Chapter 3

The weighing of the wand's ceremony was the day after Harry's arrival. It was a fairly boring process up until Harry's presentation of his wands as in multiple. Everyone in the Wizarding World knew that James Flamel was one of the few wizards alive that could cast with multiple wands, but few knew of just how unique his wands were. One was a Wampus Heart String from the legendary house at Ilvermony, where he had actually encountered the dying creature in his youth with his surrogate father, and they had taken mercy upon the wounded animal, and harvested it for everything they could. Nicholas had told Harry that the passing of such a powerful magical creature was a significant historical event and had made sure Harry had gotten some of the parts so when he was old enough, they crafted a wand from the power of the heart and gave the boy a powerful wand made from Elder Wood and the Wampus. His other wand was just as peculiar but not as rare. Thestral Heart String, and Redwood, it was great for dueling purposes and loved different variety of magics, and casting runes which was great for Harry as he also loved doing both of those things. Overall the wands had blown away the British Wand Maker and was over the top jealous of his primary wand made from the Wampus.

The other champions wands hadn't been nearly as interesting and went by fairly fast. However, the pictures seem to go on forever, and the only bright side to it all was that Sirius had shown up in his auror attire, and pretty much claimed to be Harry's official coach and representative of the tournament for the remainder of the tournament. Harry had wondered about his Godfather's silence on the matter and was glad to see he had come through for him as always in what felt like the final moments.

Harry was walking the grounds with Neville as the young man was giving him the tour of the grounds, "So what is your dueling training schedule looking like? I would love to get out here and observe your current tactics and see how they evolve and even get in the ring with you, so I can help you out with what you may or may not telegraph...that is if you still might consider keep using me as your coach?"

Harry grinned at the nervous young man, "Are you kidding we are undefeated together! You aren't allowed to quit on me just yet. I obviously wasn't going to ask so much of you, but if you are willing and you think it will help my training and me over all I am down for whatever you might suggest or want to do. You're the coach I am the player until you get that magic of yours under control."

Neville grimaced a bit. His power was substantial, but Frank Longbottom had explained to Harry last summer that some people's magical cores overgrow their body for a while and it all becomes very volatile, and sometimes just straight up non-responsive. As Neville gets older it will settle down, and likely allow him to be quite the powerful wizard, but until then he was having to focus on the theoretical side of things and find out what worked for him and what didn't.

Shaking off his negative emotions Neville however said, "Awesome because I really enjoyed watching you duel and helping you out where I could. I felt important sitting in that chair, and even though I wasn't in the ring I like to think I offered good advice and kept you calm."

Harry nodded his head in agreement, "Yeah no doubt. In the Semi-Finals I was about to lose my cool, especially after I saw Michael make it to the finals, but you kept me calm, and you read that girl from Argentina like a book had you not seen her small little cheater step when she cast a blasting curse I may never have beat her as fast as I did, and maybe the match against Michael would have gone the other way. Don't doubt your worth Neville you were invaluable to me in the tournament. Sometimes you get so caught up in what you are going to do, and the spells that are coming at you, you just don't have time to think about what their weaknesses are. You understand right?"

Neville waved it off, "Of course I am just glad I am useful."

"You are the coach until you quit, or I quit. Unless someone legendary offers me some help, as good as you are if Headmaster Dumbledore or Professor Flitwick offered to coach me, you'd be out of the job."

This caused both boys to laugh, and Neville to kindheartedly understand that if someone amazing offered their services Harry would have to take it.

The tour of the grounds was going splendidly as Neville shared some pleasant memories he had at the school over the years, and even some stories of other students that he had heard. When they reached the grounds, Harry eyed the forbidden forest curiously thinking of the first task, "What kind of magical creatures do they keep in there?"

Before Neville could answer another more feminine voice entered the scene, "All kinds. An acromantula nest for sure, Centaurs, Werewolves, maybe a stray crazed Vampire from the stories I have heard, Unicorns, and a few wild Hippogriffs. I never took someone of your talents for much of a magizoologist Heir Potter."

Harry turned to see a beautiful young blonde girl behind them, and he smiled at the girl giving her a short bow, "My lady. You have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, but I don't know who you are. Please allow me to formally introduce myself I am Harry Potter Flamel heir to the house of Potter, Flamel, and Peverell, at your service."

He took a few steps towards the girl and he offered his hand, so they could shake and do the customary Pureblood greeting which Harry did by kissing her hand as she took it refusing to blush and show weakness, "It is a pleasure Heir Potter. My name is Daphne Greengrass Heiress to house Greengrass."

"Hello heiress Greengrass." Neville said politely.

Daphne returned the polite greeting in the same formal way while Harry said, "Now that we have all the formalities out of the way please just call me Harry, and thank you for the information on the forest, are you big into magical creatures?"

Grinning at her success so far, she gave the young man a pretty smile, "Since you have granted me excuses from the formalities please do the same for me, and sure I have always found magical creatures interesting, but my it's not what I would say I am passionate about, or even have a lot of care for."

Harry rose his eyebrows at the girl, "And what are you passionate about Daphne?"

"Dueling." The girl said looking right into his eyes, and for a moment she thought she saw something familiar but shook it off.

This time Harry just grinned wickedly, "So that is why you decided to approach me and my friend here. I hope I am not being presumptive to assume you are a fan? I don't mean to sound cocky but-"

"You are Britain's first International Champion in three decades." Neville finished helpfully for him, and Harry shrugged in agreement.

Daphne however took their words in and said, "I can't say I have honestly ever seen you actually duel. I have of course heard the stories and can appreciate your power and skill with a wand considering your victory on the International level, but I can't honestly say I am a fan."

"I understand. Most people don't really keep up with the underage dueling circuit, but forgive me you said that was your passion, but I have never seen you on any of the circuits?"

Daphne froze for only a second before recovering, "My parents are very traditional, and they don't think is a very good occupation for someone of my standing."

Harry rolled his eyes in understanding, "The Pureblood Dogma never ends. Dueling is a very noble profession and has been around since the dawn of our ancestors."

"I have tried that tactic before, but they won't buy it, and of course in this day and age with the quality of magical education across the world it is hard to be a champion without proper training." The girl explained.

Harry frowned at this, but nodded, "Its true I have been in dueling camps since I was 9, however I never had a coach. I just studied magic, which is why I let Neville here by my coach. However, what is your proposal? You are a Slytherin, and you strike me as a rather cunning young woman so what is it you want Daphne?"

Nodding her head, she understood that the boy was not interested in games, and unless she wanted tempt him with her looks, she better speak her mind, "I need a teacher, or a coach of sorts, or at least someone to speak on behalf of dueling as a profession. I think if my mom thought I was doing it to spend more time with an heir to a reputable house I think my dad would be more willing to put some money behind my training and competing. I know my mum would really appreciate that, and I could certainly introduce you to some of the calmer Slytherin Pureblood's and perhaps help you build some small alliances in the other houses in return, while also offering you the mind of one of Slytherin's finer products."

Harry thought for a moment and shrugged, "I think you underestimate my love for the game but overestimate my teaching abilities. I am definitely not mastery level where I could bring on a apprentice, or anything legit like that. I am not sure I have what you are wanting."

The girl shook her head immediately, "I am not looking to be your apprentice, but perhaps your protegee. You are a dueling champion, and sometimes the mark of the greatest of champions is their ability to breed other champions. I am a willing student and would be glad just to be your training partner and learn from you where I can. By telling my parents who I am training with I think I can convince them to help me fight my way to the circuit."

In understanding Harry gave the briefest nods of his head in agreement, "Okay Daphne, but before we do this, I need a quick oath."

The girl froze at this, but Harry continued, "I want you to swear that you have no knowledge or no business in how my name came of the Goblet of Fire. Someone put a lot on the line to get me here and standing in my shoes it seems like you would have a lot to gain by me coming here, and nothing to lose. So, it's more for my own sake of mind, and my ability to deny all this at a later date at how I trusted you so easily."

Impressed the blue eyed Slytherin considered his words. The boy was clearly more cunning the she thought, and briefly wondered why he had not ended up in Slytherin. However, she quickly took the oath for him, and then saw him staring at her in silence for a moment where even Neville must have been wondering what he was thinking.

Daphne was surprised by his blatant staring and fought back a blush as she looked into eyes to see what he was thinking, but instead all she found was massive brick walls, and nothing that could give her even the smallest surface thought. Harry stared at the girl in wonder, "At 14 that is incredible. If you wanted to know what I was thinking however you could have just asked. Forgive me for staring. I have never met a natural Legillmens as young as you are."

Neville's eyes shot in his eyebrows, "A Natural Legillmens?"

Daphne wasn't sure how Harry knew, but she didn't want her secret to get out, "Yes, and I would appreciate it if that didn't get around Longbottom. I am not completely natural I can only do it with eye contact, and if there are no Occlumency shields, and I don't give any sense of intrusion, so that does leave me to wonder..."

Harry pulled out a necklace from under his shirt, "Some lessons are only needed to be taught once, and perhaps now that I know of your gifts, I will seek to protect your mind as well if I am to take you under my wing so to speak. The story is an ugly one, and I fear this is not the day to share, but perhaps another time. I would love to discuss with you your gift sometime, and how you can use it to your advantage in a duel. I myself am astounded by the uses of mind Magicks and would love to get a firsthand insight on how some of the more natural gifts work."

Freezing for a moment thinking about the lesson she had learned over the Summer she almost missed a chance to say something however Daphne saw the opportunity and took it, "That would be fine, if you would be willing to duel with me from time to time to offer some critiques and maybe a few ideas on strategies. After all, if I am going to be a study of yours then I wouldn't want to represent you poorly."

The girl was certainly cunning, and Harry respected the hell out of her charisma, "I would love to have some friendly duels with you. I warn you though that Neville actually may be better to offer you tactics, strategies, and other coaching like areas of expertise, he is after all my coach."

Neville blushed at the praise and seeing a chance to learn more of the boy's friendship Daphne asked, "Yes I read about that. I wish I had been there at the U17 Championship, but mother and father were busy, and unable to attend. How did that arrangement even work out, I didn't know you too even knew each other?"

Taking a chance to speak Neville said, "It's all quite simple really. My parents and Harry's were really good friends growing up, and the Flamel's thought it would be nice for Harry to have a friend his age in his home country, so anytime they were in town they would drop Harry off at Longbottom Manor for a few days, and we would spend time together. We are basically cousins in a weird Pureblood way anyway, and the alliance between our families needed to be continued."

"Where a Potter goes a Longbottom will follow and vice versa goes the family mantra I believe." Harry said which Neville nodded too.

Daphne nodded understanding the politics and reasoning behind it all. In fact, it seemed quite obvious now how Neville had ended up connected to Harry, and she only wished she had seen it sooner, "That still doesn't explain how Neville of all people ended up your coach. No thanks Longbottom but you never struck me as an astounding duelist, let alone good enough to coach a champion."

Neville blushed, but Harry defended him, "Neville has been watching me duel since I was about 9 so he knows my tactics, strategies and spell arsenals almost as well as I do. He also has an amazing eye for other people's tactics and predicting their changes, and attempts. He also keeps me calm which is super important in high stress level environments similar to one I faced in the Semi-Finals this year, funny we just had this conversation earlier today."

Daphne bowed her head slightly, "Of course I meant no insult Longbottom I was merely curious."

Shrugging his shoulders, the boy responded, "No harm done."

"Also, not to be persistent, but I know you must be busy training for the tournament, and all, but when do you think you would have time to work with me Harry?" Daphne asked hoping she wasn't sounding desperate as she thought she had done a good job of representing Slytherin today.

Harry looked around then up at the sky, "Plenty of day light left, want to do a quick practice duel? Neville could ref it, and I can gauge your skills."

Neville nodded at the request and they both looked at Daphne who appeared to be trying to maintain her excitement, "Of course that would be great."

Harry grinned drawing one of his wands, "Then let us begin. Neville."

Neville knew the drill as he had drawn the lines many times before for Harry. He took his wand and drew to white line in the ground and marked some small spots for out bounds territory. It only took a moment to set up the small area, and they were already getting some curious glances from students who were passing by, and getting curious as to what the Lion, Eagle, and Snake were up too.

Neville then announced, "Duelists to your positions."

Harry went and stood on one of the white drawn lines, while Daphne stood at the other. Harry gave a slight bow to the girl, while Daphne gave a bit lower one respecting his superiority in the ring. Neville announced, "Level 1 dueling rules. Nothing lethal. No Dark Arts. The fight is to surrender, disarm, or knock out. No maiming, no killing, and try to not draw to much blood or someone may stop it. Duelists ready."

Harry's face was no longer smiling, and Daphne quickly had to shake off her facade of friendliness because the boy in front of her clearly wasn't treating this as a joke and was playing for keeps. As the countdown began the young women began to sweat, maybe this wasn't such a good idea, the thought ran through her mind, and later Harry would tell her it was her first mistake. She was also glad that she was wearing her normal school robes, had she gone with her original plan to show a bit of skin that could have been quite the embarrassing duel. However, as the numbers were counting down, she did her best to clear her mind and focus.

When the countdown finished a lightning fast spell flew towards her, but it was only one, so she blocked it and returned fire as quick as she could, but every spell that she cast was dodged, and Harry had not even moved his wand to block them, and even returned a few spells with speed she had never before encountered. She was on her toes in seconds. Daphne cast as many spells as she could and tried to keep him guessing and play defense when he decided to attack, and it didn't take long for the young Slytherin to realize that the boy was analyzing her fight pattern, and not actually fighting at all, but checking for chinks in her defenses, searching for any possible weaknesses.

A minute passed, and Daphne was dying. She was so tired she could barely keep casting much less shielding. After a deep breath from Harry the young man across from her sighed and with a speed she had yet to see in the duel disarmed her and bound her by ropes. Neville quickly called it, "Winner Harry Potter."

Harry quickly disbanded the ropes and handed the girl back her wand, "What did you think?"

She stared at him in amazement, "You were fast. Inhumanly fast almost."

Laughing for a moment he gave a slight wave to the people who had gathered and clapped for his victory, "I didn't mean about my performance I meant about yours. Though I will say you let me get in your head without me saying even a word. Don't ever show or feel discouraged when dueling just trust your magic and let things flow from you. I saw the slightest hint of hesitation and uncertainty cross your face at the beginning, and that was all I needed to know to understand that you weren't completely in it."

The girl blushed, she should have realized that, "Oh of course. It's hard though, and I have never dueled a champion level duelist, and I have done some play duels with adults before, but nothing where it got serious or heated. For myself though I mean my spell variety was good, and it was good to see you squirm, but you were more dancing then fighting."

"Forgive me Daphne. I had doubts you could beat me, and from the first few spells my certainty of victory increased. I wanted to give myself a good training session even if it was just for a minute. You may or may not realize that you struck me two times during our duel, but I did not shield even once. It was a dodging training for me while I observed your fight pattern." Harry said quietly not wanting to be over heard as he offered the girl some insight.

Daphne didn't let her pride get in the way at his comment about certain victory, as she too had no false hope of beating the boy, "It was certainly a great test. I don't think anyone at Hogwarts our age or even fifth year can duel or dodge like you do."

Neville joined the two shortly after, "I watched Harry duel all Summer and I have watched the dueling club go at it since I came to Hogwarts, and I can tell you no one at this school of any age duels like Harry."

Harry blushed a bit at the compliment and patted Neville on the shoulder, while Daphne asked, "So what did you think of me?"

Grinning at the girl he said, "Well your hair is quite nice today, and your makeup seems to be perfect. You look like you were out to impress someone today Ms. Greengrass and I will say it definitely worked."

The girl blushed deeply at this, but also laughed at the compliment, "Thank you, but I meant my dueling."

Harry sighed in fake dramatics, "Girls never after my looks, but my skill with a wand... figures. I am kidding. I'll be honest with you because I think that it is what will make you better. You are slow. You cast at a speed that couldn't last on even on the U15 circuit. You also don't have very good stamina. I was prepared to dodge for up to five minutes and you only lasted about two. My best tips to you are this. Pick up some targets and cast at them as fast as you can over and over and over again. That will help you with speed, accuracy, and stamina. Your power is enough. It will obviously grow as you do, but you have the power to be a great duelist, now you just have to put in the work. I can tell most of your skill is natural, with maybe a little bit of practice?"

Daphne nodded flushed and feeling slightly disappointed at his analysis, "I don't mean to say these things to get you down, quite the opposite actually. You have lots of potential, because something you excel in is that you don't telegraph at all hardly."

Neville nodded, "Harry is right about that. At several points I thought you would chain spell, but instead you went a completely different direction. You are slightly unorthodox and if I had to guess it's because you are pretty self-taught without any really good people behind you to guide your wand, but while for most that's a disadvantage for you it is the opposite and could give you a serious upper hand, and I would guess this would allow you beat most of your more reasonable fourth and fifth year students."

Agreeing with Neville he added, "He is absolutely right, and your spell variation was fantastic as well. So, my advice to you is in speed, accuracy, and stamina isn't to make you good it's to make you great. I want to skip good, and if you want to make it on the circuit then I suggest competing as much as you can. Interhouse competition is good, but after you have dueled someone three times it basically takes away the surprise and flare that will make you that much better. Duel with as many people as you can and train with the best people you can find. They will make you better, and in turn hopefully you can make them just a bit better."

Daphne nodded absorbing all the information like a sponge, "Thank you so much Harry. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. I will do as you suggested and start working on it immediately."

Harry grinned at the girl, "If you want to win, and you want to be a champ you will be, you just have to stay focused and create a path and don't leave it. I also recommend a bit of non-magical conditioning worked wonders for me when I knew I was going to have duel several times in a day. Not weight lifting or anything but running and building endurance that way. Champions are not built naturally, at least not the ones who plan to stay at the top."

Daphne stared at the boy in awe, "You run and train a lot then?"

Laughing the boy said, "Everyday no days off. Holidays, my birthday, cold, hot, sun, rain, snow doesn't matter I will train in any conditions."

Admiring the boy for his dedication to the sport she said, "That's amazing. I now understand how you became so good."

"Don't get me wrong a lot of it is still natural talents, like power, and athletic coordination that can't just be built, but I think you have all those things or have the potential to have all those things so keep working at it, and I of course will be here if you wish to duel again or want some other tips." Harry offered kindly.

"Thanks again Harry. I will let you and Longbottom get back to it, but I hope we can talk again soon, and maybe teach each other a few new spells even."

"I would like that Daphne. I will see you around."

With one last smile the girl departed happily, and with a lot on her mind as to how she would improve herself.

Harry however turned to Neville to continue talking to him, "You took a little bit of a blind risk with the girl today."

Shaking his head Harry patted the boy on the shoulder, "And that my friend is why you were in Gryffindor. Let me explain. I think I actually took the opposite of a chance, because today I ruled out at least one suspect of who put my name in the cup. By getting her oath I know she had nothing to do with my name coming out, and more than likely by extension most of her close friends too. Also, I didn't make any promises I just told her I would help her when I could, and that I wouldn't mind helping her out. She is pretty, and I don't think it would exactly be a crime to spend more time with the girl. In fact, I think what I did today would have made Salazar Slytherin beam with pride."

Neville considered his words for a few minutes, and then chuckled. The two friends then began to make their way back to the castle when a young red headed boy approached the two, "That was wicked Harry you sure showed that snake."

Neville quickly sensing potential danger spoke, "Harry this is Ron Weasley he is in my house, and one of my peers."

Neville was a little fast to claim the boy as anything, but a friend and Harry noted this as he offered a hand to the boy, "Pleased to meet you Ron I am Harry."

"I know who you are mate. Everyone does you are famous!" Ron said which forced Neville to cringe. Commenting on Harry's fame was never a good way to get on his good side.

Harry however was used to people like this and merely said placating, "I am just a normal fourteen-year-old with a bit of an unusual past, but no worries I am just like you."

Ron snorted in a rather ugly way, "Yeah right. But anyways I just wanted to congratulate you for putting that snake in her place she can be rather rude."

Neville was about to say something to dismiss the boy, but Harry laughed, "I wasn't showing her place Ron or anything like that. She asked me for some dueling tips, and the only way I could offer her some assistance was to see her duel first hand, so we did, and I offered my advice as I saw fit."

Ron looked at the boy in wonder, "Why on Earth would you help a bloody snake?"

Harry stared at the boy and now recognized this for what it was bigotry, and that irritated the boy greatly, "A Bloody Snake? Daphne is quite the good-looking young lady who did me the favor of seeking me out and asked for my help I would have been an idiot and blind to turn her away. She now owes me something of a favor, which may result in me spending more time with her at a later date if I am so lucky."

Harry's wording was clear to Neville, and others who had heard it. He openly complimented the girl and did it calculatingly to allow the boy out of his social faux pas, but Ron Weasley was not so smart, "Still all snakes are just young death eaters in disguise. She'd hex you in the back as soon as you gave her the chance."

Harry rolled his eyes quickly becoming more and more irritated, "Perhaps, but that didn't happen today, and I will trust her until she gives me a reason not to, now forgive me for being short, but I must get back to my dormitory I have much homework to do."

Instead of waiting for a dismissal Harry quickly left and after a quick farewell Neville was behind him. Harry turned to the boy, "Is he always that rude."

Instead of getting mad or defending the boy he merely chuckled, "You have no idea."

(A/N) Well what do you think of Harry and Daphnes initial reactions together? More to come so please stay tuned. Read, Review, and Enjoy!