Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.  Warner Brothers bought me out.

Harry left the commons at 4:30 the next Sunday, intent on finally figuring out what the Slytherins were doing on the quidditch pitch every Sunday.  He hurried over the grounds until he arrived at the quidditch pitch, and was alarmed at what he saw.  There were two of them going at it with magic!

Harry drew his wand and hurried down the slight incline to the pitch, but grew confused when one of the fighters disarmed his opponent and let down his own guard.  It finally occurred to him - they were dueling!  He looked around, and saw that it wasn't just Slytherins out, either.  There weren't any Gryffindors, but there were a smattering of Ravenclaws and a few Hufflepuffs looking on.

"Potter," called out Draco's voice from beside him.

"Malfoy," Harry said back, without any emotion.  "I didn't know there was a dueling club at Hogwarts."

Draco drew himself up and said, "There is now.  Mine."

Harry involuntarily snorted.  "This is yours?"

Draco crossed his arms and smugly replied, "Yes.  I formed it up, gathered people, and reserved the pitch.  It's mine."

Harry was a little impressed - he hadn't imagined the annoying Slytherin doing anything like this.  Draco said, "Well, Potter, do you want to give it a try?"

Harry thought a minute, and the surrounding students began whispering.  All of the older students knew of the rivalry between the pair, and knew that any duel with the two of them would be good.

"What are the rules?" Harry cautiously asked.  After all, this was the son of a death eater.

"No unforgivables.  No curses Pomfrey can't fix."

"Fair enough," Harry said, and walked to the center of the circle of gathered students.  Draco followed, and the crowd began to chant, "Draco!  Draco!  Draco!"

"It appears you have the crowd, Malfoy," Harry joked, and then asked, "How do we start?"

Draco smiled.  "One of us casts a spell."

Harry was confused at this until Draco quickly fired off Expelliarmus.  Harry quickly cast the counter-curse, and the two began circling each other.  He was a little surprised at Draco's ability.  While he himself had dueled a few times, even against Voldemort, Draco seemed to be doing this naturally.  While they were circling, they threw out an occasional curse, but it was clear that they were merely testing each other, not trying to win.

"Caedo!" Draco called out.  Harry was confused for a minute - he hadn't come across this hex before - and he didn't react in time to dodge out of the way.  He gasped in pain - his cheek had a nasty gash, which was now dripping a little blood on the grass.  Harry raised his wand, about to cast a simple healing charm on his face when he noticed that Draco was about to cast another spell.

"Expelliarmus!" Draco yelled, and Harry had to abort his spell and dodge out of the way.  So that's what you're doing, Harry thought.  You're trying to get me to focus on fixing one of your curses, and finish me off while I do it.  Harry grudgingly put any thoughts of healing his cheek and tried to ignore the stabbing pain.

"Caligo," Harry called, but Draco managed to block almost all of it.  While Draco was shaking his head from the fringe hit from the dizziness charm, Harry quickly cast "Offensionis," which knocked Draco to the ground.  Draco looked back up and quickly cast "Caedo" again, only this time Harry managed to dodge in time.

While Harry was leaping out of the way of Caedo, Draco quickly got to his feet, and the pair began circling around each other with renewed energy and Harry trying to ignore his injury.

"Inflamare!" Draco yelled, and Harry tried leaping out of the way, which wasn't that bright of an idea with billowing Hogwarts robes on.  The tail end of his black outfit got hit and burst into flames.

Harry looked at Draco, and realized the Slytherin was trying to get him to waste his time putting out the flames so he could get a disarming charm through.  Instead of casting Gelare on himself, Harry cast "Caligo" twice at Draco.  While Draco was dodging the spells, Harry rolled along the ground, smothering the fire in the moist Quidditch grass.

Yet again the two looked at each other, circling around, and both had hungry looks in their eyes.  Oddly, Draco wasn't casting a spell, and Harry was wondering what he was waiting for.  Harry decided to try the Offensionis again, only this time with as much power as he could manage.  But as he was casting it, Draco took the opportunity to shoot "Stupefy."  The spells passed through each other, and Harry fell to the ground, stunned.

When he finally woke up and again felt the stabbing pain in his cheek, he saw Draco dusting himself off, bruised through his entire face and arms.  Harry was helped up by a member of the crowd, and was then amazed by Draco bowing to him.

Harry realized the duel was over and bowed back.  Immediately, the crowd went into a frenzied cheering, helped by the fact that the Slytherins were overjoyed that Draco had managed to best Harry in the event.

Draco laughed and walked over to him, giving him his wand back.  "Blast you, Potter.  You're not supposed to bruise me up like this!"

"What about my cheek, Malfoy?" Harry shot back, unsure exactly what was up with Draco.

"Easy enough.  Hilda?"

Harry was confused, but an elder Slytherin - Harry couldn't remember if she was a 6th or 7th year - walked up to both from the center.  She raised her wand, and Harry was a tad worried, until she cast a complex healing charm on him and Draco at the same time.

Draco laughed again.  "Have you ever seen a Slytherin in the hospital, Potter?"

Harry couldn't help but laugh.  "We need her in Gryffindor."

"I don't think so," Draco said simply.

"To tell you the truth, I'm surprised," Harry admitted.  "I didn't think a Slytherin would ever heal me."

"Don't let it get to your head, Potter," Malfoy replied.  "She only healed you because you were next to me.  Anyway, don't you think you should be getting back to the castle?  You have cleaning duty in 15 minutes."

Harry groaned, and set back off for Hogwarts, although deciding he'd have to pay the quidditch pitch a visit each sunday from now on.

Several days later, Harry was yet again waiting on the Quidditch pitch for Clive.  Yet he didn't expect the sour look on Clive's face.  However, the reason was quite clear as he was handed a note.

Harry,

I heard that you were helping my son with his flying, and he couldn't be in better hands.  You're one of the best flyers I've ever seen (apart from myself, of course) and I'm sure you can help him get on the quidditch team next year.  I've drawn up where I think he should be, and I'd much appreciate it if you could have taught him the Sloth Grip Roll, Wronski Feint, Looping, and Reverse Looping in addition to the standard first year lesson plan.  I look forward to watching everything he's learned by the end of the year.

- Ted Lewis

Harry read the letter over incredulously.  Even the polite words didn't mask much, and Harry couldn't help but inwardly chuckle at the pompous letter.  "Do you know incendio?" Harry asked, while smiling and handing the note back to Clive.

Clive immediately broke out into a grin and gladly burned up the letter.

Harry reached into his robes and pulled out a small pad of sketch paper.  Clive's good mood abruptly soured again.  "So you stole my drawings this week."

Harry smiled wider.  "Of course.  They're pretty good.  It'd be a shame if you didn't get them back."  Harry then sent the tightly tied pile of sketches flying through the air, and this time they didn't stay close to the ground, but rose as far as 25 meters off the ground.

Clive pulled out his wand and said, "Finite Incantim."

"Nice try," Harry said, "But it's Finite Incantatem.  And you're not supposed to learn that until 2nd year."

"Finite Incantatem," Clive said, trying the spell again.  Harry felt a bit of a tug on his moving the pictures, but Clive didn't have nearly enough experience or power yet to stop the mobile spell.  "Hmph." Clive turned back to Harry, "I asked Flitwick how to stop the leviosa spell from someone else after class."

"This isn't a charms lecture," Harry said angrily.  "Now do you want the sketches back or not?"

Clive grimaced and set off on the broomstick.

---

Yes, yes, I realize the duel-club idea has been beat to death by countless stories.  I'll try to keep mine different.  And I don't think I've ever seen Malfoy defeat Harry in the fanfiction duels, even though Malfoy would undoubtedly have more experience in that type of thing.

Sorry about the slight delay with the posting.  I'd give you a good excuse, but I was just really lazy.  Sorry.


Next chapter: the dance…

Kaelli: Haha, yeah, I know.  But the details will trickle out.  Give it time.

Lakergurl13: I only read the Lord of the Rings for the first time over the last several months, and I've got to say that it's not what I expected.  It's a bit hokey at times (will those hobbits EVER stop singing?) but I'm a fan.  Maybe someday I'll try a LOTR fic.

Katani: Thanks!

Beefywpac: Thanks!

MicroChick: Hmmm… well, I can't tell you whether a jewel is at Hogwarts or not.  Don't worry, the gems are only the first visible part of the 'Legion of the Shadow' plot – more details about it will be trickling in – from some unlikely places…

CastusAlbusCor: Talk about dedication!  Don't worry about the updates – I'm usually averaging 3 a week.  Oh, and if you want, you can check out the trilogy – it's over 100 thousand words, so it'll keep you busy for awhile :)

Olivia: Don't worry – the dance is next chapter, so either they'll make up next chapter, or be worse off.  Sorry, but I'm not going to explain everything, even as a scene with only Dumbledore and McGonagall.  Just be patient, the answers will come…

Dragonlord: Thanks!  I didn't even think of that being a cliffhanger, but to each their own.

Smegul:  YES!  I love the substantive suggestive reviews!  First off, I have to admit, the last few chapters have been 'clean-up' – getting all the misc. parts that have to happen before Christmas out of the way.  I might have to look over the order of the sections – see if I can change it around or throw some new stuff in to make it more exciting.  But don't worry, the pace should be speeding up now.

About the following Harry Point – excellent point.  I've been trying to keep this entirely Harry's PoV, but I couldn't figure out how to explain what Ron was doing and still have Harry be surprised at the dance without shifting the viewpoint.

Yeah, I've kept the Harry/Ron thing for a little too long.  It was my fault for starting it too soon.  But it will all come to a climax next chapter.  Yet another thing to look at if I rewrite.

There is no h/hr (come on please) – Harry's going with Hermione to get back at Ron – not because he's interested in her.  I think the whole ff.net has been ship-overrun, to tell you the truth.

Don't apologize for the review – it's probably one of the best I've ever received.  And if you see anything else that I should work on, please point it out.  THANKS!

Feel free to review