Broken Bonds

58 - Spectators

During the weekend, Ginny had approached Remus and asked him if Hermione and Ron could observe their lesson on Monday as they had both seemed so eager, for different reasons. Remus had agreed, so, after dinner on Monday, Ginny led the two of them to the classroom used for their lessons.

"How do these lessons work?" Hermione asked eagerly, keeping step with her.

"We go over a few spells, with Remus teaching me either a new spell or two, or going over more spells silently. Then we duel until just before curfew. I don't think that we'll be doing the spells section today though, since you and Ron are spectating and the spells section would probably be boring for you," Ginny said.

"I wouldn't mind seeing how you learn different spells; it would help us learn as well."

"Yeah, well, Professor Lupin runs the lessons and directs them, I don't get a say in what we do. Unless I collapse from magical exhaustion, then I get to say we're done."

"Has that happened?" Ron asked, quickening his pace until he was walking on her other side rather than trailing behind.

"Only once, or was it twice? I can't really remember. I've learnt how to tell when I'm getting close to collapse though, so it doesn't happen anymore." She shrugged, it didn't bother her and when she had collapsed a pepper-up and an energy booster gave her enough energy to get up to her dormitory, with Remus escorting her to make sure she didn't collapse on the way to the tower.

Ginny stopped outside the right door. She knocked, the door swinging open for her. She walked in, dumping her bag in the cabinet like always before taking her place opposite the desk that Remus was leaning against. The tables and chairs were already stacked against the left wall, the rest of the room already ready for duelling. On the right side of the room, a black line was drawn about half a metre from the wall and she could see the glistening magic rising up from the line.

"Hello Ron, Hermione. Behind the black line if you would. There are protection wards around that area, to keep the errant spell fire and rubble away from you, to keep you safe. We'll be starting soon, we're just waiting for our last member to arrive," Remus said, waving Hermione and Ron behind the line and the magics stretching from the floor to roof. They both moved to the wall as they were told, just as the fire behind the desk flared, spitting Sirius out into the room.

"Hey Remus, Ginny, Harry. Oh, hi Hermione, Ron," Sirius said, standing up and brushing soot off his clothes.

"What're you doing here Sirius?" Ron asked as Sirius moved to stand next to them behind the black line marking the wards.

"I'm here to help Moony, but first I need to see how they work."

"Are you joining us at all this session Padfoot, or just observing for today?" Ginny asked, rolling her wand between her hands.

"I may join in after the first duel or two."

"How do these wards work?" Hermione asked, examining the few runes on the ground that stabilized the ward.

"They'll catch any spells and absorb them and stop anything solid like a wall would," Remus explained, pushing himself off the desk and taking a few steps forward, bringing his wand into his hand.

Let me try this on my own? she asked. She didn't want to show Ron, Hermione, or Sirius their added advantage yet.

Don't let Siri know our advantage before duelling him? Sounds good, Harry agreed.

He already knows that we can cast together and separately, she reminded him.

Eh, he doesn't know we can do it in a duel and he's probably forgotten, Harry said, sending her an image of him shrugging. Ginny gave Harry a smile before turning her attention to Remus.