Chapter 14 ~ The First Session.

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The great hall was brimming with a large crowd of giggling, whispering and shouting students; the first session of the duelling club had received quite a large audience. Mostly this comprised of competitive members of all houses who wished to see their fellow house-mates battle their house enemies, the Slytherins and Gryffindoors were by far the largest of the watching groups, though the Ravenclaws almost matched the competitive feeling.  

Maxine and Stefan slipped in at the last minute so as not to alert the Goden Twins, Brandon or anyone else who wished to hound them about their participation. Over the past week in which Maxine had spent her time with Stefan, the friendship had been disapproved by all her Ravenclaw class members, though she had brushed it off and announced she ''didn't give a toss'' for their opinion. 

Unfortunately the conversation in their dormitory was now at an all-time low because of this.

Professor Silvers counted in the fifth-years and began as the clock struck five, welcoming the silence that set in after the loud chimes began.

'Ok, time to pick our first two contestants.'' She announced briskly. Her eyes swept across the group of hands that had been thrust up when she'd called for names. Maxine's glowing face caught her eye and the professor smiled to herself. she'd heard a lot about the talented young witch, and had experienced Maxine's skill in quite a few lessons. 

''Lets have - Maxine Lestrange.'' Maxine beamed and began to make her way up to the stage. Professor Silver's caught sigh of another eager volunteer. ''And James Potter.''

A look of  grim determination immediately set in on the two teenager's faces. Professor Silvers knew nothing of the on going feud and could only suppose that this was a good emotion to have in a duel. gesturing for them to start, James and Maxine face each other at opposite ends of the narrow platform.

Maxine watched James glare back with satisfaction. She knew it wan't great to be over confident, but she was longing to best her brother and knew she could. She walked up to become almost nose to nose with him. The whole hall was silent, watching with anticipation. Maxine brought up her wand in front of her face, James did the same. They bowed, and then turned. Walking back upstage, Maxine felt a ripple of electricity run through her body. 

They both spun on the spot, wands raised. Professor Silvers' voice rang through the silent hall. ''On zero. Three - two - one - ZERO.''

They both yelled at the same time, but Maxine had anticipated James' actions only to well.

''Expelliarmus!''

''Protego!''

James' disarming was deflected by Maxine in an instant, leaving her opponent slightly surprised and giving her time to send a knockback jinx his way. Unfortunately he dodged it before attacking her with a cry of ''Serpensortia!'' Sadly for him the snake was quickly removed by Maxine.

''Vipera Evanesca.'' She incanted calmly, infuriating her opponent, who then began to attack her with a torrent of hexes, all of which Maxine deflected, in exception of one that caused a large gash in the side of her face. Maxine felt a slight sting, but kept on going, dodging another jinx from James, who was coming at her like a mad demon.

With another provoking display of coolness, Maxine hit James with a tongue-tying curse, her opponent spluttering pathetically whilst he tried to incant.

Professor Silvers was about to call order at that moment, James stumbling along the stage whilst drooling alarmingly, but with grim satisfaction, Maxine stepped in and muttered the counter jinx just before she temporarily paralysed him with the leg-locker curse, James flopping down onto the stage like a mad fish.

All had been silent during this fast but exciting duel, but now there were triumphant claps from the Ravenclaws at this victory, James glaring at Maxine from the floor with ultimate fury. Maxine made her way of the stage proudly, the sweet satisfaction still filling her body. 

''Good going, Max.'' Stefan made her jump as he popped up from no where. She grinned and he returned the gesture.

''I've got the counter-jinx for that if you want it.'' Stefan went on, gesturing at the slash that was now collecting blood in little rivers down her cheek. 

''God yeah, can you fix it for me?'' Maxine suddenly became away of the pain, grimacing as the cut stung. 

Stefan held out his wand. ''Luckily it's not the advanced curse of this.'' He commented. ''That can really go really deep.'' With a wave of his wand and a slight whisper, the slash disappeared, blood and all. 

Maxine felt her cheek before smiling at Stefan curiously. ''So, are there different versions of the spell?''

He nodded. ''Yeah, this is just the weak jinx, but I imagine the curse version is horrific.'' 

Maxine shuddered. ''Well, thanks for healing me.'' She turned to look across at James, who was scowling from his crowd. ''Still, that duel was worth it.''

Stefan laughed, and was just about to reply when Professor Silvers called;

''And...Stefan Burkhardt.''

Stefan looked up to find the eyes of not only Professor Silvers but the rest of the hall also upon him. He swallowed at he realised he'd just been picked to duel. And then he saw his opponent awaiting him upon the stage.'

'Stefan! Move you idiot, get up there!'' Maxine whispered from behind, giving the frozen boy a push. She didn't get what he had to fear about the Brandon, as Stefan had refused to tell her what his cousins threat consisted of. ''You know you can beat him!'' She told her friend encouragingly as he finally started to move. The thing is, was he allowed to win this duel.

Stefan walked through the now whispering crowd and made his way up to the platform stiffly, gripping his wand tight. Brandon was sneering confidently again and smiled infuriatingly at Stefan as the two of them faced each other from opposite ends of the long stage.

The two boys began to walk to each other, bringing their wands up the duelling courtesy when they came close. Then came the bow, and the two boys walked in opposite directions before turning back to face one another, wands raised...

''Three - two - one - ze-'' Professor Silvers began the countdown but never finished it, for a moment before zero the duel already had begun. Brandon fired a curse at Stefan, who luckily ducked.

For a moment the two boys froze, Brandon raising his eyebrow at Stefan, knowing that his cousin could not fight back.   

Stefan saw the warning in his cousin's eyes. He had to give up, he had to. Otherwise it would be over, the slight silence he had gained from the school, even if they didn't accept him, he would once again become the object of humiliation. And his friendship with Maxne. She was sensible, but she wouldn't accept him if she found out. He couldn't let that happen, he couldn't.

And then he caught sight of her face in the crowd behind Brandon. He could her willing him on, praying that he fought back. 

And that's when he gave in to the anger and began to duel.