Stealing Magic: A Darker Hogwarts

Felix Varnholt's mind raced, his heart pounding like a rogue Bludger. What to do? What to do? Sean's chain hammer whirled, its spiked head gleaming with menace, while the rune-etched tower shield loomed like a castle gate. Expelliarmus? No, that'd only yank Sean's wand—if it worked at all—and leave Felix holding a shield and hammer heavy enough to crush him. What spell could stop this?

Giving up wasn't an option, but beating Sean outright seemed impossible. Felix settled on a plan: push Sean back with a strong spell, buy time, then find a way to win. His wand twitched, decision made instantly.

As Sean's hammer swung down, Felix raised his wand and shouted, "Tonitrus Eruptio!"

Boom! An orange-yellow explosion erupted, flames roaring. The tower shield buckled, its center caving in, and flew backward, soaring past Felix's two companions. With a deafening crunch, it embedded itself into the dueling room's rune-etched wall, the impact shaking dust from the ceiling.

But Felix's face didn't light up with triumph. Instead, it turned grim. His spell had hit the shield—not Sean. He'd been outplayed.

Sean had anticipated Felix's counter. As Felix cast Tonitrus Eruptio, Sean had ditched the shield, using it to block Felix's view. While Felix focused on the shield, Sean dropped low, crawling. Gripping the chain hammer, he stayed out of sight until the shield was blasted away. The moment Felix's spell faded, Sean sprang, swinging the hammer with Troll Strength toward Felix's side.

Felix was no slouch—Beauxbatons' best didn't falter easily. His reflexes, honed sharper than a Goblin-forged blade, kicked in. Before he could fully process Sean's trick, he was already casting. "Protego!" he barked.

Boom! Bang! A blue-white halo flared around Felix, shimmering like a lake under moonlight. Sean's hammer, powered by Troll Strength and Troll Spiked Hide, smashed into the shield. Ripples surged across the Protego, each hit straining Felix's spell. His Protego wasn't fully mastered, and under the hammer's relentless force, it shattered like glass.

The hammer's remaining momentum grazed Felix's right arm and wand. His body spun, flung backward like a ragdoll. His arm twisted at an unnatural angle, and his wand snapped under the hammer's force, clattering to the floor in pieces.

Felix hit the ground hard, out cold. His two companions and Schiller Cavill rushed to his side, wands drawn, faces pale. They checked him quickly, exhaling when they saw he was alive—just a broken arm and unconscious. In the wizarding world, non-magical injuries were minor. A quick spell and a few potions would have Felix back to normal in three to five days, no worse for wear.

Sean let out a slow breath, his muscles aching from the duel's intensity. The thrill rivaled his clash with Quirrell and Voldemort's lingering spirit , a heart-pounding dance of strategy and strength. He'd poured everything into this win, and it had been a close call.

But the rewards made it worth it. His system chimed, its familiar glow like a Hogwarts prank springing to life. [Win the duel and randomly draw two abilities of the duel opponent.]

[Drawing…]

[Drawing completed, obtained: Legilimency spell LV0, talent: Agile casting LV1]

Legilimency? Sean's eyebrows shot up. In the wizarding world, learning that spell required registration with the Ministry—Felix must've been bending some rules to know it. At LV0, he'd barely scratched the surface, but it was a rare prize. Sean's mind flickered to the system's quirks. At least it's not another dud like Quirrell's plant specimen skill.

The duel's haul was exceptional. Felix's strength had earned Sean two ability draws, and both were gems. Legilimency LV0 could grow into a powerful tool, and Agile casting LV1 was a game-changer. Felix's spellcasting speed—relentless, had overwhelmed Sean in their magical exchange. Without the shield and hammer, Sean would've been toast. That speed was now his to hone.

Sean smirked, closing the system panel with a thought. A strong opponent made all the difference, even if the fight was brutal. Felix's skill had pushed him to his limits, but it was worth it. Just hope the next guy doesn't have any weird hobbies to extract.

Sean watched as Felix Varnholt was carried away, his broken arm and snapped wand a testament to the duel's ferocity. Without a word, he turned to Aldridge and Jason. Aldridge handed him a bottle of water, its cool glass a relief against his calloused hands. Sean took a sip, the liquid soothing his parched throat, and said, "Let's go. The duel's done. After this, I doubt many will challenge me."

Aldridge nodded, his eyes sharp with loyalty. "Of course, Master. But first, let me retrieve the shield and chain hammer. I noticed some flaws during the duel. Tomorrow, I'll take them to a goblin craftsman for repairs and upgrades. They'll be even better next time you use them."

"Thanks, Aldridge," Sean replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "I appreciate your help."

"It's all for you, Young Master," Aldridge said, his tone formal but warm.

With a slight bow, Aldridge took the lumpy bag, charmed with the Undetectable Extension Charm, from Sean's hands. He headed toward the wall where the dented tower shield, looking like a cauldron after a failed potion, was lodged, the chain hammer resting nearby, its spikes glinting under the dueling room's charmed torches.

Fleur Delacour and Barre Garcia approached, their faces lit with shock. They weren't just stunned that Sean had won—defeating Beauxbatons' top fifth-year was no small feat—but by the raw power he'd unleashed. The shield, the hammer, the sheer force of Troll Strength and Troll Spiked Hide had left them speechless.

Sean drained the last of his water, his body aching from the duel's toll. Thirst gnawed at him, and he was about to call to Aldridge, who was wrestling the shield free, for another bottle. Before he could, Fleur stepped forward, her cheeks faintly pink. "Sean," she offered, holding out a glass bottle, "I have an unopened one here. You can have it."

Sean smiled, reaching for the bottle. His fingers brushed the cool glass, but a sudden jolt hit him—a familiar, sickening tug, like a hook yanking his stomach. The world spun, his body lurching as if caught by a rogue Snitch. Portkey activation. In that split second, he caught Aldridge's furious shout and Jason's startled yell.

The bottle slipped, shattering on the floor, water and glass fragments scattering across the dueling room's scorched tiles.

A flash of green light flared before Sean's eyes.

Damn it! he thought. Not again!

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