Here is a new chapter. Hope you enjoy. Once again, anything recognizable I do not own.
"In the wizarding world, there are three main forms of dueling," Flitwick explained as Harry sat listening intently. "Magic duels which allow wand or wandless magic," he said. "Then there is Staff dueling, which use a staff with a focus. So, you fight both with the staff physically as well as guide your magic through the staff similar in how you would a wand. The last is swords, sword fighting is the least common now since sword duels often lead to death. I will be training you in all three but we will begin with staffs since they help you learn accuracy, build up your physical strength as well as your magical core."
Harry nodded quickly, "Okay," he said excitedly.
Now Dueling competitions are frequent and varied. There are probably a hundred run a year. Not always the same competitions. Some run every two years, Others every three, then again, some only run every four years. There are just random competitions run through the dueling circuit. They are there to help you gain experience, to help work out dueling skills. You get ranked but in the end, all it really counts for as standing. They are where you improve your skills.
Then there are medal competitions, competitions that have prize money and you earn dueling medals or trophies. These are showier competitions. Most of them have specific names. For example, the Phoenix Tournament or the Dragon Tournament. These are important competitions. Because they give you standing. There's also qualifier tournaments that fall under medal tournaments. These allow you access to different tournaments that host the best of the best. For example, the United Kingdom Under 13 competitions is one of the only ones your currently eligible to take part in."
Harry nodded following along. "Now competitions also run in age categories. Third year and under, fifth year and under, third to seventh year, third to fifth, fifth to seventh years, seventeen and under, adult," Flitwick explained. "each tournament is age specific or education level, for example, fifth year and under, anyone who hasn't taken owls. There's other qualifications but as your sponsor it is my job to put you into competitions you can take part in. Understanding so far?"
Harry nodded, "yes sir," he whispered. "So, I'd be able to take part in the 13 and under, or the under fifth year or under seventh."
"At 11, I'd only put you in under 13 because difficulty levels change through different ages as well as levels of danger, they are for duelists with a bit more experience," Flitwick explained. But for now, we are just going to worry about getting you use to dueling. Sounds good."
He once again nodded as Flitwick taught him the best way to hold the staff and worked with him learning a few basic moves.
He took to it quickly, following move for move. Flitwick could find him in the training room, as soon as classes ended and until dinner then often till bed. He would stop long enough to do his book work but the rest of the time he spent training new moves Flitwick taught him or building up physical strength.
Harry himself loved it, he loved the feel of moving with a staff in hand. The clank when staff struck staff. He found it completely thrilling working with the dummy which was animated to fight him. Despite gaining bruises with every strike it was better than gaining bruises from the other students.
He found himself looking forward to going to the dueling room every day after class. Locked away inside working with the staff and wand to duel gave him a chance to breath. He was away from the other students and could relax and not have to worry about what they'd think or what they would say or do. It was his own escape. He had something to push him to get through the day. Something that he could count down to. Three classes then he could go to the dueling room and practice. he only had to put up with two more meals before he could escape for good.
It was the only reason he got up most days. He'd look forward to his lessons with Flitwick since he was always learning something new. He could even escape during meals or at night, pulling up dueling books or spell books. It made him feel less alone to have something to do.
The students got worse and worse when they could find him, but he was getting quicker. He'd escape as soon as classes were over, even spending his breaks hiding away with a book or in the room. Anything to escape the constant torment from his classmates. Though it was a relief for him to have Snape stopping pointing him out in class though the other students were disappointed at the lack of entertainment and seemed to try to make up for it outside the class since Snape had ripped them new one about messing around in his class. That got him a dozen hexes and two good punches for being the cause of them getting yelled at, but it was a relief to no longer have to worry about getting shoved in class or having potions dumped over him.
Snape put him in the back corner and let him work alone after asking him which he'd prefer. At least this way he didn't have to watch his back and he was able to work without constantly being berated by whomever he was paired with.
He knew his newfound luck had everything to do with the professor who took him under his wing and Harry wanted nothing more then to prove that his head of house did not make a mistake choosing him as his student. It gave him drive to work twice as hard in practices.