Another Chance
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JKR, various publishers of the HP series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 14 Gryffindor Team Tryouts (uploaded 3/12/04)
Gryffindor preliminaries proceeded in two rings without surprises and quickly progressed to the quarter finals. Minnie Stewart and Percival Wulfric were there to judge the matches, and Madam Pomfrey was available "just in case." The young professors were quite pleased at the range of spells that their students used and the ingenuity in which they used them.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Harry Potter vs. Dennis Creevey
Harry Potter and Dennis Creevey shook hands in the center of the ring and turned their backs on each other with wands pointed to the sky. As Mr. Wulfric counted their steps, the contestants took a step away from each other with each count. At the count of ten, they turned and faced each other.
The audience held their breath as they posed in their dueling stances. "Begin!" Mr. Wulfric called out.
"Expelliarmus," Creevey called first, but Potter countered with "Protego!" The disarming spell bounced off his shield and landed in the grass.
As Potter hit Dennis with the Pepperbreath charm, the younger Creevey brother fanned his fiery hot breath with his hand. He was too uncomfortable to utter another spell, so Potter hit him in the face with a rush of water which spouted from his wand.
The audience in the Gryffindor stands clapped and cheered, as Minnie Stewart rushed in to end the spells. The contestants shook hands and Minnie held up Harry's arm by the wrist to declare him the winner of the match because Dennis could not continue.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Ron Weasley vs. Neville Longbottom
Neville Longbottom and Ron Weasley were announced as the next match. They shook hands and took their ten paces before assuming their initial dueling positions. Ron opened with 'tarantella,' knowing that it might unnerve his worthy opponent by reminding him of the battle at the Ministry in their fifth year.
Neville was surprised that Ron opened with this spell, but the memories inspired him to counter quickly with 'rictusempra.' Hitting at nearly the same time, Ron laughed uncontrollably, rolling on the ground, while Neville's legs danced like crazy. After thirty seconds, Ms. Stewart ended the spells and left both contestants panting on the grass. Students cheered from the stands and urged them on.
They stood, chests heaving, and uttered their next round of spells. Neville yelled, "Riddikulus" and dressed Ron in his grandmother's most colorful and flowery dress, complete with handbag and wide-rimmed vulture chapeau. Ron clapped his appreciation and couldn't stop laughing, himself. He uttered his spell and Neville started winking back uncontrollably. Ron blew kisses back at his opponent and followed up with 'engorgio,' but Neville managed to deflect it, hitting Ron in the mouth.
Ron's tongue swelled up and laid on the ground in front of him, as if he had eaten one of his brother's Ten Ton Toffees. Ron fell to the ground from the weight of his tongue and laughed along with Neville and the audience.
The match was called to an end. And after Poppy Pomfrey came out to the pitch to reduce Ron's tongue back to normal, Ms. Stewart declared Neville Longbottom the winner of the match.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Dean Thomas vs. Ginny Weasley
Ginny Weasley and Dean Thomas were called up next. They had just broken up (again) and the fiery redhead was in no mood to take prisoners. As soon as the match began she fired off a series of hexes. The Itchy Hex, made Dean's skin crawl and prick like he had stepped into a nest of fleas and was being bitten all over. He scratched and he rubbed, distracted by the intense itch, he could not shield or deflect any of Miss Weasley's hexes to save his life.
Next, she hit him with a Cry Baby Jinx and he started bawling for his mummy. Half of Gryffindor House knew about their breakup when the match started, but by the end, everyone knew. The stands were divided, boys feeling sympathetic for Dean, and the girls were laughing and cheering like mad for their champion to get even.
Before Mr. Wulfric could call an end to the match, Ginny charmed Dean's nails to grow an inch. Actually Madam Pomfrey, the school mediwitch, had stopped the charm when it reached an inch, but she had to restrain him with a total body bind to keep him from cutting himself whenever he tried to scratch before she could end the Itchy Hex.
Ms. Stewart, who was sitting on the sidelines for this match ran over to Ginny and put a hand on her wand hand and an arm over her shoulder, for the female competitor was crying, herself. When the spells were lifted from Mr. Thomas, he tried to go over to his ex-girlfriend to talk to her, but shied away upon receiving the reproachful look Ms. Stewart gave him. Hanging his head, he sulked his way to his mates in the bleachers.
Left standing alone in the middle of the pitch, Wulfric declared Ginny Weasley winner of the match. He shrugged and returned to the sidelines.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Colin Creevey vs. Natalie MacDonald
Before Colin Creevey stepped onto the field for his match decided to take the passive approach and let the nervous Natalie fire the first spell. A few years behind Colin, Miss MacDonald had won her matches with superb transfiguration skills. As Natalie yelled her spell to transfigure Colin into a squirrel, he was able to partially deflect it. Everyone laughed as Colin grew a bushy tail and turned around so that his little brother, Dennis, could take a picture.
Creevey called, 'Expelliarmus!' and MacDonald's wand flew out of her hand as she fell back about five feet. He quickly followed with, 'Accio wand!' and summoned the flying wand into his hand. Successfully having disarmed his opponent, with no way for her to continue, the match was called to an end. Creevey was already taking his victory bows before being declared the winner. However, he walked to his opponent to return her wand and shake her hand.
As his little brother returned his camera with a big smile on his face, Mr. Wulfric waved his wand to reverse the unsuccessful transfiguration attempt on Dennis.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Semifinal: Harry Potter vs. Neville Longbottom
Unfortunately, Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom had been drawn into the top half of the competition. Everyone had hoped that they'd meet in the finals, but no matter. They were meeting and everybody expected an exciting match, knowing what they had been through during their seven years at Hogwarts. The winner of this match would go on to the finals and the loser would take the third spot on the team, or worse case, take the alternate position.
Longbottom and Potter shook hands in the center of the pitch, but Neville then pulled his opponent toward him for a one-armed hug. They genuinely wished the other best of luck, as their eyes gleamed. Once the match started, they volleyed spells back and forth for the first dozen minutes, a testimony to their excellent defensive skills. The Quidditch pitch filled with divots, pot holes, and smoke as the match progressed.
Moving to his backup plan, Harry conjured three snakes using 'serpensetoria' and ordered them toward his opponent. Neville tried blasting the snakes away, but whenever he did, Harry sent a stinging hex his way. Fortunately, Neville ducked and managed to parry away the spells, coming away with only a few welts on his arms.
When the snakes reached within six feet, Longbottom turned them to ropes and sent them flying toward the other Gryffindor in an attempt to bind them. Potter also tried blasting them out of the air and was forced to move to avoid the stinging hexes which followed, thankful for the footwork lessons they had just a couple days previously.
With a snort, Potter uttered 'incindio' and the ropes fell to the ground in smoke and flames. Through the smoke, Potter was hit with a tossing charm which threw him to the ground. BUZZZ! Their fifteen minute limit had been reached. No other match had gone that long. It was, in fact, the first time they heard the buzzer all day.
Potter, in his disappointment, fell back to the ground and laid there until Minnie came out to the middle of the pitch and called the two competitors to the center. Holding them at the wrists, she faced the stands until Percival Wulfric, Dumbledore's youth alias, announced Neville Longbottom the winner of the match. Minnie held up Neville's arm with pride and gave them both a congratulatory hug before leading them off the pitch.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Semifinal: Ginny Weasley vs. Colin Creevey
After the formalities of bowing and taking their initial dueling stance. Colin snapped a picture of Ginny's stance. Her eyes had the intensity of a cat on the hunt, but the amateur photographer had purposely used the bright flash. Temporarily blinded, Ginny couldn't see the jinx that hit her and turned her legs to jelly. She melted into the grass, unable to stand.
Keeping her wits about her, she uttered a spell that covered her opponent in little red and purple splotches, mostly around his neck, but places unseen, as well. She winked, "Hickey Hex, Colin." There was a round of laughs and a buzz in the stands as the audience gradually understood what had happened.
Still under the Jellylegs Jinx, she was unable to avoid Colin's next spell, "Cumulus." A black rain cloud formed over the youngest Weasley sibling and drenched her as she was recovering from the first jinks. Forcing herself to stand with every ounce of determination, she called, "Sominus," the Sleeping Beauty Spell.
Colin's eyes closed slowly as he tried to fight the spell, but he sat on the ground, then fell back, fast asleep. Minnie Stewart ran forward to proclaim Ginny the winner as Poppy Pomfrey ran over to end Colin's spell. However, 'finite incantatum' had no effect on the sleeping Gryffindor.
Mr. Wulfric looked over at Ginny, "Miss Weasley, if you cannot end this spell within 40 seconds, you will be disqualified."
"No problem, sir," Ginny said, nonchalantly. She walked over to Mr. Sleeping Beauty and kissed him on the lips until his eyes fluttered open. Colin sat up with a big smile and a red face, as he realized he was kissed in front of everyone in Gryffindor. "Thanks, Ginny," he gasped.
"Breathe, Mr. Creevey, breathe," was Pomfrey's instruction, as Ginny bounced off the field.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Finals: Neville Longbottom vs. Ginny Weasley
Neville and Ginny opened their match aggressively. Hexes and spells bounced off of each other's shield charms in a show of light and colorful smoke. Lots of smoke. Wulfric waved his wand to create a bit of wind to blow the smoke away so that he could see what was going on.
The crowd gasped at what was revealed. Ginny laid face down on the pitch, still clutching her wand and ten paces away, where Neville had been standing, was a pile of school robes. Pomfrey rushed to Ginny as Wulfric ran to Neville. The spectators, especially Harry and Neville's other roommates were held back by Professor Lupin as they attempted to rush the field. The crowd quieted as they watched the Hogwarts staff in their recovery attempts.
Ginny was the first to recover with a good, strong 'ennervate' spell from the mediwitch. The stands erupted in cheers when Ginny got to her feet. Madame Pomfrey left her standing with Minnie Stewart, as the mediwitch ran to help the other student. Still a bit dizzy, Minnie helped Ginny walk to a nearby bench adjacent to the pitch.
When young Dumbledore got to the pile of black robes, something stirred underneath. Expecting to find a small transfigured animal, he jumped back in surprise to find a toddler of about two, with round cheeks. "Peek-a- boo!" the baby, yelled when his head was uncovered. He sat naked on the pitch, surrounded by black fabric and clapped his chubby little hands together.
"Well, hello there," Dumbledore said softly, "what's your name?"
"Nebble!" the little boy giggled. The little boy got wide-eyed and squealed with delight when he discovered his toes. The crowd once again hushed, as they strained to see what was going on behind a wall of Hogwarts staff members, who had their backs turned to the crowd. When she had recovered sufficiently, Ginny walked across the field to the teacher's huddle.
"What's going on," she asked, "what happened?" She gasped when she saw the baby cradled in Mr. Wulfric's arms, "Neville?"
The baby cooed, but when he laid eyes on the fiery redhead, he yelled, "Dinny!" and held out his arms, fingers wiggling.
"Miss Weasley, what was the last spell you used?" Ms. Stewart asked.
"Um, 'reducto', I believe," was the student's reply.
"Very well," Neville was set on the grass and his robes were properly draped over his shoulders. "Finite Incantatum!" the tall wizard waved his wand, and baby Neville disappeared in a cloud of red and mustard smoke.
Neville coughed and waved his arms to clear the smoke. He grinned when he could see Mr. Wulfric, Ms. Stewart, Madam Pomfrey, and Ginny standing between himself and the Gryffindor stands. He looked down at his feet, surprised, and wiggled his toes in the green grass. Ginny was the first to engulf in with a hug. "Congratulations on the match, Ginny," Neville smiled.
Wulfric's eyes twinkled, "Brilliant! Mr. Longbottom, please retrieve your wand and put your shoes back on. I must announce the new dueling team."
Mr. Wulfric stood in front of the Gryffindor stands, with Ms. Stewart next to him, and announced the results. "It is my pleasure to announce the Gryffindor Dueling Team. In first place, Ginny Weasley." He stopped to allow everyone to cheer. "Second place, Neville Longbottom." He had to stop again. "Third place, Harry Potter. And in the alternate position, Colin Creevey. Please give the whole team your applause and support!" The stands went crazy, but the tall auburn-haired wizard didn't wait for the noise to subside. He charmed his voice with sonorus and added, "Congratulations to everyone who participated. Gryffindor House and your Hogwarts professors are all very proud of the contestants display of skill and sportsmanship."
To be continued...
~ ~ ~
A/N: Yay, I did it. Thank you for your patience over the last couple of months. I finally finished the students and spells research that it took to write this chapter (and the next) and my income taxes, to boot! I hope you enjoyed this episode. Slytherin tryouts are next.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JKR, various publishers of the HP series. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 14 Gryffindor Team Tryouts (uploaded 3/12/04)
Gryffindor preliminaries proceeded in two rings without surprises and quickly progressed to the quarter finals. Minnie Stewart and Percival Wulfric were there to judge the matches, and Madam Pomfrey was available "just in case." The young professors were quite pleased at the range of spells that their students used and the ingenuity in which they used them.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Harry Potter vs. Dennis Creevey
Harry Potter and Dennis Creevey shook hands in the center of the ring and turned their backs on each other with wands pointed to the sky. As Mr. Wulfric counted their steps, the contestants took a step away from each other with each count. At the count of ten, they turned and faced each other.
The audience held their breath as they posed in their dueling stances. "Begin!" Mr. Wulfric called out.
"Expelliarmus," Creevey called first, but Potter countered with "Protego!" The disarming spell bounced off his shield and landed in the grass.
As Potter hit Dennis with the Pepperbreath charm, the younger Creevey brother fanned his fiery hot breath with his hand. He was too uncomfortable to utter another spell, so Potter hit him in the face with a rush of water which spouted from his wand.
The audience in the Gryffindor stands clapped and cheered, as Minnie Stewart rushed in to end the spells. The contestants shook hands and Minnie held up Harry's arm by the wrist to declare him the winner of the match because Dennis could not continue.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Ron Weasley vs. Neville Longbottom
Neville Longbottom and Ron Weasley were announced as the next match. They shook hands and took their ten paces before assuming their initial dueling positions. Ron opened with 'tarantella,' knowing that it might unnerve his worthy opponent by reminding him of the battle at the Ministry in their fifth year.
Neville was surprised that Ron opened with this spell, but the memories inspired him to counter quickly with 'rictusempra.' Hitting at nearly the same time, Ron laughed uncontrollably, rolling on the ground, while Neville's legs danced like crazy. After thirty seconds, Ms. Stewart ended the spells and left both contestants panting on the grass. Students cheered from the stands and urged them on.
They stood, chests heaving, and uttered their next round of spells. Neville yelled, "Riddikulus" and dressed Ron in his grandmother's most colorful and flowery dress, complete with handbag and wide-rimmed vulture chapeau. Ron clapped his appreciation and couldn't stop laughing, himself. He uttered his spell and Neville started winking back uncontrollably. Ron blew kisses back at his opponent and followed up with 'engorgio,' but Neville managed to deflect it, hitting Ron in the mouth.
Ron's tongue swelled up and laid on the ground in front of him, as if he had eaten one of his brother's Ten Ton Toffees. Ron fell to the ground from the weight of his tongue and laughed along with Neville and the audience.
The match was called to an end. And after Poppy Pomfrey came out to the pitch to reduce Ron's tongue back to normal, Ms. Stewart declared Neville Longbottom the winner of the match.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Dean Thomas vs. Ginny Weasley
Ginny Weasley and Dean Thomas were called up next. They had just broken up (again) and the fiery redhead was in no mood to take prisoners. As soon as the match began she fired off a series of hexes. The Itchy Hex, made Dean's skin crawl and prick like he had stepped into a nest of fleas and was being bitten all over. He scratched and he rubbed, distracted by the intense itch, he could not shield or deflect any of Miss Weasley's hexes to save his life.
Next, she hit him with a Cry Baby Jinx and he started bawling for his mummy. Half of Gryffindor House knew about their breakup when the match started, but by the end, everyone knew. The stands were divided, boys feeling sympathetic for Dean, and the girls were laughing and cheering like mad for their champion to get even.
Before Mr. Wulfric could call an end to the match, Ginny charmed Dean's nails to grow an inch. Actually Madam Pomfrey, the school mediwitch, had stopped the charm when it reached an inch, but she had to restrain him with a total body bind to keep him from cutting himself whenever he tried to scratch before she could end the Itchy Hex.
Ms. Stewart, who was sitting on the sidelines for this match ran over to Ginny and put a hand on her wand hand and an arm over her shoulder, for the female competitor was crying, herself. When the spells were lifted from Mr. Thomas, he tried to go over to his ex-girlfriend to talk to her, but shied away upon receiving the reproachful look Ms. Stewart gave him. Hanging his head, he sulked his way to his mates in the bleachers.
Left standing alone in the middle of the pitch, Wulfric declared Ginny Weasley winner of the match. He shrugged and returned to the sidelines.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Quarterfinal: Colin Creevey vs. Natalie MacDonald
Before Colin Creevey stepped onto the field for his match decided to take the passive approach and let the nervous Natalie fire the first spell. A few years behind Colin, Miss MacDonald had won her matches with superb transfiguration skills. As Natalie yelled her spell to transfigure Colin into a squirrel, he was able to partially deflect it. Everyone laughed as Colin grew a bushy tail and turned around so that his little brother, Dennis, could take a picture.
Creevey called, 'Expelliarmus!' and MacDonald's wand flew out of her hand as she fell back about five feet. He quickly followed with, 'Accio wand!' and summoned the flying wand into his hand. Successfully having disarmed his opponent, with no way for her to continue, the match was called to an end. Creevey was already taking his victory bows before being declared the winner. However, he walked to his opponent to return her wand and shake her hand.
As his little brother returned his camera with a big smile on his face, Mr. Wulfric waved his wand to reverse the unsuccessful transfiguration attempt on Dennis.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Semifinal: Harry Potter vs. Neville Longbottom
Unfortunately, Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom had been drawn into the top half of the competition. Everyone had hoped that they'd meet in the finals, but no matter. They were meeting and everybody expected an exciting match, knowing what they had been through during their seven years at Hogwarts. The winner of this match would go on to the finals and the loser would take the third spot on the team, or worse case, take the alternate position.
Longbottom and Potter shook hands in the center of the pitch, but Neville then pulled his opponent toward him for a one-armed hug. They genuinely wished the other best of luck, as their eyes gleamed. Once the match started, they volleyed spells back and forth for the first dozen minutes, a testimony to their excellent defensive skills. The Quidditch pitch filled with divots, pot holes, and smoke as the match progressed.
Moving to his backup plan, Harry conjured three snakes using 'serpensetoria' and ordered them toward his opponent. Neville tried blasting the snakes away, but whenever he did, Harry sent a stinging hex his way. Fortunately, Neville ducked and managed to parry away the spells, coming away with only a few welts on his arms.
When the snakes reached within six feet, Longbottom turned them to ropes and sent them flying toward the other Gryffindor in an attempt to bind them. Potter also tried blasting them out of the air and was forced to move to avoid the stinging hexes which followed, thankful for the footwork lessons they had just a couple days previously.
With a snort, Potter uttered 'incindio' and the ropes fell to the ground in smoke and flames. Through the smoke, Potter was hit with a tossing charm which threw him to the ground. BUZZZ! Their fifteen minute limit had been reached. No other match had gone that long. It was, in fact, the first time they heard the buzzer all day.
Potter, in his disappointment, fell back to the ground and laid there until Minnie came out to the middle of the pitch and called the two competitors to the center. Holding them at the wrists, she faced the stands until Percival Wulfric, Dumbledore's youth alias, announced Neville Longbottom the winner of the match. Minnie held up Neville's arm with pride and gave them both a congratulatory hug before leading them off the pitch.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Semifinal: Ginny Weasley vs. Colin Creevey
After the formalities of bowing and taking their initial dueling stance. Colin snapped a picture of Ginny's stance. Her eyes had the intensity of a cat on the hunt, but the amateur photographer had purposely used the bright flash. Temporarily blinded, Ginny couldn't see the jinx that hit her and turned her legs to jelly. She melted into the grass, unable to stand.
Keeping her wits about her, she uttered a spell that covered her opponent in little red and purple splotches, mostly around his neck, but places unseen, as well. She winked, "Hickey Hex, Colin." There was a round of laughs and a buzz in the stands as the audience gradually understood what had happened.
Still under the Jellylegs Jinx, she was unable to avoid Colin's next spell, "Cumulus." A black rain cloud formed over the youngest Weasley sibling and drenched her as she was recovering from the first jinks. Forcing herself to stand with every ounce of determination, she called, "Sominus," the Sleeping Beauty Spell.
Colin's eyes closed slowly as he tried to fight the spell, but he sat on the ground, then fell back, fast asleep. Minnie Stewart ran forward to proclaim Ginny the winner as Poppy Pomfrey ran over to end Colin's spell. However, 'finite incantatum' had no effect on the sleeping Gryffindor.
Mr. Wulfric looked over at Ginny, "Miss Weasley, if you cannot end this spell within 40 seconds, you will be disqualified."
"No problem, sir," Ginny said, nonchalantly. She walked over to Mr. Sleeping Beauty and kissed him on the lips until his eyes fluttered open. Colin sat up with a big smile and a red face, as he realized he was kissed in front of everyone in Gryffindor. "Thanks, Ginny," he gasped.
"Breathe, Mr. Creevey, breathe," was Pomfrey's instruction, as Ginny bounced off the field.
~ ~ ~
Gryffindor Finals: Neville Longbottom vs. Ginny Weasley
Neville and Ginny opened their match aggressively. Hexes and spells bounced off of each other's shield charms in a show of light and colorful smoke. Lots of smoke. Wulfric waved his wand to create a bit of wind to blow the smoke away so that he could see what was going on.
The crowd gasped at what was revealed. Ginny laid face down on the pitch, still clutching her wand and ten paces away, where Neville had been standing, was a pile of school robes. Pomfrey rushed to Ginny as Wulfric ran to Neville. The spectators, especially Harry and Neville's other roommates were held back by Professor Lupin as they attempted to rush the field. The crowd quieted as they watched the Hogwarts staff in their recovery attempts.
Ginny was the first to recover with a good, strong 'ennervate' spell from the mediwitch. The stands erupted in cheers when Ginny got to her feet. Madame Pomfrey left her standing with Minnie Stewart, as the mediwitch ran to help the other student. Still a bit dizzy, Minnie helped Ginny walk to a nearby bench adjacent to the pitch.
When young Dumbledore got to the pile of black robes, something stirred underneath. Expecting to find a small transfigured animal, he jumped back in surprise to find a toddler of about two, with round cheeks. "Peek-a- boo!" the baby, yelled when his head was uncovered. He sat naked on the pitch, surrounded by black fabric and clapped his chubby little hands together.
"Well, hello there," Dumbledore said softly, "what's your name?"
"Nebble!" the little boy giggled. The little boy got wide-eyed and squealed with delight when he discovered his toes. The crowd once again hushed, as they strained to see what was going on behind a wall of Hogwarts staff members, who had their backs turned to the crowd. When she had recovered sufficiently, Ginny walked across the field to the teacher's huddle.
"What's going on," she asked, "what happened?" She gasped when she saw the baby cradled in Mr. Wulfric's arms, "Neville?"
The baby cooed, but when he laid eyes on the fiery redhead, he yelled, "Dinny!" and held out his arms, fingers wiggling.
"Miss Weasley, what was the last spell you used?" Ms. Stewart asked.
"Um, 'reducto', I believe," was the student's reply.
"Very well," Neville was set on the grass and his robes were properly draped over his shoulders. "Finite Incantatum!" the tall wizard waved his wand, and baby Neville disappeared in a cloud of red and mustard smoke.
Neville coughed and waved his arms to clear the smoke. He grinned when he could see Mr. Wulfric, Ms. Stewart, Madam Pomfrey, and Ginny standing between himself and the Gryffindor stands. He looked down at his feet, surprised, and wiggled his toes in the green grass. Ginny was the first to engulf in with a hug. "Congratulations on the match, Ginny," Neville smiled.
Wulfric's eyes twinkled, "Brilliant! Mr. Longbottom, please retrieve your wand and put your shoes back on. I must announce the new dueling team."
Mr. Wulfric stood in front of the Gryffindor stands, with Ms. Stewart next to him, and announced the results. "It is my pleasure to announce the Gryffindor Dueling Team. In first place, Ginny Weasley." He stopped to allow everyone to cheer. "Second place, Neville Longbottom." He had to stop again. "Third place, Harry Potter. And in the alternate position, Colin Creevey. Please give the whole team your applause and support!" The stands went crazy, but the tall auburn-haired wizard didn't wait for the noise to subside. He charmed his voice with sonorus and added, "Congratulations to everyone who participated. Gryffindor House and your Hogwarts professors are all very proud of the contestants display of skill and sportsmanship."
To be continued...
~ ~ ~
A/N: Yay, I did it. Thank you for your patience over the last couple of months. I finally finished the students and spells research that it took to write this chapter (and the next) and my income taxes, to boot! I hope you enjoyed this episode. Slytherin tryouts are next.