Hamish had to hand it to young Mr. Beck—his efforts were certainly creative. Though this time there were no ill-effects for Miss Tatting, her spell did not hit its mark, and so the professor declared the Gryffindor the winner.

"Congratulations to Mr. Beck—though well done to you both," he added, with a nod in the Slytherin's direction. "Fortune favours the bold, after all, and it is no small thing to enter into a competition of this nature." His words, he hoped, would soften any blow to Lucy's pride.