It was another Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson with Professor Lockhart.
"Due to the unfortunate events of recent weeks," Lockhart announced grandly, "Headmaster Dumbledore has given me permission to form a little Dueling Club."
He beamed at the students. "I'll teach you how to defend yourselves when danger strikes."
He strutted across the dueling platform as if it were a fashion runway.
Harry, watching from the stands, spotted Justin Finch-Fletchley among the Hufflepuffs — the next victim in the series of attacks.
"Now," Lockhart continued, "I'd like to invite my assistant for this demonstration — Professor Snape."
The two professors stepped to the center of the platform, bowed formally, and paced to opposite ends.
Like gunfighters in a Western, they turned on the count of three and raised their wands.
Snape was quicker. One sharp spell sent Lockhart sprawling.
Lockhart, brushing himself off, insisted he had let Snape win, claiming he had "seen through" the move.
Snape ignored him and announced curtly, "Students will pair off and practice."
"Kevin," Snape said suddenly, "you're up."
Kevin froze. Shouldn't he have picked Malfoy? But Snape was already waiting.
Lockhart tried to object, but Snape stepped forward.
Kevin sighed, mounted the platform, and the two exchanged a formal bow.
Hermione and the others looked worried. Kevin had trained under Snape, but this was still Snape.
Lockhart counted down.
"Expelliarmus!" they both shouted — but Snape was faster. Their spells collided, blasting a gust of wind that rocked the young wizards nearby.
Kevin was thrown back, but his wand arm never stopped moving.
"Quickening Charm!"
Before he could press forward, Snape's next spell — "Reducto!" — was on him.
Kevin infused his wand with raw magic, kicking the spell aside, and darted toward Snape like a gust of wind.
Lockhart swallowed hard. Every exchange looked lethal.
Snape, knowing Kevin's physical skill made him dangerous up close, changed tactics. "Incendio Maxima!"
Flames roared across the entire stage. Kevin halted, raising an improved water shield.
A swirling torrent deflected the fire — but through the steam and spray came a silent hex, striking Kevin squarely and knocking him back.
Snape had used the flames to mask a follow-up attack. In the confined space, Kevin had no room to dodge.
Four moves later, Kevin was down.
The audience erupted in murmurs. Hermione rushed to his side. "Professor! He's a student — you didn't have to be so harsh!"
"He's fine," Snape said coolly, striding away.
Hermione looked down to see Kevin winking. Flustered, she turned away and stalked off, leaving Kevin to scramble after her.
The class continued. Potter and Malfoy were called up next, and just as in the infamous incident, Malfoy conjured a snake.
Harry, speaking Parseltongue to calm it, was instantly misunderstood — and by evening, the entire school knew.
At lunch, Ron recounted the scene to Kevin and Hermione in a quiet corner.
Kevin had thought his duel with Snape was the main event — clearly not.
The Dueling Club was abruptly cancelled after the Parseltongue incident.
For days afterward, Harry endured cold stares. Even Ginny avoided his gaze — though Kevin knew she was under a darker influence.
Finally, in class, Kevin snapped.
As they passed a table of glaring students, he barked, "What are you staring at? Never seen a handsome bloke before?" Then he kicked their desks over, sending the occupants sprawling.
He herded Harry and the others out before the professor could react.
"Kevin, you didn't need to do that. You'll get detention," Harry muttered.
"Good. Maybe I can corner Dumbledore and ask why he's letting this nonsense continue," Kevin said, voice hard. "You're twelve, Harry — you shouldn't have to take this."
They walked in silence until they ran into Hagrid, carrying a limp chicken.
"Alright, kids? You look like you've swallowed a bucket of flobberworms," Hagrid said cheerfully.
"Nothing much," Hermione murmured.
Kevin's eyes lit up. If he could get ahead of events, maybe they could open the Chamber of Secrets sooner.
"Hagrid, you've heard about the attacks. Do you know anything about the Chamber?"
Hagrid froze. "Kevin… that's dangerous talk."
"People are blaming Harry," Kevin pressed. "If we don't solve this, it'll destroy him."
Hagrid's face softened. "Fifty years ago, I was accused of opening the Chamber. I didn't, but they sent me to Azkaban anyway. Worst time of my life. I don't remember much… but my friend Aragog might. He's still alive."
"What kind of creature lives fifty years and remembers it?" Kevin muttered, though he already knew.
"Aragog's a magical spider," Hagrid said. "But he's in the Forbidden Forest. You can't go in — he might hurt you. I'll ask him myself."
They parted ways, Hagrid off to tell Dumbledore about his strangled chicken.
"Thanks, Kevin," Harry said quietly, hugging him.
Kevin awkwardly pulled away. "Enough of that. People will talk."
Hermione's narrowed eyes said plenty — and the four of them walked away together, the tension finally easing.