Huffily Puffily || Golden Trio

The Dueling Club || xxxvi

"Protego!"

"Again!"

Lucy lowered her wand, giving Riddle an irritated look. "Telling me to do it over and over again won't make it happen, you know."

For the past hour, they'd been in her empty dormitory trying to cast a shield charm. He was an impatient person by nature, and usually it worked out because she was a fast learner. But she'd been trying for ages, and all she could manage was a faint flicker of light before it died out.

They were both very, very frustrated.

"I don't understand what is so hard about this!" He said, running a hand through his hair. "You've managed expansion charms and dark magic— a simple shield charm should be nothing! Are you even trying?"

She glared at him. "Nooo, I thought we should waste both of our time for the next hour, just for the fun of it. Yes, I'm bloody trying, Riddle!"

His jaw set in anger and he pinched the bridge of his nose. She could tell he was trying his best not to completely explode on her, but she was getting irritated enough that she wished he'd just do it so she could have an excuse to yell back at him.

She was just as confused with herself. She knew spells that could boil a man's blood; if she wanted to, she understood how to use a soul gem. Why was a stupid shield so impossible to do?

He finished calming himself down and looked at her. "Let's think about this," he said in a level tone. It made her want to fight him. "When you're casting the spell, what are you thinking of?"

"I reckon I'm thinking of making a shield charm," she said sarcastically.

He narrowed his eyes at her tone. "But do you want to make the shield charm? Do you want to protect yourself? If a dark wizard burst through the door right now shouting a curse, would you want to defend yourself?"

She opened her mouth to say yes, of course, but the words didn't come out. Honestly, if someone tried to attack her, that wouldn't even occur to her. "I would curse him first," she admitted. Or talk her way out, if possible. She didn't want to be trapped behind a shield. She'd rather defeat her opponent rather than let them try and hit her, it was less boring that way.

"Offensive magic is certainly useful, but never undermine the importance of defense." Riddle clasped his hands behind his back and paced the room. Despite her frustration, she couldn't help but smile slightly as he entered what she liked to call 'lecture mode'. It was one of the few times she never interrupted him. "In a duel, it isn't just about defeating your opponent. If that were the case, duels would finish a lot more quickly. You must use your feet as well as your wand: if you don't have time to throw up a shield, dodge out of the way and counter. But my point here is that you must know how to deflect just as well as you can attack. Now, try it again."

She held up her wand to cast it, but the sound of someone passing in front of her door quickly made her hide her wand up her sleeve.

Daisy poked her head in and scanned over her room. "No Rickett," she muttered. She smiled at Lucy who was trying her best not to look suspicious. "Sorry, Lucy, have you seen Anthony?"

"He and Megan went out on a hero's quest," she said apologetically.

"That's why I'm looking for him... Watch out, I heard he was going to drag you into this scheme. If you don't want in, you'd better hide."

Riddle looked incredibly displeased with the interruption. Lucy smiled at Daisy and said, "Great, thanks. If he asks, I'm in Gryffindor tower."

Grabbing her bag, she left the dormitory. Riddle followed her. "You will learn the shield charm today," he said sternly.