Chapter 25

Altercations

Miles stared at the bulletin board in the Slytherin common room. "Dueling club huh?" he murmured to himself.

"Yeah," Blaise noted, coming to stand beside him. "Are you planning to go?"

"Couldn't hurt to, might be interesting."

"Draco thought the same thing. Will you meet us in the common room tonight then? It's the first meeting."

"I'll be there."

Miles went down to breakfast early after meeting Blaise, intending to pay the library a quick visit. He planned on coming in the evening, but apparently, plans had changed. His classes had been dull, at least, until Potions came around.

Professor Snape had instructed them all to make their best attempt at a Swelling Solution. An easy enough Potion, and Miles serenely chopped up his ingredients and stirred his cauldron while needed, keeping up an idle conversation with Theo.

At least, that was the case until Miles heard a slight whistle through the air. Eyes wide, not able to do much else, he seized Theo by the collar of his shirt and dragged him in under the table with him.

"Hey, what're you-," Theo tried to protest.

There was a great splash, and Miles heard what was likely a potion showering the class as well as the top of their table. The sound was immediately followed by an outburst of shrieking as the Swelling Solution landed on students. 

Deciding it was safe to come out, Miles got out from under the table, helping Theo to his feet. "Thanks," the other boy sighed, eyes wide as he took in the pandemonium around them. 

"Don't mention it," Miles shrugged. 

Draco had gotten a faceful of potion and was at Professor Snape's desk, receiving a Deflating Draft. Goyle, groaning, with his hands over his eyes, was being given a similar treatment. The rest of the students were in nearly identical states of disarray. The Professor was a scarlet-faced mess, glaring around at the students. His eyes landed on one in particular. 

Miles followed the professor's gaze, which was directed at none other than Harry. Sure enough, a smug smile was on his brother's face, though for a mere instant as his eyes made contact with Miles'.

Miles shook his head, mouthing, Why?

Harry just shrugged. 

The class was pronounced over after Professor Snape made them clean up the classroom. Miles stalled with putting his items in his bookbag, waiting for Draco to come back to their table. After that, he helped him clean up his station, and the two went up to the Great Hall for dinner.

"Did you see who did it?" Draco asked immediately after they'd exited the dungeons. 

He hesitated, though he knew that it'd be better if Draco heard it from him than anyone else. "It was Harry," he muttered. 

Draco growled. "Potter, I knew I shouldn't have bothered with being nice to him."

Miles shook his head. He couldn't even blame the other boy. Draco had been the one to reach out and visit him in the hospital wing with Dobby. He'd even spent the night underneath Harry's bed until his brother had told him he could come out, for fear of getting them both in trouble. And still, Harry had to go do something like this. Why? 

☆

Harry made his way to the Great Hall a while after dinner that evening. A notice for the dueling club had been posted, and Ron as well as many other Gryffindors were interested. Harry, as well as Hermione, had been excited to go since a dueling club could only be good for them given everything going on with the attacks.

His mood dampened when he found that Snape and Lockhart were to be running the club. Of course the teachers he disliked the most would be in charge of something like this. He tried to cheer himself up by convincing himself that at least they'd learn something. Snape did know what he was doing after all. Lockhart... not so much.

"Now, Professor Snape here," Lockhart continued, gesturing at the scowling man, "Knows a bit about dueling himself, and has agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now don't worry, your Potions master will still be here when I'm through with him!"

Snape's scowl deepened, something that Harry was sure wasn't possible before. He leaned over to Ron. "Snape doesn't seem to be the one we ought to worry about."

Ron's eyes twinkled. "Wouldn't it be great if they finished each other- Oof!"

"Shut it!" Hermione hissed, acting as though she hadn't jabbed Ron in the ribs. Ron however, seemed aware, or at least Harry figured he was. The breath had been knocked out of him. 

Snape and Lockhart faced off, and in a matter of seconds, the Potions master had the other sprawled on the floor. Lockhart quickly bounced back up, brushing off his robes. 

"An excellent demonstration of the Disarming Charm by Professor Snape! However, it was fairly obvious what you were doing, that is to say, if I wanted to I could have blocked you very easily," Lockhart announced, addressing the last bit to Snape.

Harry despised the Potions master, but Lockhart had a way of making anyone he was compared to seem positively wonderful. As of now, if looks could kill, Lockhart would be a smoldering pile of ash on the floor by now. 

Lockhart seemed to have noticed this, for he quickly added. "That's enough demonstrating I believe, let's practice!"

To his displeasure, Harry was paired up with Draco. The other boy was staring at him with such undisguised loathing that Harry just knew he was in trouble. He knew about the firework earlier that day. They exchanged a few spells, though were cut off due to an accident involving several of the pairs. 

"It seems we'll need a volunteer pair to teach the students how to block unfriendly spells... Professor," Snape sneered at Lockhart. 

"A great idea Professor Snape! Let's see, how about Weasley and-"

"Malfoy and Potter," Snape said, with a definite air that not even Lockhart could breeze his way through. 

Resigned, Harry stepped up onto the podium. Every part of him felt alight with nerves, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor wasn't helping. 

"Now Harry," Lockhart instructed, "When Draco points his wand at you, do this." He twirled his wand around and promptly dropped it. Hurriedly, he picked it up and gave Harry a pat on the shoulder. "You'll be fine, just do what I did!"

"What, drop my wand?" Harry didn't bother keeping the scathing tone out of his voice.

Lockhart chuckled nervously. "Now, now, Harry, that's not what I meant. Trust your instincts! Get his weak points!"

"Sure Professor," Harry conceded, giving in and letting the man hear what he wanted to hear. He faced Draco once more, not any more reassured, though his anger towards Lockhart had given him a burst of adrenaline. 

"Scared, Pottah?" Draco muttered.

"You wish," Harry replied out of the corner of his mouth. 

They faced one another, drawing their wands up to their faces sharply before giving stiff bows in each other's direction. Then they spun on their heels, taking a few steps away on the podium before wheeling around again. 

As soon as they were called, Draco bellowed, "Serpensortia!"

A large snake fell out of the tip, coiling itself up and hissing indignantly, raising itself and preparing to strike. To Harry's surprise, he understood what it was saying. 

"Foolish human, summoning me for his own purposes," the snake griped. Its head turned toward Draco, and Harry knew at once what was going on in its head.

"No," he told the snake, not sure what good it would do.

It turned around to face him. "You speak it?"

"Speak what?"

"Parseltongue... the language of snakes."

Before Harry could ask more, Snape stepped forward swiftly, reminding Harry that he was on a podium with nearly the entire student body around them. "Step aside Potter, I'll get rid of it for you."

Harry was about to speak, though Lockhart beat him to it. "Allow me!" the man shouted, brandishing his wand at the snake. With a bang, the reptile was sent soaring into the air, before landing with a thud on the podium.

Enraged, hissing furiously, the snake raised itself up, fangs out and glistening. "Enough! These humans will pay!" It turned its head again, though this time its attention was fixated on a Hufflepuff student about Harry's age. He recalled meeting him in Herbology... Justin Finch-Fletchley.

"Stop," Harry commanded.

The snake halted, staring up at him inquisitively. "His absence won't be noticed." 

"He's not responsible for how you were treated just now. Leave him alone."

The snake hissed frustratedly, though Harry knew he'd calmed it down. It wouldn't harm anyone, at least not without reason. It was about to say something when suddenly, it vanished in a puff of black smoke. 

Harry, still shocked, looked at Justin, expecting to see relief on the other boy's features. Instead, all he was met with was anger—and fear.  

"What're you playing at!" he cried, before storming out of the Great Hall. 

The rest of the students turned their attention to a bewildered Harry. "I-I saved him," he sputtered. "I spoke to the snake, and told it to leave him alone."

Lockhart was eyeing him grimly, and not-so-subtly putting distance between himself and Harry with every passing second. Draco was looking at him curiously. 

Panicking now, Harry stepped back atop the podium, only to bump right into Snape, who placed a surprisingly gentle hand on his shoulder. "My office... Potter." He drawled. His eyes scanned the crowd, before landing on Miles. "You too," he ordered, and Miles, understanding it was meant for him, quickly joined the two on the podium. 

Harry groaned internally. Of all the company he could have managed to land himself with, why did he have to end up with Miles and Snape?