Dark

Chapter 39: Wand-Weighing

***

Albus strode into the Ministry, ignoring the glares of disgust that followed him. He had demanded an audience with the Wizengamot and unfortunately, Harry was very interested in what he had to say.

He made his way into the Meeting Room. A place that could hold maybe 20 Wizengamot members as well as a commoner, a civilian.

He strode into the room with grace and he knew that his plan would work.

***

After the whole wand-weighing ceremony, which Harry was happy about not being public, it was time for the Medical Examination and if you hadn't deciphered it yet, it didn't end well.

Each of the contestants had to go for a series of tests, wellbeing checks as well as any charms or curses that they may have been put under.

"Good evening Chief Warlock Potter," the examiner said as Harry sat on the chair in the middle of the room. They did not use the contestant uniform for obvious reasons and so they were unmasked and in casual clothes (t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms).

"Healer...Dots? I believe," he answered as he got a good look at the Healer.

The man-in-question looked up from the machines that he was looking at in the corner of the room, "How did you know?"

"I knew your father," he answered smiling.

The Healer nodded before realizing, "How did you know I was his son?"

Harry chuckled lightly, "Your magical signature is half him half..." he raised an eyebrow "How is Marion? I didn't know she had a kid."

The Healer looked at him shell-shocked as his jaw dropped to the ground. Harry chuckled again, "Your mother she..."

Harry knew Marion in his last life. She had been one of the last people to join the Order but lost her life in the Battle of Hogwarts after taking a hit from the Killing curse, shielding the Mudblood Traitor.

"Let us just say I knew her," he smiled lightly.

"Knew? She is still alive you know?" Harry flinched but nodded.

Before Harry could protest, the Healer began casting diagnostic charms and he looked at Harry, "My father said it was bad but I didn't expect this," he said, picking up the piece of parchment with the results.

Harry shrugged, "There isn't a medical requirement regarding Curse Damage."

Before Harry could continue, the Healer rushed out of the room.

Harry cursed under his breath. The Healer came back a few minutes later and shrugged, "I wouldn't advise it but you are allowed to compete," he surrendered.

Harry nodded, glad that he had forgotten about the rest of the check-up steps. It would save him a great deal of lectures and questions.

As he was about to leave, Dots stopped him, "You really think I would forget?"

His shoulders slumped and he went back into the chair and closed his eyes.

"What the- sorry about that," he apologized after Harry felt the Diagnostic Charms cast on him.

"How many times have you passed out?" he asked, with genuine worry.

Harry counted on his fingers before shrugging, "Uhhhh... a couple, I guess? But don't worry, once I pass out, my magic rejuvenates my body and I did a lot of research and there are no lasting effects, please don't tell anyone, I'll rest this week." he said quickly, desperate.

The Healer contemplated it for a while, "Harry if you do this thing you have to promise me that you will rest because if you go into that state again during the tournament, it will be on me."

"Is that a yes?" he asked hopefully.

Dots nodded and Harry gave him a quick hug before leaving to join the rest.

***

"Welcome, Witches and Wizards of the ICW, to the First Task" the Swiss Chief Warlock announced to the cheers of the rest. They were nowhere near as energetic as those watching the Triwizard Tournament but then again, these people were at least 3 times older than them.

"Every contestant shall be competing in the First Task, the Dueling Tournament."

The crowd cheered as the contestants, dressed in their black uniforms, filed out in their number order. They each stood on the black duelling platform decorated with the phases of the moon.

One by one, they each gave a shallow bow. The first up was number-one and number-two.

"The winner of this duel shall move forward to the next round of this tournament while the defeated shall move back to the tent and stay there for the duration of the tournament to prevent the revelation of their identities."

The rest of the contestants were led to a long bench for each of them to wait their turn.

The first two went up to the platform and bowed.

"In this duel, the opponent must not, under any circumstances kill the other. All Unforgivables shall not be used," he warned.

"Wands at the ready! The first to be incapacitated wins,"

The contestants put their wands to their faces and each took duelling stances of a professional manner.

"Begin!"

Immediately, several non-verbal spells were cast, each dodged with ease, one a nasty purple colour and the other a bright orange. Several others were cast, dodged and shielded for around two minutes more and number-two caught number-one off guard with a Bombarda before casting and Expelliarmus, disarming the opponent.

"The winner of the duel is number-two!" the man announced before lifting number-two's arm in the air followed by claps. Number-one shook hands with number-two before retiring to the tent. Number-three and number-four's duel lasted much longer but number-three gained an upper hand and won. The third duel was of a similar calibre and before they knew it, it was number-seven and number eight's duel. The one that they had been waiting for.

Hey guys! Thanks for reading!

-Alysha

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