Tiffany had returned to her dorm earlier than usual after a long school day and a comfortable dinner. She stripped off her uniform without care and replaced it with her official duel attire. It was not necessary for training but like any athlete or professional in martial magic, it pays well to always be prepared.
Plus, she wanted to show off a little bit.
For the most part, it did not matter much what the duellists visually wore. Most tend to lean towards practicality, safety and comfort, while others prefer the dramatic capes and pointed hats. Some clubs or mentors tend to make uniforms; standardised jerseys, soft armour, leather armour, wand holsters, and leather boots.
Tiffany's training attire consisted of a body suit of some kind, usually just a long-sleeved leotard paired with breeches, thick compression tights, or even tactical cargo pants. Her wand holster was always secured around her thigh and looped onto her belt. She wore either tall leather or combat boots and a leather chest armour or a ballistic vest/plastron, sometimes a throw-over and sometimes nothing else.
Today's official uniform was one designed by the Great Athena Williams herself. At least, Tiffany could get away with saying her mother did so with the ignorance of the magical world, but anyone who had watched Star Wars knew that Tiffany was only a light-sabre shy from being a Jedi. Or a Jedi background extra.
Her first layer was a cream under-tunic top with long sleeves matched with fitted slacks. Then a sleeveless outer tunic-apron in a deep navy blue that was open on the sides and stopped about the knee. A Y-front leather tabard with two leather straps on the side that cinched her robes in place. A wand holster strapped to her waist, then finally a deep hood capette.
Her sleeves were tucked into leather forearm bracers paired with fingerless gloves and tall leather boots on her feet.
"Woah."
Tiffany had her arms awkwardly flexed behind her to fix her hair into two Dutch braids when her roommates huddled through the door.
"That's fucking Obi-wan Kenobi," Darinda whispered to no one in particular. "Shit shit shit—, I wish I had a camera right now. Fuck— I go to school with the Jedi Master."
The Jedi phony abandoned her hair, mid-braid and swung her wand back into a pose.
"Lumos~,"
The tip of her wand lit sparsely in the already well-lit room and was an underwhelming display of play pretend.
"That was—,"
"Brilliant!" Darinda gave her enthusiastic applause like she had met her hero. Tiffany smelt that she was being trolled.
"I was going to say pathetic, but okay."
Angelina strode towards Tiffany and pushed her back into her desk chair. She then threaded her fingers through her hair and undid her braid.
"Your hair part is crocked," She commented bluntly. "and the back of your head looks ridiculous."
Tiffany pouted. She was not good at hair and rarely attempted to try and do so. Usually, she had Dippy to help her but he wouldn't be at Hogwarts for another month and the 'Tiffany Williams' duel attire is not complete without at least one braid.
"Honestly, as long as the front looks good," She slipped a stray piece behind her ear.
"Oh no. I'm re-doing this braid. Why didn't you ask for help earlier? Braiding's kind of my thing." Angelina snorted when Tiffany wailed as her hard work was unravelled and brushed away.
"I thought I could manage."
Angelina did not comment, her fingers quickly and efficiently weaving her hair into tight enough braids that Tiffany became teary-eyed at the pulling. It did look nice though.
"Let's go, then." Tiffany sighed. She made a dramatic show of spinning and her short cape flared out behind her into a longer one that billowed as she stalked away.
"Who made your costume?" Audrey demanded. The pixie had bumbled after her, eyes devouring the cape's enchantments with hunger, their two other roommates followed behind in tow.
"We should get matching! We'll be Jedi too," Darinda gave a dreamy sigh. "So tell us. We'll pay for it! We'll bloody pay for it! I want it! You must—," Darinda suddenly stopped making noise as Audrey hit her with a Silencio charm unapologetically.
"Sorry about her. She's what 'le muggles call… a nerd." She said sagely in a French accent, ignoring Darinda's attempts to yell at her. It was obvious she was using this time to swear her pretty head off at Audrey.
Darinda started a silent movie rendition of a fistfight. She mimed pulling up her sleeve, then got into jumping back and forth like a boxer, circling her fists at Audrey, who just as dramatically examined her nails in boredom.
"You guys are ruining my strut," Tiffany whined playfully.
The quartet had arrived in the dungeons, following a crowd of unsuspecting seniors who were going to speculate.
"I can't believe Flitwick's finally leading a Duelling Club." The senior Slytherin gushed.
"It's not. It's a public demonstration and a mentorship." Her friend corrected.
"Mentorship? Are we watching him tutor someone?" The senior Slytherin sucked her teeth in mild disappointment. "I thought it was weird that Flitwick refused for so long and all of a sudden wanted to host something. I guess last year's disaster still haunts us."
"The student is a big wig, up-and-coming Duellist," her friend scoffed. "How big can they be? I've never even heard of them."
"Well," Tiffany decided to chime in, "Duelling is not as largely practised in this part of the world. The biggest school in this country doesn't even have a team, so I understand if you don't know me." She smiled sweetly, by-passing them as they paused to gape at her.
"It's always you and your big mouth." The senior Slytherin hissed in admonishment. The other muttered a soft 'sorry' but Tiffany had entered the meeting place.
"Miss Williams, welcome!" Professor Flitwick greeted. He was in a white and black padded jacket and white breeches, something akin to fencing body gear.
The dungeon was a large stone hall an open space with an elevated stage and a high ceiling. There was a second-level observation gallery that overlooked the stage and was packed with students spectating over the wooden balustrade.
"This was a duelling hall before the 1980s. I had trained here plenty in my youth as a young Ravenclaw." Professor Flitwick boasted proudly.
Tiffany was impressed by the battle marks etched into the walls, even spotting a scorch mark on the banister on the upper level.
'Did a bystander get hit?' She thought. Tiffany figured it could've been a heckler. 'Or a nemesis.'
The witch took in the curious eyes of the audience above and flipped her hood off in one fluid motion, the cape shortening until it only covered a little below her shoulders.
She gave Harry and Ron a small wave after she spotted them, both of whom waved back excitedly.
"Hermione?" She mouthed at Harry, who immediately panicked into opening and shutting his hands like a book.
"Library?" She mouthed to him, and he nodded his head vigorously with a smile.
Tiffany then met her new mentor on stage, shaking his hand firmly.
"It is an honour to be learning from you. Please take care of me." Flitwick gave a delightful chuckle, his grip was steady and filled Tiffany with a sense of respect.
"The honour is mine." The half-goblin stepped away and Tiffany waited patiently to be instructed.
"I have invited a few of your seniors to watch. I hope it's okay if I teach them as they watch." The witch nodded.
"Good! To start, for my audience, what is duelling to us?" Professor Flitwick's voice was amplified and the chatter ceased.
"It's a competitive show of martial magic. It consists of two sides in opposition, fighting for dominance and victory. Winning is determined by stamina, spell repertoire, strategy and most times, luck." She shrugged.
"Excellent!" His tenor voice echoed off the walls. "Wizards duel in a professional context, is an art form. As Miss Willams stated, a show of magic and the best way to explain it is obviously to show it!"
The crowd cheered heartily. Tiffany, infected by the atmosphere straightened up exponentially, hoping to at least give them a good show.
"As mentioned at last year's session, the requirement to start a duel is by bowing to your opponent. This is a respectful acknowledgment of the terms of the duel. Certain rules can be modified for private duels, including the possibility of fighting to the death. However, the International Duelling Association has prohibited 'Death Duels' in its official competitions and related activities."
The two opposers bowed, Tiffany's a little deeper than Flitwick's— a show of respect and hierarchy. She took her stance, right foot in front of the left with toes pointed outwards and ankles close. Her shoulders were pulled back and an arm was extended with her wand. She let Flitwick critique her for the audience.
"In most professional duels, the opponents will be back-to-back until a signal has been given and they'll turn, then attack. Any attack before the signal is a disqualification."
"Ready?" Both opponents nodded. Tiffany pivoted on the spot and paced forward slowly.
The umpire, a sweet-looking Professor Sprout in her gardening overalls and boots, sent up a timed bell.
'TING'
Flitwick was quick to draw and sent a stupefy spell at Tiffany almost as instantaneously as the bell chimed. Still, sensitive to magic, Tiffany took a pivot to the left in reflex and sent her spell back.
"Bombarda~,"
The small explosion was deflected by Flitwick. She sent two more stinging hexes, herding him closer to the outermost of the stage before sending another spell.
"Flipendo~,"
Flitwick was not a champion for no reason. After allowing his mentee to push him to the edge of the stage, he quickly dodged her incoming spell and sent his own.
"Everte Statum." A flash of light zipped at Tiffany and successfully stumbled her back despite her already erected shield. Regaining her balance she sent two stinging hexes; both of which he deflected easily.
"Aqua Eructo~,"
A water bullet pistoled out from her wand followed by three others, only one managed to splatter Flitwick's wand arm. It was just hard enough that the older man's arm and shoulder swung back but not hard enough to disarm him. Her opponent flicked his wand, and the moisture on the stage was banished away.
Tiffany had enough time to conjure a wood partition that blocked a spell bolt but it still pierced the wood and left the young witch agape. Professor Flitwick transfigured the wood partition into a wooden jaguar puppet that stalked towards her menacingly.
"Miss Williams, please feel free to show more imaginative spells." Flitwick's snipe caused her to grit her teeth, knowing her mentor's big mouth was the reason he was pushing so hard. Since it seemed that Flitwick was not timing her for disarming him, she took a little moment to un-frazzle herself.
'A conjuration? I wonder which one he wants—,' Her train of thought was cut by a pulse of concentrated air projected towards her that she dodged by spinning. She was quick to change the grip on her wand from the end to the middle then spat out her spell.
"Expecto Amicus~,"
A bright light lit the hall and a corporeal battle axe formed around her wand. The changed weapon was much more comfortable for her to use and she could not hide the devilish pride she felt wielding her axe. She swung the weapon downwards, cutting the air with its blade that pressed heavily against the jaguar and splinting the wood to oblivion, forcing Flitwick to erect a solid shield to shelter from the stray shards. She spun around and sent the axe forward, breaking the almost impenetrable shield, dissipating as it sliced the front of his jacket then shouted her final spell.
"Expelliarmus!" She officially disarmed him briefly but only had enough juice in her to zap the wand out of his hand. He had caught it before it touched the ground and charged at her with another knockback spell.
"Everte Statum," which thrust her backwards, her body fell and slid across the stage, head leaning over the edge. She looked at the crowd watching her from upside down and gave a sheepish smile.
"Call!" Professor Sprout interfered and then addressed her. "Dueller, are you okay?" She asked.
"Peachy, Professor." She sat up, legs spread in front of her as the crowd continued to applaud and hoot.
"Miss Williams, a splendid show of martial magic. Let's critique. You are a versatile duellist, using both offensive and defensive magic as often and interchangeably as possible. You're a bit trigger-happy. A muggle term that describes someone who shoots excessively. It's a good strategy, but you depleted your core a lot quicker. Had you reserved a bit more, you would have held your axe for a lot longer."
Tiffany blushed. It was hard already for her to hold the battle axe longer than three slashes, it was almost redundant but it was such a cool spell, she didn't have the heart not to use it.
"I'm aware that some of the spells your teacher had taught you were all illegal," Flitwick gave her a knowing smirk, "But for those who do not know, what is Expecto Amicus?"
Tiffany enjoyed the teaching segways of Flitwick's current lesson. Her teacher would not have given her any time to rest.
"Expecto Amicus uses positive emotions to create a battle partner, much like a Patronus that creates a spirit guardian. Most battle partners are different depending on the wielder and like the Patronus, is hard as f—,"
"Thank you, Miss Williams!" Professor Flitwick interrupted. "The Patronus Charm is a very advanced spell and even now, most adult wixen cannot cast a corporeal one. The Amicus Charm is a derivated of this spell and is just as hard to succeed in. A round of applause for Miss Williams."
The crowd cheered heartily and Tiffany was quick to stand and bow playfully, clasping her hands together and shaking them near her ear.
"Does any volunteer wish to duel Miss Williams, one time? Preferably a senior?" Professor Flitwick scanned the second-level gallery and then paused at two Slytherin boys before one of them reluctantly raised their hand.
"Mr Raul, if you please," Professor Flitwick addressed and the Slytherin trudged down the stairs and onto the stage.
The new opponent was a very tall young wizard. His face was a lot more rugged-looking than most but he seemed friendly enough. He gave Tiffany a nonchalant nod that she returned with a smile as the professor left the stage.
"Non-lethals only. Please aim for a quick disarm." They both nodded, then bowed at each other and turned away. After confirming they were ready, Professor Sprout sent up the bell charm.
'TING!'
Tiffany spun around confidently, wand arm ready as she cast a quick stinging hex. Her opponent let it hit his burly body, barely flinching as the spell zapped his bicep then a flash of a white shot from his wand that she was quick to deflect.
"Expelliarmus!" She zapped the wand out of his hand and quickly disarmed him.
"Call!" Professor Sprout called the round to an end as quickly as it had started.
Raul's eyes widened in shock, his eyes shuffled between his wand and his hand then at Tiffany before he gave her another bow, picking up his wand and then leaving the stage.
"Thank you, Mr Raul," Professor Flitwick gave the exiting opponent an applause that was followed by ones from the crowd. "A very quick disarm, Miss Williams. Wonderful."
The rest of the lesson involved foot and arm work, starting with Flitwick charming tennis balls to pelt his mentee for her to dodge. Many of the students who laughed had tennis balls ricocheted at them by the mildly embarrassed Tiffany.
Once she was comfortably dodging most tennis balls at top speed, Flitwick replaced the balls with smaller projectiles that pelted her with precision in the same three spots. The last involved lightweight training to help with her arm muscles and reaction times.
By the end, her body was slick with sweat as she hunched over, breathlessly after her mentor gave her a break. Any sentiment that he was better than Teacher Phillip went out the door.
'Both are demons.'
"That concludes our session for tonight." Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout bid Tiffany and the other students a farewell then left, the crowd noisily following after them as they took awe-inspired looks at Tiffany. The latter had no clue if the training even benefitted anyone but herself.
She stretched her muscles slowly, cooling down her body as she collected the pieces of her attire that she discarded due to sweat. She regretted using her actual duel attire since duelling wasn't this sweat-inducing.
The trio was waiting for her as Percy took to carrying her uniform.
"That was so cool!" Harry exclaimed, his green eyes bright with excitement. His two friends nodded behind him, just as easily making Tiffany chuckle.
"I'm glad you liked watching me suffer."
They snickered in response and after a moment, Harry looked contemplative.
"Harry?" She questioned.
"Can you teach me? It doesn't have to be official duelling but I like the idea of being able to defend myself." He asked her shyly.
Harry was not one to ask for anything, in hopes that he was not a burden. But watching as Tiffany danced across the stage, a strong arm ready to smite and a face of pure focus, he was naturally drawn in. In a world where he had faced two near-death adversaries, he wanted to learn how to fight.
"Yes," Tiffany affirmed, her face softened. "I'd be honoured to help you. All three of you."
"Yes!" Ron cheered and Hermione buzzed next to him.
After a successful acquisition of a mentor of their own, the three young Gryffindors led Tiffany and Percy out of the dungeons.
"It looked good," Percy critiqued.
He was teeming with pride. His best friend was a force to be reckoned with and every time he saw her duel, he was reminded of her power and how far she had come from the little girl that would randomly show up at his house in tears.
"Really? I wasn't thinking about anything else once the tennis balls came out," She chuckled and Percy gave her a small grin of amusement.
"You were not lying when you said training was a bit ridiculous but effective. But it was interesting to watch. You glide on stage and make it look effortless. That guy you duelled, Hassan Raul is a decent Defence student and you showed him up in less than ten seconds."
"Hassan Raul. I might invite him to more of my sessions, he looks like the Auror-type."
Percy thought he looked more like a bandit than an Auror but wisely kept that to himself. It was not like he was any good at judging people the way Tiffany was.
"You could restart the Duelling Club, maybe have it registered to the IDA and get some funding from the Board. It'll be a pretty good initiative. Then you can ease your way into small political movements."
Tiffany smiled at her best friend. He knew her well enough to know how these small moves aligned in the larger scheme of things. It was true that if she wanted to make a change for women in the Magical world, her family's money and her obscure blood status, were not enough. A reputation that precedes itself. Something that allowed allies to deem her reliable to rally behind. The hardest barrier would probably be the gender double standard placed on women simply for being women. To dominate in a patriarchal society, Tiffany needed to be the best she could be but had to be smart about it. Simply allowing her opposition to make an exception for her alone would not be enough.
"Perc, I am in over my head aren't I?"
"Anyone willing to take a small step towards bettering society is already bettering society. Some people don't take that step and here you are, taking multiple steps towards an impossible goal that becomes more and more tangible with every step you take."
Percy had good political potential. Despite his low EQ, he knew what to say and when to say it. If he were a non-maj, he would thrive in Parliament and would be wasted as a ministry lackey.
Tiffany narrowed her eyes in contemplation as she thought about Percy's future. He aimed to work at the Ministry after school, a goal he's had for as long as she's known him but he never expressed a specified job he wanted, not even if he aimed for Minister of Magic. Was he not confident? Tiffany did not know but they could start by ridding the Weasleys of their 'blood traitor' status and allowing them their rightful place in the Wizengamot. The pureblood agenda was not in alignment with what the Weasleys stood for but allowing themselves to be labelled openly as 'blood traitors' has weakened their political pull. Tiffany was almost certain that her mother mentioned that the Weasleys defaulted most of their votes in favour of Albus Dumbledore.
Percy was the most reliable proxy for the Weasleys in the Wizengamot unless he took over for the Prewetts, who had a better reputation among the purebloods.
Tiffany felt her brain start to turn into jelly and jumped onto Percy's back in hopes of having him carry her back, only for both of them to stumble and fall.
"I forgot you were a weakling," Tiffany huffed teasingly and Percy narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he tried to pick her up into a princess carry only for a stranger, Hassan Raul to lift her into his arms.
"I'll do it," he murmured and Tiffany awkwardly but gladly let him take her, wrapping an arm around his neck as she gave Percy a look over Hassan's shoulder. Percy silently motioned if she wanted him to step in and she immediately declined, shooing him away and enjoying the large arms that carried her out of the dungeon.
"Are you going to use the Prefect's Bathroom?" Hassan asked, his voice was very deep and made Tiffany a little more self-conscious of her position. She gave him a nod and then held him a little closer. His hands gripped into her thigh tighter and at that moment, Tiffany would have very much allowed him to do whatever to her.
Turns out, Hassan merely looked like a pirate and was a gentleman. Despite his clear attraction, he gently placed her on her feet in front of the prefect's bathroom and murmured a soft goodnight with a hug then left. It filled Tiffany with a sense of loss but also gave her the knock-back she needed to rid of all distractions. She had big things planned for this year.
Tiffany sighed. She just needed to go to bed.