The Dark Heir

Author Notes:

Chapter 23: The Dueling Club

The Quidditch game ended in disaster.

James Potter had, by some miracle, caught the Snitch underneath Draco.

Even though Gryffindor won by ten points, they were destroyed by Slytherin's new offense setup.

James Potter had broken his arm when he caught the snitch, and Lockhart, being Lockhart, vanishes James's broken bones.

James and Neville went to the Healer Wing.

It was during the night a shocking development happened.

A Gryffindor first-year, Colin Creevey, had been petrified near the Hospital Wing.

The Gryffindors were quick to blame the Slytherins for the attack.

Even though no one could point fingers at who was responsible, tensions between the two houses began to boil.

Harry, Delphi, Dora, Artemis, and Olivia quickly return to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Creevey petrified. There is no doubt that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened," says Harry.

Creevey came from a muggleborn family, and he was incredibly annoying.

He got on everyone's nerves.

Taking pictures of everyone everywhere he goes.

Gilderoy Lockhart didn't help by encouraging his behavior.

"Shh," says Dora.

"An attack while the both of you were in the Hospital. If I didn't know better, I would say someone is trying to kill you, Neville," says Hermione.

"It's Longbottom for you, mudblood," snaps Neville.

"Even still, mate, the mudblood does make a valuable point. How did you get cursed in the stands away?" says James.

"I don't know. A coward who attacks from the rear," says Neville.

"Why didn't you tell Professor McGonagall?" says Hermione.

"I did!" Neville snaps in annoyance.

"She thinks it was an accident due to the excitement of Gryffindor beating Slytherin," says James.

"No idea who cursed you?" says Ron.

"If I knew they wouldn't be at Hogwarts anymore," says Neville.

"Open the door, Mudblood," snaps James.

"I can't. The door is locked," says Hermione.

"Why is the door locked?" says Ron.

"The teachers likely locked it due to Mrs. Norris's attack," says Hermione.

"Snape," says James.

"Most likely," says Hermione.

"Then we shouldn't be here. Remember the last time Snape caught us out here," says Ron.

"Then how are we supposed to brew the potion?" says Neville.

"Do you guys really think Draco or Black is the Heir to Slytherin," says Hermione.

"Yes," Neville and James say in unison.

"We know them. They're a dark family. Very old too. The possibility the Black family is the Heir of Slytherin isn't that far-fetched. The Blacks have been in Slytherin for generations," says James.

"I find it hard to believe second years could have done that to Creevey and Mrs. Norris," says Hermione.

"Look, the Black Family has many secrets. What if one of those secrets is how to open the Chamber of Secrets? It could have been passed down for generations. They may even have a special key that opens the Chamber. Passing it down, father to son, mother to daughter," says Ron.

Hermoine didn't say anything.

"Do you guys know where we can brew this potion safely?" says Neville.

"We could ask Fred and George. They know the castle better than anyone," says Ron.

"The potion will take more than a month to complete. We need it to be a location where no one will look," says Hermione.

"We could try the Gryffindor Quidditch Lockers," suggests James.

"Why there?" asks Hermione.

"No one but the Gryffindor team goes there. I know there are a couple of unused rooms," says James.

"What if the team discovers the potion?" asks Neville.

"It won't. Other than Wood, no one really uses our Quidditch Locker Room," says James.

The voices began to muffle as they moved on.

"Are they saying what I think they're?" says Dora.

"They will break into the Slytherin Common Room," says Delphi.

"That will be a month before the holidays," says Harry.

"How do they plan on doing that?" asks Olivia.

"The only way for them is to brew a Polyjuice Potion," says Harry.

"Most ingredients are locked in Professor Snape's private storage," says Delphi.

"You don't think," says Dora.

"I'm willing to bet you anything Potter and Longbottom cause the chaos in potions so Granger could sneak into Snape's private storage for the ingredients," says Delphi.

The other day in potion class, Goyle's potion mysteriously exploded, causing mass confusion.

Snape had been quick to react and discovered a heatless firework had been put in Goyle's potion.

Snape didn't say it, but he looked straight at James Potter Jr.

James Potter didn't say anything, but everyone knew Snape blamed Potter.

"How long till you think they'll get expelled from Hogwarts?" says Dora.

"Is it true they used a flying car to get to Hogwarts?" says Artemis.

"It doesn't matter if it is. They love being in the center of attention, regardless if it's negative," says Harry.

"Are you guys heading to the Dueling Club?" asks Olivia.

"Might as well. Bellatrix taught us to duel since we were kids, but it still wouldn't hurt to pick up a few new spells," says Harry.

They walk out of the bathroom and head towards Dueling Club.

The recent attack and the possibility the monster could pose a threat.

The school had many students showing up for the dueling club.

"Whose teaching?" asks Delphi.

"I heard Professor Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was younger," Artemis says eagerly.

"As long as it's not…." Dora began.

Dora groans upon seeing Gilderoy Lockhart walking up the stage.

"Can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me? Excellent!" says Gilderoy Lockhart.

"Professor Dumbledore has been kind enough to allow me to put this together. So I can teach everyone how to defend themselves in case you come under attack," says Gilderoy Lockhart.

He flicks off his cloak and throws it into a crowd of girls who all start fighting to claim his cloak.

"Allow me to introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," says Lockhart.

Professor Snape says nothing as he walks up the stage.

"Professor Snape will now teach all of you how to properly duel. First… we'll present our wands at the ready," says Lockhart.

Both Lockhart and Snape present their wands in front of their faces.

"Now, we shall bow," says Lockhart.

Lockhart gives a full bow, while Snape does so slightly.

The Blacks have been taught this by Bellatrix.

When dueling, you never take your eyes off your opponent. Bellatrix taught them this the hard way when they did so the first time.

The first time, Dora got jinxed by Bellatrix when she took her eyes off her bow.

Lily explains it was never wise to remove your eyes from your opponents. Even if they wouldn't attack you, they could still activate magic while your gaze wasn't on them.

Lockhart reveals he had zero knowledge of how to duel.

Harry began to wonder if Lockhart was a fraud.

"Now on the count of three… one… two… three," says Lockhart.

"Expelliarmus!" says Snape.

Lockhart was thrown across the platform as he stood up, looking distraught.

Several girls look somewhat concerned for Professor Lockhart, who lands on the stage concerned.

He sits upright before he pops right back up like a showman.

"There you have it! The Disarming Spell! An excellent performance by Professor Snape! I could have blocked the spell, but of course… you wouldn't see the wonderful effect of the disarming spell," says Lockhart.

"He really is a fraud," mutters Delphi.

"If you say that, his fangirls will attack you," whispers Dora.

"Alright, break up into pairs, and practice disarming each other," says Lockhart.

Everyone broke off into pairs and began practicing the disarming spell.

"Are we going to practice?" asks Artemis.

"Wiser we don't. Revealing one's skills is never a good idea," says Harry.

"If you need to learn how to duel, Bellatrix can teach you," says Delphi.

Harry and Dora shudder at the thought.

Bellatrix is indeed a great duelist, but she can be a sadist.

No one clearly had an idea how to duel.

Granger had the misfortune of being paired with Millicent Bulstrode, which turned out to be Hermione's disaster.

Millicent Bulstrode is bigger than Hermione, instead of using their wands to duel. Millicent Bulstrode had Hermione in a headlock. Granger's face was turning blue from lack of oxygen.

Their wands lay on the ground, forgotten.

The Dueling Chamber was purely chaotic.

Malfoy and Longbottom were both throwing malicious spells at one another.

Potter was more interested in cursing people around him than dueling.

Ron Weasley is paired with Crabbe. Whether incompetence or Ron's broken wand, spellcasting wasn't working. Ron left a lot of people in pain all around him. Crabbe didn't know how to use his wands either.

"Everyone stop!" shouts Lockhart.

Snape took charge.

"Finite Incantatem!" Snape bellows within the Chamber.

All spell crafting ended as everyone could stop what was going on.

Only Millicent Bulstrode kept moving, tightening her hold around Hermione's neck. Hermione couldn't even whimper as she looked like she was about to pass out at any moment.

Harry flicks his wand, casting a bone-breaking hex at Bulstrode.

Bulstrode screams as her arm is broken. She finally lets go of Hermione, holding her arm, crying and sobbing in agony.

Hermione could finally breathe fresh again. She lies on the ground, breathing in the fresh air.

"Perhaps we need to teach others how to block unfriendly spells," says Lockhart.

He looks around the room carefully.

"I think it's best if two of your peers demonstrate how to block unfriendly spells," says Lockhart.

"Oh, the Shield Charm. He's going to be teaching that already," says Harry.

"Shield Charm?" says Artemis.

"The Shield Charm is a useful charm. A defensive spell. It will block most spells. It's somewhat effective against dark spells but not overall powerful. Lily is practically useful at this spell," says Dora.

"It would be useful against the jinxes and hexes," says Delphi.

"Perhaps we should have Mr. Neville Longbottom and Mr. Ron Weasley," says Lockhart.

Neville had a large smirk as he walked up to the stage.

"Gilderoy, that is a bad suggestion. Mr. Ron Weasley's wand is broken, and if we're not too careful, we'll be sending Mr. Longbottom to the Hospital Wing in a matchbox," says Snape.

Ron looks down, both in frustration and anger.

His broken wand had led to poor performance this year alone.

"May I suggest someone from my own house? Like, Mr. Draco Malfoy?" says Snape.

Lockhart looks somewhat uncomfortable. He shakes off that appears immediately.

"What a wonderful idea, Professor Snape," says Lockhart.

"He's really a fraud," Harry thinks, watching Lockhart.

Draco walks up the stage with his arrogant smirk.

Neville, too, stands there with his own arrogant smirk.

'Draco is a decent duelist. Aunt Bellatrix did tell him to keep practicing his spellcasting. Longbottom is a mystery. He has a big mouth. Let's see if he can back up his claims.'

Neville has gone on about how Professor Dumbledore has been teaching him for years.

Neville stands there looking smug at the chance to show off his talents.

"Ready? Now, this is only for disarming and defending only. Now Mr. Longbottom, when Mr. Malfoy attempts to disarm you, you do this…."

Lockhart simply drops his wand.

Longbottom lost his confidence as he looks at Lockhart in horror.

"Ready?! Three… two… one…"

Draco quickly enters a dueling form and attacks Neville.

"Everte Statum!"

Neville, caught off guard by Draco's quickness, didn't do anything to defend himself. Instead, found himself being flown backward before landing awkwardly.

The Slytherins erupt into laughter upon seeing Neville's pathetic performance.

Neville sits upright, his face red with frustration at his humiliation.

Pointing his wand at Draco, Neville cries out, "Rictusempra!"

Draco attempts to dispel the incoming jinx. He fails and is launched backward.

"I said disarm only," shouts Lockhart.

Draco stands up.

"Serpensortia!"

Draco then conjures an eight-foot King Cobra that lands in front of Neville, who remains still as a statue. The snake hisses as he glares at Neville.

"Don't worry, Longbottom. I'll get rid of it for you," Snape said, walking forward.

"Allow me, Professor Snape. 'Alarte Ascendare!'" shouts Lockhart.

Instead of vanishing, the snake is launched into the air before landing on the ground again. If the snake wasn't angry before, it sure was now as he rears up and hisses menacingly at the nearest person to it, Justin Finch-Fletchley.

Justin stares at the snake fearfully.

Snape is quick to react until he pauses, hearing something he didn't expect.

Neville walks forward, hissing at the snake.

Harry and Delphi stare at Neville, understanding every word he's hissing.

'Leave him alone. I said… leave him alone.'

The snake backs down and curls into a ball.

Snape reacts quickly and vanishes the snake.

Dora looks at Neville before looking at her cousins. She knew they understood what he said.

The rest of the student body began to double back as they look at Neville.

"We should go," Harry said softly.

Harry leads Delphi, Dora, Artemis, and Olivia away from the Great Hall.