Rowena's sapphire eyes narrowed with fierce determination, her wand slicing through the air in precise arcs. Spell after spell erupted from its tip, each one aimed squarely at Derek, who countered and dispelled her attacks with almost effortless precision. For a Second Year, his wandwork was extraordinary, each movement sharp and disciplined. Rowena found herself working harder than expected to keep up, their exchange a dance of magic, skill, and sheer willpower.
"Flippendo!" Rowena commanded, sending a bolt of blue light arcing toward Derek.
Derek raised his wand, summoning a shimmering shield that absorbed the blast with ease. With a smooth spin, he retaliated. "Stupefy!" he barked, the stunning spell slicing through the air. Rowena ducked, the beam narrowly missing her shoulder as she scrambled for cover.
Breathing heavily, she glared at him while he calmly pushed up his glasses, a smirk spreading across his face. "What's the matter, Little Miss Know-It-All?" he sneered. "All that knowledge, and you're barely holding up. Seems like you're all book and no bite."
Rowena's jaw clenched, her grip on her wand tightening. "Aqua Eructo!" she snapped, sending a jet of water cascading toward him. The torrent struck Derek head-on, drenching him from head to toe.
He froze for a moment, staring down at his soaked robes before leveling her with a deadpan glare. "Seriously? That's the best you've got? I'd expect this amateur hour from a Hufflepuff, but not you."
Rowena's lips curled into a sly smirk, her rage giving way to sharp calculation. "Oh, you really do love the sound of your own voice, don't you?" she said mockingly. "Maybe those glasses of yours are just for show. Because clearly, you're not paying attention."
Derek blinked, confused, then followed her pointed wand to the floor beneath his feet, now slick with the water she had summoned. His eyes widened as realization dawned.
"Glacius!" Rowena's wand emitted a freezing gust that raced across the water, encasing Derek in frost. His robes stiffened as ice crackled up his legs, locking him in place.
"You bi—!" Derek growled, his words cut off as his teeth chattered from the cold.
"Depulso!" Rowena flicked her wand sharply, a burst of white light slamming into Derek's chest. He flew backward, landing with a heavy thud and rolling across the floor. He groaned in pain, his glasses askew and his smug demeanor thoroughly shattered.
Rowena straightened, her wand still at the ready, and arched an eyebrow. "Still think I'm all book, no bite?" she quipped.
****
Marcus' war hammer swung with devastating force, each impact leaving craters in the stone floor as Helga darted out of its path. Her amber eyes tracked the weapon's arc carefully, her breath measured despite the rising tension. It looked cumbersome, but Marcus wielded it with terrifying ease, as if it were a child's toy. His violet eyes were locked onto her, narrowed with a fiery determination, his teeth clenched as grunts of effort punctuated every swing. Each blow screamed his intent—to crush her into nothing.
"Protego!" A shimmering magical shield enveloped her just as the hammer came crashing down. The ground beneath her cracked from the force of the impact, the reverberations rattling her to the core. She forced a nervous smile. "Can't we just talk about this? Maybe over a nice slice of cake?"
"I hate cake!" Marcus bellowed, raising his hammer and slamming it into the shield again with bone-shaking force. Helga winced as her protective sphere buckled, the cracks spreading ominously.
"Oh, come on," Helga said with a desperate grin. "Everyone loves cake! Pumpkin cake, shortcake, cream cake—"
"You talk too much!" Marcus grip tightened on the hammer's handle. With a powerful spin, he brought the weapon crashing through the shield, shattering it with a sound like breaking glass. The hammer struck Helga square in the stomach.
Her amber eyes widened into pinpricks as the air was forced from her lungs, a choked gasp escaping her lips. She was sent flying backward, her body skidding across the floor before she finally came to a stop, rolling onto her back as she clutched her stomach. Pain radiated through her core, but she barely had a moment to recover before Marcus leapt into the air, hammer raised high above his head, ready to bring it down with finality.
Helga gritted her teeth, rolling to the side just as the hammer slammed into the ground where her head had been moments before. The force of the blow sent debris flying, but Helga ignored it, scrambling to one knee with her wand raised. Her gaze locked on Marcus.
"Lumos Maxima!" she shouted, her wand erupting in a brilliant flash of light.
Marcus roared in frustration, shielding his eyes as the blinding light forced them shut. He stumbled backward, his hammer dragging against the floor as he tried to regain his bearings. Helga's eyes darted to a nearby crate, and a spark of an idea flickered to life.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" she commanded, directing her wand toward the crate. It shot into the air, hurtling toward Marcus before slamming into his face with a satisfying crunch.
Marcus staggered, the crate shattering against him as he stumbled back, dazed. He shook his head violently, clearing the fog as his violet eyes refocused, now blazing with unrestrained fury.
Helga winced as she muttered, "I'm sorry."
****
Helga's scream echoed sharply through the tower as Marcus's war hammer struck her with brutal force, the chain stretching taut as the weapon slammed into her. The impact sent her flying backward, skidding across the floor. Marcus yanked the chain back with a fierce tug, the hammer snapping through the air and returning to his hand. With practiced ease, he spun the weapon, the chain coiling around it like a serpent before he caught the handle in a firm grip. His heavy boots stomped against the floor as he closed the distance between them, his violet eyes alight with predatory intent.
"Confringo!" Derek shouted. A fiery blast shot across the tower, igniting the floor as it hurtled toward Rowena.
Rowena moved with precision, dodging and deflecting the attack in one fluid motion. Her wand flicked sharply, summoning a jet of water that extinguished the flames. With another wave, she transformed the water into razor-sharp icicles and hurled them at Derek. He raised a shimmering shield, the frozen shards shattering harmlessly against it before dissipating into mist.
"Oleummente!" Derek bellowed, conjuring blobs of thick, black oil from the air. With a deft flick of his wand, the oil ignited, sending blazing orbs hurtling toward Rowena.
She countered with a blast of freezing air, extinguishing some of the fiery projectiles while dodging others with graceful agility. Their duel intensified as they exchanged spells, fire and ice clashing in bursts of light and steam. Each movement of their wands was precise, almost artful, as they maneuvered across the battlefield with calculated steps.
Then, as if by an unspoken signal, both pulled back slightly. Their wands flourished in synchronized motions before they cried out in unison, releasing powerful streams of magic. A streak of crimson light erupted from Derek's wand, clashing with a beam of icy blue from Rowena's. The spells collided mid-air, creating a dazzling explosion of energy as their wands locked in a battle of willpower.
The force of their magic whipped the air around them into a frenzy, their hair blowing wildly as the tension between them mounted. Their faces were strained, teeth gritted in effort, as the glowing nexus of their spells pulsed and sparked violently. The entire tower seemed to tremble under the sheer intensity of their duel, the outcome hanging precariously in the balance.
Their wands trembled violently in their hands, sparks flying as the point where their magical streams met wavered back and forth like a relentless tug-of-war. Both Rowena and Derek screamed with effort, their voices echoing through the tower. Rowena seized her chance, thrusting her wand forward with a sharp, determined motion. Her magic surged through the clash, overwhelming Derek's defenses and blasting him off his feet. He landed hard on his back, his wand clattering to the floor as he groaned in pain.
Rowena's sharp sapphire gaze darted toward Marcus, who stood over Helga, his war hammer raised high for a crushing blow.
"Ascendo!" Rowena's her wand slicing through the air. A burst of magic enveloped Marcus, lifting him into the air as his eyes went wide in shock.
Before he could react, Rowena cried out again, flicking her wand with precision. Marcus was slammed into the floor with the force of a meteor, his massive frame crashing down and sending ripples through the tower. The impact left the ground beneath him cracked and fractured.
Rowena didn't stop there. "Ascendo!" she cried again, yanking him back into the air. With another flick of her wand, she hurled him down once more, his body striking the stone floor with a bone-rattling thud. Helga winced, watching the repeated impacts as Rowena continued the brutal assault, lifting and slamming Marcus like a rag doll.
Marcus groaned, blood dripping from a fresh gash on his forehead. Rowena's face was set in cold determination as she raised her wand one final time. "Descendo!" she roared, slamming him into the ground with all her strength.
The sound of shattering stone echoed through the tower as Marcus lay motionless, groaning weakly. Rowena stood there, chest heaving, her wand still trained on him, her sapphire eyes gleaming with fierce resolve.
Helga staggered to her feet, her amber eyes wide with shock as she stared at Rowena. After a moment, she raised a shaky thumbs-up, a nervous grin spreading across her face. "Remind me never to get on your bad side," she muttered, brushing herself off.
"Feckin' cunt!" Rowena shouted; her teeth bared in fury. "How d'ye like that, ye wee shite!"
"Rowena, your Scottish is showing," Helga teased with a chuckle.
She exhaled sharply, straightening her robes with deliberate precision. "Just... let me have this one, Helga," she muttered, a hint of lingering irritation in her voice.
As Helga reached Rowena's side, both of their gazes snapped to Derek and Marcus, who were already staggering back to their feet. Though their breaths came in labored heaves, their eyes burned with renewed determination. Marcus wiped the blood from his split lip, then pinched one of his nostrils shut as he snorted a glob of blood onto the floor with a grimace. Derek adjusted his now crooked glasses, the right lens fractured with a spiderweb crack that obscured his eye.
"Oh, come on," Helga groaned, throwing her hands up briefly before gripping her wand again. "Don't you two know how to stay down?"
Rowena's sapphire eyes narrowed, her grip on her wand tightening as she shifted into a defensive stance. "Looks like we're not done here yet, Helga."
Helga sighed, rolling her shoulders as she mirrored Rowena's stance, wand at the ready. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Let's just get this over with already."
****
Godric and Volg's duel escalated into a fierce and relentless clash, each moment more brutal than the last. Spells flew between them, arcs of light slicing through the air, and Volg's magical shield sparked violently with every strike of Godric's sword. Their eyes locked—Volg's icy blue against Godric's burning crimson—both seething with the same fiery determination to see the other fall.
Godric's sword moved in fluid, deadly flourishes, the blade cutting through the air with precision. Each swing came from a new angle, forcing Volg to defend with increasing desperation. His once-impeccable movements grew sloppy as fatigue began to wear him down, his shield flickering under the strain.
"Flippendo!" Volg roared, a bolt of white light shooting from his wand and slamming into Godric's chest. Godric staggered, choking as blood splattered from between his teeth, staining the floor.
But even as he reeled, Godric seized the opening. "Ascendo!" he shouted, his wand aimed directly at Volg's gauntleted arm. The spell hit its mark, jerking Volg's arm backward violently. His eyes widened in shock as he struggled to maintain his balance.
Godric dashed forward, his blade a blur of motion. With a sharp spin, his sword cut through Volg's side, drawing a deep slash. Volg screamed in pain, stumbling back and clutching at his side. His hand came away slick with crimson, staining his once white rob, his face twisting in a mix of agony and fury.
Godric pointed his bloodied sword at him like a deadly promise. "I'll take you down, even if it takes a thousand cuts to do it, and that's one."
Volg's face contorted with rage, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Don't get cocky, New Blood!" His grip tightening on his wand as he steadied himself for the next strike.
****
Helga and Rowena found themselves once again locked in a vicious battle, Derek and Marcus pressing the attack with relentless ferocity. Spells streaked through the air like lightning, crashing against shields and bursting into sparks. Amid the chaos, Marcus's war hammer swung with terrifying power, chains rattling. Helga and Rowena moved in perfect synchronicity—Rowena firing spells with sharp precision while Helga defended with a shimmering shield, their backs pressed together as they fended off the onslaught.
"Verto!" Derek sliced his wand through the air. One of the crates nearby twisted and transformed into a gunpowder barrel, now crackling with dangerous energy. With a flick of his wand, he hurled it toward Rowena.
Rowena's sapphire eyes locked on the incoming barrel. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, wand raised. "Bombarda!" she cried, sending a burst of magic that struck the barrel midair. It exploded in a fiery blast, splinters and smoke filling the air. Rowena shielded her face from the debris, coughing as the smoke curled around her.
Through the haze, Marcus emerged, war hammer gripped tightly, his violet eyes burning with fury. His teeth bared as he pulled the weapon back, preparing to deliver a devastating blow.
"Take her out!" Derek cried out above the chaos.
Rowena's eyes widened in alarm, but before she could react, Helga lunged forward, shoving her aside with all her strength.
Marcus's hammer connected with a sickening crunch, slamming into Helga's side with brutal force. Her amber eyes went wide, a gasp of pain escaping her lips as the sheer power of the blow sent her hurtling through the air like a rag doll.
He roared, his battle cry reverberating through the chamber as Helga's body collided with the stone wall several feet above the ground. The impact was devastating, the ancient stone cracking and splintering outward in jagged lines. Her limbs fell limp, her head drooping as she hung there, embedded in the wall, arms spread out like a broken marionette.
"Helga!" Rowena cracked with panic as she stared at her fallen friend, her chest heaving. But there was no time to grieve. Derek's next spell came hurtling toward her, forcing her to leap aside.
"One down, wench!" Derek jeered, a smug grin twisting across his face. "You're next!"
Rowena's sapphire eyes glistened with unshed tears, but her face hardened, her teeth bared in defiance. She narrowly dodged a sweeping strike from Marcus's war hammer, now forced to contend with both of them. Her wand moved with desperate precision as she readied herself, her resolve unbroken despite the overwhelming odds.
****
The rounded couch where Údar and her hounds sat erupted with groans and muttered oohs and aahs, their collective cringes almost tangible as they watched the brutal impact on the screen.
"Oh, that's gotta hurt," Cú said, gritting his teeth as he flinched at the impact on the screen. "She's down for the count, no question about it. Nobody comes back from something like that." His dark crimson eyes flicked over to Údar, who sat beside him, her gaze locked on the screen, her expression unyielding and sharp.
"You're awfully quiet for a change," he flashed her a cheeky grin.
"Doesn't it bother ye, Cú?" Údar asked, her gaze never wavering from the action unfolding on the screen. "That Volg and The Calishans've been keepin' lads like those two under wraps? You'd think if they had this kind of firepower, the boy'd come at The Congregation cannons blazin'."
Cú scoffed, his smirk growing wider. "You think they'd have given us a run for our money? My spear would've shut down their ambitions faster than you could say, 'Feck off.'"
"Aye." Údar lips curved into a sharp, toothy grin. "That's why I keep ye around, after all. But don't be so quick to write the lass off just yet."
Cú raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "You see something I don't?"
Údar leaned back, her one good eye narrowing as it returned to the screen. "I'll admit, I don't know the lass all that well," she said thoughtfully. "But I know Sal. And that snake doesn't associate with anyone he deems inferior—whether it's in magic or brains. If those two've managed to win his favor, it means there's somethin' in 'em worth takin' note of. Somethin' special."
"Speaking of good ole' Sal," Cú said, his grin stretching wide with amusement, "you don't seem too torn up about your beloved fiancé being whisked off to the Gods-only-know-where. For all we know, he's having his innards stitched into a nice sweater."
Údar threw her head back, laughter bubbling out like a stream. "Oh, ya wish!" She shook her head with a wicked grin. "Do ya really think me da would've signed on the dotted line if Sal were such a wee feck? Get real. I've known Sal longer than anyone here, and if there's one thing, I know for sure…" Her eye glinting with certainty as she leaned forward. "He's the most dangerous bastard in that entire bloody tower."
Cú blinked, his grin turning sly. "I sure hope you're right, Údar," he said. "Otherwise, your da might be shopping for a new suitor before the week's out."
****
Rowena was caught in a relentless storm, dodging Derek's barrage of spells while narrowly avoiding the devastating arcs of Marcus's war hammer. Each swing of the hammer sent tremors through the floor, shaking her footing. Her sapphire eyes darted between the two, desperately balancing between defending herself and searching for an opening to attack. She spared a fleeting glance toward Godric, still locked in a brutal clash with Volg, neither showing any sign of relenting.
Sweat beaded on her brow, her black hair clinging to her face, glistening under the ambient light. Her breaths were ragged, her wand hand trembling slightly as exhaustion began to creep in.
"No one's coming to save you now, sweetheart!" Derek sneered, his wand flicking rapidly as spell after spell erupted toward her. "Why don't you just be a good little girl and let us knock your lights out already?"
Rowena gritted her teeth, dispelling two more of Derek's attacks in quick succession. She sidestepped another thunderous swing of Marcus's hammer, the weapon missing her by mere inches. But as she moved, she was caught off guard—two of Derek's blasts struck her square in the chest. The impact knocked her back, a pained cry escaping her lips as she stumbled. Clutching her chest, her breaths came in harsh, uneven gasps.
Derek's grin widened as Marcus charged forward, hammer raised high, ready to deliver the final blow. Rowena's eyes widened in fear, frozen as the weapon descended toward her.
Suddenly, a deafening cry shattered the tension.
From the shattered remains of the wall, Helga launched herself forward with a force that sent cracks splintering further across the stone. Her body moved through the air like a blur, her amber eyes blazing with fiery determination. She closed the distance in an instant, descending like a meteor, her fist cocked back before slamming into Marcus's jaw with earth-shattering force.
The sound of the impact was like a thunderclap, reverberating through the tower as Marcus's face contorted under the blow. The sheer force sent shockwaves rippling outward, and the boy's massive frame was hurled like a ragdoll. He smashed into the floor, bouncing and skidding across the stone like a skipping pebble on water. Tiles cracked and shattered in his wake, debris flying as his body finally came to a jarring halt.
Helga landed heavily, her breaths labored as she straightened up, her gaze sharp and unyielding. Rowena stared at her in stunned silence, her sapphire eyes wide with disbelief at her friend's raw strength. Helga's amber bracelets began to glow, fiery runes igniting as if awakened by her sheer willpower.
Helga smirked, slamming her fists together. The sound of grinding metal echoed as the bracelets unraveled, parts shifting and twisting like clockwork. In moments, they reassembled into a pair of gleaming amber gauntlets that encased her hands and forearms. Fiery lines pulsed across the metallic plates, glowing like molten veins.
"Pop-pop Hufflepuff always said," Helga began, "if you can't spell it…" She took a step forward, her fists clenching tightly, flames licking along the gauntlets.
"Smash it!" she roared.