𝔪𝔢𝔱𝔞𝔪𝔬𝔯𝔭𝔥𝔬𝔰𝔦𝔰
quinze. — duelling!

Persephone couldn't wipe the smile off of her face after her Care of Magical Creatures class, especially when she heard the commotion from the Professor after they were dismissed. Somehow the unicorns restraints had been loosened and it had slipped away in the forest back to its family.

With a skip in her step she hummed happily and headed to her DADA class. Professor Merrythought was a good enough teacher, even as she slowly reached her retirement age and even though she clearly favoured the Gryffindor students in the same way Slughorn favoured the Slytherin's so she found it to be fair in a way. Though it was irritating when the woman would always pick on the Gryffindor's for the answers first, even when she herself knew that the specific Gryffindor she was letting answer would most certainly get it wrong.

Septimus Weasley was a boy who had a serious problem with overconfidence. He constantly answered questions in class only for them to be completely wrong every time. And while it could be seen as endearing that first few times. By the fiftieth time the rest of the class was tired of it and certain he was doing it on purpose — most of his answers being outlandish and requiring long explanations that wasted half the lesson.

Rolling her eyes as she watched Weasley and Longbottom fighting over a seat, she flopped down into the seat beside Costia — Druella and Walburga sat in their usual seats behind the two. Persephone had found this to be the lesson that Druella paid most attention to, unlike some of her other classes where she would doodle restlessly on her parchment of sneakily try to paint her nails, but in DADA she had a admirable focus that couldn't be wavered by anyone.

"Class! Settle down," Professor Merrythought entered the classroom, most of the chatter ceasing immediately in the wake of her presence, "today you will be duelling each other and practicing all of the spells you have learnt so far this year."

Weasley and Longbottom high-fived loudly, whilst Druella sat up straighter in in her seat a smirk already settling across her face as many members of the class began asking their friends to pair up with them, "Silence! I have assigned you all partners based on what skill level I believe you are at in this moment."

A collection of groans rang out through the room many students slumping in their chairs deflated, they were all forced to get out of their seats as the Professor disappeared the tables and chairs to make an adequate duelling space, "When I call your names, join your partner and begin your duels! Remember the aim of this is not to maim your partner! I don't need a repeat of nineteen forty."

"Mr Weasley and Mr Nott." Nott gasped offended after being placed with who he referred to as the class idiot.

"Mr Longbottom and Miss Parkinson."

"Miss Black and Mr Lestrange." Walburga groaned and waved to Seph as she pretended to slit her throat with the tip of her wand.

Many more names were read out, the skill level of the duellers getting higher and higher as Persephone's nerves spiked, "Mr Malfoy and Mr Potter."

"Miss Rosier and Mr Dolohov."

"And finally, Miss Dumbledore and Mr Riddle." Persephone whitened as their names were called last. Locking eyes across the room she was shocked and unnerved by the intensity in his stormy blues — a glint of excitement clear in them as the corner of his mouth twitched.

"I have high hopes for you Persephone," Professor Merrythought clapped her on the shoulder with a smile, "Your theory is exceptional and I've heard only good reviews from the other Professors, so I wished to give you a challenge to determine your skill level."

Persephone nodded taking a deep breath as she gave the teacher an awkward thumbs up. Dodging the other pairs that had already started, she finally made it to the other end of the room where Tom was patiently waiting for her. Clenching her hand around her wand she observed it for a moment, it was Yew wood — the same wood as Tom's wand — with a rather unusual and rare core consisting of the horn of a horned serpent. It was twelve and a half inches, surprisingly swishy and flexible and only an inch and a half shorter than Tom's.

"Don't think about going easy on me." Persephone mumbled as they bowed to one another.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

There was an unmistakable viciousness in both of their eyes as blue met green — the air in the room seemed to thicken and the other pairs in the room felt their eyes automatically gravitate towards the captivating pair that seemed to be studying each other with hungry, wild eyes, "Impedimenta."

Persephone fired the first spell — though she had been practicing non-verbal magic in her spare time she was aware it was not on the fifth year curriculum and wouldn't use it unless Tom used it first on principal. Tom easily deflected the turquoise light with an almost careless flick of his want. So he did know wandless magic of course.

With a wave of his want a ball of bright orange flames shot towards her, one she recognised as the Lacarnum Inflamari spell. Carelessly she deflected the spell non-verbally, raising a mocking eyebrow at the boy as she stared into his eyes with a grin. Without missing a beat she non-verbally shot a spell at him, Everte Statum.

Once again he deflected her spell, but before he could fire another hex or jinx at her she waved her wand and pictured the word Fumos clearly in her mind. At once the room was clouded in a defensive cloud of grey smoke that shielded her from his view. Not wasting a second she moved several feet to the left, the entire room having been left in use for the two as the class and teacher watched the almost dance like routine thoughtfully. A second after she had moved a jet of red hit the spot she had once been standing in. Her eyes narrowed on the spot where the light had come from, Flipendo though she could not see through the fog she did hear the sound of Tom grunting as he fell to the floor.

Only a few seconds later the retaliation came, "Colloshoo!" This was said out loud in a slightly angry voice and all at once Persephone found her feet stuck to the floor, she was unable to move. All of a sudden the fog was cleared and she was surprised to find Tom right before her, his wand held to her throat, forcing her to lift her eyes to meet his, "Do you submit?"

"Submit?" She questioned in false confusion, "I'm just getting started."

Persephone completely disappeared before his eyes, the boy turning in a circle as he looked around suspiciously. Not a moment later Persephone reappeared in her original spot feet unstuck and right behind Tom, pressing her want into the side of his neck she whisper lowly so only he could hear it, "So, do you submit, Riddle?"

"Clever witch," he chucked, "but not clever enough."

Persephone was forced to duck as several items from around the room such as books and trinkets threw themselves at her from every direction. When she lifted her head from the floor, wavy hair flying everywhere she found Tom now a few feet away from her his wand raised. She rolled out of the way just as his spell hit the floor where she had just been, the stone floor exploding with chunks of it raining around her.

Standing Persephone found herself out of breath but determined. Conjuring a ball of ice she aimed for his face, Tom simply side stepping her spell. Not expecting her to attack again Tom was hit by her next hex, Steleus.

Several high pitched sneezes left his mouth, Persephone snickering from across the room at the sound when he counter-cursed the spell and glared at her, the tempest jinx hit her suddenly and she let out a sharp scream as the lightning bolts that hit her pale skin. Grunting she fell onto her hands and knees. Glaring at him from the ground she swiped her wand angrily through the air and the boy was suddenly levitating off of the ground upside down before being unceremoniously dropped on his head. Persephone standing on wobbly legs as Professor Merrythought tried to step in, "Okay, I think that's enough—,"

Tom who had stood, and was practically vibrating with unbridled magic glared into Persephone's green cat like eyes as she stood across from him unflinching. Without missing a beat he began throwing countless jinx's and hex's at the witch, Persephone being forced to continuously step back as she deflected each one. Tiring she was jarred when her wand flew from her hand across the room, Tom not wasting a second flourished his wand as a fiery snake emerged from the tip heading straight for Persephone as the class gasped.

Not knowing what else to do, Persephone threw out her hands in front of her in hopes of protecting herself. Shockingly enough the snake was extinguished and Tom was thrown into the wall behind him, the force of her own magic knocked Persephone off of her feet too and she found herself hitting the wall behind her harshly.

Blue eyes met green as the aftermath of their combined power tore cracks in the stone walls surrounding them, and with blood on his lips Tom Riddle smiled.

AUTHORS NOTE!
Is it 3AM?? Yes. Do I have class at 9AM?? Also yes. No I don't care I literally couldn't stop writing this once I started. Never written a duel in my life, ffs I thought normal fight scenes were hard that was a whole other level.

Also Tom and Seph flirt fighting is my new aesthetic.

Stay safe! Remember to vote, comment and or share please lovelies!

Unedited
-summer