Dumbledore sighed and sunk back into his chair.
"Indeed", he conceded. "It seems that Antonin had been dosed with several potions before the duel, from what Mr. Potter has said".
Moody scoffed but was cut off.
"Mr. Potter doesn't have to compete but the trial will give us an insight into what he is capable of", the headmaster pointed out. "Is that not what your task is", he questioned the other man.
"Aye", Moody agreed.
"Potter is probably the most capable student I have ever come across", Mortlake broke in, the reluctance in his admission clear. "But an international dueling tournament, I have my doubts. And we all know that Bagnold will have him competing one way or another if that is what she wants".
"Mr. Potter has proven himself resourceful, I am sure he will find a way to benefit from the situation", Dumbledore returned diplomatically. "But I do believe that him attending the trials is an opportunity that must not be passed up".
'For young Harry too', he added internally.
"So you will convince him to do it?", Moody asked incredulously. "No", Dumbledore sighed. "I don't believe anyone can convince the boy to do anything he doesn't want to, but I will point out the benefits and hope that he is agreeable".
Dumbledore knew enough to know that Harry would indeed only do it if he truly wanted to or he could find some kind of benefit from the situation.
'Definitely should have been a Slytherin that one', he chuckled internally.
(Break)
It was the following morning that Harry and the rest of the Marauders were eating breakfast when a very regal looking eagle owl landed in front of him and offered the roll of parchment attached to its leg.
Harry frowned as he recognised the seal from the ministry but gave the bird a rasher of bacon and sent it on its way before turning his attention to the missive. What he read had his eyebrows raising and feeling both shocked and a little excited.
"What is it?", James inquired.
Harry said nothing but passed the letter to the other boy and continued his trail of thought.
James took the letter and read it also, a similar expression coming across his face.
To Mr. Harry Potter,
It is our great privilege and honour to invite you to attend this years trials to be the representative for Great Britain in the upcoming European Dueling Championships this summer.
The trials will take place in mid May this year and you will receive further correspondence from ourselves highlighting the dates in which these will take place.
If successful, you will have the stand alone honour in competing for your country on one of the grandest stages of them all in the dueling circuit.
We very much look forward to seeing you in May, Simeon Jones Head of the Magical Games and Sports Department Ministry of Magic "Holy shit", James whispered as he looked at Harry proudly. "Are you going to do it?" Harry shrugged and watched in amusement as Sirius fidgeted in his chair before losing patience and snatching the letter from James and muttering to himself as he read it.
Harry was not entirely sure if he wanted to attend the trials or not. He did feel honoured that he had been selected, however that had come about, but he just wasn't quite sure. He immediately could see the benefits in such a thing for himself as he would finally get an accurate grasp of how good of a fighter he had become. Since he arrived here, other than Dolohov, all of the people he had fought against had been mediocre at best and he knew this would really push him to his limits.
The downside was that these men and women were simply the best that their countries had to offer and he could not be sure if he was up to the task and it would bring a lot of attention to himself, the type of attention he was not at all fond of. He was pleased that he had a little time to consider it though and he would think about it and consider what would be best for him.
It was then that he caught sight of a very proud looking Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling madly as usual.
"Of course he knows", Harry muttered. "You have to do it", Sirius broke in to his thoughts.
Harry looked round the four faces staring at him, clearly all having read the letter by this point.
"I will think about it, but I'm not to sure", he admitted.
"Why?", Sirius asked. "This is a hell of an opportunity".
"It is", Harry sighed. "But I have no plans on being a duelist", he pointed out.
Sirius frowned and shook his head, sharing a questioning look with the others.
James shook his head firmly, indicating the others should just drop it for now, which they did.
Harry caught sight of another person not involved with their conversation who nodded, reminding him of another promise he had to keep that day and he nodded back towards the girl at the Slytherin table in acknowledgement before sighing internally and continuing with his breakfast.
"I forgot about that", he shrugged inwardly noting that today was in fact Wednesday and he had promised Bellatrix that he would help her.
"Training time", James announced as he pulled Harry to his feet and gestured for the rest of the group to join them.
"It's going to be a long day", Harry mumbled as he was dragged out of the hall.
(BREAK)
It had been a long day indeed for Harry as he reached the third floor room in which he was to meet Bellatrix. Between training with the other group, homework and an impromptu quidditch session with the team, he had barely had a few minutes to himself. He had remembered to bring the map with him, although he didn't expect any more trouble from the girl the was a part of him that couldn't relax his vigilance around her.
He watched as her dot exited the Slytherin common and began travelling towards him completely alone. When he saw that she was almost at the room he deactivated the map and placed it into his pocket and waited for her to enter.
"Hi", she greeted a little quietly as she did so and placed her bag on the floor.
She had dressed in clothes that were more befitting of dueling and tied her hair back in a loose ponytail, something Harry noticed, that made her already delicate feature appear more sound brought his attention to her high cheek bones and slightly pointed nose.
Shook himself from his thoughts and approached her. "Hey", he greeted a little more neutrally than he had intended. "Ready?".
Bellatrix nodded.
They stood in silence for a moment before Harry shook his head and composed himself a little.
"How about we have a mock duel and then you I can see where you need help", he suggested. "Seems like a good idea", she agreed readily as she drew her wand.
"And then if there's anything else you do want to learn you can ask", Harry offered.
Bellatrix smiled gently as she took her position on the other side of the room.
"Go when you're ready", Harry instructed and waited for her to begin.
After a moment Bellatrix began firing a few curses towards him, somewhat reluctantly and Harry noticed this. He held his hand up and frowned.
"You're holding back", he stated simply.
"I don't want to hurt you", she almost whispered.
.
.
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