Somewhere Safe - Chapter 29

Harry tried not to tense up when Luna and Hermione joined them in the stands for the duels. Delphi had taken a spot right next to him while Katie sat on the other side. Luna diffused the situation when she plopped down next to her fellow Ravenclaw. Hermione sat next to the Other Hermione and the two quickly fell into a conversation about magical theory. The main topic focused on dueling styles.

Their academic discussion soon the duo had drawn in Padma and Delphi. The tension melted away before the first duel was announced.

The first up was one of Neville's sisters, she was a third year Gryffindor. Her opponent was a Hufflepuff girl that Harry didn't recognize. He wasn't sure if that meant he was someone from this world or not. Even after the basilisk was defeated, he didn't have much contact with the members of the badgers. He knew Cedric in passing. No one had a bad word to say about him. Then there was the loudmouth Justin Finch-Fletchley. If there was ever a Hufflepuff in the wrong house, it was him. He should have been in Slytherin with Crabbe and Goyle. The wizard didn't even rate high enough to be compared to Malfoy.

Every guy from second year up knew Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot. There were certain girls who were so hot that they transcended House rivalries. The pair were bombshells on legs. Even the frumpy school robes couldn't hide their curves.

His attention was pulled away from his thoughts as the duel started.

"Is elemental magic a requirement?" Hermione asked as two streams of fire crossed the platform.

"Each person has their own preferred element to work with." Padma explained. "But you can use any of them. Fire is hard to control, but flashy so most duelists use it for distraction rather than attacks."

The jets of fire faded as they spoke.

"It's an amateur move." Delphi sighed. "A flame whip can be devastating instead of just a light show."

"And if you don't cast it right you can set yourself on fire." The other Hermione countered.

"Conjuration, transfiguration, and charms are the most common after elemental magic." Padma continued. "Control and creativity are the most important tools for a duelist."

"Which is why Granger never makes it to the finals." Delphi shot a smug look at Hermione.

The other Hermione bristled. A hand on her shoulder from her twin calmed her down.

"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked.

"Her chains are all from a book." Delphi said with a shrug. "Books that a good dueling coach would have and know how to counter."

"She's fast." Padma offered. "Good power too, but she's not wrong." She leaned over to look at the other Hermione. "Dresden's Compendium, right?"

The other Hermione nodded.

"That's a good one." Padma offered a small smile. "And Rincewind's Charter for defense."

Hermione nodded again.

"I've never heard of either." Hermione shrugged.

"Dresden is an American wizard." The other Hermione explained. "Rincewind is a wizard from the Unseen University."

"What is that?" Hermione asked.

"It's a University for witches and wizards to further the study of magic." The other Hermione said. "You have to get an invitation."

"That sounds amazing." Hermione spoke in a tone that almost sounded like Luna.

"It is." The other Hermione smiled at her.

"That's it." Harry shook his head. "This is too much."

The four of them turned to face him.

"What?" Padma asked.

"Hermione and Hermione, we need to find a way to tell you two apart." Harry motioned to the twins.

"I guess I could go by Jean." His Hermione offered. "You were here first."

"No." The other Hermione shook her head. "You can call me Miranda."

Both of them blushed.

"Miranda?" Harry asked.

"It was the name of my favorite teacher." The newly named girl explained. "She was beautiful, and she liked my hair."

Hermione nodded with a shy smile.

"Ok." Harry smiled back. "Hermione and Miranda."

"Anyway." Padma gave Harry an annoyed look. "The two books are common enough for most duelists Rank C or higher have studied."

"Those are the two you use?" Delphi gawked at the newly named Miranda.

She nodded.

"No wonder you lose." Delphi rolled her eyes. "The two are complete opposites. Rincewind is a full defense, there are at most three shield spells that are suitable for dueling. Every spell was made with the sole intent on survival through escape. Dresden is a style of all-out attack for when you're backed into a corner and want to go down fighting. You can retreat and charge at the same time."

Miranda had a look on her face that Harry had seen many times. It was one echoed by Hermione as well. They both hung on every word.

"Rincewind's Defensive spells are incredibly powerful. Just like Dresden's offensive spells. Your magic is going to have to work twice as hard." Delphi continued. "Every time you duel, you have opened with a Dresden Chain, then switched over to a Rincewind Barrier. Your magic surges out only for you to yank it back in the opposite direction."

"What would you suggest?" Miranda asked with actual interest.

"Start with the Barrier." Delphi suggested. "With enough power you can block anything short of the Unforgiveable and the sneakier charms. Most duelists try an all-out attack from the beginning." She motioned to the duel, it was a different one now, but the first move was similar, just without the fire. "The barrier would block their opening volley. Follow it with a chain and you'll have a better chance, even with a textbook grouping."

"Wow." Hermione whispered. "I need to find those books."

"There are others I can point out too." Padma offered.

"Wait." Hermione paused. "Why wouldn't the barrier block other charms?"

"There are other spells than just the Unforgivables that can't be blocked." Padma chimed in.

"How?" Hermione scrunched her brow.

"They are either too precise to counter, or not threatening enough to warrant a response." Padma continued. "You could probably counter it if I tried to summon your shirt. That's too overt. However, if I were to summon the buttons, that's something else."

"Subconsciously your magic categorizes incoming spells as dangerous or benign." Delphi clarified. "It takes a long time to change that thought process."

"A breath freshening charm, for example." Padma twirled her wand.

Hermione squeaked in shock as a minty gust of wind swirled around her mouth.

"Instinctively, your magic didn't find it threatening." Padma said. "Partially due to the surprise, but also the intent needed to cast the spell. It can be countered with a simple Finite, but you have to recognize it in time. Your shield won't block it because the spell isn't one you would consider a threat."

"Shhh." Luna spoke up. "It's Lavender's turn."

"This isn't finished." Hermione whispered.

The group cheered as Lavender stepped up to the platform. She flashed them a smile before a mask of indifference slid into place. The group watched intently as the duel started. Unlike the others, Lavender didn't use much in the way of Elemental magic. Instead, she set up chains that intensified the previous volley in a complex multi-stage trap. She whispered her spells instead of shouting like her opponent. The other witch made a small misstep that became her downfall. Lavender won a moment later by disarming her opponent.

"She's good." Miranda nodded.

Lavender turned to the stands and blew a kiss at Harry. He winked at her in reply. The group settled back into a quiet conversation of dueling tactics. Soon the topic had swapped to spell-craft. Harry listened with half an ear. Katie had been drawn into a conversation with another witch nearby. He didn't want to interrupt her, so he just enjoyed the feeling of being there with them.

Unfortunately, Lavender didn't win her next duel. She put up a good fight, but her opponent, Daphne Greengrass, a witch he was pretty sure existed in the other world, was better. Padma let them know that the witch had her International Debut the previous season.

Delphi didn't say anything. Instead, she watched the victorious witch with a borderline glare.

Padma caught his eyes before he could speak. She shook her head. Harry decided to listen.

The first round of duels held little interest once Lavender joined them. He managed to congratulate her before she was assimilated into the discussion. Harry watched the matches with a bored detachment. It was easy to spot the students that studied together, either independently or with coaches. He picked up on the patterns of their spell choice and tactics.

This round continued on after the qualifying round as well. Luna and Miranda slipped away once the final duel had been concluded. He didn't know either of the witches, so he was more interested in the latest sweets that Luna had revealed. It was a lollipop with a swirl of color that shifted with each lick. She saw him watching and popped it in his mouth as she passed by.

He smiled at her as she made her way to the staging area. Harry turned back to the others just in time to see Hermione shake her head in bewilderment. He flashed her a bright smile then turned back to watch the duels.

Luna was up first. She danced while her opponent threw spells at her. Somehow, the petite blonde could cast her own without a pause in her flow. Her spells conjured bursts of flower petals that became a swarm of bees that exploded in small puffs of color when they were struck. She finished the duel with an air-whip aimed in mid-pirouette that knocked the other duelist from the platform. Neither Padma nor Delphi could explain how she had done half of her spells let alone worked out her tactics.

Miranda was up next, they even introduced her as Miranda Granger. She started the duel with a barrier spell and followed it up with a hard-hitting spell chain that knocked her opponent from the platform.  Miranda looked up to the stands with a wide-eyed shock clear on her face. She gave a small wave before she returned to the staging area in a daze.

"I don't think she thought that would work." Lavender laughed.

She wasn't as lucky in her next showing. Her opponent knew how to slip through the barrier and counter the chain that followed. Miranda was frustrated, but the initial victory softened the blow.

Luna didn't win her second match either. She hopped off the platform in the middle of the duel for some reason. It took a moment for everyone to figure it out since her opponent had launched another spell-chain out of habit.

She skipped up to the stands a moment later.

"What happened?" Harry asked as she approached.

Luna gave him a dreamy smile but didn't answer. All too soon, it was lunch. He only had a few more hours to prepare for dinner with Bellatrix and Professor Riddle.

It was really too bad he didn't have his cloak.