The Duel Club

Looking at Harry's limp arms, Luke shook his head with concern.

"The Quaffle didn't just hit the back of Harry's head this time; it's broken his arm," he remarked sadly.

"I can't understand what kind of grudge that house-elf has against him," Luke wondered aloud.

Hermione, sitting beside him, wore a worried expression. "It's unusual, isn't it? House-elves don't usually behave like this."

"Perhaps it's not about Harry at all," Luke speculated. "There might be something else going on."

He watched as Madam Pomfrey hurried onto the field to tend to Harry. The game paused, and tension hung thick in the air.

"Do you think it's connected to the diary?" Hermione asked in a hushed tone, her eyes wide with concern.

Luke nodded thoughtfully. "It's a possibility. We need to be cautious and watch for any more strange incidents."

The match resumed after Harry was taken to the hospital wing, but the atmosphere was subdued. Luke kept a protective arm around Hermione, ensuring their barrier spell held strong against the increasing rain.

"We'll figure this out," Luke reassured her, his voice steady despite the uncertainty. "We just need to stay alert."

As they continued to watch the match, their attention divided between Quidditch and the mysterious events unfolding at Hogwarts.

While I didn't spot the house-elf from my vantage point on the high platform during the game, it was clear that the Quaffle's trajectory was being manipulated by a floating charm. Given the previous incident, it wasn't difficult to deduce.

"Thank you, Luke!" Harry said gratefully, tears welling up in his eyes as he clutched the bottle of chocolate-flavored Bone Spirit.

Luke's potion had spared him several days of agony in the school's medical office, where the nurse would likely have been bewildered by his condition. Clearly, it was not meant for human consumption.

"You'd better stay here and rest," Luke suggested, standing and taking Hermione's hand as they prepared to leave.

But on the stairs leading to the eighth floor, they encountered Ron descending.

"Going to see Harry?" Luke teased with a grin.

Ron appeared a bit groggy, as if he hadn't fully awakened yet. "Oh... good evening," he mumbled, managing a smile when he spotted Luke and Hermione. "I'm heading to check on Harry's injury. See you tomorrow!"

Once Ron had moved on, Hermione frowned. "He seemed off."

"Probably just not fully awake," Luke replied nonchalantly.

"Let's go. We have classes tomorrow morning. We should get some rest," he suggested.

"Who said I'm sleeping with you? You can take the sofa tonight!" Hermione retorted.

"Alright, alright," Luke chuckled knowingly, anticipating Hermione's inevitable sneaking into his bed later that night, courtesy of a Floating Charm.

But Luke knew Ron was now fully under Tom's control. He needed to find a way to handle the basilisk himself.

The following morning, Luke woke up in the soft bed and used his wand to tidy Hermione's clothes and hair while she slept.

The sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the Room of Requirement, mingling with the scent of jasmine that often clung to Miss Granger's curly hair.

"Time to wake up. Breakfast is ready!" Luke called cheerfully after preparing a lavish morning meal that showcased his culinary skills. He then went to rouse his companion.

Hermione sat on the bed, squinting slightly as she admired the view outside. She stretched leisurely, unsurprised to find herself in a shirt and short skirt — an outfit she had grown accustomed to wearing.

"Morning, Harry, Luke," Ron greeted them, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on?"

"Lockhart's started a dueling club," Luke explained, nodding towards the notice on the wall.

Ron squinted at the notice. "Really? That's… unexpected."

"Yeah, he said it's to teach practical spells," Harry added, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

Luke couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, let's hope he's more competent at teaching dueling than he is at dealing with actual dark arts."

As they chatted, more students began to gather around, curious about the new club. Lockhart's classes were always popular, though usually for the wrong reasons.

Hermione, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "We should check it out, just to see what he's teaching. It could be interesting."

Harry and Ron exchanged a glance. Despite their reservations about Lockhart, they were both intrigued by the idea of learning practical spells for defense.

"Alright, let's go then," Harry decided, leading the way towards the classroom where Lockhart was holding the club.

As they entered, they found Lockhart in his usual flamboyant attire, greeting students with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"Welcome, welcome, to the Dueling Club!" Lockhart proclaimed grandly, waving his wand dramatically. "Today, we shall begin with the basics of dueling etiquette and safety. Wand safety is crucial, my dear students!"

Luke exchanged amused glances with Hermione and Ron. It seemed Lockhart hadn't changed much.

"Watch carefully," Lockhart continued, demonstrating a simple disarmament spell. "And remember, precision and control are key!"

The students paired up to practice under Lockhart's guidance, while Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luke watched from the sidelines.

"I wonder how long this will last before it turns into chaos," Ron muttered under his breath.

"Let's hope not too quickly," Hermione replied, though her tone was doubtful.

Luke observed the students, noting their varying levels of skill and enthusiasm. Some were taking it seriously, while others struggled to keep a straight face at Lockhart's theatrics.

After a while, Lockhart approached them with a smile. "Ah, Mr. Luke, would you care to demonstrate a spell for us?"

Luke hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Sure."

With a flick of his wand, he performed a precise Shield Charm, deflecting an imaginary spell thrown by Lockhart. The students gasped in awe, impressed by the effortless grace of Luke's magic.

"Excellent!" Lockhart exclaimed, clapping enthusiastically. "Truly remarkable, Mr. Luke. A natural talent, I must say!"

Luke thanked him politely, though he couldn't help but feel slightly amused by Lockhart's over-the-top praise.

As the dueling club continued, Luke found himself enjoying the atmosphere despite Lockhart's antics. It was refreshing to see students eager to learn and practice, even if their teacher was more show than substance.

After a couple of hours of practice, the club began to wind down. Lockhart congratulated the students on their progress and promised more exciting lessons in the future.

"Well, that was certainly... interesting," Ron commented as they left the classroom.

"I have to admit, it wasn't as bad as I expected," Harry admitted, adjusting his bandage.

"I think we all learned something today," Hermione said thoughtfully, reflecting on the day's events.

Luke nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It's good to see Hogwarts students enthusiastic about honing their skills, even if the teacher's methods are unconventional."

As they headed towards their next class, the four friends exchanged smiles, grateful for the unexpected but enjoyable start to their day at Hogwarts.

.....

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