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Daphne and the Dueling Event
Author: Ellis
Date: 03-14-17 18:34
After a long day watching the Cauldron Clash, the day for the Dueling event had finally come. This was also Daphne's first time participating in an SAT event, not to mention her first time abroad. She'd never thought she'd visit South America, and now she was there at another school of magic.
Daphne had already been picked for the Best in Show: Magical Plants event, but that wasn't till later in the school year. Her cockerspaniel dogflower, Gypsy, was flourishing. Hopefully, it would continue to thrive, because June was a long way away. It would be pretty embarrassing if after all this time, she turned up at the event with a dead plant.
Now it was time for the Dueling event to begin. The six judges took turns describing the event, and then four names were drawn to compete in the first round of the competition. Daphne was one of the four, and she was paired with Diana Ozera from Durmstrang. They were sent to Stage 2, to be judged by Wolfgang Jones and Naren Patel.
Wolfgang Jones got things started. "Wands at the ready, and… start!"
Diana waved her wand and shouted, "Stupefy!"
Daphne promptly went down, but she was quickly revived by Judge Jones. Daphne had fallen hard and felt a bit achy, but she immediately got back into it and raised her wand to send her opponent's wand soaring over, but Diana attacked again.
In preparation for the Dueling event, Daphne had learned a few spells beyond the first year level, but what she knew seemed to pale in comparison to what the girl across from her knew. Daphne barely had time to wonder if the Durmstrang curriculum was much more advanced than Hogwarts', but maybe this girl was talented (and possibly viscious) all on her own.
The two and a half minutes allotted for the Dueling event seemed to both drag on forever and end in a heart beat. Diana looked smug. She had obviously won their duel.
Impatient To Participate
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 03-14-17 19:52
Edwina is still chuffed to the point her mouth hurts from smiling at earning second place in her division during yesterday's Cauldron Clash. That second place gave Hogwarts three points in her school's overall Scholastic Aptitude Tournament standings. Today she's just a member of the audience though she sort of wishes she'd been picked for the Dueling event. But maybe not, Edwina is so so with dueling back at Hogwarts. Libby says she's not aggressive enough and only half-heartedly means it when she casts a spell against an opponent. Libby says you have to mean it or the spell loses a lot of strength. As Libby is good at dueling - maybe too good in Edwina's view - Edwina has to admit her cousin may know what she's talking about.
As if knowing she's just crossed Edwina's mind Libby, on her way back from the lavatory, stops to look around, making eye contact with Edwina. She flashes a confident smile then continues on to her seat where she whispers to the other second year Hogwarts Dueling competitor, Belinda McCourt, "What did I miss?"
Belinda whispers back, "Douglas Dippet won and on the other stage the girl from Watling's won."
Libby thanks Belinda then goes quiet, trying to watch both of the duels that have just gotten underway. Sitting watching is hard for Libby when she's eager for a turn. That turn will be awhile as she, and Belinda, are in the second group and the first group doesn't seem to be even halfway through their rounds.
Impatient, she slumps back in her chair, arms cross, silently critiquing the spells and techniques being used by those competing in Group 11-12.
When her turn finally comes, Libby faces off first against Pedro Loya of La Escuela de Hechiceria. Pedro grins smugly at her, probably thinking that a girl is no match for him. Forty-five seconds later Pedro isn't looking quite so smug as his wand clatters to the stage floor well away from where he's standing.
Having disarmed her opponent, the match ends and Libby is declared the winner. As satisfying as that was, she reminds herself as she resumes her seat to await being called for another match, that it would be more fun if she lets each match go the full two and a half minutes.
The Duel
Author: Gerry
Date: 03-15-17 18:25
In the break between rounds, Gerry thought back to how he discovered that the bag of sweets given to him by a mysterious carnival-goer had actually contained real sweets mixed in with U-No-Poo. The two looked so similar to one another that it had been easy to assume they were the same innocuous treat, but Gerry's bowels had told a different story. Lucky Will, who never broached his bag and suffered the same consequences. It was also because of Will forgetting about the bag of sweets that Gerry could conduct his thorough investigation. Now he was on a mission to find out who the invisible gentleman was.
The break was now over. Gerry was selected to duel with Joy Jones from Watling's Wizarding Academy. Earlier, he'd defeated Nellie Wandoo from Okapi École de Sorcellerie, and it hadn't been easy. Nellie had really quick reflexes, but Gerry had managed to subdue her in the short time allotted for their duel. Perhaps decent dueling was in his blood, since his father was an auror and Gerry one day dreamed of being one too.
Joy tried to disarm him, but Gerry deflected the spell in the nick of time. He countered with a disarming spell of his own, but Joy managed to throw up a shield charm. The pair danced back and forth on the stage, both dueling defensively. Right as time ran out, Gerry finally managed to knock Joy off her feet. She landed on her bum and made a face that almost had Gerry laughing out loud.
When only four contestants were left standing––Gerry among them––the stages were reconfigured so there was only one centrally placed. Gerry dueled well enough to place, fortunately, but he ended up third behind Élise Poulin from Beauxbatons and Georgi Belikov from Durmstrang. Earning one point was definitely better than none!
Robbed (Douglas & Duncan)
Author: Briar Rose
Date: 03-15-17 19:23
Douglas silently fumes. Second place. He was robbed. He went the full match against Aleksandar Mazur. He edged out the other boy but the judges still gave first to Mazur. Doug is certain that's only because Aleksandar Mazur attends Durmstrang.
The more he thought about it the more he's was sure of it but who to lodge a complaint with?
Doug was going to go speak with Professor McGonagall, bypassing Professor Somerset by going to the top, but on his way Duncan stopped to congratulate him. Doug grumbled about first being stolen from him. Duncan, looking confused, asked, "Stolen how?"
"I bested Mazur. He was only given first because he's from Durmstrang. I'm going to get McGonagall to protest."
"That's not a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Makes you look like a sore looser."
"But I'm not the looser. I'm the winner."
"Look other there where she is. Does she look out of sorts?"
"No, but that's only because others are competing now."
"You're delusional."
"Am not! I should have been declared winner!"
"Why didn't you get this worked up over seventh place in Cauldron Clash? I know you practiced for that."
"Because that was potions. This is dueling." The tone and cadence of Doug's voice indicated he thought he was stating the obvious and that Duncan was an idiot for asking.
Duncan just shook his head and said again, "Complaining isn't a good idea."
Doug glared at his brother then stomped away. He didn't go to McGonagall right then but he's been stewing and thinking about it ever since. Later, when Duncan competes and is the second person eliminated, Doug sat gloating, wanting to rush over at that very second to crow about having done better than his older brother. He doesn't, though the urge is strong. He'll wait until another time, making sure in the process to bask in his own triumph, even if that triumph is only second place.
Thinking again about only getting second, Doug's gloat quickly returns to his aggrieved state of mind.
(Alanna) Retrial
Author: Beck
Date: 03-16-17 17:48
Alanna entered Courtroom 10 and was escorted to one of two chairs spaced apart in the center of the room. When the warden came to her cell earlier that day to tell her she was needed at the Ministry of Magic, Alanna felt a brief moment of hope. Maybe Anthony had found the evidence needed to clear her name. The moment was short-lived, however, when Alanna remembered how calculating Reed had been. Surely his perfect plans would never be unraveled.
Now seated in the courtroom, Alanna suddenly feared that more charges were going to be brought against her. Reed had probably set up something much more complicated than she originally realized.
What happened next brought back a margin of hope. Yardley, the wizard Alanna had gone to with copies of some of the files she'd found in Reed's secret room, was escorted into the courtroom. He was brought to the other chair.
Alanna knew that Yardley had been in hiding for ages, and that he alone could reveal Reed for the evil mastermind he'd been. With any luck, Yardley's testimony could also set Alanna free.
One of the elders of the Wizengamot, Griselda Marchbanks, adjusted her spectacles and then, after glancing at the parchments in her hand said, "Alanna Viviane Wycombe, you have been brought back to the Court for a new hearing in light of evidence recently brought to the Wizengamot's attention."
The witch then shifted her gaze to Yardley. "State your name."
"Yardley," replied Yardley.
"Your full name," insisted Elder Marchbanks.
Yardley hesitated and then said, "Montague Frederick Yardley."
"Mr. Yardley, you were approached by Mrs. Wycombe for a specific purpose, were you not?"
"I was."
"State the purpose for the Court."
"Mrs. Wycombe asked me to charm several envelopes and to deliver them to her sister, who works at The Daily Prophet. The charm ensured that the contents of the envelopes would only be accessible if something happened to Mrs. Wycombe, and I believe the intention was for the contents to eventually be published."
"What did the envelopes contain?" asked the Wizengamot elder.
"Evidence against Reed Wycombe."
"Do you know specifically what evidence?"
"I may have taken a little peak while I performed my work," Yardley replied with a sly grin.
Griselda Marchbanks adjusted her glasses again and asked, "And you also performed a service for Mr. Wycombe, correct?"
At this, Alanna straightened in her chair. She had been listening carefully to the dialogue thus far, but the discussion was nothing she didn't already know. This, however, was quite new.
"I did," Yardley answered. He flicked his gaze to the witch seated near him and shrugged. Business was business, no matter who got hurt in the end.
"What service did you perform for the deceased?" asked the Wizengamot elder.
"He asked me to place a charm on a diary."
"Can you elaborate?"
Yardley explained that Reed had asked him to make sure the diary appeared in his office desk drawer a few days after death or severe injury took place. He further revealed that Reed had mentioned it being a contingency plan for when he no longer had control over his wife.
"Did Mr. Wycombe tell you the contents of the diary are false?" asked Elder Marchbanks.
Yardley shrugged. "Not in so many words, but I wager that's how it was."
Alanna wasn't sure the opinion of a shady wizard would help her case, but then Griselda Marchbanks wrapped up her questioning and delivered a lengthy conclusion, which included brief mention of the findings made by law enforcement after Yardley was found and ordered to undo the charms he cast for Alanna. The Wizengamot elder also stated that there wasn't sufficient evidence that Alanna had killed her husband, and that the real autopsy on the body seemed to match her statement that it had been an accident. Apparently Reed had also arranged to have his autopsy results altered to make Alanna look complicit in his death.
"It is therefore the conclusion of the Court that Mrs. Wycombe did not kill her husband and that she should be released from Azkaban, effective immediately."
Alanna suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around her and lift her off her seat. There was Anthony, who had been in the courtroom the entire time. He gave her a loving squeeze and said, "Let's get you home."
(Belinda) Temporary Blindness
Author: Sophie McCourt
Date: 03-17-17 15:08
Belinda had entered the Dueling Challenge with high hopes. However her dream of being the first of her group was crushed after a small number of rounds. Her strategy had been to always be the first to attack. A quick and powerful spell to stun her opponents would be the easiest way to victory. But some of the competitors preferred different, cleverer spells to exploit their opponent's weaknesses.
Her strategy worked well for a while. Then she had to duel Monique Morton from Sydney's School of Sorcery. Monique was a clever girl and she had picked up Belinda's dueling strategy. She allowed Belinda to attack first and she defended herself with another spell. And then instead of attacking, she did something that left Belinda puzzled: she produced steam with her wand!
Belinda felt like laughing, as she prepared her second stunning spell. Would Monique think some steam would defeat her? But she realized too late that she couldn't see a thing: the steam had clouded her glasses. She risked the stunning spell but it failed its target. Monique took advantage of Belinda's temporary lack of sight to stun her. Belinda fell on the ground completely helpless. She had been defeated.
It was kind of humiliating to have to shake hands with Monique, as she realized she would not bring Hogwarts or Slytherin any points. Moreover many people had witness the duel, and she felt embarrassed. The only good thing was that Libby was placed first. But even so Belinda couldn't help feeling a little bit jealous, as she too wanted to have won the Dueling challenge.
Soon Belinda started to blame her glasses for her defeat. If she didn't have eyesight problems, then none of this would happen. Monique's little spell wouldn't have affected her at all. She couldn't help to pout for the rest of the day. Honoria would hate her posture, and so would her sister Patricia but Belinda didn't care. She had the right to be upset!
Twelfth Runs In The Family
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 03-17-17 19:40
Cornington is disappointed that he only managed a 12th place. He thought he was a better dueler than that. Maybe he is but only against his classmates and Dueling Club members whom he's gone up against time after time. Maybe he should have participating in the dueling tournaments that the Hogwarts Dueling Club takes part in from time to time. He's wanted to but every time there's been one he's not been able to take part for some reason or another, such as the time he was in the hospital wing after taking a tumble down some stairs and cracking a couple of ribs and breaking the bones in his lower arm, or the time Leo and he were gone from school to attend a funeral.
He was nervous when during his first few duels but he thought he got over that. Maybe he hadn't really and that affected his concentration or reaction time. Cornington also has to accept that could be he's just not that great in these types of "cold" duels.
At least he's made some new friends.
At least the Best in Show: Magical Plants competition will be different. Cornington was chosen for that one. He's growing a Wiggentree, which is a magical type of Rowan, from a seedling. Cornington thinks he's doing well with it because though still small it's already attracted a Bowtruckle.
Though this is Cornington's first Scholastic Aptitude Tournament event, it's Leo's second. He took part in the History Quiz Showdown where he placed a disappointing 9th. Disappointing that is until today's Dueling meet. Like his brother, Leo only placed 12th in his group. What's worse, he's solely to blame rather than his opponent, Flavia Njenga of Okapi École de Sorcellerie, when he received his second loss.
Leo had one loss going into the duel against Flavia. He'd been slow to react a couple of times to the spells cast by Beauxbatons' Pierre Vieuxpont. Otherwise, Pierre and Leo were evenly matched. His slowness those two time were enough for the judges to declare Pierre the winner.
He'd made it through a few more matches before going up against Flavia so he wasn't feeling overly stressed at having one loss in the double elimination tournament. Leo was holding his own against Flavia and had even gotten in some good shots at her. His downfall came when he somehow got his feet tangled, causing him to stumble, losing his wand. Technically, Flavia had not disarmed him but the judges ruled it as a disarmament. Flavia was declared the winner of the match and Leo was out of the competition.
Maybe if he gets chosen for one or more of the Broom Racing events he'll finally earn a top rank and points for Hogwarts.
Dream
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 03-18-17 15:49
The Dueling SAT event was almost over, but the visit to La Escuela de Hechiceria was not yet at its end. Immediately after the conclusion of the Dueling event, a celebratory feast would commence. Ethan was glad that Hogwarts had at least something to celebrate, since some of the competing students had earned points during both the Cauldron Clash and Dueling events. It would be a sorry thing if the students were expected to hang around after having performed badly!
If he were honest, Ethan sort of wished they could clear out after the Dueling event officially ended. He was extremely tired, because he'd slept rather badly last night. In his case, it wasn't nervousness or excitement that kept him from resting peacefully but rather a strange dream that felt almost real. After waking from it, it had also kept him up thinking.
In the dream, Ethan had stood on the cliffs in Hogsmeade with Morgain Noir. Morgain, who had been dead for over a decade now, had looked very much alive and completely unchanged from all those years ago.
Morgain stood on the cliff and looked out at the lake. Her filmy, pale blue robes rustled with the icy wind. She wasn't dressed for the weather, but she didn't seem cold.
"Poor Maverick has lost his way," Morgain lamented. She didn't seem to notice Ethan standing next to and just behind her. "My partner has forgotten himself, and he loves another."
She raised one of her pale arms and studied her hand. It had long, thin fingers with perfectly manicured nails.
"Brother dear lost his hand but gained his mark," she went on, pulling down the sleeve of her robe to study her bare forearm. Then, she frowned and expressed, "Murderer, murderer!"
Morgain clutched at her throat and made a strangled noise. Then, she screeched and scratched at her skin as if it were on fire.
"The project is not in her plan, but is it in his?" she calmly asked. Some of the scratches on her arms, face and neck were slightly bloody.
"Are you worried…" Morgain turned and fixed Ethan with a steely gaze. "…Ethan Somerset?" She pointed a finger at him, dead skin and blood under her fingernail, and spat out, "This is all your doing!"
Without waiting for his reaction, Morgain stepped off the cliff and fell onto the craggy rocks below.
Ethan told himself it was just a dream that didn't mean anything at all. He was friends with Maverick these days and saw him every so often, either alone or with Aveline, who Maverick was currently dating.
As long as Nero was free, he was always on the back of Ethan's mind. And where there was Maverick and Nero, there was also Morgain. Ethan had first met Maverick and Morgain together, and she was Nero's sister. Morgain had probably also invaded his dreams because of his regular meetings with some of the other former Project 25ers.
All the same, the dream unsettled Ethan. He hoped that Morgain wasn't about to come back from the dead, or that Maverick would turn evil once more, or that Nero would come after him yet again. Since Ethan had never had a prophetic dream before, he could safely count last night's dream as nothing more than just a dream.
More Dueling
Author: Saffron
Date: 03-18-17 18:52
Callie, who competed in the Cauldron Clash, finishing must to her dismay a somewhat lackluster eleventh, loudly claps as Hope wins another round. Sitting nearby, Marion claps as well though not as heartily. It's not that she's not happy for her friend. It's that she is still angry with herself for being eliminated early on, finishing in twelfth place.
Marion's first loss happened against Sydney's Mason Zhang who promptly lost his next two duels back to back, taking him out of the tournament, ranking thirteen of fourteen. Marion won her next few but then in a match against Layla Firebrace, the other Sydney's competitor, with three seconds left of the two and a half minutes Layla threw a Stupify at Marion. Marion dodged the spell, her wand up to return one of her own. She was a little too forceful in casting that spell, enough so that she lost her grip on her wand.
Marion didn't lose her grip entirely but as she fumbled Layla got off another stunner. Marion wasn't able to dodge that one and because she didn't have her fingers firmly around her wand she wasn't able to successfully get a shield up either. She went down.
With only three seconds left there wasn't enough time for Marion to recover, get back on her feet, and attempt to get in a good lick back at Layla. To no one's surprise Layla was declared the match's winner. This second loss knocked Marion out of the competition.
Hope, on the otherhand, has made it into the top four. Unfortunately, she ends the Dueling event in fourth, just out of the points for Hogwarts.