"First of all, duel etiquette is essential."

The two men bowed to each other... at least Lockhart bowed, and his hands moved in various ways.

Kyle had seen Professor Flitwick demonstrate standard dueling etiquette at the Charms Club... well, it had nothing to do with Lockhart's moves.

Especially those fancy hand movements, 99% of which were useless... or rather, they were simply made up by Lockhart himself.

Anyone who dares to do this kind of thing on a real duel stage will definitely be talked about for the rest of his life.

But at Hogwarts School, it doesn't matter.

Lockhart's cool little combo even won a lot of applause from the crowd.

But three seconds later...

"Expelliarmus!"

With a flash of blinding red light, Lockhart flew backwards across the stage, hit the wall, and slid down, curling up on the floor, holding his stomach.

His wand swirled toward Snape.

But Snape had no intention of catching it. He didn't even look at it and let it fly into the crowd behind him.

The Slytherins began to applaud.

Lockhart got up from the ground and began to mumble various excuses.

The floor is too soft and uncomfortable to step on...

The cheers around him distracted him...

The color of the sky is too depressing...

In short, it’s a matter of venue and has nothing to do with strength. If he changed places, he would definitely win.

"I have to say, Lockhart's reaction is quite quick." Qiu covered his mouth and laughed, "He was able to come up with so many excuses in just a few seconds."

"It's also a talent." Cedric replied with a smile.

A month into the semester they had already figured out that Lockhart was just a showpiece.

Although I don't know how he accomplished all the experiences in the book, just looking at his performance in school, he is not even as good as Quirrell last year.

At least Quirrell could answer most of the students' questions.

At this time, Lockhart had finished his excuse and ended his demonstration with Snape looking murderous.

"Thank you, Miss Brown."

He took his wand and continued, "Now I am going to divide you into pairs, Professor Snape, if you are willing to help me..."

Snape said nothing, turned around and walked off the stage, which was considered as his agreement.

They walked through the crowd, pairing people up.

Soon, Lockhart came in front of Kyle and his companions.

"How about the two ladies together..."

Cho and Connor were grouped together, followed by Fred and George.

Cedric originally wanted to be in a group with Kyle, but Lockhart thought it was unfair that he was a year older, so he dragged Mikel over.

Kyle's eye twitched.

"Professor, I think..."

Just as he was about to say something, a sinister voice came from the side.

"I think it's unfair for a man who has defeated a werewolf and received the Order of Merlin, Second Class, to be forced to duel with someone of the same grade."

Snape drawled out, "As the youngest member of Merlin's Order, an ordinary sixth-year student, this shouldn't bother you."

Lockhart hesitated, "But Professor Snape, fighting across three grades... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Kyle also showed an embarrassment, but in fact, he was almost laughing like crazy in his heart.

If there was one person in the whole school that Kyle least wanted to duel with, it would undoubtedly be Mikel... He would even rank ahead of Dumbledore and Snape.

The only thing he had no chance of winning in a duel with the professor was that at least he could come back alive...but that wasn't necessarily the case with Mikkel.

His control over magic is the biggest destabilizing factor... Kyle still remembers the illumination spell that made everyone's eyes light up in the first grade.

Although Professor Sprout has corrected this problem, Kyle doesn't dare to bet...

What if during the duel, he gets so excited that he forgets everything he learned before? Kyle doesn't want to face the "forbidden spell" version of Expelliarmus.

But now the problem is solved.

Professor Snape... is indeed a good person who cares about his students! Fearing that he might change his mind, Kyle hesitated for only a second before immediately saying, "If this is your arrangement, Professor... I can give it a try."

"Very good." Snape said coldly, "Flint, come here and show us how different the members of the famous Merlin's Order are."

During the Quidditch match last year, he had disliked Kyle and wanted to teach him a lesson, but he never found the opportunity.

I didn’t expect that this wish would come true here.

"I will definitely take good care of you." He grinned, showing a cruel smile.

Behind him, several Slytherin players also burst into laughter.

Kyle smiled as well, very gently and seemingly harmless.

"Tsk tsk tsk..." Fred suddenly whispered to Ginny, "Don't get so close later, or you'll get splashed with blood."

"It seems that Flint likes the school hospital very much." George also shook his head and said, "He just got out of the hospital and he wants to go back and take a look."

"You must be mistaken." Ginny said worriedly, "Although Kyle has good grades, Flint is in the sixth grade!"

"Ginny, you've just started school, and there are many things you don't know."

George patted her shoulder and said, "Trust me, you won't think so in a while."

After everyone had found their partners, Lockhart returned to the stage.

"Face your partners," he shouted. "Bow!"

"Release the magic when I count to three. Remember, it can only disarm weapons..."

Everyone did as they were told, but the following duel was completely beyond Lockhart's expectations.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten what he had just said.

In the auditorium, various spells came one after another, and colorful lights looked like fireworks.

Some lower grade students even threw away their wands after symbolically casting two spells and started fighting with their fists.

The same thing happened to Marcus Flint, who unceremoniously cast a vicious curse on Kyle.

“Hot and sizzling!”

"Armor protects you!"

A beam of red light was less than two inches away from Kyle when it was suddenly bounced back.

"Skull swelling..."

Marcus Flint, who was preparing the second evil curse, had no time to dodge and was hit in the stomach by the red light.

"I said, just disarm!" Lockhart shouted in horror to the fighting crowd.

Marcus Flint fell to his knees. He was hit by his own spell and large burn marks began to appear on his body. He rolled on the ground in pain.

On the stage, Snape watched the scene coldly.

Last year on the train, Kyle had skillfully used the Armor Protection Charm in front of many students, and that idiot Marcus was completely unprepared.

Had his brains just been fished out of Longbottom's cauldron?

Seeing Kyle extending his wand, Snape immediately took over Lockhart's power.

"Stop it all!" he shouted.

"Stop the curse immediately!"

A green smoke filled the air above the auditorium...and wherever the smoke passed, the effects of all spells disappeared.

Marcus Flint got up from the ground. Thinking of what had just happened, he raised his wand in shame and anger, ready to attack Kyle again.

But the person next to him grabbed him.

"Calm down, Professor Snape is watching you."

Noticing Snape's cold gaze on the stage, Marcus instantly came to his senses. He put down his wand, snorted coldly and left.

"That's it..." Fred pouted in disappointment, obviously not very satisfied with the result.

On the other side, Lockhart jumped around in the crowd, checking the aftermath of their duel...

"Stand up, McMillan... Damn it, your leg is broken... Miss Fawcett, squeeze it hard, the bleeding will stop soon... Boot..."

"I think you probably don't know what a duel means yet." Lockhart said in a panic, standing in the middle of the auditorium.

This was totally different from what he thought, the students were not obedient at all! "Perhaps I should demonstrate it to you again..." Lockhart glanced at Snape, then immediately looked away, "Who is willing to come up and demonstrate..."

Snape moved the fingers on his chest.

"Let's go!" Marcus ran over immediately, then turned around and looked at Kyle.

Seeing this, Kyle didn't hesitate and followed him onto the stage.

(End of this chapter)