Though not absolute nor applicable to every wizard, a legendary duelist—who once won three consecutive titles at the World Wizarding Duelling Tournament—once said:
[The gap in magical power and spell level is not what decides a wizard's combat strength.]
[It's the speed of casting!]
Spellcasting refers to the entire process—from reciting the incantation and moving the wand to channeling magic and finally releasing the spell. The shorter this process, the faster the spell is cast, granting a wizard the advantage of striking first or countering the opponent's move.
Both Alastor Moody earlier and Draco now perfectly embodied that truth.
At the instant that green surge of magic shot toward Draco, everyone witnessed a scene they knew all too well.
Although Moody's Imperius Curse was far more reckless and easier to anticipate than Draco's Sectumsempra, that didn't mean just any wizard could pull off what Moody had just done.
Draco, however, was clearly no ordinary wizard—his casting speed was equally astounding.
The same protective shield, the same futile result.
The Imperius Curse hit the armor charm and scattered into glowing green particles that faded in the air. The sight left every wizard silently gaping in disbelief.
No one knew whether to condemn Professor Moody for casting an Unforgivable Curse on a student or to cheer for Draco's stunning performance.
Now, as they looked up at the platform, every pair of eyes was filled with shock and awe...
...
"Are we really letting that bastard professor off the hook, Draco?"
As the bell signaling the end of Defence Against the Dark Arts class rang, both Draco and Alastor Moody lowered their wands almost in unison under everyone's gaze, as if neither feared a sudden attack from the other.
Amid the tense silence, Moody offered no explanation, simply declaring class dismissed. Draco turned and calmly returned to sit beside Pansy and the others.
The strange scene left everyone speechless. Even Harry Potter, who looked ready to speak, was stopped by Ron Weasley beside him.
After all...
"That was an Unforgivable Curse! Is Dumbledore really going to let that bastard run wild in the school?"
"On that point, I agree with Granger. Even if you stop me, I'm telling my father about this."
"The Imperius Curse... Merlin, that was the Imperius Curse!"
Compared to Draco's Sectumsempra, the Imperius Curse—one of the three Unforgivable Curses—shook Hermione and the others far more.
Of course, part of that was because the one targeted had been Draco...
Yet, unlike the two agitated witches, Draco himself was unusually calm.
No—more accurately, he didn't seem affected at all.
"It didn't even hit me, did it? You guys—"
"Huh!? That's not the point!"
"Yeah! I'm not letting this go!"
Seeing the two girls—who rarely agreed on anything—finally on the same side, Draco shut his mouth and swallowed the odd thought he'd just noticed.
He realized that until they cooled off, there was no point in trying to say anything else...
...
If the Defence Against the Dark Arts class had been filled with dramatic twists and turns, then Potions class now felt oppressively heavy.
Beyond the gloomy Professor Snape leading the lesson, the unease came from having just witnessed a classmate nearly struck down by an Unforgivable Curse. Even if that classmate was the despised Draco, no one could be sure that Professor Moody was truly a good person either.
"If I were you, I'd pick up the quill on your desk immediately and start writing down the key points of this lesson instead of staring at me with that stupid expression! Especially you, Potter!"
Snape's icy glare made Harry Potter and the others flinch before they hastily grabbed their quills and began taking notes.
However, it was clear this did little to satisfy Snape. His furrowed brow suggested he was already thinking of how best to mock the distracted Harry Potter.
But just as he was about to speak, Harry Potter lifted his head and spoke first.
"Professor! I'd like to know how you create a new spell—I mean... a dark magic spell."
"...."
"...."
No one had expected Harry Potter to ask such a question.
Or rather, what kind of confidence would lead someone to believe that Professor Snape, who despised Gryffindor, would answer that question?
Especially when that someone was Harry Potter.
That was the first thought running through everyone's mind. Even Draco, upon hearing the words, couldn't help but turn his head toward Harry Potter.
But what surprised and puzzled Draco was his godfather's reaction.
Fixing his gaze on those familiar emerald eyes that stirred both nostalgia and regret, Snape first twitched his icy expression before narrowing his eyes and locking them on the expectant Harry Potter.
"Five points from Gryffindor. For asking questions in my class without permission."
"No, you can't do that, I was just—"
"Gryffindor loses ten points. I am under no obligation to answer your question, Mr. Potter!"
"But you know, I'm also a—"
"Harry Potter!! If I were you, I'd shut your bloody mouth right now."
"...Sorry, Professor."
"The one you need to apologize to isn't me. Now, class dismissed!!"
The discontent among the Gryffindors and the schadenfreude from the Slytherins seemed like a typical scene, yet it made Draco, who knew Snape fairly well, sit up straight.
As his gaze moved between the two, Draco sensed something was off.
Whether it was Harry Potter's attitude toward Snape or Snape's abrupt and cutting way of speaking, as if he were trying to stop something before it was said, both details made Draco narrow his sharp eyes.
Harry Potter's resentment and regret.
Snape's fury and irritation.
The strange reactions between the two...
What on earth was going on...