A Forbidden Love

Chapter 22: The Duel

I wake up the next morning to the bad news. Blaise is there to break it to me.

"There's been another attack," he says, avoiding my eyes.

"What? Who?" I immediately panic thinking it could be Potter.

"Some Gryffindor. I think his name is Colin Creevy."

I relax for a second before I realize that I could've stopped these attacks. "I... Um..."

"It's okay Draco. We don't blame you. You weren't really given an option."

I take a deep breath. "Okay. Yeah, you're right. It's not my fault." I still have trouble believing it.

The next month flies by in a blur. Nothing happens besides class, but I'm thankful for it. I can't get my mind off of the attacks. I could've stopped it and I didn't. Another attack would've really hurt my morale. The only thing that would've been keeping me at Hogwarts at that point were my Dad's threats.

This year, I don't even get invited home, so I guess I'm staying. Crabbe and Goyle say they were planning to stay too, but I have a feeling they're lying for me. Blaise and Theo are going home. It looks like it'll just be the original crew for Christmas break.

There's less than a week till break when the creation of a Dueling Club is announced. After diner, right outside the Great Hall, Dumbledore and McGonagall are posting the announcement on the notice board. We all look to Dumbledore and McGonagall in shock. There's no way either of them would allow this. It had to be a joke. Whether or not they wanted this, they're both nodding. It was actually happening, and the first meeting was tonight.

At eight o'clock, the entire school goes back to the great hall. All the tables are cleared out. We look around for a teacher but no one is there. I look to Goyle, confused.

"Who do you think the teacher is going to be?"

"I don't know, but I hope it's Flitwick. They say he was one of the best duelers ever."

Just as he finishes, we hear falling in the hallway. I don't even have to look.

"Crap! It's Lockhart."

Much to our surprise, though, it is not only Lockhart. Snape is there too! Snape with Lockhart? That would never happen. What happened to the world? My question is answered soon enough.

"Welcome everyone!" Lockhart addresses us. "Can you see me? Good! We're going to start the night off with a duel between me and my trusty assistant, Professor Snape."

"Ohhhh! I exclaim rather loudly. I drop my voice to a whisper. "Snape just wants to destroy him." I honestly hope he does. I even hear Weasley wish the same thing. That's how hated Lockhart is.

Lockhart goes on to explain position and how neither is aimed to kill. I look at him like he's crazy. Has he met Snape? I glance between them as Lockhart counts to three.

"One... Two... Three!"

"Expelliarmus!" Snape casts his spell before Lockhart had a chance to think.

Lockhart is blasted against the wall. I can't but laugh. He had that coming. When he talks he still sounds all cocky. It annoys the crap out of me. Then I realize that must be how I sound sometimes. Boy, do I have a lot to learn.

After a bit more lecturing, and evil glares from Snape to Lockhart, we split into pairs. I'm about to grab Pansy when I hear Snape call my name.

"Mr. Malfoy! Come here!"

I turn around to see him pushing Potter towards me. You have got to be kidding me. Of all the partners, Potter. Really?

I walk over to them anyway, knowing I can't back out. Right now, I'm Snape's favorite student. If I disobey one thing he says, I will drop pretty far on that list. I guess I'll use it as a chance to prove myself to him.

When we're all settled, the practice began. Lockhart counted down. On three, we start.

I barely got a chance to think of a spell when I hear "Rictusempra!" from Harry.

I double over in pain from the tickling. There's no way he could've gone that fast. He had to have started early. Well if there's two things I hate, it's cheating and losing. It's on now, Potter.

I ignore Lockhart telling us to stop and use the first spell I can think of. "Tarantalegra!" I yell between laughs and chokes.

That didn't help my laughing because now Potter legs were jerking him around the floor. It looked like he was dancing, but poorly. If I thought I was laughing hard before, it was nothing compared to now.

Over my laugh, I hear Snape yell the counter curse. "Finite Incantatem!" I immediately stop laughing and Potter stops dancing around the floor.

All of a sudden, a bunch of things happen at once, but I don't get a chance to process it. Snape pulls me aside in that green smoke.

"I'm disappointed in you. You should've gotten the upper hand after I distracted him."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"The first spell that caused him to stumble."

"That was you?" I look at him, appalled.

"Of course it was. I was giving you a chance and you completely missed it."

"That's completely against the rules." I can't rap my head around it. I know Snape hates Potter, but that much?

"Fine. You don't want to cheat, you two can have a fair duel." He turns to face everyone. "Hey Lockhart! I have an idea. How about a duel between Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter. Everyone watching."

"Great idea Professor Snape. They can witness a duel between two people at their skill level and learn basic blocking techniques."

"My thoughts exactly!" He turns back to me. "You better kick his ass."

"Oh I want to do a lot to his ass."

"What?"

Crap! I said that out loud. "Nothing. I said I'll kick his ass, don't worry," I say, rushing my words. He eyes me suspiciously, but doesn't press on. I'm thankful for that.

As we finish, so do Lockhart and Potter. "The duel then!" Lockhart says.

We meet at the middle and bow, just like Snape and Lockhart demonstrated. I could see him shaking. He probably could see me shaking too.

"Scared Potter?"

"You wish."

We back up and the duel commences on three. "Serpensortia!" I yell, using my favorite spell. I couldn't use the disarming charm and live up to Snape's expectations, so I chose a scary, but harmless spell.

A snake appears in front of us. I try to control it, but Potter's terrified and adorable face causes me to lose concentration. I can't control it. Now I'm panicking almost as much as the rest of the room.

Lockhart both try to get rid of it, but failed. It just angered it more. Then, the most unlikely thing ever to happen, happens. Potter speaks to the snake. Everyone backs away as he seems to egg the snake on. It's going to attack Justin! Snape jumped forward just in time to stop it. All I can do is stand in awe.

I snap back when I see Potter and his crew run out. I still don't move. I'm in too much shock. Did I just bring out his dark side? Maybe the rumors were right. The only reason he wasn't in Slytherin was because he asked.