Drucilla stepped away from George and onto the mat. Within seconds, the blond boy was next to her and George felt a stab in his chest as the boy smiled and talked with Drucilla.
"Clement, you really are the most bizarre personI've ever met," stated Drucillawith amusement.
"You all right, mate?" Fred asked, walking up to his brother.
"Huh? Yeah I'm fine," answered George, only half paying attention as he watched Drucilla sitting on the mat and doing stretches.
"She's doesn't look that bad," Fred acknowledged, seeing where George was looking.
"She's beautiful," George corrected him. Thankfully, Fred didn't overhear him, seeing as a Hufflepuff boy called Smith had just touched one of the weapons on the wall and had caused a lot of them to fall to the ground in a loud clutter.
Many of the Magic School students laughed at the look of shock on Smith's face, whereas others looked utterly annoyed.
"See what I mean? They're after power," Drucilla's friend, Clement, whispered to her, loud enough for George to hear.
"Honestly, Clement, you are paranoid! Even if he wasn't a hopeless klutz, I could get any weapon out of his hands in moments and so could you." Drucilla sighed and leaned forward. George marvelled at Drucilla's flexibility. Drucilla was doing the side splits, but she was still able to put her whole front against the mat.
"George," sung Fred, waving a hand in front of George's face, which was identical to his own, except for a few freckles.
"Yeah?"asked George, looking at his brother.
Fred snorted and shook his head. "Never mind."
Giggling was heard behind the group of Hogwarts students. Turning around, the identical boys found three teenage girls standing together and giggling behind their hands. The girls were wearing light, breezy green dresses and had flowers in their hair. Upon seeing the group of boys, which also consisted of Harry, Ron, Neville and Lee, they started skipping towards them, holding hands to make a chain.
"Hi, boys." The red head out of the group giggled, her voice full of happiness. The girls started dancing around the boys. All three girls had the same giggle, slightly high-pitched and very girlie.
"Hi,"said Harry uncertainly, quirking an eyebrow at the other boys.
The girls just giggled again.
"Um, I'm sorry, but what are you guys... ar, girls?"asked Lee, turning his head to watch the girls dance around them.
The brunette did a spin out of the circle she and her friends were dancing in and walked towards Lee, a spring in her step. "We're Nymphs, of course. Our powers are connected to nature. Flowers…"
"Water…" the blonde chimed in, dancing around Neville.
"Animals…" the red head added, circling Harry in rhythm.
"iLove!/i" finished all three at the same time before giggling again.
"And you're here to fight?" Colin questioned, walking over and joining the group, taking a photo of the nymphs as he did.
"Heavens, no! We're against fighting, but there's love everywhere, even on a battlefield." The blonde smiled cheekily and her eyes sparkled. She was running her fingers through George's hair lovingly, making him feel uncomfortable at the contact.
"There's love in this room?"sneered Blaise Zabini, adding himself into the group with a handful of other Slytherins as well as Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws.
"Always,"said the brunette with a giggle.
"They're referring to the handful of people here that are dating someone that is also in this room; they're also probably referring to family love, like say Fred and George," someone behind the group told them. Everyone turned to see Drucilla standing on the edge of the mat facing the group. The nymphs giggled again.
"Don't forget the others we feel,"pointed out the blonde, spinning over to Drucilla and tucking a flower behind Drucilla's ear.
"Daisy, I have no idea who you are talking about," Drucilla stated in a drawl, frowning as she took the flower out of her hair and holding it out to the person in front of her.
"Who? Ron and Ginny?"George happened to be the one in front of Drucilla and took the orchid from her, causing the nymphs to giggle. "Ron and Ginny are Fred and my younger siblings."
"You seem to have many siblings,"said Drucilla raising an eyebrow.
"We have three older brothers, one younger brother and one younger sister,"answered Fred, as George absently twirled the flower between his forefinger and thumb.
"Love is the most powerful thing imaginable." The brunette Nymph smiled and sighed. George looked at Drucilla just in time to see her roll her unseeing eyes.
"Anyway, I came over here to tell you three to keep it down when we are trying out. It is a lot of work, no love involved either so I don't see why you are even here." Drucilla tightened her jaw at the fresh waves of girlie giggles.
"There's suddenly a powerful energy in this room. We couldn't stay away! Two people, both inexperienced. Aw, is there anything cuter?" Daisy sighed looking off into the distance and into her own little world.
"Uh huh,"drawled Drucilla in a bored tone. In response to this, the girls merely giggled again.
When Drucilla flinched at the noise, George understood why she was so annoyed. Her hearing was stronger than others because of her blindness, meaning the giggling was causing her pain.
As the nymphs giggled again, Drucilla's temper heightened. "Enough!" she growled.
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing. It was so quiet that they could hear everyone gasp as they held their breaths. That was when the Hogwarts students realised something: Drucilla was extremely feared,even with her disability and the fact that she was obviously at least two years younger than the other students in her year.
Power radiated off of Drucilla, making the nymphs shrink away from her. "I told you to keep it down!"hissed Drucilla, in a voice barely above a whisper. Even though it was at a low volume, just like her growl, everyone heard it.
"Sorry,"said all three nymphs with the greatest sincerity.
Once all the Magic School students were sure that Drucilla wasn't going to kill the nymphs, they went back to work. The Hogwarts students turned back to Drucilla, all of them looking shocked, except for Malfoy and Pansy. Malfoy looked impressed, but not surprised, and Pansy looked frightened, as though she was eating her own words.
"Wow, that was…iwow/i," George tried to say.
"Nice verbal skills, Weasley,"said Malfoy sarcastically.
"Draco, be nice." Drucilla's voice had amusement in it, but it was definitely a demand. Drucilla turned her head to look in the direction George's voice had came from. Inclining her head at his compliment, she said to him, "Thank you, it is not that hard really."
"Well I don't think I can silence a whole room like that," Colin appraised her. "Hey, could I um… have a picture?"
Drucilla looked confused before slowly answering, "Okay."
"Erm can I get a few? It would be really cool to have pictures of a Magic School student with more than one Hogwarts student." Colin looked down guiltily after asking Drucilla for so much.
"Erm." Drucilla started too answered before a shrill whistle went through the large room. "After the try-outs."
"Oh, can I take photos of the try-outs?" Colin asked eagerly.
"You will have to ask Professor Axely - it's his decision." Drucilla walked off to the centre of the mat, where everyone was assembling. Most of them looked anxious and scared, but somewhat confident, while others looked cocky. The moment everyone saw Drucilla walk into the centre, they all looked very scared and shrunk away from the girl slightly.
The only one who didn't seem affected by the tension in the air wasColin, who was quickly asking Professor Axely if he could take photos, and was thankfully granted permission.
Professor Axely stepped to the edge of the mat. "Now, students, remember the rules. No magic is allowed until there are only fifteen people left in the Dome. Make sure you don't kill each other! And, of course, the main rule, try-outs or not, do not under any circumstance, target someone when their back is turned."
The Hogwarts students looked at each other in confusion. The Dome? Before any of them could ask the question though, the wishing-to-be trainers were encased in a large, slightly transparent, blue dome, taking up the whole space of the mat and reaching the roof.
George watched as Drucilla dropped her head slightly and turned her ear to the larger group of students. There were around seventy people; he just prayed she'd do all right. A blind girl against seventy were not odds in her favour.
"One, two, three." On 'three', Axely waved his hand and a loud whistle was emanated.
No one moved for a moment, each waiting for the other to make a move. The action started when one of the students, a cocky brunette girl, swung at Drucilla - of all people. She was diagonally behind Drucilla, and she obviously thought that because Drucilla was neither facing her nor had one of her ears facing her, she would be able to get the upper hand. That, however, was incorrect. With lightening fast speed, Drucilla grabbed a hold of the girl's wrist and used her other hand to push up on the girl's elbow until there was a crack.
The girl gave a little whimper of pain before she disapparated, only to apparate outside the dome not too far away from the Hogwarts students. Colin, who had lowered his camera after he had taken a photo of what Drucilla did, quickly raised it again as the fight started up again.
The fighters definitely knew their stuff. Their balance was perfect, and their hits accurately calculated. They moved quickly and they took the blows well. They saw a few of them take tremendously strong hits, and yet not get transported out of the dome.
It didn't take long for more people to join the brunette with the broken arm. Some were nursing cuts, bruises and others, like the first girl, had broken bones. They were all fine though, seeing as Healers were on them in moments. It was hard to tell how many of them were kicked out by Drucilla, but it seemed as though she was doing really well. She had taken a few hits and yet they hadn't fazed her.
Drucilla was hidden from view for part of the fight, but when some students moved out of the way, either by being kicked out or to get a better fighting position, she came into view. It seemed as though a small group had decided to team up against Drucilla. She was holding her own fairly well, considering.
When one of the boys swung a punch at her, she grabbed his wrist like she did with the girl, and pulled him off balance. As he took a staggering step towards her, she threw a kick directly at his chest. The boy hunched over to catch his breath and Drucilla put her back against the boy and used it to give a double kick at two advancing boys. Jumping back onto her two feet, she threw a punch at the girl coming her way. All four of the students ended up outside the dome and Drucilla ended up fighting someone else.
When there was just above thirty people left, Axely created the whistling noise again and called for a halt. "I think we should make things more interesting." Next second, weapons were dropping into the still dome. Drucilla spun to stop herself from getting stabbed and grabbed the hilt of a falling sword. She swung it before sliding the flat of the blade against her palm, testing the balance.
"Wow, she's good,"commented Harry as he watched her handle the sword some more. The group nodded and Colin took a photo of her.
The silver sword was hypnotising to George. He watched her swing it across her body, shaving close to her arms, but not touching her. The hilt had emerald gems; it reminded him of the ruby hilted sword in Dumbledore's office.
"Slytherin's sword," Dumbledore commented as everyone started the try-outs again. "I thought that was a myth."
Axely chuckled. "Yes, not many know it is real. Gryffindor had a sword, Slytherin had a sword; Slytherin had a ring, Gryffindor had a ring, according to myth anyway."
"She chose Slytherin's sword," Malfoy said with a hint of pride.
"No, Slytherin's sword chose her. I made sure that the weapon landed closest to the student that could handle it. That way there's still a safety factor," Axely corrected Malfoy.
With the addition of weapons, the number was decreased rapidly. It wasn't long before Axely had to cease the try-out again. "OK, weapons back out of the dome, you're allowed to use your magic."
Fourteen out of fifteen students gleefully activated their powers, Drucilla being the fifteenth.
The one called Clement started to glow and his clothes shifted, and thenext second he was in clothes that looked like they belonged in ancient Greece. All the girls sighed. Xandra's features turned pale and ghostly and the whites of her eyes turned red. One of the girls started twitching uncomfortably as her skin started to rip away, being replaced by thick fur. When all the skin had been torn away, a giant wolf stood in her spot.
Drucilla was turning her head as though she was watching everyone transform, but she was yet to transform herself. Her blank eyes landed on the boy standing closest to her; he seemed to intrigue her.
His transformation was definitely one of the most noticeable, even though two people had sprouted wings. His silky, tamed, black hair turned wild, yet not messy, his face paled and his blue eyes shone brighter as the black ring around them darkened. The last major change was his build, he was a slender build but, after his transformation, he was nothing but well formed muscles. The muscles were easier to see then anyone else's because he was in nothing but a pair of deep blue sweat pants, his shirt being torn in the fight by someone.
George knew it would be stupid to thing Drucilla liked his new appearance because, as he reminded himself, she couldn't see him. He could tell that the Hogwarts girls liked this student's appearance more then they liked Clement's.
"Why hasn't Drucilla transformed? Doesn't she have any good powers?"snapped Pansy, trying to regain her bitterness towards Drucilla.
"Oh, you have no idea," one of the students that had already been knocked out of the dome told Pansy with a smirk.
"You are going to be the hardest to get out." Drucilla pointed at the boy near her. Her voice drifted through the dome easily, drawing everyone's eyes toward her. There was something red on her eyebrow that was facing away from the group.
"Of course I am. I'm a Vampire God." The boy smiled cheekily.
"You wish." Drucilla turned away from him as Clement addressed her.
"Aren't you going to power up?"
"Not yet. But I can assure you that I will get all of you out within seconds of each other," Drucilla gloated.
"Ten Galleons." Drucilla nodded in agreement to Clement's bet as Axely told them to start.
Obviously, the fourteen others had chosen Drucilla as their first target. They all took a step towards Drucilla but before they could take another, clouds started to form at the roof of the dome. Drucilla raised her hands slowly to the clouds and the thunder grew stronger. The weather inside the dome was affecting the outside area as well. The girls had to grab their hair and the hems of their skirts because of the strong winds. George's lengthened hair was blowing in his eyes and obscuring his view. The clouds were darkening, making it look like nightfall.
In a matter of moments, large lightening-bolts started to hit the ground. The other fourteen tried to use their powers against the sudden storm, but it was no use. Drucilla threw her hands forward and the lightning struck her opponents.
As Drucilla had promised, all fourteen of the students were out of the dome in seconds. Also as Drucilla had said, the 'Vampire God' stayed in a few seconds longer than the others, fighting her powers. Drucilla just increased her powers, getting him out of the dome, and soon causing the dome to disintegrate.
"You owe me ten Galleons,"saidDrucilla to Clement, walking off the mat and listening to the pants of her opponents to navigate her way around the room. Now that she was facing them, they could see that her eyebrow was cut and blood was thickly falling from the wound.
"So, you win?" Cho Chang asked Drucilla, grimacing at her cut as Drucilla waved away the Healer.
"No, we have to take in other factors. Like how many people she actually got out of the dome, what skills she used, her class marks, and things like that." Axely scratched his beard.
As the Hogwarts students started talking to the Magic School students, George went to go talk to Drucilla only to stop short. He watched as Draco walked up to Drucilla and congratulated her… and hugged her.
"Where's my flower?" George heard Drucilla say.
George headed towards the two as they drew apart. "Congratulations, Drucilla, that was amazing, and here's your flower." George gently put the flower that he was still holding, in Drucilla's hand. "But you're bleeding."
"Thank you, and it doesn't matter if I'm bleeding," Drucilla muttered, taking the flower from him. "Erm, I'm going to have a shower."
"Oh wait, can I get a picture of you and George, and then you and Draco?" Colin interrupted.
"Okay then, but I really want a shower, so make it quick." Drucilla looked uncomfortable as George draped an arm around her shoulders. She relaxed for the photo and once George had directed her to face the camera, she smiled and looked at ease. George looked at her after the photo was taken, only to see the skin on either side of her cut stretch out to each other. In front of his eyes, Drucilla's cut healed itself.
"How?" George whispered. Drucilla either didn't hear him or didn't listen, either way she didn't answer. Instead, she walked over to Malfoy to get a picture with him.
She was definitely more comfortable having Malfoy put his arm around her shoulders. He even made her laugh by something he had whispered in her ear. Her laugh was like her chuckle, except that it made George smile wider than the chuckles did.