After Mario Nott left the stage, he could only wait for all other students to finish before he'd be allowed his make-up exam.
The second challenger was Ravenclaw's Ruth Bunier.
He'd learned from Mario's mistake: the moment you stepped onto the platform, the fight was on.
So, as soon as his foot hit the first step, he fired a Fire-Making Spell straight at Douglas.
Douglas barely blinked. "Protego!" he called, and the fiery jet bounced harmlessly away.
(For both teaching and fairness, Douglas had imposed strict limits on himself:
He could only use nonverbal spells once every three incantations, and if an opponent lasted through ten spells, he'd finally cast something not found in the standard textbooks.
His casting speed, too, would only increase if the student proved they could keep up.)
While deflecting the flames, Douglas sent a Relashio—the Forcing Spell—drifting lazily toward his opponent.
Hearing the incantation, Ruth Bunier realized he couldn't dodge in time.
So he did something no one expected: he tossed his wand high into the air.
The Relashio spell forces the target to release whatever they're holding.
Clearly, Ruth knew its effect—he separated himself from his wand before the spell could hit.
He took the spell's impact, then leapt up and snatched his wand from midair.
He'd pulled it off.
The watching students burst into applause.
Professor Flitwick was already explaining the spell's nuances to those nearby.
Douglas nodded, clearly pleased.
But Ruth Bunier didn't let himself get cocky.
Before he'd even landed, he aimed his wand at Douglas and shouted, "Avis!"
With a sharp bang—like a pistol shot—a flock of tiny birds exploded from his wand, darting straight for Douglas.
"Protego!" Douglas called again, raising his shield. At the same moment, he silently cast his first nonverbal spell.
While Ruth and the crowd watched the birds crash against the shimmering barrier,
none of them noticed a rope slithering, silent as a snake, behind Ruth, twining around his legs.
By the time Ruth realized he was being bound, he was already struggling to break free.
He'd heard the rumors—Professor Holmes's rope tricks were legendary. Even Peeves had been trussed up like a Christmas pudding.
He'd rather forfeit than be publicly humiliated by magical bondage.
But before he could deal with the rope, Douglas drawled, "Expelliarmus!"
A flash of red—Ruth was blasted off the platform.
Professor Flitwick caught him with a quick spell, and the rope vanished.
Clapping Ruth comfortingly on the thigh, Flitwick said,
"Don't be discouraged, Ruth—you did brilliantly. That was a creative solution to the Relashio spell!"
Douglas tossed the wand back and called out,
"Mr. Bunier, excellent work. If I recall, you're a Quidditch player, aren't you?"
Ruth nodded, blushing.
He hadn't expected to be praised by two professors after failing the exam.
Douglas grinned.
"Using your own strengths to make the right choice in a split-second fight—that's outstanding.
But let me say this to everyone: unless you're as agile and athletic as Mr. Bunier,
throwing away your wand is a terrible idea. Abandoning your wand is like abandoning your life.
In battle, dropping your weapon is as good as surrendering your fate.
Next!"
In the Gryffindor study group, several students who'd just jotted down Ruth's clever move now crossed it out with a sigh.
The next Gryffindor up had a clear strategy.
He'd learned from Ruth: don't face Douglas head-on.
As soon as he reached the stage, he fired a Blasting Curse, shattering the center of the stone platform.
Then, with a flick, he transfigured the broken stones into a scatter of makeshift barriers.
He ducked behind cover and started firing spells at Douglas,
ready for a game of magical cat-and-mouse.
It was the kind of tactic Douglas had once mentioned in passing, when teaching them to set up practical classrooms.
But dreams are sweet, reality is harsh.
Douglas sidestepped the explosion, then casually transfigured a few stray rocks into African hyenas.
The beasts lunged at the student.
While the Gryffindor frantically used Stunning Spells and Impediment Jinxes to fend them off,
he suddenly realized the ground beneath him had turned to swamp.
And so, with Douglas's equal-opportunity methods,
every exam—make-ups included—was finished in under fifty minutes.
Not a single student made it past Douglas's sixth spell.
All in all, the audience was a little disappointed.
There were no grand, earth-shattering duels.
They'd expected a high-level wizard battle to be a storm of spells and chaos.
Instead—nothing of the sort.
But the professors noticed something else: Douglas hadn't used a single Dark spell.
In the wizarding world, most powerful offensive magic fell under the Dark Arts.
Douglas could have overwhelmed his students with a single devastating curse,
but instead, he'd chosen complex Transfiguration.
Was it just to spare the students' pride?
Those with a keen eye for combat saw something different.
Gryffindor's Harry studied his notes—he'd recorded every match in detail.
He noticed that Professor Holmes's most-used spell was the Disarming Charm. Next came the Shield Charm, then Transfiguration, Weather Charms, Cheering Charms, and even an Extension Charm that made a student's robes trail so far they tripped themselves.
Meanwhile, Professor Flitwick was explaining Douglas's approach to the gathered students.
"I'm glad you all noticed the Disarming Charm.
It isn't technically part of Defence Against the Dark Arts—it's just a staple of dueling.
That spell was crucial in my own journey to becoming a dueling champion. It's a spell every good duelist should master.
Clearly, your Defence Against the Dark Arts professor may call this a combat exam,
but he still respects the rules of honorable dueling..."
On the platform, Douglas delivered his final remarks.
"...
I've heard some of you wondering why, aside from the Shield Charm,
I never used any other so-called Defence Against the Dark Arts spells during this exam.
You're right—I didn't.
To be honest, I hadn't planned on using the Shield Charm, either.
But I must say, your skills are impressive!"
He flashed a warm smile at the defeated seventh-years.
Seeing such genuine encouragement, many of the students straightened up a little,
feeling that forcing the professor to use Protego was an achievement in itself.
Only a handful in the audience scoffed quietly.
Douglas continued,
"I want to say this to the sixth- and seventh-years, and to anyone who may take advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts in the future:
Out there, in the Ministry of Magic, you'll meet all sorts of rule-breakers. Not all of them are Dark Arts experts.
Some will be masters of Transfiguration, Weather Charms, Magical Creatures, Herbology, Potions, or even Alchemy.
Their fighting styles are endlessly varied.
So don't fall into the trap of thinking only anti-Dark magic tactics will serve you.
Remember: a dark wizard is not always a master of the Dark Arts.
With murderous intent, any spell can become a weapon."
The students buzzed with conversation.
Ron muttered,
"So... should we take what the professor said and flip it around?
I remember once Mum was shearing sheep with a spell, but George messed about and she accidentally killed the sheep!"
Hermione, scribbling in her notebook, replied without looking up,
"There are no small spells—only small wizards!
Any everyday spell can cause disaster if misused.
Didn't you pay attention in Charms?"
Ron looked sheepish.
Beside Hermione, Ginny eagerly wrote down the phrase—she thought it would be perfect for her next class meeting.
Harry was still caught up in the excitement of the exam.
"What did you think of that Disarming Charm?
I'd love to learn it from the professor someday..."
Hermione handed her notes to Ginny for reference.
She added,
"Harry, I should remind you—the Disarming Charm isn't actually part of the Defence Against the Dark Arts curriculum.
I've read through nearly every year's textbook out of boredom, and it's never mentioned.
You can ask the professor privately during detention tomorrow!"
She glanced at their notes.
"Not bad—Harry, I have to say, your notes are way more detailed than Ron's this time!"
Ron just curled his lip in mock disdain.
Of course, not everyone agreed with Douglas's philosophy.
Over in Slytherin, the students debated his methods.
"What was that, anyway?
At home, I've seen my father and uncle duel—now that's a real duel!"
"Hmph, only Dark magic is truly powerful. I don't believe a Disarming Charm could ever stop a dark wizard!"
"So disappointing. I thought the professor would fight like he does in his books!"
"Actually, the professor makes sense. My mum often uses magic to carve meat off the bone..."
Everyone turned; the speaker was a student from a regular wizarding family.
Malfoy snorted,
"Hah, my mother wouldn't do such filthy work—that's what we have house-elves for."
Several pure-blood students nodded in agreement,
leaving the other Slytherin red-faced.
At that moment, Mario Nott growled at his housemates,
"Shut up!
If the professor's no good, what does that make us?"
Just as Douglas was about to step down and let the Headmaster close the exam,
Snape stepped forward, sneering,
"Tsk tsk, I say we add an impromptu duel.
Let these students see what real wizard dueling looks like!
What do you say, Professor Holmes?"
He'd raised his voice on purpose—now dozens of students turned expectantly toward Douglas.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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