Chapter 7
That first meeting of the Dueling Club had actually run pretty long, the sun was already threatening to cast the entire castle in darkness within minutes. The last rays of daylight peeked over the mountains, casting an orange glow over the castle and the students as they trudged back in, tired and ready to settle down for the remainder of the evening. Most wouldn't even get to do that though, since some teachers had piled on homework, some students would be staying up late to finish the assignments, well the ones who didn't procrastinate.
Harry and Ron were flopped out on the chairs of the Gryffindor common room, while Hermione diligently worked on her homework, which wasn't due for another few days. Hermione was seated by the fireplace, a small army of books and papers strewn out before her as she scribbled with her feather quill.
"That was so fun, quite a welcome change, eh Harry?" Ron said cheerily, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
"Yeh, it was, it's been a while since we've done the dueling thing, but I think we're pretty much ready to go and win." Harry said grinning.
"You two know you'll eventually be competing against 7th years don't you?" Hermione said quietly, her nose in her History of Magic text.
"So what?" Ron asked.
"They know more advanced spells. You may want to cram in a few new ones, otherwise you'll just be beaten in the preliminaries." Hermione said matter-of-factly. "I've already been to the library and reserved a couple of the advanced spells books, but it requires a little reading Ron, think that you are up to it?"
Ron gave an exasperated groan, "Always with the reading!"
Harry looked over "If you don't mind. I think we ought to work on learning some new spells, and practicing together. This way we all stand a good chance."
Hermione smiled from behind her book, "Of course."
Ron stretched, "So anyways." Harry and Hermione looked over, wondering what Ron was going to say. "Was that the notorious Slytherin Prefect on the field today?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes, her name is Meredith Banes, a 7th year Slytherin."
Harry frowned, "Doesn't look like your typical Prefect."
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked, a hint of defense to her voice.
"Well. uh, she doesn't seem so." Harry started.
".Much of a Prude!" Ron butted in grinning.
Hermione shot Ron a glare and Harry finished his sentance. "So dedicated, I mean she doesn't even wear a badge."
Hermione shrugged, "Yes, that may be so, but she seemed alright at the practice. She sort of stood up for me when we were signing up."
Harry frowned as he studied the preliminary scheduling. "Yeh, guess so.. So I'm a bit confused on what Flitwick wrote here, either of you care to explain?"
Ron looked at the schedule. "Umm. well these letters must be the houses. but the numbers?"
"The year" Hermione said simply, her finger trailing along the text of her book.
"That makes sense. So our first serious competing is going to be against each other." Harry mumbled.
"If we play our cards right, we'll all be able to make it to the finals." Ron said with a grin.
"The final requirements and schedules haven't even been written yet, we may have to duel each other multiple times." Hermione said from her seat by the fire.
"Well if we have to duel each other, let's make it a good fight, agreed?" Harry said giving a smile.
"Agreed." Ron said grinning.
"Certainly." Hermione's said.
That first meeting of the Dueling Club had actually run pretty long, the sun was already threatening to cast the entire castle in darkness within minutes. The last rays of daylight peeked over the mountains, casting an orange glow over the castle and the students as they trudged back in, tired and ready to settle down for the remainder of the evening. Most wouldn't even get to do that though, since some teachers had piled on homework, some students would be staying up late to finish the assignments, well the ones who didn't procrastinate.
Harry and Ron were flopped out on the chairs of the Gryffindor common room, while Hermione diligently worked on her homework, which wasn't due for another few days. Hermione was seated by the fireplace, a small army of books and papers strewn out before her as she scribbled with her feather quill.
"That was so fun, quite a welcome change, eh Harry?" Ron said cheerily, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
"Yeh, it was, it's been a while since we've done the dueling thing, but I think we're pretty much ready to go and win." Harry said grinning.
"You two know you'll eventually be competing against 7th years don't you?" Hermione said quietly, her nose in her History of Magic text.
"So what?" Ron asked.
"They know more advanced spells. You may want to cram in a few new ones, otherwise you'll just be beaten in the preliminaries." Hermione said matter-of-factly. "I've already been to the library and reserved a couple of the advanced spells books, but it requires a little reading Ron, think that you are up to it?"
Ron gave an exasperated groan, "Always with the reading!"
Harry looked over "If you don't mind. I think we ought to work on learning some new spells, and practicing together. This way we all stand a good chance."
Hermione smiled from behind her book, "Of course."
Ron stretched, "So anyways." Harry and Hermione looked over, wondering what Ron was going to say. "Was that the notorious Slytherin Prefect on the field today?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes, her name is Meredith Banes, a 7th year Slytherin."
Harry frowned, "Doesn't look like your typical Prefect."
"What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked, a hint of defense to her voice.
"Well. uh, she doesn't seem so." Harry started.
".Much of a Prude!" Ron butted in grinning.
Hermione shot Ron a glare and Harry finished his sentance. "So dedicated, I mean she doesn't even wear a badge."
Hermione shrugged, "Yes, that may be so, but she seemed alright at the practice. She sort of stood up for me when we were signing up."
Harry frowned as he studied the preliminary scheduling. "Yeh, guess so.. So I'm a bit confused on what Flitwick wrote here, either of you care to explain?"
Ron looked at the schedule. "Umm. well these letters must be the houses. but the numbers?"
"The year" Hermione said simply, her finger trailing along the text of her book.
"That makes sense. So our first serious competing is going to be against each other." Harry mumbled.
"If we play our cards right, we'll all be able to make it to the finals." Ron said with a grin.
"The final requirements and schedules haven't even been written yet, we may have to duel each other multiple times." Hermione said from her seat by the fire.
"Well if we have to duel each other, let's make it a good fight, agreed?" Harry said giving a smile.
"Agreed." Ron said grinning.
"Certainly." Hermione's said.