Any tips? PV: Ruby Cazares closed

*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*

It was just a few days after finding she was back on the duelling team, and Ruby was excited. She had withdrawn from everything in her fourth year, neglecting her friends and her interests in favor of obsessing over progressing in her schoolwork. But this year, she had realized the lengths she was going to to study constantly were unnecessarily. Her grades were already near-perfect and she had skills beyond many of her peers in her year, and while she believed there was always more to improve, she recognized that it was time to focus on balancing her life again. She had started to talk to people more and engage in extracurriculars—becoming a reporter for the Hogwarts Headliner and getting back on the duelling team—and while practicing her spellwork and studying was still one of the main uses of her time, it allowed her to re-engage with other interests too and continue to build the reputation she had had.

Ruby wanted to be the best. She knew she was better than most and had a deep-set conviction that she was destined for greatness. And while much of it came naturally to her, dedication and hard work was what allowed for growth—and the idea of stagnancy or failure was unbearable to her. So here she was, spending her first weekend after being reinstated as a member of the Viridian Vipers practicing her spellwork in the large, all-too-familiar Duelling Club. She shot harmful spell after spell at two of the duelling dummies, almost all landing powerfully as the dummies were without the ability to dodge in the clever, last-minute way that humans could. She was only stopped by a voice interrupting, and spun around to find a young-looking boy staring up at her.

André, he introduced himself as. No last name. Ice blue eyes glanced over him as he continued his introduction, getting straight to the point about what he wanted—she could appreciate that. He would not be rewarded with a smile or any such pleasantries, merely the fact that she didn’t hex him on the spot for interrupting someone who was clearly occupied. Really, it could’ve been dangerous if she had been in the middle of casting a spell. Cold eyes narrowed as she debated how much of a response he was worthy of. “I’m Ruby Cazares. You don’t seem to know of me yet, but you will.” She had been the duelling partner of Dmitri Jones when previously a duellist, and they had had a reputation of swift and cruel duels, remaining undefeated. Besides that, she had been a prefect several years ago and was currently a Headliner reporter too, as well as just having a generally strong reputation of being intelligent and magically advanced while tending to be unfriendly. People tended to stay away from her, if they knew what was good for them.

Nevertheless, since he had asked a question, she would answer. But only briefly. If he wanted more than that, he would have to earn it. Her voice was cold and as precise as every movement she made. “Practice. A lot. Stay on top of all your homework and go above and beyond with your studies, and then prioritize the practical side of spellwork in your free time. Do it as much as you can, whether it’s by yourself or practicing with someone else.” It was standard advice for a reason—it was solid and well-tested. She could’ve recommended more confidence for him, especially as he had seemed slightly timid, but that was getting marginally more involved and he hadn’t yet shown that he was worth her time. She was keenly aware of the feeling of the smooth wooden wand in her hand and the fact that she had unfinished business that was being interrupted.

*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*