The Fool in Hogwarts

"Hold on! I’m a Seer with professional integrity.

"You can doubt my abilities, but you can’t question my character."

"I think they doubt both your abilities and your character," Draco said. "There’s nothing more to discuss. Midnight, in the trophy room."

With that, Draco left with Crabbe and Goyle, while Harry and Ron headed to the Gryffindor table for dinner.

"What rotten luck." Vade cursed under his breath, sat down again, and resumed cutting the steak he had not finished.

A wizard’s duel between first years who had barely learnt any spells. Put those two things together, and the result would be a pair of hopeless amateurs flailing at each other.

Sadly, he had somehow become one of those amateurs.

Fortunately, he was only the second.

If Draco won, all the better. If he did not, Vade would simply drag him away.

Whatever happened, fighting was out of the question.

For some unknown reason, Hogwarts’s interest in The Fool was declining by the day, but Voldemort and Dumbledore certainly would not forget. The moment Vade revealed his true strength, he might attract their attention.

"What exactly is a wizard’s duel?" Harry asked Ron. "And what does a second do?"

"A wizard’s duel is when two wizards fight each other with magic. If you die, your second takes over," Ron explained casually. "But don’t worry. People only die in formal wizarding duels.

"You and Malfoy are both first years. We’ve only learnt a few spells since term started, and they probably hurt less than a punch.

"When the duel starts, hit him in the nose and you’ll definitely win."

Harry regained some confidence. He was not certain he could defeat Draco with magic, but in a fistfight, he did not believe a pampered rich boy would be any match for him. At the very least, Draco was far less used to taking a beating.

Then Harry remembered something else. "But he has a second too."

"Hah!" Ron laughed dismissively. "Malfoy’s second might be difficult if it were Crabbe or Goyle.

"But apart from showing off a little in Potions, Moria hasn’t done much better in any of the other subjects."

"It’ll be two against two. Why would we lose?

"Besides, Moria’s no better than the rest of them. Spreading rumours about you will cause plenty of trouble. We were wrong about him."

"Excuse me." Hermione looked wearily at the two boys. "I heard everything you just said."

"I knew this would happen," Ron said irritably. "Harry, I expect you can guess what she’s about to say."

"That we shouldn’t go."

"You absolutely shouldn’t," Hermione snapped. "Leaving your dormitory at night is against the school rules. If Filch catches you, Gryffindor will lose points.

"Slytherin is already ahead of Gryffindor. We can’t let the gap grow any wider."

"Oh, really?

"As though Malfoy and Moria wouldn’t lose points too."

"Hermione, this is our business. It has nothing to do with you," Harry said.

"Exactly. Stop interfering."

Hermione glared furiously at them, then marched over to the Slytherin table and sat opposite Vade.

"I assume you want something from me, and I assume it involves trouble."

"A midnight duel is against the school rules."

"Of course I know that, but..." Halfway through his reply, an idea suddenly occurred to Vade. "How about this? I’ll persuade Draco to abandon the duel.

"You persuade those two to do the same."

"If I could persuade them, I wouldn’t have come to you."

"Then you’re going about it the wrong way. Tell them that the wicked Slytherins are making fools of the brave Gryffindors, and that Draco and I never intended to go to the trophy room tonight.

"If that still doesn’t work, tell a Gryffindor prefect.

"As long as neither side goes to the agreed location, everyone will quietly pretend it never happened the next morning."

"That might work, but did you really have to call yourself wicked?"

Vade gave a helpless shrug. "In their eyes, Vade Moria is no different from any other vile Slytherin."

"Is Harry really going to be Draco’s rival at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked uncertainly.

"I stake my reputation as a Seer on it. Time will prove me right."

Draco paced back and forth in the Slytherin common room. The moment Vade returned, he beckoned him over.

"Tell me, which spell are you best at?"

Vade pretended to consider the question seriously. "I’m quite good at the Wand-Lighting Charm."

"What use is that? I’m asking about offensive spells."

"You do realise we’ve only had a few Charms lessons since term began, don’t you?"

"Surely you know at least one offensive spell!"

"I also know the Impediment Jinx, but I’m not very proficient with it."

"That will do. It’s still better than Crabbe and Goyle."

"Which spell are you best at?"

"The Blasting Curse," Draco said proudly. "My father taught me. Tonight, we’ll teach Potter a lesson."

"I still think we should consider this carefully," Vade said thoughtfully. "Sneaking out in the middle of the night is against the school rules."

"What’s there to worry about? We’ll be fine as long as we aren’t caught.

"Even if we are, we’ll only lose a few points. We won’t be expelled."

"Master Malfoy, I’m well aware of your family’s influence, but duels always have a winner and a loser.

"If you win, there’s no problem. But what if you lose?"

"More importantly, you’re the main fighter.

"After defeating Harry Potter, you’ll still have to fight Ron Weasley."

"Weasley." Draco gave a contemptuous smile. "Weasley is nothing. It’s doubtful whether that wand of his even works properly."

"You certainly sound confident."

"Of course."

"What about close combat?"

"I can handle that too... What did you say?" Draco’s expression changed subtly. "This is supposed to be a wizard’s duel. Are they planning to settle it with their fists?"

"I overheard them talking. I doubt they were lying."

"Of course they weren’t. Gryffindors are notorious for ignoring rules, and Weasley is always disgracing pure-blood families. They would certainly stoop to something that shameless."

"That makes things difficult. Naturally, Harry Potter would still be no match for you in a one-on-one fistfight, but even if you win, turning up to class covered in bruises the next day would hardly look good."

Draco hesitated for a moment. "What do you suggest?"

"I do have an idea." Vade quietly relaxed. At last, he had steered the conversation in the right direction. "We simply don’t go."

"But..."

"No buts, Draco.

"This is a prank, or rather, a Slytherin scheme. If they fall for it, they have only their own stupidity to blame." As Vade spoke, he shot meaningful looks at Crabbe and Goyle.

What are you two waiting for? Help me persuade him!

If your leader gets hurt, do you think his two lackeys won’t be held responsible?

Crabbe and Goyle exchanged confused looks. Once they understood, they joined in, gradually persuading Draco to abandon the midnight duel.

(To be continued.)