Hogwarts: The lost Tales [IC/Open]

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

Alexander nodded. Yes, he had noticed that Rachel got hurt quite a lot while playing Quidditch. Alex had found himself ending up in the Hospital Wing with a broken arm or two more than once after a brutal game as well. However, now that he and Rachel are such close friends, he has become more on his toes about her safety. Slytherins are suppose to look after their own after all. "Well, you were great anyway, Rachel." Alex said, beaming broadly, "Excellent game, seriously."


Alexander Markus then grinned as Rachel accepted his offer. He'd go pair up with Raph, but he had enough of vomitting slugs and having bats fly put of his nose for the time being. "Great. Awesome." said Alex, "Raph and I sparred plenty of times over the summer. Any good place you think we could do a match while we're on break?"

---

Raphaël Raymond

Raph smiled broadly after Derek accepted his offer. Even though he hated getting into fights and conflict, Raph loved the thrill and excitement of dueling, especially with Alex. Like with potions, it was where he had confidence and saw himself as a suburb duelest and Alex as pretty decent too. Dueling really was among Raph's favorite activities and uses of magic aside from making certain aspects of life a lot easier. No doubt it would be fun to practice with Derek. "I was hoping to get to some studying and relaxing in the library, but we can get started right now." said Raphaël, "Perhaps we can get some practicing done outside? It is a nice day after all."

[True Christopia]

Andrew Bishop

Andrew's essay was appalling. He could barely concentrate, nor did he know much about it anyway. So, he ended up handing in an essay that was probably going to end with him in detention. His ears had perked up at the sound of a tournament, although not for the same reasons as everybody else. He didn't want to fight. He just wanted to help.

Then, to his surprise, William asked him to be his partner. Reluctantly, as everybody had to, he replied with a simple, tentative "Ok." before leaving that class, anxious and worried for the days ahead.

[Skylus]

Raphaël Raymond

Raph smiled broadly after Derek accepted his offer. Even though he hated getting into fights and conflict, Raph loved the thrill and excitement of dueling, especially with Alex. Like with potions, it was where he had confidence and saw himself as a suburb duelest and Alex as pretty decent too. Dueling really was among Raph's favorite activities and uses of magic aside from making certain aspects of life a lot easier. No doubt it would be fun to practice with Derek. "I was hoping to get to some studying and relaxing in the library, but we can get started right now." said Raphaël, "Perhaps we can get some practicing done outside? It is a nice day after all."

Derek Forester

I nodded. "Of course. We've got all the time in the world, don't we? ....Maybe not...."
I began walking then turned back around to face Raph.
"Anyway, should we start with basic spells and move up or start with....let's say....more advanced ones?"
I pulled out my wand and began twirling it.
"I'm personally more excited about that potential sword fighting thing, but I guess dueling works too...Come on, let's get out of here before everyone else does."

[Arlye Austros]

Isolde Grenwald. Outside DADA classroom


She didn´t concern too much about the essay. Of course she could write about the Unforgivables, but nothing worth noticing. Not that Isolde expected good scores, or needed them by now. As she walked out her mind passed from the Dueling Tournament to Quidditch. Slytherin had beaten Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff would go against Ravenclaw. She expected this time she would make it into the standing team.

Isolde headed to the common. Richard Castle asked him where was she going.
“Going to practice. This time I´m playing.”
“Did you get accepted?”
“Not yet, but soon.”

Moments later she was taking off the field on her broom. Hovering about twelve metres over a single Quaffle. She pointed at it with her wand.
The sphere jumped off and reached her height. She grabbed it and moved to the goal rings, taking the shot. The Quaffle passed through the central ring, then it dropped, but turned and climbed again, flying above Isa´s head and describing an arc. She followed and catch it mid-air, then repeated from a different direction.

After an hour of just flying by herself she descended and returned to the castle. Isolde had considered asking someone not on the team to help her practice, and had heard the exchange student, Ricardo, saying he used to fly in his country. But when she stepped into the Common he was nowhere to be seen.

“You seen that boy, Ricardo Salgado?” She asked one of the students that came down from the boys´ dormitories.
“He left little after classes. His things are still there, but he said he would be gone for some days, something about family issues.”
Bad luck. But Isolde was sure she could find somebody else. In the worst case scenario Andrew or Adam could help her practicing a bit, then help her get in the team. Meanwhile, Isolde started doing an assignment for Charms. There would be always time for Quidditch.


Ricardo Salgado. Tuesday, just past midnight.


The house materialized in front of him. There were lights illuminating the entrance, and they walked towards it.
“It´s cold. I´ll make you something to eat.” His mother said. “I am sure there is soup.”
“I´m not hungry. I just want to go to bed.”
They crossed the door and Ricardo saw his home again.

“Ricardo!” Aunt Tania was sitting on the couch looking at the television, but turned to them as they came in. She forced a smile. “Welcome! How was the school?”
Wrong question, Ricardo thought. But he tried not to note it. “Amazing, actually. But I was already missing home.”
Her smile softened. “You staying?”
“No, I have to return by the end of the week.”

They were about to sit on the table, but Ricardo excused himself, and went to his room. Jacinto was playing there and he felt like yelling at him to get out, but it was probably better to be careful.
“Hi, Jaci. What are you doing?”
“Oh! You are back…”
“Yes.” He smiled, dropping his backpack on the floor. “This is my room after all, I will always come back here.”
“You here about my sister?”

He seemed to keep the topic quite well. His eyes were sad, but out of that Jacinto seemed quite willing to talk about the tragedy.
“Yes. I am sorry, cousin. I wish I was here to do something.”
He looked to the floor, seemingly pondering those words. “Probably not… It was… You may have died then.”

They both looked at each other for a minute. He then picked up the toy spinners he had on the floor. “I am sorry I messed up your room.”
“It´s quite clean actually.” He was tired. “Dinner is ready. You should go down.”
“I already had it. It´s late and mom will kill me if she realizes I´m still awake. Good night…” The boy walked out and vanished in the hallway. Ricardo closed the door and looked around. There was a picture of Alicia, Christian and himself, sitting by a pool and waving while holding their Christmas presents. They were probably ten by that time, Ricardo recalled. He smiled and sighed.

Inside his night table he found his cell-phone and some batteries he left in order to use the device as soon as he needed. He placed the battery inside and it turned on right away. He wrote a message to his friend.

<<I arrived>>
<<Hi! How´s everybody there?>>
<<They seem to be holding. You?>>
There was a pause. Then Christian replied.
<<Could be worse, I guess. It´s been a week. I´ve been helping your dad, your uncle and my dad to clean up the place. We found her the first night, but they didn´t allow me to see her. I suppose the fire didn´t leave much.>>
<<I am sorry, buddy. See you tomorrow I suppose.>>
<<Sure.>>

Wednesday

They spent the day chatting by a nearby river. It was mostly a hollow thing. Ricardo told his friend about Hogwarts and the cultural shock. They barely spoke about Alicia or the fire. However there was something Christian said that Ricardo found most interesting, and disturbing.
“Those damn Muggles. They did it over the land. You know, like the old day, when it was everyone by themselves. I wish your uncle had killed them all. But they only wiped out their memory. I guess their cried for mercy convinced him. They kept saying they didn´t know a thing, but they were drunk-sleeping by the road, and their guns were still loaded.”

Ricardo didn´t push the subject. After a while they separated, as it was getting late.


Thursday

“We need to talk.”
Ricardo nodded, and followed his mother to the garden. It was Thursday morning. They had just arrived from visiting Alicia´s grave. He was a bit shaken still. They walked towards a side of their land, about two or three rock-throws from their house.
“Things are not well here, you may have noticed.”
“What do you mean?”

She sat on a rock and looked at him. “You dad. You may have noticed he barely speaks. However I don´t think it´s because of Alicia. It´s more like he´s worried. When they went out to hunt for the people who did it, he seemed… like somebody else. Now he seems different. I am worried.”
He did noticed his father was easy to argue. He often spoke alone with Arturo, his wife´s brother, at some distance from the house, and they often argued. He even raised his tone to Ricardo, nearly yelled at him, over a petty talk on the table the day before. After he arrived, Ricardo and his father made some sort of “silent pact” to keep peace, for their family´s sake. But it had not been easy, and Ricardo often remembered the fight they had, and the scar his father left on his face.
“What do you need me to do?”

She smiled, as if he had said what she expected him to say.
“Nothing really. You should focus on school now.”
“Mom, please. If there is anything.”
She sighed and looked to a nearby tree. It was planted right by a small mound of grass. She often wandered there.

“Things may get out of control. The families are arguing. The hunters are losing the grip. There has been talk that the attack on Arturo´s house was incited by Halfbloods. Your father doesn´t say it, but I think the idea convinces him every day more. I fear it might get dangerous.”
Suddenly it seemed worse than just muggles attacking random people.
“A war?”
“Let´s hope no. But I won´t stand idle while my son and nephew are at risk. If I had known they were in danger, I would have gone to the house without a minute of doubt. I want you to consider staying in the United Kingdom during Christmas, and maybe even for summer. Also, we need to get Jacinto to safety. Of course we can´t just sent him to some school like you, but perhaps we can find somebody to host him while things work out here.”
“I…”
“No. Just think about it for now. We will talk about this later.” She seemed tired, and looked to the tree again. “Please go. I want to think a bit. And don´t tell your father.”

He nodded and walked away, but then turned. She had walked to mound and sat by the tree, resting her back on the bark, and covered her face. Was she crying?
“Mom? Are you alright?”
She was startled. “Leave me, Rica. Please.” She made a quick movement with her hand, and hid something in her pocket.
“What is that?”
“Just go. Please!” She insisted. Ricardo had no choice but to leave his mother alone. He started wondering about the tree and the mound. It was important for her, he knew for a while now. But today she had done something she never did before, cry there.


He made sure his feet didn´t crack on the carpet as he walked through the dark. Opening the door was complicated, as it groaned. He stopped and took out his wand. After softening the hinges, he opened it more easily.
He looked inside. His parents were asleep. He gave a step in, but someone pulled from the sleeve of his pyjama.

“What are you doing?” Jacinto whispered at him.
“Go to bed.” He replied, fearing the chatting in the dark might awake his parents.
“I can´t sleep.” He frowned. “Because you decided to walk around.”
He cursed inside. “Please, Jacinto, don´t tell anyone. Go to bed and I will make it up to you.”
“You will tell me whatever you are doing. Or I tell them.”
What a little swindler. “Fine! I will tell you. Now go.”
By his face, Jacinto didn´t believe a word. However he turned around and walked silently and discreetly to his room, vanishing behind a corner.

Finally free, Ricardo walked into his parents´ room. They were deeply asleep. Walking on his tip toes, he wandered around. Where would his mother hide something, even from his father? Or maybe not?

As he walked back to his room, frustrated, Jacinto´s voice interrupted his passing.
“Well?”
Without making a sound, he pushed the child inside his room and closed the door behind.
“My mother is hiding something. It´s very important to her.”
“So? Let her keep it.”
“It´s just that I’m curious, Jacinto. Something´s wrong and I need to find out what is it.”

He heard a cat somewhere, meowing in the dark. But it was as if it was inside the room.
“What is that?”
Jacinto smiled. “Ah! It´s just a Muggle toy.” He walked to a desk. There was a sound receiver, a baby-monitor. “They saved it from the house. My mom gave it to me, so I use it to listen to a group of kittens that sleep outside every night. I don´t know why, but it sooths me.”
“Sounds strange, and intruding at the same…” It was so simple.

Friday morning

He walked by the mound, looking for a perfect spot. But it was impossible to find a good spot to place it. He looked up when a drop of water fell on his hair. The morning air was freezing, and the wet grass was just a reflection of the droplets that had started to wash down from the tree by the mound. Ricardo climbed it, and after a minute of struggle he found support to use both hands. Carefully, he placed the cell-phone between two branches, and the camera looked down. He then used a rubber band to keep it tight. The battery was full, and the camera was activated. Only one push of a button would make it roll and record what was below. He climbed down and returned to the house. After breakfast his mother went out for a walk, and vanished by the beach. An hour later Jacinto came up to him. “She´s back.”

As he looked through a window on the second floor, Ricardo´s mother walked into the property, and stopped by the tree, sitting once more against it.
Ricardo aimed his wand at the tree as he took hiding behind a shed, at some distance. As he whispered he thought it was a longshot. But the cell-phone didn´t fall. He walked away carefully.

“Let me look!” His cousin protested, trying to stand on his tip-toes to reach the height of the screen, but in vain.
“I will, I´m just searching.” He pushed the buttons through the video until he found a good frame. His mother was sitting on the grass, below the camera, and she was holding something. A picture. There were two heads there. Two babies. He zoomed to be sure.
“Who are those?” Jacinto asked. He had climbed on a desk to see.
“I think they are me…” He recalled pictures of him as a baby. But there were two identical babies sleeping, one facing the other.
“They?”
It made no sense, and he said nothing to his cousin, just walked out.

“Can we talk?” He asked Tania, his aunt. She was drinking some juice while looking at the forest nearby from the balcony, overlooking the gardens. She had been reading but seemed unable to focus. “You don´t seem too busy anyway.”
She took it the wrong way, and frowned. “I might be busier than you right now, Ricardo.”
“I´m sorry, I´m sorry. I mean… I really need your help.”

Her look was softer now and she turned on her chair to face him. He passed her his cell-phone. The picture of the two infants sleeping was right there. “Who is that?”
She was pale. “It´s you, and… Alicia…”
“Please, aunt, don´t lie. Alicia and I didn´t look alike at all. That one is a copy.”
“Rica, I…” She seemed unable to find a proper answer. It was all he needed to strengthen his theory to near-truth.

“Is that my twin brother?”

She left the phone on the table. Afterwards, Ricardo took it right away and looked at it. He noticed the picture, and the video, were erased. “Why did you…!”
“You must never speak of this, boy. At least not to anyone until they tell you. I know your curiosity is too strong to keep yourself out of it, but seriously, you need to stay out, do it for your mother.”

“Aunt! Is that my twin brother?” He asked, more loudly.
She sighed. “I care too much about your mother, and my own family. If you insist you will regret it, Ricardo. I mean it.”
“Like you cared for Alicia?” He was growing angry, suddenly she seemed dark and serious, but all he saw was just cynical lies. Why did everyone lie?
But it was the wrong thing to do. She raised her wand.

“Obliviate!”
“Protego!”

For some reason he had guessed it, just a second before she moved. The light-green stream of air extinguished just a feet away of his wand, and then a blast of green light nearly blinded him.

“Expelliarmus!” He countered. His aunt, standing up, blocked the spell with the same defensive spell, but no words. Again she waved the wand, and a blue bolt came out. Ricardo got out of the way and the wooden balcony behind cracked.

“Are you crazy?” he asked. But Tania didn´t replied, just aimed again. An invisible force, too fast for him to react, struck him in the chest. Ricardo was flung back and smashed his back against the balcony, which cracked and fell down.

He opened his eyes, barely able to breathe, and looked up. His aunt was looking down through the opening in the balcony, about two metres above the garden. She aimed again, and seemed furious.
“You little pig! How dared you say that?”
“I´m sorry, aunt! Really!” He said with effort. But she seemed merciless.
“I was going to just wipe out your memory. But now… Crucio!”

The pain was horrifying. He felt every muscle clutching, to the point they couldn´t clutch anymore, and it felt as if every tendon was about to snap free. He tried to scream, but the pain oppressed his breath. Ricardo wished she had just wiped out his memory. For a moment she did, as he couldn´t think what was happening, what he had seen or listened to, or why was all that pain crushing him. Finally, it stopped. He gasped for air.

“Could be worse, nephew. It could be much worse. But I don´t hate you that much, I am just angry for what you said.”
He had rolled through his agony, and was facing down against the grass and wooden sticks left by the balcony. He had to turn.
She had dropped to the garden, and was standing right next to him. She stepped her foot on his chest.

“Please!” He muttered. “I won´t say anything.”
“You won´t.”

She pointed again. But before the tip could aim at Ricardo´s head there was a red flare. Tania looked up and moved her wand just in time. The stunning spell was suffocated by her barrier, but she was tossed away and smashed, just as Ricardo did before, against one of the pillars holding the balcony over the garden.
Ricardo was disoriented and somebody grabbed his shirt and pulled him up. It was Christian. He stood up and looked at him.

“Run!” He said while giving him back his wand. “RUN!”
The next moment they were both running through the garden, and Ricardo could see his aunt was rushing through the grass behind. She screamed something. Ricardo saw a figure coming out of the woods, and aiming its wand at them.
“Get out of the way!” He screamed at Christian, and pushed him aside just in time. Ricardo´s father´s spell smashed against a tree, and the tree bent. They laid on the floor, made by stones sized from a fingernail to a fist size, and watched as the tree bent, and bent, and bent, until it snapped, and the wooden tower collapsed. It had been to kill.

“Stay there, boys!” Ricardo´s father aimed at them. Tania rushed and stopped at some distance, also aiming. Ricardo and Christian aimed back at them.
“This is insane!” Christian said. He seemed scared, but resolved. “Can you both please act as reasonable people?”

“He insulted me, Benja. So I taught him a lesson.”
“What was so bad for you to use the Torture Curse?” Christian asked. Benjamín looked at them, surprised. Christian looked back. “Or for you to try to kill me?”
Ricardo´s father kept aiming, but he used a more conciliating voice. “Come on now, I didn´t try to kill you, Chris. I aimed at the tree to block your way.
“He lies.” Ricardo said.

"Don´t let them go, Benja!" Tania said again. "We need to this quick."
"Shut up, Tania! I will deal with you later for attempting to discipline my son."

“We need to do something, Benja. He saw Francisco.” Tania insisted.
His father was astonished. “Did he now?” He looked at his son. “Ricardo. I am sure you want to know more. But please. If this comes up again it will destroy your mother.”
“What is it, dad? Do I have a brother?”

There was a silence.
“You did. But he died. We never speak of it because it was too painful. It´s better if you just think you were alone. Come on. Just come here and we will undo this. You too, Christian, please. I promise I won´t betray you.”
Christian laughed. “Yeah, right.”

Christian reached for Ricardo´s hand. There were two shots of red light. They came very close, but then they vanished.


London. Friday night.
The Leaky Cauldron was barely alive. But that was good. Christian didn´t speak a bit of English, so it was up to Ricardo to beg for a snack. The bartender was quite understanding, believing the story that they forgot their money back at home and they were starving. After that Ricardo led Christian to entrance the Alley.
“You need to hide. My dad is going to kill you. I know he will.”

“No. I will be safe. I am sure your father was not going to kill either of us, and would have protected you against Tania. But you can´t go back, I must. I am as intrigued as you are and I want to find out what are they hiding. I feel it´s related to Alicia… Somehow.”

He looked at his friend. For a minute Ricardo thought he might never see him again. Christian smiled. “I loved her, you know?”
“It was pretty obvious.”
“I can´t live with a doubt of what happened. There are things that don´t fit, and I won´t forgive myself if I just chose not to hear them. Can you make your way to Hogwarts from here?”
“I will see if I can take the train.” They shook hands. “Take care of my mother. If you can, tell her I´m fine. And see if you can get Jacinto out of that mad house. I fear the country is about to be set ablaze.”

“Goodbye then. See you soon.” Christian loosened the grip and turned around. Ricardo walked back to the bartender.
“I need to get to Hogwarts.”

[Britanania]

Caitie: In the not too distant future...

The weeks after the announcement of the duelling tournament blew past everyone it seemed. Along with her studies, Caities spent a lot of her free time training with Henry and anyone else who needed help with their spells. It might have been a thankless job for the most part, but at least it helped her keep her mind of things, especially after that night in Hogsmeade...

Today her and Henry were doing their usual sparring. Usually one of them would be the attacker and the other would try defending. Caitie pointed her wand and began her incantation.

"Confringo!"

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

Alexander has been working hard with Rachel over the past several months. Along with sparring, Class, Homework and Quidditch Practice, it has been an exhausting period of months. However, Alex did well and was patient with hard work and dueling with Rachel, who he found to be a superb duelist was no different, He even found her pullus jinx quite amusing compared to Raph's Slug vomiting Charm. Speaking of Raph, it was disappointing to find fewer opportunities to spend personal time with him. Not that were hardly any, because of weekends, but the chances of spending intimate time were few and far between nowadays.

The day of the tournament was getting closer and the two students were working towards finishing up their duel in the Kitchen. Both students have trained hard and sharpened their skills. After defending himself against a spell from Rachel, Alexander grinned as he attempted to cast his spell.

"Levicorpus!" he exclaimed casting the curse from his ebony, unicorn hair wand.

---

Raphaël Raymond

Raphaël has also been working hard for past months with class, with only so much opportunity for relaxation. Despite having somewhat more time than Alex, he still found it frustrating when he couldn't have time to relax, cuddle with Alex, and do his favorite activities. However, Raph still enjoyed the time of dueling with Derek, practicing and sharpining his skills with hexes and curses along with defenses. Raph found Alex himself to be an excellent duelest too, having good defense and excellent with transfiguration.

Raphaël was gathered with Derek outside close to Hagrid's house in the cool Autum afternoon. Practicing together once more, Raph had a devilish look on his face as back into an offensive stance after being knocked off his feet.

"Slugulus Eructo!" He exclaimed, casting his offense upon Derek from his holly, dragonshr heartstrings wand.

[The Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune]

The Chamber of Secrets

Henry was standing in a duelling stance a few yards away from Caitie. His dark brown hair was pushed back in his typical fashion for duelling. The long black cloak that he normally wore was now in a form more resembling duelling armour, it's insides flashing silver. His eyes carefully watched the silver fox with which he was sparing, trying to glean even an ounce of what Caitie was thinking. He also tried to block out all thoughts except for concentrating on the witch. Though he wasn't sure how, he knew that Caitie could read thoughts, or at least emotions. Perhaps it was a magical gift, or she was just good at reading people. He was unable to further think about it as the young witch across from him shouted "Confringo"

Henry stepped back skillfull and raised his cloak in front of him, bouncing the curse Caitie had fired at him off of his cloak and into the cistern in the middle of the chamber. Pulling his own wand back Henry yelled "Venignis!" causing acid green flames to spew out in a great jet from his wand, coating the floor in between the two with a poisonous acid where the flames touched it.

[Britanania]

Caitie

A sense of smug satisfaction appeared on Caitie's face as she finished her incantation and the explosive blast raced towards Henry. She had been waiting to use that spell on him for a while, and when he failed to conjure a protection spell Caitie was sure she had one the duel.

That should be the end of it, she thought just before it made contact, only to be utterly surprised when he raised his cloak and blocked the spell entirely. To add insult to injury, her sparring partner fired off a spell she had never seen or heard of.

Gritting her teeth, Caitie let a rare show of anger escape her beautiful features as her eyes lit up in rage.

"That's not fair," she shouted at her opponent. "We never agreed to using magical artefacts to assist."

[The Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune]

Caitie

A sense of smug satisfaction appeared on Caitie's face as she finished her incantation and the explosive blast raced towards Henry. She had been waiting to use that spell on him for a while, and when he failed to conjure a protection spell Caitie was sure she had one the duel.

That should be the end of it, she thought just before it made contact, only to be utterly surprised when he raised his cloak and blocked the spell entirely. To add insult to injury, her sparring partner fired off a spell she had never seen or heard of.

Gritting her teeth, Caitie let a rare show of anger escape her beautiful features as her eyes lit up in rage.

"That's not fair," she shouted at her opponent. "We never agreed to using magical artefacts to assist."

Henry merely grinned, tucking his wand back into his cloak while brushing his hair back. His eyes storm grey as he watched Caitie lose her cool for once, he replied simply "Significat in extremis justify, Caitie. You never know what an opponent might do in a duel. Though I suppose it wasn't entirely fair, considering how you, of all the psychopaths and maniacs that make up our grade, you don't want to participate in this tournament. Hell, I figured that you would want to dish out some pain. Also besides, my cloak isn't really an "artefact" persay, I did make it myself. Now, do you want again, I have loads more spells I want to try out."

[Britanania]

Caitie

Caitie clenched her wand ever tighter as Henry justified his use of the magical cloak, but while Caitie might have accepted his reasoning it was how he worded to that caused her to fume.

That smug little twat, he calls me a maniac and psychopath but he's the one who fed an innocent girl to his death snake and I've only killed because it was the right thing to do, Caitie thought as she twisted her hands on her wand. Her head began hurting, as if massive migraine was coming on. Ever since her outing to Hogsmeade, she had been having recurrent migraines in times of anger, but this was by far the biggest. Caitie had to place a hand on her head the pain was so severe.

Well, that isn't to say you didn't enjoy it. Not only did they deserve it, but it was fun, Caitie heard herself thinking but perhaps not consciously. Maybe he needs to be taught a lesson as well.

Gritting her teeth even more, Caitie looked from the fiery-green ground back to Henry.

Why would I even be thinking about this? But maybe I'm right....

Lifting her wand, but much more unsteadily and with a surprisingly wild look in her eyes Caitie uttered,

"Crucio!"

[The Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune]

Henry watched Caitie carefully, as she had begun to act strangely, even for her. Pulling his wand back out again, he watched as Caitie looked at him with a wild look, one that only another person who had been to the darkest part of the mind could recognise. His jaw dropped as she uttered "Crucio" though he braced for the incoming pain. It didn't come, however, as the wave of energy fizzled out half way between him and Caitie. He blinked once before saying "Oh, you're going to regret trying that."

His irises almost black he used his wand to lift her up before spinning the green fire around her, burning her with the acidic substance, while also healing her at the same time. After about 5 minutes of burning and healing her, he coated her cloak with the fire before yelling "Obliviate" instead altering her memory to make it seem as though Caitie's own Crucio had bounced off his cloak and hit her instead, causing her to fall back into the flame.

Turning away from her he said "Episkey and some simple burn spells should clear the fire off of you. Don't try that again."

[Arlye Austros]

Ricardo. Hufflepuff´s Common Room

He had fallen asleep after classes, watching the fire from the couch. As his head fell off his hand he woke up and sat back up. He had been dreaming, but for some reason couldn´t remember. Not rally caring, he stood up and walked to the window. The noticed some people walking by Hagrid´s.

Coming back to the school was strange. The sudden flight from his own home and country made him feel a bit of an exile, not really wanting to be there, but without much of a choice. He had managed to make contact with a wizard heading to Hogsmead, not really asking to many questions as to why a minor was travelling alone from London to Scotland. They spoke about his own country, the country they were heading to and Hogsmead. His name was Ruffus, and he had a relative working in the wizarding village. He mentioned that "it had been slow to build up since last year." But after he asked what he meant about last year the man said he preferred not to talk about it.

His intrigue however lasted very little. He crossed into the Castle grounds alone, and nobody asked him anything until he passed by Hagrid´s home. He asked him why had he missed the class, not really remembering his name, but he said he had to go back home to assist a funeral, not specifying of whom. That was his story, the original one he originally intended to hide. Truth be said, Alicia´s death had been a devastating blow, he only realized it when he returned to the Common. Nobody made too many questions, and he was surprised he found himself relieved. But now, with the events of the last hour in his home, he preferred to talk about anything really.

He noticed his mood was changed. Using the Cruciatus curse against children was frowned upon, but it was still a practice that would resurface from time to time. Yet it was a whole new experience to him. He supposed most of the children that suffered such thing repressed any feelings about it because their parents were the perpetrators. But now it was his aunt, and he had no love for her, and nor for his father after it. He barely talked unless addressed, and was just contempt with making his own homework.

Now he was in a need for air. He had spent the whole day in the Common, and simply grabbed a coat (it was getting colder) and walked through the entrance to the hallways. He heard noises in the Kitchen.
As he walked in it, not really a stranger, he saw a familiar scene. Rachel and Alexander seemed to be practicing spells there. He was not sure there was any rule about using magic against each other in the school during spare time, but if that was the case, McGonagall was not terribly strict about it, or just blind. The tournament was coming close. He remembered some excitement the day he left, but now he barely remembered the class itself.
“Don´t mind me, I´ll just grab something to eat.” He told them, as dinner was still some time away. Alexander defended himself from one of Rachel´s spells.
“Not bad.” He commented as he sat on a chair and watched. He had been practicing on his own defensive spells for some time, reading about a variety of them and practicing whenever somebody asked him to be a target for the practice for the tournament. It helped to keep his mind occupied, but he suspected it was also because he wouldn´t allow himself to be defeated, or even touched, again. Ricardo started to think of himself as one really tough turtle. “Maybe you should try to shorten the wand movement, it will spare you some time.” He added before Alex tried the levitating charm. He then took a bite on a chocolate bar he had stolen.

[Miekzhemy]

Rachel

It was a mostly uneventful few months, aside from her kicking her work into overdrive yet again as a result of Adam not being there to tell her otherwise. Rachel had tried to balance her incredible amounts of practice with getting enough sleep every night, but regardless she found herself staying up quite late practicing her abilities.

Today they were back in the kitchens practicing yet another duel. Her own chosen strategy depended on her advanced Transfiguration spells coupled with a fairly strong shield charm. It worked fairly well - just block enough spells to read her opponents' strategy, and wait for an opening. She was always good on defense.

Rachel yet again lashes out her wand towards Alex's incoming spell. "Protego!" she shouted, and a shimmering blue light emitted from the tip of her wand. It quickly expanded outward to form a bubble-like shield in between Alex and Rachel. Alex's spell soared through the air and impacted the shield only for his spell to be absorbed. She kept it up for a while, with any further spells being blocked with the sound of a thrown object bouncing off of a thick pane of glass.

Almost unexpectedly, Rachel released the shield and flicked her wand out again. She shouted another incantation with her swing, and a light greenish bolt zipped towards Alex's wand. Should it hit its mark, Alex would notice that his wand had transformed into a leek.

[Britanania]

Caitie

After her curse failed to hit its target, Caitie seemingly went dead. Even when Henry retaliated with everything he wanted, Caitie was oddly unresponsive to the boy's ruthless barrage--not that Henry would have notice, given the nature of his attack.

However, deep without the darker realms of Caitie' psyche another battle was being fought...

Let me handle this. I handled Roumania and James just fine

Are you sure this is such a good idea? Does he deserve such a fate?

Trust me on this one. Wait, listen, do you hear that? Oh, I see, so it is finally my time after all....

As Henry turned away from the young woman, a slight cackling could be heard from Caitie.

"Your hocus pocus has set me free," she said, but not in her usual received pronunciation but rather in a harsher, more common dialect.

[The Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune]

Henry

Henry merely stood with his back turned to Caitie, waiting to see what the girl would do. Upon hearing the girl's new and unusual cackle Henry turned around a somewhat bored yet curious expression on his face. His eyes remained a shade similar to jet, as he gave a slight chuckle. He strode back and forth of the girl, watching her intently, telling her "I have to say Caitie if that is even you, Multiple Personalities is not something I expected from you. I recognise the symptoms easily enough, my own mental battles have lead me to do some research into them, but I soon realised that I have never even come close to the breaking point for a full mental split. You on the other hand... oh, I'm not even crazy enough to divine what the demons in your head are. Of all the people in this school, you're the one clock who I can't seem to ever find what makes you tick. Your mind is like a maze, only with horrors best left for nightmares around every corner. It's fortunate that my little fun was what broke you, else you might have split into... well I can't say everything is favourable compared to the reflection of myself you have become. But you might have become weak, spineless, sentimental even."

Henry the drew his wand, a wicked instrument made of ebony with a jagged handle and a point sharp enough so as to stab someone if wand to wand combat isn't enough. In normal light, the weapon may have looked like a work of art, despite the harshness of it's design. However, in the cool green glow of the chamber, it looked more like a blade from some demonic plane beyond their own. Sparks of acid green and blood red magic shot off from it's tip when Henry drew it. Deeper within the chamber, Ser Jeromy let out a long slow hiss. Henry looked down at Caitie and said "So what exactly are you now, besides an animal, like me."

[Britanania]

The witch formerly known as Caitie

The witch looked up at Henry with a cruel smile and a wild look in her eyes as she rubbed her wand for effect. After a moment she ran a hand through her long hair, as if still getting used to herself.

"I've been dormant for a spell," she finally spoke. "Restin', as it was. Caitie is having a malenky sleepy-time at the moment guvnor, and I right be sayin' that she shan't be sleepin' long. For now you can filly with malenky starry me. As for my eemya, well you can call me," here the young woman stopped, looking down at her feet.

"Medea."

[Skylus]

Alexander Markus

Alexander has been working hard with Rachel over the past several months. Along with sparring, Class, Homework and Quidditch Practice, it has been an exhausting period of months. However, Alex did well and was patient with hard work and dueling with Rachel, who he found to be a superb duelist was no different, He even found her pullus jinx quite amusing compared to Raph's Slug vomiting Charm. Speaking of Raph, it was disappointing to find fewer opportunities to spend personal time with him. Not that were hardly any, because of weekends, but the chances of spending intimate time were few and far between nowadays.

The day of the tournament was getting closer and the two students were working towards finishing up their duel in the Kitchen. Both students have trained hard and sharpened their skills. After defending himself against a spell from Rachel, Alexander grinned as he attempted to cast his spell.

"Levicorpus!" he exclaimed casting the curse from his ebony, unicorn hair wand.

---

Raphaël Raymond

Raphaël has also been working hard for past months with class, with only so much opportunity for relaxation. Despite having somewhat more time than Alex, he still found it frustrating when he couldn't have time to relax, cuddle with Alex, and do his favorite activities. However, Raph still enjoyed the time of dueling with Derek, practicing and sharpining his skills with hexes and curses along with defenses. Raph found Alex himself to be an excellent duelest too, having good defense and excellent with transfiguration.

Raphaël was gathered with Derek outside close to Hagrid's house in the cool Autum afternoon. Practicing together once more, Raph had a devilish look on his face as back into an offensive stance after being knocked off his feet.

"Slugulus Eructo!" He exclaimed, casting his offense upon Derek from his holly, dragonshr heartstrings wand.

Derek

I dove forwards to avoid being hit with the infamous spell and then got to my feet.
Then swung my wand in Raph's direction and called out "Protego!"
Not the best spell to use in this situation but nothing else came to me at that point in time.
The spell shot off towards Raph and I lowered my wand slightly.
"I think we're good. What do you think?"

[The Flutterlands]

Alexander Markus

Alexander has been using his own strategy with a mix of an excellent defense, transfiguration that matched his opponent's, and the occasional curse. His transfigurations have proved better than his curses, but he still liked using both. With determination, the young wizard released a barrage of spells upon Rachel, all of them blocked by her bright blue Protego sheild. His eyes then blinked and widen as Rachel dropped her shield to cast one last spell. "Protego!" barked Alexander, creating his own blue sheild, before dropping and casting the Pollus Jinx that if worked, would turn Rachel's wand into a goose.

---

Raphaël Raymond

Raph cursed in his french tongue as Derek blocked his curse and sent it flying back it him. Usimg his own protego shield, the muggleborn deflected the countered spell, sending it flying into the grass. Raphaël watched as his opponent lowered his wand, singling his desire to end the duel as is, and frowned in disappointment. Biting his lip, however, Raph lowered his wand just the same and nodded as his frown became a begrudging smile. "I think we did great." he said glancing at some slugs from earlier still sluggishing around a cauldron of treacle fudge before making a grin, "We both did great."

[World Anarchic Union]

William Darkenstone

Confringo A nearby tree was blasted open, as a figure barely avoided the blast.
Confringo This time a rock was cracked, as the boy dodged the spell once more, turning around to utter Expelliarmus at the scarred individual, who jumped to the side just in order to avoid the effects of the spell. He smirked, as he pointed his wand towards the boy.

Incendio The wand started emitting flames, which headed straight towards the direction of a boy. As the flames surrounded him, the young wizard, smirking, waved his wand before uttering Ventus Duo. The flames grew instantly in intensity as the strong gust of wind strengthened them, becoming seemingly ferocious, engulfing William's opponent. So, that works... he thought, as he turned to Andrew with a smile.

"Good job there, Andrew." he said, approaching the young wizard who was now standing in front of a scorched in places tree.

Andrew nodded, getting away from the tree that was beginning to catch fire, before he uttered Aguamenti and set it out. He sighed in relief, and nodded to William.

William looked around the woods they were standing in. The two of them had been practicing for a while, and the effects of their training could be seen all around them. On the grass, on the trees. He smirked at the results and turned to Andrew.

"Thankfully your shield held the enhanced fire. See?" he said, pointing at the young wizard. "Not a scratch or burn."

Andrew nodded, a bit unwillingly, as he began thinking of the possibilities this all could have gone horribly wrong. I should be grateful he thought, as he nodded and stood up.

"Well, perhaps we should get going. You have made progress, I think." Andrew said, before William grabbed him by the shoulder.

"No." he said, smiling but with a serious tone. "We both have."

They began moving towards the castle, as the sun was setting and the birds were chipping. A bright red colour had filled the forest, surrounding the trees with a thin, crimson veil.

[Britanania]

Caitie

The silver-blonde bombshell sat in the common room reading, the last day and half almost a daze in her mind.

Strange. I remember practising with Henry, but after going into the Chamber I can't seem to remember anything before studying here. I don't even remember opening this book!

Caitie put her book down and sighed deeply before turning to see Anton studying as well. There were a few upper classmen and even under classmen, and Anton was the only student she knew at the moment.

"Ready for the tournament," she asked innocently enough.

[True Christopia]

Andrew Bishop

In truth, the fight had terrified Andrew. Watching the fire engulf and snarl his weak shield charm as he desperately tried to keep it in place, ready to eat him whole - he didn't want to do it. He didn't want to fight. Even if he was stronger, even if he was the most powerful wizard in the world - he couldn't stand the thought of putting somebody else through the same thing, no matter how much they deserved it.

Heading back up to his dorm, he found it empty. He didn't want to fight any longer, and not just with William. He didn't want to fight with life. He didn't want to fight with his ever-present bulimia, to fight with his mind and body - he didn't want to fight.

Soon enough, he found himself standing atop a chair, with a rope he'd conjured hanging from the ceiling.

He'd been thinking about it for a while. It wasn't like anybody would miss him. Rachel had Adam, and she was about the only person that really cared about him. Nobody would miss him. He didn't want to fight any longer.

Resting his chin on the noose, he closed his eyes and put his head through - but in that effort, he slipped backwards - the chair was kicked across the room and he slammed into the floor - pushing the air out of him with a grunt.

And there swung the noose, creaking mockingly from the ceiling - laughing at him with every swing. Growling in anger, he jumped up - pulling his wand from his cloak, he shouted "Diffindo!" severing the noose in half.

"Fuck!" he yelled, his fists balled up - he couldn't even kill himself right. He couldn't do anything right.

Suddenly, there was a light knock on the door "Andrew?"

Without looking at the door, he yelled "Ventus!" and a gust of wind crashed into the door, slamming it shut in the face of the person calling his name, and he secluded into his room, curling into his bed and crying until he couldn't cry anymore.

[Miekzhemy]

Rachel

Alex's swift reaction to her unexpected jinx caught her by surprise. She could've sworn he had his guard open. Unfortunately, her pause proved to be her own downfall. Rachel was only quick enough to resume her defensive stance before Alex's jinx was headed her way. She pointed her wand out again, squinting her eyes shut as the incoming magical light got ever closer..

"Prote--!"

*QUACK!*

Okay, that definitely didn't sound like a shield charm. Opening her eyes again, she had found that she was no longer holding a wand, but a goose. She was gripping it by the legs, and it was flapping its wings about and sending feathers everywhere.

"And here I thought I was the only one that could pull off a decent pullus jinx," Rachel mused aloud. She gave the panicking goose a deft slap on the beak. With a poof of feathers and another audible QUACK, it transformed back into the same aspen wand she recognized before.

"Nice one ," she began. "I didn't expect you to be quick enough to get a shield up there."

"I think we're ready."

Thursday Afternoon: Mid-December - Before the Tournament

To the surprise of most of the student body, everyone had come to notice a huge maze of hedges erected overnight in the quidditch field on that Thursday morning. It was the last two days before Christmas Break, and the mid-year exams were coming to a close. One final event was to take place: the tournament.

Judging by the announcements made in the Great Hall on Thursday morning, the maze was magically erected to serve as the tournament's battlegrounds. It was to essentially be a free-for-all, with the last standing contestant to be awarded one hundred points to their house. Any students with enough free time were encouraged to attend and spectate.

Rachel was ready, and excited as well. This was the last obstacle that separated her class from the Christmas Break. Even better, they were to be let off an entire week before Christmas Eve, giving her more than enough time off this year.

She gathered in the grounds just outside the maze alongside her fellow fourth years, where Professor Blahone awaited to provide further instruction.

[Zhukovian]

Knox Blahone
Quidditch Field, Hogwarts Grounds

Dress with his winter robe he walked up to the podium to ready himself, Blahone awaited for this moment, for months have he taught to children about the Improtance of self defense and counter curses. This will be the mid term test he will give to the students, because his ideology is to teach through experience and ever since the first day he never gave them any quiz, but rather practiced them in the field.

As the students gather in the stands overlooking the field and the his own 4th years he gathered them around and then started talking, pointing the tip of his wand in his throat to make his voice louder. "Good morning Hogwarts! And my future 'aurors' today is the day where you shall be given the ultimate test, the test that will determine your ability as a wizard or a witch. Today we will determine whose house is Blessed with a competent wizard. Today is the TOURNAMENT DAY!", as he paused he raised his chin overlooking the students. " Now, I will adress all of you, 4th years I will be giving a short briefing, first no use of the forgiven curses, do not over do it meaning if you have disabled him and stunned him then leave him be and he will be immediately pulled out of the competition, remember the faster you defeat your enemy the better the chance that you can defeat even more. And lastly , let this be remembered, I can see everything you are doing so do not ever try to disobey my instructions. You already know how to win, and how to lose. So any questions?", Blahone waited for any student to question him.

[Arlye Austros]

Ricardo

He was munching his chocolate and passing it down with mate as he watched Rachel and Alex exchanging charms. It was fun, but pretty plain. Then Rachel´s wand changed... into a goose.
He bent forward. Ricardo ended up holding his belly with mate and chocolate coming out of his nose. It was hilarious. After getting himself together he looked at Rachel.
"I think he beats you." He kept giggling, it was a pleasant one. Ricardo realized he needed to giggle for a long time now.


December, Thursday Afternoon

He had been thinking for a long time, and finally decided to give the Tournament a try. In Ricardo´s mind, it was the best way of thinking about anything else. He joined some of the fourth years that were to compete. It was a fairly cold morning. Professor Blahone gave his speech and final instructions. Of course no unforgivable would be allowed. In any case, he didn´t felt like using any. His mind tried to drift back to Tania, but he forced it back to the maze.
He rose his hand as Blahone asked for questions. “Are we allowed to levitate over the maze?”



Isolde

“What kind of question was that?” She was standing by the fourth year students, but Isolde didn´t wanted to take part on the tournament. She was never too good at Defence, and preferred only Charms and Transfiguration. As soon as Blahone was over she planned to just stand aside and watch the fray. It would be a fun distraction.

[True Christopia]

Andrew Bishop

It'd been a while since his attempt at killing himself. He'd hit rock bottom, and - it seemed - he couldn't go any further down. Which was good, of course. Slowly, he'd gotten better as the months passed and they reached the tournament. Feelings of self-hate instead replaced themselves with anxiety over the tournament - something he definitely did not want to do.

Gripping his eleven inch dogwood wand, he nervously glanced around him - only stopping as his eyes fell on Rachels. Giving a quick smile, he mouthed "Make it quick" with a slight smirk, before turning back towards Professor Blahone as he told the rules.

No mention of alliances, he thought, turning again to Rachel - his smirk widening. Maybe he could just support her, and when it was only the two of them left - he could just take a stunner and be done with it. Maybe. He wasn't going to ask, just in case there was a rule and he'd just forgotten - if he didn't tell them, it wasn't a rule.