Hearing Neville agree, Lupin nodded and spoke in a firm but gentle voice:
"But you must follow the rules of dueling and stop short of causing harm."
"No Dark Magic or spells that could cause permanent injury."
"Of course, of course!"
Karkaroff readily agreed, but his gaze seemed glued to Lupin as he looked him up and down.
He asked with an air of concern.
"Professor Lupin, I hear you've been looking quite well lately."
"Holmes's medicine must be a special potion tailored just for you, isn't it?"
He finally showed his true colors, beginning to probe indirectly for information about the New Wolfsbane Potion.
Lupin smiled gently and gave an airtight answer.
"Douglas is always very kind to his friends."
Hogwarts would face Durmstrang in a public contest of swordsmanship and magic!
The news seemed to have been cast with a Copying Charm and sprouted countless pairs of wings.
Within mere minutes, it had flown to every corner of the Castle.
Students who had yet to get up climbed out of bed.
Students still reviewing their lessons closed their heavy books.
Everyone swarmed toward the Black Lake.
The girls from Beauxbatons also gathered around curiously.
Like a flock of elegant blue butterflies, they settled on the outskirts of the crowd.
With her younger sister Gabrielle holding her arm, Fleur Delacour also had a gleam of keen interest in her azure eyes.
Beside the Black Lake.
Neville's movements drew everyone's attention.
He did not draw his wand straight away.
Instead, he held the practice longsword across his body.
He unscrewed the brass pommel at the end of the hilt.
A hollow space just large enough to hold a wand was revealed.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, he steadily inserted his own cherrywood wand-which had originally belonged to his father-through the end