Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns everything except for the DD and the things involved in the DD.

Black Winter-Tilly Channing

"I still cannot believe you fainted," Riz laughed as we left our last class before the Winter Holidays. "That was hilarious."

"I still can't believe you actually fancy Sirius Black," Lily frowned at me, "I mean, honestly, have you seen what he's done to all those other girls?"

I sighed. After I had told my friends about my possible fancying of Sirius (after Riz revived Lily), they went into a full blown rant about his 'legacy' and all that. To be honest, I still don't know why I find him likable. I mean, I know what he's done to all those other girls, and for Merlin's sake, he practically has his own fan club, but whenever he's around its like something clicks off in my brain and I space out. Ugh, why is life so complicated?

"Do you think you can change him, or something?" Riz brought me out of the war in my head.

"Huh?" I shook my head and pushed open the doors.

"Do you think, that maybe," Riz continued as she and Lily stepped outside of the castle and into the cold outdoors. "Just maybe you might be able to succeed in what girls at Hogwarts have been trying to do for years? As in, change his ways?"

"I don't know," I followed my friends to the Quidditch Pitch where we wanted to finish our Charms essay. "I guess not—"

"Because you won't be able to," Riz continued, her hair coloring turning a light blue from the cold. "To be honest, I don't think it's possible."

"Now Riz—," I cut Lily off.

"What's that supposed to mean? You don't think I would be able to?" I raised my voice a little.

Riz sighed, "It's not that I don't think you would be able to, I just don't believe anyone can."

"Do you think you could?" I challenged. Wait where did that come from?

Riz looked slightly shocked, "Wait a tick, what does that have to do with anything?"

"That's it!" I sat down on a bleacher, "That's your problem!"

Where is this anger coming from?

"What problem? I don't have a—"

"You think that I wouldn't be good enough if he were to date me," I pointed a finger at her, "But I'm sure you would be."

"Tilly?!" Lily cried out, "What has gotten into you?"

"Grizel Burby, you just want Sirius Black all to yourself," I whispered.

Riz pulled out her wand with a speed I forgot she had and in the next second I was hanging by my ankle in the air. I reached up to hold my skirt and glared. Why did you leave your wand in your bag?

"Riz! Let her down," Lily stood, shocked at our actions.

"Listen here, Matilda," Riz said to me in a deadly whisper, "Never call me by that name again, and do not accuse me of ANYTHING until you have some real proof. Alright?"

I guess I deserve this, what has gotten into me? What was that all about, anyway?

I nodded my head and Riz let me down slowly.

"You two," Lily shook her head, "One of these days your fights will get you into a lot of trouble."

"I'm sorry, Riz," I raised a hand, "I have no clue what that was about, friends?"

Riz glared, "Just never use my name and that creature's in the same sentence again."

I laughed, even though she just insulted the very guy I was defending moments ago. "Alright."

We shook hands and she grinned. "Well, now that that's over, let's get to some Charms."

I groaned, "I still don't understand how you like that class."

"And we may never," Lily's eyes still had a little shock in them from our fight, but she smiled. "And I may never understand how you two go through so many fights, yet are still friends."

"Yeah, well, let's just call it practice for the—," Riz was interrupted by an owl flying by and dropping a familiar coral-colored letter in her lap. "Huh, that's odd."

"What?" I asked.

"I was just about to say 'DD' when a letter from them plopped on my lap," Riz shrugged, "Oh well. Let's see what they want our services for."

She opened the letter and I saw her eyes skim through it. She smirked, "I was waiting for this."

She handed me the letter.

Dear Ms. Grizel Burby,

We wish to herby invite you to participate in the Winter Tournament. It will be five days full of dueling any group, new or old, that wishes to enter. As we have you already in the Phantom Phoenixes, this letter is inviting Matilda Channing and Lily Evans also. You must duel together as the Phantom Phoenixes because you have certified yourselves as a legal group in the Dueler Dungeon. Tournament Rules applied see below. This will be in the same place you should remember. This will start on December 27th, 1977 at eleven-thirty am and will go to December 31st, 1977 at eight fifteen pm when a festivity will be held for the participants and spectators aged 16 and above. This gathering will be formal, dress robes and dresses. If for some reason you do not remember the location, you will have to contact us by the use of the owl we sent you. Please send back an answer or any questions you may have via owl.

Thank You,

Samuel A. Burns

Samuel A. Burns, Owner of the D.D.

Once stunned, unable to move, or incarcerated, the dueler cannot move from the arena and must stay stunned, incarcerated, or unable to move until all teammates get out, or the duel is over. Allowed to duel the Muggle way and the Magical way to enhance the fight. No armor can be worn or a face protection (except for mask). No protective shields to be worn, allowed to cast a shield spell, though. Must wear mask and cover face to keep the identity secret, for privacy purposes. Allowed to harm opponents to near death (actually killing would be counted as murder and is punishable by Ministry Law) though not by Magic. The Muggle way is preferred to knock out others, and if the supplies are available, you may use a rock (as an example) to do so. The Tournament's outcome will be posted the next day, also showing which groups will be dueling that day.

"Well this ought to be fun," I mumbled after I handed the letter to Lily. Riz's smirk grew.

"Are you kidding me? This will be the perfect way for us to get out all this pent up anger!"

Lily snorted, "I'm glad you think of it that way."

"Well, how do you think of it?" Riz raised an eyebrow in Lily's direction.

"Well," Lily started, "Personally, I can't wait to kick some sorry ass—."

"What was that, my Flower?"

I let out a shriek and jumped on top of the letter to shield it from the Marauders' eyes.

"Ugh, what do you want?" Riz shoved the coral envelope further into her sack.

"You," Sirius winked.

Riz glared and my heart may've skipped a beat. "Black, you are a pig."

Sirius pulled back, as if stung. "Well then what does that make you? A—"

"An amazingly intelligent and beautiful creature," Riz smirked.

Sirius looked as if he were about to say something, but Lily cut him off.

"NO POTTER! FOR THE LAST TIME I WILL NOT GO WITH YOU TO HOGSMEADE!"

"Does that mean—"

"NO, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IF YOU ASK AGAIN I WILL SAY YES!"

"Erm, maybe we should leave," Lupin suggested behind his two friends.

"NOT UNTIL THIS—THIS—"

"Run out of adjectives to describe me, Lilykins?" Potter smirked.

"ARG! Come on, we're leaving," Before Riz and I could say anything, we were hauled up (I grabbed the letter and stuffed it in the pocket of my robes) and dragged toward the gates of Hogwarts.

"That toe-rag Potter! Ugh, I can't wait till tomorrow. We are going to stay at the DD and not see a bit of him for two weeks! Maybe, if I'm lucky, he'll have moved on by then."

I highly doubt that, Lily.

The next day, we stepped off the Hogwarts Express and went into Muggle London. Lily made Riz and I run (practically) out of the station to avoid Potter at all costs. As soon as we were out of Muggle eyes, Riz stuck out her wand and hailed the Knight Bus.

"Where to?" The guy asked us.

"Diagon Alley," Lily said quickly and handed him the amount of Knuts.

We sat down and the bus jerked forward.

"Oof," I mumbled as my trunk slide on my toe. "They should really get racks in this thing."

"I'll be sure to tell the owner, Ms." The guy laughed.

I glared and stood as we came to our stop.

"Diagon Alley," He said and opened the doors of the bus for us.

Riz, Lily, and I stepped off the bus and walked into the Leaky Caldron. Tom grinned at us and nodded. I think he may know about the DD. Ha, I wonder if he participated in anything.

"Hey," I said when we reached the entrance. "What's this week's pass?"

"Erm, is it 'paraskavedekatriaphobia'?" Lily asked. Hmm, fear of Friday the 13th?

"No," Riz frowned, "isn't it 'phasmophobia'?"

Fear of ghosts? May as well try.

"Phasmophobia," I said aloud.

"Okay, let's go," Lily said as the password was accepted. We went through the entrance and into the First Hall. "We'd better unpack."

I don't know what we would do if the main champions weren't allowed to stay in their chambers. This could be our home.

We entered the empty female's quarters and went straight to the back door. Riz pulled out the key and turned it. Suddenly jumpy, I pushed past her and ran through the door, leaving my stuff behind.

"Ahh," I breathed as my body hit one of the soft couches. "That's nice."

"So you're just going to sit there while we do the work?" Lily asked me.

"That was the idea," I mumbled.

"You're lucky you have great friends," Lily said to me before I closed my eyes in sleep.

Over the week, Lily, Riz and I spent most of our time in the DD practicing. If you go down a few flights of stairs, you would eventually come to a gray door. Inside is a large room full of Muggle workout equipment and fake people to duel against. Some of the dummies even had wands that shot random spells out of them when someone was in close proximity.

We went twice into Diagon Alley. And of course neither trip worked out well.

The first time we went, Potter, Lupin, and Sirius found us in Madam Malkin's. It was horrible. Potter tried to ask Lily out again, Lily went into a fit of rage, Lupin tried to pull Potter away before Riz could knock him out and Sirius was flirting with some out-of-Hogwarts girl. Me, well, I was, as Riz put it, 'Staring at Black longingly and glaring in the direction of the girl at the same time.'

Two days later, Riz suggested getting some ice cream (The DD does provide food, but it gets disgusting. Fast.). Lily didn't want to go at first, but soon agreed. We were sitting at a table eating our treat when Riz grumbled a particularly bad curse under her breath. I had looked up to see the same three boys walking toward us, the front-most one having a huge grin plastered on his face.

"Ms. Evans," he said when they reached us. "How are you this fine day?"

Lily ground her teeth together. "Fine, Potter."

"A little hostile, are we, Evans?" Sirius smirked.

"Shut you're trap, Black," Riz growled.

"Oh, Burby, didn't see you there," Black said, "So, Ladies, how's your break been going?"

"Stop trying to be civil, Black," Riz continued, "We all know how difficult it must be for you."

"Padfoot come on," Lupin tried to stop the fight that was brewing.

"No, Remus," Sirius pulled his arm out of Lupin's grasp. He faced Riz, "What the hell is your problem?"

"My problem?" She asked sweetly. A little too sweetly, oh no, Riz.

"Riz, you shouldn't," I tried to reason with her.

"Shouldn't what? I don't believe I've done anything. Now this mutt here however—"

I heard a scraping and quickly glanced at Lily and Potter.

"Anyway, Ms. Evans, I came over to ask you a question," Potter bent down so that he was eye-level with Lily.

"Potter—," Lily glared.

"Will you accompany me to the first Hogsmeade trip, once we get back?"

"Oof!"

"Oww!"

"Hey!"

"Potter!"

Riz had swung her fist around and punched Sirius in between the nose and eye. Blood started to come out of his nose. Riz let out a noise of pain and spun around. But, when her fist kept going, it hit the back of Potter's head, hard enough to knock him over, right onto Lily. Yeah, it was interesting.

"Alright, you two ready for this?" Riz asked us, hand completely fixed. It's almost time for the first tournament to begin.

"Yeah," Lily laughed, "I was born ready for this."

"And you remember how we did it our first time?" Riz asked me.

I nodded, "Accept this time you aren't going to fall while entering the arena."

Riz scowled at the memory.

"NOW, FOR OUR OPENING DUEL IN THE WINTER TOURNAMENT OF 1977!" The announcer's voice boomed above us, "PLEASE WELCOME THE JUMPING JARVEY'S AND THE PHANTOM PHOENIX'S INTO THE ARENA!"

I take a deep breath and lead the Phoenixes into the arena. Knowing to expect the unexpected, we didn't jump (the Jarvey's did) when we saw half the arena covered in water and the other half in ice. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms. I knew our uniforms should've had sleeves on them.

"Ugh," I moaned as I turned over on the couch.

"These last days been too difficult for you Tills?" Lily grinned, sitting on the chair across from my couch.

I sat up and stretched, "Yeah."

I heard Riz's laugh from behind me. "Think of how I feel!"

I raised an eyebrow, "What are you talking about? You're all bubbly and giddy."

"Yeah, but on that last duel, I held out the longest against that guy."

"But in the first duel, Tilly and I battled against those other two for almost twenty minutes," Lily countered.

"Yeah, well, that was on the first day," Riz faced both her hands upward, "And I just did that yesterday."

"True, but I'm still sore," I countered.

"Well, our last duel of the week is in an hour, so you'd better make that pain go away," Lily stood up.

Riz bit back a snort, "make that pain go away?"

Lily turned and glared.

"Is that the best you could think of?" Riz continued.

"Well, I am, unlike you, thinking of different moves to kick ass!"

"Good for you, Lily," I grinned and went over to my trunk to put on my uniform.

Lily grabbed her stuff and headed to the restroom. I high-fived Riz.

"Now she's all fired up, with her like that, no way will we loose this," My grin widened.

When we were ready, we walked to the arena. The walk seemed shorter as we were about to end the Tournaments this year. I wonder who we're dueling.

"WELCOME TO THE FINAL DUEL IN THIS YEAR'S WINTER TOURNEMENT!" The voice boomed for the last time until spring. "PLEASE WELCOME THE ALBINO ACROMANTULA'S AND THE PHANTOM PHOENIXES' INTO THE ARENA!"

Here we go. Riz lead us into the arena this time. Well, it no longer looked much like an arena. The walls were covered with dark green ivy and trees were growing out of them. There's no ice or sun, though there is a small patch of trees in the far corner. Across from us the 'Acromantulas' were looking at their surroundings. Oh, for the sweet life of Godric Gryffindor.

The Albino Acromantulas are huge. They must weigh at least 200 pounds each and are probably a foot taller than Riz. Though the 200 pounds is mostly muscle, they must have some sort of a weakness. The only question is, 'what could that be?'

I heard Lily gasp next to me as we neared the start line. They seemed to be getting bigger by the second, there is no way these guys are seventeen or younger.

"WANDS OUT IN TEN!"

I fingered my wand in my back pocket.

"10…" The crowd joined in. "9…"

"8…"

"7…"

"6…"

"5…"

"4…"

"3…"

"2…"

I saw one of the Acromantula's smirk wickedly. Slightly frightened, I returned the strongest looking glare I could muster.

"1!"

"AQUA ERUCTO OPPUNGO!" I yelled my opponents. A jet of water shot out of my wand and proceeded to attack one of the Acromantulas.

"Prote—," He was too late; the water was already circling him. I grinned as he fell to the floor, unconscious from lack of air.

Looking around, I saw Lily dueling another. She put up shield after shield to protect herself from his hexes. Just as I was about to swish my wand, another jet of light hit her in the back. Before it hit though, she sent a stunner at the guy she was dueling and out of shock, he didn't put up a shield charm. Wait, was that shock? Can these people even perform a correct shield-charm? I wonder…

I put up a charm to stop the other Acromantula from stunning me. Where is Riz?

"Incarserousus," I yelled in my head, hoping that Riz and Lily's lessons in wandless magic have paid off.

"Yes!" I breathed when he kneeled over, unable to get a charm up in time. Now to find Riz.

I ran toward the trees and looked through. Riz was dueling the biggest guy in front of a small, muddy pool. I lifted my wand to stun him when Riz disarmed him. He put his hands behind his back in shame and I grinned. She can handle this.

As she closed in on him, ready to perform a hex, he smirked and lifted a small boulder above his head. Before Riz could do anything, he had flung it toward her.

"STUPEFY!" I screamed at him, hitting his forehead. I turned to try and stop the object from hitting its target.

Too late.

The large rock had slammed into Riz's shoulder, pushing her now unconscious body into the water. I ran over as the doors opened to help the wounded. Tears streamed down my cheeks as three medi-wizards sprinted to get her on a bed. I saw blood, too much, flowing down the side of her head and neck.

Next thing I knew, I fell into darkness.

A/N: Well, I've been getting reviews asking questions...which is good and bad. Mostly good, in fact I think of them as good before I think of them as bad but--nevermind. Anyway, one of the questions was if this would be a Sirius/Riz or a Sirius/Tilly....weeeell, um, heh, sorry but I guess you shall find out. And, you know, this chapter may have helped your wonderings a bit. But hey, anything can change.

Chap. Question: RIZ! NO!! Oh, I hope she'll be alright...did you expect that? Of course, the DD has to be dangerous..but RIZ!! *weep* What will happen to her? And Tilly! Did she pass out? Or did somone harm her? Poor Lily, going to be in the dark about all of this when she wakes up. And what on earth were the Marauders doing in Diagon?