Rowan walked to the Dueling Club's first meeting with anticipation and wariness.
The parchment Professor Hecat had given him specified the seventh floor, east wing. A large classroom converted specifically for dueling practice.
Iris had been excited when he told her about the invitation, though also worried.
"You'll be dueling students who've had years more training than you. Won't that be dangerous?"
"Probably," Rowan admitted. "But it's also an opportunity to learn from people who are better than me. I can read about dueling theory all I want, but nothing replaces actual experience."
The classroom was larger than he'd expected. Desks pushed against the walls, a long raised platform running down the center. About twenty students were already present. Third years through seventh years, all wearing practice robes and carrying wands.
Sebastian was already there, leaning against the wall near the platform, looking perfectly at ease despite being surrounded by older students. He caught Rowan's eye and nodded.
Heads turned as Rowan entered. Several eyebrows rose.
"Two first years?" a fourth-year Hufflepuff girl asked, incredulous.
"Professor Hecat's special invitations," a sixth-year Ravenclaw boy said. Rowan recognized him as Alexander Sterling, one of the prefects. "Ashcroft fought off three Slytherins last week. Mulciber's still in the Hospital Wing. And Sallow..." He glanced at Sebastian with what might have been respect. "Word is he's been practicing spells since he was seven. Family tradition or something."
The students regarded both first-years with new interest. Some curious. Others skeptical. A few looked annoyed at having their club invaded by children.
Professor Hecat entered, her robes swishing dramatically.
"Right, everyone's here. We have two new members. Rowan Ashcroft and Sebastian Sallow, both first years. Yes, they're young. No, that doesn't mean you go easy on them. They wouldn't learn anything if you did." She smiled slightly. "Besides, I think you'll find they can hold their own."
She gestured to the platform. "We'll start with warmups. Partner up, basic spell exchanges. Shields, disarmers, knockback jinxes only. After fifteen minutes, we'll move to full sparring matches."
Rowan found himself partnered with a third-year Gryffindor named Cassius Vance, who looked him over with obvious doubt.
"Ever been in a real duel before?" Vance asked as they took positions on the platform.
"Does fighting off an ambush count?"
Vance grinned. "Fair enough. Let's see what you've got."
The warmup was intense.
Vance was faster and more experienced, his spells coming in rapid succession. Rowan managed to block most of them, his Shield Charm holding steady, but he quickly realized the gap in their skill levels.
Still, he learned. He watched how Vance moved, how he chained spells together, how he created openings. And slowly, Rowan began to adapt, his counterattacks becoming more precise.
"Not bad," Vance admitted after Rowan managed to disarm him on his sixth attempt. "You've got good instincts. Your shield work is excellent for a first year. Better than some of the third years here."
When the warmups ended, Professor Hecat called for attention.
"Sparring matches. Full spell repertoire, no dark magic, no permanent damage. First to be disarmed or knocked out of the ring loses. I'll be monitoring and will intervene if necessary."
She started pairing students off. Rowan watched the first few matches carefully, analyzing techniques and strategies. The older students were impressive. Their spell work was faster, more creative, more fluid than anything he'd seen in classes.
"Now let's see what our first-years can do," Hecat said, and there was something almost mischievous in her expression. "Ashcroft, Sallow. You're up next."
A ripple of interest went through the watching students. The two first-year prodigies facing off in their very first club match.
Sebastian stepped onto the platform, his confidence evident in every movement. Rowan joined him at the opposite end, studying his opponent carefully. They'd never actually dueled before. All their interactions had been verbal sparring, not magical.
"Don't hold back," Sebastian said, his usual smirk firmly in place. "I won't."
"Wasn't planning to," Rowan replied evenly.
At Hecat's signal, both moved simultaneously.
Sebastian opened with aggressive offense. A Stunning Spell followed immediately by a Disarming Charm, his wand movements sharp and precise. Rowan's shield absorbed the first, and he dodged the second, firing back with a Knockback Jinx.
Sebastian ducked beneath it and countered with a Leg-Locker Curse. Rowan jumped backward, already casting his next spell. A Tripping Jinx aimed at Sebastian's feet.
It nearly worked. Sebastian stumbled but recovered with impressive agility, retaliating fast. Stunning Spell, another Disarmer, Knockback Jinx in rapid succession.
Rowan's shield held against the first two. Barely. But shattered under the third. The Knockback Jinx caught his shoulder, spinning him sideways. He rolled with the impact, coming up already casting.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Sebastian dodged, but just barely. His eyes widened fractionally. Genuine surprise that Rowan had recovered that quickly.
They traded spells for another thirty seconds, neither gaining clear advantage. Sebastian was faster, more aggressive, his offense relentless. But Rowan's defensive instincts were better, his shields stronger, and he was learning Sebastian's patterns with each exchange.
Then Sebastian changed tactics.
Instead of his usual aggressive assault, he feinted. Casting a Stunning Spell high while his wand was already moving into position for a low Tripping Jinx. The misdirection worked. Rowan blocked the Stunner but his attention was drawn upward, and he missed the second spell's trajectory entirely.
His feet tangled and he went down hard.
Sebastian was already moving, wand tracking Rowan's fall. "Expelliarmus!"
Rowan tried to shield from his prone position, but the angle was wrong. The Disarming Charm hit true, and his wand flew from his hand, sailing in an arc across the platform.
Match over.
The room was silent for a heartbeat.
Then Hecat's voice cut through: "Victory to Sallow."
Sebastian walked over, picking up Rowan's wand and offering it back. His expression held genuine satisfaction but not arrogance. "Well fought. That was closer than I expected."
Rowan took his wand, analyzing what had gone wrong. The feint had been brilliant. He'd fallen for it completely. "Your misdirection was excellent. I didn't see the second spell coming."
"You nearly had me twice," Sebastian said. "That Body-Bind was close, and your shield work is better than mine. But I've been training longer." His smile sharpened slightly. "Next time might go differently though."
"It will," Rowan replied, and meant it.
As they left the platform, Rowan caught Sterling's approving nod. The muttering from other students suggested both first-years had impressed them. The match had been competitive, well-fought, and would have been respectable even between third-years.
"Excellent," Hecat said. "Both of you showed strong instincts and tactical thinking. Sallow, your feint was expertly executed. That's advanced technique. Ashcroft, your defensive positioning kept you in the match far longer than most first-years could have managed. You'll both improve significantly training against each other."
She gestured to Sterling. "Now, let's see how you fare against older students. Ashcroft, you're with Sterling next. Sallow, you'll face Greengrass after."