Quote:
Originally Posted by
Felixir 
Tobias didn't even really notice the other boy move a little further away, he was thinking of a few possible issues with this spell. For instance: was it really wise to create fire with wooden wands?
"Oh yeah, definitely." Tobias didn't want to set anyone on fire after all. He was too nice. But if there was a super bad wizard and he was duelling him he might consider it. "It's good for distractions too!" Was it unfair to distract your opponent in a duel, or was that all part of it? Tobias had so many questions.
He watched the ball throwing. That was a smart idea. All the reflexy stuff. Tobias couldn't WAIT until he was good enough at magic that he could start working on the technical type of stuff. Toby bit back TONNES of questions about what spells the other boy could do, but he didn't want to be a bother. Anyway, yes, introductions. "Marcus... Mo! Yeah, that's where I remember you from; Quidditch. You're really fast." Tobias grinned at him. And Mo thought HE was a good quidditch player. That made his smile even wider. "And... wow, thanks! Uh, I'm Tobias Tempus, or Toby... I don't mind which. How old were you when you learned the shield charm?"
Okay, maybe he couldn't help just that tiny question. Before he could continue asking things, Tobias turned his focus back to the dummy and held up his wand. Right... he could totally do this. That HAD been a spark earlier.
Toby imagined the very top of the dummy going up in flames, focused super hard and then... "Incendio!"
Nothing. A bit of smoke from the end of his wand but nothing else. The Hufflepuff frowned thoughtfully. WELL, that was what practice was for!
"Even better for distractions," Mo agreed as he moved into a dueling stance. Obviously just tossing the ball wasn't going to work... he needed to be ready for it. Mo grinned to himself when the younger boy said he was fast - that was nice. He didn't always feel like it was true, but he was on a Quidditch high at the moment, even if Ravenclaw had come in dead last in the Cup. "Thanks. Maybe we can fly together some next term... get in some extra practices."
Toby turned back to his task, and Mo returned his attention to the wall in front of him. It was going to go like this: 1) throw the ball, 2) put up the shield, 3) block the ball with the shield, 4) do a victory lap if it actually worked. Mo shifted his dueling stance, wand-side foot forward and wand-arm extended, grip firm and flexible, and weight forward on the balls of his feet.
He threw the ball with his left hand and then immediately cast the shield with his right. "
Protego." The ball sort of dribbled back to him, but it bounced off his shield and rolled across the room toward other students practicing on their own. Oops.