Chapter 211: Chapter 211: "Rising Through the Ranks"
The knockout stages of the European Dueling Championship brought a new level of intensity to the competition. The Palais de Duel thrummed with energy as spectators and competitors alike anticipated the day's matches.
Harry's first opponent in the Round of 32 was Jean-Pierre Dubois, a former French Auror known for his unpredictable dueling style. As they took their positions on the platform, Harry could feel the weight of expectation from the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a treat for you today!" the commentator's voice boomed. "The young prodigy Hadrian Potter faces off against the unpredictable Jean-Pierre Dubois!"
The duel began, and immediately Harry understood Dubois' reputation. The Frenchman's spells came in erratic patterns, mixing standard dueling fare with obscure jinxes and hexes.
"Incroyable! Dubois opens with a barrage of spells I've never seen before!" the commentator exclaimed. "Potter is on the defensive, folks!"
For the first few minutes, Harry found himself purely on the defensive, conjuring shields and dodging spells. But as the duel wore on, he began to see the method in Dubois' madness. There was a rhythm to the chaos, a pattern hidden beneath the apparent randomness.
"Wait a moment... Potter seems to have found his footing! He's anticipating Dubois' moves now!"
Seizing his moment, Harry launched a counterattack. He interspersed his own unpredictable spells with carefully timed lightning attacks, the crackling energy catching Dubois off guard.
"Sacrebleu! Potter is wielding lightning itself! I've never seen anything like it!"
With a final, powerful burst of lightning, Harry shattered Dubois' shield and disarmed him in one fluid motion. The crowd erupted in cheers as Harry was declared the winner.
"C'est incroyable," Dubois muttered as they shook hands, his accent thick with admiration. "You 'ave a bright future, young man."
As Harry and Dubois stepped down from the platform, they were met by a man accompanied by a familiar beauty - Fleur Delacour, who had only grown more enchanting since Harry last saw her.
Fleur's eyes flashed with indignation as she addressed Harry, her English accented but clear. "Why were you not at ze Under-17 championship last year? You ran away from our promised battle. I was waiting to take my revenge!"
Harry replied with a small smile playing on his lips. "Nice to meet you too, Miss Delacour. But as you can see, the Under-17 tournament was no longer a challenge for me. For greater duels and more chances to learn, I began participating in the adult dueling scene."
Before Fleur could retort, the man beside her interjected. "'Fleur, I did not know you were familiar wiz Monsieur Potter," he said, his tone curious.
Fleur tossed her silvery hair, her frustration evident. "I am not familiar wiz 'im, Papa. 'E just defeated me in a duel wiz a sneak attack and did not participate last year when I wanted to take my revenge."
Dubois, still catching his breath from the duel, chimed in. "I am sorry to break it to you, Mademoiselle Delacour, but you are no match for young Monsieur Potter 'ere. As you can see, 'e defeated me fair and square in a duel."
Fleur's eyes narrowed. "Zat doesn't mean I cannot defeat 'im. Even you lost to me one time."
Dubois' face reddened slightly, remembering how he, like many others, had fallen victim to her uncontrolled allure.
Fleur's father, sensing the tension, addressed Harry. "I am sorry about zis, Monsieur Potter, to keep you 'ere. You can go ahead and 'ave some rest for your next battle. Fleur, if you want to defeat Monsieur Potter, you will 'ave a chance later in ze year. Be patient."
Fleur's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Really? Is zis ze secret you are keeping from me? Why can't you just tell me ze secret?"
Harry just smiled and walked away, knowing Monsieur Delacour was referring to the Triwizard Tournament. But Harry's mind was already focused on the events that would unfold around the tournament, rather than the competition itself.
Back at his resting area, he was met with a grinning Sirius. "Who was that, Harry? Have you got your first fan? She's really beautiful."
Harry chuckled. "Not a fan. Just a sore loser from a previous tournament. You remember Fleur Delacour, don't you?"
Sirius' eyes widened in recognition. "The veela who defeated everyone with her allure? But this doesn't look like a coincidence. Maybe she likes you and wants an excuse to talk to you."
Harry shook his head, amused. "Whatever. I don't have time for relationships. Becoming stronger is more important."
Sirius sighed dramatically. "You're boring, you know that, Harry?"
---
The Round of 16 brought Harry face to face with Anastasia Petrova, a fierce Russian witch with a penchant for elemental magic. As they bowed to each other, Harry could feel the air around her shimmer with heat.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have Hadrian Potter, the young lightning wielder, facing off against Anastasia Petrova, the mistress of elemental magic!" the commentator announced, his voice filled with excitement.
The duel began, and Anastasia immediately conjured a ring of fire around herself. Flames lashed out like whips, forcing Harry to stay mobile.
"Incredible! Petrova has surrounded herself with a ring of fire! How will Potter respond?"
Harry countered with jets of water and gusts of wind, turning the platform into a maelstrom of elemental fury. Steam hissed and billowed as water met fire, creating a foggy battlefield.
"It's like watching the forces of nature themselves do battle! Potter and Petrova are evenly matched!"
For several intense minutes, they traded blows, neither gaining a clear advantage. Petrova's fire snaked out in tendrils, seeking to ensnare Harry, while his lightning crackled and danced, threatening to pierce her defenses.
"The air itself is charged with magic! I've never seen such a display of elemental control!"
Then Harry saw his opening. As Anastasia prepared a particularly large fireball, gathering flames between her hands, he made his move.
"Petrova is charging up for a massive attack! This could be the end for Potter!"
In a crack of displaced air, Harry disappeared once again in a duel, leaving the audience gasping in shock.
"Potter's vanished! Where could he be?"
He reappeared directly above Anastasia, his wand already in motion. A powerful water charm erupted from its tip, a veritable deluge descending upon the Russian witch.
"Merlin's beard! Potter's above her! It's raining on the dueling platform!"
Steam exploded outward as the water extinguished Anastasia's flames. In the moment of confusion, Harry struck again. A quick Expelliarmus ended the match, Anastasia's wand flying into his waiting hand.
The crowd was on its feet, roaring with approval. Harry had just defeated one of the tournament favorites in a display of magical mastery rarely seen from one so young.
"It's over! Potter wins in spectacular fashion!" the commentator exclaimed, his voice echoing through the arena. "But wait... what's this? Potter is hovering above the platform!"
The spectators gasped and murmured in awe as they watched Harry floating effortlessly a few feet above the dueling stage. The sight of a wizard suspended in mid-air without a broom was uncommon enough to draw attention, even if it wasn't entirely unheard of.
Recognizing that he might have revealed more than intended, Harry quickly descended to the platform. He had only meant to demonstrate a brief moment of levitation, not to showcase any extraordinary flying abilities. After all, while many skilled wizards could manage a short hover, true flight was a rare and closely guarded skill.
As he touched down, Harry maintained a composed expression, acting as if the brief display of levitation was nothing out of the ordinary. He knew that while impressive, this demonstration wasn't revealing any of his more potent secrets. The ability to actually fly unaided would remain hidden for now, a trump card to be used only when absolutely necessary.
As Harry progressed through the tournament, whispers began to circulate. Some claimed he was the second coming of Dumbledore, others whispered that he must be using dark magic to achieve such feats at his age. But all agreed on one thing: Harry Potter was a force to be reckoned with, and the dueling world would never be the same.
Chapter 212: Chapter 212: "Quaterfinals: Water, Ice and Lightning"
The quarter-finals of the European Dueling Championship had arrived, and the Palais de Duel was buzzing with anticipation. Harry's opponent this time was Magnus Svensson, a Swedish wizard renowned for his mastery over water magic.
As they took their positions on the platform, the commentator's voice boomed through the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have an exciting match-up for you today! The young prodigy Hadrian Potter faces off against the master of water, Magnus Svensson!"
The duel began, and immediately Magnus unleashed a torrent of water spells. Jets of water shot towards Harry from all directions, but Harry was ready.
"Incredible! Svensson opens with a barrage of water spells, but Potter seems unfazed! It looks like our young lightning wielder has a plan!"
Seeing the bursts of water coming at him, Harry responded with a quick succession of lightning spells, each bolt aimed precisely at the incoming water. The electricity used the water as a conduit, traveling back to Magnus faster than he could react. Magnus was electrocuted and nearly dropped his wand, his body convulsing from the shock.
"Unbelievable! Potter is using Svensson's own spells against him! The lightning is following the water right back to its source! This is a masterclass in elemental manipulation!"
Magnus found himself on the defensive, unable to land a single hit on Harry. Each spell he cast became a potential weapon for his opponent, and there was no way to defend against the lightning. Frustration began to show on his face as he realized his usual tactics were useless. He was now numb with the number of times he had been electrocuted, his limbs twitching involuntarily.
"Svensson seems to be at a loss! His go-to strategy is backfiring spectacularly! Can the water master find a way to counter Potter's electrifying offense?"
In a desperate move, Magnus began casting water spells all around the platform, drenching every surface. The arena floor became slick and treacherous, small puddles forming in every crevice.
"What's this? Svensson is flooding the entire platform! But why? Surely he knows this won't stop Potter's lightning but instead help him? What could the Swedish wizard be planning?"
Harry watched curiously, unsure of Magnus's strategy. The water-soaked platform offered no protection against his lightning spells, and Magnus wasn't immune to electricity. Now Magnus could not move forward, or else he would become easy prey for Harry's lightning spells.
Suddenly, Magnus's face broke into a triumphant grin. "I was saving this for the finals," he called out, his voice carrying across the arena, "but you leave me no choice!"
With a complex wand movement, Magnus took control of all the water in the stadium. It rose up, forming a massive tsunami wave over Harry that completely surrounded him, a wall of water that seemed to touch the ceiling.
"Merlin's beard! Svensson has created a huge water wave that is about to crash down on Potter with tremendous force! How will he escape this watery doom?"
Harry tested the wave with a lightning spell. He was hoping there was still some direct contact between Svensson and the water so he could end this big display of magic in an instant. But to his surprise, the electricity remained trapped within the water wave, unable to reach Magnus. The lightning arced and danced within the water, creating a spectacular light show but doing no damage to his opponent.
"Potter's lightning is contained inside the wave! For the first time in this tournament, his signature move has been neutralized! Has Svensson found the key to defeating the lightning prodigy?"
Magnus laughed at Harry's apparent helplessness. "Not so powerful now, are you?" he taunted, preparing for his final attack. His voice was filled with confidence, believing he had finally found a way to best the young duelist.
The entire curtain of water began to fall towards Harry, threatening to sweep him out of the stadium. The roar of the approaching water was deafening, drowning out the gasps and shouts of the audience.
"This could be the end for Potter! That much water could easily knock him out of bounds! Is this the end of his championship run?"
But Harry remained calm, his mind racing through possible countermeasures. With a wave of his wand and a look of intense concentration, he cast a powerful freezing charm. The wave started to freeze under the watchful eyes of the audience, and within seconds, the falling water turned to solid ice. The transformation was breathtaking, the once fluid wave now a glittering, frozen sculpture suspended in mid-air.
"Incredible! Potter has frozen Svensson's attack mid-air! The arena has become a winter wonderland!"
Before Magnus could recover from his shock, Harry cast another spell, shattering the frozen curtain into thousands of wand-sized icicles. Due to the shattering, each icicle had a sharp edge that looked deadly, glinting menacingly in the arena lights.
"The tables have turned! Potter has transformed Svensson's own attack into a weapon! This is magic beyond anything we've seen in this tournament!"
With precise wand movements, Harry directed the icicle storm towards Magnus. The Swedish wizard tried to defend himself, casting shield charms and attempting to melt the ice, but after a few hits, his shields began to falter. The icy projectiles were too numerous and too fast for him to counter effectively.
"Svensson is under attack from his own water, now turned to ice! His defenses are crumbling! Can he withstand this frozen onslaught?"
After taking several hits, Magnus's shield broke. Before another icicle could pierce him, Magnus raised his hand in surrender. "I yield!" he shouted, not wanting to be impaled by the ice barrage and risk serious injury. He had understood that he had no chance of winning against this level of magical control and creativity.
Harry immediately halted his attack, the remaining icicles hanging suspended in the air. But he wasn't done yet. With another wave of his wand, he sent the remaining icicles into the sky and made them crash into each other. This created a spectacular ice firework display. The shards caught the light, creating a dazzling show that had the audience gasping in awe. It was a beautiful end to an intense duel, showcasing not just Harry's power but his artistry with magic.
"What a finish! Potter not only wins the duel but gives us a magnificent light show as well! This young wizard continues to astonish us all! Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing history in the making!"
The crowd erupted in cheers as Harry was declared the victor. As he left the platform, whispers followed him. He had not only won but had done so with style and creativity, turning his opponent's strength into a weakness.
Magnus approached Harry as they left the arena, his expression a mixture of admiration and frustration. "That was... impressive," he admitted grudgingly. "I've never seen anyone counter my water magic like that before. You turned my greatest strength against me."
Harry smiled, offering his hand in a gesture of sportsmanship. "It was a great duel. Your water curtain was brilliant - I've never faced anything like it. You are strong, but unluckily you got matched against someone with a counter to your magic spells."
Magnus nodded, accepting the handshake. "Thank you for the praise. However, I did learn some things from the fight. If it works, I won't be as useless against lightning in the future. Best of luck for your next matches. Win the whole thing."
Harry guessed Magnus was going to learn ice spells now. If he did learn them successfully, he was going to be a force to reckon with in future tournaments.
As Harry made his way back to Sirius and Flitwick, he could hear the excited chatter of the crowd. He had just secured his place in the semi-finals, and anticipation for his next match was already building.
Flitwick beamed at his protégé, his eyes shining with pride. "Excellent work, Harry! Your quick thinking and spell combination were superb. The way you turned his water into ice and then weaponized it... simply magnificent! Now there are only two people between you and the championship. Your next opponents will be even tougher. They'll be prepared for your lightning now."
Harry nodded, already considering strategies for his upcoming matches. "I know, Professor. I'll be ready. I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve."
As they left the Palais de Duel, Harry couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement coursing through him. He was two matches away from potentially becoming the European Dueling Champion. But more importantly, he was learning and growing with each duel, becoming stronger and more skilled. The semi-finals would bring new challenges, new opponents with their own unique styles and strengths. Whatever they might throw at him, Harry Potter was ready to face them head-on, his wand at the ready and his mind sharp.
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