Hogwarts: Third Dark Lord

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Waylin stormed toward Professor Ilona with an urgent expression, his voice ringing out with frustration:

"Professor, I protest!"

Professor Ilona cast a cool glance at him, her tone calm and measured as she replied:

"Protest? About what?"

Waylin pointed toward the Hufflepuff section, his face alight with indignation.

"Professor, Hufflepuff is cheating!"

Professor Ilona rolled her eyes, not even bothering to look at him directly as she responded:

"Hufflepuff cheating? Be specific. What exactly did they do?"

"They... they..."

Waylin faltered, rendered speechless. After all, Hufflepuff had merely adjusted their lineup order—a clever strategy that didn't violate any agreements or the formal rules of dueling.

Seeing Waylin stammer to a stop, Cassandra, who had been silent in the Slytherin section, finally stepped forward. She had sensed something amiss from the moment Wentworth took the stage to face Waylin, but it wasn't until Kirk's turn to duel that she fully understood Hufflepuff's plan.

Cassandra's emotions were conflicted: she admired Hufflepuff's cunning yet couldn't suppress her resentment. With a composed expression, she approached Professor Ilona and spoke:

"Professor Ilona, I believe the purpose of reopening the Dueling Club at Hogwarts was to assess the practical abilities of the students. But Hufflepuff's tactics reduce these duels to mere games of strategy, robbing them of their true meaning."

Turning to Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, she asked, "What do you think, Professors?"

Professor McGonagall hesitated briefly, but Professor Ilona remained resolute as she answered:

"Cassandra, you must understand that real combat isn't just about standing still and exchanging spells. In actual battles, strategy often outweighs sheer strength!"

Professor Flitwick, standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

"Indeed," he added. "Exceptional intelligence is humanity's greatest treasure."

As the Head of Ravenclaw, Professor Flitwick's words echoed the house's guiding philosophy, effectively ending the debate.

With both Professor Ilona and Professor Flitwick voicing their support for Hufflepuff's approach, Cassandra had no choice but to retreat to the Slytherin section, her frustration evident.

At Professor Ilona's prompting, the duel between Hufflepuff and Slytherin resumed.

Although Kirk admitted he wasn't as strong as Waylin, he demonstrated considerable skill against a younger Slytherin opponent. Beneath his carefree demeanor lay a steady hand. He began with a Shield Charm, ensuring his defense, and after several exchanges of spells, ended the match decisively with a Disarming Charm, sending his opponent's wand flying.

Returning to the cheers of Hufflepuff, Kirk ignored the accolades and strode straight to Wentworth, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"Thank you, Wentworth!" he said repeatedly.

The following two duels—Hufflepuff's fourth years against Slytherin's third years, and Hufflepuff's third years against Slytherin's second years—unfolded without surprises, with Hufflepuff emerging victorious in both.

When Hufflepuff secured their third win, their section erupted in thunderous applause. Inspired by their enthusiasm—and perhaps impressed by their strategy—students from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw joined in with loud cheers.

Amid the celebration, Kirk and Cedric lifted Wentworth onto their shoulders. With the help of their housemates, they tossed him into the air repeatedly as a show of gratitude to the mastermind behind Hufflepuff's triumph.

"Put me down! I'm afraid of heights! You traitors!" Wentworth shouted in panic, his protests drowned out by the deafening cheers.

The professors observed the scene in silence, none of them intervening. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape, aware of Wentworth's true identity, shared a single thought:

From this day forward, Wentworth was not just a name in Hufflepuff—he had become their pride. After winning their hearts through their stomachs, he had now won their unwavering loyalty.

Professor Ilona, meanwhile, was deep in thought.

He's only a first-year now. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll spend the next seven years at Hogwarts. Thirteen different cohorts will come to know him as their peer. And where is this? Hogwarts! Thirteen cohorts—that's an entire generation of magical talent!

So this is your plan, Wentworth. As the new leader of the Pureblood Party, you aim to monopolize an entire generation of the wizarding world. What incredible foresight and ambition!

When Ilona—once Rosier—had first learned that Wentworth harbored a grand vision, she had tried to guess its nature. Yet each time she thought she understood, Wentworth would surprise her anew.

Now, she was certain of one thing: leaders could be trained, but true leaders were born. Gellert Grindelwald had been one, and so was Wentworth.

Amid the joyous celebrations of Hufflepuff, the dejection of Slytherin, and the silent musings of the professors, a voice like a silver bell suddenly pierced through the clamor:

"Enough! The duel isn't over yet!"

The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom fell silent.

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice, where a girl in emerald-green robes stood tall in the dueling arena. Her emerald eyes gleamed as she gripped her wand, her posture poised and commanding.

"We've already lost, Cassandra..." Waylin murmured from behind her, dejection heavy in his voice.

"You've lost, not me!" Cassandra retorted sharply. "I haven't had my turn yet. And you—stay away from me! You're a disgrace to Slytherin's greatness!"

Her cutting words left Waylin red-faced, forcing him to retreat, while the other Slytherins averted their gazes in embarrassment.

"Professor Ilona," Cassandra said, her voice firm as she fixed her gaze forward, "perhaps Slytherin has lost, but I have not. Please announce the next duel."