"What we need," said Hermione briskly as Thursday afternoon's double Potions lesson loomed nearer, "is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need."
Harry and Ron looked at her nervously.
"I think we'd better do the actual stealing," Hermione continued in a matter-of-fact tone, referring to herself and Astraea. "You two will be expelled if you get into any more trouble, and I've got a clean record, and Astraea can morph and has more experience in the sneaking. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so."
"Here", Astraea handed Harry Filibuster fireworks. "I bought this from Fred, just give it a little prod with your wand and stay as far away as possible. Let it do the work"
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Astraea was standing outside the Potions classroom waiting for the signal. For the first time, she will try to morph into an animal. Should be easy!
"Silence! SILENCE!" she heard Snape roar. "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draught — when I find out who did this —"
That was her cue, she morphed into a fly and flew inside Snape's office and unlocked it for Hermione.
When Hermione entered, Astraea gave her the stuff, since she can't obviously hold them. Astraea tried not to laugh as she watched Malfoy hurry forward, his head drooping with the weight of a nose like a small melon. As half the class lumbered up to Snape's desk, some weighted down with arms like clubs, others unable to talk through gigantic puffed-up lips, Hermione slid back into the dungeon, the front of her robes bulging. Astraea locked the door, morphed into a fly and flew out.
She waited in Myrtle's bathroom for the three to arrive. She laughed high-fiving them when they came.
"That was incredible", she laughed. They nodded.
"He knew it was me," Harry told them. "I could tell."
Astraea threw the new ingredients into the cauldron and began to stir feverishly.
"It'll be ready in two weeks," she said happily.
"Snape can't prove it was you," said Ron reassuringly to Harry. "What can he do?"
"Knowing Snape, something foul," said Harry as the potion frothed and bubbled.
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A week later, Astraea walking across the entrance hall when George ran towards her and spun her around making her squeal.
"They're starting a Dueling Club!" he said. "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind dueling lessons; they might come in handy one of these days. . . ."
"What, you're tired of me beating your arse?" she asked laughing.
"You wish", he laughed.
At eight o'clock that evening they hurried back to the Great Hall. The long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking excited.
"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Astraea as she and the twins edged into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young — maybe it'll be him."
"As long as it's not —" George began, but he ended on a groan: Gilderoy Lockhart was walking onto the stage, resplendent in robes of deep plum and accompanied by none other than Snape, wearing his usual black.
Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called, "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent!
"Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions — for full details, see my published works.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, 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!"
"Five galleons Snape beats his arse", George whispered in Astraea's ear.
"You're on", she replied. Lockhart knows how to duel.
Snape's upper lip was curling. Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his hands, whereas Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
"One — two — three —"Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Snape cried: "Expelliarmus!" There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet: He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. Malfoy, some of the other Slytherins, and George cheered.
"Bastard", Astraea groaned handing him the galleons.
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Editinggg!!!
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Black Soul- George Weasley
FanfictionIt all began on October 31, 1983, when James and Lily Potter were murdered by Lord Voldemort. Astraea remembers, in a blur, how her mother Aurora woke her up to take her to her aunt's Andromeda. She remembers them talking how her mother woke up to a...
