Chapter 9- Duelling and Disasters

Sure enough, as the girls were queued up outside the Defense classroom when the bell rang, Fin, Charlie, James and Fred came sprinting round the corner into their corridor and all slid to a stop outside Defense, all looking rather tousled and out of breath but they had made it in the nick of time at least.

As they all filed into the classroom a hush fell over the students as they were met by their professor, who was watching them as they came in with eyes of steel.

He definitely looked like a man not to be messed with and she saw Niamh visibly gulp next to her.

As they all took their seats, Annie sat down next to Niamh and the other all sat near by.

The Professor coughed from the front of the classroom, almost trying to quieten the already silent class.

"Welcome to 7th year, students, and welcome to 7th year Defense Against the Dark Arts" he said with a smile that never met his cold grey eyes.

"As most of you know my name is Professor Hythe and I am here to prepare you for the darker side of the world that we live in, a world that gives you no second chances, well unless you're Harry Potter" he said as his eyes flicked over to James, who rather than avoid his eyes, met the Professor's cold stare with a determined look, refusing to back down.

Professor Hythe's mouth twitched, almost amused by James's stubbornness and continued on.

"This year you will be pushed to your limits in duelling and your heads will be so full of counter curses you will get headaches"

Many of the students moaned, whilst Professor Hythe only smiled.

"So we may as well get started now then. For the first term you will be working in pairs on a project exploring Duelling, you shall need to eventually display an example of a perfect duel, which will have included research on duel law as well as curses and counter curses, and also strategy planning. I expect nothing less than perfection, and I am deciding to be lenient and let you pick your project partners."

Many of the class whooped and Niamh and Annie both looked at each other at the same time, silently deciding to be partners, whilst around them Fred and James were high-fiving, Fin and Alice had obviously decided to work together as it appeared they were already in deep conversation, and Charlie was flirting outrageously with a Hufflepuff girl who he had obviously partnered up with who was looking slightly flustered with her situation.

Professor Hythe coughed from the front of the classroom, immediately drawing everyone's attention back to him.

"Now although I said you could pick your own partners, I want to see whether you have chosen wisely and your partners match your duelling ability, or whether you have just picked your friends. So I want you all to have a short duel with your which I will monitor and if you are not matched in ability then I will alter your pairings."

The previous euphoria that had been in the room, went out as quickly as a flick of a light switch.

"Annie, just checking you're not incredible at duelling are you?" Niamh whispered in Annie's ear.

"I'm not bad at duelling but I wouldn't say i'm incredible" Annie whispered back and Niamh groaned and put her head in her hands.

"What?"

"Annie usually if you say you're not bad at something that means you're really really good, ugh your modesty is sometimes a pain" Niamh grumbled into the table which she currently appeared to be faceplanting.

"Really nim, I'm sure we'll be fine" Annie said reassuringly, but all the while her stomach was squirming as one by one, pairs were called up the front to duel.

Annie watched and assessed general ability before worriedly noting that the rest of her classmates were using spells that they had learnt awhile ago at Beauxbatons and her mother had already told her that she would be slightly ahead anyway.

One by one her friends were called up. Charlie went first, clearly not making much of an effort in attempts to win over the flustered hufflepuff's affections, who looked like she was getting more and more annoyed at Charlie's antics, whilst most of the class were laughing.

Next up was Fin and Alice, and both did everything with such precision that you couldn't fault them much, apart from the fact they were a little slow and there non verbal spell work was a little rusty, otherwise they made a great pair.

Next was Fred and James and Annie was surprised at their skill, they were clearly close to the top of the class in their ability and it was peculiar to see the boys being serious for once, each concentrating on the other. It made sense that they would be good though bearing in mind the family they came from. Fred looked to be slightly stronger than James though, annoyingly she couldn't fault him.

Then she heard Professor Hythe calling up her and Niamh's name, and she got up nervously, aware of everyone's eyes on her, as she was the unknown out of the whole class. As they took their positions she saw a slight reassuring smile from Niamh before she became serious. Annie smiled back then started to focus, think of it as a dance, she kept telling herself.

She opened her eyes and waited for Niamh to make the first move.

Niamh lunged forward and yelled "Expelliarmus!" which Annie easily blocked with a swish of her wand, her lips staying tightly sealed.

Niamh's eyes widened in surprise before sending a flurry of jinxes her way, each of which Annie blocked easily.

Niamh started to look flustered now, and as she raised her wand Annie quickly sent a Jelly legs jinx at Niamh which Niamh only just managed to block.

Annie was now on the offensive, and Niamh was working hard to block her, Annie's wand was flying through the air, twirling and swishing without stopping, her spells flying through the air towards Niamh.

Annie sent a final disarmament charm at Niamh, which sent her wand flying out of her hand.

Everyone clapped and cheered and Niamh after receiving her wand went over to Annie with a large smile all over her face.

"Well done Ann, you do know you're going to be helping me with Defense for the rest of the year now though right" Niamh chuckled, giving Annie a hug.

"You're not mad at me?" Annie said tentatively.

"No not at all, you were great, although we probably won't get to be partners now though".

Sure enough, Niamh was right.

After the last pair had finished, Professor Hythe coughed again, catching their attention.

"Well done, some of you were clearly stronger than others, and some people have a lot to work on" he said eyeing Charlie.

"So here are the changes, thankfully there aren't too many"

After reading three or four pair switchings out, he called "Fred Weasley".

"Yes sir?"

"Although you and James duel well together I'm not sure how much work you too will actually do if you work together, so I would like you to work with Miss Thomas and Potter I'd like you to work with Miss Finnegan".

Annie froze.

This was possibly the worst idea ever.

Annie looked over and saw Fred looking mutinous, and Niamh and James looked gutted they couldn't work with their partners.

Niamh gave Annie a small smile and a reassuring pat as she moved to swap seats with Fred.

Fred came and sat down next to her and he didn't even acknowledge her.

This was going to be a long term.