They weren’t leaving for Urquhart Castle just yet.
Professors rarely had free time outside of weekends, and their teaching duties made it nearly impossible to slip away during the week.
When Friday evening arrived, everyone gathered near the edge of the Forbidden Forest after dinner, right beside the Hippogriff paddock.
Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, Seekers for their respective House Quidditch teams, should have been out on the pitch for practice.
Instead, they were here, taking part in the first practical assessment of Professor Lockhart’s Duelling Club.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, the Heads of Gryffindor and Slytherin, had both come to observe.
Hearing the commotion, Hagrid wandered over from his cabin as well.
Standing beside the towering gamekeeper were Ron, Hermione, Neville, Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy, all craning their necks nervously to watch the two figures darting through the sky.
This was far more thrilling than a Quidditch match.
The two talented Seekers pushed their broomsticks to the limit, weaving through the sky above the Forbidden Forest at breathtaking speed.
One moment they were soaring high overhead, and the next, they plunged almost straight down, skimming just above the ground before aiming for a narrow gap between two towering trees.
Before Harry had even cleared the trunks… A spell tore through the darkness of the forest.
A flash of magic grazed past his forehead as he twisted away at the last instant, streaking brilliantly off into the night sky.
“Counterattack!” Lockhart shouted.
“Stop treating this like a children’s game where one person attacks and then waits their turn!
This isn’t turn-based combat!
The moment you dodge, you should already be preparing your counter!
Blend your evasive movements into your attacks!
“Use your heads!
Who told you the Disarming Charm can only be used to disarm someone?” “Aim at the broomstick!
If that doesn’t work, aim at ‘them’!” “Learn to use your broom properly!
It’s not just for flying faster or getting into the air, if that’s all you’re using it for, it’s useless in a fight!
Where are all those difficult Quidditch maneuvers you practice?!” “Where’s your agility?!” “Climb vertically!
Slide sideways!
Barrel roll!
Loop!
Flat spin!
Use them!
Stay mobile!
That’s the true essence of Quidditch, not mindlessly flying as fast as possible!
I seriously don’t know how either of you became Seekers!” Lockhart had every right to criticize their flying.
Back in his own Hogwarts days, he’d been Ravenclaw’s Seeker himself.
Granted, the greatest moment of his Quidditch career had been accidentally stumbling into the Golden Snitch during a practice match, but still…
he genuinely understood how a broom should be used.
Putting that knowledge into practice had simply never been his strong suit.
Beside him, Professor McGonagall watched with growing excitement, her clasped hands trembling ever so slightly.
She wanted to join in.
Of course, as a witch of her caliber, it wouldn’t exactly be appropriate to bully second-years.
Perhaps Lockhart, with all the adventures he’d supposedly experienced after graduation, would make a suitable opponent.
Completely unaware that Professor McGonagall was contemplating something so dangerous, Lockhart continued waving his wand, which, in his opinion, wasn’t much more useful than a fireplace poker, as though he were conducting an orchestra.
He barked out instructions nonstop, at one point nearly poking Professor Snape with it.
Snape didn’t seem to mind.
Instead, he watched Harry and Draco streaking through the forest with genuine surprise.
School had only just begun, and they were only second-years, yet many older students couldn’t fight at this level.
He glanced thoughtfully at Lockhart.
For the first time, he found himself looking at the man in a new light.
If Lucius Malfoy saw how much Draco had improved, he would probably be genuinely grateful to Lockhart.
The duel didn’t last much longer.
No one could maintain that level of flying and spellcasting indefinitely, and before long, both boys began slowing as exhaustion caught up with them.
Harry spotted an opening, and his Disarming Charm struck Draco cleanly.
Draco had clearly learned something from Lockhart’s lessons.
Instead of resisting the spell, he kept one hand clamped around his broomstick, allowing the force of the charm to fling his body backward.
Using that momentum, he swung himself around the broom and launched directly at Harry.
The next instant, to everyone’s horrified cries, the broomstick, now carrying two boys wrestling in midair, lurched wildly like a crashing aircraft as it spiraled toward the ground.
“Arrest their fall!” Lockhart didn’t even have time to react before Professor Snape moved.
His Impediment Jinx took effect instantly, slowing the plummeting broom until the two boys drifted gently to the ground instead of smashing into it.
Professor McGonagall acted as well.
With a flick of her wand, the shrubs on the ground transformed into large wooden hands that reached out, grabbed the still-fighting boys, and forcibly pulled them apart before they could keep punching each other.
Everyone hurried over to check on the two boys.
It was obvious that the duel had gotten a little too intense; both young wizards had completely lost themselves in the heat of battle, leaving them bruised and scratched all over.
Draco’s right eye was already swollen shut, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
“Merlin’s beard!” Professor McGonagall exclaimed.
“We need to get you both to Madam Pomfrey immediately.” “Make way, make way.” Lockhart squeezed through the crowd of students.
He looked Harry and Draco up and down before shaking his head.
“It’s nothing.
Just a few minor injuries.” He picked up a fresh green twig from the ground and lightly tapped it with his wand.
Two purple blossoms immediately bloomed from the branch, their petals vibrant and fragrance sweet.
Thick drops of nectar gathered at the center before dripping gently onto the two boys’ heads.
The spell worked beautifully; the cuts and scrapes covering Harry and Draco disappeared almost instantly.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Hermione and the other students burst into excited cheers.
“Professor Lockhart!” “You’re amazing!” Their young faces were filled with pure admiration.
Lockhart basked in those looks with immense satisfaction.
He was certainly used to being admired, but this time was different.
This spell had been cast by his own hand.
This wasn’t borrowed fame; it was his own genuine ability.
It felt incredible.
— After the match, Harry and Draco each headed back toward Hogwarts Castle surrounded by their own group of friends, excitedly reliving every thrilling moment of the duel.
Watching the children disappear into the distance with a smile, Lockhart turned to Professor McGonagall.
“So?” This hadn’t merely been a skills assessment; Lockhart intended to bring his two best students with him to Urquhart Castle, hoping a real encounter would help them grow even further.
Professor McGonagall’s first instinct was to refuse.
It was simply too dangerous, even if Professor Lockhart seemed completely confident about the expedition.
Lockhart hadn’t argued with her; instead, he’d invited her to watch today’s assessment, hoping the students’ performance would convince her.
She understood exactly what he was trying to do.
Professor Lockhart genuinely wanted his students to learn through real experience, and as their teacher, his expectations for them were obvious.
But that was precisely why she couldn’t make the decision lightly.
For a long moment, she hesitated while Lockhart waited patiently for her answer.
Naturally, he hoped she would agree.
Truthfully, Harry and Draco were already far stronger in actual combat than he was.
Although he was confident about this mission, his own practical fighting ability was still little better than that of an ordinary Muggle.
If something unexpected happened, he simply wouldn’t have the strength to deal with it alone.
The more capable helpers he had, the better.
Yes, Lockhart genuinely regarded Harry and Draco as helpers.
He had poured so much effort into teaching them without holding anything back, so naturally, when the time came that he needed help, he expected them to be useful.
After all, what was the point of training students if you never let them put those lessons to work?
“Perhaps…” Professor Snape suddenly spoke up from the side, drawing out the word lazily.
When both of them turned to look at him, he continued in his usual rapid, clipped tone.
“I have no objection to Draco accompanying you to Urquhart Castle…
provided that I go as well, to keep an eye on them.” ‘Excellent.
Reliable as ever, Severus.’ Lockhart’s eyes immediately lit up, and he turned hopefully toward Professor McGonagall.
At last, she gave a reluctant nod.
“I only hope,” she sighed, “that nothing goes wrong.” (End Of This Chapter)