"Expelliarmus!"
A flash of red light shot out with a clear, crisp shout, and a wooden wand clattered to the ground.
Under the force of the spell, Alex's body flew upward before crashing back down heavily.
"She's just a second-year—how didn't I block her spell?"
Alex struggled to his feet, his face twisted in disbelief. He'd tried to catch her off guard with a near-sneak attack, but not only had Hermione blocked his spell, she'd turned it around and taken him out.
How was her reaction that fast?
It wasn't surprising, really. Dudley had drilled her relentlessly in countering sneak attacks, and failing those practice sessions came with "punishments."
The other young witches and wizards watching were just as stunned. From their perspective, Alex had barely drawn his wand and cast a spell when a streak of light flashed, and he was down. The whole thing happened so fast it caught everyone off guard.
Some students who'd only just arrived muttered, "I got here and saw Alex flying through the air."
"Prefect Shafiq—sorry, I mean Prefect—have you learned your lesson about respecting the strong?" Hermione said lightly, doing her best to mimic Dudley's calm, collected tone to seem unfazed.
If this were the usual Hermione, she'd already be lecturing Alex on his mispronounced incantations, his unnecessary wand movements, or his sloppy technique.
But Dudley had taught her: in moments like this, you've got to act the part. Own it. That's how you establish yourself as a force to be reckoned with.
"I wasn't ready! I got careless," Alex shouted, ignoring the stares from the other students. "One more time! I want a fair, proper duel!"
He refused to believe he couldn't beat a mere second-year. It had to have been a fluke. She must've been planning to sneak attack him too, and their spells just happened to clash.
Ron gaped at him, marveling at the sheer audacity of the guy.
A fair, proper duel? After that?
The other students' looks said it all. A sixth-year prefect ambushing a second-year, getting countered, and now demanding a rematch? Against a girl?
"You three can come at me together," Alex said, his face red but his tone proud. As a prefect, he was one of the best in his year—a respectable figure, after all. Knowing he was in the wrong, he forced the words out through gritted teeth.
"Sweet!" Ron nearly agreed on the spot. He'd been itching to teach this guy a lesson.
But this wasn't his moment.
Plus, let's be real—he couldn't take Alex in a fight.
"Prefect Alex, getting beaten after a sneak attack is embarrassing enough," Neville said, picking up Alex's fallen wand and brushing off the dust. It was made of rowan wood, just like his father's. Looking at Alex with his earnest brown eyes, Neville said sincerely, "You can't beat Hermione. Why humiliate yourself further?"
Neville's honesty was brutal; Alex's embarrassment was palpable.
"Give him his wand, Neville," Hermione said, then turned to Alex. "Looks like your lesson isn't over yet."
Neville obediently handed the wand back.
This time, Alex didn't rush to attack. He straightened his robes and said, "All three of you can come at me. I won't take advantage this time."
Losing once was bad enough. Losing again—win or lose—would be humiliation on a whole new level. He had to win, and he had to win spectacularly.
"I'm enough on my own," Hermione said with a wave of her hand.
Ron and Neville stepped back, knowing their place. The other students held their breath, watching the showdown unfold: a second-year Discipline Committee member versus a sixth-year prefect.
In a duel, the first step is always a bow.
"Miss Granger, you'd better watch closely this time," Alex said, twirling his wand with a flourish before pointing it at Hermione with a gentlemanly air. "Ladies first."
He was trying to salvage some dignity.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Hermione didn't hesitate, firing off a spell with textbook-perfect form—precise gestures, flawless pronunciation, and impeccable execution.
"Protego!"
The moment Hermione's incantation rang out, Alex cast a spell of his own. The Shield Charm, also known as the Iron Armor Charm, was one of the most versatile protective spells. It conjured an invisible barrier that could deflect simple spells back at the caster and even resist some darker curses to a degree.
It was a tricky spell, one that even some adult wizards struggled to master. Alex's ability to wield it so effortlessly spoke to his talent. Truth be told, some Aurors might not even have such a firm grasp of it.
Faced with her own spell rebounding toward her, Hermione didn't cast a Shield Charm herself. Instead, she flicked her wand and unleashed another spell.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Hermione didn't know the Shield Charm—not because it was too hard, but because she hadn't gotten to it yet in her studies. Even with Professor Flitwick's extra lessons, she couldn't master seven years' worth of Hogwarts spells in just one, especially since the Shield Charm wasn't part of the standard curriculum.
But not knowing it didn't mean she was out of options. As Alex fired off two more spells, Hermione deftly countered, her wand dancing in the air.
"Stupefy!" "Rennervate!"
"Reducto!" "Reparo!"
The best way to counter a spell is with its counter-spell. It's the most efficient way to neutralize an opponent's magic with minimal effort. A skilled wizard is always well-versed, and dueling demands that knowledge—nearly every spell has a counter, except for a rare few.
Like the Unforgivable Curses, which have no counter because their effects are irreversible.
Hermione was laser-focused, her mind razor-sharp. No matter what spell Alex threw at her, she had an answer. The surrounding students watched in awe, practically cheering at the display.
After that first spell from Hermione, the duel became Alex's offensive onslaught. His attacks were relentless, and anyone without Hermione's vast knowledge would've faltered under the pressure.
He was a sixth-year, after all—just a year from graduation and a prefect to boot. Excellence was practically his middle name. When he wasn't caught off guard, his skill was undeniable.
"I passed my O.W.L.s with nine Outstandings," he thought. "My goal is to become an Auror!"
"And I'm going to win this!"
Despite failing to land a hit on Hermione, who countered his spells with minimal-effort counter-spells, Alex didn't show a hint of frustration. Instead, a triumphant smirk spread across his face.