At this moment, Lockhart had already made a swift exit from the dueling platform. Surrounded by a group of concerned and adoring young witches, he continued to showcase his resilience and effortless charm.
"Don't worry, ladies. I won't be taken down so easily, rest assured," Lockhart said as he accepted a piece of parchment and a quill handed to him by a young witch. Under her expectant gaze, he signed his name with a flourish.
Snape ultimately refrained from taking any action. Ignoring the clownish display below the stage, he let out a cold snort and turned his attention to Professor Flitwick, who stood in the center of the dueling platform.
"Filius, you may now proceed with the 'real demonstration,'" he said in a low but clear voice, loud enough for most of the nearby young witches and wizards to hear.
"What? There's another demonstration?" Harry, standing near the edge of the platform, was puzzled. Lockhart had already boasted to him and Ron about his planned demonstration for the Dueling Club, but Harry didn't recall him mentioning a second one.
"Professor Lockhart, isn't the demonstration over?" Several young witches began chattering and questioning Lockhart. Before stepping down, Lockhart had implied the demonstration was finished. They had thought they could finally participate in the event.
"Ah—our original plan didn't include a second demonstration. Perhaps Professor Snape wanted to showcase his skills and added it on his own," Lockhart said, sweating slightly. Who knew why there was a second demonstration? He had worked hard to secure this demonstration slot from Dumbledore, and neither Dumbledore, Snape, nor Flitwick had ever mentioned there would be two demonstrations.
But Lockhart was Lockhart. In an instant, he fabricated a new explanation.
"A real demonstration, huh? Heh, Professor Snape is something else," Hermione chuckled and silently gave Snape a thumbs-up.
Hearing this, Professor Flitwick, who had been quite bored, immediately perked up. After all, he had been looking forward to this rare match for a long time.
"Oh, of course. Then, let's welcome the next professor responsible for demonstrating alongside Professor Snape to the stage," Professor Flitwick said with a cheerful smile. He stepped back a few paces and climbed onto a pre-arranged chair, ready to seriously commentate on the match.
Almost as soon as he finished speaking, a figure in a black robe appeared as if out of thin air, ascending the steps to the crowded dueling platform. This sudden appearance startled the young witches and wizards nearby.
"What's going on?"
"Did anyone see them earlier?"
"I have no idea!"
While the students whispered among themselves, Glenn had already taken his position on the platform.
With the thought of ending this quickly, Glenn had maintained a disguise spell as he moved through the crowd toward the stage entrance when Snape and Lockhart began their demonstration.
As he stepped onto the first stair, Professor Flitwick happened to call his name to the stage.
So Glenn dispelled his disguise.
Seeing Glenn take the stage, Professor Flitwick began reciting the lines Dumbledore had given him in advance:
"You may not have seen this new professor before. He does not usually teach you in class."
"He was specially hired by Professor Dumbledore to oversee the school's nighttime security. Because of the addition of the Dueling Club, this professor has made an appearance and, like myself, Professor Snape, and Professor Lockhart, will serve as a referee during your duels."
"It is inconvenient to reveal this professor's real name, but you may call him..."
"...The Watchman Professor."
Glenn and Hermione: ?
What was going on? This sudden and inexplicable introduction was baffling.
Hermione's gaze shifted from Glenn to the pale mask on his face, as if trying to see through the barrier and meet his eyes.
Hermione: Did you know about this?
Glenn felt the familiar gaze and roughly guessed what the young girl was thinking. He shook his head slightly.
"What is Dumbledore trying to do?" Glenn couldn't help but feel a surge of doubt.
Professor Flitwick's explanation was clearly instructed by Dumbledore, but Glenn had no idea what consequences this might lead to in the future. Even so, it raised Glenn's vigilance.
He subconsciously felt that such sudden oddities were bound to be problematic.
This time, he was merely temporarily assuming an identity equivalent to Snape and Flitwick's, even though the title of Dueling Club referee was just an empty name.
At most, he had provided some props for the event, but that was merely a commission.
"Dumbledore must know I prefer to keep a low profile, so why assign me this fabricated title and position?"
Glenn fell into thought as Professor Flitwick continued introducing the "Watchman Professor" per Dumbledore's instructions.
"The Watchman Professor's role is not limited to serving as a referee for this event. He is also the creator and technical consultant for the props we will use in the upcoming Dueling Club ranking matches," Flitwick said, elegantly waving his wand while muttering an incantation.
"First a wave, then a flick, and be decisive when casting the spell," the Charms professor couldn't help but start teaching the Levitation Charm mid-cast, an old habit of his. "Wingardium Leviosa."
A small box behind him suddenly opened, and about twenty or thirty dueling badges flew out, landing in the hands of the young witches and wizards closest to the platform.
"These badges are the essential props you must wear during duels. Since the quantity is limited, those near the platform should put them on," Flitwick said. "Anyone without a dueling badge, please step back seven paces and stay away from the platform."
The students exchanged glances. Even the most mischievous ones obediently stepped back, enviously watching the lucky ones who had received badges near the platform.
Like Hermione, who was using a custom badge Glenn had prepared for her in advance. She gave the badge she just received to Neville, who had been too timid to push forward and stayed at the back.
Of course, there were those who didn't get a badge but still stood at the edge of the platform.
Yes, it was Lockhart.
Seeing this, Snape displayed a satisfied smile.
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