Alexander Sterling stepped onto the platform, regarding Rowan with professional assessment.
"Don't be nervous. I'll hold back enough that you won't get hurt, but not so much that you won't learn anything."
They took positions at opposite ends of the platform.
At Hecat's signal, Sterling moved.
He was fast. Far faster than Sebastian. His opening spell was a Stunning hex that Rowan barely blocked. Then Sterling's wand moved again and a Disarming Charm materialized without a word, forcing Rowan to dodge rather than shield because he hadn't heard it coming. Before he could recover, Sterling had cast a Leg-Locker Curse that Rowan only avoided by jumping backward.
Rowan fired back with a Knockback Jinx, but Sterling deflected it casually and countered with three spells in rapid succession. A Tripping Jinx, a Stunning Spell, and another Disarmer.
Rowan's shield absorbed the first two but shattered under the third. His wand flew from his hand, and he stumbled backward off the platform edge.
Match over in under thirty seconds.
"Better than I expected," Sterling said, helping Rowan up and returning his wand. "You kept your shield up under sustained assault longer than most first years could. But you're reactive, not proactive. You wait for me to attack, then respond. In a real duel, that'll get you killed."
"How do I fix it?" Rowan asked, ignoring his bruised pride. Then, because it had been nagging at him: "That second spell. You didn't say anything."
"Silent casting," Sterling said. "Most sixth and seventh-years can manage it for basic spells. It's weaker than vocalized magic, less precise, so you don't build a duel around it. But it's useful for slipping one past someone who's listening for incantations." He smiled. "Practice, experience, learn to see three moves ahead, like chess. You've got potential, Ashcroft. Keep showing up and you'll improve."
Rowan watched more matches, absorbing techniques and strategies. Sebastian's duel with Greengrass was brutal. She demolished him in under twenty seconds, her overwhelming offense giving him no time to mount any defense.
When Sebastian rejoined Rowan on the sidelines, both nursing bruised pride, he muttered, "She's terrifying."
"Agreed," Rowan said.
Then Hecat called Rowan up again, this time against Anastasia Greengrass herself.
Greengrass didn't hold back.
Her opening barrage was vicious. Five spells in rapid succession, two of them silent and three vocalized, each designed to overwhelm Rowan's defenses. Rowan's shield held for the first three, but the fourth shattered it, and the fifth, a Stunning Spell, caught him square in the chest.
He woke thirty seconds later with Hecat standing over him, wand raised.
"Welcome to real dueling," she said dryly. "You held on longer than I expected, but Greengrass has been training for three years. Learn from it."
The session continued for another hour. Rowan dueled two more times, losing each match but lasting progressively longer. Sebastian's trajectory was similar. He lost to Sterling just as quickly as Rowan had, won against a different third-year, and fought several upper-years with mixed results.
By the end of the session, both first-years had proven they belonged, though neither had dominated. And when their eyes met across the room, there was mutual recognition: they were evenly matched, with Sebastian holding a slight edge for now. But that could change.
"Good work tonight, everyone," Hecat said as students began filing out. "Ashcroft, Sallow. A word."
When they were alone, she regarded them both seriously.
"You each won one match tonight and lost four others. Does that bother either of you?"
Sebastian glanced at Rowan, then shrugged. "I learned more tonight than I have in a month of classes."
"Every loss was a lesson," Rowan added. "Sterling taught me I'm too reactive. Greengrass showed me the importance of overwhelming offense. And Sebastian—" he nodded at his rival "—showed me I need to watch for misdirection."
Hecat smiled. "Good answers. Many students can't handle losing. Their pride gets in the way of learning. You both have the right mindset."
She paused, looking between them.
"The International Youth Dueling Championship is in June. Students from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, Ilvermorny, and a dozen other schools will compete. Hogwarts will send four students." She gestured toward the door where the older members had left. "Three spots are already secured. Sterling, Greengrass, and Bones have earned their positions through years of dedication."
Her gaze moved between the two first-years.
"The fourth spot is open, and I'm holding it for one of you. I want a younger duelist in the field this year. Early exposure to international dueling is worth more than another year of club matches. Consider it additional motivation to improve."
Rowan's stomach tightened. Sebastian's jaw set, his competitive fire evident.
"I understand, Professor," Rowan said.
"As do I," Sebastian added.
"Good. I'll be watching your progress closely over the coming months. Closer to the tournament, I'll hold an official selection duel to determine who earns that final position." She smiled slightly. "May the best duelist win. Dismissed."
They left together, an awkward silence between them as they walked down the corridor. At the intersection where their paths diverged, Ravenclaw Tower one way, the dungeons another, Sebastian stopped.
"Guess we know what we're working toward now," he said.
"Guess so," Rowan replied.
"I meant what I said earlier. That match was close." Sebastian's smile was sharp but not unkind. "But I won today. And I intend to keep that advantage. Nothing personal, Ashcroft. Just... I really want that spot."
"So do I," Rowan said evenly. "And next time, I'll be ready for your misdirection."
They stared at each other for a moment. Not hostile, but intensely competitive. Two first-years who'd just realized they were each other's primary obstacle.
"See you Tuesday," Sebastian said finally, walking away toward the dungeons.
Rowan watched him go, then turned toward Ravenclaw Tower.
Sebastian had won their first official duel, and that stung. But it had been close. Closer than Sebastian had expected, judging by his expression. And Rowan had learned from the loss, identified exactly where he'd gone wrong.
That feint wouldn't work on him twice.
This rivalry was going to push them both to become better duelists.
Rowan found himself looking forward to it.