Hogwarts' Golden Glory

"Professor Black!" Lockhart suddenly jumped out from behind the podium, his robes still covered in chalk dust.

"As a recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, I must point out that—teacher-student sparring is a serious violation of educational principles!"

A chorus of boos erupted in the classroom.

Because they also wanted to see Kane and Sirius face off.

Sirius lazily twirled his wand: "Gidero, you're not worried about yourself, are you...?"

"Me? What's wrong with me? I'm probably worried..."

Lockhart suddenly straightened his chest and stroked a beard that didn't exist.

"I'm worried that you... uh... former... lack control over magic."

He raised his wand and gestured, "How about I demonstrate how to better compete with students?"

A hint of mockery flashed across Kane's gold-rimmed glasses: "It would be an honor, Professor."

"Should I stand with my back to you? That would be more in line with...safety regulations."

Several Slytherin students were shaking with suppressed laughter.

Lockhart pretended not to hear and drew an exaggerated circle in the air with his wand: "Watch my standard pose! It's described in detail in my personal notebook, 'One Hundred Perfect Spellcasting Techniques'..."

"Disarm you!"

Before Lockhart could finish his incantation, Kane flicked his wand lightly.

"I'm sorry, Professor," Kane said, his tone colder than the ice of the Arctic.

"Your swing was so perfect, I thought it was the signal to officially begin."

Draco covered his mouth and laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

Lockhart's face turned a deep purplish-red, and the veins on his forehead throbbed like earthworms.

"This...this is just a warm-up!" He swung his wrist, forcing a signature smile.

"As I mentioned in my book 'The Art of Turning Defeat into Victory,' true masters of dueling always probe their opponents first..."

"Eliminate your weapon."

This time, Kane didn't even wait for him to finish speaking.

The silver-blue spell lashed through the air like a whip, striking Lockhart precisely on the gemstone ring on his right index finger.

That "anti-curse ring" that he often showed off at autograph sessions.

The ring exploded into a burst of green sparks, and Lockhart's wand spun towards the ceiling, where Kane easily caught it with his left hand.

The entire classroom was completely silent.

Lockhart stood frozen in place, his right hand still in the position of holding the cane, but now the space was empty.

His lips trembled, like a goldfish out of water.

Hermione's voice was filled with disbelief, "So fast! And... and you broke their protective ring first..."

"Oh!" Lockhart suddenly shouted, startling everyone.

"My tactical bracelet!" He frantically rolled up his sleeves, revealing a smoking bronze bracelet. "This was unearthed from the tomb of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh... priceless..."

Kane adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses: "If it's genuine, it should be able to withstand curses that aren't too powerful."

He looked meaningfully at the crudely made bracelet. "If it's a counterfeit... you can buy it in Diagon Alley for three Galleons."

Ron chuckled and quickly pretended to cough to cover it up.

Lockhart looked as if he had been stripped naked in public, and even his signature blond hair seemed to have dimmed.

Sirius whistled loudly: "Looks like our star professor needs... uh... a break."

Lockhart staggered back two steps, his face burning with embarrassment at the sight of everyone's reaction.

He looked down at his smoking "ancient Egyptian bracelet".

He had bargained down the price to two gallons at an antique dealer in Diagon Alley years ago.

"Ahem...As an educator..."

Lockhart suddenly straightened up, his blond hair flashing suspiciously in the sunlight.

"Everything I did just now was to help you better understand the spell!"

"I believe we should give young people more opportunities to showcase their talents!"

He turned around abruptly, his peacock blue robe billowing in the wind.

"Professor Blake! As a teaching assistant, now is your turn..."

Sirius Black leaned against the wall, a silver dagger gleaming between his fingers: "I thought the members of Ser Merlin's Order would be more... durable?"

Laughter erupted in the classroom. Pansy Parkinson's laughter was particularly jarring, and Draco even clapped.

Lockhart's face showed no reaction; he remained smiling.

"Professional duels emphasize tactical rotation!" Lockhart forced a smile.

Suddenly, he grabbed Sirius's arm and pushed him toward the ring.

"I emphasized this in particular in my book, *The Art of Teamwork*!"

Harry noticed that the Godfather's muscles tensed instantly when he was touched.

But to everyone's surprise, Sirius obediently stood on the other side of the ring.

He slowly rolled up his sleeves, revealing the hideous scars left by Azkaban on his forearm.

"Since Gilderoy has extended such a generous invitation..." Sirius's gray eyes flashed with a dangerous light.

"Let's see what the Malfoy family's books have taught you."

Sirius Black is more interested in targeting Kane than Lockhart!

"It's an honor, Professor."

Kane's voice was colder than the stones of the cellar. "Do you need me to limit the spell's power?"

This statement ignited a powder keg.

The students in the classroom gasped!

This guy is way too arrogant. Does he really think he can beat the professor?

Sirius suddenly grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Save your sentimentality, kid. Back when Psylocke and I were your age, the three of us together could take down an adult troll with a Stunning Charm."

At that moment, Hermione raised her hand!

"Professor! Kane also knocked out an adult troll last year!"

These words instantly froze the atmosphere in the room.

Even Sirius Black turned his gaze toward Harry, who was closest to him.

Until Harry nodded!

He then put aside his contempt for the other party and decided that he could not underestimate this little wizard!

"Alright, playtime is over." Sirius suddenly said seriously, a dangerous glint in his gray eyes.

"Now let's see..." He slowly rolled up his sleeves, revealing the hideous scars on his arm, "...what real combat looks like."

The two stood at opposite ends of the ring.

Sirius casually flicked his wand, and a few sparks flew from the tip of the cypress wood.

Kane held his wand upright in front of his chest, as solemnly as if he were holding a sword—Harry recognized this as the starting gesture of classic dueling etiquette.

This is the dueling etiquette that Professor Flitwick taught Kane!

"Three, two, one!"

"Ironclad Protection!"

Sirius Black quickly donned an Auror-level protective shield for himself, the translucent silver shield inscribed with ancient runes.

Kane did not attack immediately.

He moved slowly, like a viper observing its prey, the tip of his wand leaving a trail of silver-blue light.

Those streaks of light formed intricate three-dimensional runes in the air, gradually creating a three-dimensional deconstruction of the Ironclad Spell—every magical node was clearly visible.