Hey, I Ruin Stories Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Duel!!!

[Evening of Friday — Hallway of Hogwarts]


“You sure are busy.”


I was, from head to toe.


“Not enough to not give you a reply.” I turned as I knew exactly who it was. “Professor Sinistra.”


“I better get a good dinner for what I did.” She had her seductive smile stuck to her face. “It’s not for free that I went against my previous decision.”


Sinistra was a genuinely interesting woman. Strong, smart and pretty calm no matter the situation she was thrown into.


I didn't mean like some insane death game, but like a general situation involving a lot of stress that people usually cracked under.


Workload, that's what I mean.


Yeah.


“Name the place and the time, and I will be there.” And there was never a single boring moment with her. “I am always free for a dinner date with a pretty lady.”


“Date is an interesting word, I don't use it often.”


“That just increases the stake of making this dinner memorable.” My words made her smile, not like I had seen her without one.


However, I have heard that she is scary when angry and a rather strict professor when it comes to astronomy —the stark opposite of her usual self.


“I’ll decide the place.” She said, “And I will pay, will not take no for an answer just so you understand.”


Assertive, but only when talking.


“I can definitely go with that.” Of course, I could. “Free food and being able to spend time with a pretty lady. What more can a man ask for?”


“Being this flirty will definitely get you into trouble, Mr. Safar.” She laughed, “And do remember that this is the school’s hall.”


“Then better keep some talks to the bed.”


This made her roll her eyes, “Oh please. You won't get that lucky again anytime soon.”


Oh, we will see about that. 


“Do you have class?” She asked me and well, I did.


“I do actually, but it's fine. I am early anyways.”


The students won’t dare be late, and neither did I do late classes. But there was still like what? Twenty minutes?


That's more than what I need to reach the class.


“You have classes late, right?”


This made her shrug. “Yeah, but unlike you I don't have that many classes. Astronomy is not that important of a subject apparently.”


“Oh, please.” She was not underestimating herself, just mocking the course structure. “The ones making the schedule need to look at the updated books and the recent researches and breakthroughs to understand the value.”


“But again.” She matched my smile, “They are too old and too lazy for that.”


“See, you are catching my positivity virus.”


This made her burst out in laughter.


“Oh, please.” She shook her head. “But I believe you should go now. Better be early than to be late.”


Again, there was around twenty minutes but she had a point.


Always be early and never be late. 


A golden motto to live by.


“It's always saddening to have to leave you.” A sigh left me, “But work is work.”


Her smile stayed on as her eyes went side to side. “You should lessen the flirting a little. They say a woman loses interest too quickly when a man shows too much interest.”


“Might be the case for most “ I gave her a genuine answer. “But I am too interesting to get bored of.” 


Once again, she could barely hold her laughter. “Maybe it is indeed difficult to get bored of you but not for the reasons you might be thinking.”


Well, a win's a win.


Wasn't it?


Anyhow, as I decided to walk towards my class —a loud shout echoed in the hall, reminding me of a recent scene with Dumbledore.


“Anyone! Any professor please come!”


It was a student whose name I didn't know. Pretty unimportant person if I hadn't even heard of them.


But what he shouted was definitely important.


“Potter and Malfoy are fighting!”


This caught both mine and Aurora’s interest.


“This requires our attention, doesn’t it?” She asked, staring at me.


“Maybe… I will be late for my class for the first time, won't I?” 


But this was far more important than any class.


…

…


[Cafeteria, Hogwarts]


{Draco Malfoy}


Syrup. 


Syrup on my robe.


Nasty half eaten syrup.


“You…” My teeth gnashed together unintentionally, “You will pay for it… Potter…”


“Oh, bite me Malfoy.” The spectacled traitor mocked. “It was your two sidekicks that threw soup at Hermione, not us that started.”


“And who was the one to mock my weight!” The fatty Crabbe yelled.


They weren't wrong about his weight, but a mudblood had no right to insult a pureblood.


“And who called her by a demeaning name, Malfoy?” The ginger rat barked, pardon, squeaked. 


“What do you mean demeaning?” I asked, genuinely curious. “What do you call a mudblood other than mudblood?”


The rat had his teeth rubbing together, the noise almost audible till here. 


“But you will pay, Potter.” 


I was about to maybe tell my father about it. He wouldn't be too pleased to hear about me getting syrup spilled over at, and maybe even scold me a little.


But he would definitely take my side.


However, Nott’s voice rang in my head and his words felt quite true. It would only annoy my father, wouldn't it?


I can deal with this, yeah I can.


After all, he is just a fake hero.


So, being a pureblood with more honor than them, I decided to walk off.


Something I would have never done before.


“Offendo.”


But I couldn't just walk off, I couldn't just leave honorably.


No, they had stained my image.


Twice.


“Ugh.”


“Draco!” Crabbe and Goyle tried rushing towards me.


A jinx, I definitely heard the mudblood mutter the jinx under her breath!


“You!” 


My knees hurt, I fell directly on my knees and palms.


It hurt, quite badly but I could bear it.


“You did it!”


“What do you mean?” Potter asked, “You fell on your own and nearly busted your nose. Maybe walk properly, Malfoy.”


That…


That was it.


Enough being honorable.


“You will pay, Potter.” I barely stopped myself from lunging at the spectacled dork. “You, me, outside. NOW!”


“Now, you all just wait a moment.”


But when I thought I could have a chance to beat him, a familiar voice rang behind us.


“What is going on here?”


Not one, two voices.


Darius Safar and Severus Snape.


Two people I didn't want to get on the bad side of.


…

…


Things took an interesting turn. This was not expected, but definitely not unwelcomed either.


“Draco, Harry.” I looked at the two boys that seemed ready to box each other's faces in. “An explanation, thirty words or less.”


“Professor I did n—”


“Thirty.” I reminded, “And for this once, I am asking Draco and Harry.”


I looked around the kids. “I will get to you in a bit, Hermione. And same with you Ron, Vincent and Gregory.”


“I…” Draco too wanted to rant, but as I looked at him once more, he recalled the rule of twenty.


“Granger mocked Crabbe for his weight, who spilled soup on her accidentally. She instead attacked me, hurling things at me and Goyle, even casting spells to trip me.”


“And Potter?” I looked at the spectacled boy. “Your view?”


“Clearly it was Granger who initiated this whole thing.” Snape, who had been quiet for the longest time, spoke. “Punish her with a personal point reduction and after school class hours and also reduce points of the others for creating this mess.”


He wanted to solve this mess easily? I doubt he would have left Harry unpunished.


But no.


He just wanted to protect the boy.


From me.


“Well, this is clearly a thing that involves both parties.” I looked at the frowning man. “I do not see one as guilty and the other as innocent when everyone took part in this mess, verbally or physically.”


Oh, I was loving this.


“Everyone took part, and everyone has to be punished.” All of them went still, afraid of punishment. “But—” And I saw them regain hope just as quickly.


“But this is a children's quarrel. Children fight among themselves all the time.” I looked at Draco and then at Harry, “The problem arises if the question I am going to ask next gets yes as an answer.”


Snape looked at me, suspicion visible in his eyes.


“Tell me boys.” I asked with a smile, not angry or condemning —just a smile assuring them that they were safe. “Did it hurt your pride? Do you want to complain to your parents or the headmaster about it?”


I could see Draco frowning and looking down, probably thinking about calling his father.


As for Harry, he was an orphan. So the poor boy thought if he wanted to call Dumbledore.


“Mr. Safar, might I ask what you are insinuating?” Snape asked, not too happy with my words.


“I do.” Harry said, surprising me. I thought he would say no and Draco would agree.


But something totally opposite of that happened.


“I… don’t.” The pale blonde haired boy said. “I would like to suggest something else.”


This amused me and Snape, curious about what the boy wanted. 


Even the raven haired professor with a permanent scowl on his face could barely hide his amazement when Draco declined to call his father.


It was just that ridiculously astounding to hear Draco sound mature.


“May I?”


“You can.” I assured, curious about it too. 


“Then… I would like to request a duel.”


Ridiculous scenario, but a totally appreciated one.


If the boy wouldn't have suggested that, I might have to suggest that. And if they declined, I might have to change their decision using my Mind Arts a little.


But that was not necessary.


Oh not at all.


“What is going on?” Aurora, who came with Pomfrey —she wanted to bring the matron in case the students got hurt— asked as she finally came to the scene.


“Mr. Malfoy here… just asked for a duel with Mr. Potter.” I said, turning slightly to look at the two women.


“Oh, by Merlin I told you it was a horrible idea.” Matron Pomfrey, who was one of the fastest to decline mine and Flitwick's suggestion about the duel system, said. “Look at the result now.”


But Aurora, oh my Aurora, she had my back.


“But… isn’t that better? Otherwise their parents would be here chewing our ears and possibly even costing us our jobs in another scenario? But a duel should solve that, right?”


Told you, she was just that good.


“I am not healing them if they break their bones.” Pomfrey shook her head and left, yes, straight left.


“What are you going to do, Darius?” Aurora asked, while Snape chimed from the other side.


“Reject it.”


Oh, I had no intention of that, Snape.


“I can accept it.” I said, causing Aurora to smirk while Snape frowned. “But…”


“But?” Draco asked, confused.


“But none of you are trained in the art of dueling.” I looked at the two amusing heirs. “So, till Saturday, learn from Professor Flitwick about dueling and its etiquettes. And on Saturday night, we will hold the duel. This will also act as a first duel exhibition for every student.”


“Oh, this is a mistake.” Snape said frowning but he could not do anything.


Absolutely nothing. He voted for the cause of dueling and not against it.


And thus he could say absolutely nothing about it.


“Do you agree?”


I asked and the two boys looked at one another thinking whether they should agree or not.


I saw Draco clenching his fists, “Can I learn from other professors as well during that time, professor?”


This made me smile, “Of course you can. Consider this a learning experience, so you can go learn from any professor.”


“Then can I learn from someone too?” Harry asked as well.


“Of course Harry.” I assured the boy, “Both of you get the same permissions.”


“Then I agree.” Draco said instantly.


“So, do I!”


“Perfect then.” I could barely hide my grin. “Let's settle this matter the ancient way. The way of the duel.”


Oh this was going to be so interesting.