A New Challenge completed

Edward had signed up to join the dueling club, but as a first-year, he had gotten put on the wait-list for his Hufflepuff house team. He wasn't very sporty or really even competitive but something about dueling really called to him. He had grown up with stories about honorable wizards dueling for the honor of their houses in ages past, perhaps a time that was mythologized and never truly existed, but it lived in the hearts of many young witches and wizards who grew up on such stories, and Edward was no different in that regard. Also, true stories from his grandfather, who had been a Gryffindor dueling captain in his day and later a professional coach. His grandfather was sadly no longer around, but Edward would never forget him or his stories. Perhaps it was a drive to live up to his grandfather's legacy at least in some regard, or perhaps it was because of the stories that had so captured his mind growing up, but either way he wished to one day become a great duelist. But all greats had to start from somewhere and for him, stuck on the wait-list, he realized that the best he would likely get is to watch the older more experienced duelists and practice.

And so it was that Edward found himself regularly coming to watch the dueling matches eagerly every time they were open, quietly rooting for his fellow Hufflepuffs if one were competing or simply quietly studying the duels of the others seeking to glean what he might. One day therefore it was that after watching one of such duels he found himself walking the second floor corridors, mostly abandoned this time of day after classes had ended for the day but before curfew had been called, that he was overtaken by a flight of youthful fancy: the urge to strike a dueling pose with his wand, pretending to cast some dueling spell or other that he had seen at the match; and so he did.

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"Oh!" Edward exclaimed with a bit of surprise upon being noticed, blushing slightly at being caught at his bit of silliness, "Hello there" he offered a smile which seemed genuinely reflected in his honeyed eyes, "I'm Edward. Edward Bishop." he then thinks to add politely, "nice to meet you, Julia" he said while dusting off his Hufflepuff robes absently.

At her challenge, a raised eyebrow and a moment of thought, looking her up and down now more appraisingly as a potential dueling opponent. He thought to himself: Ravenclaw robes, probably both smart and well-read on her dueling theory, so definitely would be a challenge, but looks to be a first-year like me, so perhaps a fair match for my first duel after all...

"Sure!" he said, accepting her challenge, a flash of a grin - he rarely showed teeth when he smiled, but this perhaps this occasion warranted a special exception...

He would have to prepare well for their upcoming duel, he knew Ravenclaws would always bring their A-game that there was nothing they didn't do without a plan or strategy, and so he would have to do her the courtesy of the same to present a challenge of his own... sure, this may only be practice, an unofficial duel, but he still wanted to not be a disappointment to himself or to her, especially when representing his own house...

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