Tiberius took frantic notes. He knew it was silly to think he'd never have to duel again, so, eager to not ever embarrass himself like he'd done against Celandine, he wanted to write down as many tricks and tactics as possible.


He looked up at Truebridge as he asked the question. Raising his hand, he hazarded a guess. "Um, well, if something's coming right at you and stepping out of the way wouldn't work, that would determine what you would do. Like, you wouldn't just let it hit you so you could attack." Right?

"It... would depend on the situation, wouldn't it, sir?" Raiden murmured, hand in the air again. "If you know what's coming at you, you know whether it's better to counter than to outright block... like if you knew a blasting curse was being thrown at you, you wouldn't risk reacting in a way that would make it a disadvantage to yourself."

Raiden couldn't recall ever having seen someone counter a blasting curse, but one could assume that... well two of the same hitting each other would cause some kind of mini-explosion, wouldn't it? If they were too close to one of the duelists, it could end with that person on the floor or knocked back, and at a disadvantage. It really, in his head, all depended on placement and that.

So many questions, and yet so few answers came to Arya.

Swinging her feet she stared at one of the targets, lost in thought. Though she had seen quite a few duels, she never would have thought that so much went into them. Hesitantly she rose her hand to answer. "Um...couldn't another trick be to use your surroundings? You wouldn't necessarily have to know a lot of spells..." Atleast she didn't think so.

Arya turned to face Truebridge, still pondering his questions. She still couldn't come up with too much for the latter, but figuring it couldn't hurt to say what she thought to be true, she raised her hand again. "You could counter when your opponent is distracted by your previous spell or something." Her mind suddenly going blank, she quickly lowered her hand. She just couldn't think of when best to attack and when to defend, pulling out her notebook and quill she began to take some notes on what the other students were saying.

Neptune moved around Mr. Truebridge to stand in front of him. Soak up immediate attention. She raised her hand for just a second before diving right into her side, "I agree with Raaaaaaaiden," and here she paused to wiggle her fingers and bat her eyelashes at him.

GIGGLE.

"But I think it COULD depend on WHO you're dueling, too. To give ONE example, boys shouldn't hit girls with their fists OR their spells. So, if they - boys that is - do something to deserve a stunner from one of us," girls of the world, "then they're to use only defensive spells. Retaliation would be so disgraceful on their part."

Neptune turned and waggled her finger at each boy in the room as if she'd just given them ALL a lesson. And - she had. Totally had.

Gold raised a hand. "Like everyone has already said, sir, it would depend on the situation, for the most part. You have to decide, on the spot, and that's what makes duels tougher."

"I would say it's necessary to parry, when someone else is on the offensive - when they hit a curse that can hurt, at you. You can counter pretty much any time, though - in my opinion, of course --" She could be wrong, though that was the way she duelled. "Even right after you parry." A combination of defensive-offensive could turn out pretty good.

"Of course, you can't 'counter,' not in the correct sense of the word, when the other person is solely on the defensive. But you can still attack them." Counter wasn't actually attack - it was returning an attack with an attack. But Professor Truebridge would already know that. Gold just didn't want him to think she didn't know it.

Because she loved a good duel to bits.

A good and fair duel, that is.

"Perhaps." Ethan answered, "Though sometimes it is worth making a sacrifice or taking the hit if it gives you a split second advantage."

"Depending on the situation of course, but you can't be too cautious or think too hard. You need to react instinctually and that might not necessarily mean putting up a shield, especially in the face of a strong curse that may push you back and weaken your shield enough that a simple hex might get past you." Truebridge winked solemnly at Raiden.

"Yes indeed, using your surroundings is a very effective means of controling a duel and influencing it in your favour. Even if you do not use your environment it is very important to be aware of your environment because that can influence how you are better to respond in a duel."

"This is why many witches win duels that they shouldn't otherwise win, because they use their little tricks and strategies where the male mindset tends to be one of brute force. As it is, I would like to point out to all if you, if Neptune here hexes any one of you, you have my permission to hex her back quite soundly." Ethan eyed the little fiend sternly for a moment and moved on.

"And, in your opinion Gold, can one use a defensive spell offensively? Or vice versa?" Ethan asked the prefect, curious as to her opinion. He'd never seen her duel but he was quite sure that she'd be good in theory.

If she didn't overthink things of course. And since he was asking, he addressed the whole class.

"What defensive spells might be used offensively? And what offensive spells might be used defensively?"

Merlin. Raiden resisted the urge to tug Neptune back to her seat, knowing full well he'd possibly get in trouble for it. No, he did not want detention, thank you. Instead, he raised his hand again.

"I think most any defensive spell could, in theory, be used offensively, sir." Mmhmm. Pretty sure. "Even a shield charm could possibly be double-edged. You use them to protect yourself but you could also use them to the disadvantage of your opponent in at least one way." He paused, then added, "And I think a knock-back jinx would qualify for defensive and offensive as well... But any offensive spell could be used to deflect things, couldn't it? If your spells collide, they ricochet or kinda explode a bit..."

You'd just have to have good aim. Heh.

Gold nodded. "I believe so, sir."

She raised her hand again, to elaborate what she had said. "I believe that, in the end, it comes down to intent, professor. One can use the Shield Charm to protect oneself -- and one can use a shield charm to make a curse bound back, and hit an opponent. Then we have the Impediment Jinx. That can be used both ways, offensively and defensively - once again, it comes down to intent. You can use it slow down something shot your way, and you can use it to freeze or knock down an opponent."

"Same with the Freezing Charm, or Immobulus. If someone shoots, say, an angry flock of birds at you, you can use it to defend yourself. But you can also use it offensively." That had actually happened in a duel, she had been in, earlier this term. The whole 'immobilizing birds' bit. "And --" She paused. "Incendio. One can use fire for defense -" as in, setting a BIG something coming atcha! ablaze - "and offense, both."

"In my opinion, pretty much every spell can be double-edged, sir. In the end, it's how you act it out. Creativity, basically. Your thought process." There was more she had on her mind, but she was just going to be quiet, for now. She wasn't even sure if she was making sense.

She probably wasn't.

"Good answers, both of you. It is important not to box yourselves in or look at any one spell as only offensive or only defensive. Though admittedly some are better suited for one or the other, it is often a good way of turning a duel in your favour if you sparingly mix it up. Sometimes taking a gamble is far less risky than it appears; calculated risks are what duels are made of."

Truebridge checked the time.

"We can come back to discussing this next term, but for now we need to move on to the final point before I'll allow some more practice and give a few more pointers for the Histedius hex.

Combinations are next up for discussion. Can anyone name a combination that you either like to use yourself or have seen used in an effective way?"

Ooooh. Raiden's hand went up again.

"Avis and Oppugno would count for this wouldn't it, sir? You almost can't use Avis in a duel without Oppugno, because... well the birds would just be there."

Pause.

"Levicorpus, with stupefy as well, could be a good combination. It could be a potential duel-ender, if you get them with the first at least. They can't really move to avoid the second, and if they're shocked enough they might not throw up a shield in time."

Which is how he'd ended his duel with Marie. It was also really good at ensuring she didn't smash her head like poor Tibi had, in his duel with Cela.

Tiberius considered a moment, trying to remember the duel that he had been trying awfully hard to forget.

Raising his hand, he furrowed his brow. "When we were dueling, Cela did something to the floor before she cast incarcerous, so the floor was slippery. I don't know what it was though. But it worked. Cause when I tried to dodge the other spell, I stepped right into the other, and fell."

Tiberius looked away, picking at the end of his quill.

Gold raised a hand. "Serpensortia and Geminio, sir," she said. "Or, extending what Raiden said -" She gave the Slytherin Prefect a polite nod - "Avis, combined with Geminio and Oppugno."

She had used that to her advantage before -- an army of attacking birds! Even though she had been worried about the birds, then. Since she didn't want any harm to come to those.

"Impedimenta and Incarcerous, too." Yep! "The first to knock or slow down an opponent, and the next immediately afterward, to make sure they're down for good." There were more she could point out, but she fell quiet, just to give everyone else a chance.

If they wanted to grab it, of course.

There were so many possible combinations that one could use, but for some reason Mina was coming up blank. All the ones she could popped into her head, had been offered already and she wasn't about to repeat them.

Biting her lip in thought, she slowly raised her hand. "Incarcerous and Incendio. If cast almost simultaneously, you could get a blaming rope. Sounds a bit nasty though." she frowned. She personally wouldn't even think of using it herself, it sounded rather underhanded and all. But it was a combination that some might think of.

Just then, a thought came to her mind. "Muffliato, Obscuro, and Petrificus Totalus." she offered. "Hindering your opponent of sound, sight, and movement." It was rather a simple combination, but at least she would be most comfortable using it than the first one she offered.

Scribble, scribble, scribble....

That's what she was doing as her ears took in every word her classmates were saying. Seeing how her mind had gone blank, she figured it best to just take notes on everything she could. The girl wasn't knowledgable on defensive technics so she wanted to miss nothing. Occasionally her eyes would flicker to whoever was speaking at the time.

Candy raised her hand. "Glisseo and Rictusempra?" she suggested HAPPILY. "The floor goes all slippery and then the caster gets TICKLED, and they...... fall?" Yeah, real smart that. But she LAIIKED that idea! "Or Glisseo and Tarantallegra!"

"Or a Tongue-Tying Curse and then Stupefy! So that the opponent can't really BLOCKKK your stunner."

Alexa raised her hand and said, "Incarcerous and Stupefy are two that I would like to use together."

Miles' attention was drifting in and out but managed to drift back in as Truebridge asked another question. Thinking he raised his hand. "Well...in a duel you'd want to protect yourself first so Protego could be used. And then...you could follow that up with a counter curse like...Petrificus Totalus." Yup that had always been his favourite curse because it was just so...cool.

Tiberius chewed on his bottom lip as he wrote out all the combinations other people were offering. Wriggling his feet in his shoes trying to get at an itch on the bottom of his foot, he had another idea. Or, at least, maybe a memory? He couldn't quite place where he'd either seen or heard about it, but it made sense.

Digging his quill into his shoe to scratch, he raised his hand. "You could... turn your opponents shoes to stone, and then do a toe-nail growing hex. I bet it would hurt a lot. Distract them."

Dig dig dig. Scratch.

From her new sitting position, Ivory raised her left hand in the air timidly. Her right one was mighty sore at the moment what with the continuous crossing motion and practice of the incantation. As it was her determination had merely wobbled the target set at about 16 feet, and no matter how much energy she put into the wand motion (and boy had she) the target had failed to rebound off the ground to come back up again. Sure there was that 'never-give-up' edge inside her that demanded she continue but there was also a stronger physical need to take a moment's pause, especially since she'd found her concentration wavering as she listened to the class discussion.

"I...that is, I haven't had much experience..." she began shyly, but found her voice slightly growing in confidence as she continued."but, I personally like the use of a Trip Jinx strategically placed around my opponent...and then a second quick distraction spell as a cover-up. Something surprising, you know...like Confringo or Incendio or something that would cause them to take a step in the given direction where the jinx was placed. One could use the split second while the person lost their balance or fell as a good time to send another spell their way.

Nodding her head along with her words, she recalled the few times she'd used that technique and it had worked.

Gold raised a hand, again.

"Professor, I believe Densaugeo would make a good mix with Duro. Stone teeth that keep growing -- if cast correctly, that would pretty much make sure your opponent is out of the duel." It would.

That wasn't the nicest thing, to think of, though! With a shake of her head, Gold lowered her hand.

Alexa thought some more and her hand shot up into the air again. "What about the Conjunctivitus Curse and Lveicorpus. You could cause them to loose their ability to see well and then dangle them upside down. Sounds to me like that may give you the upper hand," she said quietly.

Neptune Bott was offended. She crossed her arms, stomped her foot, then marched away to sit behind Raiden and decidedly never answer another question EVER AGAIN for Criminal Professor. How VERY rude of him!

He'd be receiving a letter from HER MOTHER.

While the rest of the students answered Meany Britches questions, Neptune began her letter home.

Dear Mum,

You know that Professor that was in jail I told you about? Can you have him put back?



She tapped her quill thoughtfully (and loudly and manically) on her desk as she thought of what to put next, of how to phrase Truebridge's fresh crime against her person.

Neptune would show HIM defense! HMPH!

"I suppose it would, however if you cast Avis your opponent likely expects Oppugno. That is the trap that one needs to avoid when it comes to combinations. They have to work of course, but a combination is usually intended to give you some form of advantage. That is why being creative is often your best bet. Creativity can backfire, however." Truebridge nodded at the remainder of Raiden's answer.

"Sounds like Glisseo to me. That is a lesson for you; as far as I am aware, charms is one of the prefect's strong points, so it makes sense that she'd find a way to use that to her advantage." He paused. "I hope you learned from that duel, Tiberius."

"So, increasing the number of creatures you conjure? That can be effective." Ethan agreed. He nodded some more at the remainder of her answer.


ooc: excuse the RPer's sleepiness. lol

"I do like that one. A flaming rope. Useful. And sensory deprivation spells are always useful in a combo." Ethan appreciated Mina volunteering an answer.

Ethan did not mind that Arya wasn't answering, it was clear that the young Hufflepuff was paying close attention to the discussion.

"Many mundane charms like glisseo can prove useful in a duel." Ethan was certain he had actually seen the Ravenclaw Prefect do that a few times. "Good thinking." He added to the rest of the young Gryffindor's suggestions.

"Sounds like you tend to play things safe, Miles. I suggest you speak with your co-prefect and see what you learn from her." Ethan winked at the Ravenclaw.

Indeed.

It was just a pity that miss Toussaint was not present. Though... perhaps in her next duel she'd have quite the surprise if everyone suddenly knew all her combos and therefore how to counter them.

"Good. Tiberius, I assume you've seen that one in action? Very creative."

"Assuming you can hold the jinx in place, then that is definitely an effective one. Good thinking."

They were all getting the hang of it now, creativity and logic coming together.

"You'd have to be careful though, Gold; not to turn the entire tooth and root into stone. Stone does not grow after all, and it is quite possible that you'd have to switch to a more general enlarging spell. Possibly more effective to cast those in reverse. Very creative though. Good ideas."

"Ah yes, another example where sensory deprivation becomes an effective part of the whole. Good answer."

Ah look at that! Neptune Bott was taking notes! That was a good thing. Perhaps she was not so bad after all.

"A quick assignment before we end the lesson; from the list of spells provided here, which we talked about earlier in the class, I would like you to think of a combination of between two and four spells on this list and explain briefly why you think it would be effective as a combination. Please put your hand up to answer."

"Yes, sir."

She nodded, in silence.

Of course he was right, she had been simplifying things too much, there! Gold beamed at Professor Truebridge, grabbed a quill, and wrote this down. No touching the roots, yes!

"Thank you, sir."

Gold raised a hand. "Expelliarmus, Petrificus Totalus, and Stupefy, sir?" she suggested. "If everything goes as planned, then your opponent won't have a chance to block your stunner."

Since they would not really have their wand. Not to mention, they would be under the Body-Bind Curse. Which meant they could not move -- and which, of course, sounded like a plan!

OOH! OOH! OOOH!!

Candy raised a hand all HAPPILY!

"Protego, Expelliarmus and Confundo!" She said brightly. "Because that way you have your shield up ANNNDD you can knock out the other person's wand and make them have...... no idea what they're doing!" With Confundo of course. "And even if Expelliarmus DOESN'T workkk, you can still get a confused person who has NOOO idea what to do."

YAYY!!