"Oh, this? I wanted to support Gryffindor. I made it myself. I really wanted it to transform like your rabbit shoes, but my Transfiguration is still new. If possible, I'd also like it to let out a real lion's roar, but I don't know what magic to use."
Lucien found her genuinely interesting. Most people would never think of wearing such an enormous lion's head.
"You could try the Beast Roar Charm, but you would need to adjust it yourself to make it sound like a lion. Or you could use a Recording Charm to capture a real lion's roar, then preserve it on the hat with a Preservation Charm. These spells are all in the book Basic Charm Interpretations in the library."
Luna nodded lightly, a spark flashing in her silver eyes.
"Thank you. You seem to have something to do, so I won't bother you."
With that, the enormous lion's head disappeared into the crowd.
Lucien left the stands and used his Eye of Peering to track Dobby's location.
When he spotted the small house-elf in an old pillowcase, Lucien waved his wand and cast a Silencing Charm around them.
As soon as he saw Lucien approach, Dobby trembled and hurried to explain,
"You must be the one who spoke just now. Dobby… Dobby tried to hurt Harry Potter. Dobby should be punished, but Hogwarts will become very dangerous this year. Harry Potter must not stay here. But Dobby's master wants to… no, Dobby cannot…"
Dobby's hands, hanging at his sides, were swollen, his knuckles bruised and bloodied, as if he had been striking something hard.
Lucien glanced at a nearby wooden post. There were traces of blood on it.
This house-elf…
He casually tapped his wand, and a pure white light flowed over Dobby's hands like water. Within a few breaths, the wounds were completely healed.
Dobby's eyes widened even further.
"Thank you… thank you for your kindness…"
Dobby bowed repeatedly as he spoke.
Lucien watched him silently, instinctively comparing him to Cubby, the house-elf at Nicolas's home.
Both were house-elves, yet their circumstances were entirely different.
Cubby had wages and many sets of clothes he liked. Dobby had nothing but a worn pillowcase.
Humans should not enslave their own kind, but what about non-human creatures? In the wizarding world, house-elves were bound to serve their affiliated wizarding families for life. They handled all household chores, obeyed their masters absolutely, and punished themselves whenever they disobeyed.
House-elves could only gain freedom if their masters gave them clothes, yet their own kind regarded this as a disgraceful expulsion.
Servitude was deeply ingrained in their nature, with only a few exceptions, such as Cubby, and the Dobby before him.
"Hogwarts won't be in any danger this year. If you want to help Harry, you don't need to do it by harming him."
Hearing Lucien's words, Dobby stammered, clearly wanting to say something but not daring to.
Lucien shook his head and turned to leave. After gathering combat data for the Eurus broom, he still needed to make adjustments.
"By the way, Dobby, if you ever need a job in the future, one that pays, you can find me, or come to Hogwarts."
...
"A Duelling Club..?"
A group of young wizards crowded around the notice board, staring eagerly at the parchment pinned to it.
"The first meeting is tonight! Finally, we'll learn something useful!"
"I was so worried that this year's O.W.L. Defence Against the Dark Arts exam would be a disaster. Quirrell last year, Lockhart this year. What terrible luck."
"Exactly. I just wonder who will teach. Maybe Professor Flitwick? He was a duelling champion in his youth. He could definitely teach us something practical."
The crowd buzzed with discussion, with fifth and seventh years being the most concerned. They were facing their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s respectively, exams that would determine their future paths.
And Defence Against the Dark Arts carried significant weight, yet the professors of the past two years had been utterly disappointing. Last year's professor turned out to be a Dark wizard, and this year's could only tell stories and put on performances.
Even the second-year students were excited. After more than a year at Hogwarts, they had yet to properly practise Defence Against the Dark Arts. It would be embarrassing to admit that to others.
In Charms class, Lucien listened as Professor Flitwick enthusiastically explained duelling techniques.
The Duelling Club had become extremely popular, and students had already been asking related questions before class.
Although many were disappointed to learn that Professor Flitwick would not be leading the club, since Charms was the subject most compatible with duelling aside from Defence Against the Dark Arts.
However, to everyone's delight, Professor Flitwick still incorporated duelling into the lesson.
"The most important thing in a duel is calmness. Recklessly casting spells will disrupt your rhythm, give your opponent an opening, and waste your magic, which is detrimental to endurance."
"Powerful spells can achieve a decisive victory, but their long preparation time and vulnerability to interruption mean they are not always practical in fast-paced combat. Simpler and faster charms often produce better results."
"Now then, is there any student willing to come up and assist me with a demonstration?"
Professor Flitwick's gaze fell on Lucien. He had the most confidence in this student.
Lucien stood and walked to the front, demonstrating proper duelling etiquette with his Head of House.
Professor Flitwick hopped down from his stack of books and used his wand to move the podium aside, clearing a wider space.
After bowing to each other with their wands raised, Lucien cast a Shield Charm on himself, a standard opening move in a duel.
Professor Flitwick raised an eyebrow. The Shield Charm was usually taught in the fourth or fifth year, but for Lucien, it was hardly surprising that he already knew it.
The two then exchanged spells back and forth, with Flitwick demonstrating techniques in practice, such as adjusting wrist angles to misdirect spells and anticipating an opponent's attack to dodge in time.
"Let's thank Lucien for his demonstration. Now, which other student would like to try?"
The already eager students immediately became excited, raising their hands one after another.
But once they stepped forward, they felt the pressure and awkwardness. Compared to before, Professor Flitwick had clearly slowed down, yet their movements were stiff, as if their minds and bodies were out of sync.
This only made them realize how effortless Lucien and Professor Flitwick had appeared earlier. Students nearby had already begun asking Lucien for advice.
In addition to Charms, subjects like Transfiguration also included elements of duelling. During Herbology, some imaginative students even asked whether Mandrakes could be used to attack opponents.
Unfortunately, Professor Sprout responded with a stern warning that doing so would seriously injure classmates, though she added that they should not hesitate to use such methods against dangerous individuals outside of school.
After a full day of anticipation, everyone's excitement for the Duelling Club reached its peak.
________
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