Stealth wizard V Herbaceoustraitorous - 2ND ROUND

One-on-one duel

This will only be 6 posts each,
The duel will consist of ONLY MADE UP SPELLS.
Please remember to write in brackets what each spell does. Remember, JK Rowling uses Latin a lot!!

Points will be awarded at the end!

Stealth enters the duelling arena and salutes his opponent, who acknowledges him somewhat warily.

Seeing no reason to delay, Stealth whips out his wand...

"Protego Optimus!" This is Stealth's variation on the traditional protection spell which calls for the 'best protection'. He is surrounded by an energy field that glows with a slight blue coloration. This energy shield will change in nature as it detects the sort of spell cast against it and it will then change in nature in order to offer the best protection. At least, that was the theory.

Herb stands quite still, seemingly undecided as to how to breach this energy shield. Seeing no reason to delay, Stealth decides to test his opponent's defences.

"Aurum caelitus!" - the 'gold from heaven' charm!

Herb is immediately bombarded by a veritable downpour of small golden coins that appear from thin air several feet above her head. Very distracting. Stealth decides on another disorienting tactic.

"Ventus ambitus - Traho vestis!" This spell conjurs a small but intense whirlwind which will pull the carpet from under an opponent's feet - whether there is a carpet present or not. The spelll usually causes the recipient to tumble on to their back.

Stealth suddenly became very wary....

<i>Why had she not attacked? Why had she not tried to penetrate his shield? Or even test its mettle?</i>

He stared at the tutu clad figure of his opponent as she performed an impromptu little dance at the far end of the duelling arena, much to the amusement of her housemates who had turned out in support. He could see that she was surrounded by a slight shimmering. No doubt that was her protective shield...

<i>There's no hurry here... There's plenty of time... Look... Observe... See if there is any sign of a weakness...</i>

He tried to calm his inner self, the better to spot any flaw in his opponent's defence. No, there didn't immediately seem to be any weak spot. While it lasted that shield would throw off any attack that he was powerful enough to make.

While it lasted...

<i>Of course!</i>

Stealth concentrated very carefully. This spell could cause absolute havoc if it were to backfire on him. Accuracy was essential ijn the extreme.

He suddenly thrust out his wand!

"Tempus fugit celerito maximo!" - (time flies with greatest speed)

This spell caused a localised increase in the passage of time. Very localised - in fact localised precisely to the area of Herby's shield. In the space of a couple of seconds, two hours had passed and the shield wilted away.

Before Herby had a chance to stop her dance and cast another shield, Stealth struck again...

"Statua victa Rita Skeeter!"

Oh no - Stealth had cast the dreaded statua victa (living image) curse - and he had cast it in the form of Rita Skeeter. He felt a little sorry for his opponent.

There was a shimmer - well, more of a shudder, actually - in the air in front of Herby. A realistic looking image of Rita Skeeter appeared. The Daily Prophet reporter immediately pounced on the hapless Herby and started asking her all sorts of questions - and not taking no for an answer!

<i>Ha! It will take more than a patronus to get rid of her!</i>

Stealth took advantage of this distraction to try to plan his next strategy.

Stealth gave a glassy grin as he started to sing a most unSlytherinlike song about rainbows and lambs. La la gigled happily and started to hop and skip around.

This attack was very annoying, but it did not actually stop a wizard from functioning. In fact, it had given Stealth an idea.

"Two can play at that game, Herby...." He paused while Rita made a note of the fact for later misquoting - she was starting to fade at the edges now as the power of the spell started to bleed away. He aimed his wand.....

"Domus frateri magni!" (the house of big brother!) one of the dreaded reality TV curses!

Indeed reality immediately changed for poor Herby. For her, the world twisted and she found herself in the Big Brother Household. It was the fifth week and the numbers had been thinned down considerably. It was nomination night a she was convinced that her housemates had it in for her after last week's fiasco over the popcorn task.

This gave Stealth enough time to use a weakening charm on La La. Rita had already evaporated into the ether.

What could he do next? Slowly, an evil grin spread across his features.

Of course....

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Thanks, Herby, this is fun!"

The magic carpet zoomed around the duelling arena, dipping, twisting, spiralling, bucking and even flying upside down. Stealth imagined himself of the wildest of muggle amusement park rides and grinned. This was for free!

He was having so much fun that the evil thoughts he had had earlier just evaporated. He started having distinctly non evil thoughts about Herby.OK, so she was a Hufflepuff, but not one of the airheaded ones - and she'd always been friendly enough towards him, not sharing the traditonal Slytherin hatred of many of her housemates.

Yes, maybe it was possible to win this duel wihout following the traditonal route of humiliating your opponent, hurting them until they surrendered their wand or had it forcibly taken from them...

He felt the magic carpet start to slow as the spell driving it started to fade. After another couple of minutes it floated down to the ground and he found himself able to step off.

Now - what would be nice? Ah - of course!

"Mensa pro duos in taberno exquisito!" (a table fopr two at a fine restaurant)

In the centre of the duelling arena the sort of table found in a smart restaurant appeared. It was laid for two. The silver cutlery glinted warmly in the light from red candles.

Stealth seated himself in the chair closest to him and gave a wave of his wand. The chair opposite pulled itself out invitingly. He waved at Herby and, cautiously, she took the proffered seat.

"Servus!" (waiter!)

A smarmy looking waiter appeared and handed out menus.

Carefully Stealth laid his wand down by the side of his place setting.

Time to show some trust.

He smiled at Herby...

(I'm rewriting this as well - I wish I could remember the original!)

Stealth hopes that Herby will forgive his subterfuge... Thed rules of duelling do not allow him to actually use a potion in her wine - but there is nothing against the use of a little enchantment....

He waits until she raises the dessert menu then lays a finger on his wand.

"Vin, pas si ordinaire - faites-la que me fait plaisir somnolente!" (wine that is not so ordinary - make her whom I like sleepy).

Herby tackles this huge concoction of fruit and icecream. As Stealth watches, she sips her wine... After a few minutes and a mixture of strawberries and kiwi fruit, her eyes start to close.

Stealth waits another couple of minutes, then slowly reaches for her wand, closing his fingers firmly around it and pulling it towards him.

Stealth draws Herby's wand towards him and slides it into his robes.

Not wanting to disturb his opponent, who slumbers with a blissful expression on her face, he carefully eases his chair back and gets up. He returns to his end of the duelling arena.

Something feels wrong. He has his opponent's wand - the duel should be over. Obviously it isn't....

With a sick feeling, he pulls Herby's wand out of his robes

It looks right - it feels right... But what is this inscription?

"The Peterborough Novelty Wand Company"

What?

He has been had!

He starts to curse - but the curses start to turn to laughter...

Talk about hoist by one's own petard!

He returns to the table to wake his opponent. The effect of the wine was only supposed to last a few minutes, barely long enough to allow the wand theft to take place.

Herby is still soundly asleep...

Stealth gets alarmed. This is not right!

What can he do to rouse her?