The following evening, Evans made his way to the Great Hall for a quick dinner before heading to the location he'd enquired about for the so-called Duelling Club meeting.
The moment he stepped through the entrance, a cacophony of voices assaulted his ears. The appeal of the Duelling Club had apparently drawn nearly every student in the castle, with at least a hundred young wizards packed into the transformed space.
However, the atmosphere felt distinctly sour. Rather than excitement, disappointment dominated the students' faces as they stared toward the centre of the hall with expressions ranging from dismay to outright horror.
The cause of their collective misery stood proudly on a makeshift platform.
"Haha! I'm absolutely delighted that everyone could attend this inaugural club meeting!" Lockhart's voice boomed across the hall, his trademark smile gleaming under the floating candles. His perfectly styled hair caught the light as he gestured dramatically at the assembled crowd. "Today, you shall learn the art of proper duelling! But before we begin, allow me to regale you with some fascinating experiences from my younger days..."
"How can it possibly be him?" Ron's voice cracked with despair as he stared at the eloquent figure commanding the platform.
"Maybe because he teaches Defence Against the Dark Arts?" Harry offered uncertainly, though his tone suggested he didn't believe his own words.
"Come off it! Where's this sort of content in his actual classes?" Ron shot back, nudging Hermione with his shoulder. Her expression had grown increasingly complex as she watched their supposed instructor preen before the crowd.
"Next, I'm thrilled to introduce my distinguished assistant, Professor Snape!" Lockhart's voice rose triumphantly as a familiar black-robed figure materialised near the corridor entrance. "He claims to possess some modest knowledge of duelling and has graciously agreed to assist with today's demonstration!"
"Speaking of duelling, I simply must mention my adventures in Switzerland..."
As Lockhart launched into another self-aggrandising tale, Evans found himself ignoring the verbose professor entirely. Instead, his attention fixed on Snape, who had just arrived with the silent menace of a hunting predator.
Even from across the crowded hall, Evans could clearly read his Head of House's expression. The man's features carried an unsettling combination of grimness tinged with anticipation and anger mixed with barely suppressed glee. His dark eyes glittered with malicious satisfaction.
He resembled nothing so much as a venomous serpent that had been deliberately provoked and now lay coiled in perfect ambush position, ready to strike with lethal precision.
Just from that expression alone, Evans knew with absolute certainty that his dear Head of House hadn't joined this club out of any sense of collegiate cooperation.
Generally, the formidable Potions Master only displayed such dangerous satisfaction when his carefully laid schemes were about to bear fruit or when long-awaited revenge was finally within reach.
Moving quietly through the crowd to position himself beside Snape, Evans leaned close and whispered, "What exactly did he do to earn your wrath?"
Snape's black eyes flicked sideways to regard Evans with cold amusement.
"Two days ago, that preening peacock had the audacity to visit my office and critique everything he laid eyes upon." His voice carried the venom of barely controlled fury. "One moment he claimed I didn't possess as many rare potions as he did; the next he declared my library insufficient, prancing around like an overstimulated monkey desperate for attention."
Snape's mouth twisted as if tasting something particularly foul.
"When I moved to physically eject the insufferable fool from my domain, he suddenly issued this invitation. Asked me to participate in his little duelling club and provide a 'friendly demonstration' of combat techniques."
His gaze shifted to Lockhart with the focused intensity of a hunter sizing up wounded prey.
"Though I cannot fathom what gave him the confidence to challenge me, it suits my purposes perfectly."
"Ah..." After absorbing this account, Evans found himself staring at Lockhart with something approaching amazement.
The sheer density of disgust in Snape's tone spoke volumes. Even during his own rebellious school years, Evans wouldn't have dared provoke the volatile Potions Master to such an extent.
This Professor Lockhart truly was a remarkable specimen of human arrogance.
The interminable speech stretched on for nearly five excruciating minutes. Just when the assembled students appeared ready to stage a mass exodus, Lockhart finally concluded his rambling monologue with evident reluctance and turned toward his waiting colleague.
"Now then, I shall conduct a brief demonstration with the esteemed Professor Snape!" His voice rang with unshakeable confidence. "Please don't concern yourselves. Once our little exhibition concludes, I'll return your Potions professor to you in absolutely pristine condition!"
Ron pressed close to Harry's ear and whispered conspiratorially, "It would be better if he didn't return him at all."
"I seriously doubt that's going to happen," Harry murmured back with equal discretion. "Much as I despise Snape, I have to admit Lockhart probably couldn't beat him in a fair fight."
The memory of Professor Kahn and Snape's intense sparring session in the library last year remained vivid in his mind. Though neither wizard had fought with genuine intent to harm, the display of magical prowess had been genuinely intimidating.
Lockhart stood absolutely no chance against such skill.
And indeed, events unfolded exactly as Harry predicted.
"Expelliarmus!"
The battle lasted mere seconds before reaching its inevitable conclusion. Lockhart's wand sailed through the air in a graceful arc, clattering against the far wall as the deep crimson spell struck him squarely in the chest. The force sent him tumbling backward until he collided with the stone wall with a resounding thud.
Snape regarded the fallen figure with withering contempt before turning and stalking away from the duelling area with predatory satisfaction radiating from every line of his posture.
Struggling to his feet with his formerly immaculate robes now thoroughly dishevelled, Lockhart's face flushed with embarrassment. Yet somehow he managed to maintain that insufferable smile as he addressed the stunned audience.
"Well! Everyone just witnessed my demonstration of what occurs when one fails to properly defend against a duelling opponent!" His voice carried forced joviality despite his obvious humiliation. "Of course, Professor Snape's intentions were entirely educational, but if I had chosen to retaliate, stopping him wouldn't have required much effort at all..."
Noting Snape's expression darkening to thunderous levels, Lockhart's eyes darted nervously away from his colleague. After scanning the crowd frantically, his gaze suddenly brightened with renewed hope.
There! The young man who taught Care of Magical Creatures stood not far away, watching the proceedings with evident amusement.
Lockhart was prepared to admit privately that he might have been slightly overconfident when facing Snape. But this fellow appeared several years his junior and taught a subject involving animal care. Without access to dangerous magical creatures, his combat abilities were probably quite limited.
Perhaps this would provide the perfect opportunity to salvage his reputation?
With this thought firmly in mind, Lockhart fixed his attention on the younger professor and declared with renewed enthusiasm:
"Professor Kahn! Would you be willing to help me demonstrate additional duelling scenarios for our eager students?"
"Me?" Evans blinked in genuine surprise, while Snape's expression shifted to something approaching sardonic anticipation.
Though reluctant to acknowledge it openly, Evans's magical development over recent years had exceeded even Snape's considerable expectations. The notion that Lockhart believed himself capable of defeating someone who regularly held his own against seasoned professors was almost laughably naive.
However, Lockhart remained oblivious to the dangerous undercurrents swirling around him.
"Exactly!" He nodded with supreme confidence. "For this demonstration, we should focus on defensive techniques and evasion strategies for our students' benefit. Please refrain from using offensive magic, Professor Kahn. Simply concentrate on avoiding my attacks."
Though he maintained faith in his ultimate victory over this younger opponent, the recent humiliation still stung. He intended to employ a broader range of spells to restore some measure of dignity to his public image.
"Naturally, Professor Kahn, please don't feel intimidated. I shall exercise appropriate restraint to ensure you suffer no serious injuries." Lockhart tossed his golden hair with practised flair, once again displaying that trademark smile of unshakeable self-assurance.
"What do you say, Professor Kahn?"
Studying Lockhart's supremely confident expression, Evans felt his lips curve into a predatory smile as he glanced toward Snape.
"You heard the man. This was entirely his suggestion." His voice carried deadly calm. "I'll need you to testify to Dumbledore later about the exact circumstances."
"Absolutely." Snape's response came wrapped in frigid amusement, his dark eyes fixed on Lockhart with the intensity of a scavenger bird anticipating fresh carrion. "I shall provide Dumbledore with exceedingly detailed testimony."
The malicious glee in his voice promised that Lockhart's coming humiliation would be thoroughly documented and enthusiastically reported.