"Boot and Cooper, Coroner and DeLance, Long and Black, Hernandez and Zambini, Bell and Malfoy, and Riddle and Micheals, my two best duelers! Okay, we can now begin with the first 5 duels, then we can see where the standings are...Revalee and Bones, your up!" Professor Berrati barked with a mischievous smile on his face.
Both teens took cautious steps up to the platform which Berrati had placed there for the duel. Hermione figured that this wouldn't last too long. They both looked too embarrassed to even be up there!
It started off well enough, Revalee sending a Leg Locking Jinx and Bones blocking it. It really didn't get much more interesting than that. It came out with Revalee finally disarming Bones.
Arnold Boot and Prince were up next. It was sad to say that Arnold really didn't even stand a chance, Prince was quick. Hermione absent-minded-ly wondered if he was in Tom's little group.
The next three duels went overly quick. Smith beat Renot with some respective spells, and Steen and Goyle lasted for 5 minutes until Steen cast and upside-down curse on Goyle and disarmed her. Tom was right, she should definitely watch out of Alice's hexes and apparently Patil should too, because she sent three different hexes in a flash of light and Patil was on her back with flowers coming out of her mouth.
"The standings so far are Revalee, Prince, Smith, Steen and Shoemaker! Nice wand work guys...Now, next we have Amy Boot and Cooper! Go on up!"
Cooper seemed to have an arrogant air about her. Which worked well to her advantage, because Amy seemed to be a tad bit intimidated. It was a good duel overall, Cooper accidentally sent a small cutting curse towards Amy and while she was distracted with the blood coming out of her cheek Amanda disarmed her.
Hermione was up next. Tom gave her a calculating glare, as if trying to predict what she was going to do. Jesse gave her a small wink before they were asked to bow.
"Stupefy!" Coroner yelled quickly, Hermione deflected it with a flick of her wrist.
"Impedimenta!" He shouted, once again Hermione deflected it.
"Incario! Rectusempra! Levicorpus!" Hermione was able to deflect the last two spells with a loud shout of 'Protego!', but she was momentarily surrounded by a wall of flames that was closing in on her quickly.
She swept her wand around in a circle as if to collect the flame, and whipped it towards Jesse, whom had a smug smile across his face. He jumped out of the way in time, but not before he could suffer a burn on his right shoulder.
He gave her a hard look, that was when Hermione decided she should end this now, before it got serious.
"Indietro!" She shouted, and Jesse was swept backward off the table. She took a quick glance at the Professor to see if he was going to say anything for her using an alledged 'Dark Curse', but he didn't and she gave time for Jesse to stand back up.
"Serpansortia!" He yelled and a beautiful Cobra coming zooming out of his wand.
Tom gave a weird start in his seat Hermione noticed. Parstletongue! Oh yes. I wonder if it will hurt his feelings if I dispose of it. Hm. Hermione pointed her wand at the snake and it was gone with a 'poof'.
She was honestly tired of this so with another flick of her wand and a silent murmur of Indietro and Expelliarmus, Jesse had flown backwards and had his wand flying towards Hermione's outstretched hand.
"Voiceless spells, I hardly noticed any of you so far using them. And you were supposed to learn them last year...well. DeLance won. So, whose next Long and Black, then Hernandez and Zambini, Malfoy and Bell, then finally Riddle and Micheals!"
Hermione scowled at the pretty-boy teacher as he clearly loved Tom and the cheeky Ravenclaw lad.
It's weird how the Slytherins have been taught differently than that of other houses. They all seem to have learned any possible harming spell when they were mere children. When Black dueled against Long, it was pitiful, though Long did use those noble spells, Black went dirty, and used spells that most 7th years weren't supposed to know until they entered adulthood.
Zambini is as talented as his looks are good. He seemed to be one of the more level headed Slytherins. One, because he didn't attack early. Two, because he bowed in the beginning, and three, he actually gave Hernandez a chance. Andy would knock Rupert off his feet, then give him time to stand back up, before knocking him down again. The duel could of honestly been over with in 2 minutes, but maybe it was just Zambini being sadistic, maybe he liked to see someone get knocked down, just to stand up and get knocked down again.
He had an odd grace about him. Alluring...maybe. Hm, maybe his mother is a Veela? That sure would do it.
The Professor eventually called the duel, and reprimanded Andy about when they are down, just take the wand and get it over with.
Malfoy was up next, Hermione was seriously hoping this Renee Bell girl would win. And it seemed she could. She had a determined look upon her face, and stood with power in her stance.
Malfoy's first strike was a Stinging Hex. Hermione winced, that was not a good one to be on the receiving end of. It felt like you were being burned and stabbed while someone rubs salt in your wound...
Malfoy obviously went for her eyes, but missed and got her cheek, which was bleeding perfusely.
Renee was more powerful than what she thought, because she whipped around and sent Abraxis flying backwards then lit his robes a-fire. Then she Accio'd his wand.
"Well, well! Malfoy...Bell, good duel. I see you have been reading Ms. Bell...excellent! Now, for our two best so far. Tom Riddle and Raul Micheals! Come on boys...I can't wait to see how you've been improving!" Said the Professor enthusiastically.
After around 10 minutes of dueling, several desk destroyed, a bloody nose, and a scream, Tom came out victorious.
It was amazing. Honestly, the best duel she had ever watched. Micheals was great, to say the least, but Tom was better...and to think, she had beaten him already.
Absolutely no 'Dark' curses. He didn't use one! All spells he has read about in the Library or ones he came up with on his own. Micheals was different, he flaunted his knowledge of the bad curses to everyone, and instead of firing back, Tom would send a desk flying in its path.
Outstanding.
You could obviously tell Micheals didn't like this type of dueling, because he kept yelling, 'Show them Riddle! Show them what you know!' Tom gave him the worst of looks, and Hermione was surprised to see that Raul didn't back down. Tom eventually hit him with an Impedimenta and a Stupefy within quick succession and Raul was sent sprawling on the floor.
"Amazing! Tom, I am so proud! Micheals, you did well, maybe next time," Hermione didn't think Raul heard him, for he had just got up and was swaying on the spot, "Well, here are the standings everyone!"
"We have Bell of Gryffindor with One! Riddle and Black of Slytherin with One! Zambini and DeLance of Slytherin with One!" Andy gave Hermione a quick, sweet smile. "Cooper and Smith of Gryffindor with One! Shoemaker and Steen of Ravenclaw with One! Prince of Slytherin with One, and Revalee of Gryffindor with One!"
He gave the class a large, proud smile.
"Now, for those of you who did not win, practice and maybe during the second duel this Christmas you can take over someone else's title. Alright, now for the house standings, we have Ravenclaw with 2, Gryffindor with 4, and Slytherin with 5. Maybe next time Hufflepuff! Now, all you can leave. I'll post next weeks duelers tomorrow."
Hermione hung back as to avoid a certain someone. Everyone was talking about how the Slytherins cheated and how they had help from the other side of the room. Now she knew exactly how Draco and the rest of the Slytherins felt. For one of the only good things they do, they get chastized for it. For no bloody reason! It makes her wonder if they are just jealous, and caused her to think back to her Hogwarts if she was ever jealous.
Well, in Snape's classes I was. But that was just favoritism. And I guess, I was sort of jealous that Malfoy could have his father do whatever he wanted. But that doesn't change anything! Draco is dead, and that bastard Lucius stole Ron!
Hermione felt the anger rise in her cheeks as she stormed out of the DADA classroom. She ignored all of the glances and such that she got as she made her way back to her dormitory. She definitely didn't want to proceed with the duel. Eventually there would be no one from any other houses left in the duel, and she'd have to take on someone from her own house.
Hermione decided to skip lunch and head up the the transfiguration tower early. She started on her Arithmancy homework. That class was probably going to be her hardest. These ruins were even more ancient than the ones she used to learn about.
Transfiguration went by quickly. Absolutely nothing happened, except for Dumbledore giving an extremely boring lecture.
"Mione!" Tom yelled as he was trying to catch up with her after class. "Can I walk you to dinner? I noticed that you weren't at lunch..."
Hermione gave him a half-smile. Tom was confusing. She didn't know what to think of his kindness, and when he was rude she expected it. She honestly didn't know him. Maybe...maybe this is how he really was...nice? Maybe he just had a temper...ugh!
"Sure Tom..." He gave her a grateful smile and linked her arm through his.
The whole while to the Great Hall was spent in a comfortable silence, until Zambini came bounding up behind them.
"Oi, Hermione! Do wait a moment!" Hermione turned around to wait for Andy.
She had expected Tom to give them some bit of privacy, but no, he stayed there, with his arm still wrapped around hers.
"Er, hello Hermione, hello Tom. Um, a word, please, Hermione?" Zambini asked hesitantly.
Hermione turned and gave Tom a small smile as she slipped her arm out to follow Zambini over the the staircases.
"I know we haven't had much time to talk, but I would like for us to possibly get to know one another better...maybe, um, yes...like on Friday night...could you, er, would you like to take a walk with me after classes and go for a swim? Or study..or no, we could just stay here...or maybe the library...whatever..." Hermione decided to cut him off.
"Andy! Of course, a swim would be great! I haven't much time to swim these days." He gave her an excited smile, then leaned down to give her a kiss on both cheeks.
"Tomorrow then! I will meet you here, after classes?" After Hermione's affirmative nod, he left.
She turned around to continue her trek to the Great Hall with Tom, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Odd, she thought.