The duel in the Trophy Room!

He looked around.

Argus discovered that this was a room with a distinctly wizarding style.

Inside were not only dummies for practicing magic, but also all sorts of strange things he had never seen before.

His curiosity stirred, and he ran his hands over the various objects that had appeared.

Having followed Grindelwald for years, he had seen no shortage of magical objects.

Yet all he could discern about this Room of Requirement was that an Undetectable Extension Charm had been cast on it.

And it was far more profound than the kind modern wizards commonly used.

"Interesting!"

In the past, he had thought little of ancient magic.

As he understood it, if ancient magic really were so powerful, it would never have been replaced by modern magic.

Now it seemed that ancient magic was not as simple as he had imagined.

Still, he did not dwell on it.

Argus knew his own limits. To wizards on Dumbledore's or Voldemort's level, he was the equivalent of a young model kept by some rich tycoon.

They could toy with him however they pleased.

Dumbledore had spent decades at Hogwarts without figuring it out, and he thought he could understand it with a couple of glances?

Wouldn't that be underestimating the wizarding world's previous generation of protagonists a little too much?

He had no idea how long he spent in the Room of Requirement. By the time he emerged, torches were lit throughout the castle.

When he returned to the Slytherin Common Room, Draco was talking to Goyle and Crabbe.

The moment he saw Argus return, Draco's eyes lit up.

"Argus, where did you go today? I spent ages looking for you in the library and the dormitory, but I couldn't find you."

Argus's life had been extremely regular lately, essentially a circuit between classrooms, the Great Hall, and the library.

Not finding him in any of those places had left Draco rather puzzled.

"I found somewhere outside to practice a few spells. I forgot to congratulate you on becoming Slytherin's youngest Seeker."

At that, Draco immediately looked pleased with himself.

"Just you wait. I'm definitely going to lead Slytherin to the Quidditch championship this year!"

"What are you doing here with Goyle and Crabbe instead of sleeping at this hour?"

Argus sat on the sofa and poured himself a cup of tea.

The Room of Requirement was great in every way, except that it could not provide anything to eat or drink.

"It's all because of that Weasley!"

"Weasley? You mean Ron?"

After these past few peaceful days, Argus had almost forgotten about him.

"Exactly!"

Draco looked furious. "You have no idea. At noon today, my father sent me a Nimbus 2000 especially to reward me for making the Slytherin Quidditch Team."

"Weasley happened to be discharged from the hospital wing, and when he saw my broomstick, he kept saying the Slytherin Quidditch Team only let me join because they wanted my broom!"

Argus's interest was piqued. "So you got into a fight?"

If he remembered correctly, Harry should have been the one to receive a Nimbus 2000 in the original story.

It had been a gift from Professor McGonagall after she recommended him to the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.

But in their last Flying Class, Neville had been absent, and Ron had become the troublemaker instead, leaving Harry little room to shine.

Although he had still joined the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, he had benefited from Draco's success.

Draco's book-snatching had caught Marcus's eye, making him Slytherin's youngest Seeker.

With Draco setting a precedent, and Harry possessing exceptional talent, Wood had finally agreed, reluctantly, to let him join the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.

As a reserve Seeker!

It was a far cry from the glory he had enjoyed in the original story!

In response to Argus's question, Draco shook his head.

"No. I'm not stupid enough to start a fight in public!"

"I challenged Weasley to a duel tonight! I originally wanted you to be my second, but I couldn't find you anywhere, so I was going to take Goyle."

"Now that you're here, let's see how Weasley can stand against me!"

With Argus backing him up, Draco was brimming with confidence.

It was no exaggeration to say that, at Ron's and Harry's level, even the two of them together could not touch a hair on Argus's head.

"What time did you agree on?"

To be honest, Argus had little interest in Draco's little wizard-dueling games.

He had not wanted to agree, but then he remembered how Draco had helped him without hesitation in Flying Class, and how rarely he asked him for anything.

Turning him down would probably hurt his feelings.

Besides, he ought to make a show of carrying out his agreement with Voldemort.

If he took no action at all and simply told Voldemort the answer, what then?

What would Voldemort think?

Well, well. Something I spent ages considering without daring to act, and you settled it in the blink of an eye?

What Argus received then would not be praise, but wariness!

That would be extremely detrimental to keeping himself hidden.

He had to at least go through the motions, so that even if Voldemort later asked where he had learned it, he would have an answer.

Having received an affirmative reply, Draco was extremely excited, rubbing his hands together as though he were already imagining how he would teach that wretched Weasley a lesson.

"Eleven thirty tonight! In the Trophy Room!"

"Eleven thirty. There's still some time."

Argus sighed.

Another late night. The sleep schedule he had finally managed to straighten out was about to be disrupted again.

For a youngster of only eleven, sleep quality was still very important.

Time flew, and the appointed hour of eleven thirty arrived.

To pure-blood aristocrats, dueling was a noble affair.

Especially coming from a loudmouth like Draco, it was proclaimed an extraordinarily sacred act.

Something that should have been done in secret had now become common knowledge to almost everyone in Slytherin.

When Argus accompanied Draco out, there was even a crowd of young wizards cheering them on.

"Draco, unless your head is stuffed with flobberworms, you should know perfectly well what happens if you're caught wandering around at night!"

At the sight, Argus was so angry he wanted to slap Draco twice.

I've only just finished detention and haven't even had a chance to catch my breath.

And you're sending me right back in?

Do you want me sneaking into the woods with some hulking man that badly?

Knowing he was in the wrong, Draco glanced sheepishly at Argus and did not dare say a word.

Argus said nothing more either.

Under his guidance, Draco had changed a great deal, but he simply could not shake his habit of showing off.

There was plenty of time. He could work on it gradually.

"I knew it. That evil Malfoy is all show."

"He talks tough, but he's probably already wet his pants in fright!"

Inside the Trophy Room, Ron rambled on and on.

"Malfoy and that Grindelwald-one's a Death Eater, the other's an Acolyte. They're both Dark wizards!"

"Don't worry, Ron. I'll help you!"

In just a few days, Ron had brainwashed Harry, who had thoroughly picked up Gryffindor's recklessness.

"Mr. Weasley, speaking ill of people behind their backs isn't a good habit."

"It seems you've forgotten how Madam Hooch brought you to the Slytherin Common Room to apologize a few days ago!"

Before Argus had even led Malfoy inside, he heard Ron gossiping behind their backs.

Although he had expected it, seeing Harry standing beside Ron still disgusted Argus.

Two of your friends are arguing and dueling, and instead of mediating, you help one gang up on the other!

Just what I'd expect from you, Saint Harry!

Whoever's weaker gets my help!

Argus had indeed approached Harry with ulterior motives, and he could have understood even if Harry treated him a little coldly.

But Draco had not!

From the moment he met Harry, he had sincerely regarded him as a good friend.

Now Harry actually wanted to fight him for someone else!

And when that other person had been the one to provoke him!

Just thinking about it sent a chill through his crotch!

Noticing Draco's disappointed, questioning gaze, Harry lowered his head guiltily.

"Draco, let me explain. Ron, he..."

"Mr. Potter, your actions have already told us your choice."

Argus's expression was indescribably cold, his sky-blue eyes distant.

"You should know that by standing here, you've chosen to stand against Draco."

Harry stammered, wanting to say something but not knowing how to begin.

Ron, however, could no longer contain himself!

Ever since leaving the hospital wing, he had suffered countless instances of ostracism and the silent treatment because of Argus.

Seeing Argus now made him seethe all the more. How could he tolerate him continuing to spout such nonsense in front of him?

He drew his wand, with no intention of observing even the formalities of a duel.

A spell shot toward Argus.

"Densaugeo!"