Smile, and Smile, and Be a Villain
“See here,” said Sebastian, kicking the back of her chair as he passed, “what did Hecat want with you then?” They were in Transfiguration - the final class of the day. It was interesting, especially when Professor Weasley brought in a live owl for them to practice on (it was returned to the Owlery after the lesson, completely unharmed). However, the practical part of the lesson was now over and Odelia did not enjoy copying down notes nearly as much. She had been yawning silently and looked up, catching Adelaide's eye, who was sitting across the aisle at the desk opposite hers. The blonde girl smiled and wiggled her quill around, miming writing.
Sebastian kicked her chair again.
She turned around. “What, Sebastian?”
“You’re not in trouble are you?”
At the front of the room, Professor Weasley glanced up.
“I already said I’m not and that I’d tell you what she said later. Seriously, go back to your seat.”
Natty, who Odelia was sitting with, grinned and shook her head at this bossing-around of the Slytherin boy. He was clearly not used to it, but did as she said, sighing dramatically.
After a few more minutes of note-taking, Natty leaned over to her and whispered, “Why does Sebastian think you might be in trouble?”
“Umm, Professor Hecat wanted to see me after class. Some of the teachers have been asked to set me extra assignments to catch me up with the school curriculum.”
Professor Weasley shot them a stern look over the top of her half-rimmed spectacles. The girls bent their heads over their work. The problem with sitting closest to the teacher was that you could never get away with talking.
By and by the lesson ended, and as Odelia had half-expected, Sebastian accosted her the moment she stepped out of the room.
“So what did she want?”
Odelia rolled her eyes and bid farewell to Natty. “It’s really not that exciting. She’s asked to do some extra practice outside of class - to make up for the four years of school that I missed.”
“Oh.” Sebastian seemed put out. “You don’t need extra practice. You’re already the best in the class at duelling.”
The corners of her mouth curled slightly at the compliment, and she began to walk across the courtyard to the Central Hall. Sebastian quickly fell into step beside her. “Seeing as you bested me in a duel, and I was indubitably the best in the year, it’s not an exaggeration to say so. What does she want you to do?”
“Just more duelling practice for now. Actually, she seemed to think you might be able to help me with that.”
“Yes!” He jumped in front of her and continued walking, now backwards. Odelia was secretly hoping he would trip and fall because that would be really funny. “I was about to invite you anyway! But hang on… how does Hecat know?”
She laughed, “The Professors probably know a lot more than they let on. Anyway, what exactly are you inviting me to?”
Sebastian stepped behind her now, and pushed her gently by her shoulders up the steps to the door . “Come on, I’ll tell you over dinner. Besides, you’ve already agreed to it!”
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Lucan Brattleby looked a little underage to be running an illicit duelling society, but Sebastian assured her that he was quite capable. “The most enterprising young man I ever met!” he said, clapping the younger boy on the back in a brotherly fashion.
Lucan scribbled something down on his roll of parchment, then looked up. “If Sebastian vouches for you, that’s all I need to know.” He nodded dismissively, and ushered over the next few students who had walked in. It was very amusing to watch such a childlike figure take himself so seriously, and even more amusing to watch the older years obey him without question.
Odelia and Sebastian wandered out to the Clock Tower courtyard and sat down on the stone wall. The sun was hanging low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the trees and through the arches of the cloister surrounding them.
“So,” she began lazily, “how many can you have in a team?”
Sebastian was leaning back on his hands, face tipped up to catch the last rays of light. “As many as you like I suppose, though it would be embarrassing to have too many. That’s basically an admission of weakness. And of course you don’t want to have to divide the glory of the moment with a whole team.”
He bolted upright and gestured wildly. “Last year I went by myself and came this close to winning. It took FOUR Gryffindors to take me down in the end. Prewett was one of them, smug bastard. Not that he did much - I knocked him out within thirty seconds of the match beginning.”
Odelia crossed one ankle over the other and smirked, also enjoying the rare Scottish sun. “And I suppose you think that with me on your team you can win the whole thing this year. Won’t it bother you to share the prestige?”
“Not with you it won’t.” She looked over in surprise, but Sebastian had stood up and jogged over to the fountain where he was now attempting to balance his way around the edge, arms stretched out like a bird in flight.
He spun - showing off - and fell on the cobbles. They both laughed.
“Hey!” a reedy voice called them from by the tower entrance. Lucan was silhouetted in the archway, holding his list of names up to shield his eyes from the sunlight. “Care to step in the ring?”
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Their first match was against a hard-faced Ravenclaw girl and a Gryffindor boy - 'Astoria Crickett and Lawrence Davies,' announced Lucan. Sebastian seemed wholly unconcerned, twirling his wand like a baton and grinning at the spectators lining the edges of the room.
Odelia frowned. “Sebastian?”
He stopped messing around and turned to face her.
“Do you not think we’re kind of unprepared? We’ve never duelled on the same side before.”
“Nah,” he said, casually. “One of them's a Fourth Year, and besides, this is only the first elimination round.” Stepping closer, he lowered his voice. “And these are exactly the sort of people we are meant to weed out.”
Just then, Astoria Crickett called over from where she and her partner were standing. “We’ll make you regret signing up!”
Odelia looked back at Sebastian, who had one eyebrow raised in amusement. She pursed her lips and widened her eyes. Silly Fourth-Years. “Ahh, I see what you mean.”
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The match was over before it had really even begun. Sebastian barely gave them a chance before both were levitated into the air and then flipped around so many times that when the levitation charm finally broke it was some time before they could walk in straight lines. Odelia did not even have to raise her wand, she only recast Levioso a few times to make sure they did not get too close to the ground while Sebastian tossed them about mercilessly.
“There,” he exclaimed once they were declared the victors. “Easy!” Astoria shot them a glare over her shoulder as she was escorted out.
“Yes,” remarked Odelia dryly. “It was especially easy for me as I did not do very much duelling.”
Sebastian leaned in and tapped her lightly on the arm. “Well nor did I, for I would hardly call that a duel! Now - I’m going to go see if Lucan has another match lined up for us this evening.”
And he loped over to the Second-Year, and bent over the lists with him
Odelia looked around - a familiar face among the other students caught her eye. She walked over. “Hello Natty. Are you competing?”
“Not this year,” she said in her melodious accent. “I’m just here to watch.”
By now, Sebastian had finished his conversation with Lucan and had joined them. “Better be rooting for us then, eh Onai?”
Natty laughed lightly. “We shall see, Sebastian, we shall see. But look - I think it is your turn again.” She pointed to the other side of the chamber where Lucan was indeed waving them over.
“Right, so,” he announced as soon as they came within earshot, “you’ll be duelling Constance Dagworth, Hector Jenkins and Nerida Roberts. Got two matches then you’re up, so get ready! Right -” And he rushed off.
“Goodness,” said Odelia to Sebastian as they joined the crowds watching the next duel. “For a Second-Year he really is very sure of himself.”
Sebastian laughed. “No worse than I was at his age.”
Two more winners were announced in quick succession, then the two Slytherins took their place in the middle of the chamber facing their opposition. Red-headed Hector Jenkins began a string of smack-talk with Constance joining in, but Nerida hung back and didn’t say a word. She was eyeing Odelia with some apprehension.
Of course. She’s not in my Defence Against the Dark Arts Class but Imelda must have told her what happened. No doubt some twisted version.
Sebastian followed her gaze. “I’ll let you have her if you like.”
Odelia turned abruptly to face him. “Let me have her?!” she exclaimed, rather alarmed.
“Yes,” he nodded, quite seriously. “Ominis told me how awful they’re being. So here’s your chance to get revenge.”
Get revenge?!
“Nerida really isn’t the one who -”
But her words were cut off. The Ravenclaw girl - Constance - had cast at Sebastian while he was distracted, knocking him backwards. She and Hector advanced on him, ignoring Odelia completely.
Nerida had raised her wand shakily. She looked terrified.
What could Imelda have told her?
“Petrificus Totalus!” Odelia deflected the spell with a flick of her wand and stepped forward. “Nerida, I -”
“Help!” she screamed suddenly. The other two did not appear - too busy fighting Sebastian. She made as if to run.
Shut her up, before she does something that you will regret.
“Levioso!” The girl was hoisted up into the air. STOP SCREAMING.
Odelia jabbed her wand, and no more sound came out of her mouth. Taking a page from Sebastians book, she aimed for Nerida’s feet, sending her spinning around like a top. A few more casts and she hit the wall, slid down, and stayed down. Odelia let her be - it was clear the fight was over.
Sebastian clapped her on the shoulder, beaming from ear to ear. His part of the duel had been decided too.
Nerida burst into tears, and got up, making her way out of the chamber. “Imelda was right about you!” she sobbed as she passed.
“Overreaction much!” Sebastian laughed. “People don’t usually cry when you beat them, this one’s entirely on her.”
Odelia wasn’t sure how to feel. They walked off to the side together, and when she looked up Sebastian was still grinning. “Well?” he said.
“Well what?”
“Well did you enjoy handing Nerida’s arse to her?”
There was something about the way he was standing, as if he were awaiting applause from her.
“Did you have something to do with that?” she said slowly.
Sebastian waved his hands around in the air in mock innocence. “I may have persuaded Lucan to put her against you.” He bowed flamboyantly. “You’re welcome.”
She wasn’t quite sure what to say for a moment.
He had good intentions.
“Thank you, then,” she replied softly.
He moved to her side, and began leading them towards the archway opposite of the one which led to the courtyard. Another fight had started, and people were ‘ooh!’-ing and ‘aah!’-ing behind them.
“Now then,” he said, putting his arm around her shoulder, “I really don’t feel like doing old Weasley’s homework after such a glorious triumph. What say you and I take a little detour. Have you been up to the Owlery yet?”
Odelia shrugged. “I haven’t, that sounds fun.”
As they walked through the exit, she caught Natty’s gaze. The Gryffindor’s brow was furrowed but her eyes, when they met Odelia's, were as kind as ever.
“Come on then, no time to waste,” said Sebastian.
They passed Nerida on the bridge outside. She was still crying.
Imelda was right about you.