*Kingsley pov*
It is astonishing how much these duels seem to affect our mental states. Everyone knows I'm next and everyone is expecting me to pull away with the victory solidifying our lead.
Even the older years. I won't lie and say I wasn't nervous but, I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be.
It was almost calming knowing I was next and what was expected of me. The worst-case scenario is I lose and no one here will hold it against me.
It would just be nice to win.
Standing from my seat I made my way toward Pandora, she is older than me but a good friend and has helped many times in aiding me with my spellwork.
She had a fascination with spells.
They were still working on the platform seeing as Severus and the duelist from America tore it apart. Leaving me some time to have a small chat.
"Kinglsey!" she smiled happily at seeing me approach
"Pandora," I returned her smile
"Is there something I can help you with?" she asked causing my head to nod slightly
"Yeah, can you explain that new spell again?" I asked, "Just the wand movement," I clarified quickly
She giggled, "Sure but I don't think its smart to use a spell you are unfamiliar with,"
I chuckled scratching the back of my neck, "I just want to see it again,"
She nodded, "Here I'll do it slowly," she took her wand and made a half-clockwise circle before cutting up sharply then diagonally, and then upward like drawing a star but not quite there.
"You get it?" she asked
I nodded, "Thank you," hearing my name being called I smiled and began to head off, "Wish me luck,"
"Goodluck!" she cheered along with Xenophilius who was by her side
Luck the word rang in my head any other time I think I would have liked hearing that but, for today, for this duel, I didn't want luck.
I just wanted to win.
*Narrator pov*
The surrounding stands filled with students waited patiently for the duel to begin. Kingsley stood across from a lean pale boy named Luca Stone. Luca held his wand pointed downward his eyes narrowed at Kingsley.
Tension filled the air as both students waited for the judge to announce the start.
"Both ready," the judge asked looking over the two boys
Kingsley and Luca nodded, "Good, START!" the crowd erupted into cheers and chants at the sound of the judge's voice
Luca immediately slashed his wand upward before slashing it sideways, "Fulgur catenam," arcs of lightning erupted from his wand tearing up the surrounding platform and unearthing chunks of stone
The lightning danced viscously toward Kingsley who put his wand in front of himself defensively, "Protego Durus!" a large magical dome appeared around Kingsley blocking the mad lightning
Seeing the lightning pass Kingsley quickly canceled the spell and swished his wand, "Magnus ventus! " a large gust of wind blew through the platform blowing away some of the stone debris caused by the lightning
Kingsley's goal was to eliminate some of the Transfiguration material Luca made. Before Luca could steady himself from the harsh wind Kingsley struck again, "Stupefy!" the stunner shot toward the American wizard
Luca narrowly dodged the spell before returning his own, "Expelliarmus,"
"Repello," Kinglsey returned it in kind
Luca dodged it while his wand arm moved precisely, "Canes!" he seemed to growl out
The remaining stone debris started to morph into statues of hounds bearing fangs. Luca seemed to be fully concentrated on the task forgoing all defense.
"Fulgur!" Kingsley said softly not wanting to alert Luca
Lightning arched from his wand heading straight toward Luca, the boy had no defense.
Just as the lightning was about to hit him one of the dogs seemed to come alive and sacrifice itself for Luca.
'How!' Kingsley shouted in his mind
Luca cast no animation for the hound to be able to move like that, how was that possible!?
"Stupefy!"
Blocked.
"Petrificus Totalus,"
Intercepted.
"Expelliarmus!"
Another hound was sacrificed.
Luca now knelled on the ground his wand held to his forehead with the tip facing downwards as he muttered rapidly,
The stone hounds kept coming back and were now attacking, "Fulgur! Fulgur!…" Kingsley blasted them into pieces as they approached but that didn't seem to work at all
Kingsley was getting tired of defending the endless onslaught he couldn't even attack Luca directly with a wide-range spell as he had no time in between attacks.
Kingsley gritted his teeth before launching another hound away backing himself in the corner, "PROTEGO DURUS!" he yelled creating a dome
"I can wait as long as I want!" Kingsley shouted to Luca who now had sweat pouring down his face
Over at the Hogwarts side, the students were confused about what was happening, "How can a third-year cast a spell like this?" Pandora said in amazement
Morpheus who heard her roared in laughter causing everyone to look at him instead of the platform, "If your ministry didn't pass inane laws you would understand what's happening. Luca is using a ritualistic spell, while it is surprising he is able to keep at it for so long the spell is rather simple, family magic belonging to the Stone family. It would be easy to counter if Kingsley knew how to interrupt it alas the ministry isn't fond of anything ritualistic so I can't teach it,"
A few rolled their eyes at his words remembering his group casting classes. He certainly didn't feel burdened showing those patterns.
"That's cheating!" James huffed
"Yeah!" Sirius parroted glaring at Luca
Morpheus rolled his eyes while he turned to Albus, "Neither will quit anytime soon I can tell Luca is using half the original ritual to be able to lessen the burden at the cost of the strength of the hounds. Kingsley won't give up the shield either, we might have to negotiate a draw if this continues,"
Albus nodded, "Yes I will head over," He stood and began to walk around the platform Abara and Yowie following him while Morpheus stayed behind
"Are rituals really this strong?" Pandora asked
Morpheus shrugged, "No this spell is rare, hardly any rituals are feasible to use in situations like this. The Stone family just happens to have this spell and is careful to keep it away from outsiders,"
Over on the other side of the platform, Albus was talking with the headmistress of Ilvermorny, "Both could go on forever let's call it a tie," Albus suggested
Emily looked like she just took a bite of a lemon, "Let's wait a couple more minutes Albus I wouldn't want to jump the gun early,"
"The gun?" Yowie parroted in confusion
"Muggle saying," Emily supplied helpfully
They watched the duel for five more minutes and saw no progress, "Draw?" Emily said frowning at the word
"Draw," Albus nodded as they both headed toward the judge
"We decided to take this match as a draw," Albus informed the man
The judge nodded, "Thank Merlin, I thought you would wait it out,"
"STOP! The match has been declared a draw!" He announced
The stone hounds froze before crumbling, Luca put his hands down in exhaustion as he panted clearly out of breath.
Kingsley wasn't faring any better he looked exhausted and quite angry, "What in the bloody hell was that?!"