Disclaimer: J K Rowling created Hogwarts. There are some other places, names, and ghosts taken from the Harry Potter series, but if you are looking for the primary characters from those stories you will need to look elsewhere.
Dueling Tournament
Every student at Hogwarts attended the competition for school dueling champion. More than half of the students competed for the honor, although some third and fourth years preferred to wait until fifth year. Elizabeth felt surprised that Augustus Bulstrode, who had passed on the year and house competitions, entered the contest for school champion.
During the first night of the competition those who dueled did so on the main floor of the Great Hall. On the second night, the next Wednesday, the duels would be fought on the faculty platform. A larger faculty panel served as judges both weeks. In addition to the Dark Arts professor and Professor Thomas, the faculty advisors to the club, Mrs. Pilton and the heads of the four houses sat at the judges' table. Professor Thomas asked Miss Gray to sit at the judges' table and serve as recording secretary for wins and losses.
The first night served to winnow the field of duelers down to the final sixteen who would compete for the title. Official betting did not happen until the second week, although duelers often placed small wagers among themselves for who would last longer in the competition. The more realistic wizards and witches in the competition regarded simply competing in the second week of the competition as a high honor.
Like the year and house championships the contest began as a double elimination tournament. Even with the first two rounds being conducted as swiftly as possible the competition always ran unusually long into the evening.
A hush fell on the crowd whenever Mr. Malfoy rose to duel. Everyone knew his boast and he had already used the more familiar curses and dueling spells in the year and house competitions. Slytherins, and even some other students, cheered wildly as he won using less familiar curses and spells.
Only two third years lasted to the fourth round, Sarah Cooper and Poppaea Crouch of Slytherin. And only one remained for the final round of the first night. The judges were as nervous as the students delighted when Miss Cooper was paired against Mr. Bulstrode. They each had one loss. Whoever lost would be eliminated from this year's competition, whoever won made it to the final sixteen. While Professor Thomas whispered to the other judges that the pairing should be redone the students who had seen the first competitions between the two vividly described the stories to those who had not.
Professor Sauberkehren issued a warning to the pair before the duel began, the only warning he felt necessary to issue all night. "In the competition you are free to use any spells and curses specifically mentioned as accepted in the club rules. You may use spells and curses not specifically listed only if they cause no permanent physical harm or you know the charm to cure the effect of the curse. Do you both understand that?"
They nodded. He wondered if he should define 'permanent physical harm' more precisely.
"Any violation will result in the other being declared the winner, and the perpetrator of the violation put out of Dueling Club. You both understand that also?"
The two nodded to the Dark Arts professor, then gave each other a cursory bow.
Miss Cooper's stunning spell staggered the fourth year, but he didn't go down. Before he could recover fully a conjunctivitis curse made his right eye swell shut. Before she could blind him in the other eye as well Mr. Bulstrode's stunning spell knocked her from the dueling field and the competition.
Through the year the two had ignored dueling etiquette in regard to the final handshake. Neither would have offered a hand to the other nor would the other have accepted. For the final duel of the year she offered her hand and he took it - from force of habit and without thinking.
"Win this damn thing," she hissed at him, quietly enough that no one else could hear. "I only lose to champions."
He nodded his head slightly to acknowledge her words. He correctly interpreted them more as threat than encouragement. But he certainly intended to do his best to win. Only two wizards and two witches made it through the first night without a loss. They would be the favorites in the betting pools. Mr. Malfoy of Slytherin and Mr. Potter of Gryffindor shared the honor with Miss Quirke and Miss Stolz, both of Ravenclaw.
At the end of the first evening the four stood with the other twelve students, who had only lost in one round, at the front of the Grand Hall. The older students from other houses were often less known to younger students and the Dark Arts Professor introduced the sixteen to the students after offering them his congratulations. Joining the four without a loss were three Gryffindor wizards, Archer, McGonagall, and Schmidt; two members of the Ravenclaw quidditch team, Violet Pettigrew and Gaius Diggory; three Hufflepuffs, Robin, Brigid, and Mr. Dippet; and four Slytherins, Augustus Bulstrode, Vivien, Turk, and Victoria Savage.
It had been four years since a fourth year made it to the second night of competition, that honor belonging to Mr. Malfoy who most regarded as the favorite in the current competition. Whether Mr. Bulstrode or Mr. Dippet of Hufflepuff deserved the distinction of least likely to win would be debated for the next week. Those on one side argued that fourth year dueled too slowly for the contest, while those on the other held that only the luck of drawing weak opponents had preserved Mr. Dippet.
As the students filed from the Great Hall to return to their houses Otto Sauberkehren looked over the finalists and smiled. "The best balance we've had among the houses in years. It should insure an interesting competition.
Mrs. Pilton tried to recall how many belonged in each house. "Exactly how did it divide?"
"Four each from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw," Professor Thomas told her, "with three from Hufflepuff and five from Slytherin."
Slytherin's quidditch team did almost too well at practices. Qualifying for the dueling championship had restored some of his swaggering over-confidence to Mr. Bulstrode, but didn't help him stay on his broom any better. Elizabeth felt happy Miss Cooper didn't make it through to the second night of dueling, she would probably have been insufferable in her treatment of Miss Crouch if she had. Even Owl managed to focus better on seeking. The team appeared certain they had improved to a point where they could beat the Ravenclaw team that defeated Hufflpuff two months earlier. Elizabeth worried that Ravenclaw had sharpened their skills in the last two months as well, and knew Miss Fowler had a better sense of the Slytherin chasers than she possessed of Ravenclaw's.
The entire team could now manage the run to Hogsmeade at a good pace and only Mr. Gutman and Mr. Bulstrode required a short rest on the way back. A long game represented Slytherin's best chance for the quidditch title, and Elizabeth felt her team ready.
Most students regarded the last ball of the school year as the most important. More than any other dance of the school year everyone observed who danced with whom unusually often, and the final dance of the final ball was always closely watched as a sign of declared preference.
Miss Kestrel felt under siege for the final ball of the term. It represented the last opportunity for Wizards who had never managed a dance with her. Mr. Malfoy seldom attended the dances, but she wanted him on her dance card twice. She convinced him he should dance with each of the seventh year witches, which also obligated her to dance with the other seventh year Slytherin wizards. She kept the last dance open as she pondered how to insure her final dance at Hogwarts would be with her future husband.
Little Erin O'Shaughnessy felt only slightly less besieged. She owed her advantage over Miss Kestrel to the fact she would return to school in the autumn and could be asked for dances then. She planned to leave the last dance open, telling her friends she didn't want to start any rumors because of her final partner of the school year. The story she told was partially true. She would go without a partner rather than be the subject of romantic speculation. On the other hand, by keeping her last dance free she remained available if Mr. Fletcher or one of a few other wizards she admired asked her to dance at the ball.
In Ravenclaw Miss Fowler refused to choose between Weasel and Mr. Wells. Both begged for the honor of the last dance. While she accepted two dance invitations from each she gave Mr. Goyle the first dance of the evening, and Mr. Cairo the last.
Balancing the witches who were madly sought after were the witches looking for some sign of interest at the final ball to give them hope over the summer. Miss Cooper and Miss Crouch both hoped for some sign of preference from Mr. Andrews, but the red haired Hufflepuff remained committed to a course of cheerful equality and asked them both for two dances. He only asked Miss Honig for a single dance, but asked her for the final dance of the night. Miss Cooper and Miss Crouch knew Miss Honig to be practically engaged and didn't fear her as competition. The disappointment each one felt at not being asked by Mr. Andrews for the last dance was balanced at the relief each felt that he had not asked her rival. Miss Flitwick obviously wanted a sign from Owl and felt she received two, he asked her for the last dance of the year and did not request a dance from Erin O'Shaughnessy.
And Miss Lovegood, having survived the whispers associated with daring to ask Mr. Fletcher for a dance at the previous ball, felt willing to ask again. Robin spent three days dodging the Gryffindor witch before Elizabeth scolded him as they worked on the examination questions, "You must talk with her."
"What do I say?"
"You either accept her, or you break the poor girl's heart."
"But--"
"The choice is yours. She is clearly smitten with your charms. She doesn't know you well and hopes you have a pleasant nature to go with your handsome face… You'll probably crush her spirits whether you dance with her or not."
"Excuse me?"
"Well, if she thinks you are worthy of pursuit she clearly doesn't know you well. She imagines you some sort of knight in shining armor. If you refuse to dance with her, she will be disappointed at your cruelty. If you dance with her she will discover you are not as wonderful as she dreams."
"Are you certain? Lord knows I've never demonstrated how charming I can be to you."
"Doesn't matter. You know what they say about Hufflepuff men."
"Actually I don't, although one does hear stories of Slytherin women. How many dances do you plan with Mr. Potter?"
"Only one or two. Last ball. There are a number of wizards with whom I want to dance."
"First and last for Mr. Potter?"
"Only the last for certain. I'm hoping my cousin asks me for first. I've not always treated him well the last few weeks."
"I'm certain he forgives you."
"But, getting back to the very forward Miss Lovegood. She is pretty."
"She's not the smartest witch in herbology."
"She admires you greatly… But, as you say, she's not the smartest witch at Hogwarts."
"I only spoke of herbology. She is very sweet."
"So you'll stop cowering when her name is mentioned and dance with her?"
"Fine, I will dance with her. Can we return to the lesson plans now?"
The final ball of the school year was always beautiful and sad for those who danced with the partner they desired. The melancholy of whether a preference would continue in the fall remained on the minds of the students who would return in the autumn, while seventh years wondered if they would see their partner again. The melancholy weighed unusually heavy on Miss Gray and Mr. Potter as they danced. Elizabeth studied some of the faces of the other dancers, wondering if her face mirrored the emotions she felt as clearly as the faces of some of other dancers. At least Miss Kestrel looked happy as she danced with Mr. Malfoy. Elizabeth wondered how her friend had managed the feat.
Elizabeth suggested Charles leave his books in the Herbology room with hers before they went out to walk along the lakeshore. The sat and talked on 'their' log before returning to Hogwarts. She asked about his travel plans. He now hated talking about leaving Britain, but had promised his father to accompany the expedition. He wondered what Elizabeth would be doing when he returned, and feared her parents would have found a more suitable partner for her by that time. Miss Gray hated to hear of his plans, but requested he describe the trip to remind her of the impossibility of a serious preference between the two of them.
They returned for their books. She smiled as he headed in the direction of Gryffindor tower. Back in his room he would discover she had slipped the three galleons into his text book. In her own room she carelessly dropped her texts on her desk and frowned at an unexpected sound. She flipped open the textbook for second year herbology and discovered the same small parchment wrapped envelope she had put among Mr. Potter's papers.
The doors to the Great Hall remained closed at the hour when the competition for school dueling champion was to begin. Outside the Hall students pressed against the doors, waiting for them to open. Inside the Hall the judges met in hurried conference. "Are you certain he was in no condition to serve as judge?" an anxious Professor Sauberkehren asked Professor Wood.
Professor Thomas answered, "Trust us, Otto, he needs to remain in his bed and sleep it off."
Quartus Quirrell, head of Ravenclaw, proposed "I think we should hold the tourney without a Slytherin judge. Who wins, or loses, seldom requires a decision from us."
"But on those occasions when the judges need to determine it is important that we have the full number."
"I still believe it is not necessary," Professor Quirrell insisted. "But if the rest of you do, I suggest Mr. Dalyrumple be asked to serve."
Professor Wood objected, "While I believe Mr. Dalyrumple could serve in the capacity I think appearances demand a Slytherin representative among the judges. I suggest asking Elizabeth Gray to serve."
"Impossible," Professor Quirrell protested, "you can not have a student sitting among the judges.
"Oh, sorry," the vampire apologized. "I missed that in the rule book… Can you tell me what page it's on?"
"Well, it's not… I mean, it simply isn't done."
The Gryffindor head turned to Professor Sauberkehren, "She assists you with dueling activities?" The German nodded. "She knows the etiquette?"
"She does. Miss Gray performs poorly at dueling, but she has perfect knowledge of what should be done."
"Do you think she could serve fairly as a judge?"
Otto thought for a minute, then nodded again, "Ja. She would be acceptable."
"She served as recording secretary last week," Professor Thomas reminded the head of Ravenclaw.
"Which is not the same as serving as judge," he reminded her.
Professor Ogden of Hufflepuff had remained silent during the discussion, but appeared to have warmed to the idea, "And you need to remember, Quartus," he told the head of Ravenclaw, "Miss Gray teaches herbology courses. I say we extend an invitation to her."
"Fine," he muttered, "but I'll be watching her."
"You might try watching the duelists," Professor Wood laughed. "We might need to render a decision on a match."
The door to the hall was opened only wide enough for the Dark Arts professor to bellow they needed Miss Gray in the Great Hall. He opened it wider to admit her, told the students to expect an additional five-minute delay, then closed it again.
As the students found places to sit Professor Thomas suggested Professor Quirrell find a Ravenclaw student to serve as recording secretary.
The first contest of the evening saw Mr. Potter quickly dispatch Hufflepuff's Mr. Dippet.
Vivien had survived to the final night largely through the good fortune of only facing one witch the first night of competition. There were very few wizards at Hogwarts willing to curse the beautiful woman in any fashion at all. Vivien did not duel poorly, there was simply a question as to whether she should have been there the second night. Of course that question would not have been asked by the wizards in the room and Vivien thought that meeting Claudius Malfoy in the final round of the school championship would impress Titus Malfoy. Miss Kestrel hoped she would draw a wizard for the first round of the championship night. She paled as Professor Sauberkehren announced she would meet Miss Quirke of Ravenclaw. "Don't hurt my face," Vivien murmured as they faced each other. A minute later she returned to sit by Mr. Dippet.
Students applauded when Claudius Malfoy found an obscure curse unfamiliar to anyone but Professor Sauberkehren to defeat Gryffindor's Mr. Schmidt. The professor felt oddly torn as the best student he'd had at Hogwarts faced one of the two Germans in the competition. At least he could take comfort in the victory Miss Stolz of Ravenclaw enjoyed over Miss Savage of Slytherin.
Miss O'Shaughnessy, at least as far as most people knew, managed to defeat Mr. McGonagall of Gryffindor to last to the next round. Of course when Turk survived his contest against Mr. Diggory of Ravenclaw, in the longest duel so far of the evening, it meant that he would be facing his wife in the second round. Without knowing the two were married the simple fact the couple would duel each other brought a current of expectation to the next round.
Robin's victory over Mr. Archer of Gryffindor was a cleanly fought duel which looked worthy of championship competition. Those who thought a fourth year had no place in the contest worried about the ease of Mr. Bulstrode's victory over Miss Pettigrew of Ravenclaw and some wished they had purchased shares on the bully.
Galens, wondering what had happened to Sir William, consulted the victors at the end of the first round to insure everyone felt capable of the second round. Small bets among the students were collected based on whether or not certain individuals had survived through the first round or not.
Charles Potter managed to defeat Miss Quirke, but it was much more difficult duel than his first. Beaters tended to do well at dueling since they often possessed the strength to stand despite a curse. He took a couple solid curses before his win. "Well fought," he complimented her as they shook hands.
"Thank you," she nodded before going to sit with those who had been eliminated.
Charles Potter would face the winner of the Malfoy-Stolz competition. Mr. Malfoy employed an obscure vertigo curse in the duel. It might have been less effective against a quidditch player whose experience on a broom provided some protection. Students weren't certain if the curse was especially effective, or Miss Stolz particularly vulnerable, but the witch fell the floor and became ill. There was a brief pause to clean up the dueling field before the competition could continue.
No one knew quite what to expect when Turk faced Brigid. Mr. Lennox had not wanted his wife to duel, but she had insisted it would look peculiar if she did not. Since she might be with child he did not want to risk harming her, but he did want her out of the competition. She did not want to hurt him. The two fired weak curses at each other, wholly inappropriate for a championship competition. After a few minutes some students began to jeer the couple and at the judge's table Professor Thomas muttered, "Can we declare they both lose?"
Turk hit her leg with a striking spell which knocked her down. He rushed to help her to her feet as Professor Sauberkehren declared him the winner. Turk would face the winner of the Bulstrode-Fletcher duel in the next round.
Both beaters were strong, and Robin clearly the faster. The women of Hogwarts wanted the Hufflepuff quidditch captain to win. Many third and fourth year wizards, at least those not in Hufflepuff, found themselves cheering reluctantly for the bully. They didn't approve of the strong-arm tactics he'd used against them during the year, but the idea of a fourth year still winning this late in contest inspired them.
Robin and Augie threw strong curses at each other and scored clean hits. The Slytherin planted his legs apart and hoped he could remain upright after Mr. Fletcher hit him with a curse that left his legs feeling like jelly. The bully sighed with relief as he finally watched Robin go down. He heard himself declared the winner by the Dark Arts professor and then slowly collapsed himself. Robin managed to regain his feet for himself, and came over to offer congratulations as the Galens helped Augustus back on his feet. "Well fought."
"Thanks," the fourth year said with sincerity. "Not certain I can take another round like that."
The Galens requested extra time to work with Augustus, but Professor Sauberkehren told them the third round would begin on schedule. If Mr. Bulstrode still needed more time to recover before his contest with Mr. Lennox he would be given it after the Malfoy-Potter duel.
Mr. Bulstrode no longer felt confident about the contest, there were no easy victories left and he had taken a beating in his last round while Turk remained strong and fresh. He saw requesting extra time to recover as a sign of weakness and damaging to his reputation, but feared he might need to make the request to have any hope of surviving against Mr. Lennox.
The field of sixteen had been reduced to four, and three were from Slytherin. That fact did not concern Mr. Potter, but he found the confidence of Mr. Malfoy disconcerting and wondered what unusual sort of curse he might face. Mr. Malfoy's battles were anticipated with relish, and even those who did not wish Slytherin to win still wished to see what the Slytherin champion would do.
Mr. Potter hoped a disarming spell might knock the wand from the Slytherin's hand and allow him more time to launch a stunning spell or some curse to put Claudius out of the duel. He knew Claudius to be quick, and in his own haste to disarm his opponent Charles failed to hit the Slytherin's wand hand. Before he could recover and fire another spell Mr. Malfoy hit him with a curse no one there had heard before. There was a moment of stunned silence as Mr. Malfoy smiled in victory. Where Charles Potter had stood was a small horse-like creature with blue hair and a purple mane in the Gryffindor's robe.
The judge's whispered among themselves. "What was that?"
"It had to be a transfiguration."
"It was no transfiguration."
"No curse can do that."
"Then you tell me what it was!"
A number of students laughed and applauded as Claudius Malfoy smiled and took a bow.
The blue equine suddenly fell over, in obvious distress of some sort and the Galens came running.
"The counter-charm," Professor Sauberkehren bellowed at Mr. Malfoy, "what is the counter-charm!"
Owl and three other Galens knelt by Charles Potter and wished Sir William were present as they tried to assess the Gryffindor's condition.
"It causes no permanent harm," Claudius insisted, "he'll be fine in twenty-four hours."
"Mr. Whisp, what's wrong?" Professor Thomas shouted to the Galens.
"I don't know… He's having trouble breathing… His broken nose…"
"The counter-charm," Professor Sauberkehren bellowed again, "you must know it!"
"There isn't a counter-charm! It doesn't hinder breathing!"
"Well he's having trouble breathing," Owl shouted. The blue equine arched his neck and fought for breath. "It's like a cribbing horse or something."
Mr. Strout, the surgeon, ran forward, knowing full well he had no idea what to do. Elizabeth, along with Professors Ogden and Sauberkehren left the judges' table to go to the fallen Gryffindor. Miss Gray knelt with the Galens and took Charles' hoof in her hand. The equine calmed slightly, but still arched its neck and struggled to breathe.
"What was the curse?" the head of Hufflepuff asked the Dark Arts professor.
"I don't know! I didn't hear it clearly… I've never seen anything like this. There must be some charm which can help."
"I can't just start applying random charms! I might make things worse."
Feeling helpless, the Dark Arts professor shouted at Mr. Malfoy again for the counter-charm.
"It doesn't harm the victim!" Mr. Malfoy insisted. "There's no problem with the curse!"
Elizabeth suddenly leaned forward and kissed the blue creature on the muzzle.
"What are you doing," Owl demanded.
"There are transfigurations that a kiss breaks."
"This isn't a transfiguration," he told her, "it's--" He turned to another Galen, "Get me the potions!"
The Hufflepuff grabbed the satchel and tossed it to the little Slytherin, who jerked it open and dumped the vials onto the platform then began to frantically search through them.
"Mandrake draught… There's got to be mandrake draught…" He suddenly grabbed a vial and uncorked it. "Open your mouth!" he shouted at the blue creature and poured the liquid down his throat.
Within seconds the muzzle began to shorten and the creature began to look less equine and more human. The hoof in Elizabeth's hand divided into two fingers and grew a thumb.
Owl breathed a sigh of relief. "Mandrake draught… Should fully restore him from the curse."
Everyone watched anxiously for the next few minutes until the changes seemed to end.
"I thought you said he would be fully restored," Elizabeth complained.
"It's supposed to," Owl insisted. "At least he can breathe."
Charles Potter's features had basically been restored. If one accepts that 'basically restored' could include still being covered with blue fur and his normal hair remaining purple. He took his hand from Elizabeth and held it in front of him face. He turned it over and looked at the back of his hand. "Very curious… I heard fully restored. But I distinctly remember having more fingers an hour ago."
Owl raised his hands in an, 'I don't know' gesture. "No one seems to understand what you were hit with. Mandrake draught should counter the effects of a curse."
"You'll be fine in twenty-four hours," Mr. Malfoy insisted.
Elizabeth and the Hufflepuff who had brought the potion satchel to Owl helped Mr. Potter to his feet. He needed help to steady him for a moment. "Don't think my feet are quite normal either," he muttered. "And I can't imagine that was good for my boots."
Charles began to walk toward the benches for those how had been eliminated from the competition, but Professor Thomas stood up at the judges' table. "Mr. Malfoy has been disqualified from the competition. He--"
"I won!" the Slytherin champion shouted.
"He failed to provide the appropriate counter-charm, as stipulated in the rules."
"The curse caused no harm. It's his own damn nose that nearly killed him!"
"You will sit down. Now!" Susan Thomas told him flatly - pointing to the benches and beckoning for Mr. Potter to move to the other side of the platform where Turk and Augie sat.
The time spent on Mr. Potter had given Mr. Bulstrode opportunity to recover. The duel with Robin had left the fourth year battered. Turk, another beater, could take a great deal of punishment and, having enjoyed a relatively easy second round, should have been able to defeat Augie. At least, on a normal day an unscathed Turk would have crushed a battered Augie with ease. Having faced his wife in the prior round Mr. Lennox was too distracted to concentrate on the duel. The slower Mr. Bulstrode managed two solid hits on the Senior before the older Slytherin even tried and Turk went down.
Augustus offered a hand to help his teammate from the floor. Turk smiled and patted the younger man on the shoulder, "Win it for Slytherin," he urged.
The Galens requested a slightly longer break between rounds as they tried to figure out how to bring Mr. Potter back to normal. With Professor Ogden they questioned Mr. Malfoy, but the Slytherin claimed the book where he found the odd curse offered no counter-charm and maintained the curse had not been the cause of the Gryffindor's distress and that he should have been declared the winner.
Professor Ogden returned to the judges' table and requested the final duel be postponed until the next evening. In a quick poll of the judges, however, the majority voted to move ahead with the final duel.
While the judges conferred Charles managed to pull his boots off. A Galen employed a mending spell to repair a seam which had been ruined when the Gryffindor's feet had transformed.
In the audience students quickly placed small personal wagers on the new reality of the final pairing. Miss Gray had purchased multiple shares on all the Slytherins, Mr. Potter, and Miss Stolz to win the competition and would profit if either of the two won. But neither the official betting pool nor even the outcome of the final duel concerned her. The only thought in her head was the safety and restoration of Mr. Potter.
After another longer than usual rest between rounds the two finalists came forward for their duel.
Mr. Bulstrode, battered from his duel with Mr. Fletcher, had regained a little confidence by this victory over Mr. Lennox. He felt capable of beating the Gryffindor champion and hoped for a quick win so he could return to his room and sleep for fourteen hours.
Mr. Potter held his wand in his modified hand with difficulty. He lacked the dexterity to hold his weapon firmly and a simple disarming spell by the Slytherin fourth year might be enough for Mr. Bulstrode's victory. At least Mr. Potter felt vaguely human, even if his appearance still lacked some elements of humanity. While he mentioned the fact to no one, and the visual evidence was concealed by his robe, Charles Potter realized that he shared his trousers with something large and hairy. He assumed that the anomaly represented a tail to match his changed appearance. He wasn't certain which possibility disturbed him more - the idea that he might have a tail, or sharing his trousers with a large, hairy thing which was not a tail.
Professor Sauberkehren smiled as he looked at the pair and addressed the students watching the competition. "This will be a championship you will long remember," he promised them.
The cheers from the students were primarily for Mr. Bulstrode. While Gryffindor remained solidly behind their champion many students, including those who hated Mr. Bulstrode as a person, felt that Mr. Malfoy had been cheated of a win. Because she sat at the judges' table Elizabeth felt it inappropriate to cheer for either - to her relief. Professor Wood felt no such scruples and shouted encouragement to Mr. Potter.
On the cue from the Dark Arts professor the finalists bowed to each other, and at his command they began to duel.
Charles directed his first curse with care. Since Mr. Bulstrode did not possess the speed of Mr. Malfoy the Gryffindor had more time to aim and Charles better luck than with the disarming spell he attempted against the Slytherin champion. Only Elizabeth, and perhaps Weasel (if he were paying as much attention to the duel as he did to seeking Miss Fowler's attention) recognized the curse from the book of obscure curses and spells.
The curse hit Augusutus on the nose, and Mr. Bulstrode felt no pain - only a minor tickling sensation. The tickle quickly grew in intensity and Mr. Bulstrode began to sneeze, violently and uncontrollably.
Augie could not aim. A sneezing fit would double him over and leave him unable to direct a curse where he needed it to go. His first stunning spell took out the first row of students watching the competition - fourth and fifth year Ravenclaws who had pushed their way forward to watch the Raveclaw competitors and Miss Kestrel. The wizards were knocked from the bench as it overturned.
The stunning spell from Mr. Potter bruised Mr. Bulstrode, but the fourth year remained on his feet. Augie's second curse hit the wall. The large Slytherin suddenly doubled over with a sneezing fit as Mr. Potter tried a second stunning spell and Mr. Potter managed to knock Professor Wood off his chair. Elizabeth and Professor Thomas chose to leave their seats for the relative safety of the floor. Masculine pride and her position as Headmaster kept the other professors and Mrs. Pilton from joining them on the floor.
Several Hufflpuff students would require help from the Galens after a curse from Augustus left them weak in the legs. Mr. Potter's similar curse left Mr. Bulstrode shaky, but still standing. Augustus realized that, unable to aim well, his only hope was to fire as many curses as possible as quickly as possible and hope something connected with Mr. Potter. Nothing did, but students toward the back of the Great Hall began to flee for their houses. Mr. Potter required two more stunning spells before Mr. Bulstrode collapsed.
"Well, you promised the students a contest they would long remember," Professor Quirrell reminded the Dark Arts professor before Professor Sauberkehren stood to declare Charles the winner. "You were certainly correct."
There would be a party in Gryffindor that evening to celebrate their champion winning the dueling competition. Under other circumstances Charles might have asked Elizabeth to attend, but he did not feel like himself.
Mr. Malfoy could be heard as students began to leave the Great Hall, still complaining that he had been eliminated unfairly and that Mr. Potter would be fine in twenty-four hours. Elizabeth and all of Gryffindor sincerely hoped that would prove true. Vivien did her best to console Claudius, assuring him that he had been robbed of a well deserved victory. That would certainly be the way she would describe it in the letter she penned to his father.