I wake in my bed with my Gryffindor emblem on the blanket, like nothing had happened the night before. I felt the messed up patterns on my blanket, because they were uneven, I played with them for what felt like hours. I assume that mostly everyone is still asleep. I tend to wake up early in the mornings, and wander about the castle; this is the only time I get time to myself. 

I stepped out of my bed, and felt the cold mahogany floors beneath my feet, which sent chills up my spine. I grabbed my pants off the dresser, and slipped my shirt on that had a big Red and Gold Gryffindor crest on it. My wand was already in my pocket of my pants, so I started walking to the door. I saw a mirror next to the door, and saw my reflection. These bags under my eyes were getting crazy. Maybe, it is because I slept so little. It looked like someone punched me. 

I crept towards the stairs and heard the portrait close that echoed throughout the stairs. I put my foot down on the ivory stone landing. I never wear shoes while I walk through the castle just because I feel peaceful when I get to walk through the castle this early in the morning. I have a few hours before anyone wakes up, so I assume no one will catch me wandering the halls. 

I make it to the third floor, and slide through one of the portraits. It smells like moth balls "Does NOBODY clean this school?" I exclaimed, as I laughed. I wandered to the Clock Tower hall, and walked out to the Courtyard. I sat on the fountain and looked at the sunrise. I heard footsteps coming behind me - "Mr. Yerger, you really should be asleep." I glared over my shoulder to see Headmaster Novellus walk behind me, "After all you do have a long day today." I smirked as Headmaster Novellus said that. "I guess I do. I can never really sleep long though, I always wander the halls." I stood up and dusted my pants, and watched the thousands of dust particles fly off into the beaming light. 

I walked off, "Be careful today Mr. Yerger. Your competition is something I would not take light hearted." I heard the faint footsteps of the Headmaster Novellus walk back into his office. I started walking down the cobblestone stairs, towards the boat house. Each step I felt my heart race even more. "Why do I have to fight? Why couldn't I just watch? Why does this have to happen?" I always felt that being a Gryffindor, I would think that I want the limelight; to be in everyone's focus point. I like people noticing me, I really do. I just don't know if I feel good about being center-stage. The cobblestone stairs had little holes in them, where you could see what was under them; most of these had spiderwebs. I jumped over the holes, and made my way to the boat house. I saw the boats where they always are, in the upright position, as though they are about to be sent out into the water. 

I walked inside the boat house, and grabbed a piece of tarp that was laying idly around, and laid it on the ground with a sense of fluidity. I laid down where the sun would beam in on my face. "Maybe, I can fake a sickness" the thought ran through my mind several times "I can have some of those Puking Pestles, there's some laying around in the common room." I felt the sun rise from the horizon, and felt the orange glow dance across my face. I closed my eyes, and saw what I didn't want to see. Theo. Why was he running through my mind. All I see is him standing there. I can't feel my hands. I don't ever feel that way. 

I felt a chill run across my face. "Get up! You've got ten minutes." Bry yelled. I watched as the water she poured on my face run down my cheek. "How long have you been here" she asked. "Maybe, a few hours. I fell asleep." I laughed. "Everyone has gathered into the Great Hall, they're setting up the tables for the duel. All the professors are going to be watching." I stood up, and laughed "Well. Great. I'll probably be lectured on how poorly my wand movement is." I grabbed Bry's arm, as we interloped arms and walked up the cobblestone stairs. 

"Henry Bowfront of Slytherin will fight Kyle Arrows of Hufflepuff." I heard the surge of laughter from the Slytherins mixed with the cheering of comfort from Hufflepuff. I watched as Henry walked onto the platform first, and Kyle stood in place. Kyle never payed attention in class, so he was already doomed. He stepped onto the platform. "We're going to have a good fight. No physical contact allowed. No curses. The winner will move onto the next round. Until a final victor is announced. Wands out." A pause. I saw the redness in Kyle's face, you could feel the hearts of everyone beating with excitement but anxiety.  "GO!" I saw red sparks flying from one end of the room to another, one ricocheted off the window and almost hit the Herbology teacher.  

Maybe this was a bad idea... I stepped backwards, but Bry was behind me "Don't go. You can do this. Your wand movement may be bad, but you have more skill than any of the opponents." I looked at her and smiled, "Thanks. I just don't want to make a fool of myself." I watched as Henry Bowfront used a shield charm which ricocheted the stunning charm back to Kyle. The rule is, if one of the opponents doesn't get up in ten seconds, they are disqualified. I heard the students in Slytherin count down quietly "7.8.9.10." The first match was over. "First match winner. Henry Bowfront. Slytherin." Everyone in the crowd cheered, even the Hufflepuffs, the Hufflepuffs are always happy. 

"Match two will begin with Sarah Wither of Ravenclaw, and Erin Waters of Gryffindor." All of the Ravenclaws barely even made a move as Sarah made her way to the black marble platform. They knew she wasn't going to win. Sarah Wither was tiny, but everyone knew Erin Waters would win. Erin waters was part of the dueling club, she was the captain in fact. I watched how Erin walked up to the middle of the table - she bowed her head. No one but the dueling club really did that anymore. I watched Sarah pull her wand out and bow from across the platform. They both pulled their wands to their side, next thing I know I hear the countdown. I knew Sarah wasn't gonna do well - she never knew how to duel. I see her wave her wand first, Erin instantly rejected the spells. I didn't expect Sarah to go first. I kept breathing heavily, I knew any moment, this would be over, and I would go next. I felt an internal clicking in my stomach, knots kept turning. 

"Second match winner. Sarah Wither. Ravenclaw." I stopped breathing for a second and looked at the platform. How did she beat the captain of the dueling club? I saw everyone in Ravenclaw cheering, and tantalizing the Gryffindors. Of course, I had to fight a Ravenclaw Fin Gates. I looked at the Headmaster who was surprised that Sarah won. 

"Match three will start with John Yerger of Gryffindor and Fin Gates of Ravenclaw." I froze. Bry had to push me to the steps to the platform. I saw Fin smirk towards the other Ravenclaws. He knew. He KNEW he was gonna win, and had to rub it in my face. I stood on the platform with my wand at my side, and then I looked over at the Professor's. I saw Theo. He was looking at me with a sense of concern. He couldn't watch me fight, he knew I was going to lose. Fin pulled out his wand, and I heard the countdown. "3.2.1" I couldn't hold back, I felt this emotion kick in. I kept using the same spell over and over again, just because I knew I could get him if I kept getting closer to him, I'd push him off the platform. "LEVICORPUS" I saw his body levitate a few feet of the ground, I made sure not to lose focus. Then, I felt this surge of pain run through my body - some excruciating pain in my body. I was bleeding. I saw blood gushing out of my arms... He used Sectumsempra on me. He almost cut my arm off...

I blacked out. And I woke up in the hospital wing. My arm was patched up, but the room was empty. It was quiet and cold. I felt my eyelids getting heavier and heavier. "John." I heard his voice. "John." I opened them again, he was there. Theo was at my side. "How are you?" I smiled, "Never better." We both laughed for a second, and he watched me try and fix the pillow that was sitting so awkwardly. He moved my hand as I was trying fix it. "Don't. Your arm is nearly severed, you need to take it easy." I watched him get up as Madame Willow walk into the room with her white gown with the Hogwarts crest around it. I watched her walk across the room, and grabbed a syringe. She put a white sedative into the syringe and told me, "This will sting for just a moment. This is the quickest way to heal your wounds." I started dozing off. 

I closed my eyes, and I saw Theo walk out of the room. It was cold again. I hated the cold. I dozed off for what seemed like a few minutes, but it was dark outside. I looked to my left, and there was no one there. Then I looked to my right and I saw Theo sitting there asleep in a chair. 

He was just sitting there with me, making sure I was okay.