The Girl Who Lived Chapter Thirteen: The Dueling Team

That night there was a surprise banquet to celebrate the end of the tournament. The three Gryffindor champions were treated like royalty. The 600 points they had earned put them way ahead in the House Cup championship. Ravenclaw had won two of its duels, and Slytherin and Hufflepuff only took one victory each.
"Ginny, where did you learn to duel?" George asked her over their chicken.
"Ron sure didn't teach you," Fred said. Ron looked over at Fred with a frown. "And Perce is too busy as new head of International Magical Cooperation," he said with revulsion.
Ginny smiled sheepishly. "Bill's taught me some things and, well, ever since first year I've tried to learn how to protect myself." She looked intently at her meal.
"Attention, students!" Dumbledore requested. The sea of heads turned towards the old man. "Congratulations to all of the Champions. Now some points need official rewarding. To the first year champion, David Oaks of Gryffindor, 200 points."
Daisy grinned down at Davey and clapped with the others. He was blushing madly. First years don't get school-wide attention very often.
Dumbledore continued to the next champions. "To the second year champion, Stewart Ackerly of Ravenclaw, 200 points. To the third year champion, Samuel Abbot of Hufflepuff, 200 points. To the fourth year champion, Ginny Weasley of Gryffindor, 200 points." The Weasley family went wild cheering. Daisy, Hermione, and Harry especially, rooted along with them. As they finished, Dumbledore smiled and intently staring at Hermione said, "To the fifth year champion, Hermione Granger of Gryffindor, 200 points." The loudest applause of all broke out through the Great Hall. Daisy had stayed to watch the rest of the matches even though no more Gryffindors were competing, and Hermione's was definitely the best. Only a select few of the Slytherins, i.e. the Malfoys and thugs, did not cheer at the top of their lungs. A Ravenclaw, James Hafferty, was proclaimed sixth year champion and Slytherin Helga Bulstrode seventh year champion.
"These seven students have worked hard, as have all of the entrants in the championship. They have not only great power, but great mind. The two together is what makes a good dueler. They had to use wit and strategy to go far. These students should be looked to in times requiring quick thought and strong character. Congratulations to you, Champions!" The crowd began to clap again. "Champions, please join me through this door at this time for a meeting." Daisy looked at Hermione quizzically. She looked back at her in confusion. She got up from her seat along with Ginny and they ventured up to the door beside the High Table. Daisy looked over at Harry.
"I wonder what that is about," she mumbled. Harry opened his mouth to reply when a very small first year from Hufflepuff approached him.
"Um, excuse me, Mr. Potter, sir, Pro-Professor Dumbledore would like you to, to join the meeting," stuttered the mousy haired boy. Daisy was strongly reminded of a house elf.
"Er, thanks," Harry said, smirking and glancing at Daisy.
"You're welcome, sir," said the boy. He looked up at Harry and then scurried away.
"Well I guess I'll find out what it's all about," Harry said, shrugging.
"Tell us when you get back," Ron said. Fred and George were looking at each other with mischievous glints in their eyes. They weren't saying a word, but Daisy could tell they were up to something.
"What's up, you guys?" Daisy whispered to the twins. Fred looked over her as if sizing her up. He nodded then quickly looked over at George. George nodded, too.
"Daze, we want to show you something," Fred whispered. "Come with us."
"What about...?" Daisy murmured, tilting her head towards Ron.
"Tell him you're going to bed or something," whispered Fred.
Daisy wondered what the twins were up to and where they were going to take her. She looked over at Ron and said, "Well, I'm stuffed, I'm going to bed."
"Okay, I'll see you later, Daisy," Fred said.
"Night, Daisy," said Ron. As Daisy got about halfway to the door she heard Fred give a huge yawn, "I'm beat. I think I'll go, too."
Daisy got through the door and waited in the empty dark Great Hall. A moment later, Fred appeared followed by George.
"Now will you tell me what's going on?" she asked.
"We want to know," said Fred.
"What's going on," continued George.
"In that meeting," Fred finished. It was creepy how they could complete each others thoughts. Daisy wondered if it was because they were twins and if so, would she and Harry ever do that?
"We know a way into that room without anyone seeing us," George said.
"We know this school better than Filch," Fred sighed proudly. Filch was the school caretaker. He could pop up out of nowhere through the hundreds of secret passages along with his creepy cat, Mrs. Norris. He hated the students and would dish out severe punishments to anyone who bothered him. Ron had told Daisy once that Filch was a squib and that was why he was so bitter. Daisy tried to sympathize for him, but he kept penalizing Fred, so she wasn't his biggest fan.
"Are you saying we're going to spy on Dumbledore?" Daisy asked suspiciously. She didn't want to break Dumbledore's trust. He had given her a once in a lifetime opportunity to come to Hogwarts and had saved her life on Halloween.
"We're investigating," George insisted. "It won't hurt anything. We just want to know what's going on."
"You don't have to come if you don't want to," Fred assured. His tone was reinforcing, but his eyes showed that he really did want her to come.
"I'll come," Daisy said. She was pretty sure it would be against school rules, but George was right, what could it hurt?
"All right!" exclaimed Fred. "Follow us." They slipped around the hall silently. There were several tapestries bearing the Hogwarts shield on the wall. They halted in front of one of them. George looked over his shoulder and then slipped behind it. Fred did the same and beckoned Daisy to follow him behind the tapestry. She slid behind with him and found herself in a long, very dark passageway. There was a dim light somewhere near the end.
They hurried forward. Their steps echoed slightly, and Daisy heard something like voices in the distance. She felt herself getting scared and grabbed Fred's hand without meaning to.
Fred looked down at her anxiously. He gave her an encouraging look, squeezed her hand, and pulled her forward more.
Finally they reached the end of the tunnel. The dim light was coming from two holes in the wall. She could hear a voice speaking through them. On closer inspection, Daisy realized the area around it wasn't made of the same material as the rest of the wall. It was more like thick cardboard, like the back of the portrait hole in Gryffindor Tower.
"It's a painting of an old warlock," Fred explained softly.
"It opens from back here," George whispered.
"These holes are the eyes," Fred said, "You can look through if you want."
Daisy nodded, and put her face up to the painting. She had to stand on her tip toes, but she could see. The group of champions along with Harry, Draco Malfoy and several older students were gathered around Dumbledore. He was giving what seemed to be a speech. Fred and George pressed their ears against the painting to hear. Fred was facing Daisy and he smiled pleasantly as he gazed at her. Daisy hoped he couldn't see her cheeks pinking in the dark.
She peered through the holes intently.
"The reason that you are here right now is because you are excellent duelers. The tournament was a test to discover the best. Not all of you won at the Dueling Tournament, but I know you have great dueling prowess. I am inviting all of you to join what I am calling the Hogwarts Dueling Team.
"At the beginning of the year I was afraid something like the disappearance of the two first years would happen. The students of this school cannot be so vulnerable. Teachers cannot protect them at every moment. I'm counting on you to be there when the staff can't.
"This team is a factor to defend Hogwarts against Voldemort mostly. I'm sure that none of you want Voldemort here, but I don't know about your parents." His eyes lingered on Draco for a moment. They made eye contact.
"As a member of this team, you are not required to tell your parents. In fact I would discourage it. All I ask is that you keep this in mind: do what is right, not because it is easy, but because you care about something or someone. Your only enemy is evil and ultimately Voldemort. I ask you to put aside any bad feelings of anyone else who is on our side, and just remember how your life was a few years ago. Fight for that way of life, free of evil, a safe world."
Draco's eyes, normally piercing with anger, softened. His expression changed to one of interest and understanding.
"There will be weekly practices," Dumbledore said, "to keep you sharp with your wand and updated on the situation in the outside world. The first one will be held Monday in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Whoever shows up will be considered a part of the team. You are excused." The group looked around at each other solemnly. Daisy was quite sure that every single one of them would be at the first meeting, even Draco.
He was looking over at Harry and Hermione. His mind seemed to be having a huge row with itself which was quite entertaining to watch. Finally one side appeared to have won. He got up and stumbled over to Harry. He said a few gruff words and waited for a reply. Harry said something coolly. Draco, trying so hard not to be uncivil that he seemed to be in physical pain, kept talking. After a moment of silence, Harry stuck out his hand. Draco started at it for a moment and then took it. Unsteadily they shook hands. Hermione was staring at them in amazement and Dumbledore nodded, satisfied.
"We better get going," Fred said quietly. Daisy stared up at him. She had almost forgotten that she was in the dark corridor. They rushed back down the hall, but then they heard a noise.
"They're this way, my pretty. Can you smell them, too?" said a voice from behind the tapestry. It was Filch. Daisy's heart skipped a beat. They were going to get caught; she was going to be expelled! Fred, however, was calm. He knew how to handle these situations.
"Run like hell to the end of the passage. Our only chance is to get into that room," Fred said
"But, what if Dumbledore's still there?" Daisy said, starting to sprint.
"I'd deal with Dumbledore rather than Filch any day," George said.
"Don't say a word," Fred said. Daisy shut her mouth to keep from yelling in distress. She looked over her shoulder. Light was flooding the other end of the passageway. Filch was inside. He couldn't see them yet, but to Daisy's ears their footsteps sounded thunderous. The hallway seemed much longer this time around.
Filch was running now, too. "Who's wandering about and spying? You'll be expelled when I catch you." They rounded the corner and saw the two spots of light. George put on an extra burst of speed, and pushed the picture forward. They barreled through and slammed it shut.
Daisy looked around wildly. Thankfully there was no one there anymore.
"Quick," George hissed. "Hide in here." He was pulling open another painting, exposing a new passageway. "Filch will be here in a second!"
Daisy was frozen to the spot. Her legs wouldn't allow her to move. Fred and George jumped into the hole, but Daisy just couldn't. She heard Filch's footsteps slow and his raspy voice whisper, "Only a moment now, my sweet. The train will be coming tomorrow."
Daisy, shaking, looked to Fred, but he was already coming back through the portrait hole. He clutched her arm and pulled her forward into the hallway. Her legs regained some feeling and she dashed through.
"Delohomora," Fred whispered at the painting, pulling out his wand. They stood still, catching their breath. They could hear Filch's aggravated cries. After a moment he stopped and tromped away.
Fred let out the deep breath he was holding. "That was close," he admitted cheerily. Daisy laughed nervously. Fred outright chuckled.
George, on the other hand was glaring at her. "What were you playing at?" he exclaimed angrily. "Were you trying to get us expelled?" Daisy looked at him wondering if he was serious. He looked pretty upset.
"I'm sorry, I just got scared," Daisy murmured looking down.
"It's okay," Fred said soothingly.
"We can't take these kinds of chances, Fred," George snapped with another glare towards Daisy.
"What are you trying to say, George?" Fred asked challengingly. Daisy definitely did not want to be the cause of this kind of conflict.
"Why don't we go back to Gryffindor Tower," she suggested. George gave her a fuming look and Fred's face had a restrained sort of expression.
"Sure," Fred said. "We've got to go the way we came though. This leads down to the dungeons." George didn't say a word. He swept past them and shoved the portrait open. Daisy and Fred followed behind carefully. It was clear that George was close to having a breakdown. They walked up the passageway slowly and silently. They finally reached the end, and slipped out from the tapestry. George stalked away ahead of them.
"What's wrong with him?" Daisy asked as he left earshot.
"No clue," Fred said sadly. "He's never been like this before, just recently. He's all concerned about the future. I just don't get it."
"Maybe you should be a little more careful," Daisy said. "You've made it this far, why get expelled now?"
Fred sighed. "I guess. It's just. Everything else is changing. There's no Hogwarts next year. The world's a mess. I just want to make the best of what time I have left. Getting in trouble is living it up is to me."
Daisy could think of no reply to that. She just rested her head on his shoulder. She hadn't even thought about next year. Fred wouldn't be there. What would that mean?
As they reached the portrait of the fat lady, Fred gave her the new password, "600 points." They ducked through. The common room was nearly empty. There were a few students doing homework and George was sitting in a corner with Lee Jordan playing Wizard Chess.
Fred looked at him with a half apologetic smile. George gave him a cold glare in response. Fred scowled.
"I guess I'll let you get to bed, then," he said.
"Night, Fred," Daisy said.
"Goodnight Daze," he replied. He cast another look in his brother's direction. He was rolling his eyes.
Daisy turned to go up the stairs, but Fred said, "Wait!" Daisy spun around again and Fred kissed her smoothly, his hands holding her face. Daisy awkwardly rested her arms on his shoulders.
"Now goodnight," Fred said smiling. Daisy grinned back up at him.
"I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast," she said. She slowly turned again and walked up the stairs. She felt like twirling like a ballerina, but she didn't think that would be a very good idea so she just kept walking.
She reached her dorm and flopped down on her four poster. Hermione jerked open her velvet curtain.
"Well, where have you been?" she asked quietly so as not to disturb Lavender. Everyone tried extra hard not to bother Lavender these days.
"Spying," Daisy said straightforwardly. "On you. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow. I must get some rest. I've got a Potions test tomorrow."
"Tell me now," Hermione pleaded. She was desperate to get some dirt on Daisy, as Daisy always seemed to know what she and Ron were up to.
"Well, maybe," Daisy said. They sat for a moment quietly, Daisy thinking and Hermione looking hopeful. Daisy, giggling, burst into a full account of her night.