Chapter 186: "The All-English Dueling Tournament"

The summer holidays had begun, bringing with them a sense of freedom and excitement. A few days into the break, Harry found himself at Bones Manor, engaged in what had become one of his favorite activities: playing with Sirius's son, Aries Black.

The toddler, just over two years old, sat wide-eyed on the plush carpet of the living room, captivated by Harry's animated storytelling. With graceful wand movements, Harry conjured vibrant illusions to accompany his tales. Magical creatures danced around them, eliciting delighted giggles from little Aries.

"And then," Harry proclaimed dramatically, "the brave pirate vanquished the fearsome monster king, freeing the villagers from his tyrannical rule!" With a flick of his wand, he transformed a nearby cushion into a comical, yet slightly intimidating figure. Aries clapped his hands in glee, completely engrossed in the story.

Amelia Bones, watching from the doorway, couldn't help but smile at the scene. "It's remarkable," she said, addressing Harry. "Aries is only ever this well-behaved when you're around. With anyone else, he's a little whirlwind of energy."

Harry grinned, ruffling Aries' hair affectionately. "Of course he is," he replied with a wink. "That's because I'm his favorite big brother, aren't I, Aries?"

Aries nodded excitedly. "Harry is the bestest!"

Just then, Sirius entered the room, his face a comical mask of exaggerated monster features - the result of Harry's earlier spell work to entertain Aries.

"Harry," he said, his voice muffled by his transformed mouth, "we need to leave. We'll be late for the tournament." He paused, touching his distorted face gingerly. "And could you please change my face back to normal? I don't know what you're learning with Professor Flitwick for your Charms mastery, this charm seems impossible to remove."

Harry, deciding he'd had enough fun at his godfather's expense, waved his wand lazily. Sirius's features smoothly morphed back to their usual handsome arrangement.

"There you go, old man," Harry teased. "Can't have you scaring the competition away before we even start."

After a round of goodbyes, they set off. Their destination: the All-English Dueling Tournament. Unlike the previous summer's competition, this event was closer to home, set in the outskirts of London in a makeshift arena.

Harry and Sirius apparated to the location, materializing in a designated arrival area. As they oriented themselves, Harry spotted a familiar diminutive figure waiting for them - Professor Flitwick, his face beaming with excitement.

"Ah, there you are, Harry, Sirius!" Flitwick called out, waving them over."I was beginning to wonder if you'd misunderstood the date or time."

As they approached, Harry took in the venue. From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than a huge circus-style tent, its striped fabric billowing slightly in the breeze. But as they stepped through the entrance, Harry's eyes widened in appreciation.

The interior was a stark contrast to the modest exterior. It was as if they had stepped into a grand magical colosseum. Tiered seating surrounded a central arena, which was currently shimmering with protective enchantments. Banners representing various magical institutions and notable wizarding families hung from the rafters, their colors vibrant against the backdrop of the tent's fabric.

"It's even more impressive than the Under 17 European tournament," Harry murmured, taking in the sights.

Flitwick nodded enthusiastically. "Indeed it is, Harry. The All-English Tournament may be more localized, but it's steeped in tradition. Some of the greatest duels in British wizarding history have taken place in this very arena - or rather, under this very tent, as it's reconstructed each year."

As they made their way through the growing crowd, Harry could feel the excitement building. Wizards and witches of all ages milled about, some conversing with their family members who were there to watch them duel, others engaged in animated discussions about dueling techniques and past tournaments. For this tournament, Harry hadn't invited anyone; it was just him, Sirius, and his master Flitwick.

"Now, Harry," Sirius said, placing a hand on his godson's shoulder, "remember what we discussed. This tournament is different from the junior leagues. You'll be facing fully qualified adult wizards, some with decades of experience. Don't let your guard down for a moment."

Harry nodded solemnly. "I understand, Sirius. I'm ready to win this."

Sirius continued, his tone serious, "I hope you are. There aren't many rules in this tournament. As long as you don't kill your opponent, any spells are allowed. So be careful out there. I don't want you to be missing any body parts."

Harry replied calmly, "Relax, Sirius. We've been over this many times already. No need to worry. You know me. I care more about my safety than anything else. I wouldn't be participating in this tournament if I didn't have confidence in my ability to avoid getting hurt. I promise I'll admit defeat as soon as I see I'm not in control of a duel."

Sirius, although not completely satisfied with the promise, chose to believe in his godson.

As they approached the registration desk, the official's eyes lit up with recognition. "Master Flitwick! It's good to see you here after so many years. Are you here to help your apprentice register? Although I didn't hear about you taking on an apprentice. Is this young man your new apprentice?" The man asked, gesturing to Sirius.

Flitwick chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no. This is Hadrian Potter, my apprentice," he said, indicating Harry.

The official's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How old is he? He looks barely 18 or so."

Flitwick smiled proudly. "Harry is 15 years old and last year's European Under 17 Tournament champion."

The official's jaw dropped slightly. "Fifteen? That's... unusual."

He shuffled through some papers, then looked up with a concerned expression. "All the documents are in order, but Master Flitwick, are you sure you want your apprentice, who's so young, to participate? The tournament has had some accidental deaths in the past. It might be better for him to practice a few more years."

Flitwick stood tall, his voice firm. "I am confident in my apprentice's strength and abilities."

The official nodded, turning to Harry with newfound respect. "Well then, Mr. Potter, I look forward to seeing your duels. I hope you surprise me."

After completing the registration, the trio moved towards the participants' area. Both Sirius and Flitwick followed Harry, as Flitwick had used his contacts to allow Sirius to accompany Harry in the participants' area.

As they entered, Harry could feel the eyes of the other duelists on him. It looked like word had already spread in the arena about his participation. He was attracting a lot of attention. Whispers followed in their wake, some curious, others dismissive. He caught snippets of conversation:

"Is that a child?"

"What's Master Flitwick thinking, bringing someone so young?"

"I heard he is from the Potter family. He might be good. But even if he is a Potter, it is too early for him to compete here."

Harry kept his face neutral, but inside, he was smiling. Let them underestimate him. It would only make his victories sweeter.

They found a quiet corner where Harry could prepare. As he began his warm-up exercises, Flitwick turned to him with a serious expression.

"Remember, Harry, this isn't just about winning. It's about learning and growing. Every duel is an opportunity to improve. Observe your opponents carefully, adapt to their styles, and most importantly, stay safe."

Harry nodded, his focus sharpening. "I understand, Professor. I won't let you down."

As the announcement for the first round of duels echoed through the arena, Harry readied himself. This was it. The moment he'd been training for since he had heard about his great grandfather's feats in the dueling circuit all those years ago from Lord Black. It was time for the name Potter to ring in the dueling arena once more.