Capítulo 23: The Dueling Club

"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about duelling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry .... you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"

"Wouldn't it be good if they finished each other off?" Ron muttered.

Chris chuckled. Then she saw Snape's upper lip was curling and Lockhart was giving his signature smile.

"You know I have a feeling, Lockhart doesn't stand a chance against Snape," Chris muttered.

"I think so too. Trust me if Snape had been looking at me like that I would have been running as fast as I could in the opposite direction." Harry whispered.

Chris and Ron both chuckled.

Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his hands, whereas Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them.

"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."

"I wouldn't bet on that," Harry murmured, watching Snape baring his teeth.

"One ... two ... three .." Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Snape cried: "Expelliarmus!"

There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet: He flew backwards off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins cheered. Chris clapped and cheered too. Harry and Ron looked at her in surprise.

"Well... He did that great, didn't he? You've to give him that much credit." Chris said smiling.

Hermione was dancing on tiptoes.

"Do you think he's all right?" she squealed through her fingers.

"Who cares?" said Chris, Harry and Ron together.

Hermione again glared at them. Lockhart was getting unsteadily to his feet. His hat had fallen off and his wavy hair was standing on end.

"Well, there you have it!" he said, tottering back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm... as you see, I've lost my wand ... ah, thank you, Miss Brown .... yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy .... however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see ...." Snape was looking murderous. Chris found the situation very funny when Lockhart noticed Snape's face and said, "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me ..."

They moved through the crowd, matching up partners. Lockhart teamed Ginny with a Hufflepuff boy and Snape reached Harry and Ron first.

"Time to split up the dream team, I think," he sneered. "Weasley, you can partner Finnigan. Potter ..." Harry moved automatically toward Hermione. "I don't think so," said Snape, smiling coldly. "Mr Malfoy, come over here. Let's see what you make of the famous Potter. And you, Miss Granger ... you can partner Miss Bulstrode. And you two can team up."

Snape pointed at Luna and Chris.

Luna was very happy to hear that. Chris glanced at Ginny, who was facing a Hufflepuff boy.

"Face your partners!" called Lockhart, back on the platform. "And bow!"

Both Luna and Chris bowed gracefully then hold their wands in front of them.

"Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. "When I count to three, cast your charms to Disarm your opponents .... only to disarm them ... we don't want any accidents ... one . . . two . . . three ..."

"Expelliarmus" shouted Chris and Luna's wand went flying from her hand.

"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.