Atsushi and Akutagawa

Atsushi was standing in the dueling stance ready for a fight. Akutagawa was in front of him, with his eyes narrowed. Everyone was watching and yelling different tips. Both boys were tired of it and started their duel. However, there was just this minor problem of them not knowing any dueling spells. They tried just waving their wands but nothing happened except a few sparks shooting from the tips and nearly setting the other on fire. Atsushi tried to levitate his opponent, but his spellwork was still patchy, so he ended up breaking eye-contact and sending Ryuunoske crashing onto the floor.

At this point, Akutagawa lost control completely and throwing his wand away, lunged at the Hufflepuff and tried to punch him. He missed, but ended up getting hit into the face by Atsushi, who in return got punched in the ribs.

In the end, their 'duel' became 'face-punching' under the encouraging whistles of their fellow students. Oddly enough, weak by his own standards, Atsushi turned out to be faster and stronger than the tall but skinny Akutagawa.

~ And what is going on here? – a voice could be heard, and the scuffle immediately ended. – Detention, both of you. You will be contacted about the time and place shortly. I suggest you go to the hospital wing, Mr. Akutagawa, so you don't go around looking like half a panda. – the voice belonged to Fyodor, who was now sneering slightly.

~ Everyone dismissed. – he said and walked off down the corridor leading to the dungeons.

Akutagawa and Atsushi slowly made their way to the Hospital Wing. When they reached the corridor with the entrance, they knocked and entered. Margaret Mitchell, the matron looked at them, smiled, and said that they made such a noise, her patient was very disturbed. – She pointed at a bed, where a student was lying. – Consider it your punishment for disturbing the peace and calm that should always be upheld in the Hospital Wing. – the matron pointed at the door. The woman had a note of finality to her voice, which showed that she would not stand any objections so Akutagawa and Atsushi had nothing left to do, but obey.

Next morning, both woke up to find notes on their bedside tables. They were saying "You will serve your detention today after your classes finish with Professor Melville. He will wait for you in the Entrance Hall at 16.00. Do not be late."

XXX

~ And how did you manage to get detention in the first week of school? – Professor Melville's expression was almost invisible due to the mustache and beard, but small lines gathered around his eyes convinced Atsushi that the professor was smiling and not at all angry. Despite his large physique, it seems that the Care of Magical Creatures teacher was a very nice person.

Akutagawa snorted softly nearby, making it clear that he wasn't going to answer the question.

~ We dueled – Atsushi muttered in his place, feeling his cheeks burning.

~ Is this bruise on your friend the result of a duel? – the professor asked, nodding at the blood-swollen bruise under Akutagawa's eye. The latter immediately turned away, hiding the battle trophy from the gaze of the teacher.

~ Sort of – Atsushi sighed, looking down and trying to show that he was very interested in the socks of his own boots. He didn't want to beat the Slytherin, much less fight him in a duel, but he behaved badly with Kyouka, and Atsushi, being the Hufflepuff he was, could not stand aside and simply watch as his friend was being bullied. Neither he nor Akutagawa knew how to duel, and everything eventually turned into a scuffle under the approving whistle of fellow students. Atsushi, who thought of himself as weak, was actually faster and stronger than Akutagawa, so in the end he just got in the ribs from him, while the Slytherin will walk for at least a week with a bruise in plain sight – they refused to treat him in the Hospital Wing.

~ Well, it's not a big deal, now help me with the animals and then we'll go and drink some tea, you will tell me about it in more detail, and we will remove the bruise. Consider yourselves lucky, your classmates will not visit these pens any time soon – said Professor Melville, and his voice sounded so good-natured that Atsushi immediately ceased to be ashamed of what he had done.

Until the end of his punishment for a fight, he met more magical animals than in his entire life. Niffler, unicorn, mooncalf, hippogriff - Atsushi had no idea about all these creatures before and was delighted with their very existence, and then they allowed to pet them! Even Akutagawa did not remain indifferent, especially to the small black dragon in the pen, who, although looking dangerous, turned out to be very friendly and every now and then strove to lick someone's nose. However, given the size of his fangs, it seemed that he was ready to bite someone. – This is the Hebridean Black, only it looks like it's a dwarf. It should have been twenty feet by now, but it won't grow more than seven – explained Professor Melville.

~ If I need to punch your face to look at the dragon again, I will – Akutagawa said quietly as they returned to the castle in the evening.

~ Who else has punched something else for whom – Atsushi grumbled resentfully. He was sure that one could come to the pens just like that, especially if you bring a present for the white kneazle, who was always hovering around the boy's feet while he was serving his 'detention'.