Lockhart's Time to Explain (2)

"In a real, brutal fight to the death! When facing an enemy who genuinely wants to kill you, any attempt to 'take it head-on' or rely on 'special methods' instead of prioritizing evasion, defensive spells, or calling for help— is outright suicide!" His pitch suddenly rose, his voice like a bronze gong struck by a heavy hammer, reverberating beneath the Great Hall's soaring dome.

The magical candles flickered faintly with the vibrations, casting everyone's shadows long against the walls behind them, like rows of people nailed to crosses.

"Professor Snape's demonstration of 'holding back' just now is absolutely not an excuse for you to imitate him! Do you understand?!"

His words landed like heavy blows upon every student's heart. Combined with the overwhelming strength and unquestionable presence he had displayed earlier, even those students who still harbored doubts about Madara's unbelievable power and the annihilation of Snape's spell had no choice but to be convinced by Lockhart's logically consistent "authoritative interpretation."

The Great Hall was silent for at least two seconds.

Then Gryffindor was the first to respond.

Colin Creevey cheered the loudest, with the relieved enthusiasm of someone who had finally understood something. "Understood, Professor!" Dean followed, then Seamus, then more and more people.

Uneven voices of agreement rose from Ravenclaw as well, while several Hufflepuff upperclassmen nodded along.

After receiving a look from Madara, Draco caught on. He lifted the pumpkin juice on the table, took a sip, then lightly tapped the cup against the tabletop. The sound was not loud, but the people around him heard it.

Nott was the first to answer. "Understood." Then came Daphne, then Pansy, followed by Crabbe and Goyle's rough, almost shouted "Understood." The two kinds of voices blended together like rivers of different colors flowing into the same sea.

"Then, before