章節 123: Parselmouth
While Harry was paired with Malfoy, Hermione was paired with Daphne Greengrass, Matthew's goal was to expand his network of political connections in the Wizarding world. And this was a chance to gain a connection to the Grey faction over Hermione. As the students paired up some glared at each other, but many nodded politely to each other without ill will like Daphne and Hermione, or Cho and her partner Katie Bell from the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
"Face your partners!" called Matthew, as he stood on the platform above the crowd of Students. "And bow! This is after all only a friendly duel. And don't forget, try to disarm each other! Don't forget to dodge if possible."
Harry and Malfoy barely inclined their heads, not taking their eyes off each other. The tension between both of them was unmissable.
"Get your Wands ready!" shouted Matthew. "When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents — only to disarm them — we don't want any accidents — one... two... three —" Meanwhile he put his attention on Harry and Malfoy.
Harry swung his wand high, but Malfoy had already started on "two": His spell hit Harry so hard he felt as though he'd been hit over the head with a saucepan. He stumbled, but everything still seemed to be working, and wasting no more time, Harry pointed his wand straight at Malfoy and shouted, "Rictusempra!"
A jet of silver light hit Malfoy in the stomach and he doubled up, wheezing.
"Well this doesn't look like disarming to me…" said Matthew in direction of Malfoy and Harry, while the rest of the Students continued Battling. But the Rivals ignored him as expected. Malfoy sank to his knees; Harry had hit him with a Tickling Charm, and he could barely move for laughing. While Harry did show his naivety through Sportsmanship and didn't attack Malfoy on the floor, this turned out as a mistake; gasping for breath, Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry's knees, choked, "Tarantallegra!" and the next second Harry's legs began to jerk around out of his control in a kind of quickstep.
At this point Matthew had to intervene, he canceled the spell on Harry with a point of his wand. Harry's feet stopped dancing, Malfoy stopped laughing, and they were able to look up.
Well, the whole great hall was in Chaos. The Great Hall was a battlefield, students lay on the floor, somewhere even unconscious while a haze of greenish smoke was hovering over the scene. But some students did well and followed instructions and kept it to only disarming like Hermione and Daphne. They both stood facing each other and stopped attacking once Matthew broke up the fights.
"Well that was chaotic… what about only disarming did you misunderstand?" asked Matthew as he revived some Students that lay unconscious on the floor and helped them up. "Maybe it's better if we have only one Duel at the same time on the stage. Harry and Malfoy, both of you seemed very eager to fight each other. How about you show us your skills on the stage. Up you go!" he said.
Harry and Malfoy headed up the Stage and faced each other on opposite ends. "So let's see the shield charm is Protego. There are generally two ways to use it. The first is as a shield around yourself but it costs a lot of energy. Like this." He showed the Charm, "The other method is like this to use it to deflect spells. Which conserves much more of your energy. One of the weaknesses of the Protego Spell is that it only blocks Spell. It isn't able to block projectiles or summons." Explained Matthew. At the Last part, Malfoy's eyes began to glitter ominously.
"Let's see what you make out of it. Don't forget just dodging is more efficient and easier. Let's see what you make of it. Ready? Three — two — one — go!" he shouted.
Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, "Serpensortia!"
The end of his wand exploded. The hall watched, as a long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between Harry and Malfoy, and raised itself, ready to strike. There were screams as the crowd backed swiftly away, clearing the floor.
Just a few moments before Matthew activated a Rune Revival Spell he placed beforehand on Lockhart. As the Professor woke up he just witnessed Malfoy summoning the snake, and with his acting skills, he was able to regain his bearings, forgetting that he was unconscious.
"Good idea Mr. Malfoy. That is an effective way to bypass a shield Charm. Although a more experienced Wizard can easily take care of it. Let me demonstrate it." Said Matthew but at that moment he got interrupted.
Allow me!" shouted Lockhart who didn't want to miss the opportunity to gain importance again. He brandished his wand at the snake and there was a loud bang; the snake, instead of vanishing, flew ten feet into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud smack. Enraged, hissing furiously, it slithered straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley and raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to strike.
'Perfect.' Mused Matthew as he watched the Situation unfold.
Just at this moment, Harry walked in direction of the Snake-like he was in trance and began to speak to it in Parseltongue, the only beings understanding him were Matthew and the Snake itself.
§Leave him alone!§ And miraculously — inexplicably — the snake slumped to the floor, docile as a thick, black garden hose, its eyes now on Harry. Harry visibly relaxed. Matthew felt the Snake wouldn't attack Harry, this seemed to be an additional Sense only a Parselmouth had. Some kind of empathy towards snakes, that was probably why Harry also relaxed at that moment.
Harry looked up at Justin, grinning, probably expecting to see Justin looking relieved, or puzzled, or even grateful — but certainly not angry and scared.
"What do you think you're playing at?" he shouted, and before Harry could say anything, Justin had turned and stormed out of the hall.
This was the moment when Matthew decided to step forward and send the snake back to where it was conjured from. Before he addressed the Hall. "I think it's time to end the dueling Club for today. Don't you think so Professor?" addressed Matthew the confused Professor who just nodded flabbergasted.
"Harry stay behind for a moment." Said Matthew as the Students left the hall making a bow around Harry as if they were scared of him. Not only Harry stayed behind but also Ron, Hermione, and also Cho.
"Professor thank you for your Lessons today. We will also take our leave for today. You maybe should report to the Headmaster how the Club went today. Don't you think so?" Said Matthew as he let the group out of the Great Hall, only seeing that the Professor just nodded before returning through the Teacher Entrance. While Harry was confused neither Ron, Hermione or Cho said something to him. Matthew led them to an empty classroom where they could talk without interruption.
"Well, that was a shocker." Chuckled Matthew, "Based on your expression I would dare you to have no idea what just happened in the Great Hall and why everyone is reacting so shocked."
"Yes, why was everyone so shocked?" asked Harry as his emerald green eyes wandered over the people present in the Room.
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