After the night's incident, Sean returned to his dormitory and found himself talking to Jerry.
"You really do have good instincts," he muttered. "So that means Morisse is actually just a normal professor. Now I'm even more curious why he eventually leaves Hogwarts."
After all, Hogwarts had a long-standing tradition—one new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor every year.
If Morisse didn't leave, the later events in the story wouldn't unfold.
"And those 'people' Mick mentioned… who are they? Death Eaters?" Sean wondered as he lay on his bed.
Although the misunderstanding with Mick had been resolved, Sean had secretly learned a new spell during the encounter—Fire Like Falling Stars.
It consisted of ten magical frameworks.
However, Sean was currently focused on mastering the Flying Charm and the Patronus Charm. He simply didn't have time to study another spell.
Ten frameworks would normally take him about half a month to master, but for now he decided to set it aside.
At noon the next day, Sean was on his way to the Great Hall for lunch when the Weasley twins suddenly appeared and sandwiched him between them.
"This is outrageous," Fred said.
"It's practically an insult to Hogwarts," George added angrily.
Sean wondered what trouble the two troublemakers had gotten into this time.
"What happened?"
"In Charms class this morning," Fred said, "that guy from Castelobruxo—Carlisle—actually mocked Hogwarts students."
"It's Carol," George corrected him.
Sean quickly pieced together the situation.
Carol Reed was Angelina's exchange partner, which meant he could attend Gryffindor classes.
During Charms class, Professor Flitwick had taught a new spell and given everyone an hour to practice.
By the end of the lesson, not a single student had managed to master it.
Except Carol.
The visiting student demonstrated the spell perfectly in front of Professor Flitwick and casually added,
"So Hogwarts doesn't really have much talent, does it?"
That single remark had infuriated the Weasley twins and many of the other students present.
They couldn't retaliate directly in class, but privately Carol had managed to offend two entire houses.
"Where was Cedric?" Sean asked. "Hufflepuff had Charms with you, didn't they? He couldn't cast it either?"
In Sean's opinion, Cedric ranked second in overall ability among the second-years—after Sean himself.
Chris would take third place.
The Crouch family's eldest daughter had both impressive talent and an incredibly diligent attitude.
Still, both second and third place were miles behind Sean.
"Cedric didn't manage it either before class ended," George said. "He probably felt embarrassed, so he didn't say anything."
So someone with talent even slightly above Cedric's…
Are geniuses overseas really that common? Sean wondered.
"You've got Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon," Fred said. "You need to teach that guy a lesson and show him what a real genius looks like."
Fred firmly believed that if Sean stepped in, Hogwarts would regain its pride.
That afternoon's Defense Against the Dark Arts class was shared by Gryffindor and Slytherin.
If Carol dared to insult Hogwarts students again during class, it wouldn't just be the Weasley twins urging Sean to deal with him—even Cassius would push for it.
Coincidentally, that day's lesson turned out to be dueling practice.
Normally this was the moment when Gryffindor and Slytherin students were most excited.
It was the perfect opportunity to openly challenge rivals from the other house.
But today, Gryffindor students had no interest in fighting Slytherins.
After the morning's humiliation, they wanted to defeat Carol in a duel and restore their pride.
The Slytherins had also heard about what happened.
While watching Gryffindor suffer was usually one of their favorite forms of entertainment, that rule only applied within Hogwarts.
An outsider insulting Hogwarts students?
That was unacceptable.
"Before the duel begins, both participants must raise their wands in front of them as a sign of respect," Professor Morisse explained as he paced across the platform. "Then they move to opposite ends of the stage and begin the duel."
"The goal is to defeat your opponent—disarm them, render them unable to fight back, or knock them off the dueling platform."
He glanced around the classroom.
"Would anyone like to demonstrate?"
"Professor, I will."
Angelina immediately raised her hand.
"Excellent, Angelina. Come up."
Morisse smiled and then turned toward the Slytherins.
"And who will be her opponent?"
Angelina was known as one of Gryffindor's strongest students.
Not only were her grades excellent, but her athletic ability was impressive as well.
In the second week of the term, she had already earned a spot on the Gryffindor Quidditch team under Captain Charlie.
Everyone knew she was not an easy opponent.
Most Slytherins hesitated.
Instead, their gazes shifted toward Sean and Chris.
"I don't duel ladies," Sean said with a shrug.
Angelina visibly relaxed at that.
Facing Sean would have been a nightmare.
Playing against someone who basically had cheat codes ruined the experience entirely.
"Chris," Cassius urged from the side.
But before she could respond, Carol raised his hand and stepped onto the platform.
"Professor Morisse," he said confidently, "I'm Carol Reed from Castelobruxo. Let me be her opponent."
Carol had heard that Angelina was the top student among Gryffindor second-years.
Even though she hadn't been selected as a Hogwarts representative, she was still among the best.
If he fought her, he could roughly gauge Sean's level.
That was his plan.
"Very well," Morisse agreed.
"Do you think Angelina will win?" Chris whispered to Sean.
Sean didn't answer her directly.
Instead he spoke to Morisse.
"Professor, wait a moment. Wouldn't it be more interesting if this duel were between two gentlemen?"
Sean suddenly stepped onto the platform.
He glanced toward Angelina, signaling for her to step down.
Leave this to me.
Angelina nodded and returned to the Gryffindor group.
Sean suspected she would lose.
Carol had already outperformed Cedric in Charms class and had confidently volunteered for the duel.
He clearly believed in his own strength.
If Angelina lost and Sean stepped in afterward, he could still teach Carol a lesson.
But Sean preferred to skip the process and go straight to the result.
When Carol saw Sean climb onto the platform, a smile crept onto his face.
This was exactly what he wanted.
Normally, competitors were forbidden from fighting each other privately before the official matches.
But now, in a classroom setting, he had the chance to duel Sean.
He couldn't ask for better.
"On my command," Morisse said, "wands ready."
The two walked to the center of the platform.
They raised their wands in front of them.
Carol said quietly,
"Let's see how strong Hogwarts' second-year champion really is."
"You will," Sean replied.
They turned and walked to opposite ends of the stage.
Both raised their wands horizontally, ready to cast.
"Begin."
Sean didn't even activate his Magic vision.
This was a low-level duel.
A few simple spells would be enough.
"Expelliarmus!"
Carol's wand instantly flew out of his hand.
He stared at Sean in shock.
Sean's casting speed had been far too fast.
He hadn't even had time to dodge.
"I wasn't ready," Carol said awkwardly. "Let's go again."
"Guests first," Sean replied with a smile.
Below the platform, students applauded loudly for Sean.
At the same time, they burst into laughter at Carol—especially the Gryffindors.
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