Beyond the Bonds of Blood: The Threshold of Hope | Harry Potter

Dueling for Dominance

Pansy and Bellarose had successfully recruited enough students for Lockhart's private dueling club. They were proud of their achievement and decided to go together to him office to deliver the news. The  DADA teacher was seated at his desk, signing autographs for a few lucky students who had managed to enter.

Pansy entered first, wearing a triumphant smile, followed closely by Bellarose.

Pansy: "Professor Lockhart, we have some good news to share."

Lockhart looked up from his autographs, curious.

Lockhart: "Ah, my dear students, what can I do for you?"

Bellarose spoke, her tone filled with satisfaction.

Bellarose: "We've managed to gather enough interested students for the private dueling club. We're ready to start as soon as possible."

Both witches handed the list of students to the professor. As he glanced at it, he appeared surprised, clearly not anticipating that they would have gathered so many members already.

Lockhart: "Well, ladies, you've pleasantly surprised me. I'm delighted to see so much enthusiasm for dueling. However, we need to consider the Christmas holidays are approaching. So the dueling club will begin after the holiday break. That will give us time to prepare properly."

Pansy was determined to get what she wanted, even if it meant manipulating him. She put on an air of sweetness and innocence.

Pansy: "Professor Lockhart, we're truly grateful for this opportunity, but couldn't we use the training room during the Christmas holidays? I mean, some of us stay at Hogwarts during the holidays, and it would be a shame to lose all that valuable training time."

She gave him a pleading look, her eyes sparkling with admiration for him. Lockhart enjoyed being the center of attention and appreciated being surrounded by devoted students.

Lockhart thought for a moment, then a charming smile appeared on his face.

Lockhart: "Well, you have a point, it would be a shame to waste such potential. I suppose I could grant a few students access to the training room during the holidays. But remember that this doesn't replace the official club, which will start after the holidays."

Pansy nodded gratefully.

Pansy: "Thank you, Professor Lockhart, that's really generous of you. We promise to follow the rules of the training room and not cause you any trouble."

Lockhart seemed flattered by Pansy's admiration and gave her a warm smile.

Lockhart: "Very well, Miss Parkinson, I trust you to ensure everything goes smoothly. If there are any issues, you'll be held responsible. Enjoy these holidays to prepare yourselves. I'll see you after Christmas for the official start of the dueling club."

Once he accepted their request to access the training room during the Christmas holidays, he waved them off. Pansy and Bellarose left his office,  once the door was closed behind them, Pansy turned to Bellarose with a satisfied smile. Bellarose was less enthusiastic she was skeptical about Lockhart's gullibility and how easily they had manipulated him.

Bellarose: "I can't believe how... foolish Lockhart is. He accepted our request without any questions, as if we were his most devoted students."

The two girls, lost in their thoughts, quickly made their way to the dueling room, a place where they could finally settle once and for all who was the best. A palpable tension filled the air as they stood there, facing each other in the empty room. Pansy gave Bellarose a hard look, her eyes sparkling with anticipation and excitement. She was determined to prove she was the best.

Bellarose, on the other hand, didn't back down from the challenge. Her pent-up anger toward Pansy drove her to give her best. The past few weeks had pushed her to her limits, and she finally had the opportunity to let off steam.

Without a word, they moved away from each other, mentally preparing for the impending duel. Wands in hand, they stood ready for a fierce magical battle. The dueling room was quiet, but the atmosphere was electric. Their wands trembled slightly in their hands.

Pansy made a swift wand movement, casting an attacking spell toward Bellarose. It was narrowly dodged, and Bellarose immediately countered with a disarming spell. Pansy reacted with agility, blocking the spell and sending a swirling light jet in return. Bellarose swiftly moved, narrowly dodging the spell. The duel continued with a series of spell exchanges. They displayed incredible competence for second-year students.

Tension built as the duel continued. The two witch exchanged determined looks, both understanding that they were evenly matched. It was a duel between equals, a battle of wills and magical skills.

Suddenly, they simultaneously cast a spell, their wands emitting a dazzling light. The spells were directed at each other, creating a magical clash at the point of impact. A moment of suspense followed as the two spells seemed to struggle for supremacy. Finally, with a muffled thunderous sound, the spells exploded into a multitude of sparkling sparks that filled the dueling room. Both were propelled backward by the force of the explosion, but they quickly got back up.

Both girls had realized what had happened, the witch in front of them had the twin wand to theirs. It was a surprising revelation that explained why the duel had been so evenly matched. The spells they had cast had counterbalanced each time, creating a fierce struggle between them.

In their minds, they both internally vowed to win next time, whatever element had influenced this duel. This competition was far from over, and they were determined to prove who was the best.

After a moment of tense silence, they turned away from each other. They returned to their respective houses, frustration and contemplation filling their minds. Each of them had the bitterness of the result lingering in their thoughts. Each secretly thought, 

"Of course, she had to be the one who possess my twin wand."