The first punch landed exactly where it was supposed to.

Severus blocked his opponent's counter, turned his shoulder, and drove a clean strike into the other student's ribs. The boy stumbled back, recovered, and came at him again. Severus caught his wrist, swept his leg, and brought him down with enough control to make the move look effortless.

“Good!” the instructor called. “Reset and continue.”

I watched from the edge of the combat training yard, waiting for my own sparring ...