"Oh. I'm not dead."

"Yes this was clarified after I stunned Prewett."

"Good for you. Can I get out of bed or -"

"Yeah, your blood replenisher should be all kicked in now."

Out of bed he scoots. "Someone should super specialize in dueling. I guess maybe Michael's doing it and that just doesn't help us at school -"

Hug.

Hug. "Let's not do that again."

"Yeah next time I just turn whoever down. Properly."

"Unless it's important, might be important someday, and then we get someone specialized, Aaron's going to lecture me. Though at least I'm not in Slytherin and Timothy can't lecture me."

Nod.

And he heads breezily back to his dorm.

Timothy does not lecture him. He also doesn't lecture Miranda, though he does raise an eyebrow a tiny bit when he next sees her.

"I tried to turn her down."

"And then she dragged you down to the site of the duel?"

"And she said I did it wrong and Minor and Karen both volunteered - so did Michael when I went to ask how I should've done it instead but he said it would be rude - and I flipped a coin."

"You could have not showed up."

"I didn't want her to have a vendetta against me forever and I didn't think he'd be hurt."

Nod.

"I know how to decline duels right now."

"I am overjoyed to hear it."

She goes to her dorm.

Over winter holidays when they're exceptionally secured against witnesses Timothy tries to teach Michael to throw off the Imperius curse. It doesn't work. He can't mean to hurt him badly enough, or the right way.

"Should I be more annoying."

"I do not think that would do it."

"Should I be trying to kill you or something."