Higgs was a different matter entirely; the spells he cast moved in predictable, straight lines, and his trajectories were aimed squarely at where Charles was standing. He lacked the tactical foresight to lead his shots or pre-emptively block movement, so Charles dodged them with ease, using the openings to close the distance. Furthermore, Higgs's casting speed was only average; his spells were easy to read a full meter before they were even launched.
After parrying a few more bolts, Charles realized their intensity was nothing out of the ordinary. His confidence surged. He shifted into a fluid series of sidesteps and hops, launching a rapid offensive that forced Higgs into a panicked defensive.
Higgs, who had initially stood rooted like a turret, felt the pressure mounting. Watching the younger boy weave closer while increasing his firing frequency, Higgs found himself taking involuntary steps backward.
An opportunity!
Charles was overjoyed to see Higgs finally move, especially since the senior was retreating in a straight line. This was the simplest kind of moving target—Alan hadn't even bothered to give him such easy practice drills for the last six months. Seizing on the weakness, Charles cast three spells in rapid succession, then executed a low roll to one side, letting Higgs's return fire sail over his head.
He scrambled up and fired two Disarming Charms, aiming them precisely one body-length behind the retreating Higgs. The senior saw the first three spells and snapped up a Protego to block them, but the moment the shield flared, the final two spells appeared from his flank.
Higgs had no time for another shield. He tried to mimic Charles, attempting to parry the magic with his wand, but he was too slow. One of the Disarming Charms hit him squarely in the chest. The force shoved him back several steps until he tumbled onto the grass, his wand spinning high into the air before landing firmly in Charles's hand.
"Whew..." Charles let out a long breath, staring at the confiscated wand. He turned to Alan, cheering excitedly, "I won! Alan, I actually won!"
Vivian, watching from the sidelines, shrieked with delight. "Charles, that was amazing! What a duel!"
"Alright, settle down!" Alan frowned, walking toward them with a stopwatch in his hand. "Your footwork was noticeably slower than it was at the end of last term, and your recovery time after casting is abysmal. Do you really have to stand there and watch to see if your spell hits? Don't you know how to move to your next position in advance?"
Alan continued his barrage of criticism. "Your casting wind-up is too long. There were three distinct windows where you could have fired four spells in the time you took for three. Tell me honestly—did you slack off over the summer? You clearly didn't follow the schedule I gave you, yet you still had the nerve to write to me complaining about the difficulty."
Charles hadn't expected a lecture after his victory. He stood there nervously scratching his head, his excitement dampened. Vivian also quieted down, though she remained flushed with pride for her friend.
Meanwhile, Higgs looked down at his empty right hand, a storm of emotions crossing his face. Charles quickly moved away from Alan to help the senior up, returning the wand as he did so.
Higgs gripped his wand, looking at Charles with newfound respect. "Your skill is impressive. I concede. But I have to ask... does Alan possess this kind of strength too?"
"Is my strength impressive?" Charles turned a bit red at the praise. "Alan is always telling me how weak I am. How could I be as strong as him? If you'd been fighting him just now, you would have been sent flying within the first ten seconds."
Higgs felt a chill run down his spine. Was the boy in his own house truly that formidable? He was a top student himself and didn't even fear Wilkes, yet he had been handily defeated by a junior whom Alan had trained. He looked at Alan and said firmly, "If you truly possess that kind of power, then I will support you. Tell me: what is the plan?"
Charles, confused by the sudden shift in tone, looked at Vivian. She quickly filled him in on the "Purity Committee" and the new rules in Slytherin. After hearing the explanation, Charles's face burned with anger.
"Those guys are going too far! They're trying to turn Hogwarts into a breeding ground for Death Eaters," Charles said, turning to Alan. "I'm in, too. Let's teach those arrogant bastards a lesson they won't forget."
Alan offered a faint, cold smile. "There's no need to be so worked up. They're just a collection of clowns. Senior Higgs, your role is simple. I don't need you to fight them directly. I just need you to clean up the mess after I've finished with them."
"What?" Higgs stared at him in disbelief. "What do you mean? Are you planning to take them all on alone? That's suicide!"
"Don't worry," Alan said calmly. "I've been preparing for this for a long time. I'm quite confident. The issue is that those pure-bloods have stirred up a lot of division within Slytherin. When the dust settles, the house will need someone respected to stabilize it."
"This..." Higgs frowned, weighing the risks. Recalling the battle he just lost, he realized Alan's confidence might not be misplaced. "Alright. What do you need from me?"
"For now, nothing. We wait," Alan said.
"Wait for what?"
"The Slytherin motto is self-preservation. Without direct oppression, most people will just stand by and watch. But Yaxley and his group are going to push too hard; they'll inevitably stir up conflict. As far as I know, nearly two-thirds of our house are half-bloods, regardless of what the 'pure' families claim." Alan's smile turned icy. "Let them cause their trouble. When the half-bloods can't take the abuse anymore, that's when they'll need a leader to stand up for them. Winning them over will be your task. As for the radicals... leave them to me."