The quarterfinals concluded in an eruption of applause, the last echoes of cheering still bouncing off the enchanted rafters as the dueling floor dimmed back into rest mode.
"Contestants," the announcer boomed, "you are granted a thirty-minute intermission. Semifinal brackets will begin immediately after!"
The crowd roared again—anticipation sharpened like blades.
Cassius simply exhaled, slipped off the team bench he'd already been sitting upon for hours waiting for the rest of the matches to finish, and walked toward the competitor's lounge.
Sirius immediately slung an arm around his shoulders.
"Alright, champ. Sit. Hydrate. And most importantly—listen."
Cassius blinked slowly.
"That combination concerns me."
"It should."
Sirius dragged him onto a couch with the same gravitas a professor might use before giving a lecture on soul magic.
Except it wasn't soul magic.
It was worse.
Much, much worse.
Sirius leaned in conspiratorially. "Cassius. My dear boy. We need to talk about something very serious."
Cassius stared, deadpan. "…Your recurring hallucinations involving wolf puppets?"
"No. Women."
Cassius's expression flickered from bored to vaguely horrified.
Afterall he was a thirty year old man on the inside, why on gods green earth was he about to get... 'the talk' from someone almost his own age!
Sirius slapped a hand onto his shoulder. "You're about to duel Fleur Delacour."
"Yes."
"A gorgeous French Veela descendant."
"Yes."
"With hair like moonlight and a smile that sends innocent children into cardiac arrest."
"…I don't recall that occurring, also its a bit... disturbing you describing a child with such vigor."
"You... Im looking for you pup, not myself dont be gross," Sirius waved him off. "Point is, you're twelve, she's fourteen, but age doesn't matter during romantic warfare."
Cassius froze. "…Please do not call it that."
"Too late." Sirius inhaled deeply—as if preparing to share ancient sacred knowledge he had absolutely no business possessing. "You need to know the essentials. The fundamentals. The key strategies."
Cassius braced himself.
Sirius raised one finger.
"Rule one," Sirius declared, "always wink. Constantly. It makes you mysterious."
Cassius blinked. "I would look like I suffered a mild stroke."
"Which only adds charm!"
"Incorrect."
Sirius ignored him, raising a second finger.
"Rule two: compliment her aggressively. Something like—'your eyes shine brighter than my patronus.'"
"I dont have a patronus yet..."
"You will one day. Think ahead!"
Cassius pressed his palm to his forehead. "Sirius—"
"Rule three," Sirius continued, absolutely unstoppable, "if she tries to intimidate you in the ring—flirt back. Nothing throws someone off their rhythm like unexpected hormonal confusion."
Cassius gave him an absolutely flat look. "You are advising me to weaponize uncomfortable social dynamics."
Sirius grinned proudly. "Yes!"
"That sounds… unethical."
"That's the spirit!"
Cassius stared at him, contemplating whether his godfather had sustained unhealed psychological damage due to prolonged exposure to Azkaban, French puppets, or both.
Sirius clapped him on the back.
"Trust me, pup. If you want to capture Fleur's heart—"
"I want to defeat her."
"Same thing!"
"…It really isn't."
Sirius continued, oblivious:
"Rule four: if all else fails, smolder."
"I am twelve."
"Practice now. You'll thank me later."
Cassius stared at him.
Sirius attempted to demonstrate a smolder.
He looked like he had inhaled pepper.
Cassius sighed.
"This conversation has been worse than every single one i've ever had in my entire life so far."
Flitwick appeared, wiping his spectacles.
"Good heavens, Sirius, what are you doing?"
"Educating him!"
Flitwick paled. "No. No, no, no, absolutely not. Cassius, do not follow any advice this man is giving you."
Cassius whispered, "I was never tempted."
"GOOD," Flitwick squeaked.
Sirius meanwhile looked apalled, he was imparting life lessons and practically otherworldly knowledge upon his godson only to be rebuffed not only by his senior, but also by the lil pup himself.
Just how was Cassius supposed to experience the joys of youth if he didnt gain his techniques in matchmaking and seduction.
All the while Cassius just looked deadpan at his godfather, had he not listened to any of cassius's tales about school and how he literally had like seven would be slaves practically bound to him by an unbreakable vow...
Or maybe he does but still wants to see him expand his schoolyard harem further by including a french lass into the mix?
~
The announcer's voice thundered again:
"Semifinals—contestants to staging! First match: Sylvaine Ange versus Nocolae Zamfir!"
Cassius took up his team bench preparing to watch the first semi-final and getting to see who his opponent within the finals would be.
Across the hall, Fleur finished speaking with her chaperones.
Her silvery hair flowed like a spell made physical, her posture straight as a rapier.
Even from a distance, her eyes flicked toward Cassius
Cool.
Focused.
Sharp.
Not mocking like Montrose.
Not eager like Kranz.
Something else.
Almost…
Assessing.
Sirius grabbed him by the sleeve dramatically.
"Remember—wink!"
Cassius gripped the wrapping arm and forced it to be removed from his person.
"I am discarding your entire existence."
"YOU'LL THANK ME SOMEDAY!"
Cassius simply stuck a finger in his ear to drown out Sirius's attempt at meddling in his love life.
~
Up on the stage the first round of the semi finals began, the french femme fatal was adept in transfiguration casting spell after spell turning the stage itself into floating weapons and allies to fight on her side, like some sort of maniacal snow white.
Across from her, the Romanian was more than adept in what i would call blasting charms.
Like a romanian form of Seasmus from school.
It was like the guy knew nothing more than blasting charms, even allowing surface wounds to happen thanks to the flying knives, in favor of pressing the attack rather than erecting a shield charm.
But his brute force method was working for him, compared to her finesse she just couldnt manage to deal enough damage to him all while his own spells meant defeat for her if even one or two of them landed.
And so with a match record of 3-1 the romanian pulled out the victory and advanced to the championship match.
What would come next, would be the second fight, specifically his fight against the other French Finalist, Fleur Delecour.