The Badger **Seamus Finnigan Fanfiction**

2.7 Dueling Club

Dueling club seemed like a brilliant idea to every boy who I talked to. "Why is their joy invested in violent sports?" Anna asked me one day. I just laughed her off. Dueling club was being led by Lockhart and Snape. 

It was as you can imagine very exciting. I was standing with the Hufflepuffs. Anna, Susan, Hannah and I stood with Justin and another boy in our grade Ernie MacMillan. Harry Potter came right up to us, probably because we weren't so scary. 

Gilderoy Lockhart took off his cape and threw it to a group of girls who squealed and giggled. Susan looked to me and shook her head. She was convinced Gilderoy Lockhart was a fraud. 

I heard Justin introduce himself to Harry. Harry almost introduced himself back but Justin said there was no need. We all knew who Harry was, even 'us muggle-borns.' I didn't think much of it. 

The class became riled up. Snape and Lockhart were supposed to sample how a duel worked, but Snape knocked Lockhart to the ground so quickly it was comical. Quite frankly I didn't think Snape was a scary as I did last year. I found him rather amusing. Especially since his wit and sarcasm weren't usually directed towards me. 

When Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy started dueling, it got ugly fast. Everyone knew they were mortal enemies. Last year Draco ratted Harry, Ron and Hermione out when they were out of bed which face it we all do. Also Draco had bought his way onto the Quidditch team. Bad combo for someone with high morals as I believed Harry to be. 

 Draco made a snake appear out of thin air. We all gasped. Anna clung to my arm. The snake started to turn towards us. Snape and Lockhart were arguing over who was going to play the hero. 

Lockhart cast a spell that sent the snake into the air and back down again. Just causing it more anger. It turned and hissed at us. Justin didn't move. Harry started speaking to the snake in what sounded like a different language. I tried to pull Justin back toward me, but he was frozen in fear. As Harry spoke the snake looked more and more like it wanted to attack. I finally pulled Justin back to me. 

I saw the snake turn to Harry and look sad as Harry shook his head. I just had this feeling that Harry was trying to tell the snake no. Harry wanted it to calm down. Snape that cast a spell and the snake fizzled into nothing. Justin looked at Harry and asked "What are you playing at?" 

I had a pit in my stomach. I knew it wasn't magic or me being psychic to get these feelings. But I had always had strong instincts. And right now I felt that Justin was in danger but it wasn't from Harry. Draco was the one who made the snake appear. 

Justin went on that day to tell people he thought Harry was the heir of Slytherin. I didn't stop him. That's what everybody thought already. Every 2nd year remembered how the hat hovered between Gryffindor and Slytherin for Harry. Almost like how it hovered for me. Except nobody thought I was going to control a monster. 

"What do you think about what happened at dueling club today?" Anna asks us when we're in our dorm doing homework. We hadn't really talked about it. "We all know Lottie has a theory." Susan said jokingly. She can read me too well.  

I chuckle. "You won't like it." Hannah nudges me. "Come on. You don't know that. Spill." I roll my eyes. "I don't think it was Harry." "Really?" Anna questions. I shrug. "I saw him. It looked like he was trying to calm the snake down, not egg it on." 

Susan shook her head. "We were all watching Lottie. I watched him speak another language. That's pure Slytherin right there." 

I bite my lip. "Draco produced the snake in the first place." "He didn't talk to it." Hannah says softly. I kinda knew they wouldn't agree.  

"I gotta get to study hall. I'll see you all later." Hannah says. She has it with Snape so she better hurry. 

The night was quiet. When I got to dinner everyone seemed to be whispering and Dumbledore as well as Harry were missing. I sat down and not a moment later Cedric came to me. "I need a favor." 

"Hello, how are you? I'm great thanks so much for asking." I joke. He pulls my arm. "Have you not heard?" I look around at the somber dining hall. "I guess not. Why what happened?" 

Cedric looks around as Susan, Anna and I all lean closer. "Justin was petrified." he whispers. I gasp. "What no. I saw him this morning." Cedric shakes his head. "They just found him." I inhale slowly. I had a feeling and I ignored it. "What can I do?" Cedric can't meet my eyes as he whispers. "Can you go see him? Check on him. I just...you know..I can't..." He can't go to the infirmary. I touch his hand. "Yes, I'll go after dinner and see if people can visit him." Cedric nods. 
Dinner continues in silence. 

I tell the girls I'm going to see Justin and they agree I should go alone. The infirmary is oddly quiet and it makes me terribly sad. Madame Pomfrey comes up and I ask if there's anything she needs, but she shakes her head. "Can I sit with my friend?" she agrees. I don't bother to pull up a chair. I sit at the end of Justin's bed and reach for his hand. "I really didn't think this could happen." I whisper. 

"They can undo this. It will be okay." I say unsure if Justin can hear me or not. I bite my lip. I should have listened to my instincts. I should I have warned him to be careful. "Next time I promise to do better." I say. 

And then I just stay by his side until I feel like I'm going to fall asleep. 

I make my way back to the dorm and tell Cedric that Justin will be fine. He won't die. 

And then I go to my room and I wake Anna up. She looks over at me slightly annoyed I woke her. "You are not to go anywhere alone. Do you hear me?" Anna squints. "Do you understand?" She looks at me more softly now and nods. "Good." I say satisfied and then I hop into bed. What a day. 

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