Chapter 24: Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff
That Friday night, after a grueling practice in the Gryffindor Armor, Lily collapsed on her bed and had a dream. It was both awful yet beautiful, and had been invading her thoughts before she began sinking into unconscienceness.
In it she was in the Gryffindor Armor and came face-to-face with the Slytherin Champion at the Quidditch field, wands pointed at each other. Nobody was there to witness the bout, save for some black-cloaked figures who were in a doorway. One of them had a green box with a silver ribbon wrapped around it in his hands, and was looking at her with an expression that seemed to be torn between happiness and anticipation.
Making the first move Lily roared, "Expelliarmus!"
But the Slytherin deflected the blow and sent a silent spell at her, making direct contact and knocking Lily off her feet. Her wand flew out of her hand and she could feel the medalion shifting around her neck as her eyes closed.
When she opened them Lily saw that the figure holding the package was kneeling beside her, and held it out for her to open. She recognised the mysterious person to be Severus. He was smiling at her as he motioned for her to open the box.
"But I'm the middle of a duel S-S-Sev," Lily hissed at him.
Hissed?
Still smiling Severus untied the box and presented Lily with the contents. Inside there was the school uniform, except that the tie was silver and green and the House crest featured the Slytherin Serpent instead of the Gryffindor Lion.
Looking up from the present Lily saw that the Gryffindor Armor was being worn by someone else, whereas she was wearing the Slytherin Armor, and everyone was cheering her name.
Getting up Severus held out his hand and said, "Congradulations, Lily. You are one of us."
Lily took his hand and could feel a smile on her face that matched his own.
"LILY! WAKE UP!" a voice called from a distance.
"Why would I want to?" Lily thought as she was being lead to her new home by her boyfriend and fellow Housemates, who were still cheering her name as the new necklace filled her up with its power. A power that felt more satisfying than the lion crest...
Suddenly a shower of cold water was poured onto her and Lily's eyes shot open.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WAS THAT FOR?" the soaked Prefect shouted at a guilty-looking Mary, who was holding an empty pitcher.
"Sorry Lily," she whimpered under the furious gaze. "But it's time for you to go down to breakfast before the match starts."
"The match," Lily whispered, snapping out of her daze. "Hufflepuff! Right! Let's go!"
With that the hungry lioness rushed into the bathroom to get herself washed and dressed. Then she made her way down to the Great Hall, which was all shouts and cheers as other students entered. The biggest wave came from the Gryffindor side as Lily made her way to a vacant seat, surrounded by the Marauders, Mary and Sheila.
Sirius, being somewhat out of character, started piling a bunch of food on her plate and commented, "Better eat up Roary! Don't want to duel on an empty stomach!"
"Eh... Thanks Sirius, I guess," Lily said as she grabbed a raspberry scone and some sausages amid the avalanch of food.
"Remember Lily," Remus whispered as she ate, "keep your guard up and watch for any openings."
Lily nodded and continued to eat her breakfast.
After what seemed like no time at all Professor Dumbledore stood up and annouced, "The time for the House Champions to prepare for the duel will start in five minutes. All students, teachers and staff are to head down to the Quidditch Pitch at this time."
The Heads of House then called their students by year, allowing the first years to exit the Hall at the front, while the rest of the students followed.
Sensing a pair of eyes on her Lily looked to her left and smiled. Severus was staring at her and smiled back when Lily met his gaze. Avery was giving him a pat on the back while whispering something to him.
"Lucky stiff," Avery said into Severus's ear. "Out of all the blokes at this school Queen Lily chose you to be her King. What's your secret?"
As Lily was herded out of the castle Severus whispered back, "Just lucky, I suppose."
"Lucky at the fact I am able to spend a blissful three months alone with her, seeing as how we live so close together," Severus thought as he lost sight of his crimson beauty as the crowd thickened at the Pitch entrance.
While everybody was detained at the entrance, Lily slipped through a hidden sidedoor of the stadium and was met inside the secret room by Professor McGonagall.
"Are you ready Ms. Evans?" McGonagall asked as she presented the necklace to Lily.
Placing her own necklace in the glass case Lily replied, "I am Professor."
That being said McGonagall placed the crest on Lily's neck and stood back as the transformation took place.
Just like the first time Lily felt the surge of power course through her veins. It filled her up with what felt like an unstoppable energy, and, unbeknown to the teacher before her, she relished in it. She allowed it to soak into her very being underneath the outershell of the armor as the glow from the transition ebbed away.
"There is no way I am allowing anybody else to wear this! I will win this duel and see how much more powerful I will become with the other three crests!" Lily thought, and it was with that resolution that she awaited to be announced as McGonagall left the room.
A loud voice echoed through the Quidditch Pitch from the commentator booth, sending the speaker's voice all over the wide expanse.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Interhouse Dueling Tournament Semi-Finals!" a chorus of cheers erupted as the speaker continued, "I am your trustworthy, lovable, handsome, fun-loving, and- fortunatly for all of you girls out there- single commentator Alan Jordin!"
"JORDIN!" McGonagall yelled at her sixth year.
"Sorry Professor. Just trying to lighten things up," Jordin commented before returning to the audience. "This first Semi-Final Match is between the Champion of Hufflepuff!"
A tremulous cat-call came from the opposite end of the stadium as the Hufflepuff Champion came out in the gold and ebony armor, waving to the cheering fans from its House section of the Pitch.
"Poor Trixie was probably cowering in her seat when she heard that," Lily thought with a smile under the lion's head.
"I thought otters were supposed to bark," Rookwood said to Severus.
"Seals bark, otters meow," Severus answered in annoyance.
"And the Champion of Gryffindor!"
Coming out of the door Lily decided to play it up a little and gave out a loud roar, thrusting her head back and standing at her full height. The crowd broke into impressed applause as they saw the gold and ruby lion make her way to the middle of the field.
"Remember, whoever knocks their opponent's wand out their hands three times wins!" Jordin continued. "Opposites shake hands, take ten paces, and come out dueling!"
Doing as they were told both Champions shook hands, turned, took ten paces back to their respective ends and held their wands at-ready.
"On three!" the commentator shouted. "One! Two! THREE!"
With that the match started...
Hufflepuff went first and sent out a silent spell toward Gryffindor. But the lion deflected the blow and sent a Leg-Locking Jinx toward the otter. It made contact and the opponent was knocked off its feet, wand flying out of its hand.
"First blow against Hufflepuff with the use of the Leg-Locking Jinx!" Jordin announced as the red and gold side cheered while the gold and ebony side groaned.
Lifting the spell off her opponent Lily resumed her stance, then- after the five minute reprieve- sent a steady flow of water out of the tip of her wand. It made contact with the otter, sending it backwards due to the force of the stream, but it retained the hold on its wand.
Flicking its wand the Hufflepuff repelled the stream back to the Gryffindor, who waved her wand and the flow circled around her form. Then came back the opponent, but split itself into five, whip-like streams.
The first two whips were deflected, but the other two wrapped around the left arm and right leg. The final stream slipped through the right hand and whipped the wand out of the Hufflepuff's grasp.
"Another blow courtesy of Gryffindor by use of an advance-level Aquamanta Charm!" Jordin yelled amid the mixture of cheering and moaning. "If Hufflepuff loses their wand again Gryffindor moves to the Finals!"
"C'mon Hufflepuff!" the gold and ebony crowd shouted as their Champion dried off from the recent water-fight.
"C'mon Lily," Potter whispered as he looked at the lion-clad Champion.
Suddenly Hufflepuff made an unexpected move...
Twirling its wand in the air it conjured up the water from before and sent it underground. The water dug toward the lion, who tried to blast it off its course, but was unsuccessful as a burst of water shot out at her and knocked the lion off her feet.
However, Lily maintained hold of her wand, and sent a shot of fire at the make-shift fountain. It went through the path that its counterpart took, turning the flowing river into steam.
Getting back up on her feet she directed the flame and made it come up halfway up the tunnel. There it transformed into a vine-covered dirt lion, with the fire in its eyes, mane and teeth.
"Unbelievable! The Gryffindor Champion has just used an advance-level Element Manipulation spell! How will the Huffelpuff Champion counter?" the commentator replayed for the awe-struck audience.
"Know anyone that can do that Severus?" Avery asked, his eyes on the Ruby Champion.
"Not really," the black-haired Prefect drawled.
"Just somebody by the name of Lily Aurora Evans," he thought, completely impressed with his goddess's spell work.
Wand pointed at the lion the Hufflepuff Champion conjured a mixture of wind, ice and snow. The effect was immediate on the charging animal, and it was soon frozen in place before another spell obliterated it.
When the otter looked up it saw a two shots of light approached. It blocked the first, but the second collided and then...
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Alan shouted over his louder Housemates as they cheered and jumped around their seats.
"She did it! She did it! SHE DID IT! YES!" Potter exclaimed as he pulled Remus and Sirius in a headlock while jumping like an over-excited child.
"Prongs...Please...You're strangling us," Sirius choked out, trying to keep his face from turning blue.
While that was going on the two Champions met in the middle of the stadium.
"Good duel mate," the otter mewed as it removed the necklace.
"You're Andromeda Black?" the lion asked as the crest was put into her hand.
"Yes, or, rather, the future Mrs. Ted Tonks," the brown-haired seventh year said with a smile.
"Congradulations!" Lily roared back.
"Thanks and good luck in the Finals!" she cried over her shoulder.
As the former Hufflepuff Champion left the stadium Lily placed the new crest next to hers. It connected immediatly, and was held together by the top half of a capital "H", the second band of gold merging with hers.
When the combined crests rested on her chest Lily felt another surge of magical energy flow through her. It doubled the energy she felt before and it overwhelmed her senses.
Before she could be fully overcomed McGonagall came over to her and ushered for her Champion to go back to the hidden room.
"That was the most excellent display of magic I have ever witnessed, Ms. Evans!" the Transfiguration professor exclaimed. "Absolutley brilliant!"
"It was nothing Professor," Lily replied in a disappointed voice as she was forced to remove her new amulet.
Noting something off in her voice McGonagall asked, "Is there something wrong?"
"No, Professor McGonagall," Lily sighed. "I guess I must be tired."
"Tired of having something I've earned taken away from me so quickly."
"Well then, you better get some rest. I assume that your Housemates would want to celebrate your victory with you awake and alive," the usually stern teacher said with a smirk.
Nodding her head Lily went out of the room and slipped back amidst the boisterious crowd of Gryffindors, unaware that three petals on the third layer of her rose had turned black.
A.N. Sorry it took me so long to write this, but I hope it was worth the wait.
Send me some reviews and let me know what you all think.
Thanks!