Chapter 23: The Dueling Club (2/2)

”How did you do that on your first attempt?” Luna asked picking up her wand.

”Maybe or maybe not I was practising!” Chris smirked.

Luna laughed.

”You need to teach me that.”

”Cool.”

They again faced each other and this time Chris asked Luna to do it. After 3-4 attempts Luna disarmed Chris. But then Chris noticed a haze of greenish smoke was hovering over the scene. Ginny was standing nervously while the Hufflepuff boy was encouraging her to do the spell; Harry's legs were dancing, Draco was laughing, lying on the floor; Ron was holding up an ashen-faced Finnigan, apologizing for whatever his broken wand had done; but Hermione and Miss. Bulstrode was still moving; she had Hermione in a headlock and Hermione was whimpering in pain; both their wands lay forgotten on the floor.

Chris ran towards them and started pulling the large and heavy Slytherin girl. She was not ready to leave Hermione but Chris shouted at her to leave. After struggling for a while Chris pulled her. Lockhart started to take a look at every one.

Harry came to Hermione and Chris.

”You alright Hermione?” He asked urgently.

”I... think.... so..” Hermione coughed.

Chris rubbed her back.

”I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells,” said Lockhart, standing flustered in the midst of the hall. He glanced at Snape, whose black eyes glinted, and looked quickly away. ”Let's have a volunteer pair... Longbottom and Finch-Fletchley, how about you ...”

”A bad idea, Professor Lockhart,” said Snape, gliding over like a large and malevolent bat. ”Longbottom causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending what's left of Finch-Fletchley up to the hospital wing in a matchbox.”

Neville Longbottom, a Gryffindor boy in Harry's year, went pink hearing this.

”How about Malfoy and Potter?” said Snape with a twisted smile.

”Excellent idea!” said Lockhart, gesturing Harry and Malfoy into the middle of the hall as the crowd backed away to give them room.

”Harry. I've read about blocking spells. It'll be very difficult to produce and Malfoy can throw any kind of dangerous spell on you. So before he can do anything just disarm him. It'll be best.” Chris advised.

Harry nodded and went towards Lockhart.

”Now, Harry,” said Lockhart. ”When Draco points his wand at you, you do this.” He raised his own wand, attempted a complicated sort of wiggling action, and dropped it.

Snape smirked as Lockhart quickly picked it up, saying, ”Whoops ... my wand is a little overexcited ....”

”Even Mr Ollivander will not agree with this.” Chris muttered and sighed.

Snape moved closer to Malfoy, bent down, and whispered something in his ear. Malfoy smirked, too.

Harry nervously looked at Chris. Chris smiled.

”Three... two ... one .... go!” Lockhart shouted. Harry raised his wand but Malfoy was fast. He raised his wand quickly and bellowed, ”Serpensortia!”

The end of his wand exploded. Harry watched, aghast, as a long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between them, and raised itself, ready to strike.