Reviews:
ReaperOfBalance: Thanks for the snake facts! The pairing for this story is a multi-pairing: Harry - Daphne and an OC character
The Jabberwock of OZ: That was exactly what I was thinking.
Sunny JS: I will eventually.
Chapter 12 -
(Time Skip)
"Welcome, welcome everyone to 'The British under 12's duelling tournament'!" The announcer yelled into his wand, his amplifying spell making his voice echo across the stadium.
The cheer of the crowds erupted into the air, the gathered witches cheering happily and loudly, especially the parents. The stadium was nowhere near the biggest to ever exist, but it was still fairly big. The crowd seats were filled to the max, there was a small booth on top of a connected tower for the four judges and the announcer. In the centre of the stadium was a lengthy, blue duelling platform that was six feet tall in height.
"I am your announcer for this event, Theo Hubbard. Together with us today is our referee, Ben Keaton." The announcer continued as a tall, stocky man with combed brown hair climbed up onto the platform, wearing red robes and a badge on his chest that was made of black and white stripes. "Before we begin I would like to take a moment to thank our proud sponsors for this tournament, the Nimbus Broom company! They've recently released a new and improved version of their last broom, that's right folks, out now and in stores is the Nimbus 1500 max! A better quality broom, you will not find. And now, let's get to the action! Starting first, entering from the left and in the blue corner, accompanied by his father, Richard, is eleven year old Anton Oliver!"
From the left side of the stadium a blonde haired boy dressed in light brown robes, accompanied by a similarly dressed brown haired man that had to be his father. The two proudly walked over to the platform, smiling and waving at the cheering crowds before climbing up the platform and stopping just short of the referee.
"And now," The announcer continued. "Entering from the right side of the stadium, in the red corner, accompanied by Bellatrix Black, is none other than Britain's very own parselmouth, the boy-who-lived, the ten year old Hydrus Black!"
The crowds cheers had noticeably dimmed down as Hydrus and Bellatrix walked out. Bellatrix wore her best clothes, all in black of course, wearing her hair in a tight bun with a few lose strands framing her face, her beautiful lips were painted in an eye-catching and pretty shade of purple. A confident smirk on her face and a twinkle in her violet eyes made it clear just how confident she was in Hydrus's chances of victory.
Speaking of Hydrus, he wore lose black trousers that had legs tucked into his knee length grey boots. Tucked into his trousers was a black shirt that had the black family crest on his chest. Combined with this he wore an open light grey robe that fit perfectly with his black shirt. A wand holster was fitted to his waist and his hands were covered in black duelling gloves, his shoulder length hair was put into a small ponytail. He walked with pride and wore a smirk that matched Bellatrix's.
The two didn't pay attention to the lack of cheering from the crowd and simply climbed the platform and walked over to their opponents. Their reputation amongst the British public was a bit weird, some liked Hydrus for being the boy-who-lived and some thought it was the worse thing in the world that he had become a Black. Not to mention Bellatrix's suing Dumbledore all those years ago didn't help matters, unfortunately for them Dumbledore didn't suffer much beyond a fine and a slightly damaged reputation. They stopped just short of the referee but instead of standing perfectly still like the Oliver duo, Bellatrix had stopped behind Harry and had wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she hugged him while leaning her head on her arms.
"Not very impressive looking, are they?" She whispered into Hydrus's ear, causing him to let out a small laugh.
"What's so funny?" Oliver demanded, not looking impressed.
"Nothing," Hydrus said innocently, though the tone was rather ruined by his grin.
"Okay," Referee Keaton spoke up. "You both know the rules. No illegal curses obviously," He said despite knowing that the two underage children likely didn't know or at least have the ability to perform those curses. "No trying to kill each other, you will stop if and when I say so, first person to win is the one who loses their wands or is unable to fight back, falling off the platform will result in you being eliminated. Don't worry though, there are cushioning charms. Now, blue corner, are you ready?"
"Yes," Anton said quickly.
"Atta boy," Richard proudly patted his son's shoulder.
"Red corner, are you ready?" The referee asked.
"Yep," Hydrus grinned.
"This'll be fun," Bellatrix giggled.
"Parents, off the platform, duellist will take their position." Referee Keaton ordered.
"Good luck, Anton." Richard said to his son as they walked to his side of the platform before Richard walked off the platform.
"Have fun, sweetie." Bellatrix said as she and Harry arrived at his end of the platform. She gave him a small kiss on his head before gracefully walking off the platform.
"Duellist, wands at the ready and face each other." Referee Keaton ordered. Hydrus and Oliver turned and faced each other. Hydrus and Anton both removed their wands and held them in their hands, "Duellist bow and stand ready." the two each gave the other a small bow before taking their duelling stances. Anton took a stance where he stood sideways while his legs were spread with his wand at chest height while his other arm was held up behind his back as a counterweight.
"There we see young Anton taking a classic duelling stance, an oldie but a goodie," The announcer said before speaking in a confused tone. "Though Hydrus Black's stance is noticeably different."
Hydrus's stance was indeed very different as he had chosen a boxers stance with his weight on the balls of his feet with his left arm in front while his wand hand was under his chin with his wand pointing to the side and away from his face. Anton let out an amused snort as he stared at Hydrus, though Hydrus didn't react at all. His face blank and his eyes narrowed with focus.
"Duellist, ready?" The referee asked once he was off the platform. "Begin!" He yelled.
"Get him, Anton!" Richard yelled.
"And the duel is underway!" The announcer yelled just before Anton immediately started firing a trio of stinging hexes at Hydrus. Hydrus tilted his head to the right to avoid the first, he hadn't needed to move for the second one as it had went wide anyway, then he ducked under the third. "Oh, young Anton's opening attacks didn't seem to do much good as Mr Black dodges them all with ease." Anton growled before firing an itching hex followed by another stinging hex before finishing up with another itching hex and a trio of stinging hexes.
"Anton goes on the offensive again but look at Hydrus!" The announcer enthusiastically said, as Hydrus stepped back and tilted his body from side to side to avoid all of Anton's attacks. "Unbelievable, the kid's harder to catch than a niffler."
"You even trying?" Hydrus taunted him.
"Shut up and fight back!" Anton yelled before firing another stinging hex, looking noticeably more tired.
"Go for his legs!" Richard hissed at his son who immediately sent a leg locker at Hydrus's legs, Hydrus easily side stepped it before sidestepping another spell.
"Now, go on the offensive." Bellatrix yelled. A switch seemed to be pressed inside Hydrus's head since his eyes narrowed as he jumped over another spell and as he landed he stretched his right hand out and aimed his wand before he sent a stinging hex which managed to hit Anton in his knee, causing him to gasp and stumble back, barely staying on his feet.
"And it now looks like Black is going on the offensive, he's had enough of dodging and is now returning the favour." The announcer commentated. "Oh, another stinging hex to Anton's shoulder and...wait..." He blurted out as a disarming spell shot out from Hydrus's wand and hit Anton, knocking his wand out of his hand and sending him backwards onto his back. "A disarming charm, simple but incredibly effective and sure to leave you stunned, just like my ex-wife's lawyer!"
"Winner! Red corner!" Referee Keaton announced.
"And the win goes obviously to young Hydrus Black!" The announcer cried out excitedly. "What a duel! What a show! Black moves onto the next round!"
"That's my boy!" Bellatrix cheered as she walked onto the platform and pulled Hydrus into a tight hug. "Well done,"
"Thanks Mum," Hydrus smiled.
"You've made your mother proud," Bellatrix said, leaning down and affectionately rubbing her nose on Hydrus's. "Do it a few more times, okay Sweetie?"
"Yes Mum," Hydrus grinned, looking happy enough to burst.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," The announcer, Theo Hubbard, said into his wand, his voice echoing across the stadium. "Welcome to the final duel!" He yelled, earning a loud cheer from the crowd. "We've witnessed some truly brilliant duels from our young combatants, but now it's time to see once and for all, who is the best! Entering in from the blue corner, followed by his father, is Cormac McLaggen!" The crowds cheered as a young eleven year old boy with curly blonde hair walked out followed by his father.
"Remember," Mr McLaggen whispered to his son. "The boy will try using that weird little stance he's been using, aim for his legs, slow him down, then finish him off."
"Got it, Dad," Cormac said with a confident grin as he waved at the crowds.
"And now, from the red corner," The announcer continued. "We have Britain's very own enigma, Hydrus Black!" The cheers for Hydrus were much louder this time, the crowd having been suitably impressed by his performance. Hydrus walked out as confident as ever with Bellatrix walking right behind him.
"Cormac's father is a bit of an idiot," Bellatrix whispered to Hydrus. "He think's he's smart though. He'll have been watching your fights and probably told his brat to go for your legs, you've started defensively for all your matches. They'll be expecting it, though stay ready, they might expect you to switch up."
"I'll win," Hydrus said matter-of-factly.
"Of course you will," Bellatrix snorted, as if Hydrus had told her something as obvious as the sky being blue. "If he's anything like his father then he'll get angry quick, if he seems like he has any actual skill then make him angry, make him sloppy, move in and finish him. Got it?"
"Got it," Hydrus confirmed as he left Bellatrix to climb up the platform.
"Contestants, ready?" The referee called as Hydrus and Cormac took their positions on the platform. "Wands ready, take your stances," He ordered, Cormac shifted to a classic duelling stance and found himself suitably surprised when Hydrus adopted the same stance. "Begin!"
"Incendio!" Hydrus quickly yelled and shot a fire blast that hit the floor in front of Cormac and splashed onto his shoes.
"Ah!" Cormac jumped back and quickly began stamping his shoes to put out the fire. He looked up and was barely able to duck in time to avoid a stinging hex that would have hit his head.
"And it looks like for the final bout, Hydrus has decided to switch up tactics, starting on the offensive this time." The announcer said. "And it's clearly taken his opponent off guard."
"Expelliarmus!" Cormac yelled, shooting a disarming spell at Hydrus who side stepped before firing off a stinging hex that hit Cormac in the stomach, causing him to gasp as he took a couple of steps back before dodging another spell.
"Incendio, incendio!" Hydrus grunted, shooting out two fire spells, Cormac side stepped the first but fell into Hydrus's trap and stepped directly into the second one which hit him in the stomach and started spreading across his robes. "Expelliarmus!" Hydrus quickly fired off a disarming charm which knocked the wand out of Cormac's hand and sent the blonde flying back before he landed harshly.
"Finish!" Referee Keaton said quickly before waving his wand and stopping the fire that was attacking Cormac.
"That's not fair!" Cormac immediately protested as he pushed himself up to his feet. "He was trying to burn me!"
"It's not against the rules," The referee shrugged. "Anyway, winner! Red Corner!" He yelled.
"He's done it!" The announcer shouted as Bellatrix rushed up the platform. "Hydrus Black has won the tournament!" He yelled just as Bellatrix pulled Hydrus into a hug.
"Well done, my little prince," Bellatrix said, her voice filled with pride.
"I did it, Mother," Hydrus smiled.
"I knew you could do it," Bellatrix said without hesitation.
"I'm happy you won, Hydrus." Daphne told him.
"Thanks," Hydrus smiled at her as he looked around.
After winning the tournament the pair had returned home where Bellatrix had already prepared a big surprise party for Hydrus, inviting all of his closest friends and family. Hydrus could see his mother talking with Aunt Andy and Aunt Cissy in the corner of the room while Draco was facing Ted in a game of wizards chest. Meanwhile Tonks was sat on the floor, facing Rocky and transforming her face into various animals to see his reactions to them. Meanwhile Daphne was sat with Harry on a nearby sofa.
"Dad told me to tell you that he saw the tournament and thought you were very good," Daphne added.
"I am very good," Hydrus agreed with a small smirk as he looked at Bowie who was on Daphne's shoulder and playing with her blonde hair. "Maybe next time you guys can come to watch. Draco was there with Aunt Narcissa, and Tonks was there with Aunt Andy."
"Maybe," Daphne said hopefully. "Did you win anything?" She asked.
"Yep," Hydrus nodded. "I got some money that Mum put in my vault and I got a trophy."
"Oh, can I see it?" Daphne asked excitedly.
"Okay," Hydrus stood up with Daphne following after him, the two immediately held hands. "Mum, I'm going to show Daphne my trophy." He called before leading her out the room.
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Tonks asked in an amused tone, only to yelp when Bellatrix hit her with a stinging hex.
A.N: Hi guys, hope you liked the chapter.
I decided I wanted to skip up to Hydrus getting his letter which will be in the next chapter, hope you're looking forward to that. As for the duels in this chapter, I had considered making them bigger and longer but then again, this is the under 12's duelling tournament so I thought it was best to have a limited amount of basic spells. Also yes, I remember that underage magic is a thing and that will be addressed in a future chapter. Anyway, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed the chapter.