mavis weasley || harry potter [1]

SIX || The Midnight Duel

"You're joking."

It was dinnertime. Mavis had just finished telling Hermione what happened when Harry and her left with Professor McGonagall.

"Chaser?" Hermione asked. "And Harry's a Seeker? I'm guessing first-years never -- why you two must be the youngest House player in about--"

"-- a century," said Mavis eating a slice of cake. "Wood told me."

"Have you told Ron yet?" questioned Hermione.

"No," Mavis said putting a piece of pie now on her plate, "but I'm guessing Harry has already told him by now. I start training next week. Don't tell anyone though, Wood wants to keep it a secret.

Fred and George now slid down the table towards their sister, "Well done," said George in a low voice. "Wood told us. My little sister, a chaser."

"You mean our little sister," Fred said grabbing the pie off of Mavis's plate. "I tell you, we're going to win that Quidditch Cup for sure this year. We haven't won since Charlie left, but this year's team is going to be brilliant. You two must be good Wood was almost skipping when he told us."

"Anyway, we've got to go, Lee Jordan reckons he's found a new secret passageway out of the school."

"Bet it's that one behind the statue of Gregory the Smarmy that we found in our first week. See you."

Fred and George peck Mavis on the head and barely left before she sees someone far less welcome turn up: Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle.

"Stay here," Mavis says to Hermione as she gets up and heads to the spot Harry and Ron sit.

"Having the last meal, Potter? When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?"

"You're a lot braver now that you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you," said Mavis cooly. There was of course nothing little about Crabbe and Goyle, but as the High Table was full of teachers, neither of them could do more than scowl and crack their disgustingly large knuckles.

"Ah, the girl Weasly. Here to join your boyfriend before you're sent back to that hole you call home," Draco turned back to Harry. "I'd take you on anytime on my own. Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only -- no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"

"Of course he has," said Ron, wheeling around the table. "I'm his second who's yours?"

Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up. "Crabbe," he said. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."

As soon as Malfoy left, Mavis started yelling at the boys, "Are you two insane? Harry doesn't know the first thing about a wizard's duel. He probably doesn't even know what a second is, do you Harry?"

"What is a second?" said Harry. "And what do you mean wizard duel?"

"Well, a second's there to take over if you die," said Ron bluntly, getting started on his third piece of pie. Mavis saw the look on Harry's face and sat down next to him.

"People only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy'll be able to do is send sparks to each other. Neither of you knows enough magic to do any real damage. I bet he expected you to refuse anyway, but of course, Ron couldn't have that happen."

Ron rolls his eye at her.

"And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?" Harry asked Mavis.

"Throw it away and punch him in the nose," Ron suggested.