The next morning, Harry, Ron and Hermione had gotten to the Great Hall for breakfast early enough to see something very interesting. As they were sitting down, Draco Malfoy was carrying twice the amount of books he usually carried. In front of him was Rose Black reading a small black book, ignoring the commotion behind her.
Since Malfoy was carrying an absurd amount of books, he stumbled along trying not to drop any. The uniqueness of the situation caused many students to look up from their meal and watch. When they reached their places at the Slytherin table, peace was restored.
"Did you see that?" asked Hermione with amusement.
"Yeah, a once in a lifetime chance to see him do an act of kindness," Harry replied grumpily
"Why would a girl like her fall for such a hideous monster like him is still a question," Hermione asked her friends.
"Maybe she didn't fall for 'such a hideous monster'," Ron said helping himself to some eggs.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Well maybe she just want's him to carry her books, so she wouldn't have to herself," Ron answered.
"There's a thought," Hermione stated.
"Yeah," Ron replied, "At least we know that she isn't completely insane."
The conversation then switched onto Quidditch. Harry told them how Malfoy became the new Chaser and how Rose became the new Seeker and Captain.
"That quickly?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded.
"She must be good," Hermione added.
"Yeah, to be Captain and Seeker on her first day at Hogwarts," Harry replied.
"Do you know who's going to be the new Keeper and Captain for our team?" asked Ron.
Harry shook his head.
The conversation ended there because Dumbledore was going to make an announcement.
"We have viewed your requests," Dumbledore continued, "And some of them were rather interesting… But we have agreed that there will be a dance to celebrate the new school year."
Many students cheered.
"The dance will be held this Saturday from 7 to 11 for 4th to 7th years only."
The announcement was finished and conversation started up again at full roar. Some of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years grumbled at the restrictions, but other than that most of the students were pretty joyous.
"A dance?" Harry asked his friends.
"I guess so," Ron said uncomfortably.
"So are we going together as a group or not?" said Hermione flatly.
"Yeah I guess so," Ron replied.
"Sure," Harry answered.
The conversation about the dance ended there. Instead it switched back to Quidditch. Soon the plates were empty and the group walked to their first class, Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Who do you think our new teacher is?" Ron asked.
"I don't know, they didn't announce it at all," Hermione replied.
"I know, I didn't see anybody new sitting at the teacher's table," Harry added on.
Soon they reached the classroom and took their usual seats still exchanging ideas on the subject of teachers. The door soon opened, and in walked the one and only Gilderoy Lockheart. Moans and groans soon greeted him.
The class was boring, what more can you expect from him. When it ended, Harry, Ron and Hermione soon rushed out as quickly as possible.
Harry and his friends found themselves at lunch. They were enjoying themselves until they were suddenly interrupted.
"So is it true Potter?" asked a sneering voice behind them. Harry quickly turned around to see Malfoy, his cronies, and Rose.
"So tell me, do you really think it's nice to dis people?" Rose asked in a sweet voice. She didn't give him a chance to answer. "Wizard's duel, tonight at midnight, by the lake. Or are you just too chicken?"
"I'll be there," Harry replied.
"I'm his second," Ron added.
Rose turned around to look at whom she had to choose from. Disgusted at the choices she said, "Malfoy. And you better be there Potter." After her last statement she walked on back to the Slytherin table.
"What was she talking about?" Harry asked after they left.
"I don't know, but Malfoy probably had something to do with it," Hermione muttered.
"I agree," said Ron.
The next couple of classes were the same as usual, complete with snide remarks from Malfoy. As usual, Harry ignored them. Soon it was night, and the group met in the common room along with Harry's invisible cloak.
They crept along the hallways, until they had gotten outside of the castle's doors. They still hid under the cloak, but they were able to travel much faster since no one was outside. Within minutes they reached the lake.
Rose and Draco were standing on the far side near the Forbidden Forest. The crescent moon lit up the shapes that surround them. They walked closer still taking caution. The soft sounds made by walking were the only sound to be heard. Other than that it was deathly quiet.
When they reached them it was Rose who broke the silence.
"So you made it?" she asked in a cold voice.
"Yes I did," Harry replied back in equal coldness.
They backed up to a comfortable distance. They each waited for the other to make a move. Annoyed Rose called up the first move. She muttered something and out from her wand slithered a large, greenish silver snake.
Hermione backed away as the green serpent slithered towards Harry. Harry froze, he quickly glanced back to his friends who had no advice to offer him. He thought back to his previous years.
The snake faced him with vicious red eyes. The snake hissed a few words, which Harry understood completely. He talked back to it in a strange language, but that did little to help him. He tried to keep his cool and concentrate but with a large, winding, snake out to get you it was hard.
Then it struck him; he said a couple of words, hoping that they were the correct ones. Out of his wand was a burst of fiery red light. Harry's aim was true. The light hit the snake's head and it whirled around in fury.
He said the words again and another ball of fire blasted out. This time it took care of the serpent for good. There was definitely a sense of tension in the air.
The students at the duel were silent. Though some were thoroughly terrified, they were still silent. Harry let out a long sigh, but it was a little too late to relax.
Rose was annoyed that he had beaten her snake. Called out another spell. She muttered a few more words. Instead of a snake appearing, she sent out an extremely large ball of fiery flames. Harry's jaw dropped. Hermione and Ron quickly took cover. He said some more words and a beam of water came out and distinguished the fire.
Rose was annoyed at the defeat of her second spell. She raised her wand again, this time she repeated an incantation over and over again. Slowly a whirl wind of flames poured out.
Gradually over time the fierceness of the winds increased with discomfort to our fellow friends. The grass crackled at the heat as the flames whirled nearer and nearer to where Harry was. Not knowing the counter spell he stood there waiting for an unknown miracle.
Out of nowhere, a short skinny figure placed himself in front of Harry. Finding that her plan had worked Rose quickly countered the action and ropes whirled out from her wand wrapping itself around the figure.
They all knew that the duel had ended there. She left Malfoy who was hiding pathetically behind the bushes, to the wrapped up figure. Stunned Harry walked towards the short balding person wrapped in course rope. The debt is repaid.
