A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

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..."

In front of their respective houses, rows of students looked on with curiosity and restraint. Among them were the first-year students of each house. Harry noticed a young witch named Romilda Vane who was gazing intently at Professor Harp.

"Before we begin today's lesson, allow me to introduce our third permanent Dueling professor, Philaeus Felix Harp!"

The diminutive Felix Harp took a few steps forward. He was dressed formally in a crisp suit, elegantly twirling his wand as if it were a conductor's baton.

Lively cheers erupted from Ravenclaw, accompanied by bursts of sparks that converged to form the symbol of the eagle, emblematic of Ravenclaw house.

Harry thought they must have taken inspiration from the parchment designs. The two looked remarkably similar.

Students from other houses were also clapping fervently. When it came to popularity, Felix Harp was undoubtedly the most favored among the four house heads.

"Thank you, thank you—" Felix Harp was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He pulled out a handkerchief embroidered with the Ravenclaw crest and dabbed his eyes, "I'm overwhelmed today, it's like standing at the podium for the first time."

Today was Felix Harp's special day, and both Felix and Snape deliberately downplayed their presence, allowing Harp to shine. After bowing to the two professors, Harp began to exhibit his spell-casting skills, turning it into an art form in his hands.

After a few minutes of showcasing his skills, Felix Harp got down to business. He flicked his wand, causing billowing bronze-colored smoke to emanate from its tip. The smoke coalesced into vague humanoid figures, standing on a gilded stage.

These bronze figures were paired off, facing each other as if engaged in duels. Each pair featured a shorter wizard, presumably Felix Harp himself.

The young wizards carefully counted – there were a total of seventeen pairs.

Felix Harp's high-pitched voice echoed, "Allow me to retrieve memories of my moments of glory. This dates back more than sixty years... After seventeen duels, I earned the title of Wizard Dueling Champion for the year 1931."

He waved his wand, causing the first pair of bronze figures to come to life. The tall wizard cast a spell, while the shorter figure retaliated with a head lowered, quickly defeating the opponent with a single strike.

Felix Harp acted as a commentator, saying, "Did you see that? My opponent underestimated me. He thought my small stature meant I was likely not skilled, but this was one of the easiest victories I achieved."

"Short-lived, yet brilliant. There's much to learn from this..."

"First lesson, never underestimate your opponent in a duel. Many of you might think this, but only a few wizards truly embody it."

"And what else? Yes, seize the opportunity. I didn't remain defensive; I counterattacked opportunistically. This also reminds us that wizards are most vulnerable when they're on the offensive. You must protect yourself and leave room for maneuvering."

"Now, it gets a bit tougher. Anyone knows? A hint – it's related to my unique height." Felix Harp looked expectantly at the young wizards in the audience.

Harry's eyes brightened; he had heard a similar expression from Professor Snape!

He was the first to raise his hand. When called upon, he said with excitement, "Craft a combat style that suits you best, leveraging your personal traits."

Felix Harp smiled, "Excellent, Potter! Yes, personal traits are crucial. Each of us is unique; you must accept everything about yourself, the good and the not-so-good..."

"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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