Practice Natasha vs Ami Finished

Ami did as Professor Cazarez instructed, approaching, saluting, returning, bowing. Really, so many steps that wouldn't necessarily happen in real life- it's just like sparring, she told herself, shifting into a defensive stance. It's just like sparring. She lifted her wand, pointing it at the gorgeous Russian's face. Really, she had to be stuck dueling the pretty people? It's just like sparring. The first rule of sparring- throw out a defensive kick, but use it offensively. Just like sparring. Take stock of your arsenal, your offensive, and defensive tool-kit. Yeah, she knew a couple of spells from lessons, so she should be okay. She hadn't, however, ever had to use them in a dueling situation, so this was entirely new to her. Who knew just how well she would do?

"Flipendo!" Ami cried, flicking her wand in what she desperately prayed was the right motion. She could barely remember this spell, but decided that it was the best dueling spell she could recall at the moment. Flipendo, if cast correctly, could cause the other person to be knocked backward, overall lowering their accuracy, and maybe lowering their health, as well. Really, this is your only chance to make a name for yourself. Come on, push it!

Action: Take defensive stance -- Cast Flipendo.

Natasha stared at opponent. A red headed Hufflepuff. There were a lot of those weren’t there. She took a closer look and realized they had met. It was Ami, from the breakfast a while ago. The blonde approached the platform and completed the instructions the Professor commanded and gave Ami a small smile. Natasha hoped the Hufflepuff hadn’t had any experience in dueling before, as Natasha had not and would completely fail. Her range of spells only included a couple - mostly from classes. 

The Ravenclaw racked her brain trying to remember a spell she could use. She decided to try and cast the fire-inducing spell the prefects in the first duel loved. Natasha couldn’t seem to recall the hand movement. She knew the pronunciation, as the prefect volunteers had repeated it many times throught their duel, and it was drilled into her brain. 

The young girl tried to conjure up a picture of her Herbology homework, in which she learned that spell. Wasn’t it in the shape of like, a flame? Natasha hoped it was, or else she would be extremely embarrassed. Ami knows the same spells as me, right? I’ll be fine. Natasha closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Getting into a forward and learning position, she called out,

“Incendio!” The first year swished her wand in a flame-like shape. Her accuracy was pretty good, so she deeply hoped it would hit her opponent. If not, well, Natasha’d rather not think about that.

ACTION: Take Aggressive Stance - Cast Incendio

Sebastián had hardly told the pair to begin when the fresh duelists yelled out their spells. A more defensive Ami tried to avoid Natasha altogether while hoping to knock her off with the knock-back jinx. It was a good strategy that Professor Cazarez could appreciate. That said, Natasha was just as quick and plenty accurate with her own spell despite the defensive move. Flames poured out from Natasha's wand towards the unfortunate Hufflepuff journalist. Natasha herself was also hit by a solid flipendo casting that nearly sent her tumbling off the platform. Luckily, her endurance helped keep her upright. She certainly couldn't take two of those, but one she could manage it seemed.

"Hold!" Sebas shouted, holding his wand up in the air between the duelists.

Flames had engulfed Ami who did not have the stamina to withstand such a blast. She stumbled back and landed on the platform with a thud. The flames died without causing more damage than a slight sear, but Ami was knocked out cold... or hot? The duel had been short which would be disappointing to both sides, but that was realistically all a small child could endure in a real fight. One spell, one chance to survive before the darkness took them. It was an important lesson to learn and one he hoped the children would learn from dueling club.


ACTION: Natasha wins the duel by knockout.