Duelling Classroom ((Cougar & Zachary))

[Professor Amaryllis Hardy]

Amaryllis shifted in her chair to get comfortable before turning the page of the novel she was reading, and gave a cursory glance first to the clock on the wall, with its old fashioned, simple numbers, and then over to the duelling platform, looking new and fresh thanks to the painting that had taken place to rejuvenate it and the new coat of varnish she herself had undertaken to give it last year. She had about twenty minutes to go until the time she had told two students to arrive for her to oversee their duel with each other. One of them was a new first year, a Slytherin, Zachary Grey, as she understood, although she was not yet at all familiar with the new first years, and the other a third year Ravenclaw she hadn't seen much of in her duelling classroom either - Cougar Farmer. She looked with satisfaction around the classroom. It ought to look bright and welcoming now for new users to come into.

She returned to her novel for a short while, the clock ticking away steadily, until she finished the end of the chapter, at which point she slipped a bookmark Robert had made for her at a far younger age into the book and glanced out of the window at the rather miserable early October weather: raining, grey and dull. She slid a pile of Muggle studies essays over to the centre of the table and, getting out the green ink she liked to use for marking (putting red all over people's work seemed rather too critical, and she preferred green for the good points), she opened out the list of points she'd made at another point for this piece of homework and started to read through and mark essays while she waited for the two students to arrive for their duel.

[Cougar Farmer R7]

Cougar walked into the dueling room, and noticed how polished it was. Cougar thought it must have anti-jinx varnish on it. It was shining. Cougar thought of how it was a good thing there wasn't many bright lights or else he would be blinded. He noticed his competition had not yet arrived. Cougar took his place on the platform and took out his wand and admired it. After careful study of his wand he held it loosely and said to the professor "Hey". He then turned to where his opponent was suppose to be and thought of the first spell he'd use.

[Seth Wright]

"Expelliarmus...." Zachary muttered, walking a bit faster. "Sectusempra, haven't got that one down yet....Petrificus Totallus.....Ligo Pendeo....Plactum Vultus......" What sorts of spells did one use against a third year? He was stuck. Any spells that might prove effective against the older boy were either illegal, or considered too dark to be used in a supervised school duel. Zachary sighed. What was he supposed to do? This boy would be older, and probably know more magic, even though Zach knew quite a bit himself.....It wouldn't have mattered so much if he didn't want to win. But Cougar was a Ravenclaw, and Zachary couldn't bear the thought of losing a duel to a Ravenclaw. They'd never let him live it down in Slytherin.

For a moment, he wondered why he'd even agreed to duel in the first place. Just caught up in the moment, he supposed. Wanting Pandora to think he was cool. He was nearing the dueling classroom. Zachary took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself. He'd win, or at least try too. Pandora couldn't possibly think he was such a prat if he lost, could she? Probably would, but he hoped that just being in a duel with a third year would impress her enough. He pulled out his wand and stepped through the door, glancing at Professor Hardy, then at Cougar. The other boy looked bigger than ever today. Zachary gulped. Here went nothing....

[Professor Amaryllis Hardy]

Amaryllis stood up carefully as Mr. Grey entered. Her stomach was gradually getting better, but it had been a cruel spell and there was no quick cure. There was still a certain amount of pain but it was much more bearable now and she was confident to stand up for the entire duel without causing any needless worry to the students by showing pain. Amaryllis nodded to the two duellists and greeted them briefly, "Good afternoon, Mr. Farmer, Mr. Grey. If you're ready to begin duelling immediately, then Mr. Farmer, please take your position on the orange triangle on the duelling platform, Mr. Grey, for you, the blue hexagon." Amaryllis waited for both students to follow her instructions, moving closer to the platform herself so that she could help if need be. "Mr. Farmer, whenever you are ready, you may cast your first spell."

[Cougar Farmer R7]

Cougar watched as the professor stood up and greeted them, then instructed him to head for the orange triangle. Cougar got in position to find that he would be the first to attack offensively. He thought of the many spells he knew. He was running over them in his mind like a list. Flippendo, No I don't think so. Wow! Petrificus Totallus, No maybe later. They ran through his mind like a list in a book.He searched them over and thought if this person knew how to cast spells silently yet. If he didn't this was just the trick. "Silencio" boomed across the room. He was sure this would work he watched a a flash came from his wand. Now all he could do is watch if he could defend against it.

[Seth Wright]

Zachary started, spotting the spell that came speeding toward him. "Protego!" He shouted. He hoped it would be enough. Cougar was a third year, and his spells were sure to be a bit stronger than Zachary's own. He gulped. He didn't know how to cast anything but shield chamrs nonverbally. He'd lose the duel for sure if the shield failed.