Cupid Wings

12. Duel

By 9.55am, the Great Hall was slowly filling with students and intrigued staff, including Minerva. She and Pads sat together on the staff dais at the end of the hall, overseeing events. It appeared they had come to an understanding as she sat in a comfy armchair she'd transfigured and he curled up at her feet. She sipped delicately on a cup of tea the House-Elves had provided.

Harry wolf-whistled three short blasts to get everyone's attention and then took a register which amounted to sixty students. It was a fair amount to be dealing with but they had discussed the likelihood that numbers would probably drop over the next few weeks as people realised that the club meant commitment, hard work, and physical exercise. Duelling, Harry warned, was not a lazy sport. It was also a discipline that needed respect; the club required its members to listen and pay attention to instructions and act as directed. He had learnt that pretty quickly with the Aurors and it was from the Aurors that Harry took his disciplined practical approach to both teaching and the club.

After an introductory talk, Harry planned the session so that club was arranged into four circuits. Actual duelling wouldn't happen until later in the term when the students had proven they knew their ground work. Harry had arranged with the House Elves that the Great Hall was cleared and instead of the four long House tables, there were four huge soft floormats in each quarter of the hall. With four supervisors, they would have about fifteen students each. Each group of students would rotate between 'Shield and Repelling Spells'; 'Attacking Jinxes and Hexes' permitted under competition rules; 'Duelling Competition Etiquette' and attacking stances; and correct 'Fall and Landing'. The last exercise caused some confusion and Harry was called upon to demonstrate. Harry quickly slipped off his boots and socks and moved, barefoot, onto the floormat.

'Perhaps if Professor Malfoy wouldn't mind removing his shoes and joining me on this mat and if everyone could gather round at the sides, I'll explain,' Harry said. 'Before we begin, there are some basic club rules. I am only repeating what I say in class but it's even more important here because there's more of us and the spells are less controlled. Laziness, slovenliness, tardiness, and inattentiveness leads to mistakes and accidents. I don't want any mistakes or accidents during this club. During any demonstrations I expect you all to stand back, lining the two sides of the mat. Never stand behind anyone duelling, it's common sense, but worth re-iterating. Now, move!'

There was a general scrambling as students made their way to each side of the mat.

'Thank you. Now, everyone take a step backwards. Good. We're going to repeat an exercise we just did with my sixth-year class. Professor Malfoy is going to cast an Impedimenta Spell at me and I shall cast a Shielding Spell that is going to repel him backwards. Watch Professor Malfoy as he's thrown backwards.'

Draco had borrowed a pair of Harry's black combats and a t-shirt and Harry rather liked how he looked. While Harry was shorter and more muscular, Draco was lean and sinewy and Harry's combats sat low on his slender hips in a very distracting fashion.

They bowed to one another, because this was the Club, took up their attacking stances and, on the count of three, Harry cast a 'Protego Duo' as Draco cast the 'Impedimenta'. Draco was thrown back immediately. Once more, Harry cast a Cushioning Spell and Draco landed softly on his back on the mat behind him.

'So, I cast a Cushioning Spell but what did you notice?' Harry asked as he walked over to offer Draco his hand and pull him to his feet. He pulled him slightly against him and patted him convivially on the back before walking back into the middle of the group. 'Yes, Miss Nolan?'

'That Professor Malfoy would have landed hard on his back...' she said nervously. It was, Harry realised, fairly intimidating to be speaking up in front of three year-groups and various staff who were spectating.