meant to be (2)

32

A week later, Lilith and I were walking across the Entrance Hall when we saw a small knot of people gathered around the noticeboard, reading a piece of parchment that had just been pinned up.

Levi and Emma beckoned us over, looking excited.

"They're starting a Duelling Club!" said Levi. "First meeting tonight! I wouldn't mind duelling lessons, they might come in handy one of these days...."

"I bet Harry, Ron and Mione will come as well!" I said excitedly. "You all can finally meet each other."

At eight o'clock that evening Lilith, Levi, Emma and I hurried back to the Great Hall.

The long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. The ceiling was velvety black once more and most of the school seemed to be packed beneath it, all carrying their wands and looking excited.

Finally after walking around for what seemed like hours I spotted my three best friends and we made our way across to them.

"Hey guys!" I said. "Here are Lilith, Emma and Levi. I've wanted to introduce you to them for ages now."

They all greeted each other and we've talked a lot. Everyone was getting along with everyone.

"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Hermione, as we edged into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a duelling champion when he was young, maybe it'll be him!"

"As long as it's not-" Harry began, but he ended on a groan: Gilderoy Lockhart was walking onto the stage, resplendent in robes of deep plum and accompanied by none other than Snape, wearing his usual black.

"Our two favourite teachers" I said nudging Harry in the arm lightly with an unserious grin.

"Yeah they're the best" Harry answered sarcastically.

Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called: "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Duelling Club, to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions - for full details, see my published works. Let me introduce my assistant Professor Snape." said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about duelling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now. I don't want any of you youngsters to worry - you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"

"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Lilith muttered in my ear. I nodded at her with an excited grin in response.

Snape's upper lip was curling. Lockhart was still smiling.

"If Snape had been looking at me like that I'd have been running as fast as I could in the opposite direction." I told our group of seven and the others all agreed with me.

Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his hands, where as Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.

"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position." Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course!"

"I wouldn't bet on that" Harry murmured, which made the lot of us laugh, except for Hermione.

"One - two - three-"

Both of them swung their wands up and over their shoulders. Snape cried: "Expellarmus"

There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet: he flew backwards off the stage, smashed into the wall and slid down it to sprawl on the floor.

"Wicked" Lilith and Emma said at the same time, staring at the spot where Lockhart stood before.

Hermione was dancing on her tiptoes. "Do you think he's all right?" she squealed through her fingers.

"Who cares?" said Harry, Ron and Levi together.

Lockhart was getting unsteadily to his feet. His hat had fallen off and his wavy hair was standing on end.

"Well, there you have it" he said, tottering back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm - as you see, I've lost my wand - ah, thank you, Miss Brown. Yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy. However, I felt it would be instructive to let them see..."

Snape was looking murderous. Possibly Lockhart had noticed, because he said, "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me..."

They moved through the crowd, matching up partners.

Snape reached our group first.

"Time to split up the dream team, I think" he sneered while looking at Harry and Ron

"Weasley, you can partner Finnigan. Potter-"

Harry moved automatically towards me.

"I don't think so" said Snape, smiling coldly. "Mr Malfoy, come over here. Lets see what you make of the famous Poter."

"And you, Miss Clarke - you can partner Miss Parkinson!" he said.

I scoffed before making my way to Parkinson who already looked at me in pure disgust. It was no secret that we didn't get along at all.

"STUPEFY!" she screamed as soon as I was standing in front of her. I immediately felt the tingling sensation in my whole body.

"PROTEGO!" I shouted, trying not to use my power.

"You mudblood!" she spat while I was still holding the protection charm. "Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!"

"Haven't got any other spells, Parkinson?" I said, chuckling quietly. This seemed to make her very angry.

"Expelliarmus! Immobulus! Obscuro!" she screamed. My eyes widened, but I had an idea.

"Aguamenti!" I said watching a now completely drenched Parkinson freak out.

"What did you do?" she snapped. "Now I'm all wet!"

Her wand slipped out of her hands. When she tried to pick it up, it kept slipping away which made me giggle quietly.

When she finally managed to pick it up properly, she pointed her wand at me dangerously, but was distracted.

"STOP! STOP!" screamed Lockhart.