Shape of Magic 29: Going Clubbing

<<<Amy Carlson>>>

“Okay, ready Tay?” Honestly, she didn’t even have to ask, really.

No one wants anything to do with Lockheart more than Taylor, not that she didn’t understand or share her sister's opinions. If he ever tried what he did in their first class again, she’s pretty confident that Taylor could murder him and the entire year and all the Houses would cover for her.

Well, not the fangirls, but at that level of simpering, do they even count as capable of rational thought?

“Something to test, just need to touch a fangirl…” Amy thought before pushing that thought away, which had nothing to do with the sheer amusement the menace she lived with was radiating.

Oh, she looked as relaxed as ever, but Amy knew her well enough to gauge her moods with reasonable accuracy.

“Yep,” Taylor said with a relaxed grin as they looked at the Gargoyle. “Mars bars,” She commented, causing the stone statue to move aside, revealing a stairwell.

“You’re bullshit…” Amy grumbled.

“Oh no, Professor Snape told me the password this time,” She replied with a grin, “Honest.”

“I don’t believe you,” Amy said with narrow eyes.

Taylor just shrugged and started walking up the stairs, and after a moment of grumbling, Amy moved quickly to join her sister. Who knew what she’d do if she were in a room with Dumbledore by herself. Oh, she knew Taylor had more sense than that but she couldn’t help but wonder sometimes.

“Professor Dumebledore?” Taylor started, poking her head into the room, “I think Professor Snape said we’d come by?”

“Come in, I’ve been expecting you both.” He said with a grandfatherly smile before he held out a dish, “Lemon drop?”

“Thank you,” Taylor said as she helped herself and, after some consideration, Amy got one as well before throwing it in her mouth.

Her lips puckered only for a second before she started to enjoy the sour candy.

“You were worried about Professor Lockhart?” The exceedingly old man asked with a smile, “I can’t say that I haven’t been hearing complaints from other students…”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Taylor said, “So, can we start the defense club? Though I’ll warn you, if Lockhart shows up and does something stupid, I will do something drastic.”

Amy just put her head in her hands and groaned, “Don’t threaten professors, even if the imbecile doesn’t deserve the title.” Not that she wasn’t in complete agreement herself.

All the Cancers, all it would take is just a single touch, and that idiot would be bedridden for the rest of his life… unless magic could fix everything…

“You don’t need my permission to start a club…” He started, “Only your head of house.”

“Well, professor, I felt it was a good idea.” Amy said, “Plus, we’re kinda hoping you could keep Lockhart awa,y lest something… happen to him…” She added as she glared at her completely unrepentant sister.

“I’m not apologizing,” Was all she said, which really just said everything.

Taylor would almost certainly gleefully introduce him to the Horrors of Skitter if his incompetence hurt a student regardless of House or affiliations.

Professor Dumbledore just chortled lightly, “Ah yes, I must say you do remind me of a few students I had years ago,” He said with a wistful smile on his face, “Though instead of pranking, you’re rather protective. It’s a rather pleasant change of pace really… not that you haven’t pranked, of course.”

“I can neither confirm nor deny having a tendency to mess with people,” Taylor replied with an innocent smile. “In other news, could you ban Lockhart from being the supervising teacher?”

“Young lady, you’re a century too young to be fooling me,” Dumbledore said with a chuckle, “And yes, I believe so. For his own health of course, though… if you could keep an eye on the man, I’d be much appreciative.” He added with a quick wink and smile.

“Oh, I like him,” Taylor said with a grin while Amy groaned.

… The oldest person in the castle was going to enable her insane sister…

“Well, unless you have anything else to inform me off you best be off,” Dumbledore said, “Unless you’d care to listen to some jokes?”

“No thanks,” Amy started, “I get enough of those from this psychopath.”

“You know you love me, Ames!~” Taylor teased as she hugged the formerly grumpy (not to mention miserable and burned out) Panacea.

“Sure, sure…” Amy sighed, head shaking. She didn’t disagree, but good lord did she want to. “Sides, we need to get to class. I think our free period is almost over.”

Taylor just hummed, “Yeah, anyway see you later, Professor! Don’t eat all the lemon drops in one sitting!” She said as she released Amy and sauntered out of the office.

Dumbledore just chortled, “Best join her, Ms. Carlson before she gets into any mischief,” He said with an amused twinkle in his eye.

“I don’t think I could stop her…” Amy sighed, shaking her head as she followed.

[hr][/hr]

Finding a classroom for meetings and working out a schedule that didn’t clash with anyone’s classes took some time to manage. They scheduled more than the meetings; that is, given the size of the castle, they really had all sorts of choices available to them. And the House elves were always willing to help clean when they settled on what must’ve been a dueling room a century ago, but now was covered in dust and largely forgotten.

Really, the most irritating thing for Amy personally was Taylor specifically. She wasn’t disrupting anything; it’s just that she was very eager, almost salivating at the possibility of showing Lockhart her displeasure with his teaching style.

And what made it even worse?

On the very first day of the DADAC, Lockheart tried to take over… and Taylor was nearly vibrating. Just waiting for the moment for the leash to slip and let loose the Skitter of War.

Thankfully, Professor Snape and McGonagall were quick to run the peacock off, and Amy had the pleasure of seeing a genuinely disappointed Taylor.

“I am disappointed…” Taylor grumbled, “Anyway, who wants to learn how to beat someone up with-” Amy’s hand quickly shut her up, earning another pout from the insect-controlling woman.

“Okay, welcome to the first meeting of our new club,” Amy started, deciding to take the reins, seeing as Taylor was in one of her moods, “We’ll be covering Defense, obviously. And if the professors don’t mind, I’d like to introduce everyone to how to duel and the rules of dueling. And depending on how well this club does, it might be coming back next year.”

As that meeting was aimed at the first three years, they’d decided that it was probably best to start with the basics. At least that way they couldn’t be blamed if someone got hurt…

“If your opponent goes down or signals they give up, the duel is over,” Taylor started, “If they leave the platform, the duel is over. And if a moderator or referee steps in, the duel is over. While the spells that will be taught here aren’t going to be too dangerous, I will warn you that any spell could lead to people getting seriously hurt if misused; just like a fly in the right place and time could lead to someone choking.”

Several flies flew through the air… presumably to make a point.

“Wait, does that mean you’ve choked people with flies?” A student asked, a Ravenclaw according to his robes.

“Well, one, don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to,” Taylor started, “And two, kidnappers don’t count as people, so I can’t say that I have.”

Seeing the Ravenclaw pale, Amy just shook her head. They’d all learn eventually to not ask questions they didn’t want answers to.

Though Professors Snape and McGongall looked curious… and disapproving, though that was normal for their Heads of Houses so it wasn’t that surprising.

… Though then they exchanged some coins? What… did they bet on how the lesson would start or something?! That… wasn’t entirely surprising honestly, Snape saw first hand how Taylor rules the Slytherin house with an iron fist in a velvet glove.

“But also remember that I can and will see people messing up and screwing around, and if I don’t the professors will,” Taylor continued as though she’d not been interrupted, “Any questions?”

“Will it help keep the Wrakspurts away?” A dreamy voice asked, coming from a blonde with interesting earrings and Ravenclaw colors.

“Maybe? Though perhaps you can tell me more about them and I can customize some lessons for you?” Taylor asked, and despite it sounding like she was just humoring the girl Amy knew she was absolutely serious.

There was an attempted laugh, no doubt to mock the girl, but it withered away as Taylor gave the students a baleful glare that even Professor Snape looked impressed by… if the fact that his sneer shrunk by a fraction was an indication.

“I will not tolerate bullying in this club,” Taylor said with the bearing of Khepri… or so Amy assumed, “You bully anyone, regardless of House, I will toss your ass out and you can deal with self study and that moron for a professor. Am I clear!” She barked.

There were many nods from the class, earning a “Good,” from Taylor herself.

“Just because someone has a different way of viewing the world or believes in things that you don’t is no reason to mock them,” Taylor continued, “Now… I think Amy wanted to talk about dueling etiquette?”

The ‘lessons’, as they were, passed quickly after that. A few defensive spells were noted and talked about, particularly ones in their charm textbooks, and the next club meeting date was given out. How many people would actually join the second meeting was… questionable, but at least that would weed out the bad actors.

“Well, that was successful!” Taylor said, “Now I am going to learn what Wrakspurts are and see if I need to terrorize anyone!” She paused for a moment, “And see if they actually exist, that’s important too.”

“... Can you at least not sound excited by the prospect?” Amy asked tiredly, though she was internally amused; not that she would admit it.

Taylor’d be so smug if she did.

“No promises,” She replied with a grin, “Oh, right, before I head to the library… could you check up on Hagrid? He seems ill.”

“Sure…” Knowing the big lug he was probably trying to be friendly with something extremely dangerous and lethal and got poisoned for it.