A Natural Duelist
My high hopes for this year went down in flames not even very long after the year started.
Ginny who I became fast friends with before we entered Hogwarts has completely stopped talking to me and avoids me at all costs.
I don't know what I did.
Then Harry and Draco almost both die in a Quidditch match.
Also, Hogwarts where I never particular thought it was safe here to begin with, students are getting attacked.
So, a dueling club has been started and I'm just going to go to see if anything actually useful will happen there since I had already been reading up on defensive spells books since towards the end of last year. Even though my expectations are split in half because Professor Lockhart is involved, and he is an absolutely useless teacher. But Professor Snape is involved, and he is one of the best teachers in my opinion. He actually has started to acknowledge me in person this year.
Well somewhat.
When I would say good morning or have a good day to him, he would give me a curt nod. Also, when he would see I was doing well on my work in class he would give me a very light pat on the back, which would shock every student the few times he did it.
Me and Neville walked in, going by where the Gryffindors were standing as Professor Lockhart started "Gather round! Gather round. Can everybody see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent. In light of the dark events of recent weeks......Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this Dueling Club......to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves......as I myself have done on countless occasions. For full details, see my published works" I rolled my eyes, Professor Lockhart honestly haven't been able to stand him after the pixie incident. Poor Neville we had such trouble trying to get him down from that bloody chandelier.
"Let me introduce my assistant......Professor Snape. He has sportingly agreed to help with a short demonstration. I don't want any of you youngsters to worry. You'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him. Never fear" I gave a little smirk already knowing that Professor Snape could defeat him easily.
Apparently, Draco shared the same sentiment because when I looked across the table, he had a smirk on his face as well and then me and him made eye contact. He quickly looks away. We haven't really talked at all since the book shop sadly. Mostly I only see him when Marcus Flint has decided to regularly harass me in the hallways with the rest of the Slytherin quidditch team. Draco is always silence. I don't know why I expect anything from him.
"One, two, three" Professor Lockhart was in the dueling position but he was too slow.
"Expelliarmus!" I grimaced as Professor Lockhart was thrown back. I might not like him, but I don't want him to get hurt either.
"Do you think he's all right? -" I heard Hermione say from a little way away from me.
"Who cares?" I rolled my eyes again at the very much a Ron Weasley response. I actually tried to talk to the idiot this year saying something seemed wrong with his sister. Which he completely ignored me, and I don't even think he listened to me, which made me decide after that not to try and talk to him again.
"An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape......but if you don't mind me saying, it was obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you, it would have been only too easy" Professor Lockhart was really trying hard to cover himself, but I think we all know he didn't see that coming.
"Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students......to block unfriendly spells, professor" Professor Snape is obviously the one in charge here.
"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape. Let's have a volunteer pair. Potter, Weasley, how about you? " I had a mini heart attack at the thought of my brother dueling Ron's wand.
"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox-" Thank God Professor Snape said something but then Professor Lockhart interrupted him with "Well let's have the other Potter then with who's that kid over there... Goyle is it?" then I froze, and everyone was looking at me. Goyle already got up on the table before Professor Snape was about to say something. Somehow, I was able to move my feet to get up there.
"Good luck M" Neville whispered trying to be reassuring even though he knew I was probably freaking out, which I was.
"Wands at the ready.-" Me and Goyle got in the dueling positions. He has a huge smirk on his face as I heard Slytherins whispering and giggling. Don't think just react I thought to myself. Learn from the demonstration, don't even give him a second to cast the spell.
"On the count of three......cast your charms to disarm your opponent. Only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here." Don't give him even a second I was at the ready.
"One, two, three", "Expelliarmus!" before I knew it Goyle was thrown back like Professor Lockhart had been. I couldn't believe I did that as my house cheered.
"Well done Ms. Potter" Professor Lockhart said as I start turn around to get the bloody heck off the table "M watch out" from Harry who's trying to quickly get on the table out of the corner of my eye. Then suddenly I feel a sharp stinging pain to my back and I cry out, falling to my knees. I turn my head and see Goyle being dragged by his collar off the table by Professor Snape.
"M are you alright'' as Harry and Neville lift me off the table. I feel my back start to swell.
"Yea I'm fine" it can't be worse than something Aunt Petunia would do to me.
"50 points from Slytherin" Professor Snape looking like he finished scolding Goyle "Might I be the one to suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps and Mr. Potter? " Ok maybe I should go to hospital wing instead of watching this. The thought of Draco and Harry getting in a duel just made me anxious.
"Neville can you help me get to the hospital wing" I say starting to almost lean on him for support as I can feel the increased swelling on my back forming into to almost a hump.
"Of course M come on" Neville holding me up, leading me out of the room as Harry and Draco started to get into dueling positions we were out of the hall.
Madam Pomfrey gave me an ear full on how she didn't understand why a stinging jinx was being used in the dueling club to learn how defend ourselves and I was just nodding along. Neville eventually had to leave but Stinging jinx are apparently easy to fix, so I wasn't there long after Neville left. But by the time I left the hospital wing it seemed somewhat late. I didn't see many people in the halls, but the sun was still out. Dinner was probably coming up soon if I had to guess without knowing the time.
I was walking down a hallway not really paying attention to where I was going and then I spotted Marcus Flint up against a wall.
As I was turning around hoping he didn't notice me, I went right into Adrian Pucey who pushed me back.
"Look what we have here Flint" I soon see Graham Montague coming into my view. I unfortunately have become quite acquainted with the Slytherin team this year. The only boy missing is Draco.
"You think you could embarrass Slytherin and get away with it Pretty Potter" I try to find a way to escape but they're surrounding me into a dark corner. I don't know what they're mad about, it's not like Goyle didn't get me back. But as I look into the boy's faces, they don't look mad, but I don't know what the look is on their faces as they start to close in on me.
Marcus Flint is walking towards me, and I try to back away from him, but I once again end up going into Adrian Pucey who is now smirking down at me as now, I see at all sides I'm cornered by the boys. I'm completely closed in as Marcus is now right in front of me, looking me up and down. I am surprisingly not frozen up, but I don't know what to do or what to say. Marcus suddenly pulls me towards him putting his arms around my hips.
"I don't know what it is about you Pretty Potter that gets under my skin" he starts to lean down towards my face and I by instinct knee him between the legs and he falls over, which gives me an opening to get out of the corner.
"You little bitch" Marcus almost screams out as I try to run but Graham Montague grabs my arm, and my other arm reaches for my wand.
"Relashio" I cast for Graham to let go of my arm knowing I could not physically get him to let me go.
"Stupefy" Marcus casts "Salvio hexia" I say before the spell can hit me and then it became a duel of three fifth and sixth year wizards on one second year witch. I had to be like Professor Snape don't give them a chance.
As Graham was about to say a spell "Brachiabindo" I cast out making him fall to the ground with a heavy thud and then Marcus lifted his wand then I quickly casted "Diffindo" I cut his nose.
But that didn't stop him "Petrificus Totalus" he casted as blood from his nose dripped down his mouth "Expelliarmus!" Adrian says before I can cast a counter spell. My wand flies from my hand as I'm frozen in place.
Marcus walks up to me and stares at me then looks back at Graham who was still lying on the ground not able to move with his eyebrows raised. Then turns back to me and wipes the blood from his mouth as he says "You'll pay for this Pretty bitch" then his fist made contact to my jaw knocking me to the ground. I think it's dislocated. Just as Marcus swings his leg up about to come down "Mr. Flint what do you think you're doing" Professor Snape comes around the corner.
"Pret- Potter she attacked us Professor" he said all of a sudden acting all hurt.
"Now why would a second year pick a against the three of you" Professor Snape looking down surveying me noticing the tears in my eyes and my swelling jaw.
"Hundred points and detention from each of you leave my sight immediately" Professor Snape I have surprisely never found scary at my time at Hogwarts until now, he was giving Marcus Flint a look that could kill at Marcus physically stepped away from him and him with the other boys practically went into a run to get away from his glare.
"50 points to Slytherin Mr. Malfoy for telling me of this behavior" then Draco appeared from behind a pillar and came over to where we were.
"Are you alright Ms. Potter?" Professor Snape coming closer to me as Draco gently helped me up.
I nod as I'm still trying to hold back sobs from the pain to my face.
"The two of you come to my classroom I have something that will help there" as he started already walking in that direction expecting me and Draco to follow. Draco held me by my waist close to him as we walked.
"How did you know?" I asked him as he finally made eye contact with.
"I was going to the hospital wing to check on you when I saw what was happening, I'm sorry for what Goyle did and Marcus you didn't deserve either I'm so sorry" he said genuinely.
I felt safe in that moment with Professor Snape and Draco.