Christmas vacation came all to quickly for the Hunters. Molly Weasley had continued to avoid talking to her daughter and in turn Ginny often broke down into fits of tears. Because their mother was treating Ginny so badly Fred, George, Bill and Charlie wouldn't talk to Mrs. Weasley.
Bill and Charlie had both agreed to visit on Christmas to help cheer Ginny up. Originally Bill and Charlie were going to come and stay with the pack at one of James's properties in Scotland but Molly Weasley refused to let her children leave the castle so the plans had changed.
Dragon had written once again saying that he had business to do in America so he couldn't come visit Triss and James like he had intended. Between balancing Quidditch practice, new methods of training, classes, and his frequent talks with Snape, James somehow managed to find time to work with the Sabetha crystals as well.
While James was having a hard time trying to figure out how to remove the Werewolf curse he could now store any spell he wished inside the crystal. He had given Mel several crystals with multiple curses in them to use on Lockhart if need be.
Lockhart was being an ass as usual. He continued to harass Mel and pick on James at every turn. If James didn't know better he would have thought that Lockhart knew he was the reason Mel never walked the halls alone. Even when all of the Hunters were busy older students volunteered to keep her away from Lockhart. If there was anyone who hated Lockhart more than the Slytherins it was Snape.
Like the whole Slytherin house, Snape wanted nothing more than to knock Lockhart's lights out. Lockhart had a nasty habit of taking points off of Slytherin, James in particular, for no reason but for the fact he was breathing but he made up for that in Evan and Snape's class.
Evan showed a lot of favor to James. Not only had he saved her daughters but also put himself through hell and back to help others. Saving Triss was an excellent example. James could easily have been killed by the fall had he landed wrong but he still jumped from his broom to break the fall of his friend who would have been killed by the fall had he not intervened.
Plus all of the help he had given the previous year with the girls during lessons and still managing to stay top in his class. Truly impressive. If Evans hadn't known better she would have thought James had already mastered the curriculum.
"Hey Shadow! Check this out!" Triss yelled looking at the common room event board.
James groaned as he sat up, one of the Gryffindors had decided that they wanted to start a snowball fight with him and the rest of the Hunters. It was fun but James was now really tired. "What?" he asked stifling a yawn.
"Lockhart is starting a Dueling club, the first meeting is after dinner," she said pointing at the sign on the event board.
James's jaw dropped before he chuckled to himself. "That oaf run a dueling club? I'll go just to see him embarrass himself. You guys in?" he asked Dray, Gin and Mel, who were draped across chairs.
"Sleep," said Dray drowsily.
Triss walked away from the board and crawled into James's lap. "I agree with Dray. Sleep now, embarrass Lockhart later," she said succumbing to her own exhaustion.
"You're worse than me," said James yawning and going to sleep himself.
"James wake up! It's time for dinner," said Triss shaking James.
"Alright, I'm up already," James groaned stretching sleepily as all of the bones in his spine cracked.
"That really isn't healthy you know," said Triss dragging him out of the common room.
"So?" asked James. Triss smacked him playfully upside the head. "That's it!" said James picking Triss up and throwing him over his shoulder.
"James let me down!" Triss demanded, laughing as James tickled her side.
"Not a chance. We're to close to the hall," said James picking up speed.
"Don't you dare!" Triss yelled but it was to late. James threw the doors open with Triss still trying to struggle out of his strong grip. Smiling like a Cheshire cat James walked over to the Slytherin table and set Triss down on the bench next to Gin. James sat down next to her.
"I hate you," said Triss scowling at James.
"No you don't," said James grinning at her. Triss smacked him again. "Abuse!" said James blocking the second slap. "Feel better now?" asked James.
"No," said Triss punching him as hard as she could in the arm. "Now I feel better."
"Good," said James as his eyes watered from the force of the hit. "That hurt you know," he said rubbing said spot.
"Aww, the poor baby! Should I kiss it better?" asked Triss in a sweet sarcastic voice.
"Yes," said James putting on a baby pout. The surrounding Hunters burst out laughing as James and Triss continued to bicker.
"So, are you guys going to the dueling club meeting tonight?" asked Triss when she and James finally solved their argument.
"You bet, can't miss out on Lockhart making a fool of himself," said George. The others nodded.
"Hey James, do you think we should prepare to show off a little?" asked Triss.
"What do you mean by show off?" asked James eyeing her suspiciously.
"Well we've been working with the daggers and I'm starting to miss the long swords. Plus, it would be a good show and would scare the shit out of Lockhart," said Triss grinning wickedly.
"I'm not to sure that that is such a good idea but we'll see," said James.
"Lets go get ready then," said Triss standing and pulling James out of the hall.
A half-hour later James had shrunken Triss's and his own sword down to the size of a toothpick. "Come on, it's time," said Triss.
"Did you drink your potion?" James asked.
"Yes, quit being so over protective will you," said Triss walking up the steps of the trunk.
"I'm not being over protective, I'm just making sure you don't get hurt," said James following closely behind her.
"Same difference," said Triss. James blew a raspberry at her. "That's disgusting," she said scowling at him. He just grinned.
"Welcome to Hogwarts Dueling Club!" Lockhart's voice echoed threw the hall. James watched as Lockhart, wearing the most stupid looking dueling robes he'd ever seen, walk to the center of the dueling platform. "Professor Snape as sportingly agreed to help demonstrate tonight, but down worry, you'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him," said Lockhart grinning at some of the girls that sighed dreamily.
Snape walked into the platform in classic black robes with a deep scowl on his face. "I'm more worried about Snape getting in trouble for splattering Lockhart all over the walls," James whispered into Triss's ear. She nodded.
"I hope your ready Professor Snape," said Lockhart getting into a basic dueling position. Snape also got into position in the form of a Scorpion's defense. "On the count of three. One…Two…Three!"
"Expelliarmus!" shouted Snape before Lockhart could do anything. In a blast of light Lockhart was thrown backwards while his wand went right into Snape's hand. The Hunters and a few male students broke into applause.
Groaning Lockhart stood up. Putting his cheerfulness forward he walked back to the center of the platform. "Excellent to show them the disarming charm Severus. Of course I knew exactly what you were doing and could have stopped you any time I felt like it. Now, Professor Snape and I will pair you off into groups to practice the disarming charm," said Lockhart.
Snape walked over to the Hunters and paired James off with Triss, Mel with Gin, Fred with George and Dray with Kat.
"One the count of three you will attempt to cast the disarming charm on your partner. One…Two…Three!" yelled Lockhart.
On the count of three everyone cast a spell but most of them weren't the disarming charm. Several cries could be heard as students started sprouting boils, feathers or some other appendage. "STOP!" yelled Snape. Everyone stopped breathing.
"It seems you lot are such dunderheads that you can't cast a simple charm properly so as punishment you will not be able to leave to the hospital wing until this meeting comes to a close," said Snape glaring at the students. "Mr. Cage, I know that yourself and Ms. Summers are well practiced in the art of dueling so why don't you demonstrate a real duel," he continued.
"Yes sir," said James walking up to the platform with Triss in toe.
He and Triss stood in the middle of the platform and bowed to each other and pulled they're wands out and got into similar positions to that of Snape's. "One...Two…Three!" yelled Snape.
"Impedimenta!" yelled Triss. James ducked as the curse flew over his head. He and Triss simultaneously pulled out their swords and James returned them to their normal size with an unnoticeable wave of his hand. The hall gasped as Triss slashed at James with the obviously very sharp sword.
"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted James.
"Protego!" yelled Triss. The spell reflected off over her shield and back at James. He jumped out of the way and slashed Triss in the arm with his sword. Some of the girls screamed when they saw the blood on Triss's arm.
Triss was quick to counter and sliced James's chest open. It was much deeper than the one he'd given Triss but it didn't impair his movements any. "Stupefy!" he yelled.
Triss barley missed the beam of red light and was clipped by the reducter curse James fired at her. "It's about time you started fighting back," she said launching a series of attacks at James.
Several minutes later James was covered in blood from the various cuts Triss had given him. "Come on Shadow. I know you're better than this. Stand and fight like a man," Triss demanded after getting another hit on James.
"Just remember you asked for it," he said. "Expelliarmus!" James yelled.
"Ahhhhhh!" Triss screamed as she was thrown backwards while her sword and wand landed at James's feet.
James walked over to where Triss landed. "Just remember you asked for it," he said pulling her to her feet. "Would you like us to continue with a physical duel Professor?" asked James shrinking the two swords down to the size of toothpicks again and handing Triss her wand.
When he didn't get an answer he looked and saw most of the hall staring at him with their mouths open. It seemed all of the other Professors had decided to drop in and were staring at Triss and James in obvious shock. "What?" he asked.
Lockhart snapped out of his shock and stepped forward. "Excellent form Mr. Cage but you didn't use your wand much. I find myself wondering if you are only practiced in hand to hand combat," he said.
Potter, who had arrived sometime during the duel, also spoke up. "I have to agree with Professor Lockhart. Even if you are well practiced in hand to hand combat it does you no good in fighting with just a wand," he said.
"Would you like to duel with me then?" asked James looking at Potter.
"If you are up to the challenge," Potter said eyeing James blood soaked appearance.
"Step up then," said James waving Potter up. Potter took off his outer robe revealing slacks and a t-shirt.
When Potter and James were in position Lockhart started the count down. "One…Two…Three!"
"Tarantallegra!" shouted Potter.
"Protego!" said James.
"Petrificus Totalus! Expelliarmus!" Potter continued. James dropped and rolled as the two curses flew over his head.
"Stupefy!" James yelled.
"Protego! Reducto!" yelled Potter.
James avoided the reflected stunning spell but the reducter curse hit him right in the chest leaving it charred and bleeding but James didn't seem to notice. "Petrificus Totalus!" he yelled. Potter ducked and rolled.
"Impedimenta! Stupefy! Reducto!" Potter yelled.
Again James was able to dodge the first two curses but the reducter got him a little lower in the chest. He groaned as he skin sizzled and burned. "Expelliarmus!" James yelled.
The curse hit Potter but he didn't loose his wand. "Serpensortia!" yelled Potter.
A very large Chinese Vipertooth similar to Jewel burst out of Potter's wand and landed at James's feet ready to bite. "Bite him if he moves," Potter commanded the snake.
James watched the snake. Potter obviously didn't know that the snake he conjured was deadly enough to kill in seconds. "Don't worry Cage, I'll get rid of it for you," said Lockhart pointing his wand at the snake. He muttered something and a bright ball of orange light rushed at the snake.
It hit the snake but instead of making the snake disappear it was hurled several feet in the air before the snake landed in front of a very frightened looking Professor Evans, who was standing right next to the platform next to James; she obviously knew what the snake was. The snake coiled into a striking position.
No! said James as the snake started to lunge. The snake stopped mid-strike and looked at James. Come here now! said James. The snake looked at him threw soulless eyes before looking towards the rigid Evans. Don't even think about it Serpent, James hissed. The snake turned its head again to look at James. It let out a menacing hiss and turned to strike Evans when it started to burn from its tail up.
James looked over and saw Snape with his wand pointed at where the snake had been. Looking around the room he saw everyone staring at him. I think now would be a good time to go Shadow, said Triss.
Lets go then, said James jumping down from the platform and running out of the room at full speed. Triss followed closely behind.
When they reached the common room James went strait to his dorm with out stopping. With little hesitation Triss followed him. I'm in such deep shit Tigress, said James running his hand threw his hair.
Don't worry about it right now. You need to heal those cuts and burns, Triss said lightly prodding the burns.
James sucked in a sharp breath. I need to clean them before they will heal, he said opening his trunk. I need your help with some of them, James said motioning for Triss to follow.
An hour or so later both Triss and James were clean and healed. "What do you think is going to happen?" James asked Triss.
"I think Snape will tell most of them off and the students will think you are the heir of Slytherin," said Triss.
"Figures. I'm going to take a nap before I have to go deal with everyone," James said flopping down on his bed.
"Mind if I join you?" Triss asked.
"No," said James wrapping his arms around Triss as she snuggled up to him. 'This is how life should be,' James thought before drifting off into a peaceful slumber.
Review responses:
Kata Malfoy: Thank you. I plan on bringing Sirius in later along with Remus. Lily will find out about James eventually, probably around the end of 4th year. James will freak Potter out enough later, especially if Potter gets hold of Hunter's map.
Athenakitty: Yes, yes, yes, yes, and I'm not sure if he will lose his memory or die yet. It could go either way.
JT: Either one of the Hunters or Snape will kick Lockhart's ass. There should be a prank on him in the next chapter, along with Dumbledore and Potter. In the end I just may let Tom Riddle or the Creature kill him rather than have him loose him memory.
ZeonReborn: Sadly the wizarding world is rather old and haven't really changed they're life style since Slytherin's time. Sad isn't it? (Sighs deeply) I think I know why you aren't a world leader now, humans, really weird species, you are.
Paprika: I can't really comment on Mel without giving something away but think Remus Lupin.
Lunawolf: Thank you. I don't like Lockhart either so I thought, 'why not make him an ass hole?'
Darak: O'well. Thanks anyway. Glad you liked the intro.
ER: Yeah, I like the muggle world better too, until Voldemort takes his morning stroll. Then I feel a lot safer around a group of fully educated wizards, even if they are perverts.
Black-Rose1212: I'm glad you like my story. I think Dumbledore is a Bastard in the books so I'm making him a worse Bastard in my version. I can't stand Lockhart so I made him much worse than he really is. I don't think he'll mess with Mel again with out her or James kicking his ass but we'll see what my mind comes up with.
Jerry Merlin Potter: I up date every weekend, some times in the middle of the week and then again on the weekend. It really depends on how much time I have. I should get a lot out during winter vacation so don't worry, the updates should come really fast.
Silvanus: That looks like a good idea. I might be able to put in something of the like but we'll see.
Wytil: Good to know I keep it interesting.
Momma-dar: Thank you. Glad you liked it.
Kata Malfoy: Yes. Lily will find out who James is when he gets back from the graveyard in 4th year.
Kathy stgqvk: Thanks. Remus will be around soon. He's my favorite character so I can't leave him out. There will be a prank on Dumbledore, Potter, and Lockhart in chapter 19, hopefully.