DUELLING CLUB

They were in one of the girls' bathrooms. It was a gloomy place with cracked mirrors and chipped sinks. Harry and Ron huddle over a small bubbling cauldron as Alex and Hermione add strange ingredients.

- This time is serious. It's not a cat anymore, it was a boy… - Alex said to his friends, worried.

- If Dumbledore said again, you know what it means. The chamber of secrets has been opened before. - Hermione said while removing the potion.

- Of course! Don't you see? Lucius Malfoy must've opened it when he was at school here, and now he's told Draco how to do it. - Ron looked at Alex as he said that.

- Lucius opening is a possibility. But I assure you. Draco has nothing to do with it.

- Maybe. We'll have to wait for the Polyjuice Potion to know for sure. - Hermione said, and Alex nodded annoyed.

- Enlighten me. - started Ron - Why are we brewing this potion in broad daylight, in the middle of a girls' lavatory? Don't you think we'll get caught?

- Never. No one comes in here. - Hermione looked pretty confident about it.

- Why?

- Moaning Myrtle. - Alex said.

- Who's Moaning Myrtle?

There was a loud and piercing screech. The ghost of a girl came racing out of the wall, face to face with Ron.

- I'm Moaning Myrtle. I wouldn't expect you to know me. Who would ever talk about fat, ugly, miserable, moping, moaning Myrtle? - before Ron could say anything or react, she started sobbing and dived head first into the toilet.

- She's a little sensitive. - Ron looked completely terrified, which made the rest of the gang laugh.

It was late in the afternoon. There was some kind of meeting at the great hall. There was a long stage set, and students from all ages and houses gathered around. Alex was among the crowd, next to Neville.

- What is this about?

- No idea. But there's a notice on the door with Lockhart's signature… - Neville looked at Alex with some fear.

- That can't be good. Don't worry. I'll make sure this time you don't end up hanging from the ceiling. - Alex smiled at her friend.

- Gather round! Gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? - Lockhart showed up on top of the stage.

- Unfortunately… - said Fred and George at unison right behind Alex.

- Excellent. In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Duelling Club, to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions…for full details, see my published works. - once again, every girl around the great hall started laughing.

- Alex, since you're a girl, can you please explain us why does he have such an effect on females? – Fred whispered as George and Neville laugh.

- I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I must be a weird kind of female, because I have no idea what's his deal. – she laughed along with the three boys.

- Let me introduce my assistant Professor Snape. – Snape showed up next to Lockhart, with his usual serious demeanour. - He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now I don't want any of you youngsters to worry. You'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him, never fear! – Lockhart started laughing, and again, the ladies all around.

- That wouldn't be a great loss… - Neville whispered to himself. Alex was so shocked to hear Neville say something like that, that she burst a laugh.

Both Lockhart and Snape faced each other and bowed. Then, they turned and walked ten paces. Then, they spined and their wands were poised like swords.

- As you can see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position. On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course. – Lockhart and Snape looked really serious. – One, two, three…

- Expelliarmus! – before Lockhart could react, Snape had already casted his spell, sending Lockhart flying across the room, landing into a wall.

- Well, that was worth watching. – said Alex, with Fred, George and Neville laughing around her.

- Well, there you have it. That was a Disarming Charm. As you see, I've lost my wand. – Hermione grabbed his wand and returned it. - Ah, thank you, Miss Granger. Yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind me saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy…

- Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor. – Snape looked like he wanted to actually kill Lockhart, and who could blame him?

- An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape. Let's have a volunteer pair. Potter, Weasley, how about you? – Lockhart pointed at both of them.

- Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox. Might I suggest someone from my own house. Malfoy, perhaps. – both Draco and Harry eyed each other malevolently as they took their places onstage. Grudgingly, they bowed to each other.

- This is going to end bad… - said George. Alex agreed. They didn't like each other, that was obvious.

- Scared, Potter? – Draco asked with a malicious smile.

- You wish. – they turned, walked ten paces, then spined and their wands poised.

- Wands at the ready! When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent. Only to disarm. We don't want any accidents. One, two…

- Tarantallegra! – before Lockhart could count to three, Draco had already attack, sending Harry through the air. Some laughs could be heard.

- Rictusempra! – Harry stood up and send a spell against Draco, who also flew through the air and landed, once again, on his ass.

- Damn…that must hurt. – Alex was worried about Draco. Snape helped Draco up.

- I said disarm only! – Lockhart said to both of them, but they didn't seem to care.

- Serpensortia! – the tip of Draco's wand exploded and a long black snake slithered forth. Snape smiled with amusement, and then intervened.

- Don't move, Potter. I'll get rid of it for you.

- Allow me, Professor Snape. – Lockhart moved to the front, and pointed his wand to the snake. – Alarte ascendare! – with that, the snake flew into the air, only to land again, angrier than before. Suddenly, Harry started talking with the snake…in parseltongue. Everyone grew silent, as the snake approached one of the Hufflepuff students and Harry kept on talking that language. It looked like he was telling the snake to attack him.

- Vipera Evanesca – before the situation got worse, Snape got rid of the snake, making it burn.

- What are you playing at? – the Hufflepuff boy said to Harry, terrified. Harry seemed confused, like he didn't understand what was happening. Everyone looked at him like he was some kind of monster. Harry left the place, followed by Hermione and Ron. Alex decided to stay back.

- That's no good…

- I've never met anyone who could talk in parseltongue. – Neville looked scared.

- Well, that was everything for today. We'll continue with the Duelling Club another day. Everyone, head back to your common rooms. – Lockhart dispersed the crowd. Alex said goodbye to her Gryffindor friends, and walked next to Draco, towards their common room.

- Can you believe it? Potter is a parselmouth. What a surprise. – Draco seemed amused by the situation.

- It's not a good sign, you know that. Now everyone will think that he is the Heir of Slytherin.

- Potter? The heir? Please, don't make me laugh.

- He speaks parseltongue, so did Salazar Slytherin. It's a possibility, right?

- I highly doubt it…But could be… - Draco seemed annoyed. He hated Harry, and even if this was going to give him a bad reputation, it was still reputation, and Draco hated Harry to have more attention than him.

Some days passed, and students were studying in the library. Alex was sitting next to Hermione, right in front of Ron and Harry. He looked worried, even sad. He knew there was something wrong with him, and for now, they couldn't do anything to help him out. When he looked up from his books, his friends smiled at him. It was somehow forced, to made him feel better. But it had the opposite effect. Harry grabbed his things, and left.

- Well, that didn't go as expected. – Hermione said.

- Yeah, maybe we should stop with the pity smiles…he totally noticed. – Alex said to her friends.

- We need to find out if he's the heir. As soon as possible, before he gets more depressed. – Ron told both girls, and the nodded.