That. Was.

[alt_padma]

TOTALLY WIZ-NIFT!

Only now Fawcett won't stop going on about how Marvolo sent that snake after Stebbins. (Honestly, he deserved it. I'd have done it too if Stebbins had said that about me!)

Do you think Professor Lockhart's alright? I mean, Professor Carrow really knocked him back with that spell. He still seemed a little disorientated even after they sent everyone out. I tried to help him back to his office but he told us all he was going to walk it off for a while.


Mum and Dad, what happened was that Professor Brutka and Professor Lockhart were going to start us, but then Professor Carrow said he would do it and he pushed his way up on the platform. Professor Lockhart was so gracious, really, and so was Professor Brutka, I guess. He just shrugged and bowed a little and then he sort of stayed around to watch.

Well, Professor Carrow and Professor Lockhart showed us duelling stance, only I guess Professor Carrow wanted to show us that in a real duel, you don't wait for the, um, niceties because if you wait you might just get killed. So he cast a disarming spell and it was really powerful. It was actually dead cool even if it was Professor Carrow and Professor Lockhart went tumbling. But he was okay. I mean, he got up really quickly. He was still a little dazed, though.

And then they had us all pair off, but after a few minutes it was utter chaos. It was kind of funny, actually. I mean, all that practising we've been doing with our manuals and it didn't really make a difference to anyone, much. Well, maybe Malfoy was doing really well. I couldn't see, because Belinda and I paired off and I know, I'm supposed to be working with Parvati but she was all the way across the duelling platform, so I really couldn't you see, and anyway Belinda and I traded off pretty well, but she bumped into Weasley and he's got that broken wand, and it went off. And it sort of made everything go really white for a minute. I'm not sure what spell that was, I'll have to look it up.

But then when I could see again, half the kids had their hair singed off or they were covered in boils and some were sopping wet, but Professor Carrow called everyone to order and Professor Lockhart said perhaps they'd better have one team demonstrate. So Professor Lockhart called up Marvolo and Malfoy. And that's when Stebbins said that it was no surprise they got picked, and then he said something really rude that I won't repeat, but it made all the boys nearby snigger and Professor Carrow sort of looked at them and they stopped really quickly, but then he said, 'On second thought, Lockhart, let's see what they do against a real opponent,' and he called up Moran, you know, the Head Boy, and he whispered something in his ear. Then he told Malfoy and Marvolo to prepare and WHOOSH! Moran made a great snake come out of his wand just like that!

Well, everyone tried to take a step back, except we couldn't because the people behind us didn't see it so they didn't realise we needed to move back, and we all sort of got jostled, and Stebbins stumbled forward because he's really clumsy on top of everything else, and he fell against the platform. And the snake went straight for him!!

Professor Carrow told everyone not to move, that he'd get rid of the snake, and then the most amazing thing happened! Marvolo started talking to the snake!! In snake talk, I mean!! Parcel Parseltongue. Like the Lord Protector and everything!

And the snake went. after. Stebbins!!! It was completely terrifying! Belinda and I moved away as fast as we could, but it was really hard with no room to go anywhere.

Professor Brutka made the snake disappear then, but goodness, it was exciting!

Fawcett's even more worried now, of course, but that's just mad. I mean, unless she goes and says something daft to Marvolo, what is there to worry about?

Comments

[alt_neville]

I'd think you'd care a little bit more that one of your housemates was facing down that giant snake.

[alt_hannah]

I couldn't see much from down at the end where I was standing. So I don't know what Bobby said to get Malvolo so angry at him. Anyway, I'm sure Professor Lockhart would have taken care of it, if Professor Brutka hadn't stepped in first.

[alt_neville]

What do you mean about Marvolo?

[alt_hannah]

Why, he was egging that snake on. Everyone could see it.

[alt_neville]

I thought you said you couldn't see much from where you were standing.

[alt_hannah]

Well, Bobby's sure to steer clear of Marvolo now.

Funny, I always thought he was rather nice to us Hufflepuffs. Marvolo, I mean. Not like some people in his House.

[alt_sally_anne]

Harry wasn't egging the snake on. He doesn't attack people because they accuse him of showing off, or send snakes to attack them either.

[alt_sally_anne]

And Harry wasn't the one who summoned the snake anyway.

[alt_padma]

No, but he talked to it and it went for Stebbins, that much we could see for ourselves.

Anyway, how do you know what he said? It was all hissing. Has he said anything to you about what he was telling it?

[alt_padma]

Honestly, weren't you reading what I wrote? Stebbins said something really rude. Don't ask me to say what it was here because it's the kind of thing that ought to lose Hufflepuff points if the professors had heard him, and I'm not about to lose Ravenclaw any points for writing it out.

But that's why Marvolo sent the snake after him instead. I mean, he attracted its attention, but Marvolo was encouraging the snake, it looked like.

[alt_padma]

I dunno, most of us were worried about just staying out of its way, once Marvolo started sending it after him.

[alt_padma]

Speaking of housemates, Longbottom, can't you and your mates do something about that wand of Weasley's? It's a proper menace.

[alt_seamus]

What on earth are we supposed to do about it?

Personally I recommend getting out of the way when Ron takes it out. That's what I do!

[alt_ron]

Yeah, and we get out of your way since even with a good wand you're still setting things on fire and blowing them up!

Between the two of us, we could have totally taken care of that snake.

[alt_padma]

Between you and Finnigan if you'd tried, we'd have had to send the rest of Stebbins home in a matchbox.

You're lucky you didn't try.

[alt_ron]

Well, Car Professor Carrow didn't look like he needed any help.

[alt_seamus]

Oi what's that supposed to mean?

[alt_neville]

He's set fire to my parchments twice this week. But to be fair, he put the fire out both times!

It's just the sort of thing we need to liven things up in Gryffindor Tower.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

Maybe it's best you didn't try. I mean, what if you'd hit Professor Carrow or something?

[alt_padma]

We weren't in the way, but maybe Weasley ought to stop trying to do magic in crowded places until his wand gets sorted out.

[alt_neville]

I'm sure he does the very best that he can with it. I don't think you could do any better.

[alt_seamus]

Well feel free to suggest to the professors that they excuse Ron from his class work!

[alt_ron]

Oi! If you hadn't sent Dunstan crashing into me, none of that would have happened. I had it totally in control. Or, anyway, I wasn't casting any spells really, and if she hadn't made me shout there wouldn't have been a problem at all.

[alt_padma]

Nobody sent her crashing into you, you dolt. She just backed up a bit and hit your elbow.

[alt_ron]

Looked to me like she was jumping out of the way of something you sent at her. All I knew was she squeaked like she'd been pinched and jumped back right into me.