Hogwarts: Defense Club

[Betelgeuse]

Chapter One: The Thirteenth Meeting

It was the beginning of Autumn at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which meant a slight nip in the air and extra layers to be worn in the dungeons during Potions. Dinner had just ended in the Great Hall and students were scattered throughout the castle with various tasks at hand or assignments to finish before the next morning. The student body was a buzz with the prospect of a Quidditch match over the weekend between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Friday classes were still in order for the next day, so dreams of the weekend would have to remain dreams for one more day of what would most likely be a difficult and complicated end to the week. A majority of the school was still on the ground floor, enjoying the last few days of sunshine that were left before the creeping chill took its hold over the landscape. It would be dark shortly and before long students would be required to retire to their dormitories before it crept into the later hours of the evening.

"Four down, three across..." Eli whispered lightly to himself, walking down a hallway across from the third floor Hospital Wing.

The seventh year Hufflepuff was counting stained glass panels along the top edge of the hall while keeping an eye on the carved gargoyles below. He had overheard one of the paintings near the Astronomy tower about a secret passage that led from the the third floor down to the empty classroom that led to the Defense Club. From what he could understand from the painting of the nymphs' suggestions was that a tapestry four stained glass panels and three gargoyles across the archway had a quick passage that very few students cared to pay attention to. Eli observed the hanging cloth artwork that depicted a forest scene complete with several deer and a horklump in the background- the tapestry was entirely unremarkable and he had never thought to look behind it on his way by over the years.

"Seems like the right one." He muttered to himself and pulled a corner of the cloth back to reveal an entirely blank wall without a single doorway that he had been hoping for. He knew the nymphs had also told him to 'make sure to knock' but he had simply thought that they were talking about courtesy.

Three sharp knocks resonated down the hall that was void of any other witches or wizards. There was a moment of disappointment when he assumed that the painting had sent him on a wild goose chase for their own amusement when the floor dropped out beneath the Hufflepuff. A trap door panel in the rough stone floor fell away beneath Eli's feet after the knock, which led to the shorter-than-average boy to let out a surprised shriek of terror before vanishing from view. Seconds later, on the ground floor of the West Wing, Eli came crashing down from a hold in an alcove of the hallway's ceiling and landed in a crumpled heap next to a group of terrified Ravenclaws at the sudden appearance of the older student.

"Don't listen to the nymphs on the sixth floor. Bloody tricky ones." He sighed without even looking up from laying on the ground.

At least he was a few minutes early for the Defense Club and only a few doors away. All in all, it wasn't an unsuccessful exploration.

[jlensher]

Jared looked at pocket watch and sighed; it was time for another meeting of the Defence Club. He began to gather up the books and notes scattered across the desk before him, packing them carefully into his satchel. As was habit amongst numerous seniors of his house he'd spent most of the hour allotted for dinner in Ravenclaw Tower studying, only going down to grab a quick bite to eat before heading off. Food wasn't allowed in the common room for the simple reason that half of Ravenclaw would never leave except for classes if it was. He'd spent the time pouring over some muggle textbooks on electronics, part of his ongoing research into mixing muggle technology and magic. He was hampered by the fact that most muggle technology tended to fry when exposed to high levels of magical energy, hence the mechanical pocket watch. Jared knew he should have been working on his Arithmancy essay, but the muggle stuff was just so much more interesting. Besides, there would be plenty of time after the meeting to finish it off.

Finishing packing all of his notes and books into his bag he noticed one of the Ravenclaw juniors was giving him a weird look as he packed much more into the small satchel than by any rights should fit. "Bigger on the inside; Extension and Featherweight charms," he said by way of explanation as he walked out the door, "Very advanced charms work, don't try without supervision" he warned the first year, feeling a bit hypocritical as his first experiments with it had been just that. "Otherwise space and time can get a bit wibbly wobbly" he said as he walked out the door, "Voorp Voorp Voorp". He was actually quite proud of his bag, as the main pocket was now large enough to fit number of book shelves as well as a small desk and chair. A couple more hidden enlarged pockets on his trunk held most of his muggle science and chemistry equipment.

He began to feel the bite of the colder weather as he neared the DC classroom, drawing his cloak tighter around him as he walked. As he neared the classroom he caught up with a group of his fellow housemates returning from the great and exchanged a few short greetings. Just then he heard a series of thumps and a startled yell. He looked up just in time to see a figure in black and yellow fall from a chute that had just opened in the ceiling. He threw himself to one side with a yelp of alarm as the figure landed where he'd been standing a second earlier. Getting up of the ground and dusting himself off he looked over and smiled when he saw the figure was Eli, another member of the DC and sometime partner-in-crime of his experiments.

"Don't listen to the nymphs on the sixth floor. Bloody tricky ones." Eli sighed without even looking up from laying on the ground. Jared walked over to him and helped him off the ground, leaning back to help pull him upright

"More exploring? Where did that chute start out?" He said helping Eli off the ground and pulling out his wand to cast a cleaning charm on Eli's robes to remove the dust and spider-webs. "You should know to take everything the paintings say with a grain of salt. Remember that time in the dungeons? You almost lost a leg"

[dauricha]

Jon Cairnwulder

'You ready for the match Jon?'

'Give them a thrashing!'

'Bury them Cairn'

Jon nodded, smiled, cheered, and agreed with all the well wishers down the Gryffindor table. He liked spending his time at the long table in the Great Hall, see all the students, dolling out the banter, winks and smiles. It had been a long road, one full of unexpected twists and turns, but he had made it. He was popular. A veteran Quidditch player, though that Markus kid in 3rd year had nearly given him a run for his Galleons this year.

'Yes, yes, Anastasia, I will be at practice tomorrow.' Jon said through a mouthful of sausages before his captain had a chance to say anything. He swallowed and gave her a winning, 'innocent' smile. Her retort was lost, and she smiled back.

'I was actually going to ask if you were free this evening, we could sneak in a few laps and maneuvers.' Jon shock his blonde head, gulping down another mouthful of mash and grave.

'Fraid I ca't Anny, I've got other plans this evening.'

'What plans? I can just about pin you in for a practice or two a week. What are you up to all these evenings.' Jon swallowed the last of his plate, gulped down his juice, and made to leave. With a nod and a wink to Troy and Winston, his friends he left. Not before taking Anastasia in his strong arms, and twirling her about to place her where he had stood a moment before. Ignoring her slightly flustered experrsion, he winke and gave another winning grin.

'Why, if I told you that Anny, I would lose all my mystery, and therefore, appeal. We wouldn't want that would we girls.' He turned, winking to a group of 5th and 6th years. The boys laughed, and the girls giggled, as he strode off down the hall, with the natural grace and coolness of 'That Guy'.

Once he was out of the Great Hall however, his strut was drop, as he dash madly to the Study Room. He was going to be late, despite his speed and agility. He dodged this way and that down the corridors, slowing when he heard footsteps and past people. He would stroke his slightly whiskered chin, looking powerful and thoughtful. With a pair of Hufflepuff girls he caught them looking as he past. He turned his head, and gave the slightest nod. They blushed. Once around the corridor he burst into a run again. Yes he was in a rush, but he did have an image to keep. Its not easy, he thought to himself. He thought what Eli would say to his strutting ways? Things had changed over the years they had become close. He'd have a word with him after this evening meeting.

Got to focus, The girls in the DC weren't to be taken lightly. None of them were, neither was he, but he'd have to be on top form for the 'Thirteenth Meeting'. He went through all the spell, jinxs and curses he'd been practicing over the summer. His dad had been able to get him in with a session with some of his Auror contacts over the summer. Yes his old man had clearly been pushing him to treat this as a preliminary interview, but he'd learnt a lot from those tough bastards in the Auror Office.

He was so wrapped in his thoughts on DADA, that he completely ignore the hissing remarks of a pack of younger Slytherins. He barely registered their yelps of surprised as he nearly walk right through them. He turned, mumbling an apology as he carried on.

'Watch it Ogre, can't believe they've got a broom big enough for you.' Growled one of the Slytherins. He paused at that and turned back. Standing straight, looking down on the tiny boy he made as if to attack, his face grim and set. The little band of tiny green and black robed witches and wizards fell silent, taking nervous steps back. Jons face split into a smile a moment later, and he let out a loud laugh.

'In a few years slow worm you might be able to think up a decent insult. I'll keep my eye out for you during the match. I've got a Bludger or two who'd like to meet you no doubt.'

Around the corner and he was there. Still smiling to himself, he lent against the wall, idly twiddling the little beard he was developing, as he waited for the others.

[Dannyel]

Miranda bounced off of the bench, having finished her dinner. Reaching into her school bag, she withdrew one of the small pieces of Tupperware that she had brought from her home. The other Gryffindors at her table were used to this little eccentricity of hers, ignoring as she filled up the container with food that she could feed Jackie, her cat. Even though the school did make sure that the pets around did get enough to eat, as anyone who had an owl up in the owlery knew, Miranda loved to spoil her cat, so this year she brought the muggle container with her and not-so-subtly snatched food from the table every dinner. “Well, I got to be off,” she said as she snapped the Tupperware closed.

“Where you off to Miri?” one of the younger girls, Heather, asked.

“Oh just got a meeting of the Defense Club.” The girl cocked her head to the side, obviously confused. “You’re not forgetting anything, this is a meeting just for the Seventh Years. It’ll probably be boring since it’ll be so few of us.”

“Oh, well, have fun!” The fourth-year replied. “You’ll be around later to help me with my Charms, right?”

“Of course I will! Do I ever break my promises?” Smiling brightly, Miranda whisked herself away, making her way of the Great Hall, passing Jon as she made another one of his little scenes. Rolling her eyes, Miranda bit her tongue and quickened her pace, so that she would not have the opportunity to stop and mock him. Yeah, he was a good Quidditch player, all things considered, but that did mean he had the right to parade around like a complete prat! And the way those girls practically fawned over him did little for his ego, which could use a bit of a bursting as it was. Sighing, she forced the incident from her mind, though she knew that he would be at the meeting as well to bring it right back to the forefront of her mind.

She should have enough time to make it to the meeting, since the room where they met was not far from the Great Hall, but she put an extra spring in her step just in case. She hated being late to Defense Club; Professor Knopp has an uncanny ability for a blind man to tell who exactly was sneaking in late, and she did not want to deal with that tonight. Turning the corner, she found her herself in the main Court Yard just in time to see Eli fall from the hallway ceiling, landing in a clump on the floor. Miranda sighed at the sight, Eli really needed to stop searching for these secret passageways before he got himself hurt.

Jared made his way over to Eli before she could even move, no doubt beating her to the punch, so Miranda ducked behind a giggling gaggle of Ravenclaws, popping out slightly to the side of Eli. “So who was it this time? The Roman Soldiers on the fourth floor? A shifty looking Slytherin? A scribble in the back of a book?”

[Imperfectionist]

-snore-

-snore-

”Oh no, not again, I thought I had her... Emma... Emma, wake up!”

"Emma, you're going to be late!"

Heather Jones was exasperated at this point, having spent the last several minutes attempting to rouse her friend from an hour-long nap on the comfiest couch in the Gryffindor common room, but after a bit of rigorous shaking, Emma Robinson's eyes finally cracked open, accompanying a massive yawn. She blinked several times, bringing the world into focus, stretched her arms, and smiled slightly up at Heather, who was looming over the couch ominously.

"What are you -yawn- talking about, Heather? Late for what?" Emma's eyes swept the room, eventually landing on the clock, but her brain hadn't fully woken up, and it took a few seconds before she remembered. Of course, when she did, her hand went immediately up to smack her forehead. "Bollocks... Defense Club."

Heather, who had simply left dinner early to catch up on some homework, just looked at her with a serious, you-know-what-I've-said-about-staying-up-late expression, and didn't field a response when Emma asked if she knew of any secret passages that would take her from Gryffindor Tower to the ground floor in less than two minutes, merely pointing towards the door. Her face softened, however, and she looked more bemused than anything.

"Heh, well, thanks for the assist," Emma said, giving her friend a hug and a quick peck on the cheek, before bolting towards the Fat Lady, and then down the staircase, taking them two at a time. Blushing slightly, Heather watched her hurried exit without another word, but once Emma was gone, she couldn't help another small smile and a chuckle at the thought of the other witch leaping down the stairs, and murmured to herself: "Emma Dilemma..."

For her part, Emma made it down to the Courtyard in record time, though she spent much of the journey shouting hasty apologies at the students in her way, most of whom had just finished their dinners and were going in the opposite direction. Let's just say there were several toes trodden on, an ink vial that was smashed, and more than a few curses muttered under breaths as she passed through the throng saying "Excuse me, urgent business," and "Critical member of the Defense Club coming through."

Regardless, with more time to spare than she had expected, she jogged past the insufferable Jon Cairnwulder without a second glance, and was approaching the door to the Defense Club's room when a crash, a yelp, and a pained groan rang out from behind her. Almost immediately, her hand was on her wand, but when she saw that it was just Eli, she couldn't help but laugh. The two of them, and others from the Club had recently begun mapping out some of the castle's extensive secret passageways, and she was sure she had warned him about that fishy tapestry on the third floor... Apparently not.

As a couple of very familiar faces converged on Eli's crumpled shape, Emma did the same, smiling warmly around at Jared and Miranda, and answering the latter's question by saying "Nah, I bet it was those 'oh so cunning' nymphs. They got me last week, told me about that tapestry, and another that goes all the way from the fifth floor down to the kitchens. Lucky for you, you tried this one first. It scared those poor elves out of their wits, and I nearly broke my arm. I was wondering if this chute worked the same way..."

She brushed an extra bit of dust of of the boy's shoulder, still chuckling slightly. "Anyway, the good news is, with a couple of strategic cushions, it looks like Eli's could actually be pretty useful! It's not as long as the one to the kitchens, at least. Ha, sometimes I get the feeling the Founders must have had a pretty sadistic sense of humor, adding in all of these tricks and traps around the castle..."

[Betelgeuse]

"Don't listen to the nymphs on the sixth floor. Bloody tricky ones." Eli sighed without even looking up from laying on the ground. Jared walked over to him and helped him off the ground, leaning back to help pull him upright

Eli was relieved to see that the first face he saw after turning over on the cool stone floor was that of Jared Calen, who he felt the most comfortable with discussing muggle items and pop culture four lengthy periods at a time. The Ravenclaw hoisted his fellow club-mate to his feet and the two nodded brief greetings as the younger group of students that Eli had addressed dispersed in multiple directions.

"More exploring? Where did that chute start out?" he nodded while Jared asked as he pulled out his wand to cast a cleaning charm on Eli's robes to remove the dust and spider-webs. "You should know to take everything the paintings say with a grain of salt. Remember that time in the dungeons? You almost lost a leg."

"Yes I remember the anti-gravity foyer," He recalled the details of the incident lightly. "But to be honest, why make a stained glass ceiling in a dungeon?"

More than willing to continue with a recount of the adventure, he was surprised to see none other than his dear friend Miranda pop up next to him without a sign of her prior. Usually her brilliantly red hair was visible from all the way to Hogsmeade (he would joke) but she had used a few Ravenclaws as a decoy.

“So who was it this time? The Roman Soldiers on the fourth floor? A shifty looking Slytherin? A scribble in the back of a book?” she asked knowing that it was such a common occurrence it only took guessing.

"Nymphs on the way to Astronomy. 'Thought they really liked me." He added briefly before Emma showed up and finished Miri's statement without skipping a beat.

"Anyway, the good news is, with a couple of strategic cushions, it looks like Eli's could actually be pretty useful! It's not as long as the one to the kitchens, at least. Ha, sometimes I get the feeling the Founders must have had a pretty sadistic sense of humor, adding in all of these tricks and traps around the castle..." she pointed out, wiping the last bit of dust from the badger's shoulder.

Eli laughed at the Gryffindor's comment and took a few steps with his peers down the hall toward the Defense Club meeting room, the hall cluttered with the last of the students to leave the Great Hall and the evening's feast. He enjoyed the entire group that he had grown closer to over the years. There was hardly a meeting that he wasn't excited for and more often than not he tried to be as big of a participant as possible. Considering the fact that some of the other students were leaps and bounds ahead of him as far as defense and offensive spellwork went, he still liked to sit in on the seminars and listen to the additional lessons that the group was given outside of class. Of course, the strange and wild manner at which Professor Knopp would conduct his classes and club sessions was truly... interesting.

"Think he'll have us trimming the nails and filing the fangs on grindylows for the first years like he had us do last term? That was awful." he said, opening up the heavy oak door to the DC room and stepping inside.

The Defense Club meeting room itself was much like the rest of the classrooms or offices throughout Hogwarts. Two of the walls, including the one with the hallway door, were fitted with floor-to-ceiling book shelves stuffed with the widest array of items. Although most of the curiosities were picked specimens of deceased dark creatures, books of ancient preventative talismans, items that whistled and ticked as the students passed by and even a few sets of skulls from various different species, one of which was clearly a vampire's remains. The other two walls were covered in six tall and narrow windows that overlooked the Forbidden Forest and the rest of the grounds on the West side of the school. The furniture of the room was stuffed with couches, arm chairs of various styles facing the center of the room, circular tea tables and parlor lamps that illuminated the cozy room that almost felt like a jumbled collection inside a home or a second common room. A fire crackled cheerily in the hearth that sat within the bookshelf lined wall, making the room look even more pleasant in the dimming evening light. Professor Knopp was known to take meetings in the Defense Club office rather than the office designated for his classroom, so it was odd to see that the door to his small quarters closed and without a light on underneath.

"Looks like we're the first ones here this time!" Eli pointed out cheerfully, dropping loudly into one of the couches in wait for the rest of his classmates.

[dauricha]

"Looks like we're the first ones here this time!"

Jon came through just after the group.

"How did you not see me wait outside?" He asked, actually a little bit offended. He had spent a good thirty seconds get his relaxed stance just so, perfectly ready to say hi to the DC as they turned up. But no, they were too busy talking about Nymphs or something. His anger was forgotten quickly, it didn't look good to brood on the inconsequential. he smiled. Wrapping Eli in a bear hug.

"Eli, you old Huff Puffer! Hows your week been? Yes I saw you the other day but still." He put down a slightly embarrassed Eli down and turned to the two girls.

"Miranda, Emma, a true pleasure and delight." He bowed deeply before continuing.

"Why, it is such a honor for the DC to be grace by such beauty, but for that beauty to reside in blooming old Gryffindor. Sniff, it almost brings a tear to the eye." His near theatrical emotion was dropped as he smiled and winked at the pair. He of course had tried it on with both of them years ago. Miri in 3rd year, Emma in 5th. They weren't the sort of girls who got caught up in the drama and show however. OR at least they didn't admit it. Bloody good spellcasters though, sent him flying across this very room countless times. He did really like the pair of girls, outside of 'the game' and all. Emma could be his dilemma any day.

"Jared, marvellous as always to see you old chap. I have been meaning to ask you. Do you know any tricks for milking a Jamacian Snapper Root? I haven't even got a green pinky let alone fingers." Jon offered his hand to Jared. A good enough fellow, if a bit reserved. Damn smart guy though. Yes Ravenclaws had brains coming out of everywhere, but Jared, well Jared was Jared. At least I can get beat him 7 time out of 10 on the duelling field.

[Imperfectionist]

”Bugger... It’s this guy.”

Emma and Jon had, well, some history. He had always been a self-fashioned ladies man (and was, admittedly, fairly popular with them), but didn’t really attempt to get with Emma until their fifth year. She had just beaten most every other duelist in the school, and thus was made Captain of the Dueling Club, and in her mind, Jon was attempting to “pin another medal on his lapel.” In this case, the fierce, fiery Emma Robinson. Needless to say, she wasn’t interested. Even if she had usually liked boys more than girls, Jon’s swagger-filled attitude and layers upon layers of bullshit pushed her away quite quickly.

The boy was nothing if not persistent back then, though, and he kept innocuously putting himself in the common room when she was there, or in her path between classes, or in the Great Hall during meals, continuing his theatrical attempts to “beguile” her. It didn’t take long before she was cooking up an idea for a spell that would put him in his place. Together with Miranda, who had had a similar experience a couple of years earlier, she combed the transfiguration books in the library, looking for a spell to temporarily turn people into pigs. The choice was easy: As far as they were concerned, he was a pig, and they were just going to help him embrace his inner self.

The two girls knew at least a little about human transfigurations, and learned much of the rest of what they thought they needed by spending a few lunches and free periods in the library, so it wasn’t long before they set up a trap for the unsuspecting boy. Emma sent him a note, asking him to meet her for a “private conversation” in an empty classroom after Potions class, but when he got there, Miranda closed the door behind him, wand out, and before he could even draw his, they shouted the incantation together, in theory transforming him into a pig.

They had never done something on that scale before, however, so even together, he just ended up with a pig’s head and hooves for the rest of the day. Still, it was enough. They made their point, knocked his ego down a bit, and he generally left the two alone after that. Of course, Emma received a pretty hefty detention for what was seen as an “unnecessarily cruel prank”, but she thought it was worth it to see Jon fruitlessly oinking at passing students, trying to keep his cool despite the change.

When he approached the two girls in the DC room and started to go into a rather familiar performance, she could think of no better response than some very unladylike oinks of her own, reminding him of their unspoken agreement, and what he could be getting in to. Rather quickly, it seemed to her, he dropped the act and went past them to greet Jared, and Emma shared a significant look with Miri, before bursting into a fit of giggles. The image of a blond, blue-eyed pig running around in Gryffindor robes was still one of her funniest memories.

[Dannyel]

Miranda followed them as they made their way into the meeting room, shuddering at the memory of the grindylows. “Oh no, if he pulls that again, I’m leaving. I don’t care what he says, that was by far the worst thing that he has asked us to do. Yet.” Despite its strangeness, Miranda could not help but feel slightly at home in the Defense Club meeting room. The first time she had been there she remembered being rather disturbed by the motley collection of dead creatures, but that had quickly faded and been replaced with an intense curiosity that could only be described as morbid.

Plopping down on one of the comfy chairs as soon as she could, Miranda nodded at Eli’s observation. “Looks like I won’t get called out for being late today,” she said with a grin that quickly faded as that guy wandered in. She decided not to point out that she had indeed noticed him, just chosen to ignore him for his own sake. Really, it was an act of mercy, ensuring that her quick wit would not embarrass him in front of his conquests. Rolling her eyes, Miranda ignored Jon’s spiel, her fingers itching to grab her wand and try some kind of hex on him. Through get strength of will she managed to keep her hand still, but still she couldn’t help herself, “Get stuffed Cairnwulder!”

Luckily, he seemed more focused on Emma today, though that made her feel slightly bad for the girl, even though she knew that she could handle herself. As soon as Emma started oinking, however, Miranda burst out into a fit of undignified giggles, ending with a loud snort as she tried to calm herself down. “Ahh, that was a good day,” she muttered, sharing a smile with Emma as the memory of a blond-hair pig-faced Jon scrambled all around Hogwarts, trying desperately to get somebody to understand him. The detention and lecturing afterwards had been hell, but it was totally worth it. “So how are you?” she managed as Jon walked away, talking in his typical pompous attitude, “My dear Emma dilemma. Get into any trouble lately?”

[Kare]

Everything in life, Leon had decided, had upsides and downsides. Magic, for example, was complex and difficult, but rewarding and practical. Quidditch, meanwhile, kept him fit and healthy, but was hard work and had a certain probability of being crippled by a bludger. In particular, being Head Boy involved unpleasant corridor-patrolling shifts to clog up his timetable and expected a certain perfection at all time. On the plus side, it gave him a name around the Hufflepuff House, and with the name came status, and with the status came a chair. He wasn't so petty as to insist that, in his absense, at least, this particular chair remained unoccupied, but it had become an unspoken rule in the Common Room that the armchair by the fire was indeed his, and there was an expectation that his chair be vacated upon request. Girls were generally exempt from this law (he was far too chivalrous to move a lady), but boys, and especially those in the fourth year or above, generally now simply left the chair unoccupied at all times. The thing that this armchair had that the others didn't, though Leon had never told anybody, was that it offered tremendous back support, and helped his posture. Posture was very important, and given his stately presence he carried with him wherever possible, it would be hard to imagine that the self-possessed young man with his pristene clothes and posture was merely a schoolboy. Never was this more true than in his chair, and he knew it.

It was from this armchair that he was casually reading a theory on Lunderberries. It was not particularly fascinating, but it was, at least, relevant. He had long dropped Herbology, but understanding the composition of Potions ingredients was vital. Besides, he was barely reading anyway; one eye was firmly fixed on the clock above the fire. Tick. Tock. It was nearly time to leave – and he wouldn't be late. As he stood up, he closed the book primly; the Lunderberry in its eighteen separate forms, each distinguished by an almost imperceptable difference in texture (and of which four were fatal), could wait. Just then, a pair of fifth-years appeared in the passageway. He knew them both – one was a competent Chaser who had recently replaced last year's captain, and the other was an obsessive Gobstones player. Both were pleasant, in a passive sort of way, but neither was intelligent. They had clearly just returned from a remedial Herbology session, and it could be seen even in the slightly yellow light of the Common Room. They were soaked in mud that smelled rather putrid. His dark eyes narrowed, and his face somehow drained itself of its friendliness.

“Why on earth would you come in here like that?” the question was rhetorical. Indeed, one of them began to reply, which was both ignored and then cut off by a spluttering sound. What had previously been two slightly mucky students was now an enormous mound of froth and bubbles. Leon was rather good at charms, and had been practising using most of them non-verbally, like now. It wasn't quite perfect yet, and occasionally his spells tended to go a little overboard – like now, for example. Still, it would teach them a lesson. After a moment, the bubbles began to vanish as inexplicably as they arrived, leaving two slightly damp but clean fifth-years smelling distinctly of lavender, “Do not,” said Leon, slowly, “Enter this common room in such a way as you just have ever again. You will find yourself writing ten lines each, if you do. The line in question, by the way, will be along the lines of 'I shall undertake to ensure that my entrance to the Hufflepuff Common Room is in every way within my power clean and well-presented to vastly improve the quality of life and sensory satisfaction of those that dwell within according to the principles of basic human decency and standard hygiene.' Have I made myself clear?”

He had, as it happened. A couple of sniggers from eavesdroppers could be heard – Leon ignored them, secretly pleased that his little spiel had had an appreciative audience. Still, it wouldn't do to let them know he knew. With that in mind, actually, how was his own appearance. He withdrew a comb from his pocket and realigned his side-parting with one hand, while straightening his canary yellow tie with the other. This was a ritual that took about thirty seconds, and one that he had perfected over the years. He didn't even need to look anymore, but, in truth, it was less about his appearance than it was about the feeling of having done it. This too accounted for his habit of polishing his shoes and Head Boy badge literally every night without fail. Either way, he was now ready.


He had noticed something amiss upon his arrival to the Defense Club room – something that he had been noticing since his recent induction to the DC. He wasn't the first person there. Having checked his watch, he knew he wasn't late, but the door was wide open, and he could hear the other members inside. Even Eli, whom Leon hadn't known to be early and not 'on time at best' for anything else, could be heard chatting with the others. Apparently he had had a misadventure with ... yes, that was a massive chute in the ceiling. Typical. And yet he was still early.

“Good afternoon all,” his cheery tone seemed out of place in the DC room, which was particularly gothic, even for Hogwarts, “I never get used to this room. Brr,” then, to the other boys (since the girls appeared occupied with something hilarious), “How is everybody, anyway? Do you feel ready for your game next week, Jon?” then, with a wicked grin and a wink to Eli, added, “I could always offer you a few tips if you feel they will help you?”