chapter 4 wahoo. thanks to everybody whos reviewed.
Security became tighter, since news that Colin Creevey had been attacked and lying in the hospital wing spread through the school. My entire year went from class to class in tight groups afraid of going anywhere alone. I overheard Fred and George talking about how bad I looked since Colin was attacked. I ignored them and pretended they were wrong even though I knew perfectly well they were right. They tried to cheer me up by jumping out from behind statues covered with fur and boils. It was not funny. Fred and George only stopped when Percy threatened to write home to Mum, and tell her I was having nightmares.
Unknown to the teachers and staff, a market of amulets, charms, and talismans were being conveyed into the school. Poor Neville, he never was very confident in himself, and he brought in an evil-smelling green onion, purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail. The other Gryffindors told him he was in no danger, seeing, as he was a pureblood he would be in no danger. "They went for Filch first," Neville confided in me. "And everyone knows I'm almost a squib."
A couple weeks later, I noticed a group of people around the entrance hall notice board. I moved in, and being so small, had to duck beneath several people to the front. I stepped in front of Seamus Finnigan and read the sign.
"They've started a Dueling Club!" said Seamus excitedly over my shoulder. "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind dueling lessons; they might come in handy one of these days...."
"What, you reckon Slytherin's monster can duel?" Ron said sarcastically, although, he did lean in closer to the sign.
"Are you going to go, Ginny?" Seamus said, looking down at me. He was leaving and he noticed me there.
"I might," I said, smiling, even though I knew I definitely was. After all, Harry was. Perhaps I could be partnered with him.
I arrived at the Great Hall, a couple minutes before eight o'clock. The dining tables were gone and a long stage had appeared along one wall. "I wonder who'll be teaching us," Hermione said, as she edged into the crowd. I followed her, knowing she would be near Harry. "Someone told me Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young --- maybe it'll be him."
"As long as it's not ---" Harry began, but he ended with a groan: Gilderoy Lockhart walked onto the stage, in robes of deep plum, with Snape just behind, in the usual black. he turned around to leave, but I blocked his way. Hermione grabbed his arm and yanked him back through the crowd. Harry always looked really cute when he was upset. I turned my attention from Harry, to Lockhart, who was waving his arms for silence.
"Gather round, gather round," he called smiling. "Can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I, myself have done on many occasions. Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," he said with a giant smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry--- you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him!"
"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Ron muttered to Harry, although I could hear. I barely managed to stifle a giggle.
Lockhart and Snape faced each other and bowed.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told them as they raised their wands like swords in front of them. "On the count of three, we will cast our spells. Of course, neither of us will be aiming to kill."
"I wouldn't bet on that," Harry murmured, watching Snape.
"It's too bad they aren't," I heard Seamus whisper to Dean on my other side.
"I know, what a pity," Dean responded.
"ONE – TWO – THREE -" They both swung their wands above their heads and Snape cried: "Expelliarmus!" A dazzling flash of red light and Lockhart was blasted of his feet. He flew off the stage, collided with the wall, and slid down, sprawled, on the floor. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, a simpering flirt, and Millicent Bulstrode, a large, square girl with a heavy jaw cheered. Hermione was squealing peering through her fingers. "Do you think he's alright?" she asked.
"Who cares?" Ron and Harry said together grinning broadly. I had to agree.
"Well, there you have it!" he said getting to his feet and walking unsteadily back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm – as you see, I've lost my wand - ah, thank you Miss Brown – yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy - however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see..." He trailed off, maybe seeing Snape's murderous stare. "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me..." Lockhart put Neville with Justin Finch-Fletchley, but Snape got to poor Ron and Harry.
"Time to split up the dream team, I think," he sneered. I could feel anger boiling up inside of me. Thank goodness I didn't have time to blow up, because Lockhart came over to me with a Ravenclaw boy in my year.
"Miss Weasley, your partner, Mr. Corner." He grinned at me. I was disappointed not to get Harry, although 'Mr. Corner' was cute too.
I turned to see Harry; he was with that smirking jerk Malfoy. Ron was with Seamus, and Hermione was partnered with Millicent Bulstrode. I turned back to my partner.
"I'm Michael Corner," he said. "I'm in Ravenclaw."
"Ginny Weasley," I smiled. "Gryffindor, pleased to meet you."
"Face your partners!" called Lockhart, who was now back on the platform. "And bow."
I watched Harry and Malfoy out of the corner of my eye. Harry was standing near me with his back to me. Both barely inclined their heads. I bowed slightly.
"Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. He needn't have shouted. The entire room was silent.
"When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents – only to disarm them – we don't want any accidents – one... two... three..."
Cries of "Expelliarmus!" filled the room, except from some. I forgot, and Michael cried "Expellmusarm!" I fell to the floor gasping for breath, with a pain running through my entire body. My arms felt like they were being yanked of my body. I screamed in pain.
"Stop! Stop!" screamed Lockhart, and thankfully, Snape took charge.
"Finite Incantatem!" he shouted. My pain subsided and I could breath properly. Harry's legs stopped dancing, and Malfoy stopped laughing.
Lime green smoke hung over the room. Neville, Justin, and I were all lying on the ground. Michael came over and helped me up. He apologized for whatever he had done. Ron had the same predicament too. Seamus had been partnered with Ron and his broken wand. Millicent had Hermione in a headlock and Hermione was crying in pain. Heroic Harry pulled Millicent off, although it was hard because she was a lot bigger than he was.
"Dear, dear," Lockhart fretted, walking through the crowd, looking at the results of the duels.
"Up, Macmillan... careful Miss Fawcett... pinch it hard, it'll stop bleeding soon, Boot –
"I think I should teach you to block unfriendly spells," he said, flustered. Lockhart glanced at Snape, whose eyes glittered, and looked away. "Volunteer pair, up Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley."
"A bad idea, Professor Lockhart," said Snape smoothly. "Longbottom causes horrific devastation with simple spells. We don't anything terrible to end up to Finch-Fletchley. He'll be sent to the hospital wing in a matchbox." Poor Neville, his face turned pinker than usual. "Malfoy and Potter?" Said Snape with a twisted smile.
"Excellent idea!" said Lockhart gesturing Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away.
"Harry, if you don't beat him, I don't know what I'll do!" I said, this was one of the few times I'd actually talked to him this year, and I was desperately trying to keep from turning red. He grinned and winked.
I saw Lockhart show Harry something. How to drop his wand? I wasn't close enough. I moved closer, and saw Snape whisper something in Draco's ear. He smirked. I stood right next to the stage, almost in the middle.
"Three – two – one – go!" Lockhart shouted.
Malfoy raised his wand and yelled, "Serpensortia!"
A black snake shot out of Draco's wand and slithered toward Harry. I screamed and backed away a bit.
"Don't move, Potter, I'll get rid of it," Snape was obviously enjoying Harry stand there and watch the snake.
"Allow me!" called Lockhart. He pointed his wand at the snake and instead of vanishing; it flew ten feet into the air and landed in front of Justin Finch-Fletchley. It was enraged and raised itself, fangs showing, ready to strike.
Suddenly, Harry ran at the snake hissing. It was parseltongue, I knew that, but for some reason I could understand it. "Leave his alone!" was what Harry said, yet Justin seemed angry and frightened.
"What do you think you're playing at?" he shouted, but before Harry could open his mouth, he stormed out of the room. The grin on Harry's face slid off it like pancakes on a non-stick griddle. (A/N: don't ask. Obviously Ginny wouldn't know that, I had to put it in though.)
Snape moved forward, and got rid of the snake with a wave of his wand. He was looking at Harry with a look of shock.
Ron grabbed Harry and pulled his out of the room with Hermione following. Harry had a look of complete bewilderment on his face. I trailed them all the way to the Gryffindor Common room, where I hid behind a chair when they weren't looking.
"You're a Parselmouth, and you didn't tell us?" Ron said pushing Harry into an armchair.
"I'm a what?" Harry asked with puzzlement in his voice.
"A Parselmouth!" said Ron urgently. "You can talk to snakes!"
"I know that! I mean, I've only done it twice," Harry snorted, and laughed. "I accidentally set a Boa Constrictor on my cousin Dudley at a zoo once, but it was before I knew I was a wizard. It was telling me it had never seen Brazil..."
"A boa constrictor told you it had never seen Brazil?" Ron repeated faintly.
"And your point is?" Harry said argued. "I bet loads of people can do that!"
"Oh, no they can't," said Ron with a positive note in his voice. "It's not a very common gift. Harry, this is bad."
"What's bad? If I hadn't told that snake to lay off Justin, he'd probably be dead!"
"Is that what you said to it? I heard you speaking Parseltongue. You could have been saying anything. No wonder Justin panicked. It did sound like you were encouraging it," Ron said.
I spoke a different language? But I didn't realize it! How could I have done that? D'you want to tell me what's wrong with stopping a massive snake from biting Justin's head off? As long as he doesn't have to join the headless hunt, does it matter how I did it?"
I couldn't see what was going on, and I was about to leave when Hermione spoke, in a quiet voice.
"It matters, because being able to talk to snakes was what Salazar Slytherin was known for. The symbol of Slytherin House isn't a snake for no reason.
Tom, we were at the Dueling Club this evening and Harry told a snake to lay off from killing a boy. He's a Parselmouth!
Thats a rare gift
no, tom! I understood what Harry was saying! Am I a parselmouth?
if you understood that doesn't necessarily mean you can speak it. but, most likely, you are.
Tom! What is I'm Slytherin's heir?
ok... so next chapter... read and review! Its not that hard! Its not like I'm asking you to give up chocolate or cut your arm off!
slytherinphoenix7