Wands At The Ready

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the concept of Harry Potter, they all belong to J.K. Rowling.

It was a bright young morning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All the students were going about their day, eating their breakfast and going to class. Every student from each of the four houses were being as productive as they can be for the day. One of the on-going classes is Defense against the Dark Arts. This class was particularly special, because it was a class with 5th year Ravenclaws and 6th year Slytherins. The reason for the sudden arrangement was because Professor Dumbledore suggested at least once a week, students of the lower years would have classes with their upperclassmen, and this is to show comradery between lower and higher years, and so that the lower years can learn from their older brothers and sisters. But having them learn from older students of a different house is another story. So far, the older Slytherins would tease or bully some of the younger Ravenclaws, either calling them nerds or taking their books. One student, however, was not being noticed by either houses, and that was Ravenclaw's Luna Lovegood. Some students question her sorting into Ravenclaw, especially students outside of the house. But her housemates saw and understood how Luna's mind worked and considered her a valuable asset into the Ravenclaw house.

"Alright... Today will be a different type of class. As you can see, the room has been set up to simulate a training room. We will be tackling the defensive spells that I've taught you over the week. Let's see how many of you have been paying attention" As explained by Professor Snape.

Sure enough, the room looked like a training room, with the chairs and tables moved to the side and a mat padding on the floor for safety of any knockback attacks. Judging from the padding, their might be a couple of spells that would cause the target to fall and hurt themselves. Luna was standing on one side with her fellow Ravenclaws, in between Padma Patil and Cho Chang. On the other side of the room, the Slytherins looked smugly at them, knowing this will end with a duel between the two houses.

"I will need one volunteer from each house to step up and show me what they've learned..." Snape said. Some of the Ravenclaws started to fidget and whisper to one another on who should go up. Luna listened to some of their suggestions, one volunteer being Michael Corner or Terry Boot. They were even desperate enough to forcefully volunteer some girls like Cho or Sue Li. Luna sighed, having enough of this nonsense and stepped forward onto the mat.

"Ms. Lovegood?... Almost mistaken you for a Gryffindor" Snape commented

"I do not see the problem in participating Professor, after all this is only for educational purposes. And as a Ravenclaw, I would be glad to help educate my fellow housemates and Slytherin house what I've learned in your class..." Luna explained. Everyone was a little taken back by her explanation, including Snape.

"Oh! And the nargles told me it would be a good idea to take part in this" She said with a smile. That caused everyone to sigh and groan in annoyance. Somethings never change.

"Very well then... If Ms. Lovegood will be Ravenclaw's representative, who will be Slytherin's?" The professor looked at his house for any volunteers. He could see that Pansy Parkinson was smiling and was about to step forward when some one behind her held her back and came forward onto the mat.

"I don't mind having a go at you, Lovegood..." Luna looked up at her opponent. Not much to her surprise, she would be going up against Slytherin's own, Draco Malfoy.

"Hello Draco, it would be an honor..." Luna smiled at him, while Malfoy gave her a sly smirk. At the back, Pansy just pouted and glared at Luna.

"Very well them.... Begin!" Luna swiftly grabbed her wand from behind her ear and pointed the wand at him quickly.