Chapter 21
The first group to go was the Ravenclaws, for 5th years they performed rather well, and soon they had eliminated their larger group in half. Secondly came the Gryffindors. Harry, Ron and Hermione luckily had managed to avoid getting paired up with one another. Now, it was up to them to perform their best and make it into the next level.
Hermione was paired up with a boy by the name of Travis Tipp. He was a lanky boy with light brown hair. He looked to Hermione nervously from behind thick-rimmed glasses. Obviously he was already fully aware of the intelligence that Hermione had been gifted with, though the whole school knew that. Professor Flitwick stood in the middle of the charmed circle, telling them to shake hands before the match. They did so and backed up into their starting positions. When Hermione stood still, Katherine let out a whistle and Harry and Ron cheered. Hermione blushed and then lifted her chin, drawing her wand. Professor Flitwick lifted his wand and blue sparks flew, the match had begun.
Hermione called out "Incendium!" and flames shot out of her wand towards Travis who stood there stock still a moment before lifting his own wand and calling out "Aqualis!". The water that leapt out and splashed into the flames raised steam about. They had cancelled out each other's attacks.
Hermione stood still a moment pondering her next move and then lunged foreword with the agility of a fencer calling out "Planta Radix". Around the boys ankles sprang up roots from the ground. They twisted and turned locking his legs still. The boy struggled, trying to tug his legs free. Hermione smiled pleasantly to herself slowly walking across the field.
Ron nudged Harry, "Hey what is she doing?"
Harry looked at Hermione's face, "She's concentrating."
Back in the arena, Travis was still trying to jerk his legs free from the ground. He certainly could not burn the roots off, which would harm him. And he couldn't cut them.. for he had no blade. He was at the mercy of the girl unless he thought quickly. He called out the same spell as Hermione did previously. The roots wound up her legs starting to lock into ropes. He grinned pleased at himself, if he couldn't move, then nor should she.
Hermione seemed to take no notice in the vines wrapped around her ankles. She called out, "Refugere" and the vines unwound themselves from her legs and started to creep rapidly across the ground towards Travis, creeping up his legs and binding him more. Travis screamed and tugged, but each time the vines tightened, holding him fast. Hermione decided it was best not to let the boy struggle anymore; it was time to end the match honorably and cleanly. She lifted her wand and pointed it to the shaking boy who by now had his arms pinned to his sides, his wand fallen on the ground. Hermione called out "Anima" as her final attack. From the wand came a huge gale of wind that slammed into Travis and tore him, roots and all from the ground and sent him falling outside of the barrier lines. Professor Finch held up his hand, ending the match with Hermione as the winner. Hermione rushed over to Travis who was shaking and pulling at the torn and dying vines.
She helped him pull to vines off and offered her hand to assist him to his feet. He took it, feeling rather embarrassed to have been the first one to be eliminated. But even so, he still said "Good match," and wished Hermione well.
Hermione settled down with her friends once more, all smiles. Harry and Ron were all positive, congratulating her on making it to the next round. Together they sat and waited for the next dueling team to be called up. Next came Ron's match, he was to be facing a short girl by the name of Mia Thompson.
They entered the ring, and Professor Flitwick again stated the procedure and signaled for the match to begin. Ron grinned, now was his chance to prove to everyone that he could best his brothers (after all none of them had a record of being a duelist champion). Ron called out "Imber Rana" and his wand shook and sputtered and then sent a green flash skyward. The flash hit the boundary and spread into a glowing dome over them. Mia shrieked when the effects of the spell took place. Frogs began leaping out of the glow and started hopping about. Ron snickered, this was a spell that was mostly used for gags, it had never performed so well for him before. Ron grinned, "Give up?" Mia fumed and ripped a frog out of her mass of curly hair and stomped foreword. "Priori Incantatem" she yelled and the frogs popped and disappeared. She gave a giggle and began to swirl her wand in the air, "Patiri Cantus". Suddenly the arena was filled with a horrible wailing. Ron covered his ears, the sound resonated throughout his head, and it was actually painful. Ron yelled out "Quietus" The shrill and horrendous song ceased, all was muted. Ron smirked devilishly "Martimus Mus" and from his wand came a swarm of mice, of all different colors and they ran straight for Mia. She had had enough of being tortured by suck 'icky' creatures and lifted her wand, sending up the red sparks that disqualified her. Immediately the block was dropped and the mice disappeared. Mia was left crying, regretting her decision, she had acted foolishly for a Gryffindor. She was too ashamed to even look at any of her fellow students and so she ran off. Ron was left standing there, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess she didn't like mice?"
It was a bit before Harry had his turn. Harry was going to be dueling a boy by the name of Ryan Conner. Harry and his opponent were pretty well matched up for height. Both had dark colored hair. About the only differences were that Ryan's hair was cut short and his eyes were blue and Harry of course had his unruly hair and bright green eyes that were behind his glasses. Again the same procedures were followed, both boys shook hands and took their places. The students gathered were in a hush. Professor Snape on the sidelines had been studying the matches thus far and looked surprisingly attentive. On the other hand, Aconite had rolled onto her back, paws moving languidly in the air stretching before rolling back onto her stomach in the teacher's lap. Snape growled at the wolf and she growled back, though she bore no scowl, just a wolfish grin and a wagging tail. He muttered "Mangy beast," and gave Aconite a glare. Then he turned his attentions back onto the duel that had already begun.
Harry was circling the ring, and as was his opponent, they were sizing each other up, trying to find fault. When Ryan stumbled slightly Harry took his chance by calling out, "Lumos superior" and the area was filled with a bright light. This spell did work to confuse an opponent, but it also left the user in a weakened spot as well. Ryan called out "Nox" automatically clearing the light and sending the arena into darkness. Harry was left disoriented and struggled to gain back his sight. Ahead of him he could just barely make out a shape of a figure running at him. Harry called out "Impedimenta" and the figure gave out a sort of urk sound as their footing became extremely slow. The spell had put Ryan into a slow motion status. Ryan though, still called out, "Anima" (though rather slowly), intending to use the final blast as a last resort. But Harry had seen the spell in action so he screamed out "Priori Incantatem" and then once the wind whipped back into the wand, Harry called out "Expelliarmus". Ryan's wand sprung out of his hands and landed in front of Harry, who bent to pick it up. Harry stepped back from his opponent who was in slow motion frustration. Harry said the last spell simply, "Somnus" and Ryan's eyes closed and he toppled to the ground, immediately unconscious, put into sleep with the spell.
Harry looked to the sleeping boy, he smiled and sincerely said "Sorry." Harry then lifted his want and called out, "Lumos", bringing some light into the arena. Harry yelled "Professor Finch? Professor Flitwick? I think this match is over."
The barrier walls dropped and the spells dissipated. Thus ending the match for Harry, he too joined the ranks that would continue on into the next level. So far all three of them had made it, but soon approaching was the moment when Katherine would have to compete and earn her place.
The first group to go was the Ravenclaws, for 5th years they performed rather well, and soon they had eliminated their larger group in half. Secondly came the Gryffindors. Harry, Ron and Hermione luckily had managed to avoid getting paired up with one another. Now, it was up to them to perform their best and make it into the next level.
Hermione was paired up with a boy by the name of Travis Tipp. He was a lanky boy with light brown hair. He looked to Hermione nervously from behind thick-rimmed glasses. Obviously he was already fully aware of the intelligence that Hermione had been gifted with, though the whole school knew that. Professor Flitwick stood in the middle of the charmed circle, telling them to shake hands before the match. They did so and backed up into their starting positions. When Hermione stood still, Katherine let out a whistle and Harry and Ron cheered. Hermione blushed and then lifted her chin, drawing her wand. Professor Flitwick lifted his wand and blue sparks flew, the match had begun.
Hermione called out "Incendium!" and flames shot out of her wand towards Travis who stood there stock still a moment before lifting his own wand and calling out "Aqualis!". The water that leapt out and splashed into the flames raised steam about. They had cancelled out each other's attacks.
Hermione stood still a moment pondering her next move and then lunged foreword with the agility of a fencer calling out "Planta Radix". Around the boys ankles sprang up roots from the ground. They twisted and turned locking his legs still. The boy struggled, trying to tug his legs free. Hermione smiled pleasantly to herself slowly walking across the field.
Ron nudged Harry, "Hey what is she doing?"
Harry looked at Hermione's face, "She's concentrating."
Back in the arena, Travis was still trying to jerk his legs free from the ground. He certainly could not burn the roots off, which would harm him. And he couldn't cut them.. for he had no blade. He was at the mercy of the girl unless he thought quickly. He called out the same spell as Hermione did previously. The roots wound up her legs starting to lock into ropes. He grinned pleased at himself, if he couldn't move, then nor should she.
Hermione seemed to take no notice in the vines wrapped around her ankles. She called out, "Refugere" and the vines unwound themselves from her legs and started to creep rapidly across the ground towards Travis, creeping up his legs and binding him more. Travis screamed and tugged, but each time the vines tightened, holding him fast. Hermione decided it was best not to let the boy struggle anymore; it was time to end the match honorably and cleanly. She lifted her wand and pointed it to the shaking boy who by now had his arms pinned to his sides, his wand fallen on the ground. Hermione called out "Anima" as her final attack. From the wand came a huge gale of wind that slammed into Travis and tore him, roots and all from the ground and sent him falling outside of the barrier lines. Professor Finch held up his hand, ending the match with Hermione as the winner. Hermione rushed over to Travis who was shaking and pulling at the torn and dying vines.
She helped him pull to vines off and offered her hand to assist him to his feet. He took it, feeling rather embarrassed to have been the first one to be eliminated. But even so, he still said "Good match," and wished Hermione well.
Hermione settled down with her friends once more, all smiles. Harry and Ron were all positive, congratulating her on making it to the next round. Together they sat and waited for the next dueling team to be called up. Next came Ron's match, he was to be facing a short girl by the name of Mia Thompson.
They entered the ring, and Professor Flitwick again stated the procedure and signaled for the match to begin. Ron grinned, now was his chance to prove to everyone that he could best his brothers (after all none of them had a record of being a duelist champion). Ron called out "Imber Rana" and his wand shook and sputtered and then sent a green flash skyward. The flash hit the boundary and spread into a glowing dome over them. Mia shrieked when the effects of the spell took place. Frogs began leaping out of the glow and started hopping about. Ron snickered, this was a spell that was mostly used for gags, it had never performed so well for him before. Ron grinned, "Give up?" Mia fumed and ripped a frog out of her mass of curly hair and stomped foreword. "Priori Incantatem" she yelled and the frogs popped and disappeared. She gave a giggle and began to swirl her wand in the air, "Patiri Cantus". Suddenly the arena was filled with a horrible wailing. Ron covered his ears, the sound resonated throughout his head, and it was actually painful. Ron yelled out "Quietus" The shrill and horrendous song ceased, all was muted. Ron smirked devilishly "Martimus Mus" and from his wand came a swarm of mice, of all different colors and they ran straight for Mia. She had had enough of being tortured by suck 'icky' creatures and lifted her wand, sending up the red sparks that disqualified her. Immediately the block was dropped and the mice disappeared. Mia was left crying, regretting her decision, she had acted foolishly for a Gryffindor. She was too ashamed to even look at any of her fellow students and so she ran off. Ron was left standing there, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess she didn't like mice?"
It was a bit before Harry had his turn. Harry was going to be dueling a boy by the name of Ryan Conner. Harry and his opponent were pretty well matched up for height. Both had dark colored hair. About the only differences were that Ryan's hair was cut short and his eyes were blue and Harry of course had his unruly hair and bright green eyes that were behind his glasses. Again the same procedures were followed, both boys shook hands and took their places. The students gathered were in a hush. Professor Snape on the sidelines had been studying the matches thus far and looked surprisingly attentive. On the other hand, Aconite had rolled onto her back, paws moving languidly in the air stretching before rolling back onto her stomach in the teacher's lap. Snape growled at the wolf and she growled back, though she bore no scowl, just a wolfish grin and a wagging tail. He muttered "Mangy beast," and gave Aconite a glare. Then he turned his attentions back onto the duel that had already begun.
Harry was circling the ring, and as was his opponent, they were sizing each other up, trying to find fault. When Ryan stumbled slightly Harry took his chance by calling out, "Lumos superior" and the area was filled with a bright light. This spell did work to confuse an opponent, but it also left the user in a weakened spot as well. Ryan called out "Nox" automatically clearing the light and sending the arena into darkness. Harry was left disoriented and struggled to gain back his sight. Ahead of him he could just barely make out a shape of a figure running at him. Harry called out "Impedimenta" and the figure gave out a sort of urk sound as their footing became extremely slow. The spell had put Ryan into a slow motion status. Ryan though, still called out, "Anima" (though rather slowly), intending to use the final blast as a last resort. But Harry had seen the spell in action so he screamed out "Priori Incantatem" and then once the wind whipped back into the wand, Harry called out "Expelliarmus". Ryan's wand sprung out of his hands and landed in front of Harry, who bent to pick it up. Harry stepped back from his opponent who was in slow motion frustration. Harry said the last spell simply, "Somnus" and Ryan's eyes closed and he toppled to the ground, immediately unconscious, put into sleep with the spell.
Harry looked to the sleeping boy, he smiled and sincerely said "Sorry." Harry then lifted his want and called out, "Lumos", bringing some light into the arena. Harry yelled "Professor Finch? Professor Flitwick? I think this match is over."
The barrier walls dropped and the spells dissipated. Thus ending the match for Harry, he too joined the ranks that would continue on into the next level. So far all three of them had made it, but soon approaching was the moment when Katherine would have to compete and earn her place.