"...to prove I'm more professional than the students themselves."
Umbridge froze completely, her entire body turned stiff. Then she turned slowly to look down at the gathered young witches and wizards in the hall below, spread across the four house tables.
Many wore openly challenging expressions on their young faces, some directed pure, undisguised anger at her like weapons. And naturally, there were students who guiltily lowered their heads when they accidentally caught her gaze, unable to maintain eye contact.
These particular children's parents probably worked at the Ministry of Magic and were well aware of the severe consequences of offending someone as powerful and vindictive as Dolores Umbridge.
"If you're implying that I can't measure up to a group of students who haven't even graduated yet, suggesting that I lack the ability to handle children, is that what you're actually saying, Watson?"
Umbridge's voice dripped with venom.
"I think you'd better not underestimate this outstanding group of young people who've been educated here at Hogwarts over the years."
Bryan smiled pleasantly.
"These children may lack real-world experience and maturity, Madam Umbridge—" Dumbledore also said calmly, though his eyes held a glint of something sharp.
"But they undoubtedly possess more vigor and determination than many adults. As Bryan said, underestimating them would be profoundly unwise. And teaching them well requires truly exceptional ability, not just political connections."
The professors at the staff table straightened their chests with pride, one by one. Their postures spoke about their faith in their students. Not a single one gave Umbridge a pleasant look.
The clever children throughout the hall had already anticipated what would happen next, had seen where this was heading. The Physical Education class students, except for a few whose parents worked at the Ministry and thus had to remain neutral were all flushed with excitement, their faces were bright red. Their eyes shone with anticipation.
This was actual combat! Real dueling!
Since Physical Education class had been established years ago, Professor Watson had strictly controlled their behavior both in and out of class. He hadn't allowed them to fight among themselves for practice or use their wands aggressively when conflicts arose with other students at school.
Safety had always been key.
They'd never had any real chance to show off their skills, to demonstrate what they'd learned. But now, a heaven-sent opportunity to demonstrate their abilities had appeared like a gift, and their opponent was none other than the famous Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic.
This was the stuff of dreams.
Watching Umbridge's chest rise and fall with increasingly rapid breaths, the woman was practically hyperventilating with rage—Lucius Malfoy, though keeping a neutral, straight face for appearance's sake, had already predicted that Umbridge was about to face utter disgrace and humiliation.
From his private practice sessions with Draco at Malfoy Manor, sessions where he'd observed his son's progress, Lucius knew something these Ministry fools didn't.
If all the students personally taught by Watson could reach even close to Draco's current level, they might not necessarily win in single combat against Umbridge—she did have experience and adult power. But they definitely wouldn't lose either, and could hold their own.
And if two or three went up together in coordinated team combat? Umbridge would only be there to take a thorough beating. It would be an annihilation.
Lucius turned his head sharply and shot a warning glare at Draco, who was sitting at the Slytherin table looking equally eager to try, his eyes were bright with competitive fire.
Umbridge was destined to lose this confrontation. That was inevitable now. But whoever specifically humiliated her on this public occasion would, predictably, face her insane, vindictive retaliation for years to come. She was already known for holding grudges.
Lucius would never allow Draco to be the one to stick his neck out, and become her target.
"How absurd! Absolutely ridiculous!"
Unable to endure the rising insult any longer, Umbridge glared viciously at Bryan and shrieked, her voice was breaking.
"You actually think I can't handle a few brats, Watson! That I'm weaker than children!"
"Oh, 'brats'?"
Harry was already rolling up his sleeves with aggressive intent, his movements were sharp and angry. His green eyes shot out a gaze like a lone wolf hunting prey, firmly locked onto Umbridge above the hall. His entire body was tense.
"I'm going to make her taste what these 'brats' can do. I'm going to show her exactly what we've learned. Please, Professor Watson, if you don't pick me, I'll resent you for the rest of my life. I'm begging you."
"So, would you like to give it a try, Madam Umbridge? Accept the challenge?"
Bryan smiled unhurriedly, looking completely at ease.
"Oh, these children usually practice in groups of three for team combat scenarios. Of course, that might not be entirely fair to you as a solo combatant, so to make this more reasonable... if you can last more than one minute against them, just sixty seconds, I'll acknowledge that you possess the ability to teach young witches and wizards. That seems generous."
'Last one minute?! Just one minute?!'
Umbridge was so furious that her hair nearly stood on end, her face was turning an ugly mottled purple. She certainly knew rationally she wouldn't be a match for Watson himself in direct combat.
But for Watson to so casually disrespect her magical ability, to say she couldn't handle students for even a minute—even setting aside all the grievances between the Ministry and Hogwarts, she absolutely could not tolerate this public humiliation!
"Then let's do it, Watson. We'll do it your way, on your terms. I'll show you the capabilities of a senior Ministry official."
Umbridge's tone was savage and wild.
"Oh, but you'd better prepare a stretcher in advance!"
"Ah, that is indeed reasonable advice. Very prudent thinking."
Bryan said with a smile, his eyes were twinkling with amusement. He tilted his head to look at Madam Pomfrey, who stood near the staff table with her arms crossed.
"Could I trouble you to prepare a stretcher for Madam Umbridge? She'll need it shortly after the demonstration, Madam Pomfrey. Perhaps some bruise paste as well?"
The explosive laughter that erupted from the young witches and wizards throughout the Great Hall actually shook the tall windows in their frames, making the glass rattle. Even several professors laughed aloud.
Bryan paid absolutely no attention to Umbridge's now homicidal expression, her face contorted with rage. Nor did he acknowledge Dumbledore's meaningful glance reminding him to control the situation a bit when the actual combat started, to prevent serious injury.
Under Umbridge's chilling, murderous gaze, Bryan emerged gracefully from behind the staff table. He clapped his hands twice, and the messy food on the four long house tables vanished completely in an instant, as if it had never been.
The young witches and wizards all stood up eagerly. The wooden tables and benches before them slowly floated upward toward everyone's heads, rising smoothly through the air. After a series of complex transformations and combinations, a massive dueling stage descended to the ground with a solid thump.
Now it was time to select opponents for the Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry.
Needless to say, the young witches and wizards all understood that Professor Watson would definitely choose from his Physical Education students, from those he'd trained personally. And Bryan indeed planned to do exactly that.
His indifferent, calculating gaze swept slowly over the bustling crowd of excited young witches and wizards, reading faces and body language.
The most outstanding students from past Physical Education classes—like Harry from Gryffindor with his natural talent, Cedric from Hufflepuff with his balanced skills, Draco from Slytherin were all deliberately excluded from his mental selection.
The reason was simple: Umbridge was destined to hold a burning grudge against whoever embarrassed her publicly today. Cedric's father Amos worked at the Ministry and couldn't afford to make an enemy of her. And having Draco compete would be completely sabotaging Lucius, who'd brought Umbridge here and destroy their arrangement.
As for Harry—Bryan naturally noticed Harry's incredibly eager gaze, that desperate pleading look. Having Harry compete would indeed better provoke Umbridge emotionally and prompt the Ministry to make its final blunder. But Bryan wouldn't let Harry compete regardless. He had to seriously consider the risk of Harry losing control.
"Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood!"
Bryan's calm voice echoed through the Great Hall, triggering a massive mixture of cheers and dissatisfied shouts that reverberated inside the space, making the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling swing and clang against each other.
"Quiet! Settle down!"
Bryan said with full authority, his voice cutting through the noise.
Silence fell immediately.
He turned to face Umbridge, who was watching him coldly.
"These three students are my teaching assistants. They will be responsible for your examination today. I hope that meets with your approval."
'Students responsible for the examination'
Umbridge's bulging eyes no longer showed simple anger but genuine murderous intent. She didn't bother wasting words or making threats, simply pulled her wand directly from the pocket of her pink coat with a sharp movement, then strode toward the stage with heavy steps.
But she immediately encountered some difficulty getting up onto the raised platform.
The stage Bryan had conjured was too challenging for her short, stout frame. The edge came up nearly to her chest. She simply couldn't jump up gracefully. So, she had to wave her wand awkwardly to pull a wooden step from the air to help herself climb up.
This clumsy, undignified move triggered contemptuous laughter from the young witches and wizards throughout the hall, especially the Physical Education students who recognized poor physical conditioning when they saw it.
"If you can't get her down in ten seconds flat, Hermione—"
The resentful Harry pulled Hermione aside before she could head to the stage, gripping her arm. He spoke through gritted teeth.
"Then I'll—I'll—"
"You'll what, Harry? What exactly?"
Hermione's face was equally frosty with anger at Umbridge, though she seemed relatively calm and controlled compared to Harry's face showing fury.
"Never copy my homework again? Is that your threat?"
Harry was immediately speechless; his mouth began opening and closing without sound.
Pushing Harry's restraining hand away gently, Hermione walked toward the stage with her head held high, her spine straight.
Before Professor Watson had even called her name aloud, she'd been mentally prepared to compete. She'd analyzed the situation rapidly.
Professor Watson wanted to teach Umbridge a humiliating lesson, but he couldn't pick students who were too impulsive and might go too far, like Harry. Nor could he pick those who worked at the Ministry or whose families had too deep connections there that could be damaged. This basically excluded all of Slytherin from consideration.
Plus, he needed students who had top-tier strength in Physical Education and were representative of his teaching methods. So, as teaching assistants, she, Neville, and Luna were the most suitable choices. It made perfect sense.
"Hey, it's your turn to shine, Neville!"
Ron withdrew his envious gaze from Hermione's retreating figure and turned to look at Neville, who was fumbling for something at his waist with slightly clumsy fingers. The usually muddle-headed Neville made Ron instinctively show a panicked expression.
"You didn't lose your wand, did you?"
"Oh, of course not—"
Neville seemed to find what he was looking for and tugged at the leather pouch secured under his robes. He showed a smile completely different from his recent flightiness and nervousness which was confident, and like fierce. He said briskly to all the Gryffindor classmates urging him on, patting his shoulders,
"Watch me go up there and demolish her."
Then, like Hermione before him, he strode confidently toward the platform and jumped up easily in one smooth motion.
On the other side of the stage, Luna Lovegood, wearing her characteristic circle of Butterbeer bottle caps around her neck blinked her large, lively silver eyes.
She hummed a little tune under her breath, bouncing and skipping to join Hermione and Neville on the stage as if this were a pleasant field trip.
Her dreamy expression never changed.
————————————
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy