*Morpheus pov*
The castle was in a strange state right now, if one were observant one would notice the underlying tension in the air. Nightly patrols have increased and morning patrols have been started.
Albus was not happy in the slightest upset at the fact 'his' castle had turned into something so deadly. He wanted to find a way to resolve the problems quickly.
Alas, the situation wasn't so simple to solve. These followers of Tom have orders and I assume if they don't follow them Tom will do something drastic.
His ego is hurt after all.
Albus doesn't realize we are in a unique situation a rare chance has formed to make Evan Rosier something more than a paranoid boy who's decent at dueling.
And I will make him that something more, his fellow Slytherin afraid of rejecting the dark lord will soon see his followers can be defeated and they can fight back.
Evan won't realize it at first but he will build a group around him all with the common goal of resisting servitude.
And the start of it all?
Why dueling club of course.
***
My footsteps rang through the corridors as I approached the dueling club room, my mind swirled with possibilities as I neared the entrance.
They will be upset, the professors I mean. They won't get it at first, they will think I'm pandering to the Slytherins.
They might even try to stop me.
Albus will realize what I'm doing first, he will see the benefits and the downsides but I'm confident he will see it my way.
Entering the room I saw students chatting before the class started, Abara and Yowie were already on the stage discussing something.
I walked over and joined them a smile plastered on my face, "Abara! Yowie! Good to see you two again, and thank you for letting me host today's club,"
Yowie had a strained smile on his face, "I think we agreed on you helping? Not hosting Morpheus,"
I shook my hand waving his concerns away, "I am helping don't worry too much, just conduct class as normal, and at the end let me pick the duelists to go up on stage,"
Abara frowned, "What are you planning?" he asked while scanning the students I could see his eyes rest on the figure of Evan, "don't do anything too risky,"
Yowie seemed to get the gist, "We will allow it but if your plan goes too far Abara and I need to think of the club,"
Ah yes, they were worried about the possibility of the influential Slytherin parents being upset.
I chuckled darkly, "Do not worry about that nonsense, they can do nothing,"
"I hope so," Abara said faintly before clapping his hands to gather the student's attention, "Let's start," he announced
I stepped down from the platform found a nice spot in the back and began to watch the clubs practice. I must say they worked perfectly on rectifying the mistakes made in the previous duel.
As the night stretched on and the lesson began to come to an end Abara took the platform with a small nervous smile plastered on his face, "today we will conduct the dueling practice a little differently. Professor Morpheus has agreed to be the judge and pick the matches as he has been at both official duels and can offer a unique perspective,"
I walked graciously onto the platform, "Thank you,"
Abara stepped off of the platform leaving me to choose the duelists, "Hmmm so many students to choose from, I guess I'll just call out two random names," I mused aloud, "Evan Rosier versus Thaddeus Mulciber Jr!"
I could see the professors including Albus deadpan at my obvious lie about choosing at random.
Some of the students looked excited while others nervous.
Evan walked calmly to the platform I could tell he was using Occlumency while Thaddeus walked slowly to the platform a smirk plastered on his face obviously overconfident thinking he would win.
As Evan stepped onto the stage I moved back stepping off awaiting the good show that would soon follow.
"Seems the professor doesn't like you either," Sneered Thaddeus
Evan stayed calm and replied, "I think it's you who he doesn't like,"
"Enough chit-chat duel!" I interrupted
The duel began with a flurry of spells, sparks flying as spells clashed and ricocheted off invisible barriers. Evan cast a stunning spell, aiming directly at Thaddeus, but the latter swiftly countered with a Protego charm, deflecting the spell with ease.
Evan retaliating with a Disarming Charm, but Thaddeus sidestepped gracefully, countering with a freezing hex that sent a chill down Evan's spine. The crowd gasped as Evan narrowly avoided being frozen in place, quickly conjuring a shield of his own to deflect the hex.
I and everyone else could tell both students were holding back in front of so many students and professors they hesitated to delve into the darker arts.
As the duel intensified, the spells grew darker, fueled by the growing animosity between the two Slytherins. Evan, his eyes glinting with determination, unleashed a cutting curse aimed at Thaddeus's legs, seeking to immobilize him. Thaddeus, however, deftly countered with a Blasting Curse, the force of which sent Evan stumbling backward.
With each passing moment, the spells grew more sinister, mirroring the darkness within the hearts of the two wizards. Evan, his patience wearing thin, unleashed a torrent of curses, "Afflicto, Afflicto, Perforo!" Thaddeus dodged one and used Protego for the other two showing his advantage at being an older student
Thaddeus was not to be outdone, channeling his own dark emotions into a curse that lashed out like tendrils of shadow, seeking to ensnare Evan in its grasp. The two wizards circled each other like predators, lashing out at each other and trying to find a gap in the other's defense.
Evan snarled, "Bombarda!" he aimed it at the floor in front of Thaddeus exploding parts of the platform and pushing the older Slytherin back
As parts of the platform flew into the air Evan waved his want in a familiar fashion to all those who remembered their first day in Transfiguration. The stone in the air transformed into metal needles, "Depulso!" the banishing charm caused the needles to shoot through the air toward Thaddeus
"Protego!" Thaddeus yelled blocking the needles
It was like rain hitting a metal roof the needles pitter-pattered onto the floor. Evan didn't waste a second his wand arm was held back behind his head like he was drawing a sword behind his back or getting ready to throw a heavy ball, with a vicious forward movement of his arm he yelled, "Ferrum Impactum!" a dark grey spell shot from his wand hurling toward Thaddeus who was now pushed back to the right corner of the stage
"PROTEGO!" he yelled in alarm seeing he couldn't dodge in time
Evan did nothing but smirk as the spell impacted with the shield shattering it in the process.
*PAH* *CRCKK* "AHHRRGHHH!" a shrill scream escaped Thaddeus's mouth as he was thrown off the stage his stomach had a clear indent in it his ribs most likely broken
I jumped up on stage seeing the crowd become rowdy, "Not to worry!" I announced enhancing my voice, "Madam Pomfrey is here just for occasions like this!" as the words escaped my lips Madam Pomfrey was already by the Child's side
"Now for our next duel, I will choose at random yet again!," I said pushing the class along and ignoring all the worried looks being sent my way
Albus already left he is probably watching from his office, plausible deniability and all of that nonsense.
"Evan Rosier versus Johnathan Wilkes!" My pick of Slytherins targeting Evan was slim as not all of them attended the club
The surprised looks from the students and the angry glare of one Minerva McGonagall told me, everyone knew what I was doing.
Oh well~
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