My partner at Hogwarts is Tom

Amidst the sudden burst of cheers and whistles from the young wizards in the audience.

Viktor swayed slightly, and in the next instant, he was firmly standing in the center of the arena.

His movements were swift and fluid, a stark contrast to Snape's somber aura as his black robes billowed.

Snape's lips curled down even deeper, his dark eyes fixed on Victor, and almost without warning, he suddenly raised his wand.

Almost at the same moment, Viktor’s wrist, hanging at his side, twitched very slightly.

A brown shadow shot out from the sleeve like lightning, and with a crisp "snap," the wand landed steadily in the palm.

This move was clean and efficient, even carrying a touch of nonchalant elegance, eliciting suppressed gasps of amazement from the young wizards.

"So cool!" Fred couldn't help but exclaim.

"We have to put this on the agenda!" George craned his neck.

Hermione's eyes shone brightly, and she seemed to be muttering something to herself.

Ron didn't hear what she was muttering; he just gripped the railing tightly in front of him.

"Merlin, Snape looks at him like he's about to be thrown into a cauldron and boiled alive."

Harley held her breath, her emerald green eyes unblinking.

Just as tensions were about to escalate and a fight was about to break out, Lockhart finally managed to tidy up his curly hair, which had been blown up by the Disarming Charm.

He cleared his throat, his signature bright smile returning to his face, ready to say something to salvage his dignity as the "club's founder."

"Now, please allow me, as a seasoned duelist, to provide professional guidance and..."

His words came to an abrupt end.

A short but exceptionally agile figure suddenly darted to the edge of the arena.

It's Professor Flitwick!

He stood on a small, raised, golden platform that had appeared out of nowhere.

The tip of the wand still retained a faint glow from the movement of the object.

It was he who gently yet irresistibly "drifted" the incessantly chattering Lockhart into the shadows of the corner of the ring.

Lockhart, clutching his mirror, blinked blankly, not quite understanding what was happening.

Professor Flitwick had already turned to the entire room and announced in a high-pitched voice, amplified by magic.

"Ladies and gentlemen! A demonstration worthy of being recorded in the history of the Hogwarts Dueling Club is about to begin!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes gleamed as he announced, "It is my honor, Felius Frivi, the old man who once won the Duel Club Championship, to serve as your commentator and referee!"

"Oh—!!!" The little wizards instantly erupted in excitement.

The Ravenclaws, in particular, cheered with pride that almost lifted the ceiling, as the true dueling champions were there to provide commentary!

This is much more exciting than Lockhart's flashy but empty boasts!

Snape barely raised an eyebrow at Flitwick's appearance, his gaze never leaving Victor.

Victor nodded amicably to Professor Flitwick, then turned slightly to face Snape, adopting a standard dueling stance.

The wand is pointed diagonally in front of him, his steps are neither too far forward nor too backward, his body is relaxed yet contains tension.

"Both of you, take your positions!" Professor Flitwick shouted, waving his wand and a silver beam streaking across the center of the arena. "The traditional duel ritual: bow!"

Snape's bow was extremely perfunctory, barely a head tilted forward an inch, while Victor's bow was slightly larger and more relaxed.

"Duel—begin!"

Before the last syllable of "begin" had completely faded, Snape's wand shot out like a viper's tongue!

"He collapsed to the ground!" A blinding red light tore through the air and shot towards Victor's chest with incredible speed.

No incantations were chanted; the spell was performed silently!

The young wizards gasped in surprise, and Harley's heart leaped into her throat.

She could sense Snape's merciless offensive intent, ten times more direct and sharp than the malice she felt in Potions class.

Viktor seemed to have anticipated this, and just before the red light reached his body, he slid to the side.

The red light grazed the edge of his robe, struck the pale gold protective shield behind him, and rippled outwards.

"Exquisite anticipation and footwork!" Professor Flitwick immediately chimed in, speaking at breakneck speed.

"Professor Snape has displayed superb spellcasting skills, while Professor Victor's footwork embodies the essence of evasion in open-world duels! Watch!"

There were no incantations, only the rapid buzzing of the wand tip and the sharp sound of tearing through the air.

A scarlet stun spell led the way, followed closely by a dark blue binding spell.

Next came several purplish-black antidote spells arranged in a triangular pattern to block the space for dodging, piercing like poison needles towards the positions where Viktor might have set up defenses.

The cursed light was dense, swift, and ruthless, like a precisely choreographed musical piece, carrying Snape's unique and undisguised oppressive style.

His body remained almost still, with only his wrist and forearm holding the cane vibrating rapidly within a very small range to adjust the angle, with astonishing efficiency.

"Silent, rapid combo! A typical one-on-one duel opening!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, speaking at breakneck speed.

"Abandon lengthy incantations and pursue maximum casting speed and suppressive power! Look at the seamless transitions between these spells! Professor Victor must react immediately!"

Faced with this storm of spells, Viktor's first reaction was neither to attack nor to withstand it head-on.

He took a light step backward as if skating, while his wand drew a full arc from bottom to top.

As he dodged, Victor's wand drew a simple arc in the air.

"Protect yourself with armor!" This time he said it aloud, but the incantation was completed at an astonishing speed.

A semi-transparent, silver-white shield instantly materialized in front of him.

Almost the instant his shield formed, Snape's second and third spells came in quick succession.

A blue light from a binding spell and a purple light from a breaking spell struck the shield almost simultaneously, exploding into two clouds of light mist.

The shield flickered violently, yet stubbornly remained intact.

"Armor protects you!" Frivi exclaimed excitedly, stamping his foot.

"Professor Victor's Ironclad Charm is exceptionally powerful; it seems he has a profound mastery of defensive magic!"

Snape frowned, clearly impatient at not being able to break through the defense immediately.

He swung his wand downwards with a sudden chop, and a dark, almost black beam of light shot along the ground toward Victor.

Wherever it passed, the smooth surface of the arena seemed to be covered with a layer of dark, thin ice.

"It's 'Shadow Binding'! A very rare and difficult-to-master derivative spell of the Dark Arts Defense spell, which can greatly restrict the opponent's movement!"

Flitwick exclaimed, his voice filled with pure admiration for high-level magic.

"The clouds and mist are misty!"

As Victor's voice fell, a thick, milky-white mist exploded not from the tip of the staff, but from his own body.

The milky white mist expanded rapidly, instantly engulfing his figure and diluting and blurring the incoming spell lights.

The shadow swirled and disappeared into the fog, causing only an irregular tumbling, but it did not hit the object.

The red light of the Stunning Curse grazed the edge of the mist, struck the protective shield, and rippled outwards.

"A beautiful application of the Cloud Spell! Precise range control effectively conceals the user without excessively spreading and obstructing the referee's view!"

Flitwick exclaimed, "Professor Snape's visual lock has been disrupted!"

In the mist, Snape's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He didn't stop attacking; he swung his wand to the side: "Howling Wind!"

A strong gust of air attempted to disperse the fog. However, just as the fog was blown open a crack, the fog...

"Separate left and right!" Victor's clear voice came from the other side of the mist.

Without warning, a crack half a foot wide and several feet long appeared in the ground beneath Snape's feet!

The crack appeared extremely abruptly, accompanied by a faint, teeth-grinding sound of rocks rubbing together.

Despite his surprise, Snape remained calm. Beneath his black robes, he swiftly stepped to the side, sliding half a step to precisely avoid the crack, maintaining his balance.

But at that tiny moment when his focus shifted, his old strength was exhausted and his new strength had not yet emerged.

"Sizzle—!"

It wasn't a spell, but rather a fist-sized, angular stone bump suddenly bulged up half a foot in front of his new foothold on a previously flat stone slab of the arena!

A pure and rapid small-scale transformation, silent and timely!

Snape's reaction was already at its limit; his ankle twisted away rapidly in a way that almost defied human anatomy, but the edge of the raised rock still grazed the sole of his boot slightly.

This slight stumble, in the midst of a high-speed duel, was enough to completely disrupt his fluid and unrestrained spellcasting combo.

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" Frivi exclaimed excitedly, patting the edge of his small platform.

"Clouds obstruct vision, cracks in the ground force movement, and a simple transformation spell creates obstacles—all three work in tandem!"

"Professor Victor, with minimal mana consumption, perfectly disrupted Professor Snape's offensive rhythm! This is a victory of tactical wisdom!"

"This is also the most typical approach in field battles: to achieve the expected objective at the lowest possible cost, while leaving enough resources to deal with any potential troubles that may follow."

"The most common tactic is to conceal oneself, interfere with others' attacks, use low-powered spells to probe the opponent's strength, and then deliver the decisive blow after assessing their capabilities! Experienced wilderness adventurers are familiar with this strategy."

As Professor Flitwick explained, the young wizards exclaimed in amazement.

He then recovered from the disappointment of never seeing the two use powerful spells to fight each other.

They began to observe the duel between the two on the stage more attentively.

The young wizards were dazzled, especially the lower-grade students, who could hardly keep up with the ever-changing offensive and defensive maneuvers.

Ron's mouth gaped open, while Hermione frantically jotted something down, muttering to herself.

"...Minimizing environmental utilization while maximizing interference...Is this the difference between a field dueling wizard and a traditional dueling wizard? I need to find some relevant books when I get back..."

Snape steadied himself, his face expressionless, but his dark eyes seemed to burn with a cold flame.

The interrupted anger transformed into a more solidified magic.

Instead of trying to dispel the remaining mist, he suddenly slammed his wand into the ground!

"Bang!"

Centered on the spot where the tip of his staff touched, a ring of dark red flames, carrying the scent of sulfur, suddenly spread out!

The flames weren't high, but they carried scorching heat and a powerful impact.

It instantly evaporated the remaining mist completely.

It also swept towards Viktor like ripples, forcing him to no longer be able to hide under the cover of mist.

"A fiery inferno combining with Transfiguration! Area-of-effect clearing spell!"

Flitwick's voice was tinged with excitement as he watched this scene.

"Professor Snape was enraged and began to resort to more oppressive methods!"

As the flames swept over, Victor did not retreat, but instead took a step forward.

The wand quickly drew a triangle in front of him, and a crystal-clear ice wall instantly rose from the ground, blocking the flame ripples.

The clash of ice and fire produced a loud hissing sound and billowed up a large cloud of white mist. But the ice wall quickly thinned and melted.

Just as the ice wall was about to collapse, Victor's figure suddenly emerged from behind the rising steam.

Instead of pointing his wand at Snape, he suddenly raised it high above his head, and a dazzling core of light burst forth from the tip of the wand.

"Lightning and thunder!"

It was as if a miniature sun exploded above the arena!

An intensely white light, accompanied by a deep yet earth-shattering thud, swept through the entire interior of the protective shield!

Without precautions, even with the filtering of this protective shield, it's impossible to catch a cold.

However, quite a few young wizards were still startled by the intense light that filled their vision and the slight vibration in their eardrums, causing them to gasp softly.

The protective shield flickered violently, filtering out most of the impact.

But the fleeting glimpse of "daylight" and the sense of dread that swept through my heart felt incredibly real.

"A unique, practical spell! Blinding light combined with sonic shock!" Frivi's voice was filled with awe.

"The perfect moment to interfere—the instant Professor Snape has exhausted his old tricks and his vision is slightly obscured by the moisture!"

As the bright light faded, Snape tilted his head, closed his eyes tightly for a moment, and then suddenly opened them, his eyes seemingly slightly moist.

His cheek muscles tensed, clearly enraged by this unexpected and effective "dirty trick."

He no longer pursued flashy, rapid combos; instead, he raised his wand and began to rapidly chant a low, obscure, and ominous incantation.

The surrounding air seemed to become thick and heavy, and a dark magical power began to gather around him.

It is clearly a spell that requires a short preparation time but is very powerful.

Why would Viktor give him time to prepare?

He quickly formed a simple hand seal with his left hand and pointed it towards Snape's feet in mid-air.

Spells can be cast with gestures, and the effects are immediate.

The smooth surface of the ring around where Snape stood instantly became as if it were covered with a thick, slippery layer of ice!

Snape's chanting was interrupted, he lost his balance and had to divert his magic to regain his footing.

Victor's right wand was already waving.

This time, the incantation was clear and carried a strange tone that resonated with the rhythms of nature.

"Dark clouds are gathering overhead!"

The moment the incantation was cast, the light and shadow on the arena suddenly changed!

Rolling dark clouds gathered from nothingness and quickly covered the "sky" beneath the protective shield.

Large raindrops pelted down, and the rain curtain instantly became dense.

Deep, simulated thunder rolled through the clouds, and blinding flashes of lightning occasionally tore through the dim sky, illuminating the two people on the arena in shifting light.

The sounds of wind, rain, and thunder intertwined, and a small yet incredibly realistic storm field descended upon the dueling arena!

"Weather Charm! Area Manipulation of the Celestials!" Professor Flitwick's scream reached its peak, and he almost jumped off his small platform.

"By Merlin! He has successfully simulated a storm in such a confined space, isolated by magical barriers! What incredible magical micromanagement and elemental affinity this requires! Incredible! Absolutely incredible!"

The entire arena was deathly silent. Only the sound of the pouring rain and muffled thunder could be clearly heard inside the ring.

All the young wizards, including the professors, stared in astonishment at the miracle created by magic.

Even Dumbledore's eyes, framed by his crescent-shaped lenses, flashed with surprise.

Rainwater flowed down the protective shield, and the two people on the stage were instantly soaked.

Snape's black robe clung to his body, his hair plastered to his pale forehead, and raindrops slid down his high nose and tightly pursed lips.

He stood in the rain, still as straight as a javelin, but his eyes, fixed on Viktor, were churning with unprecedentedly complex emotions.

Shock, utterly offended rage, apprehension at the powerful and unfamiliar magic, and a chilling excitement at having met your match.

He tried waving his wand, hoping to use a spell like "water and fire impervious" to dispel the rain.

But the rain seemed to be pulled by an invisible force; just as it was pushed aside, it fell from other angles.

The thunder and lightning continued to disturb his senses and concentration.

In this carefully crafted, completely unfavorable home-field environment created by his opponent, his swift and precise attack spells seemed out of place and their power was limited.

Viktor stood on the other side of the rain, equally soaked, but with a calm expression.

The wand in his hand glowed faintly, maintaining the weather spell that combined druidic magic.

Snape's chest heaved violently, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the wand turned white from the force.

He stared intently at Viktor, as if trying to see right through him with his gaze.

After a few breathless seconds of stalemate, he suddenly swung his wand down hard!

It wasn't an attack on Viktor, but rather a jet-black magical shockwave, radiating a chilling aura, that suddenly spread outwards from him!

Wherever it passed, the raindrops instantly froze into tiny ice particles, which then pattered to the ground.

The moisture in the air condensed into white frost, and even the surface of the arena was covered with a thin layer of ice.

This is not about dispelling, but about using extreme cold to confront and neutralize this windy and rainy region!

"Frost Nova! It's still an area-of-effect freezing spell combined with Polymorph!" Flitwick's voice was grave.

"Professor Snape has chosen an elemental counter! Using ice to create water! He's trying to dismantle Professor Victor's foundation of weather spells!"

"A truly spectacular exchange! Both professors showcased their superb spellcasting skills."

"Professor Snape's combination of Transfiguration Charms and spells, as well as his sustained control over the spells he released, were astonishing."

"Professor Victor's use of gesture-based spellcasting to assist in multicasting is equally admirable."

"Both of these spell techniques require the user to possess powerful magic and precise control over the spell!"

"If they can't force it, then St. Mungo's is the best place for those people."

The cold and wind clashed fiercely in the center of the arena, hissing and sending up plumes of white mist.

The rain from the weather charm had noticeably lessened, but Victor's wand glow remained steady, and the dark clouds did not disperse.

Even during the confrontation, the dark clouds seemed to grow even more gloomy.

The flashes of lightning became increasingly frequent.

Just as the magic they had accumulated was about to erupt.

A gentle yet undeniable voice pierced through all the noise.

"That demonstration is excellent enough."

Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and gently waved the elder wand in his hand.

His voice wasn't loud, but it strangely calmed the restless atmosphere and quickly quelled the chill and storm of the confrontation.

The dark clouds dispersed, the rain stopped, the thunder ceased, and the frost melted. Apart from the wet ground and the two dripping wizards on the arena, it was as if the minor natural disaster had never happened.

Snape gasped for breath, whether from exhaustion of magic or displeasure at Dumbledore's interference, it was hard to tell.

After glaring at Victor, he abruptly tossed aside his soaked, no-longer-flowing black robe and waved his wand to cast a drying spell.

Then he turned and strode away, each step splashing water and creating an almost tangible low pressure as he quickly disappeared into the shadows of the entrance.

Viktor also slowly exhaled, his forehead dripping with water, his face slightly pale.

Clearly, maintaining the Dark Cloud Spell without the aid of nature, while simultaneously preparing a Lightning Spell, would be quite taxing on him.

He also waved his wand to dry himself, bowed slightly to Dumbledore, and nodded to the overjoyed Professor Flitwick.

"A landmark demonstration of dueling!" Professor Flitwick's voice was still trembling, but it was full of professorial enthusiasm for summarizing.

"Professor Snape demonstrated to us the overwhelming power of extreme casting speed, precise strikes, and devastating magic!"

"Professor Victor demonstrated how to use tactical wisdom, environmental control, original spells, and exquisite multi-magical combinations to cope with and even counter this oppression!"

"The art of dueling is diverse! Children, what you are seeing today are two completely different, yet both supremely accomplished, philosophies of dueling!"

Applause, unprecedentedly enthusiastic applause, mixed with excited screams, whistles and excited discussions, swept through the entire auditorium like a tsunami.

The young wizards were so excited that their faces turned red, and they clapped their hands so hard that they didn't even feel the pain.

Harley, Ron, and Hermione were also drumming hard.

All that remained between Harley and Ron was pure adoration and excitement.

In Hermione's eyes, besides the shock, there was also an endless stream of questions and a burning desire to explore.