Chapter Five: Meeting of the Minds
Lili found herself becoming more and more accustomed to the Hogwarts food-- even enjoying some of it. As much as she longed for jiaozi and zha mantou, she managed to finish her chicken and potatoes—and then some.
"Are you sure you won't go duel with us, Dia?" Lili tried once again, tucking into her second plate. "It's not for a grade or anything. And you're so good at Charms. Besides, I thought you said you wanted to learn some wand defense."
"I can't, not tonight." She didn't look up.
"Oh, come on. You can put the Potions essay off 'til tomorrow…"
"No, I've no interest in dueling. Especially with Snape skulking around."
Lili's chewing slowed, trying to keep her voice only mildly-interested. "Why's that? What's wrong with Snape?"
"I don't know exactly. But he makes me nervous enough in Potions. I certainly couldn't keep my head under his scrutiny the way you do. I'd probably get confused, point my wand the wrong way and curse myself."
Milicent snorted her affirmative.
"Besides, I've never been much of a fighter anyway. Dueling can get nasty."
Lili's fork hovered a moment: she hadn't considered this. She had merely assumed that everything would come to her. They'd do a few exercises, try them out, and that would be that. Surely there wouldn't be real fighting.
Her stomach turned. What if she did embarrass herself in front of everybody? In front of Snape and the Gryffindors and--?
"You ready?" Draco grabbed a small bite of chicken from Dia's plate and bowed elaborately with gratitude. She rolled her eyes.
No, there was nothing to be nervous about. She probably knew more spells and curses than any of the students who'd come through Hogwarts. She had always done exceedingly well in Charms: so what more would she have to know?
She stood and, with one last swig of juice, followed Draco out of the hall. Crabbe hulked along her flank.
Once in the darker corridors, Lili ventured a glance in Draco's direction. She saw no hint of anxiety in his face, eyes straight, lips tight and head held even higher than normal. Draco certainly wasn't worried about dueling.
"You looking forward to this?" he asked, as if sensing her eyes.
She worried for a moment that some hint of nervousness had found its way onto her face. "Oh, yes. I've never dueled before. Have you?"
"Yes, once or twice."
He didn't seem interested in explaining, and she wasn't sure how to ask. She had no doubt that her voice, at the moment, would betray the butterflies beginning to jolt, delicately, in her stomach.
The club was set to meet in a large, open room Lili had never seen before. It looked as if it were once used as a lecture hall, but the veil of dust and the smell of mold hinted that such events were quite some time in the past.
Lili took quick and anxious notice of those present as she entered. Most were unfamiliar faces, all from other houses. Besides herself and Draco, there were at least ten or fifteen other Slytherins present. She recognized several of the Quidditch players from Hufflepuff as well as Gryffindor, including Harry Potter and his two cohorts. Tiny Professor Flitwick was standing on a short, wooden box talking with Hermione Granger and waving his arms about in a helter-skelter way. Lili felt her stomach shiver again.
No. She tried to stand a little taller and push her lips together in an imitation of Draco's confidence. She was being silly. She could certainly do this. Besides, it wasn't as if she had a choice. Professor Snape had set this before her as a challenge.
She gritted her teeth and waited.
She didn't have to wait long, for, not more than a few seconds later, Professor Snape came gliding into the room, the students parting before him with profoundly displeased faces. Advancing toward Professor Flitwick at the front of the room, Snape drew his wand in a long, smooth motion and whirled on the students, cold, as he so often did to signal the beginning of a lecture.
Lili inspected Snape's wand with vague interest as he'd never found any occasion to bring it out in class. It looked to be around eleven and a quarter inches, oak perhaps, but a bit thinner than she would have imagined for a wand of such length and material. The handle had a silver band about the base, words inscribed across it in deep black. As much as she squinted, she found it impossible to read.
"Alright, everyone, settle down." Professor Flitwick's voice echoed with an odd squeak. "Please, we're ready to begin."
Mixed chatter continued around the room, but a single glare from Snape stifled it.
"Very well. I'm so glad to see so many of you here this evening. Professor Snape and I believe that it will be quite--beneficial for you to learn some of the basics of defense." He let the words along with their nasty implications hang for a few seconds. Lili had no doubt that, at that moment, a single name had come into the minds of every person there. You-Know-Who.
"Beneficial" was, perhaps, an understatement. It should have been, Lili thought in passing, required these days…
"The best way to learn these basics is through the art of dueling. Dueling can improve not only your knowledge of Charms and defenses, but your reflexes, your speed, and your ability to think under pressure."
The same flutter in her gut.
"That being said, we shall get on with this week's lesson." Flitwick dismounted his pedestal and shuffled across the floor to a position across from Snape. "There are two spells which form the backbone of any dueling education. The first is the Disarming Spell. Everyone –without wands this first time—Expelliarmus."
There was a dull buzz as everyone repeated the word.
"The Disarming spell will do just as it says. It will knock your opponent's wand from his hand and can consequently send him tumbling over. Professor Snape will demonstrate."
Many of the students looked at each other in horror, hoping the Potions Master wouldn't choose to demonstrate on them.
Snape raised his wand and, with a swish and a flick, shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Professor Flitwick fell backwards with great force, wand flying out of his hand and onto the floor in front of Snape.
"Ahh, yes. Thank you Professor Snape," Flitwick said, pushing himself up from the floor and tottering over to retrieve his wand. "Quite excellent." Despite his cheery smile, he touched his battered backside ruefully. "Now then, the second spell. This is the Shoving Spell. Everyone--Cajolus Brusqum."
The buzz again.
"Excellent. Now the Shoving Spell is no light thing, so you must use extra caution." Flitwick attempted a severe look over his round spectacles. "This spell will push your opponent in whatever direction you indicate with your wand, usually with a fair amount of force. If your wand is pointed at the left of them, they'll be pushed left. Right, right. Down, they'll be pushed to the floor." He looked over at Professor Snape.
Snape again raised his wand, this time barely speaking the spell. Nonetheless, Professor Flitwick flew sideways, tumbling over his small wooden box and to the floor.
"Yes, well, as you can see this spell is quite a bit more violent than the previous, please, exercise great caution. You must be certain not to deliberately aim your opponent at something or shout the charm too loudly and send them flying out the window."
Lili noticed Draco glancing over at Harry Potter through deliberate steel eyes.
While Flitwick was busy dusting his robes and adjusting his spectacles, Snape continued. "Well, then, I hope you will need no further instruction in these most basic of spells." He paused as if daring anyone to ask questions. "You'll be paired off now. Listen for your names."
A clamor of protest.
Of course he would do something like that, just like Potions. She bit her tongue and looked over at Draco. He was still staring straight ahead, relaxed and blinking impatiently. She sighed. If only to have that confidence…
But why shouldn't she? She knew she could beat Draco any day. There wasn't even a chance to the contrary. Unless…well he had more experience, that was true. But he couldn't remember a Charm to save his life most of the time. Why was she worried?
Her stomach protested, explaining. Because, stupid, he'll pair you with Potter. He always does. And if you don't win…
"Potter and—"
She pushed her eyes shut. Here it comes.
"Malfoy."
Her eyes shot open, glaring at Snape.
"Granger and—"
This should have been Malfoy's partner…The Potions Master, to her surprise, returned her gaze with force. "Lee."
She swallowed, finding her throat quite dry. What was he playing at now? What possible reason could he have to suddenly decide--
"Hello." The purse-lipped girl had already appeared by Lili's side, smoothing at her wildish brown hair.
Lili didn't answer.
"I'm Hermione. Hermione Granger." She said her name as if it was, somehow, a fact worthy of much discussion. "I'm afraid I don't know your first name. Harry only refers to you as 'Lee.'"
She took a deep breath, and her voice sounded cold, even to her. "Lili."
A smile flickered across her partner's lips. "Lily? Oh that's rather odd, isn't it?"
"What?" She half-expected a snide comment. No doubt the girl had heard stories about her from Harry: stories as biting and unpleasant as the ones that were told of a certain Hermione Granger – Muggle-born, homely, and know-it-all.
So Lili was surprised to see her smile widen. "Oh, well, it's funny Harry hadn't mentioned it. You've his mum's name and all."
"What?"
"Oh, you know," the girl was looking uncomfortable now, wrapping bits of frizz around her fingers. "Harry's mum. Lily Potter. Formerly Evans. You look a bit like her too, from the pictures I've seen. Red hair, green eyes."
A piece dropped into place.
She ripped her gaze from Hermione and searched for Snape. He was reading off the last of the names, all but his face hidden now behind milling students.
Could it be?
"So how are you getting on here? It must be quite different than—"
"Um, yes, it's been fine."
Nothing, Miss Lee. You merely reminded me of—someone else.
Potter's mother? Was that who he meant? It certainly would explain his reaction upon hearing her name. But what could Snape possibly have to do with Potter's mother?
"Alright, that's everyone." It was Professor Flitwick again, standing atop his wooden box, examining the pairs with a smile. "Now, we'll get on with the dueling. First, bow."
Lili felt her body bowing, her mind still buzzing.
"Now, the object is to disarm your opponent. Remember, you can dodge their spells, you can deflect them. Use the two spells we've just learned."
Lili glanced over at Hermione who was herself watching Professor Flitwick. But when Lili turned to look at Flitwick, she was surprised to see him watching back, examining her and her partner through magnified eyes, smile like high-beams. She was suddenly aware that Snape, too, was watching them, eyes dull by comparison-- but interested nevertheless.
So that's what this was: a meeting of the minds, a challenge between house champions. She must have been Snape's pick: Hermione was Flitwick's. The butterflies in her stomach suddenly became a leaden Bludger.
"Alright, everyone! Good luck!" Flitwick pulled himself so tall out of excitement, he looked as if he might tumble backwards.
"Alright, then, shall we, erm—"
But Lili was in no mood to play about. She had something to prove, she knew that. She bowed gain, deep, and, drawing Hermione into a serious silence, raised her wand like a sword.
This was it. Stay calm. In the back of her head she heard Snape's voice, slow, severe. "One—"
She gripped her wand tighter.
"Two—"
The pounding of blood pumped loud in her ears. Expelliarmus, that's all. That's all.
"Three!"
"Expelli—"
But she got no farther. She found herself on the floor, wand several feet away from her at Hermione's feet.
"Excellently done Miss Granger. Everyone! Everyone!" The room was now loud, half-stunned students groaning, trying to find their wands with much cursing-under-breath. "I want everyone to watch Miss Granger's form. Note her wand technique as well as her swift but accurate pronunciation. Please, try again ladies."
Lili's heart was still pounding, but there was something different in it now. The blood pulsing past her ears was boiling. She pushed herself up from the floor, snatched her wand, and watched Hermione with hard eyes. The little twerp was fast, she thought to herself, brushing at her robes, trying to ignore her smarting hip. Just be calm, she told herself, doing her best not to think about Snape skulking at her back. Just breathe: you've gauged her now. You can do it.
The two girls raised their wands once more.
"One—"
Breathe.
"Two—"
She parted her lips, throat tight.
"Three!"
"Cajolus Brusqum!"
Once again she found herself on the floor, head ringing, wand nowhere in sight.
Flitwick was nodding again, pointing at Hermione. "Yes. This time Miss Granger has illustrated a perfect deflection as well as an excellent use of the Shoving Spell." The tiny professor offered a hand to Lili. "And Miss Lee here has shown us a superb use of innovation, though, in this case it was anticipated. Ten points for Gryffindor and Slytherin."
The compliment hurt even more. She looked about gruffly, daring anyone else to show her pity as she searched for her wand.
"Looking for this?"
Snape's voice struck her ears as a heavy blow, even for all its silk and low tones. He extended his hand, her wand tangled in his fingers.
She took it without a look in his direction, breathing hard, and, she was vaguely aware, shaking. The eyes fixed on her—including Snape's—made tears begin to burn in the back of her throat.
She banished them. You'll show them. Just be calm.
Hermione faced her again, lips pursed as if from the effort of holding back her satisfaction.
Damn smug little thing, aren't you?
"Alright, ladies, let's try once more. I want everyone to notice how these two change their approaches based on experience. Notice that they change…"
You bet I will. I know what to do this time.
She bowed.
"Three! Two! One!"
Lili dodged the first of Hermione's spells. Better to begin with the defensive, she decided. She deflected another, but Hermione hit her with a Shoving Spell, pushing her sharply into a wall.
It had not managed to disarm her. "Cajolus brusqum!"
Hermione deflected it easily.
Damn. She dodged again but not quickly enough. She spun to the floor, ankle wrenched and searing with sudden pain. Her tear-filled eyes looked up the end of Hermione's wand, and, quite suddenly, she felt a slow but fierce panic. Her eyes met Hermione's, over the long, slender vinewood, and she knew the spell would hit soon. Behind her, Snape, watched, a frown. And, all around her, wide-eyed students: Gryffindors overjoyed, Slytherins disappointed, and the other houses merely entranced. She saw Draco watching, white eyes cold. Damn. Damn. The tears stung and her ankle sang in pain.
She raised her wand, shaking, convulsing, tears jolting through her eyes. This girl—all that she'd worked to prove—all that she'd begun to pride herself on. Damn Know-it-all. Damn her. It was a rush of anger that shook her heart.
"Shitou xin!"
Hermione's wand flew across the room, and the girl collapsed to the stone floor with a strangled cry.
Lili caught her breath in a quick moment of triumph. She had done it. She had won. How was that for wand form, for annunciation, for ino—
Something choked in her throat.
Hermione was on the floor, crumpled in a ball, still, unbreathing. Flitwick and Snape rushed to her.
What had she said? What had she said? For a horrible second she couldn't remember. It had been Expelliarmus, hadn't it?
Snape turned the girl over gently. She was breathing, but barely, eyes wide and unblinking. The girl's skin had turned a pale gray, her lips drained of color.
Lili trembled. It hadn't been Expelliarmus. That was the result of one thing, one curse. Her shaking, tear-filled eyes met Snape's, sobs choking in her throat.
"What did you do?" Professor Flitwick was shouting at her.
"I—I—"
"What spell did you use?" It was Snape now: his voice had teeth. But worse were his eyes, smoldering, black and filled with revulsion.
She opened her mouth, but sound refused to come. Her heart was aching in a way she couldn't explain. Why—why had she—
But she knew why.
"Miss Lee! Tell us! Now!"
Snape's voice cut through her, tearing her. Her ankle screamed in pain. "I—I—"
But she couldn't answer. She fainted. The darkness felt oddly welcome.