Harry Potter Down Under

Duel (38)

For a while Harry was doing fine. Every night Frisk would stop by the Gryffindor table to see how Harry was doing before returning to their Slytherin friends. Surprisingly, none of the other houses seemed against it, and after only a week the entire Gryffindor house had become used to Frisk. That shy girl began hanging out with Frisk more and more until they were known as good friends. Frisk claimed the girl as her only friend and soon all the cruel words thrown at her seized.

Malfoy didn't stop though. Almost every meal he came over, after Frisk and their friend left, and threw insults at the trio. Around the time Harry began his training, the insults became fewer but harsher.

"You might as well quit while you still can, Potter, you won't survive a single game."

"Watch me, Malfoy."

"Ooo, burn."

Kick his a$$ for me Potter.

"Your only brave because you've got your little friends to protect you. Without them, you're nothing." Potter turned back to his meal after speaking. There was of course nothing little about Crabbe and Goyle, but since the High Table was full of teachers, those beached whales couldn't do anything but crack their knuckles and scowl.

"I'd take you on anytime on my own," said Malfoy. "Tonight even. Wizard's duel. Wands only and no contact. What's with that face, never heard of a Wizard's Duel? I suppose you wouldn't being raised by those filthy monsters."

It took everything inside Harry to not punch Malfoy in the nose...again. Every ounce of strength he had, along with the fact that I don't want to rewrite this conversation around, seeing as he would probably go back and undo his act of violence.

"Of course he has!" Said Ron, dropping his biscuit on his plate and finally turning around. "I'm his second, who's your's?"

Malfoy looked his goons up and down, trying to pick. They were both basically the same though, so he did a mental eni meni mini mo.

"Crabbe," he said finally. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room. It's always unlocked."

Harry gave a sharp nod of agreement and waited until Malfoy left to ask Ron what a Wizard's Duel is. And what a second is and does.

"A second is there to take over if you die," Hermione popped up suddenly. Both the boys jumped, almost forgetting she was there. The girl set her book down. "But people only die in proper battles, with proper wizards. The worst that'll happen to either of you is a little sting on the bum or jelly legs. Neither of you know enough magic to cause any real damage. And, to be honest, he probably expected you to refuse anyways."

"What if I wave my wand and nothing happens?"

"Throw it away and punch him in the nose?" Ron suggested then his eyes seemed to drift off. "But I doubt that'll happen. You're the greatest wizard in our year, I bet you could try to sting him and accidently throw him across the room if you wanted."

"You can't purposely do something on accident, Ron." Hermione said as she picked up her book again. "And, anyways, I'd hate to see you two get hurt. You mustn't go wandering around the school at night, you could get caught- no, you will get caught."

"She's got a point Ron. If we get caught that won't just affect us either, think of the points that'll be taken from Gryffindor. It would be selfish of us."

"What, but it'll only be selfish of us if we get caught."

"When, not if."

"Yeah, but this could be our chance to get back at Malfoy for everything he's not done to us, but to everybody. Neville, that weird shy girl that hangs with your sister, and that Hufflepuff boy he keeps tripping in the hallway."