Chapter 50 - Fifty: A Duel Between Men

Chapter 50: Chapter Fifty: A Duel Between Men

Chapter Fifty: A Duel Between Men

Dumbledore fell silent.

For the first time since Snape had entered the office, he felt guilty.

After a long while, he sighed.

"I’m sorry, Severus. I was too narrow-minded. I was looking at her with a critical eye. I just... I just want the wizarding world to be more stable."

Snape wanted to curse the old man in front of him, but when he looked at his aged face, he felt a little sad.

This old man had allowed himself to become despised simply for the sake of maintaining stability in the wizarding world. And Snape, who had once been involved with those people himself, had no right to lecture him.

He exhaled.

But he still insisted, "You cannot scheme against Vesey!"

Dumbledore shook his head.

"Severus, could you say that to Voldemort?"

Snape’s expression froze.

"In some ways, Severus, I am more dangerous than Tom.

"Perhaps to you, Vesey is your salvation and your way of making amends for Lily.

"But to the entire magical world, she is an unpredictable existence.

"I cannot stake my entire life on a gamble with you over whether she is a good child or not, or whether that thing is truly benevolent!"

He looked directly at Snape, refusing to back down.

For a long time, Snape was the first to look away.

Without saying another word, he walked out of the office.

Dumbledore watched him leave before suddenly speaking softly.

"Severus, I’m sorry about what happened this time. Vesey is afraid of heights, and I should have realized that sooner... Is she all right now?"

Snape stopped for a moment before responding impatiently.

"Fine!"

---

After dinner, Vesey had originally planned to play Wizard’s Chess with Harry and the others for a while, but Harry was called away by Professor McGonagall.

Although Vesey showed a worried expression on the surface, she already knew what Professor McGonagall was looking for Harry about.

She must be inviting him to join the Quidditch team.

Even though Harry had fallen from the sky this time because of Dumbledore’s interference, he had indeed caught Neville’s crystal ball exceptionally well before that.

It was perfectly normal for McGonagall to want to invite him onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

Vesey wasn’t envious at all.

If anything, she was a little relieved.

Fortunately, she wasn’t a Gryffindor. Otherwise, judging from the regretful look McGonagall had given her, she probably would have invited Vesey to join as well.

Sure enough, not long afterward, Harry returned in a daze.

He told Vesey and Ron about being invited to join the Quidditch team.

"You’ve got to be kidding!"

Ronald looked incredulous.

"I bet you’re the youngest Quidditch player in the last ten years!"

Harry smiled.

"A century. Wood told me I’d be the youngest player in a century."

Then he looked hesitantly at Vesey.

"Actually, Vesey should be the one joining the Quidditch team. I’m not as good as her..."

Vesey quickly shook her head.

"Brother, let me tell you the truth. I’m afraid of heights. I get scared whenever I look down from somewhere high. I was practically scared to death earlier. I was just too embarrassed to say anything."

She lowered her voice, afraid someone else would hear.

Harry didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

But he was deeply moved.

Vesey was so afraid of heights, yet she had still flown into the sky to save him...

Remembering how pale Vesey’s face had been at the time, Harry’s eyes reddened with emotion.

He reached out to hug Vesey, but someone slapped his hand away.

"Who is it?"

Harry shouted angrily.

It was Malfoy.

He was looking at Harry arrogantly.

"What are you doing? Hugging like that is disgusting!"

Harry’s expression turned fierce.

He could tolerate Snape preventing him from getting close to Vesey. After all, he couldn’t beat Snape.

But why should Malfoy get a say?

He was a Slytherin whom Vesey had just saved. Instead of thinking about how to repay her, he actually had the nerve to interfere in their business.

"Get out of here, Malfoy. Don’t make us hit you!"

Malfoy scoffed.

"Hit us? You two?"

He looked at Harry and Ron.

Vesey immediately raised her hand.

"And me! Malfoy, you can’t bully my brother!"

Vesey said loudly.

Malfoy froze for a moment, as though he hadn’t expected those words from Vesey.

But once he confirmed that Vesey really had said them, his hatred for Harry only grew stronger.

"You treat him like your brother, but all he’s going to do is bring you trouble!"

Vesey stared at him speechlessly.

Did this kid take the wrong potion?

How could Harry possibly bring disaster to her?

It was only the beginning of the school year. Nothing had even happened yet!

But when she noticed the faintly guilty expression on Harry’s face, Vesey suddenly realized something.

Could Harry and Malfoy think the broomstick incident was caused by Harry?

That actually made sense.

In their minds, something like this had to have been aimed at Harry, with Malfoy merely getting caught up in it.

Harry already suspected Snape, and he would naturally wonder whether some Death Eater had been responsible.

So, of course, he would feel guilty toward Vesey.

Vesey smiled.

She looked firmly at Harry.

"If my brother can bring disaster, then I’ll bear it with him. I’ll avenge our parents too. My brother isn’t the only member of the Potter family!"

Vesey declared loudly.

Malfoy opened his mouth but couldn’t think of anything to refute her with.

So he turned his attention back to Harry.

"Potter, you’re nothing but a coward who hides behind women!"

Harry clenched his fists.

"Want to fight?"

Of course Malfoy wanted to fight.

He had nearly been killed today, and it was only because Vesey had saved him that he was still standing here.

It was all because of this Potter!

"I’m willing to compete with you anytime. Tonight, among wizards..."

He glanced at Vesey and quickly added, "This is a duel between men. Women aren’t allowed to participate. Do you dare?"

Vesey almost walked over and slapped Malfoy.

What did he mean by that?

Who isn’t a man?

Besides, why couldn’t women participate?

Is he looking down on women?

Nonsense!

Harry wasn’t sure what a wizarding duel involved and was about to quietly ask Ron when Ron had already accepted the challenge on his behalf.

"A duel is a duel. Harry’s second is me. Who’s your second?"

Malfoy turned around and looked at his two followers, as though trying to decide which one was stronger.

"Crabbe. It’ll be midnight. The trophy room is always unlocked. Let’s see whether you dare to come."

He smirked.

"By the way, you aren’t going to bring the girls along with you, are you?"