had been an accident.

Eli glanced at the older students below. Some were tempted, but none made a move.

"Please." Eli was determined to keep showing off to the end.

After another round of formalities, the boy cast, "Stupefy!"

Same method, same result. The spell was flicked aside again.

Hmm? He had actually raised a Shield Charm.

Eli's lips curled upward slightly. This second-year was interesting. The Shield Charm was not an advanced spell, but second-years had not even been exposed to it yet.

It seemed this boy's confidence was not entirely without basis.

But it was useless.

"Locomotor Mortis!"

A much stronger spell than before shot forth. His opponent maintained the Shield Charm, his expression turning solemn.

Bang!

The spell slammed hard into the Shield Charm with overwhelming force!

The Shield Charm rapidly dimmed, then collapsed in an instant. The second-year's face changed drastically, but he had no time to react. His legs were bound as well, and he fell to the floor.

An uproar erupted all around. A crushing victory! It was simply a crushing victory—no, it absolutely was a crushing victory!

Even the Shield Charm had been useless.

Eli won again.

Another person stepped up. Hmm, not bad. A third-year.

But it was useless.

"Stupefy!"

"Locomotor Mortis!"

Thud.

There was not the slightest suspense. He was defeated immediately—or rather, that was the greatest surprise of all.

Eli stood with one hand behind his back, looking unbearably smug. "How about you come at me two at a time and save some time?"

An uproar instantly broke out. This bastard was far too arrogant!

Eli cautiously edged closer to Professor Flitwick, but Flitwick's expression told him: If you keep being this arrogant, even I'll want to hit you.

"Two it is."

"We'll do it."

The twins came up bantering like a comedy duo.

They winked at Eli, and he could not help smiling.

These two were building him up. They knew they could not beat him, but still came up to help establish his authority.

Sure enough, they were defeated just as easily as last time.

The students around them were stunned. What the hell was this?!

A first-year had beaten two third-years?

Eli looked up at the ceiling with an expression of lonely superiority and even let out a pretentious sigh.

"Ah, loneliness."

Holy shit, he was arrogant. And so good at showing off!

The Wizards below began scrambling to challenge him one after another.

Some even went up in pairs. Only a few older students still had enough pride not to team up.

But there were always shameless ones. Two fifth-years stepped forward.

The battle was no longer as simple as before. They exchanged spells for two or three minutes before they were finally defeated.

Of course, Eli had not gone all out. Ultimate Death really was not appropriate here.

That was how his authority was established. All of Hogwarts was shocked: a first-year Wizard had challenged nearly half the school alone!

And he had not lost. Even two fifth-years could not defeat him.

Eli's fame soared at once, and the Dueling Club became wildly popular!

People joined in an endless stream. The professors all remarked that the learning atmosphere had become much stronger; even the corridors were filled with people discussing spells.

Final exams arrived as well. Perhaps because of the club, the students' Charms grades were especially outstanding, and Professor Flitwick was all smiles.

In Potions, Eli received full marks for an almost perfect potion.

In Charms, Professor Flitwick even said that with Eli's ability, he would receive full marks as long as he did not make a mistake.

Naturally, he received full marks, and his performance was once again exceptionally impressive.

In Transfiguration, Eli directly turned his teacup into a fluttering owl, and Professor McGonagall did not hesitate to award full marks.

Only in History of Magic did Eli rely on half-guesses and blind guesses. What else could he expect when he either daydreamed or slept in class?

Thus, among all his subjects, History of Magic was the only one he barely passed.

The school's final exams had ended, but for the trio—or rather, for the trio plus Eli—their final exam had only just begun!