Chapter 22:Flames of Glory - Day Three of the Under-17 European Dueling Tournament — The Final Clash
The morning sun bathed the dueling coliseum in golden light, casting a glow on the white marble tiles of the grand stage. Banners bearing the crest of various wizarding schools fluttered in the wind. The crowd was abuzz with anticipation; whispers of the legendary Harrison Strange Potter had spread like wildfire after his decisive victory over Fleur Delacour the previous day.
The final day of the European Under-17 Dueling Tournament had arrived.
Seated in the reserved stands were familiar faces. Clarissa and Penelope held a banner enchanted to shimmer in crimson and gold, while Daphne, Astoria, Luna, and Harry sat with Sirius, Professor Flitwick, and an unusually excited Professor McGonagall. To their right, Cedric Diggory had joined the group, beaming with pride as he waved at Harrison.
"There he is!" Daphne said excitedly, pointing down at the entrance gate.
Harrison walked into the dueling arena with the grace of a warrior king. His black shoulder-length hair danced in the breeze, his heterochromatic eyes glowing—one amethyst, the other sapphire. He wore elegant Gryffindor red and gold dueling robes enchanted for defense, and his wand was strapped to his right forearm, while the ancient khopesh he inherited from his past life as Carter Kane rested on his back.
Across the arena stood Viktor Taranov, the Bulgarian prodigy who had dominated the tournament for the last four years. Taranov was tall and broad, with sharp features and ice-cold blue eyes. He carried an ornate wand carved from glacial oak, rumored to contain the tail feather of a frost phoenix.
The announcer's voice boomed, echoing through the stadium: "Welcome to the finals of the European Under-17 Dueling Tournament! On the left, we have Viktor Taranov of Durmstrang Institute—four-time champion! And on the right, Harrison Strange Potter of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—the rising star of eldritch magic!"
A roar erupted from the crowd, a blend of awe and excitement.
Round One: The Storm Unleashed
The duel began with a flash.
Viktor fired a barrage of elemental spells—frost daggers and arctic winds—that swept across the arena. Harrison dodged with feline agility, his own counterattacks a blur of ancient Egyptian sigils and cosmic glyphs. A shimmering shield of golden starlight formed in front of him as he deflected Viktor's Ice Cannon.
Harrison's voice rang with ancient authority: "Ka'Hetem!"
The sky above cracked open, revealing a phantom avatar of Horus, its wings of starlight casting a glow over the battlefield. A storm of cosmic energy rained down on Viktor's defenses, shattering them.
The crowd gasped.
Taranov retaliated with a blast of dark magic—Tempesta Umbra—a Durmstrang specialty. Harrison raised his khopesh and infused it with eldritch light, slicing through the shadow like it was parchment.
Professor Flitwick clapped, barely able to contain his pride. "Brilliant form! Seamless transition from defense to attack."
Clarissa leaned forward, breathless. "He's holding back."
Penelope nodded. "He doesn't want to hurt Viktor. He's playing the long game."
Round Two: Clash of Titans
As the second round began, Viktor unleashed a wave of runes etched in midair. These sigils merged to form a massive serpent made of glacial energy. It lunged at Harrison, its fangs the size of sabers.
With a flick of his wrist, Harrison summoned a dragon-headed staff—a gift from the First Nome—and slammed it into the ground.
"Sekhem Ra!"
A surge of solar energy exploded from the staff, forming a radiant lion that collided with the serpent in a dazzling display of light and frost. The impact shook the coliseum.
The crowd stood on their feet.
Even the normally impassive judges shared looks of awe.
As the dust settled, Harrison raised both hands, ancient runes swirling around him in a helix.
"Time… halt."
For a heartbeat, the world paused. Viktor found himself frozen in place. Harrison walked forward, his form a blur, and gently tapped Viktor's wand hand. The moment resumed, and Viktor's wand was flung from his hand before he even realized what had happened.
Stunned silence.
Then, an explosion of applause.
The judges conferred quickly, then raised the golden phoenix emblem—symbol of victory—on Harrison's side.
"Harrison Strange Potter is the new champion of the European Under-17 Dueling Tournament!"
Confetti rained from enchanted clouds, and music burst through the air.
Reactions and Reunions
Cedric jumped from his seat and rushed to the field, grabbing Harrison in a fierce hug.
"You did it, mate! That was insane!"
Sirius whooped and clapped, while Flitwick wiped a tear from his eye.
Even Viktor, after recovering, approached Harrison and offered a respectful nod. "You are the storm they whispered about. A worthy victor."
Clarissa and Penelope reached him next, throwing their arms around him, laughing through tears.
"You were like a god up there," Clarissa said, eyes wide with pride.
"You're incredible," Penelope whispered, slipping her hand into his.
"Was there ever any doubt?" Daphne added with a smirk.
Harry beamed, looking up at his elder cousin. "I want to duel like you one day."
"You'll be better than me," Harrison said, kneeling and ruffling Harry's hair. "You've got something even I didn't have at your age—family that believes in you."
Luna giggled, leaning against Daphne. "The stars sang your name, Harrison."
The group laughed, and for a moment, it wasn't about titles, tournaments, or cosmic destinies. It was just friends and family.
Legacy Begins
Later that evening, during the awards ceremony, the tournament master handed Harrison a crystal orb—the Champion's Seal—and a pendant bearing the crest of all the major wizarding nations.
"Harrison Strange Potter," the announcer said, "you have not only broken Viktor Taranov's win streak—you have redefined the very essence of dueling. May your future echo through the ages."
As Harrison raised the seal, the crowd erupted.
And above them all, in a sky woven with stars, Nyx watched from the veil of night, a proud smile on her celestial face.