Chapter 3
Wednesday night was full of high tension between the Houses. Mostly Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Before the end of the first day of classes everyone had heard about Orion's challenge to Malfoy. Slytherin students were harassing any supporter of Orion. According to rumor, they made threats; tripped people in the hallways, even poisoned a Ravenclaw first year.
Special meetings were held after classes behind the Grand Staircase were so people could place bets on the winner of the duel. Although Orion was the favorite very few people bet on her because of her girly looks. No one thought she could handle Malfoy. While he was telling daring stories about duels that he had won, Orion said nothing.
While Harry, Ron, and Hermonie were crossing the grounds to go see Hagrid, they passed a group of Slytherins crowding around an enthusiastic Malfoy telling yet another dueling story. Sitting off to the side was Orion. The three of them walked up to her.
"Hello, everyone", said Orion.
"Hey Orion. You know we were wondering, have you ever dueled before", asked Ron.
"No", she said with a shrug, "but I know other people that have. Also I have watched one before."
"Oh", said Hermonie, "well good luck."
"Thank you."
"She's doomed", said Harry.
Hagrid and Fang were out in the back of his hut. He was chasing away three Wiggintree Guardians.
"I'll be glad to be rid of these horrible things", he said when he saw them walking up. "But hey look at the bright side, next week I'll be getting in a new shipment of baby Streelers. The three looked horrified about this. Hagrid smiled at the looks on their faces.
"Don't worry", he said, "they are only giant snails. There isn't any harm in them. What's that you have their Hermonie."
Hermonie pulled out the special addition of the Daily Prophet. Hagrid took a moment to read some of the article.
"Mangy cowards, all of them", Hagrid growled. "Don't you three worry? We know who is with him now. They will be caught in know time."
There was a loud yelp on the other side of the hut. They all ran over to see what was going on. Fang was frantically running around in circles because there were two Wiggintree Guardians on his back. Instinctively Hagrid went to grab for his pink umbrella leaning up against the hut, but then thought against it. Hermonie pulled out her wand and shouted, "Stupefy"
The Guardians froze in the process of biting Fang's ears. Fang was still running in circles. Hagrid grabbed Fang by his collar and made him sit. Ron and Harry pulled the little pests off the dog and through them toward the Forbidden Forest. Fang lied down at Hagrid's feet and cried.
"It's OK", Hagrid cooed.
Harry noticed all the students going inside the castle.
"Oh, the duel is about to start", said Harry quickly.
"We have to go Hagrid, bye", said Ron
"Bye", said Hermonie.
They ran back up to the castle and Hagrid carried his poor puppy into his hut. Inside the Great there was the same golden stage from the second year and the House tables were stacked up against the far back wall. Students were fighting their way through the crowd trying to get a better view of the stage. Some were even climbing the House tables to sit. Professors McGonagall and Sprout were standing up in the front. Professor Snape and Flickwick were standing on the stage. All the excitement was contagious. Harry's heart began to beat faster at just the sight of everyone. He grabbed the backs of Ron and Hermione's robes as they walked forward to try to get up front. After walking through what seemed like a war Harry, Ron, and Hermonie were standing next to Professor McGonagall. Profess Snape up his hand up and everyone fell silent at once.
"Welcome to the first Dueling Club meeting of the year." squeaked little Professor Flickwick. "Professor Snape and I thought it would be a good idea to have real duels this year. Meaning that you may use any spell you know. But let's not get too carried away. Professor Snape shall referee. Now who would like to go first?"
The crowd began pushing Malfoy and Orion up on to the stage. Neither one of them were wearing their school robes. Malfoy was wearing a black long sleeved shirt and slacks. Orion was less dressed from the occasion. She had had of her hair tied up in a black bow while the rest hung over her shoulders. She was wearing a royal blue ankle length dress with short sleeves and laced trim. Plus she did not have a wand.
"Ms. Fitherpuff where is your wand", asked Flickwick.
"I don't use a wand, Sir," she answers.
"Well...OK. Very well then just say the spell you wish to use as if you had a wand" he said slightly confused. "Now then bow to your opponent"
Malfoy just a quick bow, while Orion did a slight curacy.
"Ready", bellowed Snape. "One my count. One-two-three"
"Impedimenta" yelled Malfoy.
Orion flew backward and almost fell off the stage. She didn't seem discouraged though. She stood up and quickly stuck her hand out in front of her and said:
"Expelliarmus" a blue light came from her hand and hit Malfoy dead on.
"Tarantallergra" he said.
The spell missed its target and hit a Hufflepuff second year. He legs jerked uncontrollably and knocked over Professor Sprout. Through all the ciaos she was able to do the counter curse.
Just as Malfoy was about to stand Orion stuck out her hand again and yelled:
"Colloptus"
Once again Malfoy was thrown backward. This time he hit the wall. Climbing back onto the stage looking redder than anyone thought possible for him he stood up and cased his specialty spell.
"Serpensortia"
A long, fat, black snake slithered out of the end of his wand and began a pursuit on Orion. She just smiled, stuck her out her hand and said:
"Accio Serpensortia"
The snake flew into her hand. It sat in her hand. Not attacking like it was supposed to Orion kissed its head. Then she slowly (starting at the tail) rolled the snake into a ball that could fit in the palm of her hand and then disappeared in her fist. Malfoy just stood there looking bewildered not knowing what to do. Orion raised her hand that held the snake and said:
"Multiple Serpensortia"
A loud bang and bright blue light filled the room. When the light is gone a six long, fat black snakes was in it placing. They arched themselves at Malfoy ready to attack. Malfoy back up slowly with real fear in his eyes. He was not looking at the snakes; he was looking at Orion.
"Enough! Enough!" shouted Snape.
He waved his wand and the snakes disappeared.
"I believe that is enough of today's meeting. Everyone back to your common rooms."
There was excited talking about what had just happened as the Houses split up into groups. Professor Snape helped Malfoy off the stage and Orion hopped off the stage to join Padma and Luna.
Wednesday night was full of high tension between the Houses. Mostly Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Before the end of the first day of classes everyone had heard about Orion's challenge to Malfoy. Slytherin students were harassing any supporter of Orion. According to rumor, they made threats; tripped people in the hallways, even poisoned a Ravenclaw first year.
Special meetings were held after classes behind the Grand Staircase were so people could place bets on the winner of the duel. Although Orion was the favorite very few people bet on her because of her girly looks. No one thought she could handle Malfoy. While he was telling daring stories about duels that he had won, Orion said nothing.
While Harry, Ron, and Hermonie were crossing the grounds to go see Hagrid, they passed a group of Slytherins crowding around an enthusiastic Malfoy telling yet another dueling story. Sitting off to the side was Orion. The three of them walked up to her.
"Hello, everyone", said Orion.
"Hey Orion. You know we were wondering, have you ever dueled before", asked Ron.
"No", she said with a shrug, "but I know other people that have. Also I have watched one before."
"Oh", said Hermonie, "well good luck."
"Thank you."
"She's doomed", said Harry.
Hagrid and Fang were out in the back of his hut. He was chasing away three Wiggintree Guardians.
"I'll be glad to be rid of these horrible things", he said when he saw them walking up. "But hey look at the bright side, next week I'll be getting in a new shipment of baby Streelers. The three looked horrified about this. Hagrid smiled at the looks on their faces.
"Don't worry", he said, "they are only giant snails. There isn't any harm in them. What's that you have their Hermonie."
Hermonie pulled out the special addition of the Daily Prophet. Hagrid took a moment to read some of the article.
"Mangy cowards, all of them", Hagrid growled. "Don't you three worry? We know who is with him now. They will be caught in know time."
There was a loud yelp on the other side of the hut. They all ran over to see what was going on. Fang was frantically running around in circles because there were two Wiggintree Guardians on his back. Instinctively Hagrid went to grab for his pink umbrella leaning up against the hut, but then thought against it. Hermonie pulled out her wand and shouted, "Stupefy"
The Guardians froze in the process of biting Fang's ears. Fang was still running in circles. Hagrid grabbed Fang by his collar and made him sit. Ron and Harry pulled the little pests off the dog and through them toward the Forbidden Forest. Fang lied down at Hagrid's feet and cried.
"It's OK", Hagrid cooed.
Harry noticed all the students going inside the castle.
"Oh, the duel is about to start", said Harry quickly.
"We have to go Hagrid, bye", said Ron
"Bye", said Hermonie.
They ran back up to the castle and Hagrid carried his poor puppy into his hut. Inside the Great there was the same golden stage from the second year and the House tables were stacked up against the far back wall. Students were fighting their way through the crowd trying to get a better view of the stage. Some were even climbing the House tables to sit. Professors McGonagall and Sprout were standing up in the front. Professor Snape and Flickwick were standing on the stage. All the excitement was contagious. Harry's heart began to beat faster at just the sight of everyone. He grabbed the backs of Ron and Hermione's robes as they walked forward to try to get up front. After walking through what seemed like a war Harry, Ron, and Hermonie were standing next to Professor McGonagall. Profess Snape up his hand up and everyone fell silent at once.
"Welcome to the first Dueling Club meeting of the year." squeaked little Professor Flickwick. "Professor Snape and I thought it would be a good idea to have real duels this year. Meaning that you may use any spell you know. But let's not get too carried away. Professor Snape shall referee. Now who would like to go first?"
The crowd began pushing Malfoy and Orion up on to the stage. Neither one of them were wearing their school robes. Malfoy was wearing a black long sleeved shirt and slacks. Orion was less dressed from the occasion. She had had of her hair tied up in a black bow while the rest hung over her shoulders. She was wearing a royal blue ankle length dress with short sleeves and laced trim. Plus she did not have a wand.
"Ms. Fitherpuff where is your wand", asked Flickwick.
"I don't use a wand, Sir," she answers.
"Well...OK. Very well then just say the spell you wish to use as if you had a wand" he said slightly confused. "Now then bow to your opponent"
Malfoy just a quick bow, while Orion did a slight curacy.
"Ready", bellowed Snape. "One my count. One-two-three"
"Impedimenta" yelled Malfoy.
Orion flew backward and almost fell off the stage. She didn't seem discouraged though. She stood up and quickly stuck her hand out in front of her and said:
"Expelliarmus" a blue light came from her hand and hit Malfoy dead on.
"Tarantallergra" he said.
The spell missed its target and hit a Hufflepuff second year. He legs jerked uncontrollably and knocked over Professor Sprout. Through all the ciaos she was able to do the counter curse.
Just as Malfoy was about to stand Orion stuck out her hand again and yelled:
"Colloptus"
Once again Malfoy was thrown backward. This time he hit the wall. Climbing back onto the stage looking redder than anyone thought possible for him he stood up and cased his specialty spell.
"Serpensortia"
A long, fat, black snake slithered out of the end of his wand and began a pursuit on Orion. She just smiled, stuck her out her hand and said:
"Accio Serpensortia"
The snake flew into her hand. It sat in her hand. Not attacking like it was supposed to Orion kissed its head. Then she slowly (starting at the tail) rolled the snake into a ball that could fit in the palm of her hand and then disappeared in her fist. Malfoy just stood there looking bewildered not knowing what to do. Orion raised her hand that held the snake and said:
"Multiple Serpensortia"
A loud bang and bright blue light filled the room. When the light is gone a six long, fat black snakes was in it placing. They arched themselves at Malfoy ready to attack. Malfoy back up slowly with real fear in his eyes. He was not looking at the snakes; he was looking at Orion.
"Enough! Enough!" shouted Snape.
He waved his wand and the snakes disappeared.
"I believe that is enough of today's meeting. Everyone back to your common rooms."
There was excited talking about what had just happened as the Houses split up into groups. Professor Snape helped Malfoy off the stage and Orion hopped off the stage to join Padma and Luna.