a eagle soars

*Narrator pov*

After Lily's swift victory, it was time for Sirius to take the platform. He walked toward the platform with a confident swagger his body language screamed he was sure this was going to be an easy win.

Obviously, he didn't watch the last match closely.

His opponent Sarah Prentiss stood confidently atop the platform you could tell she wasn't nervous but excited.

"He's pretty confident," Evan remarked to Severus

"When is he not," the other Slytherin replied blandly

"Oye! He's just a Gryffindor you snakes wouldn't understand!" James butted in

Lily laughed off to the side, "James you must admit Sirius is cocky even for a Gryffindor,"

"He can back it up," Remus defended his long-time friend

Marinette rolled her eyes, "Really? When does he train all I see him do is flirt,"

James and his fellow marauders scowled, "He trains with us, and during club, you lot wouldn't understand our level of talent,"

That earned a laugh from everyone including James, say what you want about the boy but he does know how to ease the atmosphere.

"I for one hope he wins pulling ahead with a good lead would be nice," Kingsley remarked

"I can second that," Remus agreed with a small chuckle

"Are you two ready?" the Judge asked from the side

"Ready when you are love," Sirius said wiggling his brows

Sarah scoffed, "I'm ready,"

"START!" The judge announced and the audience immediately began to cheer

Sirius wasted no time in launching his first spell, "Impedimenta!" A burst of light shot from his wand, aiming to immobilize Sarah and gain victory.

But Sarah was quick to react, her voice ringing out confidently as she countered, "Protego!" The incoming spell dispersed easily across the magical shield

Undeterred, Sirius pressed on, making sure to decrease the distance between them. "Incarcerous!" he shouted, conjuring ropes from his wand to bind Sarah and restrict her movements.

But Sarah was prepared, her wand moving in a fluid motion as she cast, "Terra Mutatio!" The ground beneath Sirius' feet shifted and morphed, forming sturdy pillars of earth that lifted him off balance and left him vulnerable.

With a frustrated growl, Sirius attempted to regain his footing, but Sarah seized the opportunity to launch her own offensive. "Ferro Mutatio!" she exclaimed, her wand tracing intricate patterns in the air as she transformed the pillars of earth into a tangle of metallic vines, hoping to ensnare Sirius and leave him helpless.

Sirius scrambled to evade the metallic vines, his reflexes sharp from Quidditch served him well as he dodged and weaved through the maze of metal. With a surge of energy, he cast, "Confringo!"

The air crackled with power as a blinding bolt of light shot from Sirius' wand, hurtling towards Sarah with unstoppable force. Sarah attempted to counter, dodging to the side, the spell hit the platform near Sarah causing her to be flung to the side.

Sarah groaned in pain as she rolled on the ground, her wand still in hand as she quickly shouted, "Protego!" blocking Sirius's follow-up spell

Gasping for breath, Sarah pushed herself up from the ground, her body aching from the impact of the duel. She could feel the bruises forming beneath her robes, but she refused to give up. With a determined glint in her eyes, she steadied her wand, ready to continue the fight.

Sirius, sensing an opportunity, pressed forward, his wand raised for another attack. But Sarah was prepared, her mind racing as she assessed the situation. With a quick incantation, she cast, "Avis Mutatio!" Transforming nearby objects into a flock of birds, she sent them soaring towards Sirius, creating a distraction and buying herself precious seconds to regroup.

Using the distraction to her advantage, Sarah scrambled to her feet, her wand poised for her next move. With a flick of her wrist, she cast, "Terra Mutatio!" The ground beneath Sirius shifted and buckled, forming uneven terrain that made it difficult for him to maintain his balance.

Sirius stumbled, his footing uncertain as he struggled to regain his composure. But Sarah didn't give him a moment's respite. With a resolute determination, she unleashed her next spell, "Aqua inspiratione!" A jet of water erupted from her wand, aiming to knock Sirius off balance and leave him vulnerable to her next attack.

Sirius braced himself, his wand raised in defense as the jet of water surged towards him. With a quick counter, he cast, "Repello!" reflecting the water off to the side

"Incindo," Sarah hissed sending a jet of flames to meet the reflected water causing steam to form and partially blocking Sirius's vision

Sarah pressed on keeping the pressure, "Stupefy, Expelliarmus, Petrificus Totalus!"

Sirius dodged the first two but the last one caught his non-dominate arm binding him in place.

Seeing he was frozen Sarah walked up to Sirius and ripped his wand from his hand, "I win," she spat in his face

After he was bound the end of the duel blurred together in Sirius's mind.

When he rejoined his team Sirius Black did not hold his trademark cocky grin.

*Sirius pov*

"Cheer up mate," James said patting my shoulder in reassurance

"Bloody hell can't believe I lost," I mumbled

"We've all been there including you why are you taking this so hard?" Remus asked

I sighed, "I don't know I thought I had it," I was right there! How did she come back from that

Stiles laughed bitterly, "I get what you're feeling, losing when the duel was so close almost hurts more than a blowout,"

I nodded, "Exactly, I was so close mate,"

"Mate you got to admit the metal spell she did in the beginning was wicked," James laughed

I couldn't help but crack a smile, "Imagine how I felt it was wicked scary,"

"Think she would teach it?" I asked

James wiggled his brows, "Think she's into you mate, see how she walked up like that at the end?"

"Bollocks," I huffed leaning back

"No Sirius, James might be onto something," Stiles said with a sly smirk

"Yeah Sirius I think you two had some connection up there," Remus said bumping my shoulder

"Well during intermission I might want to go over some notes with her then," I said before barking into laughter

*Narrator pov*

"We should do something about our student's aversion to losing," Yowie mused watching the group

Abara nodded, "I agree, it seems to help them in the long run when they realize the growth they can have but, it takes a while to get there."

Morpheus shook his head, "You both are thinking of it from an adult mindset and maturity. Right now they are still young and children hate losing, if anything what's already happening is going to help in the long run,"

Albus nodded in agreement, "Morpheus is right, children tend to take losing more to heart. They will grow and begin to mature, wizards and witches already mature faster than Muggles it will just take time. Pushing ideology onto them now will just halt their personal growth,"

"I see," Yowie muttered, "I hadn't thought of it like that,"

"Indeed," Abara hummed

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