Wild cards
Chapter 24

…

With the preliminary matches over there was a one-hour break for lunch. Harry found he wasn't hungry. Things were worse than he'd at first believed. Not only were the men who'd attacked him competing in the tournament, but there boss as well, or so his last opponent had alluded.

Things were spiraling out of control and he didn't know what to do. He was only eleven for crying out loud. Normally in such a situation one would turn to a parent, guardian, someone older. Harry had no such person to turn to. Andrew might have served but Harry didn't know where he was and anyway, he was primarily responsible for the situation.

Trying to calm himself he realized that wasn't entirely fair. Those men would have been after it no matter where it was, and he'd been the one to bring it to Andrew in the first place. He couldn't deny his culpability in the whole debacle but still. What was Andrew playing at here?

He was probably most upset that Andrew hadn't told him. He might have just skipped the tournament if he'd known the danger he was putting himself in. Maybe that was why he hadn't. He was so busy running circles in his own head he never noticed the man sit down next to him till he said his name.

"Harry."

He looked up, startled and ready to run. He calmed when he saw a familiar face smiling benignly down at him.

"Jaspreet, you scared me."

"I do apologize" the Indian said, "I see you've still much on your mind."

Harry gave a weak laugh, "This day just keeps getting more and more complicated."

"And I feel I was part of that complicating" the old man said, "Again I apologize, for earlier. You surprised me and I didn't know what to do. I fear I reacted most poorly."

Harry remembered now, "So, what was it you needed to tell me?"

"Let me ask you a question? Have you ever spoken to a snake before?"

He had, but how did Jaspreet know that.

The old man smiled, "I can see by your expression the answer is yes. You, my young friend, are like me. You possess the unique gift that allows you to commune in the tongue of serpents, what is commonly called Parsel."

"So, this is rare?"

"Very" said Jaspreet, "More in your country than in mine but still."

Well that wasn't so bad, "Is that why you were so shocked?"

"Partly" the Indian admitted, "It's important you understand, no matter what anyone else may tell you, this is a gift. In my country where venomous snakes are frightfully common, those with our talent are highly respected, venerated even."

Uh oh, "And here?"

Jaspreet sighed, "There is a stigma in your country for those with our gift. It would seem, historically, all those known to speak Parsel had rather dark leanings and that has caused people to think there is some inherent evil to the talent."

Figures, "That's stupid."

"It is" Jaspreet nodded, "but there is little to be done about it. I usually refrain from using it while I'm in Europe, it just slipped out earlier, and how fortunate it did."

"Yeah" Harry agreed.

He'd been learning so much since he found out he was a wizard. Too bad not all of it was good.

"Thank you for the warning sir."

"Of course" the Indian said, "but you really don't need to call me sir."

"Uncle!" their moment was interrupted by a loud girl and the double standing quietly next to her.

"My nieces" he explained, "Harry."

"Jaspreet."

And with that the old man took his leave. The last Harry saw of him was his bright white turban vanishing into the crowd.

"Well, that could have been worse" he mused.

"What could have been worse?"

Harry had to restrain his skin from jumping off his person, "Kimberly!"

"Hi" she said with a cheeky wave.

"Don't sneak up on a bloke like that, give me a heart attack" he mumbled.

The crazy little female just kept grinning as she sat down next to him, "So, how ya doin?"

"Fine, mostly. You?"

"I'm out" she confessed, "I miscalculated on my third duel and my opponent pulled out the victory. He lost the next one though so that's alright. You still in?"

"Yeah" though he was seriously wondering if that was a good thing.

"Impressive. You show surprising stamina."

"Uh, thanks" whatever that was supposed to mean, "You seen Rhiannon?"

"She ran off somewhere at the start of the break, but I know she's still in. So's the brat" she grumbled.

"Maybe I'll duel her next" he offered.

"Don't you dare lose" she ordered.

Harry chuckled.

"Attention! Duels will begin in five minutes. Competitors please find your assigned ring."

"Guess I better go" said Kimberly, "good luck."

Harry waved goodbye as Kimberly left. She may have been a little crazy, but she wasn't so bad.

Harry sighed now that he was alone then got up and began to meander over to ring 2. He was tired, likely due to also feeling overwhelmed. He suspected he was thinking too much. A terrible thing when knowing too little. He could imagine far worse than was likely to happen.

Except, he was in the magic world now. His last few days had proved his imagination needed an upgrade because he'd never have been able to dream up any of this stuff on his own.

"Nothing for it now" he mumbled as he stepped into ring 2.

The ring was empty, so Harry took the opportunity to go through his deck. He'd decided on his strategy and wasn't altering the deck, just looking through it.

The one-minute warning sounded before his opponent came hurtling into the ring. She looked like she'd just sprinted a full mile as she stood hunched over panting. Harry shook his head.

"Don't you ever slow down Rhiannon?"

"Huh, what, oh, Harry" she rambled, "I gotta duel you?"

"Looks like it" said Harry.

"Well, prepare to get your butt kicked."

Harry laughed. This was what he'd come for. A nice friendly duel.

"I will crush your bones!"

Yeah, friendly.