The new girl stepped forward, and suddenly, the air seemed to shift.
She looked...Different. Clean. Her hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, skin clear, cheeks tinted a delicate pink.
Why was I staring at a muggle? Ew.
"This should be easy for her." Enzo chuckled. "McLaggen's built like a dragon, isn't he?"
"Breathes like one too." Theo added.
I barely registered their banter, my eyes fixed on the new girl. She looked nervous, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she raised her wand.
Christ, get a grip Matt!
McLaggen hurled insults at her, but she remained stoic, her composure — almost impressive.
"Wands at the ready." Snape instructed. "And McLaggen, do try to avoid sending our newest student to the hospital wing on her first day."
As Snape signalled the start of the duel, I leaned forward, inexplicably invested in the outcome of this match.
"And...Duel!" Snape's command rang out.
The duel began with McLaggen's swift offensive, his wand slashing through the air. To everyone's surprise, the new girl managed to deflect his spells with surprising agility, her movements fluid and precise.
Frustrated by her unexpected competence, McLaggen resorted to taunts.
"Come on, princess! Is that all you've got? I've seen first-years with more skill!"
The girl's jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing as she parried another hex.
McLaggen pressed his advantage, forcing her towards the edge of the platform.
"Go home to whatever muggle dump you spawned from! You don't belong here!" He sneered, unleashing a particularly vicious hex.
The new girl stumbled, teetering on the brink of falling.
A collective gasp rippled through the room. But then, her eyes flashed, a look of fierce determination replacing her earlier nervousness.
In a move that left everyone stunned, she raised her free hand alongside her wand. A pulse of raw magic surged forth, amplifying her spell to an unprecedented level. McLaggen, caught off-guard, was sent flying across the room, crashing into the far wall with a sickening thud.
The classroom erupted into chaos. Slytherins howled with laughter, delighting in McLaggen's humiliation.
But I couldn't tear my eyes away from the new girl. She stood there, wand still raised, looking as shocked as everyone else at what she'd done.
"Quiet!"
Snape bellowed. He glided over to McLaggen's crumpled form.
"Get up, McLaggen. Hospital wing. Now."
Turning to face the new girl, Snape's expression was unreadable.
"Clearly, Miss Hawke, you were not taught the rules. We are to use only permitted spells in these duels. Unless you decided to ignore them completely...See me after class."
As she climbed down from the platform, the whispers started immediately.
I watched her weave through the crowd, her earlier confidence replaced by visible discomfort at being the centre of attention.
"Did you see that?" Theo whispered excitedly. "She absolutely demolished him!"
Enzo nodded, equally impressed. "Remind me never to get on her bad side."
YOU ARE READING
The Serpent & Hawke | Mattheo Riddle | Enemies to lovers
FantasíaWe were now mere inches apart. I leaned down, my face level with hers, my eyes blazing with barely contained fury. "You don't want to make an enemy of me, Hawke." I growled. Lyanna swallowed hard, but her gaze remained defiant. "I'm not afraid of y...
