Greengrass immediately sent a Full-Body Bind Curse at Blake, which he quickly side-stepped, impressed. That's a third year spell - I'm almost surprised that she can do it.
But he didn't stop, instead choosing to return fire with a Leg Lock jinx, and the two traded spells, trying to get a feel for the other's style. However, once Blake got a feel for the speed and strength of Greengrass's fighting style, as well as her reflexes, he returned fire with a combination he found that he particularly liked.
"Incendio!" As Blake expected, Greengrass cast a shield in front of her, trying to block out the flame - but he wasn't finished. Blake followed up with, "Aguamenti!" He managed to see the confusion on his opponent's face just before the water made contact with the flame, causing a mini-explosion of steam to erupt in her face. Blake took the opportunity to cast a Disillusionment Charm and Muffliato of his own - ever since he'd realised Snape caught him, he'd vowed to never be caught again, and had practiced the Disillusionment Charm to the point that even McGonagall couldn't see him under it without using magic.
As the steam dissipated, Greengrass looked around cautiously, trying to decipher where he was. Blake took no small amount of pride in the fact that she couldn't see him - but unfortunately, she wasn't a fool.
Just as Greengrass lifted her wand, Blake struck.
"Expelliarmus!" Although Blake had hoped she would be caught off-guard, Greengrass managed to turn her body ever so slightly, making the spell hit her body rather than her wand hand - but that's okay. Greengrass was knocked down from the spell, onto the floor - but before Blake could declare his victory, Greengrass managed to send her own spell back at him.
"Stupefy!"
Unfortunately for Greengrass, however, Blake had predicted that final, last ditch move, and effortlessly moved out of the way at the last minute. As the Greengrass heir laid on the floor, slightly out of breath from the knock back, Blake stood over her, wand in hand, and unable to keep the triumphant smile off his face.
"I win."
Greengrass glared up at him.
"I yield."
Resisting the urge to gloat in her face, Blake offered her a hand up, which the girl flat out ignored, instead getting up on her own, before saying, "Scourgify."
The dust and dirt on her clothes from falling down were removed, making Greengrass go back to her pristine, elegant, princess-like self.
Mentally, Blake applauded Greengrass's fighting skill. Unlike Malfoy, she'd made him actually have to think and use his brain. It wasn't a simple duel, and although Blake suspected he could've brute forced his way into victory, it would've been with risk. That is, of course, if she wasn't downplaying her own strength like I was.
Blake wasn't stupid enough to go all out when he didn't need to - especially not against someone as clever and opportunistic as Greengrass.
"Show me your routine." Huh? Greengrass's sudden question caught him off guard.
"Why? Don't you have your own?"
"Clearly, it's not enough," she replied, trying to sound sarcastic, but Blake couldn't help but pick up on some envy in her voice.
"I told you what it is, Greengrass. I go to absolute magical failure, and then absolute physical failure."
"I want details. Rest breaks, sets, reps."
"Fine. Sets of anywhere between 6-10 reps, 2/3 sets depending on the intensity, and about 2-3 minute rest breaks."
"That's for both magical and physical?"
"Well, I don't have any research on magical, but I know it works for physical exercise, so I do that," he said, shrugging. But now that I think about it, I could probably ask McGonagall…
Greengrass was silent.
"Well, I'm going to start my stuff."
She was still silent, and seemed to have no intention of moving.
"Hello? I said, I'm going to start."
"I heard you."
"... Then, not trying to be rude, why are you still here?"
Blake spluttered in indignation.
"You can't!"
"Why not?"
"Because! That's so weird and awkward!"
Blake's cheeks had now reddened slightly, but Greengrass wasn't relenting.
"Fine, then I'll do it with you."
"Do it somewhere else!"
"How will I know if I'm doing it right?"
"I literally told you what to do, word for word!"
"I'm staying."
Blake gaped at her. He couldn't believe someone could be as stubborn, un-embarrassed, petty and indifferent as her. Isn't she a pureblood heir? Why the hell is she insisting on staying here? Isn't she the same person that said she refused to associate with muggleborns? Y'know what, I'm bringing that up!
"Aren't you the same person that said 'I don't associate with muggleborns?'"
"Yes."
"..."
"..."
"So why do you want to stay here so bad!? I'm a muggleborn!"
"Technically, you could be a halfblood. And besides, I've changed my mind."
She changed her mind? Why? Blake spoke before he could realise what he was saying.
"You mean I changed your mind," he said, smirking, before internally wanting to smack himself after realising how cocky that sounded.
"If you mean that you're more useful to me than the average muggleborn, then yes," she responded without a care in the world, bringing Blake's ego back down to reality.
"Fine," he snapped. "But you have to do it too, you can't just stand there like a creep."
"Creep?"
Bake didn't respond, instead starting his first set with the same Full Body Bind Curse that Greengrass tried to use on him first.
After the first two reps, Greengrass frowned at him.
"You can clearly do it - why are you doing it again and again?"
Blake didn't respond, instead choosing to concentrate and continue until the set finished.
"I'm not as fast or as powerful with it as I want to be. The better I can do this now, the faster and stronger I'll be, and the quicker I'll be able to do it wandlessly or wordlessly."
Greengrass laughed.
"Even wordlessly is something only the best of the best can do. And wandlessly? You're crazy."
Blake smiled.
"In Africa, they used to not use wands. Native America too."
"And that's why magic was rarer for them," Greengrass dismissed. "I doubt there's 10 wizards or witches in Britain right now that can intentionally use wandless magic, let alone for offensive spells like that."
"We'll see," Blake said with a small smile.
Greengrass shook her head, but when Blake started his next set, he noticed her join in too.
/
A while later, they had finished, and for once, Blake was surprised to see Greengrass not in her usual princess-like state. Although she'd cleaned herself up, she was still very much out of breath and sweating, and if the expression on her face was any indication, she wasn't pleased with it, and especially not with Blake laughing.
"What!?" she snapped irritably.
"Nothing," Blake said, trying to keep the smile off his face. "It's just the first time I've seen you not completely pristine looking."
"Shut up, Renshaw."
The pair sat in silence for a while, watching the sunset.
"You do realise those spells might not be enough for Quirrell, right? In fact, there's almost a certainty that they won't."
"I know more spells than the Body Bind and Stun spell, Greengrass. And besides, if they're executed well, it should be fine."
"That's not what I'm talking about," she said quietly. "Tell me, Renshaw. Have you ever heard of the Three Unforgivable Curses?"
AN: If you would like to view up to 20 more bonus chapters on all my fics so far including this one, and would also like to support me, please visit my P@TR30N, at pa tr eon.com / GhidorahWriter (remove the spaces).
Thanks for reading and make sure ADD to your COLLECTION and VOTE with POWER STONES! The target is 200 POWER STONES for the next BONUS CHAPTER!