Snakes, Secrets, and Revelations

Chapter 9

2 minutes before 1pm same Saturday as last two Chapters.

Lucy arrived at the Dueling building with 2 minutes to spare. Lucy noted that there were students from every house, all seated on black square cushions along walls and around a large mat. Professor McGonagall was seated at a desk in the corner doing paperwork.

"New members are supposed to sit over there." A Gryffondor boy informed her with a surprised look. With a scan of her surrounding students she realized why. While there were several girls, they were all older, 5th, 6th, and 7th years.

Although Lucy knew that the building had 4 dueling rooms and 2 storage closets, everyone was assembled together in one room. The room easily held the entire club. Including the new members, there were 30 members total. When the clock struck 1, the Ravenclaw boy that Lucy spoke with earlier stood.

"Everyone, welcome to the Fencing Club. Here you will learn the art of sword play and become stronger. I am Rafal Heathcliff. Professor Stavish has resigned so I'll be the instructor this year. We will meet here Wednesdays at 6pm and Saturdays a 1pm. We will begin this meeting with an ability assessment. Every new member will face a member that's been here for a year."

Lucy watched as the 5 other new members were all easily and quickly disarmed. First were the 2 Hufflepuff 2nd years, followed by a 7th year Ravenclaw girl. After that was the 5th year Slytherin and then the second year Griffindor.

Finally it was Lucy's turn. She would be fighting Jeffery Naaz, the very boy who had been so rude to her. Rafal pressed his lips into a thin line when he realized who she was, but said nothing.

Jeffery, on the other hand licked his lips in anticipation. He was excited to defeat the little girl who thought she could.

Unknown to all, Severus quietly entered the dueling room with the intent to discuss something with McGonagall. However, when he spotted his daughter he remained in the shadows as a silent observer.

As Lucy bent to retrieve the wooden sword from where the previous fighter had dropped it, Jeffery struck at her left shoulder. Lucy swiftly snatched up the fake weapon before drawing a few paces between them.

She waited only a moment before Jeffery charged and swung at her. He would have been aiming at her shoulder if he had been aiming lower and a bit to the side. Instead his wood weapon was heading directly for her head.

Lucy lent back, the practice sword narrowly missing her. As Jeffery was returning to his ready position, Lucy jabbed him in the stomach.

He swung at her again but she evaded by twirling behind him.
He turned towards her and made a jab but she sidestepped him.

He jabbed again only for her to strike his play sword from underneath causing his sword to fly from his grasp.

Jeffery stared at Lucy in shock.
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Lucy left the dueling building feeling quite satisfied. While Lucy wasn't nearly as skilled at sword fighting as her brothers, she still was fairly good.