CHAPTER 7: DANCING AND DUELING
Note to Readers: 1st, to Celestra, thank you for being such a loyal reader, I really appreciate it. Also, to the rest of you, thanks for getting this far in my story, keep reading, it gets really good a few chapters from now! Tee hee please r/r. Thanks! And now… chapter 7!
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Harry continued down the passage on his way to Charms class. When Harry reached the room, his heart was still racing with the prospect of a face off with Malfoy. The Charms teacher, Professor Flitwick, was a tiny little man, usually mild-mannered and polite. Today, however, he was stern and austere. His usually squeaky voice was serious.
"I will not tolerate any feuding. You will all, regardless of house, cooperate and get along. I will not abide your brainless skirmishing. I will not bend." Flitwick glowered at the students, his eyes icy. "Now," He grinned, his voice lightening. "Please take out your books."
Hermione looked uneasy. Harry could feel the burning stare of the Ravenclaw house upon the Gryffindors. The remainder of Professor Flitwick's class was a fuzzy blur. At one point, Hermione tapped Harry on his shoulder. The entire class was staring at him, and Professor Flitwick eyed him expectantly.
Hermione coughed and muttered, "Risum silicus."
"Well, Mr. Potter? What would you say to make a stone laugh?"
"Risum… er- silicone." Harry knew something about the phrase was wrong. 'Silicone' was definitely not what Hermione had said.
"I'm afraid that's wrong, Mr. Potter." Professor Flitwick looked surprised and disappointed, but he said kindly, "Please pay attention, Mr. Potter, it is only the first day. Let's not get off to a bad start, eh? Thank you," and smiled gently. "Miss Granger? Since you so generously attempted to give Mr. Potter the answer, would you mind telling the rest of us?"
"It's Risum silicus, Professor Flitwick," Hermione said, folding her hands on her desk.
"Thank you, Miss Granger. I'm enthralled to see you remembered last year's lessons."
Harry was far too preoccupied with what spells to use that at the end of class, he and Hermione were the last ones to leave. In the corridors, Hermione reminded Harry of the rest of the schedule for the day.
"Well, we haven't got Care of Magical Creatures until tomorrow, and we've got it with Hufflepuff. Right now we've got lunch, then Defense Against the Dark Arts and that's all for today, but that's with Slytherin. Tomorrow, Herbology, Transfiguration, Flying, and Care of Magical Creatures. Harry, do you have any idea what spells you're going to use for your duel? Because I can help you think of some."
"I really can't think of any. What do you have in mind?" Harry and Hermione had reached the doors of the Great Hall, and they sat next to Ron and Madeline to eat lunch. Lunch consisted of salads, soup, and sandwiches.
"Well," Hermione said, "What do you want to do to him?"
"I'd like to kill him."
"That's not an option," Ron said, but he couldn't help smiling.
"Well, 'Arry," Madeline said after nibbling a small bite of sandwich, "I sink you should pair-aps first disable 'eem some-ow. But leave him wees 'ees wand because I sink eet ees dees-honorable to disarm. Zat ees classless een Beauxbatons. But you should disable him."
"How do you mean?" Ron looked curious.
"Like… make 'eem not be able to stop laughing."
"Good idea, Madeline!"
"I was inspired by zee charms class," Madeline said modestly.
"Perhaps we should ask Sirius," Ron pronounced through a mouthful of turkey sandwich, "We've got him right after lunch."
"Yeah," Harry agreed. He was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Professor Dumbledore, who stood at the staff table and spoke.
"May I have your attention, please?" he asked. The hall fell silent. "I have an important announcement to make. In approximately two weeks, Hogwart's will be hosting a ball. The 'Welcome-Back-To-School' Dance may be attended by all students, and fourth-years and up may attend in couples. Dress robes should be worn. Attendance is not required, but I can promise you all great merriment, should you grace us with your presence. Thank you. Please finish your lunches and move on to your next classes." Dumbledore sat, and the Hall exploded with excited whispers.
"A ball! I luff dances!" Madeline smiled and clapped her hands. "Ron! Ron!" she clutched Ron's shoulder and grinned joyously. "Will you go wis me?" Ron's face turned the brightest red Harry had ever seen.
"Of-of course! Sure, tha-that would be quite fun!" Ron stuttered, smiling from ear to ear.
"Well, Hermione, you want to go with me?" Harry beamed at Hermione with anticipation. "Please?" he added.
"Of course I will, Harry." Hermione's cheeks flushed for a moment, but she, like the others, smiled. "I can't wait," she tacked on for good measure.
Everyone was leaving the Great Hall, so Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Madeline trudged up to Sirius Black's classroom for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry had decided to wait until after class to ask about dueling spells.
Everyone (including the Slytherins) sat down, some goggling at their schedules as if they couldn't believe that Sirius Black was their teacher.
Sirius looked good, Harry noticed. Several times before, Harry had seen him look empty and thin. His hair had used to be a ragged mess, but now it was cut short and slicked neatly back. His robes were new, and he was clean-shaven. Some of the Slytherins sniggered at Sirius when he grinned at Harry, who sneered at Malfoy.
"I am Sirius Black," Sirius paused to let the students' murmurs die down. "I am your new defense against the dark arts teacher. This year, we will be covering poisons for the beginning of the year. Today, we will have a short review of what you learned last year."
The rest of the class consisted of an interested group (Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Madeline) who actively participated in the discussion and offered their knowledge. They just wanted Sirius to feel welcome at Hogwart's. Even though the Slytherins were smirking and laughing at Sirius' interactive teaching methods, the Gryffindors got very much into the conversation. Harry was sorry when class was over, but he didn't forget to go up to Sirius' desk after the class was over to ask him about the feuding spells.
"Er-excuse me, Sirius,"
"Hi, Harry! How are you doing?" Sirius lowered his voice. "I heard about you and Malfoy. A Wizard's Duel? Rather daring for the first day of school!" Sirius smiled, licked his lips, and lowered his voice. "Heard anything from Voldemort yet?"
"No, I haven't. I don't know yet."
"Let's start with tonight, huh? You and I both know Malfoy's in with Snape, who's trying to get back with Voldemort. You've got to defeat Malfoy. That's the first step. You need some spells?"
"That's what I came here for."
"May I suggest the Disarming spell? And perhaps a caput haraturius. Oh, and the arcilis larmion. And several more like that. You should be fine. Ask Hermione for some Charms; I'm not too good at those. See you."
"See you, Sirius."
"Oh, and Harry," Sirius said, and Harry whirled around again.
"Good luck."
"Thank you." Harry turned again and walked out of the room. He headed to the Gryffindor commons. When he arrived at the portrait hole, the entrance into Gryffindor Commons, Harry said the new password, 'fudge muffin' and walked into the commons. Ron, Hermione, and Madeline were sitting at a table, poring over a thick book and taking notes.
"'Allo, 'Arry!" Madeline waved and beckoned Harry over to the table. "We are finding spells for you." She had lowered her voice and pointed at a spell in the book. The spell read: 'caput haraturius.'
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed, pulling up a heavy wooden chair. "Sirius told me about that one. What does it do?"
"It makes them go bald." Ron chuckled.
The four laughed together. They found several more spells until everyone in the commons left to go to dinner. Harry had 9 spells to use; several were extras in case Malfoy was over-prepared. Harry really wasn't very hungry at dinner.
Madeline eyed with her steak, but didn't eat any of it. She ate only some of her green beans, bread, and corn.
"Don't like the steak, Madeline? It is a little tough." Ron chewed his beef.
"Ah, no, I am a vegetarian. I do not eat any meat." Madeline smiled quickly. Perhaps, Harry thought, that was one of the reasons she was so thin. She hardly ate anything.
Harry didn't eat anything at all. He felt bad that the house-elves had worked to prepare his dinner, but he really couldn't eat. He was nauseas with nerves, and he was sighing heavily.
Finally, after dinner and sitting in silence until 9:50 in the commons, Harry headed towards the North Tower alone. Hermione, Ron, and Madeline had decided not to follow him. They didn't want to catch a misaimed spell, or, as Hermione said, get caught. So, Harry plodded through corridor after corridor to the North Tower.
At precisely 10 o'clock, a figure moved out of the shadows. It was Malfoy, and he was brandishing his wand eloquently. "Ah, Potter, no fan club? Doesn't your entourage usually accompany you absolutely everywhere? But, I see, they are afraid of my skill when it comes to dueling. How noble. How understandable. I would do the same thing if I were them. Fear me, Potter."
Harry chortled. "Is that supposed to sound redoubtable, Malfoy? Because, really, it doesn't. And by the way, if by 'fan club' you are referring to my friends, I am simply happy to be able to say that I possess real friendships, unlike you, who can claim a motley crew of louts who tag along like puppies. Unintelligent, stupid beasts, really, Malfoy."
"I said 10 sharp, Potter, let's get started." Malfoy narrowed his eyes viciously.
Harry looked quickly around his shoulder, half-hoping to see Hermione or Ron. All he saw, though, was a rather curious-looking old woman in a painting. She was sipping tea and staring at Harry.
Harry sighed, turning slowly back towards Malfoy. After the formalities that began the duel, the two boys backed away from one another. A sight caught Harry's attention out of the corner of his eye. A cat was sulking around the corner. Harry's heart began to race, but he didn't have time to think about the cat, because Malfoy was about to cast his first spell. Since Malfoy had proposed the duel, it was his right to be the first speller.
"Caecus!" Malfoy's eyes were filled with hatred as he directed his wand to Harry.
Harry's eyes went black. He couldn't see anything. He waited for the spell to let up a bit; all spells cast in a duel needed to be temporary. After several minutes, which seemed like hours, shadows began to appear. As soon as Harry could see the silhouette of Malfoy in the darkness, he pointed his wand.
"Cruris liquidus!" Harry exclaimed. Malfoy fell to the ground. 'cruris liquidus' meant 'liquid legs', so Malfoy's balance was severely thrown off as his legs turned to jelly. Harry slowly regained his vision as he waited for Malfoy's revenge.
Although Malfoy was laying on the ground, apparently weakened, he lashed out at Harry angrily.
"Adflicto affligo oculus!" Malfoy screamed, thrusting his wand at Harry.
Harry's eyeglasses fell off of his face. The lenses fell to the ground and shattered into a thousand pieces. He could barely see anything as it was; the blinding spell hadn't worn off yet, and with his glasses broken… he could hear Malfoy laughing, and then-
"Malfoy! Potter!" A familiar voice bellowed at them. It sounded like Professor McGonagall. Perhaps that was who the cat was! Harry knew that Professor McGonagall could transfigure into a cat, but how did she know the boys would be dueling? Possibly, Harry thought, Sirius had hinted at it to Professor McGonagall, to step in if things got too far.
"Oculus repairus." Professor McGonagall sounded annoyed. The crushed glass of Harry's glasses flew up from the stone floor, repaired themselves, and returned to their spot on Harry's face. "reverto." Harry's vision restored, he looked daggers at Malfoy, who had stood up. 'reverto', Harry knew, was a reversing spell, used at the end of every duel to return the contestants to their original, healthy state.
Only three spells had been cast, two of them from Malfoy. Why had the Professor broken up the feud? Then it came to Harry: The two hadn't asked permission to feud. The spells were taught, even encouraged, but duels were technically supposed to be supervised in case something went seriously wrong.
Harry stared at Professor McGonagall. She looked exasperated.
"You saw me before the duel," she said, "I saw you look at me."
"I thought perhaps you were Mrs. Norris." Mrs. Norris was Filch's cat, and Filch was the caretaker. If you were seen by Mrs. Norris, punishment by Filch was soon to follow. Harry should have recognized the squares around the cat's eyes; Professor McGonagall's glasses marks could always be seen when she transformed.
"No, that was me. Now, I should expel you both," McGonagall declared, looking back and forth from Malfoy to Harry. "But I'm not going to do that. Both of you shall receive detention. And five points shall be taken from Gryffindor, ten from Slytherin."
Malfoy shrieked. "What?! He should get just as many points as me! We were both fighting."
"You, Mr. Malfoy, broke two rules. First, you instigated the duel, and you cast a non-temporary spell in the duel."
"You are only punishing me more than him because you are the head of Gryffindor." Malfoy looked indignant.
"That extremely rude comment, which was also quite disrespectful, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall huffed, "Has earned you ten more points from Slytherin."
Malfoy was about to say something else, but was yet again interrupted. "Mr. Malfoy, I suggest you stay silent to protect yourself. It would be most wise, now, for both of you to return to your dormitories. Good night. Your detention dates will be given to you tomorrow." She paused. "Honestly, boys, the first day of school." She shook her head and clucked her tongue. Harry headed back to bed without looking again at Malfoy. He passed the portrait hole, the commons, and finally plunked down on his soft, feathery four-poster bed. As he fell back to sleep, Harry wondered what he was ever going to tell Hermione and Ron. And Madeline! They all wanted him to win. There had been no winner. Malfoy had only proven everything he wanted to. Harry would have lost the duel if McGonagall hadn't shown up. Harry was thoroughly disappointed in himself.