My partner at Hogwarts is Tom

As the applause subsided, Victor gently waved his wand.

A warm, dry airflow swept across the entire arena, instantly evaporating any remaining moisture on the ground and in the air, leaving no trace of dampness.

The arena was clean and dry again, as if the terrifying downpour had never happened.

Professor Flitwick jumped off his little golden platform, his face still flushed with excitement.

Just then, a dark figure reappeared from the shadows of the entrance.

Professor Snape returned, his expression even more somber than when he left, his oppressive aura almost tangible.

He walked to the edge of the ring, glanced at Victor who was cleaning up the scene, then looked at Flitwick, pursed his lips, and said nothing, but his posture there made his presence known.

Victor didn't seem surprised. After cleaning the arena, he turned to face the still excited young wizards below.

Professor Flitwick naturally stood to his left, while Snape stood a little further away, expressionless, at the edge of the ring.

"Quiet down, children." Victor's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the auditorium.

The young wizards quickly quieted down, their eyes fixed intently on the three professors on the stage.

The two have just demonstrated extraordinary dueling skills, while the other is a recognized dueling champion.

"As you can see," Viktor continued, his gaze sweeping over the young faces.

"The Duel Club is not Professor Lockhart's idea alone; it will be a long-term, formal school activity aimed at improving everyone's combat and self-defense skills."

Viktor's words completely ignored Lockhart, who was trying to tidy his appearance in the corner, his face turning red and white, as if the "initiator" was just a background figure.

"Therefore, from this day forward, the Hogwarts Duel Club will be jointly guided and supervised by myself, Victor Scamander, Professor Filius Flitwick, and Professor Severus Snape."

"Wow--!!!"

An even louder cheer erupted, especially when the young wizards heard that Snape's name had also been added to the list of professors in charge; their reaction was even more enthusiastic.

Although it was mixed with a lot of awe and surprise.

With a true dueling champion and two professors of unfathomable strength in charge, the club's prestige has skyrocketed!

As for Lockhart? Who remembers what he just said?

Faced with that magical and artistic duel just now, his fancy moves had long been forgotten.

Viktor raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet again.

"The club welcomes students from all grades and all colleges. Even if you don't plan to join long-term, you can come and observe or participate in activities whenever you're interested." He pointed to one side of the Great Hall with his wand.

"This main ring, along with two smaller practice rings, will be permanently placed on the vacant lot next to the Quidditch pitch. The club will organize official duels every month."

The young wizards' eyes lit up even more when they heard "competition".

"The competition is divided into three formats: individual duels, two-person partner duels, and five-person team duels," Victor explained in detail.

"In addition to the honor, the winner will also gain bonus points for their college and have the opportunity to receive additional guidance from the professor in charge."

"However," he said, his tone becoming serious and his gaze sharpening.

"The most important point I must emphasize, and I hope everyone keeps in mind, is that the purpose of the Duel Club is to help everyone learn how to fight against dark magic, protect themselves and others, and hone their ability and wisdom to use magic under pressure."

"This is not a place for you to settle personal scores, vent your emotions, or flaunt your violence!"

The hall fell silent as the young wizards listened attentively.

"Therefore, the rules are crucial," Victor said firmly.

"The first rule, and the bottom line: During a duel, the use of stun spells or higher-level lethal spells is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, spells that can cause serious harm, such as shattering spells, cutting spells, and poison spells."

"Practical functional spells such as disarming charms, binding charms, and obstacle charms, as well as transfiguration spells, are not absolutely restricted, but the caster must have sufficient control to stop immediately before causing any substantial harm to the opponent."

"Professors Flitwick and Snape, as well as any professors on duty that night, have the right to interrupt the dangerous duel at any time and to severely punish violators, including but not limited to point deductions, suspensions, or even solitary confinement."

Professor Flitwick nodded seriously, while Snape let out a soft snort, seemingly agreeing with the necessity of the rule.

"Secondly, the safety procedures," Victor continued.

"Anyone who wants to engage in formal duels or high-intensity practice must apply to the 'Duel Club Security Team' in advance and obtain approval to use the designated venue."

"Before stepping onto the stage, duelists must wear the protective helmets and anti-magic contact lenses we provide."

He waved his wand, and several silver-gray helmets with cushioned linings and transparent masks, as well as several pairs of glasses that looked like ordinary glasses but with slightly reflective lenses, appeared at the edge of the ring.

"The security team will be guarded by our hunting grounds, Mr. Rupert Hagrid," Victor said, looking toward the stands.

"And the student union presidents and class leaders of each college also serve as members."

Hagrid, sitting in the stands, stood up excitedly. His huge body was like a small mountain. He waved his hairy hands vigorously, and his loud voice was choked with emotion.

"Don't worry! Leave it to me! I will make sure no child gets hurt!"

The young wizards gave him a round of applause and cheers. Hagrid's face was hidden in his thick beard, but his eyes were clearly moist.

"The third point is the points system and competition rules," Victor continued after a brief pause in the applause.

"To encourage healthy competition, we have introduced a points system. Each person is only allowed to initiate one formal duel challenge per day, and it must be agreed upon by both parties before it can begin."

"The winner receives 3 points, a draw results in 1 point for each team, and the loser loses 1 point. However, please note that points are only awarded or deducted when challenging students of the same or higher grade. Challenges to students of lower grade do not count towards points, regardless of the outcome."

He paused, looking at the thoughtful children below the stage.

"A month before the end of the semester, we will select the top eight students in each grade based on their total points. They will receive special rewards and honors. Of course," he changed the subject.

"To prevent people from exploiting loopholes to 'farm points,' we've added some restrictions to the points rules. For example, it's prohibited to challenge the same loser repeatedly."

"Within reasonable limits, the challenged party has the right to refuse without penalty; specific details will be posted on the bulletin board of each college's common room later, please read them carefully."

"Rule number four: Respect the referee." Victor's gaze swept across the entire room, lingering for a moment longer on the faces of several students known for their mischief.

"The decision of the referee must be strictly obeyed during the duel. If there is any objection to the ruling, an arbitration application can be submitted to the professor in charge of duty that night after the duel."

"But once the arbitration result is made, it is final and cannot be changed. Defiing the authority of the referee will result in an immediate suspension and a significant deduction of college points."

After explaining all the rules, Viktor relaxed his serious expression slightly, and his voice softened.

"The rules may seem a bit complicated, but their sole purpose is to ensure everyone's safety and to keep the club on a healthy and positive track."

"I hope that here you learn more than just spells and techniques; you learn self-reliance, respect, tactical thinking, and the ability to remain calm and make sound judgments in a crisis. These are the things that can truly protect you from the darkness."

He paused for a moment, then said, "The Duel Club will officially open for registration and venue reservations next week."

"The specific time and procedure will also be announced through the bulletin board. That concludes tonight's demonstration and explanation. Thank you for your participation."

After a brief silence, even more enthusiastic and prolonged applause and cheers once again filled the auditorium.

The young wizards chatted excitedly, discussing the duel they had just fought and the newly announced rules, their eyes sparkling with anticipation for the upcoming club activities.

Harley, Ron, and Hermione clapped enthusiastically.

Ron has already started fantasizing about winning points and becoming one of the top eight in his grade.

Hermione quickly started thinking about which books on dueling tactics, rules, and strategies she should consult.

Harley looked at the three professors on the stage: Victor's composure, Flitwick's excitement, and Snape's gloom.

For the first time, I had a clear and concrete longing for "learning to fight".

In a corner of the auditorium, Gilderoy Lockhart stood alone in the shadows, his signature smile frozen in place.

His attempt to attract the attention of a few passing students was in vain.

But everyone was engrossed in discussing the dueling club, the three professors, and those cool spells, and no one gave him another glance.

His meticulously planned "Duel Club," which was supposed to be his personal showcase, was utterly rendered insignificant in the face of true skill and the rules.