The Duels(Part One)
As Hans had most wisely expected, a flurry of spells were blasted in his direction. With little hesitation, the Ravenclaw ducked out of the way, rolling to his right. Once he sprung up, four separate wands were pointed in his direction, but he was too fast for his opponents.
Before any of the others could cast, he roared, “Diffindo!” and out from his wand, gliding like a blade through the air did a line of white magical energy burst. The spell slashed both Leander Prewett and Constance Dagworth, who were side by side, causing them to both stumble and Leander to fall to the ground.
A single red strike from Lawrence Davies and a flare of the Blasting Curse from Eric Northcott were sent spiraling in Hans’s direction, to which Hans threw up a shield, sending the spells spiraling away with an explosive blast. The burning ball of fiery energy from Eric’s wand came blasting back at him, striking him in the chest and throwing him against the wall behind him. Hans spun on his heel, casting the Stunning Charm at Lawrence Davies once his Shield Charm had fallen.
Hans rolled to the side once more as Charlotte Morison cried, “Bombarda!” And a mass of powerful magic barreled in Hans’s direction, striking the wall over his head and detonating with a mighty boom.
Hans staggered a little by the blast, but in no time he sprung up and yelled, “Accio!” The Ravenclaw swiped his wand to the side, and the powerful Summoning Charm snagged both Charlotte and Hector Jenkins.
Hector had raised his wand just as Hans gathered him with the Summoning Charm, and his attempted curse was instead turned only into a yelp of surprise as he was dragged across the room with Charlotte right in front of Hans.
It was now Hans’s turns to use Bombarda, and it struck Charlotte in the left shoulder, and it’s large area of effect forced both Charlotte and Hector Jenkins across the room, where they tumbled in a heap of robes.
Poppy could not help herself but cheer as Hans blocked Constance Dagworth’s next curse, the Hufflepuff bouncing on her feet as he whirled around and struck Constance with the Stunning Spell in such a powerful manner it knocked her off her feet. Just as Hans turned to face Leander, a basic cast from the red haired Gryffindor struck the Ravenclaw’s shoulder, and Hans stumbled back.
Hans shook his head, reminding himself in thought that he was not invincible as the strange numbing feeling from the cast spread through is right arm. The Ravenclaw drew his left hand back, his eyes on Leander as he felt the strange yet satisfying tug of his ancient magic latching onto a barrel behind him. Hans swung his left arm over his head, dragging the barrel with it in Lenader’s direction.
The Gryffindor saw the barrel coming and was quick to call out, “Protego!” but it was no use as the barrel came crashing down upon him, breaking the shield and splintering over Leander’s head. The redhead crumpled, and did not stir any longer.
A ringing of both cheers and boos rang out about the students watching this ordeal as they leaned in, watching with wide eyes as the duel continued. A consecutive strike of three basic casts came gliding toward Hans, but as he threw the barrel he twisted his torso, and all of the attacks narrowly missed him, causing his blue vest to flutter in the breeze of their passings.
Once Leander had fallen, Hans rolled to the side as the Exploding Charm was used by Hector Jenkins, hitting the ground just where Hans was in an incredible blast. Hans sprung back up, turning his attention to the others and seeing Lawrence Davies and Eric Northcott raise their wands in unison, but once more Hans was too fast.
“Levioso!” Hans cried, turning his wand in their direction as the yellow spell blasted from its tip. Hans ducked his head from an incoming basic cast sent by Charlotte Morrison as the two boys across the chamber were struck by the levitating charm. They rose into the air, helplessly struggling against it as Hans straightened up and yelled, “Descendo!” The two boys dropped to the ground with a powerful force, hitting the ground and bouncing back up, still struggling, but with far less energy than before. As the two bounced back into the air Hans spun and sliced his wand sideways, crying out, “Diffindo!” and slicing the two with the white blade-like spell that was sent out by Hans’s wand.
The two boys were sent flying back by the severing charm, hitting the ground and no longer moving. Now turning his attention to the others, Hans saw only uncoordinated chaos. Constance Dagworth had still yet recovered from his stunning charm, whilst Charlotte Dagworth was standing across the room from him, glaring defiantly with her wand in hand. Hector Jenkins had moved much closer to Hans in this time, now close enough to use Incendio on Hans, as he tried to do.
Hans rolled out of the way as the belch of fire blasted from Hector’s wand, springing back up and turning his own wand at the small Gryffindor and sending the same spell back, though this time far more powerful. The fiery stretch of flame struck Hector in his torso with such power that a ring of fire spread out from Hans’s feet, but only hitting Hector once more as neither Constance or Charlotte were close enough.
As Hector furiously battled the flames covering his body, Hans yelled, “Depulso!” and Hector was thrown back, hitting the wall beside the entrance gate to the clock tower and going limp. Sebastian, Natsai, and Poppy cheered, but they were some of the few who did. Ominis seemed to be quite confused, being blind, but he went with the flow, clapping a few moments after his friends began to cheer.
Before Hans could turn his attention to Charlotte, he was hit in the back by the Blasting Curse from her wand. He was thrown in the opposite direction of Charlotte, but he managed to turn his stagger into a not so graceful roll. Spinning around, the boy threw up a Shield Charm as a basic cast was thrown by Charlotte in his direction. The spell rebounded, hitting the stone near Charlotte’s feet. The girl raised her wand once more to curse Hans, but he used the opening to cry, “Expelliarmus!”
Charlotte’s wand was thrown from her hand, spinning in the air as Hans slashed his wand again, returning a Blasting Curse to her chest and knocking her off her feet, where she remained unmoving on the ground. Constance Dagworth shook her head, the stunning spell still just barely wearing off, raising her wand as she looked at Hans with unfocused eyes. Hans twisted on the spot, and before her mouth could even open and her shaky aim could center on him, he sent a single basic cast in her direction.
The spell hit Constance right on the forehead, and she stumbled back with a look of great surprise. It took only this one strike from Hans to force Constance to fall back, landing on the ground and leaving Hans standing alone in the center of the room.
A moment of silence settled across the clock tower, but then just as quickly as Constance had fallen, the room broke out into a loud cheer. Unlike the previous cheers, this one was far louder and far more pronounced as it was quite clear that Hans was the ultimate winner. The gate doors were unlocked, and the entrance gate to the clock tower was lifted.
Hans turned, his eyes searching for Poppy and his friends, he saw the small Hufflepuff running toward him. He grinned at her, tucking his wand into the sleeve of his robe and expecting her to stop before him, but no such thing happened.
Poppy collided against him, wrapping her arms around his waist and standing up on her tiptoes so her lips could smash into his. Hans stumbled back, putting one arm around her back so he could steady himself and ensure they would not fall. Hans smiled against her lips, deepening the kiss and tilting his head down, closing his eyes to enjoy the moment. The two swayed on the spot for a moment, before at last Poppy pulled away, much to Hans’s disappointment.
“You did brilliantly!” Poppy exclaimed, moving her hands from his waist and putting them over his neck.
Hans grinned, leaning down and planting a kiss on her forehead, “Thank you, darling. I think I did alright.”
“Just alright?” Sebastian exclaimed, moving up behind Poppy and putting his hands on his hips. “You destroyed them.”
Sebastian glanced over at the area around the room, watching as Natsai helped the others in the room assist Hans’s opponents to their feet and tend to their few injuries. Hans grinned, a bit of shame and hesitance on his face. “I didn’t need to go all out on them,” he murmured regretfully.
Sebastian patted Hans’s shoulder, “it’s alright, none of them are in terrible condition. Besides, they signed up for this.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Hans shrugged, noticing Poppy looking at him with a strange yet loving expression. “What?”
Poppy grinned at him, “How are you not a Hufflepuff?” She asked, swaying back and forth as she kept her hands over his neck.
Hans thought about this for a moment, “I suppose it comes down to choice.”
Poppy was a bit intrigued by his answer, but before she could respond, Lucan, Natsai, and Ominis approached. Natsai grinned at Hans and punched him on the shoulder, “You did amazing, my friend.”
“Thank you, Natsai,” Hans nodded and smiled, “I tried my hardest not to, you know, cause them too much pain.”
Natsai continued to grin, turning her head to look out across the room as Lucan exclaimed, “Still wasn’t much competition, then, huh?”
Hans shook his head, “I suppose not.”
“I’ll be needing to have you duel everybody next time, I really have to know if you can be beat,” the small Gryffindor laughed, before turning to Sebastian and Natsai. “You two should probably get ready, your duel is next.”
Sebastian and Natsai nodded, before turning to Ominis, Poppy, and Hans with grins and bidding them good bye. Lucan trotted off to, going back to his boxes and climbing onto them. Once on top of the boxes he blew his whistle once more, getting the attention of all in the tower.
“Alright! Next duel. Sebastian Sallow and Natsai Onai against Nellie Oggspire, Nerida Roberts, and Astoria Cricket!” The small Gryffindor exclaimed.
The clock tower broke out in cheers, and much like before when Hans was set out for his duel, most individuals began to leave toward the gates. Hans noticed that many students began to exit the clock tower altogether, and it seemed to him that his duel was the main attraction.
Poppy and Hans moved toward the sliding gate before them, with Poppy holding Hans’s hand and leading the way. Ominis trailed behind them as the awkward third wheel. As they turned to face the large room that the gate separated them from, Poppy leaned into Hans and closed her eyes. It was comforting just to be near him, to feel his presence and his care for her. Hans put an arm over her shoulder and hugged her into his side, staring out into the chamber where he saw Sebastian and Natsai facing off the other three within the dueling area.
After a few moments of simply taking in deep breaths, Poppy opened her eyes and looked out into the chamber as Hans was doing. “Are you nervous for them?”
“Me?” Hans answered, “no, not really. I’m confident in them both.”
“They didn’t seem to be so confident in you, with you dueling six at the same time.”
“Really?” Hans sounded a bit surprised, “what about you? We’re you confident in me?”
“I was… anxious. It’s very stressful when your love is on the other side of an impenetrable gate, about to face off possible death,” Poppy said quietly, smiling to herself as she remembered her anxiety from Hans’s previous duel.
Hans only chuckled, bending his head down to plant a kiss on the top of her head as he tightened his hug over her shoulder, pulling Poppy tighter against him. He was glad to have her care and worry, even if it was a bit unnecessary at times. She put her arm around his waist, leaning into him and resting her cheek against his side. She could never get enough of his presence, and the most intoxicating evergreen smell that came with him.
The Ravenclaw lifted his head, his eyes returning to the clock tower as wands were raised, eyes staring furiously across the room at opposite opponents, and tension building. Lucan’s whistle was blown, and much like with Hans only a few moments before, the next duel was on.