Feeling the pull on his arm, Draco turned ba annoyance - it was Neville. He wasn't surprised, but said coldly, "Neville, didn't you see him try to attack me? Let go, I o teach him a lesson."

  How could I let go? He'll be finished if I do! Though Neville was now friends with both of them, he still felt more loyalty toward his roommate Ron.

  If possible, he wished they could put aside their prejudices a along.

  Couldn't they just be friends?

  This was troublesome!

  Seeing Draco's increasingly impatient and dangerous look, Neville instinctively averted his eyes, almost bag down. But he steeled himself a Draco's gaze again, saying firmly, "Then fight me instead."

  Hearing this, Ron quickly protested from the ground, "No, Neville, don't! This is between me and him. Step aside."

  He didn't want Neville getting hurt or mistreated by Malfoy on his at, knowing how Malfoy had often bullied Neville before.

  Clearly, Ron didn't know that was already in the past.

  Neville wouldn't stand by and watch. He spread his arms, his small frame still proteg Ron.

  Ron: He really... I'm g.

  Hearing Neville's words, Draco felt uain. Though his learning aptitude was better than Neville's and he picked things up faster, Neville's perseverand tolerance for hardship far exceeded his own.

  Draew well that even if his fighting teique was better than Neville's, with Neville's build and that fierce determination hidden inside him, the oute of a real fight would be uable.

  But having been stopped and "challenged" by Neville in public like this, Draco felt he would lose all face if he backed down now.

  No matter what, I'm a Malfoy! The honor of House Malfoy ot be vioted!

  "Heh, fihe's do this." He sneered, being with his finger after shaking off Neville's hand. Though trying to appear calm, his voice trembled slightly, but fortunately no oiced.

  Well, someone did notice.

  Hermione, who had been watg the situatioly smiled. She saw through Draco's predit. She had bee during their bat training with Glenn, and having learned fighting teiques from Glenn for so many years herself, she could tell who had the advaween Drad Neville.

  They had sparred during training before, and Draco usually lost more than he won. Neville could often turables with his tenacious character.

  What? Sparring matches? Does that mean Hermione also fought one-oh them?

  No, no, no - that would never happen. Though Hermione might have been willing, Glenn wouldn't allow it. He would never let Hermione fight with them. Her training ecially arranged by Glenn, and if she o spar, it would be with him alone.

  Draco had onpined bitterly about Glenn's favoritism, gring at him resentfully. However, when Glenn sehis and turo fix him with a calm stare, he quickly looked away.

  "Since you're so eager to spar with me, we'll add that to your training schedule from now on."

  Glenn's words came out ice-cold despite his normal temperature. Little Dragon's face immediately fell as he whined.

  Neville looked at Drapathetically, m for him. Why would you be foolish enough to want to spar with Glenn? You're not Hermione, what were you thinking?

  Uedly, Glenn turo him, "You too, Neville. I 't show favoritism."

  Fists ched, Neville's sympathetic look instantly turned dangerous as he gred at Draice going, dragging me down with you!

  After that, Neville's moves became much mgressive when sparring with Draco.

  "Draust be saving face. I bet he really doesn't want to fight Neville," Hermione giggled, poking Glenn's waist.

  Glenn didn't uand what had led to the two wanting to fight, but if they wao spar now, he'd let them. More practical bat would help ie what they'd learned.

  As for them depleting their energy now... they'd learn the sequeonight, but that wasn't Glenn's . He was only responsible for setting training goals and healing them when they were near death. He wouldn't interfere otherwise - he wasn't their nanny, just their instructor.

  He turo head back to Hogwarts castle with Hermione, but she held him back.

  "It could be iing watg them fight here. Why don't you referee?" Hermione poked his waist again.

  Glenn: ...Fine.

  Glenn led Hermione down from the higher seats to where the three were.

  "Go ahead and fight. I'll referee," he said, sitting down.

  Seeing Glenn's attention on them, Neville and Draco suddenly lost their nerve.

  "Ah... that's not necessary, right Glenn?" Draco ughed awkwardly, scratg his head and nudging Neville, who quickly nodded.

  No joke - with Glenn here, things would be different. They khat in bat training, the loser would be assigned mara training tasks!

  Meanwhile, at the professors' stand, the teachers had noticed the small otion.

  Who would want to stay in the cold stands after the match? That small group stood out, especially with the noise Ron made hitting the back of his chair.

  Seeing Draco there, Professonagall immediately assumed the Slytherin was causing trouble for her lions. She angrily prepared to go down and take sides, but Dumbledore stopped her with a smile. "Calm down, Minerva. Let the children py - besides, Glenn is watg them. Nothing will g. Shall we go observe?"

  As a meddlesome old bee who knew what Glenn had taught Neville and Draco, he was quite ied and ihe professors to watch.

  Besides himself and the two Heads of House, only Professor Flitwick showed i. The other professors deed a, g enthusiasm.

  Harry had just fihe matd returned, only learning through inquiries that Ron was held up by Dra the stands. He arrived at the se ready to front Draco, but then Dumbledore and the others appeared.

  "Professor." Everyoood to greet the professors, who waved them down, saying with a smile, "Don't mind us, carry on."

  Don't mind them? Yeah right, damn it!

  Neville and Draco really didn't want to fight anymore, especially Draco, who wao sp himself - if only he'd ignored Weasley.

  He gred angrily at Ron. This is all your fault!

  Ron: ?

  Dumbledore simply used Transfiguration to create a padded ptform for the two, then turo Glenn: "Will this fighting ptform do?"

  Glenn eechless - whely had Dumbledore been spying oraining?

  He nodded and shooed Drad Neville onto the ptform.

  You created this situation, you deal with it.

  The two were nearly in tears. How did things end up like this, damn it!

  With the arrow here was n back. They both saw their Heads of House's encing and unpromising looks demanding victory. Steeling themselves, they prepared for battle.

  Harry was dumbfounded. What was going on? Wasn't Ron supposed to be fighting Malfoy? How did it bee Neville versus Malfoy? And what was with Glenn and Hermione being so casual, leaning together and whispering? And why were Professors Dumbledore, Magall, Flitwid Snape all here?

  Snape: So I'm not a professor?

  Just you wait, Potter.

  Harry turned into a walking question mark, asking the equally fused Ron.

  Harry: What's happening?

  Ron: What do you mean what's happening?

  Harry: ?

  Harry: Weren't you fighting with Malfoy?

  Ron: When? No?

  Harry: ...

  Damn, there's a mole! Abort mission!

  Who gave him that false information? He'd been so worried!

  But he was also worried about Neville fighting Malfoy!

  So why had it turned into a one-oder the professors' noses?!

  Harry was going crazy - there were too many questionable points to address.

  Was this really something that should happen at a wizarding school?

  Snape obviously knew what Drad the others had learned from Glenn, and said directly: "Draco, win this match."

  Though Professonagall didn't know what they were doing, si was a test between a Gryffindor and a Slytherin student, she couldn't let her side lose. She immediately enced Neville: "Don't lose, Neville!"

  The two oform felt immense pressure, their legs involuntarily shaking. What was going on?! How had a personal grudge turned into an inter-house petition?!

  "Clear your minds, take this seriously," Glenn's calm, emotionless voice came from below, forcefully settling the chaotic thoughts iwo fighters' minds.

  No choiow but to fight.

  Taking positions on opposite sides, Neville drew a deep breath while Draco stretched his muscles. A temosphere filled the air.

  The few spectators seemed ied by the heavy atmosphere, all falling silent. Even Harry, who had beeering Ron about what happened, closed his mouth, curious about what would unfold oform.

  This was new - he'd never seen anything like it. It was actually a bit exg.

  Neville: ? So love does disappear?

  No more hesitation. Neville and Draco exged a look, then charged at each other.

  Annou

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