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A/N: Ok, bad joke I know… humour is not my strong point… sorry guys… But hopefully it did at least make you crack a smile! Smiles always make me happy and hopefully it's the same for you guys! Anyways! Here's the update! I hope you like it and OMG! Thanks for your encouragement and help guys! Keep those reviews coming! ;) xoxoxo

Chapter 16: DADA Duel

Hermione arrived at the DADA classroom 3I. Hermione entered the class silently and noticed that her professor still hasn't shown. Hermione sighed in relief and looked around. She searched for the one friend she was so eager to meet up with. Lily. Lily sat comfortably in a row and isle away from James. Hermione noticed the light crimson tint that shaded her cheeks and knew something had happened. Hermione smirked as she approached her bashful friend. Hermione seated herself beside Lily in the conveniently empty seat.

"So, what happened?" Hermione asked knowingly.

Lily aced Hermione and frowned, "What do you mean?" she asked ignorantly. "Nothing happened."

"Sure, so that means you have a fever," Hermione said as she brushed her own cheeks to emphasise what she meant by 'that'.

Lily sighed in defeat, "Alright… well, he seemed a bit… you know different… he was less arrogant and arrogant and more confident in his friends and caring," she said her cheeks' crimson tint darkening at the memory. She then sighed in disappointment, "then he turned back into the git he was before…" she grumbled.

Hermione couldn't stop laughing. Lily was so dense sometimes. He has changed into a fine man – as Sirius had said to the golden trio once before in the future – but he was only a complete git when it came to Lily. Lily didn't notice how desperately head-over-heels in love he is. She makes him nervous and he resorts to being a git. Hermione sighed, her smile still plastered on her face as she returned to Lily, who was now glaring holes through Hermione's skull.

"It's not funny," Lily glared at Hermione.

"Okay, my bad! But, come on Lily! Just give the guy a chance! You never know, maybe he has changed," Hermione winked.

Lily rolled her eyes and sighed, "Maybe I'll think about it but first," she glanced at James and Sirius who were doing a bad job at trying to lip read. Lily rolled her eyes and mouthed 'I'll tell you later' to them. The boys nodded hesitantly and turned away grumbling to each other. Lily giggled before turning back to the frizzy-haired witch.

"But first what?" Hermione asked rather impatiently.

"Whoa! Chill Mi*!" Lily exclaimed throwing her hands in the air imitating surrender.

"Mi?" Hermione questioned.

"Yeah, Mi! It's a nickname! Your name is Her-MI-one, thus I cut off the Her and the one and TADA! Mi!"

Hermione laughed at Lily's eccentric poses during her explanation but knew what she was saying. Lily was a great best friend, just like her son… they both knew how to make Hermione smile. "Sounds good," Hermione answered honestly happy with the nickname. "So anyway, but first what?"

"Oh that!" Lily almost forgot. "Sirius told us about the whole 'verbal war' you had with Lucius."

"He probably exaggerated," Hermione said, "it wasn't even a 'war' I just defended my friends and myself by stating the truth," she shrugged.

"Well, you did an awesome job there Mi," Lily giggled, "but you know you can tell me anything."

Hermione nodded and Lily took that as an opportunity to initiate the in depth girl talk.

"I know we've only known each other for less than 24 hours but you can still come to me for advise and stuff; I'm here for you as a friend not just as head girl. So you can come talk to me about school, homework, clothes and even guys."

"Yeah, I know… Now, where is this going?" Hermione asked getting nervous.

'Oh Merlin! Please! Lily… Please ask me anything but my background! I can't tell you! Lily, I'm not even sure if I should tell you, I mean I know what Dumbledore said but… I just… I just can't do it yet! Please Lily! Don't ask me!' Hermione yelled at Lily inside.

Lily didn't notice Hermione's anxiousness as she continued what she was saying, "What I'm trying to say is, Hermione if you fancy Malfoy I understand, you don't need to hide it from me, I-"

"WHOA! WHAT?!" Hermione exclaimed completely taken off guard by the question.

"You don't like Lucius?" Lily asked cautiously.

"NO! OF COURSE NOT! EWW! THAT'S… NO! OH MERLIN NO!" Hermione confirmed.

Lily let out a relieved sigh. "Thank the witches! When Sirius told us that you looked a little upset when Lucius left we just thought that… well, you know…"

"Wait, hold up. Upset? Lily, I was upset because that incident brought up bad memories, you know, I knew a guy just like him. And we?"

"Yeah, me and the marauders…. Sorry Mi, we were just worried…"

"Okay, well, you don't need to be and next time, you guys should just come out and ask me, don't use the friendship code you-can-tell-me-anything innocent act."

"Alright… and sorry Mi…" Lily whispered as the teacher finally entered the room.

Hermione smiled, "It's fine Lil," she winked at the nickname. The two girls giggled together causing the professor to notice them.

"Something funny girls?" the unnamed professor asked.

"No, sorry sir," the girls answered simultaneously.

"Good. Now, welcome to Defence against the Dark Arts seventh years, for those who don't know me, I am Professor Merrythought," the fair haired professor announced. "Now I will put each of you in pairs that will be partners for any drills, duels and practise that goes on this year. Even if you don't like each other than tough luck, get along or else you'll take it in turns to be my partner, got it?"

The class shuddered but answered in sync, "Yes Professor."

"Good now, Delilah Tiffon with Lucas Pilotroub, Albert Runcorn with Nymphadora Tonks…" Professor Merrythought continued.

Hermione instantly looked around the room. There, sitting all the way in the back was a younger version of the Nymphadora Lupin she knew. Nymphadora's pink hair had morphed into a deep shade of fiery red and she glared dangerously at Merrythought who was paying no attention to the metamorphmagus witch.

'I guess, she really doesn't like the to be called 'Nymphadora'….' Hermione giggled to herself.

"Lily Evans with James Potter…" Merrythought went on.

Lily's jaw dropped as those name exited the professor's lips and James obviously had the opposite reaction.

"YES!" He shouted alarming all in the room.

"Is there a problem Mister Potter?" Merrythought hissed.

"The exact opposite of that Merry! My Lily! I will be with my Lily!"

"That will change if you don't sit down shut your gob Mister Potter," Professor Merrythought threatened.

The threat worked amazingly as James immediately shut his mouth and seated himself stiffly in his chair. Sirius beside him was laughing silently non-stop.

"Lastly, we have Sirius Black with…"

Sirius stopped laughing and, for a memorable moment, actually paid attention. He honestly didn't take any notice of the names being called and the same can be said for his partner.

"Hermione Grace."

Hermione was shocked but not disappointed. Sirius, on the other hand was extremely happy, except he didn't yell in triumph only winked at Hermione, who was glaring hard at him, and smirk at the jealous guys around the room.

"Since that's sorted, we will begin the year off with duels," Merrythought began and the class wiggled in excitement as all the tables lifted from the ground. The tables hovered above their heads and suddenly each student, and their chair, was carefully moved to the side of the classroom. There was a large empty space in the middle of the room, but it wasn't empty for long. The tables then floated down on the ground to form a large and very long table that took up the entire middle isle, the duel table. "These duels will show me each of your skills and will give me a good idea for what needs to be improved. Now we'll start from the bottom of the barrel. Miss Grace and Mister Black please come forward."

Hermione and Sirius looked at each other for a mere second before they both stood from their chairs.

"This'll be easy," Sirius whispered confidently to James.

"Don't be overconfident now, you don't even know what she can do Padfoot," James said seriously, "Well, anyway good luck!" he cheered.

Sirius shrugged and lazily made his way to the table grinning at the blushing girls around him.

'I'm one of the best at DADA, a cute transfer girl won't beat me.'

"You've got this Mi," Lily said encouragingly.

"Thanks Lil, and you know, if he says something I don't like I can whip his ass," Hermione winked mischievously.

"Same goes here~" Lily sang, "oh and good luck Mi!"

With that, Hermione made walked silently to the table.

'I've dealt with worse.'

She and Sirius then lifted themselves onto the table. Hermione stood on the right facing Sirius who wore the most confident smile she'd ever seen. They both slowly walked over to the center where they met face to face. The two lifted there wands to face vertically in front of their faces.

"Confident are we?" Hermione asked.

"You got that right," Sirius winked.

"Don't get too cocky, Sirius."

"Same to you 'Mione."

The two wands then lowered quickly in, what seemed like a swatting motion, to initiate the challenge. They both walked back a little taking their place to fight.

"Wands at the ready," Merrythought declared. A long silence passed over the class before one word broke the ice.

"GO!"

"Waddiwasi!" Hermione yelled. At that moment bright lights shot out of her wand aiming for Sirius. One hit Sirius and made him stagger back slightly. It wasn't dangerous enough to wound him physically; it only wounded his ego.

Hermione smiled in satisfaction at the sight, "Show me what you got."

Sirius glared in anger at her, "Densuageo!"

Hermione knew that spell. Draco used it on her to humiliate her once before. The tooth-growing spell was not going to get the best of her this time.

"Finite Incantatem!" Hermione yelled, the spell cancelled out Sirius' hex, "Expelliarmus!"

"Finite!" Sirius used the same counter as Hermione to avoid defeat. "Aguamenti!" he yelled in frustration. A large and strong amount of water started gushing out of the tip of his wand and shot at Hermione. Hermione was then drenched from head to toe.

"You needed to cool down a bit," he winked.

"Anteoculatia!"Hermione yelled. Antlers started to sprout from Sirius' head. They were lovely black antlers that actually looked good on him. The antlers growth clearly hurt by the way his face scrunched up in pain for a mere moment before he glared straight at Hermione. When he did, Hermione gasped from how good looking he was and her cheeks heated up. Sirius smirked at her blush and gave her a wink.

"Jerk," she hissed.

Sirius just chuckled.

"Serpensortia!" Hermione sent a snake towards Sirius.

Sirius chuckled, "Vipera Evanesca!" The snake was terminated. "Mobiliarbus!"

"Finite!" Hermione instantly countered his charm; but Sirius knew she would and casted another charm before she could.

"Diffindo!" he yelled.

The spell cut a little up her left arm. It wasn't dangerous, it would heal but the problem was that her left arm was bandaged. As soon as the spell cut her arm, that bandage fell to her feet. All the onlookers gasped at the cut.

"Alright, I think that's enough, that was too far Mister Black," said Professor Merrythought.

"No Professor, just one more round. This is nothing. The real enemy would do worse than this," Hermione glared at Sirius.

Sirius didn't know how to react. He didn't mean to hurt her. He was so caught up in the moment that he actually hurt her and honestly he felt horrible for doing so. He never would have hurt her… but why did he use that spell? He didn't know what to do, but he did know Hermione was furious; she was going to get back at him.

"Hermione, sorry, I really didn't mean it," he apologised sincerely.

"Flipendo!" Hermione knocked Sirius backwards with the jinx as payback. "Now we're even, but I still want one more round," she demanded, her eyes not once leaving Sirius.

"Alright, one more round, since you're both tied," said Merrythought. Sirius said nothing. The two duellists focussed on one another anticipating the others move.

"Ladies first," Sirius challenged.

"With pleasure," retorted Hermione, "Immobulus!"

"Finite! Waddiwasi!" Sirius countered and casted immediately. His duelling abilities were flawless and fast, but he did have the tendency to underestimate his opponent, you know, Hermione wasn't called 'the brightest witch of her age' for nothing.

"Protego!" she yelled. Suddenly the swift bright lights that were flying towards her doubled back and headed for Sirius. He wasn't prepared for attack.

"Confundos!" she yelled again just after he had staggered back from the hit.

Suddenly, everything was blurry and everything around him moved strangely. He felt light headed and dizzy. What was going on? He couldn't even think straight. The truth was she had confused him. He never gave up and never lost a fight, so no matter how disoriented and confused he is he knew what to do. He focussed his attention on a giggling Hermione Grace. "Spiculum!" Sirius rarely used the stinging jinx but it was a duel.

Hermione, on the other hand, was always on alert. "Protego!" she sent the jinx right back to Sirius and added the finishing blow… literally. "Stupefy!"

Sirius was sent flying back on the table to the very edge of his end. He grunted in pain before stiffly lifting is right hand as far up as he could manage, which wasn't far at all, and put a thumbs-up sign at her. A large cheer erupted in the DADA class as Hermione was announced as the winner. She was happy she won but she knew it was mostly because she has a little bit more field experience with death eaters as her opponents. She laughed as they cheered but ultimately walked to her defeated opponent. Sirius was not in good shape. He was lying on his pack, obviously still stinging with the effects of the stunning spell, and had a swelled up face from the stinging jinx and lastly, strange yet appealing black antlers.

Hermione knelt down beside him leaning forward with her arms for support. "Sorry about that…" she whispered apologetically. Sirius' eyes looked at her then move down to the cut he made on her arm, he was about to apologise when he saw something there. Something shocking… 'Mudblood'…

"Sirius?" Hermione called. Sirius' eyes immediately returned to her eyes, "I'm sorry…" she mumbled.

Sirius chuckled, "No need, it was a duel and hey, let's face it, I deserve a good beating for disrespecting you since you came."

Hermione giggled, "True!"

"You have a beautiful smile you know that," he said gazing up at her.

Hermione blushed but said, "You're probably still confused from earlier."

"Come on Miss Grace others need to duel and Mister Black is going to the medical wing with Mister Potter," Professor Merrythought said.

"Yes Professor."

James came quickly to help Sirius to his feet and Hermione accompanied them to the door of the classroom.

"Mione?" called Sirius.

"Yes?" she answered.

"I'm not confused. You smile like an angel," he said.

Hermione blushed furiously and statured an answer, "T-thanks... S-sirius…"

He smiled at how lovely she was when she's bashful. "Oh and I'm sorry about you arm… I never should have used that spell…"

"Oh no, it's fine! Nothing a healing spell can't fix," she smiled. She looked down at the wound and remembered the badage.

'Bloody hell! The bandage!' she panicked. She hid her arm behind her back so that Sirius wouldn't see it but when she looked up they were gone. She opened the door cautiously and saw James pulling, well more like dragging, serious down the corridor. She watched as they disappeared around the corner. She felt funny… she didn't know what it was, but she felt all fluffy and giddy… What was wrong with her? Hermione shook her head and sighed. She was so confused. She quickly pulled out the pouch she had in her pocket and took out a newly bought sweater. She was now covering her unwanted mark and was incredibly hot… No, not the appealing hot, she was seriously HOT! She was sweating already under the sweater but it was the only way to stop people from noticing 'that' mark.

"Mi! You were awesome!" someone cheered behind her. Lily was clearly excited about the duel that just happened. Hermione turned to greet the cheerful bestie of hers. "You were so quick… impeccable performance Mi!" Lily stated.

"Thanks Lil," Hermione said rather tiredly.

"You look totally exhausted and…. Where'd the sweater come from?"

Hermione giggled but pointed out the pouch she was holding, "I always carry spare stuff," she lied.

"Oh okay, come on, let's go watch the others," Lily cheered.

Hermione nodded happily and seated herself beside the energetic head girl. The rest of the lesson passed rather quickly and Hermione was pretty much zoned out. She was thinking about other matters that had nothing to do with DADA class.

'How am I going to get Malfoy to tell me the current locations of the Horcruxes?' she thought annoyingly.

"I? Mi? Mi~? HERMIONE!"

Hermione jumped, "Lil?!"

"I've been calling you for a while now, class just finished and you were totally out of it, but come on, we've got advanced charms," Lily informed her.

Hermione nodded and retrieved her bag since she had everything else. The two girls headed for classroom 2E for Advanced Charms.

'well, if I remember correctly I have this class with Lil and one marauder… James… Great! A whole lesson with the soon-to-be love birds….' She sighed.

*Mi is pronounced as 'my' … just in case you guys pronounce it as the Spanish 'mi'

A/N: Hey guys~ okay so there it is and I'll update again next week since it's my bday party tomorrow and our house blessing (house warming) party… Then on Monday, it's my proper birthday! YES! I WILL SUCCESSFULLY REACH THE AGE OF 16 ON MONDAY! YEAH! Anyway, thanks again guys for the reviews! LOVE YOU! Xoxoxoxo .