A Lesson on Dueling pv H. Knight Reopened

Henry actually slept in a bit that morning and would eat breakfast with his friends in the great hall before deciding to go to the dueling room for some pratice that morning.

It was well already a bit longer than a week since the third stage of the duels, his team won theirs but only after both him and the hufflepuff captain was knocked unconscious. Then they would won because the hufflepuff's co captain forfeited for a unknown reason... but anyway Henry didn't see that duel as a successful one. He saw it as another duel where he failed and let down his partner, team, and house.

So the young teen would keep to his schedule and practice for a bit each day either in the morning or evenings to ensure his strategies, aim, strength, and stamina would be better and closer to perfection next year.

Henry would step foot inside the duelling room to find that he wasn't alone. Another was already there and practicing, someone he knew and actually liked a lot. The young teen considered her a friend but wasn't sure if they were since they haven't had a actual conversation or interaction besides dueling practices and dangerous events.

Starlee Kennedy stood in front of him practicing flipendo it looked like at a training dummy. The blonde was one of the only members of their team that Henry liked and knew really, well her and Santario.

Although something about the situation seemed familiar. Henry knew she was knocked unconscious in her own duel which was her first one and that her partner was a third year who probably knew loads of spells compared to both of them but something seemed familiar.

Starlee's casting and frustration reminded Henry of when he felt desperate to improve, of when he felt like a failure in this room and Santario was there. She helped him through it and helped him relax, she gave him advice and helped him practice. Now it was his turn to do the same.

Henry would approached Starlee, face drained of emotion except for a smile as he spoke" Hey Starlee," before glancing over at the training dummies then back at the girl as he spoke" your knockback jinx is one of the strongest I seen, I'm sure your opponents were as frightened as you as that dummy."

Henry would approached the wall and take off his bag, pulling his wand out before placing it on the ground. He would approach Starlee and smile a little as he spoke" I have trouble with aim as well, I find if you hold you wand almost loosely but a bit firm it gives you more control over it," the second year would smile at the girl hoping his words helped her before glancing at the training dummies as he spoke" I'm glad your on the team Star, uh mind if I call you that?"

Henry would look at her for a moment waiting for a answer before he would continue" your one of the best Slytherin's I know. Your brave and strong and funny and kind, I'm glad to call you a team mate and friend if we are friends," Henry would look her over before brushing back his hair and taking a few stances in front of her where he would freeze before looking back at Starlee and speaking" instead of a pratice dummy, how about practice on something that is alive and will react in real time? So then you could see if your spells will hit and extractly how powerful they are, so what about it then?"

Henry was use to seeing others in the dueling room for extra practices besides from the required team ones and they all had different emotions or reasons behind being there.

Henry had heard about Starlee first duel and his the girl was the first knocked unconscious so the young teen could only guess through facts on why she was there.

Even though Henry was at that room to practice for next year, he was there more days now than before especially with the approaching summer holiday so he didn't see the harm with helping Starlee instead of practicing that day. After all the young had experience and seen what a duel loss does to some and he didn't want the pressure of it to haunt Starlee either.

Henry caught her softer greeting and smiled toward her before watching her stance or grip on the wand as he spoke" yeah, the wand should feel like a extension from your arm almost or that's at least what the books," Henry smiled a bit toward her but decided that his words probably weren't that helpful as he continued, " I found from others and doing it myself to that when you hold your wand a bit loose then it helps you to easily maneuver it quicker," which was true when Henry duel others or watched other duels, the young teen sometimes noticed the wand was loose or not really firm in their grip.

Henry nodded a bit toward the blonde when he got his answer that he was allowed to call her Star. Henry wasn't to sure what implied him to ask, he was pretty sure the only person he heard call the fellow Viper that was Cash or perhaps others just Cash was usually there when they were together. Now that Henry was thinking about it, that had to be one of the few times where Cash wasn't there but Henry was with Starlee.

Henry nodded to her words when he moved across from her, a practice duel was sometimes a good way to help someone practice their skills and techniques.

However he would listen to the blondes words and move back to her side, facing the practices dummies as he spoke" alright them perhaps later," he would smile at the girl before aiming his wand at one of the practice dummies and taking his stance; knees slightly bit, right foot a bit in front of the left, wand in front and eyes trained on his target ahead.

"Ventus," Henry spoke quote quietly as he watched a bust of wind hit the practice dummy on the shoulder. Not exactly center which unfortunately Henry only saw his faults in the spell.

However this time Henry was trying to copy a wind jinx he cast in a duel when it spilt but unfortunately hadn't been able to do it since.

"I'm sorry about your duel,
Star," Henry spoke this time turning to look at the blonde before continuing, " but watch next year you'll win all three of your duels," Henry would smile toward her before taking a step back almost to watch her cast as well.

The young teem would probably never say he was a expert or talk about his skill but he read quite a bit in strategies and spells to learn how to perfect ones craft in dueling. Usually he used themselves and also told his friends, probably why he was eager to help Starlee perfect her own skill. The young twenty always preferred helping his friend rather than helping himself.

He nod toward the girl with a wide smile as he mentally supported her, Henry would take a stance besides Starlee and figured he should practice a bit to since his anxiety was telling him that he should.

He held on a barrier that hid all emotion expect for his smile that he gave Starlee. It was simple for him to hide his emotions when he worked to hide them for so long it became second nature to him.

Henry lowered his wand a bit as he saw his wind jinx hit the shoulder of the practice dummy all he currently saw was his mistakes and where he could improve.

"Thanks," Henry replied to Starlee when she commented on the spell and he thought about the wind jinx and how useful it has been to him before he would speak" I'm sure your spell will be just as brilliant and if you want I can teach you the wind jinx next year?" Henry thought Starlee would be able to learn it, he thought that she was smart and knew she would he able to benefit of it. After all more than half of the dueling wins included using ventus it was eady to see why when the spell produced a blast of wind at your opponents and had the chance to split which Henry was still researching that.

Henry nodded toward the girl with a some when he heard her remake to winning all her duels next hear. She had a confidence that the teen admired, she always seemed positive or has a upbeat spark within her that couldn't be turned off or put away. It made Henry smiled at the thought and always admired Starlee for it but he also hopes that she wouldn't lose that spark in her later years.

"Brilliant shot, Star. See you already are getting better," Henry commented on Starlee's knockback jinx as his thoughts and anxiety started forming working his mind. The knockback jinx Starlee cast was on it's way to perfect which the teen tried for himself and suddenly felt within his mind a feeling of failure and heard that familiar little voice.

'Starlee will be a master at the spell before you'

'Starlee needs a better teacher, someone who isn't a failure'

'She won't be knocked out again because she isn't a failure, like you'

'You'll never be able to hit your opponent with the knockback jinx'

'You are a failure and failures always fail'

Henry continued to hear the voice but hid it and the rest of his emotions from Starlee whom he smiled to and gave her a half hug as he spoke" of course you did it Star, your amazing and you'll be a dueling star in no time," the teen would let go of his friend and find it easier to tell others words of confident or motivate them it was telling himself those things.

Henry would take aim and focus his mind, thoughts and the voice continued to sound off within his mind but luckily he wouldn't cast when he heard Starlee's voice and would look over to her as he spoke" alright, if you ready then," the teen would playful and lightly nudge Starlee in the shoulder with his hand as he spoke with a playful tone, " don't go easy on me alright."

The teen would walk briskly to the other side and move the practice dummy a bit to the side before taking its place. He would had his wand by his side and look toward Starlee as he spoke" I won't cast only dodge and cast any counter spell to yours, Star," Henry would smile toward the girl and didn't want to hurt her when a idea popped into his mind as he spoke" I'm only going to cast defense spells while you cast both offense and defense, does that sound good Star?"

Henry would wait a moment and nod toward Starlee, letting her know that he was ready.

Henry might have not been feeling confident in his own casting and was pointing out his failures in the spell that didn't mean he was feeling the same way about Starlee.

The young teen loved to teach and show his friends new spells or new topics or new anything really. He never saw the point in learning something strictly for himself, why learn something at all if not to show someone else later and help them better themselves for the future.

"I can show you next year, it isn't too complicated and your bloody smart so you should be able to get it," Henry explained getting excited as he started to imagine teaching the girl the wind jinx and the possibility that she could cast it and it could split which is rare for the spell to do. Henry smiled a little himself as he turned to Starlee with his blue eyes and spoke softly" the spell could definitely help you in duels, it was the main reason why my team won last duel and the wind jinx even can split. It rare but if anyone can do it then its us," playfully the young teen would nudge her shoulder with his.

After they practiced a few more times, Starlee took his suggested and he went along with it. Walling to the end and pushing the dummy to the side before taking its spot.

Henry bent his legs a little and held his grip on his wand ready for Starlee's only to smile toward her words as he waited.

Waited with his thoughts.

'Finally practicing for what your good at'

'Getting hit with spells then falling unconscious'

'Your the target in offical duels and your the target in practices'

'Why? Because you can't dodge'

'You'll fall unconscious faster than you could imagine'

'You'll fail at dodging because your a failure'

"Focus Star! You got this!" Henry called out as his thoughts spiralled around his mind. He was determined to be there for Starlee. To help Starlee.

Henry waited then heard her shout the knockback jinx and saw the all to familiar set of sparks.

Henry felt himself frozen for a moment as the sparks flashed by his eyes and he remembered past memories of being hit in the cheat with the jinx. Of the knockback jinx backfiring against him. Of not being able to dodge opponents knockback jinxed.

When he finally snapped out of it, it was too late and the spell hit him right in the chest sending him flying backwards. Landing on his stomach.

His brushed his hair aside and jumped up, going back to his spot as he smile toward Starlee and shouted" see your amazing Star," the young teen then pointed his wand at her softly whispered"Bullarum Immortalem," and a line of bubbles shot off in the direction of Starlee.

Henry moved his wand to his side and smiled toward Starlee as he spoke" now let's see you do it again with a small distraction. Remember to focus Star and breath."