Exhibition is a Right: Chapter 23 (Patreon)

"The Heart of the Cards"

All characters depicted are over the age of 18, and all acts are conducted with consent.

Ron stood opposite Alex, looking nervous and fidgeting slightly. His free hand rested on the square pouch on his modified belt, flicking the lid up and down. His wand held firmly in his other hand.

Alex had his arms crossed and a scowl etched into it. The scowl wasn't directed at Ron, but clearly the last duel's outcome had irritated him. And who knew how that would change how he would normally act during these duels.

Before Ron could fret too much, he was distracted by a call from the side. “Go Ron! Go Ron!”

Looking at the source, he blushed at the sight of his girlfriend cheering from the front most bleacher.

Faye had now dropped her heavy coat, revealing her outfit underneath. Clearly, it took inspiration from both muggle cheerleaders, and those of the Veela at the world cup.

Faye was sporting a tight top with a short, frilly skirt and long socks. Her middle was bare and her cleavage spilled from the top, showing off an ample amount of her pale, freckled skin. On her hands were two pom poms that she shook, the whole ensemble being made in Gryffindor red and gold.

“Hey Ron! Kick his ass! Remember what I promised to do if you got on the team!” She called, shaking her pom poms and hopping up and down.

From his place in the bench, Harry wasn't sure whether to appreciate the ample view of her ass this produced, or look away out of respect for his friend. She was his girlfriend after all.

This wasn't seemingly stopping either Ginny or Hermione from making appreciative noises as their eyes tracked her movements though…

Ron blushed, distracted briefly by this sight, before nodding and looking towards Alex with a far more determined look.

Alex lost some of his scowl with a chuckle. “Got a fan already, kid? Not bad. I wonder if you can earn that prize though…”

He drew his own wand, and Flitwick stepped up beside them. “Ready? Start!”

Ron flicked open his pouch and drew a handful of cards. He then drew his hand back and threw all of them down the stage towards Alex.

He didn't even bother to move. Though the cards flew much further than a regular playing card should, none appeared to be very accurate. 

Each one missed him, to land nearby on the floor. Alex raised an eyebrow as he glanced at the nearest one. “Interesting tactic. Are they meant to be sharp? You'll need to get better at throwing them first.”

Ron gritted his teeth. “I'm working on it!” He drew another hand, this time throwing just one card. Alex dodged several, before Ron was able to throw one accurately enough to make dodging difficult.

This time, Alex intercepted it with a spell of his own, impacting it mid-flight. The moment his spell connected, the card exploded into a cloud of smoke, billowing out and briefly obscuring the stage.

Alex swiftly blew away the smoke, revealing Ron still standing in the same spot with cards in hand.

“You really should've taken advantage of that. Oh well, your loss.” 

“Five minutes!” Flitwick called out. 

Alex grinned. “Sorry, but I've got a friend I need to…what?”

All around him, the seemingly “missed” cards started to glow. Alex had just enough time to see the smirk on Ron's face before he is forced to dive forwards in an attempt to avoid the explosion formed by the cards all going off at once.

Still, the force of the explosion pushed him rolling across the stage towards Ron. He was able to recover and roll to his feet, half the distance now between them. 

He deflected a card thrown at him, this time forcing it upwards to detonate harmlessly in the air. 

Alex was now laughing. “Awesome! You got me there kid! But can you finish it off?” Alex started throwing spells back at Ron, who mixed throwing more cards dodging in a desperate attempt to avoid them hitting. 

Despite Alex's rapid approach, Ron seemed determined not to move back or attempt to go around.

Soon, Alex was upon him, and he was unable to dodge the point blank disarmer that tore his wand and his hand of cards from his hands.

Alex pointed his wand at Ron, and he held his hands up slightly in surrender.

“A very interesting style. Never seen exploding snap cards used like that before. Still, you didn't cast a single spell throughout the fight, and that was your downfall. You should've been casting at the same time, doubling your output.”

Ron looked down in apparent defeat. “...actually, I did cast one spell…”

All around them, suddenly the floor of the stage changed as a colour change charm was dropped…revealing the whole floor covered in more cards!

Ron took advantage of Alex's brief shock to duck under his wand and grapple him bodily around the middle. Though Alex was much bigger, Ron was able to prevent him from escaping as the cards started to glow.

“Checkmate” he grinned, and Alex could only sigh as the stage exploded in concussive force, blowing both contestants off the side and onto the cushioned mats.

“Draw!” Flitwick called, with no small amount of excitement.

The hall erupted in cheers, glad to see one of their number actually take one of the professionals down, even if it was a draw. 

Harry stood and clapped with the rest of Gryffindor. “Bloody good show Ron!” he yelled, as Ginny whooped beside him.

By the stage, Alex recovered quickest, likely used to being thrown off the stage. He shook his head in disbelief, before laughing and heading over to where Ron still lay.

“Bloody hell mate, I didn't see that one coming. Clever. You came up with that yourself?” He offered Ron a hand to help him up, one he gratefully accepted. 

“Er…yeah. Was meant to be all about misdirection. I was kinda hoping I would get you with the first explosion, honestly.”

It was at this point Faye flew into his side, hugging him and kissing his cheek. “I knew you could do it! Ohh, I'm gonna treat you to such a good evening we won't be able to walk tomorrow!” She then kissed him fully on the lips, drowning out any response he might have had.

Flitwick then appeared beside them. “If you could at least wait until the teams have been announced, miss Dunbar. I'd rather not have to dock points for inappropriate levels of affection.”

Though his smile suggested he wasn't too upset. The pair separated, and apologized to the professor. Though Fay’s arm didn't leave his waist.

Alex smiled softly. “That kid. He timed the cards almost perfectly to catch me out. Pretended it was a duff throw too. And then set a trap in the smoke for if that didn't work. He's clever, I'll give him that…”

Flitwick clapped loudly, getting the attention of the hall and getting the excitement under control once more.

“Yes, yes, excellent showing. Now, if you would please wait for a moment, the panel will be deciding the team of five that will represent Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament!”

Another cheer, before the hall broke up into smaller conversations. Ron, Faye and, strangely, Susan all walked over to join them on the front row.

“Awesome showing Ron! You too Susan, that trick with the pebbles to break his shield worked great!” Harry complimented. Both Ron and Susan blushed, clashing with their hair.

“Oh…thanks Harry. Though only Ron managed to actually get his opponent off the stage. I know Alex, that's no small feat!” Susan replied, rubbing her arms in embarrassment.

“Nonsense, you did great. Going first was a disadvantage anyways. I'd say Alex was impressed.” Susan smiled more genuinely, and nodded at him. “Thanks, Harry.”

Susan then looked at Ginny, still sitting next to him. A brief, silent conversation seemed to pass between them, before Ginny nodded and Susan smiled wider. She then took the seat on the other side of Harry, and cuddled into his side. 

Harry blinked in surprise, before looking up at Ron in confusion. His best mate just chuckled and shook his head. “Barmy, the lot of them mate”, earning him a poke in the side from Fay. “Oi!”

Before that could turn into a return tickle fight, Hermione hummed in thought, having hardly been paying attention to the squabble.

“Oh dear, looks like some people disagree at the judges table…” Hermione comments, looking over to the side of the stage. 

Indeed, it seemed that both Alex and Flitwick were vehemently arguing against the two seated officials.

No words or sound could be made up, as the area around them had been clearly silenced. Still, after what seemed like several minutes of arguing, Alex threw his arms up in the air, before turning and storming out of the hall.

“Well…that looks like it went well…” Harry muttered, feeling both girls beside him nodding in agreement.

Flitwick said one last comment, which just made Boris smile a sickening smile, before he too left the table in order to climb back onto the stage.

His face was still a little flushed, though he put in his usual smile for the crowd. Everyone in the hall quietened, eager to hear who would be representing their years in the tournament.

“Thank you. After much…deliberation…our team of five have been decided! The team will be Bones, Colin Creevey, Li, Weasley and…Nott”

Flitwick clearly paused with slight distaste at the last name. The hall clapped at all the names, but the clapping noticeably dimmed at the call of Nott after what they had seen him do.

The group around Ron and Susan all congratulated them, Fay giving Ron a hug and kissing his cheek enthusiastically. Even Seamus, despite not making the team himself, patted Ron on the back.

“How can they let Nott compete after he cast that horrid spell?” Susan asked aghast. Harry snorted. “Politics at its finest. Clearly, Alex and Flitwick disagreed, but those two officials have a way of making the decision stick.”

Said two officials were still sitting at their desk. One was gathering the various parchment upon it, but Boris was watching Flitwick give the announcement with smug satisfaction.

Flitwick gestured for quiet. “Now, your team captain will be Weasley. I expect you to coordinate practices and consider tactics” he said while looking at the redhead. He nodded seriously.

Susan and Su both seemed comfortable with that, based on their smiles. Colin still wasn't back from taking Clair to the infirmary, and Nott was nowhere to be seen. He must have left the hall after he got off the stage… 

“Now, the older years trials will be starting soon, so please vacate the hall if you don't plan on watching” Flitwick then turned and hopped off the stage.

This was the cue for Faye to start dragging Ron out of the hall, her intentions clear based on the looks she was giving Ron.

Susan sighed. “I wish I could get a congratulations like he's about to get…” she said wistfully.

Harry felt Ginny elbow his side. When he looked at her, she gestured to Susan, then wriggled her eyebrows and winked. 

He returned her look with an incredulous “Really?” 

Ginny just nodded, before standing and stretching. “Ok, well after all that excitement, I'm heading up to the common room. Cya later Harry, have fun.”

She then reached out and grabbed Hermione's arm. Clearly, she hadn't missed the interplay between them, as she initially resisted. “Er, Ginny. I really would rather…er…”

Ginny simply continued to pull her along. “Another time, Hermione. Let them have their first time in peace…”

Her reply was drowned out by the rest of the hall as they disappeared into the crowd.

Harry shook his head with a soft smile. “What did I do to deserve such a woman…”

Turning back towards Susan, he saw her talking with her house mate, Hannah. He considered waiting until she was alone…but he ran the risk of them heading back to their common room together. And he was nothing if not a Gryffindor at heart.

He stepped up and nodded at Hannah as she noticed him, before turning to Susan. “Great showing there Susan. I was wondering, did you fancy celebrating? Seems my mate has gone to celebrate elsewhere after all…”

Susan paused. Before she gave him a considering look up and down. “Oh? Do I get to choose the celebration?”

Harry nodded, and Hannah barked out a laugh. “Oh, nice going. Have fun Susan. If she can walk when she gets back, I'll consider you as having failed to celebrate enough, Harry!”

Harry sighed as her crude comment drew a few looks from nearby students, though most simply chuckled or rolled their eyes.

Susan simply laughed, grabbing his arm and starting to walk them out of the hall.

“So, where did you have in mind for this celebration Harry? As I said on the express, I expect better than a broom cupboard for our first bit of fun…”

Harry gave a mock thinking pose. “I think I have just the place in mind…”

There we go guys, the Duel trials concluded! Sorry there was so much plot for a few chapters, but as I'm sure you can tell, there's some sexy fun coming up in the next one!

I hope people like the direction I'm taking Ron. I'm not on the "bashing" bandwagon. I hope that this version of Ron, one that is more grown up and is picking his own path away from the shadow of his brothers, makes sense.