It had been two years since Noelle had dueled. Her schedule hadnt really allowed it, but that hadnt stopped Noelle from training and working with Hirsch and others to keep up. Dueling was important, especially if she wanted to be an auror.

Heading into the arena, Noelle made sure her hair was tied up securely. She smiled at Mason as she pulled her wand out. "Good luck!" She said, genuinely meaning it. She didn't know if she could win or not, but she sure wasn't going down without a fight.

She put the wand in front of her face and bowed before taking the appropriate number of steps and turning around. Watching Char over the years, she knew what to cast first. Casting a featherlight charm on herself first. This would help keep her light on her feet.

Hirsch and her had been working on nonverbals. They were hard.. but she'd started doing easier spells and working her way up. One that she'd been working on currently stuck in her head. She'd done it a few times in the practice room so she was confident she could do it. Aiming her wand at Mason, she nonverbally cast Tarantallegra. Just in case that didn't hit him, she quickly sent another spell. This time out loud. "Flipendo Duo!"

Despite that he had been eliminated during the first task, something he was still frustrated about, he had still learned a lot during his practices with Dora and he found out that he had gotten a lot better in using defensive spells thanks to her.

As he entered the arena from the other side, Mason gave a nod back when Noelle smiled at hime and he wished her luck as well.

Bowing respectfully, the seventeen year old held up his wand to cast the first spell at her but she seemed to be quicker. Seeing a flash or green light racing towards him, Mason jumped to the side to get out of the line of the spell but by doing this he accidentally stepped in the next spell's direction and got hit right in his chest.

He flew backwards through the air but before he hit the wall behind him, he had quickly pointed his wand over his shoulder and casted "Mollaire!". A split second later he hit the wall unhurt thanks to the invisible cushions.

Not wasting time, Mason aimed his wand at the Gryffindor and send a non-verbal 'Jelly-fingers curse' and a 'stinging hex' her way.

Noelle hadn't watched Mason duel before so she didn't know what to expect. He was quick. He side stepped one of her spells but the next one hit him, and sent him flying. Thank Merlin for him doing that cushion spell.

Despite her relief that Mason didn't hurt himself from her spell, she didn't show it on her face. Noelle was all about her game face. She watched him closely as he stood back up and his wand moved as he sent spells back at her. Because she was already anticipating his move, Noelle sent a shield spell out. "Protego!", hoping to send back one of his spells. Her shield spell was only strong enough to hold back one of his spells. She was hit with the stinging hex and clenched her jaw to keep from crying out as a red, angry welt appeared across her arm. Luckily, her game face was still in play before quickly sending an Immobulus spell, hoping to render him.

Noelle was already contemplating her next few moves while she shrugged off the sting of that last hex.

Unlike the Gryffindor in front of him, Mason was not good at holding his poker face so when Noelle got hit by the stinging hex, he grinned. She'll be fine eventually. He was impressed by her shield charm though especially since she managed to send one of his own spells back to him.

Had he been a year younger, he would have gotten hit by surprise but thanks to the IMPS the Ravenclaw had trained hard. Too bad it had all been for nothing as he had been eliminated at the first round. Siiiiiigh. He was still bitter about that. Mason waved his wand and casted a non-verbal 'protego' as well to stop his own hex from hitting him. His shield charm was definitely not as good but it luckily did its work.

Noelle was quick though, it was obvious that she wanted to win too and he appreciated that. There was nothing worse than having an opponent who didn't care if they'd win or lose. The blue light of the immobulus spell flashed towards him and the Ravenclaw jumped to the side and out of the line of ....freezing. HA.

Quickly pointing his wand in her direction, the seventh year casted a silent 'Confundo' her way.

Green eyes followed the seventh year in front of her. Noelle was trying to determine which move he would make next, in addition to seeing if her spells worked against him. She followed his every move, her poker face game in check.

"Nice!" She said encouragingly when he blocked a spell and then jumped out of the way of her freezing spell. There may have been a tiny crack in her poker face at that as she gave a tiny smile of approval. He was a great opponent. Not to mention he was in the IMPS challenge. That was a feat into itself. Just getting in and preparing yourself. Merlin... she admired him. That was for sure.

This duel was nerve wracking but fun.

With his wand pointed straight at her, she knew that a spell was coming. Noelle waited until his mouth opened and he started saying his spell before jumping to the right and out of the line of his spell. Quickly, she cast a Fulgari spell out loud before casting a non verbal disarming spell at him. Her movements were quick and her eyes on him. Use your strengths. Hirsch had told her. That was what she was aiming for.

Come on Winslow. She thought in her head as she readied her wand and herself for his next move.

Hirsch knew, before this duel was due to take place, that this was going to be a duel to watch out for. On the one hand, Mr Winslow was an IMPS competitor and therefore knew most spells from the back of his hand because of all the practice he would've had to take part in. On the other hand, Noelle had been doing extra practice with him since the moment he came to teach at this school. So, both of them were going to be challenged out here and he, Hirsch, would have an interesting duel to watch.

It was exciting, wasn't it?

The man winced slightly at the effects of the Knockback Jinx and the Stinging Jinx that followed soon afterwards. It was probably a good thing that both duellers were strong enough to not let this effect them too much. Probably. It lessened his worry, for one and meant that he could appreciate the complexity of the spells being thrown around here. And the number of non-verbals being used? Merlin!

It was a shame that the duel had to come to a close so soon. The shield was struck up between the two duellers and Hirsch stepped forwards, a wide, dimpled smile spread across his face. "Excellent! That was an amazing effort from both of you. Really very well done from both of you." He couldn't be more pleased, could they tell? "While you've put up a great fight, Mason, I have to say that you, Noelle, have taken the lead today. Congratulations!"

And he was going to take away any lingering effects of the spells used.


Stats:
Noelle Summers: 96.48%
Mason Winslow: 70.25%