Chapter 205: The Seventeenth Dueling Lesson of Flitwick

For young wizards at Hogwarts, the Dueling class held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month was not just a class but a grand competitive social event that invigorated both the body and mind.

In the eyes of many, this class had the potential to rival even Quidditch matches. At least here, they could actively participate instead of being mere spectators on the field.

The Great Hall was bustling with people. Before the professor arrived, students gathered in small groups, engaging in spirited conversations. Harry saw Percy enthusiastically recounting how he achieved twelve OWLs certificates, and Hermione's eyes lit up beside him.

"I'll be back in a moment," Hermione told Harry and Ron.

They watched as she navigated through the crowd, speaking in hushed tones to someone. Percy, who was nearby, initially paid little attention, but his eyes soon widened. The twins quickly moved past the crowd and headed toward a corner of the hall where four long tables were arranged.

As they passed the twins, Percy stopped to warn them, "I don't know how you managed to evade my sight, maybe you used a tracking spell or something—"

The twins exchanged a glance, and Fred winked, saying, "Did you hear that, George? A tracking spell... What a productive day it's been!"

George made an exaggerated bow, hand placed behind his back. "Noble behavior, Percy! Just to contribute to the grand mischief-making cause, we'll make sure to leave you with a name."

"About as big as a palm—"

"No, the size of a badge will do. We'll just write 'Big-Headed Boy,' and it'll be crystal clear."

Harry chuckled softly from a distance. Quickly shifting his gaze, he looked at Ginny beside him. Her face turned quickly red, seemingly as though she might faint into the arms of her good friend, Luna Lovegood.

"Do you need me to tell you a cheesy joke?" Luna said, her wide eyes staring off abruptly. Harry was used to her eccentric manner; he knew she was always like this.

"Do you have any profound insights, Luna?" Harry hurriedly glanced in Percy's direction. They were now standing beneath a suit of armor, speaking in low voices.

"Your mind is all jumbled up, probably infested by a group of migratory botflies...," Luna said earnestly, shaking a bracelet on her wrist. "I can help you get rid of them."

"How do I do that?" Harry said, catching a glimpse of Professor Flitwick's figure at the entrance of the hall.

"You need to calm down first, become less attractive to the botflies..."

"Thanks, but I don't think my mind has those peculiar things in it." Harry interjected quickly.

Professor Flitwick and Snape entered the hall, as expected. No, there was another professor, Professor Felix Harp, whom he had overlooked.

Hermione returned hastily from a distance, and the young wizards positioned themselves by their houses as the professors entered.

Felix Harp gave himself a sonorous boost and boomed, "Welcome back to Dueling class, young wizards! I see many familiar faces and quite a few new ones..."

"I used to be troubled by my height and build. Most of the time, I had to look up in duels. Being shorter had its disadvantages, too. My movement speed wasn't as fast, and my arm length was limited, making it easier for opponents to gauge the range of my spells."

The young wizards listened attentively, curious to know how Professor Harp resolved these challenges.

"—But I emerged from that shadow. I embraced my imperfections, and eventually, my height became an advantage. Few wizards have experience dueling someone of my stature. They often make mistakes dealing with me, either due to mentality or habit."

"My build made it easier for me to dodge spells. I no longer focused solely on speed but developed a more agile footwork..."

Felix Harp spoke with a touch of sentiment, prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience. He heard someone from his house shout, "Headmaster, you're the best!" He couldn't help wiping his eyes again.

"Next, let's move to the second duel. I encountered someone quite intriguing, and we later became friends."

...

Over an hour passed. Using his personal experiences, Felix Harp painted vivid dueling scenes, leaving the young wizards feeling enriched.

Harry even thought he could put down these words without changing a single one and hand them over to Professor Snape.

But such things were just wishful thinking.

Felix walked to the center of the gilded stage, smiling, "There's just under half an hour left. After consulting with the two professors, we've decided to switch to practical guidance."

"Students will select a professor for one-on-one guidance. After a whole year and a summer break, many of you should be confident in your abilities..."

He surveyed the room, observing the eager faces.

"Well, then, let's show what you've got!"

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