Duelling Classroom (Leon & Flo))

[Professor Amaryllis Hardy]

Amaryllis closed the door to the Duelling classroom with a snap and in the privacy created by the heavy, sound-proof door sank down into her chair at her desk. Thursdays were always hard days. She was always teaching one year or another, with no free periods. She'd had a duel to oversee at lunchtime and her day wasn't finished yet - she was not in the Duelling classroom for some peace and quiet away from the students. She was there to oversee yet another duel. This one was between two students she hadn't seen in her duelling classroom before - Leon Harrow and Flo Murvac, both of them third years, the former a Ravenclaw and the latter a Hufflepuff. The standard of third year duelling was usually not as high as that she saw further up the school, but that was to be expected. With any luck they might have a talent for it. Students could do with it these days. Amaryllis was by no means sure the school was safe anymore.

There was no point in trying to get some marking done now - she would do that later when she had a chance to do it somewhere comfortable in the staff room. Once she'd benefited from some form of repose. Right now she would have to stay on her feet. There was no other option - she was going to be overseeing a duel now and she couldn't let herself go just yet. She forced self-control upon herself and steeled herself to stand up. She hadn't made a complete recovery from that spell, and she wasn't sure she ever would since she hadn't yet. Some of her stamina was gone, and her abdomen and chest would twinge from time to time. She walked over to the nearest window and leaned on the windowsill, looking out at the Grounds. The sun was low in the sky in its winter pattern, shining through the trees of the Forbidden Forest. It had been a cold day. Cold, with no rain, just sunshine, but a sunshine with no heat or warmth. Hogwarts needed something to lighten it up at the moment. She regarded her own duelling classroom. That was bright and cheery, but it almost contradicted the mood of a lot of the students and teachers. Amaryllis gave a little sigh as she recommenced her vigil out of the window, waiting for the two students to arrive. She was no different.

[leon]

The day was far better than usual, was the first thought which struck Leon as he headed for the Duelling classroom. The day had indeed been good- for once he hadn’t gotten a question wrong in the whole day. Maybe this was because he hadn’t really answered any other than in Charms, where he was at his best, but still it felt like an achievement. After Divination, which he despised, Leon had slotted in some time to go over his duelling spells. He was to duel against Flo- one of his best friends, and he knew she wouldn’t go easy. And he didn’t particularly want her to. Although this was admittedly his first duel he knew a fair bit about attack and defence spells as his mother believed in schooling him in every possible subject. He hadn’t ever cast any of the attack spells of course as this would be a big no-no with the Ministry, but he had with the main defence and his knowledge on the subject was fairly wide.

The classroom he finally entered felt different from the rest of the school. Although the day had been good for him, he knew his sister hadn’t had the best time as had caught Peeves dropping radish-smelling water balloons shaped like socks and fish onto her head at lunch. He had chucked a book at her, which was of course spelled to be impenetrable to liquids, smiling amusedly as she thanked him with a short yelp and stuck the book over her head. May still hadn’t completely adjusted to Hogwarts life- her and her little group of friends still walked along Peeves’ areas without protection. To the point, May’s day obviously hadn’t been the best and Leon guessed from the atmosphere in the usually happy Common Room that not many other students had had good days either. The room was more that a tad merry looking and Leon suppressed a raised brow from the difference of the sulky Hogwarts to the Duelling room.

As he stepped inside he smiled at the teacher who was inside the room, leaning on the far window with what looked like an almost unhappy expression. Leon tried to smile as though he wasn’t curious as he greeted Professor Hardy. “Good Afternoon Professor, I’m Leon Harrow. Obviously Flo isn’t yet here- am I a little early?” He asked, wondering if his words had some truth. He would be surprised if he was early- Leon wasn’t the most punctual person, having often arrived late to important events. But he hoped he wasn’t early- he hated being alone with teachers and it made him mildly uncomfortable, the awkward silence which often came up. Leon wondered also what impression he would make. He was wearing some lack jeans and a simple white, warm jumper beneath his Ravenclaw robes with his floppy hair styled lightly as usual. He was actually wearing fairly smart brown shoes, unlike the simple trainers he often decked his feet in. He often wore them for classes and felt that he would need to make a good impression with Professor Hardy. But what intuition would he give Professor Hardy from first appearance? With a self-conscious expression Leon rubbed his left heel to his right toe, wishing Flo would stop day-dreaming, which he almost knew she would be, and arrive.

[Flo Murvac H4]

"Hmm...hmm hmm...Doo doo doo..." The sound of Flo day-dreaming, humming and drawing at the same time, often sounded like this. Again she was drawing butterflies. This time she had colored markers and was going to draw the butterflies with rainbow colors. Flo finished the first wing, and the started on the second. She frowned and flipped back to the front of her sketch book and looked at all the pictures from the start. mos of them were butterflies. One Flo rather liked recently was a rabbit crossed with a human. She wasn't really a good drawer when it came to humans, but this time, she thought she had it right. She passes the many Butterflies, and the many mixed creatures, until she came to one particular drawing. It was a drawing of her drawing a picture. She smiled instantly as she remembered the day Leon and herself were sitting down by the lake and were drawing. Flo had drawn a picture of a butterfly puzzle, since Leon appeared to like the many ones she had already drawn, and Leon Drew a picture of lo. They swapped and now Flo had the picture that Leon had drawn. In the back of Flo's mind, it was trying to remind her she had to do something.

Flo went back to her drawing and started to Hum again. Finally it hit her. It was the day she was supposed to be having a duel with Leon. Flo quickly jumped up and grabbed her butterfly bag, containing random stuff, plus her wand. She Quickly left the girls dormitories and then Through the portrait door. She bounded down the stairs and raced through the corridors, her thoughts seemed like they were racing a mile per minute. They really weren't. All that seemed to be going through her head was 'If your happy and you know it, clap your hands!' She came to wards the Dueling classroom, and stopped just at the door. Trying to catch her breath, she walked in. She saw that Leon was already there. Flo gasped. She hoped she wasn't late. Blame the butterflies Flo's mind seemed to be telling her. Flo blinked at what she just thought. How can I blame the Butter-"Am I late? Sorry if I am. Hi Leon!" She walked up next to Leon and Looked at the Professor. She bit her lip and hoped again that she wasn't late.

[Professor Amaryllis Hardy]

Amaryllis stood up and walked over to her desk as a student entered the room, putting the writing implements she'd left out there that lunchtime into a drawer that received them easily. She glanced at the trial form she'd been sent that lay on her desk, which any students who were duelling would have to fill in in future if the Ministry decided to go ahead with that plan. What had happened to confidentiality? It seemed you weren't even allowed to have an innocent duel now without the Ministry wanting to know how good the students were. What was it? Did they want to press them into being Aurors? Amaryllis glanced discontentedly at the young student who had just entered as she put the form onto the top of a pile of sheets in another drawer and closed it with a slightly harder bang than usual, most likely imperceptible to anyone who didn't have prior knowledge of the way she did things. He was... what? Thirteen? Fourteen at most? And already people were planning to whisk him away at the earliest possible opportunity and turn him into an Auror... or some other such lesser personage with a different name who still had to do the same dangerous job. Just with less training.

It wasn't that she didn't want people to become Aurors... it might be a dangerous job but it was fulfilling. It was just that she was all too aware what the consequences could be. Everyone was a loser. But Amaryllis shook away these thoughts, including the one of Roger so many years ago that rose unbidden to the surface of her mind. The arrival of the student, who had just confirmed her suspicions that he was Mr. Harrow, meant that the duel was about to start. It was time to focus on the real world for just a while longer.
"Good afternoon to you too, Mr. Harrow," she replied, giving him a small smile since she felt slightly guilty at her being in a bad mood and glancing at the clock so as to ascertain the answer to his question. "I believe you may be a little early," she replied, "although not particularly so. But it would certainly seem Miss Murvac is not yet with us." She looked at the Ravenclaw with a slightly more observant eye than she had used before, although still her mind was not making notes to the normal level it did. It was still fatigued. Mr. Harrow appeared to be a boy who took some care over his appearance... a studied sort of sloppy. Though it wasn't disrespectfully so; it still complied with school rules. This she noted without much interest as the Hufflepuff student entered the room - Miss Murvac, presumably, seemingly slightly apprehensive at having arrived just a little late. Amaryllis was generally a stickler for punctuality, but right now she wasn't in her general mood for forming any sort of opinion. Nor was she about to snap at a student when it might well stem from her own discontent at others.

"All right, Miss Murvac." she replied, partly meaning to signify the third year should relax and partly in a pardon for the slight lapse of timekeeping that was stern inside her usual boundaries of composure, without irritability in it. "We may start whenever the two of you are ready," she added, moving over to stand next to the duelling platform so she could oversee the spells the students would soon be casting. She noted that Miss Murvac seemed a little out of breath and so paused a little while longer to allow her to regain it before saying, "Mr. Harrow, would you take the blue square mat on the left there? And Miss Murvac, you the purple trapezium." Amaryllis indicated each of the correct mats as she made the requests. She kept her wand at the ready to prevent any harm from coming to either of the students (although she doubted any intentional harm would, since both of them seemed quite friendly with one another) and once both the Ravenclaw and the Hufflepuff appeared ready to duel added: "Mr. Harrow, you may cast your first spell whenever you are ready."

[leon]

Professor Hardy soon welcomed Leon and as she did, Leon smiled. He liked this teacher more than he thought he would already. She hadn’t greeted him like some teachers did- as though he was a minor and worth no attention, but neither did she act over welcoming nor wannabe-friendly, like Leon knew some teachers had the habit or doing. He shifted a little more as she closely observed him. Leon hated being under ‘inspection’, as was forever in this situation at his home where his parents expected the most of him, but if he reached their standards or higher they didn’t show a hint of interest. But the examination soon stopped as Flo flew in like the butterfly Leon knew she wanted to be. “Hey Flo.” He said softly with a hint of a smile. He watched as the Professor welcomed Flo in a similar manner even though she was the teeniest, weeniest bit late and then slowly followed the teacher’s instructions. All the while he was readying himself for the main part of the duel. He had scanned possible spells which he knew he was fairly capable at that morning and had some select few he wished to try out with Flo. He stepped a little cautiously onto the blue square and looked at Flo, who was on the purple trapezium. He smiled one last time at his friend while taking his wand from his pocket, before nodding to Professor Hardy and casting his first, hopefully strong spell.

“Tarantallegra!” he bellowed the incantation, feeling the strength leave his wand with a hopeful flick. He had cast the make-them-dance spell from a category in his mind which contained attack spells which needed quite a bit of power, but weren’t harmful. He imagined with a soft chuckle Flo dancing like crazy, legs and arms flailing all over the place. But with another quiet laugh Leon realised that Flo would probably dance like mad if he asked her to, and he didn’t really need a spell to get her to do it. As he stood on the bright blue square he watched carefully to see what techniques Flo would use to defend herself from the odd little spell.

[Flo Murvac H4]

Flo's nails had been chewed up the night before. This was her first duel, so she was a little worried. But she hadn't arrived late as Professor Hardy had told her, so she relaxed a little. But she was yet to start Dueling. That was the bit she was nervous about. Don't be silly. Leon doesn't look like he's worried. Oh no! What If I hurt Leon? Or damage something? Little thoughts like these floated around in Flo's mind. She wanted to drain them out of her ear, just like you would if you got water stuck in your ear. It was just Butterflies...Which was a good thing for Flo. Flo liked Butterflies, but not the kind that made her want to run and scream and hide in a cuboard for three weeks. Flo wondered if Leon was Nervous too. It was also his first Duel, as far as she knew.

Flo listened to the Professor as she instructed the two where to go. Purple! Purple is good. Flo first took of her bag and took out her wand before walking over to the purple trapezium, and turned around facing Leon. OK, OK, Don't be nervous, just get your wand ready and concentrate. Be the ball...Er...spell... Flo looked at Leon, who had smiled and she smiled back.
Then It had begun. Leon had used the Tarantallegra spell at Flo. Flo had always imagined what it would be like to be made to have your legs go crazy. Flo gasped but thought quickly before the spell hit. "Protego!" Flo cried out. Leon's spell was a good starting Spell, as far as Flo was concerned.

[Professor Amaryllis Hardy]

((Leon casts Tarantallegra, he has a 37.5% chance of success.

*Dice... 3... = 37.5%... Success!*

Leon casts Tarantallegra; Flo casts Protego, the correct defense spell. She has a 37.5% success chance.

*Dice... 1... = 12.5%... Success!*

Flo casts Protego. Flo's Protego reduces Leon's Tarantallegra from 2 points to 1 point.

Score - Leon 1.0, Flo 0.0))

Amaryllis watched both students' technique carefully; their preparation to duel as well as how they cast their spells. She liked to see students improve so she would give advice as to how they could from what she observed. If there were faults with the way they cast their spells, it was good for them to know that. She hoped perhaps that would mean they wouldn't dwell on failures either, but always think about what they could do to avoid them happening again. As it had turned out in this case, neither students needed guidance - both cast strong, convincing spells which she smiled at as she muttered "Finite Incantem" to dispel any effects the Tarantallegra spell might still be having despite the strong defence spell from the third year Hufflepuff.

"Excellent, both of you!" she said, some fervour in her voice which indicated just how well she thought the two students had done. "That was really good control of your spell, Mr. Harrow; it's not always easy. And a really strong defence spell too, Miss Murvac; well done." Amaryllis smiled; she much preferred to see students doing well rather than becoming demoralised because they weren't able to perform to the best of their ability in the duelling classroom. It made things more interesting for her, too. "All right then, Miss Murvac," she said once she'd allowed a few seconds for what she'd said to be taken in. "You may cast your first spell whenever you are ready."

[Flo Murvac H4]

Flo smiled. That went well!! No, it went great! She hadn't hurt Leon, and she didn't blow anything up! So far, it was going good. So far.Her defence spell, as the Professor had put it, was really strong. lo knew that it was a good thing. It was a great thing!! And now, it was her turn to cast her first offence spell. Flo twiddled her wand with her fingers, as her hand lay on her side as she thought of a spell. Then, as if a little light globe went off ontop of her head, she had a spell. As Professor Hardy told Flo to o when ever she was ready, Flo had the spell repeating in her head. Ok, on the count of three, go. 1.....2.....3 "Rictusempra!!" Flo cried out again and then watched and waited.

[leon]

Brilliant! Was the first thought that came into Leon's mind once Flo had cast her spell. It was the next one for her on his own list of attacks, and was typical Flo to take it! As the words left her mouth Leon grinned at her, then cast his protection charm. "PROTEGO!" He yelled. A little too loud- which he hadn't meant to do. But no time to think about that, he told himself as he did everything he remembered was needed for the barrier.
His first spell, the dancing trick, had gone pretty well- and Flo had blocked it beautifully. But as Leon cast this protection charm he felt something small was missing anyway. He supposed it must have been the mighty roar of 'protego' which he hadn't meant to do at all. The spell still felt correct, though maybe it wasn't all 'there'? The only way to check was to watch, Leon thought as he looked on. He readied himself- just in case- for tickling sensations. As Leon did so, he twiddled his wand in his fingers. But soon stopped quickly. His mother had once almost burnt her finger more than harmfully, just by twiddling the little thing. Leon didn't want that to happen to him- he held the wand normally, resisting the urge to twidle. He's much rather keep his fingers.

[Professor Amaryllis Hardy]

((Flo casts Rictusempra; she has a 62.5% chance of success.

*Dice... 8 ... = 100%... Failure!*

Flo fails to cast Rictusempra so no defense spell is needed.

Score - Leon 1.0, Flo 0.0))

Amaryllis watched Miss Murvac as they waited for her to cast her spell. Presumably the delay meant that Miss Murvac was focusing her mind, but unfortunately it didn't appear to work as far as the spell went. Amaryllis shook her head - she never liked it when students' spells didn't work. It didn't make things interesting in any way whatsoever. "Not quite, Miss Murvac," she said (stating the obvious was by no means something which held no amusement). "Build up your concentration and perhaps try to be a little more spontaneous. Your wand technique and pronounciation were both very good though." Amaryllis smiled at the Hufflepuff and waited a second to allow the student to take in the advice before proclaiming, "Mr. Harrow, whenever you feel ready you may cast your next spell."

[leon]

Leon smiled in a congratulating way, then obeyed Professor Hardy without a word. He skipped through his spells and chose one he hadn't cast before, trying out some new. It seemed like a fairly hard spell so Leon took a few moments to clear his mind momentarily, preparing for full-focus for the spell and it's aim. He shuffled once into a more comfortable stance in his shape marking his spot, then lifted his wand arm. Aiming it at Flo he smiled as he bellowed out the new attack spell.

"Infantaneous!" He cast the spell, not completely sure if it would work. Would Flo start wailing like a baby? Leon didn't like most babies- his little toddler brother had been a menace, always getting Leon into trouble although he was less than a fourth of his age. Hopefully a Flo-baby wouldn't be so terrible.

[Flo Murvac H4]

Flo Frowned a little. The spell didn't work. But flo ook it as a good thing. She has to learn from what happens and making mistakes is a good thing. The Professor had told Flo to be a bit more spontaneous and have a little more concentration. Flo had to admit, she was a little nervous as that was her first offensive spell that she had cast.

She waited as Leon decided on what spell to cast next. It was all fun and exciting. Wondering what the oposing person was going to cast next, then quickly thinking of a defensive spell as fast as you could, with out having a few scars in the end. But Flo hoped that she wasn't actually going to need it outside of school, with what was happening around the wizarding world. Then it looked like Leon was ready to cast his next spell, so Flo was ready too. She bit her lip as she waited for him to shout out his spell. "Protego!!" She cried out as soon as Leon had finished saying the Infantaneous spell. She hoped that this time she would have some chance of getting it.

[Professor Amaryllis Hardy]

((Leon casts Infantaneous, he has a 0% chance of success.

*Dice... 6... = 75%... Failure!* (?)

Leon fails to cast Infantaneous, so no defence spell is required.

Score - Leon 1.0, Flo 0.0))

The two students seemed to be taking the duel seriously, and Amaryllis was glad to see that. Duelling was both an important skill and something that required full concentration if you were going to do well. She frowned however as he attempted a spell that proved to be well beyond his capabilities. There were some spells that just required a little more base experience before you could work up to them. "I'm afraid that spell will take quite a lot more work, Mr. Harrow," she said. "Tarantallegra is a good one to practise first, and you appear to be good at that. Infrunites Poematic Eloquor is also a really good step in the right direction. Where you're controlling the... victim's actions, you're working towards being able to carry off Infantaneous well."

Amaryllis smiled at Mr. Harrow. It had been a rather ambitious spell to attempt, but from what she'd seen so far, he did have potential to develop, so he should be able to work up to the spell in the end. It was one far beyond what she'd expect of his year group though. "Miss Murvac, you may cast your next spell whenever you wish," she told the Hufflepuff, taking a small step back from the duelling platform so that she could see the two students a little better and be able to give better advice as to how to improve on their spells.