51 Tournaments and Meetings

The next day, Draco left the Malfoy Manor accompanied only by his faithful house-elf Missy and Zosar. His parents were supposed to participate in some other activities, such as tea-parties and Ministry functions, so they couldn't attend the Dueling Competition that was hosted in Germany. Instead, Abraxas volunteered to follow Draco and record the event.

"Grandfather," smiled Draco as soon as he portkeyed into the foreign country. Abraxas was already waiting impatiently for his grandson to show up, so he was the first person whom Draco saw when he arrived.

Abraxas' stern pureblood image, which he maintained for the sake of appearances, cracked when he saw the blond boy.

"Is it just me, or did you grow up by a few inches?" Abraxas smiled as he carefully observed the eleven-year-old. It has only been a few months since they parted at the King's Cross Station, yet the older man missed the boy more than when he had to wait for the later's visits in between summers.

"Maybe a bit," replied Draco as he looked around. "The sleeves of my uniform are a bit short now. Mother is intent on dragging me on another shopping spree later… By the way, can we move from this place? Everyone's staring at us."

The international portkey point was in Germany's Ministry of Magic, as such many people saw Draco when he came. However, most of the gazes were not concentrated on the blond boy. Rather, they all looked at the phoenix who rested on his shoulder with wonder and amazement.

The noise that was only moderate when Draco first came in, was now turning louder and louder as people continued muttering to one another and even more of them gathered around.

Abraxas also noticed the situation. With a practiced sneer, he glared at the onlookers, making them look away in embarrassment, and turned to guide Draco.

"You are right. Some people just don't have any manners, they don't understand that this isn't the zoo where they can stare and point at other people as though they're on display. However, it's understandable. After all, most of them haven't seen so much as a bowtruckle – seeing a phoenix is probably an event to brag about for the rest of their lives."

All of this was said quite loudly, so many loitering witches and wizards had no problem in hearing the older Malfoy's voice. Their faces turned red from embarrassment, however, they couldn't refute the other's words.

First of all, if someone really stepped out to defend themselves, they would be indirectly admitting that the other's words held some truth. Then even if they had hundreds of mouths to argue, they would still be unable to come out in the right without humiliating themselves.

And secondly, it wasn't like the Malfoy Patriarch said any truly offensive words – he was only talking with his grandson. Them stepping up would just mean that they were listening in to the other's conversation and intruding without any shame.

Draco hid a smirk as he followed Abraxas out. He sometimes forgot that the man was a master in politics and could make others believe that the sky was green instead of blue just by using a few words.

"Draco, grab my hand, we will be apparating. Missy, you help Draco unpack his luggage in the hotel and take Zosar with you. We will be back in the evening," Abraxas instructed as they finally exited the Ministry building. The whole place had wards cast over it, so it was impossible for anyone to apparate in or out because it would pose a threat to the security.

Draco followed his grandfather's directions and soon after he was once again transported to a new place. This time, he appeared in a huge building. It was impossible to see how many people were gathered there because the whole place was filled with them.

There were many witches and wizards of different nationalities, dress styles, and skin colors. All of them were milling around – some of them were greeting their old acquaintances, whilst others were arguing with their rivals, some were sitting by themselves and polishing their wands and swords, others were doing stretches, meditating, reading books or preparing for the coming competition in some other ways. Many, like Draco, were accompanied by others, who wouldn't be participating in the competition but were there to cheer the contestants on.

Even though Draco would be participating in the Juniors' Competition, which was for the kids below the age of fourteen, the place was filled not only with his future rivals. Instead, many witches and wizards came to compete in Youth's Competition, which was for the people over fourteen years of age but below that of eighteen. And, of course, there was the Main Tournament, which consisted of witches and wizards who were over eighteen years old.

The Main Tournament was divided into many parts, unlike those where the younger children competed. Just like the wizards whom Draco had once witnessed dueling back in the Winterfield Township - there, people competed in 'Wands Only', 'Wands and Weapons', 'All-out Magic' and many other types of competitions.

Some of these competitions were more prestigious and allowed the use of a wider range of skills. While others were quite restrictive, making it impossible to use certain spells or even entire branches of magic.

European Dueling Competition was one of the three major ones. Aside from it, there was also the World Dueling Competition and American Dueling Competition. All of them were considered to be amongst the best because they attracted the most powerful competitors as well as the highest amounts of spectators.

In a way, Dueling was the Magical World's sport and it worked in a similar way to its muggle counterparts. Aside from the three main tournaments, there were also countless smaller ones and even national league competitions. Duelists, just like muggle sportsmen, could increase their national and world rankings by participating in more tournaments.

Winning a certain place would entitle them to certain monetary rewards as well as increase their rankings. In the three major competitions, only duelists who accumulated certain amounts of points could be allowed to participate. Others had to struggle in the smaller tournaments.

However, this was the case only with the Main Tournament, where wizards above the ages of eighteen could participate. Juniors and Youth competitions were open to all, as long as they had their school's recommendation. And each school could only send a certain amount of pupils each year – Dueling Competitions often reflected the schools' rankings and ability to educate powerful magical children. Because of that, schools always tried to recommend the best of the best.

As such, it was quite understandable, why Professor Flitwick was reluctant to sign Draco up for the Winter Season and use one of the precious slots on a child, who would be (most likely) eliminated in the very first round.

"It's very lively," commented Draco with a trace of amazement in his voice. His grey eyes sparkled as he looked around – if he didn't feel the determination to win before, now all he could think of was defeating all of these opponents who stood in his way.

"Yes, there are many people you will meet here – many of them are not only expert duelists, but also work as Aurors, Beast Tamers, Explorers, and in many other professions. This is not only the place where they can sort out who's the best – it's also a meeting ground of the most powerful people in the world. Most of the well-known figures participated in these competitions at least once or twice. Sixty to seventy years ago, you may have met here Grindelwald and his future followers, Dumbledore and many of the past and current Hogwarts' professors. A couple of decades ago, even the most recently fallen British Dark Lord made his international debut here. Even I…"

Abraxas sighed with emotion as he recalled the wonderful times when he also dueled for the honor of the Champion's title. He had never actually won it on any of the three major tournaments, however, he did reach the runner-ups a few times, only to be defeated at the last step by those stronger than himself.

Draco looked at his grandfather's wistful face and once again gazed around the venue. Indeed, this was an amazing platform for growth – he would face these people gradually, taking step-by-step, starting from the youngest of them all, and finishing with defeating the best of the best.

Because Wizarding World only acknowledged power and ability.

And Draco never doubted that he possessed both of these qualities - it was just a matter of polishing and unearthing them.

---

The first day was only for registering the competitors and notifying them of their place in the competition table.

Draco looked down on the parchment which listed the Juniors' Competition Table. At the very bottom, he could see his own face and name. He was listed in Group F – the group which would have its duels last.

Over the coming week, Draco would have to duel each day, provided that he wins every duel. The total of the duels in each group was seven – after the last duel, it would become clear, who was to become the group's winner.

The week after that would be the time when each group's winners dueled between themselves. If Draco wanted to become the Champion, he had to first become Group F's winner and then prove himself in front of all other winners.

It wouldn't be easy.

"Oh? Who do I see here?" suddenly a strangely familiar melodious voice sounded behind Draco's back, snapping him out of his thoughts. "If it isn't my Prince Charming…"

Draco's eyes widened as he turned around, and the feeling of déjà vu overcame him. There, just like a year ago, stood a familiar Russian girl flashing her foxy smile his way.

"You are…" Draco hesitated for a moment. He didn't know the girl's name – he hadn't asked because he never thought that they would ever meet again.

The girl's smile widened and she gracefully curtsied, "Anastasia Vasilieva - very pleased to finally introduce myself to you, Mr. Draco Malfoy."

She already knew his name?

Draco quickly covered his surprise and quirked his lips into a polite smile, returning her greeting.

"It was my negligence to forget the lady's name," he said with a trace of apology.

Anastasia laughed. Her cheeks flushed with pink color, making her look more cheerful and lively.

"It's alright, this lady forgives," she answered playfully. She obviously already knew that she had never introduced herself to her dance partner that year when they danced during Yule. "What brings this gentleman here?"

Draco suddenly remembered, what place they met at. He raised his eyebrow and asked with a hint resignation, "You are here to compete?"

Anastasia's lips once again quirked into a foxy smile. She walked slightly closer to the blond boy and, leaning into his ear, whispered: "Did you know? I am the last year's Juniors' Champion."

Draco leaned back in surprise.

"Really?" he asked with disbelief.

No matter how he looked at the fair girl, she didn't seem to be able to hurt a fly. Her eyes were pale blue and her hair was long and wavy- it was tied back into a graceful ponytail, the color reminding people of pure gold. Her robes were white and classy, like those of a girl from a proper pureblood family who was about to attend a tea-party. She looked to be completely out of the place, standing among witches and wizards who had scars, were holding different weapons and discussing various spells and curses.

Anastasia laughed and danced away from the boy.

"I was almost thirteen when I won last year. Soon, I will be fourteen – my birthday is just a week away. My magic core is almost fully grown – I am a lot stronger than I was before. You will need a lot of luck if you want to win this year, my dear prince."

Those were her parting words. As soon as she said them, she turned away with a smile and disappeared into the crowd, making Draco instantly lose the sight of her figure.

The blond boy could only stare after her with disbelief.

She was almost fourteen?

Granted, she was a bit taller than himself, but all girls matured earlier than the boys – he had thought that she was his age! At most, a year older...

And what was this about her confident declaration of winning?

Who needs luck? He needs luck?

'It doesn't matter, whether you're fourteen or forty – I will still defeat you' Draco thought a bit sullenly.

He turned his sight away from the place where Anastasia disappeared. Before he could remember what he had been doing before, a sigh sounded from his side.

"Ah, women," said Abraxas emotionally. "We do everything for them – love them and protect them… Yet, why do they always torment us so?"

The older Malfoy shook his head and looked up at the ceiling, acting as though life was very difficult and dramatic.

Draco, who completely forgot his grandfather's presence: "…".