The first person to see the announcement on the bulletin board was Hermione, and she immediately told the people she knew would find it the most interesting: Harry, Neville, and Ron.
"Dueling Club?" Harry said eagerly, running his hands nervously through his hair. Hermione wondered if he knew how silly he looked when he did that. "Who's running it, d'you think?"
"The notice didn't say," Hermione said, shrugging. "There are a few possibilities. Professor Flitwick was supposed to be something of a champion duelist in his day."
"Really?" the boys chorused, stunned.
Hermione nodded and said, "And then there's the teachers who got Orders of Merlin during the war."
Harry really took notice at this and said, "Really? Who's that?"
Hermione pulled out a book she'd gotten for a History assignment, and she flipped to the list of those persons who had achieved Orders of Merlin in the war against Lord Voldemort. The three boys leaned over it, awed.
"Wow," Neville breathed. "Harry, your parents are on this list! Second class."
"Yours are here, too," Harry said. "Professor McGonagall. And there's Rhea's parents, first class."
"Well, her dad's an Auror," Ron said, shrugging. "Uncle Gideon's here too. Look, Hagrid!"
"Oh, look," Neville said. "Snape's got one. First class. Lupin, first class. And look at the list of Blacks."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. She'd been considering that portion of the list as well, considering that Sirius Black, Cara Black, and the deceased Regulus Black all earned the Order of Merlin, First Class during the war, and as far as Hermione could find, their actions were largely unknown. So much was still unknown about the war.
"So realistically," Harry said, "it doesn't seem likely to be McGonagall, does it? So that leaves Uncle Remus, Uncle Sirius, and Snape. I reckon it's probably not Snape."
"Why?" Hermione asked coolly.
"Well, he's a Potions Master, isn't he?" Ron said, as though this obviously precluded Professor Snape from knowing how to duel. "I reckon he barely even uses his wand."
"Shows how much you know," Hermione said stiffly. "According to Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape was an accomplished duelist as well. We'll just have to go to the first meeting and see who it is, won't we?"
Neville nodded, closing the book carefully and handing it back to Hermione with a thoughtful expression.
She wondered how Harry and Neville could not know that their parents had earned such a prestigious award during the war. Neville's parents were Aurors, but Harry's weren't. Hermione wondered what they had done, how they had earned their awards, and she wondered if Harry was going to ask his parents about it.
More importantly, she wondered what they might say. Sometimes adults kept secrets, even big secrets, for a reason, and Hermione couldn't help but think of the name Cara Black on the list, the name of Catherine's mother who was known as a largely magic-less society wife, and wonder what on earth could have gone on during that war.
To her, that was infinitely more interesting than who was going to be coaching the dueling club.
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Remus sat down with Severus, knowing they really ought to be having a talk with Sirius, but too afraid of his best friend's reaction.
"He doesn't see it because he doesn't want to," Severus said calmly. "He was something of a bully himself, if you recall."
"Kitty's not a bully," Remus said tightly. "This is nothing like that. She doesn't pick on the weak, she picks on Harry."
"Comparatively, he is weak."
Remus waved off this unfortunately true statement and he said, "Colin Creevey was an issue of crossfire.
"The boy could have died," Severus said, bored.
Remus's nostrils flared, and he said, "You haven't turned her in or disciplined her either, and I know it's not some feeling of loyalty on your part."
Severus's neck stiffened for a moment before he set down his tea and said, "Lupin, Catherine Black is a very talented student. And whatever mistakes she makes she cleans up after her messes. What she needs is not censure, but proper training. I believe Sirius believes that s well, because whatever he won't admit to himself, he's set up this dueling club nonsense. The least we can do, as his friends and as her teachers, is to support this decision and see if we can't teach her control and decorum."
"Doubtful," Remus said. "She is her father's daughter."
"She's also her mother's daughter," Severus said softly. "And Potter is also his mother's son. They're not hopeless."
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The first day of the dueling club, Severus, Sirius, and Remus watched the students file in casually, watching from the back room attached to the Great Hall, behind the Head Table. Potter and his friends showed up, Draco and Blaise Zabini showed up, and Catherine had dragged her whole set as well. Severus frowned to himself, wondering whether some kind of chaos would result in the club. He decided that they would have to keep eyes on the various factions at all times, just in case.
"We should announce ourselves," Sirius muttered, as the students gathered around the raised platform Dumbledore had created for the club. "Shall I?"
Severus and Remus nodded, and they followed Sirius out onto the platform. Severus ignored the whispers of students as they saw these three professors come out as the heads of the club, and he glanced at Catherine, whose eyes widened with delight.
"Hello, everyone!" Sirius said cheerfully. "Since you all have such an appetite for using magic outside of class," he paused to allow for nervous laughter from the students, "we decided the best thing to do would be to give you a safe, observed environment where you can learn more magic, and particularly about Dueling. As some of you know, although many of you don't, Professor Snape, Professor Lupin, and I all fought in the war against Voldemort, and having good dueling skills was a critical factor in our success and survival."
Severus tried not to raise an eyebrow at this. In truth, he felt that their dueling abilities took the back burner to their ability to lie and to maneuver circumstances. Their main trade was information, not brute force.
"So," Sirius said, clapping his hands. "We're going to begin with basic rules, alright? Professor Snape, shall we demonstrate appropriate etiquette for beginning a duel?"
Severus inclined his head slightly and said, "With pleasure."
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Sitting in her father's study, Cora curled up with a book, sunlight streaming through the window. She glanced up to see the little bits of dust in the stream of sunlight. Some people found such things gross, but Cora thought it was sort of beautiful. She equated dust with books, and sunlight, and those were her two favorite things.
She turned over the things Ourania had told her that morning, and she wondered if she should be very worried about their mother. Uncle Gideon said not, but Cora wasn't sure she believed him. He'd been very sullen of late, and the last time Cora saw him he'd been whispering with her father, and he'd gone very pale at something.
Cora looked back down at her book, frowning. She wondered if adults ever realized how much the children saw, and how much they could understand, even without details. She didn't feel insulted like Ourania clearly did. After all, there were a lot of things on their father's mind, and the other adults as well. She didn't feel like they were trying to make her feel small. They probably just didn't want her to worry, and didn't think about how much she saw or understood.
Perhaps she would take a look through some papers after lunch, she thought grimly, just to see if Ourania was right.
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Harry licked his lips, watching as Uncle Sirius and Snape crossed to opposite ends of the raised platform, and Uncle Remus came to the center.
"Now, when two wizards duel," Uncle Remus said, "they are expected to show each other courtesy. Dueling is an ancient art, between gentlemen, and it demands respect. Like with any sport or competition, you are expected to follow all rules. Anyone in this club not following rules will be expelled from the club immediately. Now the first step is for the two wizards – or witches – to face each other."
The two men, who had been facing the crowd, turned to face each other. Harry realized they must have arranged this in advance.
"And then they bow to each other. This is a sign of respect, and a way to be certain everyone is ready, on the same page."
The two men bowed, although Harry thought it seemed to be a bit painful for them. Catherine was watching from across the way with incredibly bright eyes.
"And then they allow each other to come to the ready. In competition, up to a certain level, the duelists must wait for someone to tell them to cast their spells, and above that level they must decide for themselves. For our demonstration today, they'll do a simple Disarming, and they'll decide when to cast."
Harry, like most of the room, held his breath as Uncle Remus stepped out of the way.
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Delia poured herself another glass of wine and pretended not to listen to the quiet conversation her husband was having with Dorcas Prewett on the far side of the room. They knew she was listening, so she didn't feel guilty at all. This was simply how things were done. If they'd not wanted her to know anything, they wouldn't have allowed her to hear.
"You are asking a great deal of me, Dorcas," Rabastan said darkly. "What makes you think it is in my interests to help you?"
"I already have a guarantee that Sirius will if you don't," Dorcas said smoothly, her voice all confidence that a woman from such a lesser family should never have, in Delia's opinion. "Think about what that would do to him, to his family, should he have to call in that kind of capital. He has an awful lot of things to be dug up, Rabastan. The world already knows or suspects your dirty laundry."
Delia perked up at this, wondering what Sirius had to lose. There was a great deal about the war that Delia still didn't know, but that whole set stayed so tight-lipped about it, including Rabastan. Delia was not so indelicate as to ask questions, but her curiosity burned.
"You would threaten my sister?" Rabastan asked softly, more dangerous than she'd ever heard him.
Cara was a sweet woman, kind and refined, and Delia thought she was rather good company, but she had never understood the extreme bond between her husband and his half-sister, the bond that tied them so tightly to the Blacks, to the Malfoys, to the likes of Severus Snape and the Prewetts.
The secrets were numerous.
"You know I don't want any distress for her," Dorcas said, softening slightly. "But this needs to be done, Rabastan. You have the power to keep the Blacks out of this altogether. Why wouldn't you?"
Delia did not have to look at her husband's face to know his expression, to know what he would be thinking, what he would answer.
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Harry was in awe. Uncle Sirius and Snape were quick, blocking and dodging each other's spells with ease. To know that each were only using one charm, one spell to attack – in a manner of speaking – would have struck Harry as boring that morning, but there was nothing boring about this. He had to remind himself to breathe as he watched, and when Snape finally disarmed Uncle Sirius, to Catherine's audible cry of disappointment, Harry was surprised to hear Uncle Sirius let out a bark of laughter, pulling himself to his feet, catching his wand as it was tossed back to him.
"Couldn't even let me win in front of my daughter, could you?" he teased, and many of the students laughed.
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Pansy spread her books out over the table in the corner of the common room, Daphne Greengrass across from her. The two girls were trying to accomplish something while the common room was quiet. Most of the rowdy boys who distracted them from their work had gone to the Great Hall for the dueling club meeting.
"I don't see what's so great about dueling," Pansy said, sniffing. "Such a waste of energy if you ask me."
Daphne hummed as she flipped through an encyclopedia of plants slowly.
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Uncle Sirius brushed himself off in an exaggerated fashion and said to the room, "Obviously, Professor Snape and I have done this many times. In case you were wondering, he beats me virtually every time."
Catherine seemed surprised when Harry looked across at her, and he had to admit to himself that he was feeling a bit surprised as well. He knew that Snape was a talented wizard, but he'd never really thought about him as a duelist. Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus, sure, but they were like superheroes.
"Now," Uncle Remus said, "the things we teach you are for this club and for use in practical exams for my class only. I want you all to sign a disclaimer that you will not use your dueling skills outside of those circumstances except in an event of danger to your immediate safety. If you do not sign one of these disclaimers, you will not be allowed to come back to the dueling club."
Several of the older students in the back slipped out at these words, obviously not interested in such restrictions, but to Harry they seemed reasonable. The Great Prank War was looming over all of them, and no sane professor would give the students further fodder for their battles. This was supposed to be a substitute, not a training ground.
Another demonstration, this time of Shield Charms, was done briefly, between Professor Snape and Uncle Sirius again, and the forms were distributed. Harry read his over and considered the opportunities he might have to break this promise. Would he trust himself to withstand the temptation to use his dueling training in a prank war?
Harry glanced up at Uncle Sirius and realized that he would have to withstand that temptation. He didn't want to let his godfather down, and he would hate missing out on the club because he knew he would be tempted. They would all be tempted, and yet he could see Catherine pressing her form to Luna Lovegood's back so she could sign it on the spot.
If she could sign it, so could he.
"Turn round," he muttered to Ron, gesturing to Neville for a quill, who quickly got one ready. "I trust you'll all be signing as well," he added to them, almost as a threat.
Ron and Neville both assured him that they would, and Hermione Granger beamed at them as though this form was some great commitment in their lives.
Harry thought it ought to be, that for the adults it meant something intense and important, but for Harry all it meant was that he wasn't missing out on something Catherine was willing to sign for.
Once they turned in their forms, Harry got a proud smile from Uncle Sirius, and they joined those who had already turned in their forms – or not – and began filing out of the Great Hall with the promise of another meeting in a week's time.
"Well," he heard Draco say, coming in close, "I see we're all involved. I expect you're hoping for an opportunity to put Catherine Black in her place."
"Aren't you?" Harry asked, trying not to frown. He didn't want to seem worried or weak. He was a bit, though. Could he hurt Catherine in front of her father? Would that feel right?
"I'm not stupid enough to think I actually could," Draco said with a smirk. "Have a pleasant day, Potter."
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Neville slipped into the bathroom after Harry that night before bed and locked the door behind him – something they didn't do in their dormitory without very good reason. Harry raised his eyebrows with question and Neville felt his stomach flip with nerves.
"They're planning something big," he said softly. "Whatever spell she used that hurt the Creevey boy, it wasn't right, it wasn't ready. Kitty's coming after you, you know. She's looking for an irrefutable win."
"No," Harry said darkly, rinsing off his toothbrush. "No, Neville, she's looking for surrender, and she's not going to get it. I'm going to show her that there's one person in her life who doesn't just give he what she wants because she bats her eyelashes or pouts or humiliates. I'm going to stand strong."
Neville frowned and thought about pointing out the fact that Catherine had essentially won, that there wasn't any strong left to stand, but he held his tongue. Harry was too stubborn to hear it, and Draco's comments in the Great Hall hadn't helped Harry's frame of mind at all. Whatever happened, whatever she was planning, Neville knew that they had some time to plan, to shore up, to mount a preliminary or even a counter-attack, but if Harry couldn't step back from his emotional responses, they would be doomed. Catherine would win before she struck another blow.
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Catherine practiced the new wand motion Luna had taught her, running it over in her mind as she let her wrist follow it several times.
"You're quite certain?" she prompted her friend. "We can't risk another incident like with Colin."
"I would practice it on something non-human first," Luna said. "Like some of the birds on the grounds or something. Maybe Hagrid has a pest you could practice on? But we've got time to be sure we're getting it right before using it on people."
Catherine hummed, but she wasn't so sure. Harry wasn't going to just sit around and wait for her to come for him. She would have to start practicing right away.
A/N: So, our trio of professors have begun a Dueling Club. ;) The Great Prank War rages on. And Dorcas is side-stepping Sirius and going for some other strings to pull.
Review Prompt: Of our trio of professors…. Boxers or briefs?
-C
