Disclaimer: JKR owns Harry Potter and his universe. I don't.
Author's Note: Several paragraphs in this chapter are taken directly from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, they are written in italics.
Hermione's Dark Plan – Chapter Three
"Let's hope that Lockhart is a decent teacher." Hermione grumbled. They'd stopped at the Slytherin dorms after lunch to dump books they didn't need and gather up the ones that Lockhart had required them to buy.
Theo snorted. "We have to share the class with Gryffindors. Do you really expect it to work well? We might be able to keep up with the man, but people like Potter, Longbottom? At least Potter's in the Hospital wing."
"Did you find out why?" Daphene asked, the entire thing stank of abuse to her. And Daphene wouldn't wish that upon anyone. It was bad enough that she had to suffer. No one deserved it.
The Slytherins filed into the classroom and took their seats, piling the books high in front and around themselves. There was just too many for them to fit onto a desk. And all the books had a picture of Lockhart on the front, with that award winning smile of his.
Hermione looked over the Gryffindors as they entered. Without Potter them seemed rather subdued. As if there wasn't anything special about them. They should be like this. Just because the 'Boy-Who-Lived' is in their house doesn't make them better than the rest of us.
The second the bell rang, the door was closed and Lockhart stopped at the front of the class and grabbed Parvati Patil's copy of Travelling with Trolls. He held it up to his face and the smiling, winking picture of Lockhart seemed to get even happier when near the actual thing.
"Me, Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, third class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League and five times winner of the Witch Weekly Most-Charming Smile Award – but I don't talk about that. After all, I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her." Lockhart grinned looking around the class.
All of Hermione's hopes that Professor Lockhart would actually be a decent teacher went down the drain. The man was obsessed with himself. Hermione wanted to lock him in a room with all his books and make him look at his own nauseating face twenty four/seven. Of course, he'd probably enjoy it.
"I see you've all bought a complete set of my books – well done. I thought we'd start today with a little quiz, nothing to worry about, just to check how well you've read them, how much you've taken in. . ." Once he handed out the papers he returned to the front of the class, "you have thirty minutes. Start – now!"
Hermione looked at the paper and almost laughed. She'd read the books, and played close attention, but these questions were ridiculous!
What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favourite colour?
What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?
What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?
Hermione flipped the page and turned the next one. Three pages! He expects us to answer three pages on him in the next thirty minutes. Hermione wanted to shake her head in disbelief and wake up to find it all a dream. It certainly seemed ridiculous enough. But this could just be a mistake. Lockhart's a new teacher, he's allowed to make a few screw-ups. This is only the first class of the year.
Theo caught Hermione's eye as she glanced around. He gestured towards Lockhart and swirled his finger next to his temple. Hermione had to cover her mouth. She certainly agreed. Lockhart's crazy. Expecting us to do this and have only read his books to learn things about him!
Hermione looked over the test one last time and filled in the things that she did remember, but it wasn't much. The only thing left to do was make things up and hope that Lockhart didn't know himself as well as he thought he did.
"All right everyone. Time is up. Pass your papers forward!" Lockhart declared happily, grinning the same maniacal grin that covered every book in the classroom. Quirrel had been a better teacher even if he never really did anything.
"Hmm." Lockhart looked over the papers. "It looks like most of you need to read Travelling with Trolls more carefully. I clearly state that my favourite colour is lilac."
Theo let out a sharp cough and clamped his hands over his mouth when Lockhart looked back at them. "Sorry Sir. Just a bit of a cough."
Lockhart nodded understandingly. "Pity I don't make the potions here. My elixirs work instantly and my brewing is rather superior to that of anyone else in this school. After all, the Headmaster knew what he was doing when he hired me."
Hermione couldn't keep a horrified loo off her face. She'd read the man's books and enjoyed them. Well written, understandable, and relevant to Defence. But in person, he was a joke and Hermione wondered how he'd ever managed to get a shadow writer that wouldn't even take some of the fame that came from writing Lockhart's books.
"All right then." Lockhart stepped back behind his desk and lifted a covered cage onto it. "In my class you face your darkest fear. I will show you the most terrifying beasts known to Wizard kind." He looked seriously over the class. "I must ask you not to scream. It might excite them."
Theo looked back at Hermione. "Maybe he can redeem himself?" he whispered.
Hermione shrugged and looked back at the front of the class. She wanted to know what was happening and learn everything, if anything, that Lockhart could teach her.
Lockhart whipped the cloth off the top of the cage and Draco let out a loud laugh that he didn't bother to conceal. Lockhart turned to him angrily. "Think they're funny do you? Cornish pixies are no laughing matter."
Hermione agreed with Draco. Not that she could tell him, due to the pact she'd made. But the blue, ten centimetre creatures were anything but frightening. They pressed their faces between the bars of the cage and stuck their tongues out at the class, some hovering up and doing the same thing to Lockhart. They definitely didn't scare Hermione, or make her think of anything evil and dangerous.
"Let's see what you make of them!" Lockhart opened the door to the cage and the pixies erupted as if shot from a volcano, moving at a breakneck speed about the classroom. Lockhart laughed at their antics, not noticing the damage they were doing. "Tricky little buggers, aren't they?"
Hermione leapt out of her desk and drew her wand. It was bad enough that Lockhart hadn't told them what to do about the pixies, but now the blue creatures were wrecking havoc. Four of them were lifting Neville Longbottom up by his ears, while another threw his wand out the window. Theo had gathered his school supplies back into his bag and was sitting on it to make sure that it stayed safe.
"Target practice anyone?" Hermione asked, pointing her wand at one of the pixies. "Will spells work on them?"
Vince shook his head. "There was a colony of those living in our house a few years ago. It was nearly impossible to get them out. Most spells won't work. Stunning and the killing curse are useless." He ignored the looks he got at mentioning the killing curse so casually.
"All right everyone." Lockhart brandished his wand. "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!" One of the pixies grabbed Lockhart's wand and threw it out the window to join Neville's until one of the other Gryffindors summoned Neville's wand back and handed it over to him.
The Slytherins in the back couldn't help it. They started laughing. Professor Lockhart was the best joke of their entire school career. Every time he opened his mouth, he embarrassed himself. It was one of those things that you read about but don't believe because someone that stupid shouldn't be allowed to exist.
Hermione glanced at Theo. "Can we leave now?" She asked, not bothering to lower her voice. The classroom was loud enough that there was no way Lockhart could hear her. "I think the class is over and I'd like to stay away from the pixie things."
Theo nodded and pointed his wand at the pixies. "Glacius!" He incanted the freezing charm and the pixie flying toward him stopped. "This works." He kicked the frozen pixie away and was tempted to stomp on its annoying, little head. But he didn't.
"All right, all right. Everyone out!" Lockhart led the retreat himself with the Gryffindors close on his heels.
So much for bravery and loyalty. They're leaving Neville behind. Hermione glanced back at Longbottom, he had tripped over a desk and was still struggling to gather his things and rush out the door. Why is he spending so much time getting those books? He's going to get attacked again! Hermione froze two pixies before they could attack him and hurried towards the door, there was no way she was going to spend any more time in the wrecked room for a Gryffindor, pureblood or no pureblood.
But it was too late. Before Hermione could get out the door, Lockhart peered back in. "I'll just leave the rest of you to tidy up." He snapped the door shut in her face.
"Great." Daphene moaned, she'd ended up behind Hermione. "This is really the way I wanted to spend the rest of my afternoon." She point her wand at one of the flying pixies, "Glacius." It fell to the ground and she snatched it up. "Where are we going to put these? I wouldn't mind crushing their heads." She
pointed her wand at another of the pixies, "Galcius." The pixie fell and was popped into the cage amongst the rest of the pixies.
Daphene was finding it easier than anticipated to catch the things. They were dastardly quick and their flying was so very controlled. But for some reason, the movement seemed easier to follow and her wand arm responded more quickly to her commands. If this was yet another benefit of being a cat animagus, she was glad that her first meeting with McGonagall was that night. The more she knew about her new powers, the better.
"Done." Hermione sealed the lock on the cage with a charm that made a squelching noise as it worked. "Thanks for your help." She glanced at the red-faced Gryffindor clutching his Lockhart books. "I'll remember how helpful you are in the future."
Daphene was tempted to stick her tongue out as she walked past Neville Longbottom. He may have been pureblood, but she didn't think he was redeemable. "Hermione, can you help me? With Binns' essay. I was sort of confused about what he meant."
"Fine." Hermione strode past her friend quickly. "Let's get to the dungeons and see what the others are doing. I wouldn't mind getting some spell practice in."
The two girls walked through the halls and down the stairs to the common room entrance. "Asphodel." Hermione said and they entered the common room. Since classes were still in session only those with free classes were sitting in around and most of them were older students. "I hope Lockhart lets us go early in every class." Hermione whispered quietly to her friend as she opened the door to the second year girls dormitory.
Everyone, save Draco, was gathered in the room. The curtains were pulled back and people were scattered around the room, lounging on the various beds and desk chairs. This time it was not Theo, but Millicent who was in the centre and doing the talking.
"See if we all try out for beater then not everyone can make it. There are still two fifth year beaters and they're pretty good as a team. I don't like our chances." Millicent had a scrap of parchment in front of her and kept motioning to it for emphasis.
Hermione walked to the centre of the room and peered at the paper, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Quidditch try-outs? When are those going to be held anyway?" Hermione wasn't interested in playing Quidditch, but more than half of her peers were trying out and that made her interested. Quidditch was the only thing that Hermione hadn't been able to get into so far and since it was really the only wizarding sport, she was hoping to find something about it to enjoy.
"Greg, Vince, and I all want to try out for beater." Millicent told her. "That means that in addition to any of the other years that want to try out, there will be at least five people competing for two spots. And Ivan Bole and Matthew Derrick both have the advantage of having been on the team last year." She glanced back at the paper. "Try outs are on Saturday. Didn't you check the notice board? Snape's added a bunch of new stuff."
Hermione nodded. "I was thinking of trying out. Not that I'll have any chance of making it," she added quickly. "Just out of curiosity and for the experience." She looked around, noting hopefully that they weren't starring at her with incredulous looks.
Millicent nodded. "Daphene is trying for chaser so I'd suggest trying out for seeker. They only take one each year, but we need a seeker. Last year was our seeker's seventh year and Captain Flint is scrambling to find someone else." She checked her notes. "Go sigh up on the notice board, and take a look and the other things Snape put up."
After putting her books away and grabbing a quill and ink, Hermione headed back to the common room. Daphene had emptied her bag, put in other school supplies, and rushed out of Slytherin. She hadn't stopped when Hermione called out and her pace had increased once she was out of the common room. Oh well, I wonder what has gotten into her. Hermione turned back to the notice board. "It certainly has changed."
The board was covered with advertisements for new clubs. Most of them Hermione had never heard of before. Some of these sound quite interesting. Flying club, book club, dancing, chess. There goes my free time this year. She smiled to herself and dipped her quill in ink to sign up for the various clubs.
When Hermione stepped away from the board, it was wet with ink. Her name was in the list for seeker try outs, knitting club, dancing club, flying club, chess club, study groups, and the book club. In the centre of the notice board was a large poster that reminded all the Slytherins of duelling, it was compulsory and Professor Snape was going to instruct it.
Hermione headed back to the dormitory and took a seat on her bed. "Duelling tonight." She looked around the room. "There certainly are a lot of clubs this year. And Professor Snape is making duelling club a requirement! What's going on?" She looked around uncertainly.
Theo shrugged, as much as it hurt him to admit that he didn't know something, he simply didn't. Millicent shook her head, same as Vince and Greg. Pansy looked up from her History textbook to say that she was also in the dark. When Hermione looked to Blaise, he opened his mouth to explain.
"My Ravenclaw sister, she's friends with Madeline Fitzjean, she's one of our sixth years. They go to pureblood school together in the summer sometimes and she said that Professor Snape has gotten requests for inter-house clubs, like the Hufflepuff food club and he finally decided to act on them." Blaise shrugged. "Sixth and seventh years are allowed to run clubs now. I think it's sort of cool."
Hermione nodded. "It should be. More house unity, and fun." She took out her planner and wrote in the clubs she'd joined and when they would meet. "Did you sign up for anything yet?" She asked, looking around the room. "I signed up for six different clubs. Although I need to go back and look up the times. I don't want to miss anything."
"You'll be busy." Theo commented. "I wasn't really sure. But I am signed up for Chess and Book club. It'll be a busy Monday but then the rest of the week is empty for the most part. Duelling on Tuesdays. And I might join the study groups too." He yawned. "I forgot how early we have to get up for classes."
"I signed up for Art and Drama." Pansy offered. "There isn't a fashion club, or a clothes club. That's what we really need." She sighed and returned to her History essay.
Hermione glanced at Pansy's textbook and checked her own planner. "I'd better get to work on the essay. I hate doing homework when there's so much else going on. It just makes everything seem so boring and tiresome." She picked up her History textbook and headed to her desk.
Theo stood up. "Essay sounds like a good idea. See you at dinner." He headed for the door. "Come on Greg, Vince. I'll give you a hand with the outline."
The boys left the room, excusing themselves politely. Millicent dug into her trunk and pulled out a roughed up beater's bat and a practice ball. She drew the curtains around her area closed and Hermione recognized the spell she cast as one that makes an object impervious and then a silencing charm.
"Today was exhausting." Pansy declared, reaching up and letting her hair come out of its tight braids. '"I hope every Defence class isn't like that. I'd make a wish for History class, but I know it won't happen." She sighed again and Hermione tried to ignore her and concentrate on the material in front of her.
When Pansy sighed again, Hermione lost it. "Can't you just shut up?! I'm tired too and there's still dinner and duelling and homework. Don't you still need to do your summer assignments too?" She got off her chair and pulled the curtains shut before casting a silencing charm. The noise was starting to annoy her. It was quiet at Sarah Cutter's house with only her godmother and the house elves for company. From the quiet, empty house to a room that she shared with three other girls was a big change.
By the time Greg came to tell the girls that the others were heading up to the Great Hall, Hermione had finished the first quarter of her essay and written an outline for the entire thing. The topic was rather easy. They simply needed to explain major causes of the Goblin revolution of 1243. And Binns spent an awful lot of time talking about it.
Dinner was all right. Hermione was anxious and excited all at the same time. She didn't really pay much attention to the stew and pasta served. It was the duelling that Professor Snape was going to be teaching later that night that she couldn't wait for. But it wouldn't start until six o'clock and it was only five o'clock now. There was still another hour of time to waste.
After playing with her food for a few minutes Hermione pushed her plate.
"Is that all you're going to eat?" Greg asked. His plate was heaving under the weight of the food piled on it and he was already on his second serving.
Hermione nodded. "I'm too excited to eat. I'll head back to Slytherin. I still haven't got a chance to try on my duelling robes. I have to make sure they still fit and everything."
"I'll come with you." Pansy sipped the last of her stew off her spoon. "Let's go." She stood up and pulled her robes over the bench before neatening the them up. She hated it when her clothes got messy and wrinkled, even if it only took a spell to make them seem as good as new.
"Can we come to?" Alanna Zabini was standing and motioned to her twin brother. "We're done eating and I'm not sure of how to get back to the common room yet."
Pansy glanced at Hermione. "What do you think? Can we bring the ickle firsties with us?" She changed her voice at the words 'ickle firsties' and sort of pouted the words as if she were a young child.
Hermione shrugged. "Why not? As long as they don't slow us down."
The four left the Great Hall, Hermione nervous about leaving so early. Snape had rules about meals and getting in trouble with her head of house was not something Hermione enjoyed. Especially right before a class he was teaching where there would be offensive spells and curses. Doing those things with someone who was mad at you is usually a bad idea.
Finally Alanna Zabini got tired of the quiet and tense mood. "First year is so interesting. We had Potions and Professor Snape picked on the Gryffindors, just like everyone says he does. And Professor Flitwick gave us an essay on safety and Snape gave us one of the Boil Cure potions. We're going to make it next class. And living in the dormitory is really cool. There's three other girls and it's interesting not being with Alexander so much and I really wasn't expecting to have so much homework on the first night. Do you think-"
Hermione growled and cut the first year off. "This is why people don't like firsties. You blabber on and on about things that we already now and it's boring and pointless and no one else cares!" She turned sharply on her heel and walked quickly down the stairs into Slytherin. Things were taking too long for her.
The common room was empty, everyone was at dinner or working in the library. Although since it was still early in the year, it was more likely that everyone was in the Great Hall.
Hermione headed into the dormitory and Pansy followed close behind her. When Hermione turned back and glared, people following too close bothered her, Pansy simply smiled. "I want to see your duelling robes. I got new ones too and I like talking about clothes." She shrugged. "Let's see!"
Hermione threw open the doors to her wardrobe and pushed aside her Hogwarts robes and a set of dark green dress robes. She had almost left her duelling robes at home, but now was very glad that she had brought them. Hermione pulled them out of the back and laid the robe on her bed. She pulled the bottom drawer out and took out the accessories that were to be worn with the duelling robe.
Pansy nodded appreciatively. "That's nice, very nice." The duelling robes were made from dragon hide, expensive but worth the money. It offered spell protection and always looked good. This particular hide was made from green and purple scales.
"There's boots and a hood." Hermione put the flat soled knee high boots on her bed and looked over the hood. "I'm not quite sure how to put it on." She showed Pansy the tiny case in her hand. "My godmother insisted that I get the teeth things too. These are sparkly, they match." Hermione popped open the case and showed Pansy what she meant.
Pansy giggled. "They would look sort of silly. Purple teeth that sparkle green and glow in the dark. All anyone can see of you is your smile. Try it on."
Hermione nodded and pulled the curtains closed around her area. Outside she could hear the noises of Pansy pulling off her clothes and putting on duelling robes.
The dragon skin felt as nice as it had when Hermione had first pulled it on. Her entire body felt protected, yet free to move however she wanted and do whatever she wanted. The boots didn't fit over her socks, like the rest of the outfit, it was skin tight. She bound her hair up in braids and fastened them tightly to her head. Hair was a target and it could get in her way if she wasn't careful.
Finally Hermione opened the curtain and stepped out into the room. She used one of Pansy's favourite spell that turned the air in front of her reflective, sort of like a mirror. It looks good, it looks really good. I can't believe that all witches don't walk around dressed like this all the time. I look. . .amazing. She was so busy admiring her appearance that she didn't pay any attention when Pansy pulled back her curtains.
"No teeth?" Pansy asked, smiling when Hermione turned back to look at her. Pansy's duelling robes were made out of pink silk, just like her pyjamas, and they made little shoes that looked like ballet slippers. Hermione could see a shiny pink around Pansy's teeth. It was almost as if braces were fashionable in the magical world.
"That looks nice." And Hermione really did like Pansy's robe. It only fell to her knees and there weren't any sleeves. The pink silk flowed easily around her a she walked and Pansy's dark hair was braided tightly to her head too. "I like the teeth."
Pansy nodded and pulled at her hair after looking at her appearance in the mirror. "I hate having long hair, it's such a hassle." She re-pinned a section of it. "I wouldn't mind cutting it all off. Father wouldn't care and I'm sure I could find someone willing to cut it."
Hermione shrugged and took her wand out of the hip holster. "Let's go. Where are we suppose to meet anyway?" she asked as Pansy led the way back to the common room.
"Common room." Daphene said, hurrying past them into the dormitory.
Hermione turned back. "Where's she been? I thought I saw her at dinner. And where did she rush off to anyway?" She looked to Pansy. "What is it?"
Pansy shrugged, the pink silk swaying with her movements. "Like I care. Come on."
The boys were already in the common room. Their dress robes were long than the girls but not any less tight. Hermione liked Theo's the best. Navy blue with the Nott crest on the chest, it reminded her of the jerseys footballers wore in the muggle world.
"This should be fun." Draco said, looking hopefully around the crowd of first, second and third years. "Don't you think?"
Theo said nothing and the rest of them followed his example. The third years wouldn't talk to lower years unless they had too and the firsties were nervous enough, they didn't want to talk with the second years. They were big and scary from their point of view.
Hermione looked at the clock. Six o'clock. Snape should be here by now!
The door from Snape's office banged open and the professor entered in a flurry of black robes. He stopped in front of them and crossed his arms as he looked over them. "In the future, this will be treated as a class and school robes will be worn."
Pansy looked at Hermione nervously and gave a minimal shrug. Hermione understood that and wished that she'd seen it before. There were only two first years without duelling robes, everyone else was wearing them. Duelling robes aren't really appropriate. They're so tight and revealing. And cold in the winter.
"Follow me." Snape's cloak snapped as he spun around and he headed for the exit door and led the twenty five students out and down the hall. They proceeded through the dungeons, past the Potions classroom and Snape's office. Down a flight of stairs and through a doorway.
The room was simply a classroom. There was another door at the front, next to the chalkboard, but it was closed and nothing behind it could be seen. Hermione looked around the classroom. There were thirty single desks and a larger desk at the front with a few folders of papers on it. Professor Snape headed up to the front of the classroom and stood in front of the large desk.
"Take a seat." He ordered and waited for the students to sit down. The first years ended up near the front and the third years in the back with the second years in the middle, the other years would meet on different nights. "This is duelling club, or duelling class as you may wish to call it."
"Here you will learn curses, jinxes and hexes that your parents and possibly the school administration may prefer that you not learn. This group exists for one reason."
Hermione's hand shot into the air. She didn't really mean to raise it, it just happened when someone asked a question that she knew the answer to, even if the question was rhetorical.. Luckily, Snape ignored her.
"To aid you in your study of Defence Against the Dark Arts." He did not acknowledge the few laughs that came from the second years. They were the only ones who had been in one of Lockhart's classes already.
The rest thirty minutes were not as interesting as Hermione hoped. Snape taught a lesson on the History of duelling and once again became angry when he realised that no one had thought to bring parchment or quills. "This is a class. In the future you will come prepared. Five points from Slytherin."
There was almost a collective gasp from all the students. They knew, or had heard that Professor Snape rarely took points from his own house and if he did the people that lost points were in deep trouble. "There will be a quiz on this material next week. I suggest that write down as much as you can remember as soon as we are finished."
Snape's lesson was more interesting than Binns, but Hermione wanted to duel and learn spells. Not when the Unforgivable curses became unforgivable. Most of the material she already knew from reading all the books the library had on duelling in her first year.
"Get up." Snape finally snapped at them once he'd finished speaking. "We aren't finished yet." He opened the second door with a flick of his wand and turned on the lights with another flick.
The sight before Hermione was amazing. The room was larger than the gym at her school had been and it was made to practice duelling in. One side was filled with various training equipment, like weight benches and treadmills. There were five targets in the centre of the room for spell casting practice and the other side of the room had a sunken pit in it with seats around it. It was a duelling pit. Just like they used to use in formal duels.
"Wow." One of the third years whispered. "Wow. This is place is crazy. It's good."
Snape clamped his hands to get their attention. "There is a piece of paper fastened to the door with five groups on it. These are your duelling teams. Line up in your teams. Now."
The students rushed to the door, Hermione was one of the last to get there and she looked over the paper quickly to find her name. There it is. Who's with me? She scanned the list of names over. Group five and there's three first years, a third year, and me. Great. She turned back to groups and found the line Pansy's brother was in. They were in the same group and she was not looking forward to duelling any more.
"Attention please." Professor Snape set a thunder crack out of his wand to get the students attention, it made them quiet very quickly. "The clock on the wall will chime every eight minutes. At that time you will proceed to the next station in the order. Do not waste any time, unless you would like to be here all night."
Hermione gulped and waited. "Begin now." Snape flicked his wand at the clock and made his way to the duelling pit.
The third year in Hermione's group led the other four to the side of the room with equipment and stopped in front of the speed weights. They were lighter and useful for building lightening fast reflexes, and those were crucial in duelling.
"I'm Joy duMonde." The third year told them, she had auburn hair and very pale skin, but her high quality robes let everyone know that she was definitely not a Weasley. And the fact that she had a slight accent that Hermione couldn't quite place. "These are the machines. There are diagrams to show you how to use them. If you need help, I will try." She looked over her charges, glad that she had attended the sessions Snape had offered at the end of last year for second, fifth and sixth years.
Hermione picked up two pound weights and glanced at the diagram on the wall before starting the exercises that it suggested. The others followed her example and worked hard for the eight minutes until the clock chimed, then they put down the weights and proceeded to the next station.
Group five worked their way through heavy weights and treadmills and they broke the silence during the eight minutes of running. Hermione learned her fellows names. Nadia Habib, the girl Pansy had stayed with during the summer, Pansy's brother, Mathias Parkinson, and another boy, Jeremiah Goodwinter. He was the oldest in his family and a pureblood of the middle class, between the Goyles and the Malfoys.
Target practice wasn't as interesting as Hermione had hoped either. The targets didn't move and her spells tended to be more destructive than they were able to duel with. Even third years weren't suppose to know stunning spells and Snape hadn't taught them yet, although Hermione would bet that learning Stupefy would be one of their first lessons.
When the clock chimed for the last rotation, the fifth group moved to the pit sunken in the floor. Snape stood next to the stairs that led down into it and explained the rules.
"You may use any spell you know as long as it is not life threatening and you have used it before. Duels last until one person wins or two minutes, whichever is shorter. The first pair is Miss duMonde and Mister Parkinson." He stepped aside to let the two pass into the pit.
Hermione headed to the side with the other members of her group. They watched as Snape set off sparks and signalled the beginning of the duel.
Joy began to slowly advance on Mathias, keeping her wand out and her body in a crouch. After a few seconds of creeping, she leapt forward crying out, "Expelliarmus!" Mathias' wand went flying and she summoned it to herself. The first duel was over.
Snape didn't looked surprised. He simply called out the next pair. "Miss Habib and Mister Goodwinter." The two hurried into the pit, pushing past the others trying to come out. They took up their positions and waited for the signal to start. As the red sparks fell, they started.
This interested Hermione. It was only the first day of classes and they were both first years. The duel would show who had more previous experience and whose parents let them practice magic at home and what kind of spells their parents let them learn.
"Furnunculus." Nadia said timidly. A red beam came out of her wand, but it fell short of Jeremiah, she was too scared of hurting him to cast powerfully.
Unfortunately for her, he didn't have the same idea. "Impedimenta." He cast and once she froze he used his next spell. "Incarcerus." Thick ropes flew out of his wand and bound her tightly, her wand clattering to the floor. There was only one duel left.
"Miss Morter and Miss duMonde." Snape announced, glancing at the clock. The duelling club was starting to go slightly over the amount of time he'd planned. Switching stations was taking too long. "Go ahead."
Hermione swallowed and looked nervously at the witch in front of her. Joy was a third year and rather good with her spells. She took a deep breath and prepared herself, she knew how to block and cast. "Stupefy." She cast, it headed quickly towards the older girl.
"Protego." Joy deflected Hermione's spell with a twirl and flick over her own wand. "Tarantallega." she said almost immediately afterwards.
Hermione fell to the floor, the spell flying harmlessly over her head. From her lower position she raised her hand and tried again. "Stupefy." She yelled, sighing in relief when it hit Joy in the legs and she collapsed to the ground.
Snape came down into the pit. "Rennervate." A blue mist came out of his wand and Joy groaned and sat up. The worst part of the stunning spell was falling and getting bruised. "A little more care next time Miss duMonde. You were nearly there, don't forget that your target can move."
Joy nodded and picked herself up off the ground. "Go work Miss Morter." She offered her hand and Hermione shook it.
The clock chimed and Snape dismissed the class, reminding them to bring supplies and wear their uniforms next week.
Hermione walked back to the dormitories and collapsed on her bed. It had been a very long day. She spelled the curtains shut and closed her eyes. Hopefully I won't have any nightmares tonight.