Chapter 27

As I made my way over to the Duelling Club Room on the day of my duel with Eekins, I mentally reviewed my game plan for the duel. First, using the Berserkergang Charm to increase my physical capabilities in conjunction with my Occlumency to avoid the negative side effects would be key here. I couldn't use potions to increase my speed, strength, or toughness, so I would have to rely on that for it. I'd already confirmed that my Occlumency was good enough to retain my rational mind while under the effects of the spell.

Secondly, lean on the Dead Moment to further boost my reflexes and speed. That would be key, if I could use that in conjunction with my boosted capabilities, I might be able to keep moving and chipping away at Eekins' defenses. Of course, she would only need to hit me with the Impediment Hex or leg-locker once to completely take my momentum away from me. Any time lost casting Finite Incantatem to regain my mobility was time that Eekins could use to lay into me with more advanced spellwork.

That led to part three of my strategy, locking Eekins down. The Morass Spell, Coloshoo, Incarcerous, and other spells of that nature. If I could lock down Eekins, and keep light on my feet, I should be able to keep her from landing a telling blow. From there, I'd strafe her with Depravatio Spells, Blackout Curses, and other such debuffs, mixing in Shieldbreakers as appropriate. If all else failed, put up a smokescreen and utilize the mind arts to sense her location while using the smokescreen to conceal myself. Then I had the Ring if I needed to capture spells, like the one I'd foreseen in my dreams.

That was the best I was going to do here. It was a more involved strategy than I usually utilized, but Eekins was a fifth-year. I wasn't going to overpower her or pull out a unique spell she couldn't deal with. I needed to out-strategize her if I wanted to win, and that meant a more in-depth strategy. Hopefully, it would work. If I got a reputation for being able to out-duel a fifth-year as a firstie, then my hope was that when the limitations placed on Malfoy and his group expired next year, they'd be too intimidated by my reputation to bother trying something.

Having that sort of reputation wasn't my favorite thing in the world, I thought of myself as a fairly friendly guy, all things considered, but it could solve a number of problems before they even got a chance to start. Malfoy's antics were just one of them. Of course, I could just as easily see my strategy undone and wind up tasting defeat and feeling the sting of losing five thousand Galleons to Eekins. Honestly, when you looked at it objectively from an outside point of view, that would probably be far more likely.

Speaking of the odds, as I made my way into the Training Ground Ward, where the hidden entrance to the Dueling Club Room was, I noticed the Weasley Twins set up in a sort of makeshift, transfigured booth. Fred was handling a notebook, while George had a lockbox. Hung up on the side of the, clearly hastily transfigured, booth was a chalk slate with odds on it. I was apparently sitting at ten-to-one. Shrugging to myself, I headed over to talk with them and maybe place a bet of my own.

"Fred, George. Ten-to-one against? I'd normally be insulted, but even I realize this is an uphill fight." I grinned.

"Look at that, brother of mine. The Man of the Hour." Nodded Fred.

"He's a Boy of the Hour, more like." Snickered George.

"Maybe we ought to be calling him toast instead?" Questioned Fred.

"Hmm, maybe. He looks like he's got a plan, though brother of mine. Perhaps we shouldn't count him out yet?" Queried George.

"I always have a plan. You two ought to know that by now." I smirked.

"Well, he's confident at least, I'll give him that." Mused Fred.

"We might want to give him a chance to place a bet though. He looks like he wants to." Insisted George.

"How much action can you handle?" I asked.

"We're partnered with Old Aberforth down at the Hog's Head Inn. He's Dumbledore's brother, and an all right sort if you can get past the crusty exterior." Informed Fred.

"He's a lot like a Cockroach Cluster that way." Added in George.

"Regardless, we can take bets up to two-hundred-fifty Galleons at ten-to-one odds." Answered Fred.

"How do you know I was going to bet on myself?" I questioned.

"We know you." Scoffed George.

"You've got the same sort of bravado that some of our Mates in Gryffindor have. Shame about you being put in Slytherin, but I guess your cunning overruled your courage on that." Shrugged Fred.

"Right, well put me down for two-hundred-fifty Galleons on me winning." I insisted.

"Hate to do this, but we can't take bets on credit. If you've got the Galleons on you we need to take them now." Frowned George.

"Burned too often?" I queried.

"You could say that. You only need to get burned once while working with Aberforth before he starts in with the tongue-lashing." Concurred Fred.

"You've never heard an Old Man who fought in Grindelwald and Voldemort's War Curse, have you?" Asked George.

"No. I haven't." I admitted.

"You don't want to. Trust us." Warned Fred.

"Well, I'd hate to get you in trouble with your partner. Here you go." I nodded.

As I said that, I reached into my Mokeskin Pouch and pulled out a pouch of two-hundred-fifty Galleons. George took the pouch and began counting out the coins in stacks of ten before depositing them in the Lockbox. Once he'd counted and deposited all the gold, he nodded at Fred who made a note in his notebook with a quill and ink. Then he looked up at me.

"Good luck, mate. You're gonna need it." Offered Fred.

"Seriously, we're rooting for you." Nodded George.

Then, without further ado, I headed into the Dueling Club Room, ready to face my opponent. . .

XXXX

Magnus Gamp stood in the Gallery overlooking the Dueling Pit of the Hogwarts Dueling Club. This little soiree was more full than he'd thought. It seemed as if the entire first few years of every House had filed into the Dueling Club Room to Watch. He wasn't even the only teacher here, either. Filius Flitwick had agreed to play Official for this scrap, and both Severus Snape and Quirinius Quirell were here too, though why the frail man with the list of phobias as long as Magnus' Arm had decided to show up was anyone's guess.

Quirell by all rights should never have gotten the Defense Position. The man was a coward, who fainted easily at the sight of danger and whose teaching methods were sub-par. Magnus had sat in on one of the NEWT-Level Lectures the man had been giving the seventh-years and had to immediately resist the urge to take over the Class.

Quirell had a lot of theoretical knowledge, that much was clear, but the man had shite for practicals from what Magnus could see, and his teaching was rushed enough that the students would be lucky to be able to cast half the spells in the Seventh-Year Curriculum by the year's end. Quirell just didn't give the kids enough time for practice for anything more than that. When he'd heard the man's former position was as Muggle Studies teacher, it explained a great deal. After all, Muggle Studies was all theory, no practice.

Which brought Magnus back to the reason he was here today. One of his students had done something completely daft and challenged a Fifth-Year to a duel. Now, ordinarily, a student of his would be able to wipe the bloody floor with a Fifth-Year in the regular Hogwarts Curriculum, but this particular student was only a First-Year, and that was a whole different kettle of fish.

Fortunately, Zabini was something of a prodigy when it came to several subjects. Charms and Defense yes, but also Potions and the Mind Arts. While the third of those wasn't going to be used today, the other three absolutely would. Magnus had been testing the boy and pushing him in spars and practice duels every week. He knew more than most of these kids how to fight.

"Magnus. Come to cheer your student on?" Came the wizened voice of Albus Bloody Dumbledore from nearby.

Turning, Magnus Gamp nodded at Dumbledore and said, "Zabini's got a knack for strategy. If any First-Year can pull this off, it'd be him."

"Perhaps. I'll admit he isn't the dunderhead that most children are, despite appearances." Cut in Severus Snape as he approached.

"Yet you have reservations?" Pressed Dumbledore.

"Of course, Headmaster. A First-Year defeat a Fifth-Year? Perhaps if he were able to prepare the ground ahead of time or utilize potions, then he might be capable of pulling it off. However, in a duel under normal Bern Accords Rules, neither of those options is available. I simply do not think his victory is likely." Sniffed Snape.

"I wouldn't count Zabini out just yet. He's likely prepared some strategy that has a decent chance of winning, even if we can't see it ourselves." Nodded Magnus Gamp.

"Indeed. Fortuna Favet Parato is the Zabini Family Motto, I believe. Fortune Favors the Prepared. Some say that it is a boast. The Zabini Family is known to have a number of Seers and Natural Leglimens in their family line. After all, who is more prepared than those who can read the minds of their opponents and even foresee the outcome of skirmishes before they occur?" Mused Dumbledore.

"Do you truly believe he can win?" Questioned Snape.

"I suspect we are about to find out." Intoned Dumbledore.

"L-look! He's h-here!" Called out Quirinius Quirell from off to the side, pointing to the entrance.

Magnus Gamp looked over to see the sliding wall of the Secret Entrance open up and reveal Blaise Zabini, wearing a Tebo-Hide Duster and with a look of determination on his face. If Magnus knew his student, and he definitely did after so many weeks as his tutor, Zabini wouldn't let anyone see him sweat even if he was internally screaming. He had to project an outward air of effortless competence and grace, that Sprezzatura that the Italians loved so much. It was almost enough to make Magnus Gamp believe that Zabini actually could pull off a win here.

He supposed only time would tell. . .

XXXX

As I entered the Dueling Club Room, I noticed several things. The first was that Daphne was already waiting for me down in the Dueling Pit, alongside Professor Flitwick, both of which were standing opposite Eekins and her second, Third-Year Slytherin Cassius Warrington. I sighed as I saw that, Warrington likely owed Eekins a favor. I knew they weren't friends, after all, Warrington wasn't exactly a friendly sort.

The next thing I noticed was that the Dueling Club Room was packed full. It seemed like the entire damn school had turned out for this little shindig. My eyes instantly locked on my various friends. Hermione seemed anxious, more so than usual, likely owing to the fact that she'd been the reason for all this. Terry was near her, trying to keep her spirits up with optimism even though I could see the pale yellow streaks in his aura that meant he was afraid too.

Susan and Hannah had apparently made some sort of flags to cheer me on with and waved them in the air, stamping their feet as I entered like this was a Quidditch Match and not a duel. They were accompanied by Harry, Ron, and Neville who all had flags of their own and were cheering to different extents, with Neville cheering the quietest and Ron the loudest.

Millie, Tracey, and somewhat surprisingly, Sophie Roper, were also clumped together with more of those flags. I'd wonder who'd made them, but then it was probably the Weasley Twins. My suspicions were confirmed as they entered after me, nodding to me with two flags of their own and another pair for Hermione and Terry who they were making a beeline for.

My friends had come to cheer me on, while I could see others, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy Parkinson, Theo Nott, Lucian Bole, Peregrine Derrick, and Miles Bletchley all seemed to have different flags that were being distributed by Marcus Flint. These flags all had Eekins' name on them in silver letters on green felt, as if I weren't also Slytherin.

Snorting to myself, I shook my head at that. If they wanted to root against me, that was fine. I'd just have to win and really rub this in their faces. Looking up, I noticed that the Students weren't the only ones here. Magnus Gamp had come out to cheer me on, and Professor Snape was here as well, as was Headmaster Dumbledore. I heard a stuttering exclamation from near them and looked over to see that Quirrel was also there.

That wasn't good, would winning here put me on Voldemort's hit list as a potential future rival? I was fairly certain that neither Quirell nor Voldemort's Possessing Shade knew I'd been the one to foil their attempt on Harry's life at the Quidditch Match. They'd most likely been too busy dealing with Snape's attempt to counter-curse the broomstick to pay attention to me until it was too late. Would victory here guarantee that anonymity was stripped from me?

I couldn't think about that right now. I would just have to take it as it came when it came. Hopefully, that would be a future concern, with Voldemort being preoccupied by the Hunt for the Philosopher's Stone right now. It's not like he and Quirell could afford to take time off from that just to kill me, after all.

Regardless I made my way down into the Dueling Pit, nodding at Daphne as I approached. She nodded back at me and offered a cocked eyebrow. I could see waves of worry and fear roll off her in pale yellow waves. I offered her a reassuring smirk that seemed to calm her down somewhat. Then I turned to look over at Eekins. Red Anger wafted off her like a fog and I knew that she would come out swinging.

As Professor Flitwick let out a Sonorous Charm to quiet the galleries and get everyone's attention, I felt a vision coming on that hit me as he began to speak. I was suddenly propelled into my mind's eye as I watched the first few spells that Eekins would cast go out. Aqua Eructo, Bombarda, and Confringo. I saw her cast them and knew exactly how to avoid them.

Then I snapped back to myself just as the seconds began to announce the combatants. Daphne stepped forward and announced me in the same imperious Tone of Voice that she had during my duel against Draco earlier in the year.

"Blaise of the Princely, Imperial, and Senatorial House of Zabini, Rightful Conte del Villagio del Mistero, Rightful Lord of the Castello Dell'occhio Interiore, Favored of Fortuna, Darling of the Fates, Last Descendant of the Claudii of Rome, and Principe del Sangue of the Kingdom of Magical Italy has Challenged Jessica of the Knightly House of Eekins to a Duel by Bern Accords Rules. Should he win, then Jessica is to apologize to Blaise, Katie Bell, and one Hermione Granger for insults issued last Potions Club Meeting and to refrain from issuing further insults to Blaise or any of his friends for a year and a day. Furthermore, should Blaise prove victories, Jessica Eekins is to immediately step down from her position as Chaser for the Slytherin House Quidditch Team and be replaced by someone of Captain Flint's choosing." Announced Daphne.

She stepped back and Warrington stepped forward to speak Eekin's Answer to my challenge. As she stepped back into place beside me, Daphne gave me a short nod, which I returned.

"Jessica Eekins accepts the Challenge of Blaise Zabini to duel under Bern Accords Rules. To match Blaise Zabini's wager, should she win, Blaise Zabini is to grovel before her and beg for forgiveness for issuing this challenge, to begin with. Furthermore, should she win, Blaise Zabini is to pay Jessica Eekins a sum of no less than five thousand Galleons." Intoned Warrington, skipping titles as a form of brevity.

"Are these stakes and stipulations as you both remember agreeing to?" Queried Flitwick.

"They are." I nodded.

"Yes. Now let's get this over with. I want my gold and you groveling." Snarled Eekins.

"Very well, second retreat to the boundaries. This duel will commence on the count of ten!" Squaked out Flitwick.

I pulled my wand and Eekins did the same. We stared each other down as Flitwick Began to count down from ten to one. As the countdown continued, the red fog of anger that rolled off Eekins like a wave deepened to a crimson as if she was annoyed by the countdown and that annoyance was only stoking her anger further.

As Flitwick reached the number one, Eekins snarled out an Aqua Eructo Spell, firing a jet of pressurized water at me with a motion of her wand, but I was already moving, having foreseen this and casting my Berserkergang Charm on myself. My wand touched my temple as I janked to the side of the water jet and a red haze of anger descended over me, pumping my body with energy even as the iron control of my Occlumency clamped down on the rage, banking the fires of anger and allowing it to fuel me instead of burn unchecked.

Using the extra speed given to me, I leaped away from a Bombarda, the Bombardment Spell throwing up clouds of sand as it exploded the spot where I'd just been standing moments ago. My leap carried me away and I let out a spell of my own, the Morass Spell creating a quagmire of sucking mud with an incantation of "Valtos!"

Eekins snarled in anger, casting a Confringo Spell at me, the cursed flame shooting for me and seeking to explode me. I dove away, tucking myself into a shoulder roll that carried me underneath the blasting curse, which instead exploded one of the statues that flanked the stairs back up into the Gallery, forcing Daphne to duck down into the stairwell to avoid shrapnel of jagged stone from the destroyed statue.

I snarled, running off to the side and engaging the Dead Moment as I did so. My Berserkergang Spell already made me faster than a normal wizard, and with Eekins having to navigate the muck created by the Morass Spell, that allowed me to move to her right side faster than she could pivot, but now with the dead moment adding to my reaction times, I was actually able to fire a spell at her back, my Incarcerous Charm conjuring a rope that flew at Eekins' rear, forcing her to splash down into the muck to avoid being wrapped up in magical ropes.

She pushed herself up with a snarl and fired off an Impediment Jinx at me, but I was faster, the jinx splashing against the wall of the dueling pit harmlessly. I returned fire, hitting her in the flank with a pair of Depravatio Spells that sapped her stamina and energy some. A third Depravatio, however, was deflected through the use of Hex Deflection, Eekins slashing her wand down diagonally and literally cutting the spell out of the air just as my Dead Moment ran out, causing her to slash her wand at me with a cry of Everte Statum and smash me back with a burst of white light.

I felt my ribs groan in protest as I was knocked arse-over-teakettle, tumbling to the sand in a sort of reverse somersault. I had enough presence of mind to slip my wand back into my Mokeskin Pouch as I was sent flying through the air to avoid it snapping when I hit the ground and inevitably began tumbling. The Maneuver wasn't banned per se, as the Bern Accords only covered items that could be used to fight with, but I was willing to bet it wasn't something regularly used on the dueling circuit. Regardless, I pushed myself to my feet after coming to a stop, drawing my Wand once again just in time to pivot aside from a Severing Charm that cut a line across the bridge of my nose even with my enhancements.

I threw myself to the side as a Lacarnum Inflamari Spell caught my pant leg aflame, burning into my calf and forcing me to stop, drop, and roll to put it out. A second Everte Statum clipped my shoulder and sent me spinning to the sand. I grit my teeth even though my calf was burned, my face cut, and my ribs and shoulder bruised, forcing myself to keep going.

"I don't know how your collarbone and ribs haven't been broken by my two Crushing Knockback Curses, but you're clearly outmatched! Surrender and I'll make your groveling short and sweet!" Called out Eekins.

In response, I cast another two Depravatio Spells. The first got through, the second was cut out of the air with Hex Deflection. Another Confringo spell was sent my way but I was already moving, firing an Incarcerous at Eekins' legs that she was forced to cut herself free from using a Severing Charm. That allowed me to slam another Depravatio spell into her flank and fire off a Flipendo that sent her sprawling back into the muck she'd managed to extricate herself from previously. I tried to disarm her to end the duel, but she proved savvy enough to lurch away from the Expliarmus.

"Fine! You asked for this!" Snarled Eekins before she went through the wand motions for Bombarda Maxima.

The large series of explosions forced me to dive to the sands to avoid them as they rippled out at chest height, my Tebo-Hide Duster likely the only thing protecting me from the wash of flames that scorched down into my back. I stood, up duster blacked, but otherwise unhurt from the large explosions, and immediately cast Fumos to put up a smokescreen. I began to run around, using emotion-sensing to spot the big, crimson, torrent of anger that was Eekins, hitting her with a Flipendo, combined with a Seize-and-pull Charm to effectively slingshot her out of the smokescreen and into the far wall of the Dueling Pit even as she poured magic into an Incendio Maxima to try and sweep a section of the Dueling Pit with fire like she was using a flamethrower.

As she hit the far wall, Eekins cast another Spell, this one kicking up a windstorm that blew away my smokescreen and would have sent me flying into the wall opposite her if I hadn't used Coloshoo on my shoes to stick to the arena floor. A Finite Incantatum as the wind died down and we were effectively standing on opposite sides of the arena, near where our seconds had retreated to.

Eekins was huffing and puffing, my strategy of buffing myself and using debuffs to wear her down and deplete her stamina seeming to have worked. In fairness, I didn't have a whole lot left in the tank myself, but then, I had started with a much smaller tank to begin with, being a Firstie and all. I had enough left for a few more exchanges, but not much more.

"Incendio!" Snarled Eekins, sticking with small spells for now. Her fire spell shooting a jet of flame at me.

"Aguamenti!" I incanted in response, my Water-Making Spell extinguishing her flames and causing a slight haze of steam to pour out into the center of the arena.

"Incarcerous!" Snapped Eekins, trying to use my own tactics against me and firing conjured ropes to try and wrap around my legs.

"Tilgeil Sgian!" I cast, conjuring a thrown knife of mystical force that cut the ropes apart in mid-air even as they flew toward me.

"Serpensortia!" Snarled Eekins, turning the longest section of Conjured Rope into a Cobra. It reared up at me and lunged for my throat, forcing me to spin out of the way and toss out a Seize-and-Pull Charm that snatched it out of the air and slingshotted it back at Eekins who cleaved it apart with a severing charm. I cast a Flipendo that knocked her back as she was busy with that, sending her sprawling.

For a moment, I thought that would be the end of the duel until I saw the crimson of Eekins' Anger begin to become shot through with black streaks as she shoved herself to her knees and cast something in a language I didn't recognize. As she moved her wand in a criss-cross shape, I realized this was it, the spell I'd seen in my dreams.

The net of crackling black lightning appeared in mid-air in front of Eekins and shot forward toward me. Behind me, I could practically sense Daphne ducking for cover in anticipation of me dodging with the Mind Arts, even though I knew she wouldn't make it in time to avoid being killed. I'd prepared for this, though, and reached out with my left hand, pulsing magic into my Ring.

Suddenly, the net of black, crackling, lightning disappeared, vanished into the Ring of Spell-Storing for later. Eekins blinked at that and I took the opportunity presented by her sudden bewilderment to cast Expeliarmus. She tried to dodge, but she was just too tired and caught mid-surprise to boot. Her wand went flying into the sand even as she was sent tumbling away. With my last bit of magic, I cast a Coloshoo to stick her to the floor of the Dueling Pit.

"That's enough! Casting the Spell of Enlil's Abyssal Wrath in a duel between students is quite enough! Fillius, call this duel! Mister Zabini, I shall have to impress upon you to hand over your Ring of Spell Storing so that I may see the Ancient Dark Curse caught inside is safely discharged. It will be returned to you once the Curse it contains has been successfully discharged!" Exclaimed Dumbledore as he descended down from the Gallery.

"Of course, Headmaster. Blaise Zabini is the victor of the duel. I shall see to it personally that the stipulations for his victory are followed to the letter." Announced Flitwick.

I'd won. I was bruised, burned, and cut up in various places, as well as completely out of magic until I could down a restorative, but I had won. I handed my Ring of Spell Storing off to Dumbledore and shrugged off congratulations from various people. I was too tired for social interaction right now. Thankfully, the Staff seemed to realize that and kept the crowds at bay long enough that I managed to stumble my way to the Hospital Wing. Madame Pomfrey treated me for my wounds, but I was too exhausted from the duel expending all that magic in such a short time with no restoratives to pay attention to much else.

I collapsed into the cot provided and fell into a dreamless sleep. . .

XXXX

When I woke up, it was after dinner. I was kicked out of the Hospital Wing and sent off to find the Hogwarts Kitchens. Luckily, Madame Pomfrey had given me directions. I headed down to the main floor, making my way to the stairs down to the Hufflepuff Cellars, before turning left at the bottom of the stairs instead of right and coming out into a room with a number of wine barrels on racks to the right and left with a portrait of a bowl of fruit at the rear of the room. Tickling the pair in the bowl of fruit opened the hidden passage and I saw the House Elves.

They were busily making a table-sized Christmas Cake, likely for the Hogwarts Staff Christmas Banquet, which this year would have Harry and Ron attending as well, due to their circumstances. One of the House Elves, wearing a potato sack for a top and a tea towel wrapped around her waist like a skirt made her way over to me, bobbing her head up and down in an approximation of a nod.

"How can Mopsy be helping you Young Master?" Asked the Elf.

"I'm afraid I missed dinner. You wouldn't happen to have anything left would you?" I questioned.

"Mopsy has sliced turkey breast and can be making sandwiches, or there is still some Frenchie Onion Soup on the fire if Young Master is wanting something hot. Which would Young Master prefer?" Queried Mopsy.

"I'll take the soup, thank you Mopsy." I smiled.

"And to drink?" Pressed Mopsy.

"Goblin Juice Cola?" I hedged.

"Of course, Young Master. Mopsy will be getting that to you right away. You just have a seat at one of the tables and Mopsy will be bringing it out for you." Agreed Mopsy.

I did so and soon enough, I found myself with a bowl of French Onion Soup and some crusty bread for dipping, along with a bottle of Goblin Juice Cola. The soup was delicious, even as leftovers, a testament to the skill of House Elf Cookery. The bread was likewise amazing, and soon I was on my second bowl. I guess victory over a Fifth-Year was hungry work. By the time I had finished, Mopsy had returned and was looking anxiously at me.

"How was it being, Young Master?" Asked Mopsy.

"It was excellent, Mopsy, thank you. You know you don't have to call me Young Master, right? You can call me Blaise." I praised.

"Oh, Mopsy couldn't do that, Young Master Blazey, it isn't proper. Mopsy is glad that you liked the soup, though. It was Mopsy's first time cooking on her own!" Protested Mopsy before brightening up.

As I was shooed out of the Kitchens so the House Elves could continue their work on the food for the Hogwarts Staff Christmas Banquet, I reflected on what I knew of House Elves. They were descended from Minor Fae, Brownies that had been effectively domesticated using ancient magics back in the Eighth Century. It was the reason that most of the Fae were hostile to Wizardkind, though as with anything, individuals could be exceptions.

The reasons why they were so servile had to do more with how they had been magically mutated into their current form as part of that domestication process. While to modern sensibilities, this was offensive, the alternative, breaking the ancient bindings on the House Elves to return them to their natural state, would be even worse. As anyone knowledgable could tell you, the vengeance of a single motivated fae could be horrific, much less the vengeance of an entire race of them. Wizardkind was effectively committed, whether we liked it or not.

That wasn't exactly a comforting thought to head to bed with, so as I walked back to the Slytherin Common Room, I instead busied myself with thoughts of how Christmas was going to go. This would be my first without Mother and I had hoped to catch up on some self-study. After all, it wasn't as if anyone would bother to pop in on me, now was it?

As I entered the Great Hall using the password for the day, Serpens Cauda, I was disabused of that notion by Daphne, who it seemed had been waiting up just to see me.

"Finally, here." She huffed before pressing something into my hand.

"What's this?" I questioned.

"Daddy's throwing a Yule Ball for those who don't care to attend the Malfoy Ball. He does it every year. You're invited." Answered Daphne.

"I see. Well, that certainly puts a damper on my plans for self-study now doesn't it?" I queried with a grin.

"You can't train all the time, Blaise. You're already constantly getting into scrapes, first against Trolls now against a Fifth Year. The fact that you've somehow come out on top of both of those means you're doing too much training and not enough socializing." Sniffed Daphne.

"Well when you put it that way, how can I refuse?" I asked, jokingly.

"You can't. We have to exchange gifts, after all. Better to do it during the time in question than to have to wait until we return from the Holiday Break like some of the Muggleborns." Intoned Daphne.

"Right. I suppose I'll see you then. When is this thing?" I asked.

"The information is on the invitation. Don't skip out on this or I'll be extremely put out with you." Warned Daphne.

Then she stalked off to head to bed. I chuckled, shaking my head at Daphne's Antics. I was honestly a bit touched that she invited me. Come to think of it, she was one of my best friends, so it wasn't that out of the ordinary for me to get invited to this. I chuckled as I headed for my dorm and got into bed. Tomorrow I would be on my way back home to Palazzo Zabini down in the South for the first time since the school year started. Just before I fell asleep, I suddenly realized that this invitation meant that I would need to get something custom-tailored to fit me for the party, which was always a pain.

And with that cheery thought, I fell asleep for my last night in Hogwarts Castle before the Christmas Holidays. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we see the duel with Eekins and how it all played out. It wasn't easy, and he came close to losing at a couple points, but Blaise managed to use strategy and cunning to inflict a loss on Eekins, who preferred using large-scale, powerful spells.

Now he has to worry about the consequences of this. For example, Quirell was at the Duel, and with Voldemort possessing him, he also was there. It's possible that Voldemort decides to kill Blaise at some point to nip a potential rival in the bud before he can become a problem. That sort of thing has been known to happen in the past.

The stuff with the House Elves, Magically-Enforced Slavery, and Fae Vengeance is me attempting to put an actual reason why SPEW was misguided. In the Books, it comes off as a Pro-Slavery thing. Here, it's a matter of Wizardkind being committed by the actions of their ancestors. If they don't want to be wiped out by vengeful fae, the system needs to stay in place. It's not perfect, but it's me attempting to square the circle on that with my own Worldbuilding.

At any rate, next up will be a few interludes from various other people's POVs of the Christmas Holidays before we get back to Blaise for how his Christmas Holidays went.

Stay tuned. . .