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"I know you're Ravenclaws, and it's way less a thing for you, but I would also have to be able to learn the spells," Emma giggles.

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"Dueling hexes - at least the kinds second- and third-years would know - tend to be pretty simple point-and-shoot," says Miranda. "Since timing counts."

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"Ooooh, simple spells. I like simple, let's do simple."

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"I'll see if I can find any books on it," says Karen, and off she goes into the stacks.

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Jenny blinks in surprise. That is more efficient than she was expecting!

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"Now you're trapped," Emma tells her. "No more unicorns. Just studying."

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"Well, you could let Karen have an even bigger head start on learning to duel," says Miranda. "If you don't feel like working on hexes right now and would rather read about unicorns."

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Jenny looks woefully at her book, but closes it. "No, then I'll just be forever behind. And the unicorns will still be here."

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"When we get to third year you can take Care of Magical Creatures. Maybe there will be unicorns."

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"And I will be happy forever!" Jenny says brightly. "Until then- dueling."

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And here is Karen with a book entitled Beginners and Practice Dueling: Spells, Conventions, and More.

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Jenny peers over her shoulder. Spells!

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The first week of classes becomes the second, and on the Sunday thereafter, Miranda turns eleven.

She emerges from Ravenclaw to go to breakfast carrying a book of general magical trivia from Karen.
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She is greeted by a cloud of tiny sparks in the hallway, which gather to spell HAPPY BIRTHDAY in the air before disappearing in little puffs of light.

A spying head may be glimpsed before it zips back behind a corner and vanishes away, giggling maniacally.
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Miranda is startled, but giggles and continues to the Great Hall.

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Emma and Jenny are waiting for her by the door. "Happy birthday!" Emma says shyly. She holds out a present. It's wrapped neatly in red paper and tied with a string bow, and is distinctly book shaped.

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"Happy birthdayyyyy to yoooooou!" Jenny sings, dancing with excitement. She doesn't have a present- she doesn't exactly have pocket money- but that's okay. She'll have something at dinner.

She has an idea.
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"Ooh, thank you -" Miranda tucks the book from Karen into her bag and unwraps the one from Emma.

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The book reads Thinking Inside The Wand: Rare and Unusual Wand Cores. Emma shuffles her feet. "I didn't know if Karen's wand books had anything about yours, so I thought, maybe? I haven't actually read it, sorry..."

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"Ooh, thanks! Karen's books don't have anything much about funny cores," exclaims Miranda. "Maybe it'll say how to tell."

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"You're welcome! I'm glad you like it."

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"What was the other book?" Jenny asks, peering over Emma to examine the wand core book.

They have known Miranda for a couple weeks now; Jenny is at least passingly familiar with the covers of most of what Miranda has been reading, and that one wasn't familiar. (So far Miranda's read mostly Dementor books, or so it seems to her. Jenny is pretty sure she can recite some of them by heart now.)
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"Karen got me a trivia book. Facts about things like the longest Puffskein tongue on record and how many Crups were owned by Wilfred the Unassuming. She was up really late last night so she's not coming to breakfast yet though."

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"I know what none of those are but it sounds cool!" Jenny says cheerfully, sounding not at all bothered by her lack of knowledge.

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"Crups and Puffskeins are both magical creatures. Puffskeins are cuter," says Miranda as she heads into the Great Hall. "Hey - have either of you met Alli? She's our year in Slytherin."

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