Happy Christmas Eve (to those who celebrate it). Here is chapter 28 on time as always and an early Xmas present for y'all. Nothing significant to note here so just sit back and enjoy the latest installment in Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 1: Purity.

Disclaimer: As always I own nothing relating to either of these two great works of fiction.

Chapter 28

It had been a month since Harry had finally overcome his block with waterbending and though intensive study and practice he had progressed significantly since then. According to Severus he was still at beginner level as he was not doing well with the elegant and defensive style of the Northern Water Tribe but according to Ron and Ginny he was well into the intermediate skill level for waterbending in general even if his Northern Style was by far his worst style.

Harry had preferred his studies with Ron and Ginny as they didn't condescend him but rather encouraged him and taught him by playing to his strengths rather than try to alter his entire style and philosophy. Now he could do most moves in Southern and probending styles and was making headway with the Foggy Swamp style. He could freeze water to ice, bend ice and snow and melt it back to water. Harry knew that he would have to keep practicing until he became a fully realized Avatar as Severus would not grant him master status this year or likely next year as the Head of the Water House often and not so subtly reminded him.

In his limited free time Harry continued to practice the other elements to keep them sharp. They also kept practicing for the upcoming final. They had perfected the air arc, learned how to defend it and created a few more variants of the attack. It was really useful as it allowed multiple opponents to be attacked with one move and that was also why they knew it was almost certainly going to be banned at the next rules committee meeting. Also if it went wrong an opponent could easily be thrown over the side which was against the rules. Though the move wouldn't come before the rules committee for a while as the current Voldemort threat had lead to the probending league being suspended indefinitely. Most recently Team Avatar had supported Ron as he easily won the Academy's Pai Sho tournament the week before for the 3rd straight year, an Academy record. It had been an incredibly busy and stressful month but it had kept Harry's mind focused and off dwelling on when Voldemort would attack.

Now however Team Avatar were in the changing room waiting for the final of the bending tournament to begin. They had gotten here early to get in the zone and get ready. They were trying to defend their title, a feat not done since Harry's father had done so with The Marauders almost 20 years ago.

Now they were up against The Misfits. They were an underdog team that was made up of 4 benders who were unable to find teams for themselves so created one when they realized they all wanted to compete and needed a team. Taking the name "Misfits" as they did not fit anywhere else they had played with a huge chip on their shoulder and ground their way into the final. Their path had not been easy and the team had never had a first round knockout, even winning their last 16 and semi final bouts by third round sudden death but as Harry knew it didn't matter how they got here but how they performed on the day. Because of the The Misfits had a lot of support from the Academy as they were seen as the plucky underdogs left out from other teams who were going against the reigning champs, even if those champs had the Avatar and were all well liked, They were already being compared to the Future Industry Fire Ferrets given their implausible run to the championship when Korra joined their team.

That all didn't matter to Harry and his friends. They were here to have fun and win the title once again. It would be their last bit of fun before the final month of the semester which would be filled with exams and even more waterbending training. It had been 2 months since the War Council and nothing had happened but still Harry was not going to relax his guard with Voldemort still active and especially today as it would be a full moon in a few hours and they knew the Southern Water Tribe would be attacked at the full moon when the Northern waterbenders could employ bloodbending.

Ginny had been to the Spirit World a few times in the last 2 months, often with Luna, to spy on the Northern Army's preparations. They never got as close as Ginny did that first time, partly because of the now very large presence the North had established there and partly because of the terrible screams and cries from the nonbender women who were almost constantly being raped in the pleasure tents that had been erected by the Northern Water Tribal Council. Also it was clear that General Flint had broken the nonbender male prisoners who would serve as sacrificial victims to blunt the South's defense when the North attacked. Little did they know that the South was more than prepared for the attack and the Northerners were walking into a trap. Still it had been disconcerting to learn of how large the force was. It was as if almost all of Lucius's army had amassed for his conquest against the South. At last check the forces had not moved from near the Northern Spirit Portal but that could all change very quickly, especially with the team of earthbenders from Kuei that had joined them a few weeks ago that Rowle had somehow gotten past the blockade of the North.

Harry was interrupted from his thoughts by the sound of the door opening to the changing room and an attendant poking her head in.

"It's almost time you can move to the players' box now." She said before withdrawing her head.

"Right guys we have a match to win." Ron said with a smile. "And I have a pompous earth asshole to humiliate."

Harry smiled at this brief pep talk and got up to lead the team to the players' box attached to the changing room. Once inside they could see that the arena was packed, Madam Hooch was in position and the metal gangways had begun to move from the players boxes to the platform.

"Let's do this Team Avatar." Harry said as he walked forward and stepped onto the gangways, shortly joined by Ron, Neville and Luna.

Harry turned to blow a kiss to his girlfriend who would be waiting for them in the box then turned back with a determined look on his face. It was time.

The team stepped off the gangway and walked to the center of the arena. Once again they had the red section. Opposite them was The Misfits. They were already on the platform soaking up the praise from their supports. That was good, it would make them overconfident. Harry took a moment to assess the other two members of The Misfits. He didn't know them at all despite being in their houses for a semester as they were both in the year above him.

First he looked at the airbender. She was a very pretty girl from the Western Air Temple called Cho though she looked like her parents or grandparents had been Earth Kingdom citizens who had received airbending after Harmonic Convergence. Her black hair was still short as it had been shave about 6 months ago for her tattoos as she received them at the same time as Luna. According to Luna, Cho usually wore her hair straight and long with an ugly fringe and that she was one of the most spiritual people in the Air House and had focused so much on her spiritual training that Master Filius had had to order her to get on with the physical side, which she had also proven skilled at, in order for her to earned her tattoos. Luna knew that Cho would receive the title of Monk when she graduated due to her emphasis on spiritual matters. She would be a difficult opponent but was a little worse than Luna at airbending.

The last member of The Misfits was a large, wire haired boy called Cormac. He was the team's firebender and also the year above them. Harry had heard of his father at the war council meeting as he was the General of the Fire Nation Royal Air Force. From what Neville had told him the boy was an arrogant blow hard who thought he was a leader and better than he actually was, hence why he was on The Misfits. Despite not being a team player Cormac was nonetheless a skilled firebender and according to Ron's analysis of their semifinal fight the second best on the team behind Theo based on pure skill.

The two teams faced off against each other sizing each other up in preparation for the fight.

"Right I want a good clean fight people." Hooch said form the officials stand. "Take your positions for Round 1."

Ron had instructed them earlier to assume the same starting formation they had for the second round against The Pranksters though this time they would do something a little different. Once the other team saw their formation they shifted to mimic the one of Team Avatar. The championship was upon them now.

"Begin!" Hooch shouted.

During their entrance and set up the commentator had been talking to the crowd.

"Well folks the year has lead to this very moment, the final of the Elemental Academy's bending tournament." Came the voice the twin's friend Lee. He had returned to being the usual commentator after his defeat in the semifinal. "This final will be between Team Avatar and The Misfits. As many of you know Team Avatar was the team who handed our asses to us in the semifinal."

"Language Lee." A stern female voice said into a microphone.

"Sorry Master Minerva" Lee said without a hint of sincerity. "Just stating the facts that's all. Those of you fortunate enough to watch that semifinal would know that Luna, the airbender on Team Avatar, performed a move that this commentator knows was actually developed by Avatar Harry himself in training and which enabled her to attack all of us at once. As such we lost in spectacular fashion in a Round 2 knockout. Tonight Team Avatar, the same 4 who won the championship last year though under a different name, take on the plucky Misfits, a new team this year. These four benders failed to find teams on their own so made their own team and are looking to make history as the first team to win the tournament in their debut year. I have to be unbiased but my money is on the Avatar and his team. Literally I have 50 Yuans riding on them and if you are interested in making a bet please see Princes Fred and George to make your bets on tonight's final and get your approved, unlicensed apparel for both teams."

"Lee." Minerva growled.

"Sorry couldn't resist." Lee said. "Right the teams have taken the platform so let's introduce the teams to you. On Team Avatar we have the Avatar himself at earthbender, his best friend and 3 time Pai Sho champion Prince Ron of the Southern Water Tribe at waterbender, at airbender is Luna the inventor of the Oxygen Vortex and at firebender we have Neville. Against them for The Misfits is Zacharias at earth, Cormac at fire, Cho at air and Theo at water. And it looks like they are both taking the formation we first saw in the semifinal now dubbed the Air Arrow. And we are off."

Harry had not been listening to Lee's commentary but did here the command to begin and instantly took a defensive stance pulling up two disks to hover in front of him for protection. Both airbenders had begun to move as soon as the round started but as Cormac was starting his fire jets Luna used a little airbending to propel herself forward as Neville ducked to a crouch and sent a jet of flame at Cho. As soon as Luna reached the right height she pivoted her body and sent an air arch at a downward angle at The Misfits. None of this had been expected by their opponents. Based on the defensive positions of Zach and Theo they had been expecting the same move Luna had done to The Pranksters and were preparing their own air arc in defense. This was something Team Avatar had to capitalize on.

The first hit was a clean hit on Cho. She was already in her slide in zone 2 when Neville's flame hit her in the chest ending her momentum and causing her to roll out. Because the hit landed while she was in zone 2 she was relegated to that zone.

"What an opening move by Neville that ended Cho's attempted air arc and has left her in zone 2." Lee said into the microphone. "And what have Team Avatar done now?"

As Cormac was in the air the downward arc of air caught him on the shins and flipped him head over heels while still in midair. He was high enough to do a complete 360 before face planting hard into the unyielding platform during his second rotation. His helmet and face shield protected him from serious injury but it didn't stop him from being knocked out cold.

"Holy shit! Sorry Master." Lee said when he saw what had happened. Given what had just happened Minerva didn't chastise the outburst. "That has got to hurt and I do believe that Cormac is out cold in zone 1. Unfortunately for him if he does not regain consciousness and the rest of his team is knocked off the platform that will count as a knockout, in both meanings of the word, and The Misfits will lose. However because he is out cold in zone 1 Team Avatar cannot advance a zone should Zacharias and Theo be forced back a zone. There is no doubt now that that move will be made illegal whenever the next rules committee meets."

Theo and Zach had been prepared for the attack but not in the way they had expected. Theo had been relatively lucky in the sense that he was able to slip under it and maintain the water whip he had summoned up for his protection but he had been focusing on avoiding the air arc he had neglected to notice Harry. Harry had taken advantage of Theo's distraction to land his now offensive two earth disks to his opponent's chest. The blows sent Theo back a zone but he easily regained his footing and dodged the next two disks with ease and sent a series of water blasts back at Harry putting the Avatar on the defensive.

Zach on the other hand had not been as lucky. He had tried to send an earth disk at the air arc but all that happened was that it was blown back into him followed by the air arc itself which caused him to stumble. Ron used this to send two short water blasts at Zach to take out his legs then a longer more powerful blast to the earthbender's chest which sent him back into zone 3. They couldn't advance with the still unconscious Cormac in zone 1 and neither could they attack him. Still Ron followed up his success with a series of medium sized water jets in rapid fire that Zach could not defend against and ultimately fell back to zone 4 and then into the water.

"What a salvo!" Lee said. "Great attacks from Ron and Harry have forced their opponents back. Good recovery there by Theo to avoid those disks and wait Zach is in the drink The Misfits are down to two."

As Cho tried to get up Luna sent an air blast at her that caught the other airbender in the side sending her skidding into zone 3. Neville followed this up with his own series of fire blast that Cho tried to avoid but ultimately couldn't and took 2 more to the chest and was sent sprawling into zone 4. Now though she had the advantage of distance to afford her the time she needed to dodge the attacks despite the small area of zone 4.

Meanwhile Theo was once again forced to go on the defensive as Ron had joined the attack on him. As Theo avoided a particularly dense flurry of water blasts from Ron, Harry landed an earth disk on the pureblood's ankle. This caused him to stumble and put his right arm down on the platform to steady himself and stop himself from falling onto the floor of the platform. Harry took advantage of this and landed an earth disk right in the crook of Theo's elbow. There was a sickening, cracking sound that was audible of the shouting of the crowd and a scream of pain from The Misfit's waterbender as his arm was taken out from under him and he spun around to fall hard on his back.

"Ow that has got to hurt." Lee said. "An earth disk from one of the best earthbenders in the school right where there are no pads, I do hope he is ok. And that is the end of round 1 and the round goes to Team Avatar. Now a break as The Misfits deal with their injuries from that brutal opening round."

Harry heard the bell that signaled the end of the round and saw the red light that indicated they had taken the round appear on the scoreboard. It had been a hard fought round but an easy victory. The new move worked well but it wasn't the finisher that they had employed in the semifinal but that wasn't the intention of the move, it was designed to throw off an opponent. Harry was particularly impressed by Neville's forethought in his attack on Cho. Still Harry did feel bad for Cormac. That had been a heavy blow and he was only now regaining consciousness as Zacharias helped him up and off the platform.

Ron signaled for the team to huddle up again in their own zone 4.

"Ok well done guys that was an excellent round." Their strategist said. "We really nailed them. Luna the move was flawless as always and now we know that it works in reverse but isn't as effective."

"Just like reverse cowgirl." Luna said winking at Ron. "It works but isn't as fun or good as regular cowgirl."

"Yes true." Ron said not blushing given his focus on the situation. "However Neville that was simply inspired, what made you think of that."

"I just assumed they would try to mimic what we did in the semifinal." Neville said shrugging. "So I took a gamble and it worked out. I doubt it would work again though."

"That is the nature of surprise moves." Ron said. "Once they are seen and work then they are no longer a surprise and as such can be defended against if expected. Still it was a great move. I do hope they have subs though cos I really doubt that Cormac or Theo is going to come back after those shots."

"They should have one or two." Harry said. "This is the final and we are allowed more than one injury sub should we need it and they certainly need at least one if not two."

Just then Madam Hooch's whistle was blown signaling the end of the break.

"Ok" Ron said as they broke the huddle. "Let's go with the standard staggered line formation. We don't have any tricks for the round, just a standard round that we need to win."

Team Avatar formed an evenly spaced staggered line in their zone 1 with Neville nearest the middle line and Harry the farthest from it. The Misfits had regrouped and were walking back to their center in an even line. Harry noted that both Theo and Cormac, their two best players, had been replaced due to injury. Harry wasn't sure if the subs had been on the original team or added as the tournament progressed but he assumed the latter. Now the waterbender was Blaise, Theo's best friend in the Water House and while a Purist sympathizer he wasn't a flunky of Draco. The new firebender was a girl with reddish brown hair Harry thought was called Demelza and was a year or so below him when he had been in the Fire House.

"Well folks it is time for round 2, let's see if The Misfits can do better than us and survive a second round against Team Avatar." Lee said. "They need to win this round to avoid being forced to go for the knockout in round 3, if they aren't knockout this round. Folks I have just received word that both Theo and Cormac are out for the rest of the final. Theo has a broken elbow which will require a professional healer to heal and is replaced by his best friend Blaise who was an addition to the team's roster for the final. Cormac has suffered a severe concussion that will have to heal on its own as a professional healer cannot help with that kind of injury and he has been replaced by Demelza, the teams reserve since the end of the group stage."

"Keep it clean again." Hooch said interrupting the commentary. "Begin."

Harry and his team launched their attack but unfortunately for them they were a hairsbreadth slower than The Misfits. Their opponents had come out swinging with everything they had, either because they had nothing to lose, wanted revenge or most likely a combination of the two. Harry's earth disks missed Cho as she easily dodged them and as he was the slower one and he had focused on an all out attack he had not had time to avoid her gust of air that he was certain was faster than regulations. It broke his stance and sent him back to zone 2 to land hard on his ass. He was able to easily avoid the next air blast and return fire with three more disks to put Cho on the defensive.

"What an attack from Cho." Lee said. "She sends the Avatar ass first into zone 2 with a gust of air that I am pretty sure was too powerful but Hooch is letting them play on and Harry recovers easily and now they are in a stalemate."

Neville had been even less lucky as his close position to the central line had meant that he had been unable to ever get his flame off before he took three earth disks to the chest in rapid succession from Zacharias that may have been moving just before Hooch began the round. The force of the blows staggered Neville back into zone 2 and a 4th disk sent him toppling over into zone 3.

"Again some possibly illegal moves there as I swear those disks were moving before Madam Hooch started the round but it was subtle enough to avoid detection." Lee said' "We will have to wait for the VV analysis to determine if any rules were broken but that was a vicious combo by Zacharias to send Neville all the way back to zone 3. I have never seen Team Avatar on the ropes like this before."

Luna had been more fortunate when confronted by Blaise and used her superior footwork to avoid the waterbender's initial attack. However she was forced to go on the defensive and couldn't get a shot off. Zacharias took advantage of this and landed an earth disk in the small of her back as she spun away from a series of water jets from Blaise. Luna was thrown forward with a very loud "fuck" from her lips and while she retained her balance initial she didn't have time to turn as a jet of water caught her in the back of the head and sent her sprawling head first into zone 2 but got up in time to avoid another earth disk.

"Now that was an illegal head shot." Lee said anger in his voice. "And yes Blaise has moved into zone 2 without instruction as punishment for that illegal. Luna appears to be alright though."

Ron was the only one of them able to avoid any problems. He had paired off against Demelza who was clearly the most inexperience in probending style. She sent a series of easy to dodge fire blasts at Ron which he countered with an easy to block water jet. That had been his plan all along as the mist of the collision between water and fire was enough to blind Demelza to his next attack. Ron kicked upwards with his right for and sent a powerful stream of water into his opponent's upper chest lifting her off her feet. Demelza landed hard on her back in zone 2, the landing winding her.

As Ron sent anther water jet at her, this one hitting the sole of her boot with enough force to push her into zone 3 an earth disk traveling at a speed above regulations slammed into Ron's outstretched left forearm and cleanly broke it with an audible crack. Ron gritted his teeth in pain clutching his injured arm to his side he still had the awareness to spin away from anther disk and send a jet of water from a kick right at Zacharias which he blocked with an earth disk.

"That has got to hurt, I heard the break from here." Lee said into his microphone. "That disk may have been going too fast but it looks like Hooch doesn't agree with me. Great awareness from Ron to stay in zone 1 despite the injury and what a move earlier to send Demelza to zone 2 and then the force needed to get her to zone 3 was something only the best combat waterbender could do but you are all watching him right now."

The rest of the round went by with little change. Ron was forced onto the defensive as Cho and Zacharias focused their attacks on him and he couldn't get one off as he was too busy trying to evade the two on one attack while cradling his broken arm. Harry and Luna were exchanging attacks with Blaise but with the distance it was easy to dodge and block. All the while the two firebenders were sending fire at anyone they could from their positions but again it was too far to have a reliable impact on the match and while Demelza tried to hit Ron, Neville kept attacking her and throwing off her aim. In short order the bell rang to signal the end of the round and based off the positions The Misfits had taken round 2.

"Round 2 goes to The Misfits." Lee said. "And that is the first time this whole tournament that Team Avatar has lost a round."

Ron immediately signaled to Ginny with his good arm to start the gangway and join them. She was already ready just in case she was needed. The team quickly huddled up to debrief though the pain on Ron's face was evident.

"Ok I cannot compete in the final round." Ron said through gritted teeth. "My arm is broken so I have to step out and Ginny you will have to take over. There should be a healer in the players' box waiting now cos my injury was evident."

"There is." Ginny said. Harry could detect a note of eagerness in her voice. Because of their skill she had yet to actually compete this year other than in the third group match when they knew they were guaranteed the top spot in the group. Now Ginny was going to play in the all or nothing third round of the final.

"Right well we just got caught with our pants down out there." Ron said through his pain. "There was clearly some funny business there but what can we do other than go out and show them that they have messed with the wrong fucking team."

"I know and I only like it when you catch me with my pants down." Luna said in a light tone.

"So do I." Ron agreed. "But we managed to avoid getting ass fucked out there and yes Luna I will fuck your ass later so don't say anything right now. Alright we need to win this last round and do so convincingly so get out there and kick their fucking asses."

The rest just nodded then they broke their huddle. Ron quickly heading to the players' box for medical attention the others turning to return to zone 1 for the final round. They decided to stand in a straight line for the final round.

"Lets give them hell." Harry said with a smile as their opponents took their positions opposite them.

"Here we go folk the third and final round in this year's tournament." Lee said. "I didn't put money on it coming down to a decisive third and final round but it has. I have also just learned that Ron has broken his arm and is out for the final round. Team Avatar is now playing his younger twin sister Ginny at waterbender and folks she is the Avatar's girlfriend, the lucky bastard."

"Lee if you keep this up I will remove the microphone from you." Minerva said.

"Sorry master couldn't help myself." Lee said again with no sincerity. "Now let us commence round 3."

"Begin" Hooch said.

Harry and Team Avatar reacted instantly. Harry sent two earth disks right at Blaise causing him to dodge them. Unfortunately for him he jumped right into Demelza who was avoiding a water assault for Ginny. The pair got tangled which allowed Harry to sent an earth disk into Blaise's chest sending him back a zone. Demelza also wasn't able to avoid a concentrated water jet from Ginny and she too was sent back a zone.

"A little mix up on the teamwork from the two subs for The Misfits has cause both of them a zone." Lee said. "They should have practiced more with their subs. Keep it up Team Avatar I need a new pair of boots. Only kidding master only kidding."

Luna was attacking Zacharias for breaking Ron's arm. However she had let her emotions get the better of her and had abandoned her usual finesse for brute force, not her strong suit. Zacharias capitalized on this and got an earth disk in under her guard catching the blond in the knee. Luna stumbled down and couldn't block the second earth disk that took her in the chest and sent her rolling back to zone 2 but before Zach could follow up his success he was forced on the defensive from a series water shots from Ginny.

"And Luna in an attempt to get revenge for Zacharias breaking her boyfriends arm has let her guard down and been knocked back a zone." Lee said. "Too much emotion there clouding her judgement despite her being valid in her anger as that was an illegal shot in the last round by Zacharias."

Neville too was facing a revenge match though he was on the receiving end of Cho's attack. He tried to dodge and counter but as a firebender his mobility was nowhere near as good as an airbender and Cho easily avoided all of his attack. She eventually saw an opening and sent a powerful blast at Neville's legs, taking them out and then before he could recover she kicked upwards and caught him groan to face with a powerful arc of air. Neville soared clean over zone 2 and landed hard in zone 3. His body bounced but somehow he managed to keep a hand in zone 3 and crawled into it, preventing him from going fully into zone 4.

"What a move by Cho." Lee said. "I haven't seen an airbender use a move that vicious since I dumped my last girlfriend. Great save by Neville though preventing himself from going into zone 4."

Harry realized that time was running out and The Misfits had a zone advantage. Luna was a zone back trying to parry an attack from Demelza, Neville was relatively safe in zone 3 and taking pot shots at Cho and Ginny was in a stalemate on the side with Zacharias. Seeing his chance Harry dodged a water jet from Blaise and sent two disks at a distracted Demelza. She took both to her side with enough force to knock her back into zone 3. It was just in time as a few seconds later the bell went off signaling the end of the round. It was a tie.

"The round has ended in a tie." Hooch said. "The round and because this is round 3 the game and thus the championship will now be decided by a one on one tie breaker."

"Well folks if you had money on this game being decided by a third round tie breaker well you would be very rich as I know for a fact that the twins' odds on this were astronomical." Lee said. "Those who did bet on this will clean Fred and George out, if anyone did bet on this outcome and has the winner picked. Honestly I cannot recall when, if ever, the Academy Bending Tournament has come down to a round 3 tiebreaker. This is really exciting stuff folks but the big question is who will this tie breaker be between?"

The two teams met in the center and Hooch flipped a coin. Harry watched it spin in the air several times before Hooch caught it with her right hand and flipped it onto the back of her left. When she removed her hand the coin was blue.

"I got this." Zach said swaggering forward. "Its just you and me Avatar. You're mine."

"Bring it bitch." Harry said with a smile as he took his side in the central circle. There was mechanical wail and the circle rose 3 feet up from the center of the platform.

"Well here it is everyone the final moments of this year's tournament and it is a sudden death, winner takes all, one one one match between the Avatar and Zacharias." Lee said. "Why he volunteered is beyond me, even before Harry was named the Avatar he was the best earthbender in the Academy and he was only going into his 4th year. There is clearly some history between these two, its the only explanation for why Zacharias would challenge Team Avatar's best player. Its been one of the best finals in history and it has come down to sudden death. Two competitors, one element, winner take all, last man standing on the platform wins."

"Ok on my whistle." Hooch said from her podium as she raised the whistle around her neck to her lips. She paused for a moment then blew it.

Harry felt like everything happened in slow motion. Zacharias punched forward with his right fist sending the earth disk nearest him at Harry's chest. Harry ducked down low and as he felt the disk ruffle his hair he spun on his right heel and kicked up with his left foot focusing on the disk right under the one Zach had sent at him. Harry didn't need to see it to know it had worked. The disk shot up and rotated so the edge struck Zach in his right armpit as he pulled his arm back. It was similar to the move he had used on Angelina in the semifinal but with more power. Harry heard the snap of bones breaking from the force of his shot to an unprotected part of Zacharias's body and finished his spin in time to see Zach go flying off the side of the raised platform and crash hard into the metal wire on the side of platform before he crumpled moaning to the floor clutching his injured shoulder.

"And Team Avatar has done it folks, they have won the tournament and the 5 members have repeated as champions, our first repeat since the days of the infamous Marauders." Lee said the joy clear in his voice. "And what a move to finish it on. I am sure we will be talking about this match for years to come. Now it is time for High Chair Jinora to present the trophy."

The rest of The Misfits helped Zach up and quickly left the platform and arena clearly not wanting to stay for the trophy presentation. Harry meanwhile helped the rest of his team up onto the raised center circle which was staying up. The metal gangways had been extended and Ron was hurrying over to them his arm healed but in a sling for protection from aggravating it and Harry wasted no time in helping him up onto the platform. They were embracing each other and celebrating as the cheers of the crowd rained down upon them.

Jinora glided in on an old Air Nomad glider staff and despite her age she gracefully landed on the platform with them. Without saying a word she took the large silver two handled trophy from the sling it was in on her chest and handed it to Harry. It had all the teams (and their members) names carved into the surface, etching them for all eternity. Harry offered one handle to Ron and together they rose it for the second time in as many years high above their heads to the cheering of their friends and supports.

Suddenly a booming, wailing sound was heard and the entire arena went silent. It was the emergency alert sound and it could only come from one place, the top of administration tower in the Air House.

"Attention all students this is an urgent announcement so please do not panic and return to your rooms right now in a calm and orderly fashion and do not leave until it is cleared to do so." Came the calm voice of Master Albus. "The Unified Triad and the Purist Army have started a riot in Republic City. The Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort have chosen tonight during the full moon to launch their coup against the United Republic. President Scrimgeour is dead. All staff and White Lotus are on notice we must defend the Academy. They are coming."

Jinora turned to Team Avatar her old face drained of any color. For only the second time Harry saw her for the old woman that she was. She only said one word to them before she used her airbending to launch herself into the air.

"Run"

Well Harry has won the tournament again but now he must flee. Sorry to end the chapter on such a cliffhanger but I couldn't resist (plus I was well above my self imposed word requirement) and now you will have to wait a week for the next installment. Next chapter will signal a clear change of pace and direction in Book 1 and will be at least 14,000 words long making it the second longest chapter in any Book in this fanfiction series. However unlike chapter 19 which was an administrative chapter, chapter 29 will be very different. That's all to really note here so once again any questions in reviews and PMs will be answered at the start of the next chapter while any advice will be listened too. Until next week.

Stringdog