Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix [70]
Harry and Ron said goodnight to Hermione, and they each went up the staircases into their dorms. When Harry and Ron, got in their room, Seamus, Dean, and Neville were already asleep. Ron strode over to his bed, and pulled out a calendar from under his pillow.
“What’s that?” asked Harry as his put on his night shirt.
“Oh, this?” said Ron. “It’s a calendar. I’m marking off the days until Halloween.”
“Why are you doing that?” asked Harry. Ron looked at him in surprise.
“Don’t you remember? That’s when we’re going to rescue Lupin and Sirius from Azkaban!” said Ron as he took out a red quill and marked off another day.
“Oh yeah,” said Harry. He had forgotten about that with the excitement of becoming an Animagus. They still had work to do to prepare. “How long until we go?”
“Two weeks,” said Ron, with a hint of fear in his voice. He was evidently no more anxious to do this than Harry was.
All through breakfast the next morning, Malfoy kept glancing at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and laughing. Soon being followed by almost the entire Slytherin table.
“I wish there was some way we could show Malfoy how bad he really is, and how good we are. Like, dueling with him or something,” said Ron as he lazily did a Originus Charm on a copied ball in Charms class. Harry got an idea:
“That’s it Ron!” said Harry excitedly. “We can start the Dueling Club again!” Ron and Hermione laughed. There was a Dueling Club in their second year, but it was very unsuccessful. All they had gotten from it was the Disarming Spell.
“You can’t be serious Harry,” said Ron. “I mean, we’ve got Quidditch and rescuing Sirius and Lupin to worry about.”
“Oh come on Ron,” said Harry. “Our next Quidditch match isn’t until after Halloween, and we can set the meeting of the club for after we rescue Sirius and Lupin.”
“If we rescue them,” said Hermione, pessimistically. Harry and Ron looked at her.
“That doesn’t sound like you Hermione,” said Ron.
“It’s just that, well, I’ve been reading about Azkaban-”
“Big surprise there,” said Ron quietly so that only Harry could hear.
“-and it’ll be next to impossible to get inside, much less rescue Sirius and Lupin.”
“Don’t worry Hermione. I… I’ve got it all worked out,” lied Harry. He didn’t know what made him say that, he just wanted to make sure she wouldn’t back out of their plan.
“Well, I guess so, but, I expect to know exactly what it is before we go!” said Hermione, looking slightly happier.
“Anyway,” said Ron. “Back to the Dueling Club.”
“I thought you said it was a bad idea,” said Harry.
“Well, with You-Know-Who around again, it’d be nice to have some dueling experience on our side,” said Ron. “And it would be nice to kick Malfoy’s butt.”
“What do you say Hermione? You in?” asked Harry.
“Sure, I mean, it’d be great practice for the O.W.L.s,” said Hermione, not looking at either of them, but concentrating on her Originus Charm. “So yeah, of course I’m in.”
“Now the only problem is: which teacher are we going to get to supervise us?” asked Ron.
“Maybe Professor Fletcher or Mrs.- er… Professor Figg,” said Harry.
“I’ve got a better idea!” said Hermione. “How about Professor Flitwick? I mean, he was the dueling champion when he was in school so I’m sure he could give us some excellent tips!”
“Good idea,” said Harry and Ron together. Just then, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Instead of leaving, Harry, Ron, and Hermione went up to professor Flitwick.
“Excuse me Professor,” said Harry. Professor Flitwick spun around with a smile so wide, it looked like it would barely fit on his small head.
“Yes Harry? What is it?”
“Well, we were thinking about starting up another Dueling Club, and we were wondering if you’d want to help us,” said Harry hopefully. Professor Flitwick’s smile got, if it is possible, even larger.
“Oh, you three… I’d be honored!” squeaked Professor Flitwick.
“Really?” said Harry in surprise. He didn’t think Professor Flitwick would be that eager to do it. “You really want to help?”
“Of course I