" hey, did you hear? there is going to be a duel between two slytherins ".
" I heard it's between a first year and fifth year ".
" What? How can a first year who isn't even taught a single combat spell fight against a fifth year ".
" I heard he already defeated 20 of the seniors or even more ".
" Wait, I heard it's him. Damian Knight is it true? ".
" Yeah, that's him ".
" Do you think he will win? ".
" Who are you kidding? He won't win ".
" Yeah, those are lies. how can a first year defeat upper classmen ".
As Damian entered the great hall, he is pointed at and students started whispering among themselves. Harry and Ron looked at him astonished. Hermione meanwhile looked at him like he is an idiot. Students from other houses gave him a sympathetic glance.
Cedric asked him to withdraw from the duel, but Damian refused. He didn't state the reason to Cedric and only said it's absolutely necessary for him to participate and win this duel. Harry and Ron also met him. After knowing what happened they apologised to him for ignoring him.
" But seriously you're going to fight against a fifth year ", Ron said.
" A fifth year I already defeated ", Damian said.
" What? You defeated her already? Youbare lying right? Then why this duel again? She will be defeated again. What exactly is this duel for? ", Harry asked.
" For honour of course. After she is defeated by me, she lost the prefect position and lost her honour of her and her family. She wishes to defeat me and regain it. But I don't understand how she is going to do it ", Damian said.
" You should apologise to her and break this duel. It isn't best to antagonise others, especially those with wealth and power outside. You'll be safe here in Hogwarts but what about outside ", Hermione said.
" I told you, this duel is necessary. I need to win this duel and it's not my fault that she picked up on me with her little gang. Why should I apologise to her?", Damian said.
" If you don't she will consider you her enemy and this whole duel seems like a plan to me. She is definitely going to do something in the duel. You better be careful Mr Knight ", Hermione said.
Damian said," I'll be on guard against her. You can never be at ease especially when the opponent is a cunning one who is wounded by you ".
Ron said," I bet she will try to cheat. Like cheating in a way none can find. You need to be careful with those snakes Damian. No one knows when they will strike and what is running in their minds ", Damian nodded," I'll be careful ".
The classes are held as usual except there is an anticipation to see this duel. The professors are quite different though, Filliud Flitwick taught the students Lumos spell and adviced Damian to give up the duel. Panoma Sprout also adviced him after the class. There are two people though who found this quite enjoyable.
The twins, they met Damian and said," hey looks who is here ".
" The public enemy of Slytherin purebloods ".
" The fearless baby snake which pounced on the cobra ".
" Will he be able to win? ".
" Or will he lose? ".
" We, the mischievous kings of Hogwarts are rooting for you ".
" Hit the arrogant snakes hard ".
" So they won't rise their heads at school ".
" Because of the humiliation of defeat ".
" In someone's hands whom they considered born inferior ".
" If you need some support in humiliating them ".
" Whenever and wherever, we will help you ".
" Afterall no one annoyed those snakes more than us ".
" In the last years, we became their nightmare ".
" To the point where they even tried killing us in Quidditch last year ".
They spoke alternatively and in perfect sync sometimes making him astonished. These two can be useful, after seeing their finished products and betting pool business, Damian has to clap for them. They said the odds on Damian are 1:10. One galleon bet will get 10 galleons if he wins. On Gemma Fawley's side it's 1:2. Having a prefect brother comes with some information previliges. They even gave the prefects of other houses few galleons from the pool to shut their mouths.
They clearly used his identity of being a first year who isn't in Hogwarts for three days to their advantage and even spread rumours about Gemma going to use cheats in the duel to get vast bets on the former Slytherin prefect side to reap profits. As for why they're so sure that Damian will win, they already knew he defeated many upperclassmen and even hung Draco Malfoy from the ceiling.
And they also made sure these bets won't be announced to Slytherin. Those snakes knew the full extent of information and may disrupt their profits. Damian didn't ask much, he only asked some share from their profits after they got it. He decided they will be good friends and has potential in them.
The twins grinned already calculating the profits. The time of the duel is also nearing, the tables in the great hall are placed around and in different heights for the students to see. Professors are preparing a field where the spells will go in different direction and hit students. They don't want any collateral damage.
The forum of Hogwarts is buzzing with discussions. Fred and George even went from table to table towards all houses introducing their betting pool to more people and deceiving them to get more and more gamblers. The prefects didn't say anything and the professors busy arranging the great hall failed to notice them.
The faction of Gemma looked very serious and nervous. On other hand the faction led by Evelyn looked too relaxed and even seemed to be enjoying though few of them are still looking at Damian with doubt. Only the faction led by Marcus Flint and others stayed there with a neutral expression. They didn't side with Gemma nor they supported Damian. To them, both are obstacles. Gemma's faction as rival and Damian as someone who disdains their pureblood principles. If one of them suffers humiliation they're eager to take advantage of that situation but failed to notice that Evelyn's faction has already spread it's paws on that waiting to claim the benefits.