# Snape
"You—stood up to Lockhart?"
Snape's tone was as cold as ever.
# Orli
"That day, he tried to give me an autographed photo. I told him I didn't want it and that I wasn't one of his admirers. I also said he... was rather full of himself."
Orli clutched her left shoulder, her voice steady despite the pain.
# Orli
"And then, during class, he deliberately injured me."
# Snape
"You are accusing a professor."
Snape's dark eyes flicked over her before he moved to sit behind his desk. Though his expression remained impassive, the oppressive tension in the office seemed to ease slightly.
# Orli
"Yes, but he was very discreet, and the marks are... unusual. I don't have any evidence."
As Orli explained, she reached up to tug at her collar, intending to show him the injury. But before her fingers could even touch the fabric, a sharp jolt of magic struck her arm.
# Snape
"Waters! Stop that at once!"
Snape snapped, his voice laced with frustration.
It was only then that Orli realized her mistake. Alone in the office with her male professor, she had been about to start pulling at her clothes. Her brain truly must have been ground into powder!
# Snape
"Now, go to the hospital wing immediately!"
With a flick of his wand, Snape sent Orli flying out of the office and into the corridor. The crescent-shaped wooden door slammed shut behind her with a resounding thud.
---
By the time Orli left the hospital wing, her shoulder was completely healed. As she passed through the entrance hall on her way back to Gryffindor Tower, she noticed a small crowd gathered around the noticeboard, reading a freshly pinned piece of parchment.
Seamus and Neville were at the front, while Harry and the others looked equally excited as they waved her over.
# Ron
"Our school's starting a dueling club!"
Ron exclaimed, his face lighting up.
# Ron
"The first meeting is tonight. Finally, we'll get to learn some proper dueling! I mean, it might actually come in handy someday..."
# Hermione
"Like when you and Malfoy arranged to meet in the trophy room?"
Hermione teased, her tone light but pointed.
Harry, too, seemed intrigued as he read the announcement.
# Harry
"It could be useful. Shall we go?"
# Orli
"Of course."
Orli nodded, thinking that learning more was always a good idea.
At eight o'clock that evening, they hurried to the Great Hall. The long dining tables had vanished, replaced by a golden stage along one wall, illuminated by hundreds of floating candles. The ceiling had once again transformed into a velvet-black sky. Nearly the entire student body had turned up, crowding together tightly. Everyone clutched their wands, faces alight with excitement.
Harry and Ron led the way, and the four of them squeezed sideways through the chattering crowd. As they passed a group of older Gryffindors, Ron couldn't resist stealthily wiping some pie crumbs from his fingers onto the back of Percy's robes.
# Harry
"I wonder who'll be teaching us."
Harry looked around curiously, his green eyes scanning the room.
# Hermione
"I heard Professor Flitwick was a dueling champion in his youth. Maybe it's him."
Hermione suggested, her tone hopeful.
# Harry
"As long as it's not—"
Harry's words turned into a groan as he spotted Lockhart stepping onto the stage, dressed in a garish magenta robe that gleamed under the candlelight. Standing beside him, like a looming shadow, was none other than Snape, clad in his usual black robes.
Lockhart raised a hand to quiet the crowd before shouting loudly:
# Lockhart
"Gather round! Can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me? Wonderful!"
# Lockhart
"So, Professor Dumbledore has graciously allowed me to start this little dueling club to train you all properly—just in case you ever need to defend yourselves..."
His voice automatically turned into a background hiss in Orli's ears. She glanced at Harry and the others, noticing they all wore the same skeptical expression: if they ever had to rely on Lockhart's methods for self-defense, they'd likely meet their end even faster.
# Lockhart
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape."
Lockhart announced, flashing a dazzling smile.
# Lockhart
"He volunteered to join us and has generously agreed to assist me with a little demonstration before we begin. Don't worry—I promise I'll return your Potions Master to you in one piece. No need to fret."