Ellen already regretted this. They hadn't even started yet-- just stepped up into place-- and nerves had wrapped her stomach tight and bound her tongue. She clutched her wand in a white-knuckled fist, praying she remembered how to do... this. There were so many rules to dueling, and what was she thinking signing up in the first place? Every new charm had been a struggle... She didn't stand a chance.

Ellen held her breath and dipped a shaky curtsy to Kaatjie. Frantic, she searched the back of her mind for anything actually useful. In the end she landed on the tickling charm-- about as dangerous as she was willing to get.

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