Chapter 104 - Summoner's Court - Into the Top 16

***** Regular Chapter ***** Wednesday's chapter. A few days late this week as Im just getting back to work after months off. Needless to say, its been exhausting just catching up with everything lol. But Its a holiday today, and I took Monday and tuedsay off next week, so expect a bonus chapter some time this long weekend (other than our regular sunday chapter of course lol). We got lots to get to with the Third task coming up soon! *****

♩ LETS! GO! HER-MY-OH-KNEE! ♩

*CLAP!* *CLAP!* *CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!* 

♩ LETS! GO! HER-MY-OH-KNEE! ♩

*CLAP!* *CLAP!* *CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!* 

The crowd, led by 'Hermione's fan group', chanted in support of their chosen contestant, as she successfully made her skillful shot! And although Hermione wasn't THAT popular amongst her peers to merit that kind of cheering, she was definitely more popular as a Gryffindor facing off against a Slytherin.  

It was currently the fifth and final game of the match, with Hermione being tied with Daphne, at two games a piece. 

She had just finished her second shot of the game, successfully landing her ball skillfully in the 50 points section. And while on normal game boards, this feat might appear to be not that challenging, Jordan had made some variations to the game boards, that would make typically normal shots like these, much more challenging. 

From platforms, to obstacles, to moving boxes, every round Khan had created numerous variations of obstacles for each board . Not only to keep contestants on their toes, and ensure that they would have to create part of their strategy on the fly, but to also keep things fresh and excited for the audience. 

For this particular variation, Khan had cast multiple 'gravity wells' that would affect different sections and areas of the Summoner's court board, drawing in anything in it's orbit, and subsequently affecting how shots would inevitably have to be lined up and made.

Khan himself had only left a few small parts of the board unaffected by the spells, spamming numerous gravity spells at unique sections of the board, and Hermione had managed to snag one of those sections for herself just now; the only section on the 50 points area in fact, that was left unaffected by the multiple GWs plaguing the board. 

It was utilizing these shots of extreme precision and control, that Hermione had managed to dominate the first two games, taking a commanding two game lead, and threatening to sweep the match, as she had always done in the previous rounds.

However, in the following third and fourth games, momentum had been shifted, with Daphne employing a new 'blocking' strategy to not only protect her high point balls, but also limit Hermione's own shots, causing Her to suffer her first two losses ever in a game this tournament!

And although she was in the lead for this game, 80 points to 30 points currently, Hermione did not feel too safe in this match, even as she listened to the crowd chanting her name in the background. 

♩ LETS! GO! HER-MY-OH-KNEE! ♩

*CLAP!* *CLAP!* *CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!* 

♩ LETS! GO! HER-MY-OH-KNEE! ♩

*CLAP!* *CLAP!* *CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!* 

Harry and Neville chanted together with the rest of the crowd, all of them excitedly cheering on their friend. 

Khan meanwhile looked on from the commentator's box, as the match unfolded, not joining in the cheering, Fleur of course, watching by his side. Not that he was not enjoying the match, or anything like that..... It was just that he did not want to show favoritism, especially as a tournament organizer. 

And although he was rather close to Hermione, especially with her being his first friend this era, and would cheer for her under normal circumstances, 'showing favoritism' be damned, he had grown rather friendly with Daphne as well, spending more time with her ever since he had promised to help with her sister's curse.

As a result, Jordan simply watched, passively analyzing each shot, not cheering for either of his friends.  

"What a shot! Look at that folks! With extreme precision and control with the summoning charm to get it around all the Gravity spells....Hermione takes the lead with her second shot!" Lee Jordan announced beside Khan (and Fleur) in the commentator's box, providing exciting color commentary for all spectators in attendance.

"Looks like Daphne is taking her time, analyzing and really thinking hard about her next shot! But thats understandable, with only two shots left, the score 80 to 30, and with her tournament hopes on the line.... this might be THE shot to decide the future of her Summoner's Court Career! Just what will Greengrass follow up with here?!?"

As the crowd continued their enthusiastic chanting for Hermione, the tension in the air was palpable. Every move, every shot could potentially decide the fate of the match. 

Daphne Greengrass stood at the end of the Summoner's court board, her expression focused and determined. With the weight of the game, and potentially the match, resting on her shoulders, she carefully assessed the board, considering every angle and potential shot. She knew after all, that her strategy had to be flawless if she wanted to turn the tide in her favor. 

As Daphne prepared to take her shot, the chanting slowly died down and faded away, as the crowd held their breath in anticipation, their eyes glued to the board (or screen if they were seated too far) as the action unfolded before them. 

Daphne flicked her wand, casting the summoning charm, as she sent her ball hurtling across the board, skillfully navigating a route that she had carefully lined up previously, allowing her to navigate the numerous swirling gravity wells littering the game board. 

"And Daphne makes her shot! Showing off her precision once again, with the summoning charm, it looks like she's avoiding all spells with ease! Wait.... she's released her ball! AAAAAANNNNNDDDD....."

The ball soared across the board, narrowly avoiding the edges of the GWs in its path, before violently impacting Hermione's ball located in the 30 points section, knocking it away off the board, and taking its place, scoring her 30 points!

"BOOOOM! And with that shot, Greengrass has taken the lead, with only one shot remaining for each of our contestants! With a score of 50-60, Hermione will have her work cut out for her, if she hopes to clutch out a win, and secure not only this game, but with it, the entire match for a spot in the top 16!"

The crowd itself, erupted into cheers and applause, impressed by Daphne's skillful shot! Although Daphne was from the least liked house, they all still appreciated her skill displayed. At the very least, it made for quite the exciting match!

Who would've thought that they would've witnessed a game that came down to the final shots, that would also determine the entire match!

Hermione herself, remained undaunted through the cheers, focused on the task at hand, as she stared unblinkingly at the board in front of her. 

This next shot would prove difficult, as Daphne had the upper hand, not only currently being in the lead, but also with her possessing the final shot of the match. Hermione would really have to think carefully about how she was going to play this....

However, as she analyzed the board, she slowly realized that she truly only had one play in front of her.....

♩ LETS! GO! HER-MY-OH-KNEE! ♩

*CLAP!* *CLAP!* *CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!* 

♩ LETS! GO! HER-MY-OH-KNEE! ♩

*CLAP!* *CLAP!* *CLAP!CLAP!CLAP!* 

Cheers for Hermione had begun once again, as she prepared to make her final shot. 

With a steely resolve, Hermione approached the board, seemingly not even hearing the crowd around her. Her focus had currently peaked, and to her, all she saw was the board in front of her.

She knew that she had this one chance.

Readying her wand, she took careful aim, before casting out her Summoning charm. 

Carefully navigating, she again carefully moved her ball around the edges of all the spells, before suddenly releasing it, to the shock of everyone watching, causing it to get sucked into a smaller GW, located at the center of the 30 points section, directly in between where Daphne's two balls currently rested. 

"AWWWWW" The Crowd responded in sympathy, thinking the pressure was too much for her, and she had screwed up her final shot. 

Lucky for her, this particular GW center, was not located outside the game board, as some of the others were (such as the ones surrounding the 50 points section), and as such, her ball came to a rest in the 30 points section, giving her the lead temporarily at least. 

"And with her final shot, Granger retakes the lead, with a score of 80 - 60! But for how long!?!" Lee Jordan dramatically commentated. "Greengrass has the final shot of the match after all! Did Hermione do enough with that last shot?!? Or did she screw up with that Gravity well placement!?!"

Harry himself was rather worried for his best friend. It seemed as if the pressure gotten to her with that last shot. He knew himself, how tough it could be to perform under pressure in sporting situations after all, especially with Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup last year. 

"Don't worry Hermione! You're still in the lead! You got this!" He tried to cheer her up, expecting her to be as upset as he was, when they lost to the Hufflepuffs last year (although that wasn't entirely his fault, as he was attacked by dementors).

However, looking at her appearance, it looked like she was anything but upset. In fact, if Harry didn't know any better, Hermione appeared to be..... smirking?

Reminding Harry of his older friend Jordan Khan with his signature smirks, he took a harder look at the game board, and soon realized why.

You see, with all the numerous GW spells affecting the game board, there were very few empty spots to aim your ball, in order for it to stop and get points, without being affected by the gravity spells.

In the 50 points section for example, there were two gravity wells, that took up both the left and right sides, with their centers located off the board, leaving only a small area in the middle where a ball can be stopped to score points (Hermione's ball was currently there).

In the 30 points section, it actually had one gravity well, this one located in the center of the section, which meant that on both sides, there was a small area where a ball could be stopped to score points (Daphne's two balls were currently there). 

Thus Harry had previously thought Hermione was attempting to squeeze another her final ball beside her own on the 50 points section. Although it would be very tight, it would still be possible with very fine control. 

So when she apparently screwed up, getting caught by the center GW, Harry thought it would soon be game over with her opponent having the final shot.

However, looking over at Greengrass, a frown appearing on her face, as she stared at the board in front of her, Harry saw that she too now also realized what he had just seen a few moments ago.

And that was the fact that both Hermione's balls were unable to be removed from the board!

You see, Hermione's original issue, was the fact that since Daphne had the last shot, even if she did indeed hit that 'next to impossible shot', and squeezed in her last ball beside her other ball in the 50 section, it would be fairly easy for Daphne to subsequently knock out one of her own balls.

However, this last shot of hers happened to fix that issue, for both her balls!

Due to the gravity well constantly holding her own ball in the center of the spell, it would take a huge amount of force behind Daphne's last shot, in order for her to successfully remove Hermione's ball located there. 

In addition to that, the center of the GW was located right in front of where Hermione's ball was stopped in the 50 points section. Which meant that this last ball would not only be difficult for Daphne to remove from the board, but it also ended up successfully blocking a direct shot to Hermione's 50 point ball!

That's right! In addition to taking the lead with her last shot, she had successfully used Daphne's very own strategy, blocking, in order to prevent both her balls from being removed!

"Greengrass is stepping up to the board! It looks like she's ready for her last shot! The potential last shot of this entire series!" 

The crowd watched, almost in slow motion, as Daphne flicked her wand, casting out her final summoning charm, her ball powerfully making its way across the board.

"Daphne casts her last shot! And.... OH NO! It looks like the pressure got to her as well and she put too much power into it. Its moving far too quickly... Is she going for a knock out?!? But where is she aiming?"

"It's heading straight into the center Gravity Well! And... Whats this??... She's releasing her spell?!" Lee Jordan excitingly Narrated, everyone waiting on his every word, staring at the court with bated breath. 

Everyone watched, breath stuck in their chests, as Daphne let go of her shot. 

"And there it goes! WILL THIS BE THE DAGGER?!?"

Releasing her shot as her ball was passing through the center gravity well, where Hermione's ball was currently residing in the center, it appeared to the audience that Daphne had also 'seemingly' screwed up her shot, the pressure of this tournament, finally getting to her, the same as it did Hermione, with her last shot (them of course not realizing that Hermione had intentionally shot her last ball that way) also getting waylaid by the center GW.

So needless to say, what happened next, shocked everyone watching.

Letting go of the spell, as her ball passed by the left of the center of the GW, the trajectory of the ball almost immediately began to be affected by the gravity spell, moving from the straight line slightly to the left of the vortex of the GW that Daphne had previously been summoning it on, and drifting over towards the right instead!

However, instead of being completely affected GW, as Hermione's ball had been, Daphne had summoned her ball with enough force left on it, that instead of being sucked towards the center of the GW, as Hermione's ball had, her ball instead continued downwards....

"WAIT.... WHAT ARE WE SEEING!!!! DID THE BALL JUST CURVE?!?"

Thats right! Her ball had indeed curved around to the right, successfully escaping out the other side of the GW and continuing downwards on a new line! 

Daphne had indeed shot her ball with force, at the center GW.... however, instead of due to pressure, this was on purpose! 

You see, Daphne realized that with the only spaces free of all the GW spells, being currently on the 10 and 20 point sections, if she wanted to play safe, it appeared that she would have no choice but to shoot her last ball and go for a tie.

And this is something that she definitely wanted to avoid, as Hermione would have the last shot next game, each of them swapping who would get the last shot every game. 

So instead of settling, she decided to go for broke! If she missed, she would lose! But if she managed to actually hit this.....

*CRASH*

She watched as her ball impacted Hermione's ball in the 50 section, knocking both itself, and Hermione's ball off the court! 

Thats right! Even though she did not have a direct shot at the one ball of Hermione's that she could remove (the other ball being stuck in a GW), Daphne had managed to successfully get around the blocker that Hermione had set up, using the GW itself to manipulate her own balls trajectory..... sending it straight into Hermione's ball!

"YES!" Even Daphne the 'ice queen' forgot herself, and let out a loud cry of triumph as she watched both balls fly off the board, a few seconds of silence passing afterwards, before everyone finally broke out of their collective shock, and finally started cheering like mad!

* WOOOOOOOOO *

She had done it! Daphne had actually made that near impossible shot! She had no clue if the gravity well would actually move the ball's trajectory enough, but she took a risk, and it paid off! 

She had made it to the top 16!

"OH! MY! GOD! I DONT BELIEVE IT! GREENGRASS WINS!!!!! 60 - 30! SHE HAS MANAGED TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE AND CURVE HER OWN SHOT, SECURING HERSELF A PLACE IN THE TOP 16!! I CANNOT BELIEVE WE JUST WITNESSED THAT KIND OF ENDING!!! GREENGRASS WINS!!! GREENGRASS WINS!!! GREENGRASS WINS"