Train Station
Harry excitedly walked through the wall and onto platform nine and three quarters. Being so early he took his pick of the compartments, settling on one with its window overlooking most of the platform. He removed his shrunken trunk from his pocket and decided to read his transfiguration book until his fellow students arrived. He had noticed that transfiguration came rather naturally to him so he had practiced that the most in preparation for Hogwarts. Presently, he was transfiguring sticks into various metal shapes, trying to increase his speed and control.
As the platform slowly filled with boisterous students, Harry stared out at the seemingly happy families and friends. He saw the emotional hugs, the running embraces, even the handshakes and grins, and it all made him feel awfully alone. He'd had friends back in the muggle world, but they were classmates and teammates rather than brothers in all but blood. He'd never had a parent cry because he was going off to school. He'd never really had anyone. He sighed and drew the curtains closed, then practiced some more transfiguration.
A few minutes later, a slim red headed girl opened the compartment door and stopped mid step as she saw it was occupied. "Oh I am so sorry! That was terribly rude, I didn't know anyone was in here." She made to leave but her path of retreat was blocked by a bubbly blonde who proceeded to push her way in behind her.
"Susan, I see you made another friend! Go on, introduce us then." Susan looked quite uncomfortable but pushed through the nerves and tried to be as confident as her friend. "Hi, my name is Susan Bones, and this is my best friend Hannah Abbott. We are both first years."
Harry smiled back as best he could, "Hello Susan, Hannah. I'm Harry Potter, also a first year. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you too, Harry. Please quit ogling Susan though, I know she's pretty but I am sure you could make yourself useful instead. These trunks are rather heavy for us ladies and we need a man to move them for us." Harry hastened to do so as he avoided eye contact with the now blushing Susan and her grinning friend. He was sure he hadn't been staring, he had just been a bit caught off guard by the girl's sudden appearance.
"Oh, sorry. I'll get them for you. Wingardium Leviosa!" Both girls stared at him as he levitated one of their trunks up onto the racks in the compartment. After levitating the second trunk onto the rack, Harry closed the door to block out the commotion in the corridor. He turned to see the girls still staring at him and felt a little awkward. He calmly moved his transfigured metal shapes from the compartment seats, sat down, and gestured for the two girls to do the same.
Hannah recovered from her shock and questioned him. "Harry, how did you do that? I read the theory in my charms book but I'm sure I couldn't get it on my first attempt! And the book said to start on feathers, not trunks."
"Well the simple explanation is that it wasn't my first attempt. I have been practicing as much magic as I could over the last few weeks. I heard that all the purebloods would have trained for years already so I have to catch up."
Hannah looked questioningly at Susan who nodded and added "It's true. Auntie only taught me theory and wouldn't let me actually practice magic, but she told me that most wealthy purebloods get tutored behind wards to keep the ministry from registering underage magic."
"That's not fair! I will be so far behind." Hannah wailed. She looked quite distraught and Harry could understand her fears. He tried to help by offering the same information he used to comfort himself. "It's not as bad as it sounds, Hannah. Magical cores are small and very unstable until the age of eleven when children typically experience a significant magical power boost. The biggest boost comes at seventeen and a final boost at twenty-one. While they would have been able to practice spells for the last couple years, their available power was likely too low to do any more than an hour of very light magic in a day."
Hannah was only partially placated by this. "Well it's easy for you to say when you can levitate heavy trunks with such good control. Susan, we have to catch up. I had planned on scoping out boyfriend prospects during this trip, but it seems we have other important work to do instead. Harry, will you help us?" She fluttered her eyes at him and pouted. Harry coughed and replied, "It would be my pleasure. What do you want to learn first?"
Susan and Hannah were enthusiastic and persistent students and Harry decided that he really liked the duo. He knew they wouldn't join him in Slytherin, but he hoped they could remain friends despite being sorted into different houses. He continued his transfiguration practice while they slowly got the hang of the levitation charm after his personal tutoring in pronunciation, wand movement, and intent. Just under an hour later, Susan successfully levitated the feather Harry had given her. Harry was surprised when she then dedicated all her time to helping Hannah. A half hour later and Hannah managed to shakily levitate her feather too. The girls squealed in delight then continued practicing. Harry smiled at their behaviour and worked on transfiguring his sticks into metal rods of three times the length and diameter.
About an hour later, Susan and Hannah were racing their feathers around an improvised track in the compartment while Harry was almost panting from magical exertion. They heard uproarious laughter followed by shouting and peeked through the compartment door's window to see what was going on. They saw a crowd gathered in the corridor, all staring at something not visible from their compartment. They opened the door fully to get a better look and clearly heard Malfoy shouting at some poor girl who was already in tears. "Where do you get off trying to boss me around, mudblood? Do you have any idea who I am? I am a Malfoy and we don't tolerate your kind. Do yourself a favour and just go home to your beastly parents, you're not welcome in our world."
Harry was a little surprised by Malfoy's behaviour. I hope I'm not expected to do things like this to earn the same respect everyone shows the Malfoys. The bushy haired girl ran off in tears as everyone silently watched the situation unfold. Malfoy continued his rant "Can you believe her, Goyle? This is exactly why they shouldn't be allowed in our world."
Harry wondered what the girl had possibly done to so enrage the Malfoy heir, but before he could ask a bystander he heard a voice challenging Malfoy. "Shut your inbred mouth, Malfoy! She didn't deserve that and you better go apologise, or I'll show everyone here just how pathetic you really are." Harry's eyebrows rose at this challenge. Maybe the Malfoys aren't as respected as I thought. That kid just challenged him to a duel in front of everyone! He decided to ask Susan and Hannah if they knew who the challenger was.
"That's the Boy Who Lived! He's such a hero! First he defeats You-Know-Who and now he calls out Malfoy to protect a muggleborn! Do you think he will sign an autograph, Susan?" Hannah was giddy with excitement and Harry found he was somewhat curious about this Boy Who Lived who was showered with adoration by default. Malfoy decided to taunt Neville and Harry watched to see how events would unfold.
"Chubby! Sticking up for your girlfriend are you? I suppose you don't have other options when you overflow out of your robes do you?" Two thickset boys guffawed from either side of Malfoy as Neville went red and drew his wand. Harry guiltily hoped they would come to blows, if only so that he could see a display of what the young purebloods were taught.
"She's not my girlfriend! And you know I could get any girl I want. You're just sore because no girl would ever touch a little daddy's boy like you." Now it was Malfoy's turn to flush with anger and embarrassment and he too drew his wand. "Expelliarmus!" Malfoy's spell looked a little bit weaker than the textbook description, but Harry was sure it would still do its job if it hit Neville.
Neville dodged and responded with his own disarming charm that streaked faster and with a noticeably brighter flash of light. Malfoy pulled himself behind Goyle to avoid the white beam then shouted "Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus!" Now it was Neville's turn to duck for cover. He dived through a compartment doorway and avoided the two spells. Malfoy pointed his wand at the doorway but didn't go any closer. Suddenly Neville jumped back into the corridor and shouted "Tarantellegra! Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus! Petrificus Totalus! Expelliarmus!" Malfoy tried to dodge but the number, speed, and placement of the spells left him no escape in the confined corridor. His wand flew from his hand and he went stiff as a board before falling violently to the ground.
The crowd cheered and Neville visibly panted from the exertion. Students mobbed him and showered him with praise. Harry looked at Malfoy and saw an older student in green trimmed robes summon his wand and lift him from the ground. Malfoy was absolutely furious. He snatched his wand from the older student, stalked into his compartment and slammed the door behind him. Harry imagined his father would also be furious once he heard of this embarrassing incident. There's no way he lets Neville get away with this.'
"Hannah you are drooling! Let's get back to our compartment. He would never notice us anyway." Susan dragged her friend to the compartment and Harry quickly joined them. "Did you two hear what he said about getting any girl he wants? I had hoped he wouldn't be like that."
Susan looked at Harry a little strangely and responded "He did save the wizarding world as a baby and it clearly wasn't a fluke based on that display. That was very advanced magic for his age. He is famous, powerful, and from a very prestigious line. He wasn't bragging, he really can take his pick." Hannah decided to pipe in too "But don't worry Harry, I'm sure there will still be loads of girls who will consider you."
Harry blushed in embarrassment at their assumption. Now I look pathetic! Stupid Longobttom. Why should he get everything without even working for it? He grabbed another transfiguration stick and went back to practicing, but he couldn't help having one last shot at Neville. "I think we had better get back to practicing so we can eventually catch up to the tutored purebloods. Their parents clearly gave them a huge advantage."
Hannah and Susan nodded and immediately got to work on levitating heavier objects. Harry decided that he would beat the Longbottom boy in transfiguration at the very least and redoubled his efforts at learning finer control and feeling the magic flows. Maybe I am not as practiced as the purebloods yet, but I will beat them by sheer grit and determination! I will work harder and study further to prove they aren't so great. Stupid Longbottom! At least I don't have a ridiculous surname.
A few hours later the train stopped at Hogsmeade Station. Harry opened the curtains and looked outside while students pushed and shoved each other in the corridor. He didn't know why they were in such a hurry to get off the train based on what he saw outside. Thick mist, torrential downpour, and gusty winds. He really hoped it wasn't far to Hogwarts. He donned his travelling cloak and pulled up the hood. At least his clothes were charmed warm, waterproof and mud proof.
He joined the freezing first years next to a hulking beast of a man and pretended he wasn't at all phased by the weather. The first years who knew the Lumos charm provided some light for the rest of the group, while others huddled around bluebell flames. Harry just kept his hands in his pockets and waited for their trip to commence. The man introduced himself as Hagrid and seemed remarkably kind-hearted considering his appearance. He promised that the castle would be warm and comfortable, but tradition was tradition and the first years would take their usual route to Hogwarts.
Hagrid led them down a treacherous path from the station to a lake. Harry was sure someone would hurt themselves considering the poor visibility along the slippery path. A small dark haired girl was really struggling ahead of him and Harry wondered if he should offer to help. He drew closer to her just as she slipped. He tried to prevent her fall into the mud, and in a way he did help, but only by falling under her and muddying mostly himself. He felt a bit silly but at least he had kept most of the mud from her. "Are you okay? I tried to stop your fall but I was too far away."
The girl looked at him with piercing blue eyes framed by drenched hair. "Keep your hands to yourself! Look what you've done! There's mud all over me." Harry stared at her in shock. Up close he could see that her eyes were red. He was aware of the queue building up behind him and flushed in embarrassment as he tried to deflect the tirade. "I'm sorry, I was just trying to help. You're freezing and your cloak really isn't made for this weather. Here, you can wear my cloak over yours if you want?"
She stared at him for a few seconds then accepted the cloak. She wrapped it around her and carried on down the path. Harry shook his head slightly as he watched her slow progress. Its freezing! And she didn't even thank me, maybe I should have kept my cloak.
Neville saw all of this from within his equivalent of Harry's cloak and wondered if he should offer it to a girl too. He didn't want to, but he was a hero and it would make everyone love him even more. Ron's words from beside him quickly killed these thoughts, "He's mental! What kind of idiot does that?" Neville chuckled softly and continued comfortably down the path.
Harry arrived at the lake shore and boarded the same boat as the girl with his cloak. He avoided any risk of eye contact and sat silently as he waited for the boat to fill up. The girl kept herself huddled in his cloak and ignored him even as he visibly shivered. They were soon joined by Susan and Hannah who beamed at him. "Oh Harry, that was so sweet of you! None of the other boys even thought of doing something like that. " Harry smiled slightly and looked away. "So this is the girl who captured Harry's eye?"
Harry snuck a glance at the girl to see how she would react. She looked up as imperiously as she could but it was very evident that she had been crying. Hannah's heart immediately went out to her and she almost tipped the boat in her haste to wrap the smaller girl in a hug. The girl seemed torn between accepting the comfort and pushing her away, and awkwardly kept still until Hannah released her. Susan gave Harry a look to say "Well that's Hannah for you." He smiled back with a somewhat bewildered expression.
"FORWARD!" Hagrid boomed and the boats jerked to motion across the dark, choppy waters.
"Harry, your glasses are completely dry. Did someone charm them for you?" Susan asked.
Harry smiled and happily replied "Yeah! Charmed not to mist up, self cleaning, unbreakable, they even fly to my hand if I call them but they will resist most summoning charms from anyone in a duel. "
"Nice. Your family has unfortunately always had notoriously bad eye-sight. They're always making progress at St Mungos though. You might not even need them by the end of our time at Hogwarts."
Harry shrugged, "I don't mind them too much. I've heard you can get some really awesome charms added to them but the guy I went to didn't offer those ones. I can't wait to see the castle. All the books say it is incredible."
Three of the four chatted comfortably until they heard Hagrid shout for everyone to mind their heads, and suddenly they were out of the rain as they entered an underground harbour. Hagrid led them to a large door and pounded his meaty fists on the wood. Professor McGonagall opened the door and immediately took pity on the bedraggled and shivering children. She cast a dispersed warming charm on them and ushered them through the door and into the castle.
They stopped in a chamber where they could hear the buzz of the rest of the school nearby. McGonagall said to make themselves presentable for the sorting, or try at least, and then left the students alone. The silent girl from their boat stood next to Harry, and finally removed his cloak. She had regained her composure and it was no longer evident that she had been crying. Instead she wore a haughty mask as she returned the cloak with a soft "Thank you for lending me your cloak." She then crossed her arms and stared at the door to the chamber. Harry put his hands in his pockets and did the same. In the background he vaguely heard someone prattling on about a troll and Malfoy saying something about poor weasels as he considered the weird girl beside him.
(-)
"Potter, Harry!" Harry was shaken from his thoughts as he realised it was his turn to be sorted. He strode to the stool and sat down as confidently as he could. He placed the hat on his head and waited. 'Hmmm. Interesting Mr Potter, very interesting. Yes. You have great potential, but where to put you to help you reach it? Hmm. Slytherin or Ravenclaw. You have a great mind Mr Potter, but this drive, this ambition, yes there is only one place for you. But I must warn you, there is more to life than power and fame. There are many ways to be significant. Be sure that you don't fall into the trap that robs so many of their happiness, particularly in the House of Serpents. Good luck Mr Potter.' "SLYTHERIN!"
Outwardly calm, he removed the hat and walked towards the politely clapping Slytherins. He took a seat near 'cloak girl', who he'd discovered was Daphne Greengrass. She just ignored him again as he pondered what the hat had said. How else could I be significant? Significance is power and fame. Respect. What was that hat on about?
When the food appeared the warning slipped from his mind and he dug into the delicious feast.
His fellow Slytherin first years were Malfoy, Nott, Zabini, Crabbe and Goyle, along with the girls Parkinson, Greengrass, Davis, Bullstrode and Moon. Parkinson seemed to worship Malfoy and he seemed somewhat fond of her too. Nott and Malfoy clearly hated eachother for some reason. Crabbe and Goyle were morons. Zabini was quiet, sarcastic, and hard to read, though he seemed to already know the others quite well. Davis and Greengrass were deliberately ignoring eachother for some reason. Bullstrode could have been bred from a vicious troll based on her appearance and temperament. Moon just blended into the background and avoided attention. And Greengrass, she was stuck up and cold as ice, without a trace of the vulnerability Harry had seen in the boat.
Harry didn't particularly like his housemates and he didn't think he would be friends with any of them. But he was sure that this was the house to be in if you were going to make it in life. So many heirs to wealthy lines, so many people from powerful families. If you wanted to make connections then Slytherin was definitely the right place, provided you had something to offer. Harry expected Slytherin to be a tough environment, but he knew that he would come out that much stronger for surviving it. And surviving seemed a very appropriate word after what transpired in the Slytherin dorms after the feast.
(-)
The first years were brought into the darkened common room a few minutes after the seniors and lined up against a wall. The seniors sat on a temporary wooden stands in an intimidating arc facing the line of ickle firsties. Silence reigned as the seniors glared at the initiates. Malfoy got bored of waiting and spoke up "Is this it, you're just going to sit there and –"
"Quiet worm! Our head of house is here to address you."
The Slytherin seniors rose to their feet as a cruel looking man stalked into the room to stand before the first years. He stared at each one of them in turn and seemed to look into their very souls. Harry didn't like the look of his head of house and was beginning to question his desire to be in sorted here. The man had glared and sneered at him for longer than the other first years and he couldn't understand why. "Take a seat Slytherins" he said darkly.
The Slytherin seniors sat down immediately while the first years looked at the floor and prepared to sit there against the wall. "What are you doing?" the head of house asked the first years.
Nott responded this time, just as arrogantly as Malfoy, "We are about to sit down as you said to."
The seniors laughed derisively and Nott looked confused. "Firstly, you will address me as Sir or Professor Snape, with no exceptions. Failure to do so will result in, unpleasant, repercussions." His voice was like silk and Harry shivered at the threat. This wasn't a man he wanted to cross, there was something wicked about him and Harry didn't want to be anywhere near him if he could help it. "Secondly, nobody told you that you could sit down."
The first years stood silently in their confusion before Nott finally piped up again, though a lot less confidently, "Sir, you said take a seat Slytherins…"
Snape sneered at Nott and replied "I am well aware of what I said, yet I say that I did not tell you to sit down."
The first years were completely baffled by this. They looked to each other but a group of seniors shouted "FACE THE FRONT!" and all heads snapped forwards again.
Snape shook his head, "Higgs, it seems we have a crop of morons this year. Please explain to them why they have not been told to sit down."
A senior stood and glared at the line of first years before menacingly stating, "You are not Slytherins, you are just worms who have not proven yourselves. This is our house, and you are unwelcome guests until you prove that you belong here. I suggest you wipe those arrogant looks from your face right now, or we will happily do it for you."
The first years stood silent and dead still. Snape continued "Slytherin only accepts the best. The other houses accept you as you are, but that pathetic drivel has no place here. Slytherin comes first. You will succeed for the house, or you will pack your trunks and get the hell out of our house. You have to earn your place here. Nobody will hold your hands and carry you, you will grow up and do it yourselves. You will learn resourcefulness. You will succeed. Or you time here will be very short indeed." Snape started pacing before continuing his monologue.
"Slytherin house has the best facilities. Everyone second year and up has their own bedroom and bathroom. Success is rewarded, prefects and the Quidditch captain get bigger rooms. And each year the privileges grow. First years are not yet part of Slytherin, so they do not see the benefits. You will share a dorm with 4 or 5 others, and you will stay in that dorm regardless of your age if you don't contribute to the house. Slytherin also has a library, professional duelling chamber, physical training room and a firing range. Slytherins present a flawless united front outside of the common room. Any issues are dealt with in the duelling chambers and then buried before they affect the house. There is a duelling ranking list, you can challenge the person one place above you. If you win, you take their place. If you lose, you can expect punishment for daring to challenge in the first place. If you are too cowardly to fight, you may forfeit but I expect better from a Slytherin."
"Tomorrow the first year duelling tournament will take place in front of the whole house. Quidditch try outs for first years will occur next weekend in the physical training room. First years, go to sleep. We have suffered your presence enough as it is. Dismissed!" Snape turned on his heel and stalked from the room, his cloak flaring in his wake.
Harry couldn't believe it. A duelling tournament in front of the whole house! This is so unfair. The purebloods have years of experience and training on me! How am I supposed to beat them? I will look like a fool. And I know they will try embarrass me in the duel if they have the upper hand. What am I supposed to do?
The first years were led to their dormitories and told to sleep. Harry lay awake for hours trying to plan his duels. He was worried, but he decided to play to his strengths. He would use transfiguration and his intelligence to beat them. He would have to be unconventional and do the unexpected. Make them underestimate me and then nail them hard in retaliation. And if I can't win then I will still face them on my feet.
(-)
Harry awoke as light and shouting flooded the dungeon dormitory. Three Slytherin seniors were screaming at the first years and ordering them to get to the duelling chamber immediately. They scrambled to the duelling chamber in their pyjamas and lined up against the wall facing the Slytherin seniors on the other side of a duelling platform. Harry didn't even acknowledge the splendour of the chamber as he ran through his plans and checked his pockets to make sure he had everything he needed.
Snape entered the chamber and mounted the platform. "First years, you are all useless at this point so the pairings don't really matter. Crabbe and Goyle, get on the stage and duel. Nothing lethal or permanent, not that you could manage it anyway."
The two brutes climbed onto the platform and bowed while the Slytherin seniors made bets and screamed insults. The duel lasted longer than expected, but not due to magical skill. Both had hurled a few spells at each other but none of the spells were aimed correctly. After the second volley of misses, testosterone and brawn got the better of them as they ran at each other and started wrestling. They were quite evenly matched and both were determined to win. After both were bruised and bleeding, but neither a clear winner, Snape shouted "Enough! That was pathetic. You both lose for behaving like muggles. Both of you will go to the firing range and practice aiming until you improve. Go now, and don't expect any food until your aim improves to a respectable level. What a disgrace! Potter and, hmm, Zabini, get up here." Snape smiled vindictively and Harry was sure he expected Zabini to embarrass him.
Zabini and Harry stared each other down for over a minute, waiting for permission to begin. A senior shouted "Look at Potter! He is literally shaking!" And it was true. Harry wouldn't say he was scared but this was his first planned fight, with high stakes to top it off. He couldn't stop his legs from shaking and now Snape, Zabini, and indeed every Slytherin were laughing at his cowardice. No! I will win! I have a plan, strike fast and hard and show them I am worthy. Come on Harry! You can do this!
Snape gleefully asked "Are all bets in? Surely nobody would bet in favour of Potter?"
A senior replied, "All bets are in, Sir. Potter got odds of ten to one and not a single person took them!" The house laughed again and Harry's body pumped with rage.
I will show them! They will all regret this!
"Duel begins on the count of three. One, two, three!"
Zabini fired two disarming charms at Harry who dodged out of their path while screaming "Lumos Maxima!" A blinding flash of light erupted from his wand which was directed at Zabini. Harry darted across the platform and easily dodged Zabini's blind curses. End it, Harry! Quickly!
Zabini was scrambling blindly about, hoping to make a difficult target until his vision returned. Harry cast a tripping jinx and Zabini collapsed and fumbled his wand. Before he could move again, Harry intoned "Petrificus Totalus" from near point blank range and Zabini seized up, stiff as a board. He kicked Zabini's wand off the platform and rolled Zabini onto his back with his foot. Zabini's eyes promised murder but Harry ignored him and bowed at Snape before dismounting the platform and returning to his spot against the wall.
"Damn! I didn't think you had it in you, Potter." Snape scowled at the senior's positive words for the brat, levitated Zabini off the platform and just left him on the floor. "Parkinson and Bullstrode, get up here, now!"
Harry was still shaking as he watched the duel, which was quite evenly matched. Parkinson dodged very well and Bullstrode managed some rather impressive curses for a first year. Eventually Bullstrode tired from her constant barrage of magic, and her size and slow movement proved her undoing as Parkinson disarmed her with a cry of triumph. Bullstrode was furious as she was forced to watch Parkinson's preening but there was nothing she could do about it now.
"Greengrass and Moon!" The two girls mounted the platform and staged another impressive duel. Greengrass had clearly been trained and possessed some impressive power. Moon on the other hand was really quick with her spells and movement. Daphne won the duel in the end after trapping Moon in the corner of the platform and gracefully returned to the wall.
Snape looked at the remaining competitors and decided to give Malfoy a free pass. "Nott and Davis, prepare yourselves. Malfoy, I will grant you a free pass in the first round. Crabbe and Goyle go last on the list. Zabini third last for losing to Potter's cheap tricks. Then Bullstrode, then Moon. Duellers ready! One, two, three!"
Nott was a vicious creature in Harry's opinion. With repeated cries of "Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus! Expelliarmus!" he aggressively knocked Davis into the wall behind the platform. Harry was very impressed by the display of power and hoped he wouldn't have to face Nott in the next round. Davis was knocked out and bleeding profusely from a head wound. Snape rushed to her and healed her as best he could before sending a senior student to take her to the hospital wing with the explanation of "She fell down the stairs and Professor Snape has been notified." Nott just smirked in response.
"Let's put Davis fourth last for being a complete duelling failure. In the next round it will be Parkinson and Malfoy, Potter and Nott." Harry managed not to gulp but he wasn't sure he could win against Nott. He hoped his plan would work, and he still had his drastic back up plan if it came down to it.
Malfoy easily dispatched Parkinson who didn't cast a single spell at her beloved Malfoy. Malfoy managed to behave a bit better than Harry expected, offering his hand to Parkinson to lift her from the ground before fetching her wand and returning it to her. The senior Slytherins cat called and Parkinson blushed lightly but was clearly pleased. Malfoy just smirked and even looked rather proud of himself.
"Nott and Potter. Hopefully Potter doesn't wet his pants this time considering his earlier display of cowardice. On three, one, two, three!"
Harry dodged the expected spell and cast a Tarantellegra charm hoping to put Nott on the defensive. However, Nott hadn't cast an offensive charm. He had cockily said "Protego Minima" and then smirked at Harry. The weaker version of the Protego charm would never reflect spells or stop solid projectiles, but it was more than capable of blocking anything Harry could cast at this stage. Or so Nott thought.
Harry aimed above the shield and transfigured most of the top Nott's shirt into metal before quickly shrinking the metal section. Nott panicked as his shirt started to suffocate him. He dropped the shield charm and cast a cutting curse at his metal shirt. He grimaced in pain but he was no longer suffocating. Harry had cast Petrificus Totalus as soon as Nott had dropped his shield but he awkwardly managed to dodge the spell. He started transfiguring Nott's shoes but this was too slow as Nott launched his offense.
Harry dodged and dived and Nott smirked as Harry scrambled to increase the distance between the two. He couldn't get a shot off, but he hadn't learnt to block spells yet so there was nothing to do but scramble about like an idiot.
Finally he saw a gap and desperately tried to levitate Nott into the ceiling but he only got him two meters up before he had to dive for cover again. Nott fell to the ground and cried out as he landed awkwardly. Harry took his chance and cast a silencing charm at him. Nott recast Protego Minima but the shield failed as soon as the Silencio charm hit it. Harry cast another and Nott rolled out of the way, crying out again due to the jarring of his injuries. Harry had followed up his Silencio with a Petrificus Totalus, a cutting hex, and another Silencio. Nott's eyes had widened as he saw the cutting hex and in his desperation to avoid that he had trapped himself and was hit by the Silencio just after a desperate Expelliarmus hit Harry and ripped his wand from his hand, throwing it from the platform. Nott tried to perform non-verbal magic as Harry ran towards him but it was simply beyond his grasp.
He dodged Harry's first punch but stumbled as he put weight on his injured leg. Harry kicked at the damaged leg as Nott landed a glancing blow to Harry's head. Nott went down and Harry snatched his wand from him and stepped away. He really hoped Nott's wand would work for him as he forced his magic through it and cast a final Petrificus Totalus. A very weak spell burst forth from the wand tip and Nott was paralysed in his place. Harry wasn't sure how long the spell would hold so he used a weak levitation charm to roll Nott of the platform. Nott remained silent but the thud of the impact sounded painful. Harry didn't care though. He had won! A few Slytherins actually clapped and Harry felt immense pride in himself. I won! Take that Snape! Boom! He wished he could say those words rather than just think them but the man terrified him. He schooled his features, fetched his own wand, and gave Nott's wand to his head of house.
Snape was clearly livid. "Malfoy! Get up here and duel Potter! Now!" If Malfoy looked overjoyed by Nott's defeat, he surely looked even happier at the prospect of facing the tired victor of that duel. Harry was about to voice his complaint but managed to grit his teeth and move to the dueling position.
Malfoy smirked at him, "Any last words before I wipe the floor with you?" Harry ignored him and discretely felt his pocket to make sure his last resort was still there.
"One, two, -"
Malfoy had cast on two but Snape said nothing. The cutting curse clipped Harry's left shoulder, causing him to gasp in pain. Harry was moving noticeably slower in this duel. Malfoy sent a series of cutting curses at him and Harry decided that there would be no mercy for the Malfoy boy as he was hit by another cutter, this one to his right leg.
He grabbed a bunch of tiny metal transfiguration shapes from his pocket and cast a weak Engorgio on them. He lacked the control or power to expand the shapes neatly but it was sufficient for this purpose. He was nicked by a third cutter as he cast a wide scale levitation charm and whipped his wand at Malfoy. Most of the metal pieces hurtled at Malfoy and there was no way for him to dodge them. Malfoy cried out as he was battered by the projectiles, but Harry's levitation charm in his weakened magical state had left the heavier projectiles behind. Nothing had embedded itself in Malfoy's flesh and nothing had connected solidly enough to really hurt him.
Harry tried to roll out of the path of Malfoy's angry Expelliarmus but he was too slow. He was knocked off his feet and disarmed as Malfoy crowed in triumph. "Oh Potter, you are so going to regret what you just did."
Malfoy advanced on Harry who started to panic at the look in Malfoy's eye. Is he going to kill me? In front of all these people? Snape will probably help him! Do something Harry! Harry's thoughts were delirious in his exhausted state, but with the last of his strength he grabbed a metal ball around half the size of his fist and hurled it at Malfoy's head. Malfoy flinched but only managed to expose the side of his head to the heavy projectile. He dropped straight to the floor and fear flooded through Harry's body as he realised what he had done.
Snape immediately levitated Malfoy and rushed him to the hospital wing. Harry knelt on the dueling platform and retched over the edge. Silence blanketed the chamber save for Harry's dry retching and Parkinson's mournful wailing.
Eventually, a prefect came forward and vanished Harry's mess. "Listen up! We don't know how serious the impact actually was. It looked bad, but it's hard to tell with these things. Let's go to the common room and wait for Professor Snape to bring us an update. Potter, it wasn't your fault. It's a duel, and these things happen in duels. Serena, please see to Parkinson. The rest, let's not overreact. I am sure we will get an update soon." The Slytherins trudged through to the common room to wait for news. All conversation was rather muted until Snape returned an hour later.