The Dueling Club room hummed with anticipation as students gathered inside.
The circular chamber, draped in dark tapestries and adorned with flickering torches, had seen centuries of magical combat, but today, it pulsed with a renewed sense of energy.
Rows of cushioned seats lined the periphery, but few were occupied; most of the students were either too nervous or excited to sit.
The air was thick with the scent of old wood and polished stone, mingling with the sharp tang of nervous sweat.
Alex stood among them; his wand safely by his side held in his holster.
His gaze swept across the room, taking in the faces of the students who had decided to enroll in Professor Flitwick's crash course on dueling.
This wasn't a typical class – this was something far more intense, designed for those who wanted to sharpen their skills, and do it fast.
Professor Flitwick stood at the front of the room; his tiny frame almost comically dwarfed by the raised platform on which he perched.
Despite his size, there was a commanding presence about him. He was, after all, a former dueling champion, and the moment he began speaking, all eyes were on him.
"As you all know, dueling is not just about strength or knowledge of spells,"
Flitwick said, his high-pitched voice echoing off the stone walls. "It's about strategy, timing, and control. Some of you have experience in dueling, while others may have only seen it in the tournaments. Regardless, today you'll learn the tricks necessary to survive against opponents of equal or even greater skill."
His eyes twinkled as he glanced around the room.
"In days long past, Magical Dueling was a core subject here at Hogwarts. These days, it's reduced to an extracurricular for those who choose to pursue it. But make no mistake – It is as vital of a skill as any you will learn in your magical education."
Flitwick raised his wand, making a few quick movements as a shimmering diagram appeared in the air.
"Today, we will begin with fundamental techniques: taking the initiative, feints, abrupt wand movements to disorient your opponent, and most importantly, defense."
The students leaned in as Flitwick demonstrated various dueling stances, making complex flicks with his wand that seemed to blur with the speed of his movements.
The lecture was intense, with the professor explaining the intricacies of each motion, the importance of quick thinking, and the need to outmaneuver an opponent mentally as well as physically.
Alex absorbed it all, but much of it was something he was already familiar with through his trait.
He had learned these techniques before, though never from someone as skilled as Flitwick.
His lessons with Moody and his own practice had put him miles ahead of many of his peers, but there was always more to learn.
"Now," Flitwick said, clapping his hands together, "let's see what you've got. Pair up."
Alex turned, feeling a tap on his shoulder. Jonathan, a seventh-year student who was the same height as him, grinned.
"Looks like it's you and me, then."
Jonathan had a reputation for being one of the top duelists at the Hogwarts right now, and Alex felt a mix of excitement and apprehension.
He had wanted a challenge, and here it was.
They stepped onto the raised dueling platform, facing each other across the polished wooden floor.
Around them, other pairs were already setting up, but Alex's focus was entirely on Jonathan.
The older student's wand was steady, his stance confident. Alex matched him, gripping his wand tightly, his mind racing through the strategies Flitwick had just taught and the ones he knew.
"Ready?" Jonathan asked, giving him a quick smile. There was no malice in it, only the thrill of competition.
Alex nodded, narrowing his eyes. "Ready."
"Begin!" Flitwick called out.
Jonathan was fast. In a flash, his wand was raised, and a red jet of light shot toward Alex – Stupefy .
Alex had anticipated it, quickly sidestepping and sending back a Confundo.
Jonathan deflected it with ease, but Alex followed up with an unexpected Depulso, forcing the seventh-year back a few steps.
"Not bad," Jonathan called, raising his wand for another spell.
Alex barely had time to respond before a barrage of light shot his way.
He dodged the first spell and threw up a shield for the second, feeling the impact reverberate through his arm.
Jonathan was stronger than he'd anticipated.
Alex decided to switch tactics.
Feinting with his wand, he sent a Petrificus-Totalus straight at Jonathan's legs.
The older student deflected it easily, but Alex had expected that. In the same motion of his wand, Alex hid a sudden Expelliarmus , launching the spell at the suddenly.
For a moment, it looked like Jonathan's wand might fly out of his hand, but he tightened his grip, and countered with an Incarcerous spell.
Ropes shot from the tip of Jonathan's wand, wrapping tightly around Alex's arms and legs before he could react.
Bound and immobilized, Alex toppled backward onto the platform, landing with a thud.
Jonathan grinned, stepping forward and offering him a hand.
"Well fought," Jonathan said, pulling him up. "You're quicker than most."
Alex laughed breathlessly, shaking out his limbs as the ropes vanished. "You got me there. I thought I had you with that Expelliarmus."
"You almost did" Jonathan admitted, giving Alex a friendly pat on the shoulder. "But I've been doing this a bit longer."
From the sidelines, Professor Flitwick clapped his hands together, a broad smile on his face. "Bravo! Excellent duel, both of you!"
Alex felt a surge of pride as Flitwick approached them.
The professor's praise meant more than he'd expected, especially coming from someone with such a deep understanding of dueling.
Alex had held his own against a seventh-year that had a lot of dueling experience, and while he hadn't won, it was after all his first duel ever, he knew he'd impressed his peers – and his professor.
"You've got a natural gift for charms, Alex," Flitwick said, his eyes gleaming.
"Your wand work is smooth and controlled, far beyond what I expected from someone your age. Keep honing that skill, and you'll be a formidable duelist in no time"
Alex nodded, feeling a rush of excitement. His spells were sharp, his control precise, but he knew now that experience was what he lacked the most.
Facing stronger opponents would be the key to improving, and this crash course was just the beginning for him.
Flitwick turned to the rest of the class, his voice rising over the hum of students. "Pair up, everyone! Let's see how you all fare in the ring!"
The room erupted into motion as students found their partners and prepared to duel.
Alex stepped back to watch, catching his breath as he observed the other students.
Some were clearly struggling with the basics, while others showed surprising skill.
But everyone, from the juniors to the seventh-years, was focused, pushing themselves to improve.
As the class continued, Alex felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
He had learned something valuable today – not just about dueling, but about himself. His skill with charms was no longer in question.
Now, all that was left was to gain more experience in how and when to use them. And with Moody's training and Flitwick's guidance, he knew he was on the right path.
The session went on for hours, with Flitwick circling the room, offering advice and critiques.
By the end of it, the students were exhausted but exhilarated, their minds buzzing with the thrill of magic and combat.
As the final duels came to an end and the students began to filter out of the room, Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
The road ahead would be difficult, filled with challenges, but he was ready for it. He had his friends, his skills, and now, the opportunity to train under the best.
And for the first time in a long while, Alex felt that he was truly moving forward for what lay ahead of him
For now, his trait was enough.
[ Mission : Dueling
Objective :
1) Take part in Professor Flitwick's crash course on magical dueling and perform exceptionally, earning professor's praise. (D – Rank) – Success
2) Defeat all of your opponents (C – Rank) – Failed
Reward : Magical Duels – by Dimitri Kuznetsov
Time Limit : 3 Hours
Status : Completed ]
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Stupefy – An offensive spell. In addition to rendering people unconscious, the Stunning Spell impedes objects in motion and forces them to halt.
Confundo - A charm that befuddles and confuses the target, which could be a person or an object (should that object have a consciousness). This spell doesn't give a target a standard amount of confusion; instead, varying degrees of confusion can be cast according to the magic and intent of the caster.
Depulso – The spell Depulso is actually a counter-charm to the spell Accio – the latter summons an object to the witch or wizard, while Depulso banishes and pushed away a person or an object. This is a spell learned by Fourth Year students at Hogwarts in their Charms class.
Petrificus-Totalus – Although technically a curse. This Hex effectively paralyzes the target, preventing them from moving any part of their body except their eyes.
Expelliarmus – This spell is an incantation that's often used in wizarding duels. It's also known as the Disarming Charm, which is a defensive spell that forces the target of the spell to release whatever they're holding at that moment.
Incarcerous – A spell that binds or confines the target with the help of magical bindings. These magically generated cords can be of varying length, diameters and materials which depends on the intent and mastery of the caster.