Duelling Club

The entrance to the Duelling Club was barred by a pair of heavy oak doors. On the rightmost side, bolted into the stone wall, was an iron placard reciting the rules and etiquette of the sport. All students were expected to understand these before entering, both for their safety and for the protection of their peers. After passing through, one would find themselves in an enormous open room, its high ceiling illuminated by countless floating candles. Stone tiles made up the flooring, cracked here and there from vigorous exercises. Protective charms routinely reinforced the walls, bracing them to absorb any wayward spells, providing the additional benefit of rendering the wood flame-proof. Along the furthermost side was a raised piste, or duelling strip, such as those seen in modern fencing. Stairs led up onto this makeshift stage, where a pair of duelists would face each other one-on-one. Minimalistic paintings of the moon's cycles stretched from one end to the other.

Upon first glance, some mistook the humanoid shapes along the left wall for suits of armor. After inspecting them closer, students would see they were in fact duelling dummies, mechanical "dark wizards" with a wheel to transport them. These clutched metal wands in iron grips, designed so that they may be disarmed, dismantled, bombarded, or even shrunk. Bewitched to roll around, the dummies were ideal for practicing more destructive duelling spells, serving as inanimate enemies rather than risk young witches and wizards. Across the way, on the right side of the room, were a series of wooden bleachers from which spectators could await their turn versus the mechanical targets.

Observing from up above were portraits of famous duelists. Among their faces were Filius Flitwick, former part-goblin Charms professor and champion duelist. Alongside him was Elizabeth Smudgling, the witch who invented the Disarming Charm and used it to become Supreme Dueller in the 1379 Dartmoor duelling contest. Another was Alberta Toothill, winner of the 1430 All-England Wizarding Duelling Competition. At times when a match especially interesting, these portraits would join in on the fun, shouting out conflicting advice to the budding duelists below.