Dueling Club

As the door to his office closes, Giuseppe smiles, looking over the four student files in front of him. "Drei, I'd like your opinion." He says into the empty office.

A voice from the empty corner sneers, "What?"

"Do you believe that your nephew could be of use to us?" he asks, looking over Harry Potter's file.

"Hell no. I don't have the patience to train him, and he'd kill Zane easily." she remarks, drawing a chuckle from the old man.

"I agree. As powerful as he could become, he is far too similar to Zwei. He has such potential, but we'd never be able to control him for long." he says, burning Harry's file, "As much as I'd like to train them, we can't afford to draw her ire any more than we already have. Which leaves her. I believe that I have found my new Ein."

Removing the disillusionment charm, Drei steps out of the corner, and looks at the picture, "So she gonna be my new apprentice? This could be fun. When do we grab her?"

"By the end of the school year. I believe that the time is fast approaching for Zane to take his final curtain call. Once we've taken her, kill him and the hostage."

Drei step over to the door, "I don't see the point, but whatever. I think I'm going to get some entertainment. McGuire get you those assignments?" he smiles and levitates a small stack of parchment, and she jumps out the window.

-

"Harry!" Daphne calls, "What did he want?"

"Looks like Tori making quite the impression. He wanted me to help her at the dueling club. Says she got real talent." Harry smirks, taking his favorite seat in the common room.

"Just another reason to go then." Susan laughs, talking to William about her new wand.

After twenty minutes of talking, Harry's joints started aching, so he stood up, "I'm going for a quick walk. Wanna join me?"

"Some of us have defense homework." Daphne says, glaring over her quill, "But if you see Tori, let her know I need to talk to her."

Harry bows slightly, "Of course, Milady." and walks out of the common room as Susan starts giggling. He sees a couple of students in the corridors, several of whom call or to him. He passes through the entrance hall and walk out onto the grounds. 'Should have brought my broom.' Harry laments as he walks across the grounds. As he passes walks around the black lake, he hears a faint 'pop' behind him.

As quickly as he can be turns, wand drawn, and points it at the source of the noise. In front of him is a creature he recognizes as a house elf. It says, in a squeaky voice, "Harry Potter must leave Hogwarts!"

"Why would I do that?" he asks, wand never pointing away from the elf.

"Terrible things are going to happen! Why didn't you leave when the barrier was sealed!?" it asks, seemingly trying to break its arm.

Harry was more than a little angry, "That was you!"

It bows its head, "Yes, but only to protect Harry potter! You must leave the school before history repeats itself!" and with another 'pop' he was gone. Harry is utterly confused by what he'd said, but turned to go back to the school. As he passed the forbidden forest, something made him stop.

"Harry!" said a voice from behind him. Turning, he saw Astoria running towards him, through the forest, being chased by a giant spider.

"Get to the school!" Harry yells, sending a blasting curse at the spider which dodges easily. Tori runs past him and he keeps casting spells. Harry throws every spell in his arsenal at the creature, but everything either doesn't work, or is dodged. The spider jumps, pinning him to the ground, and Harry does the only thing he can do.

Gathering up his courage, he stabs the spider through the eye with his wand. As the beast cries in pain Harry says, "Reducto!" With a loud 'Splat!' the spider goes limp, crushing Harry beneath it. Harry hears voices in the distance before he blacks out.

Harry opens his eyes and sees the familiar ceiling of the entrance hall. To his side, Professor McGonagall and Tori are walking, tears streaming down her cheeks. Harry sits up drawing both witches attention.

"Harry!" Tori cries, as Harry pulls her into a hug.

"Mr. Potter, it is good to see you are alright. However might I ask what on earth made you think you could fight an Acromantula?" McGonagall asks eyes both serious and maybe impressed.

"When I was walking by the forest, I heard Tori scream, and found her being chased by it. It held it off while she went for help." Harry answers, still clinging to the crying Tori.

McGonagall's eyes dart to her, "May I ask what you were doing in the forest?"

"I-I dunno. I was walking through the hall, going to the library, I think it fainted. The next thing I know, I have no idea where I am and I get attacked trying to get back to the castle. If Harry hadn't found me..." she cries, hugging Harry even more tightly.

McGonagall looks at her and sighs, "I'm taking both of you to the hospital wing. Mr. Potter, you may have killed it, but even a drop of Acromantula venom will kill you of not treated. And I believe Miss Greengrass will need a calming drought."

Harry nods, and helps Tori up the steps. After almost twenty minutes, they step into the hospital wing and Harry airs tori down on the bed near the door. A second later, the elderly matron steps out of her office, looks and Harry and fumes, "Mr. Potter! It hasn't even been twenty four hours! What have you gotten yourself into?"

"Poppy, he may need an antidote for Acromantula venom. And I believe his friend is in need of a calming drought." McGonagall says, looking at them critically.

"Acromantula! Didn't you learn anything last year?" Madam Pompfrey exclaims as she opens her cabinets and reaches out a clear potion and a green one.

Harry accepts the green potion and smiles, "Yeah, at least it wasn't another troll." she looks torn between laughing and scalding him, so she just hands tori the other potion and goes back into her office, muttering about crazy kids wry death wishes.

Once Tori had called down McGonagall says, "I believe I will award ten points for somewhat clear thinking in a critical situation. I still believe you should have run instead of stabbing it and blowing it up, but it did save both of you. And five points for shear dumb luck." and with that she waves them off, and Harry takes Tori down to the common room.

Along the way, she starts apologizing repeatedly. Harry looks her in the eye and says, "It's not your fault. Any other first year would have been killed." he says, pulling her into a hug. Remembering what Professor Giuseppe had asked, he adds, "How about I start teaching you to defend yourself, so this doesn't happen again?" Tori nods and starts thanking him.

"What happened?" Susan asks as soon as she sees Tori's face.

"Tori was attacked. Apparently someone stunned her and left her in the forest." Harry explains, sitting down on his chair, Tori in the seat next to him, "She was being chased by an Acromantula when I found her."

Daphne quickly hugs them both, "What happened after that?"

"I sent Tori to the school to get help, and I held off the spider. When it pinned me, I stabbed it in the eye with my wand and fired." Harry says simply, making the girls wince.

Susan chuckles slightly, "Wanna bet that this rumor flies around Hogwarts by breakfast?"

Daphne laughs, "of course it will. You ready for the club, Harry?"

"Yeah, I'm going up early. See you in thirty minutes?" he says. Seeing nods, he leaves the room, heading straight to the great hall.

Inside, Professors Giuseppe and Flitwick are talking as the tables rearrange themselves. Turning, he smiles at Harry, "Harry, it is good to see you. I hear you had quite the interesting afternoon."

Harry chuckles, "I will never know how new travels do fast in this school."

He smiles, "It wasn't any different when I was at school." Flitwick jumps a bit, "Nor me!" the three are openly laughing, as Giuseppe turns back and asks, "How is Miss Greengrass?"

"She's alright. A little shaken up, but otherwise fine. I asked her about your proposal and she agreed."

Flitwick chimes in, "That much should be expected! A first year being attacked by an Acromantula! It's a wonder she survived! Though what is this proposal you were referring to?"

"I noticed in her defense class that she was extremely gifted in the subject. Possibly giving Mr. Potter a run for his money before too long. I have seen many gifted student fall into the trap of laziness because they weren't being challenged. To ensure she doesn't suffer the same fate, I have asked Mr. Potter to be her rival and teacher. They are quite close and in the long run I believe that they will both benefit." Giuseppe explains as the charms professor nods.

"So then, you and Mr. Weasley will be having a match?" he asks Harry.

Harry nods, "Yes sir. I still haven't forgiven him for trying to curse Susan last year..."

Flitwick scowls, "I cannot believe he got off! To think I once had faith in our legal system!"

"Then I believes I will leave it to you. Would you be willing to be in a public demonstration?" he smiles, "And what about his wand? Will he be able to procure a new one after that unfortunate incident earlier?"

Harry laughs nervously. By his tone, Giuseppe is well aware that Harry was responsible, "I don't know, but he told me that we were still on for tonight, so I'd assume that he'll borrow one."

"Very well. How about the first duel?" he replies.

Harry only has time to nod, before students and even some teachers start filing in, talking excitedly. Flitwick waves his wand and a hundred chairs appear in front of the stage. Giuseppe motions to the front row and Harry sits down.

Ten minutes later, Ron Weasley shows up, smirking and fingering a wand he no doubt stole from some innocent first year. He sits behind Harry and whispers, just loud enough for Harry to hear, "Ready to lose, Potter? Getting a wand isn't so hard when you put your mind to it. Just ask her." he smirks, jerking his head back towards the corner.

Looking, he sees Micaiah crying slightly. Turning his attention back to the Weasley laughing in front of him, Harry whispers back, "You are the biggest fool in this entire bloody castle! You've all but signed your own death warrant. If I don't kill you, the twins will. If they don't, Neville will. And if by some miracle you survive that long, I will enjoy watching Will cut you to pieces."

"Bold words, but my mum has been teaching me some really powerful spells. You might die instead of me."

Harry laughs, drawing the attention of a number of people around them, including the girls who had just arrived. Harry says, just loud enough that everyone heard him, "You and Malfoy were made for each other. He won't shut up about his father, and you're obsessed with your mum. When's the wedding?"

Weasley's ears turned scarlet as all around them everyone breaks our laughing. Harry would bet that by morning everyone's going to know about that conversation.

"Shut it, Potter!" Malfoy sneers from beside his friend.

Harry laughs again, this time drawing the attention of the entire hall, "You know, I don't think either of you denied there would be a wedding..."

Both of them, red faced and humiliated, point their wands at Harry before being quickly disarmed by Flitwick. "You'll have time for that in a moment."

Giuseppe clears his throat and the hall falls silent. "Now then, as all of you are aware, this is the dueling club. The idea is to allow students an opportunity to settle disputes safely, as well as further training for those seeking to enter law enforcement. All duels will be fought according to regulations, or you will not be allowed back. We shall begin with a practice duel between two students who have already had a dueling class."

Instantly, every student in Harry's year had their hands in the air except Harry. Giuseppe noticed this and smiled, "As I understand it, there is a pair of students who have already decided to fight today. Potter, Weasley, up here."

Harry stands and walks up, Ron behind him. "In the club, there will be two kinds of duels. First, a single duel. One wizard on each side. The other is a true duel. Each combatant will select a second, who will resume the fight if the primary is defeated. Which would you boys like first?"

"Seconds." they answer at the same time.

"Mr. Weasley, select your second." Flitwick says, now in a referee uniform as opposed to his blue robes.

"Malfoy." Ron smirks as the audience cheers. Harry can't help but feel that was mainly because they wanted to see him get hurt.

"Mr. Potter." Flitwick says, as Malfoy stands just behind Ron.

Harry looks out into the audience. He could pick Daph, Susan, Tori, Neville, either of the twins. Harry chooses..."William Sicarius!"

His group was surprised by his choice, as was the rest of the school. He mouths 'Later." to them and Daphne nods, whispering to the others.

A confused Will walks up to the stage, and Giuseppe announced, "Each team will have a minute to prepare any strategies."

As soon as the minute starts Will asks, "Why the hell did you choose me?"

"Weasley's wand broke earlier today. Apparently he stole your sister's." Harry says, "I figured you'd want the opportunity to make him pay if he somehow beat me."

Harry felt a rather odd sensation. He suddenly felt hot. Like he might catch fire at any moment. Looking around, he sees it isn't just him. Everyone in the hall is sweating. Harry quickly turns back to William, and instantly tells he is the source.

"Calm down. Relax. Don't try and use your magic unless I lose." he says, trying to help him get it under control. After a few seconds it starts fading and the hall breathes a sigh of relief. Harry checks the time and is surprised that there are still five seconds left until the match begins.

Harry gets in his stance, and when the time runs out, a loud gong sounds. "Bow!" Flitwicks small voice echoes through the hall. Harry bows slightly, but Ron doesn't move.

"At the count of three, you may cast. One...Two...THREE!" Flitwick yells.

At the count of three, Ron casts a jet of black light. Harry side steps easily and returns fire with a stunner. Ron blocks it and waves his wand downwards. A pink wave of energy flies toward Harry.

Harry dodges again and tries Levicorpus. Somehow Ron is able to dodge, and he again fires the black jet while Harry is off balance. Unable to dodge, Harry casts a shield charm to block it. The shield shatters, though is successful in changing the aim slightly. It burst up against Harry's check, and he screams in pain. It felt as if the skin on his face was melting.

"Cast that spell again, Weasley, and I will see you expelled!" Giuseppe says, as he reverses the spells effect. "Do you want to continue?" he asks Harry.

"I've got a reputation to keep." Harry jokes, taking his stance again. Flitwick casts a bang and the duel continues. 'Two can play at that game.' Harry smirks as he recalls a spell he read in one of the darker books that Sirius had given him. Harry casts Langlock, then conjures bluebell fire, which, with a wave of his wand, created a wall of fire. He can hear Ron scream on the other side and he cast the confusion hex, which hits Ron unnoticed.

As the flames pass over him harmlessly, Ron turns, just in time to see a stunner coming towards him. He tries to dodge, but with the hex messing with his mind, he walks right into it, and falls with a loud thunk, his wand flying through the air.

"Second, forward!" Flitwick says, moving Ron's unconscious body off the stage. Malfoy scowls and steps forward. They start again, and to Malfoy's credit, he didn't fall for the same combination as earlier. After dodging levicorpus, Malfoy tries a stunner, which Harry shoots back with his shield. Harry smirks, and casts a tripping Jinx.

Unprepared for such a simple spell, Malfoy tries and fails to counter, falling flat on his face. Harry quickly disarms him, and the match is called.

"Harry Potter wins!" Flitwick squeaks, though it is lost through the crowds cheering.

Harry grabs Ron's wand off the floor. "Potter! Give me my wand!" the red sneers, just now being revived.

"You broke your wand. This is Micaiah's. Stealing from a first year is low, even for you." Harry says, handing the wand back to the crying girl, her brother thanking him behind her.

"I never!" McGonagall gasps from her seat, "Stealing from a first year, and a housemate at that! Fifty points from Gryffindor and a week of detentions! I will not tolerate this."

"And a month long ban from the dueling club." Giuseppe adds, before continuing the meeting, "Split into groups, and await a teacher to oversee the duel. Older students may oversee duels conducted by those two years below them. First years, to the front."

He motions for Harry to come closer. He sits down and listen to him explain, "Many of you will be unable to compete with older students. However, I strongly believe that you must be able to defend yourself. If you wish to learn on your own, I have several books to assist beginners. Alternatively, there is a group of older students who are willing to help each of you learn."

As soon as they are released to find a study group, three first years choose Harry. Tori, who all but tackles him as soon as she was released, and the Sicarius twins. Professor McGonagall is also watching him like a hawk.

And so, despite his nerves, Harry begins teaching his three students the disarming charm. He is pleasantly surprised that they all succeed by their fifth try. He begins teaching them the stunner, when the gong sounds, and the club starts winding down.

Mentally exhausted, Harry joins his friends and fiance to return to the common room.