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HHH

It was a Saturday morning when Professor Flitwick summoned Harry in full dueling attire to his office. The boy went without hesitation, thinking he was going for more training. It wouldn't have been the first time he practiced while in his proper dueling uniform. The Professor found that it was important to get use to the feel of the robes so as to know what movements were possible.

When Harry arrived, he was shocked to be led to the floo and out of the school. He had not been told about leaving the school. There last outing he had been informed a week in advanced. Despite the surprise, he did not hesitate to follow his head of house.

More shocking then his sudden trip out of the school, was where they ended up. They arrived and headed towards a desk, other students similar in age were dressed in formal dueling attire. He wasn't given a chance to ask any questions as the women at the desk began to speak. "Entries, name, age and if he has a sponsor his sponsors name." The lady asked not looking up as she prepared the forms for entry.

"Harry Potter, Age 11, Sponsor Filius Flitwick thrice winner of the world dueling competitions," Flitwick said without hesitation.

She froze before looking up never expecting the professor's presence as a sponsor. "Professor Flitwick," she said shocked realizing that she had heard correctly. "You took an apprentice?"

"I have," He said glancing to his apprentice.

Harry had paled slightly, realizing that the professor had tricked him, and he was at a dueling competition. Not just to view what a real competition looked like but to take part. He wasn't ready. There was no possibly way he was ready. Every worry he had about the idea ran through his mind making him feel sick. He was going to let the professor down, he just knew it.

"Ample warning professor," He whispered remembering what he said at the dueling shop. There was absolutely no warning about this competition.

"Hmm, did I not tell you," he asked amused knowing very well he didn't warn him. If he had, he'd have time to doubt himself, to worry himself sick. Better to rip off the band aid instead of waiting and stressing over the issue. Less painful. He hoped his student would forgive him, but he felt that this was necessary for the boy not to worry. The first competition was always the most terrifying. "This was one of my old students. A Ravenclaw, she was even head girl, she graduated five years ago now."

"Ten,' She returned and there was no doubt in her mind that he knew that, "But thank you for labelling me younger then I was." she gave the boy a once over. He was clearly shy, kept his head down and meek. He spoke in a near whisper. He truly did not look like much of a dueler. "I see. Well here's his numbers, he appears in proper attire no surprises there. Your consent forms as his sponsor?" While she would like to question the professor more there were people waiting.

He handed them over and she handed them a card. "Around to the first section on your right," she directed as they walked through the crowd.

"Professor, I don't know if I'm ready yet," Harry protested. "I'm going to end up embarrassing you."

This was the very self-doubt that the professor had been trying to prevent. Better only to worry for a short time then constantly for weeks in advance. "Mr. Potter, I would not bring you here if I did not have complete faith in what you were capable of," Flitwick stated. "It is not all about winning either. This is your first competition. I want you to see if this is something you want to pursue. Have fun. Meet people your own age with the same interests. People who don't know you from school."

That did make the competition sound less stressful, but he couldn't help but still be worried about letting the professor down. "Is anyone from Hogwarts involved," he asked wondering who he had to worry about.

"Two in your age group, first through third year," Flitwick stated knowing why he was asking. There was no wondering if he would see friends, but instead worrying about potential bullies. "A third year named Adrian Pucey, a second year named Cedrick Diggory. Will they be a problem?"

Harry shook his head since none of them were people he recognized which meant they weren't part of the groups regularly bullying him. He knew each of his worst bullies by name. "I don't recognize the names. I don't think they've ever given me too hard of a time."

"There are at last count, eight people in your age group in the dueling league at Hogwarts. You are enlisted to both staff and wand dueling. They only rank the top five. This is a welcome tournament. They have these perhaps once or twice a month, it gives duelist a chance to work out any kinks in their forms but also allows them to gain sponsors, and experience. They are not medal tournaments but just ones used for ranking and to showcase ability. To be seen by the right people."

"Okay," Harry said following towards where the others from there group was gathered. He didn't need sponsors. He had Professor Flitwick but he still worried about embarrassing him. He tried to remember everything he knew about the competitions but felt like he was forgetting everything he had spent months learning. "UK. right?"

"Yes, some of the students get schooled out of the country, private tutors for the most part. There are currently 19 at Hogwarts who go in and out of tournaments but most of them are fourth to seventh years. A few from your age group chose not to participate in this competition. It is popular amongst the purebloods."

Harry nodded taking everything he said. "Professor Flitwick," Adrian Pucey said surprised having not expected a Hogwarts professor at the competition, "I was not aware you were coming to this."

"Yes well, I wish to make it as often as possible and I am mentoring Harry here," Flitwick said.

Pucey looked at the very small first year. He'd seen him around school, usually running off somewhere. He just looked up through his bangs never really standing tall. A couple students present looked in some level at disbelief since Flitwick was almost legendary in that he never took a student. Yet he chose this one. A meek little thing who looked like a strong wind would blow him over. "I see," Pucey said in surprise.

"Him," one of the others said mockingly unable to believe that Flitwick chose him. "He is friggen pathetic. Why someone like Flitwick would waste his time."

Harry flinched slightly hearing the comment. Kept his head down. Adrian gave a look at the pompous idiot who said it. he was homeschooled and had never even met the newest dueler. "I think that he must be a hell of a lot more then he looks if he's got a teacher like Flitwick taking an interest. your just jealous cause everyone knows you write to him asking him to take you on."

Harry looked surprised at the defense. Especially from someone at Hogwarts. He had not expected anyone to defend him, instead expected them to join in on the comments. "Thanks," he said quietly.

"Prove me right kid," Adrian returned with a smirk hoping he didn't just lie.

Harry nodded quickly, and Flitwick gave Adrian a grateful nod, "I have to go but remember, use your speed over your strength. You may be the smallest here but big things come in small packages Mr. Potter."

"Yes, Master Flitwick," he said bowing respectively.

Everyone was antsy and not much up to socializing, Adrian however was watching him, how he flinched away from touch and glares from some of the others. How he just looked down when he heard comments on how he was going to be the first one out, how he'd never last. Either Flitwick was being stupid picking the kid as his student or there was a lot more then met the eyes. He'd wait and see.

In the meantime, Diggory approached him having noticed the first year he recognized from in passing at school. "What do you know about the first year," Cedrick asked.

"Nothing you? Seen him around a bit. Ravenclaw I think," Pucey returned honestly curious about what made Flitwick choose him. People had for years tried to bribe the man to teach their children, offering thousands of galleons for even just a couple lessons but he was not bribable meaning the boy must have gained him as a teacher from skill alone. At eleven years old, that was beyond impressive as he had never been in a competition before. "What do you know Diggory?"

"I know I've seen a couple of the first-year puffs bullying him," Cedrick admitted hating to admit that his house was taking part in bullying. It was a horrid thought, but he had noticed it on more then one occasion but was not in position to put an end to it. Either catching it too late or being too far away. He had reported one of the bullies to his head of house but wasn't sure what was done to put an end to it.

Pucey gave him a look of pure disbelief. If you thought of bullies at Hogwarts you could pick out every other house. Ravenclaws bullied people who thought outside the box. Slytherins and Gryffindor's bullied the easiest targets but Hufflepuff's were rarely the perpetrators, "The puffs doing bullying."

"Yeah, never seen him fight back," Diggory admitted since there had been hexes involved. The boy never even drew his wand and he was supposed to be a duelist?

There was nothing else to say since the competition was beginning. They would just have to wait and see how the first year made out. No one, even the one who defended him really expecting him to do well.

Harry was looking nervously around himself knowing that he was being stared at and studied. Something that made him want to run. Once the dueling started, he lost interest in the attention and watched amazed seeing a duel for the first time.

Staff striking staff. The way the duelists seemed to dance across the floor. The cheers from other duelists and the crowd making a wall of noise. It was everything he expected and more. He couldn't believe he was really here, getting a chance to duel with other students. The more he watched, he more he felt his nerves fading. He was actually here, actually dueling.

All too soon, his name was called and he was paired up with a another student for the duel. It was a third year and likely the largest one present. Him being the smallest duelist gave people a strong idea of what was going to happen.

"You're kidding right, I'm going to break the kid in half," the fourteen-year-old named Edmund laughed as they got ready to leave the area.

Harry took a breath going towards the platform. Both of the duelists summoned the staffs before reaching the platform and walking up. "Poor kid, he doesn't have a chance," Adrian returned watching, fully agreeing on Edmunds statement which was obvious as he spoke to Cedrick saying. "Edmunds going to break him in half."

"Oh yeah," Cedrick agreed doubting that the first year stood a chance.

However, they saw that the Ravenclaw first year changed almost instantly when he reached the platform. He stood straighter, his shoulders back. He owned the ground he was on, his head up and no more shying away. Everyone noticed the instant change. Flitwick grinned, that was his student. Not the shy boy he was everywhere else. He had no doubt that the boy would own the field.

Harry looked at his opponent. He was large, clearly strong. He knew if he was hit it would do significant damage. He quickly plotted a plan of attack as they were told to begin.

Immediately, once they started, Edmund sent a rough strike at his head. It was a dangerous move but before everyone's eyes, Harry was no longer there to be hit, he just effortlessly dodged out from underneath him, hitting the larger boy roughly on the side causing him to gasp. No one had even seen him spin to strike him again within seconds of the previous hit, getting another pained gasp letting everyone know that the staff had struck its target.

Harry dodged another hit and managed to get the older boy with a strike to the back of the knees knocking him off his feet. Edmund pulled out of it and was up again quickly, no longer viewing the boy as an easy win. He went at the younger duelist full forced, aiming another strike at his head. Harry however had been expecting the sudden angry strike and caught it on his staff. The weight of the strike nearly caused him to collapse but he managed to dodge away before he lost control and collapsed under the weight. Harry sent another strike this time hitting Edmunds staff as the other student blocked the strike.

Harry quickly spun out of reach, drawing on his magic as Flitwick had taught him, sending a blast of pure power at the fourteen-year-old. Edmund was tossed across the stage. Dazed for a second but he still managed to pull himself back to his feet. The audience was silent for the most part, amazed at the unexpectedly strong dueler. Edmund, angry at being shown up by a small child, went at him full speed striking at Harry again and again. Harry however wasn't phased by the barrage of strikes, instead he just dodged under or around them, catching those he couldn't avoid.

Around the continuous attacks, he still managed to get his own strikes in, a hit to the side that caused the older boy to gasp or one to the knees that caught him off balance. Finally, Harry saw an opening and managed to take out the knees of his competitor with a well-placed strike. He knocked the staff out of Edmunds hands and put his own weapon to Edmunds throat ending the match.

As soon as the results were shown, there was a loud cheer in the audience who had all doubted the small boy would last long in the duel let alone win. Unable to believe he had not lost, Harry helped the larger boy to his feet before both returned to the others. He turned almost instantly back into the boy they first met as soon as his feet left the platform. Meek, mild, head down submissively. "Okay, so proving me right. There is a hell of a lot more to you then meets the eye," Adrian decided extremely impressed by the eleven-year-olds unexpected win. "Well done Potter."

"Thanks," he said surprised at the compliment. He defeated Diggory in the next round before another student from Durmstrange. Each time he came out victorious the audience let out whoops and hollers because no one expected it of him. He caught them off guard by his first victory and everyone since just continued to amaze them.

Adrian watched him amused. He realized by now that Flitwick was right in choosing the unassuming boy because he lit up on the dueling arena. He was quick, agile, and skilled knowing the perfect moves to take down his opponents and had no issue drawing on his magic for the duels. Adrian was pleased to have been chosen to go up against him for his fifth match. He wanted to see how he faired against Flitwick's prodigy, even with the age difference.

Every strike Adrian tossed at him he dodged, in and around, never staying in one place long enough to be hit. The first year moved so quickly that Adrian could barely keep up with him. Harrys strikes weren't as hard as the other kids, but they were quick. He would get him on one side, spin and strike him on the other before he could move his staff in the way.

Adrian stopped attacking and started just countering the younger boys strikes looking for an opening. He found it and struck him roughly in the knees toppling him. He had him pinned by the staff moments later ending the match. "Nicely done Potter," Adrian said offering his hand which Harry took. "You got talent. I can definitely see why Flitwick chose you to teach."

"Thanks," Harry said gratefully as they returned to their area. He once again looked at his feet. none of the boy with such fire in his eyes. Adrian was wondering about the changes, at first, he thought it was so people under estimated him but now it was clear that wasn't the case. After the first match, no one would under estimate him again yet he kept the down trodden appearance despite the wins.

The last duel was completed, and they called out the top five. Harry glanced up surprised when it was revealed he got second with Adrian first. He couldn't believe that he managed to rank in his first ever duel. He glanced up at Flitwick who cheered smiling at him proudly. Harry was so happy, even if it wasn't a first place, he hadn't let his teacher down.

"So, kid, you any good at the wand part," Adrian asked curiously since people tended to favor one over the other. He was a first year so his spell knowledge wouldn't be as strong as the older students but he was also a Ravenclaw and taught by Flitwick. Adrian was not under estimating him again. He wasn't one to make the same mistakes twice.

Harry shrugged unsure of how he would fair against another duelist. He mostly went against training dummies and the professor who helped him perfect his form. He held no chance of even getting close to beating the older man so he wasn't sure what to expect, "okay I guess."

"Most claws got the book work but are a bit of failures at the practical's. Can't wait to see what you can do. I think you'll probably surprise everyone. You seem to be a bit of a crowd favorite."

Harry shrugged shyly as they moved onto the next portion. Harry getting fourth out of all the students when the ranks were called out.

It was extremely impressive for the first competition especially as he had years fewer to learn spells that he could use. "Okay so your pretty good, second and fourth in your first tournament, nicely done," Cedrick said, he had gotten fifth and third. "You doing the summer tournaments?"

Harry nodded since he had already discussed it with Flitwick and made plans for him to take part. He just had not been expecting to start now. "Yeah," he said hesitantly not use to having friendly conversations with someone so close to his own age. "w-what about you?"

"Yeah it's my second summer involved."

Flitwick let Harry talk with the group of them for a while knowing it was probably the boys only real opportunity for pleasant conversation with people his own age. He knew that at school Harry did not have the opportunity and thought it was good for him. Perhaps they could someday consider each other friends. It was the professors hope that his student would find the opportunity to make friends with his classmates. A similar interest like dueling was a good starting point. None of the prejudices the boy faced at Hogwarts due to his size and timid nature. They were able to see the real Harry and everything he was capable of.

"You know kid, next time summer you're going to have to stay for the after parties," Adrian said finding the boy interesting. "They aren't any good now cause we all get shipped back for classes but summer they are pretty cool."

"I'd like that," Harry said shyly. Happier then he could ever remember being. He was practically walking on air when he returned to the school. Especially as the professor told him multiple times how proud he was of the boy. He had made the man proud which was brilliant. No one had been proud of him before.