The Weasley in Ravenclaw | Draco Malfoy

Teaching Children to Duel with no Prior Knowledge is a Terrible Idea

After the events of Halloween, Elizabeth didn't expect the school year to get that much crazier. Looking back, she should have known better. So, when Harry nearly died during the quidditch match, she knew something was once again, very wrong.

"How did that man get hired anyway? What was Dumbledore thinking?" Elizabeth asked, sitting on a neighboring bed in the Hospital Wing, going on and on about how their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was the definition of incompetent. "Professor Quirrel was better than this buffoon, and that's saying something. I mean, can he even do anything?"

"Don't be too hard on Professor Lockhart, Lizzie. I'm sure he's talented at many things," Hermione defended the arrogant tosser.

"Hermione, this ridiculous crush of yours had got to end," Elizabeth gave the girl a pointed look, causing the Gryffindor to turn her head away in embarrassment. "How hard is it to fix a broken bone? I bet one of us could do it."

"Not very, Miss Weasley," Madam Pomfrey approached the small group. "I'm sorry to say, but visiting hours are over and Mr. Potter needs his next round of potions. You can come back tomorrow before he is discharged if you'd like, but he should be back to normal by tomorrow evening just in time for dinner."

"Have fun, Harry," Elizabeth laughed at the face he made at the mention of the Skele-gro potion. "I'll see you tomorrow. Sorry I couldn't find any additional information about you-know-what. Seems like McGonagall beat me to it."

"That's all right, Lizzie," he replied. "I appreciate the help, nonetheless."

"Goodnight, Ronniekins. Good night, Hermione," Elizabeth waved. "I'll see you guys tomorrow, too."

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The saying goes 'everything happens in threes'. Whether it be good things or bad things (mostly bad things), there will be three events that occur within a certain time span. First, there was the bloody message on the wall with Filtch's petrified cat on Halloween. Second, was the bludger almost taking Harry's life as if the object had a mind of its own. The third was the petrified body of Colin Creevey.

When Harry left the Hospital Wing the following evening, he told his three friends what he'd witnessed. The poor first year was in the wrong place at the wrong time, coming face-to-face with the monster. Unsurprisingly, the entire castle found out about it by lunchtime. Rumors spread like Fiendfyre, and by dinner the student body was trying to figure out what the monster was, and who the Heir of Slytherin was. (No one was sure about the latter yet, but a certain blond Slytherin was at the top of the list.)

Due to such events, the professors believed it to be a good idea for the younger students (who hadn't had much teaching on the matter of dueling) to know how to properly defend themselves. And so, on a Sunday morning, Elizabeth along with her fellow classmates found themselves in the Great Hall, waiting for this so-called Dueling Club to begin. When Elizabeth spotted Professor Lockhart swaggering his way towards the group of Ravenclaws at the far end of the room, she knew attending the lesson was a complete mistake.

"Gather round, students. Gather around," the blond man called out. "Can everyone see me? Can everyone hear me? Excellent! Professor Snape has graciously agreed to be my assistant today..."

"Oh, yeah, that's what happened," Isobel rolled her eyes. "Snape looks just as happy as we are to be here on the weekend. Why did we agree to come with you, Terry?"

"Because you love me so much," the boy gave the two girls his best attempt at a charming smile.

"No, that's not it," Isobel shook her head. "I could be sleeping in my room right now."