Chapter 14: The Tournament winner. A challenge?
Author Note: Sorry this chapter is so late. I've been trying to recuperate and enjoy my Spring break.
The first day of the Dueling tournament had concluded with Harry, the Huang twins, and a handful of other competitors qualifying for the elimination rounds. Harry looked through the remaining competitors with a cool gaze; he had been observing the people he fought today and the others who might be his eventual opponents. Sure, a handful of them were skilled in their own rights, but the people he fought today were hardly worth expending too much energy on. While he may have injured and humiliated some of his opponents, it was only a little fun. In truth, the matches he participated in today were boring; however, that might change tomorrow. He wanted a challenge.
From her position against the rail, Susan could see the expression on her brother's face and knew what he was thinking. "Remember, these were only the preliminary rounds. The real matchups will begin tomorrow, meaning your opponents will be much more challenging."
Harry grunted. "I hope so, and you might be right," casually shrugging his shoulders. He turned in her direction with a smile. "Anyway, it's time to go for now. You guys ready?" Looking at both her and Lauren. The two nodded.
Lauren hopped over the stone rail and held onto his right hand. She truly loved and enjoyed spending time with them—'specifically, Harry. Sure, it is true that she spent a bit more time with Susan because she is in Britain and he is in the States. That did not mean she didn't love being around her older sister. In reality, Lauren held the two in high regard and looked up to them. Still, she loved spending time with her brother, even if he was in a different country, and could only see him during holiday vacations and through their communicators. Whenever he is in Britain, he would make time to spend with her. This upcoming year, she knew he was going to be busy preparing to take some of his O.W.L.s. He would be leaving a couple days after the Tournament is over.
Harry offered a gentle smile upon seeing the brief wave of sadness on her face. "You know I love spending time with you, Ren, and will always return home."
"I know," she groaned. "But I just want to spend more time with my brother. You'll be leaving soon after the Tournament ends to prepare for your exams, and you will be too busy."
"That may be true," conceding to what she said. "But there will never be a day where I would ever forsake. Because why?"
"It is never goodbye," said Susan. She hopped over the stone rail. The auburn-haired girl placed a hand on their shoulders. " Whether we are in different schools or in different countries, we will always be with each other. That's what families do. They stick together and are loyal to one another."
"Always, little one," Harry placed a hand on the right side of Lauren's face.
"Now that is family loyalty. It's good for siblings to be close to one another," said a familiar voice. The three siblings turned around to see a smiling Jade with a grinning Andrew standing beside her. "At least some people in this world actually value their siblings," she said, looking at Andrew out from the corner of her left eye.
Andrew raised an eyebrow at her for that remark. "I know you ain't talking about me. Between the two of us, I'm the good child in the family."
Jade scoffed. "Keep telling yourself that. Besides, you can actually take a page from Harry's book on how to treat your sibling," she remarked. "Despite going to a different school—Lauren will soon be attending the same school as Susan—, he considers their feelings, is loyal to them, and doesn't simply dismiss them."
Harry quickly intervened when Andrew was about to offer a heated retort. "Easy, you two," stepping in before something untoward could be said. "Look, there is no such thing as a perfect sibling relationship. I mean, take a look at me and Susan, for instance. We don't always get along and have had our fair share of arguments; sure, we take jabs at each other every now and then."
"That's true," Susan quipped, joining in the conversation. "Yes, we get on each other's nerves. But at the end of the day, that's how it works in families. The same could probably be said about the two of you."
Harry then picked up when Andrew and Jade glared at one another. "You guys may not have noticed, but you two make a solid team whenever you're not arguing or bickering. Just stop being so competitive with one another and actually start listening. Because one day, you will appreciate the time you had with each other."
"Sound advice." Andrew and Jade turned around to see their father standing behind them with Lord Potter and Lord Black. His eyes, though, were on Harry and the other two. "Can you three leave me and my children alone?"
"We were just about to leave ourselves," said Susan. She, Harry, and Lauren followed Lords Charlus and Arcturus out of the main dueling area.
When they were gone, Zhang put up privacy wards around himself and his children. The man spent a long hour scolding his children for their constant rivalry. He told them they needed to stop arguing so much since it was growing into a problem.
(00)
At Potter Manor, in the backyard after dinner, Harry was lying on the grass looking up at the starry night sky. The young Potter heir had a couple of things running through his mind; the opponents he might be paired against during tomorrow's matches, his upcoming OWLs, and what might be in store for Susan this coming year at Hogwarts. He did not trust Dumbledore, and for good reasons, too. The man portrayed himself as a whimsical leader who could do no wrong, but it was only a mask. Dumbledore knowingly put the Philosopher's Stone in a school full of students, but the enchantments that were supposed to guard the stone were weak. In addition, he brought the Mirror of Erised—a highly dark and dangerous magical object—into a school full of students. That mirror was supposed to have been locked away or destroyed.
His thoughts were interrupted when he sensed someone approaching. "Had a feeling I find you out here. Let me guess, you're thinking about your next opponents and what strategies will be best used against them." Harry grinned at the sound of his sister's voice.
"Among other things," his tone was casual. He watched as Susan sat beside him. "Mm. I miss these nights. They're so relaxing and peaceful. You remember how we used to spend hours out here playing?"
"I do," she smiled, remembering how they would have fun together whenever he was in Britain. Seeing that he was trying to steer the conversation to avoid saying what was on his mind, she said. "You know, you can fool most people with that calm, cool expression. But not me." The smile on his face vanished somewhat. "What's on your mind?"
Harry sighed and sat up, "guess I've been figured out. I'm concerned about what might happen this coming year at Hogwarts; there's no telling what might happen. Dumbledore has already shown that he is willing to pull an underhanded stunt and put students in danger to accomplish his goal. I don't want to see you get caught in the crossfire."
She knew what he was talking about. Dumbledore put two dangerous objects in the school full of children. If it got out that the Philosopher's Stone was being stored in Hogwarts. . .then criminals, dark witches, and wizards would try to break into the castle. They would have no qualms against attacking the students if it meant they could get the stone. The man also brought a dangerous mirror inside the school and gave a ridiculous warning about going up to the third-floor corridor. He had to have known that his warning would not have been effective, as the older students would have snuck up there. Susan shared Harry's suspicions about Dumbledore playing a risky game. That was made pretty clear when the elders of their family informed her that Voldemort was indeed alive and had attached himself to the back of Quirrell's head.
The protections around the stone were nothing more than a test. According to Harry, the man had hired a few private eyes to find out where he was. . . Harry not coming to Hogwarts really stuck in his craw. Dumbledore even made certain that the Gryffindors would win the house cup at the end of the previous year by giving them a huge amount of points. What annoyed her about the old man was his obvious bias toward the people in Gryffindor. So, she understood Harry's concern. They may not be blood, but she and Harry were as close as any siblings.
"I appreciate your concern, but there is no need for you to worry, Harry," she said with a gentle smile. "I know to keep my guard up. So if Dumbledore tries anything funny, I'll be ready."
"That is all I ask," Harry felt his mind be more at ease with her response. "Caution and preparedness are important.
The two spent some more time outside looking up at the stars before heading inside to go to bed.
(00)
The next morning, Harry did his mediation to organize his thoughts and reinforce his occlumency shields. He used the time he had to finalize the strategies he might have to use against his opponents. Today was for the elimination rounds. The people who win their matches in the first half of the day will have the opportunity to advance to the Quarter-finals later this evening. In other words, he might need to step up his game a little. It all depended on who he might have to face.
After his morning lessons, Harry went into the dining room to have breakfast with his family. Surprisingly, Sirius stopped by to say that he would be able to watch the rest of the Tournament. He wanted to watch yesterday's match but could not because he had to attend a meeting in Switzerland.
"You ready for today, pup?" Sirius looked at his godson as he finished his eggs.
"Better believe it," Harry confirmed with a nod. "I have a sneaky suspicion that today's matches will be more entertaining."
Sirius had an easy grin. "Say if you do win. What do you intend to do with the prize money?" He inquired. "Of course, if you need help deciding, then I know someone who might have some ideas," the man loosely said.
"That someone wouldn't happen to be a former Marauder whose animagus form is that of a shaggy dog, is it?" Harry quipped, returning the grin. The smile on Sirius's face said it all. "The prize money means nothing to me, as I did not get into this Tournament with the hope of getting some additional galleons. However, I do know what I want to do with it."
"Can we get a hint?" Lauren asked with a cute pout.
"Sorry, Ren, not this time," he said, rubbing her head. "You will just have to wait and see."
"No fair," she grumbled. Harry chuckled while he continued to affectionately rub her head.
"It is almost time to go," Charlus spoke up for the first time. "You three finish eating your breakfast, and we'll depart." He put his copy of this morning's paper from the Daily Prophet down. The three nodded their heads and ate the rest of their food.
Close to a half hour later, they, except for Harry and his Grandfather, were sitting in the stands. Susan turned her attention to the incoming spectators as Harry sat on the bench conversing with the Huang twins. Her eyes momentarily widened when she saw the Greengrass and Davis families were present. She then went to speak with her friends along with Lauren. "I'm surprised to see you guys here, especially you, Daphne. How was your trip to Hawaii?"
"It was nice, though Tori enjoyed herself more than me," gesturing to her younger sister. The girl had a similar appearance to her older sister except instead of blond hair and blue eyes. She had brown eyes and black hair. "We just got back yesterday. How was your time in France with the Flamels?"
"Rather enjoyable, to be honest," Susan replied. "Nicolas and Perenelle were great hosts and taught us much. Harry, however, spent most of his time in the Department of Mysteries Research lab under Nicolas' watchful eye. Though it was still fun to learn from the two of them."
Tracey grunted. "Lucky. There are a number of people who would kill for the opportunity to be allowed access to the DoM. . .let alone learn under the Flamels." Since it is such a sanctioned and revered department, not just anyone can work there unless they have special permission from the Department's Head and an accomplished Head of House or two. Susan only smiled at the look of astonishment on Tracey's face. Daphne and Astoria were also surprised.
Susan diverted her attention to Lauren when she tugged at her arm. "When do I get to pick a vacation spot?"
"We've been over this, Lauren," Susan rolled her eyes. "You have to attend at least one year of school and do well in your classes before deciding on where we get to go for vacation. Those are the rules. They apply to you, me, and Harry. Since Harry got to pick where we'd go this summer. I get to pick where we go next."
"Is that him over there?" Daphne asked, looking at a section on the bench where he sat talking with two other competitors. Judging by how they were interacting with one another, it can be assumed they already know each other.
"Yes, that's him all right," Lauren chirped. "You better sit down, as they're about to start soon."
Bagman went to the stage, welcoming everyone to the second day of the International Dueling Tournament. He explained that the competitors who win their matches during the first half of the day will be allowed to move on to the Quarter-finals in the evening. ". . .and now, without further ado, let the selection commence. Who will be the first two competitors to take the stage?" Looking at the officials as they reached into the box to pull out a number.
When the first ball was pulled out, he read the number. "Our first competitor is No. 16 Harry Potter of magical Britain. His opponent will be. . ." looking at the officials who pulled out another ball. "No. 34 Antonio Chiaro of magical Italy."
The two walked onto the platform, where an official awaited them at the ring's edge. They then assumed their dueling stances. Harry had watched his opponent's duels yesterday; while Chiaro may be a good duelist, he'd seen better. Plus, the thirteen-year-old Italian had a few weaknesses, notably his arrogance, which was one of them. The fool believed himself to be better than the other competitors and would soon learn what happens about underestimating his others. Once the other platforms were filled, the official gave them the green light to start.
Immediately, the Italian boy went on the offensive, sending a string of spells at Harry. While his casting speed was admittedly good, the fool had to say the incantations, thus making it easier for Harry to evade the spells. He should have learned how to do silent casting. Instead of side-stepping the last incoming spell, Harry deflected it back and followed it up with a piercing curse and a knockback jinx. Even though the boy managed to block the returned spell, his shield failed to protect him from the other two.
Antonio had a hole in his left shoulder and was sent on his back. Harry only stood there with a calm expression and raised a single eyebrow. Annoyed by this, Antonio got back to his feet and started sending even more curses and hexes. No matter how hard he tried, none of his spells seemed to even hit Potter as he danced around them like they were nothing. All the while his opponent's attacks were making him look ridiculous. He yelled in pain when a bone-shattering spell connected to his right leg and a piercing curse connected to his right hip. Harry then finished him off with a stunning spell, rendering him unconscious.
"The winner is Harry Potter magical Britain," the official announced. Harry walked off the platform as a few Healers arrived to help his opponent.
"That poor boy will have to spend the next day or two in a hospital bed," Sirius clicked his tongue. "Still, I give you a thumbs up for dressing him up as a clown."
"Thank you, Sirius," Harry chuckled. "How was your match?" He asked Andrew when he came over.
"Pretty good," shrugging his shoulders. "Though I do have a request. If you and I do face off, then please try not to put me in anything ridiculous."
Harry continued to laugh as he patted his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry. You and Jade are exempt from any forms of humiliation. Speaking of Jade, it appears her match is about to end." Gesturing to the platform where she was with her opponent. Jade had finished her opponent with a combination attack comprised of a jet stream of hot water, a tripping jinx, and a full-body bind spell.
"Excellent work, Jade," he congratulated her when she came over.
"Thank you," she replied.
Soon, the matchups for the next round were called, and Harry found he was to face against Caleb Miller. Miller arrogantly smiled at him and cracked his knuckles. "Show him your stuff," said Jade.
"Right," Harry went up the platform's steps.
"Bet you thirteen dragots, this will end with Miller being both humiliated and injured," Jade wagered Andrew.
"I'll take that action."
"I've been waiting for this Potter," Miller sneered at his rival. "Time for me to show everyone here you're nothing more than a fraud and dark wizard." The sneer on his face grew, "before we begin. What say we make things interesting?"
"I'm listening," Harry replied, wondering what Miller meant.
"I wager 9,500 dragots that I will be able to beat you."
"Fine," Harry did not care much for money. All he wanted to do was shut this impudent nuisance up. Mentally smirking, he figured he might as well have some fun while doing it.
When Bagman instructed them to prepare themselves, he took a different stance than he had in his past duels. Within a fraction of a second of being told to begin, Harry started things off with piercing, banishing, and cutting spells. Caleb managed to defend against the first two incoming spells with a shield charm, but the cutting curse hit him in the left shoulder. In retaliation, he sent his own barrage of spells; many were dark. While not illegal, they would certainly cause someone a significant amount of pain if they made contact. Luckily, Harry was already well-versed in the spells being tossed his way and their effects. Expertly, he defended himself while counter-attacking with his own assortment of debilitating spells.
Harry used a combination of Battle Transfiguration and Battle Charms for five minutes, adding a couple of curses to the mix. It was clear to him that Miller was losing stamina with each of the moves and spells he used. Plus, the couple of injuries he got didn't help much, either. Whilst Harry seemed composed, not letting a single spell get near him and sometimes redirecting them back. The large torrent of water he conjured followed his wand movement as he circled it around himself. The water protected him from the fiery creatures coming his way, and once they were all gone, he directed his wand straight into the air, and the spinning water followed. He created a few circles and with a jab of his wand, the spinning water condensed into a ball. The arrays he added kept the thing spinning in the air and whatever heat was absorbed into it.
Caleb diverted his attention back at his rival, choosing to dismiss the spinning ball of water. Potter's expression annoyed him and seemed to grate on his nerves. Before he could fire another spell, he was pushed back by some powerful wind that made him skid back a few feet. This was either Ventus Duo or Tria. The winds were creating some cuts on his body. Though with great strength, he used the Fulgar spell to send a blast of blue lightning.
Harry only grinned at the incoming lightning. Quickly, he conjured some large grey clouds and, with a jab from his wand, hit them with a lightning rod spell that made the lightning head straight to the clouds. Seeing that he was puzzled by what had just happened, Harry took the opportunity to transform the strong winds into a violent vortex around Caleb, making it difficult for him to see what was happening. So far, his plan was working, and thus, he decided to enact the final pieces. Therefore, he sent a powerful incendio charm. The standard orange flame that would have normally appeared was blue and was shot at his opponent's left with an array added to it. He then maneuvered the angry cloud to his opponent's right. After that was completed, the raven-haired boy conjured a brick wall in front of him and then transfigured it into a set of razor-sharp spikes with a few waves of his wand. Finally, he removed the wind vortex surrounding Miller to see that the boy was heavily sweating and had many new cuts on him.
One look at Potter, and Caleb immediately pales, torn between slight fear and anger at his predatory expression. Poor Caleb barely had time to conjure a shield against the sharp incoming projectiles. Most of them were blocked, but a few passed his shield, creating deep gashes on his body. The boy screamed in pain when three of them pierced into his body. Right shoulder and leg, and his left hip. That was only the start as Harry pointed his wand at the stormy clouds that had absorbed the lightning previously shot at him. Following his wand movement, the clouds shot out a blast of lightning that hit the boy and sent him flying to the ground in pain. Caleb lifted his head to angrily stare at Potter. He struggled back up to his feet, trying to ignore the pain he was in. The boy pulled out the spikes in his body, threw them to the side, and shakingly raised his wand.
"Confr—" Caleb didn't get to finish as he was again sent crashing onto the ground on another section of the platform. Harry had activated the azure ball of flame suspended in the air, making it explode. The resulting explosion destroyed more of his dueling uniform, and he rolled on the ground in pain. This time, he had some burns, a few broken and shattered bones, and a ruptured right eardrum.
"This duel is pointless, Miller. There is no use fighting any longer when the outcome is clear. Surrender," said Harry in a cool voice.
"You dare look down on me as if I am nothing!" He yelled. Despite his injured state, he slowly yet painfully got back up. "I am a pureblood of noble heritage and will not be outdone by a filthy half-blood! It is time you finally learn the consequences of your arrogance!"
Harry sighed and closed his eyes. While he did not like Miller, the boy was about as dangerous as a kneazle. "I gave you a chance to save yourself from any further pain, but you just won't leave well enough alone. This is the end," narrowing his eyes.
"Bombarda Maxima! Expulso Duo!" Caleb shouted. The two spells that left his wand were poorly aimed and would have been easy to avoid, but Harry did not make any move to dodge them. Instead, he stood still and watched as the two spells aimed his way were pulled into the spinning ball of water. "What?!" Caleb yelled.
"Have you forgotten?" Harry pointed his wand at the water, and with twists and jabs from his wand, he activated the arrays embedded in the ball of water. "Game over."
Puzzled and faster than he could react, the condensed water ball followed Potter's wand movement and rocketed toward Miller. The boy was painfully flown back toward the platform's edge when the thing exploded upon hitting him. Harry was positive he heard some bones breaking. Miller was alive, though unconscious, and would be spending the next couple of days in St. Mungo's to have his injuries treated.
Before Potter was declared the winner, the official described his actions as brutal and said his opponent would spend a great deal of time in the hospital. Ignoring the man, Harry turned to Mr. Miller. "Before our duel, your son and I had an agreement about what would happen if he lost. Seeing how he is out cold, I expect you to honor it on his behalf."
Mr. Miller acknowledged his son's defeat and handed Lord Potter a bag containing the necessary amount of money. Charlus accepted the reward and waved his wand over the bag to confirm the necessary amount was inside. The man then left to be with his son.
"All here," Charlus said with a grin when Harry came over. "That was an impressive strategy you used. It might be one remembered for years to come," handing the bag over.
Harry grunted as he accepted the bag of dragots. His strategy for dueling Caleb was to unbalance, destabilize, and outwit him from the beginning. He would use a fraction of his power and skills to have his opponent make errors and later take advantage of them. Using a handful of spells in a proper spell chain, he could inflict moderate pain and then take Miller's attacks to later be used against him when the time was right. A triangle attack.
The water. He condensed it into a ball and absorbed the heat around them and from the spells they cast to make it more powerful. Then, he did the same with lightning, creating dark clouds and hitting them with a lightning rod spell. Little did Miller know that when then, the clouds were steadily making the lightning more powerful. Then, the incendio charm he had suspended in the air. Finally, there was the wind vortex and the spikes, which would keep him distracted long enough for the fire, water, and lightning to build up enough power. While they finished charging up and Miller was in position, he was as good as finished.
"Hey, Lauren," he called his sister. She got up from her seat beside Susan and a few others and walked over to him. "Please give this to Lord Black for me," tossing the bag up, which she caught.
"Sure thing," Lauren gave him a nod. "Where do you want to go for lunch during the intermission?"
"You're decision," his reply surprised her. "Where would you like to go for lunch?"
"Ching's Cuisine," Lauren replied with a smile. She was in the mood for Chinese food.
Harry chuckled and then turned to Susan. "Well, you heard her. Does that sound good to you?" Susan smiled and nodded. He then turned around and sensed someone approaching from behind. Unlike the others, this one was different, and he felt he knew who it was.
Standing in front of him was someone who was most favored to win the U-16 Division. The boy was fifteen years old, stood at 5'8, had dark brown hair, piercing grey eyes, and a lean, muscular physique. This person is a participant in the U-16 Dueling Tournament. "Afternoon, Heir Moon," offering a slight bow.
The older boy was slightly surprised, though he composed himself enough to return the greeting. "Heir Potter," he said with a bow. "I must admit your skills in dueling are quite impressive for one so young. You are not what I expected." He looked the boy over.
"And what did you expect?" He inquired, meeting the boy's gaze.
"A part of me thought you were nothing more than an arrogant and overprivileged child being trained by Dumbledore," the Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Moon answered the shrewd question. "Many thought you would come to Hogwarts last year. A fair number of people believed that if that were so, you'd be put in Gryffindor and end up as one of Dumbledore's people. Yet, there is an air of mystery around you. How curious."
"You will find that I am full of surprises. As for being one of Dumbledore's people?" There was a pause as he stepped forward, not breaking eye contact. "Whoever says I am loyal to that meddling fool obviously doesn't know me. Contrary to what most people would like to think and believe, I have no loyalty to Dumbledore whatsoever. I choose my own path in life!"
"You sure about that?"
"Why don't you look into my eyes and tell me what you think?" Harry challenged.
The two stood there in silence, not breaking eye contact. Moon's lips tugged into a smile when he saw the fire behind Potter's green eyes. "You got guts and are quite interesting. I'll be keeping an eye on you," he said, turning around. But he stopped halfway. "The name is Alrich. Alrich Moon," was all the boy said before leaving to stand by his father, Lord Moon, and younger sister, Lilith.
"Then I'll be sure not to disappoint," Harry replied with a grin.
A confused and slightly concerned Susan approached from where she had been sitting. "What was that about?" She only heard part of the conversation and wondered what the Heir to the House of Moon wanted.
"I do not know. But if I had to ascertain a guess, then he must have wanted to get an idea of who I am and where I stand," Harry replied. The Moons were members of the Dark faction but were never directly or indirectly aligned with or supported Voldemort and his Death Eaters. They were known followers of the ancient laws and wizarding traditions. The current Heir to the House of Moon was indeed a powerful and skilled duelist, and there was no doubt in Harry's mind that the boy was still holding back. If they were to duel, it would come down to a battle of stamina, who had the better dueling skills and strategies, and who wanted it more.
However, that was for another time as he pushed those thoughts away and turned to the remaining competitors. His eyes fell on Sue Li, and from what he could see thus far, the girl may not be able to do silent casting just yet, but her technique, repertoire of spells, spell work, and casting speed more than made up for it. From what Susan told him, the girl was in Ravenclaw and in the top five of her year. She would be some decent competition.
For the rest of the first half of the day, Harry and seven others succeeded in making it to the Quarter-finals. Unsurprisingly, Jade, Andrew, and Sue Li had also made it this far. Fudge went to the center of the stage and cast the sonorous charm on himself. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we now have our eight finalists for the U-14 and U-16 Dueling Tournament. These young witches and wizards have proven their skills in martial magic. They will be allowed to compete in the Quarter-finals later this evening. However, as skilled as they are. . . Only one of them can become the winner of their division. Quietus," performing the counterspell and walking off the platform.
Over by the benches, Arcturus and the others walked toward Harry and Charlus. Arcturus beamed with pride at his Heir. "Those were some impressive strategies and dueling skills you displayed out there."
Harry chuckled. "You're the one who taught me the importance of being shrewd and strategic. I may have been born a Potter, but I am also a Black. This is where we are supposed to excel at, right?"
Arcturus clicked his tongue and grunted. "Correct, you are. I'm glad to see someone from my House understands the meaning of cunning and strategic planning," the man praised. "What do you intend to do with the money you got from Mr. Miller?"
"Give it as a donation," Harry casually replied. "The money I got from Miller means nothing to me, and the same goes for the money from this Tournament."
"Where do you want to donate it to?"
Harry motioned for him to come forward so he could whisper something in his ear. Arcturus' eyes widened briefly at what his nephew said. "I'll have it sent there once the Tournament is over," he grinned at the boy. Harry nodded.
"All right now, can we get something to eat?" Harry looked at Lauren with a soft smile. "I'm in the mood for some Chow Mein Chicken."
"Kung Pao chicken and fried rice for me," Lauren quipped.
"Sesame Noodles," said Susan with a smile.
They went to the stadium's apparition point, where the adults took them to Ching's Cuisine. Upon entering the establishment, the group was met by a waitress who escorted them to an open table and handed them each a menu. She then left to give them a few minutes to decide what they wanted.
"Hey, Sue," Harry clicked his tongue and put the menu down. He continued when she turned her head toward him. "Those people you and Ren were speaking to in the stands. They're the heiresses to the House of Davis and House of Greengrass, aren't they?"
"That's right," she confirmed, nodding her head. "The one with blond hair and blue eyes is Daphne Greengrass, and the girl with black hair and brown eyes who stood beside her was her younger sister Astoria Greengrass. The girl with dark brown hair and brown eyes was Tracey Davis. Why are you asking about them?"
"Similar to the heir of the House of Moon, they were observing me," he said coolly. "The two were trying to figure me out."
"I only told them about what you were like," she affirmed with a frown. "I never said. . ."
"I know you didn't," he replied, surprising her by finishing what she was about to say. "Rather than observing me with evil intentions, they were probably trying to see what kind of person I am and if I could become a potential ally." Susan blinked her eyes a few times at his statement. "I did my research about their family histories."
"The Ancient and Most Noble House of Greengrass is part of the Neutral faction, and their current Head of House, Lord Cyrus Greengrass, is an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries. Lady Elizabeth Greengrass is a businesswoman who runs a law firm," Harry's expression remained neutral. "Now, the Most Noble House of Davis is also a member of the Neutral faction. Lord Cadmus Davis works on the Budget Committee, and Lady Selina Davis is a Spell Crafter."
"What are you getting at?" Susan inquired, giving him a curious look.
"I just want to verify how well you know them and if they are trustworthy," he came out and said.
Susan would have felt slightly insulted at his inquiry had she not known him so well. Harry has always been somewhat cautious about people and with good reasons. Because that is what Lord Black and Lord Potter—namely, the former taught him how to be. So Harry's sense of caution and self-preservation had kicked in. More than anything, she appreciated how he would always look after her; it did not mean she was naive enough to be deceived or forced to do something she did not want to do.
"I've known them since before we went to Hogwarts and can vouch for them," she firmly stated. "They do not associate themselves with Malfoy or his gang of bullies."
He stared at her for a long minute before relenting. "All right, Sue. Since you trust them, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and reserve judgment until I know more."
"That's all I ask." Just as he turned his head away, she spoke again. "Though there is something I would like to discuss with you," sounding skeptical. Her voice had an air of uncertainty.
"Go ahead," beckoning her to continue.
"Would it be possible for you to speak with them and a few others before leaving the country?" she sounded both hesitant and determined. "Please? They have no loyalty or connections to Dumbledore."
"Who are they?" He asked with a cautious tone. She leaned in close and whispered the names of the people she was talking about into his ear. Thinking to himself for a couple of minutes, he replied. "You trust these people?"
"I do."
Sucking in a breath, "all right. We can meet at Bones Manor. The people you mentioned are from Houses I have looked into and have been allies with our families for centuries. You understand why they are not allowed in either Potter or Black Manor, right?"
"Yes. . ." Lord Potter and Lord Black would never let them near their homes without screening them first. "Don't worry; I will make it clear to them," she promised.
Harry gave a curt nod and turned his attention to the incoming waitress. When the woman arrived, she took out a notepad and a quill and began taking their orders. Once she got them all written down on her pad, she left for the kitchen to inform the cooks.
"Any idea on what you can expect this year at Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"I'm not entirely sure," Susan replied. She knew he did not support the way Dumbledore ran the school or have a high opinion of its curriculum. This sentiment was greatly echoed by Severus, who often voiced his displeasure about what was being taught in each subject. The same could be said for Lords Black and Potter, as they were seriously unhappy with how things were going. "But I hope we get a competent DADA professor this year. The school letters should arrive either tomorrow or the day after. What about you and your school?"
Harry rubbed his forehead. "I'll be up to my neck in writing essays and revising for my exams at the end of the year," groaning at the mere idea. "I can already feel the headaches coming."
Susan laughed a bit. "I'm glad I'm not you," she replied, patting him on the shoulder when he glared at her. "Look at it this way: You will already be done with most of them."
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Sue," Harry rolled his eyes. "I'll be sure to remember this when you take your OWLs." That immediately shut her up.
Their server returned with her wand pointed at their levitated meals. With a quick flick of her wand, the plates of food and beverages were gently placed on the table before them. Thanking the woman, they started eating. "This is real good," Lauren commented after eating one of her chickens, to which Susan agreed as she ate her noodles.
(00)
After lunch, the group returned to the stadium, though Susan opted to sit on the benches with Harry and Charlus. At the same time, they waited for the other contestants. Harry spoke with his grandfather about having another shop created in Diagon Alley, something that got Susan's attention. The new place would be a donut shop where they would sell different types of donuts, coffees, and beverages to wizards and witches. Susan had to admit she liked this idea because since he began investing in different shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, things have started to change for the better. The people in magical Britain surely had no complaints about the changes and new buildings.
A good example would be Mr. Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. Ever since Harry became an investor and the owner gave 44% of his business to Lord Potter, there have been a number of changes. The Ice cream shop has undergone renovations to make it appear like it is part of the modern world, has started selling shakes, and has become a bakery serving different pastries and delicious sweets. They even did custom orders. Susan shook her head at how Lauren would always insist on going into the shop to try their different pastries, and Sirius, the fun parent, would always accommodate her. That's not to say she did not have a sweet tooth either, because she did. There were times when she would get the chance to accompany either them or her friends to the shop. So, that left Aunt Amy, the strict parent/guardian, who had put her foot down about the number of trips and sweets they could have.
"Tch," Charlus clicked his tongue as he regarded his grandson with a smirk. "I think you have been spending a little too much time with Arcturus when it comes to learning how to be a shrewd businessman." The said man grunted, drawing their attention to him.
Arcturus wore a superior smile. "No need to be jealous, Charlie," he said in a mocking tone, using his brother-in-law's hated nickname. "You may be a decent businessman, but I'm better. It is also my job to teach my Heir about the business world."
A mock frown marred Charlus' features as he blew out a breath from the corner of his mouth. "Rub it in, why don't you? I swear, sometimes you irritate the hell out of me." He groaned, much to the kids' amusement.
Harry and Susan shared a knowing look. Both Arcturus and Charlus were shrewd businessmen, but Arcturus was better at it. Something he took great pride in. Susan turned her head with Harry following suit, and the two watched as Lords Davis and Greengrass, along with their daughters, approached. The two bowed at the older Lords, which they returned; Harry did the same, offering them and their daughters the same courtesy. Were if he didn't, then his Uncle would be greatly displeased with him.
"It's good to see you again, Lord Potter, Lord Black," Lord Greengrass said, looking directly at Charlus. "Especially you, Lord Potter."
"My grandson wanted to enter this year's Dueling Tournament," Charlus replied in an even voice, motioning to Harry.
"Indeed," the man said, turning his attention to Harry. "These have been some of the most entertaining duels I have seen in years. Personally, I thought you were either very brave or foolish to enter a tournament like this when you were only twelve, but you don't disappoint. Those were some impressive feats of magic and dueling skills you displayed."
"Thank you, Lord Greengrass," Harry bowed in respect, accepting the man's praise. "I take it that the lovely ladies behind you are your daughters?"
"Yes. My youngest Astoria," pointing to his youngest child and then at her sister. "And this is my heiress Daphne." Harry offered the two a formal greeting. The youngest then took the opportunity to ask something.
"So you're really Harry Potter?" Astoria gave him a once over. "Where have you been? You don't look anything like what people have described."
"Astoria," Cyrus hissed, causing his youngest to recoil.
"It is fine, Lord Greengrass," Harry intervened when the man looked ready to chastise his daughter. "This is not unexpected, as I assume your daughters are rather curious and have a number of questions on their minds. Astoria, was it?" The girl nodded. "Let me assure you that I am the only Harry Potter in the world. To your next question, I have been attending a different magical institution outside the country."
"To your last inquiry, you are wondering why I am not wearing glasses and where the lightning bolt scar that is supposed to be on my forehead is, correct?"
Astoria gave a hesitant nod. Simultaneously, her sister and the heiress to the House of Davis were observing the conversation, though the former regarded him with a questioning look.
"One, I do not require glasses to see, and the scar here is mostly faded," he said, raising part of his hair to show that his scar was barely visible. "Is there anything else?"
The brunette spoke. "Why are you competing in this Tournament? From how Susan has described you, you don't seem like a person who likes attention. You also do not seem to care about being known as a possible Dueling Champion. So why would you enter?"
Harry raised an eyebrow at her forwardness. He remembered what Susan said about Tracey's outgoing personality. "You're right. I'm not here to simply win this Tournament," he said, surprising the three of them. "This is an opportunity for me to compete against strong opponents. By facing off against people from different corners of the wizarding world, I am being challenged both mentally and magically and able to improve my martial magic skills. The prize money and title as winner means nothing to me."
"So you only entered to test yourself against different opponents and improve your skills," Daphne summarized.
"Among another reason. Magic sharpens magic," he said, casually rolling his shoulders. "What better way to help prove my abilities as a wizard than to compete in an international tournament and face against several older and more experienced wizards and witches. I want to prove myself."
"So you are ambitious," Tracey mused. "Those dueling strategies you used were effective. They show you're quite creative, cunning, resourceful, and unpredictable."
"Is that a problem?" Harry gave her a curious look.
"No," shaking her head. "Just commenting about how Slytherin you are."
Harry grunted in amusement. "You'll find I'm full of surprises," he quipped with a grin. "Also, if one is to enter an event like this, they have to be confident in their abilities, creative, and prepared."
He turned his attention elsewhere, "we'll have to continue this conversation some other time." They followed his gaze to the stage, where Bagman and Fudge stood in the center.
The Minister of Magic took his wand out and pointed it against his throat to amplify his voice. He welcomed everyone to the Quarter-finals of the Dueling Tournament and announced the remaining competitors for each division. Not too long after his speech, he performed the counterspell, and everyone turned their attention to the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports when he performed the same charm to amplify his voice. He announced the eight finalists for the U-14 and U-16 Divisions before looking at the officials who went to pull out their numbers to see who would face whom. The audience was very eager to see the matchups.
The first two numbers were drawn, revealing the first match would be between Jade Huang of MACUSA and Sue Li of magical Britain. This was followed by the next match, which will be between Claire Rouselette of magical France and Andrew Huang of MACUSA. Next would be Harry Potter of magical Britain vs. Kim Hyon-hui of magical North Korea. Then, finally, it would be Harvey Godeaux of magical France against Heidi Schlagbauer of magical Germany. This would be for the U-14. He went on to announce the matchups for the U-16.
Andrew looked at his sister when Bagman ended his announcement. "Good luck out there. Remember to play to your strengths and be careful of Li, as the girl certainly lives up to her family's reputation."
"Thanks, Drew," giving him a brief smile. Li was definitely a skilled opponent and would not be easy to overcome.
Going up the platform's steps, she came face to face with her opponent. The two took their dueling stances and waited for the official to tell them to begin. Once the man gave them the green light, they began trading spells in earnest.
Back near the bench, Andrew and Harry were watching the match with interest; Jade and Li were really going at it. Utilizing all the skills they had in their arsenals to defeat one another. The twos duel went on for nearly thirteen minutes, with them appearing to be about even. However, Harry could see that Jade was beginning to lose some stamina, becoming confused by her opponent's tactics, and starting to become off-balanced as Li was putting her through her paces. The girl's swift and tricky dueling style was taking its toll on Jade.
Just as Jade thought she was going to score a decisive hit with a confringo when Li appeared to be wide open for an attack. This was all a ploy to draw Jade closer; at the last second, Li rolled under the spell. She then seized the opportunity to end the duel with a combination of aqua eructo, disarming, and stunning spells. With her opponent out of commission, Sue Li was declared the winner. The official revived her, gave Jade back her wand, and walked back to the bench where her father, brother, and friend were waiting. Harry conjured a white fluffy towel and gave it to her as she sat down.
"Thanks, Harry," she said, drying herself off while her father applied some Essence of Dittany to the cuts and bruises she had received.
"You did good out there and should not feel ashamed since you made it this far," Harry replied. "Though, for future reference, try not to sacrifice your defense for a finishing blow."
"Looks like I'm next," Andrew sucked in a breath. "Nice job, sis. Try to relax a little." He kissed the top of her head before heading off.
Harry observed his friend's match against his opponent from France and could tell that he was serious. Andrew had certainly improved his dueling skills and use strategies since the last time they dueled. However, that did not mean he hadn't been training and improving either. The duel lasted no longer than ten minutes, with Andrew emerging as the victor.
When it was Harry's turn to duel, he decided to be swift, unpredictable, and efficient. Having observed his opponent's past duels, he knew the girl emphasized Battle Charms and had an assortment of Dark curses and hexes in her arsenal. She's an aggressive-power type of duelist. "This should be fun," he mentally thought.
When the official told them to begin, Hyon-hui immediately bombarded her opponent with a blasting curse, bone-breaking concussion hexes, piercing spells, and a handful of other dark and painful spells. Harry expertly dodged and parried the spells, then retaliated with fast, debilitating spells. His choice of spells was moderate, only meant to cause a certain amount of pain, because of all his training and experiences dealing with people with different dueling styles. Not to mention, he had seen the members of his family duel, specifically his grandfather and Uncle. And his lessons with Severus certainly helped. It is because of these experiences that he knows exactly how to deal with someone like Ms. Hyon-hui.
The girl's aggressive dueling style was being shown and not to be underestimated as she tried to control the pace of the duel. Much like her overall speed, her ability to cast spells quickly was exceptional. Undoubtedly, she is a formidable opponent, and he could see how someone like her could have made it this far into the Tournament. However, Harry had more experience and was more familiar with aggressive dueling styles, courtesy of watching the memories of his grandfather and Uncle's numerous duels. He could see through the girl's tactics and spell chain. Destabilize and take advantage of your enemies' greatest strengths before turning them into a crippling weakness.
He carefully drew the girl closer. All of his moves were perfectly executed. Harry mentally scoffed at his opponent's straightforward tactics as she attempted to use overwhelming force to defeat him. She should have learned how to be more subtle and destabilize her foes.
Quickly using a well-timed piercing curse, a cutting curse, and a bone-shattering curse. The girl screamed in pain when her opponent's spells connected with her. There was a hole in her left shoulder, a deep cut on her right arm, and the hip in her right hip was shattered. Frustration made her act irrationally as she fired a string of explosions, cutting, and other painful spells. All the while, she continued taking a step forward, though she was not moving as fast as she used to, and her casting speed had become rushed. This is what Harry wanted to happen.
The girl unknowingly fell into his trap when she got close enough and recoiled after using a confringo. "Wrong."
"Wha—" was all she could say before a powerful banishing charm sent her flying and landed on her back with a loud crunching noise, indicating that more of her bones had been broken. Harry then summoned her wand into his hand.
"Despite Mr. Potter's brutal tactics, they were nonetheless effective. He will move on to the Semi-finals." Bagman announced, though it was clear that he disapproved of Harry's actions. Ignoring the look the man was giving him, Harry tossed the man Hyon-hui's wand before leaving.
A smirking Arcturus beamed with pride. "That's my training!" He proudly stated. "Nicely done, my Heir. That was an impressive strategy."
Harry laughed. "You taught me," he quickly composed himself. "But this is not the time to celebrate. Whoever wins the Semi-finals will face off in the final match."
"Agreed. Stay vigilant and be prepared."
The last Quarter-final match was close, with Godeaux and Schlagbauer dueling at their highest level, utilizing all of their skills. The two seemed about even in terms of power, skills, and magical knowledge. Still, Schlagbauer emerged victorious after going broke and performing a desperate move to defeat her opponent.
Again, Bagman walked onto the platform to announce who would face whom in the Semi-finals. The first match would be Sue Li vs. Heidi Schlagbauer, followed by Harry Potter vs. Andrew Huang. Bagman said the first match of the Semi-finals will begin in twenty minutes. That would give the contestants long enough to rest and prepare themselves.
If he was going to be given time to prepare, then he would make the most of it. Harry cast a privacy ward around himself and sat on the ground in a meditative position. He closed his eyes, allowing the magic surrounding him to move through his body, connecting with his magic and reinforcing his occlumency shields. The calm serenity of magic flowed through him.
On the outside, Daphne, Tracey, and Astoria were confused, wondering what Potter was doing inside that dome. What they had seen him do and the level of magic he displayed rendered them silent. He was able to do silent casting, which they wouldn't learn how to do until their sixth year. What's more, he seemed strangely proficient in it. Not only that, but he also showed great power, skills, ingenuity, cunning, and intelligence. But how was that possible when he is the same age as Daphne and Tracey?
"What is he doing in there?" Astoria wondered. The youngest of the three girls asked with a look of confusion. Their attentions were drawn to Lauren, who replied.
"Harry is likely meditating," the young girl said. "It's something he often does to connect with his magic and reinforce his occlumency shields." There were other reasons why, but she chose not to say anything further.
"Hey, Susan," Tracey called to her friend, getting her attention. "Your brother is a mystery. Like you said, he is very different from what most people think."
Susan smiled. "That's Harry. Believe me when I say that he is just getting started." She spied a look over at the U-16 competitors until her eyes fell on the Heir to the House of Moon. He had been observing Harry since the start of the Tournament, and if she were to guess. Then he might challenge him to a duel soon.
The brief respite came to an end, though the ward surrounding Harry had yet to come down when Sue Li's match against Heidi Schlagbauer began. Susan could only guess that Harry was uninterested or was in the process of formulating a strategy for his upcoming duel. Tearing her attention away from her brother's dome, she watched the duel.
Harry had lost the concept of time when he finished his meditation. He stood up with his wand in hand and, with a simple wave, brought down the ward surrounding him. When he did, the official announced that the duel between Li and Schlagbauer had just been decided. Schlagbauer had been bested by her opponent. Casting a quick tempus charm, he saw that a little over a half hour had passed. Taking a quick breath, he walked up the dueling platform, where he met with Andrew, who stood opposite him. They may be friends, but only one person could win this duel.
Assuming one of his dueling stances, Harry prepared himself as Andrew did the same. A half-second after receiving the green light to begin, Harry kicked things off with a wide-cutting curse, followed by a blasting curse and a banishing charm. Expectedly, Andrew dodged the first spell and then used a shield charm to block the other two. The Chinese-American boy then counterattacked by casting a bone-exploding curse, a fiery crescent, a piercing spell, and a bludgeoning curse.
To defend, Harry conjured a quartz wall to block the spells. Then, with a few waves and a flick of his wand, he transfigured the wall into dozens of sharp spikes. Before launching them, he cast a wide area charm and sent them flying. Andrew brought up a shield but was temporarily stunned when the first couple of spikes exploded after hitting his shield and the ground near him. Harry then conjured a pile of sharp leaves; pointing his wand at them, he created a few circles until they became a tornado and raced down the platform.
He may not have been as skilled as Harry in Battle Transfiguration, but he did learn his fair share. Andrew sent a stream of fire from the tip of his wand to burn the leaves. Once they were ashes, he twirled his wand a few times, transfiguring them into sharp metal needles. Harry saw this and smirked. Responding in kind, he waved his wand in a way almost like a dance; the tip glowed pink and expanded a few inches. This is a spell he had come to favor. One could call it a specialty of his. Continuing his wand movement, he sent twelve arrows to intercept the incoming needles. The two attacks collided, and while the needles were destroyed along with a few of the arrows, Harry's attack made it through and landed in front of Andrew. Leaping forward, he continued to move his wand in an elegant dancing fashion. When he stopped, the arrows exploded, sending Andrew flying a few feet back.
Andrew was sure that some of his bones had been broken from the impact of the explosion. It sure felt like it as he clutched his stomach and stood back up. "That was pretty good. But what is with you and blowing things up?"
Harry smiled. "Well, I am British, of course. You ready to continue?"
"My pleasure," Andrew responded, smiling back. "I warn you, though, the gloves are coming off this round."
"Fine with me."
True to his word, Andrew quickly fired a barrage of spells and started employing runic arrays to enhance their power and effectiveness. Harry countered by using a combination of Battle Charms and Battle Transfiguration to defend, attack, and counterattack. "Don't make it too easy on me, Andrew," Harry said, conjuring a set of lightning arrows.
Andrew conjured a wall of water and used the freezing charm to turn it into ice. The ice wall blocked the incoming projectiles, though pieces were scattered around the platform. Not wanting to lose momentum, Andrew conjured a fiery tornado that shot toward Harry. He suspected that his friend would either use transfiguration or dodge the incoming fire and once his guard was down, he would attack.
Harry, however, had other plans. What he did next surprised Andrew greatly; the tip of Harry's wand caught the approaching fire tornado and sent it back by turning his body a hundred and eighty degrees. He then took the opportunity to conjure some dark clouds and hit them with a different charm. The heat from the fire increased the power being built up. Thinking quickly, Andrew conjured a torrent of water to intercept. As a result of the impact, a blanket of smokescreen covered the platform, blinding him, Harry, the officials, and the audience.
Andrew thought Harry would send spells but was surprised when the smoke cleared to see him just standing there with a calm expression. He did not know what his friend was planning and most certainly did not want to find out. Renewing his resolve, he conjured a fiery tiger and eagle. Then he sent them to Harry, who conjured a wall of water to protect himself. After that failed, he used Ventus Duo to conjure a tornado.
In return, Harry mentally said "ascendio," shooting himself straight into the air.
"What?!" Andrew exclaimed. Yet that was only the beginning, as a bolt of blue lightning shot out of the dark clouds instead of colliding with the tornado. It rode through the wind straight toward Andrew. He screamed in pain when the lightning connected with him and crumpled to the ground.
"D-Damn. . .Harry," Andrew groaned, watching as his friend lightly touched back down. "That lightning really hurt," he struggled to get up. But just as he stood back on his feet, though obviously with great difficulty, he quickly learned that he could not move. It was like his body wouldn't do what he wanted.
"You've been paralyzed," Harry said. "That worked out exactly like I planned."
"What are. . ." Andrew's eyes widened in realization. When Harry returned his fire tornado, he must've conjured those dark clouds and hit them with a spell—similar to what he did to Miller, though, unlike last time, this was a different spell. "This was your goal from the very beginning," he had been outwitted.
"Sorry, mate. You fought well, but it's time to end this duel." He shot a disarming charm and a knockback jinx. Within seconds, Andrew's wand was in Harry's left hand, and he was on his back.
"The winner is Harry Potter of magical Britain! He will face Sue Li of magical Britain in the Final match!" Bagman announced.
The crowd cheered, but Harry tuned them out and walked toward his downed friend. There, he cast a quick spell to remove the paralysis. "You all right?" Extending his hand out.
"Yeah, I'll live," Andrew responded, accepting Harry's hand and allowing Harry to pull him up. The pain from his injuries made it hard for him to stand up properly, and he would have fallen down had Harry not had a firm grip on his arm. "Thanks."
"Easy, man; I got you. Lean on me," he said, putting his arm around his shoulders. Harry helped him off the platform and toward the bench, where Jade and Mr. Huang were waiting with a Healer. "Though I don't doubt that he'll be fine, his injuries need to be tended to."
The Healer nodded her head in understanding. From the boy's condition, it was clear that he would need at least a few days to recover. "Thank you. I'll take it from here." She turned to the boy's father. "Please follow me to the medical room, sir."
Of course, that went without saying, and Zhang smiled at Harry. "Let me guess. Offense is the best defense?" Harry didn't say anything, as his smile said it all. "That was brilliant and an impressive tactic. Good luck in the Finals."
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied. He watched as the Healer and Jade were about to escort Andrew away until he held up a hand.
"Be honest, Harry. How much of your power were you actually using out there?" Andrew looked at him curiously.
"More than half but less than 3/4. I say either between 55 and 60%."
Andrew only laughed. "I'll get you next time," he said. The tone in his voice indicated a promise and to be ready.
"We'll see," accepting the challenge. "I'll check on you in the medical wing when the Tournament is over."
"Appreciate it."
They left in different directions, with Harry going to his corner. In contrast, the Huangs and Healer went to the medical area.
Charlus tossed Harry a water bottle when he came over, and he chugged the entire thing down before refilling it. Lord Potter could only laugh as he watched his grandson drink the bottle until it was halfway gone. "You used an unconventional strategy and some impressive spells. I approve."
"What can I say? I am a Black," Harry cheekily replied.
"That you are," Arcturus said, his tone showing pride. "Once again. That is my training!" Harry had to resist the urge to roll his eyes as he made a mental note to thank Severus as well. Arcturus looked down at him. "Take a breath because your final match will begin a couple of minutes after the U-16 Division is completed."
Harry gave him a slow nod before taking a seat on the bench to watch the match. Unsurprisingly, Alrich Moon had also made it to the Final round for his division. He had a sneaking suspicion that the duel would be interesting, so he decided to watch.
True to his thoughts, Moon's skills were impressive. The match couldn't have lasted more than twelve or thirteen minutes, but that had been enough to defeat his opponent. Moon not only had power but was incredibly skilled. He obviously possessed a large repertoire of spells and knew how to use them in battle. More than that, though, Harry got the sense he was still holding back. A big part of him wanted to challenge the older boy to see which of them was stronger. If they were to duel, then the experience would help Harry greatly enhance his own abilities. He brushed the feeling aside and went to walk up to the platform where he was to duel Sue Li.
Li may not be able to do silent casting, but her technique, casting speed, and strategic thinking more than compensated for it. Harry watched as she walked up the platform steps and onto the stage with a small grin. The next person to arrive was Bagman. He pulled his wand out and pointed it to his throat, casting the sonorous charm. "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the moment we have all been waiting for the final match of the U-14 International Dueling Tournament. Our first finalist in this corner," gesturing to Sue Li, "we have the clever and quick-witted Sue Li from magical Britain, age 12." There were rounds of applause from the crowd. "In this corner," turning his head to Harry, "we have someone of great interest. I give you the unpredictable and strategically ruthless Harry Potter, of magical Britain, age 12." Harry received a lot of applause, although there were a few spectators who were not so inclined to give him any praise. "These two have shown that they are ahead of their peers in both magical knowledge and skills and will now face off to see who will be named the winner of this year's Dueling Tournament. As skilled as they both are. . . There can only be one winner!"
Harry Potter and Sue Li both assumed their dueling stances. The two combatants waited for Bagman to tell them to begin.
"Ready. . ." Bagman looked at both of them and saw their expressions. Li looked determined, while Harry's expression was unreadable. Yet, his green eyes burned with fire. ". . . Begin," he jumped off the platform.
Li immediately launched a cutting curse, disarming charm, and full-body bind spell, which came in the form of a triangle. Harry intercepted by conjuring a pile of thick leaves; pointing his wand at it, he made a few circles with his wand to make them rise like a tornado. The tornado followed his wand movement and intercepted the incoming spells. Some of the leaves were destroyed, but the rest headed for their target. Li countered quickly by transfiguring the remaining leaves by using a stream of fire to turn them into ashes and quickly used a lumos maxima spell to emit a blinding white light. She assumed that her opponent would have covered his eyes against the blinding light and said in a low whisper, "everte statum."
To her dismay, the spell failed to hit its mark, as there should have been a groan or grunt. She clutched her right arm when a cutting curse connected just below her right shoulder. When the light cleared, she was surprised to see Potter standing there wearing sunglasses and an easy grin. Before she could respond, a jet of spinning water came out from his wand and rocketed toward her, which she countered by using the freezing charm to turn it into ice. Then, with a few slashes and waves of her wand, she turned the ice into shards, sending them toward Harry. Harry interceded by transfiguring the incoming ice shards into grains of sand that he launched at Li. The young girl took a defensive position, firing a confringo at the sand and sending a blast of wind from her wand.
Prepared for this, Harry created a shield to send the gust of wind back, followed by a confringo, bone-exploding curse, and banishing charm.
The wind pushed Li back a few feet, but she stubbornly remained on her feet. She barely managed to avoid the blasting curse, but the bone in her left kneecap exploded, and she was sent flying back courtesy of the banishing charm. The girl quickly got back on her feet and launched a string of hexes, curses, jinxes, and probably some spells designed by members of her family. Harry saw that her casting speed had increased, and her attacks became sharper. He noticed that her spells were being used in combinations, and she wanted to take control of the duel by forcing him to go where she wanted. She wanted him to be confused, off-balanced, and lead him into a trap. Mentally smirking, he decided to play along, allowing her to believe she was in control.
Sue Li was annoyed that her spells were not making contact with her opponent as he either dodged or used a shielding charm to block them. The only thing that seemed to be going her way was that he was falling into her trap. She could feel her irritation growing as she could feel her magic being drained. Just when he was close enough she said "Depulso." At the last minute, when the banishing charm left her wand, he jumped as high as he could, doing a backflip to dodge it. "Wha—"
Then, before she knew it, the girl felt a sharp pain as she was flown back several feet. Harry had silently cast Everte Statum while in mid-air, making sure to put some power behind it. "I must admit, Heiress Li, your dueling skills are impressive. You certainly live up to your family's reputation. It makes sense how you were able to defeat Jade and why she would have trouble with you."
"That hurt," she said, struggling to her feet while holding her stomach. "I think you may have cracked a few of my ribs." Sue groaned. "Truthfully, I've been wanting to go against you for some time now."
"Do you wish to continue?"
"I'm not done with you yet," she adamantly said with determination in her eyes.
Harry's lips formed a smile. "That's what I like to hear. Show me what you got."
The duel between them renewed, though, unlike last time, Harry used a bit more speed and power and executed some advanced gymnastic moves to confuse and unbalance her. Poor Li was having a difficult time trying to keep up. Meanwhile, he was making her look like she was shadowboxing and landing hits of his own. After a consecutive number of backflips and while doing a corkscrew, Harry put the girl out of commission with three spells: disarming, banishing, and binding her in rope.
"Wow," Bagman said, completely stunned by what he had just seen. "After displaying an impressive level of dexterity and dueling skills, the winner of this year's U-14 International Dueling Tournament is Harry Potter of magical Britain!" He announced. Several people in stands were clapping, with the loudest coming from Harry's godfather and two sisters.
Susan and Lauren were the first to run onto the stage and wrap him in a tight hug. Soon, his grandfather, Uncle, godfather, and Amelia came onto the stage with the Minister of Magic. Fudge handed Harry the first-place trophy and a pouch containing the Tournament's cash prize.
"Is there anything you like to say to the people, Mr. Potter?" Fudge asked.
Harry performed the sonorous charm on himself. "I just want to say that if it weren't for the support and training from my family and mentors, I wouldn't be here today. So this win is for the House of Potter and the House of Black!"
"Also, I did not enter this Tournament for the sole purpose of winning. Therefore, I will be giving half of the prize money to the Director of Law Enforcement and the other half to the Head of the Department of Mysteries here in magical Britain." He declared. Then, cast the counterspell on himself.
Just then, another amplified voice was heard. "Hold it! I challenge the U-14 Dueling Tournament Harry Potter to a duel!" Harry only smiled as he wondered when this person would come out and challenge him. Everyone else turned their attention to the person who issued the challenge.
A/N: Harry has met the Greengrass family and the Davis family for the first time. He has also won the 1992 Under-14 Dueling Tournament. The Tournament's prize money had been decided. I put a voting poll up on my Pa tre on page to give the people a chance to decide on how much the Tournament's prize money should be. The majority picked 10,000 galleons. The extra money he won came from his supposed rival Caleb Miller, is another matter.
Before he and his family could leave he is suddenly challenged to another duel. Will he be able to emerge victorious or will he lose? Stay tuned for more.
Next Chapter: Victory or Defeat? Some advice.