POV Erik:
After the first day, the novelty of lessons disappeared and started to bore me even more. I had to struggle to stay awake in some while in others I spent the lesson reading advanced subjects or theories, I was fortunate to have Daphne helping me as she would wake me when the teacher called me or at the end of the lesson. Even the subjects Daphne suggested I may enjoy were unbearably boring as they were just giving us a taster for when we actually took the classes in a year or two.
It was in this bored stupor that the weeks started to fly by occasionally broken up with study sessions in which Daphne and I would spend the day delving into various magical phenomena and spells to improve our skills and progress us on the paths towards our ambitions. Of course, I would still notice that the saviour boy would have a sour look on his face when we would pass him in the corridor or during classes but I didn't pay much attention to him as I was sure that he knew about Daph's and mine engagement.
My time here has become exceedingly dull with the only mildly interesting thing happening at the start of the 2nd month. That event was Malfoy issuing a formal duel, the stipulations were that if he won I would call off the engagement to Daphne. When he issued his challenge I looked towards him with a bored uninterested look and asked, "What would I get out of winning?" Knowing that if I refused Daphne would still be my fiance, I couldn't really see much point in it. "I can offer a sum of Galleons or even artefacts of equal value," Malfoy stated as if he was making a business deal to buy a piece of land.
"I do not mind but what would you value Daphne?" I asked knowing that he had driven a nail in his coffin by treating her as if she was an object and not the determined woman she is. "My father was going to give her family a wedding gift of 120,000 galleons so that would be the value used in this current situation." He says while running his greed-filled eyes over Daphne who was sitting next to me. A look of disgust crossed my face while I asked "Rules of the duel?"
The pompous prick took a thoughtful pose pretending to think as if his father hadn't told him what to do already, "Anything short of maiming and death goes. So any spells including dark arts as well as non-significant injury." I looked towards the prefects who were pretending not to listen in even though they had stopped their conversation and were reading the same page again, "Would you both care to be our referee to stop us before we crossed the specified boundaries?"
It didn't take long for the rest of the house to appear as we entered the duelling room as they were seemingly summoned by the students who overheard Malfoy's challenge, even Professor Snape turned up as his godson was involved who sadly would not be able to interrupt the duel as it was Malfoy who challenged.
When the whole of Slytherin House had arrived and settled into the viewing stands Emily spoke up, "We have Heir Malfoy challenging Lord Bodewig over the engagement to Daphne Greengrass. The rules of the duel are as follows." She proceeded to repeat what me and Draco agreed on while Damian walked around the edge of the ring casting a ward to protect the spectators from wayward spells. "When both duelists are ready can they make their way into the ring," finished Emily after she stated the rules and stepped out of the ring.
I stood on my side of the ring with my wand in a relaxed position while looking towards Draco who was obviously trying and failing to mimic his father's duelling stance. "No hard feelings Draco but when I beat you I will be taking the 120,000 galleons in artefacts as I have no need of gold since I am Heir Black." I said trying to rile him up a bit with a dig at how he had lost the chance of inheriting the Black fortune which worked as he grit his teeth and spat, "I will enjoy Daphne right here when I beat you squib."
"Please salute and we can begin on the count of 3," Emily said as Damian made his way to the opposite side of the ring to watch any blind spots she would have. "1...2....3," I did not immediately react but waited for the "Little Dragon" to make his move which turned out to be a bone-breaking curse launched towards my chest. However, as it came near I casually raised my wand and batted the spell towards the floor where it splashed uselessly. "That was a very good aim there Draco, I can tell that you have spent time practising so that you can guide your spells effectively," I spoke while taking a step forward.
I purposely spoke as if I were a teacher talking to a younger student and got the exact response I was looking for, Draco's face flushed with embarrassment and he launched two spells back to back. The first was a blood-boiling curse and the 2nd being another bone-breaker but aimed at my limbs this time to try and catch me off guard. Just like the first spell I caught the spell on the tip of my wand and deflected it into the floor making it splash harmlessly against the reinforced flagstones.
After his two attempts, I decided that it was my turn, I cast a disarming charm into the air while also transfiguring the floor beneath his feet to sand. His focus went to the disarming charm that curved through the air in an arc and drew his attention away from my other movements, this sadly was the wrong thing to do as I loudly cast a stunning charm towards him.
His attention snapped towards me to counter my new spell by moving out of the way, this caused him to stumble due to being ankle-deep in sand. This did mean he dodged the stunner causing him to release a sigh of breath but that did not last long as he was hit by the arcing disarming charm which he forgot about, his wand sailed out of his hand across the dueling ring into my waiting offhand.