DUELING CLUB! First Meeting Tonight
A golden stage is in the middle of the floor. A bunch of students surround the stage as Lockhart stands on top of it. In other circumstances I wouldn't have been here. But I would pay good money to watch Gildory Lockhart get knocked down. "Gather 'round, gather 'round! Can everybody see me? Can you all hear me?" When the hall goes silent, he smiles. "Excellent! In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves, as I myself have done on countless occasions- for full details, see my published works." Lockhart struts the stage, a cap on his arm as he tosses it out into the crowd. A group of girls squeal as they fight over the cape. "Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape. He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry- you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear." The two professors met in the center of the stage. I leaned over to Fred and George.
"I bet you a sickle that Snape knocks Lockhart on his ass." Fred laughs and shakes my hand, the deal being made.
"One, two, three." They take three steps away from each other, before turning and aiming. Snape mutters a spell, and Lockhart doesn't have a chance to counteract it before he lands on his ass. I turn to Fred and he shakes his head at me, groaning as he tosses over the sickle. Lockhart gets up, half the kids laughing and half worried for his life. "An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind me saying, it was pretty obvious- ah- what you were about to do." Lockhart walks back towards Snape. "And if I had wanted to stop you, it would have been only too easy." Snape's expression doesn't change as he stares back at Lockhart.
"Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor." Snape suggests. And for once in my life, I am unfortunately on Snape's side, hoping he embarasses Lockhart.
"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape! Ah... Let's have a volunteer pair! Um, Potter, Weasley, how about you?" Lockhart chooses. I sit up, thinking this is about to get interesting.
"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox." I see Ron frown as Harry gets up onto the stage. "Might I suggest someone from my own house? Malfoy, perhaps?" I groan as Draco gets up onto the stage. The two boys meet in the middle.
"Wands at the ready." The boys put their wands in front of their faces, staring coldly at each other. Their wands went down as they walked to the opposite sides of the stages. "On the count of three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent- only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here. One, two-" Before Lockhart even gets to three, Draco yells out a spell.
"Everte statium!" Draco knocks Harry off his feet, flipping him into the air as he lands on the stage with a thud. Harry gets back up quickly, aiming his wand at Draco.
"Rictusempra!" A jet of silver light hits Malfoy in the stomach. He doubles up, wheezing. Everyone laughs as Draco lands on his ass.
"I said disarm only!" Lockhart yells, but neither boy listens.
"Serpensortia!" To Harry's horror, the tip of Malfoy's wand explodes as a long black snake comes out. Snape smiles with amusement. People back up as the snake slithers around, going towards Harry.
"Don't move, Potter. I'll get rid of it for you." Snape starts walking towards the snake when Lockhart walks forward as well.
"Allow me, Professor Snape. Alarte ascendare!" Lockhart flicks his wand and the snake flies into the air, hissing in rage as it lands back on the ground, this time looking over at another student. Harry walks forward, muttering something to the snake. Something not in English. If I wasn't mistaken, Harry is speaking Parseltongue. Everyone moves away from the stage. The snake looks into Harry's eyes, then turns for the student again. Harry repeats himself, this time more forcefully. The snake stares at him, almost as much as everyone else is staring at Harry.
"Vipera evenesca." The snake hovers a moment more before turning to ash. Everyone is silent as we stare at Harry who stares at the spot where the snake used to be.
"What are you playing at?" That student asks Harry, who looks around confused. When did Harry learn how to speak Parseltongue?
🗲☽
For the next few days, all anyone did was stare at Harry. Everyone thought he was the heir of Slytherin. It didn't help that Harry was at the scene of every single petrification. Including the newest one - Justin Finch-Fletchley.
It had been a few more weeks without an attack as Christmas came up. It had finally started snowing at Hogwarts, which was undoubtedly my favourite part of the year. The twins were staying at school this winter too. Though I wasn't completely sure why. Maybe his parents were visiting Charlie again. Students passed by on both sides of me as they made their way to the train, the snow lightly falling. I wore my Weasley sweater, keeping myself warm as the snow continued to fall. The whistle went off as students started to rush towards the train. Harry joined me, looking over the railing as we watched people pass by. Ron and Hermione joined us, obviously aware of the weary glances Harry would get every once in a while. "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin! Seriously evil wizard coming through!" I grin at Fred's joke as he passes by, just trying to diffuse the tension. Ron snickers but stops laughing when he sees that Harry isn't. I scoot closer to Harry, Ron on the opposite side of him and Hermione on the other side of me.
"Oh, c'mon, Harry. Fred's just having a laugh." Ron says, trying to get Harry to crack a smile.
"He's the only one." Harry grumbles, looking as people pass by him, casting him cautious glances.
"Okay, so half the school thinks you're nipping off to the Chamber of Secrets every night. Who cares?" Ron asks him, shrugging. I shake my head.
"Maybe they're right." Harry sighs, looking over at Ron.
"Harry!" Hermione and I yell at Harry as he looks back at us, shrugging.
"I didn't know I could speak Parseltongue. What else don't I know about myself? Maybe you can do something... even something horrible... and not know you did it." I throw an arm over Harry's shoulders, hugging him tightly.
"You don't believe that, Harry, I know you don't. And if it makes you feel better, I just heard Draco's staying over for holiday, too." I tell him, and he looks up at me bewildered.
"Why would that make anyone feel better?" I chuckle and shake my head at Ron.
"Because, in a few days, the Polyjuice Potion will be ready. In a few days... we may truly know who is the Heir of Slytherin." Hermione says, both boys looking up at her hopefully.
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