New Life, True Magic, and Death at the Door

"Bette," Dumbledore sighed gently when she reached his study, "that was dangerous, and you know it." She had confessed to him what had happened on the staging area. She thought to herself that she knew it was dangerous, and that is why she had come to her Uncle, for advice, not a lecture. "It appears to me," he continued, "that Lucius Malfoy has set his sights on you, and that is not the position I had had in mind. You were to become his acquaintance, nothing more. I'm afraid you've gotten yourself into more than even you can handle."

Bette sighed, she knew that her Uncle was partly right. "But you're forgetting one thing, Uncle." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and she continued, "Lucius Malfoy's interest in me might be dangerous, but it's not as dangerous as his disregard. He's curious, so he won't hurt me or let others hurt me until he's found out what he wants. Which, if I play my cards right, is never." Dumbledore smiled at her for the first time. "I was hoping you would say something along those lines," he said, "because, I knew if you did, then you had done the best thing, and weren't in over your head, so to speak. The way you've chosen is now the only way. But you're right, even though it might not be as threatening as his indifference, Lucius Malfoy's interest in you is not something to be taken lightly, and I'm glad you haven't. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to answer some owls, and I believe you have things to do of your own."

* * * * *

Draco wondered how Professor Snape could stand so many students. No wonder everyone thought he was a grouch. He taught down in the dungeons all day long, in a subject that wasn't his first choice. But, Draco thought, both of them were rather good at Potions, and he knew that however gruff Professor Snape might appear on the outside, he was really a good teacher who knew what he was doing. Draco was very grateful for the schedule Dumbledore had worked out.

He had worked with Professor Snape during the period when the Slytherins had Potions, so there were plenty of reasons for him not to have to associate with them. He maintained pleasantries, if they could be called that, but did not seek out their company. Instead, he stayed rather busy on Potions, and in spare moments, was occupied by his other textbooks. Due to the nature of his schedule, most of his time was spent in the Dungeons with Snape, and he only went to another lesson if it was absolutely necessary. Draco had always excelled, and he found that, on his own, he could learn at a much quicker pace than he could being taught with the other students. He had finished all of his lessons for the day, during his spare time, by lunch. Professor Snape didn't seem surprised, but sent him to his room to have lunch, "The Headmaster says you're to have a meeting there." Draco tried to ask him what about, but it was all Snape seemed to know about the subject.

As he made his way through the hallways of the castle, Draco couldn't help but smile to himself. All in all, it had been a great day. He looked forward to a good year, one in which he would be allowed more independence than he had been given before, despite the troubles he might face later. Draco felt confident that he would do well at his lessons, even though he couldn't really be "at" his lessons. And he was happy to have found some new friends in Harry, Ron, Hermione, and especially Bette. Draco then stopped smiling as he wondered if his father had given him any thought, but he had reached his room and couldn't allow himself to ponder any further. After all, he had a meeting to attend. Draco sighed, and opened the room to his door. Draco's grimace disappeared, replaced by a smile.

"Hello, doll," Bette said from her place on the floor, "have a nice morning?" Draco looked her up and down. She had cast aside her robes onto his bed, and was wearing the ivory leggings and silk shirt from that morning. She had set out a sort of picnic on the floor of his room, but Draco thought to himself that it would be difficult for him to eat, much less think while she was sitting there in those tight pants. "I'm to be your meeting," she said as he knelt down, kissing her on the forehead and then settling himself into a seated position next to her on the floor. "That's fine with me," Draco said, starting to pull her towards him, but Bette stopped him with her hands. Draco looked into her eyes and then realized how serious the situation was to her. "Alright, Bette, you have my full attention."

"Draco," she began, "keep in mind, that however hard it is for you to hear what I have to say, it's just as difficult for me to relate it to you, given my feelings for you." Draco nodded, and she continued. "I've been raised since I came of age to be a secret weapon against the Dark Arts now becoming arrayed against us. And as that weapon, I have certain duties and responsibilities that I cannot turn aside from. One of my chief priorities in this hour of need is to watch over you. Not only because it is my duty for which I have been called, but also because, Draco, I love you very much. And because I care for you, I would do anything in my power to keep you from harm, even going beyond the call of duty, which I've already done. It's this that we're having the meeting about. Draco, your father came to the school today. You see, Uncle Dumbledore has hired me to start a new wizarding sport at the school. That's my cover and alibi for being here, and just another way that we can do our best to safeguard you. I want you to play my sport, Draco. Not just because I think you would be great, but because if you played it, it would give you an excuse to stop playing Quidditch." Draco was alarmed and started to protest, but Bette obviously wasn't finished speaking yet. "You know it's the best thing, Draco. You can't safely be Seeker on the Slytherin team if your own teammates are hitting the Bludgers at you, and who knows what else. I think you'll be a natural Dueler, and you're one of the main reasons I've developed the sport, so help me you'll be playing it this year!" Bette had gotten rather riled up over this last bit, and had pushed Draco onto his back and was now hovering above him. Her long hair fell down and tickled his face. "All right, have it your way," Draco smiled up at her, "you're way too persuasive for me to say or do otherwise."

Bette sat back down, now straddling him and Draco propped himself up on his elbows, looking at her with a smile playing across his lips. Bette sighed, something was still weighing heavily on her mind. "About your father, Draco." He stopped smiling, as if he knew what was coming. "It seems to me that the two of you have the same taste in women." Bette then told him what had transpired down on the staging arena, she couldn't lie to him. Draco's face contorted in fury and he sat up with a start, making Bette jump back. She had hoped he wouldn't react like this, it pained her to see him this way. Everything she did, she did for his own protection, why couldn't Draco see? But Bette's fears were unfounded, Draco didn't think poorly of her as she thought. "Did he hurt you?" Draco finally asked. Bette slowly shook her head 'no' and then laid there with her head in his lap. Neither of them knew how much time passed then, as he sat there and stroked her hair. Finally, Bette sat up and faced him, "I'm sorry I had to do it Draco. That's the only way I could manipulate him, but I only thought of you." Draco brought his finger to her lips and shushed her, "I know, Bette. I'm sorry that you had to do that, but grateful that you would do such a thing for me." He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. Then he smiled. "As a matter of fact," he said with a light in his eyes, "I'm glad you'd do anything for me, because I'd do the same for you. Seeing as how I love you and all." Bette let escape a small gasp, and Draco laughed. "Don't act so surprised," he said, "you know you drive me crazy! Now forget about all that other nonsense and lets eat!" Bette couldn't argue with him then and they spent the rest of their hour together full of smiles and laughter.

* * * * *

Hermione sat across from Ron and Harry during their lunch hour and tried to think of what Dumbledore had planned for that afternoon. It had something to do with Bette, Hermione could tell that much, and she thought Draco might also be involved, but she wasn't sure and hadn't had a chance to ask him. Hermione knew that she was close to guessing, she could feel it, but at that very moment, she lost all track of thought as she felt something else--something on her leg. "Ron!" she gasped, forgetting Harry was there, too, "I almost had it! You of all people should know that this is no time to play footsie!" Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth as Ron turned beet red from sheer terror and Harry became his own shade of red as he worked hard to stifle a giggle. Underneath the table, Ron's foot slid back to his side. Hermione let her hands fall to her lap. She started to speak after floundering about in her mind for some excuse for her outbreak, but was interrupted as Professor Dumbledore stood at the Head Table.

"Good day, students." He said when the Great Hall had quieted. "I hope your first lessons of the year are going well. Having said that, I do have one announcement to make. This year, Hogwarts will have a new sport for students to play," Dumbledore paused, and some of the students seemed distraught and began to whisper amongst themselves, but he continued, "in addition to Quidditch." There was a gathered sigh of relief from the same group of students, and now everyone focused their attention on Dumbledore, eager to hear more. "It is an individual sport, to be played amongst the houses much like Quidditch, by representatives of those houses. However, since, much like Quidditch, it is a dangerous sport, players must choose whether to pursue it or Quidditch, they will not be allowed to participate in both. Also, due to the peril that it entails, no students below fifth year will be permitted to compete." Dumbledore held up his hands for silence as the younger students started to clamor, and then continued when he held their attention once more. "Enjoy the rest of your lessons. After the last lesson of the day, anyone who is interested in learning more about the sport, meeting it's creator, and watching a demonstration, shall meet in the courtyard to be escorted to the area where it will be played this year." With that, the Headmaster walked from the Great Hall, leaving the students to speculate what would happen later that day.

"Wow," said Hermione, "I was way off." Ron and Harry just smiled. She glared at them, "I don't see what you two are grinning about. I don't suppose you'd be foolish enough to try for it. You don't even know what it is yet, and I know neither of you want to give up Quidditch." She had got them. For a moment, Harry and Ron had forgotten what the Headmaster had said. Harry had been playing Quidditch since his first year, and Ron had taken over Oliver Wood's position as Keeper and Captain of the Gryffindor Team. Neither of them could easily give up the sport. Then something dawned on the two young men and they both spoke at once, "You don't mean to say that you're going to--" but they were interrupted by Hermione. "Well, of course I am!" she huffed. "And next time, I'd suggest you don't speak until you've thought about it. You're not the only ones who can play a dangerous game. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have lessons to attend, and you two might want to think about your own as well." With that, she picked up her books and stalked out of the Great Hall. Ron turned to Harry, "I think we've had a bad influence on her." And the two of them laughed as they gathered their books and followed her out.

The rest of the day passed rather slowly for the students at Hogwarts. Everyone wondered what this new sport could be, and couldn't stop talking about the possibilities. As the day wore on, there wasn't a single person who wasn't planning on meeting in the courtyard that afternoon.

* * * * *

"Professor Hagrid," Bette said as she approached the far side of the field where Hagrid was conducting his Care of Magical Creatures Lesson. "I wondered if I might borrow Miss Granger for a moment, and your cabin." Hagrid nodded his assent without even looking up from the box he was bent over, he seemed to be rather busy at the moment, and the two girls went around to the front of his cabin and inside the front door. Bette's arrival was not unnoticed by the students, Gryffindors and Slytherins alike. Draco feigned indifference, but he knew that if it hadn't been for everyone else's eyes on her, he would have been betrayed by his smile when she inconspicuously winked in his direction. All around him, Draco could feel the students from both houses staring at Bette with varying degrees of emotion. He saw Crabbe elbow Goyle in the ribs, and was about to say something to the two when he felt Pansy bristling at his side. Draco knew he had to have a good cover, so he turned to her, "What's the matter, Pansy?" She only scowled, still angry for his remarks the day before. Draco knew he could win her over, so he continued in his silkiest voice, "Don't worry about that blonde, she's got nothing on you." Draco smiled as she made a reply and squeezed his arm, but he wasn't really paying her any attention. He just thought about Bette and the way she had just given him that sly little wink.

Hermione wheeled around to face Bette the moment the cabin door was closed behind them. "I knew it!" she said excitedly, "you're the one who made up this sport that we're going to see tonight, aren't you?" Bette smiled as Hermione continued to speak. "I just knew there had to be something, it just didn't work itself out in my head until now! So, what is it?"

"Well," Bette said once Hermione had settled down a bit, "it's a bit of a mix between Magical and Muggle. I was hoping you'd express an interest in it, since you're one of the few here who have actually been brought up in the non-magical world, besides me. It's dueling, in both worlds. It's a swordfight with the wands, except we transfigure them to the size of rapiers, while they retain their magical powers. In this state, they are called swands, and can only perform magic when they are being transfigured and when they touch the other opponent. Whenever a hit is made, similar to fencing, the duelist who has made the hit may then curse the opponent. And so on until one of the players makes five successful strikes and curses, at which point the game is over. Are you interested, Hermione? I was hoping you could help me with tonight's demonstration, at least." Hermione, silenced by this prospect, could only nod. Bette couldn't help herself, she broke out into giggles. "Oh, excellent! We'll be playing down in the bit of the field around that one corner of the Forbidden Forest. The area is already set up. Get there around five and I'll give you a tour and some practice. I can't believe you're not speaking, Hermione!" With that, neither of them could control their laughter, and the two girls left Hagrid's cabin.

They came back around the corner to find the rest of the class eagerly awaiting their return. This only made Hermione and Bette smile even broader. Bette walked over to Hagrid as Hermione resumed her place next to Ron and Harry. The students watched eagerly, not bothering to hide their curiosity as Hagrid and Bette talked. It seemed that Bette had convinced Hagrid of letting her have their attention for a short span, and he stepped forward. "Alrigh' everybody. The young woman has an announcemen' to make, so I expect you to be givin' her the same amoun' of respect you would give me." There were some snickers from the Slytherin side, met with angry glances from the Gryffindors, but everyone turned their attention to Bette as she started to speak.

"I guess you might be wondering by now who I am. Most of you have never seen me before, and are probably a bit confused, since I'm your age and a witch. My name is Bette Constan, and I'm the creator of the new game here at Hogwarts, Dual Dueling. If you can't guess from the name what the game entails, or even if you can, I encourage you to come out tonight and see what it's all about. Your very talented and capable Head Girl, Hermione Granger, has graciously agreed to help me with the demonstration." There were some polite remarks made toward Hermione from the Gryffindor side, but of course the Slytherins were mostly rude. Everyone, though, including Slytherins, tried to ignore Pansy's comment about how she hoped Hermione would make a fool of herself, but Bette did not let it pass. She walked right up to Pansy, and began to look her up and down, as if she were examining a piece of equipment which seemed to be broken. Then Bette said, so everyone could hear, "I doubt that you could last even five minutes in any competition with Miss Granger, so I'd suggest you keep that mouth of yours to its better uses and try not to contaminate the air which the rest of us have to breathe." Pansy looked, for the first time, as if she was about to cry. With that, Bette flashed her most winning smile, turned, and walked back up to the castle. There were cheers of admiration from most of the class as she went back up to the castle, and even Draco couldn't help but smile at her as she passed by and gave him another playful wink.