Disclaimer: I do not own Harry.
"Speech"
"Parseltongue"
Chapter 6: Challenge
Lunch time saw Rose and her friends eating lunch together at the end of the Slytherin table. The table was buzzing with news of Rose and her insults to Gryffindor in Professor McGonagall's own classroom as well as her cunning ability and knowledge that meant that Gryffindor lost 80 house points while Slytherin only lost 10. The older students were laughing and giving Rose complements as to what she did, while other Slytherin students, namely Pansy Parkinson and her group had permanent glares at Rose despite being in the same house.
"Potter!" A loud shout came from across the room gaining the attention of everyone in the room including the professors.
Rose looked up from her lunch to see Ron Weasley making a bee line for her with the Gryffindor boy Seamus Finnegan and Lavender Brown with him. She put on a facial expression of indifference which caused all the Slytherin's to go back to their lunch, clearly if their queen wasn't bothered then they shouldn't be.
"Potter, I'm talking to you," Ron snapped turning red.
"I'm sorry, I was not aware that monkeys could talk yet. I'm surprised evolution could progress this far in just a few hours. Boy is magic great. Something I can help you with monkey?" Rose asked bored, Draco snickered at the insult and Hermione giggled behind her hand along with Daphne and Tracy.
"I challenge you to a duel tonight at midnight," Ron sneered.
Clearly this was a plan for Rose to be out past curfew and Ron would probably alert a prefect to get Rose in trouble and make her lose points for her house. However, this was a stupid way of going about it because Rose could turn it into her favor easily and even take something away from the Weasley family in the future.
"Very well, I, Rosalie Potter, Heiress of Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. Do accept the honor duel of Ronald Weasley of Noble House of Weasley, so I say, so mote it be!" Rose declared and magic surrounded the two of them, and then Ron looked confused.
"What just happened?" Seamus asked.
"That, ickle firstie. Was the magical agreement, now if Ron doesn't show for the duel then he will lose his magic as well as House Weasley will be forced to pay most of what it owns to House Potter," Fred Weasley said glaring at Ron.
"Professor Dumbledore, since there is an honor duel agreed upon. Most students will be out of bed to come watch, we may as well hold it here in the great hall after dinner tonight," Draco said.
"I believe Professor Flitwhick is an ex dueling champion and would be able to conduct it in the proper manner as well?" Daphne added, the small Professor confirmed his willingness.
"Very well, an honor duel between Ronald Weasley of House Weasley and Rosalie Potter of House Potter shall commence tonight after dinner," Dumbledore announced with a frown.
"Until tonight then monkey, where I shall take something dear from you," Rose cackled and Dumbledore felt a bit of Deja vu remembering his encounters with a hooded death eater whom he was never able to identify, but the laugh sounded the same.
"There will be no foolish wand waving in my class. I am here to teach you to brew to perfection, if you pay attention in class," Severus barged in, his cape flowing all bat-like which was amusing for Rose.
"I can teach you how to brew perfection, create healing salves, and even put a stopper in death. But then again, some of you have come here with such skills that you need not pay attention," Severus glared at Ronald Weasley who was chatting to Seamus about the duel and how he was going to destroy Rose and make her his.
"Mr. Weasley, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" He asked him.
"I don't bloody know," Ron said.
"Let's try again, where would you look if I asked you to find me a Bezoar?" He asked again.
"In the cupboard."
"Third try, what is the difference between Wolfsbane and Monkswood?"
"I don't bloody know stop asking me you git," Ron snapped.
"30 points from Gryffindor, Miss Potter please answer the questions," Severus said.
"If you added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood you'd get the draught of living death, a Bezoar is found in the stomach of a goat and can be used to counter most poisons, and Monkswood and Wolfsbane are two different parts of the same plant also known as Aconite," Rose said without missing a beat.
"30 points to Slytherin, well, what are you all doing? Write it down," Severus snapped at the rest of the class, Gryffindor mainly.
In class that day they were brewing a simple healing potion that helped with minor cuts, bruises and headaches even. Daphne teamed up with Draco who was absolutely terrible at potions while Hermione worked with Blaise and Rose worked with Tracy who wasn't as good at potions. Blaise was good at potions having trained in the art of brewing with his mother, who had a reputation as one of the top assassins which potions were usually involved. Hermione being new to the magical world had no knowledge which meant that being teamed up with Blaise helped her a lot, however, she apparently had knowledge of cooking as she could take Blaise's directions when preparing the ingredients perfectly.
Although Daphne, Draco and Rose had been brewing with Severus ever since Rose had begun to be comfortable and get over her past, Draco was pants at Potions much to the chagrin of Severus who had tried to teach the boy adequate potions skills. Rose was quite good but she wasn't as good as Daphne, however, Daphne's mum was also a potions master and often gave extra lessons and even had Daphne help with her work on occasions. This made her a perfect match for Draco's idiocy. Tracy Davis was a half blood and knew a little bit about potions, so Rose worked with her to help her improve as Rose had the primary tutelage of Severus growing up as well, despite her personal forte being dark arts.
"Miss Potter, a word if I may?" Severus asked as everyone was packing up.
"Of course sir," Rose looked to Daphne and her small group of friends.
"We'll wait outside," Daphne said without missing a beat.
Once they were outside, Severus put a silencing charm around the room and Rose also used her access to the Hogwarts Wards to completely make it silent.
"What on earth were you thinking! Challenging the Weasley boy like that almost blew your cover as a primarily muggle raised girl!" Severus all but shouted causing Rose to frown, she really didn't like it when her godfather was shouting at her.
"Sorry, just that he challenged me to a duel at midnight to try and get me in trouble. So, I figured I'd make it an honor duel between the two houses so he couldn't back out of it. We both know that I'm going to win and having a House debt owed to me from a light side family like the Weasley's who are avid 'Greater Good' supporters, except maybe the twins," Rose half mumbled half explained.
"I'll admit, that action was very Slytherin of you. But you cannot blow your cover until it's too late for anything to be done, I've been the one supposedly checking up on you at your Aunts place and relaying the reports to Dumbledore. Now I'm going to have to explain how you knew about those laws," Severus sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Please just, nothing brash for the rest of the month. Lily is going to go spare at me when I tell her this," Severus paled, Rose could sympathize with him.
She'd been the receptor of her mother's fury once, and only once. It was terrifying enough for her and Draco to never attempt anything that may make her upset ever again. Even the Dark Lord would stay clear of her rampage when she was on one. The only known survivors of her ire are the inner circle, Rose and her friends. Everyone else who received it had mysteriously disappeared from their ranks, except Remus Lupin that is.
"I'll try Uncle Sev..." Rose said with a frown.
"That's all I ask, now go on. You have Herbology and your friends are waiting. Come to the Quidditch pitch when you're finished, I'll have set something up for you to practice on before your duel tonight," Severus said.
Rose nodded and walked out the door allowing Hogwarts to remove the wards from the room. Daphne, Tracy, Draco and Blaise were waiting for her and Crabbe and Goyle were off to the side as well. Together they walked outside to Herbology where the rest of Slytherin were waiting along with the Hufflepuff's.
"What's happened? Was our queen too important to grace us with her presence?" Pansy commented and then laughed, however no one dared laugh at that comment.
"Shut it Pansy, she was talking with Professor Snape," Hermione said boldly.
"Stay out of this you filthy Mudblood, this is between pure bloods only," Pansy hissed at Hermione who looked upset at that comment.
"So tell me Pansy, does your Dad enjoy bedding your aunt? Or is she actually your mother?" Rose said innocently, the Slytherin's 'Oohed' while Pansy turned bright red.
"Well I bet you're our lords personal whore, I had no idea he liked them young. Although your muggle uncle liked them young as well didn't he?" Pansy said snidely, everyone gasped including Daphne, Tracy and Draco who knew very well along with the children of the inner circle, about what happened to Rose when she was with her muggle relatives.
Pansy didn't even have the chance to make another comment when a fist was plastered into her face. She was sent to the ground with a bloody nose while Rose stood on her chest with her boot and used her other one to kick Pansy in the side roughly a few times. Rose then bent down and whispered into Pansy's ear.
"After the Ginger is dealt with, you're next Parkinson, pray I'll be merciful," Rose whispered her promise which seemed to scare the girl out of her wits.
"Good afternoon class, oh my, what happened to Miss Parkinson?" Professor Sprout asked worrying.
"She went too close to the Whomping Willow Professor," Rose said casually.
"Oh my, please escort her to Madam Pomfrey's," Professor Sprout said and Rose smiled casually before 'helping' Pansy Parkinson up where Millicent took her to Madam Pomfrey's to be healed up.
"Was that reaction really necessary?" Rose turned to see Neville Longbottom looking at her slightly scared.
"Longbottom, one day, I may even tell you about why that action was necessary. However, that was a clear message to them," she gestured to the other Slytherin students and the Hufflepuff's around them.
"That you don't fuck with me. And no I am not going to tell you what I whispered to her when she was sprawled out on the ground, so don't bother asking. You're a Puff Longbottom so I will hold no hostility towards you as long as you don't cross me, in fact, I think we could become good friends if you would be willing to," Rose said before walking into the greenhouse with the rest of the students leaving the Longbottom heir to think about what she had said.
Herbology was relatively simple, they just learnt about the basic type of plants from the carnivorous ones to the friendly ones. Rose was surprised when Neville helped her with some of the plants, Herbology was not her strong point but the boy seemed to have a natural green thumb when it comes to dealing with plants. He seemed to hang onto every word that the Professor was saying.
After Herbology the students were allowed free time, Rose headed down to the Quidditch pitch along with Daphne, Hermione, Tracy, Blaise and Draco. When they got down there Severus was waiting along with two other people, Rose and Daphne squealed when they recognized the dark-haired girl as Bellatrix and quickly the three were in a hug and sharing kissing much to Draco, Tracy and Blaise's amusement along with Hermione's confusion.
"Why are the three of them kissing like that? Is that some kind of pureblood thing among females?" Hermione asked.
"No, Rose, Daphne, Bellatrix and another girl named Fleur are connected by a unique soul bond. Meaning that the four of them are essentially considered married by magic. They are simple greeting their fellow lover," Draco explained as simply as he could.
"You, Missy are in trouble," Bellatrix said sternly to Rose who pouted.
"Why on earth did you think it was a good idea to challenge someone to an honor duel! If you lose it could mean that I might have to kick the little shits ass to get you back!" Bellatrix shrieked.
"It's just the youngest and most idiotic Weasley child, it should be easy," Rose huffed.
"He will also underestimate Rose as he, like most students, still believe her to have grown up with her Muggle relatives. As long as she doesn't use too advanced, and dark, spells. She'll be fine," Daphne said.
Just then all three girls felt their locket heating up and Rose could already tell it was Fleur calling them. She opened her Pendant and the picture of Fleur changed to her face in her Beauxbaton's uniform, however it held a frown and in moments the blonde had grown avian features and was glaring at Rose.
"Rosalie Lillian Potter! What eez it I 'ere about you challenging someone to an 'onor Duel!" Fleur shrieked and Rose groaned and looked at Bella and Daphne with accusing eyes.
"Hey, she deserved to know as one of our partners," Bellatrix shrugged.
"I'm not sleeping with you for the first week of Yuletide holidays," Rose grumbled and Bellatrix's face fell and she complained very loudly about that factor and then looked to Daphne for help.
"Hey, it means more bed time for me," Daphne said, suddenly finding her nails very interesting and avoiding the glare of their dark-haired lover.
"It's not as bad as it seems really Fleur I'll be fine, the idiot doesn't know a thing about dueling," Rose replied.
"I do not care about zat, you should not so willing issue a challenge like zat. I swear if you lose I will personally burn you to a crisp and not in the pleasant way that us Veela can," Fleur threatened.
"Bellatrix, make sure you give our girl a butt kicking before zee duel tonight," Fleur said to Bellatrix.
"You got it flower," Bella replied and Fleur, satisfied, hung up.
"I assume that was the fourth?" Hermione asked and Draco nodded.
"Ready for Tonks and I to kick your ass?" Bellatrix grinned and Tonks added her grin as the two held their wands ready for action.
"I will be facilitating this practice, no harmful curses and definitely no dark arts. Understood?" Severus said.
"Alright, could all spectators stand to the side. Daphne I'd like you to get the potions out of my bag and have them ready," Severus handed Daphne a pouch as they went to the sandy rim of the pitch.
"Are those potions for Rose?" Blaise asked Severus.
"No Mr. Zabini, they are for Bellatrix and Nymphadora," Severus replied earning a 'Don't call me that!' being shouted by said Metamorphmagus.
"I resent that comment Severus!" Bellatrix shouted.
"Sorry girls, but you know it's true," Severus laughed which made Blaise, Tracy and Hermione go wide eyed as they had heard many stories about Professor Snape but they never actually thought that they'd hear him laugh so casually. They separated and were 200 meters apart before they were going to start.
"Surely they can't duel from that distance, that would require some really powerful cores," Hermione said calculating the distance in her head.
"Normally you would be correct, however, Rose's wand is hand crafted for her out of woods and cores that responded strongly to her magic," Daphne explained.
"Wait you can get wands crafted? I thought the only place you could get them were at Ollivanders?" Hermione asked.
"That's what the Ministry and the Light Side would want you to think. There are very few master wand crafters around anymore, most are considered dark in nature as the cores and woods they have as a selection can come from creatures considered dark," Daphne said.
"Daphne, Rose and I all had our wands crafted for us specifically. We didn't buy a pre-made wand that would inhibit our magical talents as well as alert the ministry as to when and where we were using magic," Draco added.
By now the practice had already started with Rose sending various curses at Bellatrix and Nymphadora, the power of her spells had the grassy pitch bellow tearing up causing Draco to groan at the pitch of his favourite sport being ruined. However, Hermione and Blaise were in a trance as this was the first time they had seen Rose use her wand for such an activity. The position of her wand in her hand was similar to that of Bellatrix and Nymphadora and as the three duelled they seemed to dance as lights from curses were sent everywhere.
"What kind of movement is that? It wouldn't be seen in conventional duelling," Blaise said.
"That's what's known as the Black Dance, it's a duelling style done specifically by the women of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black. My mother, Aunt Andromeda and Aunt Bellatrix taught it to her like their mother taught it to them beforehand, well technically Aunty Andromeda taught Aunty Bellatrix and cousin Nymphadora as Grandma died giving birth to Bellatrix," Draco said.
"It's beautiful, I can see that their movements are fluid like a dance should be," Hermione said.
"Not to mention deadly, the Black Dance is a duelling style that was created to kill not for show," Daphne said.
"Have you and... Fleur been learning it as well?" Hermione asked.
"As much as I would love that, no. The Black Dance is only for those of the Black Household. Rose is Heiress to the House of Black due to being the soulmate of Bellatrix as well as the being named heiress by the Head of House, Sirius Black," Daphne sighed.
They watched for two hours as practice took place with Rose getting a few bruises here and there whereas the two Aurors were getting their asses handed to them. When practice finished, Rose only require a few simple healing spells and a pepper-up potion whereas Bellatrix and Nymphadora needed blood-replenishers, Pepper-up, Invigoration Draught, Numbing Draught and in Nymphadora's case, some Skele-grow as Rose had accidentally hit her with a bone-breaker curse.
"The woman of the House of Black are also adept at using blades, they're the reason that people are always on their guard when dealing with a member of the House of Black. Never know when you may get a knife in your back, or throat, if you piss them off."
"So does that mean?"
"Yes, Miss Potter has up to ten knives concealed on her at all times."
"I know where some of them are hidden," Daphne whispered and Hermione blushed at what she was eluding to.