Beta: AriArlene [friend of mine, and not through the beta service]
Original Release Date: 6/21/15
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Chapter Twenty Seven – Dueling Club
"Now Hagrid, there are quite a slow of reasons for why your roosters are dying-" begins Dumbledore.
"I never saw anything tha' kills this way before, headmaster" replies Hagrid gruffly.
"Hagrid, let's worry about this another day" states Dumbledore, clearly ending the conversation.
/*elsewhere*/
Turning the twenty sided die pendent over and over in his hands, Harry remarks, "Sirius gave me this last night while I was in the hospital. But I don't know what it does."
"Harry, what if there isn't special about it? What if it is just a gift?" states Hermione over the book she is reading.
"Perhaps you're right" replies Harry, awkwardly attempting to place the pendant around his neck, the D20 connected to a plain looking black cord by a neatly twisting metal which holds the D20.
Seeing him struggle for multiple moments, Ginny gets up and deftly connects the cord behind Harry's neck.
"Thanks."
Sitting back in her seat, Ginny smiles and replies, "No problem."
"At least you're alright after that bludger kept coming after you-"begins Hermione.
"Until Lockhart decided to intervene" adds Neville.
/*roughly a week before Christmas*/
Crossing the Entrance Hall to get to their next class, Hermione veers off towards a small group of people standing around a notice board. Waiting until Hermione gets back from the notice board, Neville asks curiously, "What's so interesting over there?"
Pausing to take a breath, Hermione explains, "There is an official looking piece of parchment stating that starting tonight that a dueling club will be taking place in the Great Hall."
Nodding his head in acceptance, Neville turns to Harry and asks, "What do you think?"
"Remus did say that we should seek out opportunities to continue our magical education outside of the classroom. Might teach us something we don't already know" replies Harry before continuing towards his next class.
Later that evening, throngs of students begin entering the Great Hall, with a golden platform in the center of the hall.
"I wonder who will be leading this" muses Harry just loud enough for Neville, Ron, and Hermione to hear him.
"I understand Professor Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was younger" states Hermione, constantly looking around, hoping to find out their dueling teacher.
"As long as it isn't Professor Snape or " begins Harry before seeing Lockhart walk up onto the stage, " Lockhart" finishes Harry, groaning as Lockhart walks onto the stage.
Removing his cloak with a flourish, Lockhart carelessly throws is into an awaiting crowd of girls, each clambering to own something of Lockhart's.
Holding his hands in the air, the room quickly becomes quiet before Lockhart announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have been granted permission to hold this Dueling Club by the Headmaster, in order to help educate you outside of covered material in class."
Motioning towards a sour looking Snape, Lockhart continues, "And tonight my assistant will be none other than Professor Snape. And don't worry, he will still be holding Potions classes after this lesson", before chuckling lightly.
Turning to the still sour looking Snape, Lockhart takes a deep bow while announcing, "The first part of a duel is to bow to your opponent" before returning to his normal posture.
Both Snape and Lockhart change stances to holding their wand like one would hold a sword. "Next is to hold your wand in the accepted position, and on the count of four, we will both cast our spell, not intending to hurt each other."
Reaching the count of four, both Lockhart and Snape utter their spell, but with apparent expertise, Snape's spell sends Lockhart zooming across the stage, right into the wall. Seconds tick by slowly as Lockhart doesn't move from his resting position, finally causing clapping and cheering as he shakily gets to his feet.
"And that was a spectacular Disarming Charm, Professor Snape. Perhaps it is time to move to partnering up and have the students practice in pairs" suggests a still unsteady Lockhart.
Lockhart and Snape disperse through the students pairing them up. Reaching Harry, Neville, Ron, and Hermione first, Snape smirks before saying, "Mr. Potter, you will not be dueling Miss Weasley there", causing the quartet to look to the side and see Ginny standing right beside Harry, "Mr. Potter, you will be practicing with…Mr. Malfoy. Miss Granger, you shall practice with Miss Bulstrode. Miss Weasley, you shall pair up with Miss Bones, and Mr. Longbottom, you shall be with Mr. Finnigan."
Having paired everyone up, Snape joins Lockhart back on the stage and Lockhart announces, "On the count of five, you will each cast a Disarming Charm, and only a Disarming Charm."
Bowing their heads, everyone waits as Lockhart counts upwards, reaching four when Harry notices a change in Malfoy's stance, and mutters, "Protego" just before Malfoy's 'Expelliarmus' hits him. Angered by not hitting Harry, Malfoy issues forth a plethora of spells and charms, as Harry simply moves left and right, causing the spells to hit the wall roughly ten feet behind him.
"STOP! Stop I say!" shouts Lockhart, a sight to see with a reddened face, hair still slightly out of place from his short demonstration with Snape.
"It is time to demonstrate how to BLOCK incoming spells" announces Lockhart to the entire room.
"Why not have Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy as a demonstration pair?" suggests Snape, smirking.
Clearly excited, Lockhart claps his hands together and replies, "Professor Snape, what an excellent idea."
Walking onto the stage, Harry feels a slight tingling sensation on the back of his neck, putting the thought to the back of his mind as he separates his feet shoulder width apart, left foot just a bit closer to Draco than the right one. Bowing, Harry keeps watch on Draco over his glasses to make certain that Draco wouldn't be early off the mark. Finishing the countdown, Lockhart isn't given an opportunity to instruct on how to cast a shielding charm, a thought that should have occurred to him earlier, before Draco and Harry begin casting spells.
"Expelliarmus" shouts Draco in rapid succession before Harry just side steps the oncoming spells, walking slowly and ever closer to Draco at the same time. Making it halfway across the stage, Harry pauses as Draco smirks before casting a spell, causing a very long and black snake to appear between them.
Hearing the snake hiss, Harry somehow understands its speech, "Ssssstay away."
Replying in kind, Harry says, "I mean you no harm."
"Really? You are human, but ssssshow me kindness?"
Smiling, Harry offers his left hand out to the snake, which slithers up his arm, curling around Harry's neck loosely. Raising his wand to an offensive position, Harry asks calmly, "Would you like to continue, Draco?"
Snarling angrily, Draco begins fervently casting spells in which Harry simply blocks with shield charms. After a few minutes, Draco casts one last 'Expelliarmus', before Harry casts 'Protego Duo', causing Draco's spell to rebound and slam him into the wall behind him.
Turning to the student body, Harry bows before exiting the stage to rejoin his Gryffindor friends.
"Harry, I think we should get back to the common room and contact Sirius, Remus, and Amelia" states Neville, concerned look on his face.
Getting back to the common room, Neville escorts Harry, Ron, and Hermione into practice potions lab, before locking the door.
"Harry, you know as well as I that most witches and wizards can't talk to snakes. You probably didn't see it, but there were many students with a look of confusion and fear on their face. You need to let Sirius, Remus, and Amelia know about this" states Neville.
Exhaling loudly and running his hands through his voluptuous hair, Harry nods his head and begins the video call.
Reclining in her favorite armchair, Amelia is interrupted by the sound of screeching electric guitars followed by a voice announcing "Harry Potter requesting video call on line one" before repeating itself ten seconds later.
Hearing the muffled sound of explosions and the house shaking a bit, Amelia sighs before getting up and crossing the room to answer the Omni Play nearest to her.
"Harry, is there something wrong? And why is there a snake around your neck" inquiries Amelia before taking a sip of tea.
"I think that I'm a Parselmouth" blurts out Harry, sheen of sweat visible on his forehead.
"Why do you think that, Harry?" asks Amelia calmly.
"Because I was dueling Draco Malfoy at the Dueling Club this evening, he conjured a snake, and I can understand him. But no else understands Winston" explains Harry, mind somewhat in a tizzy.
Sipping at her tea for a few moments, Amelia asks, "Do you have any more exams before the break?"
Shaking his head, Harry replies, "No, I do not."
"Then pack for the break, I hope to arrive with Sirius and—" a louder explosion reverberates throughout the house interrupting Amelia before she continues, "And Remus within an hour. Or it may just be me, seeing as those two are causing such a commotion downstairs."
Contacting Susan, Amelia briefly explains and offers a choice, "You can stay at Hogwarts and come home on the train, or you can pack and come with me home."
Hesitantly, Susan answers, "What about just staying here for the break?"
"Does this have anything to do with Harry and the snake?" asks Amelia.
A pause in the conversation causes Amelia to sigh before continuing, "Susan, Harry isn't evil, even if it turns out he can talk to snakes. Has he done anything else that makes you think questionably about him?"
"…No…" replies Susan quietly.
Smiling, Amelia says in a friendly tone, "Then come home for the break, and we can talk this out there, alright?"
"Alright. But can I stay a few more days with my friends and come home on the train?" inquiries Susan with baited breath.
Pausing to briefly think, Amelia nods her head and says, "I will see you in a few days then", before ending the call. Taking a deep breath, Amelia calls for Kreacher, having him pop into vision seconds later.
"How may Kreacher be of assistance?" speaks Kreacher in his raspy tone.
"Kreacher, please go to Hogwarts and attempt to pass through their wards and assist him in gathering his things."
Wordlessly Kreacher disappears with barely a sound. Hearing more explosions coming from the workshop, Amelia sighs before gathering her cloak and hastily, yet still neatly, write a note about her whereabouts, before disappearing out the front door and away to Hogsmeade.
/*at Hogwarts*/
"Thank you, Kreacher. I think that will be all" states Harry, looking at his packed trunk and broomstick over his shoulder.
"Shall Kreacher fetch Amelia then?" asks Kreacher.
"If you don't mind" replies Harry, giving the room one last look.
Nearing the edge of the wards, Amelia slows down to observe any changes as she walks through and towards the castle. Reaching the double doors into the castle, Amelia notes the lack of any interference, and continues inside. Strolling through the hallways after curfew, Amelia makes it to Professor McGonagall's office without spotting a single teacher, not even the caretaker. Knocking on the door, Amelia stands back waiting for a response.
Roughly twenty seconds later Professor McGonagall opens the door, facial expression changing to confusion.
"Minerva, do you mind if I come in and talk briefly?" inquiries Amelia.
Opening the door wider, Professor McGonagall replies, "Certainly. What brings you about this time of night?"
Sitting down in the offered chair, Amelia thanks Professor McGonagall quietly before saying more boldly, "I have been contacted by Harry, indicating concern over some looks he received after supposedly speaking to a snake, even offering it a position around his neck."
Eyes widening, Professor McGonagall replies, "This is the first I've heard of this. What is the concern persay?"
"The concern that some of the students might not like to be around him, if he can truly speak with snakes. I'd like to take him and his belongings with me tonight in preparation of the break between terms."
"That is reasonable I believe. I don't think the Headmaster would mind either" begins Professor McGonagall before a silvery Phoenix appears in the room and Dumbledore's voice speaks gravely, "All staff to the Hospital Wing. We have another student petrified."
"I'm glad that I am here" states Amelia, exiting the office in a hurry.
Arriving at the Hospital Wing, Amelia spots Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey conversing in low tones over a nearby bed. Walking near to Dumbledore, Amelia waits for the conversation and Dumbledore to walk away from the now curtained off bed before asking, "Headmaster, on the off chance that I was here speaking with Professor McGonagall, I heard your message about another student being petrified."
Stroking his beard, Dumbledore replies, "Ah, Director Black, what a fortuitous time for you to visit Hogwarts. If you don't mind, I would like to wait until the other professors arrive before divulging any information."
Five minutes later with all of the professors standing in an arc formation around Dumbledore, he speaks gravely, "As I said, another student has been petrified, but alas I can not figure out the pattern. First Mrs. Norris, Colin Creevey, and now" begins Dumbledore before sliding the curtains back, causing everyone to gasp in shock, "Draco Malfoy."
Stepping forward, Snape states, "Headmaster, I wish to be the one who brings this grave news to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. I…believe that they would take the news better than if someone else delivered it."
Author note: Thanks for waiting such a long time for an update. I was busy with finishing my last semester in college, and I now I have my Bachelors of Science in Computer and Information Technology. :D [it also didn't help that after graduation that I was applying for jobs and then spending like 5+ hours a day on my new Xbox One]. Also, happy father's day to any fathers or soon to be fathers out there reading this! And happy belated Mother's Day out there to any mothers who have been reading.