Chapter 79: Hit Me with Your Best Shot
The first day of the duels dawned foggy and cold with the frost heavy on the crowd. To relax his nerves, Harry took Hermione on a walk across the grounds. The Daily Prophet article from Skeeter arrived the Monday after the Wand Weighing, most of it focused on poor Orphan Harry and his search for purpose and meaning through life and hoping the tournament would give him some.
"I hope my parents would be proud," article Harry said. "They did so much for me and I hope I'm not letting them down. Maybe this tournament will prove their sacrifice wasn't in vain."
The reaction would have been worse had The Quibbler not arrived on Sunday morning with a true version of the event where Luna described each contestant, not just Harry, got the ages and spellings correct, and provided a comprehensive picture of the entire event with a preview of the tasks to come. That it came with exceptional accompanying photographs of the Ollivander casting with each wand, the four wands in front of the cup, and the truly exceptional photograph of the group of four helped The Quibbler stand out.
"Mum's been writing me all week," Lavender said. "Rita got chewed over being overshadowed by The Quibbler. The fact mum got Witch Weekly to do an article as well has made the editor of the Prophet furious. Rita's been in a right state all week to the point Witch Weekly actually fired her. Mum's got all her articles now."
Thankful for Luna, Harry enjoyed the open air as they walked around the castle.
"Harry!" Hagrid enthusiastically waved him over. Thinking Hagrid needed help, Harry sprinted toward the large man.
"Glad ter see yeh," Hagrid pointed toward Buckbeak's pen. "It's happenen'! We're about to get a new Hippogriff."
Hagrid ushered them into the paddock when abruptly, the chestnut Hippogriff stood up and the egg started to crack. A claw shot out and a golden eye blinked out from the ostrich-sized egg. Hermione cooed and hugged Harry as a black hippogriff pushed its way out of the egg.
"Since yer here," Hagrid beamed while tears of joy fell from his eyes. "I'd like yer to name him."
"It's a he?" Harry asked Buckbeak more than Hagrid. Beaky inclined its head as if to say 'yes' while the other Hippogriff helped the hatchling stand for the first time. His small legs collapsed the first time and then picked themselves up and unsteadily walked toward the others in the herd, its head quickly taking in all of the new sights, sounds, and smells.
"How about Harryclaw," Hermione offered first which Buckbeak shook his head and snorted. "Don't like that, okay."
"What's the other Hippogriff's name?" Harry asked Hagrid.
"Her name's Eaglewing," Hagrid said.
"How about Eaglebeak?" Harry offered, making Buckbeak stamp his hooves in fury. "Don't like that one either, huh?"
"What about Featherpot?" Hermione said aloud, after consideration. "It combines Harry's last name but sounds appropriately birdlike?"
Buckbeak flapped his wings and screeched, accepting the new name.
"Nice to meet you, Featherpot," Hermione kneeled down to greet the newest member of the herd. "My name's Hermione and that's Harry. He's good friends with your dad."
Hermione pet the new arrival on the neck just where Buckbeak liked, the birdhorse cooed in joy and leaned on Hermione with enough strength to knock the girl over. Hermione collapsed on the ground with a Hippogriff lazing in her lap, laughing at her sudden predicament,.
"If there was ever a time for Colin," Harry asked before hearing a camera click.
"What?" Hagrid looked up from the viewfinder of the oversized camera. "Think I wasn' gonna get this on film?"
Harry tossed him a galleon while Hermione lost herself in the little Hippogriff in her lap.
"That's a good boy, Feather," Hermione said in a high-pitched voice. "Yes, you're going to be just fine. Auntie Hermione is right here, as is uncle Harry."
Hagrid took another picture when Eaglewing laid down behind Hermione, resting her head over Hermione's shoulder to mother the newborn. Harry stroked Buckbeak's neck while he watched with a smile on his face. A half-hour later, Hermione extricated herself from the creatures, dusted off her robes, and led Harry out of the paddock. They turned back to watch the new family get to know one another.
"Don't care what happens today, today is already a win," Harry snaked his arm around Hermione. Hermione relaxed her head on the crook of his shoulder as she let Harry hug her.
"Every day with you is a win," Hermione turned in Harry's arms, craned her neck up and kissed him warmly. The kiss deepened and continued until Buckbeak screeched to break the moment.
"I think he's saying we're next," Harry smirked.
"Down boy," Hermione chided, harmlessly. "In a few years."
"Doesn't mean we can't practice," Harry's eyes turned lusty as he leaned back in for another kiss.
"Enticing," Hermione pushed lightly on his chest to keep some distance. "But you've got somewhere to be. Can't have my champion getting distracted the day of the duels."
"Your champion," Harry licked his lips as if appreciating a new flavor. "I think I like the sound of that."
Walking through the door into the Entry Hall, Harry kissed Hermione on the cheek and walked through the door to the antechamber where the other champions we asked to congregate.
"Ah, Harry!" Bagman called out to him as he entered. "Come on over and we'll get you outfitted for your robes for the tournament."
"Come over here, dear," a witch pulled him over to her. "We've got your measurements from Madam Malkin's so we just need to make sure everything fits. We've got all the champions outfitted with dragonhide robes. Lightweight, flexible but durable."
She pulled a red garment with gold accents across the sleeves from the table behind her. Harry pulled it over his head and slipped his arms through the sleeves.
"How's that feel?" The witch asked as Harry flexed his arms.
"It's a little loose in the arms," Harry said. "Can you make it tighter on the arms?"
She twitched her wand and the sleeves cinched up.
"Better," Harry moved all his extremities. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, dear," the witch smiled kindly. "Now this might be a little uncomfortable."
She tapped a rune on his chest and Harry felt like he was being baked for a brief moment, from his heart, up through his neck and down into his toes.
"The robes are now attuned to your vital signs. Included in this is a portkey that Madam Pomfrey can only activate. Each one is tied to a specific bed in the Hospital Wing. If your vitals are failing, she will activate it. You can also activate it here on your left sleeve. Should you be in any peril, tap your chest where I did twice and the tournament support staff will rapidly move to help. Excellent, you're all set."
Harry stepped down to face the rest of the occupants of the room. Krum, fitted in black robes with blood-red accents, ran through martial arts exercises to test how his robes fit. Fleur, clad in powder blue robes, sat on a bench in deep meditation. Cedric sat with Professor Sprout, chatting amicably in his gold robes with black accents.
"Are you ready kids?" Bagman asked. When no one answered, he repeated his question but louder. "I said are you ready kids?"
Harry checked the room to see that, yes, every occupant tried to keep their eyes from rolling out of their head.
"Welcome to the dueling exhibition of the Triwizard Tournament," Crouch spared Bagman a look as he stepped in front of him. "In just a moment, we will draw the matchups for today. These will be friendly duels. Nothing lethal and any dark curses will have you disqualified from future duels. If the duelist is unable to battle, whether by spellwork or losing their wand, the match will end."
A bowl floated over his head. Reaching up, Crouch withdrew two slips.
"The first duel will be Viktor Krum against Cedric Diggory," Crouch announced. "Making the next matchup Fleur Delcour against Harry Potter. Mr. Krum and Mr. Diggory, if you will follow me. Mr. Potter and Ms. Delacour please remain in the room until called."
Cedric and Krum followed the adults out of the room, leaving an awkward silence between Harry and Fleur. Harry smiled nervously, one Fleur returned.
"Relax 'arry," Fleur sat next to him, laying a hand on his air. "Zis is just a friendly duel."
"Thanks, Fleur," Harry took a deep breath in, letting it out slowly. "Are you ready?"
"Always," Fleur's head snapped to the door where they heard spells colliding with one another.
"Kind of wish we could watch," Fleur said.
"Your wish is my command," Harry summoned his mirror from the bag. "Hermione Granger."
Fleur looked skeptically at Harry until the mirror flashed.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything is brilliant," Harry replied. "Fleur and I were just hoping to watch the duel, if possible."
"Seriously?" Hermione huffed but turned the mirror just in time for them to see Krum launch a barrage of yellow spells toward Cedric. Cedric blocked the two most dangerous as sweat poured off his face.
"Krum's powerful," Fleur's eyes widened but Harry shushed her.
"These broadcast sound in addition to sight," Harry whispered.
"I don't think Cedric can take much more," Fleur leaned closer to the mirror.
"Wait for it," Harry knew Cedric enough, he smirked.
Cedric rolled under a new barrage, firing a black hex, hitting Krum in the hand. A sound of bones snapping echoed through the hall. Cedric smiled as the wand dropped from the hand, raising his wand to summon it. That was until Krum snatched the wand out of the air, launching a stunner at Cedric, rendering the Hufflepuff unconscious.
"Victory Mr. Krum," Bagman announced. Medics swarmed the platform, reviving Cedric and healing Krum's hand as the audience applauded the duelists. Harry shut off the mirror as a chime sounded within the chamber.
"Looks like we're up," Fleur beamed, pat his leg and stood. Harry closed his eyes, bringing his concentration back in.
"Come on, 'Arry," Fleur looked over her shoulder and smirked. "You can lose to me if you stay there… but it won't be any fun for me."
When he opened them, Fleur startled, noticing the electricity sparking within his eyes.
"Let's go," Harry strut toward the door, pulled it open and allowed Fleur to exit in front of him.
Walking abreast of one another, they stopped before the doors to the great hall.
"Excellent show by Diggory and Krum," Bagman's boisterous voice rang from the other side of the door. "For our second match, we have the lovely Fleur Delacour and our youngest champion Harry Potter!"
The doors opened as Bagman spoke and the duo walked in together. The Beauxbaton contingent clapped politely for Fleur, and the Hogwarts male contingent gave her some wolf whistles. Meanwhile, Harry's supporters shouted loud for him while another group, led by Ron, Theo and Zacharias Smith, booed him mercilessly. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noticed Fleur's eyes tighten.
"Welcome the both of you," Bagman stood at a dais where the other headmasters and Crouch sat. Further down the table, Harry spotted Rita Skeeter with her usual acid-green quill zipping across the parchment. Luna sat next to her with her wand behind her ear. She was biting her tongue in concentration as her dictaquill wrote. At the last spot was Murdock talking into his wand, a wireless next to him broadcast his voice.
"As I am sure you are both aware, this will be friendly duel," Bagman announced, Fleur cast an annoyed look at the blonde man. Harry almost did the same as it felt like he was talking down to them. "Bow to one another and retreat to starting positions, if you will."
"Don't go easy on me, Fleur," Harry said as he bowed.
"Was about to say the same," Fleur's eyes glinted as she spoke. "Good luck."
"You too," Harry stood back up and marched toward his end of the dueling platform.
"Ready?" Bagman asked and, at two nods, he thrust his arm downward. "Begin!"
"Stupefy, expelliarmus, incarcerous," Fleur began with the dueler's hello. Harry sidestepped the first, deflected the second and let the cords come toward him. Fleur smirked, thinking she had won.
"Diffindo," Harry whispered, slicing the cords in half. Harry sent them back toward Fleur, setting them on fire as they approached the young woman.
Fleur's eyes widened as the flaming remnants of her spell flew toward her. On instinct, her Veela half took over, transforming her hand to talons, snagging the cords out of the air and tossing them to the side. Fleur looked back toward Harry with a victorious look but Harry had disappeared.
"Incendio," Fleur cast the flames in a wide arc. Fleur studied the flames, hoping they would reveal Harry. That was when her legs turned to jelly and her world went dark.
Harry stunned Fleur, bound her and summoned her wand, confirming his victory.
"Winner: Potter!" Bagman was gleeful in his adulation. "Wherever he is."
Harry canceled his disillusionment as he walked toward Fleur. He figured Fleur would respond to his invisibility with smoke but the flame worked better with his chosen tactic.
The medics vanished the cords and revived Fleur.
"You beat me," Fleur said as Harry handed her her wand. "You didn't just beat me, you dominated me."
"Your first volley was easy to counter," Harry said. "However, the flames were a nice touch. And catching the flaming cords was a nice flourish."
"Zhank you, 'Arry," Fleur vanished some of the ash on her arm and stood to applause from the audience. They grabbed one another's hand, raised it above their heads and bowed.
"Excellent show," Bagman said. "Ms. Delacour, you may return to the room. The final match of today will be Potter against Krum."
Harry walked toward his friends, noticing Hermione had a flask of water for him.
"Excellent first duel, Harry," Daphne said. "She thought she had you with her first attack. Turning it back on her to distract her while you disappeared was an elegant strategy."
"Thank you," Harry nodded toward the Slytherin.
"Where did you go, mate?" Neville asked. "I was sure the flames would reveal your location."
"They would have… if I were standing," Harry smiled.
"You laid on the ground," Vinny said, clearly impressed.
"Brilliant," Ginny beamed at Harry, though Harry noticed she sat rather close to Vinny. Her hair had the special Lavender touch applied to it and her makeup was immaculate. In spite of himself, Harry smiled at her.
"Alright focus up," Tracey said. "Krum isn't a pushover here and he's seen you in action. He won't pull anything back because you're 14."
"Thank you, Tracey," Harry nodded toward her. At that exact moment, the doors opened and Krum marched in. Tracey wasn't wrong; he was radiating power.
"Now for the final duel of the day," Bagman called attention back to himself. "We have the two victors of the day. Viktor Krum and Harry Potter."
Harry and Viktor bowed toward one another and retreated to their starting positions.
"Ready? Begin!"
Before Bagman was finished speaking, Krum moved. A bludgeoning attack moved toward Harry's shoulder, a piercing curse toward his knee and a tickling charm, of all things, toward his stomach. Harry deflected his two physical attacks into one another, causing them to explode in black and blue sparks. Rolling under the third spell, Harry came up firing with an array of stunners and an aguamenti. Krum blocked all the stunners with a single wall and fired back three more piercing hexes. Harry countered with the family spell he had mastered to this point, directed at Krum's knee.
"Sorry Viktor," Harry said. "But I know Pomfrey will get you fixed up in no time."
Harry's spell hit true, snapping the ligaments in Krum's right knee. Gasps rang from the audience as Krum and Harry both screamed in agony, Krum not even recognizing his piercing hex hit Harry's shoulder. The dragonhide took the brunt of the attack but the spell did its damage, breaking the scapula. Harry grunted as his arm fell useless. Krum bandaged his knee and turned back to launch another attack. Harry whispered a silent thank you to Flitwick's offhand casting lessons.
Krum launched another brace of bludgeoning attacks while Harry made use of the wet surface. Krum never bothered with the aguamenti charm Harry cast and now water pooled at his feet.
"Glaciius," Harry cast as he turned his wounded shoulder to take the bludgeoning attack, rolling with it to take the sting off the attack. The attack still spun Harry around, dropping him on the platform surface. Krum was in a similar state, slipping on the ice, his wounded knee rendering any balance impossible.
"Expelliarmus," Harry shouted from his back.
"Stupefy" Krum counted. The two red spells passed one another. Krum's spell threw Harry backward as it knocked him out while Harry's ripped the wand from Krum's hand, throwing it into the audience.
Silence reigned in the Great Hall, worry and confusion reigning among the spectators.
"Would you look at that," Bagman finally cut in? "Neither party can battle. We have a tie!"
The crowd applauded politely though Neville wasn't able to join as he held Hermione back from rushing the stage. Medics rushed to both boys, conjuring stretchers for both. Pomfrey was second on the scene, whisking both stretchers away to her ward.
"Thank you all for coming out," Bagman said. "Our medical staff will have both contestants fixed up and ready to duel tomorrow. Return tomorrow to see the final three battles."
The Durmstrang students led a Krum chant as they filed out, with several Hogwarts students joining in. Neville's hand flexed on his wand.
"Not now, sweetie," Hannah deftly took Neville's wand out of his hand, replacing it with her hand. "Harry needs us more."
Neville's face relaxed. He leaned in, kissed Hannah, and stood up straight.
"You're right," Neville said. "Follow me."
Neville marched through the crowd, many students stepping out of the way of the Longbottom heir as he marched toward the Hospital Wing. Hermione fell into step, following in his wake. Once they were up the Grand Staircase, Hermione sprinted out from behind him. When she approached the last thing she expected to hear was laughter.
There in the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey had her hands on her hips while Harry chortled on a bed with Krum in the bed next to him holding his sides in laughter.
"What did I miss?" Hermione asked.
"Mister Potter was just telling Mister Krum about why his name is above this bed," Pomfrey scolded. "Honestly can I get a month without seeing you here?"
"Hey I made it a good four months last year, I'll have you know," Harry said.
"Potter is a true varrior," Krum said. "To haff a bed in a hospital is an honor. I vas just telling him of my most recent training injury. Took two Bludgers because I told my Beaters they should be relegated to the Cannons."
"Even internationally it seems the Cannons are the worst team," Harry said. "I told Viktor about Ron's fascination with the Cannons, that he thinks they'd win it once he joins as their keeper."
"And I asked Potter how the boy could fit in the dorms if he vas a giant," Viktor said. "That's the only vay the Cannons could block the hoops."
Well as entertaining as this is, I have work to do," Pomfrey said. "Healing you two won't take much. Mr. Potter, you have a broken scapula. I was going to take it easy on you but…"
Pomfrey waved her wand and Harry grunted.
"Ow!" Harry grabbed his shoulder, surprised to feel no pain.
"Serves you right," Pomfrey nodded and began the delicate work of knitting Krum's ligaments back together.
"I want you two to rest for an hour and you'll be clear to leave."
"Yes, madam," Viktor and Harry said in unison.
"Your spell," Krum turned toward Harry. "I haff never seen it before."
"It's a family spell," Harry said. "It's a bludgeoner that attacks the ligaments. Meant to be the elbow but I needed your mobility negated. You move exceptionally well."
"You also," Krum said. "I did not consider the vasser until it vas frozen."
"It's one of Harry's specials," Hermione said. "Are you okay? I was so worried!"
"I am fine, Hermione," Harry said. "I had my shoulder broken but otherwise I am fine. The robes did their job."
"Excellent duel, you two," Susan said, having just entered the ward. "I think Colin said something about 'best photos yet' when I passed him. You are a very powerful caster, Mr. Krum."
"Viktor," he said. "I prefer Viktor miss…"
"Susan," the redhead blushed. "You can call me Susan."
"Susan," Krum smiled. "I vould stand but I haff been told not to. Vonderful to meet you."
"You're really okay?" Hermione asked her boyfriend.
"Yes, I am." Harry smiled warmly at his girlfriend.
"Good," Hermione then smacked him in the chest. "That's for scaring me."
"Hey!" Harry raised his arms to protect himself until Hermione kissed him.
"And that's for how well you performed," Hermione beamed.
"I need a girlfriend," Krum lamented.
"You asking?" Brunhilde announced her arrival. "Oh Viky, you don't need to play hard to get."
"Ve tried that," Krum said. "It didn't vork."
"Yes I remember you don't like girls who are taller, stronger, and can kick your ass," Brunhilde flexed her arms to general laughter. "Not to mention older."
The next day, the four champions gathered again in the antechamber.
"You ready for another day?" Fleur asked Harry and Viktor. "Not too injured to continue?"
"You vish, flower," Viktor smirked at her. "I stand ready to battle you."
"We'll see," Fleur said. "Potter has the easy day. Only one battle."
"Easy?" Harry chuckled. "Clearly you've never dueled Cedric. Yeah, easy."
"Shh shh shh" Cedric put a hand over his mouth. "Don't spoil the surprise."
"Surprise?" Fleur placed her arms on her hips and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "You think you've got a surprise, you haven't seen anything yet."
"Alright, alright," Bagman entered again. "We're back for day 2. Hope you're all ready because after the show Potter and Krum put on, you all have to match that."
Back in the Great Hall, Hermione scanned the room. The students returned with excitement matching yesterday, Murdock whispered into his wand, and Luna's quill sped across the page but the third member was nowhere to be found. She looked around the platform where Colin clutched his camera. Hermione thought Skeeter's absence was curious and filed it away for later.
"First match of the day will be Cedric Diggory against Fleur Delacour," Bagman announced. "Followed by Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum. You will have ten minutes to prepare and we'll call you."
Minutes later, Cedric stood at the end of the platform, focusing on Fleur. Fleur smirked at him as Bagman told them to begin. When he did, Fleur started to glow. Cedric's brain got fuzzy and a voice asked him why he would bother attacking this goddess. Another voice deep inside told him to duck. Acting on instinct, Cedric ducked as a red spell went over his head.
Cedric shook his head and cleared the chimes sounding in his ears. Cedric swiped his wand from his hip to his shoulder, summoning a gust of wind. Fleur leaned into the gust, barely keeping her feet as it tried to blow her over. Cedric followed up his wind gust with a tripping hex. Fleur tried to block but was too slow and before she hit the platform, she was bound and her wand in Cedric's hand.
"Winner, Diggory!" Bagman announced to raucous applause from the Hufflepuffs.
An annoyed Fleur stuck around while Cedric was escorted back to the room. She saw her classmates rolling their eyes and whispering to one another, pointing in Fleur's direction.
"Fleur," the blonde French witch looked over her shoulder. Standing next to the platform was Hermione. "You're trying to trick your opponents. Go all out. You've got more power than you've shown and I know you can do it."
"Zhank you, 'Ermione," Fleur said.
"I know your own school isn't supporting you the way they should," Hermione said. A loner herself in primary, she saw the signs. "But you're the Beauxbatons champion. Go out there and show them why you are their champion."
Fleur nodded as Hermione retreated. Krum entered, they bowed to one another and retreated to starting positions.
"Begin!" Bagman instructed.
Like with his first duels, Krum came out fast with a brace of bludgeoners. Fleur smiled and gripped her wand tighter. Ethereal music filled the chamber as a golden thread exited the wand creating a whip of pure light. Using the whip, she bat Krum's attacks aside as she advanced on the boy. Krum launched a few special spells, black balls that looked like black holes. Fleur's light whip sliced through the balls, turning them to wispy smoke. When she was in range, Fleur wrapped Krum up with the light whip. As he struggled, Krum knew it was helpless. The only move he had left was potentially dangerous.
"Bombarda," Krum cast at the floor, tearing pieces apart. Fleur's eyes widened as she dropped the spell to shield her body from debris. "Expelliarmus."
Fleur rolled away from the disarming hex and conjured three birds. As they flew toward Krum, she transfigured them into spiders, having them web up Krum as they flew past him. Krum cut the spiders in half and turned his attention back toward Fleur. When he did, a red spell was coming straight at him. Even with Quidditch reflexes, it was too late to dodge.
Fleur watched Krum fall backward, rendered unconscious. Hermione jumped up, applauding Fleur's effort as the medics sprinted to revive Krum.
"Well done!" Bagman's amplified voice echoed across the walls. "We'll take a brief break to allow Headmaster Dumbledore to fix the platform after which we'll have our final duel."
Dumbledore stood, waving his wand in an intricate formation as pieces of debris flew back toward the platform. After a break, the doors burst open and the final duelists walked into the hall, their robes billowing behind them as they walked.
"Professor Snape is going to sue," Tracey said. "That's his move."
"Nobody tell Harry," Neville said, causing a chorus of giggles to ring from their section.
"Is Harry going to be okay?" Nancy asked Hermione.
"He's going to be just fine," Hermione soothed.
"But he took such a hit yesterday and Cedric is so much bigger," Nancy gripped Hermione's leg in terror.
"Just watch," Hermione said. "I can't guarantee he'll win but he'll be fine. You're in for a treat; those two love to battle one another."
"Welcome to the final duel," Bagman's joy was palpable in his voice. "In our concluding duel, we have Hogwarts Champion Cedric Diggory against the young Harry Potter. Diggory is coming off a loss to Krum and Victory against Delacour. Meanwhile, Potter has a win against Delacour and a tie- rarely seen in organized duels- against Krum."
"You ready, Potter?" Cedric smirked at the younger boy standing next to him.
"Excited," Harry returned Cedric's look. "Going to be a great one."
They bowed toward the judges and turned toward one another to bow. In a choreographed maneuver, Harry and Cedric inspected their wands, yelped, and swapped wands to general laughter.
"Ready?" Bagman asked. "Let the final duel begin!"
Harry smirked and came out firing.
"Fumos, Ventus," Harry spun, covering his position in smoke, and blew it out toward Cedric.
"Not today," Cedric knew this trick enough. "Depulso!"
The smoke cleared from the arena with no sign of Harry.
"There you are!" Cedric saw Harry's signature blue flame heading toward him. Cedric threw up a shield, let the ball impact on it, and followed up with a widespread bombarda. Cedric yelped when another blue flame ball hit him in the back, singeing his robes.
Harry flickered back into sight, his disillusionment fading with the magic he cast. Cedric threw a stunner at him which Harry easily caught on the shield conjured on his arm, deflecting it into the ceiling. Smiling in enjoyment at the battle, Cedric conjured a swarm of birds to attack Harry.
"Expulso," Harry shouted, needing full power to achieve the desired effect. The swarm disappeared in the explosion, the only thing remaining was a couple of blue feathers. Harry turned those into darts and banished them toward Cedric. Cedric's eyes widened with the projectiles coming his way.
"Bombarda," Cedric cast at the floor, tearing out a piece of the platform to levitate in front of cheeky, Cedric transfigured it into a dart board to catch all the darts. Once he caught the darts, Cedric let the board drop before turning the platform to ice, complete with spikes on his shoes. Harry countered with a flame spell to melt the ice at his feet.
"Using my move against me?" Harry asked, mirthfully.
"You know it, Potter," Cedric said. "It's bloody useful."
At this point, both were laboring, panting under the exertion of their casting. After a lull to compose themselves, Cedric levitated the dartboard, turned it into a shield, and spun it toward Harry. Thinking quickly, Harry cut the shield in half and turned them into spears before throwing them back at Cedric which Cedric knocked into the splintered remnants of the blown-apart platform.
With a flick of his wrist, Cedric summoned Harry toward him, onto the ice-covered portion of the platform. Knowing he was almost exhausted, Cedric launched three stunners aimed at his right elbow, left shoulder, and right foot of Harry with a sticking charm on Harry's left foot.
Knowing he was in trouble, Harry tried to shield but due to fatigue, it was only going to catch one of the stunners. Knowing he was down to his last-ditch effort, Harry flicked his wrist out, praying the spell would work this time.
Metallic cords shot from his wand with a spark coming out of the end. Harry's breath caught, hoping he finally cast the lightning whip. However, as Harry moved to block the incoming spells, the spark died and the cords fell limply at his feet.
Dropping his head in disappointment, Harry simply curled up, ready to fall gracefully.
"Victory Diggory!" Bagman's voice cut through the gasps of the crowd. Hermione let out the breath she had been holding since the match began. She saw Harry flagging before his final spell but she hoped he would pull out the win. Cedric sprinted the Harry, reviving him before the medics could even arrive on the scene.
Harry let out a coughing breath upon being revived, grabbed Cedric's proffered hand and let his friend haul him to his feet. When his feet were underneath him, the crowd gave them a standing ovation.
"See?" Hermione whispered into Nancy's ear. "He's okay, just like I said."
"But he didn't win," Nancy pouted.
"No but he did very well," Hermione said. "Cedric knows his moves too well at this point. I think Harry needs to diversify."
"Outstanding battle," Cedric said. "You have come so far."
"You've been holding back on me, Diggory," Harry looked up at Cedric. "Is it time for dinner? I am exhausted."
"Me too. You pushed me to my limit, Potter," Cedric wrapped his arm around Harry's shoulder. "Wave to your public, Potter. I think you won some people over this weekend."
Harry and Cedric waved their free hands toward the crowd, getting another standing ovation in return. Fleur and Krum joined them on the ruins of the dueling platform, making the crowd cheer louder yet again.
"What an exhibition," Bagman said. "Let's hear it for our champions. Excellent show, all four of you!"
"I'd like to see that spell you did," Harry leaned in to whisper to Fleur. "It sounded spectacular from the antechamber."
"I would be glad to show it to you," Fleur leaned into Harry's ear to ensure she was heard. "If you share wiz moi how to do a Patronus, oui?"
"Oui," Harry answered cheekily. "I'll show you a room where we can show one another."
"Sounds like fun," Fleur waved a hand over her ear to clear a buzzing sound floating through it.
As the cheers died down, the crowd dispersed and Colin advanced to snap a photo of the four champions on the ruined platform.
"Mr. Potter," Harry's head of house stood next to the platform with her hands on her hips. "Mr. Diggory. You just had to destroy my hard work, didn' ye?"
"Couldn't help it," Cedric said. "If it wasn't for the platform, I would not have survived the darts- excellent strategy, by the way."
"That's my boyfriend," Hermione scolded lightly. "Can't go anywhere without destroying things."
"Maybe we should call him the Boy-Who-Destroys," Luna said absently, not looking up from the story she was editing. "It would seem to fit him more."
"You're the writer," Harry said. "If you want to coin a new name, that's totally up to you."
"Noted," Luna said, again not looking up from her parchment. "I need to owl this to daddy. Excellent job today, both of you. I think you impressed everyone."
"Thank you, Luna," Harry beamed. "Now if you don't mind, I could use something to eat. Does anyone want to join me in the kitchens?"
"Kitchens?" Neville perked up. "Food! Drink! Company! Kitchens ho, Potter!"
Vinny and Neville pinned Harry's arms to his side and frog-marched him toward the kitchens. Hermione followed behind with a giggle, collecting the others in their wake as they walked.
Harry smiled to himself, thinking that, all things considered, this was the best Halloween he had ever had.
(A/N: Sorry about the week hiatus. Had very little time to write and when I did, this chapter just didn't flow the way I wanted. Side note: I was watching Spongebob and that entirely inspired the "Are you Ready Kids?" from Bagman.