Tryouts

At dinner, the Great Hall buzzed with conversation as students excitedly discussed their new favorite classes.

At the staff table, Albus turned to Remus. "So, Remus, how was your first day teaching alongside Salazar?"

Remus smiled as he took a sip of his pumpkin juice. "It went really well. Sal loves dueling, of course, but as a teacher, he was firm but fair. We both observed and corrected the students when necessary, and I was impressed by how easily he adapted to the role."

Albus nodded knowingly. "I'm not surprised. He's always had a knack for teaching. The house-elves still talk about how he used to bring his friends into the kitchens to practice cooking as a way to improve their potion-making skills."

Severus, who had been quietly listening, gave a slight nod. "I have to admit, it was an effective method. His hands-on approach helps students think beyond what's written in textbooks."

Flitwick joined in. "How has everyone been doing with their dueling captain selections?"

"I would like to make Sal captain," Sprout admitted, "but that would give us an unfair advantage. Cedric would be my next choice, but as he's already our Quidditch Seeker, I think I'll go with Hannah. She's responsible, skilled, and one of our prefects."

Albus smiled. "Yes, our best students do seem to take on multiple responsibilities."

At the Hufflepuff table, Hannah Abbott was enthusiastically discussing their first Care of Magical Creatures lesson.

"I admit I was nervous about taking Hagrid's class," she said. "Given his reputation for loving dangerous creatures, I thought we'd be wrestling with something that had too many teeth. But he actually started us off with Puffskeins!"

"They were adorable," Susan Bones agreed. "Not only did we learn how to care for them, but we also had to write about what ingredients they provide for potions and magical crafting."

"Well, I've got to say that both Defense Against the Dark Arts and dueling class were fun," Cedric said, looking toward Sal.

Hannah turned to him curiously. "Do you think you're going to be dueling captain?"

Cedric shook his head. "No, I'm not allowed to be since I'm already the Quidditch Seeker."

"That's to keep things fair," Sal added, looking up from his plate. "Not to mention to prevent burnout. Balancing both sports would be too much for any student."

Hannah grinned. "Well, I guess that means I'll be competing for captain then."

Sal smirked. "Just don't expect me to go easy on you during tryouts."

Laughter erupted from the Hufflepuff table as the excitement for the coming dueling season continued to build.

Alright, everyone, welcome to your first lesson as an official dueling team," Sal announced, standing confidently in the dueling ring. His gaze swept over the gathered students, taking in the mix of excitement and nervous energy.

"This year, your Head of House chose who would make the team, but next year, you'll be competing for your spot," he continued. "Dueling isn't just about who can cast the fastest spell—it's about control, strategy, and endurance. You are now representing your House, which means you will receive advanced lessons tailored specifically for you."

There were a few murmurs among the students, and Sal allowed them a moment to process what he had said before continuing. "Now, with that down, I've put together the routines that my own dueling coach had me do back when I was training. These exercises will build your magical stamina, improve your reaction time, and sharpen your technique. Captains, feel free to alter them to fit the needs of your team."

He handed out parchments to each of the House captains, who immediately began scanning them. Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff gave an approving nod, while Hannah Abbott, their newly appointed captain, looked determined. Over at the Gryffindor team, Angelina Johnson, their captain, already seemed to be thinking of ways to integrate the training into their practice. The Slytherin and Ravenclaw captains also studied their sheets, their expressions ranging from intrigue to skepticism.

"Now that you have an idea of what's expected, let's start with the basics," Sal said, stepping back into the center of the ring. "Pair up. We're going to begin with endurance training. Today, you'll focus on maintaining shield spells while under constant fire. Your goal isn't just to block—it's to conserve your magic while doing so. The longer you can last in a duel, the better your chances of winning."

With that, the dueling teams sprang into action, eager to prove themselves in their first official training session. Sal watched with satisfaction as spells lit up the arena, already seeing potential in each of them. This was just the beginning.

Sal watched as the teams paired up, making sure to keep track of who was present. "Just a quick reminder," he said, raising his voice over the chatter, "if you're on the Quidditch team, you can't be on the dueling team. We made that rule to keep things fair and to prevent burnout. So if anyone here is on both rosters, let me know now so we can sort it out."

A few students glanced at each other, some nodding in understanding while others hesitated.

Cedric Diggory stepped forward first. "I'm the Hufflepuff Seeker, so I won't be competing," he said. "But I'll help train my team when I can."

Sal nodded. "Appreciated, Cedric. That's a great way to support your House. Anyone else?"

A couple of Gryffindors hesitated before one spoke up. "I tried out for both, but I made the Quidditch team as a Chaser."

"Alright, then you'll need to step down from dueling and focus on Quidditch," Sal said, making a quick note. "Anyone else?"

No one else spoke up, so Sal clapped his hands together. "Great. That should keep everything balanced. Now, let's get back to it. You all have your training regimens, and today, we're focusing on endurance. Captains, lead your teams through shield maintenance exercises. Your goal is to maintain Protego while under continued assault, learning how to conserve magic and read your opponent's movements."

With that, the teams got to work, and Sal moved through the groups, offering pointers where needed. Watching the teams practice, he felt a surge of pride—this was going to be a great year for dueling at Hogwarts.

Sal stood before the assembled dueling teams, scanning the group with a critical eye. "Alright, let's get something straight—if you're on the Quidditch team, you cannot be on the dueling team. That includes captains," he announced, glancing at the Gryffindor team in particular.

Angelina Johnson sighed, stepping forward. "I guess that means I'm out," she admitted. "I was looking forward to leading, but I am a Chaser, and with Harry as our Seeker, I can't exactly step away from Quidditch."

Sal nodded in understanding. "You would have been a great captain, but rules are rules. Do you have a replacement in mind, or should I pick one?"

Angelina thought for a moment before glancing toward a fellow Gryffindor. "Alicia Spinnet. She's got great reflexes and a strategic mind—plus, she didn't make the Quidditch team this year since Katie took the last open Chaser spot."

Sal turned to Alicia. "You up for it?"

Alicia blinked in surprise before straightening her shoulders. "I won't let Gryffindor down," she said confidently.

"Good," Sal said with a nod. "That settles it. Your captains are now Hannah Abbott for Hufflepuff, Alicia Spinnet for Gryffindor, Terry Boot for Ravenclaw, and Adrian Pucey for Slytherin. Each of you is responsible for leading training, adjusting strategies, and preparing for inter-house duels."

He took a step back, letting the teams settle into their new structure. "Now, let's get back to work. Today, we focus on endurance training—your captains have their routines. Let's see how well you hold up under pressure."

With that, the session resumed, and Sal watched as Alicia took charge of Gryffindor, adjusting quickly to her new leadership role. This was shaping up to be a strong season for the Hogwarts dueling teams.

Sal clapped his hands together, signaling the start of the training session. "Alright, captains, you have your training routines—lead your teams through them, and I'll be walking around to observe. This isn't just about raw power; endurance, reaction time, and spell accuracy will determine how well you hold up in a real duel."

Each captain gathered their teams, and the practice grounds became a hive of activity.

Gryffindor

Alicia Spinnet took charge, setting up their warm-up exercises. "Alright, Gryffindors, we're starting with dodging drills. Spells are great, but if you can't move fast enough to avoid an attack, it won't matter how strong you are!" She divided them into pairs—one person would fire a Stupefy at half power, while the other had to evade without using magic.

Ron, still adjusting to his new role on the team, narrowly avoided a spell from Dean Thomas and tripped over his own feet. Alicia sighed. "Ron, work on your footwork! You're not dodging a Bludger, keep your stance balanced!"

Sal passed by and gave a nod of approval. "Alicia, make sure they rotate—after ten minutes, switch and have them try deflecting with Protego instead of dodging."

"Got it, Professor Cross!" Alicia smirked, clearly enjoying the authority.

Hufflepuff

Hannah Abbott had a more structured approach. "Hufflepuffs, listen up! We're focusing on spell accuracy today. You've got five dummies lined up—your job is to hit all of them with a precise Expelliarmus before they disappear. If you miss, you start over."

Cedric Diggory, who had come to watch before heading to Quidditch practice, leaned in and whispered to Sal. "I like what she's doing—Hufflepuff duels aren't about brute force, we focus on endurance and precision."

Sal nodded. "That's why you're not the captain—too busy with Quidditch, but you'd have been a good one. Hannah's keeping the team sharp."

Across the group, Justin Finch-Fletchley muttered under his breath as he missed the last dummy. "Again?!"

"You'll get it, Justin," Hannah encouraged. "Accuracy takes time, but it wins duels."

Ravenclaw

Terry Boot had his team working on chaining spells together. "Dueling isn't just about trading shots—think ahead! When you cast Expelliarmus, follow it up immediately with Petrificus Totalus! If you take their wand but don't act fast, they can recover!"

Padma Patil executed a near-perfect sequence against Anthony Goldstein, forcing him to stumble back. "Nice!" Terry called. "Now, everyone keep practicing that combo, and we'll add counters next!"

Sal watched with approval. "Good. If Ravenclaw keeps this up, they'll outthink their opponents before the duel even starts."

Slytherin

Adrian Pucey had taken a more aggressive approach. "Alright, listen up! If you can end a duel in the first ten seconds, do it. We'll be practicing quick-draw spellwork. Your opponent hesitates, you take the shot. But don't get reckless—we aren't trying to win today, we're sharpening our reflexes."

Blaise Zabini fired a rapid Stupefy at Daphne Greengrass, who barely managed to block it with Protego. Sal could tell Slytherin was going to have the most fast-paced duels.

"Don't just defend, counterattack immediately!" Adrian barked.

Sal crossed his arms and observed. "Not bad, but you're focusing too much on attack. A strong counter is as good as an offense—work in defensive transitions."

"Got it, Professor," Adrian replied, signaling his team to adjust.

After an hour of intense training, Sal called for a stop. "Alright, everyone, that's it for today! Good work. Your captains will be responsible for running more training outside of our sessions, and remember—dueling isn't just about power, it's about strategy, endurance, and adaptability."

As the teams filed out, Alicia wiped her brow. "That was brutal."

"Welcome to being a duelist," Sal smirked.

With the first real session complete, Sal had no doubt that this year's Hogwarts dueling teams were shaping up to be something spectacular.

As the students settled into their seats, Remus stepped to the front of the classroom with an easy smile. Sal stood off to the side, arms crossed as he watched the class with interest.

"Alright, everyone, let's start today with a question," Remus said, his tone casual but with an underlying challenge. "Who can tell me what spell I would use to fight a dragon?"

Hermione's hand shot up instantly, but before Remus could call on her, Ron blurted out, "A Stunning Spell!"

Remus shook his head, though his smile didn't fade. "A decent guess, Mr. Weasley, but no, a Stunning Spell wouldn't be very effective."

Seamus raised his hand. "A Blasting Curse?"

"Again, not a bad idea, but not the best answer either," Remus replied. "Alright, Miss Granger, go ahead."

Hermione lowered her hand and said confidently, "That's a trick question. You wouldn't use a spell to fight a dragon."

A flicker of approval crossed Remus's face. "Exactly. And why is that?"

"Because dragons are naturally resistant to most magic," Hermione explained. "Their hide repels most spells, and even powerful curses barely affect them."

"Ten points to Gryffindor," Remus said with a nod. "Now, why do you think I asked that question?"

The class was silent for a moment before Sal spoke up. "Because in a real fight, magic isn't always the answer."

"Precisely," Remus said, turning back to the class. "Magic is a powerful tool, but it's not invincible. There are creatures, defenses, and even magical artifacts that can resist or counter spells entirely. Understanding these limitations is just as important as learning new spells."

Sal stepped forward. "Which brings us to your next task. I want you all to make a list of creatures that have a natural resistance to magic. Think beyond just dragons—there are plenty of others."

The students immediately got to work, scribbling down notes, while Remus and Sal exchanged a satisfied glance. The lesson was going exactly as planned.

As the students began scribbling down their answers, Sal observed them from his usual spot at the side of the classroom. Remus walked among the desks, occasionally glancing at what the students were writing.

"Alright," Remus said after a few minutes, "who can name another magical creature resistant to spells?"

Hermione's hand shot up immediately, but this time, Neville also raised his hand. Remus nodded at Neville.

"Er—Trolls?" Neville said hesitantly.

"Correct, trolls have a natural resistance to magic, though it isn't as strong as a dragon's. That's why stunning spells need to be extra powerful to work on them," Remus explained. "Five points to Gryffindor."

He turned to the rest of the class. "Anyone else?"

Sal decided to step in. "Now, just as some creatures have a natural resistance, others have ways of counteracting spells. Can anyone tell me a creature that doesn't just resist magic but outright negates it?"

The class exchanged glances before Hermione, as expected, raised her hand again. Remus smiled. "Go ahead, Miss Granger."

"A Nundu," she answered. "Their breath is extremely toxic, and it's said that no known magical spell can fully counteract it."

"Very good," Remus said. "And let's not forget creatures like the Lethifold, which is nearly impossible to fight without a Patronus, or the Chimaera, which is so resistant that the Ministry classifies it as one of the most dangerous creatures to engage in combat."

Sal stepped forward. "Now, this is important because if you plan to duel, understanding magical resistance is key. Some duels might involve creatures, or even wizards who use enchanted armor or defensive enchantments similar to magical creatures. If you only rely on basic offensive spells, you'll struggle."

Dean Thomas raised his hand. "So what do you do if spells won't work?"

"That's the question, isn't it?" Sal smirked. "There are ways around magic resistance—like using environmental tactics, potions, or enchanted weapons. Sometimes, the best strategy isn't about overpowering something, but outthinking it."

Remus nodded. "For now, let's focus on finishing your lists. Then, we'll go over countermeasures in our next lesson."

As the students continued writing, Sal exchanged a glance with Remus. Their lesson plan was already proving useful—Hogwarts was shaping up to be a lot more prepared this year.