"Ready and...duel!" Marcus shouted and the two students started dueling each other. Marcus looked over and saw his friends hanging back, they hadn't treated him any differently since the attack and he was grateful for it. He watched the two students block and fire back at one another, Flitwick was the attending professor watching from the end of the dueling mat.
Finally one of the students got a lucky shot and disarmed the other. Marcus ended the round, they had decided to make a small tournament instead of a massive all out battle. He motioned over to Dan who moved the name into who was going to be in the second round.
"Alright next we have..." Marcus started looking at the clipboard.
"How about you! The famous Double Duel Dine? I want to know if you are still passable now that you're a mutt!" a voice shouted. Marcus looked up and saw who had spoken out, it was that Gryffindor who had harassed Dan his first year at school. He knew his name now, Andrew, and it didn't make him despise the kid any less.
Marcus glared at him and rolled his eyes as he went back to his clipboard. He heard footsteps and Andrew was in front of him in a second, Marcus was unfazed as he looked at him. He took a deep breath "Something I can help you with?" he asked coldly and Andrew grinned.
"You and me, right now. You got some cheap shots in last time." he said with a scowl. Marcus looked at him like he was insane and then gestured to his cast, crutches, and all of the bandages covering his neck.
"You do realize that I can't duel in this condition right? Much less as well as I used to because I lost one of my wands. What you are proposing is simply you wanting revenge on someone who can very easily kick your butt but you waited until they were weak enough that you might, catch that keyword might, get a chance at winning a duel against them." Marcus said and everyone around them snickered.
Andrew glared "Take out your wand." he said through gritted teeth. He knew it was a bad idea but Marcus resigned and took out his wand and left his crutches. He slowly walked up the stairs with his bandaged and throbbing leg until he was standing opposite of Andrew.
They both raised their wands at each other and Dan looked worried as he looked at his boyfriend with worry. He bit his lip "Ready? Duel!" he shouted and Marcus shot off a charm immediately. Andrew blocked it and fired back, Marcus blocked but the small force that came with blocking made him wince. He quickly regained his stance and blocked another attack, he winced again and fired back.
Andrew grinned as he shot spell after spell towards Marcus who could only block and try not to pass out from the pain it induced. Finally Andrew shot and disarmed him, but he didn't stop there. He fired a quick Knockback Jinx and the force that hit his gut made him double over in pain. Andrew continued to fire the same jinx over and over again, Marcus clenched his jaw in pain as he stumbled backwards more and more.
He could see a bunch of students started shouting at Andrew to stop but he didn't relent. Dan and Nile got on the mat and started towards him when he shouted the spell again and Marcus lost his footing. He fell down the stairs crushing his leg and his arm on the way down and hit his head against the ground.
Marcus was close to tears as he laid on the ground in pain and saw Andrews wand fly out of his hand. Nile and Dan rushed over and helped Marcus up while Flitwick stepped towards the Gryffindor with his wand. Flitwick looked at Marcus and then at Andrew "I know for a fact that Mr. Dine is an exceptional dueler and you cannot prove the contrary. Seeing as how you wish for a challenge, then wand up!" the teacher said handing him his wand back.
Marcus watched in amazement at the speed and dexterity the professor showed as he fired off a number of advanced spells. Andrew was disarmed and on the ground in nearly a second. Marcus chuckled as he watched everyone laugh at the Gryffindor who had been beaten once again.
Dan gave Marcus a kiss "You should rest okay? Cedric, Nile, Anna, and I can handle things here okay?" he said and Marcus wanted to argue but bit his tongue. He nodded and grabbed his crutches and walked out of the room. He hated the fact that he no longer had a second wand, it was like a piece of him had died that night.
He knew there was only one person who would help him through this torment.
He made his way into the DADA room and saw that class was just ending. He noticed Harry Potter was in the class and he looked a little shaken up as if he had just seen something terrifying. Marcus pushed through the crowd of leaving students and that was when Lupin noticed him. He took a deep breath "Yes Marcus anything I can help you with?" he asked darting his eyes around.
"Can we talk?" he asked quietly and the professor nodded, they made their way into his office. He stepped in and the first thing he noticed was the Grindylow swimming in the tank in the corner. The small sea creature made him shudder as he sat down.
"So what is it you wanted to talk about?" Lupin asked, Marcus could see the scars that he had inflicted on Lupin the night of the attack.
Marcus clicked his tongue in thought "Is there...any way to cure these scars? Any way to just...make it all go away?" he asked shyly. Lupin sighed as if he was ready for that question to be asked.
"I'm afraid not Marcus. While the pain of your scars will fade like any other injury the scars themselves are cursed, much like those that have the affliction themselves. I'm so sorry Marcus, I never wanted to put anyone especially someone as gifted as you in danger." He said sadly.
Marcus sighed heavily "It's alright really, I was really just wondering whether or not the pain would stop. If I'll be able to move my arm and leg freely again." he said to calm the man down.
Lupin nodded "Yes actually, the pain should end soon and you'll be able to move normally again but you will still be permanently scarred." he explained. Marcus nodded and his scars throbbed as he thought about that.
"Well that was all really. Thank you Professor Lupin, I'll see you in class next week." Marcus said as he stood up. Lupin gave him a curt nod before he began grading papers, Marcus grabbed his crutches and made his way out of the classroom. As he reached the bottom of the stairs Sprout and Mcgonagall walked in followed by the two most unlikely people Marcus ever thought he would see at school.
"Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?" he asked in confusion. His mother rushed over as the professors seemed to be in a heated argument with his father. His mother was fussing over his injuries and didn't seem to hear him.
"Really this is highly unnecessary! I assure you he is safe!" Sprout urged to his father and Marcus was starting to get worried as his father shook his head in disagreement.
"Our mind is made up and we have the legal right!" Seamus said stubbornly. The legal right to what? What were they talking about?
His mother was still examining his injuries and finally he had enough "Guys!" he yelled and the adults all looked at him. He looked each one of them in the eye "What is going on?!" he asked.
His father walked over and put his hand on his shoulder.
"We're taking you out of Hogwarts."
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