Half Blood Royalty

The Dueling Club

It's been a week since we added the Bicorn horn and Boomslang skin to our polyjuice potion. As I saw Hermione, Ron, and Harry walk across the Entrance Hall I found my way towards them, breaking away from Draco without him noticing was getting easier whenever he was around his friends. We all gathered around the small knit of people who had gathered 'round the bulletin board, reading a piece of parchment that had been pinned up. Two other Gryffindor boys called Harry, Ron, and Hermione over- me following behind. I think I heard Harry tell me once who Dean Thomas was, and of course I know Seamus Finnigan. That boy's caused more explosions than anyone at this school. It's kind of hard not to notice him. Both boys seemed to have looked pretty excited over what they read off the parchment.

"They're starting a Dueling Club!" Seamus spoke excitedly, "The first meeting's tonight! I wouldn't mind taking dueling lessons... may come in handy one of these days."

"What?" Ron asked, "You reckon Slytherin's monster can duel?" Despite his words, he was also reading the sign with interest.

"Could be useful." I shrugged, "Shall we go?" The three of them were all for it, so at eight o'clock that evening we all decided to meet back up in front of The Great Hall.

**

Once outside The Great Hall, Draco turned back towards me.

"Are you coming inside?"

"In a minute." I answered, "I told Harry-"

"Seriously?" He asked me, "We'll all be in the same-"

My eyes noticed the three others coming towards the entrance, waving my hand towards their direction. "Draco," I turned back to him, "I'm surprised you wanted to come to this. Your father's made sure to be an excellent teacher when it comes to duel-"

Draco slapped his hand over my mouth, standing over me as our eyes made eye contact and his voice lowered to a whisper, "Shh! Father told us we mustn't speak about those lessons."

Pushing Draco's hand off my mouth, I grabbed ahold of it and twisted it down towards the floor, "What did I tell you about grabbing me like that?"

"Melody, I-" He whimpered out a pained voice.

I leaned closer to him so that my lips were hovering over his ear, before whispering, "Don't forget who your father favored during those little lessons he gave." I let go of his arm right as Harry, Ron, and Hermione caught up to us.

Draco let off one glare at the three of them before looking back at me, "Good luck, Melody." He turned towards the Hall, looking over his shoulder to add, "Not that you'd need it."

"What was that about?" Harry asked me.

"Nothing." I brushed it off.

Entering The Great Hall, everything seemed so different. The long dining tables had vanished, and a golden stage appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles that were floating from overhead. The enchanted ceiling was a velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking quite excited. My eyes fell onto Draco who was clutching onto his wand while surrounded by his little posse, giving him a small smile as soon as his eyes met with mine.

"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" asked Hermione, as we edged ourselves more into the chattering crowd.

"Someone told me that Professor Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young... maybe it's him." Harry spoke up.

"A small head's up, Potter," I told Harry, "Most of the Professors at Hogwarts are known to be excellent at dueling. As long as it's not-" I let out a groan as Gilderoy Lockhart walked onto the stage, wearing robes of deep plum, and being accompanied by none other than my father, wearing his usual black.