Duelling Club Tournament and OWLs

The Room of Requirement was buzzing with energy as the Dueling Club gathered for their latest training session. Word had spread quickly about the dueling tournament Harry had organized, and nearly every member was present, eager to test their skills.

Harry stood at the front of the room, his expression determined but calm as he looked out over his classmates. Hermione, Daphne, and Tracey stood beside him, ready to assist with instruction as they had over the past months. Harry had been teaching the club how to fight with not only spells but also with their physical bodies, pushing them beyond traditional dueling skills.

"All right, everyone," Harry called, bringing the chatter to a hush. "Today's focus is on fusion—not just with your wand, but with every movement you make. A good duelist doesn't rely solely on spells. You have to be able to move seamlessly, blending spellwork with bodywork."

Harry held up his wand, the smooth wood familiar in his grip. "Watch closely."

With a flick of his wrist, he cast a Stupefy at a target across the room, immediately following up with a sweeping kick, which, in his mind, fused with the magic he wielded. His spell and movement were one, flowing without pause.

"To truly master dueling, you'll need to understand this rhythm," he explained. "Start with your spells, but integrate your body movements. Think of your wand as an extension of yourself. Every step, every twist, should be part of your spellwork."

He moved through a series of demonstrations, showing how he could seamlessly cast a Protego while lunging forward, blending defense with offense. Then he followed it with a nonverbal Expelliarmus, combined with a feint to the side. The students watched with rapt attention, trying to mimic his moves.

"Now, here's the advanced part," Harry said, lowering his voice slightly as he addressed the group. "If you can master wandless casting, then this fusion isn't necessary—you can cast from any part of yourself. It's a skill that takes time to learn, but once you've got it, your opponents won't know what hit them."

The students exchanged eager glances, some already itching to try the techniques. Harry grinned and clapped his hands. "Pair up! Start small and practice. Focus on moving with your spells—let the magic and movement flow together."

For the next hour, Harry coached his classmates, watching as they adapted to the new approach. Some stumbled, their movements clumsy at first, while others took to the techniques with surprising ease. Harry moved from pair to pair, offering tips and correcting stances, his eyes always sharp and encouraging.

The next day, the fifth year students had an official Charms class with Professor Flitwick. The students filed into the classroom, chatting excitedly about the recent tournament. They had expected a regular lesson, but to their surprise, Flitwick had something different in mind.

The tiny professor climbed up onto his desk, his eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. "Good afternoon, class! Today, we'll do something a bit special. I'll be showing you a few advanced dueling techniques. And to help with the demonstration, I'd like a volunteer."

Without hesitation, he looked straight at Harry, his face breaking into a grin. "Harry, would you do us the honor?"

Harry raised an eyebrow, feeling the excitement ripple through the room. He stepped forward, giving a respectful nod. "I'd be honored, Professor."

The students quickly cleared the floor space, creating a wide circle around them. Flitwick moved with surprising agility, drawing his wand and squaring off against Harry with the grace of a seasoned duelist.

"This will be a controlled duel," Flitwick announced to the class. "Observe closely. Notice our movements, our use of spells and the environment around us. Duels are about more than brute force; they're about strategy, timing, and adaptability."

Flitwick bowed to Harry, who returned the gesture. And with that, the duel began.

Flitwick opened with a swift Expelliarmus, his wand flashing with incredible speed. Harry deflected it with a quick Protego, countering immediately with Stupefy. Flitwick darted to the side, ducking behind a nearby desk before casting Diffindo, slicing a chair into splinters that scattered across the floor.

Harry dodged, twisting his body to avoid the debris. As he moved, he launched a Petrificus Totalus towards Flitwick, who rolled to evade it, sending a stunning Bombarda back at Harry. The spell exploded against the floor, sending a cloud of dust and rubble into the air.

"Think on your feet, Harry!" Flitwick called, sending a series of rapid Stinging Hexes in Harry's direction.

Harry weaved through the barrage, feeling the impact of one spell graze his shoulder. He retaliated with a Leviosa Maxima, hoisting a broken desk into the air and flinging it toward Flitwick. The professor countered with Reducto, shattering the desk into countless pieces that rained down.

Flitwick was relentless, his spells coming faster now—Impedimenta, Incarcerous, and a precisely aimed Aguamenti that sent a jet of water straight toward Harry. Harry blocked it with Protego and dashed forward, closing the gap between them as he fired off a non-verbal Expelliarmus. Flitwick sidestepped, moving with such precision that Harry barely had time to prepare for the next spell.

"Very good, Harry!" Flitwick praised, his voice tinged with excitement. He raised his wand and cast Bombarda Maxima, causing a shockwave that shook the room, sending desks and fragments scattering everywhere.

Thinking fast, Harry saw the swirling debris and an idea sparked. He transfigured the remnants of broken wood and stone into a thick layer of mist that filled the room, obscuring their vision. Silently, he slipped through the fog, his footsteps soundless as he circled behind Flitwick.

With a swift, decisive move, Harry raised his wand and cast Expelliarmus, disarming Flitwick and catching the professor's wand midair.

The class erupted into applause, their excitement filling the room. Flitwick, slightly out of breath but beaming, gave Harry an approving nod. "Excellent, Harry. Well done, indeed."

Harry grinned, bowing respectfully. "Thank you, Professor. It was an honor."

Flitwick chuckled, addressing the class. "Remember, it's not about the power of each spell, but how you use them together. Practice, and you'll be dueling like this before you know it."

The following morning, a ripple of nervous anticipation spread through the school. The OWL exams had been officially announced, and fifth years across all Houses were feeling the weight of their impending tests. In the Slytherin Common Room, Harry, Daphne, Hermione, and Tracey gathered over their notes, reviewing charms, hexes, and defensive spells.

"You think the duel was a hint?" Tracey asked, glancing up from her textbook.

Harry shrugged. "Possibly. But whatever's coming, we're ready."

As they settled in to study, Harry couldn't shake the thrill of the recent duel. The upcoming exams might test them, but he knew they were more prepared than ever.