Grace Riddle looked out over the club that she led. Progress was being made, problems corrected, and bonds developed. Despite what many thought dueling wasn't just about victory and competition, it helped the students interact, allowed them to help each other, and created friendships that could last for years, if not decades, after graduation.
She watched older classmates correct younger, watched laughter and the sharing of both spells and stories. It filled her with pride not just knowing that her's was the most successful of groups at Hogwarts, but potentially the most prestigious. It certainly helped to watch her own pupil's progress as he was quickly becoming the standout, not just because of his age or his gender, but because of his talent.
He had taken to dueling as quickly as she had all those decades ago. Harry had made the corrections she had mentioned in their private sessions and had further increased his repertoire of spells and strategies.
Perhaps even more impressive than that was his leadership skills. She watched him defeat an older classmate in a duel, and then promptly begin helping them, explaining what he had done better, where they could improve, and give helpful suggestions. At first, of course, there was hesitation from those more prideful members, but those who refused the advice at first were also the ones who approached him later after watching him defeat others and help them improve.
Had he done something similar in his past life? It wouldn't have surprised her and yet he didn't seem to have any formal instruction in the art, at least nothing he had mentioned.
As she watched him finish up with another student her smile wavered for a moment as another student approached him, one he hadn't interacted with previously.
"Hi Harry" the girl greeted, stepping up towards him in a way that had the eldest present frowning from nearby. Her posture was nonthreatening, but she was still a bit too close for comfort. "You are amazing at dueling!"
He smiled in return, "Thanks uh..."
"Oh, sorry, my name's Beatrice Haywood, Hufflepuff."
Harry nodded, and their conversation continued not realizing how close their instructor was watching. The girl was a fifth year as her memory served and while she was competent, she certainly didn't stand out.
"So, I was wondering, do you have any plans tomorrow afternoon?"
The boy paused for a moment, clearly considering the idea, when Grace intervened, calling out to the entire class. "We are nearing the end of practice today if everyone would begin changing back into school robes." Turning, she then moved closer to the two whose conversation had been interrupted. "Harry, there are some things we will be going over tomorrow."
"Oh, uh sure."
With a nod Riddle shifted her attention towards the witch who was still standing awkwardly nearby. "I believe you should be changing, miss Haywood."
Realizing what was occurring, the girl blushed, before nodding and scurrying off, all the while her retreat being watched by the professor.
"Is something wrong?" Harry inquired.
Grace merely shook her head, not yet turning back towards him.
Perhaps something needed to be done regarding the 'situation'.
****
Harry Potter's world had settled into something of a familiar pattern, which was good. Patterns were comforting, they told him that everything was okay, that everyone was okay. It was also an indication that something might be off when something disturbed these patterns.
Which was why Harry Potter was a bit suspicious when a certain excitable young blonde wasn't at lunch with Ginny despite having always been before.
"Anything wrong with Luna?" The boy almost immediately asked, flinching a bit at his tone, and hoping the redhead wouldn't take any offense by it. It wasn't as if he wasn't happy to spend time with Ginny, he was just on edge a bit.
However, the youngest Weasley only looked a bit concerned as well, "I'm not sure, she wasn't waiting for me in the hall like usual so I thought she might have just come down early."
He shook his head, "I haven't seen her today."
The way Ginny bit her lip was both adorable and a bit worrisome, "Could we… try and find her? I mean it's probably fine I just…"
"Yes" He quickly interrupted, more than eager to locate the blonde because he too had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that something was wrong. With that they both took off, not quite running but at a much faster pace than any students around them.
First, they stopped by the class that the redhead knew their friend had prior to meeting up but they found nothing, next a quick pass by the usual meetup of the two witches but uncovered no signs of the blonde. Finally, they glanced back into the Main Hall just to ensure she hadn't passed them somehow and was waiting.
Still nothing,
Even a quick inquiry to a passing Ravenclaw confirmed she hadn't been seen in the common room since the morning. Finally, Harry suggested what he was dreading. "We could check the Hospital Ward?"
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