Chapter 14

Harry –

Since I didn't lose control in the Duelling Club I wasn't even put on the radar as the Heir of Slytherin. Allowing me to continue tutoring the rest of my year-mates, I was already quite ahead but due to the recent rituals, I was beyond most of the students inside Hogwarts.

[Ability Teaching] (Advanced)

The user can train, instruct, or otherwise teach others how to use special powers and abilities.

While it wasn't very high it also wasn't bad either, and my overwhelming knowledge and power more than makes up for the theory that doesn't translate well to each of my students. And that was an interesting development.

Looking around I did no work to hide my proud grin to the group that I was teaching currently, as of right now they were all practicing the Freezing Spell, which was a third year spell according to the curriculum.

Of these students I made careful notes of people of interest, as of now Susan Bones, Daphne Greengrass and curiously Luna Lovegood along with an assortment of people were practicing.

"Well done Hermione," I said with a grin, as I watched her help Luna with the spell as it was her first meeting with the group after all. "I assume that you have already mastered the spell?"

Hermione who was right beside Luna blushed and quickly looked at the ground with such speed I had to wonder if she had whiplash.

"I haven't yet," Hermione admitted, slowly. "I can cast it but I haven't perfected it yet."

Which means that she can do it very well but she is measuring herself to my performance, which is unrealistic if I'm being completely honest.

"Well go on then," I said, pointing towards a dummy. "Show me."

Hermione resolves herself and Luna makes way for her to cast it at the dummy that I had set up, and lo and behold, I was right.

While her wand movement was a bit slow, it would be quickly remedied by practice, her spell was spot on as the dummy was quickly enveloped in a frozen layer.

"The wand movement was a bit slow, but that could be trained easily, but other than that it was textbook perfect." I said, from observing the spell. "And again, well done."

"Thank you," Hermione said, smiling as she moved to correct another first year student who must have heard something about our little study group.

Noticing that the dummies were all frozen over, I quickly casted the Hot Air Charm to quickly thaw the dummies, enough so that some water from the ice spell would still be there so that it could help others.

Just as the ice thawed a dummy, a spell rocketed towards it and hit it right in its groin area. Turning over, I see that it was made by none other than Daphne Greengrass, the resident Ice Queen.

I'm pretty sure that's what happened last week, and the reason as to why she's called the Ice Queen. That and the glare she was giving me, when she noticed I was looking. I was pretty sure that she still didn't like me beating her in the Duelling Tournament.

Regardless, the other students were doubling their efforts in learning defense spells, as news of another attack from the Heir of Slytherin made itself known, curiously it wasn't anyone I knew due to meta-knowledge, the Captain of Hufflepuff who was a 7th year. He was missing around November and only now was his body discovered. From what people have told me, Aurors apparently used the teacher's floo so that they could examine the body.

No news as of now, except he was pronounced dead. I was trying to investigate it but I was having trouble as there seemed to be no leads, at first glance. I had ideas on Ron Weasley but he seemed to have decided to put his head down and started being more quiet, which was suspicious in and of itself but Observe kept showing weird Name changes, which I could now read as John.

While that would terrify me, I ultimately decided to keep my eye on him as the idea of Voldemort getting his hands on meta-knowledge was terrifying. I made plans to find a way to dispose of him, in a way that it wouldn't be tracked down to me.

It was a day after all the students left and I quickly headed to Professor Flitwick's Room.

"How can I help you Mr. Potter?" Professor Flitwick said noticing me enter the room as he stopped grading papers.

"About Duelling." I said.

"Well from what I can remember about your performance it was quite spectacular, I suppose you don't want me to tutor you on duelling do I?" He said with a teasing tone at the end.

"Funny about that," I admitted, a bit embarrassed. "I was going to ask for some tips as I wanted to further my skill and I wanted to ask if there were any Duelling Tournaments or Circuits?"

Professor Flitwick seemed to beam at my question.

"Oho, are you interested in joining?"

"I was curious if I could?"

"If you wish to do so, however, bear in mind you will be quite limited in Duelling."

"I see," Different but I'll take it. "I suppose it's because of the ages?"

"That and most Duelling Circuits follow how we break down Hogwarts years. First to Second Years, which are more often than not just displays of magic, Third to Fifth Years that are only allowed to disarm or incapacitate, Sixth and Seventh Year which are more open but they have a ban on more lethal spells. And beyond that, well, it has no limitations except the countries' law."

"So theoretically," I began, a bit hesitant. "Someone could cast the Killing Curse if it was allowed in that country?"

"In some cases, yes." And by that admission, Professor Flitick seemed to have lost a bit of his earlier enthusiasm. "However it is quite distasteful to use it, as it is seen as a cheap trick no matter how deadly it was."

"Well, are you going to compete in your division?" Professor Flitwick asked, quickly changing the mood. "If you are, I am more than willing to act as your coach if you pass my test."

"And that would be Duelling you I suppose?" I asked a bit flatly.

"Well do not be discouraged, you only need to show me that you are capable." He said, chuckling a bit. "But from what I've seen, you are capable, so let's make this interesting shall we?"

I nodded a bit as he seemed amused.

"You have to go all out on me, and try as much as you can to adhere to the rules." He said while getting off his chair and waving his hand to neatly arrange his paperwork.

Professor Flitwick beckoned me to follow as he waved his wand and the charms classroom gave way for a Duelling platform to appear.

"Right now?" I had to ask.

"You haven't done anything strenuous have you?" He said, a bit worried. "Sorry if I am going a bit too fast, it's rare that a student of mine asks for help in Duelling, even rarer that it happens in the same week." he ended smiling broadly.

"Who was the other one?" I said, while getting my outer robe off.

"Su Li, the same year as you." he said, chambering up on the platform.

Interesting, I knew she was good but I didn't think she had that initiative.

"Ready?" Professor Flitwick asked, as we both met in the middle of the Duelling platform. We both raised our wands in sync, then put it down. We then paced 5 steps before turning around and getting into position, and I waited in bated breath as Professor Flitwick counted down.

"One, Two, Three! Expelliarmus!" He wasted no time in casting, though he only said one word, he casted three disarming charms.

"Protego!" I yelled moving backwards as I blocked the three spells quickly. I took note of the fact that he seemed to be advancing the platform.

Professor Flitwick paused for a second, before deciding to amp it up and throw in another three-spell barrage except this time it was various charms that I recognized from second year.

"Incendio! Stupefy! Arresto Momentum!" Professor Flitwick casted, with each spell he took a step forward in the platform.

I quickly casted Protego for the fire spell before stepping aside and quickly lashing out with two of my own spells.

"Aguamenti! Glacius!" I aimed the water right at Professor Flitwick, and if I missed he'd still have off footing, the ice was a red herring.

Professor Flitwick raised an eyebrow before redirecting the stream of water and blocking the ice spell silently.

"You are more advanced than I thought you were, excellent form as well, you were caught off guard at first but you showed your mettle." Professor Flitwick said, breaking the silence.

"Does that mean I impressed you enough?" I had to ask, as the prospect of fighting him a bit more was exhilarating.

"You already have by simply asking for help, however, exchanging spells isn't the only thing that you do in Duelling." He said, vanishing the water that was around him. "Duelling is a sport after all, it is a dance shall we say."

"You have proven yourself and now," Professor Flitwick paused. "We duel with no limitations, show me your best." He ended as he quickly unleashed a barrage of relentless spells.

I quickly dodged and was very thankful I did the physical ritual.

"Expelliarmus! Stupefy! Incendio! Levicorpus!" I retaliated and I quickly casted spell after spell hoping that at least one of them would hit.

I paused to catch my breath after that barrage and then I was quickly on the defensive. Thankfully I knew enough variations of Protego that I could stop most of Professor Flitwick's attacks.

"Be honest, how long have you been practicing?" He asked as I dodged another of his spells and I blocked another right behind it.

"A few months from now," I answered, quickly casting three Disarming charms before I was once again on the defensive. "It seemed like a good way to spend my time, well that and it's good practice for casting."

"Ah," Professor Flitwick admitted as he tried to do the same thing I did earlier with Aguamenti.

I responded by using Incendio at the water to create steam and casting through it, I didn't expect another spell behind the water spell, as such I was hit in the chest with the spell, I recognized the spell I was hit with when my body was pushed and I landed on my back several feet behind where I stood and I was left staring at the ceiling.

"Well done!" Professor Flitwick said, appearing in my field of vision. "You were amazing!"

"So how did I do?" I asked as his compliment made me smile, especially from someone of Professor Flitwick's experience.

"You are well beyond your year, I dare say you are around Fourth maybe Fifth Year in terms of skill alone," Professor Flitwick said, giddily. "I expect you to be in my office every Saturday at 9 AM, beginning after break, but until then enjoy the winter break and thank you for the exciting duel." He finished shaking my hand and smiling.

The Christmas holidays rolled around and I found myself in a much emptier Hogwarts, the vast majority of students opted to leave the castle. I found myself being accompanied by Anna and Olivia, the other two chasers.

We all sat together in the Ravenclaw common room at Hogwarts, it was a very nice evening as most of the students were either asleep or doing some reviewing in the library.

I settled in an armchair near the sofa where Anna and Olivia were discussing in hush tones. Vaguely I could hear something about custom-made clothing, and that made me listen in more.

"We have to settle on making custom-made clothing for now," Anna said, a frown on her face. "We also need to find and order the materials ourselves per customer."

"With our skills it would be easy, the materials itself less so." Olivia explained to Anna. "We can order them after the holidays or near the end of it, when people usually sell stuff at discounts."

"I think we'll need to figure out our budget as well," Anna said. "We'll need to buy supplies and have enough money to get us through the first few months until we start making a profit."

Anna and Olivia sat closer to me as we continued discussing their business idea. The night was quiet and calm, with only the fire crackling in the hearth to keep us company. I saw a bit of their designs and I couldn't help but feel excited for them. The three of us had spent countless hours together on the Quidditch pitch practicing and honing our skills as chasers, and to see even more dedication and passion into this was incredible.

"We've been working on some designs already," Anna said, pulling out a roll of notebook filled with rough sketches on it. "We're thinking of starting with robes and cloaks, maybe eventually branching out into Muggle fashion as well. But for now, we're focusing on the wizarding world."

As I flipped through the notebook I was surprised at how good they were, compared to the other designs of the wizarding world. One caught my eye, it was a black formal overcoat featuring two unique details. The interior would reflect the stars on the day, while the sleek design made it seem more elegant.

It was obviously inspired by Professor Dumbledore, it just wasn't as loud.

"How much is it to commission this?" I had to ask, it would be incredibly funny.

A few minutes later and a down payment, I couldn't wait for the coat.

End –