It was quite heartening, Rex thought as he went over the rules of the tournament, to see so many first years so eager to participate. The Hufflepuff had once shared that same enthusiasm for novelty, though at nearly eighteen years old, it was something he experienced far less frequently now.

"Manwaring, you'll cast first," Rex directed the young Gryffindor, "while Miss Meadows, you will be on the defensive. Wands at the ready!"

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Pip Manwaring

Abraxas Crabbe was not an expert on this sort of thing. Oh, the Hufflepuff had performed admirably on his O.W.L.s at the end of fifth year, and was no slouch when it came to the practical side of magic. Miss Meadows performed a perfectly adequate shield charm, to his eye, but it had been... useless?

The sleeve of Manwaring's robes was presently on fire, his spell having misfired in rather dramatic fashion.

"Aguamenti!" Rex cast hurriedly, his imprecise efforts extinquishing the flame, yes, but also rather... dampening the poor boy who had set them. He did not imagine that this had been Manwaring's aim in the least, and he offered the Gryffindor a sympathetic smile and a chance to right himself before returning attentions to his housemate.

"Miss Meadows, first point, and you'll start our next round, too."

MANWARING 0 | MEADOWS 2
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Lilibet Meadows

As the first years squared off for the second bout of the duel, Rex hoped that this one would be less... aflame. His hopes were answered quite handily: young Manwaring did not catch fire, though the disruption to his casting from Miss Meadows' spell sent his tickling charm into the assembled crowd.

(Was that Rex's problem? He assumed not, and left it alone.)

"Congratulations again, Miss Meadows," the Hufflepuff said brightly. "You'll go on to the next round! Five points to Hufflepuff, too."

MEADOWS 3 | MANWARING 2