Dueling Malfoy

A Pureblood Duel required a reason convincing enough to win public acceptance; otherwise, it could not be held rashly.

It was said that when Salazar Slytherin first founded Hogwarts, he had established the Pureblood Duel to mediate conflicts among the school's Pure-blood wizards. The duel itself contained a certain kind of magic. If the reason could not convince people—or rather, could not gain the recognition of the magic contained within the Pureblood Duel—then the duel could not take place.

Thus, Sean had not had many opportunities for a Pureblood Duel lately, until this business with Malfoy gave him one.

The reason Salazar Slytherin had valued pure blood so highly was that he believed it came with a corresponding sense of honor and virtue, things non-pure-bloods did not possess. After all, in that era, only pure-bloods had the means to receive an education and concern themselves with virtue and glory. Most ordinary people of that age were ignorant and barbaric.

But Salazar Slytherin could never have imagined how much the world would change after a thousand years.

Even the Slytherin he had founded had gradually lost its original character.

That was precisely why Sean was confident. Malfoy's despicable act of challenging someone to a duel, only to turn around and inform on them, would have been a disgrace not only in the Slytherin of old, but in the Slytherin of today as well. It was only because of the Malfoy family that no one dared rebuke Malfoy. Others might not dare, but Sean did. Besides, he wanted to use this opportunity to see just how far that nominal grandfather of his was willing to support him.

After thinking for a moment, Sean lowered his head and resumed reading the book in his hands.

That evening, he ate a little in the Great Hall before continuing his self-study in the library. Even the Fifth Years and Seventh Years couldn't help glancing at him. If not for the green on Sean's robes, they would have thought Ravenclaw had produced another lunatic obsessed with studying.

As curfew approached, the library shut down completely.

Sean gathered his things and returned to the Common Room. Seeing Malfoy loudly proclaiming that Harry Potter would be expelled tomorrow, Sean went back to his room, set down his belongings, and rested briefly in his chair. Only then did he take his Wand, leave his room, and enter the Common Room's main hall.

After what had happened before, Sean was already a rather prominent newcomer in Slytherin. Aside from classes, he spent his daily life studying, and many had grown accustomed to his fixed routine. So when Sean appeared in the Slytherin Common Room's main hall at this hour, many were surprised and turned to look at him.

When they saw Sean walking straight toward Malfoy, everyone's expressions changed. Some were worried, some delighted in his misfortune, while others simply watched the spectacle, their eyes moving between Sean and Malfoy.

When Malfoy saw Sean approach, surprise flashed across his face, followed by a trace of panic. Finally, he forced a smile and said, "What, are you standing up for your good friend, the Savior Harry Potter?"

That alone showed Malfoy was not entirely useless. He had some ability, at least.

Of course, such petty scheming amounted to nothing before Sean.

"Harry and I can indeed be considered friends. But if you, Malfoy, had truly dueled Harry face-to-face, then even if Harry lost and was expelled from Hogwarts, I would not say a single word, much less come looking for you here.

"I came because you have disgraced Slytherin. As a Slytherin, as a noble Pure-blood wizard, you challenged a Gryffindor, yet fled before the battle and even had Filch set a trap. Your conduct is utterly unworthy of the name Slytherin.

"Malfoy, you have not only betrayed Slytherin's honor, but also humiliated the pride of pure blood. Therefore, I challenge you to a Pureblood Duel. If you do not dare accept, then get out of Slytherin!"

A Pureblood Duel?

Against Malfoy?

That Malfoy—the richest Malfoy?

Everyone in the Slytherin Common Room stared at Sean in utter shock.

No matter how one looked at it, this would offend Malfoy completely. Draco Malfoy was the Malfoy family's only son; targeting him meant targeting the Malfoy family. Even though everyone around them had to admit that Sean made sense, and even deep down felt that Malfoy was truly despicable and shameless, disgracing the pride of pure blood...

But he was Malfoy, after all!

How could Sean do this?

How did he dare?

Of course Sean dared. Not only did he dare, he had done it.

He walked step by step until he stood before Malfoy, then looked at him and said, "Malfoy, do you accept?"

Malfoy looked at Sean, his face deathly pale and utterly ugly.

But things had reached this point, and Malfoy could no longer muddle through it. Sean had laid the Malfoy family's dignity bare for all to see. He could trick Harry, but he absolutely could not wriggle out of a Pureblood Duel through cheap tricks again.

Besides, Malfoy did not think he would lose to Sean!

Malfoy had witnessed Sean's previous Duel. In his view, Sean had won only because of the Thorn Curse. As long as he was more careful and did not let what happened before repeat itself, how could Sean, a son of a Squib, compare to a Pure-blood Noble like him, who had received magical education since childhood?

"You wish to challenge me to a Pureblood Duel? I accept! I'll show you that a Malfoy is not someone a lowly son of a Squib like you can compare to!"

"Then let's do it here. There's no need to change venues over something so trivial."

"As you wish!"

The people around them quickly scattered, leaving Sean and Malfoy standing opposite each other.

Sean looked at Malfoy as the Ebony Phoenix Wand in his hand gradually warmed. A current of warmth spread from the Ebony Phoenix Wand and flowed into Sean's body.

Neither of them waited for a referee. They attacked immediately.

"Densaugeo!"

A dim glow shot from the tip of Malfoy's Wand.

It had to be said that, as the Malfoy family's sole heir, Draco Malfoy had some skill. His opening spell made it difficult for his opponent to speak and pronounce words accurately, preventing them from casting through incantations.

The Sean from before might have been left in a rather sorry state by this, but times had changed. He was no longer the same as before.

"Protego!"

A blue-white Halo blossomed before Sean, blocking Malfoy's spell.

Then Sean swung his Wand again. The surrounding tables and chairs spun through the air once more, smashing toward Malfoy. At the instant Malfoy cast a spell to block them, Sean pointed his Wand at him.

"Herbivicus!"

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