Draco returned from breakfast on Sunday morning looking exceptionally pleased with himself.
That usually meant someone had admitted he was right, or he'd finally got something he wanted.
"I spoke to Mara," he announced, sitting on the sofa.
I closed my book.
"And?"
"She's put me on the list. She still needs to find a suitable opponent, but I'll probably get a duel before Christmas."
"That's brilliant."
Draco settled back.
"She asked about experience. I told her I'd practised with you."
Blaise looked up.
"So if you lose, Oliver will have some explaining to do."
"I'm not going to lose."
"Your opponent probably isn't planning to either," I pointed out.
Draco ignored that.
"When you fought Marsh… how did you know when to stop defending?"
I looked at him more closely.
"I didn't always."
"But a few times, you attacked before he could cast his next spell."
"Because I'd already chosen mine. If I'd waited until after raising a shield to decide what to do, I probably wouldn't have been quick enough."
Draco considered that.
"What about when he did that thing to the floor?"
"Then I was trying not to fall over."
Blaise smiled over his book.
"An advanced technique."
"Very useful."
Draco wouldn't be distracted. He kept asking about positioning, distance, and whether I watched Elliot's wand before every attack.
Some questions were harder to answer than others. During the duel, I hadn't broken every movement down into separate decisions. Only now, trying to explain it to Draco, did I realise how much I'd done without thinking.
We agreed to practise together before his fight.
I was curious to see how he'd do. He had a good grasp of the basic spells, decent reflexes, and enough stubbornness to keep repeating something until he was satisfied.
The question was what he'd do when someone refused to let him prepare his next attempt in peace.
A new poster appeared on the noticeboard on Wednesday.
It was hard to miss. It took up almost half the space, and the Gilderoy Lockhart pictured on it kept adjusting his hair and smiling at passing students.
Huge letters above his head announced:
DUELLING CLUB!
The first meeting would take place that evening in the Great Hall.
I read the announcement and sighed.
Well, then.
Lockhart was going to organise his club after all. This time, there were no attacks on students to justify extra self-defence lessons, but apparently he didn't need much of a reason to put himself in front of an audience.
Blaise stopped beside me.
"At last, we'll get to see him fight an opponent who can move."
"Perhaps he'll invite a first-year," Draco said.
"Don't underestimate first-years. Some of them know spells already."
I smiled.
"Are you going?"
"Of course," Draco replied. "Someone else might be there besides him."
That was what I was hoping.
Word spread quickly. For the rest of the day, I heard people discussing the club almost everywhere. Some wanted to learn to fight; others would have come just to see Lockhart in action.
Two Gryffindors were even arguing over how many opponents he'd defeated at once during one of his adventures.
One insisted it was five. The other said seven.
I left them to it.
Fred and George took a different approach.
I found them before lunch by the stairs to the Great Hall. Fred held a paper bag, while George consulted a notebook.
"Coming to the show?" Fred asked.
"The Duelling Club? Yes."
"Excellent."
George wrote something down.
I gave him a suspicious look.
"Are you taking bets?"
"Orders, for now," he explained, nodding at his brother's bag. "All those people in one place. Shame to waste the opportunity."
"Can't you just watch something for once?"
"We can do both," Fred replied.
It was hard to argue with that.
By evening, the tables had disappeared from the Great Hall. A long wooden platform stood in the middle, with candles floating above it.
Students gathered on either side. Several already had their wands out, though the lesson hadn't begun. An older Gryffindor was demonstrating something to his friends, forcing a girl beside him to lean out of the way.
I found Draco and Blaise by a pillar.
"Quite a crowd."
"Lockhart reminded everyone about it in every lesson," Draco said.
Blaise examined the platform.
"I wonder whether they've put anything down to cushion his fall."
"You're assuming he'll fall?"
"I'm an optimist."
We moved closer. Across the room, I spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione. Ron was gesturing enthusiastically, but stopped when Harry pointed at the platform.
Lockhart had just stepped onto it.
His purple robes shimmered with every movement. He stopped in the middle and waited until enough people were watching.
"My dear students!"
The conversations gradually faded.
"During my many travels, I have faced the most dangerous magical creatures and Dark wizards. I have decided to share some of that experience with you!"
He spread his arms.
"After all, the safety of Hogwarts students is of the utmost importance to me."
Several people began clapping. Lockhart accepted the applause with obvious pleasure.
"To make this evening particularly instructive, I have asked one of my esteemed colleagues to assist me. Professor Snape!"
The applause grew considerably less certain.
Snape stepped onto the platform. His expression suggested that he knew exactly whom to blame for having to spend his evening here.
Draco straightened.
"Now this might be interesting."
"Professor Snape will help me demonstrate a few basic techniques," Lockhart continued. "Naturally, there is no need to worry. I certainly won't hurt him."
Snape drew his wand.
He said nothing.
They took their places opposite each other, and Lockhart began explaining the importance of posture and confidence.
"Shall we begin?" Snape interrupted.
"Of course, Severus."
They bowed. Lockhart made a sweeping movement, as though greeting his audience. Snape merely inclined his head and brought his wand into position.
"Three!" Lockhart called. "Two! One!"
"Expelliarmus!"
A red flash crossed the space between them.
Lockhart flew backwards and disappeared over the edge of the platform.
There was a thud.
For a moment, the hall was silent. Then someone started clapping.
Blaise laughed so hard he had to rest a hand on my shoulder. Draco made no attempt to hide his delight.
I was watching Snape.
I knew he was good. Seeing it from a few yards away was different from simply knowing who he was.
He hadn't wasted a single movement. There had been no need to adjust his grip, find his target, or draw back his arm before beginning the incantation.
For a moment, I focused my right eye.
The Trace left by the spell was narrow and distinct. It looked different from the scattered remnants of many student attempts I'd observed during practice.
I didn't yet know exactly why. Precision? Power? The way he'd cast it?
The Trace began to fade before I could examine it more closely. I stopped using my eye.
That was worth remembering.
Lockhart was already climbing back onto the platform. His robes were crooked, and his hair was less carefully arranged.
"Excellent!" he announced. "A wonderful demonstration!"
He straightened his sleeve.
"Of course, I knew what Professor Snape intended to do. I simply thought you ought to see a properly executed Disarming Charm."
Snape looked at him.
There was no need to add anything.
After a brief explanation of the basics, we were told to pair up.
Lockhart wandered among the students, encouraging them to show more confidence. Snape corrected foot placement, wand grips and overly broad movements.
"Your wand is not a shovel, Mr Finnigan."
Seamus lowered his arm.
"Yes, Professor."
"Unless you intend to give your opponent advance notice of every attack."
Draco took his place opposite me. Blaise stepped aside to give us room.
"Shall we?"
"Sure."
The first red flashes were appearing around the hall. Not all of them found their targets, and several spells fizzled out before reaching anyone. Somewhere nearby, someone dropped their wand and immediately began explaining that they hadn't actually been disarmed.
"Ready?" Draco asked.
I nodded.
"Expelliarmus!"
I moved out of its path. Draco turned to follow me.
"Again," I said.
I took the second spell on a shield.
He narrowed his eyes.
"No Protego this time."
I smiled.
"Go on, then."
This time, he tracked my movement with his wand. I had to change direction to let the flash pass on the other side.
"Closer," I admitted.
"Still missed."
"Shall I stop moving?"
"That might help."
Before we could swap roles, Lockhart clapped for attention.
"My dear students! You're doing splendidly!"
Snape, standing behind a student who was holding his wand almost against his own ear, appeared to disagree.
"However, I think another duel would be useful. Between students this time!"
Several hands shot up.
Lockhart surveyed the room. His gaze stopped on Harry.
Then on me.
Oh, no.
"Harry Potter!"
Applause broke out. Harry looked up, clearly surprised.
"And Oliver Peverell!"
Draco grinned.
"Good luck."
"I didn't even volunteer."
"Come along, boys!" Lockhart called. "Don't keep us waiting!"
Blaise patted my back.
"Looks like you're getting a duel today after all."
I put my wand away while squeezing through the crowd and headed for the platform.
Harry reached it almost at the same time.
"Hi."
"Hi."
He glanced at Lockhart.
"I didn't realise he'd be choosing the volunteers himself."
"Apparently it's quicker."
Harry smiled faintly.
"Could be worse," I added.
"How?"
"He could have put you up against Snape."
Harry snorted.
"True."
Lockhart positioned himself between us.
"Two exceptionally interesting names! Mr Potter, who needs no introduction, and Mr Peverell, a member of one of our oldest wizarding families!"
Murmurs rose from the audience.
I wondered whether Lockhart was already imagining a photograph of himself standing between us.
"Remember, this is merely an exercise. We don't want any injuries."
"Disarming Charms and mild jinxes," Snape said before the organiser could elaborate. "You stop on my command. The duel ends when one of you is disarmed or unable to continue."
We nodded.
Snape looked at Harry.
"Remember, Mr Potter, waving a wand is no substitute for thinking."
Harry pressed his lips together.
Then Snape turned to me.
"The rules apply to you as well, Mr Peverell."
"Understood, Professor."
"Take your places!" Lockhart ordered.
We moved apart.
Harry tightened his fingers around his wand. He didn't look frightened. More like someone who wanted very badly to do well, especially after Snape's remark.
I knew that feeling.
"Ready?" I asked.
"Yes."
We bowed.
Lockhart raised his hand.
"Three! Two! One! Begin!"
"Rictusempra!"
Harry didn't hesitate.
"Protego!"
The charm scattered against my shield.
"Expelliarmus!"
I stepped out of the second spell's path and answered before Harry could adjust his aim.
"Impedimenta!"
He saw my wand move and jumped aside.
His reflexes were good.
But he landed with his feet too far apart. As he shifted his weight, his wand was still off to one side.
"Expelliarmus!"
The red flash struck before he could raise it.
Harry's wand flew several yards and landed on the boards.
"Enough," Snape announced.
I lowered my arm.
Harry looked at his empty hand, then at his wand.
It had ended more quickly than I'd expected. We'd barely had time to move from our starting positions.
Lockhart clapped.
"Wonderful!"
The audience began applauding. Several Slytherins cheered, and Draco looked particularly pleased.
Harry retrieved his wand.
"Nicely done," he said when he came back.
"Thanks."
Snape moved to the centre.
"Mr Potter avoided the first counterattack. He did not, however, prepare for the next."
Harry's expression darkened at the sound of his name, but Snape continued.
"Dodging does not end an exchange. If you need several moments afterwards to recover your balance and bring your wand back into position, your opponent may make use of them. Mr Peverell did precisely that."
He surveyed the students.
"A duel is not a matter of politely waiting for your turn."
"Exactly!" Lockhart interjected. "That was what I wanted to demonstrate."
Snape didn't even look at him.
We were told to step down. Harry returned to Ron and Hermione, while I went back to my friends.
Only once I was in the crowd did I realise I was still excited. The fight had been short, but knowing that almost the whole school had watched made a difference.
"That was brilliant," Draco said. "Potter barely defended himself."
"He didn't raise a shield."
"Then he ought to learn."
"That's what we're here for."
Draco shrugged but left it there.
I looked at Snape, who was already correcting another student.
"Did you see his wand movement against Lockhart?" I asked.
"Of course."
"He barely drew his hand back."
"Lockhart didn't stand a chance."
I wondered how long it would take me to become that quick. It wasn't just a matter of saying the incantation. Snape had been ready before his opponent finished getting into position.
"I'd like to try facing someone at that level one day."
Draco looked at me.
"Snape?"
"One day."
"Glad you added that."
I smiled and raised my wand.
"Your turn to defend."
The rest of the meeting passed in simple drills.
Lockhart tried to demonstrate increasingly theatrical movements, but Snape kept bringing us back to grip, aim and positioning. At one point, a student swung his wand so widely that it slipped from his hand and landed beneath the platform.
Lockhart took the opportunity to discuss the importance of concentration.
Snape told the boy to pick it up.
Towards the end, several people asked about the next meeting. Others wanted to know whether we would learn protective spells.
Lockhart assured them he had plenty of plans.
Snape looked as though he was hearing about them for the first time.
When we were allowed to leave, Draco stopped to talk to some fellow Slytherins, while Blaise began asking a Ravenclaw whether Lockhart really had lost a shoe during the demonstration.
I told them I'd see them in the common room and headed for the exit.
"Oliver!"
Harry was making his way through the crowd, with Ron and Hermione behind him.
"Have you got a minute?"
"Sure."
He glanced at the other students.
"Could we walk for a bit?"
We left the Great Hall.
Hermione talked about the exercises and how little attention the textbooks paid to footwork. Ron said the evening's greatest achievement had been sending Lockhart off the platform.
"Ron!"
"What? It was."
Harry stayed quiet until we reached a less crowded corridor.
"How did you learn to cast spells so quickly?"
"Repetition."
He looked at me.
"I worked that much out."
"There isn't much of a secret to it."
"I mean, we're in the same year. We have the same lessons. But you can do Protego, and that spell you tried to slow me down with."
"Impedimenta."
"Right. Are you teaching yourself?"
"Mostly from books. I don't wait for something to come up in class."
Hermione nodded as though that were obvious.
"Protego is difficult," she said. "Reading a description doesn't mean you can cast it straight away."
"I couldn't," I admitted. "My first attempts weren't particularly impressive."
Harry studied me more closely.
"Really?"
"Really. Even once I could raise a shield, it took a long time before I was happy with how much it could withstand."
I didn't mention the Room of Requirement or watching magic with my right eye. Neither was necessary to explain that I'd had to practise.
"Does anyone help you?" he asked.
"I learned quite a lot from my family over the summer. Now I mostly practise on my own and try to work out what I'm doing wrong."
Harry turned his wand between his fingers.
"How often?"
"Regularly. Not every day."
Ron let out a breath.
"That's something, at least."
"But I don't stop just because a spell works once," I added. "I want to be able to cast it when I need it, not after several attempts."
Harry looked at his wand, then back at me.
"I thought I'd have time after I dodged."
"You might have. If you'd landed differently."
"Should I have attacked straight away?"
"Maybe. But it's easy to miss if you're off balance. You'd have to try it and see what works for you."
He stared at the floor for a moment.
"I didn't think I'd lose that quickly."
He said it more quietly.
He didn't look angry with me. More frustrated that he hadn't even had the chance to show what he could do.
"I've had more opportunities to practise this," I replied. "And you didn't know you'd be fighting today."
"Neither did you."
"True."
I wasn't going to pretend the result meant nothing. Harry didn't seem to want to hear that either.
Ron shrugged.
"It was only a demonstration."
"I know."
"Why are you so bothered, then?"
Harry took a moment to find an answer.
"Because I want to get better."
Hermione smiled.
"We can do something about that."
Ron gave her a suspicious look.
"Like what?"
"Practise."
"Oh."
"Not everything has to be done in the library."
Ron stared at her.
"Did you really just say that?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Very funny."
Harry was still watching me.
"Could you show me a few things sometime?"
I didn't mind the idea of practising together. I'd welcome another partner who reacted differently from a dummy.
I just didn't want to commit every free afternoon to it.
"We can arrange a practice session. Find a day that works."
Harry visibly brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes. But don't expect anything spectacular. Sometimes I spend most of a session correcting the same mistake."
"Sounds like extra homework," Ron said.
"Except you get to cast spells at your friends," Harry pointed out.
Ron considered that.
"That sounds better."
Hermione sighed.
I laughed.
"You can practise together to start with, too. Keep it simple and agree on which spells you're allowed to use. Otherwise, you'll spend most of the time arguing about who went too far first."
"We'll try," Harry said.
For the rest of the walk, he asked about Impedimenta and how long it had taken me to learn Protego. I didn't have a precise answer to everything. It was hard to count the time spent on one spell when I worked on several others between attempts.
At the stairs, we parted ways.
"Good duel," Harry said.
"Thanks. See you."
Ron patted his shoulder.
"Come on, before Hermione draws up a three-month schedule."
"A week will do for now," she replied.
Ron turned his head.
"For now?"
Harry laughed.
I headed down to the dungeons.
Draco and Blaise were already in the common room.
"Where were you?" Draco asked.
"Talking to Harry."
"About the fight?"
"He wants to practise more. Asked whether I'd help him sometime."
Draco raised his eyebrows.
"What did you say?"
"That we could arrange something."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Maybe he'll last longer next time, then."
"That's the idea."
Blaise put down his book.
"I'm sure Snape would be delighted if Potter came prepared for the next lesson."
I smiled.
"I'm not sure he'd show it in any noticeable way."
Draco began wondering whether Mara would let him fight a third-year. I listened, but my thoughts briefly returned to Harry.
With the diary destroyed, his second year was quieter than the one I remembered from the books. Tonight's duel hadn't been a matter of survival. He could have written it off as a poor showing and gone back to his own business.
Instead, he'd come to ask how to improve.
I was curious to see whether he'd stick with it.
"Oliver."
I looked up.
Draco was watching me suspiciously.
"Thinking about practice again?"
"Yes."
Blaise sighed and returned to his book.
This time, though, I wasn't just thinking about my own.