Saturday, 1st December, 1990
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry
The morning was very lively, but also rather solemn. Throughout the week, the students had been buzzing about this weekend, and now that it was finally here, everyone was nervous, even though most were not among those participating in the Semi-Finals of the Quadrivium Cup.
Last month, at the end of the group stage, two teams emerged with perfect scores, forty-two out of forty-two, having won all six matches. Both had perfect wins, so they received a bonus point for each win as well. Their totals stood at forty-eight points each, and these two teams were Badgers 1, led by Nymphadora Tonks, and Serpents 3, led by Damien Rosier.
The entire castle had fallen into a solemn hush after the group match between Lions 3 and Serpents 3. No one had expected such a result, and the memory left everyone in a state of both shock and awe.
It was the fifth match weekend of the group stage, and both teams had won all their previous matches. The Slytherin team was at the top of the table thanks to the four bonus points they had accumulated, and, with everything at stake, it was the match that would decide who would top the group and face the fourth-placed Team from the other group.
Professor Flitwick was the judge on Stage B, and when Charles Weasley and Damien Rosier were called to greet each other at the centre, the Weasley boy taunted his fellow Prefect. There was a very sly smile on the Slytherin Prefect's face as he remained silent.
As soon as both captains took their positions at their stations, the duel began, or rather, ended abruptly.
All four Slytherins used the same spell, "Vorticis," generating four decently powerful vortexes. The Lions were caught off guard when these vortexes blocked their spells and continued charging towards them. As soon as the vortexes neared the Lions' station, Damien, Cordelia, Gemma, and Aurelia crashed their vortexes into each other, and even the shields failed to save the Gryffindors from the blast of wind. They were thrown off the station, landing hard, wincing and groaning in pain.
It was the highlight of the tournament so far and became the day Serpents 3 earned their epithet, Storm Serpents. The Gryffindors protested the use of such powerful spells, but Professor Victoire silenced them by explaining that Vorticis was not a powerful spell, merely a very clever choice. She praised the Serpents for their teamwork and for refraining from harming their opponents. All four Gryffindors suffered only minor bruises and muscle aches.
By contrast, Badgers 1 were highly technical with all their wins, and despite Serpents 3's performance, it was Badgers 1 who were being dubbed the tournament favourites.
From Group A, other than Badgers 1, Serpents 1, Eagles 2, and Badgers 2 had progressed into the Quarter Finals. From Group B, Lions 3 took second place, with Eagles 4 and Badgers 4 taking the third and fourth spots.
The first Quarter Final was not even a contest. Badgers 1 won against Badgers 4 effortlessly and earned a bonus point. The second match was quite even until Theodore Diggory pulled off a masterclass and Eagles 4 triumphed over Serpents 1.
On Sunday, Lions 3 faced Eagles 2, and the match lasted nearly an hour, as both sides refused to make any mistakes or give an advantage. In the end, it was only due to Charles Weasley's brilliance and tactics that Lions 3 prevailed.
The last Quarter Final was between Serpents 3 and Badgers 2, and this match too was no contest. The Serpents claimed an easy win and bagged the bonus point.
Now, today, in the second Semi-Final, it was a repeat of the group match between Lions 3 and Serpents 3.
Where the Slytherin table appeared calm and poised as ever, the Gryffindor table looked gloomy, lacking their usual confidence and spirit.
By eight o'clock, all the students had already moved to the Duelling Hall, and even the Headmaster was present, seated in the staff balcony.
The first Semi-Final was between Badgers 1 and Eagles 4, led by Nymphadora Tonks and Theodore Diggory.
Since there was an hour to fill, Professor Victoire announced a Teacher's Duel. To the immense delight of the students, Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape were invited onto the stage. Both accepted and, amid loud cheers, greeted each other in the centre of the platform.
Once they took their stations, the Hall fell utterly silent. The duel that followed would be remembered for a very long time.
On this day, the students discovered that their Potions Master was an equally skilled and impressive duellist. Professor Flitwick, though an accomplished champion, never gained a true advantage over his colleague. Their duel was a showcase of speed and impeccable defence, each demonstrating years of battle experience and expertise.
Professor Victoire eventually called the duel a draw when only five minutes remained before the first Semi-Final. Both Professors returned to the centre, bowed in mutual respect, and then made their way to the staff balcony.
"Badgers 1, Eagles 4! Get on the stage!"
At the Chief Supervisor's call, the teams hurried onto the Duelling Platform.
"Team Leaders!"
Nymphadora and Theodore walked to the centre and bowed politely. They then drew their wands before their faces, and Professor Victoire questioned them.
"Disciplina…?"
"Imperat!"
"Honos…?"
"Viget!"
"And our glory?"
"Lucet!"
"May the better team win today. Back to your stations. Wands open."
A sense of anxiety had taken over the Hall. The silence was so deep they could hear their own heartbeats.
The two Team Leaders' footsteps echoed as they returned to their stations, and as soon as they were in place, a magical hum sounded and the battle began.
A flurry of colourful hexes flew back and forth, shields were raised, and defenders worked overtime as attackers searched for a way past the other team's defence.
The battle raged for more than twenty minutes before Nymphadora gave a signal, and all three Hufflepuffs switched to defence, covering her as she prepared a spell.
The tip of her wand glowed, and she suddenly sat down and pressed it into the stage, as if it were intangible. To the audience's shock, vines began to sprout on the Ravenclaw Platform, threatening to entangle the Eagles. Panic seized them when one member touched a vine and realised it was coated in an exceptionally strong sticking charm. Before they could escape, three Eagles lost their wands as the Badgers' defender pressed the attack.
Theodore was left alone, but he was like a man on a mission. He put up the fight of his life, but unfortunately for him, it was just not enough.
The Hall stood and applauded both teams for their performance. Nymphadora and Theodore met in the centre, and the Queen of the Unforeseen acknowledged Theodore's prowess and praised him.
When the Hufflepuffs returned to their stand, their housemates cheered them to the rafters, and even the Ravenclaws applauded their own when the team rejoined them.
For the rest of the hour, Professor Victoire analysed the match, explained the spells that had been used, and praised the Badgers for their perfect defence and teamwork. She also commended Theodore for his bravery and refusal to give up, and then answered questions from the audience.
At eleven o'clock, Lions 3 and Serpents 3 were called to the Duelling Platform, and both teams approached their stations to the applause of the Hall.
The Gryffindors cheered their team, encouraging them, but the Slytherins remained silent and perfectly organised.
"Ready, Weasley?" Damien smiled as he greeted Charles in the centre, and the Gryffindor smirked.
"We shall see."
"Oh, we shall." Rosier nodded. Since the Platform was enchanted, all the students heard their exchange and those who were neutral grew even more excited.
Wands at the ready, both Team Leaders returned to their platforms, and as soon as they took their positions, the magical hum sounded.
This time, all four Slytherins used the same spell, but not "Vorticis"; this time it was "Vorticis Aegis".
All four Slytherins created deep blue but transparent vortexes before them, shielding themselves from oncoming hexes, and then sent those hexes right back at the Lions, who were caught off guard once again.
Under the eyes of the audience, Damien and Aurelia merged their vortexes, creating a single large one that little Miss Malfoy controlled. On the other side, Cordelia and Gemma did the same, leaving defence in the Selwyn's hands.
Now free, the Heir of the Rosier Family and the Heiress of the Dumbledore Family attacked freely, trusting their safety to their two teammates.
The Lions were dismayed as every one of their spells was caught by the vortexes and hurled back at them.
Suddenly, one of them made a mistake, thinking something so simple might succeed.
"Expelliarmus!"
A red jet of light rebounded at twice the speed. It struck the Gryffindor and, to everyone's shock, his wand spun from his hand and clattered to the stage.
Seeing what happened, the Gryffindor stand fell silent, and Gemma and Damien pressed their advantage, making life miserable for the three remaining Gryffindors, who were now forced onto the defensive. They had decided to tire out the two Slytherin defenders.
Their plan bore fruit as both Aurelia and Cordelia dispersed the vortexes after a couple more minutes, unable to maintain them longer. However, just as the Gryffindors were about to go on the offensive, both girls used another spell together.
"Vorticis!"
As the two vortexes charged at them, the Lions struggled but managed to raise their powerful defensive barrier in time as the blast of wind tested their resolve. It was the counter-spell they had specifically prepared for this tactic.
"Bombarda!" Damien and Gemma sent the powerful curse not at the barrier but at the Lions' station. The explosions rattled the Gryffindors and their defence, but they were unable to create an opening.
It seemed like the Lions had found a really good defence until a voice rang.
"Imber Frigoris!" Cordelia spun and waved her wand, and as a result, Magical clouds formed over the Lions' station. Blue droplets then began to fall, freezing everything they touched, including the defensive barrier.
She had discovered the spell's secret, or perhaps she already knew it.
Damien and Gemma used Bombarda again, giving their opponents no respite or opportunity to think, and Aurelia took advantage of the small opening that had appeared in the Lions' barrier.
"Stupefy!"
A red jet of light shot out, slipped through Lions' barrier before it could heal, and struck Alfred Stewart, who instantly froze and fell unconscious.
The next instant, the Lions' barrier shattered. A moment later, Charles and his last remaining teammate lost their wands as two more red jets of light struck them out of nowhere.
It took several moments for the crowd to comprehend what had just occurred, then the entire Hall, apart from the Gryffindor stand, erupted in cheers.
Cho jumped in excitement, overwhelmed with happiness at her best friend's performance. The four Slytherins on stage bowed first to their House's stand and then to the staff balcony, drawing more cheers.
Damien and Charles met in the centre, and the Slytherin offered a handshake, which the Gryffindor accepted stiffly. There were no taunts, just a pointed silence from the Slytherin Prefect, which cut deeper than words.
When the teams returned to their stands, the Gryffindors wished they could vanish, but they could not.
Professor Victoire then analysed the battle, informed the audience about the spells that had been used, and gave high praise to Cordelia and Aurelia. One had found a way to break the defence, the other had seized the small window of opportunity that was created by her teammates.
She also revealed to the school that Aurelia was the youngest student in Hogwarts history to reach a Duelling Cup Final.
Which also meant that if she won tomorrow, she would become the youngest Duelling Cup Champion.
Professor Victoire then wished all four teams the best for tomorrow, where they would face each other in the Bronze Final and the Final of the Quadrivium Cup.
Outside the Duelling Hall, the Slytherins gave their team a guard of honour, and then quietly followed them back to the dormitory.
The most important thing was rest, and that's what the four finalists did as they retired to their rooms.
In the evening, they had their routine practice session, and the plans for the morning were discussed.
Everyone knew it was not going to be an easy match, but they were confident in their ability and did not allow the nervousness to ruin their minds.
Tomorrow, a new Quadrivium Cup Champion Team would have their faces and names forever recorded on the Wall of Champions and Hogwarts History, but tonight, the castle would dream of duels and destiny.