Chapter eight - The First Task
Gina had missed Alejandro and Sandro more than ever while preparing for the first task. She had studied and practised duelling, defensive and offensive techniques and spells with them for five years at school so she wasn't worried, but it would have been nice to practise with someone non the less. Jonne wasn't serious enough to be of any use and José had said he hated duelling, just like Jill. Gina had wandered before if Jill also had different motivations for entering the tournament too.
Waiting with the champions in the Great Hall after breakfast on the morning of the first task, she wondered if British and French wizards duelled differently than Spaniards. She was about to find out either way.
The rest of the school had been asked to make their way to the Quidditch stadium twenty minutes ago, and half of the champions were looking a little green by now.
They where collected from the Great Hall by professor McGonagall shortly after, and she preceded them through the open doors, over the lawn and to the small building on the side to the Quidditch stadium, which was obviously normally used as the changing rooms. It still smelled faintly of sweat.
They hardly had time to look around when a blond man with a boyish face came in after them, wearing a robes with horizontal stripes of yellow and black, which made him look like a huge wasp- or a prisoner. Behind him were the three Headmasters, señor Gonzalez, professor Dumbledore and madame Maxime.
'Everyone,' said professor McGonagall. 'This is Ludovic Bagman. Mister Bagman will be the commentator during all the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament, and he will give you instructions as to the rules and procedures. Mister Bagman?'
'Righto!' Bagman said excitedly, rocking on the balls and heels of his feet. He was wearing yellow boots. Gina saw Louis and Samuel gawk at his strange appearance.
'Please come closer and stand in a circle around me. Each champions will first duel once, that's six rounds. The goal is to disarm your opponent as soon as possible. Winners to through to the second task, getting points for how quick they succeed. Losers will duel for a second time, on time this time. Whoever can disarm his opponent within one minute, will continue to the second task. This way, six to nine champions will continue to the second task. You are bound by the law regarding wizards duels as we have informed you on the 19th of September. You will be pleased to hear you are allowed to watch,' he added grinning. 'Well, lets get started, shall we? We have put your names in these three bags.'
He showed them three coloured bags. A green one with the Hogwarts crest on it, a purple one for Promodores and a blue one for Beauxbatons. 'Each will pull a name out of a bag of a competing team. Any questions?'
They all shook their heads.
'Good! Let's get going than.'
He gave a little bow to Jill. 'You first, madame Dubois.' He offered her the green and the purple bag.
Gina saw Jill glance at madame Maxime before she thrust a trembling hand in the green bag. She took out a piece of parchment and looked at it blankly. Gina wondered who she picked.
Bagman now offered the purple bad to Louis, who was standing next to Jill. Gina didn't get to take a piece of paper, as after six champions, everyone had a duelling partner. Gina was picked by Louis, who had a piece of paper with her name and a 3 on it in his hand.
Jill, who had picked Lucian Bole from Hogwarts, showed Gina the paper, which had a 1 on it. Jill looked rather sick. Gina gave her an encouraging pat on her arm.
Bagman asked them to stand in a row in the order they had to duel, and preceded them through the door leading them onto the pitch. They were met with a deafening sound of clapping and jeering. Bagman showed the champions the row of chairs on the side line, which looked out over a huge raised podium in the middle of the pitch. The usual raised stands were not used, Gina noticed, glancing at them. The rest of the school was seated on low stands around the duelling arena. Gina tried not to look at the crowd as she took her seat between Louis and Bill, who was duelling forth. Bagman took his place, at a small raised commentator stand. He pointed his wand at this throat and his magically amplified voice boomed through the stadium. The spectators fell silent.
'Welcome ladies and gentleman, to the first task of the Triwizard Tournament! Our champions from the three most esteemed wizarding schools in Europe are going to face each other in duel, testing their defensive and offensive magical skill, speed, and ability to act adequately in the face of battle. Twelve champions have been chosen from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Promodores School of Magic and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, to represent their schools and fight for the honour of winning the Triwizard cup. In the first round of this first task, each other champions will duel a worthy opponent, aiming to disarm their opponent as quickly as they can. The winner will continue to the second task. The losers however, will duel a second time, and those who are able to disarm their second opponent within the time limit of one minute will also continue to the second task.'
Bagman paused for a moment, than called out in a booming voice.
'Miss Dubois and mister Bole, if you please!'
Gina could hardly watch when Jill and Lucian took the stage. If there was anyone Gina would like to see beaten... And she really hoped Jill would get a spot for the second task. But Gina needn't have worried. Jill wasn't great at offence, but she stood her ground defensively and Lucian didn't get a change to take her wand. Eventually, after quite a long nine minutes and twenty seconds, Lucian seemed to get a little tired, reaction a fraction of a second to slow, and his wand flew into the air. Jill hastily summoned it, and after a round of applause took the first chair in the row of champions who would continue to the second task, looking very relieved. Lucian sat down on the other side. He would have to win his next duel to maintain in the tournament.
Second were Jonathan Belby of Hogwarts against Samuel X of Beauxbatons. They were obviously less evenly matched than Jill and Lucian. Jonathan hit Samuel with a well aimed Knockback Jinx two minutes in, successfully disabling Samuel to block his next Disarming Charm, making Jonathan the winner.
'Miss Aldaya and mister Lambert!' Bagman yelled.
Gina stood up, following Louis up the stairs up to the huge podium. Gina looked straight ahead. She didn't want to be distracted by the audience. She was pleased to see Louis' eyes dart over the the yelling, screaming crowd. She had a good feeling about this and smiled faintly.
They took their positions, facing each other.
They bowed.
Gina heard Bagman count down, than at the first allowed second, immediately shot a spell at the nearest raised stand. It hit the empty seats with a huge ball of fire, emanating a white flash that made the onlookers scream, and Louis, who she had been looking at intently, made a mistake. His eyes flashed to the source of the white light to his left, and Gina hit him with a freezing charm, summoning his wand a second later. The time board showed 4 seconds.
'Ho there! Creative, this one!' Ludo Bagman shouted delightedly. 'Four seconds on the dot for miss Aldaya from Promodores School of Magic!'
Gina had unfreezed Louis and put out the fire with an Extinguishing Spell, which Bagman seemed to find funny, as he laughed loudly. 'Thank you, miss Aldaya! You may take a seat on the right side. Mister Lambert, the left side please. Better luck next time!'
Gina watched Bill beat José, which didn't surprize Gina that much. Bill was a very talented wizard, and José... Well, Gina still didn't get why he was chosen to participate in the Tournament.
Next up was Jonne, who unfortunately got disarmed in less than ten seconds by his opponent, Fleur Dellaceur from Beauxbatons, failing to block her Disarming Charm. Gina gave him an encouraging smile when he sat down next to José. She knew he did not mind losing at all, but he would be very displeased if he would have to do exams at the end of the year. She hoped he would make it to the second task.
A far better dual to watch was Gabriela against Gwendoline Hedgeflower, the only girl champion from Hogwarts. They were very evenly matched, keeping each other on their toes and firing spell after spell at each other. Gina was glad there was a protective wall before the stands, or she would have had to duck more than once to avoid spells.
'Brachiabindo'! shouted Gabriela.
Gwendoline parried the spell with a quick shield charm. 'Protego!'
Come on Gabriela, Gina thought hard, crossing her fingers. Crush her...
Next moment, Gwendoline fell to her knees, being hit by a well Leg-Locker Curse. People gasped when her wand flew into the air, right into Gabriela her outstretched hand.
'Yes!' Gina clapped along with the rest of the students and leaned over Bill and Fleur to give Gabriela a high five when she came to sit with them. She looked ecstatic and smiled widely. When she sat down and Gwendoline had taken her seat along with the other champions who had to duel again, Bagman's voice rang out again
'Ladies and gentleman. Please give a big round of applause for the six champions who have defeated their opponent, and will continue to the second task. The jury has awarded them points based on how quickly they have disarmed their opponent.
We have Jill Dubois with 28 points, and Fleur Delacour with 46 points, from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
Jonathan Belby with 39 points, and Bill Weasley with 42 points, from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Gina Aldaya with 49 points, and Gabriela Ponciano with 37 points, from Promodores School of Magic!'
There was a deafening applause. There were two champions of each school. Gina leaned forwards in her chair. Whoever would win the next few duels would put their school in favour of winning the Tournament, having more champions in the running.
'The losers of the first duels, will have one more chance to stay in the tournament and continue to the second task,' Bagman said in his booming voice. 'There are three duels left. Whoever can disarm his opponent within the time limit of one minute, will also continue to the second task.'
Bagman paused for a moment.
'Mister Bole and mister Lambert. To the podium, if you please!'
A tense silence fell over the crowd when Lucian and Louis faced each other. Who would be the first champion to drop out of the competition?
It was Louis. His wand was taken from him by Lucian with ten seconds left on the big screen which had been magicked in the air. Gina clapped politely for Lucian but had trouble suppressing the urge to start cursing under her breath. She disliked Lucian Bole, who still bothered her during almost every Herbology- and Ancient Runes class.
Gina was gritting her teeth too during the second duel of José against Samuel. José could have won if he had shot a Stickfast Hex at Samuel instead of a Jelly-Legs Jinx. Or if he had ducked and immediately shot a Knockback Jinx back at Samuel instead of wasting time blocking it. Even a bloody Sneezing Hex would have been better...
Sternius- Sternius him! Gina thought agitatedly. Anything to make Samuel be thrown of his guard for just a second, so he could disarm him... Or if he had not hesitated after blocking Samuels Tripping Jinx, and aimed straight for his knees. Or if he had-
Gina shook her head. That boy irritated her to great lengths... She didn't look at José when he sat down at the row of chairs for those who were out of the running, next to Samuel. Neither of them had disarmed the other within the time limit of one minute.
Gina looked nervously at Jonne taking the podium. She crossed her fingers. Gwendoline was a worthy opponent and Jonne was a rather sloppy duellist, though he could be remarkable quick too. He could win this if he had a little luck.
Jonne was lucky. Gwendoline tripped when she dodged the Melofors Jinx Jonne just cast at her, and lost her balance, giving Jonne time to hit her with a disarming charm, only fifteen seconds in. There was a deafening applause when Jonne took his place with the other champions.
Beauxbatons had lost two champions. Promodores and Hogwarts each lost one, leaving eight champions in the running.
While Bagman called out the points Lucian and Jonne had received from the jury, Gina have Jonne a quick hug, grinning at him.
'Well done Jon.'
Jonne had received 23 points, as he had been very quick in disarming Gwendoline. Champions who had to duel twice could only receive 25 point, Bagman had explained.
'Exemption in the pocket,' Jonne said happily. Gina laughed at seeing Gabriela's indignant look. Gina looked around at the other champions who would continue to the second task. Their number would be halved at the second task, leaving four champions to continue to the third and fourth task.
'If I may have one more moment of your attention please!' Bagman roared. The crowd had been steadily starting to be more noisy, everyone obviously enthusiastically discussing the duels and the points the champions had received. The chatter subsided and Bagman continued.
'Eight champions have completed the set task and will continue to the second task, which will take place on the 9th of December. In one week, on Saturday the 11th of November, we will inform you what the second task is going to be, giving the champions plenty of time to prepare. Thank you for your support of the champions!'
Gina and her fellow Promodores students waited for señor Gonzalez, who looked really pleased. Feeling relieved and happy, Gina left for the castle five minutes later, chatting happily with Jonne and ignoring Bole who made a scurrilous comment to her when she past him and the other Hogwarts champignons, surrounded by students who wanted to congratulate them. She just smiled delicately at him, thinking she would love to be his opponent in an upcoming task, and that she would wipe the smile of his face when she would.