On Friday, after a busy week of classes, the Little Wizards' most anticipated activity finally began.
It was the first Duelling Club meeting after the Christmas holiday.
All club members were present, without exception.
Even non-club members gathered in the Great Hall. The week after the holiday felt especially dull, and they needed the Duelling Club to provide some excitement.
And at this moment, one duel, in particular, captured everyone's attention.
Harry Potter, widely recognized as the top duelist among second-years, faced Hermione Granger, the well-known Miss Know-It-All.
Even those around them stopped waving their wands and made way for the two.
At the entrance of the Great Hall, two figures stood out, conspicuously, among the crowd.
"It seems not only you have changed, but all of Hogwarts as well," Newt said, his voice aged.
"Perhaps so," Dumbledore nodded. "Then what do you think, is this good or bad?"
"Dumbledore... No, Professor, we are both old," Newt said. "This is certainly a good thing, without a doubt. In fact, it's far better than it used to be."
"I think so too," Dumbledore nodded.
"Oh?" Newt was rather surprised. "Dumbledore, this isn't like the Dumbledore I remember."
"Of course," Dumbledore shook his head helplessly. "Many problems, after all, must be faced; they were merely pushed from one era to the next."
Newt was silent for a moment, then nodded helplessly.
There was only one era-spanning issue they could discuss.
Suddenly, Newt inexplicably asked, "Sir, do you know about cameras?"
"I've heard of them," Dumbledore nodded. "Muggle creations, right?"
"Yes," Newt nodded. "A few days ago, a police officer knocked on our door. Do you know why? It was because we hadn't left our house for so long that they suspected we might have died inside."
"A reasonable suspicion. What does this have to do with cameras?"
"They observed it with cameras. Cameras can monitor and record what they see, just like alchemical creations.
And I consulted with the Muggle police and learned that the installation of cameras will be a trend of the times."
Dumbledore understood quickly; he immediately grasped what Newt wanted to convey.
"The higher-ups in the Ministry of Magic don't want children to gain too much power, and they're happy about the declining Wizarding spell-casting level... for their own interests."
Newt nodded. "Actually, I've had the same concern. When the conflict eventually erupts, what can such a Wizarding World do?
A century! Professor, you and I have personally lived through a century in this world, and we both know how astonishing the Muggles' development has been in this past century.
Professor, Flamel told you about his departure, didn't he?"
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded, inevitably a little downcast. "The first six hundred years he lived through didn't see as much development as the Muggles' last hundred years...
He said... he was a man of the old era, so much older, so old that... he couldn't see any place for himself in the future...
To put it bluntly, in less than twenty years, the issues between the Muggle world and the Wizarding World will have to be brought to the table. By then, I hope the Wizarding World, I hope Wizards, will at least have more choices."
"Yes," Newt also agreed. "I've studied so many animals and observed a fact from territorial disputes and the development of different species' groups.
Conflict brings development, and development brings the strength to stand firm in inevitable changes. Only then can an animal group avoid extinction."
"Newt, you've changed," Dumbledore's gaze remained gentle.
"It's not that I've changed, Professor, it's just that I've grown old."
At this moment, his tone was like it had been years ago.
"When I, old and nearly dying, open the door and see Muggle police with 'guns' at their waists, and I can barely even wave my wand, I can't help but worry about the future of the Wizarding World.
And twenty years... isn't that just a blink of an eye? I don't think the Wizarding World is nearly ready.
Furthermore... You-Know-Who is about to make a comeback..."
Newt had no doubt about Dumbledore's statement that Lord Voldemort would return.
The trust built over many years surpassed everything.
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the duelling arena.
"Actually, I thought you'd be more worried about You-Know-Who," he said.
"I was... before Howl appeared," Dumbledore said.
"You trust him that much?"
Dumbledore smiled. "If I had to choose my most commendable quality, perhaps my ability to judge people would be first."
On the other side, Draco was duelling Ron.
Why Ron? It was simply... he just found him annoying!!
"Damn it! How did you get back up again?!" Watching Ron, with a black snake hanging on his arm, still waving his wand and charging at him, Draco felt as if he were dreaming.
How is this guy like a goblin, impossible to kill?!
He'd taken several of his jinxes and still managed to get back up and attack him again.
Thinking this, Draco refocused, constantly reviewing what he had been taught and learned, and the repeated practices he had forced himself through during the holidays.
"Expelliarmus—" He quickly waved his wand, and the next moment, Ron's newly bought wand suddenly flew out of his hand!
But at the same time, a fist came flying.
The clenched fist struck his face, teeth grinding against the inside of his mouth, bringing blood and sharp pain.
Draco was sent flying backward.
"Wait, you're using your fists? Don't you have any Wizard-like manners! Damn Gryffindor!" Draco spat out a mouthful of blood onto the ground, then quickly raised his hand to stop Ron.
Just as he was about to get up, clutching his aching cheek, he was suddenly kicked.
"Who's blind?! You crossed the line, we're still fighting here!" he said, annoyed.
"Oh, sorry, Draco." The person quickly turned back. Draco looked up and saw the person's face; it was a Hufflepuff from the same year, whose name he couldn't remember.
Then, he extended his hand, and the person hesitated for a moment before quickly pulling him up.
He dusted off his clothes, carefully rubbing his aching face, and grumbled, "Who's fighting over there, seventh-years? Such a big commotion."
"Granger and Potter are duelling."
"What?" Draco looked incredulous. "Potter and who?"
"Granger!!" the person answered loudly. It was quite noisy around them; many people were startled by the intensity of Harry and Hermione's duel.
Draco quickly looked over.
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