Badgersoul

Chapter 3: Table Match

Chapter 3: Table Match

I told the others about Patronus Charms and how they're linked to Animagus forms. Now they all want to practice and find out what they are. Remus came over a few days ago and he was the first to get it. He wasn't too happy that it was a wolf, but I reminded him that mine was as well and that wolves are majestic creatures. One of these days, I'm going to beat it into his thick skull that being a werewolf is nothing to be ashamed of.

**

Before Remus could get up to write the letter to Dumbledore, Leo politely reminded the man that Dumbles had no idea that they had kidnapped Harry for the summer, so how could Remus know what Harry had been dreaming? Remus was quiet and thoughtful for a moment before saying Leo could send the letter since Harry would confide in him regardless of whether or not they were living in the same house. Leo had simply stared at him before responding that there was no chance in hell that he would ever ask Dumbledore for help.

He then rose from his seat and went outside to practice his spell-casting and dueling techniques. Sirius came out a few minutes later and observed him, now and again making comments and giving him alternative spell options. After half an hour of this Leo suddenly stopped and turned to his uncle, a half-amused expression on his face.

"You're not changing my mind, you know," he informed the man. "I'm not writing to Dumbledore, and that's final."

"I've noticed that you're not overly fond of the man," Sirius commented. "Why is that?"

Leo was silent for a moment.

"Christmas during my first year, I received a letter my dad had left for me. He told me about all the hopes he had for me and left me with a few warnings. One was not to trust Pettigrew and the other was to be wary of Dumbledore," Leo frowned, looking at the house. "If my dad was right about Pettigrew – if he knew about him before anyone else – what if he was right about Dumbledore? What if we can't trust him?"

Sirius didn't have an answer for him. In order to make up for this, he took out his wand and engaged his nephew in a duel. Minutes afterward, Remus and Harry came outside to see what all the commotion was about and stayed to observe the two. While Sirius had more experience and had rather quick reflexes, Leo was quite agile and possessed reflexes that matched his uncle's. As a result, the two were rather well-matched and had a difficult time gaining an advantage over the other.

Sirius also had an advantage in that he could cast non-verbal spells, a skill Leo only possessed in regards to one spell. He used it as much as possible. As an Elementalist, he could control and manipulate fire through sheer force of will. If he wanted a shield, he could create one. A wall of fire? No sweat. Using it no longer exhausted him as it had against the troll or the spiders, years of practice enabled him to wield it with the same ease and skill his father had wielded Glacius with.

Eventually, Sirius managed to disarm him with the Expelliarmus spell, catching the wand in his hand with a triumphant smirk. It was quickly wiped away when Leo tackled him out of nowhere and wrestled his wand from his uncle's grip before pointing it at his face, panting heavily and sweating profusely.

"Duel's not over until the other person can't fight back," Leo grinned before climbing off his uncle and helping him to his feet. "Shouldn't have let your guard down, Paddy."

"I'll remember that for next time, kiddo," Sirius replied in a dry tone, though he was grinning proudly.

Remus congratulated him on a well-fought duel while Harry looked on, a bit unnerved by the skill and ferocity Leo had dueled with. He was quite convinced now that his cousin had indeed been going easy on him.