A Dungeon Duel
Hogwart's teaching staff were assembling in the teacher's lounge, taking a well warranted break of relaxation between having to preside at supper and correcting the piles of homework that never ceased to grow. At this rare respite from her many duties, McGonagall sat in an armchair, her eyes closed, sniffing the fragrant fumes of her hot tea which she cradled delicately in her hands.
"Does anyone know what happened to the sixth years?" questioned McGonagall to the room at large. "They were very distracted in Transfiguration today."
"In Charms too now that you mention it," added Flitwick.
"They acted normally enough in Muggle Studies this morning."
"Something must have happened in DADA with Severus," nodded Flitwick wisely. "It seemed to revolve around Eloise Midgeon. There was an odd tension between her and the rest of the class."
"Yes, I noticed that too," said McGonagall.
"She didn't even take notes, just spent the whole class staring into the blue. We were doing atmospheric charms today!" squeaked a distressed Flitwick.
"Do I sense favoritism Filius?" smiled McGonagall.
"We all have our favorites," he said. "Teaching wouldn't be as rewarding if there weren't a few passionate students."
Just then, Snape walked into the room.
"Ah, Severus!" said McGonagall, turning to him. "Could you perhaps elucidate the cause of the sixth years' unrest?"
He looked at them coldly before stating simply: "Aperio Vis Vires."
McGonagall dropped her tea in shock. The cup clattered to the floor, its shards flying across the room.
"What!" yelped Flitwick.
"We studied the Aperio Vis Vires spell in class today. There was a practical demonstration," said Snape indifferently.
McGonagall pinched her mouth into a thin line. "Am I to understand that you taught your students a Dark spell and then called them up individually to demonstrate in front of the other student?"
"It's hardly a Dark spell," scoffed Snape.
"Am I also right in suspecting that none of your Slytherins were called up to publicly expose their strength and weakness?" McGonagall frostily asked.
Snape stared icily back.
"While we may all know that the Aperio Vis Vires spell is not an accurate indicator of magical prowess, the students don't," piped in the Charms Professor in dismay. "In addition to teaching Dark Magic in this school, you've condemned some poor soul to ridicule!"
"This time you have gone too far Severus," said McGonagall now positively glacial. "Dumbledore will never accept this."
A knock was heard at the door.
The three Professors stood tensely facing each other. No one moved.
A second knock was heard.
Flitwick went to go answer, still glaring at Snape.
Zacharias, Rebecca, Mandy and Lisa were huddled outside the door. They all began talking at once.
"Please! I can't hear you all at the same time," begged Flitwick.
"Eloise has disappeared!" blurted Rebecca.
"She went off after charms and didn't show up at dinner," rushed on Lisa.
"We've searched everywhere! She's not in Hufflepuff tower, our study room or the Library; she hasn't been visiting Ravenclaw or Griffindor house; and no one has seen her on the grounds. She hasn't even visited the kitchens tonight!"
"And something in definitely wrong if Eloise skips a meal!"
"Last time she did something like this, she showed up with a broken arm babbling gibberish. We never found out what happened!"
"Don't you think it's a bit early to panic?" said Flitwick kindly. "Or is there some other factor of which I am yet unaware?"
The four students shifted uncomfortably before Mandy finally whispered: "Her Aperio Vis Vires didn't go very well. She was rather upset."
"It was very weak professor," added Lisa at her House Head's questioning look. "Barely a pale flickering brown."
The Charms Professor blinked in astonishment before regaining his cool. "If by midnight tonight she still hasn't returned, please inform me as well as Professor Sprout."
And as the door closed on the four worried friends, they could hear McGonagall and Flitwick rounding on Snape.
OoooooooooooooooooooO
That very moment, Eloise Midgeon was walking through a long forgotten section of the dungeons.
These passageways were deep underground, every sound echoed loud and clear, bouncing of the hard stone walls. Her breath misted in the dark air. She ran her hand along the moist walls.
She had come down after her classes of the day in order to think and had quite honestly lost all track of time. After DADA, she had been subjected to pity, scorn, derision and condescension. From people that she had outperformed in most of her classes no less! There simply had to be a way to mitigate this disaster.
"Well, well… If the weak little Mudblood hasn't come out to play," mocked a cold voice from behind her. "Quasso!"
Eloise had barely time to glance at her assailant, who was cast in shadows, before she was forced to twist out of the way of the incoming spell.
Taking out her wand, she yelled: "Stupefy!"
"Please. Even a squib could do better than that!" taunted the voice, as he easily conjured a shield.
The corridor was soon bathed in the light of the fast flying spells as Midgeon and her foe danced and darted out of the way. Their shadows appeared monstrous on the walls, flickering in and out of life as the curses sparked and died.
The hexes grew progressively more dangerous and violent as each struggled to gain advantage.
As a bone shattering curse singed her hair, Eloise decided she had had enough.
"Exuro bestia!" a beast of fire leapt out of her wand. It was an ancient dark hex, immune to water, cold and the absence of oxygen. It could only be stopped by the proper counter curse.
…Which her opponent obviously knew.
"Do you imagine I am so unlearned as to be fooled by that?" he jeered. "You call yourself a Hufflepuff yet use such big, bad curses?"
Eloise was tiring. She had to end it! Quickly!
"Ymber infeci lethargus!" she conjured small poisoned arrow and sent them flying at the shadow. Though they would not kill, a single scratch would paralyze the victim within seconds.
"Stop playing soft you weakling!" yelled her adversary, flicking stones from the walls to intercept the arrows.
"Just leave me alone, you bastard! There is no point to this! You'll be in trouble if you win or loose. Cut your losses and run!"
The shadow merely laughed.
"Expelliarmus! Protecto horribilis! Diffindo!" she cried desperately.
"Ego quinquiplico!" Suddenly, there was not one attacker but six identical ones.
Eloise faltered. Which was the right one? This was obviously some kind of reflection curse.
The world abruptly turned black and Eloise fell unconscious to the ground, caught at the last second by a spell that gently lowered her to the floor.
OooooooooooooooO
"Wakey! Wakey! Sleepy head!"
Midgeon blinked and sat up. She was lying in the same dungeon corridor that was now brightly lit. Zabini stood smiling at her.
"I knew you weren't a magical weakling!" he joyfully said, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"Wah?" was her very erudite response, as she looked around in confusion.
"Sorry about that whole mysterious attacker in the dark thing, but I had to know."
"It… It was you?" she stammered.
Zabini's are-you-stupid-? look confirmed her growing hunch.
"You… You… YOU IDIOT!" she screamed kicking out his legs from under him. "WHY DID YOU…?! HOW COULD YOU…?! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME!!!"
"And vice versa, may I add," muttered Zabini crossly, rubbing his elbow on which he had landed rather painfully.
"THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU WERE A CRAZED MADMAN!" she screeched, attempting to kick him again as he rolled out of the way.
"LOOK at the corridor! WHAT A MESS! We'll NEVER get away with this!" she continued to bellow waving her arms around frantically.
"Relax," said Zabini looking at the scorch marks and debris. "These old corridors are rarely used: by the time someone else walks by, our magical signatures will be long gone."
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!" she roared, launching herself at him.
"Petrificus Totalus," said Blaise calmly.
Eloise's limbs snapped together and she teetered backwards to the floor. Zabini didn't soften her fall this time.
"Listen," he said rather annoyed. "After that little stunt you pulled in DADA, I had to know your real strength. The Zabinis do not associate with those who are feeble. If you had proved yourself unworthy, I would have been forced to discontinue my dealings with you. How did you manage to modify the Aperio Vis Vires spell anyway? I thought it was impossible. And most importantly: why?"
He grabbed her wand before partially lifting the hex.
"You mean why did I present myself as pathetically weak bait? An easy hit? When there is absolutely no advantage to doing so. When in a small close-knit community, like that of Magical Britain, it can severely handicap my future career – which is already severely disadvantaged by prejudice and a lack of contacts. When it sends a loud message to the hyena-like Death Eaters that I am one of the weakest and easiest animals in the pack to bump off? To stay inconspicuous, to stay average would have been the smart thing to do - there is safety in numbers. I didn't modify the spell you nitwit!"
"So the spell actually did show you to be an almost squib and the show of surprise was genuine," said Zabini, scrutinizing her.
"YES! Now as much as I am flattered by the fact that you think I have total control of my life and plan every second of it, could you please give me back my wand?"
"So how are you going to regain the respect and indifference of our classmates?" asked Blaise.
Eloise stood and brushed off her robes as she disclosed her newly concocted scheme. "As mush as I dislike Griffindor tactics, I think it may be the only way out of my present dilemma. To prove that I am no weakling, I need to be set upon in a very public place. Any other feat of magic would not have as grand an effect as a duel. Everyone is singularly impressed by them. Merlin knows why! But I must use what I can to my advantage. The attacker will have to be a Slytherin, so as not to gain the hatred of the rest of the school. They will have to be reasonably strong but not overtly so – I want to appear average, not gifted. And let's face it, if they're as good as you they'll beat me to a pulp and that would defeat the purpose – wouldn't it? It has to be someone who will not hold a grudge; someone whose defeat will not be felt with shame by their house; someone not directly connected to the Death Eaters. I need to defeat someone very publicly while appearing respectfully average and not incurring anyone's wrath."
"That's quite a list of conditions," smirked Zabini. "And I may just know someone who fits the bill."
"In that case, I may just forgive you." Eloise smiled back.
Hehe, the plot should pick up from here. Does Zabini seem realistic or do I need to spend some extra time fleshing him out?
Once again, a very heartfelt plea: Review!