Chapter 4: Duelling Sessions
That day, they had Duelling Classes. Theo grinned as he saw the eager look on Dasha's face. "Excited?" he asked, as they gathered round a table in the Great Hall. All the other tables had been pushed back so that people could see better. Jai watched as Professor Baruti leapt up on to the table. He strode out onto the middle of the table and stopped. "Good day, students. I am your new Transfiguration teacher, Professor Agusti Baruti, all the way from my home country of Egypt," he began, speaking in a deep baritone that dropped and rose musically.
Theo snorted in disgust as he heard many of the older girls sigh happily.
"Now, even before Mr Böse had disappeared, Professor McGonagall had expressed her wishes for me and my duelling partner, Professor Podmore, to show you all how to defend yourselves in case of an emergency. Let me show you how to begin," he said, drawing his wand.
Theo watched Professor Podmore do the same and saw that even though she was wearing her usual friendly smile, she was concentrating really hard. Theo grinned. "I bet you he's going to be beaten by Podmore," he whispered to Jai. "You're on for a box of Sherbet Lemons," she said, as they shook hands on it.
The second-years watched as the two professor strode forward until there was only an inch between them. They raised their wands to their faces and bowed curtly. Straightening up, the teachers lowered their wands with a flourish and strode back into their original positions.
Podmore instantly poised herself like Dasha had seen fencers poise. Professor Baruti however, stood straight while he explained. "Now, Professor Podmore and I will attempt to disarm each other. One, two," he began to count and Dasha watched Professor Podmore's face and saw her eyes narrow with concentration. "Three!" concluded Baruti . "Expe-," he began but was stopped by Professor Podmore's cry of 'Expelliarmus!' causing him to be flung backwards and land on his back. Professor Podmore stretched her arms and stood up straight, smiling kindly.
Theo grinned. "My Sherbet Lemons," he whispered to Jai who shoved him. "Oh shut up, will you," she said snappishly.
Professor Baruti coughed as he picked himself up. "Excellent Professor!" he said, laughing heartily. Podmore smiled. "Thank you." "Now, let's have a pair up. I choose…Miss Bran!" he said, pointing at her. "And I choose, let's see. Ah, yes. Miss Zabelinskaya!" called Professor Podmore, beckoning her up. Dasha smirked as she climbed up onto the table. Patrick watched fearfully, crossing his fingers.
Dasha drew her wand as Elena climbed on the table. They faced each other and bowing, Elena said something to Dasha in Russian, to which she replied fiercely. Jai smiled as she watched the girls get ready to fight.
"Come on, Dasha, come on," she encouraged quietly. Suddenly, Dasha made a quick movement in the air with her wand and with a cry of 'Flipendo!' pointed it at Elena. They all watched as a jet of blue light burst from Dasha's wand and hit her opponent squarely in the chest with a loud bang, throwing her back. Her friends, and many other people, cheered and laughed loudly as they watched Elena stagger into place. Dasha frowned as she saw her prepare.
"Exploderr luminum!" yelled Elena, managing to produce three small firecrackers. She watched smugly as they pelted in Dasha's direction. However, keeping her cool, Dasha stepped aside just as they passed her and flew out into the hallway where they exploded and brought the smell of burning into the Great Hall. Jai clapped joyfully as Dasha concentrated before casting her spell.
"Rictumsempra!" she yelled, pointing her wand at Elena.
Patrick watched with fascination as a burst of silver light hit Elena. There was a silence as everyone watched her doubled over and fall down, wheezing from laughter which got louder and louder until everyone could hear it. Professor Baruti smiled as he pointed his wand at Elena. She lay still as her laughing subsided. Professor Podmore helped her up and supported her as Professor Baruti began speaking.
"That was a wonderful piece of duelling and I think that these two deserve a clap, especially Miss Bran," he said appreciatively. Dasha beamed and blushed as everyone, aside from the Slytherins (Theo not included), clapped loudly as she left the table to join her friends.
"Told you no one stood a chance against you," said Theo proudly, high-fiving her. Dasha sighed happily. "That was fun. And you know what she said to me? 'I hope I'm not going to crush your dreams like I'm going to crush your face. I showed her!" she said proudly. Jai nodded. "Sure did," she agreed, turning her attention back to the Professor. "Now, I think that it would be best if we all had a go now. Stay where you are and Professor Podmore and I will come round and split you up into pairs," instructed Baruti, jumping down from the table and after Professor Podmore was out of the way, moving it over to side. Now, the Great Hall was almost empty.
Finally, Podmore came over to the four friends. "Well done Miss Bran. I don't think I will be putting you with Miss Zabelinskaya anymore. Perhaps, Mr Bordlecorn?" she asked her. Dasha nodded. "Sure, Professor," she agreed. Podmore nodded. "Excellent. He's just over there," she said, pointing. Dasha nodded and walked off to her duelling partner. Podmore turned to face them. "Now, Mr Guinness, you pair up with Miss Gatward and you Mr Lincoln, follow me," she said, leading Theo away from them.
He looked back and shrugged in answer to Patrick's unsaid question. He halted sharply, trying not to bump into Professor Podmore. "Mr Malfoy, this will be your duelling partner," she said, making Theo stare in horror. "Oh no, not Malfoy," he thought as he saw the scowl on Malfoy's face. Apparently satisfied with this pairing, Professor Podmore moved on from them.
Theo instantly drew out his wand, as did Malfoy. "Well, Lincoln. Let's get started," growled Malfoy, neither of them bowing. As they walked away from each other, Theo rapidly thought of the spell he would use on Malfoy. As he prepared to fire it at his opponent, they were suddenly distracted by Dasha, who had suddenly begun dancing in an unknown style, mostly twisting, turning and flicking her wrists, causing most of the boys that were there, including Theo and Malfoy, to stop completely and stare at her.
Theo gazed at her, entranced, feeling happy and a sudden desire to prove himself to her. He saw his opportunity in Malfoy, who was too busy gawking at her. Theo targeted his wand at Malfoy. "Expelliarmus!" he cried, hitting Malfoy with a jet of red light and throwing him backwards while his wand flew into his hand. This caused everyone to turn and stare at him. Dasha stopped dancing and grinning, gave him a thumbs-up sign. The feeling of sudden desire to prove himself left him.
The Duelling Session was soon over and as the students left the Great Hall, everyone occasionally continued to stare at Dasha as they or she, passed by. "What is everyone staring at?" she asked as the four friends headed up the marble staircase. "Dasha, you do realise that you suddenly began dancing in the middle of the Duelling Session?" asked Jai.
Dasha stared at her in surprise. "I did? I don't remember that. How could I do something like that and not remember it?" she asked incredulously. Theo shrugged. "I have no idea but it looked…interesting," he said, trying to find the right word it. Patrick grinned. "Yeah I'm sure it was interesting. Well, see you guys later. I've got to go to sleep!" he called, leaving them as they all wished him goodnight.
Jai smiled slyly. "Same here, goodbye!" she said, walking away towards the Gryffindor Tower. Theo grinned as they sat in the Homework Room doing their work. Dasha turned in her seat to face them. "What happened when I danced? Why was everyone staring at me after the class? Especially Malfoy," she asked him, frowning with worry.
Theo's eyes widened. "Malfoy?! Well, um. When you started dancing, most of the people in the room sort of fell into a trance…and felt really happy and wanted to…," here he broke off, realising that he was on the brink of admitting what had happened to him. "To, er, prove themselves," he finished hastily and stared at his work.
Dasha nodded. "Thanks for being so honest Theo. I think I'll go to bed now," she said happily, closing her book and leaving the Homework Room, with Theo soon doing the same.
Chapter 5: Inside Professor Caviador's class.
That day was their first Transfiguration class. Theo was excited to see if Baruti's class was better than his duelling skills against Professor Podmore.
The Transfiguration classroom this year was different. There were small golden cages hanging from the ceiling, inside which fluttered small singing birds, coloured like bright jewels. the windows were open, letting in the warm sunshine, and the curtains were made from a red, velvety-material. "Good day, second-years. I am your new Transfiguration teacher. I am also a Metamorphmagus. Allow me to demonstrate," he said.
The whole class watched with awe as he slowly transformed into an old woman wearing a turban and robes. The whole class laughed at he sight and Professor Baruti joined them as he returned to his natural form. "That was a complete transformation. This isn't," he said, turning his nose into a duck bill.
After the laughter had subsided, he continued. "But enough about that. Today, we will be doing some practical work. I will be teaching you all how to correctly use the Transfiguration Spell. There is no incantation for it. All you have to do is move your wand like so," he demonstrated, "And think of what object you desire it to Transfigure into. Can I have a volunteer?"
Dasha's hand shot immediately into the air. Baruti smiled. "Let's have you up, Miss Bran!" he said cheerfully. she got out of her chair and made her way to the front of the class. "I would like you to Transfigure this dummy here. Whenever you're ready, I'll tell the dummy to move forward and attempt to attack you. I want you to Transfigure it before it does so. Ready?" he asked, moving out of the way as she pulled out her wand.
Dasha nodded, tight-lipped and concentrated. "One, two, three! Attack!" he commanded. Immediately, the dummy sprang to life and began to menacingly move towards Dasha. Theo watched as she moved her wand in the shape that Baruti had shown. A brilliant jet of red light shot like a comet from the tip, exploding into a vivid burst of red light around the dummy. Jai shielded her eyes. A moment later, she heard laughter ring all around her. Taking her hands away from her face, Jai saw where the dummy had been was now a bright blue frog!
Professor Baruti clapped as everyone continued to laugh appreciatively. "Excellent work Miss Bran, but of course, it's no less than anything I would've ever expected of someone as talented as you," he said as she returned to her seat. Theo smirked as he saw Elena's face.
"Someone's mad," he remarked to Patrick as Dasha sat down. "Now, I would like everyone to line up behind Miss Shouter. All of you will have a go. No pushing please!" he called as they all rushed to line up.
During that entire class, the dummy had been turned into many, many things; a toadstool, snake, spider, book, candle, dog, balloon, light bulb and an umbrella trimmed with lace.
"Well, I'm afraid that's the end of class today; I'm sorry," he said as the groaning students filed out of the classroom. Patrick grinned. "That was really fun! I think he's a good teacher," he said. "Nice umbrella, I loved the lace," siad Theo, making them all laugh happily. Dasha smiled. "Come on, let's get some dinner," she said.
Dasha didn't have any nightmares that night. Instead, she dreamed of her running through a sunny meadow, holding hands with her dream boy, who for some reason, looked a lot like Theo.