Chapter 18: Stupefy

"Alex! Focus!"

For the fifteenth times in the last three hours, Alex had failed to conjure the charm. Standing with his arm crossed, Randy looked on while observing her attempt. Out by the lake, Alex was pointing her wand at wooden dummy. She was trying to disarm the dummy but the dummy won every attempt. Just like her, Justin, Max and Harper were also paired up with someone as assigned by Dumbeldore.

"Come on Alex!" Randy clapped his hands once and watched. "1, 2, 3!"

Alex breathes out and aimed her wand at the dummy. "Stu-"

Her wand flew off her hand and hit the ground. Randy groaned. "Hey! No fair!" Alex shouted. "That thing didn't even give me a chance at all! This is bogus!"

"It's not the dummy's fault, it's you."Randy told her.

"Excuse me?" the rebel Russo quickly glared at the young Auror, finding his accusation a bit harsh.

"You're not concentrating, that's why." Randy added. Swiftly, he took off his jacket and pulled out his wand. "I keep telling you to concentrate on the target … Let me show you."

Alex feeling a bit irritated stepped aside and sat on a small hallow log while Randy moved to where she stood before, five meters away from the wooden dummy. Crossing her arms, she watched the Auror making his move. Randy stood still with his wand tightly clasped inside his right palm. He moved a little into a battle stance with his left shoulder facing the dummy and his right hand glued to his side.

The dummy moved up its wooden hand, ready to strike. Randy locked his eyes on the dummy and counted, "1, 2, and 3!"

The dummy waved its arm and casted a spell at Randy. In a speed of light, Randy stepped to the side and shouted, "Stupefy!"

The dummy fell backward to the ground.

Alex was impressed. "Wow…"

"Now, you get the idea?" Randy spoke out.

"Um, I think so…" Alex replied, feeling unsure. Randy sighed and then moved towards her.

"Come on, let's do it step by step…" The young Auror reached out to her and seized her hand. He pulled her to where he stood earlier. "Stand still…"

Alex stood there with the young Auror by her side, guiding her. With a swift wave of his wand, the dummy was now standing still ready to commence another attack. "Okay, focus on the dummy…"

"Got it…" Alex breathlessly replied. She looked at the dummy and locked her sight at it.

"Think of the spell before you cast it," Randy explained. Alex nodded.

Stupefy. Stupefy. Stupefy. Alex thought.

"Relax…" the young Auror whispered to her. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder while the other close to her hand. "Remember what I told you…"

"I got it…" she murmured.

She sighed.

"When I count to three…" Randy continued. "Kill it."

"Okay," Alex replied, feeling his breath against her neck.

Randy moved back away from her and then started counting, "1…"

Alex took a deep breath and concentrate. "2…" the young Auror continued. The dummy lifted up its wooden hand, ready to cast the spell.

"3!"

"Stupefy!!" Alex shouted, her wand perfectly aimed at the dummy. Instantly, the dummy fell backwards and its wand flew off its wooden hand.

"Brilliant!" Randy called out. "You did it!"

"Yeah…" Alex breathed out. "I did it. I did it! Yeah!" She started jumping up and down, cheering. "I did it! I did it! Take that dummy! Woo! Alex Russo did it! Yeah!"

"Calm down Alex, it's just a dummy…" Randy chuckled.

She laughed. "Who cares? I did it! Yeah!"

He laughed again. "Do you want to do that again?"

"Yes!" Alex quickly answered. "I'm ready!"

"Okay..." the young Auror chuckled as he watched Alex all ready and excited.