Shadow of the Prophecy

Ch.5 - Wanna Be Felled By You; Held By You; Fuel the Pyre of Your Enemies

Theodore Sallow

November of 6th year

Mid-November sees them once again in the empty Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom after classes. Theodore had insisted that they move on from basic instruction to dueling, and they stand across the room from one another. He is barely out of the bow when Helena sends the Bombarda hurtling at him. He blocks it with a fluid raising of his wand, and counters with the stupefying charm. Helena pirouettes out of the way, and the blasting curse releases from her own wand mid-turn. It is in excellent form, and quick. The smoke and heat of the blast distract and obscure his vision of her, and it is due to this that he misses the book flying closely behind; thrown, no doubt, with Depulso as a distraction. He has to bring his hand up to keep the book from colliding with his face, and he feels his wand leave his hand when Helena's next cast rips it from him.

Theodore straightens and throws her a look of reproach. He can feel a bead of sweet roll down his temple from the heat of the previous blast, and he tsks at her as he bends to retrieve his wand.

"Not very sporting of you, Helena."

She grins as she watches him bend down to retrieve his wand from the floor, wand at the ready to continue their match. As his fingers brush the handle, she strikes again.

"Flagrante!"

Theodore jerks his hand back from his wand and shakes out his fingers.

"What was it you said about sporting?" Helena's voice is all tease.

Theodore sighs and straightens, adopting what he hopes will be seen as a put-upon expression. He raises his hands in surrender. "Alright, I yield. Doubt I could hold my wand anyway."

He shakes his fingers out again for dramatic flare, and it has the intended effect of Helena crossing the room to him in concern. He tries to keep the smirk off of his face as she comes to inspect his hand, and then he is sweeping a leg under her feet and knocking her off balance. He catches her easily before Helena even has the chance to fall, and laughs when she smacks half-heartedly at his chest from where he holds her.

"So much for sporting!" She laughs, continuing her assault.

"Turn-about is fair play." Theodore allows himself to smirk. "Do you yield?"

He holds on to her until she goes limp, panting from the struggle. "Fine, yes. I'll also yield."

He rights her and places her back on her feet carefully. He keeps a steadying hand on her back to ensure she indeed has her footing. He nods in the direction of his wand.

"I didn't teach you that one." He wants to be annoyed, but her smile soothes any wound to his pride. "Be a love and cast finite for me? If you want me to teach you anything else, I'll be needing that back."

Helena does as he asks, and Theodore uses a nonverbal command to bring the wand to his hand. He smirks at her wide eyes and raises his eyebrows at the questions he knows are coming. Helena once again does what is delightfully unexpected and doesn't ask a question at all.

She wraps her hands around his forearm as they leave the classroom. "Teach me that!"

Theodore feigns innocence as they walk the halls in the direction of the grounds. "Teach you what?"

She releases his arm and gestures at his hands. "What you did back there! Wandless magic!"

Theodore sniffs as they pass through the doors towards the west tower and doesn't answer for a time. He wants to appear as though he is considering it. He tilts his head back when they reach the doors leading to outside. "No. I don't think I will."