"We should probably look into Basilisks, just in case." Penny commented as she and Harry walked back up to the castle.
"Agreed, it seems like this could be some hybrid or offshoot of a Basilisk." Harry nodded as they entered the castle. "I'll need to keep working, even if it isn't much, it'll be better to have something than nothing if the monster finds us."
"I'm sure the Aurors will be able to prevent more attacks, Harry, at least I hope so." Penny replied as she noticed the ones in the entryway.
"What's this?" Harry questioned as he saw a large piece of parchment on the door of the Great Hall. Penny and Harry both read the parchment and Harry groaned afterwards.
"It's not the worst idea, Harry." Penny tried to comfort him.
"It is if that peacock is the one 'attempting' to teach or head it." Harry groused. The parchment was informing the student body of the upcoming 'Dueling Club' that Professor Lockhart was going to start up in December. The absolute joke of a Wizard, in Harry's opinion, was just going to use this to try and make a spectacle of himself. That much Harry knew already but Penny seemed to want to at least 'sit in' on it to look out for the younger students.
"We'll just watch, Harry." Penny stated with a small smile.
"Fine, but I already know that pompous windbag is going to be a joke." Harry sighed as he agreed to check out the 'Dueling Club' when it started.
"Well, then how about we get some more Wandless practice in and really show them how to be prepared?" Penny questioned with a raised eyebrow. Harry distinctly felt like he was being challenged by his Prefect friend.
"Is that a challenge I hear in your tone, Prefect Clearwater?" Harry asked as he cocked his own eyebrow.
"Maybe it was, maybe it was." Penny giggled as she and Harry made their way towards the hidden workshop to practice.
"I've learned a new Charm or two that should serve me well." Harry grinned as they walked along.
"You don't say…" Penny smiled. "So have I."
"We'll see who is learning the best in a bit then." Harry chuckled.
"Fair warning, my mana was at '4,890' yesterday morning." Penny smiled pleasantly.
"Skill can triumph over power." Harry replied evenly. 'She's at '4,890'? I was at '1,610' this morning. How long will it take me to catch up?' He thought to himself as they made their way into the workshop again. Looking over at his worktable and the various sheets of notes and Runic Sequences, Harry confirmed to himself that he was going to try and make the next push in his Alchemy soon.
"Ready yet, Harry?" Penny questioned as she stretched a bit to limber up for their duel.
"Yeah, just give me a few moments to stretch." Harry replied as he tore his eyes away from his worktable. 'Sylvuan is harder to transmute, but it's much more durable than Oulm. It has higher Magic Concentration as well, so maybe it can hold the Array properly?' He mused as he went through some stretches. 'I'd like to have an actual prototype sword by the end of the school year if possible.'
"Are you ready?" Penny asked as she raised her right hand.
"Any time, Penny." Harry replied with far more confidence than he felt about this duel.
"You should work on your 'poker face' Harry." Penny laughed as she launched the first spell, a Flipendo, of the duel.
"Noted." Harry replied as he smacked the Flipendo aside and breathed out the large plume of smoke from the 'Fluctus Fumus' spell, then brought up a Protego to block Penny's next spell. At least his mana would probably increase a little after he ran himself ragged trying to keep up with Penny's much larger reserves.
"This is so stupid." Harry sighed as he watched the blonde peacock make a spectacle of himself.
"It's a bit much." Penny agreed as she watched Lockhart on top of the Dueling Platform. The Defense Professor was going on about his skills and accomplishments before having Professor Snape of all people join him on the platform for a demonstration.
"A Galleon says that Snape wins." Harry offered dully and Penny turned her head slightly to look at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Sucker's bet." Penny flatly replied and Harry shrugged before they both refocused on the 'Duel' that was about to start. It was over in a single spell, 'Expelliarmus', from Snape. Lockhart lost his wand and was sent tumbling onto the platform. Harry rolled his eyes as the pompous blonde picked himself up and then tried to act like he'd 'let' Snape disarm him.
"Now, let's have our first student pair try Dueling." Lockhart announced before he quickly locked onto Harry. "Mr. Potter, please come up to the platform!"
"Do I have to?" Harry muttered to Penny who gave him a commiserating look before nudging him gently. "Fine…" He huffed as he made his way up to the platform and took his place. Snape, for some reason, had chosen Draco to be Harry's opponent. The two Second Years met in the middle of the platform, as per tradition, to exchange a pre-duel dialogue. Or, in Harry's view, a traditional excuse for 'talking shite'.
"Scared Potter?" Draco asked with a self-assured smirk.
"Bored actually." Harry replied and was mildly amused to see Draco's face turn red. The two then turned from each other and walked to their respective ends of the platform.
"I'll count down from three; when I get to one you may begin!" Lockhart announced, though the man seemed to be enjoying the attention he was receiving more than he was paying attention to the 'duel'. "Three…two…one!"
"Everte Statum!" Draco called as he cast a wave of white magic towards Harry. The spell harmlessly splashed against the Protego that was suddenly in front of Harry. The young Artificer looked the very picture of bored while everyone there, except for a few that had seen his Wandless Magic in person before, stared wide eyed and with jaws dropped.
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