The students gathered in the Great Hall. Gryffindor's with Gryffindors, Slytherins with Slytherins, Hufflepuffs with eachother, and you catch the drift. 

I sat down with fellow Gryffindor's the ones in my Defense Against the Dark Arts class. They were telling the other students the story of how I made the surrogate fly across the room. 

"Students! Tonight is our first Wizarding Duel! The students who will participate are as follows: Henry Bowfront, Kyle Arrows, Sarah Wither, Erin Waters, Fin Gates, John Yerger." I looked around the room. I didn't sign myself up. I saw Theo get unsettled in his chair, he looked around the room for me. I knew if I didn't do this, my 7th year would be hell. 

I finished eating. "Geez MudBlood. You make one thing fly, and you're already joining the Dueling Tournaments" some Slytherin said. I ignored him and continued eating. "Leave him alone you git." I watched as Ryan Storm the Slytherin who just made fun of me cower away. I looked at my friend, and said "Must be your Slytherin showing...." 

I left my food on the table, and stood up. I walked towards the stairs to get to bed, because I knew tomorrow would be a long day. 

I turned to look at the table - Theo was gone. 

I ran up the stairs to what seemed like forever. I go to the door that separated me from my common room. "Password please."

I rummaged through my bag, looking for the password that I wrote down. "Cheiloproclitic." The door opens. I turn around and see Theo standing there. 

"How on Earth would anyone remember that?" I laughed. I watched as he walked in the common room before me. "You did good today..." he murmured. I looked at him, walked towards the stairs that twisted and turned for what seemed like miles. "I guess I did." I started walking up the stairs, and looked back at him, but he was already gone. 

I opened the door to my Dorm, and noticed two of my other dorm mates were passed out. One was still awake, and sitting on his bed. "This was laying on your bed when I came in." "A Duelers Guide to Powerful Spells." 

I grabbed the book from his hands, "Hmm. Maybe someone gave it to me, so I can practice tomorrow." I opened it, and saw the list of spells. "Stupefy" I laughed, and so did Sean Thompson who was my dorm mate. 

I skimmed the book for a few hours, "You need sleep. The Duel is at 13:00 SHARP, in the Great Hall. Don't want you to sleep through that." 

I turn off my lights, and for the first time, all I hear is silence. 

Sweet, silence.