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Chapter 35
The next few days saw Harry's performance begin to set him apart from the rest of the apprentices. Though he was good at the theory he had been taught, it was for practical applications that he seemed to shine. His surprising ability to keep his head under pressure, and to think creatively yet logically led to many raised eyebrows among the examining masters.
It was on the last day of the testing that the apprentices faced their hardest challenge. A duel against an unknown opponent, no hold barred, the only condition being no use of fatal curses. They had duelled in some form on most days, though until now it had always been against each other. Harry had performed beyond Snape's expectations, and remained unbeaten in his year, though he had narrowly lost at the end of a long duel with Eranil.
All the apprentices' names had been pulled out of a goblet to determine the order in which they would duel. Harry had been drawn last. Terran was first. As always they had risen early, gone to an unusually quiet breakfast in their casual robes, then returned to their rooms to prepare. With silent agreement they took longer than usual stretching, making sure all their muscled were loose and supple after the rigours of the past few days.
Having put on their loose duelling slacks, they sat on their beds, carefully checking their blades, and giving their wands a final polish. Checking his watch, Harry finally stood, and pulled a clean black shirt from its hanger, sliding it over his shoulders and doing up the buttons. He tucked it in loosely, stretching his arms above his head to insure it wouldn't impair his movement, and swiftly rolled up his sleeves. He sat down to pull on and lace up his black trainers, hearing a soft scuffle as Terran did the same.
Next he stowed his wand and blades, and lightly picked up his fighting robes from where the lay over the back of his chair, putting them on. Just as he had finished, he heard a sharp rap on the door. Running a hand through his hair, Harry quickly opened it, and stood back, Terran taking his place beside him.
As expected, Snape and Silverwood entered. They stood for several seconds, surveying their apprentices with a distinctly fatherly look on their faces. As Silverwood moved closer to Terran, Snape stepped up to Harry, and grasped his shoulders firmly.
'Do me proud.'
Surprised, Harry looked back at him. He smiled slightly.
'I will.'
Squeezing softly, Snape nodded.
Steeping back, he ruffled Harry hair slightly with one hand.
'I'll be watching from the balcony.'
Harry nodded, touched at this first physical show of affection. As they watched their Masters leave, both Harry and Terran were silently contemplating their future, which rested so heavily on today. Looking at each other, they clasped wrists, pulling against each other, their grips heavy.
'Luck.'
'You too.'
Half an hour later Harry was seated by the side of the duelling arena, watching Terran waiting for the word to begin. His opponent was masked, and it was forbidden for an apprentice to be told who they were to face. If a Masters wished to they could approach the apprentice afterwards, to congratulate them, or thank them.
As the duel began, he watched, his eyes narrowed. It ended twelve minutes later with Terran sprawled unconscious on the canvas floor. As Harry was soon to find out, his fried had done well to last that long.
As time ticked on, Harry's nerved dissipated. Watching the duels, he observed how some fighters stuck to magic, some preferred blades, but few apprentices seemed prepared to change the shape of the battle, instead waiting for their opponents to do so. By the time he was called, Harry had a plan.
Walking out to the centre of the ring, he relaxed his shoulders, and loosened his wand in its holster. His opponent was taller than him, and heavily built. Harry knew he could use his speed to his advantage, in the hope of unsettling the man in the opening minutes. He barely heard the Masters announcing the duel.
'Do honour onto yourself, and your Master.'
He merely nodded, his eyes downcast. It was only on the word 'Ready!' that he looked up, his eyes boring into his opponent. Emerald flashed dangerously.
'En Guarde!'
Before the first syllable had left the announcers mouth, Harry was moving. A roll to the left to throw off his opponents aim, and a quick call gave Harry the first attack.
'Rigoras!'
A wind was summoned, and Harry was able to move again, this time yelling,
'Impedimentia.'
In a flash the master had thrown off the curse, and caught Harry across the arm with a stinging Hex. The next few attacks Harry simply repelled with a shield charm, manoeuvring himself into position. Finally gathering his concentration, he conjured a haze beside him, quickly bespelling it to take on his image. Behind Harry's shimmering shield it was impossible for the master to see which was the real Harry, and when the shield cleared he faced two advancing apprentices.
The duel raged on, and while Harry had succeeded in disabling his opponent's wand arm, with a well-thrown knife, the man simply changed hands and continued with his attack, though less accurate or powerful.
Despite suffering from several well-placed curses, Harry used this to get closer to his opponent. As the master finally banished Harry's double, he cast a quick invisibility charm, leaving the master facing thin air.
Confused for a second, he quickly began scanning the area mumbling an incantation under his breath. He stopped dead as he felt a jab at the base of his spine. As Harry materialised behind him, he also felt the razor sharp blade resting gently on his throat.
'Do you yield?'
He stepped out of his fighting stance slowly, raising his hands. Making as if to drop his wand, he started,
'I do...'
He swiftly head butted Harry in the face, before grabbing his arm to halt the blade, and spinning round, his own knife slicing the flesh oven Harry's chest and stomach. Feeling his movement, Harry propelled himself backwards, throwing a curse as he did so. Ending up on his back on the floor, Harry watched as his curse was blocked.
Cold anger swept his veins, and he jumped to his feet, ignoring the blood running down his body from the gash. Holstering his wand, he muttered a reflecting spell, mentally thankful for his wandless skills, and drew another blade. He attacked.
From then the fight changed. As Harry poured his magical energy into his shield, he was able to attack fully, lunging swiftly and ruthlessly, driving his opponent back across the canvas floor.
A lunge to get him off balance, followed by a low sweeping kick was all it took to put the master on the deck, and a swift whispered,
'Expelliarmus,'
sent the wand rolling from his opponents reach. Harry swiftly approached, his wand back in his hand and pointed at the chest.
'Now, do you yield?'
After a short pause, Harry heard the reply.
'I do.'
His anger leaving him, Harry stepped backwards and let his wand fall to his side, struggling to stand 7p and he felt the huge loss of energy his wandless magic had caused.
Despite this, he walked straight backed to the edge of the ring, bowed to the balcony of Masters and adjudicators, and crossed the wards to his seat, hearing for the first time the congratulations of his fellow apprentices.
He heard nothing of the dismissal, and barely noticed when Terran helped him stagger back to their rooms. Collapsed on his bed, he fell into a blissful sleep.
Terran woke him a few hours later, just in time to attend the apprentices' celebratory dinner that marked the end of the testing. Halfway through the entertainment he felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned to find himself facing his master. He bowed as low as his sitting position would allow.
'My Lord.'
There was a curios look on Snape's face. Quietly, he spoke.
'You'll do.'
Watching him walk away, Harry couldn't have felt happier.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Firstly, I want to apologize hugely for the long wait for this chapter. I won't make excuses, as there have been times in the last week when I could have updated, but will say that I hope this chapter makes up for the wait.
I am planning to finish the story in the next chapter, as there are now only really loose ends to tie up. With a week to go before I return to school, I hope to have it up soon. To come, hopefully some surprises, including Harry's animagus form, and a new appointment at Hogwarts.
I would be grateful for comments and as always, thanks for any reviews - Pose
Chapter 35
The next few days saw Harry's performance begin to set him apart from the rest of the apprentices. Though he was good at the theory he had been taught, it was for practical applications that he seemed to shine. His surprising ability to keep his head under pressure, and to think creatively yet logically led to many raised eyebrows among the examining masters.
It was on the last day of the testing that the apprentices faced their hardest challenge. A duel against an unknown opponent, no hold barred, the only condition being no use of fatal curses. They had duelled in some form on most days, though until now it had always been against each other. Harry had performed beyond Snape's expectations, and remained unbeaten in his year, though he had narrowly lost at the end of a long duel with Eranil.
All the apprentices' names had been pulled out of a goblet to determine the order in which they would duel. Harry had been drawn last. Terran was first. As always they had risen early, gone to an unusually quiet breakfast in their casual robes, then returned to their rooms to prepare. With silent agreement they took longer than usual stretching, making sure all their muscled were loose and supple after the rigours of the past few days.
Having put on their loose duelling slacks, they sat on their beds, carefully checking their blades, and giving their wands a final polish. Checking his watch, Harry finally stood, and pulled a clean black shirt from its hanger, sliding it over his shoulders and doing up the buttons. He tucked it in loosely, stretching his arms above his head to insure it wouldn't impair his movement, and swiftly rolled up his sleeves. He sat down to pull on and lace up his black trainers, hearing a soft scuffle as Terran did the same.
Next he stowed his wand and blades, and lightly picked up his fighting robes from where the lay over the back of his chair, putting them on. Just as he had finished, he heard a sharp rap on the door. Running a hand through his hair, Harry quickly opened it, and stood back, Terran taking his place beside him.
As expected, Snape and Silverwood entered. They stood for several seconds, surveying their apprentices with a distinctly fatherly look on their faces. As Silverwood moved closer to Terran, Snape stepped up to Harry, and grasped his shoulders firmly.
'Do me proud.'
Surprised, Harry looked back at him. He smiled slightly.
'I will.'
Squeezing softly, Snape nodded.
Steeping back, he ruffled Harry hair slightly with one hand.
'I'll be watching from the balcony.'
Harry nodded, touched at this first physical show of affection. As they watched their Masters leave, both Harry and Terran were silently contemplating their future, which rested so heavily on today. Looking at each other, they clasped wrists, pulling against each other, their grips heavy.
'Luck.'
'You too.'
Half an hour later Harry was seated by the side of the duelling arena, watching Terran waiting for the word to begin. His opponent was masked, and it was forbidden for an apprentice to be told who they were to face. If a Masters wished to they could approach the apprentice afterwards, to congratulate them, or thank them.
As the duel began, he watched, his eyes narrowed. It ended twelve minutes later with Terran sprawled unconscious on the canvas floor. As Harry was soon to find out, his fried had done well to last that long.
As time ticked on, Harry's nerved dissipated. Watching the duels, he observed how some fighters stuck to magic, some preferred blades, but few apprentices seemed prepared to change the shape of the battle, instead waiting for their opponents to do so. By the time he was called, Harry had a plan.
Walking out to the centre of the ring, he relaxed his shoulders, and loosened his wand in its holster. His opponent was taller than him, and heavily built. Harry knew he could use his speed to his advantage, in the hope of unsettling the man in the opening minutes. He barely heard the Masters announcing the duel.
'Do honour onto yourself, and your Master.'
He merely nodded, his eyes downcast. It was only on the word 'Ready!' that he looked up, his eyes boring into his opponent. Emerald flashed dangerously.
'En Guarde!'
Before the first syllable had left the announcers mouth, Harry was moving. A roll to the left to throw off his opponents aim, and a quick call gave Harry the first attack.
'Rigoras!'
A wind was summoned, and Harry was able to move again, this time yelling,
'Impedimentia.'
In a flash the master had thrown off the curse, and caught Harry across the arm with a stinging Hex. The next few attacks Harry simply repelled with a shield charm, manoeuvring himself into position. Finally gathering his concentration, he conjured a haze beside him, quickly bespelling it to take on his image. Behind Harry's shimmering shield it was impossible for the master to see which was the real Harry, and when the shield cleared he faced two advancing apprentices.
The duel raged on, and while Harry had succeeded in disabling his opponent's wand arm, with a well-thrown knife, the man simply changed hands and continued with his attack, though less accurate or powerful.
Despite suffering from several well-placed curses, Harry used this to get closer to his opponent. As the master finally banished Harry's double, he cast a quick invisibility charm, leaving the master facing thin air.
Confused for a second, he quickly began scanning the area mumbling an incantation under his breath. He stopped dead as he felt a jab at the base of his spine. As Harry materialised behind him, he also felt the razor sharp blade resting gently on his throat.
'Do you yield?'
He stepped out of his fighting stance slowly, raising his hands. Making as if to drop his wand, he started,
'I do...'
He swiftly head butted Harry in the face, before grabbing his arm to halt the blade, and spinning round, his own knife slicing the flesh oven Harry's chest and stomach. Feeling his movement, Harry propelled himself backwards, throwing a curse as he did so. Ending up on his back on the floor, Harry watched as his curse was blocked.
Cold anger swept his veins, and he jumped to his feet, ignoring the blood running down his body from the gash. Holstering his wand, he muttered a reflecting spell, mentally thankful for his wandless skills, and drew another blade. He attacked.
From then the fight changed. As Harry poured his magical energy into his shield, he was able to attack fully, lunging swiftly and ruthlessly, driving his opponent back across the canvas floor.
A lunge to get him off balance, followed by a low sweeping kick was all it took to put the master on the deck, and a swift whispered,
'Expelliarmus,'
sent the wand rolling from his opponents reach. Harry swiftly approached, his wand back in his hand and pointed at the chest.
'Now, do you yield?'
After a short pause, Harry heard the reply.
'I do.'
His anger leaving him, Harry stepped backwards and let his wand fall to his side, struggling to stand 7p and he felt the huge loss of energy his wandless magic had caused.
Despite this, he walked straight backed to the edge of the ring, bowed to the balcony of Masters and adjudicators, and crossed the wards to his seat, hearing for the first time the congratulations of his fellow apprentices.
He heard nothing of the dismissal, and barely noticed when Terran helped him stagger back to their rooms. Collapsed on his bed, he fell into a blissful sleep.
Terran woke him a few hours later, just in time to attend the apprentices' celebratory dinner that marked the end of the testing. Halfway through the entertainment he felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned to find himself facing his master. He bowed as low as his sitting position would allow.
'My Lord.'
There was a curios look on Snape's face. Quietly, he spoke.
'You'll do.'
Watching him walk away, Harry couldn't have felt happier.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Firstly, I want to apologize hugely for the long wait for this chapter. I won't make excuses, as there have been times in the last week when I could have updated, but will say that I hope this chapter makes up for the wait.
I am planning to finish the story in the next chapter, as there are now only really loose ends to tie up. With a week to go before I return to school, I hope to have it up soon. To come, hopefully some surprises, including Harry's animagus form, and a new appointment at Hogwarts.
I would be grateful for comments and as always, thanks for any reviews - Pose
