Chapter 26: The Grand Duel
The Great Hall was buzzing with anticipation as everyone crammed inside. The school was seated in rows around a large dueling table set up at the centre of the hall. Today was the day when the two finalist dueling teams would compete for the title of the first ever Hogwarts dueling champions. Link and his six other teammates stood nervously waiting at one end of the table.
'I like our chances more and more! They look like they're ready to crack!' said Penelope Clearwater forcing a grin as she looked down the dueling table.
Link looked over at his counterparts. The opposing team appeared no more nervous then his did. In fact, if anything they seemed more resolved than ever to emerge victorious.
I suppose I'm at least partially to blame for that. Thought Link, grinning slightly.
At the other end of the table, Ginny was glowering over at him. She still hadn't forgiven him for including her in his lie with Professor Lockhart. Standing beside her was Harry, who looked determined as ever to win the championship title.
He waved at Ginny who shot him a venomous glare. Laughing, he turned back to his team. Everyone was looking at each other tensely.
'I don't know how I favour my chances against Jeffry.' said their fourth-year teammate, a Hufflepuff named Cedric Diggory.
'You'll do fine. I've got to beat Harry after all. I don't think he's lost a point yet.' said a second year Ravenclaw named Lisa Turpin anxiously.
Link glanced back over at his competitors. They were having a little pep talk by the side of the table.
If Lisa losses to Harry, It'll be up to me to take him on in a tiebreaker…. Assuming I beat Ginny that is.
The rules of the tournament were simple. The teams were composed of a teammate from every year of the student body, making seven team members in all. Each team member would duel against their respective year and if they were able to disarm their opponent they would score a point. If they knocked their opponent off the stage they would score two points. If after all of the seven duels were completed and the scores were tied, the victors from each round would duel each other until there was only one team left standing.
Link's bracket was easy. The vast majority of the first years were unable to perform the disarming charm (in no small part due to Lockhart's incompetence) and so it was a cakewalk for him to emerge as undefeated in his age group. However, he hadn't faced Ginny yet, and from what he'd been told, she had been practicing her charms and stuns religiously. If looks were anything to go by, she was going to be trying to draw blood in their matchup.
'Alright everybody, huddle up.' called Oliver Wood, their sixth year rep.
Link joined with his teammates as they gathered around each other, shoulder to shoulder.
'Now I can't say we're doing this for our house, but we've all got our reasons to win this tournament. For me personally, I can't go back empty handed after the quidditch cup was robed from me.' said Wood gulping back a pained grimace, 'This might not be as prestigious as quidditch, but we can at least come home with something dammit! So, lets win this thing, eh?'
Link gave a cheer along with his other teammates and they turned to face their opposition. Link would be called up to duel first. Looking over at Ginny, he felt a tiny thrill of fear. She was saying something at him. He couldn't hear her voice over the crowds, but he could read lips well enough to know that he didn't like it.
She could stare down a basilisk with that expression. He thought as Ginny pointed at him threateningly.
Shifting his eyes, he watched as Lockhart clambered up on top of the dueling table in snow white robes with matching gloves, boots, and cape.
'Everyone! May I have your attention please!' cried Lockhart raising his arms for calm.
Slowly the conversations in the Great Hall died down as everyone turned their attention to him.
'Here we are at last! The final dueling session of the season. We have all gathered here today to bear witness to the end of a year's worth of tutelage in dueling honour and technique. Who will taste the sweet tang of victory? Who will feel the bitter sting of defeat? Not even I can say…'
Link snorted. According to Lee Jordan who was operating as unofficial bookie for the event, Link's team was favoured to win by a considerable margin. Though you'd never know it from Cedric's modest behavior, he was actually a very good duelist. Probably the best in the school all things considered. Thanks to him, they'd won every match quite handily. Still, he couldn't fault Lockhart for playing the crowd.
I guess Lockhart needs to sell the denouement to his story. Thought Link as the white clad professor rambled on.
'But in the end there is no need for either shame or sadness, as everyone who competed in this tournament is a winner. A winner for having stood up and-'
'GET TO THE MATCH ALREADY!' clamoured a brash seventh year.
'Now, now.' tutted professor Lockhart, 'There is no need to-'
'START THE MATCH! START THE MATCH!' chanted a group of seventh years. Before long the whole hall had joined in, drowning out Lockhart and his speech. Finally throwing his arms up in frustration he motioned for Link and Ginny to take to the dueling channel.
'Get her Link! No mercy!' shouted Oliver Wood in his ear.
Hopping up the table, he and Ginny advanced towards each other. As they drew closer, the crowd started hollering in amusement.
'Lover's quarrel?'
'Link! You wouldn't hurt a girl, would you?'
'Oh, the drama!'
Link couldn't help but smile as he watched Ginny's face become progressively deeper shades of red. Although Dumbledore's announcement didn't include the tale that Lockhart and Link had made up about what had happened in the Chamber of Secrets, it hadn't taken long before most of the details were leaked. Rather than try and argue against all the teasing and questioning that was thrown his way about him and Ginny, Link decided to just go with it. As soon as the rumours broke, he declared, in his own mute way, that everything was true. Swearing his undying love for Ginny, he claimed that he braved Slytherin's Monster itself to rescue her from the Chamber of Secrets. Lockhart stood by his protégé and backed up his claims fervently, stating that they could read all about Link and Ginny's romance in his new book that was due to release that summer.
Naturally Ginny had not reacted well to his rampant lying. Not well at all. He would even go so far as to say that she had become downright hostile.
Poor Ginny. He thought as he watched her march up to him, grinding her teeth together. It would have been so much easier for you if you just went with the flow.
Link and Ginny met each other at the centre of the table. As the stood facing each other the hall was filled with hoots and catcalls. A vein started to throb dangerously in Ginny's temple while he smiled at her vacantly.
'Right!' squeaked Flitwick who was acting as referee. 'You both know the rules. Let's have a nice clean match, shall we?'
Link and Ginny nodded, keeping their eyes on each other.
'Now bow…' said Flitwick.
Ginny jerked her head down by about an inch before returning to her threatening posture. Link on the other hand gave her a great sweeping bow with his arms held out slightly. Standing, he gave her a playful wink, much to the delight of the crowd. Ginny was less enthused however and her nostrils flared while her eyes blazed with fury.
I'm having too much fun right now. After the match is over, she might just kill me. Thought Link, laughing.
'Now retreat ten paces…'
Link and Ginny spun around and started walking to their positions. As they walked, the hall slowly quieted down in excited anticipation. As a rule, first year duels were boring, little more than sparks being shot at each other really, but Link and Ginny had so much drama going on that this bout was actually among the most hyped of the tournament. Upon reaching his position Link turned around and drew his wand.
'One.'
Ginny raised her wand menacingly, mumbling under her breath.
'Two.'
Link spotted Luna in the crowd. He gave her a small smile, causing her to blush slightly.
'Three!'
Expelliarmus Thought Link as he twisted his wrist upwards, snapping his wand up to face Ginny.
Before Ginny had even began to move her hand, her wand was thrown from her grasp towards him. Catching it deftly, he held up her wand for the crowd and the hall burst out in thunderous shouts and applause.
'How could you Link?'
'Has the flame died?'
'I saw you looking at Luna! You heartbreaker!'
Link walked back down the channel to Ginny, trying not to look too pleased with himself. Ginny looked as though she might just die of shame.
'Good show! Good show! Masterfully done Link!' exclaimed Flitwick, clapping his hands together.
Link acknowledged him with a nod before focusing back on Ginny. As tempting as it was to keep messing with her, he actually did feel kind of guilty for embarrassing her so much the past couple of months. Deciding that he would exercise restraint for once, he held out Ginny's wand for her politely. She quickly snatched it back without making eye contact, eyes trained on the floor.
'Now then lets have another bow…'
Link bowed normally this time and Ginny gave him an almost imperceptible nod. Grinning, he walked back towards his teammates.
'Perfectly done Link! That's us one to nothing!' said Oliver Wood happily, thumping him on the back. 'Lisa, you're up.'
Lisa gulped, 'Wish me luck!' Link gave her a thumbs up as everyone else offered her words of encouragement.
Unfortunately, Lisa was a little too slow on the draw and Harry was able to get his disarming charm to land first. Shoulders slumped she returned to her teammates.
'Sorry guys, I tried my best.' she said sadly.
'Don't worry. You did fine!' said Cedric and Link nodded in agreement.
'One to one. No big deal.' added Oliver casually.
Next up was the third-year representatives. Unfortunately Link's teammate, Zacharias Smith, fumbled with his wand and lost by dropping it on the stage. Crimson with embarrassment, he trudged back to his teammates while stammering out excuses.
'O-okay, down by one no big deal…Cedric! Crush that Weasley!' said Oliver Wood fervently.
Cedric nodded as he got up to face Fred Weasley. Smooth as silk, Cedric outdrew Fred and hit him with a powerful stunning charm. Unable to keep his balance, Fred tumbled off the stage. The crowd broke out into frenzied applause. Knocking your opponent off stage was difficult, but was worth the extra point.
As Cedric climbed down to his teammates he was swarmed by cheering teammates.
'That's done it!' cried Oliver pulling Cedric into a hug, 'Three to two! You've no idea how much I've wanted to do that myself incidentally.'
'Right! Well, looks like I'm up.' said Penelope Clearwater.
'Show that Gryffindor whose boss!' shouted Lisa as Penelope faced down Percy.
In a remarkably close duel, Penelope was just barely overcome by Percy with a disarming charm after a brief exchange of stuns and curses. Penelope returned shaking her head in disappointment while Harry's team cheered wildly.
'Tied' moaned Wood as he hitched up his robes to climb up the dueling channel, 'But it's no problem. If I can knock Gary out of the ring then we're almost sure to win!'
'Just go for the disarm!' shouted Cedric after Wood, 'Leave it to Elizbeth! Don't get cocky!'
I hope Oliver doesn't do anything foolish. Thought Link anxiously as he watched the sixth-year bow to his opponent.
Drawing on each other, Wood lead with a quick shield charm before following it up with a rapid disarm. To everyone's amazement, Wood's opponent tripped as he tried to recover his wand and fell off the stage, netting them two points.
Shouting in excitement, Oliver ran back to his equally excited teammates, 'That's how its done boys and girls! Five to Three! They'll need to knock you off just to tie us Elizbeth.'
The tall blonde girl exhaled slowly and nodded.
'Hey Elizbeth, if you throw down your wand we'll win automatically.' said Penelope deviously, 'Just something to consider.'
'No!' shouted Cedric and Oliver together, 'We can't win by technicality! Go for it Elizbeth!' encouraged Oliver. Link nodded fervently.
Even if she gets knocked off I think we can still win. Thought Link looking over at the opposing side. The opposing team was crowded around their last member offering words of encouragement.
'Right, well here I go.' said Elizbeth anxiously.
Link watched as she faced off against her grim-faced opponent. With lightning speed her opponent drew his wand and hit her with a body paralyzing curse. Before she could hit the mat he quickly used a levitation charm to throw her body out of the ring.
'What?' cried Oliver, 'That's dirty! She was already down! Professor Flitwick, sir! Can I get a ruling?'
'Elizbeth's wand was still in her hand. Its legal!' shouted Flitwick to the crowd.
The Great Hall erupted into cheers as the scores were tied. They would be going into the tiebreaking round.
'Okay! We may be down a seventh year but we've got more players left overall. Link!' Link snapped his attention as Oliver looked at him, 'If you can beat Harry, then if Cedric gets another knockout, we'll win! Go for it Link! Go for it!' shouted Oliver as he was pushed up to the stage. Grinning, he made his way down the aisle.
'Take him down Harry!' screamed Ginny as Harry climbed up the matted table, 'Knock that stupid grin off his stupid face!'
Link waited patiently for Harry by Flitwick, twirling his wand.
'Psst! Link! Over here!' said a voice, barely audible over the cheering crowd. He glanced around, confused.
What the...
'Down here!'
He looked down. By the edge of the stage, he spotted Lockhart motioning him closer. Crouching down, Link turned his ear towards him.
'Link! You've got to beat Harry!' said Lockhart in a stage whisper, 'Think about it! If my protégé beats THE Harry Potter, it will make a perfect ending to my book! A big climatic showdown between the famous bully and the plucky underdog. It will be great! Just make sure you win!'
Link grinned and gave Lockhart a thumbs up.
'Excuse me! Are you a judge or not?' cried Flitwick incredulously upon noticing Lockhart, 'Get back from the dueling table!'
Lockhart hastily scurried away as Harry came up to face Link. Harry looked at the retreating Lockhart quizzically.
'You know what to do boys. Bow…' He and Harry bowed to one another.
The big finale, eh?
He and Harry stood back up. Turning they walked to their respective positions. After walking ten paces, he faced Harry. Harry was slightly red-faced but he was calm, and focused. He was gripping his wand tightly as he stared Link down.
'Get him Link!' shouted Oliver, 'Don't let him intimidate you!'
Link waved over his shoulder. The hall slowly quieted as the two faced each other. Once the hall was silent, Flitwick started to count.
'One!'
'Two!'
'Three!'
Link quickly bent his hand at the wrist and pointed his wand at Harry.
Stupify. He thought. With a jolt, a red beam of light hit Harry high in the chest throwing him backwards. Without thinking about anything else Link recast the spell.
Stupify.
Colliding with Harry again the red beam sent his already crumpling form flying backwards over the edge of the mat.
There was a massive burst of cheering and applause as Harry hit the floor.
'Professor! He was hit already! That shouldn't count!' shouted Fred hoarsely at Flitwick.
'Sorry, but Harry was still holding his wand.' said Professor Flitwick in a firm but not unkind tone. Harry's team threw up their hands and turned on one another.
Grinning broadly, Link went back to revel with his teammates as Ginny's team began bickering over Harry's unconscious body.
After Link's match against Harry, Cedric was able to easily disarm the third-year girl on Harry's team and win the match eight to five. Link and his teammates took to the stage and bowed before the audience's applause. As Link stood smiling, and bowing before the crowd, Lockhart joined him.
'Can you believe it!' said Lockhart choking in happiness as he pulled Link into a hug, 'My very own pupil! You conquered adversity and faced your demons!' Lockhart quickly twirled Link around to face a photographer whom he had somehow smuggled into the Great Hall. Beside the photographer stood Colin Creevey grinning broadly his own camera in hand.
After a few blinding photos Lockhart released him. Still partially blind, Link hopped off the stage and rejoined his team.
'Link, that was brilliant.' said Oliver roughly patting him on the back, 'I can't believe it.' he said, shaking his head, 'We've won! Hah!'