Chapter 15: Duelers
The Monday morning after we had returned from the trunk was rather sleepy, as we were lulled into a false sense of security with the warmth of the castle and the positively mouth-watering food in front of us. This serenity was disturbed as owls swooped through the high windows of the hall, the sound of dozens of wings in flight raising most heads. I noticed Greyclaw sweeping down at me and as he, along many more owls set that day's copy of the Daily Prophet on the table, the Great Hall erupted in an excited flurry of whispers, shouts and calls from one person to another, spreading the news. The uproar had me intrigued, especially as I had noticed that the teacher's table seemed to mirror the excitement on those of the four houses.
So it was with understandable interest that I looked down at my copy of the newspaper, noticing the headline and losing interest immediately. "Death Eaters found dead in a muggle village" was the title of the news that they wished to convey, and news I was aware from long ago.
My eyes skimmed down the article and I took the newspapers in my hand, lightly tossing them to the three of my friends who were either observing me with curiosity like Melody and Claudia or doing their best to read some other student's newspaper like Arielle.
"Four Death Eaters, three dead, one survivor, currently recovering in St. Mungo." I spoke, counting the news disinterestedly.
"You can't have read the entire article!" spoke my sister, taking the tossed newspapers in her hand and furrowing her eyebrows as she read through the first couple of lines.
"Hey, listen to this" she said, and Claudia and Arielle immediately turned to her, clearly wishing to hear what the article had to say. A load of goblin's spit, that's what.
"Death Eaters found dead in a muggle village" started my sister in a whisper, as it seemed wishing to read the entire article to the three of us. "By Henry Irving. In the late hours of the previous evening, four figures clad in black and wearing what strongly resembles a Death Eater mask were found in the small muggle village of Etchingham, East Sussex. It is reported that three of the figures were found dead, with two being a victim of the Killing Curse. The third one appears to have died from injury to the head while the fourth member is receiving treatment in the St. Mungo Hospital due to unknown injuries. The Auror office was not available for a statement, but we have been told off the record that they do not believe it to be a case of actual followers of The-one-who-must-not-be-named. "We strongly believe that this is an isolated incident, which suggests it to be work of a group of rugged wizards or witches wishing to bring discord to the magical community which is, as it always will be ,safe." Says an unnamed source in the Auror office. The fact that the killing curse was used does cast a doubt over the safety of our community, and this topic is discussed with Senior Auror Gawain Robards in the interview bellow."
My sister stopped reading at that, raising her big, worried eyes to meet ours.
"But they didn't say anything about the muggles! They were also the victims there!" whispered Claudia, very much affected by what had come to pass.
"They can't" I hissed, twirling my goblet of pumpkin juice. "if they did, they would have a huge mess to explain to the general community. Fudge would never allow it."
I was annoyed by the article, true, but I was also very much annoyed by a certain set of dark eyes that kept glancing at me for some ungodly reason. Blaise Zabini once more proved to have the talent to irritate me half way out of my mind even across the Great Hall, as we were currently sitting at the Hufflepuff table.
The table was very lively, and as my sister and the other two discussed the matter, I noticed that the chatter was extremely loud, with words such as Death Eater, You-know-who and Killing curse ringing from every corner. I glanced up to the teacher's table just in time to see dear Dolores stand up, her voice magically amplified and ringing through the room.
"Silence!" she demanded in a strict tone, almost screaming from her anger. Her request was obeyed instantly, and silence ruled for a moment before she fixed that awful sweet smile on her face, giving out two or three irritating little coughs of hers. "Despite what you may have read, the Minister and I would like to assure you that there are no more Death Eaters, or followers of any kind of He-who-must-not-be-named. We all know that they have been gone for nearly fifteen years now yes?" asked she and gave us one irritating chuckle.
Her eyes traced the length of the four tables, focusing on Potty and his lot, and our little group, ever the thorn in her eye. But as she met my eyes, one glare was all it took for her to look away swiftly , speaking again.
"These four troublemakers are most likely to have duelled themselves, which we will most certainly be told when the fourth member recovers enough to recount the dreadful incident. I will hear no more talk about this, since I assure you that the ministry is doing their job properly."
With that, and one more self-satisfied glance, she left the podium and the conversation picked up again, albeit in whispers. This matter would not go away as easily as Dolores would like it to it seemed.
"She's pulling wool over their eyes" hissed Arielle, angrily glaring at the frog.
"And what are you going to do about it?" I said, rolling my eyes at her.
"Well, I'm certainly not going to sit around with my wand tucked away" she said, giving us a mischievous smile.
"If you expose us, Arielle dearest," I said, giving her a poisonous smile "I will use you as training dummy."
Arielle was about to retort when my sister interjected.
"Look at the time!" she exclaimed, overly dramatically in my opinion "We're going to be late!"
I sighed, taking my bag and swinging it over my shoulder lightly. This was a troubling day, and it had just begun
Despite my sister's overly dramatic exclamation, I found that I still had half an hour to reach my potions classroom, and since it was a mere five minute walk from the Great Hall I was taking my time, my pace set for a leisure stroll.
I was enjoying it, since the dungeon halls were mostly barren of students and therefore did not pay much mind to the approaching steps. After all, the moron had Binns this early Monday morning, he should have been half a castle away.
It turned out that I was wrong as I heard his obnoxious voice call : " Hey Roseycheeks!"
I hurried my pace in response, doing my best to refrain from running but still walking as quickly as I found necessary to escape the obnoxious boy.
The height difference, a significant one at that, proved to be my downfall and the moron was by my side in seconds.
"Did you not hear me calling Rosey?" asked he, towering over me as we walked, further annoying me.
"I did, I simply did not find it necessary to respond." I snapped, craning my neck in order to give him a death glare. He was a good deal taller than me, about twenty centimetres at the very least.
"Where have you been the entire weekend?" asked he, completely ignoring my remark and giving me one more supposedly seductive smile. "I have looked all over for you, but I simply could not find you."
I swear to Merlin he was pouting.
Which provoked me to pull my wand out at him.
"Mind your own business Zabini!" I snapped, making to leave. But as I made a step forward, he suddenly stepped in front of me, once more towering above me like a blasted troll.
"But I am ever so lonely Rosey" pouted he once more. Merlin, I wished to cast an unforgivable then and there.
"Then spend some time with your blasted new toy!" I hissed, wand aimed at his heart.
I caught a look of genuine confusion on his face before he masked it with his usual annoying expression.
"New toy Rosey? I didn't know you like toys, so naturally, I wasn't prepared. But I assure you, I will buy some and we can play any time." He spoke, his tone more than suggestive, my wand more than ready to start throwing curses left and right.
"Get lost Zabini or by Merlin" I started, but once more got interrupted.
"You will curse me, I know, I know" spoke he in such a tone that suggested that I would really not go through with it. But he was wrong. I really, really would.
"Come here for a second Rosey" spoke he, stepping into a dark alcove and stretching out his hand.
I raised my eyebrow at him, surprised that even he could be so stupid.
"You can't be serious" I spoke, a slight note of incredulity to my words. He can't have been expecting me to join him in an area reserved for couples to snog each other's faces off.
"But I have to tell you something Rosey" he spoke, smirking at me and stepping back more. "It's veeery important." The last part was said in a purring tone which made me clench my fingers around my wand.
"No way in Merlin's bloodiest hex" I hissed.
"I promise to be on my best behaviour." Purred he once more, and I could barely see him now. "And I know something you don't… about one of the Slytherins…."
Damn him to the deepest crypt of the Black Lake.
I took a deep, calming breath and stepped after him carefully. The alcove proved small, and we were divided by a mere couple of centimetres.
"Muffilato!" I hissed, assuring that the conversation was private and inching back to the wall.
"I followed you, now talk!" I hissed, barely refraining from punching him as he was smirking down at me.
"It's about Theodore" spoke he, leaning forward slightly, whispering. "He's gathering supporters, wants to throw you off your seat of power."
This is what I followed him for? I already knew that!
"He talked to Draco the other day" spoke he, and instantly had my full attention. "He said no for now, but he might agree soon Rosey. Be careful."
"Why?" I asked, slightly curious.
He seemed surprised but answered "Because he will stop at nothing to get your kind of power."
"Not that you moron" I hissed "why did Draco say no?"
"Why are you so interested in Draco Rosey?" asked he, slightly suspicious.
"Answer me." I hissed, pressing my wand to his chest.
"Only because he thinks that Theodore is below him. Were such a suggestion to have come from someone more powerful, he would have no doubt accepted." Spoke he, his eyes narrowed.
"Alright" I answered, making to leave the alcove that was practically suffocating me.
"Are you interested in him Rosey?" asked the moron, his tone serious.
"No." I snapped, leaving without realising just how dangerous things were becoming, and just how quickly I was losing control.
It was around lunch time that the four of us decided to use the last few remaining rays of sunshine of the year. It was an unusually warm and sunny day for the middle of October, and we were walking around in only our shirts, the robes laying discarded more or less elegantly in our hands. Melody even debated dipping her feet in the Black Lake, but decided against it as I reminded her that the water was not cold, it was freezing in this time of year.
So there we were, walking around and talking, the conversation interrupted here and then with a sound of clear laughter from my sister and Claudia.
But my mood, which was unusually light considering the date and the nearing weekend, was dampened by the sight of two red headed twins approaching us.
"Hello" grinned one, and for the life of me I could not discern which was talking. No matter, both were equally annoying.
"Lovely ladies" finished the other, with a mirror-like grin.
"Hello" smiled my sister widely, showing a bedazzling amount of teeth.
"Hi" grinned Arielle, taking one in each arm and continuing our walk.
"Hello" greeted Claudia, her voice significantly lower than it had been whilst talking to just us.
I was the only one who did not greet them, but I did not glare at them either, which was like a warm greeting in my book.
"Done your Potions essay?" asked Arielle, grinning mischievously and obviously knowing the answer.
"Of course" started one, glancing at my sister.
"Not." Finished the other with a grin. "There's still."
"Plenty of time" finished they in unison.
"It's due tomorrow." Grinned Arielle and I noticed a slight disapproving glance from Claudia.
As if there was a point to admonishing them, they'd only make the matter into a joke, a feature most disagreeable. Since the conversation turned to some despicable prank or the other, I chose the most sensible option, tuning it out completely. My mind wondered to the unfortunate encounter with the hunting dog, for there was now no doubt in my mind Blaise Zabini truly was one. He had mentioned that Nott was making attempts to convert Draco Malfoy. If that were indeed true, and somehow I knew that the Idiot knew better than to lie to me, it meant that Nott had somehow acquired insurance. Someone must have been standing behind him, or else the dimwit would never take the risk.
That entire matter was a cause of my ever deteriorating mood and a splitting headache in my temple. It would require my personal involvement, meaning that I would have to make time in my already altogether too busy schedule to deal with the worm. Troublesome.
Another point was that I owed the blasted idiot a favour for the information, despite my lack of inquiry, and being in the debt of Blaise Zabini was not a state I welcomed.
I was pulled out of my thoughts by the change of the tone of the conversation.
Upon closer inspection, I found that the obnoxious ginger twins were suddenly wary, giving me worried glances, seemingly unsure of speaking in front of me. Wise indeed, perhaps those unnecessarily big heads had a purpose after all. Surprising to say the least.
"Say Ari" spoke one, glancing at me shortly. They seemed to warm to me after having found that I hexed a fellow Slytherin for the sake of my sister, but that by no means meant that I was trusted, nor did it mean that the sentiment was reciprocated on my part. They were competent wizards, that much I had to admit, and I therefore tolerated their presence.
"Fred and I were wondering" said the other, finally identifying himself and his irritating brother.
"If we could talk to you for a minute" said Fred, glancing at me once more, uncertainty to his gaze.
I narrowed my eyes slightly in response, subtly moving my hand so that it was closer to my wand. If push came to pull, and I sincerely wished it did not, I would have them suspended in mid-air before they could draw their wands.
"In private" finished they in unions, something that irked me all the more, for it was unnecessary and completely flamboyant. I never did it with my sister, possibly because we could rarely see eye to eye on any matter, let alone have the same train of thought.
"Now boys" spoke the idiot, coming to a stop and pulling them to a stop as a consequence since she was still attached to them. Her usual mischievous smile disappeared and she turned deadly serious "there is nothing you cannot tell me before these three. I would trust them with any information, my life included."
How positively grotesquely sweet of her.
I smirked in response to such talk, finding it altogether too showy and emotional.
The twins gave me one more wary look to which I responded by lifting my chin and assuming my best haughty pose.
"Alright.." spoke Fred, deciding to talk after all, surprising me a bit.
"The first meeting will be held in a week, and we wanted to invite you" spoke George, before quickly adding "of course Claudia and Melody are invited as well."
Careful now boy, I just might hex you.
Potty was starting his little mock training, how amusing. I had been told that he planned to take on the Dark Lord with a simple disarming charm, which had me doubt his sanity. If that was all he planned to teach his little followers, than he was leading them to their deaths. Arielle should really go, teach the little boy a lesson or two, I concluded, but before I could voice my findings, my sister distracted me by putting an arm on my elbow.
It took all my self-restraint not to bristle at the touch.
"Is my sister not invited?" asked she, and I turned slightly to see a firm look on her face.
I saved the poor gingers some trouble, as the one I supposed to be Fred seemed really torn for some ungodly reason, stating :" Your sister does not wish to take any part in the ridiculous charade."
This earned me a cross look from Georgey, but before he could come to Potty's defence, Arielle spoke up, interrupting him.
"I'm not sure that this is such a good idea boys. Harry clearly does not like me, are you sure that he would not mind me being there?" she asked and the response that she got was rather unusual.
The twins exchanged a look and George said " Well, I don't think it would be a problem…"
One crucial information had me up to speed with the twins. He did not deny the allegation against his friend, which was most unusual. You see, it was in the blood of the felines to defend their friends to the end, a feature I could learn to respect, and the fact that they did no such thing was most curious.
"What did he say?" asked Claudia, clearly picking up on the same bit of information.
"Well…." Started George, surprised clearly that Claudia had picked up on that, but I focused on the other twin.
"It's not that he dislikes you.." spoke he, uncertainty to his voice.
They fell silent at that, and I decided to speak up, my curiosity peaked.
"Now, now," I spoke, fixing them with a threatening look "answer the question felines or I will be inclined to make you answer it."
There was some defiance in their eyes, and Melody was the first to react.
"Linds!" exclaimed she, giving me a reprimanding look.
How bothersome.
"My apologizes" I spoke, inclining my head and with one swift move my wand was out, freezing the boys as they had just reached their wands in their pockets. "Please answer the question, or I will be inclined to force the answers out of you. I assure you, it will be most unpleasant."
"Now, now" spoke Arielle, mimicking my words and coming to stand between us, and directly in the way of my wand. "Let's all just calm down now. Linds, put away your wand."
There was a note of threat to her words, but I ignored it, lowering my wand as she had asked, but not putting it away.
"Did he say something, Fred, George?" she asked, turning to them and blocking my view. I sincerely hated tall people.
"Well… he doesn't know much about you Ari" said Fred, at least I figured it was him and I watched as Arielle turned more and more red with each new word, her jaw clenching and her fists curling" he simply does not understand why you have the nickname of the Gryffindor's lioness…." A stupid nickname, I agreed, "he does not understand how you earned it. He doesn't know much about your childhood" continued he and anger flared in me, guessing as to what the moron could have said "he thinks it was pleasant… He said that you didn't know pain, loss, that you didn't know what it felt like and that you were just a show off that was no better from the venomous snake you hanged out with. But Ari he didn't…"
He was interrupted as Arielle spun about on her heel, angry beyond any description. Yet my anger was of matching intensity. Arielle did know, better than most, and to belittle the tragedy that saw three lives lost, two so very precious to me, was simply unforgivable. Forget about the Dark Lord, I would kill the Golden Boy myself.
"I believe Potter needs to be taught a lesson about life, do you not Linds?" she asked, and earned slight admiration on my part as she continued. "I would do it but I do not trust myself not to kill him on the spot, so if you don't mind.."
The smile she gave me was intimidating, ferocious, and I responded by smiling "It will be my pleasure."
"I'm sure" she smiled in response.
"Linds!" exclaimed my sister and in the same time Claudia exclaimed "Arielle!". But there was no point in trying to stop us, after all, I was out for blood.
"Shall we do it immediately?" I inquired, pulling out my wand with a smirk that seemed to chill Claudia to the bone.
The Weasley twins pulled out their wands, aiming them at me.
"We didn't tell you this so that you could have revenge Arielle" spoke George, funnily enough, aiming his wand at me.
"It won't be revenge…" I smiled, and he seemed frightened for a second, before putting on a brave front "consider it an educational visit. I am assured that Potty believes that a disarming spell is good enough to battle the Dark Lord, yes? Well, if he cannot beat me, he has no chance against Him."
"The Dark Lord?" repeated Fred, eyeing me with anger.
"I'm sorry boys, we're in a hurry" spoke Arielle, smiling as well, "if you could Linds, I am by far too angry."
"Naturally" I agreed, pointing my wand in the air and loosening my grip on my wand to perform the spell. "His middle name?" I asked, raising an eyebrow, unaware of the information. After all, he was no pureblood, I had no interest in him.
"James" spoke Melody, giving me an unsure look. I did not know how she had come to know this, but it was of little relevance.
"Vestigo gressus Harry James Potter!" I spoke, and my wand shone a slight purple colour before turning in my hand, aiming at the castle.
"What did she do?" asked George and Claudia's voice was the last Arielle and I heard as we followed my wand's directions.
"It's a tracking spell, it's based on the first theory of…" she spoke, but we lost her voice and the full explanation.
The walk to the castle and through the entrance hall was silent, each of us struggling to contain our anger.
"Linds" I heard Arielle call and I turned to see that she was talking through her teeth "we need to be smart about this. Use some excuse to duel him, don't give him the real reason. But make sure to give him a couple of nasty bruises and a cut here and there."
"Protecting him even now?" I asked and she bristled lightly at that, but sighed, running her hand through her hair.
"I understand" I said and she gave me a look. This was followed by a small smile from her, an honest one and not the goblin's spit she usually gave to everyone else.
"Of course you do." She said, "I appreciate this, you know."
"Mhm" I hummed incoherently, catching sight of the Golden trio ahead of us. They must have been returning from their Transfiguration class and heading for lunch. I noticed that they were whispering amongst themselves, and as Granger caught sight of us she pulled to a stop, seemingly sensing danger. Ever the brains of the group.
"Greetings Potty" I spoke, flashing him a smile and irritating him as I completely ignored his two friends.
"What do you want Kersey?" asked he, hostility in his voice as his hand subtly reached for his wand. He eyed Arielle to the side, but Ronniekins was the one foolish enough to address her.
"Coming to reveal your true loyalty Hayes?" hissed he, drawing his wand. I could see that Arielle had to physically bite her lip in order to stop herself from attacking.
"Shut it Weasley!" she hissed, and I stepped in front of her slightly, to prevent her from lashing out. It would not do for her to start duelling them seriously in the middle of the Hogwarts castle.
"Nobody addressed you Ronniekins" I spoke and smirked at him "Don't tempt me little boy."
He was about to retort, but I was quicker turning to a one glaring Harry James Potter.
"Arielle here tells me that you believe, however stupidly, that a simple disarming spell would be enough, to defeat the Dark Lord of all people. Is that true?" I asked, every word dripping with mockery.
"And what if it is?" challenged the foolish boy "afraid for your master Kersey?"
Now he was simply begging to be beaten black and blue.
"Oh, Merlin forbid," I smiled, flashing him my most intimidating smile and seeing with satisfaction how a hint of fear appeared on his features. But he still held firm, what a brave little fly he was. "I merely wished to come and test your theory, you know I'd simply hate it if it were true. And if you can beat me, well, that's a feat in itself. Will you duel me, oh powerful and brave among all others? Will you duel me, oh Chosen one?"
He clenched his teeth in response, drawing out his wand and aiming at me.
"Harry no!" exclaimed Granger, throwing herself recklessly in front of his wand. Sometimes, for all her brains, she was thicker than water.
"Come now Granger, I won't hurt him, too much." I responded, smirking at her and receiving a death glare in response.
"She's not worth it Harry!" tried she, but sounded unconvinced herself. Maybe she also wished to cast a hex or two my way. Ah, I truly had the talent of getting under people's skin.
"But Granger, my favourite little know it all, I already know his flashy little spell!" I said, gave her a toothy grin and pronounced clearly "Expecto Patronum!"
From the tip of my wand shone bright white light, immediately taking form of a full corporal Patronus, a Great White shark to be precise.
The trio seemed terrified for a moment, as I allowed my shark to do a wide circle around them, eyeing them hungrily. With a flick of my wrist, he was no more than smoke that vanished in thin air.
"You see, Potty, I am more powerful and more vehement at the moment, than your tiny little brain could ever fathom. But, I hold no illusion, against the Dark Lord, I am still by far too weak. I could not win, and neither can you against me."
"We'll see about that" spoke he, turning to his friends, urging them to move aside. Arielle did the same, as did some of the onlookers that had gathered, leaving me to face the hope of the wizarding kind.
He grit his teeth at me, clenching his wand in his anger, his shoulders tense, and very slowly, very reluctantly, bowed. What a proper little duller he was.
So I did him the courtesy of assuming my proper duelling stance, receiving an expectant look in response.
"Are you perhaps waiting for a written invitation?" I asked, arching an eyebrow "Come on Potty, show me that flashy little disarming spell of yours. Defeat me, I don't have the whole day to waste on this."
"Are you not going to bow?" he managed through his teeth.
"Why ever would I do that Potty? I bow only to those who have defeated me, proven they are above me. You have yet to do either." I smirked and added, giving him that little extra push he needed "And I sincerely doubt you ever will."
"Expelliarmus!" hissed he, stabbing the air violently.
The spell was slow, weak, and my shield, which I had cast wordlessly dispelled his attempt easily, without me batting an eyelash.
He seemed surprised at this turnout of events.
"I will teach you two lessons that may as well save your puny little existence. Call it an act of mercy if you will. Lesson number one Potty, intent. You have to mean it. Hurt me Potty, both of us know you wish to." I mocked and he raised his wand in response once more.
"Petrificus totalus!" hissed he, and I let the same shield intercept his spell. It was a little better, but still far below me.
"How disappointing." I spoke, "Is this the best the only hope of wizarding kind can do? Why, we are all then surely doomed."
"Furnunculus!" hissed he, losing his temper.
The spell was strong, but my shield still held. However, that was of no matter, he could, after all, never really destroy a shield of mine. But he had learnt lesson one.
"Better, but still pathetic." I said, and his eyes simply blazed with anger. "Lesson number two. Successive attacks. You want to attack with two, three spells in succession at the very least. Come on, you have one more attack before I respond, use it well."
"Stupefy! Exposco! Expelliarmus!" hissed he, and spell after spell dissolved in front of my shield. Disappointing really.
"Playtime's over" I hissed, attacking "Gelesco! Affligo! Maddidus! Incarcerous!"
He cast a quick shield that merely disturbed my first spell that had indeed managed to glue his poor feet to the ground. After that, he received a blow to his nose, breaking that feature on his awful face, then he got drenched to the bone, and then his soaking form was bound by iron chains. Ronniekins and Granger were about to interfere before Arielle got to him, whispering something and in their confusion they lost their chance, as the high voice of none other than Minerva McGonagall appeared, positively poisonous, commanding with much delight, "Miss Kersey, headmaster's office!"
She noticed Arielle as well, and her anger was somewhat as focused on her Golden Girl, demanding that she joined us as well, along with the Golden Trio. I could see fun ahead as I walked behind the professor who sent a second year Slytherin to fetch my head of house.
Well, this was just perfect. In fact, I could not fathom a better way to spend my lunch break then spending it in the office of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, with four people giving their best to glare a hole in my temple, one old man observing me as if I was the most interesting thing from Lemon Sherbet candy he had offered me minutes before and Arielle, who simply did not care at all. She decided to spend her time observing the curious objects that twirled and whirled in the many cabinets of Albus Dumbledore.
I was standing opposite Professor McGonagall, Potty, Granger, Ronniekins and Arielle, with Dumbledore to my right, seated at his desk.
This was by far too bothersome and although my dearest Transfiguration professor clearly intended to have me expelled from Hogwarts, I knew such a feat was nowhere near what she could manage, or what I could be awarded as punishment for duelling.
So there we were, waiting for my head of house to make his way from his dark and gloomy office, when the doors swung open, said man resembling an overgrown bat majestically as he swooped into the room, his black cape billowing behind him. He was glaring for all the world as if he intended to kill the Golden Trio, or possibly me, on the spot.
"What is the meaning of this Albus?" demanded he, his voice sneering as he had come to a stop in front of me, shielding me from view partially and assuming a rather protective stance. Despite our mutual reserved dislike I knew that he was cross beyond words, and that he would indeed do everything he could to protect me. I was a Slytherin, and that earned me his exclusive protection from Minerva McGonagall and her pathetic bigotry. The Snakes looked after each other until the very end.
"Ah Severus, we have been waiting" smiled the old man, his old eyes … twinkling. How utterly worrying. "Would you like some Sherbet Lemon?"
I figured Snape would start cursing outright that moment. That, or he'd suffer a nervous breakdown. But somehow or the other, he managed to compose himself enough to hiss out "No."
"Too bad, they are rather good." Spoke the old man, taking one and popping it in his mouth, satisfaction evident on his face. He was completely mental, that one.
"Now, Minerva, if you could tell us why you have gathered us all here?" asked he, turning to her and intertwining his fingers, leaning on them as he observed us.
"Certainly Albus" spoke she in a stern voice, focusing her eyes on me, unbelievable anger shining in them as she started her little rant, something she seemed to be yearning to do form the moment we entered the office. "I found Miss Kersey here hexing a bound Mister Potter. I arrived just in time to stop her from casting any seriously harmful or dark spell but there is no doubt in my mind that she had been about to do just that!"
Was not.
"And did she in fact cast a dark curse?" asked Snape, his voice just above a snarl.
McGonagall bristled at that, but answered with her eyes narrowed "I was not present at the scene at the time of the duelling."
"So you have no proof that she did anything worthy of being punished by the Headmaster?" asked Snape, his tone victorious.
"Miss Granger and Hayes and Mister Weasley and Potter were there, this is why I have brought them here, they will tell you exactly what happened." She remarked, matching Snape's tone. How pathetic.
"Miss Granger" asked the Headmaster and the girl in question flinched in surprise as she was called out "can you tell us which spells were used by Miss Kersey?"
"Yes.. yes sir" spoke she, doing her best to avoid my eyes. "The Maddidus charm, Gelesco charm,, Incarcerous charm and the Affligo charm."
"I trust you agree Minerva that these are hardly Dark Charms" spoke Snape, mocking her. I swear, I never liked him more.
"The Affligo charm can do much damage if skilfully cast!" managed McGonagall, catching onto her last straw as it seemed.
"It was cast skilfully" mussed Arielle to the side and all present turned to her "Rosalind is a master dueller, it's just that she avoided harming Harry."
"Miss Hayes!" exclaimed McGonagall, apparently betrayed by her own student.
"I did avoid harming him" I spoke for the first time, instantly earning attention of all present as I spoke, but my eyes were focused on Potter, and despite my lazy tone I knew he was more than terrified by my next words. "but I shall have no such restraint if he once more insults Arielle."
"Is that a threat?" demanded McGonagall.
"Yes, Professor" I spoke, once more assuming a lazy tone. I really couldn't be bothered to defend myself. As if I had done anything wrong.
"Do you see now Albus?" demanded the old professor, her anger evident to all present "She is a Dark Arts practitioner and a threat to the entity of the student body! I demand she be expelled momentarily!"
"Expelled!?" yelled Arielle, this time truly angered.
"Expelled?" asked Snape in the same time.
I seemed to be the only one not really bothered by her claim. Expel me? Ridiculous.
"Calm down Minerva" spoke Dumbledore, for once completely serious before once more assuming his irritating, twinkling expression "there is no need to go to such extremes. I would like to hear what Miss Kersey has to say about these matters."
Once more his penetrating, sky blue eyes focused on mine. I looked back disinterestedly, not at all bothered by the events that were unfolding around me.
"Nothing really Sir" I spoke in an offhanded manner "It was an educational duel since Potter seems to believe that he needs but the disarming charm to defeat the Dark Lord".
The room seemed to still at my use of the term.
"She's a bloody Death Eater!" exclaimed Ronniekins, once more displaying an outstanding lack of intelligence. How he managed to function in everyday life was beyond me.
"She's not!" exclaimed Arielle, seriously cross with her junior.
"Didn't you hear her?" demanded Harry, observing me "she called Voldemort the Dark Lord!"
"So what?" bellowed Arielle right back, but as Harry was about to retort, Dumbledore spoke up, his voice firm, authority clear to all present.
"Enough!" spoke he.
Silence ruled for a moment or two before Minerva McGonagall spoke up, her tone chilling.
"Then let her show us her forearm, I trust that will bring peace to all our minds." She said, eyeing my arm with interest.
"No." snarled Snape, stretching out his hand in front of me. "She will do no such thing. Albus, I will tolerate no such disrespect. "
"Indeed" agreed Dumbledore, nodding "Miss Kersey needs not do that. I trust her."
That seemed to end the argument effectively, but glares were exchanged without any lessening in their intensity.
"And what about her?" asked Ron, turning on Arielle next. "She threatened Harry!"
He was truly an imbecile.
"I did no such thing!" exclaimed Arielle, affronted.
This was getting really boring really fast.
"Do you have proof Mister Weasley?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes once more twinkling.
"Well, we didn't really hear her Ron." Spoke Granger, nervous at the exchange.
"But I know she did!" exclaimed a very red, and very embarrassed Ronald Weasley. A shame to the name he was.
"You… know" spoke Snape, making a long pause between the words.
"She didn't threaten me Sir" spoke Potty, addressing Dumbledore.
"Now, I suggest we all calm down." Spoke the man in question. "The punishment for Miss Kersey and Mister Potter" spoke he, and the Golden trio seemed affronted that Potty would be punished as well "will be decided by their respective heads of houses. I trust you will talk to your students."
As he said that, he sent a meaningful glance to both Snape and McGonagall.
"This is the last we shall talk about this incident." Concluded he and Snape turned on his heel, marching for the doors with me following at a safe distance to avoid being struck by his cape. Now that I had been chewed out by the Headmaster, it was the bat's turn.