February 8th, 1895 — Hogwarts Great Hall

"Miss Dursley," Nell announced after moving through the rules at something of a clip. "will first be on the offense."

The professor gave the Hufflepuff a nod of encouragement to begin.

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Corinne Dursley

  

Forgoing a curtsey - instead nodding respectfully to her fellow club member - Cori shifted into a similar stance as that of her first duel: twisted about to offer her flank as a smaller target. Almost there, she thought as she shifted her grip on her wand, no need to get cocky; just focus.

"Immobulus!" Energy burst from her wand at hip-height once more as she castthe freezing charm, hoping to stop the Ravenclaw in her tracks before she could cast in reply.

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Millie Potts

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   Millie Potts

The young witch took up her position with her head held high and her belly warm, enjoying that sense of satisfaction that went with another win. It wasn't a simple win, either, but over a boy. Mr. Fletcher had finally helped Millie prove that she was an equal, even superior, witch to the young men in her year. That was a difficult glow to banish for her next duel, particularly after watching Anne triumph in her own semifinals match.

Millie did curtsy to her opponent, another of her yearmates and a fellow member of the dueling club. She held her wand warily in position, a little too familiar with Miss Dursley's alacrity when it came to her casting. Her own wandwork wasn't too slow, but at a time like this it was more prudent to rely on a well-known spell than to hope she could best Miss Dursley's quick-draw somehow.

"Protego! " It was, perhaps, not the Ravenclaw's flashiest or favorite spell, but it was one that Millie had practiced long enough for the motion to flow effortlessly past the tip of her wand. A shield spell was more practical now, she had to think strategically if she was going to pass her own semifinals round.

Whoever won would face Anne for the title, and Millie desperately wanted it to be her.

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Corinne Dursley Elenora Brierley

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   Corinne Dursley

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"First point to Miss Dursley," Nell announced, shooting the Hufflepuff an encouraging smile. Both young witches had proven themselves to be capable, and the matter had come down to a matter of speed.

"Miss Potts, if you would begin the next pass for us?"

DURSLEY 8 | POTTS 4
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Millie Potts

  

The loss stung at the glowing pride of the young witch, pricking at it like a rubber balloon with thorns. Her ears rang with the sound of her futile spell, a hollow clang of the veto on her shield charm. It was clear to Millie that she had a long way to go with it still, feeling rather silly for having attempted the spell at all during this duel. She had decided before the whole tournament began to use more practical charms, and now the entire school could stand witness to her reason why.

Still, there was nowhere to run at the moment. Millie still faced her opponent, and Miss Dursley was still one worthy of her fullest commitment. This round held another chance for her, she could still advance beyond this duel and face Anne at the end of it all. And the best reward she could grant her ringing ears right now was burning at the tip of her tongue.

"Mimblewimble! " Perhaps in some future duel, an opponent might be able to defeat her non-verbally, but for now the Tongue-Tying Curse was still a potent one against a fellow Fifth-Year.

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Corinne Dursley

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   Corinne Dursley

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As the pair reoriented themselves, she took a brief moment to attempt to center herself – her heart thrummed with excitement, almost bird-like as it fluttered in the cage of her ribs with glee and triumph. Finally, a real challenge with someone of equal caliber. Surely, if she was anyone else, that hint of hubris perched in her veins would give her wings and allow her to soar ever higher on her victory, to overrun her cup with confidence—

But that would be the height of impracticality, bordering dangerously on stupidity: if she let herself get carried away, then the match would be as good as over already.

Taking a quiet, deep breath, she steadied her grip on her wand. In the corner of her eye, see saw Professor Brierley offer a look of encouragement, which felt just unnecessary and annoying enough to finish drawing Cori back into her usual mindset - she was, after all, not some first year that needed teachers and other like-minded adults to mollycoddle her, no matter the outcome.

When her fellow fifth year attacked, the first counter that came to mind was a back-firing jinx.

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Elenora Brierley || Millie Potts

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   Millie Potts

They were a well matched pair.

"Miss Potts takes the round," Nell declared this time, as the Hufflepuff proved unable to articulate her counter. She undid the effects of Miss Potts' spell and continued, "Miss Dursley will begin the tie-breaking round."

POTTS 8 | DURSLEY 6
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Corinne Dursley

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   Millie Potts

For a brief moment, as her tongue failed her, Cori’s frustration threatened to flare past her usually chilly exterior – if only she knew nonverbal spellcraft if only she could continue schooling to get the simple chance to learn nonverbal spells. As the professor magicked away the curse, the Hufflepuff managed to stifle any outward displeasure with a nip of her own tongue. Letting herself get too emotional would simply put Miss Potts at an advantage…

Tie-breaker round. She gave Millie a nod in respect; may the fastest witch win.

“Expelliarmus!”

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Millie Potts

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   Millie Potts

The silence was deafening, and her brief success made the young witch's heart swell before Professor Brierley set her opponent to rights. She was even now with Miss Dursley, and that afforded them both one last chance. Millie knew the eyes, and perhaps some hopes, of the school were on her now. The next moment would decide who would go on to face Anne for the title, and she was up against a fiercely-capable opponent.

Where she had failed once in speed, Millie had perhaps only succeeded thereafter from any small bit of chance or overconfidence. She couldn't afford that in herself. While the young witch was a poor performer with shield spells, practicing the Dueling Club and in Defense classes gave her one powerful, if simple, spell to use now.

"Stupefy! " It would, if successful, look rather flashy as well, but all Millie wanted in the moment was to land her spell before the Hufflepuff's. She was capable, she was ready, and now she only needed chance on her side.

Just a little bit of it couldn't hurt.

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Elenora Brierley Corinne Dursley Elias Grimstone

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   Corinne Dursley

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Miss Dursley had speed on her side, and disarmed her opponent in good time.

"Miss Dursley wins and will proceed to the final round!"

DURSLEY 6 | POTTS 4