Harry Potter and The Last Horcrux
The Dueling Club Returns

It was a few days later that Harry found himself facing hisfirst class with Kathryn. As fate wouldhave it was Ginny and Luna’s class. Ginny had walked in and stopped up short. Luna, not paying attention, walked right intoher.

“Hey what’s up?” Luna said rubbing her forehead where it hadimpacted against Ginny’s shoulder.

“Harry,” Ginny said.

“I am not,” Luna said indignantly, “I had my hair trimmedlast week.”

“No, Harry,” Ginny said pointing to him.

“Oh,” Luna said looking at where her friend pointed, “thatHarry. What’s he doing here?”

Ginny glanced at Luna pulled her to the back of theclassroom and whispered, “Hermione was almost killed over the holiday.”

Luna’s eyes widened, “How?”

“Snape kidnapped Slughorn and Hermione tried to stophim. Harry and Professors’ McGonagalland Ryan found her.”

“Wow,” Luna whispered, “I wonder why Snape kidnappedProfessor Slughorn?”

Ginny shrugged and was prevented from replying by ProfessorRyan calling out from the top of the steps to her office, “Come on class let’sget in here. We’ve got a busy classtoday.”

Ginny and Luna put their stuff down as Professor Ryan camedown the steps, “We’ll first off, I’m sure you’ve noticed Miss. Granger is nothere,” she paused and saw many of the students nod their heads, “She has had afamily emergency come up and will be back in a few weeks, until then Mr. HarryPotter has agreed to fill in as my assistant.”

Harry nodded and gave them a slight smile. His eyes met with Ginny’s and he quicklylooked away.

Professor Ryan stopped in front of the class, “Now as youcan see the room is set up for dueling,” she indicated the room setup with herhands. There was a raised runway in thecenter and the students gathered around it, “I understand from Mr. Potter thatProfessor Lockhart attempted to put together a dueling club many years ago withvery little success. Well I’m going totry again.”

“She’ll be better than Lockhart,” Ginny muttered to Luna.

“Now, you all should know how to defend yourselves should itbe necessary,” Professor Ryan said, “Now Mr. Potter has informed me that manyof you have learned the basics from him and a few of those have actually hadsome practical use, like Miss. Weasley and Miss. Lovegood.”

A few nods were her reply and she continued, “So knowingthat I intend on using those students to help those who haven’t. The club will meet once a week and will bemonitored by myself, Mr. Potter and several other professors.”

Professor Ryan climbed onto the raised platform and walkedto the far end, “From this point on, I’ll spend a small part of the classshowing you the basics before your actual lessons and in the club is whereyou’ll put to practice what you’ve learned as well as learning the finer points,”she pulled out her wand and turned to Harry, “Now for a demonstration. Mr. Potter?”

Harry climbed onto the platform and took out his wand.

“Now it’s polite to salute to each other before you begin,”Professor Ryan said. They saluted eachother and stood at the ready, “However you generally won’t get that polite inreal combat so it’s wise to just be prepared and ready for anything.”

It was tense stand off as the students waited see who’dstrike first. Professor Ryan did.

“Rictusempra!”

Harry immediately countered, “Protego! Tarantallegra!”

Professor Ryan dropped under the spell, “Stupefy!”

Harry dodged the spell and with a slight quirk of his mouth,“Aguamenti!”

Professor Ryan watched in surprise as a strong jet of watercame at her and nearly knocked her off the platform.

The students laughed, but were quickly silenced whenProfessor Ryan rolled up and pointed her wand at him, “Expelliarmus!” Harry’swand flew from his grasp and she shouted another spell, “Immobulus!”

Then everyone, including Professor Ryan, got a realsurprise. Harry preformed wandlessmagic, “Protego!” he shouted and with a wave of his arm, the spell wasdeflected. Then he countered by holding outhis hand in front of him palm forward, “Incarcerous!”

Professor Ryan snapped out of her shock quickly and acted,“Incendio!” she shouted and the ropes headed her way burned to nothing,“Alright enough!” she shouted and stood.

The students clapped and cheered in appreciation of thelittle demonstration. Professor Ryanwent and shook hands with Harry. Harryretrieved his wand and waited as Professor Ryan magically dried herself off.

“Well now that was impressive,” she said, “That wascertainly exhilarating from my point of view,” she smiled at Harry, “Veryclever and unexpected using the aguamenti spell Mr. Potter. Are you hinting that I needed a shower?”

The class laughed and Harry just smiled slightly and shookhis head.

“Hmmm, if you say so,” she added and addressed the class,“As you saw this can be fun as well as challenging. I am striving for that as well as a goodlearning experience. Now please chooseyour partners and if we need to we’ll adjust as necessary.”

The class spent several minutes choosing their partners withProfessor Ryan’s ok. Ginny and Lunachose each other and wandered over to Harry, who had just climbed down from therunway.

“Harry,” Ginny said, “That bit with the wandless magic wasamazing!”

“Thanks,” Harry said.

Ginny sensed he wasn’t comfortable, “Harry we should talklater. I… Well our conversation onChristmas wasn’t what I had planned.”

Harry looked at her and shrugged, “There’s nothing else tosay Ginny.”

Ginny looked at him in disbelief, “Of course there is.”

Harry shook his head, “No there isn’t. The class is about restart.”

Ginny gave him a furious look and turned back to theclass. The rest of the class flew by aseach pair took turns on the platform. When the class was over Ginny was still fuming about Harry.

Dinner that night in the castle was a quiet one forGinny. She had expected to see Harrysitting with Professor Ryan at the teacher’s table, but saw that he wasn’tanywhere to be found. She sat down atthe Gryfreplaceor table heavily and with a short explosive huff.

Colin looked up startled at the person who’d sat down insuch a fashion next to him, “Whoa! Oh hiGinny,” he said cheerfully and gave her a quick peck on the cheek, “Sorry Imissed you this morning, but I was running late.”

“That’s ok,” she growled.

He looked at her quizzically, “Is everything ok? Did I do something wrong?”

Ginny looked at him in confusion, “What? Oh no I’m sorry, it’s not you,” she saidforcing a cheerful tone in her voice, “I’m upset at something else.”

She gave him kiss on the cheek and started eating. He looked at her for a moment not entirelybelieving that he was off the hook. Theychatted about their holidays and what each did. Of course Ginny did leave out Hermione’s near-death experience when shespoke.

“Hey did you hear about the Dueling Club?” Colin asked, “Ihope it’s better than a couple of years ago.”

“It will be,” Ginny said, “Professor Ryan’s in charge ofit.”

“Then it’ll be wicked!” Colin exclaimed excitedly, “I’llhave to take pictures.”

Ginny rolled her eyes. If it was one thing about Colin that annoyed her, it was his hobby ofphotography. It wasn’t until near theend of dinner that Harry sneaked in. Ginny, and many others, would have missed him if it wasn’t for DennisCreevey, sitting with his girlfriend, that saw him enter.

“Harry!” Dennis shouted and waved.

Harry gave him a small smile and waved back. Then the rest of the hall saw him and othersstarted shouting their greetings.

“What’s Harry doing here?” Colin asked. He then started looking around, “Now that I thinkabout it, where’s Hermione?”

“She had a family emergency,” Ginny said trying to soundconvincing, “Harry’s here taking her place temporarily.”

“Really?” Colin said sounding excited, “That’ll bewicked! If he stays here long enough hecould help us with quidditch. Afterlosing to Ravenclaw I think we could use the help.”

“That sounds great,” Ginny said not sounding enthusiastic atall.

Harry quickly went and sat down next to Professor Ryan andwhispered in her ear for a few moments before she nodded and turned to whisperat McGonagall. Shortly afterwards thehall filed out heading for bed. Ginny onthe other hand, made a beeline for the teacher’s table.

“Harry!” she shouted stopping him from getting leaving,“Hold it!”

She caught up to him talking with Professor Ryan and askedin a low tone, “I’m sorry for interrupting, but is there any news on Hermione?”

He nodded, “I just came from seeing her and she’s doinggreat. She should be out of hospital bythe end of next week.”

“Will she be back here by then?” Ginny asked.

Professor Ryan shook her head and answered, “No, Harry hasjust been assigned as my assistant permanently and I’m sure Miss. Granger willneed to be home for a while to recuperate after she gets released.”

Ginny nodded, “Professor, may I talk to Harry in private fora minute?”

Harry looked at Professor Ryan who nodded, “Of course, butdon’t be too late or Filch will get you,” she smiled and left.

After they were alone there were several moments ofuncomfortable silence. Harry waspatiently waiting for her to speak first, which she eventually did.

“Harry,” she said, “I’m sorry about our talk atChristmas. I should have thought abouthow you’d take my being with Colin and told you first.”

“Nothing to be sorry for,” he said, “Besides ‘Mione wouldhave told me anyway.”

Ginny nodded, “Yes, but… Harry can I ask you something?”Harry nodded and she looked at him, “Do you hate me?”

“Hate you?” his face crimped in confusion, “Why should Ihate you Ginny?”

“Ever since we broke up you’ve been cold and heartlesstowards me,” she said, “You’ve practically cut yourself off from the rest ofthe world. What’s wrong with you?”

He sighed, “I can’t tell you why Ginny, but please believeme when I say it’s for a very good reason.”

“Harry, what is it?”

“I told you, it’s something I have to do,” he said with aslight edge in his voice, “I can’t tell you any more.”

“Does Ron and Hermione know what this secret mission is?”

“Yes, but that’s because they’ve been helping me.”

“Why can’t I help you?” she asked, “Or is it because you’rebeing so bloody noble again?”

“No,” he shook his head, “It’s for the same reasons thatnearly got ‘Mione killed.”

“What reasons are those?” she asked totally confused.

“Nevermind,” he whispered, “Please Ginny just let itdrop. You’re busy with school, quidditchand now Colin. Just let it drop and justmove on.”

She looked at him furiously. Her face was red with anger and her eyes filled with tears.

“Please,” he said again, “I’m sorry.”

“Fine!” she shouted, the dam finally bursting, “but I waitedfor you and you never came! Now you wantto cast me aside and pretend like we aren’t even friends! You selfish bastard!”

She slapped him as hard as she could and ran out of thehall. Harry stood there looking down atthe floor for several long moments in silence.

“It’s hard isn’t?” came a voice softly behind him, “to letgo of someone you love?”

Harry turned and saw Kathryn walking out from the shadows,“How long have you been listening?” he asked angrily.

“Not long,” she said, “I came back to get the hall ready fortomorrow and I didn’t think you’d be here. I’m sorry for eavesdropping.”

“It’s ok,” Harry said quietly.

Kathryn looked at Harry who was looking towards the halldoors where Ginny had fled. His cheekwas already showing the mark of Ginny’s handprint on it and his expression wasone of hurt.

“This may not help,” she said, “but I went through somethinglike this when I was younger.”

Harry looked at her, “What?”

“Yep,” she said smiling. She sat on the edge of the table, “It was before I came to England. My boyfriend, who is a wizard, and I werevery close and we had talked about marriage after we graduated from our schoolin America. We were excited about ourfuture to say the least.”

“What happened,” Harry asked, “and how does this relate toGinny and me?”

“Relax and I’ll tell you,” Kathryn said and she pausedlooking down at her feet before looking back up at Harry, “Well I was offered aAuror position here and I couldn’t say no, but he didn’t want to movehere. It’s not like he couldn’t havedone anything he wanted even teach here at Hogwarts. After a lot of arguing and teeth gnashing Icame here and he stayed there,” her face turned to sadness, “I still love him,but I had to let go so I could pursue what I wanted to.”

She cocked her head to one side and smiled at him, “I sensethat’s the same with you and Miss. Weasley. You had to give her up to pursue Voldemort.”

Harry looked at the hall doors, “I just didn’t want her toget hurt or killed for being with me.”

“Noble,” Kathryn said, “but not really your choiceentirely.”

Harry looked at her in confusion, “Not entirely my choice?”

“Harry, a relationship takes two people to start and twopeople to end,” Kathryn explained, “It sounds to me like she didn’t back out.”

“She accepted my decision,” Harry said, “She isn’t strongenough to face Voldemort.”

“Or maybe you didn’t give her a chance to show how strongshe could be,” Kathryn said.

Harry looked at her for several moments in silence.

Kathryn returned his gaze, “You know, Hermione told me oncethat you are the only boyfriend that Ginny’s ever had that all seven of herbrothers agreed on and she was willing to tell them off for. From my point of view that’s truly animpressive feat and something very special.”

Harry looked from the doorway back to her again.

“And now it’s too late,” she added standing, “but that wasyour choice and far be it for me to tell you how to live your life.”

Harry’s head dropped, “Thanks,” he said.

“Harry, you sometimes can’t control everything,” Kathrynsaid softly placing a hand on his shoulder, “There are things that happen forone reason or another and one of those things for you was and still is Ginny.”

Harry looked at her without expression thinking. Kathryn gave his shoulder a brief squeeze,“Look try and get some rest. We have abusy day tomorrow with classes and the Dueling Club.”

Harry nodded and left the hall. He didn’t go to his room, but up to theAstronomy Tower instead. He walked over tothe large circular window and looked out onto the grounds.