Hello readers! So this is turtle53 's friend-and fellow writer-ninja82 !
So she's home for break and we got to talking about this and we decided that since I have the whole of this, I'll finish posting it for her!
I'm going to post a chapter about every... 2/3 days, and there's 8 more to go after this!
She wants you all to know that she's sorry about this, she just got busy.
The girl is smart and is off being (semi) diligent about her studies.
Disclaimer: We do not own Harry Potter!
"Let's have a duel. Let's practice, Michael."
Michael raises his eyebrows at Terry, not moving from the sofa inside their tent.
"C'mon Michael. All we've been doing is researching, trying to find a way to send everyone home. Hermione has given us a break and I want to do something I know I'm good at."
"If you're so good, then why do you need practice?"
Terry lets out a frustrated sigh. "Because, I do."
"You don't get enough practice during the attacks? You need to look for battles now?" Michael lets out a derisive laugh.
Terry stares at him angrily for a moment before pointing his wand at the couch. It lifts several feet into the air before turning sideways, dumping Michael onto the ground.
Michael groans, sending out a fist to hit Terry but Terry dodges it and waits for Michael to get up.
He does. "Alright, alright. I'll go."
Terry smiles smugly and walks out of the tent and into the center of the camp, Michael following.
They stand a reasonable distance apart, wands out. Everyone gathers around, having nothing else to do in the camp.
Terry bows, and just as he reaches the lowest point a spell hits his hand, sending his wand flying. He glares at his opponent, who is now the one smiling smugly.
"No one bows during battle, Boot." Michael laughs.
Terry rolls his eyes and retrieves his wand. He has barely turned around again when he yells, "Stupefy!" and sends Michael flying, mid laugh.
"No one gives warnings during battle, Corner."
Michael gets up, sending a jinx at Terry, who dodges it, sending back one of his own. It is only a matter of moments before the duel heats up and the crowd stops cheering. It is clear that this is no longer a friendly duel.
The boys fire spells at each other without thinking, dodging left and right, using their battle skills. This isn't a real battle, there is no real danger, but an outsider wouldn't be able to tell. Their faces are blazing; they toss each other around as they would a Death Eater.
Michael cries out, "Reducto!" and an orange flash of light emerges from his wand, jetting past Terry and hitting the tree behind him. There is a loud explosion and a sharp crack as the tree breaks in half. Terry has just enough time to jump out of the way before it falls, hitting the ground where he was standing moments before.
He faces his opponent, both breathing hard. They turn away from each other, looks of shock and confusion on their faces, as if they have come out of a trance. They never intended for this to happen, it was just supposed to be practice, they weren't supposed to want to hurt each other.
But they had wanted to hurt each other and it is for this reason that Terry switched tents with Zacharias. And it is for this reason that Terry and Michael lay in their beds, silent tears streaming down their faces long after their new tent mates were asleep, crying over how much they truly have lost in the war.
When Hermione hears about the duel, about the tent switch, the probable destruction of the relationship between two best friends, she cries as well. She cries for everything that has happened to cause this, for her soldiers-no, her friends- to forget who they are. They are running a race to stay alive and they all seem to have left who they used to be at the start line.
Ron tries to comfort her. He sits beside her, his arms around her, rocking her with his face in her hair, whispering that everything is going to be all right. Everything is going to work out, she will find a way soon, it is only a matter of time. She lets him rock her but it doesn't help. She only cries harder because she still has Ron when so many of the others are missing their families.
Harry sits on the couch, staring at his hands, occasionally running them through his hair. He doesn't say anything, just lets Ron comfort Hermione because deep down he knows that neither he nor Ron can provide what Hermione needs.
She needs to figure out how to get them home, and she needs to do it now.
The next chapter should be up soon! If you're still around, she wants to thank you for not giving up!
Thanks for reading and please, review!
