Feeling the rainlike patting, the black panther suddenly raised its head. Its emerald beast eyes coldly glanced at Hermione, then walked out of the crowd with elegant cat steps.
Gunpowder made victorious huffing sounds in Tiger's arms, as if cursing and driving away the big cat.
Tiger didn't mind the big cat leaving. He liked it well enough, but Gunpowder was his most beloved cat.
His broad, thick palm gently stroked Gunpowder's little head, his sapphire eyes squinting contentedly.
Hermione watched the panther's departing figure, somewhat lost in thought. This familiar feeling of wanting to speak but holding back made her usually calm rationality inexplicably irritated.
Just then—"Bang!"
Professor Lockhart flew off the dueling platform in a disheveled state, even dropping his wand into the crowd. Cheers from Slytherin immediately echoed through the Great Hall.
Hermione snapped back to attention.
She saw Professor Snape unhurriedly putting his wand away, his cold gaze containing faint mockery and unhurried elegance.
This mockery wasn't just aimed at someone specific—it was contempt for all overreaching behavior.
Hermione's expression grew increasingly strange. The gleam in Professor Snape's eyes was remarkably similar to those emerald beast eyes of the panther.
She instinctively looked back.
In the Slytherin crowd, Gemma Farley was quietly conversing with Tracey Davis.
Her tall, elegant figure, sharp, proud temperament, and delicate, pale features always became the focus of attention.
Upper-year students from other houses frequently looked her way, their eager gazes unable to hide their admiration.
Gemma Farley paid no attention.
Her perfect lip curve seemed to always carry a hint of smile—dignified and composed. But the coldness and detachment hidden in her eyes gave this smile an inexplicable sense of oppression, making people afraid to approach.
Until she noticed Hermione's gaze, then slightly turned to look at Hermione's somewhat panicked eyes, her lazy, deep gaze hiding a trace of amusement and provocation.
Hermione quickly turned back, her heartbeat involuntarily accelerating. She couldn't understand the meaning in those eyes, only knowing she felt completely seen through.
But seen through for what? Even she herself was unclear, only feeling such a gaze was quite annoying.
Hermione instinctively grabbed Tiger's wizard robes. The chill from behind became more obvious, so she quietly moved closer, as if seeking security.
She didn't know why she was doing this. She only knew this was probably right.
"Damn it, how does he have the nerve to say that?"
Draco cursed behind Tiger, wanting nothing more than to rush onto the dueling platform and punch Lockhart.
On the platform, Professor Lockhart slightly arranged his disheveled hair and smiled again.
"I knew exactly what Professor Snape was trying to do. I mean, I could have easily subdued him, but to demonstrate for you all..."
Professor Snape impatiently interrupted him. "Enough, let's begin! Pair up for dueling practice. I assume you won't find this unfamiliar..."
"Of course, I could beat Gryffindor into dogs."
Draco glared viciously at Lockhart. He really couldn't stand this guy's self-aggrandizing anymore.
"Miss Granger..."
Professor Snape's gaze suddenly fell on Hermione, his lips curving in a mocking arc.
"I don't think you should be standing there. It seems you can't wait to have dueling practice with someone?"
Hermione suddenly blushed and lowered her head, her hand gripping Tiger's robes pulling back as if electrocuted.
"No, Professor, I..."
"Very well then, Mr. Malfoy." Professor Snape said coldly. "You'll pair with Miss Granger for a demonstration."
"Huh???"
Hermione looked up in complete bewilderment.
"Father..."
Draco's expression instantly froze. He instinctively swallowed, looking hesitantly at Tiger.
"Don't underestimate her, Draco. If you're not careful, she might put you in the hospital wing."
Tiger looked at the two with an ambiguous smile.
Seeming to sense his presence diminishing, Professor Lockhart looked down at them with a warm smile.
"Don't worry, Miss Granger. As this century's greatest adventurer, your professor is right here and won't let you get hurt..."
"Go Hermione!!!"
"Beat up Malfoy for us!"
In the Gryffindor crowd, Harry and Ron excitedly raised their fists, faces flushed. Especially Ron—his eager anticipation to see Malfoy beaten was practically overflowing from his eyes.
Hermione then noticed Draco's contempt for her. She glanced at Draco coolly.
"Malfoy, I haven't lost my survival competition qualification yet. Remember—this isn't just dueling..."
Before she finished speaking, Hermione stepped onto the dueling platform. Draco snorted and followed.
In his view, Hermione hadn't lost her survival competition qualification not because of strength, but because they couldn't be bothered troubling her out of respect for Father.
Watching their departing figures, Blaise Zabini and others exchanged glances. Pansy asked with some exasperation:
"Say, does that Draco guy actually understand what Granger meant?"
"I'm afraid..."
Daphne sighed, palm to forehead.
Theodore shook his head expressionlessly. "He doesn't have the brains."
"Excellent! You've both drawn your wands in advance."
Seeing their movements as they took the stage, Professor Lockhart's eyes flashed with regret. He felt he should have drawn his wand early, prepared in advance, adjusted his state—maybe he wouldn't have been the one knocked flying.
"Now, bow to your opponent!"
Hermione looked at Malfoy five meters away, his expression contemptuous, her lips curving meaningfully.
She silently recited the acceleration charm.
She didn't make the dueling bow gesture as Professor Lockhart instructed. Instead, she circled her wand around her forehead, pressed the tip to her heart, and bowed deeply in a rather classical wizard's salute.
Draco was momentarily stunned.
As a pureblood noble, he naturally knew such solemn etiquette. His Malfoy family upbringing made him instinctively raise his wand around his forehead.
"Smack..."
Blaise and others facepalmed.
As Draco bowed, Hermione took three steps in two, becoming a blur.
Before Professor Lockhart could react, knuckledusters gleaming coldly swung down hard.
"Ahhh!!!"
A scream rang out. Draco was knocked straight to the ground, followed by rainlike fists pounding down.
"Brilliant, Hermione!!!"
Harry practically roared himself hoarse below. Ron bent over, looking up and shouting, "Smash his head in!!!"
So satisfying!!!
Gryffindor's cheers exploded.
Though Draco had protective badge protection, under the acceleration charm's enhancement, Hermione's fists on top of him grew faster, her strikes to his face dense and fierce, leaving him no breathing room.
Draco, beaten so badly he couldn't even lift his head, could only helplessly watch his protective badge's light gradually dim.
When he realized the metal-gleaming knuckledusters could knock out all his teeth, Draco screamed in terror.
Only now did he understand what "this isn't just dueling" meant.
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