2025/26, Stage 3 Spectator Day 2

Credit to Maisie Gemmell

Primarily mentions @Evelynn Decipio (refers to Match 2 as a whole)
May 31st, Morning Slot | Spectating Match 2

For a duelling captain, supposed to be a well of knowledge and strategy, Aislin did not spectate matches religiously, methodically, or with any other kind of dedication. She did like duelling! But she couldn't really sit still, and watching the two to three time slots she wasn't busy for made the weekend into a truly stifling amount of time spent in the duelling room, thick with sweat and cheers and the sharp, buzzy sensation of so much concentrated magic. She thought she might have been told, back when they made a bright-eyed new first year whose only qualifications were a working knowledge of spells and an unflinching willingness to boss around older students, that she had to go to all Ravenclaw matches. Which she did, only she tended to space out and miss half of the action. All of this to say, the Sunday morning slot could have been a rare break for Aislin, free of Ravenclaw participants. She could have slept in, slept off her duel from the day before.

She could have, but she didn't. She was here, shoulder sore, half-awake, wrapped in a flannel that was too big for her because the weather still hadn't committed to summer. Her reasoning could be easily guessed by anyone who had the chance (misfortune) to hear her rant post stage two duel about the skill of the upper year duellists, including Evelynn Decipio. Especially Evelynn Decipio. The twelve-year-old was, simply put, incredibly biased, though she would dispute the point; could she really be biased if Evelynn's mastery was obvious? Who else tore through an entire upper year team with one Cracker Jinx? And she was the best-dressed duellist on that stage, anyone could have seen that, not to mention poised and eloquent. Today was Evelynn's last duel at Hogwarts and Aislin wouldn't miss it. She was even early, claiming a spot in the second row of bleachers before the crowds filled them, and the weight of sleepiness couldn't stop her from tapping her feet against the wood, catching the room's energy like a bug (the infectious kind).

Cassius looked as silly up there as Aislin must have last stage, much younger than all the duellists he was to watch, but she had faith in him, even if he was a good deal shier than her. She cheered as he introduced the teams, even though neither belonged to her House; surely everyone wanted the seventh years to do well today. Hufflepuff exuded an easy cheer, Gryffindor a quieter focus, and Evelynn looked just as stunning as she had the last time. How she made duelling in a long skirt look so effortless and refined, Aislin didn't know. Haven did look very nice, too, in a different sort of way, fun and all purple.

But of course she wasn't here for the outfits. She was here for the magic, the impressive displays of the school's most senior duellists, and the opening moments delivered. There were crackers everywhere, so it was hard to even notice the mess-ups, but if she squinted she could see through to the failed spells and how Evelynn's spell had launched quite a few crackers backwards -- but not as many as she launched at Hufflepuff! It was so much to follow, but right now it was fine to sit on her hands and enjoy the show.

Despite some opening mishaps, Aislin was just impressed. And maybe in need of ear plugs. She joined some of the cheers, though she couldn't hear herself over the roar of a Blasting Curse, and muttered woah more than once. It would take a lot of experience to get a point where she was anything but lost in a duel like this one. Who was even winning was hard to say for a while; it was more like everyone mutually ticking toward their limit as spell after spell hit, waiting to see who would drop first. The first drop could heavily tip the scales, her nan had taught her that. Both teams dedicated some of their efforts to healing, but it just wasn't going to be able to keep up, especially when you had Evelynn on the piste with her signature move (in Aislin's opinion), a spread Cracker Jinx that hit everyone twice over.

The first drop would be Haven, and from there it was really obvious who was winning. And because she was biased toward one Gryffindor duellist, Aislin's eyes sparkled, happy in anticipation of how it looked like this would end and for the small smile on Evelynn's face.

Another of the duel's marvels was how Lindsey was still on her feet. She had to be miserable, but was far more resilient than Aislin had ever needed to be thus far in her twelve years of life, and even stepped in front of her teammate. She reminded her of Maisie, a bit. But the duel had shifted now, calmed, rendering the body block unnecessary. Gryffindor regrouped to ensure they all had the best chance of leaving on their feet and Evelynn called out to her remaining opponents like she had in her last duel, advising a retreat. Hufflepuff didn't; yesterday, Aislin had. Her decision to forfeit to spare Maisie a dragged-out losing battle (while suffering an awful cold) felt better with Evelynn's words.

The duel from there was another stretcher, a truly exciting lightning spell, and an obviously dominant Gryffindor team (other than the lightning). The match ended in a forfeit after all, after Gryffindor maneuvered Lea into an impossible levitated and wandless position. Poor Cassius seemed stressed by the irregular, tense last moments, but he summoned his best showmanship to announce the duel's end.

Aislin joined the round of applause, obviously. It was the moment she was here for. Evelynn probably wouldn't even notice her in the midst of the swarming crowd, but for the first year in the second row on her feet, it was a pretty special moment.