"I’m actually doing this for your own good."
"... I don’t see it."
Cedric climbed up the dueling platform with a face full of gloom, returning Kabuda, who had tried to turn his head into a chicken coop, to William. He couldn’t help but twitch his mouth. "You wouldn’t really plan to make a move, would you? There are so many people here..."
William didn’t answer, but instead changed the topic, "How did the date go this afternoon?" he asked in a voice only the two of them could hear.
At the mention of this, Cedric, who was already feeling down, became even more dejected. He sighed, "She didn’t even agree. I can’t even meet her face to face... Is my writing really that bad?"
"It’s indeed a mess."
"?"
With his sharp comment finished, William patted the boy on the shoulder, "Given the situation, let me help you one more time."
"How are you going to help?"
"Simple, just take the hit obediently."
"?"
Before Cedric could react, he felt a shake under his feet and found himself standing on the other end of the dueling platform the next moment. At this time, Professor Flitwick had already stepped down from the platform. He had conjured a tall wooden stool under his feet and was sitting on it, waiting for the "lesson" William had just mentioned.
"Sonorus. (Loud voice)"
Using the same Amplifying Charm, William coughed lightly twice, and the little wizards around who were discussing why Cedric was allowed on stage instantly quieted down. Just now, the duel between William and Flitwick had a much higher budget for special effects compared to the straightforward magic collision with Snape before.
And now, in the eyes of this group of little wizards, it seemed that William was no longer just an underage wizard of their own age.
"The techniques Professor Flitwick and I used in our duel just now are precisely some of the skills you can learn in Charm Class, Transfiguration Class, and... the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, whether it was in the past or in the future," William continued. "Now, someone is bound to ask, are the other courses we studied utterly useless in duels?"
"... Other courses?"
"Potions Class?"
"Herbology?"
"... Magic History?"
"Someone, get rid of the person who mentioned Magic History."
Having just memorized "The Situation of Foreign Wizards in the UK During Grindelwald’s Era," William said feelingly.
"Ahem, in any case, in the duel with Mr. Diggory next, I won’t use any spells except the Iron Armor Spell..."
Before William could finish his sentence, the little wizards below burst into uproar. Everyone subconsciously frowned, evidently finding William’s stated restrictions a bit too harsh for a duel, even if he was the one under restriction—
Even Cedric, who knew William’s strength very well, was stunned for a moment before his expression suddenly turned to joy.
He was well aware that William had many attack methods beyond spells, but where were they now? In the great hall! Surrounded by Hogwarts’ little wizards, so there was no way William could pull out those "magical little props" that were enough to earn him a trip to Azkaban for two and a half months if used in public.
Such as Armored Werewolf, Miniature Fire Dragon, Mandrake...
So, Cedric had to consider whether this was the only chance in his life—
"... Are you serious?"
The boy didn’t think for too long. The desire for "revenge" made him forget William’s comment from three minutes ago about ’taking the hit obediently.’
The dueling platform had a large longitudinal span, so Cedric’s voice wasn’t small, and for a while, the crowd below began looking at the two of them with peculiar expressions—did these two have a feud?
But weren’t they on good terms?
"Of course."
"Then..."
"You can start whenever you’re ready."
"Ready."
Cedric took a deep breath, somewhat nervously pulling out his magic wand.
"Then..." After the two bowed to each other, the countdown sounded just like before, "Three, two, one—"
"Expelliarmus! (Disarming Spell)"
Cedric cast the charm without hesitation and then almost immediately rolled forward with a flip... Well, seeing the slightly confused looks from the little wizards around, Cedric scratched his head, realizing he forgot William had just said he wouldn’t retaliate with a wand.
And just as William had promised, he indeed did not fight back, not even raising a hand as he casually dodged the Disarming Spell that came flying at him. Standing calmly on the spot, he said, "Even if you kneel and beg me now, I won’t let you off so quickly."
"..."
Alright then, Cedric sighed. He had forgotten about William’s verbal attacks that always seemed to accompany their "sparring" sessions. He had thought he might escape it today in such a public setting, but it seems he had been too optimistic.
After a brief reflection, Cedric cast two spells forward again and quickly crouched down, driving his magic wand straight into the ground. In the next moment, the ground under William’s feet arched up, throwing him straight into the air.
"Yes, this is the basic combination of Transfiguration Technique and Attack Spell in a duel—"
Professor Flitwick stood up from his stool, pointing at Cedric on the stage and explaining loudly, "Changing the terrain under the opponent’s feet leaves some caught off guard and unable to dodge, forcing them to use the Iron Armor Spell or other Defense Spells—just like William is doing."
The crimson Disarming Spell impacted against the purple light shield, its ripples left William nodding in approval—Cedric’s progress was indeed swift. He remembered during the first gathering, the boy’s Disarming Spell couldn’t even knock the Licorice Wand out of William’s hand.