Author: SportsNightLover
Summary: All characters sign up for a new Dueling club at Hogwarts. Takes place in the seventh year, but ignores sixth book.
Disclaimer: I have never owned Harry Potter or its characters, and never will.
"Three Chocolate Frogs and three Cauldron Cakes, please," Harry told the witch who pushed the food cart on Hogwarts Express. "Thank you."
He handed one of each to Luna and Neville, they were in his compartment, and kept the rest for himself. Just after he finished his chocolate frog, Ron and Hermione entered, and took the remaining seats.
"I'm starved," Ron said, as he sat down in his seat.
"When aren't you?" Harry asked, while he ate his cauldron cake.
"We're getting close, I think we should change into our robes soon," Hermione said, looking out the window for signs of familiar land.
"But we just got here," Ron complained, but took out his robes anyway.
The train slowed to stop as Hermione and Luna came back into the compartment, after changing into their school robes. Ron, Neville, and Harry had been changed and waiting for so long, that they started talking about quidditch and the chocolate cards they owned.
"We're here," Hermione stated.
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious," Ron said, joining the crowd waiting to leave, and go to the castle. Hermione just shot him a dirty look, and walked ahead.
"Let's pick this one, Ron," Harry said, appearing from behind Ron.
Harry, Ron, Neville, Luna, and Hermione all got into one of the thestral driven carriages, and started their journey down to Hogwarts.
"Just like I remembered," Ron said, staring at the towers, huge doors, and tall gate.
"Of course it is, you saw it only two months ago," Hermione said, bracing for the abrupt stop. It was now Ron's turn to send the dirty look.
When the carriages stopped, and they walked through the doors, they were reminded of what Hogwarts looked like from the inside. They saw the candles and torches that littered the walls, the long, moving staircases, and the entrance to the Great Hall. They stopped for a moment, to take in the sight, and then continued on through the large oak doors. All of the students split into four masses of students, one group settled at the Slytherin table, another at the Hufflepuff table, the third at Ravenclaw's, and the last taking seats at the long Gryffindor table.
Harry vaguely noticed that the sorting was going on, figuring that it was a waste of time to listen to people get sorted into different houses. The sorting hat always sang about the same things, and who cared about the little kids anyway. He just kept thinking about how hungry he was, and guessed what would be appearing on his plate in just a few minutes. Three assortments of meat, three side dishes, and three helpings was what he settled on his dinner was going to be.
"Thank god, it's ending," Harry said aloud.
"I like the sorting," Hermione said from his left.
"Of course you do, it's a perfect time to look for people to try and annoy," Ron said from Harry's right.
"For your information, I happen to like it-," Hermione started, but was interrupted by a spoon banging against a goblet.
The rest of the Great Hall fell silent too, as they noticed that Dumbledore was on his feet.
"Welcome, to all the new students, and welcome back, to the returning. I would like to welcome you all to a new year at Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry," Dumbledore said, to slight applause. "I am glad to see so many new faces, and so many old, as well. And with that, I shall see you all again at the end of the feast."
With a wave of his wand, food magically appeared, with a few gasps from the first years, and they all started eating. Harry's guesses were right, and he sampled three meats, three side dishes, three desserts, and three helpings of each.
"Hello, all," said a cheerful voice from behind them.
"Hey, Nick," Harry managed to say, forcing down his seconds with help from his pumpkin juice.
"What are you smiling at?" Ron asked, looking completely confused.
"It's a new year, I'm always happy at the beginning of a new year," Nearly-Headless Nick replied. "Well, I must go scare some of the new students. See you all later."
When they turned back to their food, it had vanished, bringing back the sparklingly clean plates and goblets.
"Oh man, I was in the middle of eating that," Ron said, looking disappointed.
"I think you've had enough," Harry replied, looking at the food still on Ron's face.
"Shh, Dumbledore's about to speak again," Hermione said, shutting them up quickly.
Sure enough, when Harry turned around, he saw that Dumbledore was clearing his throat. All in unison, the conversations and laughter disappeared, and weren't heard until the end of the speech.
"Hello again, all," Dumbledore started, "Now, before I send you all to bed, I would like to say that any students in their seventh year, and seventh year only, will be able to join a short series of practice duels. This is not unlike the dueling club that some of you experienced five years ago, but is a little more dangerous. If you are in your seventh year and are interested, you may attend on September 14th, two weeks from today. It takes place in the Great Hall, and no underage students will be allowed. And with that to think about, it is time to go to bed."
"Is he serious?" Ron asked excitedly after they returned to their common rooms.
"I don't know, but I would join it if were real. Would you?" Harry asked Ron.
"Of course I would," Ron replied, looking a little offended.
"Hermione?" Harry asked turning to the book blocking Hermione from view.
"Yeah, definitely," she said sleepily, obviously having been just awoken from behind the book.
"So then we'll go," Harry ended the conversation. "I'm tired, let's get to bed."
Two weeks later, having barely survived classes, they had a pile of homework, or at least Harry and Ron did, waiting for them to finish.
"Not today," Ron said to his books, as he woke up in an armchair, having fallen asleep doing Professor Sprout's essay on some kind of odd plant.
"Why not, today?" Hermione asked arriving from the girl's dormitory.
"Because we have the dueling thing to do, and because it's a Saturday, Hermione, we'll do it tomorrow."
"Yeah," Harry said, joining the conversation, clearing away his books he didn't bother to put away before going to bed. "Tomorrow will be enough time."
"You have time to today, and you'll do it after lunch," Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips.
"Hey, you're not my mother," Ron said, "I can tell, you don't have red hair."
Before Hermione could say anything, Harry stepped in and said, "I'm hungry let's get some breakfast and stop arguing."
As they entered the Great Hall, they noticed that, in addition to the four normal tables, there was an extra long table, kind of like the stage used in the Dueling Club. They ate breakfast wondering what it was going to be used for, and what they would be doing.
At seven, the time to meet, according to the poster in the common room, they went down to the Great Hall, and crowded with the other seventh years. Neville immediately came up to them, looking ready for anything, and not his usual shaking self.
"We should be great in this, Harry, we had practice from the DA," Neville said, letting out a grin. "If I do well in there, I credit it all to you for helping me."
"Er…thanks." Harry said, not knowing how to reply to that.
After Neville left, Ron said, "You now he's right for once, the members of the DA would have an extra advantage, having practiced this very subject for almost a year."
"Ron's right," Hermione helped, "We should do well in this."
"That doesn't help me, considering I taught it, and wasn't learning myself," Harry said, and then remembered that he had to teach himself new spells first. "Maybe it'll help a little."
The doors swung open, to reveal all four heads of houses and Dumbledore waiting for them, with only the newest table behind them. Once everyone was in, and grouped by their houses, they had to pair up with someone. Their partner had to be from another house. All the Slytherins paired up with Gryffindors, finding the perfect chance to attack them and not get into trouble, and the Ravenclaw's paired with the Hufflepuffs. Harry immediately took on Malfoy, wanting to hex him so bad, that Madam Pomfrey wouldn't be able to fix him. Hermione was paired with Pansy Parkinson, and Ron and Neville split up Crabbe and Goyle. Once they were paired up, and had their wands out, they were to try and stun their partner, just for warm up, of course.
Dumbledore's voice called out, echoing off the walls. "One, get ready. Two, get set. Three, Stun."