Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins cheered。 Hermione was dancing on tiptoes。 〃Do you think he's all right？〃 she squealed through her fingers。
〃Who cares？〃 said Harry and Ron together。
Lockhart was getting unsteadily to his feet。 His hat had fallen off and his wavy hair was standing on end。
〃Well； there you have it！〃 he said； tottering back onto the platform。 〃That was a Disarming Charm … as you see； I've lost my wand … ah； thank you； Miss Brown … yes； an excellent idea to show them that； Professor Snape； but if you don't mind my saying
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so； it was very obvious what you were about to do。 If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy … however； I felt it would be instructive to let them see 。 。 。〃
Snape was looking murderous。 Possibly Lockhart had noticed； because he said； 〃Enough demonstrating！ I'm going to e amongst you now and put you all into pairs。 Professor Snape； if you'd like to help me …〃
They moved through the crowd； matching up partners。 Lockhart teamed Neville with Justin Finch…Fletchley； but Snape reached Harry and Ron first。
〃Time to split up the dream team； I think；〃 he sneered。 〃Weasley； you can partner Finnigan。 Potter …〃
Harry moved automatically toward Hermione。
〃I don't think so；〃 said Snape； smiling coldly。 〃Mr。 Malfoy； e over here。 Let's see what you make of the famous Potter。 And you； Miss Granger … you can partner Miss Bulstrode。〃
Malfoy strutted over； smirking。 Behind him walked a Slytherin girl who reminded Harry of a picture he'd seen in Holidays with Hags。 She was large and square and her heavy jaw jutted aggressively。 Hermione gave her a weak smile that she did not return。
〃Face your partners！〃 called Lockhart； back on the platform。 〃And bow！〃
Harry and Malfoy barely inclined their heads； not taking their eyes off each other。
〃Wands at the ready！〃 shouted Lockhart。 〃When I count to three； cast your charms to disarm your opponents … only to disarm them … we don't want any accidents … one 。。。 two 。。。 three …〃
*191*
Harry swung his wand high； but Malfoy had already started on 〃two〃： His spell hit Harry so hard he felt as though he'd been hit over the head with a saucepan。 He stumbled； but everything still seemed to be working； and wasting no more time； Harry pointed his wand straight at Malfoy and shouted； 〃Rictusempra！〃
A jet of silver light hit Malfoy in the stomach and he doubled up； wheezing。
〃I said disarm only！〃 Lockhart shouted in alarm over the heads of the battling crowd； as Malfoy sank to his knees； Harry had hit him with a Tickling Charm； and he could barely move for laughing。 Harry hung back； with a vague feeling it would be unsporting to bewitch Malfoy while he was on the floor； but this was a mistake； gasping for breath； Malfoy pointed his wand at Harry's knees； choked； 〃Tarantallegra！〃 and the next second Harry's legs began to jerk around out of his control in a kind of quickstep。
〃Stop！ Stop！〃 screamed Lockhart； but Snape took charge。
〃Finite Incantatem！〃 he shouted； Harry's feet stopped dancing； Malfoy stopped laughing； and they were able to look up。
A haze of greenish smoke was hovering over the scene。 Both Neville and Justin were lying on the floor； panting； Ron was holding up an ashen…faced Seamus； apologizing for whatever his broken wand had done； but Hermione and Millicent Bulstrode were still moving； Millicent had Hermione in a headlock and Hermione was whimpering in pain； both their wands lay forgotten on the floor。 Harry leapt forward and pulled Millicent off。 It was difficult： She was a lot bigger than he was。
〃Dear； dear；〃 said Lockhart； skittering through the crowd； looking at the aftermath of the duels。 〃Up you go； Macmillan 。。。。
*192*
Careful there； Miss Fawcett 。。。。 Pinch it hard； it'll stop bleeding in a second； Boot
〃I think Id better teach you how to block unfriendly spells；〃 said Lockhart； standing flustered in the midst of the hall。 He glanced at Snape； whose black eyes glinted； and looked quickly away。 〃Let's have a volunteer pair … Longbottom and Finch…Fletchley； how about you …〃
〃A bad idea； Professor Lockhart；〃 said Snape； gliding over like a large and malevolent bat。 〃Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells。 We'll be sending what's left of Finch…Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox。〃 Neville's round； pink face went pinker。 〃How about Malfoy and Potter？〃 said Snape with a twisted smile。
〃Excellent idea！〃 said Lockhart； gesturing Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away to give them room。
〃Now； Harry；〃 said Lockhart。 〃When Draco points his wand at you； you do this。〃
He raised his own wand； attempted a plicated sort of wiggling action； and dropped it。 Snape smirked as Lockhart quickly picked it up； saying； 〃Whoops …my wand is a little overexcited …〃
Snape moved closer to Malfoy； bent down； and whispered something in his ear。 Malfoy smirked； too。 Harry looked up nervously at Lockhart and said； 〃Professor； could you show me that blocking thing again？〃
〃Scared？〃 muttered Malfoy； so that Lockhart couldn't hear him。
〃You wish；〃 said Harry out of the corner of his mouth。
Lockhart cuffed Harry merrily on the shoulder。 〃Just do what I did； Harry！〃
〃What； drop my wand？〃
But Lockhart wasn't listening。
〃Three … two … one … go！〃 he shouted。
Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed； 〃Serpensortia！〃
The end of his wand exploded。 Harry watched； aghast； as a long black snake shot out of it； fell heavily onto the floor between them； and raised itself； ready to strike。 There were screams as the crowd backed swiftly away； clearing the floor。
〃Don't move； Potter；〃 said Snape lazily； clearly enjoying the sight of Harry standing motionless； eye to eye with the angry snake。 〃I'll get rid of it 。。。。。。
〃Allow me！〃 shouted Lockhart。 He brandished his wand at the snake and there was a loud bang； the snake； instead of vanishing； flew ten feet into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud smack。 Enraged； hissing furiously； it slithered straight toward Justin Finch…Fletchley and raised itself again； fangs exposed； poised to strike。
Harry wasn't sure what made him do it。 He wasn't even aware of deciding to do it。 All he knew was that his legs were carrying him forward as though he was on casters and that he had shouted stupidly at the snake； 〃Leave him alone！〃 And miraculously … inexplicably … the snake slumped to the floor； docile as a thick； black garden hose； its eyes now on Harry。 Harry felt the fear drain out of him。 He knew the snake wouldn't attack anyone now； though how he knew it； he couldn't have explained。
He looked up at Justin； grinning； expecting to see Justin looking
*194*
relieved； or puzzled； or even grateful … but certainly not angry and scared。
〃What do you think you're playing at？〃 he shouted； and before Harry could say anything； Justin had turned and stormed out of the hall。
Snape stepped forward； waved his wand； and the snake vanished in a small puff of black smoke。 Snape； too； was looking at Harry in an unexpected way： It was a shrewd and calculating look； and