1984

{Julius}

He had long known that wizards were a bit lacking in the common sense department. But holding an international event smack dab in the middle of a desert, during one of the hottest summers in human memory was just plain stupid.

The International Duelling Championship was held once every four years and this year India was the venue.

Supposedly, some genius in the Indian Ministry of Magic had decided that it was a good idea to organise the tournament in the middle of a Desert, far away from Muggle eyes. And now, Julius had to suffer for it.

Their only respite was that the duels themselves weren't taking place out in the open. Instead a cavernous auditorium had been constructed in the middle of the desert with the stones themselves being layered with Cooling Spells and Atmospheric Charms to provide a more pleasant climate for the spectators.

The Championship Title was the most coveted honour in the world of Professional Duelling. And as such, over the last three days hundreds of witches and wizards had duelled amongst each other.

Julius had seen it all. And he'd been thoroughly amazed.

No one of Grand Sorcerer rank was allowed to participate but that didn't mean the magic was any less impressive.

Non-verbal spells were the norm here. And although the Unforgivables and lethal spells were banned, that didn't mean there was any lack of the Dark Arts.

It was an experience that he would remember forever.

"Mama, when will it be Uncle's turn?" His little sister Alyssa asked, pulling at their mother's sleeve.

Their father's younger brother Marshall, was participating in the tournament. And had in fact managed to reach the Round of Sixteen, climbing up all the way from the Preliminaries.

It was to cheer him on that the Fawley Family had gathered here. Everyone other than his grandparents and his two year old younger brother Nicholas, had made the trip to India via international Portkey.

"It's the next match kiddo." Aunt Elinor said, ruffling Alyssa's hair distractedly.

Aunt Elinor had just graduated Hogwarts this year, managing to join the International Wizarding Police as a Trainee Auror. This meant they barely saw her these days, because of her rigorous training schedule. But still, she had made the time to come cheer for her older brother.

"Adeline, where's Henry gone to?" She asked his mother.

"He said he was going to go meet Marshall." His mother replied.

"But didn't they just announce that only support staff can visit the Duellists in their rooms till their Duels are concluded?"

"They did, but as you know Henry isn't very big on rules."

"Neither am I. But it still baffles me, at how he gets away with half the things he does." Aunt Elinor grumbled.

It was another fifteen minutes later, when Julius' father rushed to join them just as the ongoing fight had gotten over.

Now it was his Uncle's turn. The fourth match of the Round of Sixteen. And he was up against a Japanese witch.

The Fourth Seed, Akane Nakamura.

"Take these", His father said, passing along to each of them Omniculars.

"Tell me you didn't buy all of these." His mother said, glaring at him.

"Of course I didn't, they're rentals. So I would appreciate it if you lot were careful with them." He said.

"Well at least we'll get a clear view of the match if they cast some kind of spell to block our view or something." Elinor said, taking one for herself.

"So how's Marshall ?" His mother asked, as they took their seats in the stands.

"A little nervous as you'd expect. He never thought he'd get this far, says he got lucky." Father replied.

"I'm sure that's not the case." Mother said, "He worked really hard for this after all."

"While that's true one cannot deny the role that luck has to play in this. The pairing of opponents does decide a lot after all."

Soon it was time for the match to get underway. As the Duelists came striding out onto the elaborate mosaic floor of the Arena.

Julius saw his uncle Marshall enter from the western entrance wearing a deep mahogany robe that he'd had specially enchanted for the occasion. Alongside that he wore an elaborate feathered hat with multi-colored feathers in it.

His opponent by contrast was much more simply dressed. A mid-thirties woman with a heart-shaped face and onyx eyes, her attire all black with little to no fancy embellishments. She looked appropriately intimidating.

The earlier Duels had all been conducted in groups with several Duels going on at the same time so that one could choose to watch whichever one they wanted to.

But from here on out it would be different. This wasn't the Preliminaries, it was the Main Event.

All Duels from now would be conducted one at a time. As some of the best Duellists in the World fought it out among themselves for the right to call themselves the Champion.

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The stands were full. Tens of thousands of people of countless nationalities and multiple ethnicities having come to watch the grand spectacle. Some of them even choosing to hover overhead on their brooms and magic carpets for a chance at a better view.

The two Duelists faced each other at a distance of forty paces. Bowing gracefully, as the referee signalled the start of the Duel.

Right away the Duel began, the Duelists transitioning from their bow to a proper Dueling stance in a single smooth motion.

It was Marshall who started it off by firing off a series of Stunners rapidly at his opponent. The girl Akane, however remained unfazed efficiently deflecting away each and every one of them.

Marshall had intended it as a distraction and while she was busy dealing with the Stunners, he started Conjuring a thick mist which would cover the Arena and cloud his opponent's senses.

"That won't work", His Aunt muttered under her breath, as she stared into her Omniculars.

"What won't work?" Julius asked his Aunt, even as he kept his focus on the ongoing Duel.

"The mist, it's an old trick. Marshall uses it often as do many other Duellists. But that girl there is a seasoned expert. She certainly has methods to deal with it."

And lo and behold Aunt Elinor was right. As soon as she had dealt with the Stunners the Japanese girl cast a spiraling vortex of wind.

"Ventus Tria " She incanted, as the spell took effect, blowing away most of the mist obscuring the Arena.

"Shit" Marshall swore, as he retreated from his opponent, creating some distance between them.

Akane didn't let up, she started by Conjuring a massive boulder, which she then Transfigured into a massive stone gargoyle that was over eight feet tall.

"Bombarda Maxima " His uncle shouted, as the gargoyle converged on him. The spell let out a defeaning sound as it struck the animated beast.

The resounding impact, managing to blow off more than half of its body and three of its four stone limbs. The gargoyle still was very much alive but it had been rendered immobile. Thus neutralizing the threat.

"Wow! That was so cool." Julius who'd been anxious for his Uncle's safety, unintentionally exclaimed.

"Yeah, it was." His Aunt said, smiling back at him.

The Duel though, wasn't finished yet. And inspite of how Marshall had managed to keep up with Akane, none of them held any illusions about where this was headed.

Marshall seemed weary and exhausted his once pristine robes scuffed and torn with broken bits of stone shrapnel sticking to them. On the other hand, Akane didn't even seem winded, as she focused on her next spell.

The weather in the Arena had changed, it was snowing now.

While Marshall had been busy dealing with her gargoyle she had cast the Atmospheric Charm to alter the weather.

And then, out of frozen ice had fashioned herself two knights each over seven feet tall massive titans with swords of shimmering ice resting in their grip. They were the most intimidating thing Julius had seen in his young life.

She now loosed them on her opponent.

All said, Marshall wasn't a quitter, he didn't give up. Even weary and depleted of Magic he fought.

Evading the slow lumbering knights, he cast Severing and Exploding Charms at them.

He actually managed to even destroy one of the Knights. But Akane just replaced it with another one.

Soon driven to the point of collapse, Marshall was left with no other choice than to admit defeat.

And so he did, meaning it was Akane Nakamura who moved on to the Quarter Finals of the Championship as he got eliminated.

Still considering how young and inexperienced he was as a Duellist, he'd put up a great fight.

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"Could you bring me the Firewhisky, Julius. It's in the cabinet to your left." Marshall said to him.

As they were all having lunch in the large tent his father had rented for the duration of the Tournament.

After Marshall's fight had gotten over, and he'd been seen to by a Healer. They'd all decided to have an early lunch instead of watching rest of the morning's Duels.

Julius as obsessed as he was with everything magical, was understandably bummed at this.

But still, he couldn't say no to a delicious meal.

"Sure uncle", he said, setting down his fork. But before he could get up his mother glared at him.

"Stay there", She said, "Your uncle can go get it himself."

"Come on Adeline", He whined, "I've been injured."

"You've been seen to by a Healer", His mother said in annoyance.

"And you should know better than to ask a child to fetch you alcohol."

"It's not like I asked him to have a drink." He muttered as he got up, limping to the cabinet exaggeratedly.

As Julius returned to his meal, a rich chocolate cheesecake dessert to follow up the delicious lasagna he'd had earlier. His mind began to wander.

Long before today, when he was about eighteen months old he had realized something. He had realized that he was different somehow.

Initially it was just a feeling, his memories too fuzzy his intellect to clouded to clearly deduce anything. But with time he had understood.

And although, even now his memories surrounding it weren't perfect, he knew. Julius wasn't of this world. And this life wasn't his first one.

He didn't remember much about his previous life, it was mostly vague feelings without any specific details.

But one thing was peculiarly clear in his mind, the story of the Boy Who Lived. Harry Potter.

In his previous life, he got the impression it was just a story. Fiction. But here, in this world it was all true.

And although he couldn't explain how it was possible Harry Potter existed. As did Albus Dumbledore.

And He Who Must Not be Named. Lord Voldemort.

That scared him. More than he wished to admit.

Because unlike everyone else, including his family members who thought he was dead. Julius knew he was very much alive.

And that he would return in ten years time, if he didn't do anything about it.

He could have chosen to lay low and let Harry Potter deal with the Dark Lord, and he probably still would.

But something had changed in him, in the years he'd spent growing up in a Magical household.

Seeing magical things had intrigued him always.

But with time it grew to be more. It became a hunger, a desire to gain mastery of it.

And the magic he'd seen here in these Duels, had only strengthened his resolution.

He wanted to cast all these 'cool' spells someday.

It was in the fall of 1981 when he was three years old, that he'd performed his first piece of Accidental Magic.

He'd been trying to reach Bestiarium Magicum, a Magizoology book that like most other significant magical works was sentient. And had a habit of trying to fly away from anyone trying to read it.

He'd spent over an hour chasing it through the house. And now exhausted and sweating, that he'd finally found it. It had floated up to one of the top shelves of their Family Library.

He could never climb that he knew. And the evil book now satisfied that it had eluded its pursuer was flapping its pages trying to mimic the action of a person laughing.

Frustated at all that work being for nothing, Julius had yelled out in anger. And it was then, that it happened.

His first burst of Magic. An uncontrolled version of a Summoning spell.

It had brought down all the books on the top shelf of the Library on top of him.

Except for the Bestiarium Magicum, which still frustratingly managed to elude him.

He had sprained his wrist that time, and had gotten a earful from his mother for being reckless.

But it was worth it. He had finally been able to start working on his magic.

And he had worked on it, he mused. As he licked up the final few crumbs of the cake from the plate.

He had worked on it hard and long. With no wand to aid him, and no knowledge of the hand gestures that wizards in Uagadou used for their wandless casting.

It had been a long and arduous process, and mind numbingly boring.

But he'd kept at it everyday. And he'd succeeded.

Now three years later, he could cast three Spells wandlessly.

The Summoning Charm 'Accio', the first spell he'd ever learned.

'Depulso' the Banishing Charm, which technically was just the opposite of the Summoning Charm.

Instead of pulling something closer magically, you just pushed it away.

And then there was the newest one he'd learned.

'Wingardium Leviosa' the Levitation Spell. He was proud of that one.

It had been the hardest to master, he thought. As he levitated an orange off the table.

He couldn't do it for very long. Nor could he levitate anything really heavy. But with time he was sure he'd get there.

Excited chatter by the tent's entrance drew him out of his thoughts. As he saw his Uncle lead a beautiful woman into their tent.

"This is Lucretia, everybody." He said, bowing with a flourish, "My wife to be."

"What? You're getting married?" Aunt Elinor exclaimed incredulously, spilling some of her drink onto the tablecloth.

"Yes I am, most certainly." He exclaimed, "And to this beautiful young lady nonetheless. Say hello to everybody, my darling Lucretia."

The pretty blonde with steel gray eyes, Lucretia rolled her eyes at her future husband's ridiculous pageantry.

"Hello everyone nice to meet you, I am Lucretia Vasquez. And as my fiancé said, yes we're engaged."

"Vasquez?" His further muttered, "I don't think I've heard of a family by that name."

"Are you not from Britain, perhaps?" He wondered aloud.

"I'm British actually", She said, "But my parents are actually Muggles. I hope that won't be a problem."

There was an awkwardness in the air, following her pronouncement. But it was soon broken by the sound of his mother's laughter.

"Not at all my dear." His mother said, "The Fawleys don't care about such things. I too am Muggleborn after all."

Once they were done with the introductions Lucretia joined them at the table.

They learned that she had graduated from Hogwarts only two years ago, and was now working as a full time Potioneer at Pippin's in Diagon Alley.

Julius listened to most of it but once she started talking about her work he tuned out.

Julius had practiced Potion making, as he had wished to study all types of Magic. But he'd found it oddly tedious and repetitive.

He'd still kept at it, especially so before he had done any Accidental Magic.

And so he'd learned a lot. And other than being unable to cast the Potion making Spell due to the lack of a wand, he could brew a number of simple potions.

But he knew his heart wasn't in it. It was mostly mechanical on his part. Julius would never be an expert Potioneer. That much, he knew by now.

After lunch, they returned to the Arena to see the rest of the Duels. This time both Lucretia and Marshall joining them as well.

They had a good time. Julius so lots more cool magic. His favorite was the Semi-Finals where one of the Duelists, attempted to cast Fiendfyre.

He couldn't control it properly. But thankfully, before things could go horribly wrong and the Flaming Serpent devoured both Duellists the numerous powerful wizards present brought it under control.

The Duellist was disqualified of course. And from what his father said, would find himself lucky if he didn't end up in jail because of it.

All in all it was a memorable experience, Julius thought. As they waited for their return Portkey. It was time to go back home.

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