Chapter 21:

Darrel Abbot was at his side in a moment, "And how exactly is that? I didn't see any illegal moves made by Potter, or I am sure Dumbledore would've called it out!"

Hillard growled, "He is under some type of strengthening solution or something, no first year is that powerful! Much less know how to shield and transfigure like what he just did."

Rodger Davies was heading their way with a few other students from the team, when Cedric stood protectively in front of Harry, "Just because a first-year beat you Hillard doesn't mean you can accuse him of cheating. He made this team, and couldn't have been under those potion effects every practice. The only reason Tonks and Abbot didn't make him a higher seed is that he is a first-year!"

Hillard took a threatening step forward, but before he could his captain gripped his arm, "Go sit back down Hillard, that will be Potter's last victory. He is going up against Clearwater next."

Robert Hillard spat, "I hope Penelope puts that kid in the hospital wing."

It was clear the Hufflepuffs had heard what he said, but the other teachers had not, but Darrel drew his wand and was getting ready to curse the boy, but Harry stopped him, "If you curse him we may have to surrender. I am still in this fight with Clearwater, so let's stick it to them by putting a victory in our columns."

Darrel nodded his head and glared at the boy's back as he went back to the side where Tonks was putting a comforting arm on his shoulder. Harry however looked over at the pretty fifth-year prefect knowing he was in trouble.

Flitwick had told him he had a charms protege in his house and heard that she was almost the first fourth-year prefect in a hundred years. The only reason she wasn't given the status was that she was a muggle-born. Instantly having respect for her, the green-eyed young man was also wary of her reputed skill.

Before Harry knew it Dumbledore was counting down, and Harry was taking deep breaths. He had already taken out four duelers, if he can at least wear out Penelope then maybe even the tenth seed Hufflepuff could finish her off. It was with these thoughts Harry blitzed his opponent.

Penelope did have some speed behind her blocking, but the real skill was in spell variation. She was constantly using a shield Harry had never seen before causing the spells to bounce right back at him, which made spit-firing stunners a little harder. Her spell work was also mostly silent, but the shield she kept using was said out loud, but he couldn't get a good enunciation.

She also kept firing a jet of water, which, unlike aguamentai, it was more solid, and coming in a much faster jet. He recognized the charm his mother used on him once or twice, and it was the Aqua Erecto charm. He wasn't sure how to perform it, but he also wasn't sure how to counter it either, which was proving to be a problem.

She used incendio even a few times to try and get him out of the match, but it was clear that Harry was simply too fast, but quickly exhausting. Penelope however had not dueled four opponents before Harry, and dueling someone with such skill and speed was actually quite refreshing to the girl.

The two duelists had gradually been getting closer, and Harry was getting ready to take advantage of it. Just as he was about to get off the expulso jinx he found himself flying through the air. The crowd gasped, and he even thought he might have heard someone scream, but as he was coming down he shot the Arresto Momentum charm and was stunned about three feet above the ground.

Awaking he felt a slight crimson taste in his mouth, and Cedric along with Darrel was hovering over him, "Alright Harry?"

Groaning Harry got up and the audience cheered, while professor Flitwick was berating his student for such a reckless tactic. Seeing trouble Harry walked over to the girl offering her hand, "Alarte Ascendare? I've never heard of it being used in a duel before. It was a pleasure Ms. Clearwater, I hope we can duel again next year."

Carefully she took the boy's hand, "I'm sorry Potter, I was on the ropes. I don't even know why that spells came to mind. You dueled very well today. I do hope we can duel each other again for practice. Had you not dueled four other opponents before me, perhaps things would have been different?"

Taking it all in stride Harry began to walk back towards the sidelines where Madame Pomfrey was waiting on him, "I'm fine Poppy!"

The woman rolled her eyes, "You would be bleeding to death right in front of me, and say you were fine Mr. Potter. Just let me run a check on you!"

Harry ignored the women as he joked to Tamsin, "I softened her up for ya! To finish her off."

Tamsin gulped as Dumbledore called her last name, and she walked onto the platform and took her position. Chancing a glance at his parents, the Potters were clearly thrilled about their son's performance, and now they were pulling for his house to take a victory, which thrilled the heir to the family.

Tamsin came out swinging against Penelope, but after the prefect spun around and began firing back the duel was brought quickly to a close.

Harry watched Malcolm stand up and flex his muscles and take the stage. Between quidditch and dueling, he was pretty well built, and the young man thought he would be a good match against Penelope. He was quickly proven right, as they had the longest duel of the day, where he eventually ended up overpowering the girl with blasters.

Malcolm look pretty tired, but when fourth-year and captain Rodger Davies took the floor he straightened up. Harry saw Darrel call him over, and when they broke from their huddle Malcolm took a determined look. When Dumbledore counted them off Rodger was quickly able to prove why he was the dueling captain.

With a blasting hex so powerful part of the stand came up, Malcolm was thrown backward off the platform. Dumbledore instantly called it, and Madame Pomfrey was with the sixth-year Hufflepuff in a moment. Darrel glared speaking more to himself than to his team, "I hope I get a chance at this pretty boy. Wipe that smug grin right off his face."

Heidi took the boy's hand to calm him and gave it a reassuring squeeze as her name was called up to the platform. Harry heard his captain encourage her, "His spells are overpowered, it's why he is such a good duelist. Keep up your dodge game and wear him down. If you can sneak a spell in there and finish him off great, but Cedric and I will take him down. Just go out there and do your best."

Heidi gave the two-finger salute and with a smile stepped up to the fourth-year Ravenclaw boy. Something Harry quickly realized was that the boy was a good dueler. His spells weren't just overpowered, but he also had a sense of grace when he was dueling. Heidi and he were dancing more than they were dueling.

Something that would eventually undo the boy, but she stood strong against him. Everyone could tell it was wearing on her, but since most of the dueling was silent casting the Hufflepuffs cheered her on. With a well-placed cutting curse, she actually managed to cut the boy, which Harry thought would end the match, but it only proved to send Rodger into a rage.

Clearly, the good-looking boy took it personally when she slightly disfigured his face and sent a powerful barrage of curses straight at her. One included a bone breaker that connected with her hand, which forced her to drop her wand and get stunned. Her scream of pain was still heard by all though when she was hit with that hex.

Cedric growled, "I'm going to make him bleed."

Harry wouldn't recognize it right away, but later he would figure out that the two older boys had liked the pretty blonde as more than just a friend, however at the time he was just surprised to see Cedric wish anyone ill will. When he jumped onto the platform, spectators could tell there was a sharp rise in tension between the two teams.

The Hufflepuff contingent was booing as their prefect was hexed with such an awful curse, but Cedric seemed to be in a zone of anger. He exchanged words with his captain quickly, "I'll try to leave a few pieces of you to blast at, but no promises that he is going to make it to you on the next duel."

Darrel nodded and continued to glare at his rival seeker, "Do what it takes but be careful. That is a nasty hex that I would've expected from a Slytherin, not a Ravenclaw. We clearly underestimated his tenacity. I'm glad you weren't able to pull it off against Clearwater Potter, if he had done that to you, I think there might have been an uprising."

This led to some snickering, but Cedric came to an even face as he clutched his captain and friend's hand. Harry watched the boy march toward the aisle, and when Dumbledore called for them to bow, neither did. Harry felt the tension in the air continue to rise, and when the duel began it was ferocious.

The two dueled like demons, and as the fight raged on the young man seemed to notice that Rodger was starting to throw darker curses. Nothing illegal, but certainly they were darker in origin. He recognized the bone breaker a few times, an exploding hex, the gouging curse, the piercing hex, and even something that looked suspiciously like the arrow shooting hex, that the Appleby Arrows use at their games. Deep down the boy questioned if dueling like this was really proper in a school function, but since Dumbledore nor any of the other teachers have objected yet, he figured they must not have rules set up against something like this.

Cedric was fighting like a man straight out of hell, but it simply wasn't enough. He couldn't get anything through, while Rodger was beginning to hit with cutting curses, and even the piercing hex in the shoulder, but Diggory was just not going to go quietly.

At some point, both duelers stopped heaving for breath, but it finally came to an end when Cedric knocked Rodger down with the knockback jinx, and proceeded to banish him off of the platform! This led to an eruption of cheering on the Hufflepuff contingent, and the crowd itself had applauded a spectacular duel.

Everyone seemed to note that the things between the two were a bit more personal than what met the eye. Both fought with serious ferocity, and it was clear no respect was shared between the two as neither bowed or offered congratulations on a duel well fought.

Darrel merely shook his head at the bad sportsmanship displayed by his counterpart captain and shook hands with most of the Ravenclaw duelers, especially Penelope Clearwater who was a good sport about losing, as she had done the best on her team.

Hufflepuffs could now say something that had probably not been said in many years. One they had the best quidditch and dueling record in the school. Two they were ahead on house points by a significant margin, and it was only continuing to grow. And three they easily have the highest prospect aspect since Dumbledore or The Dark Lord himself. This left some pride in the air as the Hufflepuffs congratulated their housemates on two astounding victories in just under a week.

After his house had given him some breathing room, he saw a red missile coming straight at him, and the only thing he could do was brace himself for the impacting hug, "Harry you did awesome! You handled some of those older kids like they were nothing!"

Harry bent down to her level saying, "If you just keep training with Moony then when you get to Hogwarts you'll be able to do the same. Battle magic runs through our veins, Rosalie!"

Jack agreed, "Almost every Potter is a dueling beast. Grandpa Charlus, dad, Harry, and were next Rosalie!"

Harry smiled at his siblings embracing both of them in a group hug saying, "I celebrated with my team last time. Let me go to the common room, talk with my captain, change, then we can all go get something to eat. Thanks for coming guys."

Before the young man could head off his dad caught him on the shoulder, "You did well today son. I am glad to see your training so hard has paid off."

Harry's dad embraced him, but he felt something go into his pocket and gave a look of acknowledgment to his godfather who had made the slip with his father's help. He then hugged his mother and followed his captain back to the common room.

Cedric and Rodger stood up at the front, with Rodger speaking excitedly, "We're doing great guys. Let's keep up the hard work, and prepare for our match against Slytherin. Everyone grab a butterbeer and just hang loose, that was a great win, and I intend to see five more coming our way! Badgers fight?"

And the whole house roared, "TO WIN!"

Harry was all smiles as he walked towards his group of friends, but before he made it he opened his pocket to read the parchment, it was a simple message that gave a clear warning, "Watch your back around Hillard and Davies."

Harry seemed to look towards the common room door as he began to head out and only felt a little trepidation until he met up with his family and Neville who congratulated him on a spectacular showing and win.