Chapter 8: The Inter-school Duels

Harry Potter walked into a dense forest, following the well trod trail. He could hear the sounds of a crowd before he could see the stadium. The stadium grew out of the forest floor past the canopies of the redwood trees around him. Witches and Wizards were standing around the stadium, watching the screens which had been placed along the exterior. A couple attempted to enter the stadium, but the security guard pulled his wand and wouldn't let them pass without a ticket. Harry put on his cloak and slipped past the security guard.

Once inside, he slipped the cloak back off and looked for Secretary Brown. He suspected that the ministry officials would be in a luxury box somewhere, and it didn't take long to find it. Harry slipped through the crowd, making his way to the luxury box, slipped on his cloak and entered the box behind a tall, scruffy wizard.

"They are not human, they are inferi!" Brown said to an important looking witch.

"Can you prove that?" she responded. "They walk and talk a whole lot better than the inferi I have seen. Seems to me that they are not inferi, thus they are human."

"But they still don't have souls!"

"Can you prove that? If you can't then the laws still apply. Capture first, capture second, kill third," she said as she got up and proceeded to walk out. The security guard bowed as she walked out.

Harry took her seat, "You would like some fresh air," he said. Brown jumped. "After all I can't take this cloak off in here and I don't think you want to be talking to yourself."

"How did you get in here, Harry?" Brown asked through clinched teeth.

"I followed the gentleman sitting in the back."

Brown looked behind him. "President Reed?"

"That's your new President?" Harry asked.

"Yes," Brown replied. "I think I need some fresh air." He got up and walked out of the booth, Harry close behind. Harry took off the cloak as soon as they were outside. "I'm assuming that you didn't come here just to get me some fresh air," Brown said. Harry shook his head. "Why are you here?" Brown asked.

"Who was that you were with?" Harry asked.

"Justice Chapman, Chief Justice of the Magical Court. I was trying to convince her to allow us to use more force against Travers and his army. I failed." Brown smiled at Harry's bewildered look. He was watching the spectacle at the base of the stadium where two wizards were dueling fiercely with each other. "Curious?" Brown asked.

"What is this?" Harry asked.

"The Inter-school Duels. Similar to your Triwizard Tournament. Each of the three American schools picks their best duelists and they compete here to see who has the best. My son won last year."

"Three schools?" Harry asked.

"Yes. America is big, in case you haven't noticed. Big enough to support three schools, Naumkeag, Marshall and Laveau."

"Which one did Travers go to?" Harry asked nonchalantly.

"Would that have something to do with why you are here?"

"Albus would cream both of them," Harry said, still not taking his eyes off the competition.

Brown chuckled. "You didn't answer my question," he said.

Harry finally looked away as the younger dueler was hit by a disarming curse. "Yes," he said, "it has a lot to do with why I'm here."

Brown paused before saying, "You still haven't told me why you're here. But, in answer to your question, Travers went to Laveau."

The crowd erupted as the older of the two hit his opponent with a stunning spell, which apparently ended the duel. "And, moving on to the finals is Mr. David "the unstoppable" Johnson of Naumkeag!" the announcer said. The crowd cheered again, and then everyone left their seats and headed for the concession stand. Harry and Brown moved to a nearby wall to get out of the way.

"So, what does Laveau have to do with why you're here?" Brown asked a little more annoyed this time.

"It seems that the only people still alive who knew Travers before he started raising the dead are his teachers. I was hoping you could set up a meeting with them," Harry said.

Brown frowned. "I'll see what I can do. The ministry doesn't have the best relations with Laveau School of Magic."

"Perhaps they would wish to meet with a famous wizard," Harry suggested, pointing to his scar. "Would that get us in?"

Brown shook his head. "No, they have no interest in you Harry. Maybe if we brought them Voldemort, but not you." Brown paused as the next competitors come out to duel. Suddenly Brown smiled. "I have a plan. Follow me."

The two men slithered through the crowd and around the stadium until they arrived at box seats across from the Ministry. Brown approached a man clearly guarding the center box.

"Mr. Brown, you have no business here," the man said.

"I am bringing a Mr. Harry Potter. He is a very rich and influential British wizard who wishes to speak with the Headmaster about enrollment for his son."

"Don't they have schools in Britain?" the man asked Harry.

"Yes," Harry said, catching on to Brown's plan, "But I'm looking for something a little more for my son. I have been impressed by your students' skills in the tournament."

"We don't have any students left, Mr. Potter," the man said.

"I have been impressed by their skills, not their victories. With your training I am sure that my son can become unstoppable," Harry said, recovering. "Surely you have had champions in the past."

"Our last champion was Adam Travers, almost thirty years ago. We do not place much stock in these competitions, too much wands."

"Well, perhaps your headmaster can tell me about this," Harry paused, acting like he forgot the name, "Travers. Or I could just take my money to Naumkeag." He turned and left.

"Mr. Potter!" the man called out. "Wait here a moment, I will talk with the Headmaster." The man entered the box.

"Nice recovery," Brown said to Harry, "I thought we'd blown it."

The man emerged from the seats. "Mr. Potter, Headmaster Rodriguez is eager to meet with you. Please be at the school tomorrow morning at dawn," he said. Harry and Jacob Brown thanked him and went back to the ministry box.