orry that last chapter was a bit short...but I'm evil and when I wrote that last line I just had to post it like that. This one is :( also shorter than I would have liked, but in a half an hour I'm going to be gone for 2 weeks without wifi, so no post's until then. it has a little surprise and I'm super sorry I was going to combine with QUIDDITCH and Halloween which people have been eager for but I didn't have the time to write it, I promise right when I get back. Also it sort of jumps right in. Sorry about that. I own nothing, please review, or PM me any questions concerns compliments and enjoy chapter 13 of SCORPIUS MALFOY IN RED AND GOLD (The title chapter is coming up in the next three) Also a shout out to millyvanillyofthevalleywithout her, the conventions would be worse :)
However something happened the next week to make Scorpius forget all about the second corridor in the dungeons, Professor Yaxley announced in Defense Against the Dark Arts that they were ready to duel, something they'd been dying to do every since they'd seen her make Professor Basil's ears steam.
"Dueling is an important part of every wizards education, and even more so since the war of 1998, in which over 100 Hogwarts students fought in the battle of Hogwarts. Though the dark wizard known as Voldemort-" Scorpius flinched. His family didn't talk about the dark lord, at least that was what Grandfather called him. But he knew that when someone said that name he felt a chill down his spine, like someone was watching him. Scorpius shook his head, professor Yaxley was still talking. "-increasingly important that young witches and wizards be educated." Al gulped. Scorpius looked over at him curiously.
"You alright?" He asked, because Al looked very queasy.
"Yeah," Al answered in a voice much higher than his normal one, "But I'm rubbish at dueling. Me and James tried once with mum's wand, I couldn't even manage to dodge a couple gold sparks."
"But you hadn't even been to school yet," Scorpius reasoned. "Maybe you'll be better now-" He trailed off. The entire classroom had gotten very quiet, and professor Yaxley's sharp black eyes were fixed on him.
"Mr. Malfoy," she said sharply. "Could you tell us the incantation for a basic shield charm?" Roses hand shot into the air. Scorpius racked his brain, shields, he was sure he'd read about it if only...
"Protego," he said quickly. The corner of Professor Yaxley's lip twitched, Rose lowered her hand, looking a bit put out.
"Good Mr. Malfoy. Please refrain from personal conversations with Mr. Potter in the future, however pressing they may be." Scorpius blushed furiously, but Professor Yaxley had already turned back to the class.
"I am aware there has already been a demonstration in this subject, but I've brought in Professor Flitwick to give an example of what a duel should look like. We will then split up into pairs to practice."
The class broke out in murmurs. Rose leaned in to the two of them.
"Isn't Flitwick a bit, well, old to duel?" Al gave an awkward sort of shrug and held his stomach. Scorpius frowned.
"I don't know if anyone stands a chance against Yaxley-" Suddenly there was a loud cough from the front of the room. Professor Flitwick stood a few yards from Yaxley, who was staring at the class expectantly. Rose was waving her hand desperately in the air.
"Does anyone but Miss Weasley know how a wizards duel typically begins?" She glanced around, her lip curling. "No one? How about Mr. Potter?" Scorpius looked over at Al who was still staring at the desk.
"Al," he muttered nudging the dark haired boy.
"Bow." Al said quietly, "You bow."
"A bit simple but technically correct," Said Professor Yaxley. The two Professors turned to face eachother again and bowed, at least Flitwick did, with an odd sort of flourish of his hands, whereas Yaxley nodded slowly. They then raised their wands, wielding them like swords. Yaxley turned to face the silent class.
"We are holding our wands at the generally accepted combative position. On the count of three we will cast our spells, the first wizard to disarm their opponent will be victorious, though in a traditional duel, we would battle to the death."
"From the look on Yaxley's face I wouldn't bet on that," Scorpius whispered to Rose, but she shooed him away with her hand, her eyes locked on Flitwick and Yaxley.
"One-two-three-"
Both swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponents; Yaxley cried: "Expelliarmus!" at the same time Flitwick yelled "Protego!" A shot of red light soared towards the tiny wizard. Scorpius cringed, but the light didn't hit Flitwick, it bounced off an invisible barrier and turned on Yaxley who ducked it easily.
"Rictusempra!" The jet of silver light flew towards Yaxley who sidestepped it easily, she opened her mouth to counter but Flitwick was to quick.
"Avis!" A stream of gray birds launched from Flitwicks wand.
"Expulso!" Yaxley screamed, and the birds exploded in a puff of smoke. Scorpius leaned over his desk, his eyes flickering between the two professors.
"Furnunculus!" The spell hit Flitwick squarely in the chest. Boils sprouted from his skin, Flitwick let out a low growl.
"Tarantallegra!" Yaxley stepped awkwardly over herself,momentarily losing her balance.
"Incarcerous!" Thin white ropes sprouted around Yaxley, pinning her arms to her sides.
"I don't believe it," Rose muttered, "Flitwick's won." Sure enough a jet of red light shot from Flitwick's wand, and Yaxley's soared through the air. Flitwick did an odd sort of jump and caught it, tossing it back to Yaxley. She muttered something under her breath and the ropes disappeared. She turned back to the class. Scorpius glanced around, everyone was staring wide-eyed at professor Flitwick who was tapping the boils with his wand.
"That is what a full scale wizards duel looks like. As you are only first years, you will not be able to manage much more than a few minor hexes. In fact, I think we should have two demonstrators to show more of what you will be doing." She glanced around the room. "No volunteers?" She said, raising her eyebrows. "Malfoy! Le Feuvre!" She barked. A tall Ravenclaw boy with dark shaggy hair walked towards the front.
"Scorpius," Rose nudged him. The class was staring at him expectantly. Scorpius pressed his feet to the ground, slowly pushing himself up from his desk and hurried over to Yaxley. Why me? Scorpius thought. Out of the whole class, why did she have to pick me? Looked down at his toes, and then glanced quickly up at the other students. The Ravenclaws were eyeing him shrewdly, the Gryffindor's grinning. He spotted Rose, who gave him a quick thumbs up, his heart skipped a beat, he felt braver.
"Face one another," Professor Yaxley ordered. Scorpius turned to Le Feuvre, he looked awfully big...
"Wands up!" Scorpius raised his wand, mimicking professor Yaxley.
"On three." She said sharply.
"Scared?" The Ravenclaw boy snarled. Scorpius wanted very badly to say yes.
"In your dreams."
"One-" His mind was racing. Just think. What did Flitwick do?
"Two-" Scorpius' hand steadied, Le Feuvre eyes narrowed.
"Three!" Scorpius saw Le Feuvre wave his arm. Think.
"PROTEGO!" A jet of red let soared towards him, Scorpius squeezed his eyes shut prepared for the impact, but it never came. The spell bounced off his invisible shield and hit Le Feuvre in the chest. The ravenclaw boy's eyes widened and his legs started to dance uncontrollably. Scorpius opened his eyes and grinned. This was easy, this was fun.
"Avis!" Scorpius yelled, remembering Flitwicks bird spell. It half worked. One very large yellow bird burst out of his wand and soared towards Le Feuvre, talons bared. Le Feuvre tried to swat it away,but this bird scratched at his hand leaving a thin gash across his palm.
"Incendio!" Le Feuvre screeched and the bird burst into flame.
"Immobulus!" Scorpius saw the the silver light soar towards him. He lept to the side missing it by an inch. You're off balance. He thought, you're going to fall; do something! Scorpius racked his brain. The Ravenclaw boy was smirking. He thinks he's won; he'll be slow. Use it!" He thought back. There was a spell, a spell his father had cast on a muggle boy who'd wandered into the manner. It had been awful, Scorpius had had to help the boy out of the bushes in the night so his parents wouldn't see. Focus, he thought desperately, you've heard it before. What was the-
"LEVICORPUS!" He yelled, the Ravenclaw boy's eyes widened. Just as he waved his wand to counter he was hoisted into the air by his ankle, his robes falling over his head.
"Expelliarmus!" Scorpius yelled quickly, and the boys wand flew out of his robes, and into Scorpius' outstretched hand.
Scorpius grinned turning towards the crowd. The first years were staring at him dumbstruck, Scorpius' cheeks reddened.
"I, er," he muttered. "Sorry." Suddenly Al spoke up.
"Don't apologize mate! That was bloody brilliant!"
And the room burst into applause.
"Mr. Malfoy!" Scorpius' grin faded, he turned back to professor Yaxley. "See me after class." Scorpius nodded numbly. "And you would do well to return Mr. Le Feurve's wand," Scorpius blushed and tossed the wand towards the Ravenclaw boy, who had stumbled to his feet.
"We will now practice dueling in pairs. Because we are so crowded please aim only to disarm." The class shifted uncomfortably."Well go on then!" Yaxley barked. Scorpius rushed over to Al and Rose, catching their eyes, the three made their way to the corner.
"How on earth did you manage that?" Rose asked incredulously. Scorpius shrugged.
"It was easy. I learned the," he winced, "the Levicorpus spell from my father."
"I thought you were done for when you fell mate," Al said earnestly, "But that was bloody incredible." Scorpius frowned.
"I'm sure either of you could have done it, Le Feuvre wasn't very fast" But Rose shook her head.
"It didn't have anything to do with Le Feuvre. You just sort of," she shrugged. "I don't know how to describe it. It was like you knew exactly what he was about to do."
"Malfoy! Potter! Weasley!" Yaxley barked. "As I mentioned early in the class please refrain from your personal conversations however interesting they may be!"
"Sorry professor!" Al called out with what was obviously meant to be a winning smile. Scorpius snorted.
"Nice one Al." Al looked confused.
"What have I done?"
"Only-"
"NOT THIS AGAIN!"
They practiced back and forth for the next hour, with Scorpius managing to disarm Al and Rose every time.
"How are you doing that!" Rose asked after a particularly quick defeat. Scorpius shrugged.
"You've just got to anticipate-"
"But I am!" Rose said sounding frustrated.
Suddenly the bell sounded.
"Class dismissed!" Yaxley yelled eyeing him. Scorpius waved Al and Rose out the door.
"I'll catch you at dinner!" Rose nodded worriedly. Yaxley coughed. "Mr. Malfoy?" Scorpius made his way to her desk, suddenly feeling as though his stomach was swelling up very uncomfortably.
"Yes professor?" He said trying to sound uncaring. Yaxley snorted.
"Merlin boy! You're not in trouble," Scorpius relaxed. "Was that the first time you've been in a wizards duel? He nodded slowly.
She smiled. "Come with me." Scorpius' heart raced, had he said something wrong? Did she think he was lying?
Professor Yaxley took him up several flights of stairs and down a corridor. Was he going to be expelled? Scorpius hadn't tried to beat the Ravenclaw boy, it had just had been, natural. Scorpius imagined going back to the manner and telling his father he'd been kicked out after the first month. He shuddered, he'd rather be Hagrids assistant.
Yaxley stopped abruptly. They'd come to a rather large statue of a gargoyle, it's stone mouth twisted in a gruesome smile. Scorpius felt a chill down his spine, it was as though the gargoyle was watching him through it's cold eyes.
"Sherbert lemon!"
Scorpius started, glancing over at Professor Yaxley who was peering intently at the gargoyle as though she was waiting for an answer. She's lost it, Scorpius thought numbly, looking back at Yaxley. Suddenly there was a loud sound like stone grinding on wood. Scorpius jumped and turned on his heel, his jaw dropping as he saw what she was looking at. Were the stone gargoyle had been a moment ago was a spiral staircase, twisting up farther than he could see.
Professor Yaxley was staring at him expectantly from the third step. Scorpius blushed and followed her up.
I hope you enjoyed it even though it's rather short. See you in two weeks!