'So are you going to sign up for it, the Duelling Tournament?' Blaise asked.

'Maybe ... not sure,' Draco said offhandedly, they were sitting in the armchairs of the eight-year common room again, 'Has anyone interesting entered it?'

'I know who hasn't if the rumours are anything to go by.'

'I know, I heard them too,' Draco said, and he was unsurprised by Aria not entering too. Epsilon jumped onto his free lap, curling herself once she had deemed herself comfortable enough.

'Isn't that Potters cat?'

'Yeah, she is,' Draco said.

'Where is Potter anyway, I thought her nose would be stuck in some book, I swear your girlfriend has turned into Granger.'

'Weasley was muttering aloud something similar, the other day,' Draco said, scratching behind Epsilon's ear, earning him a content purr. 'But as far as I'm aware she's at Quidditch practice, last game of the year is coming up, and yet again Gryffindor are in the running to win it.'

'Ah,' Blaise acknowledged, but he did not add anything more than that, nothing need to be said. Pansy entered the common room settling herself down into an empty chair, dumping her bag at her feet.

'Webster's put his name down for the duel competition,' she announced.

'Carl Webster?' Draco confirmed, 'The Hufflepuff -' he trailed off, causing both Pansy and Blaise to snort at him, some habits were hard to break. 'Well, his not very good at defence now is he?'

'Not really,' Pansy shrugged, 'but with Potter not duelling, anyone could win it.'

'It won't be just anyone,' Blaise muttered, 'it will be one of her lot - it will be one of the members of Dumbledore's Army.'

'Finnigan's put his name down.' Pansy said, 'And Thomas. Corner and Boot from Ravenclaw, I think they were a part of that group.'

'Yeah, they were,' Draco said.

'Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott, as well,' Pansy said thoughtfully, 'So far I've only heard about Daphne signing up.'

'At least we've got one Slytherin to cheer for.'

Draco murmured his agreement, it was disappointing that one person from their house had signed up. He looked at both Blaise's and Pansy's expectant faces. 'Fine, I'll do it.'

'Well your knowledge is very vast, Draco,' Blaise said, and the common room portrait burst open again, Aria, Weasley and Granger were joined by several other Gryffindors. 'It will give you a chance to prove a point to your cousin.' Blaise murmured as the Gryffindors grew closer. A chance to show up Cygnus, Draco liked the sound of that, his cousin should have never underestimated him.

'NO!'

'Oh, come on, Aria, you've got to sign up, everyone wants to see you in action -'

'Once was enough, thank you.' Aria said firmly. Draco turned his head around, she looked slightly frustrated, frowning at her fellow peers. 'I'm not competing.' she pulled out a book from her bag and started reading it, her statement clear, the conversation was over.

The following weeks as January faded into February, Hogwarts seemed to bustle with excitement, students kept putting their names down, Draco included, but Aria still refused to sign up for the competition, but their fellow peers had not given up hope that she might enter her name. Draco shook his head, yes Aria excelled at Defence, but she was making it pretty clear she wasn't interested. It seemed only Alana, Granger and Weasley had paid any attention.

The week before Valentines Day, Aria was beaming ridiculously at anyone who looked at her. Rumours spread like wildfire, it seemed every person was thinking the same thing, she had finally relented and signed up for the duelling competition. That rumour was distinguished very quickly at the end of their next Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson.

'Miss Potter,' Cygnus said, 'Will you be signing up for the Duelling Tournament?'

'Oh, no Professor,' Aria said innocently, almost too innocently, a smirk forming on her face. 'I don't see much point as I'd be disqualified.' She moved her arm and the sleeve of her robe fell down enough to reveal something glittering on her wrist - the bracelet Draco had given her, and his cousin blinked at her as the bell rang. Draco couldn't help it he was smirking also, she had finally put the bracelet back on and done a bit of research by the sound of things. While she wore the bracelet, which protected her from hexes and jinxes she wouldn't be allowed to compete in any duelling tournament.

'You could always take the bracelet off,' Draco heard Granger say.

'There's no way I'm doing that!' Aria said. 'This bracelet is the only thing that's allowing me any peace or quiet.'