Really well done

[alt_padma]

Harry and Hydra! That was well snitch the way you took down the Professor like that. I can tell you were practising over the holidays.

Professor Hooch looked surprised, too, didn't she?

It's not easy to work in pairs, either. I mean, Parvati and I have a sort of advantage being twins, but we still have to practise if we're going to do something in coordination, like the movement for Nagini and that.

Anyway, it was really well done, especially you, Hydra. You make a nift team.

Comments

Private Message to Hydra

[alt_padma]

I hope that helps.

Re: Private Message to Hydra

[alt_hydra]

Well, thank you.

From,
Hydra

[alt_blaise]

You know, I thought at first that he was letting them take him down, and maybe he was in the beginning, but that first time they didn't have an effective combination, he really took advantage, didn't he?

I thought the blinding spell in combination with a leg-locker was smart, but that vertiginous hex together with the one that made his wrists unhinge was more thorough. Harder to pull off, though.

Teddy's made that vortex hex his signature move, so we stuck with that and I added Petrificus Totalis. Did you see us set Crabbe spinning like a top?

What did you come up with?

[alt_padma]

Well, I think our most elegant combination was a tongue-tying hex paired with a butterfinger jinx. But Parvati had a good turn when she cast the Jelly-Legs just at the same time that I tried the knee-reversal. I think hers hit just before mine did because mine seemed to just miss, probably because Finnigan's knees were all wobbly.

Of course, having good aim helps. It doesn't do any good to cast a really nift spell and have it hit the window sashes! I think that was Dunstan's problem. She's got good technique but I doubt she could hit the broad side of the Great Hall!

[alt_harry]

Thank you Padma.

[alt_sally_anne]

You two really did look brilliant. It was very interesting to watch.

[alt_draco]

Working in pairs is tricky, but did you hear Professor Raz say that when he used to do field work during the war, they would sometimes have four or five people using combination combatives, all together in unison? That would really take a lot of practise, but I bet it would look so wicked.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

You know, I thought there was something that felt sort of wrong about what we were doing last night, and I've just realised. It didn't feel like duelling at all. More like attacking or

or maybe it should really be called Ambush Club now, if this is what we're going to work on.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

I mean, I know it would be good to be able to work together to defend ourselves, but the way we were doing it, it seemed like it was all about outnumbering someone you want to attack.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_pansy]

And what if we're learning what we ought to do if one of the Carrows goes spare?

I'd be helpless against either of them by myself. But with you, and Sally-Anne, and Neville, and everyone else that uses this really working together smartly, and not just popping off whatever comes to mind? Working in teams?

We might have a chance.

And I don't think they would fight fair. I don't think anybody would fight fair if it was for real. I know that I certainly wouldn't.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_ron]

No, you're right about that. It was just the way it was set up last night. Like he was teaching us to jump each other.

But you're dead right we need to have a plan for times somebody attacks us. But that would be a different thing if it's a teacher than if it's students.

And if it's students, it won't be just one.

We should talk about it and practice, too, if we could figure out where we could do it in secret. Before it happens again.

I mean not just in duelling club. Because MPC keeps turning up to that. I wish they'd tell her to go away.

[alt_rabastan]

I'm glad you lot enjoyed it. Hope you learned something, too.

[alt_seamus]

They really were brilliant! And the pairs work after was a lot of fun.

Private message to Padma Patil

[alt_seamus]

Did Malfoy talk to you this evening? He caught me after dinner to say he'd been thinking about that demonstration and the pairs duelling we did, and how he thought it would be a good idea to keep on with it. Because of the Carrows -- well, he didn't quite say that, but you know. To make sure there aren't any more accidents.

I sent a private message to Weasley and Longbottom suggesting we do some practising together -- the two of them, and me and Dean. Because even if I wouldn't choose them for house mates, they ARE my house mates which means they're in my Transfiguration classes. Parvati and Lav, too (and Bundy). The thing is, I think we all have to be prepared.

Since Dark Arts is just a few people from Gryffindor I was hoping maybe we could practise with the Ravenclaws in Dark Arts. Because if it's me and Dean she decided to have fun with next, it would be good to know people had our back.

I don't know when we're going to find TIME to do this, mind you, especially with the play AND homework AND ... well, whatever. This is important. And even just an hour or two of planning would go a long way. I mean, if Slytherin had planned and practised they probably could have kept the bookcase from falling on Perks, and there'd be nothing Miss Professor Carrow even could have said to that, right? Not without admitting she WANTED an accident.

Re: Private message to Padma Patil

[alt_padma]

Yes, he spoke to me at lunch, as well, and I think it's a brilliant idea. I bet some of the Ravenclaw Corner fellows would help if we asked them. Su Li, Brocklehurst, Moon and MacDougal all want to work on it. Corner, too, even though he's not in Dark Arts, he reckons Professor Carrow might come after him in Transfig if he's not careful.

When is a really good question, though, because you're right we've got loads going on. I've Future Interrogators on Mondays, we've rehearsal on Tuesdays and Duelling Club every other, History Club on Wednesdays and we've got to have some time for homework! But I think we're going to work on it on Thursdays after supper. If you and the others want to come then, that'll work out fairly well. We're also planning to clear a little space in our common room where people can drill their aim (for Dunstan, mostly!).