By the time dinner rolled around, Felix felt ready to duel. He didn't feel embarrassed about having to fight, but having so many spectators. His stage fright was kicking in especially when he saw many cheering Lockhart on, mainly because of their dislike of him.
Why so many hated him still after a year, Felix didn't know. He has always been kind to most, but what hurt him was Severus Snape. He saw him smirking as he seemed to have fallen back into his old group of friends who openly supported Voldemort. If it was his imagination or not, Felix decided to keep an eye on him, if it's true, he will call off the deal between them.
'Well, Snape has been strutting around the castle lately. Maybe the mention of becoming a recognized potion master or possible Medal of Merlin has gone to his head.' Felix thought sadly.
While Felix knew that Severus Snape is very arrogant, snobby, held a bit of victim syndrome, and vicious tongue. He tried to help him so he won't leak the prophecy to Voldemort in the future. It seems he may have gone about it the wrong way, since Severus' selfish nature was no less than Lockhart's attention seeking.
'I hope you don't put on those black robes and silver mask, Severus.' Felix thought as he glanced at Lily Evans.
He knew that even if Severus had promised him, if Voldemort was determined to have Severus among his ranks. All he really had to do was promise that he could give Lily to Severus and the teen would fall to his knees and happily join. His obsession with Lily is so strong.
"Are you ready, Felix." John broke Felix of his depressing thoughts.
"Yeah." Felix nodded.
"Gilderoy has been boasting about learning the disarming charm. Been claiming it was powerful enough to send you flying and knock you unconscious." John replied.
"Anything else, like jinxes, hexes, elemental charms?" Angel asked.
"No, I guess that boastful idiot might be keeping it underwraps." John shook his head.
Angel gave a disbelieving look but didn't say anything, it might be possible. After a year, many knew of Lockhart's personality. While slightly talented, he was extremely lazy and boastful. The number of times he praised his own smile or naturally wavy hair has turned many ears numb.
"I don't remember Professor Flitwick teaching any elemental spells. Well the ones outside are filling glasses or starting a fire." Felix added. "The thought of Gilderoy actually sitting down to study material properly for higher grade spells seems unlikely."
"Don't underestimate anyone, Felix." Angel said seriously.
"When did you become so cautious, Angel." John blinked at her words.
Angel tended to be much bolder among their group. In John's view, Felix was the brain, Angel put it into action and he was the muscle. Now, she was putting up caution signs when she usually charged full speed ahead. The thought of her being someone else came to mind.
"Over the summer, my dad was telling some stories of witches and wizards who underestimate others. Many didn't have nice endings." Angel replied. "One witch was torn apart by dragons, another lost all their skin, literally. After hearing these stories, it's fine to be a bit more cautious."
The steak on John's plate that he was eating didn't look so good anymore. Which made Felix laugh at his friend as he pushed it to the edge of his plate. Clearly the image of a woman whose skin was peeled off appeared in his mind.
"If my dad told stories like that, my mother would have smacked him on the head." John mutters.
"My mother told stories of more tragic ends than death." Angel replied with a far away look. "She felt it was the right time for the 'birds and bees talk' alongside them. So many of her stories included tragic tales like the wizard who was tossed into a group of…excited goblins."
Hearing that, neither Felix nor John looked good as their faces seemed to change. Even their eating seems to slow down as they seemed to be having a mental battle within. Various imagines that don't belong appeared in their heads.
--
By the time dinner came to an end, Professor Flitwick stood up excitedly alongside Professor McGonagall. The Headmaster was absent like many times because he is a busy man. Many other students of the younger grade were whispering excitedly, while older ones glanced and left.
The pride of older students was apparent as only the first three grades stayed with most being Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. The third most was Hufflepuff with some Slytherins joining in. Most likely many others wondering if Lockhart will live up to his claim or attempt to get intel to fight Felix later. The hostility towards him wasn't lost on Felix.
"They dislike you, but they like buying from your shop." John muttered as if going mad.
"Humans are complex beings. Just adding magic won't change that." Felix could only shrug.
Soon the four tables were moved away and a stage was soon formed in the Great Hall. The stage wasn't anything fancy, yet barely a minute after it was finished Gilderoy Lockhart was on it. Waving and showing more teeth in his smile then anyone had the right. Felix soon stepped onto the stage as Professor Flitwick waved him up.
"Alright, now I know the two of you have a disagreement that needs a duel to resolve. However, please keep in mind, no dark curses or dark magic that can't be healed." Professor Flitwick warned in his squeaky voice.
Felix felt like this last part was more of a warning to him than Gilderoy. The reason he felt this way is the way Professor Flitwick kept shifting his eyes at him. Which made him wonder how the professors actually viewed him. He didn't actually know a lot of dark arts for most of his attacking spells were charms.
"Yes, Professor. Don't worry, this duel will be over in an instant." Gilderoy Lockhart boasted.
Professor Flitwick and Felix both glanced at him before shifting their attention away. They both felt it was embarrassing to stand on stage with this guy. While both began to wonder if the Hat had placed him in the right house.
"Now you two take your places." Flitwick said.
Felix soon moved down the stage and stood facing Gilderoy. While he simply held the wand up and turned his body to the side like a fencer. The other boy did not as he stood proudly with his wand in his hand.
Professor Flitwick wanted to help Gilderoy into a more proper dueling stance, but seemed to hesitate. In the end, he decided not to do so and just began the duel.
"Expe-"
A red beam jetted out of the end of Felix's wand and slammed heavily into Gilderoy Lockhart. While the wand in the boy's hand flew out into the air, so did the boy. After flipping through the air a couple times, he smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor.
"Winner, Felix Grindelwald." Professor Flitwick announced.
Besides Flitwick's voice, no sounds were made within the Great Hall. The grand duel that was rampaging through Hogwarts today ended in a single spell. Which made Professor Flitwick and Felix feel embarrassed even more so. Flitwick's face even turned a bit red, while Felix felt a bit lost.
He gave up his rest time in the afternoon to cram in last minute training for this. Now before he even got going, the battle was over.
"Umm, Professor Flitwick. Why don't you duel with Felix, just to show us some more proper dueling." John suggested.
'John, you traitor.' Felix cried mentally.
"Umm, no, no." Flitwick refused.
Felix let out a sigh of relief, he didn't really have much reason to duel with Professor Flitwick. The only question he held now was why did the refusal seem hesitant just now?
"Why don't we just allow some other pairs to come up and try. Let it be a crash course on dueling." Flitwick came up with his own idea.