*Morpheus pov*
"Morpheus Richard! Glad you two found your way back we are about to start the fourth year duels. How was the tour?" she asked looking at me
I smiled softly while taking a seat at the table, "Excellent I wasn't aware of the beautiful sight you seemed to keep hidden on the second floor, a little stingy are we?" I asked in jest
She giggled into her hand, "Well we like to keep treasures such as that safe," looking over at Albus she smirked, "After we win I hope you and your students will take a look?"
Albus smiled softly down at her, "Perhaps we will, the view will surely bring up our spirits,"
Emily frowned, "You are entirely unfun, where is the competitive spirit?"
Albus chuckled shaking his head, "We are all here to help our students grow are we not?"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes Albus loves this holier-than-thou act but I know he wants to win.
"You're quite confident you will win these next rounds, we are ahead and all," I butted in with a small smirk
Emily turned to me with a wide smile on her lips, "You haven't seen anything yet, our third years are good but the fourth and up? Much better, after all, we won against Durmstrang in the later half not the first half,"
Abara nodded listening to her words intently, "Good then it will be an interesting duel, our fourth years are quite strong," he added to the conversation
Yowie took a sip of his tea before speaking, "I look forward to seeing who wins, shall we?"
"Yes we shall, I think it's time," Emily got up and addressed the room, "Intermission has ended it's time for everyone to head back to the dueling platform,"
Everyone made their way through the halls entering the spacious outside area once more and finding their seats.
Sitting down I looked at our dulists and couldn't help but grin, each student looked ready to go up there and give it their all. It's sad they didn't realize how much this will help them in the future, and when they do they will be filled with happiness but at the same time sadness.
For this might be the last time for a while they get to act like normal children.
Contrary to what many believe of me I am sympathetic to what is happening around me, I know it is wrong I know it's monstrous to create child soldiers.
But, I will do anything to win.
"THE FIRST DUEL BETWEEN THE FOURTH-YEAR STUDENTS IS MARINETTE HELSHIRE AND LUCILLE GRADY," the judge announced his voice booming over the crowd dragging me from my twisted thoughts
Marinette is a surprisingly apt witch I think she will win.
*Narrator pov*
Marinette walked confidently onto the platform no hesitation or nervousness was present on her face or her gait. She seemed to glide onto the platform. Her opponent was much the same, she didn't look nervous but excited, she didn't look hesitant but eager.
Lucille Grady was definitely a battle junkie one could tell by the way she approached the platform.
Marinette seeing this didn't waver in the slightest if anything one could now see a slight smirk tugging at her lips. After all her dueling style excelled against this particular type of opponent.
"Ready?" the judge asked receiving two nods
"START!"
Lucille was already in motion he arm moved fluidly through the air at a surprising speed, crouching at the same time she dragged her wand tip across the floor, "Caesar!" the platform seemed to ripple before forming a giant cascade of spikes that jutted from the ground dangerously toward Marinette
Marinette sidestepped the attack which made a line between the two witches, "Stupefy," she muttered softly sending a stunner at her opponent
If Lucille was more experienced she would have noticed the stunner had barely any magic in it making the attack useless. Alas, she didn't know and dodged anyway into the line of fire of another stunning spell, "Murus," she quickly transfigured a wall to block the spell and then stabbed forward, "Audacior," The wall crumbled into a boulder before being launched forward toward the Hogwarts student
Marinette moved to the right using Lucille's first spell as cover. The boulder destroyed some of the stone spikes before rolling over the edge of the platform. Marinette peaked over the side of one of the spikes and fired a disarming charm which Lucille dodged easily.
"Stop hiding!" Lucille yelled while swishing her wand, "Bombarda!"
Marinette ran to the left jumping for cover as her previous location was blown to shreds shrapnel flying everywhere.
Marinette rolled on the ground picking herself up in the process, "Lumos Maxima!" she hissed creating a blinding light as she shielded her head in the opposite direction
Lucille yelped as she was practically flash-banged-blinded only slightly but that's what Marinette needed, "Stupefy, Petrificus Totalus, Flipendo!" she rattled off as many spells as she could hoping one would land
"Murus!" Lucille flailed blindly casting at her feet
A wall managed to be erected just in time blocking the incoming fire cashing Marinette to curse before slinking away back to the right using the stone spikes as cover.
Lucille growled in annoyance, "petra contritione pervalida!" she snarled
The shards of stone began to morph into sharp jutted spikes, "Leviosa," she whispered softly using a shortened version of the levitating charm causing the smaller stone spikes to levitate in the air, "De-"
Unfortunately, she couldn't see Marinette hiding behind the stone spikes the young Slytherin struck like a serpent, "DEPULSO!" she beat Lucille to the punch cashing the American witch's own spikes to be banished back at her
Lucille screamed as she was pelted with the less sharp back ends of the spikes while shielding her face with her arms. Marinette didn't want to leave anything to chance though and fully left her cover crossing over the cover she used dearly.
"Flipendo!" she snapped her wand forward
Lucille couldn't even react as she was in to much pain she felt her feet lift from the platform and the wind rush by "uggff," she landed rolling on the ground outside of the platform groaning in pain
"Marinette Helshire from Hogwarts wins!" the judge announced and the healers were already waiting
Marinette began to walk off of the platform, "Bitch you duel like a coward who do you think you are!" her feet stopped in their tracts hearing the shrill sound of Lucille's voice
Marinette turned and laughed, "A winner?"
***
Morpheus laughed seeing their little interaction, "We need more of that," he said to his fellow peanut gallery
"More of what sore losers?" Yowie huffed
Morpheus shook his head," No we need more smack talk, rivalries to be formed, and memories set in stone," the way he talked was as if he was producing a movie
Albus rolled his eyes, "Only you would encourage such poor form,"
Morpheus shrugged, "You all need to live a little,"