LYOVA RASMUSSEN - A Durmstrang Quidditch Captain.

Chapter 8 - DUELLING CLUB

FRED WEASLEY POV - Gryffindor Beater

Fred had his hands folded, bouncing against his chin as he looked at his chess pieces.

He sat in the Durmstrang common room, playing wizard chess with the Durmstrang chaser Davor Lazarev. They became fast friends since Professor McGonagall paired them up. Lazarev had a great sense of humour and was happy to tag along with him and George to pull pranks or test their latest trick toffees on the first-year students. Lazarev had sworn Fred to secrecy. Lyova would not love the idea of pulling pranks on younger students.

"Bishop to E3," Lazarev commanded, watching his Bishop march to its target. It kicked Fred's rook clear off the board.

"Your turn," Lazarev said to Fred, who sat up straight, bending close to his pieces.

Lyova stepped through the enchanted mirror and nodded towards Lazarev and Fred before sitting in the armchair near the fire. She rummaged in her bag, pulled out a textbook, quill, and parchment, and began her homework.

"Is she alright?" Fred whispered towards Lazarev.

The chaser thought a bit before answering. "You mean because of Warrington?" Lazarev waved off.

"The first match is soon. She's thrown herself into classes and our practices. They've been brutal."

"Sounds like Oliver," Fred said, his hand hovering between his knight and bishop.

"What are you guys talking about?" Lyova said from her armchair, quill tucked behind her ear, eyeing them warily from her position.

"Nothing," Lazarev quickly said.

Fred looked across the chessboard, flashing Lazarev a grin.

"Impressive," Lazarev said before taking out Fred's king. "I win."

Fred's mouth fell open.

"Hey!" Kazlauskas, their keeper, called from the common room entrance. "Don't forget we have a duelling club meeting in fifteen minutes!"

He dumped his school back against the wall, pulling his wand from it. "Come on. I don't want to be late!"

"You guys joined Flitwick's club?" Fred asked, looking sceptical. Barely anyone ever signed up for Flitwick's clubs.

"Yes, we get to duel. Why wouldn't we join?" Lazarev said, quickly putting away the chess game.

Lyova stood from her seat, and pulled out her wand and pointed it at Fred. "Come with us. I want to see if your wandwork is as fast as your wit."

"A lot of people are signed up. The list was covered in names last time I checked," Kazlauskas said.

"You're on, Rasmussen," Fred said, laughing.

LYOVA RASMUSSEN POV - Durmstrang Quidditch Captain

"Welcome to the first duelling club meeting of the year," Professor Flitwick said from a very tall pile of giant tomes.

"You'll be paired up with students from the same year to make it fair. We don't want to have any incidents, or Madam Pomfrey will have my head," Flitwick said, chuckling at his joke.

"Today, we're practising the Disarming Charm. Does anyone know the incantation?"

"We learned this spell in our first year," Lyova murmured to Roger Davis, who stood beside her, surprised. In Durmstrang, their duelling club focused mainly on offensive spells.

"I need two volunteers to show the rest of us, first," Flitwick said, scanning the room.

"Perfect, please come up," Professor Flitwick said happily. Lyova searched the room to see who volunteered when she saw Oliver Wood leap onto the duelling platform.