Diabolica bit her lip, then slowly walked up to where Xana was and whispered, "Care to duel?" she got in the duelling position and smiled.

Torie listened carefully to the Professor's corrections before gently adjusting her stance so her weight was more evenly distributed across her body. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was fun!

Xana grinned. "Oh, I thought you'd never ask." She turned toward her with a steely glint in her eyes, and with the grace of a dancer, bowed, and struck her dueling position.

"This is quite exciting isn't it" Kayla whispered out of the side of her mouth to Jeff as she continued to watch the girls up the front.

"Professor, are we just working on stances or may we actually duel now?" Xana asked, holding her position.

Jeff nodded his head.

"Yes it is. Looks like most anything can happe."

He rubbed his chin some more.

"It's perfectly comfortable Professor; I'm pretty used to it... the looser stance for formal dueling seems to weaken my spells." she smiled and blushed a little. "I have a hard time with intent, at times. "

Agie swayed slightly, but the professor didn't knock her. She was ready for it and her balance was great. "I'd say good, Professor. I've had a lot of practice with balance as a seeker." She said allowing a little smirk.

Kayla heres Jeff mutter something like:

"Could that be a part of it?"

Willow curled her fingers a little more tighter in her wand, before remembering that the teacher had said that if they gripped the wand too strong they may break it, so she she curled them again, but this time more gently. "I.." she said uncertain, she fixed the position of her right leg and said confidently (and definitely feeling comfortable) "I do now".

Amelia rubbed her head from where the Professor whapped her lightly with her wand. She listened as Cassandra told her why she was so keen on making sure they had the correct form, and was slightly embarrassed when she told her that she made the same mistakes. Did this mean she was slowly becoming Rae? Was she going to go to auror training once she finished Hogwarts. She shook her head, and decided that she shouldn't really be worrying about these things just yet. That is seventh year material, isn't it?

She nodded, when Rae told her that it was excellent and smiled, "Thank you." continuing to maintain her well-balanced stance.

Kayla turns and looks at Jeff. "Probably, I guess anything can happen when you have a room full of underage wizards about to practice dueling" she looked back at the Professor as she announced that they could practice amongst themselves.

She decided to practice her stance and placed her feet apart with her right foot in front of her left and her body turned slightly. She held her wand loosely but firmly in her hand and practice her wand movements.

Diabolica grinned, and, with a slight flick of her wrist, muttered, "Petrificus Totalus!" at Xana.

Torie attempted to make eye contact with the Hufflepuff perfect. She hoped that the perfect would go easy on her, as Torie had never dueled before. "Ready?" she called to her opponent.

Jeff looks suddenly at her as if he didn't realize anyone had heard him.

"Uh, yes. Yes of course."

He closes his eyse for a second to compose his mind, then opens them and assumes the proper starting stance.

Xana smiled as her friend began the game, slashing her wand through the air in a swift curving diagonal motion. "Protego!" she hissed, swinging her arm across her and then, having blocked the spell, stepped forward and whipped her wand arm back around and leaned forward into the spell.

"Rictusempra!" she hissed again. As the spell flew from her, she rocked back into a defensive posture-- she knew Diabolica was faster than she was, and needed to be ready.

"Protego!" Diabolica cried and, with a flourish, sent her way a whispered, 'Stupefy!'

Torie smiled at the perfect and returned her bow. She got into her stance once again, wand positioned directly at the perfect. "One, two...."

Josh chuckled as this was going to be the best show. No offense to the other students but he was pretty sure that these two knew more then the others. he was going to cheer. Probably get into trouble though. He just sat there and watched.

Kayla was already in her stance. "On the count of three then...one, two, three...Pertrificus Totalus" she said pointing her wand at Jeff.

All of a sudden Jeff swings his wand about and shouts.

"Expeliamus!"

The quil the professor was using to write in her note pad jumps out of her hand.

Jeff stares a moment, then slinks to a distant part of the room.

Xana was ready. "Protego!" she hissed again. "Expelliarmus!" she snapped her wand briskly at Diabolica's, feeling confident, she pivoted and stepped forward, raising her wand hand high and flicking her wrist down sharply, keeping wand arm high. "Aguamenti!" she whispered, grinning.

Water cascaded from her wand toward Diabolica.

Torie was watching her opponent carefully and noticed a slight wrist movement which proceeded the perfect's spell casting maneuver. Picking up on this, Torie quickly cast a shield charm. "Protego!" she cried, managing to complete her cast just in the nick of time. Without skipping a beat, Torie cast an offensive spell, directing her wand at the perfect with great care and intention. "Locomotor mortis!" she shouted, swishing her wand with vigour. She immediately got ready for the perfect's next cast.

Kayla watched as Jeff walked off into the corner of the room and she shrugged. She turned and spotted Helios across the room and a mischevious smile played across her lips. She looked at him and waved for him to come over to her. Oh this was going to be fun.

Diabolica moved her wand in a quick circle and muttered, "Finite Incatatem." Focusing more on the diarming spell, she noticed the water too late and jumped aside--though water still got her. She paid no attention, though, for she was quickly thinking up a spell. "Stupefy!" she muttered, sending red light towards Xana as she sent with it a leviating charm.

Amelia was sure that the girl would have enough time and brains to cast a shield charm, which sure enough she was right about. She also knew that the girl would probably cast an offensive spell as well, since that seems to be the general fall of things in a duel. As soon as possible, Amelia quickly cast a shield charm, but instinctively ducked to make sure that the spell missed her. She wavered a few feet left and right, to throw Torie off guard, before casting her spell from a few left of her original standing position. With a swish of her wand, she shouted, "Expelliarmus!" and then instantly returned to her 'ready state'.

OOC: Okay, my darlings. I am going to bed. I am leaving this classroom open. You MAY continue to duel on three conditions:

1) No one can hex someone so badly they have to go to the infirmary. It's mean.

2) No one can ask me a question and then get frustrated that I don't realize it, turn on my computer again, and answer it. I'm SLEEPING. You're giving me low self esteem!

3) Don't chat. Don't fight. Don't set things on fire. Don't find your pet dragon in the corner. Quit breaking my quill (MICKEY! PUT DOWN THE CANNON).

Okay, that was more like 7 things. I'll catch you all on the flip side.

Jeff mutters something like an apology and returns to near Kayla taking a defensive stand. But he seems to be watching the Headmistres with more interest that before.

Xana saw Diabolica do a complicated maneuver- compounding two spells, but she didn't know which. "Protego!" she said, doing the requisite maneuver, but only getting it half right. Crikey, she thought as she started to levitate... she had to retaliate quickly. "Incarcerus!" she hissed under her breath, creating the proper maneuver before she rose too high off the floor to complete it. "Descendo!" she said, pointing her wand to herself, and plummeted back to the floor. She recovered from the fall in an instant and returned to defense position... now getting a little serious and intense. Oh, she's playing rough... she thought. Two can play at that.

Helios was in the back of the class, near the corner where Jeff was going. Like the cool kid that he was, the boy prince was leaning against the cold stone wall, arms folded over his chest.

Finally, it had taken Kayla long enough to notice him and wave him over. The Hufflepuff boy grined like a Cheshire cat, and walked calmly towards her, the footfalls of hard sandals could be heard between the shouts of students. "This will be fun.." Helios whispered.

Luckily for Torie, she was used to a moving opponent from her former stint as a kendoka and adapted easily to Amelia's movements. Casting the shield charm once more, Torie immediately blocked the incoming spell. Torie was not used to the huge amounts of concentration that dueling required, not only to protect oneself, but also to think of a spell that might break her opponent's defense. Torie decided quickly to cast another spell. "Petrificus Totalis!" she cried. She hoped this time that the spell would hit.

Diabolica narrowly dodged her spell and retaliated with a Confundus charm and a disarming spell. Ah, this'll be fun....

Kayla raised her eyebrows at the smile on Helios' face. Oh he thinks I'm going to be a push over she thought grinning to herself, well he can just think again as she stood in the defence stance.

He was in front of her now and her eyes narrowed slightly. "Just because I'm a girl Sunrider, I don't want you taking it easy on me. Treat me as you would any other opponent."

This dueling thing really took a lot of concentration, which made Amelia think about her surroundings and future as an auror. She then cleared her mind to focus on the task at hand, and how to bring down her opponent. Though while she was totally focused trying to figure out how to bring down Torie, a spell grazed her left arm which was enough to knock her off her feet but not the full effects.

Standing back up, she blinked a few times before saying, "I'm okay... really. Okay." And then she quickly cast the first spell that she could thing of, "Rictusempra!"



ooc: i'm going to sleep now. good night & see you at the match tomorrow ;)

Xana smiled as she easily blocked the spells, working to keep her postures sharp so her focus wouldn't falter.

"Impedimentia!" she threw this spell low, lunging down with her front leg as she flicked her wand hand up. Throw the spell, don't just cast.... she reminded herself as she stood back to full height and turned sideways, snapping her wand behind her back. "Levicorpus!"

Torie too was growing tired, mentally as well as physically. The tickling charm hit her full out before she could do anything to protect herself. Torie began to laugh uncontrollably, tears streaming from her eyes as the spell continued. She dropped to the floor rolling with laughter and pain. "Ow! he he he." laughed Torie attempting to clutch her aching sides. "Ah ha ha ha!" Torie was laughing so hard, she couldn't even call out to the Hufflepuff perfect for help. She hoped the perfect would end the spell soon.

Diabolica was about ready to block it when she started being hoisted up in the air by her ankle. She quickly pulled out her wand, muttering to herself, and hissed, "Liberacorpus!" She was dropped to the floor and landed on her left leg--which unfortunatly sprained it. Thinking, "Ferula!", it wrapped itself in bandages and she got up again, wincing. She quickly pointed her wand at Xana and called out, "Impedimenta!" She almost tripped over her robes and fell as she ducked (just in case) and whispered, "Incarcerous!"

Xana heard the whispered spell, but it hit her, slowing her reaction time, and she was unable to block the incarcerous spell. The ropes hit her, pulling on her wand hand and binding it to her side. She cursed loudly, forgetting about the younger kids in the room for the moment. "Finite incantatem!" she said, then whispered intently: "Expelliarmus!"

"If you were anyone else..." Helios sounded nearly sinister as he twirled his wand with two fingers before slipping it into his palm.

"I would be going easy on you!"

Wand raised.

A hex about to escape his lips

Think fast

Kayla watched his movements carefully and barely heard what he said, she could sense the hex before he even opened his mouth. She decided not to waste anytime. "Expelliarmus" she bellowed and moved to the side in case he blocked her with a shield charm.

Diabolica felt her wand slipping out of her hand and caught it just in time. She narrowed her eyes and cursed under her breath in Russian. 'Immobulus!' she thought as she jumped to the right, muttering "Rictusempra," as she moved a bit more to the right and cast a Confundus charm again at her.

Xana's focus was complete-- she'd forgotten how good it was to duel a worthy opponent. She quickly blocked the cast spelled and wordlessly performed the oppugno charm attack, sending a magnificent flock of magical ravens to attack Diabolica.

Krissy sat back and watched her two hufflepuff friends duel. This was not going to end well.
"Oi! I've got winner." She said with a small smile. She silently rooted for Kayla. "Would show that cocky git..." she whispered to herself with what little venom she had left for Helios.

Diabolica cursed under her breath. "NEVERMORE!" she yelled across the room to Xana, trying to get the ravens to stop pecking. She pulled her wand out, froze the ravens, and thought, "Serpensortia!" A great, ebony black serpent slid onto the floor, it's green eyes gleaming. She gave a quick nod to it and it and it slid forward, untill so close that it could have flickered it's tonguge and it could have touched her shoe. Rising up so tall that it looked eye-to-eye with her, she thought, "Expelliarmus!" and, knowing it's job, the serpent fake-bit her--not actually biting her skin, but coming close to it, just to justify that if, in a real duel, this had happened, Xana could have been beaten.

Jeff shouts.

"SNAKE'S ALIVE! asoeveL miudardgniW!"

He swished and flicked his wand at himself and floated up ontop of a file cabinate.

Josh stared at the two and then started laughing. Ah it was brilliant."Nevermore..Ha. " josh sighed. it was too great.

Xana's concentration was broken by Diabolica's shout, and she laughed. Big mistake, that... Diabolica's attack was successful and Xana's wand flew from her hand. The snake was approaching rapidly, but she disregarded it, summoning her wand back into her own hand with a hissed, "accio!"

She vanished the snake in a quick move as it lunged to strike her... it vanished in a puff of smoke, but Xana knew that, had this not been in a friendly dueling arena, she had been defeated. She kneeled on her left knee and pointed her wand to the floor and just off to one side. She bowed her head, and held this posture as was traditional in the dark arenas...

"I concede. The battle; yours."

She looked up and smirked, reciting the old lines. "The war may yet be mine."

Fast.

Kayla thought and acted fast. Good girl. His grip was tight, but it wasn't magic. He'd have to look up a spell for that. Flying from his hand the wand flew from his hand.

It went high. So did he. Those bright blue eyes kept track if the olive wood, as his feet carried him atop a table. Hand held high, the wand was back in his left. In one steady motion, Helios quickly brought the wand down. "Stupefy!" he wanted to chastise her for not using a more physical spell, but he wouldn't be guilty of hubris in a duel.

Diabolica smiled and nodded solemnly. She took her hand and helped her up. "Good battle--you fought well." she grinned at the Gryffindor boy on top of the file cabinet.

Kayla quickly dropped to the floor and felt the spell go over her head. From the ground she pointed her wand at him and yelled "Incacerous" and watched as ropes flew from her wand toward Helios. She then jumped back to her feet and followed it up with..."Stupefy" if that's how he wanted to play it.

Jeff climb down and touched the rim of his hat to Diabloica.

"A right impressive show, ma'am. I hope never to be on the reciving end of your wand."

Xana laughed-- "'Nevermore?!?!'" she said, smiling. "That was dirty pool and you know it. You knew that'd kill my concentration..."

She followed Diabolica's eyes to the boy on the cabinet and giggled. "Firstie?" she shook her head and went to sit down.

Krissy was impressed with Kayla's agility. Making a quick note of her moves she smiled and dropped her quill quietly applauding her friend. "Bloody brilliant move Kayla!" Picking up her quill again Krissy wrote a few ideas she had for her own dueling moves.

Jeff nods to Xana.

"3rd, actually. But I've always been a sucker for the ol' snake trick. I've never won dual against Slyth. It just seems to come naturaly for 'em."

Xana laughed. "Well-- it definitely made my day. Xana Venefica, sixth year. And you are?"

Diabolica grinned. "Yep. I know you too well..." She shook her head and sat down--her ankle was killing her. "I do believe I know you--it's Jeff, correct? I remember meeting you last term at some point." she smiled. She had an excellent memory.

"Jeff Braunswiger, New Braunfels, Texas. An honor to make your aquaintance, ma'am."

He touches his hat rim.

"Ma'am, no less." she grinned. "I feel like I'm 100. You certainly are from Texas... But -- I'm just Xana, to you. And you know Diabolica already, apparently..." she smiled at Diabolica. Ma'am? she thought, grinning. He was too much. "It's nice to meet you. Keep up the good dueling!"

Jeff speaks to Krissy.

"Yea, if can rattle your opponate you can usualy get the first shot in."

ooc: Gonna call it a night. By friends.

Now the girl was playing for keeps.

One fluid motion with his wand hand and there was a chair in the path of those ensaring ropes. With a snap the chair was caught, the impact knocking the whole mess into Helios. Sandaled feet pushed him towards the edge of the table backwards, holding that chair unsteadily with one arm.

Then another disabling spell struck the chair he cradled. The prince suddenly lost what little footing he had and fell for what seemed like an eternity before landing on his back, the chair knocking the wind out him as it fell atop his chest.

Kayla moved swiftly over to him, she kicked the chair off his chest and replaced it with her foot. She pointed her wand at him and smiled cockily. "Do you concede defeat, my dear Helios" she said laughing lightly as she held him down with her foot.

After Kaylas foot was on the boys chest he dropped his wand, letting it fall to the floor next to him.

He was unarmed and at her mercy as Helios struggled to get the girl off him.

Even mighty Achilles had a weakness. The princes seemed to be girls.

That thought brought on another thought.

And the thought became a plan.

Then the plan was set into motion.

It was a long shot, but he had to try.

Gentle fingers went from trying to pry Kaylas foot from his chest, and on over to the back of her ankle. Achilles tendon if you wanted to get technical. With a nice little squeeze, he hoped a numb foot would mess up her balance.

Or get him a hex in the face. No big deal.

Kayla felt Helios' hand on the back of her foot and if nothing else it tickled, her leg was starting to wobble. "Helios cut it out" she growled. "That's not fa..." but she didn't get to finish her sentence as her leg gave out on her and she lost her balance and crashed down on top of him.

Ha!

Knew that would work. (He had no clue that would work)

Shut up

Where was I? Right. For the third time already I'm left breathless. (Young love) It aint like that! Girl ate too many chocolate frogs. Dropped on me like a slab of granite. Then I bear hug the girl, pinning her arms to her sides. You would have imagined I was Herakles if you saw me.

(More like a tender hug between friends, but the brat managed to restrict her movement) Whatever.

Then I told her: "Can we call it a draw? Or are you going to headbutt my nose to get yourself free?"

She struggled against his restraint with all her might, she didn't want to be this close to him. He drove her crazy as it was and looking into those eyes again was starting to make her melt. Damn it why did he keep doing this to her.

"No headbutt no, I'd probably break something of mine seeing as your head is so hard" she panted still trying to wrestle out of his grasp. "I was thinking maybe a swift knee to the family jewels might work" she manevoured her wand so it was sticking into his ribs. "Or maybe...Rictusempra!" she said and she felt his arms release her as he doubled up laughing from the tickling charm she had put on him. She jumped to her feet and watched him amusement on her face.

Next time he planned to squeeze harder.

This time: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!....Very funny..." Helios suddenly went serious. The kid had nerves of steel. Not even bothering to pick up his wand, the boy got to his feet. That spell left a smile on his face and his eyes were watering slightly. The clouds in his eyes must have been raining. He doesn't cry.

Though he doesn't laugh either. Girls make you do strange things.

Kayla watched him as he got back to his feet, he hadn't bothered to pick up his wand. So she thought it might be rather unsporting like to fire anymore hexes at him, she lowered her wand to her side but kept a firm grip on it just in case. "Are you alright Helios, you look kind of strange" she said quietly. She didn't really care who the winner was anymore...well sort of.

"Of all the things you could have done...you make me laugh?" This was ridiculous. He actually lost? To her? That's funny.

Everythings funny.

So he laughed.


OOC: Falling asleep, must refuel brain. Goodnight.

"Well yeah what's wrong with laughter, seems you need a little more of it in your life" Kayla said trying to hold back her glee. She'd won and he knew it she could see the look of defeat in his eyes.

"Besides what did you think I was going to do, curse you into oblivion or something" she said chuckling with a slight sinister gleam in her eye.

Amelia watched as her tickling charm had hit the girl full on, and she began to laugh uncontrollably. For a moment there, she thought that she was faking it but then realized that the girl was not stopping. She rushed the floor at the aid of the girl, pointing her wand at Torie, she muttered, "Finite incantatum" ending the effects instantly.

Helping the girl sit up, she smiled, "Are you okay? Did you want to stop?"

"Thank you!" Xana said, giving Diabolica a glance. Assistance, please... she thought to her friend. "We... just... picked it up... somewhere along the way. Different schools and all." she shrugged and quickly changed the subject, smiling at the little girl. "Emily, right? We met earlier today...? How are you liking DADA class? Have you duelled yet? I've been--" she nudged Diabolica playfully, "preoccupied... So I didn't notice."

Torie sighed in relief after Amelia finally released her from the tickling charm. She took a moment to just breathe, allowing her body to recuperate from the extreme bout of laughter. Struggling to her feet, Torie looked over at the perfect. "No, I think I'm okay. Just give me a minute though, alright? Then we can continue."

Torie took a few deep breaths, doing some stretches. Man, her sides still hurt! When she was finally ready to continue, she grinned over at Amelia. "That was a brilliantly cast spell," she said, "I wasn't expecting it at all!"

Amelia took a deep breath of relief, when Torie said that she was okay. She nodded in understanding, watching the girl do some stretches, and then blushed slightly. "Aww, thanks. You're pretty good as well," Amelia said, smiling. "Not a bad quidditch player either..." she added.

Xana looked in the direction of the scuffle and chose to answer Emily's last quetion only. "Not in the slightest. That's Muggle fighting, Ems. Absolute rubbish. Cover your eyes." She grinned. She was tempted to step in and cast petrificus totalis on both of them... But figured that would be overstepping the professor's authority. Besides, it was a comical distraction.


"Hey Josh... I think perhaps you have seer blood! You are going to be beaten by two women... Ems needs a dueling partner. Emily, why don't you and Josh have a little duel?" Xana smirked back at Josh, raising an eyebrow. "But... go easy on him, okay? " She winked and Emily and smiled at Josh, her eyes sparkling. "I want him back in one piece."

Josh saw the two wrestling. " If your going to do it muggle style at least throw in some punches. Knock the other person out. Gesh... cant even fight properly." he said as he had definitely done it a few...well more then a few times.He turned to xana and smirked." I can lose to girls. as long as they are pretty." he said with a smile." What do you say Ems?" he asked but then gave xana a look." I'll be in one piece... " he moved to stick out his tongue at her. She didnt know what he was capable off.

Come on ems!" he said standing up in front of her." lets duel.." he said to her as he grabbed her hand and tried to pull her off towards the middle of the class.' It will be fun."

Xana sighed. "Ems, you have to start somewhere! You can do it. Maybe to start he could promise just to block your attacks, not counterattack... You need to practice, that's why we're here. " She smiled at Josh. "You'll take good care of her, right? She's like a little sister to me." She smiled down at Ems, finding to her surprise this was actually a bit of the truth. She liked the little girl genuinely.

Im not on you?" he said as he then saw her make her way. Score. he bowed at her and then walked those paces needed for a duel. He turned around and had his stance. He made sure not to break his wand as the professor had pointed out to him. He made sure to hold it firm so he wouldnt lose it. He waited for her to go first. He could tell she wasnt so much up to it as he was. He didnt mind it though, she was really good and always being praised for her brilliantness.

Xana looked on as they took their positions and grinned. "You can do it Ems!" she told the girl in support. "Keep your moves precise, anticipate and focus!"

To Diabolica she whispered, "This is going to be good."

Emily took in what Xana was saying and took a couple of deep breaths, trying to focus. She looked over at Josh and adjusted her position so that she was mirroring his stance. She loosened the grip on her wand slightly but made sure it was firm enough for it to not fall out of her hand readily. She looked really small compared to Josh, standing in the middle of the large room. "I hope you're ready for this, Moonson." She joked, feeling much less nervous. She gave him a fake evil grin, pointed her wand at him and shouted “Expelliarumus!” A simple spell to begin.

Diabolica grinned at Xana. "It sure is."

Josh just nodded at her. He wasnt going to over do it here. He didnt want give her a heart attack. She was nervous enough as it was." Im always ready." he told her smiled back at her.He saw her Expelliarumus spell heading for him. To be honest he was a bit disappointed that she had started to simple." Protego." He said as he then shot his own spell at her. "Petrificus Totalus!"

Josh was about to cast something but couldnt get it out. Whatever she had casted had prevented him from being able to speak. He moved to mumble a spell to set him free as he dodged her spell. He had a smirk on his face as he moved back into position. " Not bad." he said to her as he then started again."Locomotor Mortis!" Josh yelled as he then shot another spell right after that one. He wanted to see if she could block both of them." Expelliarumus!"

Josh ignored the first spell as it was only going to slow him down. He would much rather focus on the second spell which was more likely going to be the more powerful out of the two. Levicorpus... what was that counter again? Bam!" Liberacorpus!" Josh yelled. " Finite Incantatem." He muttered as he was now free. He started walking towards Emily." Serpensortia!" He yelled as he he flicked his wand in different directions which allowed them to come at her from different angles.