The Duel

The Defense Against Dark Arts was the only class that got Riddle intrigued. Professor Merrythought had a great influence on her students with her way of teaching. She always made sure, they know what are dark arts and never limited their knowledge with books.

She was also very effective in making even worse students learn magic faster. That's probably why Morsia's excellence in her class got unnoticed or ignored by her fellow mates, that too only those who were jealous of her talents.

The last time they had learned about Non-verbal spells, Tom Riddle wanted to look at her perform the spell today so badly since he had witnessed god-knows-what she did to Notts that day.

He was curious, he was also sure that she can't be better than him.

"Only a few of you were able to perform the Non-verbal hex acceptably in our last class" Professor Merrythought commented looking around the students.

Her powerful aura of dominance made the students comply with whatever she said.

"Today, I want all of you to perform it perfectly," she added.

"Wands on, form pairs!" She alerted them as she moved across the classroom, the students were moving around each looking for someone weak to duel with.

Whenever she reached near students, they'd avoided her eye contact fearing if she'd ask them to duel with her.

"What are you doing Morsia?" she asked, her tone lamenting with a taint of disappointment to Morsia, who was leaning against the wall observing the crowd, not looking for a partner.

Upon her question, she collected herself, " Just-"

Before she could finish Professor Merrythought continued, "Confident about your skills, dear?"

" I didn-"

But Professor Merry thought wouldn't let her finish.

"TOM!" she called out to Riddle who was trying to dodge the giggling girls and find an actual dueling partner.

"Yes, Professor?" he answered, trudging towards the pair.

"You two, the one who still stands will get extra points added to their Owls," she said to them, a mischievous smile creeping across her face.

"Alright, Everyone--- this duo will teach you how to do it," she told everyone, as she pulled them both into the center of the classroom.

Morsia and Tom locked eyes for a brief moment.

If there's a chance to know if she's really talented, this is it, Riddle thought.

The air was tense all of a sudden as everyone in the room held their breaths. Morsia held out her wand just when Riddle took out his ready.

"My bet is Riddle, Morsia is my favorite too but she's a bit arrogant," Merrythought told to a nearby Gryffindor, who turned out to be Hagrid.

"Im wit' Morsia, Professor" he nodded.

"Very well let's see," she smiled at him.

Everyone was looking at every inch of the duo's movements. Who is gonna start it?

Just then Riddle waved his wand taking everyone by surprise but not Morsia. She was all ready for it as she blocked the shit out of his curse.

Surely this shocked Tom a little but he took it as beginner's luck.

He smirked at her, their eyes locked once again.

His mind was working fast, his focus was only on the beautiful creature in front of him. If it was a random guy, he would've been easily deceived by her alluring beauty as she stood gracefully holding her wand.

'Must've been the reason for her victories in the classroom', he concluded.

Everyone gasped when he waved his wand once again, everyone had thought Morsia would attack the second chance.

This startled Morsia a little, she had stumbled a bit, causing her supporters to frown.

But it had a rather opposite effect on Tom, he had used a powerful attack, a curse he had practiced a whole year. But all she did was just stumble a bit?

He was expecting Morsia would attack him right now, as she might've thought he will be too shocked but No. Riddle got tricks on his sleeve.

He waved his wand above his head and then it flew front, a blue sparkle emerged out of it.

This time Morsia, actually moved her wand to counter His curse.

Not only did she do that but she had also cursed him back.

Now, that took him by surprise.

But before he could think of what to do, he was already on the ground unable to move.

'What's happening?'

Morsia's supporters cheered for her.

"Wot do I get professor?" Hagrid asked the professor. Merrythought.

She seemed a little upset with Tom but rather proud of Morsia.

"You can duel me, Hagrid" she offered Hagrid to which he nodded No vigorously.

Morsia hadn't lifted her curse from Riddle, he was still struggling to move.

A very pathetic sight, in his words.

She was merely looking at him enjoying the sight, his eyes now locked with hers.

He felt a surge of anger and a deep-seated hatred toward her, as his mind became consumed with thoughts of revenge. He vowed not to let her get away with this after making him feel so helpless.

"Alright, Lift the curse," Professor Merrythought patted Morsia's shoulder as she sorrowfully looked at Riddle.

Morsia obeyed and Riddle was finally free, it felt like he was held by her curse for eternity.

"You're not bad," Tom smiled at Morsia as he let out his hand for a handshake.

Morsia seemed she would've ignored that hand if Professor Merrythought was not near.

"You too" she shook his hand.

Even though to the bystanders and their teacher, it seemed like He and Morsia were good friends, he knew she'd poison him and blame it on the plants from herbology if he was not looking.

He has to do something to always keep a watch on her. She didn't seem like someone whom he'd ignore about. She would become a threat to him since she too seemed like she was keeping a watch on him. which is bad since he didn't quite like being watched.

He looked at Morsia as she walked away from the center of the classroom as Professor Merrythought gathered them together once again.

His limbs were hurting like crazy due to her spell, he was trying to shake them off but no, it was immense.

He saw her lean against a wall and started looking around the classroom as if she was watching a puppet show.

He didn't realize that he was staring at her too long but when Professor merrythought patted on his shoulder, he came back to his senses.

He was wondering if he should make friends with her but he knew deep down that she will figure it out it was staged.

Just then Morsia looked at him, he wanted to look away but he just couldn't. He doesn't want to be the first one to look away.

She smirked at him and winked.

He immediately looked away. 'What was that?'

It was as if she had read his mind and wanted him to look away first.

when he looked up again, she was now standing with Hagrid chatting.

He shook his head, not knowing what to do.