103: Chapter 103 Lockhart's Terrible Idea

At breakfast, the bulletin board in the Great Hall was crowded with students. Zabini took a quick glance, then stepped back, tucking his book under his arm.

"Eight o'clock tonight, Great Hall, Dueling Club, hosted by Professor Lockhart."

Draco set down his cup, his eyebrows raised.

"Dueling Club?"

Crabbe looked up immediately.

"Can we fight?"

Goyle asked next.

"Is there food?"

Draco glared at him.

"This is a duel, not dinner."

Nott opened his small notebook, his pen tip hovering below the announcement.

"Proposed by Lockhart, approved by Dumbledore, with Professor Snape as the assistant."

The fork in Draco's hand stopped in mid-air.

"Who?"

Zabini set down his teacup.

"Now this is interesting."

Allen looked up from behind his Potion book, glancing at the patch of black robes at the teachers' table.

"We can fight, but the question is who gets beaten."

Draco turned his head.

"What do you mean?"

Allen closed his book.

"Lockhart wants to appease the students, Dumbledore wants to observe the school's reaction, and Snape wants to see who is learning spells they shouldn't."

Nott's pen paused for a moment.

"Do you think this is a test?"

"In a public setting, with everyone holding their wands and emotions hanging on the Chamber of Secrets, it's easiest to reveal one's habits."

Zabini looked toward the Gryffindor table.

"Potter will go."

Draco sneered.

"When has The Chosen One ever missed out on trouble?"

Allen glanced at him.

"You'll go too."

Draco frowned.

"Why must I go?"

Nott answered for him.

"If Malfoy doesn't go, people will say you're afraid."

Zabini added.

"If you go, people will watch how you cast spells."

Draco placed his fork back on his plate.

"So I'm wrong if I go, and wrong if I don't?"

Allen opened his book.

"Go, but don't lose your head."

Draco leaned in half a step.

"Are you going?"

"Yes."

Pansy let out a sigh of relief.

"At least that won't let Gryffindor laugh at us."

Allen pressed down on the page.

"I'm going to watch, not get on stage."

Draco was dissatisfied.

"You're not getting on stage?"

"No."

"All of Slytherin knows you're not ordinary."

Allen looked up.

"Knowing and seeing are two different things."

Nott nodded.

"A duel will expose reaction speed, spell-casting habits, and magical strength."

Zabini looked at Draco.

"Especially you, Malfoy."

Draco's face darkened.

"I didn't say I wanted to show off."

Allen pushed his cup away.

"Whether you want to or not doesn't matter; Professor Snape will arrange it."

Draco's expression turned ugly.

"He wouldn't make me face Harry, would he?"

"The possibility is high."

Pansy spoke up immediately.

"That's perfect, let Potter suffer a bit."

Allen looked at her.

"Do you want Draco to injure Harry in front of the whole school, and then have the Professor check his spells?"

Pansy shut her mouth.

During the morning Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Lockhart stood on the podium, his cloak dazzlingly bright, waving a stack of parchment in his hand.

"Students, in light of recent events, I believe Hogwarts needs some practical training. Tonight's Dueling Club will teach you how to remain dignified when facing danger."

Ron muttered in the back row.

"If he's teaching, we'd be better off practicing running."

Hermione nudged him with her arm.

Lockhart continued.

"Professor Snape will assist me; proper practice will boost confidence."

Ron added in a low voice.

"Whose confidence?"

Hermione raised her hand.

"Professor, will students practice with each other?"

Lockhart nodded.

"Of course, Miss Granger, practice is what makes knowledge shine."

Whispers erupted in the classroom. Gryffindor looked at Slytherin, and Slytherin looked back at Gryffindor. The words "Chamber of Secrets" were never spoken, yet they hung over everyone's wands.

Lockhart looked at Harry, his smile dazzlingly bright.

"Harry, I believe you'll enjoy this kind of training; you've experienced quite a bit of danger."

Harry pressed his lips together.

"I'd prefer less danger."

A few laughs leaked out in the classroom.

Lockhart didn't catch this, so he had to turn to Slytherin.

"Mr. Malfoy, I hear you have a good upbringing."

Draco lifted his chin.

"My father certainly values education."

Allen didn't look up, only writing two words on his parchment.

"Shut up."

Draco caught a glimpse of that line in his peripheral vision and swallowed the rest of his sentence.

Lockhart nodded with satisfaction.

"It's good for young people to have confidence."

As soon as the bell rang, students flooded into the corridor, and the Dueling Club immediately became the new courtroom.

"Will the Heir of Slytherin go?"

"If they go, that's perfect; we'll be able to tell."

"What if someone uses Dark Arts?"

"Professor Snape is there, who would dare?"

Draco's face tightened as he listened, and he turned to stare at Allen.

"They really intend to find the Heir of Slytherin tonight."

Allen put away the parchment.

"So don't do anything tonight that the Heir of Slytherin would do."

Crabbe asked.

"What would the Heir of Slytherin do?"

Zabini glanced at him.

"Use your brain to think about the problem."

Goyle nodded seriously.

"Then we're safe."

Draco closed his eyes for a moment, then turned to the two of them.

"Stand behind me tonight, and don't go drawing your wands randomly."

Crabbe was unconvinced.

"What if someone hits me first?"

Allen walked past him.

"Dodge."

Nott followed Allen.

"The whole school will be there tonight; Lockhart won't be able to keep control."

"He doesn't need to keep control; Dumbledore just needs the scene to look useful."

Nott understood and snapped his notebook shut.

"The Principal will be watching."

Zabini walked on the other side.

"So you're not getting on stage."

Allen nodded.

"No stage, no casting spells, and don't get near Harry and Draco's position."

Draco caught up.

"You've already arranged for me to be up there?"

Allen looked at him.

"Do you think Professor Snape would let a Malfoy and a Potter off the hook?"

Draco gritted his teeth.

"If it really is me and Harry, what if he strikes first?"

"Block, retreat, standard Expelliarmus; don't use what you were taught at home."

"Not everything I was taught at home is Dark Arts."

"Don't prove that tonight."

Pansy couldn't help but ask.

"So we just let Gryffindor show off?"

Zabini answered for Allen.

"Those who show off will be remembered by the Professors."

Nott added.

"And also by the Heir of Slytherin."

Pansy hugged her book tighter.

"Then it's better not to."

Before evening, the Slytherin Common Room was noisier than usual, with upperclassmen huddled around the fireplace talking about giving Gryffindor a lesson tonight.

Flint saw Draco and grinned.

"Malfoy, don't let Potter steal all the spotlight tonight."

Draco stopped.

"If the captain wants to show off his skills, he could start by sorting out the training schedule."

People around them laughed.

Flint's face turned blue.

"You've got a sharp tongue."

Draco lifted his chin.

"Easier than losing a match."

Nott made a note on the side.

"Flint might get on stage."

Zabini sat on the armrest of the sofa.

"He wants to use the duel to save face."

Allen sat in the shadows of the fireplace, flipping through his Charms Class textbook.

"Let him."

Draco turned back.

"You always say let them go."

"Don't stop those who can block the view for us."

On the other side, Adrian Pucey continued Flint's words.

"It would be best to draw a Mudblood."

Pansy frowned.

"They're speaking more and more out of line."

Nott closed his small notebook.

"The Chamber of Secrets has given them an excuse."

Draco looked at Allen.

"If they really use forbidden spells tonight, will Professor Snape intervene?"

"He will."

Zabini picked up his cup.

"If he doesn't, McGonagall will, and Dumbledore even more so."

Draco pulled the script paper from his book and read it twice.

Allen caught a glimpse of his action.

"No talking about the Chamber of Secrets tonight."

"I know."

"No talking about your father."

"I know."

"No talking about fifty years ago."

Draco irritably folded the paper back.

"You've already said that three times."

Allen looked up.

"Because you usually don't remember until the fourth time."

Crabbe chuckled, then was glared back by Draco.

Goyle asked cautiously.

"What if we get called on stage?"

Allen looked at the two of them.

"Use Expelliarmus; if you fail, raise your hand and concede."

Crabbe's eyes widened.

"Concede?"

Zabini leaned against the sofa.

"It's more worth it than being sent to the Hospital Wing."

Nott looked at Allen.

"Are you sure you can avoid it?"

Allen closed his book.

"If Lockhart calls my name, I'll say I'm feeling unwell."

Draco looked him up and down.

"You sleep all day, no one will suspect."

Pansy reminded.

"Professor Snape will suspect."

Allen picked up his book.

"He already suspects; one more thing won't make a difference."

A prefect's urging came from the common room entrance, and students started to head out.

Draco adjusted his cuffs, his face putting on the Malfoy-style arrogance once again.

"If I really face Harry, only use Expelliarmus?"

Allen stood up.

"Only use standard spells, hold back your strength, your face can look nasty, but don't cross the line with your hand."

Draco asked in a low voice.

"What if he wins?"

"Losing to The Chosen One is nothing to be ashamed of."

Draco's face went dark.

"That's what's shameful."

Zabini tucked his book under his arm.

"At least it's better than being kept behind by Snape for questioning."

Nott walked to the door and looked back at Allen.

"Isn't the most dangerous thing tonight the duel itself?"

Allen walked past him, following the Slytherin group.

"It's that everyone thinks they can see through others."

Draco understood half of it and quickly caught up.

"Then what are you looking at?"

Allen looked at the stairs leading to the Great Hall.

"Looking at who is desperate to be seen."