Just as she finished fixing the color of the young (and short) girl's hair, Evelyn looked over to see Professor Bentley had arrived, as well as the fact that Mr. ShortyMcShortShort himself thought she was a student. That caused a snort to come out of her, but she quickly covered that up with covering her mouth and coughing. Laughing at a Professor was a big no-no.

Nevertheless, it was moments later that the club meeting finally started. Twenty eight times Dueling Champion? Good Merlin, that was both awesome and freaked her out. Short guy was Dueling Champion. Meep. "Evelyn Flores, sir. Seventh year Slytherin." she said, speaking up when it was her turn. Not fond of telling her weaknesses though. "I want to join because well...we'll be learning from the best of course." As he so mentioned.

"For strengths, I'm rather quick with spells and fairly decent in both defense and offense. Weaknesses though..." Did she HAVE to say them out loud? "I'm sorta...limited to a small handful of spells when under pressure." Meaning she didn't think clearly during duels and couldn't remember a lot.

lol! Herbology professor was thought to be a student by dueling sir!
It was really funny to watch Professor Bentley face!

Wow...wow...wow...

Now this was some man, was not he? With all his ancient looks there was no doubt he had had lots of experience and if he still held those titles then his magic should be very very very powerful. Well...good job Tatertot. It seemed to the Gryffindor boy that they were going to learn some useful stuff this term.

When the man asked the students to introduce themselves, Josh waited for his turn rather impatiently yet it was not because that he was dying to give out information about himself. It was just...he wanted the lesson...or whatever it was, to proceed.

''My name is Joshua Carter, sir.'' yes that was his name. Hehe. ''I am a seventh year Gryffindor. I wanted to join the duelling club because i want to learn about the best ways to protect the people i love...'' at this part he could not help but glance at Evelyn for a moment ''...i don't know if any of my current magical abities are good enough for a good duelling performance so i don't want to point them out among my strenghts. But i know i am good with...physical stuff, i can take pain and maybe can think of a quick strategy. Umm...my greatest weakness is...'' well those were private actually. Yet the duelling expert did ask for them so...it was best to at alwast mention them. And he did not think anyone in the room would care about his weaknesses anyway. ''...seeing those i care for being hurt and i...'' *deep sigh* ''...have anger management problems.''

Wow... How old did someone have to be to win a dueling tournament 28 times? OLD. Eino gulped and patiently waited for his turn to speak. "I'm Eino Uronen, fourth year Ravenclaw student." Now, as for his strengths and weaknesses, he was a poor spell caster in general, but he had been improving lately. "I want to join the dueling club because I have never been one to excel in spell casting." His transfiguration skills were pretty good, charming was okay, but everything else was rather challenging, especially when he had to think fast and cast a spell. "That's... also my weakness." Obviously. "As for my strengths... I am a good fencer, so I'm rather quick on my feet." Fencing was similar to dueling, he supposed, it was the part where he had to get the right spell from his brain then the incantation to his mouth that took longer than he could afford.

Gideon's mind had wandered a little as they waited for the meeting to begin, the Gryffindor wondering on things both inside and outside the topic of the club. However as the man directing them got up on stage and began to speak, his focus again was on him as he listened.

His eyes passed to Professor Bentley as she seemed to have been mistaken not as a professor but a student. Gideon held back any laughter just smiled amused before introducing himself when it was his turn. "Gideon Gert, fourth year Gryffindor," he said as he tried to think of his reasons for being there. "I'm here meerly to learn. Potions and quietness are my stength and weakness respectively."

"A quick mind is very good when dueling, so we just want to make sure you think the right thoughts." A little practice would be a good way for her to turn that weakness into a strength.

"Oh, a professor!" That was unexpected, but it explained why she looked older than the rest of the students. Still, she looked too old to be a student, and too young to be a Professor. "Pardon me, miss, and of course you are welcome." He could always use a little help, if she wouldn't mind.

"Oho! We are going to have to do something about that.." He addressed his weaknesses. Charms had to be moved to everyone's strengths list. If not by the end of the meeting, definitely by the end of the year. "Hmmm duck." He said to himself as he rubbed his belly. The boy made him hungry.

"Welcome, Miss Lewis. Ah, courage..." He began stroking his long beard. "You don't lack courage, you just haven't found it yet." He knew just what to do with this one. He was going to put this badger in a den of lions... and hope for the best.

"Surrender isn't always a sign of weakness, young wizard, and the reward isn't always the prize. I have learned much more from the duels I have lost than the ones I have won."

The man raised an eyebrow. "I don't think you will have much to worry, then. You know, if your only weakness is chocolate."

"Oh, I have heard great things about you, Miss Flores." The man said examining her. "Let's see if you are really as bright as they say you are." He hadn't really heard anything about her, but he noticed her Head Girl badge and so he wanted her to live up to the expectations others had of her, without even knowing what they were. He wanted her to imagine what those expectations could be and surpass them. "The mind is... troublesome, and it must open itself under pressure, not close."

"That is a noble, yet very dangerous reason, Mister Carter." The man took a deep breath and continued to listen. He couldn't help but to notice the boy eye the Head Girl. Hmmm... He knew just what to do with him. All of this business about being able to take pain and anger management. Gnaeus shook his head. He was going to have to keep a close eye on this Gryffindor. He was modest, and that was good, but... Gnaeus was worried about this one. "You must learn to control all of those emotions, Mister Carter." That was all he was going to say for now.

"Fencing will help you, indeed. If you can move swiftly without thinking too much about it, then apply your all of your concentration on spell casting."

"Oho, potions won't help you in a duel, my boy. However, to brew a potion an immense amount of attention to detail is required, so see that you use this keen eye and sharp mind of yours to your advantage."



" I am very pleased to see such an enthusiastic crowd." He addressed all of the students. "And I am very much looking forward to working with all of you this year." With that said, it was time to move onto dueling business.

"Now, we all know that dueling is a confrontation between two or more wizards, but there are two types of dueling, can anyone tell me what they are?"

OOC: If you haven't introduced yourself yet feel free to do so, and for those who have you can guess the answer to the question.

Cael looked around calculatingly, frowning when he realized he was one of the last to introduce themselves.

"My name is Caelius Ashdown and I am a first year Ravenclaw. I wanted to join the dueling club to learn how to properly defend myself and those I wish to protect. I suppose my strengths lie in Transfiguration and wordplay. My weakness is my love for chocolate," he laughed, not planning on giving anything away that could potentially be used against him.

"As for your question, I would assume that the two forms of dueling are offensive and defensive."

Listening to what the man told her, Nora felt slightly more confident, since he didn't look like he was seeing it as a weakness. Which was good.

As for his question, she raised her hand. "We can either attack, either protect ourselves." That's what he meant by two types of dueling, right? Attack if you move quickly, or protect yourself if you're not that quick. Hehe.

Harlow stood in front of the head girl hoping she was going to help. She had tried herself and the yellow was the best color she could come up with.

She smiled when Evelyn took out her wand and tapped the top of her head, she felt the tingle and waited to see if her hair turned back. Harlow pulled out a tiny mirror from her purse and checked her hair. "Oh Merlin thank you." she bounced. Her hair was back to its normal shade of dark brown. Still poofy and curly, but now brown.



Harlow bobbed her head in thanks to the head girl once again and moved to stand next to Kennedy.

She waited for everyone else to introduce themselves before she spoke up in her grown up outside voice. She was too short to speak in her normal voice and be heard. "I'm Harlow Riddle a first year Slytherin. I want to join the dueling club because as you can see I'm kinda small and people sometimes push me around because of my size. Now I don't want to go around getting into fights because I hate fighting really, but I don't want to be a victim." she gave her statement a nod of her curly head. "I'm really good at Herbology and charms, but not so good with potions and my mom says that when a cat sneeze on you it gives you good luck and Legalos my cat sneezes on my all the time so I must bet he luckiest girl in the world." she finished.

"Arya Lovegoods, sir. Sixth year Hufflpuff." She spoke up between the answers given for the first question. "Joined because I'm always looking to better by dueling skills."

And as for her strengths and weaknesses... "I'm good at casting charms, and I have good aim and reflexes, quick on my feet. But... I tend to lack intent, it can get weaker depending on the spell and how long the duel lasts. My focus can be a bother too, not often, but enough..." She hated voicing her weakness, but she supposed it was necessary if he was going to help her with it.

Wait... WHAAAAAAAT?!

She didn't lack courage? But... she did! The only thing that got her through those Quidditch matches last year was chocolate! That and the fact that she was secretly glad that she wasn't popular which meant that no one would mock her in the corridors after a bad match.

But back to the matter at hand. She hasn't found her courage yet? Wait... did this mean she was going to FIND it soon? So did this mean she was going to gain some courage? Was this a time to REJOICE?!

Ahem!

Despite her, er, slight confusion at the man's comment, she smiled and decided to focus on the question he had asked instead. Two types of duelling? "There's one where you attack and one where you are being attacked and you defend yourself... using a spell," she said, knowing exactly which one she was better at. Or was she?

As the old dueller man spoke to Evelyn, he took the advantage of it to stare at her again...of course. And...wow! So he had heard great things about her. Surely he would have since Josh knew, as well, that the she-snake was a brilliant and very skilled witch. There was no doubt she was going to deal with this duelling with magic thing awesomely.

Next, the man spoke to him yet Josh could figure that out only when he heard his last name. Whoops. Was he looking at the Slytherin girl while the man was talking to him? That was a bit...embarrassing...

...*ahem*...

Whatever.

Noble but dangerous. Nodding some, the Gryffindor boy smiled a bit. ''Then i have no luxury of avoiding that, sir.'' That was right. Yes, maybe directly jumping in danger was no smart thing to do yet he would not be thinking of that if he needed to protect...her. And he was needed to learn to control his emotions. That was...well...right. The question was how. However since he did not want to make the club a matter of his personal problems, he just nodded again yet in understanding this time.

Control the emotions. Maybe he could ask about this to someone later.

Oh...well even Gideon knew that potions and dueling didn't mesh. The fourth year wondering a bit if the elder had perceived that of him, that Gideon himself had been mistaken. But he had asked for strengths and weaknesses NOT strengths and weakness' assosciated with dueling. But then the man continued with his words and observation in answer to his own.

Keen eye and sharp mind...did he really have that?

He was about to answer about the two types of dueling when others in turn answered about offensive and defensive, his mind having flitted back to the classes last year when they were broken into the two groups. Thinking about it for a moment on whether he had purhaps a different answer , he finally spoke in response. "Honorable and dishonorable..."

"Kennedy Escalante, Sir," he said. "Fourth year, Slytherin." Did he really need to talk in front of all these people? Yeah...This was good practice for him to loose his shyness. "I want to join the dueling club because I want to learn how to defend myself." And not depend on others.

He thought about his strengths and weaknesses. Why would he want to tell people about his weaknesses? That would be absurd, really, but the man said he could help so here he goes. "M-My strength is that I'm a fast learner and I'm good at blocking spells..." Yeah, 'cause Protego was one of the first spells he learned. Now, his weaknesses...GAH! "M-My weaknesses are...I get nervous real easily and I tend to get distracted." There you had it, Escalante's strengths and weaknesses.

She looked around the Great Hall at the crowd. It was pretty vast. Why were so many people here? She didn't know so many people were interested in dueling. Honestly, she was only there because Selina thought her temper would be applicable in this type of environment, "Hello, sir. I'm Selina Skylar, third year, Gryffindor.

When the Professor posed a question she was honestly stumped. She vaguely remembered her mother saying something about it when she was still an Auror, but that was vague. She was stumped.

"I'm going to do my best , sir!" Daichi said as he pushed his chest forward. As if ready for battle.

He waited until the others had introduced themselves too and frowned at the first question that was asked. There are two types of dueling? He always thought that it was beating the other and win...

But those thoughts were pushed away when he heard the Dueling Man adressed the Herbology Professor as a school girl. He chuckled at that and quickly looked the other way.

Slowly and a bit shyly he raised his hand in the air as he hoped that his answer made any sense. "There's defensive dueling and..uhm..attacking? i don't know..." he lowered his hand and scratched the back of his head.

"Presley Black, second year Ravenclaw!" Presley introduced herself proudly. He would, of course, know who she was. Everyone did...almost. "I'm good at dancing, and theatre. And Herbology." She wasn't sure if she should have added the last one, but she was getting fairly good at it. Then, really softly, she answered the second part of the question. "I'm not supposed to admit my weaknesses, sir." and she wasn't. That had been instilled in her since the day she was born. Admitting weakness gives another person power over you. So if you don't want to be controlled, you don't show weakness.

Two types of dueling? Presley had never been in a dueling lesson before. As such, she had no idea of the answer he was looking for. She shrugged, and hoped he wouldn't notice that she didn't know.

Kurumi felt even more ridiculous now for even thinking that the...man(?)...had been a first year dressing up as an old man - especially when he listed off his credentials.

Kurumi waited until it was her turn to speak. "Kurumi Hollingberry, sir," she said with a very slight nod. "I'm a fourth year Gryffindor and I suppose you could say that curiosity is what brought me here." There wasn't an expression of curiosity killed the lion, was there? "I-I have never considered myself one who dealt with confrontation well and my only training in any sort of dueling is kendo, so...I suppose I sort of hope that Dueling Club helps with my...confidence." As for her strengths and weaknesses, Kurumi was pretty sure saying baking as a strength wasn't going to get her very far. "I...am unsure what strengths I have that would be able to be applied to dueling...but one of my weaknesses is that I am too logical..."

Kurumi cocked her head to the side. Two types of dueling? Well, she really didn't have much of an idea and smiled at Gideon when he answered. That one sounded good to her. "Um...wizards dueling and...non-magical dueling?" That was a rather broad division, but dueling with a wand and without counted...ish.

Harlow smiled up at Kennedy and gave him a small pat on the back. The poor thing always seemed nervous and unsure of himself. Harlow couldn't understand why. He was really nice if you asked her.

Plus he had curly hair. And that was just a spoonful of awesomeness.

"Transfiguration always makes duels more enjoyable for the spectators." But it wasn't very useful. Oh, boy. Another one whose weakness is chocolate?

"Not quite. That is how we classify magic within dueling, but not a type of duel."

"Those are the categories under which spells go, not a type of duel."

"Very well said, Miss Riddle!" Though that could be because it sounded familiar. "It's important to note that you are not learning to duel so you can go 'round picking fights. Very well said." He repeated nodding at the girl.

"Very common problem, Miss Lovegoods. The solution is simple." He paused and grinned. "End the duel quickly. Hohoho!"

"That isn't it, young one. You attack and you're attacked in both types of duels."

"How Gryffindor of you." The man said and winked.

"Very close, yes, but not quite. You could say one is more honorable than the other, though. Good thinking."

"Welcome, Mister Escalante. Blocking spells is useful, but remember that dueling is also a sport, and spectators are easily bored by someone who blocks constantly. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it though, but in some cases you receive additional points for style and creativity."

"Greetings, miss Skylar." Too important to answer the rest or just too tried? These Gryffindors, always troublesome. Always.

"Dancing is very helpful in dueling. That must mean you are quick on your feet." Gnaeus rolled his eyes at her next comment. Even without knowing her weakness he or anyone else in the room could probably disarm her, so there was no point in being so secretive. Second years.

"Curiosity killed the cat, but gave wings to the lion." He said and nodded. "Welcome, Miss Hole-In-Berry." Now he was hungry again. These kids really needed to stop talking about food so much and so often.


"Now, many of you mentioned 'offensive' and 'defensive,' but as I mentioned those are the two categories for spells, not types of duels." He spoke to the entire group, pacing up and down the stage.

"The two types I was looking for are formal and informal. Formal duels have a set of rules, the standard dueling rules, and they take place in tournaments or when one wizard challenges another.

Informal duels do not respect he standard dueling rules, instead the duelists agree on a set a different rules. A common rule for informal duels is, well, no rules, and the two duel to the death. Dueling to the death is illegal, but other forms of informal dueling are not, they simply aren't practiced in tournaments. Needless to say we will be practicing formal duels with the standard rules and mannerisms.

Not that that is settled, do any of you know what the standard rules are? One per student, and one at the time."

Oh.

Hahahahaha Tori started gigglign madly to herself at the sight of the tiny gnome-man shouting like that. Merlin, his little wizard cap was about to pop right off his tiny head! Heeeee! How precious!!

"Sorry, sir," she stated much more quietly, with a sheepish grin to boot. "Princess Victoria M. Bunbury, third year Slytherin. In relation to dueling, I'd say my strengths are quick reflexes, trash talking, and good basic theoretical knowledge. My weaknesses are that I've never dueled before and I haven't actually had a reason to use many hexes and jinxes and curses."

Woops.

Um, time to guess here.

"You have to bow before starting the duel."

He was named a Dueling Champion twenty-eight times?! WOW. That was a LOT. Vashti and the rest of the students were clearly going to learn a lot from this guy then.

Good.

Sooo introductions? She waited for her turn before speaking. (She raised her hand, too, out of habit.) "My name is Vashti Greenwell, sir, and I'm a sixth year Ravenclaw. I want to join the Dueling Club because I'd like to know how to properly defend myself and others, when necessary. And..." Dueling strengths and weaknesses? Hmm... "I guess one of my strengths is defensive spells. I'm pretty good with those. Offensive could probably use some work though. And I'm not sure I'd be a very quick thinker in the midst of a duel since I'm not used to having to think of a spell on the spot." At least not in a particularly dangerous situation.

Two types of duels? Yeah, she didn't know.

But then he told them the answer. Formal and informal. Huh. That somehow seemed so obvious now.

Standard rules though?

She raised her hand again. "No physical contact?"

She raised her hand "only magical means may be used to fight an opponent."

Kennedy's cheeks flared when the professor-man addressed him. He didn't really care about spectators getting bored, he wanted to live if he was ever in a duel. He raised his hand to answer the question. "Is bowing to your opponent before starting the duel a standard rule?" he asked. He's seen that in movies, so yeah.

Kurumi's heart stopped when he brought up the expression, with a little addition to it. But...if lions grew wings...nope, Kurumi was going to stop thinking about that before she got too distracted.

Rules of dueling? Well, she didn't really have an idea about that since this was her first time not only learning about it, but observing. She waited until it was her turn. "I imagine that you are only allowed to attack and defend yourself using magic," she said slowly, probably stating the obvious.