On Saturday, Christian received a letter from his mother that made his brow furrow. It was in response to the news that he had been granted an exception to take Ancient Rune. Although she expressed encouragement, he could tell from the letter's tone that she was not excited.
'I was right. She doesn't want me to figure out the mysteries of Odin's Eye, at least, not until I'm older.' Christian shook his head. Although he understood her concern, he also wanted to know what happened to his father.
Christian continued his tight schedule. While returning from the Room of Requirement, he saw something lying on the floor in the corner. "Is that Neville's Remembrall?" As he picked up, he had an inkling of what was happening. Christian remembered how horrible the potion class had been for Neville and decided to do something nice for him.
In the second lesson, Snape became more egregious in his actions, making things difficult even when he asked questions. The man's talent for potion might be one of the best in modern times, but he was genuinely insufferable.
Christian returned to his room and immediately began working on the Remembrall. After he had already dressed in the morning, he returned to the room where Neville and the others would wake up.
"Neville, I have something for you."
"My Remembrall? You found it?"
"Not only that, but I added some modifications," said Christian.
"Yeah. I've bewitched it to stick to your robe and follow you so you won't forget it." Christian was inspired by the book when the Weasley Twins did something similar to a snowball that followed Professor Quirrell around.
"I've also added a little bit of Legilimency, so when it lights red to remind you you've forgotten something, it can tell you what you've forgotten."
"Really?" Neville held the thing in his hand, and it immediately turned red. "Oh, I forgot to finish the History Paper on Uric the Oddball." Nevill rushed to his bag to finish his homework.
"Is there anything you can't do?" asked Dean.
"Like we would believe you," said Seamus, rolling his eyes as he headed to the bathroom. Time passed, and the month of October had arrived. Nothing interesting happened except for his increasing communication with Professor Quirrell.
The different clubs had started, and Christian joined the Charm, Transfiguration, Ancient Rune, and Dueling Clubs. He wanted to join the Potion Club but decided against it because he did not want to deal with Snape or the other Slytherin students.
The Charm and Transfiguration Club was as he had imagined. He had an opportunity to interact with older students, received additional lessons, and could ask as many questions as he wished. On the first day, he had a two-hour-long discussion with Flitwick and a few others about magic theories.
The day of the Dueling Club arrived, and almost everybody was excited. All the students headed to the Great Hall. All the students could participate in the first meeting, but afterward, they were divided into two groups: first to third year and fourth to seventh year. Christian arrived on time and stood with the first-year Gryffindor. While he was looking around, Neville approached him.
"Neville? Do you need something?"
"My gramps wanted me to thank you for the Remembrall," said Neville. "Ever since I had it, I never forgot the common room password or any of my books or homework."
"No problem. If it stops working, you can come to me, and I'll fix it," replied Christian.
"T-thank you, and she said to give you this."
"Cookies?" Christian unwrapped it and bit it. "Delicious. Tell her I love it." He finished the entire thing and felt energized. Harry, Ron, and Hermione soon arrived and joined them. Once everything was here, Professor Flitwick began the club. He stood at an elevated podium overlooking everyone at the hall's center.
"We will begin with a demonstrative duel. All first-years pay attention to the proper etiquette." Flitwick chose two fourth-year students and had them demonstrate. The school clubs became activated in April, so the first-year students were the only ones experiencing it for the first time.
The duel was between a Ravenclaw student and a Gryffindor, and Ravenclaw won. Flitwick dismissed the duelists before continuing. "Now, I need two students." He looked around, "Harry, Ron—you're up."
Although surprised, these two were also excited as they rushed to the fighting stadium.
"Now, I know you guys know very little magic. So I will teach you a straightforward attack spell called Magic Shot," said Flitwick. "You don't need any incantation or wand movement. You only need to concentrate, imagine the magic flowing through your wand, and point. You will release a burst of magic with little to no offensive capabilities. Now, salute."
Harry and Ron followed his instructions.
"On the count of 3, 3…2…1… begin."
Harry and Ron followed the instructions, but nothing happened to Ron. Meanwhile, Harry released a white light that hit Ron on his head. "Ow, that hurt."
"On your first trial? Excellent, Harry. Now, continue."
Harry continued to wave his wand and release white light. They had little effect except hurting Ron, who could only get hit without any defensive capabilities. However, when he reached his limit near the end of the duel, Harry was about to win, but Ron successfully used a Magic Shot.
[AN: This spell is inspired by the Hogwarts Legacy Game's basic attack (R2).]
Christian calmly watched this duel, thinking this was the best spell to teach the first year. It's simple, easy to learn, and causes very little damage, even when used by an adult. This spell is also the first one he used when that dark witch tried to kidnap him.
"Excellent duel. You saw how it's done?... Now, all first-years partner up with somebody to try. Second-years and above, you know what to do. Prefects, you're supervising everyone." Flitwick focused on Christian, "Come up."
Christian walked to the podium next to Flitwick. "What grade do you think you can take on?"
"Anyone in the fifth year or below is fine." Christian wanted to be modest and did not say he had no issues fighting anyone.
"Bold words, but I would not expect anything from a show-off like you."
Christian looked at the person who said those words: Captain of the Slytherin Quidditch Team, Marcus Flint.
"Do you want to come prove me wrong?" asked Christian with a smile.
"And lower myself to your level? Adrian, go show him the pride of Slytherin." Adrian Pucey was a third-year student, so Christian had never interacted with him. He watched him walk on the podium and stand some distance from him.
"Excellent," said Professor Flitwick. "Remember: I will not tolerate any act of cheating that dishonors the sacred ritual that is dueling. Salute!... Now, on the count of 3, 3…2…1…begin."
"Expelliarmus." Adrian was the first to attack, using a Disarming Charm. However, Christian casually moved his upper body and evaded the attack; he made it look so easy. Somewhere along the way, his Capoeira lessons had to change to focus more on using the upper body to dodge, just like boxers. As such, he was confident in his evading ability and planned to continue training it while in school.
Adrian unsuccessfully tried two more Disarming Charms, so he changed tactics. Sadly, Christian was done showing off. Using his extreme speed and reflexes, he used two Magic Shots at Adrian's legs, making him fall on his face. And before he hit the ground, Christian hit him with three more basic shots.
"The winner is Christian," declared Flitwick.
"Are you done having your goons do your dirty work?" asked Christian, looking directly at Marcus Flint, who snorted before sending Lucian Bole, a fourth-year student. Christian smirked before looking at the audience and asking, "Does anyone have a piece of gum?" A girl from Hufflepuff handed him some, and Christian chewed it for five seconds before holding it in his left hand.
"Waddiwasi." Christian's spell finished first, and the gum in his hand flew with incredible velocity into Lucian's nose, knocking him to his back due to sheer force.
"Now, it should be your turn!" Christian taunted. "Don't tell me you're scared. What happened to all that Slytherin pride?" Marcus gritted his teeth before walking to the stadium.
"Things are getting exciting," remarked Flitwick. "Salute!...3…2–"
"Petrificus Totalus." Marcus did not wait for the countdown and attacked. Unfortunately for him, Christian never trusted him, and with his quick reflexes, he nonverbally cast a Shield Charm. So, the Full-Body Bind Curse rebounded, making Marcus's body stiff like a statue before falling on his back.
"So typical of Slytherin," sneered Christian. Flitwick sighed in exasperation. He walked to the frozen Marcus and placed his wand on his head, "Finite Incantatem." Marcus's body rapidly returned to normal as this counter-curse came into effect.
"This is the third time you've broken the rules and cheated. From now on, you're expelled from the Dueling Club."
"No, buts. And I'm taking 20 points from Slytherin."
Marcus left the Great Hall, followed by a few of his friends. The club continued, but Christian did not continue fighting. Instead, he took a moment to observe his wand. Olivander told him it was a fickle wand that needed his approval, and dueling might be one way to do so.
However, after this battle, he did not feel any changes. His wand has always been the same, feeling like an extension of his arm and a part of him.
'Maybe I'm missing something,' thought Christian before observing the other duels, and when Professor Flitwick had spare time, he would discuss dueling techniques with him. As a once-dueling champion, Christian knew he could learn a great deal.