Hey Readers,
I'm going on a school camping trip for about 4-5 days soon and this means I won't be active for a while.
But I promise I will post a new chapter as soon as possible.
- DawnTide
Chapter 9
- Traits of a Great Dueler -
"You sure you don't want to have a go at it?" Teddy asked Freddie, standing outside the classroom that was temporarily being used to hold the Ravenclaw Dueling Club tryouts.
"I'm good." Freddie said. "I'm not sure getting shot spells at is my cup of butterbeer." Teddy smiled as he fussed over his appearance, flattening his hair and dusting off his robes. "Are you nervous?"
"Huh?" Teddy looked up. "Oh, yeah a little. It's my first club and all..."
"Oh, well good luck." Freddie said, awkwardly patting him on the shoulder before walking off down the corridor. "See you later!"
"Bye." He waved as he went, before twiddling his wand over and over in his hands. He glanced at the other Ravenclaw students, gathered outside the classroom. Most of them had been in the club the year before. He wondered how Ron was doing with Quidditch tryouts, which had begun a few minutes ago. He knew there was a good chance of him getting, especially seeing that Harry had been elected Quidditch Captain that year. Suddenly, the doors to the classroom opened a dark skinned girl stood in the doorway.
She smiled at the crowd of students. "Welcome to the Ravenclaw duelling tryouts!" A few students clapped, others whispered excitedly. She seemed to straighten with pride. "I am Anna, you dueling club captain. Now, I want you to know that although you may have gotten into the team last year that does not mean you will be selected this year. It's simple. I will be watching you all today and will post the list of the seven selected students who I think have shown the greatest potential on the Ravenclaw noticeboard before dinner this afternoon." She paced back and forth in front of the doors, staring at each one of them intently.
The excited whispering had turned to nervous looks and Teddy got the feeling that Anna was hard to impress.
"Out of those selected seven, only four will be chosen to compete in this years inter-school competition. So let's see what you've got. Come in." The all filed into the room and stood against the wall. The room had been cleared and three long blue dueling mats had been laid across the floor. "Now today I will be judging you on your certain skill sets. Or as I like to call them, your O.D.E's. Offense, Defense and Endurance."
She continued pacing on the mat. "For all of you have never before dueled competitively before," Teddy looked up. "You might wanna consider leaving now." The students around Teddy laugh rhythmically. "But for those of you who have never done the sport before and for some reason are still here, listen closely. To begin combatants face each other, bow walk away good distance away from each other, then at the count of three attempt to disarm, stun, defeat and or slightly injure your opponent."
"Rules are also simple. Only magical means could be used there will be no physical contact, of course no illegal spells are allowed and be warned, serious injuries will result in point deductions and disqualification in a real competition. Now who wants to go first?"
A few hands shot up. Teddy looked at them then raised his hand slowly, glancing back at Anna who was smirking. "Just so you know, the first one up will be dueling with me." All hands immediately shot down, except for Teddy's whose remained high up in the air. Anna stared at him, her eyes hungry and smug. "Haven't seen your face round here before."
The crowd parted, making way for the sleek duelist to strut straight up to him, her face soon only inches from his. "Name." She ordered. Teddy felt increasingly vulnerable under her gaze as she looked him up and down judgmentally.
"Teddy Lupin."
An eyebrow twitched but her expression remained the same. Her eyes looked him up and down making him feel increasingly vulnerable. It was almost as if she was trying to decide what to make of him. "What made you come here today?"
"Huh?" He cleared his throat nervously. Whenever he looked in her eyes he was reminded of the saying 'she can smell fear'. "Oh, um..." Finally he summoned some confidence. "I'm thinking of doing duelling professionally, once I graduate."
"Really? You think you got what it takes?" Her tone was mocking.
He silently glanced at the other Ravenclaws, then back to Anna. "I think so."
"Have you ever been to duelling club before?"
"No."
"Have you ever been to a duelling match before?"
"No."
She crossed her arms incredulously. "Have you had any experience with competitive duelling?"
"I have dueled before, yes."
"But not competitively?"
He shrugged. "Not in the sense you're thinking of."
"So you what? Thought you could just waltz in here, in your second last year, and expect that out of all these skilled students, who have been doing this way longer than you have, you'll be chosen for the team?"
He nodded. "Never to late to try something new, right? Besides I think I've got what it takes." The students froze around him and Anna let out a single sharp laugh. Teddy felt his heart jump.
"I've seen you duel before, Wonder Boy. I was there last year when Potter was teaching in the Room of Requirement." She circled around him, remind him of a prowling lioness. "And I know for one you're a sloppy dueler."
Teddy narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me? Professor Flitwick said-"
"Please, as if any of the Professors in this school know as much about duelling as I do." She said whilst rolling her eyes. "I know what makes a great dueler. And you, don't have what it takes."
"What makes you say that?" He said.
She smirked. "You may know the right spells, Teddy, but you lack composure."
"Composure?" He turned around as she circled him, not letting her leave his sight.
"Spells aren't just something you cast and hope it works. Spells require composure, tranquility. If you don't relax and stay in your right state of mind you'll hesitate. And that's what you do Teddy, you hesitate."
"I don't hesitate-"
She held up a hand to silence him. "Your lack of composure also effects your quick thinking skills. Making you act without thinking and... well, it's a wonder you're still alive." She had stopped circling him and was walking back to the center of the room. "Sorry, but you're not what I'm looking for." Teddy stood still, his back straight and tense.
"Gimme a chance." She spun around slowly in surprise. "I may surprise you."
"Very little ever surprises me, Teddy." Her eyes scanned him one last time before she pulled out her wand, standing on the mat silently. She glared at Teddy sourly. "Well... come on! Wand out and on the mat. Best out of three."
Everyone watched as Teddy joined Anna on the duelling mat, pulling his wand from his wand holster. He swallowed the sick taste in his mouth and stared down at Anna, who was only about half his size. "Wands at the ready!" She yelled clearly and the two of them held their wands in front of their face. "Bow!" They both bowed, then turned around taking a few steps away from each other. Finally, the both turned around.
Anna confidentially and casually pointed her wand at him, Teddy did the same. "Three... Two... One... Locomotor Mortis!"
Teddy was caught off guard as suddenly his feet flew together, causing his to fall over with a thud. The Ravenclaws around him all burst out with laughter as he struggled to pull his feet apart. He looked up at Anna who was smiling down at him, her hands on her hip. "Go back to the Common Room, Teddy." She took a few steps away, leaving him lying on the mat.
"You said best out of three!"
"Just accept defeat, Wonder Boy."
"I want best out of three." He demanded through gritted teeth. Anna peered over her shoulder at him. She stood silently for a few minutes then pointed her wand at his feet. "Finite Incantatem." He finally stood up, his feet no longer sealed together. "Fine. You want another round? Let's go."
They repeated the same actions as earlier, standing on either end of the mat. "Three... Two... One..."
"Stupefy!" She flicked his spells away and shot a large ball of green flames in his direction. "Impedimenta!" The ball slowed down until it stopped midair.
"Expelliarmus!" She shouted and he jumped out of the way. The spell missed his hand but hit his hip, sending a numb pain up his side.
"Incarcerous!" He flourished his wand and long ropes shout out of his wand, wrapping around Anna's legs. She let out a small surprised yell as she stumbled and hit the mat hard. "How's that for quick thinking?" He said, tapping his wand against the palm of his hand as she untied her legs and stood up.
One last round. They were at a tie. "Three. Two. One." She said quickly. This time Anna went all out. White slash marks came down towards Teddy which he blocked. But more of them kept coming. Anna's hand was flicking so fast it was like a blur, yet her face was composed. Teddy grunted with each strike that he repelled. He was being push further back to the edge of the mat.
"Reducto!" He was able to push her back. He panted for a second then advance towards her. "Reducto! Reducto! Stupefy!" He shouted constantly. Now Anna was being forced back, she gritted her teeth, occasionally flicking a offensive spells in his direction. "Expel-"
"Everte Statum!"
Teddy gasped as he thrown backwards into the air, did a three sixty and the landed on his back on the other end of the mat, winded. He gasped to replace the air that'd been thrown out of his lungs. He blinked painful tears from his eyes and once again found the Duelling Captain standing above him. "Best out of three. Just like you wanted."
She offered him her hand, which he hesitantly took. "Have a nice day, Ted." She ruffled his hair, walking back to the other Ravenclaw students. He turned around defeated and walked to the large double doors. "Hey, Wonder Boy." He spun around, wincing at the aching feeling in his back. "Just then, when you fired that first Reducto curse."
He cocked his head slightly and nodded. She smiled achievingly. "You saw an opening and took it. That's what I'm looking for... too bad you let your guard down." His expression fell slightly further as he exited to the room. The door shut with a loud bang behind him. Freddie was outside and looked concerned when he saw his friend's face. "How'd it go?"
"Not good."