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"Travel in pairs at the very least, going off alone could get you killed if you come across it accidentally, at least in pairs someone could try to warn you." Padma said.
"Oh! I have a bunch of old compact mirrors that I used to use for make-up. We could keep one of those on us. That way if you see it you're just petrified, and not killed. While neither are great, I'd definitely rather be stiff than dead." Lavender said.
"That's a great idea. Now we should just tell Dumbledore." Hermione said.
"No!" Susan screamed out, causing everyone to look at her. "If we tell him, then we have to tell him about the diary. What if he says it's my fault and I get expelled and sent to Azkaban?"
"Susan's right… We can't risk that yet." Hannah said.
"What's Azkaban?" Harry asked.
"It's our maximum security prison for wizards. No one has ever escaped, and it's guarded by these terrible creatures called Dementors." Daphne said, before looking everyone over. "Well, we'll pair up by houses. Always travel with your housemates unless you're in your own common rooms. Harry, Luna, try and keep an ear out for if you hear it anywhere. If you do, let everyone know."
"Right." Harry and Luna said in unison, causing Luna to giggle.
"Okay, for now, we should actually study. We'll need to know new spells now more than ever." Hermione said, pulling out her textbook. Everyone followed for an intense Sphinx Club study session.
The Christmas holidays went by with the Tonks' being very upset with Dumbledore that they weren't allowed to spend their first Christmas together, although Harry managed to calm them down and say that they'll make up for lost time this summer. Harry and the other Sphinx Club members managed to stay at the top of their classes, with Luna continuing to completely outperform her yearmates. Ginny and Astoria had officially declined in joining the club, Ginny saying that it would interfere with her desire to play Quidditch next year, and Astoria saying that she didn't want to be ostracized by her yearmates for associating with Harry Potter, who was deemed 'The biggest thorn in Slytherin's side." Daphne laughed at that, knowing that Harry would certainly be the person who got the last laugh on them in the end.
Harry was sitting in the Sphinx Club room when Professor Flitwick found him. "Harry dear boy, I have something I'd like to speak with you about." The short professor said, a smile clear on his face.
"What is it professor?" Harry asked, curious.
"You've been performing very well in your dueling lessons, and I believe we now have an opportunity to put them to the test. There is a tournament in Dublin next month and you are in the age range for its Junior Division. I believe that you should go and represent Hogwarts. You would gain some valuable experience that no amount of my tutelage could replace, and maybe find others who share your dueling passion. I made many lifelong friends at these events." Flitwick said, a smile on his face.
"I'd love to professor, but the school is on lockdown isn't it? No one is allowed to leave because of the attacks." Harry said, disappointed. The tournament had sounded like exactly what he needed, since no matter how much he practiced he still felt something was missing.
"Well my boy, we'll simply need to speak with the Headmaster about that. If we can classify this as a school event, you could very well be allowed to go. I'd likely need to accompany you, but would have been doing so anyway as your coach. We can even inform your family so that they may come and watch." Flitwick said, excitement evident in his voice. There were three things that really got Flitwick excited: Dueling, Charms, and Music, and he was so incredibly excited that Harry had been proving to be exceptional in all three.
"Well, we can ask. I'd feel bad about getting special treatment though." Harry said, looking down. For all his hard work, Harry still didn't like things going his way simply because of who he was.
"My dear boy, I would offer to train any student in dueling who asked, and they would be receiving the same invitation if I felt they were prepared for it. This is not because you are Harry Potter, this is because you are Harry, one of my start students, and an excellent duelist in training. Now, I will be going to see the Headmaster, and see if we can be allowed to do this. I wanted to approach you with this first so I could make sure it was something you were interested in. I would expect a summons from the Headmaster by the end of the week if he accepts." Flitwick said, making his move to the exit. "For now, I recommend you practice. Perhaps see if the other Sphinx Club members will assist. Ms. Patil and Ms. Granger are excellent in Charms, I'm sure they're capable of keeping you on your toes, even more so if they work together."
"They most certainly can." Harry said, chuckling slightly to himself. Invigorated, he readied the training dummy that the Sphinx Club had and set about practicing his repertoire of offensive spells.
That Friday, Harry had been called to the Headmaster's office and he was somewhat nervous. Harry had little direct experience with the man, only their brief interaction in the hospital wing the year before. He saw the man nearly every day, but he was someone who Harry knew little about. Entering the office, Harry thought it was decorated rather strangely, with dozens of portraits of sleeping people lining the walls. Several bookshelves were strewn about the room, they seemed as though they were organized in a strange way, with some books being placed in sideways, some backwards, and even one was being held up by a small stone. Various silver gizmos sat on Dumbledore's desk, and appeared to move in strange, but rhythmic ways. In a case on the far end of the room was an ornate silver sword, and next to it, on a familiar stool, was a ratty woven hat.