HP: She married Malfoy after becoming an exchange student.

A new poster appeared on the Hogwarts bulletin board, with the following words written in gleaming gold ink:

Duel Club

Taught personally by Professor Lockhart! Master the art of self-protection!

By eight o'clock that evening, the auditorium had been transformed. The four long college tables had been moved away, and a huge golden stage had sprung up along the wall, crackling and popping as charcoal burned around it. Almost all the students had arrived, and the auditorium was packed with heads.

Lockhart stood on the stage, wearing a deep violet robe with an intricate gold lace trim at the collar. He leaned slightly to one side, a confident smile on his face revealing his gleaming white teeth.

"Good evening, everyone, please be quiet!" Harold opened his arms as if embracing the entire hall. "In light of recent unfortunate events, Headmaster Dumbledore has permitted me to establish this dueling club. Its purpose is to train you so that you can protect yourselves when necessary. On this point, I think I need not elaborate; you can learn from my published works..."

Snape emerged from the side of the stage, his black robes billowing, exuding a chilling aura. He stood behind Lockhart, his face expressionless as he looked down at the audience.

Lockhart seemed oblivious to the chill, his smile undiminished: "Let me introduce my assistant—Professor Snape. He knows a little about dueling and has generously agreed to assist me with a small demonstration before the event begins."

Harold waved his hand smugly: "Children, don't be afraid. After the demonstration, I'll return your Potions lessons to you in perfect condition!"

Snape's lips twitched slightly.

The young wizards in the audience were the first to erupt in excitement, genuinely admiring Harold:

"How dare he!"

"Merlin, that's Snape!"

"He'll regret it!"

Dracoza frowned in the crowd, recalling the terrible performance of this "Sir Merlin, Third Class" in class. Harold clearly couldn't even handle a Cornish elf!

Thinking this, Draco Elias leaned forward: "I bet he'll get sent flying by Professor Snape! Flying him away!" Draco shook his head as he spoke: "A guy who's afraid of house-elves, huh."

"You're right," Elias agreed with his point of view.

On the dueling platform:

Snape and Harold turned to face each other, bowed, and then assumed a spellcasting posture:

"Three, two,..."

"Disarm you!"

Before Lockhart could finish counting to "one," a dazzling silver light exploded with a "bang." Lockhart was sent flying, crashing into the wall opposite the stage, and slid down in a disheveled state, his robe crumpled. He struggled to his feet, his robe catching on his heel, causing him to stumble again.

Laughter erupted from the audience. Hermione covered her mouth, while Ron laughed so hard he almost fell over.

"Well done, Professor Snape." Harold quickly got up, tidied his disheveled hair, and didn't forget to save face: "If it weren't for demonstrating the effect to the children, stopping you would have been a piece of cake!"

Snape smiled. "Oh, that would be best."

"Anyway, the demonstration is over." Harold cleared his throat. "Now, we need two volunteers to come up and practice. Who wants to go first?"

The audience fell silent; no one raised their hand.

Harold glanced around. "Harry Potter! You come here!"

Harry got up and walked toward the dueling ring.

Upon hearing this name, all the Slytherins turned their gazes to Draco.

Draco slightly raised his chin, about to get up—

A hand rested on his forearm.

"I'll do it," Elias said in a low voice.

Draco glanced at him. Elias had already released his grip and was walking towards the stage. His long, silver-grey hair gleamed coldly in the candlelight, and the hem of his robe swayed gently with each step.

Pansy and Daphne exchanged a knowing glance, while Blaise raised an eyebrow and gave a soft "Hmm?". Goyle and Crabbe, on the other hand, were filled with excitement, convinced that Potter was about to get a good beating.

Draco watched Elias's retreating figure, a smirk playing on his lips. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his eyes gleaming.

Elias walked to the front, and the crowd parted automatically like the receding tide. Lockhart's eyes lit up: "This is—Mr. Reinhardt! Very good, please come up!"

Elias stopped opposite Harry. Harry's head was slightly lowered; from his angle, he could only see Elias's long legs and the hem of his magnificent robes. He looked up, meeting the German's silver eyes, and gripped his wand tighter.

"Wait until I count to three—" Lockhart gestured back and forth between the two.

"One," Snape began.

"two."

"three."

Harry struck first: "Disarm you!"

The silver light shot straight towards Elias's wand. Elias slightly tilted his wrist, the wand spinning half a circle in his palm, the silver light grazing the wand.

Harry didn't stop: "Petrify them all!"

Elias took half a step to the left, the spell gliding past his side.

A low murmur arose from the audience. Draco leaned out, staring intently at the two on stage.

Harry raised his wand for the third time. This time, Elias made his move. A precise silver flash appeared at the tip of the wand.

"Eliminate your weapon."

The spell struck Harry's wand. The wand flew from Harry's hand, landed on the other side of the stage, bounced twice, and rolled to the edge.

The entire room fell silent for a moment.

The Slytherin team erupted in applause. Flint cheered loudly, while Crabbe and Goyle clapped their hands憨厚ly.

Elias put away his wand, turned and walked off the stage, returning to his seat. His expression remained unchanged, as if he hadn't been the one who had just knocked someone's wand away.

Draco turned to the side, grabbed Elias's sleeve, and forced him to look at him. His grey-blue eyes were like a lake, and his voice was filled with a signal of joy: "Well done."

Elias looked at him, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. "Well, whatever makes you happy."

Harry Potter was still standing awkwardly on the stage.

Lockhart quickly stepped in to smooth things over, afraid of an awkward silence: "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Mr. Reinhardt demonstrated what composure truly means—and of course, Potter's attack was also very energetic!"

Lockhart paused, his eyes darting around, "Next, I'll demonstrate how to deal with snakes, which is one of my specialties. In the book 'Sailing with Vampires'..."

He waved his wand, and with a "bang," a thick black snake appeared in the center of the stage. Its scales gleamed coldly in the candlelight, its head held high, its scarlet tongue flickering nervously.

A gasp went up from the audience.

"Don't panic!" Lockhart raised his wand, aiming it at the black snake. "Watch me—"

"Soaring to the heavens on wings!"

A beam of golden light shot out and struck the snake. Instead of being subdued, the snake was enraged. It sprang forward and lunged at the nearest group of people—directed by Justin Finley of Hufflepuff.

Screams erupted. Justin turned pale with fright and froze on the spot.

Just as the snake's head was about to bite down—

"Don't move!"

Harry's wand pointed at the black snake.

The snake stopped moving.

It hovered in mid-air, slowly retracting its body and obediently returning to the stage.

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone was looking at Harry. He had just made a hissing sound, like a snake flicking its tongue.

Snake-like voice.

The discussion spread like wildfire.

Snape stepped forward, waved his wand, and the black snake vanished in a wisp of silver smoke. His voice was cold and calm: "That's all for tonight's club activities. Everyone back to your dorms."

The crowd began to disperse, but the chatter continued.

Draco stood up and glanced at Elias.

"Let's go," Elias said.

The two walked out of the hall side by side. Behind them, Harry Potter was still standing at the edge of the stage, his face fixed in place by everyone's gaze.