SchrodingersGamer

  A few hours ter the trio of Ana, Hermione and Gsses make their way back to the Great Hall. Upon getting there they notice a rge crowd has formed, nearly overflowing the room. Inside the hall the long tables for the houses to eat at have been removed and in their pce is a very long dueling mat. Around which is padding, presumably to ensure any wins by knocking out of bounds have a lower risk of injury.

  Seeing the padding Ana thinks, *at least they take some safety into consideration. I half expected them to have a ptform raised a few feet above the ground.*

  “Isn't it still almost 15 minutes until the duel is supposed to be?” Hermione asks.

  “Yes, but I guess with Malfoy’s reputation a lot of people want to see him beaten,” Ana says.

  “Makes sense. I know I certainly wanna see his pride take a hit,” Gsses says quietly, a hint of anger in his voice.

  Ana looks at Gsses for a second before saying, “You really don't like him, do you?”

  “Two years of constantly bullying me and my friends will do that,” Gsses responds.

  “Then I'm sure you'll enjoy the show I pn to put on,” Ana says with a grin, before making her way to the dueling mat.

  Finding her way through the crowd, Ana eventually finds Professor Flitwick at the edge of the mat. “Quite the crowd, Professor. I didn't think a duel between third years would be this popur,” Ana says.

  “You'd be surprised, Miss Grim. It's not often we have a sanctioned duel happen. Most students tend to have them unsupervised,” Professor Flitwick says, “ah, here's Mister Malfoy. Right on time.”

  “You actually showed up? I was sure you'd be too scared,” Malfoy says with a smirk.

  “Really? I was expecting you not to show. Especially since you had your boys try to do your dirty work earlier,” Ana says with a grin of her own, “I also had a suggestion to make this a bit more interesting.”

  “And what might that be, Miss Grim?” Professor Flitwick asks curiously.

  “We make this a best of three duel, instead of the usual single,” Ana expins.

  “That sounds like a splendid idea. As long Mister Malfoy agrees, that is,” Professor Flitwick says.

  “More chances for you to embarrass yourself? I don't see why not,” Malfoy says.

  “Alright then, if you will both take your pces, Mister Malfoy on that end, Miss Grim on the other,” Professor Flitwick says, directing the two students to their respective sides of the dueling mat.

  As the two make their way to their starting positions, approximately one quarter of the way from the edge of the mat, the room quiets down.

  “Miss Grim, Mister Malfoy, make yourselves ready,” Professor Flitwick says loudly.

  After the pair bows to each other they get into their dueling stances. Malfoy gets into a practiced stance, slightly sideways wand arm out in a neutral position for several possible spells. Ana on the other hand appears very rexed, she stands slightly sideways, but her wand arm is only zily in front of her, seemingly unprepared for any casting.

  Seeing Ana's zy stance Malfoy says, “He said get ready, or are you so nervous you forgot how to duel?”

  “I am ready,” Ana responds.

  “Then let the duel…Begin!” Professor Flitwick says.

  Immediately Malfoy says “FLIPENDO! EXPELLIARMUS!” Casting a knockback jinx followed by a disarming charm.

  Ana moves quickly, deflecting the knockback jinx into the wards around the dueling mat, but too slow for the disarming charm. Her wand goes flying towards Malfoy, nding on the mat between them.

  “Malfoy takes the first round. Wands down. Miss Grim, you may collect your wand,” Professor Flitwick says as soon as her wand nds.

  “Is that really all you've got? I was almost worried for a second,” Malfoy says with a cocky grin.

  *Is that enough to wake you up?,* Ana thinks at her sadism.

  It's only response is to smile.

  *What about you? I would have thought you'd love this.* Ana thinks towards the part of her that enjoys violence.

  It doesn't use words, but it opens an eye and sends the impression, *too many rules to properly enjoy it, but it will help a little* before closing the eye again.

  Lilliana goes back to her starting position. She now has her own grin and a sadistic glint in her eyes.

  “Ready to go again, Professor,” Lilliana says to Professor Flitwick.

  “Alright. Malfoy, are you ready for the second round?” the professor asks Malfoy.

  “Ready for another quick round professor,” Malfoy says.

  “Then when you are ready, you may… Begin,”

  “FLIPENDO! EXPELLIARMUS!” Malfoy shouts, choosing to go for the same opener.

  This time Lilliana easily deflects the first spell and dodges the second while countering with a spell of her own. “Perveedo,” She says.

  Not expecting a counter attack the spell she casts hits Malfoy in his wand arm before he can react. “OW!” He yells, dropping his wand in surprise.

  “The second round goes to Miss Grim. Wands down. Mister Malfoy, you may…” Professor Flitwick says before Malfoy interrupts by saying, “Professor she used an illegal spell. It is against the rules to use a spell that may cause direct harm in a standard duel.”

  “Judging by the incantation, the spell cast was the Pinch Hex. Is that correct Miss Grim?” Professor Flitwick says.

  “Indeed Professor,” Lilliana says.

  “The Pinch Hex is on the list of restricted, but allowed spells for standard duels. As long as Miss Grim limits the usage of the spell to once every other spell she has not broken any rules,” Professor Flitwick expins to Malfoy.

  “So, are you up for round three or will the chance of a little pain stop you?” Lilliana says with.

  “Fine, I'll take round three, show everyone how weak you really are,” Malfoy says.

  *Doesn't know when to quit, this one. Good,* Lilliana thinks with a smile.

  “Duelists make ready and… Begin!” Professor Flitwick says.

  Instantly Malfoy begins casting, “EXPELLIARMUS! IMPEDIMENTA!”

  Ana sidesteps the Disarming Charm and deflects the Impediment Jinx before casting, “Levicorpus. Perveedo,” as well as a silent Knockback Jinx.

  Malfoy, this time prepared for a counterattack, dodges the first two spells and counters with one of his own before being hit by the third, “FLIPENDO!”

  Malfoy gets shoved back a few inches by Lilliana's underpowered Knockback Jinx. Lilliana meanwhile deflects Malfoy’s jinx and responds with another Pinch Hex, “Perveedo.”

  The hex hits Malfoy in the leg. “Ow, RICTUMSEMPRA,” He says, counterattacking.

  Lilliana doesn't dodge, seeing that the Pinch Hex caused Malfoy’s aim to be off. She responds, “Locomotor Mortis. Perveedo.”

  Malfoy attempts to dodge, but he still gets hit. His legs lock in pce and he gets hit by the Pinch Hex. “Finite,” Lilliana casts, ending the Leg-Locker Hex.

  Malfoy looks at her, surprise on his face. “I wouldn't want this duel to end that quickly, Malfoy,” Lilliana says with a sadistic grin.

  Gathering himself, Malfoy casts another set of spells, “EXPELLIARMUS! FLIPENDO! EXPELLIARMUS!”

  Lilliana steps out of the way of the first two spells and deflects the st as she starts moving towards Malfoy. “Perveedo,” she casts, followed by another silent Knockback Jinx.

  Malfoy manages to dodge the Pinch Hex and casts a quick “PROTEGO!” managing a small shield to block the Knockback Jinx. The Jinx breaks through his hastily cast shield, but does get deflected enough to only hit him in the arm. He spins around the force of the Jinx still enough as he's off his bance.

  “Perveedo,” Lilliana casts at his back, hitting him squarely in the side as he tries to turn around. He clutches his side as the hex nds, “Eow! FLIPENDO!”

  Deflecting the spell Lilliana says, “You do know you don't have to yell every spell, right? Good way to tire yourself out,” while smirking at the panting boy.

  “Expelliarmus. Flipendo Maxima. Perveedo Multiplico,” Lilliana casts.

  Malfoy manages to barely dodge the first spell, but is too tired and gets hit by the second. The enhanced Pinch Hex hits him as he is flying back from the empowered Knockback Jinx, causing him to cry out in pain before hitting the padding around the edge of the dueling mat.

  “The third round goes to Miss Grim. Miss Grim wins the duel. An impressive showing, 15 points to Slytherin for showing a good proficiency with modifiers and silent spells as a third year. However, I must take 25 points for the final cast of the Pinch Hex. While it wasn't against the rules it was very unsportsmanlike,” Professor Flitwick says.

  “Fair enough Professor,” Lilliana says before turning back to Malfoy who has been crowded around by a few other Slytherins and saying, “Oh, and I should mention. I'm not a pureblood.”

  Lilliana walks off the dueling mat over to the three Gryffindors she's been making friends with. She notices Gsses is watching Malfoy with a bit of a sadistic glint in his own eyes before it goes away when he notices her approaching.

  *Layers and yers on him it seems,” Ana thinks as her sadism goes to sleep, satisfied, for now.

  “That st spell was a bit much wasn't it?” Hermione asks as the group begins walking away from the hall.

  “Maybe, but now he'll know what happens if he goes after me. And he might wonder what I could do without rules” Ana says.

  “I admit he's an arse, but still. You proved your point with how easily you seemed to handle him. No, need to rub salt in the wound,” Ron says.

  “Maybe that thinking is why he hasn't let up on you three. Either way, it's already done and I have no intention of apologizing,” Ana says.

  “Are you really not a pureblood?” Gsses asks.

  “Not in the way they care about. Both my parents are magical, but I'm not fully human,” Ana expins.

  “Oh? What's your non-human side?” Hermione asks, her curiosity piqued.

  “That's a secret, but if you manage to guess I'll tell you if you're correct,” Ana says with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

  “Will you at least give me hints? You seem perfectly human from what I've seen so far,” Hermione asks.

  “Maybe if it takes you a while to even get close. Don't forget the new tool at your disposal. Most magical creatures have different types of magic,” Ana says.

  “Oh, right. Thank you,” Hermione says before her gaze loses focus as she presumably starts concentrating on her magic sense.

  “Now you've done it. She won't give up until she figures it out,” Ron says.

  stopping Hermione from running into another student Ana says, “maybe wait until we get back to the library to do that. You'll have plenty of opportunities to analyze me.”

  “Right, sorry,” Hermione says, “did you want to come with us this time Ron?”

  “Wait, you are going back to the library? We haven't even started csses yet!” Ron says.

  “If what these two have said about Professor Snape’s bias is true, you three need all the studying you can get for potions,” Ana responds.

  “Oh, it's definitely true. The git has had it in for Harry since first year. He doesn't even have a reason. Just hates Harry, and us by extension,” Ron says.

  “Does that mean you will be joining us for some studying?” Hermione asks.

  “Merlin no. I'm going to get a bit of quidditch practice before tryouts. You sure you don't wanna join me for that, Harry?” Ron says.

  “With the training schedule Wood set, I'm sure to get more than enough practice. You have fun though Ron. See you at Dinner” Gsses responds.

  “Suit yourself. See ya,” Ron says before walking off on his own.

  *How does he even get through his csses with that kind of attitude? Seems like he's almost allergic to studying,* Ana things as she, Hermione and Gsses head to the library to get a few more hours of studying in. When they get there Hermione asks, “What prompted this sudden interest I'm studying by the way, Harry? You didn't seem all that interested in the past.”

  “I just decided to put a bit more effort in, I guess,” He responds.

  *Now that was totally believable,* Ana thinks, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

  Hermione doesn't seem fully convinced, but carries on, “Were you just gonna get a head start on potions or did you want to look at a different subject?”

  “I kind of want to start on Care of Magical Creatures, but I can't get the book open without it trying to bite my arm off,” Gsses says.

  “Oh that's easy, stroke the spine softly a few times and the book calms down. My mom told me after I nearly bsted my copy to pieces,” Ana says.

  “Ah I see, did you know that to Hermione?” Gsses asks.

  “No, why didn't the shopkeeper tell anyone? All the Hogwarts students taking the css would have bought a copy,” Hermione says.

  “Fan of practical jokes maybe? My mums ordered all my books to our pce. They said Diagon gets a tad busy after school book lists are sent out,” Ana says.

  Conversation between the three carries on and switches topics a few times as they study until dinner. “About time to head out. Are you two ready?” Ana asks.

  The other two wixen nod and the trio starts making their way to the Great Hall.

  SchrodingersGamer