Chapter 19
It was torture for Harry and Ron to sit through the remainder of their classes for the day. They were taking any chance available to chat excitedly about the matches and to practice some new spells for the duels. Hermione though was rather laid considering that she too would be joining in on the duels. She was constantly flipping though her books when she finished up her class work.
Currently the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were sitting in their last class of the day, Potions level 6. Snape was in a particularly sour mood due to the fact that Neville Longbottom had once again melted out the bottom of a cauldron. After threatening to use Trevor (Neville's toad) in his next potion, Snape almost had the boy in tears. So while Snape supervised and snapped at Neville the other students were supposed to be reading up on a Caecus potion. The Caecus potion, when drunk rendered the drinker blind. It was a rather good tactic to gain an advantage on someone. Hermione already finished and was worriedly watching Neville hold back tears while Snape growled at the boy for missing spots and being sloppy. She sighed and stood up, still clutching her advanced spells book, starting back to try and offer some assistance to Neville. Snape did not look up but his eyes caught the movement. "Get back to your seat Miss Granger, this is no business of yours." He snapped.
Hermione stood stock-still, "Sir the job will go by faster."
Professor Snape looked up, his usual scowl on his face, he stepped over the steaming puddle that Neville was furiously scrubbing at and came up to Hermione. He plucked the book out of her hands swiftly yet delicately. He read the cover and scoffed, "Bah, such rubbish, true magic is not made by waving a wand about and shouting incantations. Miss Granger I thought you were paying attention the first day you came to my class."
Hermione held out her hand for the book, "I am reading up for the Duelist competition, sir." Snape smirked and flipped through the pages, "Do you deem yourself ready to play against the better.."
Hermione frowned, "Sir, my book?"
Professor Snape handed the book back to her, "Of course, though I warn you, extra reading will not help you in the arena." He added nastily and strode back to Neville.
Hermione stepped foreword to achieve her previous goal of assisting, but by now the job was done. Neville stood up with his eyes red and his cheeks just as red. Snape snapped at the two of them to return to their seats and finish their reading. Though he unkindly reminded Hermione that books for extra curricular activities were not meant to be read in the classroom, and so Gryffindor lost 10 points.
Before returning to her seat, Hermione touched Neville's shoulder briefly in reassurance and he forced a smile. She sat back down next to Harry and Ron who gave friendly grins, trying to be supportive of their friend in their own way. Hermione still had her spell book open though when Professor Snape stalked past. He informed her of such by slamming it shut as he passed, smugly smirking to himself.
Finally, after what seemed like forever the bell tolled throughout the corridors of Hogwarts and the students got up, rushing off to get ready for evening activities. Harry and Ron were practically pulling Hermione down the hallway, while she complained about wanting to take her time; there was no rush after all. They rushed on past and almost didn't stop to the voice that called out. "Oy! Might wanna slow down!" It was Katherine, she was sitting in a window ledge, while Meredith stood beside her paying no mind appearing to be rather engrossed in a novel. Katherine gestured for them to come on over, "All ready for tonight?"
Harry and Ron nodded eagerly. Harry asked, "Have you got any idea of how things are going to run tonight?"
Katherine grinned, "Not a clue." She gave a little kick to Meredith who glared in reply. "Hey, now be nice, say hello and give them details." Meredith made no welcome of the students, but spoke rather boredly explaining, "This week's duels shall consist of House's divided into Year. No House will see all of their years perform. Thus this week's competition shall eliminate the weak from each year of each house." After speaking she went back to her brook.
Katherine grinned, "Exactly, now I want you to say it with feelin this time!"
Meredith narrowed her eyes and muttered, "Espérez que vous perdez." After that she turned and stalked off down the hallway, shoving any students in her path out of the way.
Katherine sighed and leaned back against the cool stones, closing her eyes a moment. "I hate when she does that.." She then looked to the three standing still before her, "Anyways, I wish all of you luck this evening when you duel. Perhaps we'll face each other in a later match, eh?" She hopped down off the stone ledge, "Want an escort out to the field? Well rather would you all escort me, it seems my company has stormed off like an oxen in a china shop."
Harry smiled and nodded, "Sure."
And so the small group of three gained one more member as they walked out to the field where the first rounds of dueling would take place.
It was torture for Harry and Ron to sit through the remainder of their classes for the day. They were taking any chance available to chat excitedly about the matches and to practice some new spells for the duels. Hermione though was rather laid considering that she too would be joining in on the duels. She was constantly flipping though her books when she finished up her class work.
Currently the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were sitting in their last class of the day, Potions level 6. Snape was in a particularly sour mood due to the fact that Neville Longbottom had once again melted out the bottom of a cauldron. After threatening to use Trevor (Neville's toad) in his next potion, Snape almost had the boy in tears. So while Snape supervised and snapped at Neville the other students were supposed to be reading up on a Caecus potion. The Caecus potion, when drunk rendered the drinker blind. It was a rather good tactic to gain an advantage on someone. Hermione already finished and was worriedly watching Neville hold back tears while Snape growled at the boy for missing spots and being sloppy. She sighed and stood up, still clutching her advanced spells book, starting back to try and offer some assistance to Neville. Snape did not look up but his eyes caught the movement. "Get back to your seat Miss Granger, this is no business of yours." He snapped.
Hermione stood stock-still, "Sir the job will go by faster."
Professor Snape looked up, his usual scowl on his face, he stepped over the steaming puddle that Neville was furiously scrubbing at and came up to Hermione. He plucked the book out of her hands swiftly yet delicately. He read the cover and scoffed, "Bah, such rubbish, true magic is not made by waving a wand about and shouting incantations. Miss Granger I thought you were paying attention the first day you came to my class."
Hermione held out her hand for the book, "I am reading up for the Duelist competition, sir." Snape smirked and flipped through the pages, "Do you deem yourself ready to play against the better.."
Hermione frowned, "Sir, my book?"
Professor Snape handed the book back to her, "Of course, though I warn you, extra reading will not help you in the arena." He added nastily and strode back to Neville.
Hermione stepped foreword to achieve her previous goal of assisting, but by now the job was done. Neville stood up with his eyes red and his cheeks just as red. Snape snapped at the two of them to return to their seats and finish their reading. Though he unkindly reminded Hermione that books for extra curricular activities were not meant to be read in the classroom, and so Gryffindor lost 10 points.
Before returning to her seat, Hermione touched Neville's shoulder briefly in reassurance and he forced a smile. She sat back down next to Harry and Ron who gave friendly grins, trying to be supportive of their friend in their own way. Hermione still had her spell book open though when Professor Snape stalked past. He informed her of such by slamming it shut as he passed, smugly smirking to himself.
Finally, after what seemed like forever the bell tolled throughout the corridors of Hogwarts and the students got up, rushing off to get ready for evening activities. Harry and Ron were practically pulling Hermione down the hallway, while she complained about wanting to take her time; there was no rush after all. They rushed on past and almost didn't stop to the voice that called out. "Oy! Might wanna slow down!" It was Katherine, she was sitting in a window ledge, while Meredith stood beside her paying no mind appearing to be rather engrossed in a novel. Katherine gestured for them to come on over, "All ready for tonight?"
Harry and Ron nodded eagerly. Harry asked, "Have you got any idea of how things are going to run tonight?"
Katherine grinned, "Not a clue." She gave a little kick to Meredith who glared in reply. "Hey, now be nice, say hello and give them details." Meredith made no welcome of the students, but spoke rather boredly explaining, "This week's duels shall consist of House's divided into Year. No House will see all of their years perform. Thus this week's competition shall eliminate the weak from each year of each house." After speaking she went back to her brook.
Katherine grinned, "Exactly, now I want you to say it with feelin this time!"
Meredith narrowed her eyes and muttered, "Espérez que vous perdez." After that she turned and stalked off down the hallway, shoving any students in her path out of the way.
Katherine sighed and leaned back against the cool stones, closing her eyes a moment. "I hate when she does that.." She then looked to the three standing still before her, "Anyways, I wish all of you luck this evening when you duel. Perhaps we'll face each other in a later match, eh?" She hopped down off the stone ledge, "Want an escort out to the field? Well rather would you all escort me, it seems my company has stormed off like an oxen in a china shop."
Harry smiled and nodded, "Sure."
And so the small group of three gained one more member as they walked out to the field where the first rounds of dueling would take place.