Hogwarts: A Hope Through Time (Book 1)

Chapter 23

As Hope had predicted over the weekend, Professor Flitwick had requested to speak to Miss Mikealson again after class. The Slytherin students snickered at the Muggleborn girl as they believed that being told to stay back two times after class, was due to the student doing badly in a subject.
Hope rolled her eyes mentally as she subconsciously shook her head in annoyance and the Hufflepuff students just looked exasperated at the situation.
When the Hufflepuff students walked past Hope they patted her shoulder as they exited the class, before all the Slytherin students could leave Professor Flitwick called out. "Oh and can Miss Greengrass stay behind for a moment."
Some of the Slytherin students' eyes rose in shock while Daphne's stoic ice mask remained in full effect as she moved silently towards Hope, placing her items on the bannister behind her before leaning against the desk with her arms crossed in disinterest.

Draco being the impulsive boy he is, argued with the Professor. "This is ridiculous! How dare you keep Miss Greengrass behind! She is of a higher class than you, you filthy creature!"
Hope pursed her lips in thinly veiled amusement, hoping that Flitwick would hex the boy, or at least give him detentions.
Flitwick narrowed his eyes on the blonde Slytherin boy. "I don't recall your name to be Miss Greengrass. Why this would be of any concern to you Mister Malfoy, I have no clue. But I've asked these two young women to stay behind as they are at the top of the class."
Flitwick rolled his wand smoothly in between his fingers with a lingering sense of threatening suggestion. "Now I suggest you leave Mister Malfoy. Also that will be 20 points from Slytherin for your rude outburst and you will have detention with Professor Hagrid. Perhaps you can learn to respect these creatures instead of insulting them. Otherwise you'll find out that having your arm in a sling will be the least of your worries."
Malfoy spluttered as his face turned red. "Wait until my father hears about this!"
The arrogant boy slams the door shut behind him, thankfully all the other students had left before Malfoy shut the door.

The Professor glanced at Hope watching as her hand was already coming up to snap her fingers to erect her privacy ward.
"Thank you for that, Miss Mikaelson." Flitwick remarked as he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement.
"You're welcome, Professor." Hope replied casually, "So you spoke to King Ragnok?"
Flitwick nodded as he pulled out a few large books to sit on.
"My King is incredibly impressed with you Lady Emrys... Sorry, I don't know which name you would prefer to be addressed as. You have a lot of names. Future Warrior Mikaelson/Emrys, Lady Emrys, Lady Hope, Queen of the Werewolves, Princess of the Vampires, Tribrid, Heiress Flamel, Consort Greengrass, Miss Mikaelson or just Hope?" The Half Goblin asked with a curious expression.
Hope groaned as she muttered under her breath. "Damn it Ragnok. Why do you do this to me?" Daphne chuckled at Hope's frustrated expression, relaxing her Occulmancy shields allowing her emotions to show through.

The Duelling Champion smiled as he watched Daphne's shields dissipate in the presence of her Mate, Flitwick cleared his throat, drawing the two girls' attention to him. "I suspect My King does it because he knew it would frustrate you. He informed me you prefer being called Hope or Miss Mikaelson. Lady Emrys in formal occasions with people you trust, Lady Hope when in formal situations with others you don't trust with your identity."
Hope chuckled in mirth. "Sounds like him."
A furrowed brow crossed Hope's face as glanced between Flitwick and Daphne. "What names does Daphne have now that we've tied the knot, so to speak?"
Daphne blushed deeply and turned her head in curiosity at Hope at the question.
"You'd have to ask My King that question." The Charm's Professor chuckled in response to Hope's question.
"Bugger. I really wanted to laugh at Daphne for all the additional names she got when she married me." Hope joked and Daphne smacked Hope's shoulder lightly.
"Brat." Daphne smirked.

"However before I accept your conditions I need to test Daphne. Normally I would cast a spell behind your back without your prior knowledge to see how you would react, but I think Hope would kill me if I did the same test to you." The Professor explained as he drew his wand outstretched at Daphne in a relaxed grip. "Are you ready?"
Daphne walked in the middle of the aisle and with a knowing smirk she said. "Do your worst."
Flitwick's eyebrows rose as he noticed she wasn't wielding her wand, but as he recalled Hope's warning about teaching Daphne. Perhaps Hope taught her Mate how to deflect spells as well. So instead of asking if the other Slytherin student was sure, he casted a silent banishing charm at the tall blonde girl, who raised her hand.
Daphne's magic induced a frosty effect, sending chilly mist to cover her hand. Daphne's magic encased Flitwick's spell in ice in front of her hand. Stopping the spell in midair before she waved her hand, flinging the frozen spell towards a wall. Shattering the spell into a hundred little icicle pieces.
"Remarkable! Absolutely remarkable!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed in excitement.
"Two 3rd year students with exceptional abilities in silent wandless magic. It's completely astonishing!"

Hope and Daphne smirked at one another.
"So we passed your test?" Hope asked with confidence.
"Of course. Of course. I agree to both of the conditions you had requested. You two will join me every weeknight between 9-10pm with the exception of whichever night you have Astronomy..." Flitwick told the girls before pausing, waiting for one of the girls to inform him of a day.
"Thursday nights. 9:30-10:30pm." Daphne answered automatically.
"With the exception of Thursdays. Also I was really hoping that you two could join me for a couple of hours in the mornings and afternoons during the weekends. So long as you both have the time?" The tiny Professor requested.
Hope shrugged non-committedly with a smile as she waited for Daphne's answer. "I have the time. I generally finish my homework during my study periods and my weekends are usually used for personal study and art. However I will let my Mate decide if we join you over the weekends... Except Hogsmeade days. Those days I'd want off. If there are any complications where we can't join you for a day, we'll let you know."
Flitwick nodded his acceptance as he looked to Daphne for an answer.
Daphne thought for a moment as she went through a mental checklist before replying. "The weekend hours will most likely be fine with me. I finish my homework at the same time as Hope. Easier to stay on top of my schoolwork that way. Although I agree with Hope about the Hogsmeade days."

Flitwick clapped his hands together. "Excellent! I'm more than willing to work within your parameters. So for clarification we'll start tonight from 9-10pm. I'll have classes for the two of you exclusively on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9-10pm. During the weekends we'll have a split-shift lesson between 9-11am and 4-6pm."
"Wonderful. Just wondering, do you need me to erect privacy wards each time or announce you've taken on a couple of apprentices in duelling to the school?" Hope asked with a curious thought.
The half Goblin rubbed his jaw in consideration. "It would be easier to announce it to the school and if I announce it hopefully none of the students will question why only you two were chosen considering your exam results last year. Choosing both 1st and 2nd in the year isn't overly strange."
Hope and Daphne nodded along with the Professor's reasoning. "As for the privacy ward. I suggest we don't use it unless we are discussing anything in regards to Lady Emrys or the Goblin Nation. Am I allowed to mention in casual conversation, your abilities of silent and wandless magic?"
The girls glanced at each other as they wordlessly discussed their options.
After 30 seconds, the 2 girls turned back to the Charms Professor. "So long as you don't mention the true extent of our abilities, I would have no issues with you mentioning our wandless magic. But I would also like to ask that you don't make a fuss about just how advanced and powerful we are."

"Fair enough. I guess I should let you go. I'll see you tonight." The half Goblin said as he dismissed them.
Hope held out her hand to stop Daphne. "Just curious. But when you spoke to King Ragnok, did he happen to mention if we could practise with swords as well? Or are we bound to magic only?"
Flitwick's right eyebrow rose in surprise before it lowered all within a few seconds as he considered Hope's request. "I believe My King has said that I am able to train you in duelling in a magical setting but if you decide to train in another method it is at your discretion."
Hope smirked happily at the half Goblin and her Mate. "I love that Goblin. He knows me so well. Can we use the afternoon lessons on the weekend to practise sword fighting?"

Daphne sighed as she remarked softly. "I know I agreed to this but Hope, are you trying to kill me with all the training you are putting me through?"
Hope wrapped her arms around Daphne's waist from behind her back and used her thumbs to caress Daphne's stomach over her shirt. Daphne covered Hope's arms with her own and leaned back against her Mate.
Hope whispered into Daphne's ear as she leaned forward. "Of course not love. But I want you to have every advantage possible, both physically and magically. If it becomes too much, just let me know."
Daphne smiled in Hope's arms before tapping on her arm to let go. "I know. And I will. But I enjoy learning how to fight, it's just tiring for us mere mortals."
Hope let go of her Mate and moved in front of her, taking the blonde's hands and bringing them up to her lips to kiss the back of the eldest daughter of the Greengrass family. "You'll get used to it over time and you are more than just a mere mortal love. You are a powerful witch and a badass."

Hope kissed the corner of Daphne's mouth. "I love you."
"I love you, too. I'll see you after lunch." Daphne replied as she brushed some of Hope's hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead.
Hope walked away begrudgingly before nodding her head at her new Duelling mentor snapping her fingers and removing the privacy ward.
"Thank you Professor. I'll see you after dinner." Hope commented gratefully as she left the classroom bumping into Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.
She spotted Blaise and Tracey off to the right waiting for Daphne, while Susan and Hannah were to the left. Hope joined her friends from Hufflepuff and they asked what's going on. Hope informed them they will find out later.

During the dinner feast Flitwick did make an announcement to the student population that he has taken on two apprentices in duelling and that he will not be accepting any more apprentices. This started up a loud conversation throughout the Great Hall, wondering who has been chosen as apprentices for the World-Renown Duelling Champion.
Speculation was etched onto everyone's face. Dumbledore stood up and called for silence, once the students had quietened, Dumbledore spilled the beans and told the entire student body. "Attention! Good. Now that you have all settled down. The students Professor Flitwick has so graciously taken under his tutelage are Heiress Daphne Greengrass."
Murmurs sounded once again, some in anger, some in understanding but when Dumbledore spoke the 2nd name all hell broke loose. "And Miss Hope Mikaelson."

Angry shouts erupted all around her, except from the Hufflepuff table but they did look at her in surprise and unexpected mirth as they laughed quietly amongst themselves.
Hope sighed in relief. Knowing that her friends from Hufflepuff don't blame her for getting an apprenticeship with Professor Flitwick. She looked over to the Gryffindor table, more specifically at the Golden Trio.
Harry looked proudly at Hope clapping away while Ron looked murderous murmuring some choice words to Dean Thomas and Sheamus Finnegan. Hermione was visibly upset talking to Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil about how she is the brightest Witch of her generation and that it was her right to be included in the Duelling program.
Hope didn't bother to hide her rolling eyes as she shifted her focus to the Professor's table. All the Professor's were shocked, some more than others. Professor Babbling was the only one who wasn't shocked. She just looked at Hope with a knowing smile and raised her glass in congratulations.
Hope scoffed under her breath in amusement at the half Witch-Vampire Hybrid before shaking her head and returning to her meal, mentally imprinting the look of utter disbelief on Snape's face so she could paint it later to show the Flamel's and all her friends.

After dinner Hope left the Great Hall and went straight to her dorm room to get changed into something more comfortable than her robes, a plain shirt and some jeans. As she left her room the entire Slytherin House was in the common room blocking the exit.
Daphne had joined Hope only a few seconds later, with a disinterested look and cold voice, she simply stated. "Move."
"Neither of you are going anywhere. Especially you, Mudblood." An elder Slytherin sneered at her and the whole House started spewing out hateful and disrespectful as Snape showed up.
A permanent scowl set on his face. "I agree. I believe Professor Flitwick has made a massive error. I've already sent Mister Malfoy to meet with the Professor."
Daphne mentally told Hope not to speak and to let her handle it as Snape can't verbally abuse her like he can to Hope.
Hope agreed with her Mate and stayed quiet as the blonde spoke. "Professor Snape. You know that Professor's Dumbledore and Flitwick have already discussed the terms of our arrangement to be taught as Professor Flitwick's apprentices. You have no right to stop us from attending our Duelling classes. Let us pass now. Or face the full weight of the Most Ancient and Noble House Greengrass. Do you understand?"

Snape scowled at Daphne and looked back at his students.
"Very well. Miss Greengrass you may go." He remarked with an annoyed drawl.
Snape faced Hope as a disgusted look was sketched into his expression. "Miss Mikaelson. You stay. Your lack of magical knowledge and experience will get you killed."
Daphne didn't leave at Snape's dismissal.
"Mr Snape. You will allow both of us to leave now. Or I will make your life even more dreadful by asking my father to contact Lady Emrys and have her alter the Slytherin Wardstone yet again." Snape's eyes widened in disbelief at the threat his student had given him and the rest of the Slytherin House went dead silent as some of the students gulped loudly enough for Daphne to hear.
Daphne locked eyes with her sister, watching as the small smirk on Astoria's face was hidden behind Occlumency shields her sister had taught her over the Summer holidays before school started up. Hope's eyes caught the interaction and she smiled towards the ground, hiding her smile underneath her hair.

Professor Snape grumbled as he swooshed his cloak behind him, roughly making a snapping sound as he exited the common room. Daphne turned her icy glare to the Slytherin students in front of her and unsurprisingly all the girls parted, placing themselves tightly along the walls.
The boys were a little different, some collapsed to the ground in pain, lips merged shut as the Wardstone activated. Almost half of the boys and a couple of girls possessed a glazed look over their eyes as they robotically moved to their dorm rooms as the secondary precaution of the Wardstone came into effect.
Hope watched which students were picked out by the secondary ward and committed them to memory so she could recall who to challenge to a Wizard's Duel if they continue to look at Daphne like a piece of meat.
Hope took a look around the common room for a moment before she casually strolled out of the Slytherin common room, Hope heard footsteps as Daphne walked beside her, still wearing her 'Ice Queen' mask.

The girls stayed silent as they made their way to the Charms classroom. As they approached the door they heard Malfoy throwing a tantrum at the Professor as Flitwick demanded the boy to leave.
Draco was insulting the Professor as the girls entered the room. Draco shouted at the girls to leave as this apprenticeship was rightfully his.
"Professor, by any chance could you possibly officiate a duel between myself and Malfoy? If I lose he takes my place. If he loses, he leaves this classroom, stops insulting you and never tries to join your Duelling class ever again." Hope asked in a bored tone as she looked at the Professor.
Hope turned her gaze to Draco as she taunted the boy by attacking his pride. "Unless you're afraid of a weak little Muggleborn Witch beating you in a Pureblood tradition? How shameful would it be, to not accept a duel from someone of a lesser house than you? The disgrace you would place on your family's name?"
Draco's face was turning more red by the second as Hope baited the boy.
Daphne's face remained impassive outwardly but mentally she snorted loudly in Hope's mind and started laughing. Flitwick wasn't doing much better as he brought his fist in front of his mouth, covering his smirk realising the game Hope was playing with the rude Slytherin boy.

"How dare you speak to me like that?!" Draco screamed at her before turning to the Professor.
"You! Half-Breed! Officiate the duel! I accept your challenge! You Mudblood bitch!" He shouted out as he pulled out his wand.
"Start the duel now, Half-Breed." He sneered angrily at the Duelling Champion.
"Very well. As a duelling official I hereby officiate the Wizard's Duel between Draco Malfoy and Hope Mikaelson. Either one yields the other wins. The other method of winning is by knocking your opponent unconscious. This Duel will start immediately." Flitwick announced as he erected a Duelling circle around the two combatants.

Draco wasted no time as he shot out various spells at her, not caring about the ferocity of the spells used. Some spells were innately dark in nature, to name some there was conjunctivitis curse, entrail-expelling curse and the blood-boiling curse. There were some other binding or restrictive spells like the leg-locker curse, full body-bind curse, jelly-fingers curse, jelly-legs curse and ridiculously enough a hair loss curse.
Hope didn't even bother pulling out her wand, she just simply sidestepped all the spells coming at her. The spells were easy to dodge as Draco's casting speed was extremely slow.
Hope slowly advanced on the blonde ponce as she ducked, swerved and slid out of the way of the incoming spells. Draco was exhausting himself by casting so many spells within a couple of minutes, Draco was already sweating as he gasped for breath to cast more spells.

"You shouldn't be an apprentice to a Duelling Master. You haven't even cast a single spell. You're weak. You--" A crunch sounded as Hope punched Malfoy in the face causing his wand to slide out of his hand and Malfoy's insults came to a screeching halt as his blonde head snapped backwards.
"You hit me! You little--" Another punch cracked on Malfoy's other cheek.
Hope sent a hard right jab to Draco's nose, breaking it with a crunch. Malfoy screamed out in pain as his hands came up to hold his nose.
Hope threw a right cross at Malfoy's face wishing to inflict as much damage to the blonde boy's face as he dropped down to all fours groaning in pain. The Tribrid had a sadistic grin on her face, she held out her hand in a claw-like position.
Hope raised her hand in the air and slashed down through thin air. Draco cried out in pain as scratches appeared along Draco's back, Hope's magic clawed at the boy, cutting through clothing and flesh.
Blood started seeping into Draco's white school shirt as he cried out, Hope scratched at the air again causing five more cuts to appear on his chest. Hope did this 3 more times. Whenever Draco began to open his mouth to possibly request to yield, Hope struck him again causing the Duel to continue as Draco hasn't been knocked unconscious and he hasn't yielded yet either.

Daphne tapped on Hope's mental wall, Hope paused in her next strike and looked at her Mate. Hope sensed the request to end the Duel through Daphne's emotions. Hope's magic settled as she looked at her Mate allowing Hope to calm down as she turned her head to Malfoy.
Hope squatted down in front of Draco with a bored expression on her face. "Do you yield Draco?"
Draco coughed up blood as he looked at Hope in fear, he opened his mouth to speak but groaned in pain the second his mouth opened.
Hope sighed as she stood up, Hope flicked her wand into her wrist, pointing it at the boy and called out. "Stupify."
The Prince of Slytherin collapsed to the ground like a sack of potatoes as the stunning spell knocked Draco out cold.