Cela let out a little mumble and stared at the arrow. Gee.

!

That meant...

"Practice... yup... Professor? Can I ask you a favour?"

"Sure thing Celandine. What do you need?" It didn't occur to Marcus, that maybe he should have asked what the favour was first. He could trust her.

Right?

"I was hoping you could arrange a duel. Or actually two. I want to duel the head boy and the head girl." Celandine bit her lip hopefully and stared up at Professor Lawson. "I'll do anything you need in return, sir."

He raised an eyebrow at the young girl's request and he ran a finger across his lips while he contemplated it. Personally, he thought that she could probably handle someone a lot more advanced than those two. "Not to put Mr Denton or Miss McKenna down or anything but I don't think they would be much competition for you Celandine, unless..."

Marcus thought about it some more and a smile broke across his face. "Unless, you duel the both of them at the same time. You up for that?"

Cela was a liiittle shocked but after a moment a slowww smile spread over her face. "Really? You'd arrange that? See, last term, I dueled Clifford and Anna and won both duels, so I kind of... want to keep doing that. Both at once? You think? Wow. That would be fun."

"Of course I can. I'll tell them..."he tried to think of something he could tell them and could come up with nothing at the moment..."well I tell them something. I'm a Professor and they have to do what I say right?" Marcus, didn't know if that was technically correct but it would work for now.

"You wanna hang around and practice some more? I have Cedric, due anytime. You might be able to give him a few pointers while you are here."

Celandine beamed.

YAY.

"Sure I can, sir. I can help wherever you need me because I'll totally owe you one. Back scratching."

You know, you scratch mine and I'll scratch yours? Yeah that!

Cedric had received a letter from Professor Lawson, telling him that he can now go to the dueling arena. He is quite happy and excited to duel with one of the most-celebrated dueller at Hogwarts. It is his second time to duel with a wizard, so he's not that well-experienced. Humming happily, he entered the dueling arena where their duel session was to be held. As he entered, he noticed that Celandine and Professor Lawson was already there at the dueling arena. He wished that he wasn't late. And he wondered why Celandine was at dueling arena too. He guessed that Celandine would be Prof Lawson's assistant.

"Hey Professor Lawson, Hi Cela!." beamed Cedric, grinning happily. He headed towards them, hoping that everyone would be fine.

"You don't owe me anything Miss Toussaint" Marcus laughed as he straightened up a few of the targets. "But I do appreciate your help."

"Ah here he is now" Marcus called out and waving at the young Hufflepuff. "So Mr Leone before we begin what is it exactly that you would like to learn in these lessons? And what spells are you particularly good at?" He lent up against the wall and studied the boy in front of him.

Cedric smiled at Marcus as he stammered, "Eerr.. I-I'm good at Patronus Charm and Vanishing spells, Sticking charms, Jinxes and Hexes. But I'm not good at fighting Boggarts, and dueling people." He stated. He's glad that Cela was in there, maybe the girl can give him seome dueling pointers that might help him, as Cela is a great student dueler.

Marcus rubbed his goatee for a moment while he stood there thinking about what he could get Cedric to do. "Hmm...how about you show me some of these hexes and jinxes you can do." He gave Celandine a fleeting glance before deciding that would be too mean.

Sighing he pushed off the wall and walked over to Cedric. "You can practice them on me first, so that I can see how strong your cast is. Then when I am happy with your progress, you can practice your dueling against Celandine here and I will give you some pointers. How does that sound?"

Cedric face shone with utter happiness and delightness; everthing was so great. "Sounds like fun Marcus!" he exclaimed as he took out his wand; ready to cast his jinxes and hexes to their Professor. He pondered for a moment or so, thinking of what jinxes and hexes he's good at.

He thinks that Marcus was now ready too so he started to cast the jinx to him.

"Tarantallegra!" he uttered as he flicked his wand. He used the jinx that would make people's legs jerked uncontrollably. He casted it well so he's sure that it's effects and power would be great.

Well he was glad someone thought this was going to be fun, Marcus on the other hand could only sigh in resignation. He honestly hoped these kids knew how much he was putting himself through for the sake of their education.

He waited, slightly anxious for Cedric to cast his first jinx or hex at him. He was tempted to close his eyes but would rather see it coming. He heard the incantation and then saw the flash of light and there was only a second of anticipation before his legs started to do an uncontrollable dance.

Marcus wobbled around for a moment so he could get a good feel of how strong the spell was before he took his wand out and cast 'finite' on his legs. "Nice work Cedric, superb casting. Okay what else have you got for me?"

Celandine took the opportunity to rummage through her bag and pull out a couple of things; her notebook because it was always useful to her to take notes on dueling experiences, and her camera which she had for Muggle studies.

She looked up at professor Lawson as Cedric cast Tarantallegra and took the opportunity to snap a picture.

Yay for dancing professors!

Cedric lauged as he made Marcus danced uncontrollably. Marcus said that it was a superb casting; he was quite delighted of a such compliment. He hoped that Marcus would teach at Hogwarts as long as he live cause he's sure that he can teach them really well and can make students a brilliant wizard or a brightest witch. "Thanks Marcus!"

Marcus was asking for more, so he's giving him more. "Levicorpus." Cedric performed it nonverbally. He knew how to cast spells nonverbally but not that well. He glanced at Marcus if the effect was severe or feeble.

There was another flash of light and for a moment he thought Celandine was getting in on the fun but he soon realised that it was a camera. Lovely. "Muggle studies homework?"

Standing there waiting for Cedric to cast at him once again, Marcus once again was filled with trepidation. Only this time it seemed he had nothing to worry about because nothing happened.

"Okay Cedric, nice try but you are far too young to be trying non verbal spells. That is for sixth years and up and some very special fifth year" he glanced over to Celandine and then looked back at Cedric. "And what spell was it that you were trying, may I ask?"

Cela caught Cedric attention as she'd took a photo of Marcus dancing unwillingly. He beamed at her, "Nice shot there Cela!" and it was a few moments till he realized that it was for Muggle Studies homework. "Ugh.. I'm not done at that one yet. Alas, that I still has a plenty of time to take photos around Hogwarts"

Cedric shooked his head, looking unsatisfied. Marcus was precisely right, he's too young to cast nonverbal spells. Well, he still has more spells to cast on Marcus. He smiled as Marcus asked him of what he were trying to perform, "I was trying to cast the 'Levicorpus' spell on you." Cedric grinned.

Standing in the corner, perfectly shrouded from view by a disillusionment charm, Professor Kazimeriz watched silently.

His eyes narrowed as he heard the DADA professor's comment. So now he is targeting Miss Toussaint, too. Predictable, Lawson. A little too predictable. He listened as Lawson discounted the boy's ability to perform nonverbals, trying to take umbrage with that as well... though in his heart of hearts he knew that the boy WAS too young for success in such spellwork unless in a moment of extreme stress. Still... It was Lawson saying it, and in his stubbornness he refused to agree with the man on any level. He leaned on his cane, silent and as unnoticed as the proverbial fly on the wall.

Watching. Waiting. Contemplating.

"Yes sir." Celandine answered unapologetically. Really, how many students would get a picture of Lawson dancing?

She scribbled a few notes in her journal and stopped for a moment to adjust her wand in its holster. She looked up as Cedric spoke and she smiled brightly at him. "Don't get distracted!" She waggled a finger at him and went back to her journal.

Non.

Verbals.

SQUEEEEE!

"Hmm...a spell that is quite beyond a third year as well. How about trying something a little more basic...for now. So that I can get a clear indication of your wand skills." Because Marcus, clearly did not want to be blown up or anything if the boy was going to try something that was out of his league.


Marcus rolled his eyes at Celandine but there was a grin on his face. "Would you like to me autograph it for you too?" he asked dryly. Merlin, he was going to look like a dork, which happened quite often.

Celandine looked up, clearly puzzled. "Why would I want you to do that?" Autograph?

Lawson?


Blink.

Celandine shifted and as she did she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. She frowned a little bit in puzzlement, glanced around then shrugged it off.

Her imagination, obviously.

Cedric grinned, looking embarrassed a bit. "Sure sure! Just take a picture for meee!" he demanded childishly as he turned to Prof Lawson to continue their duel session.
"Okay Marcus.. Beware then!" he warned as he laughed evil-likely. He was having fun at their duel session. No wonder that he would learn many things from Marcus. And as his Professor instructed, he should try the basics firsts; so he did, pondering for a while what spell might be best and funny!

He focused his wand into Marcus. "Petrificus Totalus!" Cedric uttered as he flicked his wand and a glinting light came out of it and was running on Marcus' way.

"Never mind" he grunted, somewhat slightly put out. Marcus, had to remind himself that the kids at Hogwarts were unlikely to remember he used to be a famous rock star.

He watched as she looked around the arena and he followed her gaze also. Noting that nothing seemed to be amiss, he merely shrugged his shoulders and turned back to Cedric.

Oh great!! Marcus had the awful feeling that he was now about to pay for his comments.

...

Bugger!!

He watched the flash of light speed towards him and he had a second to groan inwardly before he felt his body freeze. The force of the spell cause his body to rock back and forth slightly before finally toppling over and hitting the floor.

Ouch!!

That was going to hurt in the morning. Marcus stared up at the ceiling and all he could manage was to blink a few times and hope that Cedric or Cela had enough sense to release him. You know sometime this century.

Ethan walked into the arena, paused to give Axe a quietly puzzled look and figured whatever his old friend was doing was none of his business. If he wanted to lie around, then that was just fine by Zan.

"Hello Axe. Cedric, Celandine."

He nodded in greeting and stood to one side, quietly waiting.

Copernicus was quite familiar with the Dueling Arena, having used it often over the past few years. But he'd never seen this room before, and he was surprised when Professor Truebridge had told him about it. He lurked near the door until he was sure the professor was there and then slipped into the room.

Oooo. His favorite Toussaint was also there. He gave her a head nod greeting. Very cool and masculine.

"Hey, Professor. I hope I'm not late."