"Hey, Potter!"
Harry blinked and looked up curiously.
Marcus Flint, the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, was marching across the grounds towards Harry and his friends. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Ron Weasley turn around, frowning.
Neville shrank back a bit when Marcus stopped in front of them.
"Hi, Marcus," Harry said shyly. "What is it?"
"Word gets around, Potter, especially in Slytherin," Marcus said bluntly. "You can fly?"
"Um..."
Blaise rolled his eyes. "What the cinnamon roll is too humble to say is yes. And d*mn well, at that."
Harry blushed, and Draco, Pansy, and Tracey smirked.
"Quidditch tryouts are this Friday," Marcus barked. "I expect you to be there." And with that, he left again.
"Congratulations, piccolo," Blaise chuckled, seeing Harry's shocked look.
"What?" Draco yelped, looking panicked. "First years can't be on the Quidditch team! It's too dangerous!"
"But they can be reserves," Tracey pointed out shrewdly.
"Unless they get permission from their Head of House," Pansy retorted at the same time. Neville giggled.
"I don't think Snape is going to give Harry permission," Blaise said slowly. "You saw how panicked he was when-"
"Weasley alert!" Pansy hissed, and Harry jumped when he saw Ron marching over to them.
"Think you're a big shot, Potter?" Ron sneered.
"N-no," Harry whispered, leaning towards Blaise. The Italian boy pulled him closer and wrapped an arm around him.
"That was a very clever insult, Weasley," Pansy said sweetly. "Are you sure you weren't supposed to be in Ravenclaw?"
Ron flushed and ignored her.
"Are you really so stupid as to mock us, when you're not only outnumbered but also surrounded by witnesses, Mr. Weasley?" Blaise asked quietly, a note of ice in his tone. Harry shivered.
"I'm not stupid!" Ron snapped. "I challenge Potter to a wizard's duel!"
Pansy, Tracey, and Draco immediately looked furious, while Blaise's expression darkened. Harry was just confused.
"What's the matter, Potter?" the redhead sneered. "Never heard of a wizard's duel?"
"Of course he has," Draco said, staring at Ron as if he were a piece of dog poop. "He's just confused as to why you think you can beat him. Who's your second, anyway? Got any friends who are willing to back you up?"
"Hermione Granger," Ron retorted. "Who's your second, then, Potter?"
"Blaise," Harry said automatically. While Blaise only knew a few spells, he could melt into the shadows. Ron wouldn't be able to see him.
Pansy and Tracey immediately smirked, and Draco pouted a bit, but said nothing.
"Fine then," Ron said, looking a little worried now, but not backing out. "Midnight, in the trophy room. Better not chicken out." And he marched off.
"What's a wizard's duel?" Harry whispered nervously. "And... what's a second?"
"If someone insults your honor -- or if you're a b***dy Gryffindor," Draco added irritably, rolling his eyes, "then you can challenge someone to a wizard's duel. It's actually illegal for minors, so obviously Weasel is going to not show up. Probably send Filch to get us in trouble, too. And anyway, we're only first years, it's not like we know spells that will do much damage."
