Nora gasped loudly when he fell on the floor, and also clapped her free hand on her mouth to prevent screaming. Did she hurt him? What if she did?!

... or maybe not.

Soon enough, he was back on his feet and laughing, which was a good sign, even though it must've hurt a little when he fell down. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't even hear when he told her to get ready, so she barely managed to shriek "Protego!" She hated saying incantations that loud, but this one came unexpectedly.

There was some kind of transparent shield in front of her, but not good enough, since the spell made her lose her balance, and even drop her wand.

This was so not good for a real duel.

Picking up her wand, she looked at the-boy-whose-name-she-still-didn't-know and smiled. "Should we try again?" They definitely should, but she just wanted to make sure that he'll be prepared.

Gideon took note of the spells NOT to use, they would be easier to remember then the longer list of acceptable ones though he did keep a mental note of those as well. He listened to the older man describe what they were to do for the next part of the dueling club meeting, absently waving his hand without his wand in the direction they were being told. Now for the hard part...

Finding a partner.

Especially a partner of the same age as he and Gideon didn't readily see many of his yearmates around, many of them quite clearly sixth and seventh years or firsties. "Um...any fourth years around?" he absently questioned looking around.

Harlow blushed, she had thought the girl was a first year. "Oh I'm sorry." she nodded and moved on to find another partner.

She looked around for another first year, "Does anyone need a partner?" she asked out loud.

"Hey there, Jesifur. I'm Alyssa. I think we met in the Great Hall on sorting hat day. Man! That seems ages ago. Sure I'll be your partner,"Alyssa shook the hand that Jesifur offered.

"You want to go first? Don't worry I can take the bruises," Alyssa grinned over at Jesifur. Bracing herself, Alyssa prepared herself for the spell that would throw her off her feet.

That effect was great.
It was like a big blue shield around her, although she didn't cast it properly. "Woaah..nice one!" he tried to be encouraging "Impressive for your age, and you almost had it!" he said smiling warmly at her.

"Might be a good idea" he said sarcastically grinning at her. No? She wouldn't ask his name? Fair enough.
"Right you cast this time" he leaned back but kept his wand close to him.

Partners? Practice? ALREADY?!

o_O

Kita bit her lip and looked around. This was just great(!) Not only did she have to find someone to work with in this mass of... students she didn't know, she also had to find someone who was in her year. Well, 'preferably'. Hmph.

And now this meant that she had to raise her voice and call for a partner. Not that she was embarrassed to do that. It's just... she was too used to it. Couldn't she attend classes with someone she knew? Then, in the case of partnering up, she could at least be satisfied knowing that she'd have one and wouldn't have to go looking for one.

But then again, some new blood wouldn't be too bad. She loved meeting new people! So with a smile on her face and a slight tiptoe something she wasn't accustomed to, Kita raised her voice and yelled, "Er... does anyone need a partner? And wouldn't mind partnering up with me?"

... This was going to be harder than she thought it would be, wasn't it?

Okay here goes, Jesifur steadied her concentration. Making sure they were far enough apart she took her stance and said, "Flipendo." Squiggling and pointing her wand at Alyssa.

Marilyn side stepped, barely missing the jinx...She smirked inwardly, pleased that Cassie was upping her game. The thing about her sweet, loving friend was that she was TOO caring...Too kindhearted. The blonde knew her friend hadn't known true heartache.

...It was something Marilyn loved most about her friend.

"Protego!!"

Vashti pulled her notes out and once more began scribbling furiously, trying to write down the spells they could and could not use while dueling. At least, not during these duels with the Dueling Club. She figured it might not be this specific in duels with adult wizards outside of school. That was...a bit frightening, to be honest. If someone used something like the Reductor Curse against their opponent... She grimaced, refusing to finish the thought. Soon she was done with the notes and she stuffed them back into her bag.

Soooo now it was time to practice? Great! But first, she needed a partner. "Who still needs a partner?" she called out.

Alyssa heard Jesifur cast the spell and felt like a small push hit her in the chest. She flew backwards, and sat on her butt. She shook head to shake of the tingling feeling, stood up and rubbed her butt. "Good job!! You did that very well." Alyssa yelled over at Jesifur

Cassie swore under breath when she missed Marilyn but figured it was time for a break now anyways. She was getting a little bit tired. It wasn't like she had done this before and for her first time she thought she did a pretty good job.

"Can we take a break and just watch for a little?" She asked lowering her wand.

Louisa blinked when he shouted not to use those three spells. This little man was so passionate about teaching them the right thing - she liked that and had a deep respect for the dwarf for it. Watching him demonstrate the two spells they were about to use later Louisa gave Vashti a sharp cold look. Louisa was going to learn how to shield herself from THIEVES friends like her soon. She wasn't going to try and push against the shield Vashti drew in front of her anymore, she'd draw one of her own. HEH.

Extending her arm Louisa moved her wand from right to left to right again. Slowly and very focused she did it again and again until her shoulder tingled a bit and her arm got used to the wand movement. "Protego!" Right, left, then right again.

Nothing.

"Protego!" Right, left, and then back to right. She froze trying to sense any change in the atmosphere around her. Was she supposed to feel some kind of a protecting bubble? "Protego." Less enthusiastically now and a very fast light flashed before her eyes. She extended her hand to touch anything but the stillness of the air was there.

"Protego!" She half-shouted at last, growing impatient with the so-called advanced spell. It stung her that Vashti had done with much less efforts. Again and again she tried. "'Proooootego!" Her wand movement was faster than before and more athletic - the lighting circled flashed before the girl and the shield was done.

Beaming and excited at that Louisa met the eyes of as many students as possible to pass over her own I-DID-IT look. "Who wants a partner? Fourth year over here!" She announced happily - HER SHIELD WAS SET!

HIM! Louisa marched toward the boy. "I'm a fourth year." Looking at his uniform she almost fainted. He was a Gryffindor - The brave and bald ones. She forced a formal smile at him. "Louisa Carter. We can be partners." Obviously. She didn't extend her hand for a shake first, she rarely did that to strangers. Second, they were going to practice hexing each other not socially mingling. Ravvies mind working here.

Could they take a break? Glancing in the Professor's direction, Marilyn sighed. They'd more than participated. Surely it would be okay for them to take a breather.

Perhaps..."I don't see why not..." She bowed again, just to satisfy her need to...and walked towards her friend. "You did really good, by the way."

I'm a fourth year.

Hearing those words, Gideon turned to spot a Ravenclaw girl approaching him, her attention to him clearly confirming she had been the one who spoke. "Gideon Gert. Aye sure we can," he answered returning the introduction and nodding at her suggestion. "Would ye care to go first?" he offered in return since it would be best if one of them through the first spell rather then have them both try to do it.

Cassie returned the gesture, {the bowing and what not}then conjured two chairs for her and Marilyn. She pocketed her wand and sunk into one smiling."I think you did pretty good too."

Louisa nodded, slightly surprised at his 'Aye' which reminded her of the Pirates possessing spirits from last term. "Okay..umm.. get ready." She had no idea of how he was about to do that but.. she gave him a good five seconds to do so. Then she lifted her wand, the tip pointing at him, and started moving it in the random jagged invisible path the dwarf had shown them, "Flipendo!"

"I guess it's my turn now,"Alyssa told Jesifur.

While she saw Jesifur prepare herself, Alyssa walked back a little distance, then turned around to face Jesifur. Making sure her stance was correct, and her feet were balanced firmly on the ground, Alyssa whipped out her wand and waving it in a squiggly motion, pointed it at Jesifur.

FLIPENDO

Alyssa saw a light fly out of her wand and straight at Jesifur.

Jesifur had been ready and balanced but did't know how it would feel. It felt like when she had not seen her pup in days and she came home and got pounced on. She stumbled a bit back but was able to keep her feet on the ground.

"Wow, You don't really know the power of it til it hits you the first time. Good job Alyssa!" she shouted back. "Seems like we both got this one down, first try! Sorry I knocked you down, he said my wand was very good for jinxes, I guess that's what he meant..."

And there went the only other 4th year Kurumi knew - Gideon. Great, now what was she going to do for a partner. Kurumi merely stood in the center of the room, spinning around on spot looking for someone else to partner up with.

"A-A-Any other fourth years?"

"Any first years need a partner?" Cael asked, deftly twirling his ebony wand between his fingers. He couldn't wait to finally start practicing and they were doing the jinx he'd suggested to boot! With a big smile on his face, he looked around expectantly hoping all of the other firsties hadn't paired up yet.

Gideon didn't need to be warned to get ready, the fourth year slipping his wand from his pocket ready to cast the shield charm to try and counteract the jinx she would be sending. For once he was glad they had covered the shield charm in the defense meetings they had done the term before. When the trip-jinx was cast by Louisa, Gideon was ready, waving his arm from side to side at the elbow as he cast the "Protego."

The blue shield came but not nearly strong enough causing him to he knocked back a little as the offensive spell tried to trip him up. "Not bad," he commented as he straightened having moved to compensate his balance against the spell so he didn't fall. Hearing Kurumi's voice ask for a partner, Gideon couldn't help but feel just a little bad not being able to help her out.

"No worries!! I'm alright and I'm glad to see that you're okay too. I hope you dont mind but I want to try out the Shield charm before we try both spells on each other." Alyssa told Jesifur.

Standing next to Jesifur, Alyssa took out her wand and waving right to left and back again, she said the spell.

"PROTEGO"

Immediately a bright light shot out from her wand and formed an almost invisible wall in front of her.

"Wow!! That's awesome!! Now here's hoping I can say it fast enough before I get hit with a jinx," she laughed over at Jesifur.

Louisa was impressed by his quick shield, it wasn't strong enough but the flash made an appearance at least. She couldn't help a smirk when the boy staggered backward because of HER spell. She hadn't done that before, joke products were all she used, but this! This was power.

Louisa considered helping him to regain his balance but he was fine in a second so she just gave a nod and a smile. Yep, that was surprisingly good, she added in her head. "Well..." She began to say, he was to practice his own, right? But he was looking somewhere...

..or at someone. The Gryffindor Prefect stuttered a question. "Is she a friend of yours?" Louisa asked casually, her thump pointing over her shoulder at the tiny girl with the big badge. She should be his friend - housemates almost always were. Without waiting for an answer and just as casually and carelessly as she held herself with non-close friends, Louisa addressed the girl, "Hey! You can join if you can't find a fourth year." Looking at Gideon, "Right? After you practice your spell on me?" Or wasn't he going to do so? One spell per person was enough, anyway.

Ive been here the whole time....

"Hey I'm a first year!" Maddy said when she noticed a fellow firstie needed a partner.

"Guess its my turn then," Gideon mused mulling over the jinx's incantation and the two possible wand movements the master duelist had given to them. The boy was about to tell Louisa to get ready but instead followed the thumb and nodded as he spotted the point and question being aimed to Kurumi. "Yeah she is," he answered thinking about calling her over when his Ravenclaw companion beat him to it. "Right," he confirmed meeting Louisa's glance as she looked at him before looking back at his fellow Gryffindor. "You can always practice with us, Kurumi."