Erwin let out a slow breath. They had skill, but not much. Still, they were far stronger than the average first-year wizard. After all, this was a Slytherin shadow prefect.
Erwin bowed slightly. "You're too kind. I won."
Miles brushed off his friend's help and stood on his own. Disappointment flickered across his face, but it was fleeting—he'd anticipated this outcome, so defeat didn't sting as much as it might have.
He bowed in return. "I concede. Congratulations, Prefect Erwin."
"You're too kind, senior," Erwin replied. "We'll cross paths again, and I'll need your guidance. Just don't hold this against me or dodge your duties later!"
Erwin's polite, humble demeanor quickly won over the onlookers. Though he'd only been at Hogwarts for two days, he'd already made waves—charming everyone except the Gryffindors with his easy kindness. It was hard not to like him.
Cassius approached, clapping Erwin on the shoulder. "Well done, junior. You're on a roll. The day you face me won't be long off. Take a breather—classes start this afternoon."
"Thanks, Head Prefect Cassius," Erwin said. "But it's still early. I plan to challenge another shadow prefect."
He turned to the Slytherin cluster, his eyes locking on a young witch: Charlotte Teresa. Slytherin's only female shadow prefect—and the sole one not from the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families.
Charlotte smiled and stepped forward. "I figured I'd wait until tomorrow. Didn't expect the challenge today, junior."
Erwin chuckled. "Best to make the most of the day. If I can't keep up, at least I'll have the energy to take a hit."
She covered her mouth with a laugh. "Too modest, just like those reserved folk from Great Britain. I couldn't beat you if I tried—your Expelliarmus is downright frightening."
"You're too kind, senior."
Her smile faded into resolve. "But I'm a fourth-year shadow prefect. I won't go down without a fight. Charlotte Teresa, fourth-year shadow prefect of Slytherin, accepts your challenge."
A rare seriousness settled over Erwin. Among Slytherin's seven shadow prefects—excluding himself—only two truly worried him. Cassius needed no explanation: seventh-year seniority, plus his upbringing as the Selwyn family's eldest son. The Selwyns had a shadowy history, built on the wizarding world's underbelly, like a clan of silent operatives from old tales. Though cleared of past scandals, their traditions endured. Cassius, absent from the original stories, had trained rigorously from childhood. He was no schoolyard brawler—he was battle-ready.
Erwin figured he could take him now, thanks to his edge. Natives couldn't outmatch someone with a System; that was ironclad.
The other wildcard was Charlotte Teresa. Not pure-blood, yet she thrived in Slytherin's cutthroat hierarchy—polite to all, unassuming. But from their first meeting, Erwin's instincts had screamed danger, honed from years of hard lessons. Like a beast sensing a predator, he felt it with her.
A non-pure-blood should rely solely on Hogwarts' curriculum, yet she'd claimed a prefect spot amid blood purists. Pure-bloods, even without formal tutoring, benefited from generational whispers and family lore—hard work couldn't always bridge that gap. Charlotte's rise defied logic, and Erwin had always respected the puzzle she presented.
Today, he'd test her mettle.
They bowed, stepped back, and took positions.
Cassius raised his hand. "Begin!"
Charlotte struck first, her voice a rapid whip: "Incarcerous! Diffindo!"
Two spells hurtled toward Erwin in succession—ropes to bind, blades to slice.
His eyes narrowed at her blistering speed. He flicked his wand. "Protego!"
The Shield Charm barely formed in time, a shimmering purple barrier solidifying just as the Incarcerous ropes wrapped around him, pinning his arms. The Diffindo slashed against the shield with a dull thud, sending him staggering back two steps.
The ropes vanished the instant the spells clashed. Erwin twisted aside. "Expelliarmus!"
A red beam scorched the spot he'd vacated, cratering the stone floor.
The watching students gaped. This was wizard dueling—spells flying faster than thought, incantations blurring into a frenzy.
Even the professors stirred. Snape's frown deepened, his eyes on Charlotte. Was she holding back all this time, or had no one pushed her to her limits? This power rivaled a standard Auror's.
Cassius shot her a sidelong glance, surprise etching his features. He'd underestimated her too.
Erwin pressed the attack. "Expelliarmus!"
Purple light arced toward her.
"Protego!" Charlotte's shield bloomed swiftly, but she didn't stand firm—instead, she darted sideways.
The spell clipped her shoulder anyway. She skidded to a halt, wand still in hand, and shot Erwin a startled glance. Her eyes widened in genuine surprise.
...
Another 5 chapters down! We are moving at lightning speed, but we aren't at the top yet.
Remember the deal: If you push this fanfic into the TOP 100, I'm prepared to drop 15 CHAPTERS A DAY (10 Bonus + 5 Daily) for as long as we hold that spot!
Current Objective: Smash the Powerstone button. Your votes are the only thing keeping this mass-release engine running!
WANT TO JUMP AHEAD?
You can now read 50 ADVANCED CHAPTERS right now on my P@treon!
[email protected]/MrGrim_
Let's get to the Top 100!
—MrGrim.