18 Chapter 18

The building in which the competition was held stood out from the rest. It was easier to find it since most of the wizards were heading there. 

When I went inside, I was convinced that the interior of the building had been enlarged by magic. Although it didn't make much sense to me, there was an arena in the center of the building that somewhat resembled the coliseum. As I understand it, the duel will take place there. 

"Wow!" I couldn't resist seeing what a magical atmosphere prevails here. 

"Oh, it's David!" Joseph was surprised. 

"Where?" 

"Out with your teacher," Joseph pointed to a guy dressed in a rather formal suit. 

Next to him was a rather elderly, good-natured man at first glance. 

"Oh, Merlin's Beard! It's Austen!" our professor spoke joyfully and led us all in their direction. 

As soon as we approached them, one of Austen's students said something to his teacher. 

"Filius!" Austen said with a smile. "How many years have passed since our last meeting?" 

"Hahah Austen, if I remember correctly, was it in the 1967 European Tournament?" 

"Oh, if I remember correctly, it was in Vienna?" 

"Exactly." After paying attention to the children standing next to Austen. "Your students?" 

"Yes, what's it like at Hogwarts?" 

"Well, everything is also magical," the professor replied with a smile. "And how are things at your school?" 

"Hmm, not bad either. There are no fewer students, and that's good." 

After that, the professor's friend looked at us and said: 

"Is your student really going to participate in U12 this time?" 

"This year I have a very talented student." 

Old friends would have continued the dialogue if not for one man. 

"Who am I seeing this for?" The voice of a middle-aged man sounded slightly mocking. "And here's our half-goblin?" 

He was a middle-aged man, dark-haired with rather predatory features. He was dressed in a three-piece suit and held a cane in his hands. Most likely, his wand was hidden in his cane. 

The students standing next to me changed their faces in an instant. And one of them whispered: 

"That Jenkins guy again?" 

"He still can't forgive the professor's defeat?" 

"Have you forgotten how much he enjoyed our defeat at the hands of his disciple?" 

Professor Flitwick wanted to say something, but before he could say anything, another voice sounded: 

"Hugo, have you nothing to do?" 

The owner, no... The owner of this voice was a middle-aged woman dressed in trousers, which in itself was amazing for the magical world. Nevertheless, for the present time, trousers are gaining popularity among ladies only in the Muggle world. 

Hugo Jenkins wanted to say something, but apparently considering it beneath his dignity, he just left. 

"Good afternoon, Linda." The professor smiled as if he had met his old friend. 

"How are you doing, Filius?" 

"Great, but you're still beautiful." 

"Hahahah, thanks for the kind words." 

After people stopped entering the building, one man appeared in the arena. He was a blond man with a rather interesting mustache for my time, but familiar in this time. 

"Wizards and witches!" he spoke with the help of a spell, which amplifies the voice of the presenter. "Today we have gathered to see the people who will represent the honor of British wizards in Europe. And I will help you get to know these people, I am Augustus Bagman!" 

As soon as he finished introducing himself, a magic tournament grid appeared above the arena. The very first group that will fight each other turned out to be the U12 group, that is, mine. And the last one will be the older group. 

Apparently, the younger ones will be a banal seed. But it still doesn't matter to me, after all, the main thing is to participate in this battle and come out victorious. And so I can also enjoy the duels of undergraduates and undergraduates. 

As soon as the grid began to fill with names, I felt the numbers appear on my palm. Apparently, as soon as I came in here, besides the shields, there was something else that marked all the people. 

"Hmm, 13." with a glance, I quickly found my name with 13 next to it. "Brian Travers? Isn't this a pure-blooded family?" 

Joseph, who was standing next to him, nodded and said: 

"Yes, they were part of the Sacred 28 at one time. But after supporting Grindelwald, they lost a huge amount of power and prestige in general." 

I didn't have to wait long for the beginning of my turn since in general, there were fewer children of my age than 13-year-olds and others. 

As soon as it was my turn, my name and the name of my opponent appeared on the tournament grid. 

"Adam, don't worry and just do as we trained," said the professor. 

"Good luck there, little one," Joseph said, ruffling my hair. 

Fabian and Gideon also nodded in support. And Frank just smiled and continued: 

"Show them the strength of our faculty there." 

I just nodded at all this, focusing on the upcoming duel. Going down, I noticed a lot of spectators who were outside the arena, the richer ones were sitting on rather luxurious seats. Among these people, I was also able to spot Sirius's grandfather. 

Before I entered the arena, my opponent and I were checked for certain things. All this was apparently done so that the participants would not cheat with the help of certain artifacts, or something else like that. 

This is not taking into account the fact that all our wands were checked before all this fun started. Surprisingly, it was not Mr. Ollivander who checked, but a younger man, most likely Ollivander's services were more expensive. Since I remember that the same Ollivander was invited to the Triwizard Tournament. 

As soon as all the checks were over, two wizards from different parts of the arena nodded to each other and allowed us to enter the arena. After my opponent and I entered the arena, the host of this competition said: 

"At one end of the arena, the student of the multiple champion of European dueling tournaments Filius Flitwick, the red-haired boy Adam White!" then turning his attention to Travers. "His rival is a student of Hugo Jenkins! The youngest student of the Jenkins School, who last year brought us the 2nd place among 15-year-olds in the European Tournament, Brian Travers!" 

The look Travers gave me... It said a lot, at least he considered me inferior to himself. This was also hinted at not only by his look but also by a mocking smile. Apparently, my calm gaze irritated him even more. 

As it should be before the fight, we bowed to each other, no matter how poor my opponent's attitude was, but he observed the traditions. The moment the bow was made, I caught the movement of his hand along with the movement of his lips. 

However, I had already honed the Expelliarmus to such a level that I could perform this very spell without verbal content. 

Because of this very speed, Travers' wand was already in my hands, while Travers himself was unconscious. 

"The winner is Adam White!" Bagman said, recovering himself quite quickly. 

After that, the whole arena was flooded with applause. 

Every subsequent fight of mine was held in the same way and I began to hear the audience talking about how quickly the next battle would end. In general, I kept the mark in 2 minutes, all this due to the fact that my reflexes were more improved than others. And I didn't want to delay the battle for obvious reasons. 

After all, what could I get out of such duels with children my age? In addition to improving their emergency situations, and then of a dubious kind... After all, having the experience of a 20-year-old student and being happy that you beat up 12-year-old children... Of course, technically I'm also 12 years old, but in fact, I'm almost 30. 

While the 13-year-olds disappointed me, the older students delighted me with their repertoire and styles of various kinds. It seems to me that children 14 years old and younger cannot create their own yet, at least it seems to me that they are not yet ready to adapt the styles of their teachers to themselves. 

I already felt that Professor Flitwick's style did not suit me since he preferred to hit pointwise, but it suits me better to hit faster. If we compare it, then the professor is a sniper, but it seems to me that a machine gun or something more powerful is suitable. 

The first day passed pretty quickly, and besides the duels, there was also a welcome banquet. Fortunately, I took a formal suit with me, so there are unlikely to be any problems with etiquette. 

Already at the feast, many people came up to us in order to talk to me or about me. I was glad at least that there was a professor nearby who received most of the attention. 

"What method did you use to train your students?" 

"Will you be hosting other students?" 

"Do you have your own school?" 

In general, it was possible to understand such a stir, after all, all the students of the professor went through their first matches. And it was worth saying that it was pretty fast, not as fast as me, but still. 

"I see that you are tired of these questions, too?" Linda Maxwell asked after the people had left the professor. 

"I'll never get used to this..." the professor sighed with disappointment. "Did they bother you with such questions too?" 

"Hahaha, exactly. I could barely get away from them." 

Then the two of them talked about their lives, but I heard it because I was sitting not so far from them, well, thanks to my hearing. So willy-nilly I had to listen to their chatter. From these conversations, I also learned about where Professor Flitwick and Linda met. 

It turned out that they were the same age and they studied at the same time. Only Linda graduated from the Gryffindor faculty. 

"But still, how did you train that red-haired kid like that?" Linda asked after a while. 

"Eh... I trained him just like the others... It's just that the guy himself is extremely talented. He grasped everything on the fly, and his magic reserve is not worth talking about." 

After being silent for a couple of minutes, he continued: 

"Besides, he is already studying and practicing spells of more senior courses." 

"Are you serious?" The surprise in the professor's friend's voice could be felt even in the air. 

"Yes. It seems to me that each time his speed of mastering new spells only increases." 

"You're lucky, Filius..." 

Listening to the professor's conversation and enjoying the meal, I somehow missed the moment when someone approached me. 

Meanwhile, in another part of the banquet hall, I observed the aristocrats who were hanging around Lord Black. Apparently, the influence of this family at least in the British Isles is really a strong thing. 

Hugo Jenkins was also there, apparently among these aristocrats were his sponsors. Because from what I heard, he said that his students would definitely win at the age of 15. 

There was someone else nearby with them... Brian Travers, and next to him was a kid about 14-15 years old who looked very much like Brian. It is very difficult to listen to someone at such a distance, so you will have to do only with your eyesight. 

Fortunately, it was not so difficult to see the expressions of the eyes and draw conclusions based on this. So I could tell that Brian was under pressure, and most likely his older brother was unhappy... Apparently, such a quick defeat of his younger brother. 

"Where are you looking at Adam?" Lydia asked me suddenly. 

"Just like that..." 

Apparently following my gaze, the girl said: 

"Ahhh... This is Brian's older brother, I think his name is Richard. He is very strong for a 16-year-old, I remember how last year he won this very tournament." 

"As I understand it, he is unhappy with his younger brother?" 

"Heh, most likely... After all, they are a little fanatical." 

"By the way, are you Muggle-born?" 

"No, I'm a half-breed." The girl replied with a smile. "So I know a lot about the Muggle world. Well, therefore, I also know a lot about the magical side of this world." 

"Do you think they'll do something?" 

"You mean the Travers?" Receiving a nod, she continued. "More likely not than yes... Although everything will depend on how you perform next." 

"Thanks for the help." 

"You're welcome." 

After this very feast, the days passed one after another, each day following the same scenario. Fortunately, the Travers did not do anything. And my victories came pretty quickly without any problems. As a result, my peculiar fame also grew. 

I might have been surprised by the duel that happened at the end of this tournament... But these guys still didn't have enough speed. And before my opponent could speak Expulso, his wand was already in my hands. That's how I became a champion among 12-year-olds. 

"And our U12 champion ADAM WHITE!" 

At the farewell feast in honor of the end of this competition, the pandemonium that arose around me and the professor was slightly annoying. And I got out of there pretty quickly, because the constant same questions were a little annoying. 

Fortunately, there were balconies where you can relax from the crowd. But soon I began to hear footsteps approaching me. Paying attention to the source of the footsteps, I saw Sirius's grandfather walking towards me. 

"Good evening, Mr. White." 

"Good evening, Lord Black." It would be slightly unethical, at least for a man of his era, not to point out his status. 

The approval that flickered in his gaze told me that my words clearly pleased him. 

"You were able to impress me, Mr. White. I did not expect that you would be able to win." 

"That's the way I am... I like to do something extraordinary." 

"Hahah, it's clear in that case why you and my grandson became friends." 

A week later 

While the wizards of Great Britain were reading about the students that they would represent the country on the European stage. 

Another person, but already outside the islands, got his hands on a UK newspaper. 

"Crimson Destruction..." The man muttered.