Final Stage

April 10, 1992, 7:30 PM, Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts

Adam Clarke

I exited the castle proper, my hurried footsteps leading me towards the Quidditch Pitch.

The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that made your heart beat faster and your steps a little lighter. The final stage of the League of Nine was today, and everything this year had been building up to this moment.

As I made my way down the stone steps, I saw a familiar set of faces in the distance.

It was Harry and Sirius— I hadn’t realized he’d arrived early.

They looked concerned, their brows furrowed and shoulders tense, but all of that disappeared the moment they saw me. Their expressions softened, and they broke into smiles as they hurried over.

“Adam, it’s good to see you.” Sirius asked, his voice a mix of relief and mild irritation as the two fell in step with me. “The coordinators were trying to find you, but you’d disappeared.”

I smiled at Sirius, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Nice to see you too, Sirius. I hadn’t expected you to be such a mother hen, but then it has been a while since you’ve last been with us… Feeling a little lonely, are we?”

For a moment, there was silence as Sirius raised an eyebrow, and then everyone laughed. The tension was all but gone.

“Good deflection, kid.” Sirius said in the following silence, sending me a smirk.

“Thank you.”

Harry clapped me on the shoulder, his green eyes sparkling with excitement. “You ready for this?”

“Of course.” I replied, my confidence returning with every second. “I’ve been preparing for this all year.”

“Good luck, Adam.” Sirius said, his expression softening. “Just remember to stay focused and be careful. There’s a lot riding on this.”

“Oh?” I said, intrigued. “You and Mooney?”

Sirius nodded. Harry grinned at this. “What’d you bet?”

“Secret.”

“He probably bet I would lose.” I said, drawing an affronted look from the older man. I raised my hands in surrender. “Only joking.”

“I know.” Sirius said, grabbing my shoulder and giving it a firm squeeze. “You show them what you’re made of.”

“Yeah.” Harry backed him up, nodding.

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. “Thanks, Sirius. I’ll see you both after it’s done.”

With that, I broke away from them and headed towards the group of coordinators by the tents. As soon as they saw me, they rushed over, their faces a mix of relief and annoyance.

“Where have you been?” One of them snapped. “You’re nearly late!”

I shot back with a dismissive air. “I’m here early.”

They didn’t seem too pleased with my response, but they ushered me into one of the tents and told me to wait.

I could feel their eyes on me before I entered— it was a mix of irritation and scrutiny, but I shrugged it off. I was here, and that was all that mattered.

The noise from the crowd outside was growing louder, and I could feel the energy seeping into the tent. I took a deep breath, centering myself.

This was it. The final stage.

Everything I had worked for, all of the time I trained, was leading up to this moment. And so, I waited.

I stood in the small tent, my mind conjuring up possibilities as I heard the volume of the crowds outside rise and rise. The air was rife with anticipation, each cheer and shout a reminder of the stakes. I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I knew I needed to be ready for anything.

It wasn’t just the tournament I had to deal with, either.

There were larger concerns, such as the extent of Grindelwald’s plans and just what Lockhart was doing in the background of Hogwarts. He was always up to something, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that his machinations— whatever they were— would intersect with today’s events.

With how things generally go in the Harry Potter universe, everything tends to come together all at once. I thought. No in between.

I took a deep breath, letting the noise of the crowd wash over me. Though I couldn’t afford to take it easy in the tournament, I resolved to fight intelligently and conserve my energy as much as possible. If all hell broke loose today—and I had a nagging feeling it might— I needed to be prepared.

The tent felt both too small and vast as my thoughts raced. I considered potential strategies, ways to outmaneuver my opponents while keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble.

The final stage of the tournament was the culmination of everything I had trained for, but it was also a distraction from the larger battle brewing just beneath the surface.

“Just what are they planning…?” I muttered to myself as someone got my attention from the outside.

Finally.

One of the coordinators opened the tent flap and signaled that it was time before leaving. I stepped out of the tent and onto the Quidditch pitch, the roar of the crowd hitting me like a wave.

With an ease now borne of familiarity, I let the crowd’s cheers wash over me and began to look around. At first glance, the pitch was empty, bereft of any of the usual tournament arenas. Yet, the excitement in the air was undeniable.

Coordinator Griffiths floated high above the field on her broom, her voice booming as she hyped up the crowd. She got them to cheer a few times, each round of applause growing louder as the anticipation mounted.

“I can’t hear you!” She kept saying, working them up more and more as she continued to promise the most exciting night of their lives.

Lots to live up to, Griffiths; might want to tone it down a bit, yeah?

I glanced around, taking in the scene.

The field was mostly empty, save for the scattered tents. The other contestants began to emerge, and I recognized familiar faces— Fleur and Mira among them, as well as the faces of the other thirteen contestants remaining.

I nodded to Fleur and Mira, who nodded back. No words were exchanged between us; the weight of the moment was enough. We all knew what was at stake, and we all felt the same tension and excitement.

Coordinator Griffiths called for silence, and the crowd gradually quieted down, the anticipation thick in the air.

I glanced at the other competitors, each one wearing an expression of determination. We were all here for the same reason, but only one of us would come out on top.

Coordinator Griffiths worked the crowd, her voice carrying easily over the remaining noise. “Ladies and gentlemen, wizards and witches from around the world, today you are about to witness the most thrilling stage of our tournament yet! Are you ready?”

The crowd erupted in cheers, the sound echoing across the Quidditch pitch. I felt a tingle on my skin and glanced down, noticing a small film of magic covering the ground. How I hadn’t seen it before, I didn’t know, but then I supposed that the color wasn’t too dissimilar from the sands of the pitch.

Griffiths continued. “For this final challenge, our contestants will face something unlike anything they’ve encountered before. Brace yourselves for the reveal of the ultimate test of skill, courage, and determination!”

The ground began to tremble, and a hush fell over the crowd. I looked around, feeling the vibration beneath my feet, and realized what was about to happen.

From the sands, a large structure of sandstone erupted, rising dramatically and forming what seemed to be a massive maze. The walls were high, casting long shadows across the pitch, and intricate patterns were carved into the stone, adding an ancient, almost mystical quality to the maze.

The crowd gasped in awe, their excitement palpable as the maze continued to grow, its passages winding and twisting in all directions. At the center of this labyrinthine structure stood a grand pyramid, its smooth, angled sides catching the light and shimmering with a golden hue.

The pyramid was enormous, towering over the maze and crowned with a large, glistening crystal at its peak. Hieroglyphs and mysterious symbols adorned its surface, telling stories of ancient and forgotten battles throughout history.

Griffiths’ voice rang out again. “Contestants, your final challenge is to navigate this maze, overcoming its trials and traps, and reach the pyramid at its center. The first to touch the crystal at the top will be declared the winner of this year’s tournament!”

I shared a look with Mira and Fleur as the coordinators gestured us towards a few spots which I realized had morphed into sandstone.

“Our sixteen finalists will face their ultimate challenge. Please give a warm welcome to our champions!”

With a wave of the coordinators’ wand, the sixteen small platforms we stood upon rose from the ground, each bearing one of the finalists. The platforms lifted us into the air, spinning us in a slow, graceful circle for the crowd to see. The excitement and energy were almost tangible as each contestant was introduced.

“From Hogwarts, Adam Black!” I stood tall on my platform, feeling the collective gaze of the crowd upon me as I rotated in mid-air.

“From Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour!” Fleur’s presence was as commanding as ever, her elegance and determination clear for all to see.

“From Hogwarts, Mira Goshawk!” Mira gave a shy wave to the crowd, psyching herself out.

Griffiths continued, introducing the rest of the finalists, each one representing the finest from their respective schools and countries.

“From Castelobruxo, Alberto Silva!”

“From Mahoutokoro, Akira Hono!”

“From Ayn Sehr, Ahmed El-Farouqi!”

“From Ilvermorny, Kyler Thompson!”

“From Uagadou, Amara N’kosi!”

“From Durmstrang, Erik Mikhailov!”

“From Beauxbatons, Elodie Rousseau!”

“From Hogwarts, Brandon Ramford!”

“From Castelobruxo, Mariana Costa!”

“From Longling, Mei-Zhao Ping!”

“From Ayn Sehr, Layla Hassan!”

“From Ilvermorny, Alicia White!”

“From Uagadou, Kwame Mensah!”

The crowd cheered wildly for each contestant, with us waving as we waited for our turn to start. The platforms descended, bringing us back to the ground at separate points, and Griffiths continued.

“These sixteen champions have proven themselves through many trials and challenges.” She declared. “Now, they will face their greatest test yet. Let the final stage of the tournament begin!”

Before me, and I assumed the other contestants, a slit opened in the wall, widening enough for one person to fit through.

Griffiths, still hovering high above, gestured grandly toward the maze. “Contestants, your challenge awaits! Enter the maze, and may the best witch or wizard emerge victorious!”

The crowd’s excitement reached a fever pitch, their cheers and applause thunderous. I glanced at the other contestants, each of us feeling the weight of the moment. This was it.

Griffiths raised her wand, signaling the start of the final challenge. “On your mark… get set… go!”

With a burst of energy, we all dashed towards each respective entrance of the maze, the cheers of the crowd propelling us forward. The ultimate test had begun, and there was no turning back.

The wall closed in behind me, the cheers of the crowd replaced with complete silence as I found myself in utter darkness. The air was cool and faintly tinged with an aura of magic. Upon my entering, I immediately cast the Wand-Lighting Charm, and began my way forward. I walked for a while, and immediately found my first obstacle— a fork in the road.

The path ahead split into multiple directions, each one disappearing into shadows that seemed to pulse with uncertainty. I ventured deeper into the maze, focusing on the task at hand. I gripped my wand tightly, its familiar weight reassuring in my hand.

This will have to be done step by step.

The first corridor I chose seemed promising, its walls adorned with ancient runes that shimmered faintly in the dim light. I took cautious steps forward, my senses on high alert.

Once again, the path forked abruptly. I hesitated, studying each direction carefully. To the left, a narrow passage twisted out of sight, while to the right, a broader path led into deeper shadows. I closed my eyes briefly, trying to sense any hint of danger or potential clues that might guide me.

A trick? The broad path leading to the dead end? Or the narrow passage possibly leading me to better spots?

With a deep breath, I chose the narrow path and followed it. To my dismay, it was a dead end. Grumbling, I doubled back and took the broader path to the right, feeling like an idiot. The walls seemed to close in slightly as I ventured further, the silence of the maze broken only by the soft echo of my footsteps.

As I rounded a corner, I encountered another dead end.

“What?” I murmured, palming my face for a moment. “Do I have to go all the way back…?”

I checked the wall with a series of spells just in case there was some manner of concealment charm, but it was clear: another dead end. I cursed softly under my breath, realizing I would need to backtrack and choose a different route.

Turning around, I retraced my steps, scanning the other dead end to no avail.

Right back to the start, then.

The maze seemed to mock my efforts. I reminded myself to stay focused, to trust my instincts, and to remain calm under pressure. And so, I went back to the beginning, taking the other path. This one, oddly enough, was a straight shot for about ten minutes.

Maybe I was finally getting somewhere?

Ahead, I could see another junction approaching. As I got close, the maze seemed to pulse with a subtle energy— perhaps a proximity detection charm, of some sort. I studied the paths before me, each one stretching into the unknown. With a deep breath, I once again chose the narrower passage to the left, hoping it would lead me closer to the maze’s center.

Every step I took echoed softly, a reminder of the vastness of the maze and the solitude of my journey. I kept my wand at the ready, casting occasional spells of detection to try to uncover hidden traps or illusions.

The path twisted and turned, leading me deeper into the heart of the labyrinth.

The first challenge I encountered was a narrow corridor that appeared to be deceptively simple. However, as I advanced, the ground beneath my feet began to shift. The sandstone tiles started moving, rearranging themselves like a puzzle.

I stopped and watched the scene ahead of me for a while, before quickly waving my wand over the area. “Inspicere Empiricus.“

My eyes unfocused for a moment as I absorbed the information. I placed my foot on the first tile, before quickly withdrawing it as it sank into the floor, revealing a dark chasm beneath. “I see. Pitfalls.”

I quickly realized that I had to tread quickly, because the tiles I was about to step on would fall in an instant. Taking it slow would send me plummeting into the darkness, but I also had to make sure I didn’t put too much force into my steps.

My heart pounded in my chest as I stepped through the corridor. With each careful step, I felt the adrenaline surge through me, propelling me forward. I finally reached the end of the corridor, leaping onto solid ground just as the last tile I had stepped on crumbled into the abyss.

No sooner had I caught my breath than I was faced with the next obstacle.

The walls of the maze began to narrow ahead as they curved to the right. Without warning, sharp projectiles shot out from hidden openings in the walls, aimed directly at me. Instinctively, I ducked and rolled to avoid the first volley. 

The projectiles were relentless, and their frequency increased with each passing moment.

Impregnable. I gathered my will together.

“Protego!” I shouted, the barrier shimmering into existence just in time to deflect a series of deadly arrows. The shield provided a brief respite, but I knew I couldn’t rely on it for long. I needed to move swiftly.

I hurried down the passageway, feeling the impact of the projectiles as I went along. I heard the rush of air as arrows whizzed ahead and behind me, as well as the snaps of the arrows crashing against my barrier.

Halfway through the passage, I spotted an alcove to my left. I dove into it, pressing myself against the wall as I caught my breath. The projectiles continued to rain down the main path, but the alcove provided temporary shelter. I took this moment to scan my surroundings, searching for any clues or patterns in the trap’s mechanism.

There! My eyes widened as I saw the threads of magic on the ceiling, running across the lengths of the tunnel.

I tried a quick. “Finite!“

Nothing happened.

“Of course it can’t be that easy.” I grumbled and closed my eyes for a moment, before focusing on the spell above again. “Three layers. I can break it.”

Raising my wand, I immersed myself in my will to unravel the enchantment above and spoke. “Libera Maledictum!”

My power answered my call, rushing into my hand, and sending a jet of light through my ebony wand at the ceiling. The Curse writhed as my spell struck true, and my surroundings shifted. I found myself staring down the maw of a large crocodilian.

Intimidating, but then, this was happening in my mind— and I’d already defeated Giants, there. A crocodile was nothing. Chains materialized all around the crocodilian, spearing through its thick hide as if it was made of paper. The overgrown lizard could only writhe in pain, unable to even growl or hiss as my chains grew blades, tearing it to shreds.

In the real world, the sound of whizzing arrows and clicking latches stopped abruptly, and I opened my eyes again. A quick look showed that the trap had been disabled, but I scanned my surroundings with a spell, just to be sure.

Satisfied, I moved to the end of the hall, where a door materialized in the seeming dead end.

Convenient. I thought, smiling slightly as I opened the door. Would it not have materialized had I not disabled the trap? I supposed I could have used the Blasting Curse on the wall and opened a path that way. No matter.

Emerging into a larger chamber, I barely had a moment to rest before the next challenge presented itself.

The floor of the chamber was dotted with pressure plates, each one glowing faintly with an ominous light. Obviously, stepping on the wrong plate could trigger who-knew-what kind of trap. Squinting, I noticed faint, almost imperceptible markings on some of the plates— runes indicating safety.

Either that or health. I thought, unable to make it out completely from this distance. Health is certainly better than ‘certain death’, or whatever.

Carefully, I began to navigate the maze of pressure plates, stepping only on the marked ones. The air was thick with tension, every fiber of my being focused on ensuring my footfalls were precise. As I progressed, the plates began to emit faint clicking sounds, a warning of impending danger. 

Guess I wasn’t careful enough? Or did I misread—

I was halfway across the chamber when a loud click echoed through the space. My heart skipped a beat as I realized I had stepped on an unmarked plate. Instantly, the walls of the chamber began to close in, and darts shot out from hidden recesses.

“This again!”

Reacting quickly, I leaped forward, dodging the darts and scrambling across the remaining plates. The walls continued to close in, the space narrowing alarmingly. With a final burst of speed, I threw myself through the narrowing gap and rolled into the next corridor just as the walls slammed shut behind me.

Panting, I lay on the ground for a moment, the realization of my narrow escape sinking in.

“Jesus Christ, they’re not pulling any punches…”

But there was no time to rest. I pushed myself to my feet, steeling myself for whatever the maze had in store next. The air grew colder as I progressed through the hallway. I felt myself stiffen in alarm as my wandlight died away outside of my own control, but had no time to react when the darkness was pierced by a pair of glowing eyes.

A low growl sound echoed through the corridor as many more eyes opened.

Well.

Eyes glowing with malevolent intent, they moved swiftly, their forms shifting and flickering like wraiths. I raised my wand, preparing to defend myself against these unknown adversaries.

“Incendio!” I shouted, sending a jet of flames towards the creatures.

The fire illuminated the corridor, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The creatures— massive wolves, I realized in the firelight— recoiled, but they were not easily deterred. They regrouped and advanced, their growls growing louder.

I knew I couldn’t face them all head-on.

Using the flames as a temporary barrier, I dashed down the corridor, the creatures hot on my heels. The path twisted and turned, and I used every trick I knew to outmaneuver them— casting spells to create obstacles, the Knockback Jinx to fling them into walls, strong flame to momentarily blind and burn them, and finding narrow passages where their larger forms couldn’t follow.

Finally, I reached a heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor.

With a powerful “Alohomora!” the door swung open, and I slipped through, slamming it shut behind me. The creatures clawed at the door, but it held firm, sealing them on the other side.

Breathing heavily, I took a moment to collect myself. Each challenge I had faced had pushed me pretty hard, but I was still standing. I looked around the new chamber, my heart racing with anticipation. The maze was far from over, it seemed.

“How much more of this is there?”

Time seemed to blur as I navigated the maze, my focus narrowing to the immediate task of finding the correct path. The silence of the maze was broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures or the distant murmur of the crowd outside.

After what felt like an eternity of twists and turns, I emerged into a wider section of the maze. Here, the walls seemed to stretch higher, my shadow dancing with the flicker of torchlight. In the center of the passage stood a majestic sphinx, its lion-like body poised and watchful.

The sphinx regarded me with intelligent eyes, its gaze unwavering as it blocked my path forward. I approached cautiously, respecting the ancient creature’s presence. The sphinx spoke in a voice that reverberated through the corridor, its tone both challenging and wise.

“I guard this junction with a riddle, young Wizard.” The sphinx rumbled. “Answer correctly, and you may pass. Answer incorrectly, and you shall face the consequences.”

I took a moment to steady myself. I wasn’t keen on fighting this thing, but if I had to… I had a few ideas on how to subdue it, but killing it would likely be the easier task.

“Let’s hear it, then.”

“I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with wind. What am I?” The sphinx asked, its eyes fixed on mine.

I considered the riddle carefully, trying to decipher its meaning.

… Hear without ears? Like sonar? I thought to myself. Yeah; come alive with wind, no body. This has to be…

“You’re an echo.” I replied, hoping I had unraveled the sphinx’s puzzle correctly.

The sphinx nodded slowly, a hint of approval in its gaze as it stepped aside, the wall splitting into two and opening a path for me. “Correct, young wizard. You have shown wit and wisdom. Pass freely and continue on your chosen path.”

“Thank God.” I said, and gave the sphinx a respectful nod. I moved past the creature, feeling a surge of relief and accomplishment.

Buoyed by my success with the sphinx, I pressed on deeper into the labyrinthine passages. After a while, the path began to slope downwards, the walls narrowing and the ceiling looming closer overhead. The air grew cooler, tinged with a faint earthy scent that hinted at the ancient depths of the labyrinth.

Suddenly, a rumbling noise echoed through the corridor behind me. I glanced back just in time to see the ceiling above the incline open up, releasing a massive boulder that thundered down the slope towards me. Instinct kicked in, and I sprinted forward, my heart pounding in my chest.

“What is this, Indiana Jones and the dumbass rock!?”

The boulder gained momentum, rolling with thunderous force down the steep incline. I focused my mind, casting spells to slow its descent and buying precious seconds to find an escape. With each spell, the boulder slowed slightly, but it continued its relentless pursuit.

I knew better than to hope for more, considering my experience with large rocks at Grindelwald’s little tourney.

Ahead, I spotted a small hole in the wall— a narrow alcove barely large enough for me to squeeze into. Without hesitation, I dove into the alcove, pressing myself against the cool stone wall as the boulder crashed past me with a deafening roar.

The ground shook violently as the boulder collided with the opposite wall, sending a shower of debris and dust into the air. The impact reverberated through the maze, rattling my senses even as I caught my breath in the relative safety of the alcove.

I waited, listening intently as the echoes of destruction faded. Slowly, I emerged from my hiding place, cautiously stepping out to assess the aftermath. The corridor ahead was strewn with rubble, the path forward partially blocked by the remnants of the shattered wall and the boulder itself, now wedged firmly in place.

Taking a deep breath, I moved forward, carefully navigating the debris and continuing deeper into the maze. I eventually emerged into a wide, bare room. The walls were smooth sandstone, devoid of any markings or decorations, amplifying the sense of isolation in this part of the labyrinth.

To my surprise, standing confidently at the other side of the room was someone I recognized; a previous contestant whom I vaguely remembered in the first round. He had been defeated by Fleur, if memory served me correctly. Yet, here he stood, a determined look in his eyes as he regarded me.

“Antonio Costa.” He introduced himself with a nod, his voice echoing faintly in the spacious chamber. “If you wish to proceed further in this maze, you’ll have to defeat me in combat. Should I emerge victorious, I will take your place in the tournament.”

My mind raced with questions.

Why were previous contestants being given another chance? Did this mean anyone defeated earlier could still contend for the title of champion? The tournament’s rules had always been ambiguous, and now they seemed to blur even further.

Anything to get the viewers more excited— I’m sure this whole thing is being broadcasted.

I barely had time to process this twist before Antonio raised his wand. The duel began in an instant, the air crackling with energy as we both cast our opening spells.

“Expelliarmus!” Antonio shouted, aiming to disarm me right from the start.

“Protego!” I countered, deflecting his spell with a shimmering shield that appeared just in time. Antonio’s Disarming Charm bounced off and dissipated harmlessly.

We circled each other, wands at the ready. Antonio was quick, his spells rapid and precise. He followed up with a series of jinxes and hexes, forcing me to stay on the defensive. 

“Stupefy!” A bolt of red light came hurtling towards me.

I stepped to the side and, smiling, I launched a counterattack.

“Incarcerous!” I cried, sending ropes shooting towards Antonio.

Antonio dodged nimbly, rolling to the side and firing back with a Binding Curse of his own. “Petrificus Totalus!“

This time, I deflected it right back at Antonio, feeling a rush as his eyes widened and he dove out of the way. Still, he recovered quickly enough, launching a salvo of curses in the hopes of forcing me to make a misstep and fall into his trap.

It was a good tactic, but what this fool didn’t realize was that it didn’t matter that I was tired at this point. He may have been fresh, but I was in the zone now, not even needing to deflect his spells as I simply dodged them with a nimble grace I didn’t normally possess.

Left. Right. Hop. Side hop. Back. Left. Forward.

“No wonder you lost so quickly at the start.” I said with a smirk as I aimed my wand at his feet. “Bombarda!“

The explosion sent shards of stone flying, and Antonio was forced to shield himself.

In the dust and confusion, I saw my chance. I charged forward, closing the distance between us. Antonio recovered quickly, but I was already within striking range.

Depulso! I cast, aiming to knock him off balance.

Surprisingly, the spell crashed into him, throwing him backwards into the wall with a sickening crack. He fell to the floor, unmoving. Without a word, I stepped forward, checking him for any injuries.

“Nothing life threatening…” I spoke softly as I stood back up, wincing and looking down at my left forearm, where I saw a long cut. I shook my head before looking down at my opponent. “So you did reach me, after all. Well done.”

I waved my wand over my arm. “Episkey.”

I felt a hint of warmth over my wound, watching as it closed slightly. “So that’s all I can do, huh… Episkey. Episkey. Episkey. That’s better.”

A moment later, I was on the move. The door at the other end of the room opened up, the sight that greeted me taking my breath away.

Before me lay a vast chamber, its walls lined with intricate carvings that glowed faintly in the ambient light of blue torches. At the center of the chamber, stood the massive, majestic pyramid…

My gaze fixed on the crystal atop the structure, the focal point of the final stage of the maze. To reach it meant that I would have won the tournament.

However, my attention was abruptly drawn to sudden flashing lights on an upper level of the pyramid. A surge of urgency propelled me forward. The tournament had reached its climactic stage, and the other contestants were already up there, engaged in battle.

I couldn’t waste any more time here.

As I hurried up the stairs towards the top of the pyramid, my focus solely on reaching the crystal, I was suddenly halted by a spell which exploded in front of me. Reflexively, I spun around to confront the source, finding myself face-to-face with another contestant— one of Ilvermorny’s champions— Kyler, Griffiths called him?

Kyler had emerged from a side path, his wand already drawn. His face was etched with determination, but exhaustion was evident in his eyes.

“Black.” He called out, his voice tight. “If I have to get past you to win this thing, then so be it.”

I raised my wand, ready for the challenge. “Bring it on.”

Kyler wasted no time, launching the first spell. “Stupefy!“

I deflected it with a quick flick of my wand.

“Protego!” The Stunning Spell ricocheted off my shield, and I countered immediately. “Expelliarmus!“

Kyler sidestepped, the Disarming Charm missing him by inches. He retaliated with a series of rapid-fire jinxes.

I dodged the Tickling Charm and blocked the Leg-Locker Curse, the steps beneath us making every move precarious. The uneven footing forced us to maintain a careful balance as we dueled, each spell potentially sending us tumbling.

“Bombarda!” I shouted, aiming at the step just below Kyler. The Explosion Curse sent debris flying, and Kyler had to leap to avoid the explosion. He landed awkwardly but recovered quickly, casting another spell as he moved.

“Reducto!” He cried, targeting a section of the steps near me. The blast sent chunks of stone flying, and I shielded my face just in time, though I winced as I felt the stone cut into my skin.

We both continued to ascend as we dueled, each step a calculated risk. The higher we climbed, the more intense the battle above became. Stray spells from one of the other contestants hurtled towards us, bright streaks of blue light.

“Protego!” We both shouted simultaneously, our shields absorbing the errant spell. The force was immense, knocking us off our feet and sending us tumbling down the stairs. I felt the rough stone scrape against my skin as I rolled, my body protesting with each impact.

I landed hard, but I quickly scrambled to my feet, wand still in hand. Kyler was also getting up, looking just as battered but no less determined.

“Impedimenta!” I cast a jet of light streaking towards him. Kyler was able to dodge most of it, but his movements were slower, less precise.

It would be enough.

“Depulso!” He countered, hoping to send me flying down the stairs again. I deflected the spell, but lost my footing, casting a quick Stunning Charm as I fell onto the steps, cringing in pain.

The Stunning Spell nearly grazed him, and he began to stumble down the stairs.

Here’s my chance!

Even as Kyler attacked with a loud “Diffindo!” I was already aiming my own spell his way.

“Petrificus Totalus!“

The spell struck true, and I watched his arms snap to his side and he collapsed onto the steps, immobile even as he rolled down to the bottom. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding from the exertion. The duel had been fierce, but I had prevailed.

Without wasting another moment, I turned and continued up the steps of the pyramid. The sounds of battle grew louder, and I knew that the ultimate challenge awaited me higher.

I grinned as I ran forward, straight into the fray like a Gryffindor.

Harry would be proud.