Dark Wings Over Hogwarts

Excitement buzzed through the third-year students as they gathered at the outdoor training grounds for their first combat class. The sun cast a golden glow over the open field, which had been transformed into a training arena. Enchanted targets floated midair, training dummies lined the edges, and dueling circles were marked across the ground.

Students whispered amongst themselves, some eager, others anxious.

"I wonder what Professor Zane will be like," Alicia Spinnet said, rocking on her heels. "He looks so serious all the time."

Fred Weasley nudged George. "You think he'll actually let us duel? Or just throw books at us and call it a lesson?"

George smirked. "If he does, let's make sure it's at least an exciting book."

Across the field, Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff adjusted his robes. "I hope this isn't just theoretical combat. We get plenty of that in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

"I heard it's not," said Roger Davies from Ravenclaw, scanning the field. "Apparently, Zane believes in hands-on training."

Cassius Warrington of Slytherin crossed his arms. "It better be worth our time. I don't want to be wasting an afternoon doing kiddie spell drills."

A few feet away, Isla Rosier observed the field in silence. A sharp mind and quick reflexes had earned her a reputation as one of Slytherin's most promising duelists, though she preferred to remain in the background—watching, analyzing, waiting.

As the clock struck 2 PM, Professor Zane strode into the training grounds. His sharp gaze silenced the murmurs instantly.

"Welcome to Combat Class," he said, his voice steady and commanding. "Let's get something clear from the start—this is not a dueling club, nor is it a theoretical lesson. This is real-world combat training. The kind that determines whether you walk away from a fight… or don't."

A few students exchanged uneasy glances.

"I don't care about House rivalries here," Zane continued. "I don't care if you think you're the best duelist in school or if you've never held your wand properly in a fight. What matters is that you listen, learn, and don't make careless mistakes."

Silence settled over the class.

"To begin, tell me—what is the most important thing in a real fight?" Zane asked, pacing before them.

"Fast spell-casting?" guessed Angelina Johnson.

"Strength?" offered Kenneth Towler.

"Knowledge of defensive spells?" said Cedric.

Zane shook his head. "Wrong. The most important thing in a fight is awareness. If you don't know what's happening around you, you'll be caught off guard. If you can't react fast enough, all your strength and spell knowledge are worthless."

The students nodded, some looking deep in thought.

"To hammer that lesson in, we're starting with practical matches," Zane announced. "Gryffindor versus Slytherin, Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw. Step into the circles when your name is called."

Excitement rippled through the group as Zane began calling names.

"Angelina Johnson versus Cassius Warrington."

Angelina cracked her knuckles and stepped forward, Cassius smirking as he faced her.

"Fred Weasley versus Isla Rosier."

Fred arched an eyebrow at Isla, who merely inclined her head before stepping into the ring.

"Cedric Diggory versus Roger Davies."

The students took their positions.

Before the first match began, Zane raised a hand. "Watch carefully. I'll demonstrate something important." He turned toward one of the enchanted dummies and flicked his wand. A low-level Stinging Hex shot forward, but at the last moment, Zane pivoted, redirecting it into an attacking position with a sharp movement. The dummy absorbed the hit, but the method caught the students' attention.

"This is called redirection," Zane explained. "If you can control your spell trajectory, you can feint, surprise, and manipulate your opponent. Instead of just attacking blindly, think about where your opponent expects your spell to land—and then make sure it doesn't."

The lesson wasn't lost on Isla, whose gaze flickered with interest.

"Now, let's begin," Zane instructed.

The duels started with a flurry of motion.

Angelina lunged into action, sending a Stinging Hex at Cassius, who countered with a Shield Charm before retaliating with a Blasting Curse. Cassius was stronger, but Angelina was faster, ducking and weaving between spells.

Fred's duel with Isla, however, played out differently. He grinned at her. "Go easy on me, yeah?"

She didn't smile back. The moment the duel began, Isla moved with precision, casting a Disarming Charm that Fred barely managed to counter. She followed up with rapid attacks, forcing him on the defensive.

"Whoa," George muttered. "She's good."

Fred gritted his teeth. "Okay, no more playing around." He launched a Smokescreen Jinx, disappearing into the fog. Isla narrowed her eyes, waiting.

Cedric and Roger's duel was a display of elegance and control, both countering flawlessly. Cedric feinted with a Summoning Charm, making Roger think his wand was being pulled away, only to follow up with a Body-Bind Curse. Roger barely dodged in time.

Zane watched intently, making mental notes. Some had raw power, others finesse, but few understood the lesson of awareness.

Angelina eventually landed a well-placed Impediment Jinx, knocking Cassius off balance. Isla ended her duel by tripping Fred with a calculated spell. Cedric and Roger's match ended in a draw as both disarmed each other at the same time.

As the duels wrapped up, Zane clapped his hands. "Not bad for a first day. Some of you rely too much on raw strength. Others focus too much on defense. Balance is key."

He turned to the students. "Analyze what you saw today. What worked, what didn't. Next class, I expect improvement."

The students left the field buzzing with excitement and discussion, already eager for the next session.

From the shadows, Isla Rosier watched Zane intently, a thoughtful expression on her face. This class was going to be far more interesting than she had expected.