Ever since Alexis successfully thwarted Lockhart’s attempt to heal Harry and regain public attention - perhaps even salvage his crumbling fame - she had been nervously anticipating his next move: the formation of the Duelling Club.


    “I’m so sure he’s gonna do it,” Alexis said as she repeated her dance moves. “I mean, he organized it in the original storyline, right? Like, back when he was all famous and stuff – even though that was mostly to reassure students and distract them from all the basilisk drama, which he totally failed at. So, of course he’s gonna try the same trick now, especially with his whole ‘fading fame’ thing going on.”


    “So?” Scarlet raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to stop Alexis’s movement. She adjusted the blond into a better position; she didn’t dance, but her martial arts training gave her strong understanding of body mechanics. “He failed in the original storyline. With all his current disadvantages, He’ll fail again if he actually organises it.”


    “Well, things are different now.” Alexis followed Scarlet’s adjustments, noting how much better the new posture felt. She repeated the sequence, concentrating on embedding the movements into her muscle memory. “Like, the Horcrux is gone, so Harry can’t speak Parseltongue anymore. If Draco summoned a snake or something, there’d be no dramatic moment with Harry speaking snake-language to freak everyone out. The whole thing wouldn’t end up as messy as it did in the original storyline. But...” She paused briefly, catching her breath. “The most likely scenario? A ton of injured students, ‘cos Lockhart’s totally useless at teaching proper duelling. He didn’t even teach them how to defend themselves before pairing them up to randomly blast spells at each other! Ugh, now that I think about it, he didn’t even bother teaching them Expelliarmus! Can you imagine? No disarming lesson before letting kids just start hexing each other?!”


    “And what’s your plan?” Scarlet asked as she corrected Alexis’s posture again. Unlike her companion, Scarlet wasn’t particularly worried. Their version of Professor Snape was not the same man from the original storyline. Moreover, with Jessica around, Snape would surely do everything in his power to ensure his daughter’s safety – and, by extension, the safety of all students.


    “Well,” Alexis began with a firm tone, still keeping up her dance practice, “he didn’t really prove his incompetence in the original storyline; the club just ended in chaos. But he didn’t actually show any useful skills either, apart from being, like, a terrible example when Snape totally owned him in their duel. However, if he duels a student and loses...that would totally expose him as a fraud!”


    Scarlet arched an eyebrow. “And you suggest who should duel him?”


    “Sensei!” Alexis said enthusiastically. Then, noticing Scarlet’s disapproving gaze, her excitement faltered. “Bad idea?”


    “Good idea. Wrong candidate,” Scarlet replied, her voice steady and firm. “I’ve already presented myself as a threat to him in class. Everyone knows he doesn’t stand a chance against me. If I push any further, it’s not proving a point - it’s bullying. And let’s be honest, Alexis, you’ve been toeing that line yourself lately. What started as a good intention is slowly turning into a bad habit.”


    It was the first time Scarlet had spoken to Alexis in such a heavy tone. The blonde winced slightly, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face as she reflected on the past few months. She had to admit – she’d been actively antagonising Lockhart, even if it was because he didn’t deserve the role of a professor.


    “Remember your initial intention, Alexis,” Scarlet sighed, “You wanted to show that he’s incompetent and expose what he’s done to the real adventurers whose memories he erased. Was your suggestion just now really the right way to go about it?”


    “...no.” Alexis murmured, lowering her head.


    “You’re playing into his hands,” Scarlet pointed out, her tone unwavering. “You’re lowering yourself to his level and trying to beat him in a field where he might actually hold the upper hand.”


    Alexis blinked, mulling over Scarlet’s words. After a moment, she asked, “Sun Tzu’s The Art of War? Or Zhuge Liang’s wisdom from The Three Kingdoms?”


    Scarlet stared at her, deadpan. “Does it matter?”


    “No, not at all,” Alexis admitted with a wince again, her mind clearer now. “I should’ve, like, set a trap for him or plotted something to prove he’s fraud, instead of just reacting to him using my foresight from the original storyline...Ooh! Could I, like, discuss this with Fred and George?”


    Scarlet nodded approvingly. “They’d be delighted to join you on an adventure to unravel the truth.”


    “So...” Alexis hesitated for a beat. “I’ll be the one challenge him to a duel.”


    Scarlet studied her intently. “Go on. Elaborate.”


    Alexis’s heart thudded as she began piecing her plan aloud. “I’m not, like super great at magic or anything. I’m mostly getting A’s with the occasional E in my exams. People know I hang out with Fred and George, and most of them think it’s because of my skills in coding and design - not charm work or spell-casting. So...if someone like me can beat Lockhart in a duel, it’d be enough proof that he’s a total fraud and not as amazing as his books make him out to be!”


    Scarlet gave her a nod of approval. “It’s a sound plan. And how do you intend to execute it?”


    “Expelliarmus!” Alexis’s face lit up with excitement. “Disarm his first. Then Accio, to grab his wand – oh, wait! I need to dodge his spells first. Like, seriously work on my agility? And maybe memorize some protective charms?”


    “And your precision,” Scarlet added, finally offering Alexis a pleased expression. “You’ll need to aim precisely. Do you need my help with that?”


    “Yes, sensei,” Alexis said, bowed deeply, her tone infused with formality. “Please.”


    “Very well,” Scarlet exhaled, adjusting her schedule for the coming weeks in her mind.


    Time passed swiftly, and, just as Alexis had predicted, Lockhart went ahead and organised the Duelling club - even without the spectre of the basilisk hanging over Hogwarts. Predictably, he had enlisted Professor Snape as his assistant. The club drew a large crowd of curious students, but Scarlet didn’t attend.


    Alexis had trained hard and done well under Scarlet’s guidance, and with Professor Snape present, Scarlet felt confident no harm would come to the students. Instead, she opted to spend her evening in her training room.


    But Scarlet didn’t practice her spear work that evening. While Alexis was most likely facing off against Lockhart in the Great Hall, Scarlet sat at her desk, sifting through feedback from her editor. Fruitless in her counterspell research, she turned her focus to her novel drafting, determined to at least achieve something productive to balance her defeated mood.


    Mr. Wilson had praised the concepts she’d submitted, calling them “eye opening” and expressing excitement for whichever story she decided to pursue first. Yet Scarlet couldn’t muster interest in fleshing out any of the drafts she’d proposed. There was something missing – an intangible element that had once allowed her to craft the world of Akahime’s Diary with such ease.


    Determined to reflect deeply, Scarlet spent the night in quiet thought. Her true intention, the creative spark buried deep within her, felt elusive...and she was certainly not waiting for the blonde to return with her victorious glee.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Her quill moved steadily, filling pages after page with scrap paper littered with interconnected mid maps. Lines of relationships weaved between characters; branches outlined possible main and side story arcs.


    And by the time the minutes bled into hours, Scarlet had something she hadn’t anticipated: a magical detective story set in the Victorian Era.


    “...” Scarlet studied the sprawling mind map in front of her, her gaze lingering on the web of characters and the intricacies of ten interconnected murder/mysterious cases. Each case made perfect use of the character inspirations she’d gathered through her questionnaires and observations of Hogwarts students. With a flicker of delight, she decided this would be her next submission to Mr. Wilson. If dear Mr. Editor approves of this direction, I won’t have to worry about what to compose for the next few years, she mused, one eyebrow arched. Satisfied, she set the drafts aside and rose, ready to begin her spear training.


    “Milady!”


    The Weasley twins burst into room with boundless energy, their identical grins stretching wide.


    “Oh, Milady of the Red, you simply won’t believe what our misguided damsel has done!”


    Fred and George radiated excitement as Alexis trailed in behind them. She looked pleased with herself, albeit a touch weary. Before Alexis could utter a word, the twins launched into their dramatic recounting.


    “Are-chan told us all about that despicable Lockhead--”


    “--and how she planned to challenge him to further prove his incompetence.”


    “Not that anyone needs proof to see how utterly useless shiny Lockhead is,” Fred declared, thumping a hand against his chest.


    “But our dear Are-chan insisted on taking it to the next level,” George chimed in, his voice dripping with pride, “and of course, we support her. That’s what best friends are for!”


    “After shiny Lockhead lost spectacularly to Snape in their demonstration – honestly, what a pitiful display – everyone was meant to pair up for practice.”


    “But Are-chan bravely stepped forward and challenge Lockhart to a duel!”


    “He, naturally, tried to refuse – looked a bit panicked, if I’m honest--” Fred added with a wink.


    “--but with some encouragement from us and a rallying chant from others, he eventually caved!”


    Fred and George clapped their hands together, their expressions mimicking devout parishioners at prayer. They sighed dramatically, speaking as one: “And, oh, how marvellous Are-chan was~”


    “One perfect shot of Disarming Charm – his wand went flying--”


    “The second shot of Summoning Charm – the wand soared right into her hand--”


    “--and a third shot of Stunning Spell! Shiny Lockhead crumpled like an old sack of robes!”


    “Cheers! Gasps! Absolute chaos in the hall!” George exclaimed, his arms thrown wide.


    “And above it all,” Fred added with a flourish, “Snape stepped forward and offered Are-chan the chance to conduct a proper demonstration!”


    Scarlet’s brow quirked. “Professor Snape asked Alexis to demonstrate on stage?”


    “Aye!” Fred confirmed, his eyes gleaming. “And our dear Are-chan performed brilliantly!”


    “First, Are-chan cast Protego to block Snape’s Disarming Charm. Then she muttered something and enchanted herself – it boosted her speed, and she dashed aside, narrowly avoiding Snape’s Reducto!”


    “Like a bolt of lightning, she darted toward Snape, but he cast an Impediment Jinx. Are-chan countered with another Shield Charm, dodging cleanly!” Fred gestured theatrically.


    George rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “She whispered something – couldn’t catch it - but Snape had to block it with his own Shield Charm. Then, he used Mobilicorpus to sidestep Are-chan''s approach. Honestly, I’ve never seen that spell used to for self-movement – it was dazzling!”


    Fred let out a dramatic sigh. “And just as it was getting exciting, Snape called it off! He even begrudgingly praised Are-chan’s “spectacular duelling skill”, though he clearly hated every word.”


    “With that as the standard,” George added, “the rest of the students’ pairings were a total let down. The only standout? Harry!”


    “Apparently, Harry’s been practicing over the summer. Ron let slip something about battle club--”


    “Archery club,” Scarlet corrected, her gaze shifting to Alexis, who had been silent throughout the twins exuberant retelling. “Anything you’d like to add?”


    Alexis nodded. “Everyone who wanted the duelling club to keep going voted to kick Lockhart out. Instead, Shacklebolt’s stepping in as the coach. He was there to observe, luckily, and managed to stop a few kids from totally messing themselves up with uncontrollable spells. Oh, and Snape agreed to assist whenever he’s free.”


    “Sounds like a nice development,” Scarlet remarked, tilting her head slightly. “So, why’ve you gone so quiet all of a sudden?”


    Alexis hesitated, her expression shifting as she mulled over her thoughts. Finally, she said, “I don’t know. There’s just too much running though my head right now. And my feelings...they’re all jumbled up.”


    “Elaborate.” Scarlet gestured toward a nearby seat, and Alexis sat down, much to the widened-eyes curiosity of the Weasley twins.


    Alexis took a long moment to collect her thoughts before speaking. while, and said, “I beat Lockhart – that, I expected. And I’m glad I did. But...Snape praised me.” She frowned slightly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “It wasn’t much, and it looked reluctant, but still...praise. I’d traded spells with him, and I thought, for a moment, that I could actually win.”


    He hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. “But I couldn’t. I almost lost. I mean, I wasn’t supposed to win. He’s a master duellist, excels in Defense Against the Dark Arts...but somewhere in my head, I just thought – since I’m trained – I''d stand a real chance. Thinking about it now, it’s so embarrassing. I was arrogant to believe that.”


    Scarlet didn’t interrupt, casting a glance at the twins to silently signal them not to interject either. She nodded quietly, urging Alexis to continue.


    “And then Shacklebolt praised me too.” Alexis’s tone brightened slightly, though still tinged with introspection. “He said I should consider becoming an Auror someday. I mean...he’s a skilled Auror. If he says that, I must be doing something right, don’t you think?”


    Alexis looked to Scarlet as though seeking validation. Scarlet returned her gaze with a calm nod. “You’ve discovered the name of your wand, started to understand your traits, and you’ve been training diligently for weeks. You’re improving, Alexis – faster than I’d initially expected.”


    “Really?” Alexis’s face lit up with a mix of excitement and disbelief. She quickly deflated, however. “But during training, you made it sound like I was just making ordinary progress. You’re not just saying this to cheer me up, right, Sensei?”


    “Of course not,” Scarlet replied with a smile. “You’ve got a battle coming up in a few weeks, Alexis. I’ve had to push you hard to ensure you’ll be prepared – and, most importantly, safe. That wasn’t the time to praise. Your training lacks solid foundations, it’s a crash course to get you up to speed quickly, just enough for you to handle someone like Lockhart. But it’s nowhere near enough to face someone like Professor Snape. The feeling that you’re stronger than others is a common illusion for anyone who experiences a rapid boost in skill – just like many Muggle-born students who, upon discovering they’re magical, probably think they’re some kind of chosen one at first. I imagine some of them feel a bit deflated when they realised that they’re not so special in Hogwarts. Most adapted, but those who can’t tend to develop...issues.”


    Alexis caught the implication instantly – people like Lockhart, or even Tom Riddle.


    Scarlet continued, “If you choose to carry on after this, you’ll need to spend at least six months focusing on the basics – over and over again.” She paused, allowing her words to sink in. “It’ll be boring. Just like your vocal and dance practices. Fundamentals aren’t glamourous, but they’re the foundation for everything else.”


    Alexis stayed quiet, her gaze urging Scarlet to elaborate further.


    Scarlet exhaled softly. “As I’ve mentioned, I don’t exactly teach, so I can’t say for sure if this is the correct syllabus. What I can guarantee, however, is that the basics are absolutely essential for mastering any advanced skill. That said, they’re incredibly dull, and you’re free to drop it if you wish.”


    Alexis seemed to weigh her thoughts carefully. After a moment, she asked, “If I stick with it, can I become like you?”


    Scarlet chuckled, shaking her head. “No, you won’t be like me.” Her expression softened. “You’ll be you. And I have a feeling you’ll like the version of yourself that you grow into.”


    A broad grin spread across Alexis’s face. “I’m on it!”


    “Good. Head back to your room, sort out your schedule, and start working on it. And don’t forget to send me your Japanese essay - your language lessons were delayed by the crash course, it’s time to continue now,” Scarlet gave her a firm yet encouraging nod. “However, I expect your grades to stay consistent. I do not want to see them slipping because of this. Is that clear?”


    “Crystal clear!” Alexis responded cheerfully, leaving the room with a spring in her step, clearly in far better spirits than when she’s entered.


    Fred, watching Alexis skip away, rubbed his chin thoughtfully and leaned toward George. “Think you could decipher what that was all about?”


    “Not a clue. Lost track about halfway through,” George admitted with a shrug. The twins turned their inquisitive glares on Scarlet, clearly hoping she’d spill the secret of her conversation with Alexis.


    Scarlet, entirely unfazed, raised an eyebrow at their silent demand. Instead of indulging their curiosity, she offered something else.


    “Still interested in learning how to craft a wardrobe like the one in my pendant?” Scarlet gestured for them to approach, “I’ve just worked out a new method for teaching it. Would you prefer to start now or later?”


    The twins exchanged a single, wide-eyed glance, then snapped their attention back to Scarlet, answering in perfect unison, “Now!”