thattimeofthemonth | Open RP Post

Thankfully, Draco managed to regain his balance so he landed on his feet. It was his once saving grace from the humilation he already suffered from. He listened to what Remus had to say, taking in the advice. He had to admit he enjoyed learning from Remus more then his aunt.

"I shouldn't have picked something so slow."

"Those who focus more on the dark side tend to think always in terms of power. It must be more powerful. That's if they think of defensive protections at all. Before, while you were checking around, I started with a simple spell and built on it - hid my wand first, protective charms after that. Remember what I said about knowledge being power? Falls into that category."

He lifted his wand, which was the only warning he gave before he sent another spell at Draco - something more simple. Another disarming spell.

Draco gave a nod of understanding, a little disappointed with himself. This was going to be a hard transition for him. He had grown up to learning a lot of the Dark Arts and relying on that way of thinking. "I'll admit...this is going to be hard for me to transition. I didn't think how difficult it would be to switch over...until now."

Quickly, Draco reacted by relying on a more simple deflecting spell. He needed to remember that simple was just as effective as big and powerful ones.

"When I had to go underground with the werewolves, I honestly had no idea what I was getting into. Unfortunately, sometimes, you have to learn the hard way - by being pushed off the dock." Teaching, even as he 'dueled'. "Better."

He didn't just stand still like most wizards did when they dueled, he started to move, circling Draco. His next spell came nearly as quick, another attempt to disarm, but then as soon as the spell went off, he pointed to the ground and snapped off another spell. This one caused a massive pool of ice around Draco's feet.

This particular style of dueling threw Draco off a bit. Granted he knew his father could duel well while moving and didn't have to stay in one spot.

Draco went to deflect the spell, but fell for the second attack. He tried to focus on melting the ice around himself and at the same time he knew he left himself open. He frowned not liking being put in this type of situation.

Edited 2015-11-19 02:23 (UTC)

"Good!" Treating him as a student, not at his level, or he would have in for something more dangerous than what he did. His next spell came in during that moment when Draco was distracted and it was a very simple spell. It would grow Draco's lips to twice their current size. Even that had a point.

"Such a simple spell, but it makes it more difficult for you to speak your next spell. It can be the simplest things that give you the edge over your opponent. However, you could have stayed still and got me in a difficult predicament before you removed the ice."

At this point, Draco really wasn't paying attention. He was too busy trying not to panic over the fact that he was struggling to speak and undo the spell. This obviously was a bad decision.

It seemed that this night he was failing miserably, making more mistakes then anything. He finally looked to Remus for help, when he failed to be able to say the spell needed to undo it.

Remus took pity and undid the spell, walking over and giving Draco a pat on the shoulder. "Sorry. Maybe I didn't chose the best path for this but I think you'll appreciate it in the end. You'll be able to look back and see how much you've improved from now. I'm pleased with this as a first attempt... after all, it's not like dueling in school."

He gave a faint smile, then looked a bit hopeful. "Where do you want to start learning?"

"I still feel like I made more mistakes then anything...Beginner mistakes at that," Draco frowned, his pale face red with embarrassment.

Even though he was humiliated, Draco had to admit he did like the challenge. It was different and made him think...and show how much that he needed to learn. There was a pause and Draco frowned a bit.

"I think maybe I should learn more defensive spells..." he weakly admitted.

"Good choice." Remus nodded and thus began their lessons proper. He would take about an hour, just working through the basics of defensive spells as the light thought of them. However, it wasn't like being in class as the way Remus taught were quite different. He taught in less of a structured way, a way wizards rarely thought. His defenses were built in layers instead of a single spell. A quick layer first, building in strength so it would be ready for a bigger attack. People rarely even thought about 'wearing' defenses but, as he pointed out, that was the point. Most wizards believed they could dodge and reflect and redirect everythibg, which was important, but when one did get through... It was important to have some defenses left.

Draco listened taking in everything that Remus had said. He liked the fact that it was less structured. He had never thought about building defenses in the way Remus suggested. It was a unique idea and Draco admitting agreed that not many would have thought to try such a tactic.

"But building these layers take time...how can we properly do this when one is not prepared and an attack happens out of no where?" Draco questioned.

"Given that either way, you would have to be ready, it doesn't make a huge amount of difference. However, there is an advantage. If you're going into a situation that's questionable? You can have them already on you. Secondly, there are times you don't want to give away that you've picked up on someone coming up to you. Hand in your pocket, silent cast, means you can survive a hit they'll throw. Here, this is a particularly good one..."

A mirroring spell. This one turned into a sort of magical mirror that was more limited in size, couldn't cover the whole body, but it could reflect a spell back at the attacker.

He nodded his head in understanding. He had thought as much. It was always easier to prepare if you had any idea it might be questionable.

"Was this what you had used earlier on me when I had first attacked you?" He questioned as he tried to apply the spell.

"No, but maybe I should have. The ones before were purely layered defenses which was why it started to sting after a few hits. ...To be honest, I designed the layered defenses based on Muggle principles. Dont let your parents know." He chuckled quietly as he showed Draco how the mirrored reflect worked- it captured a spell's energy and let him send it out in any other direction.

"The danger here is if you can't contain the energy, it will blow up in your face as I learned the hard way several times."

"Muggle principles?" The explanation caused Draco to raise an eyebrow.. While Narcissa may frown upon the idea he could see his father accepting the idea....secretly. It seemed like a tactic that his father would use.

He gave a small "Oh" at the warning. He had enough spells backfire on him to understand the dangers of this spell.

"They have some fascinating thoughts with science that I think can be applied to magic, at times." Remus looked a touch embarrassed, rubbing the back of his neck.

When he thought Draco had it down, he raised his brows. "Ready to give it a shot? Promise I'll keep the attack low level just in case."

"That science stuff...right. I've caught my father studying some of those books..." Draco sheepishly admitted. He was too amused at the time by his father's reaction to being caught with a Muggle book in hand. He never did get a proper excuse from him just made to do more chores for the rest of that month.

He gave a nod and held up his hand ready to give it a try.

Wait, what? Remus looked with surprise at that. Lucius Malfoy, who he knew always seemed to have a thing against Muggles, had been studying one of their books? He wasn't even sure what to make of the idea, more than a little stunned.

"AH-" get your act together, Lupin. "Right. Let's see how successful this can be. First time, I just want you to deflect it. Second time, try to deflect it right back at me. We'll build up in difficulty."

With that, he would throw a very simple little hex - hair changing.

Remus's reaction was rather interesting. If Draco hadn't trusted Remus, he wouldn't have mentioned it. He knew that it wouldn't go past them.

Following the instructions, Draco managed to deflect it. "I would rather not have pink hair again..."

"I heard about that little incident. That your father turned the same shade as his hair." He chuckled; never admit to the wrong doing, ever. Marauder rule.

"Back at me, this time." He prepared to try and be as quick as possible, sending the spell again at Draco.

"My mother had said it took at least a few weeks for him to calm down from the incident...She wouldn't let him out of the house afraid he would get himself into trouble. It was the first time in a while she had seen him so riled up."

He simply shook his head and after deflecting the hex he sent it back to Remus as instructed.

Oh dear. He hadn't meant for it to turn into such a thing and he had no idea, at the time, of the damage done to Lucius. Sigh.

Well he got a bit of taste of his own medicine when he wasn't quite fast enough to bring up a mirror spell of his own and got hit with his own spell. His hair became quite long and better, a brilliant green.

Sigh. He blew some of it out of his face. "Well done."

Draco lost all control and burst out laughing. He tried not to laugh...he really did, but he couldn't help it. He collapsed onto his knees in a fit of giggles.

He was going to have to let his father know this. Remus was now sporting green hair.

That laughter actually took Remus by surprise. How long had it been since Draco really, honestly laugh? Even if it was at someone's expense, he could take it. He brushed it back out of his eyes, then laughed himself.

"What do you think? Is it my color?" He struck a little pose, as he might have for his mates years ago.

It took another few seconds before Draco managed to compose himself. He berated himself for loosing the control. But it had been too long since he honestly laugh liked this and it felt good to have. He felt a little guilty that it was at Remus's expense...but after the pink hair?

"It'll look great against Tonk's purple hair," Draco replied with a sheepish grin.

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