Harry flicked his wand and wordlessly conjured a pebble that shifted into a chain of stone. However, as soon as it formed, it started to crumble, and within moments was nonexistent. A frustrated growl rumbled in his throat and Professor McGonagall nodded.
"Just as I suspected. Your abilities are on par with the average sixth year student in dual Transfiguration. It was the worse subject of your father in the practice if I recall." The calm tones of the professor calmed the teen greatly.
They had been going over what Harry had learned from the green book James left Sirius for over two hours now, and for over three weeks while Minerva was on duty. However tonight was a Wednesday and it was getting beyond even the Prefect's curfew. As Harry took a deep breath and prepared to try again, Minerva stopped him.
"Harry, its late. I suggest you join me on my rounds and we head towards the Tower. While you do not have class tomorrow, I still must teach." A soft glare derailed any protest. Within moments the duo was out of the classroom that Minerva used for transfiguration and were roaming the halls.
"Professor, what is one thing that you remember about my mom?" Harry asked as they passed a portrait who was arguing with another.
"Her determination to succeed. She wasn't great at transfiguration. While not bad, she was at best an EE student Harry. No, she got her O with hours upon hours of revision and constant asking for help. I remember her knocking on my door much as you did earlier tonight." The transfiguration mistress spotted two students and barked,"Get to bed. Now. And 12 points from Hufflepuff. Six each."
While they roamed the halls, Harry kept asking questions, normally about his parents, though some were about obscure transfiguration concepts. "Why are metals more difficult to transfigure fluidly? And What does that even mean? Dad's journal said that, I was confused."
"A fluid transfiguration is an aspect from dual transfiguration, where you do transfiguration fluidly from the conjured material as it is being conjured. It is a sign of extreme mastery over the art." The explaination slid from her lips fast, showing her excitement over the concept.
Harry grinned, "Not many people can do it can they… Are you one?"
"Mr. Potter I'll have you know, you should never ask a transfiguration mistress her secrets!" The tone was quietly sarcastic, and the soft small smile on her face betrayed her intent.
"Of course Professor. Sorry Professor." The snappy response was paired with a fake salute from the teen. The scene was interrupted by the appearance of Severus Snape at the end of the hallway.
"I heard voices." The potion master locked eyes with Minerva, his wand in his hand.
"Why are you up Severus?" Minerva asked as she gently pressed Harry behind her. Severus' looked pale, and his hands were shaking.
"I must see the headmaster. And Mr. Potter here must go to bed. Goodnight." Snape sneered at the two and swept past them.
"He didn't look okay Professor." Harry said as they continued forward.
"I know Harry, I know."
Harry was woken up by the thump of someone dropping onto his bed. "Ugh Sirius, what are you doing here?"
"It's not Sirius. Get up Harry. Hermione and I need to talk to you about something you slept through at breakfast this morning." Ron's firm voice made Harry to blink out of sleep faster than he would have otherwise. After hearing the dorm door slam shut, Harry swiftly got up, showered and got dressed.
He met his friends in the common room, and his questions were stemmed by the looks on their faces. Hermione was practically vibrating, and her glare could melt stone. Ron however was calm, which was always bad, it meant that he was beyond furious.
"What's up?" Harry asked worried.
"Did you know that its been 3 weeks since the task Harry?" Ron calmly asked. He sat beside the window facing the Quidditch pitch, watching the first years have their lessons.
"Yeah, I mean, I am still prepping for the next task, whatever it will be. Sirius was saying that I should get on a set schedule." Harry responded confused.
"Harry James Potter, you haven't been to meals in the last week." Hermione's voice was shaking, and Ron's arms tensed as they were crossed over his chest.
"I ate with Sirius." Harry's voice was flat, his mind rapidly connecting the dots.
"Well, since classes were canceled today, we are going to hang out." Ron cut Hermione's retort before she even opened her mouth.
"Oh, well I was going to spend the day with Sirius…" Harry absently rubbed the back of his head.
"You won't be. You aren't leaving here until you explain why you haven't spent time with us." Hermione said, her voice suddenly sad.
Harry watched as her anger faded and she seemed to deflate. Before either he or Ron could move, she started to cry. "You-yo-you're all I got here and I don't want things to change and I don't like the things of the tournament and you can die and we could be alone and I don't want that and…" The words were muddled, and her tears poured down her cheeks.
Without a word, the two boys hugged her. Ron, being closer got there first, and pulled her to his chest, and Harry, having gotten there moments after, pulled them both close.
"Shhh… Harry will not die and leave us. Will he?" The question asked by the redhead went towards Harry.
"Never. I will survive, and I promise, I will win. To come back to you two. I refuse to die." Harry swore to his friends as he held them close.
The trio talked through most of the day, about small subjects, avoiding the bomb shell that was announced at breakfast. Harry was unaware of the announcement, and simply enjoyed talking to his friends. While Hermione was shaky still and Ron was closer than usual they were still the same. Harry smiled as Ron made a terrible joke about kneazles, and Hermione glared at him. It wasn't until close to dinner that Harry said something that wasn't light hearted.
"Guys, I'm sorry for not thinking about what you all felt during this. Sorry for-" His apologies were crushed by the Hermione missile that was hugging him.
"Mate, shut up. We understand, we do, doesn't mean we aren't angry, but we understand." Ron said. Hermione just continued to hug him.
"What caused it to happen today anyway?" Harry asked as he stroked Hermione's hair. He was clearing referring to the two confronting him.
"The date for the second task was announced for January 13th." Hermione said into Harry's chest.
Of the two friends, only Hermione noticed the tensing of Harry's muscles. Ron continued Hermione's role as news breaker. "A ball was also announced. That is supposed to happen on Yule."
Harry's confusion was evident. This was a tournament of death and despair, not dancing and lackadaisical freedoms. He voiced his issue to the room," I really don't understand."
Angelia sat down, having over heard the conversation as she passed. "From what Dumbledore said earlier when I passed him and asked the same question, and basically got the goblet is a screwed up piece of work." Her answer confused the teens. The unspoken question was 'What does that even mean?'
Ron's eyes grew wide, having understood first out of the three. "It wants us to enjoy ourselves before watching our friends and champions try to survive."
Angelia's grim nod confirmed the claim.
Harry watched the people in the Great Hall during dinner. Many of them spoke to their friends, flirted with people, and told jokes. There was an argument between a few second years, and a couple kissing at the Hufflepuff table. A standard day in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Dinner was great as always, and Harry absently picked at his shepherd's pie as he watched the denizens of Hogwarts.
Harry was not alone in his people watching, as the Headmaster was doing the same. It was his favorite pastime and the reason he ate dinner every night with the students. Albus Dumbledore surveyed his domain, with the hundreds of students in his care. It was this on his mind as he stood and tapped his goblet with his wand.
The chatting ceased as a melodious chime ran through the hall. Each face snapped to the head table to see Albus standing infront of his plate of tart.
"Students, I will not keep you from your dessert for long, I am merely repeating the announcement from this morning, with more information since the Chosen are all present."
A few faces flickered toward Viktor Harry and Fleur before going back to the headmaster. Dumbledore continued," On January 13th, at noon the Second Task will occur. Chosen, you will meet at the entrance hall, and progress to the Task area, while the audience will watch from here. During the Yule Ball, you will be given your clue to the Task. Speaking of said ball, the Yule Ball will be held here, in the Great Hall at 7pm on Christmas Eve. It will continue until 1am, with a grand celebration at midnight. Chosen, you are required to attend, and open and close the ball with a dance. Students under the age of 13, you are permitted to attend until 10pm, as curfew will be enforced for you. I believe that is all, so enjoy the tart, it is marvelous tonight." With a jovial smile, Dumbledore sat and started to eat his serving of tart.
Harry watched as the whispers and conversations began again, a small smile mirroring the headmaster's. "Small joys were what make the world turn," he softly said as he helped himself to some pudding.
That night found Cedric in front of a large wooden door in the Charms hallway. At precisely 8 pm he knocked on the door, his wand firmly in hand. It was nearly thirty times he had done this, knocked on this door, and dueled with his professor. Flitwick was a slave driver, who taught dueling differently than he did charms. There was no lecture, just practice.
As Cedric walked into the classroom after the word enter came through the wood, three charms flashed toward him from three sides. With a gong they collided as Cedric rolled forward, under the charm that flew from the desk. Flitwick jumped around the classroom, using the desks, bookshelves and even the chandeliers from the ceiling to continually bombard Cedric with charms.
Cedric rolled, ran and slid around the room, his wand constantly moving desks, books, chairs and even himself in and out of the way of the spells that came from all sides. The objects caught fire, were doused in water, enlarged, shrunk, cut, broken, and then repaired in rapid succession. Cedric fired a few curses upward, before diving under another desk as a firework charm slammed into the flagstones where he was. As soon as he was clear from the underside of the desk, he was frozen in place with a spell from his professor.
"Good Cedric. Keeping low is a great strategy for most duels, especially when your opponent has aerial superiority, yet is not flying. The issue of course, is that you got predictable, and a simple lure had you captured. Let us try exercise three for a few hours." With a flick, Cedric was able to move. Flitwick pushed the furniture to the sides and conjured three balls. With a groan Cedric readied himself to reflect the balls with spells. He hated this exercise.
Karkaroff cracked his neck as he knocked on the door of the dungeons. Instead of his normal attire, he was wearing a form fitting tunic and pants. His fur lined cloak was covering one shoulder, and his hair was tied back into a long braid.
"Enter." The silky response of the Potions master prompted Igor to open the door. He strode in and saw two young students scrubbing cauldrons as Severus Snape graded essays.
"What do you want Karkaroff?" The emotionless reply from Snape made Igor smile.
"My apologies, I didn't know you were supervising detention. I was merely going to ask for a duel, between friends of course." The headmaster of Durmstrang nearly smiled at the potion master as he sat his quill down and glared at the students.
"Your detentions are over. Go to your dormitories, and next time, mind your manners. Dismissed."
Igor chuckled softly as the children ran out of the door, and Severus stood. He was still chuckling as they went outside, and didn't stop until they were in front of the great doors.
"What are the rules Igor?" Severus drew his wand and started to circle. Igor mimicked him and smiled softly.
"Let's make it fun. Nothing that would result in Azkaban. Deal?"
"Deal." With a snarl, Severus attacked. Blasts of ruby light flashed across towards Igor who flicked his wand, conjuring a stone plate in their path. The stunners shattered the plate, and the shards were vaporized with a fourth curse from Severus before Igor could banish them towards the potions master.
With a wild gesture, water condensed in front of Igor, and blasted forward in a torrent. With a sharp step, Severus moved out of the way, sending curses toward the Durmstrang headmaster. Igor ducked and rolled, flicking his wand constantly sending cutting curses at the Potions Master.
Severus blocked the curses, knocking them off course as he returned fire by turning the ground Igor was headed toward into acid. With an acrobatic flip, the Headmaster jumped the pool of corrosive, firing stunners toward Severus continually.
With a growl, Severus wove a protective enchantment to a ring he wore on his left hand, holding it up to block the spells as he took aim once more. Before he could fire, a loud voice interrupted the duel.
"What is the meaning of this Igor? Severus?" Albus Dumbledore strode furiously toward the pair, his wand held tightly in his hand. With a flick, the acid was gone, the defensive net that Severus built and anchored to the ring he wore was torn down and both were unable to move their wand arms.
"Just a friendly duel headmaster. I just wanted to see how far Severus had progressed. I did help him gain his mastery after all." Igor responded with a smile. Even while under the gaze of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Igor could not hide his joy of combat.
"I see, Severus is this true?" Albus kept his gaze on Igor.
"Of course Headmaster. I assumed you were aware, that is why I said yes." Severus responded. His eyes flickered between the two. Albus' in his tense stance, wand still pointed at the ground, and Igor's casual stance.
"Fine. As of now, Igor I don't want you battling my teachers. Especially in high level duels where a stray spell can kill a student. Understood?" Only now did the Durmstrang head's joy dissipate. He clearly didn't think of the possible watchers.
"Crystal clear Dumbledore." Dumbledore nodded at his fellow headmaster before turning to his potions master.
"Severus, you are a marvelous wizard who does not need to prove himself by beating an old teacher. I find you to be a great colleague and your abilities are respected. Please remember that the next time someone asks you for a duel in my castle." The firm voice of the Headmaster caused Snape to nod.
"Good. I am going to bed gentlemen. If I discover that this duel continued, I will be most… irritated. Sleep well." With a flourish of his purple robes, the Headmaster of Hogwarts strode back into the castle.
As soon as the headmaster crossed the threshold of the castle, the spells holding the wand arms of Igor and Severus ended, and the two stared at each other. "Albus is still as terrifying as ever." Igor said calmly.
"You speak as if it is a surprise. He is the greatest wizard of the age Igor." Severus started to walk towards the castle. He was stopped before he entered by Igor speaking.
"Severus, you are a marvelous wizard. Thank you for the duel."
The Headmaster of Durmstrang had already started to walk away, or he would have seen the casual wave over the shoulder of the Potions Master of Hogwarts.
Harry was exhausted. He was utterly exhausted while is godfather Sirius Black leaned against a wall without breaking a sweat. It was like this every night that they dueled. Sirius would utterly destroy him. Spells deflected before they were fully formed, barriers up even if the spell reached him,and an endless bombardment of curses, jinxes, hexes and spells forcing Harry into movement from the get go. It was as if he was fighting against ten wizards not one.
"Why? Why am I not strong enough to beat you?" Harry asked as he rolled onto his back. His gasps for air brought a slight smile to Sirius' face.
"Because that is how you are thinking." Sirius said casually as he slid down the wall until he was sitting with his knees up.
His godson's silence was more telling than anything about his understanding. Sirius sighed. "Dueling is not a power game. It is too like chess for it to be a power game. The average wizard is just as good as the average wizard. Each start off with the same pieces. But for some, they start off with more. Maybe an extra rook, or an extra knight. These are your dueling prodigies. Then you have wizards like Dumbledore and Voldemort, who start off with a stacked field, while you start with only a depleted one."
Sirius kept talking as he noticed he had Harry's undivided attention. "Power means nothing if you can't touch 'em. As much as I hate him, Snape is a great duelist. He is not the strongest around, not the weakest, but around the upper levels if magic had such things. No what makes him so dangerous, especially in a duel is that mind." Sirius tapped his forehead. "If you go into a duel, without thinking of at least two different ways of engaging, you lost before you raised your wand."
"So… you are saying that dueling is a thinking game?" Harry breathed out.
"No. Dueling is not a thinking game. Dueling is about action reaction and conscious combat decisions. In this life, especially if the war starts, you will be ambushed, taken by surprise, or worse attacked by people you have no business dealing with. In those situations, the key to survival is not to think, but to react, and know how to act." Sirius killed that thought swiftly.
"Sirius… Am I bad at dueling? What can I do improve?" Harry's question caused Sirius to sigh. The kid never pulled his punches with the questions.
"Kid, you have all the tools. Your spells are fast, hit hard, and are accurate. Your reflexes are astounding, and you got some good power behind your magic. You just need to learn how to use your head and use your skills. When that happens, I could put money on you any day of the week." Sirius smiled as he stood and helped his Godson up.
"By the way Sirius, I want to hang out with Hermione and Ron Monday night." Harry mentioned as they started back toward Gryffindor tower.
"Good, I still have some reading to do on what we need to do to make your Rule. I also need to write a letter to Moony. He will be pissed I didn't tell him I was at Hogwarts." Sirius pouted as Harry laughed.
Harry's laughter slowly died and his smile slipped off his face. "Sirius… I don't know how I can win. If I can't crown, I don't have the power to-" His sentence was silenced by a soft thump to the back of his head.
"I just told you. Power isn't everything. Ask Fred and George if they ever saw their dad duel. You will understand better then. I won't lie, power is a good thing. But just because you have power doesn't mean you will win." Sirius ruffled the hair of his godson.
"Why can't I ask Ron?" Harry asked as they climbed the steps.
"I don't think Arthur has picked up his wand for violence in at least 9 years. Fred and George probably saw him duel at least in practice. Gods know that people kept in practice for a while after Voldemort died." Sirius casually replied.
When the two made it back to the Fat Lady, Harry turned and hugged Sirius tightly. "Night Padfoot." He was then gone into his dorm before Sirius could reply.
"Night kid."
AN: This chapter was ready Wednesday... and then the news hit about the happenings in Florida and it slipped my mind. In this chapter we see two characters training, and another side of Igor. Sirius is also showing off a little bit... but if I'm honest, he is just getting started. Next chapter will be prep for the Yule ball, and my week will be weird. I am going to be on break from school but my work schedule is weird, so I may not get to work as hard as I want on the next chapter.
Hug your loved ones folks. Til next time.