Sword is equal to Wand, Chapter 27 (Patreon)

I went over to the head of my house in McGonagall who was smiling ear to ear even though she hid it behind a cough, before she spoke imperiously. "Impressive work, Mr. Bariss, I am proud to have seen your hard work culminate in such a decisive victory."

I smiled helplessly as this was just the warm-up at this point. With McGonagall nodding as well as she asked more seriously. "Are you sure you want to continue with the second year bouts as well, Jake?"

"Yes, I want to see where my limits lie." I said firmly.

McGonagall gave a small smile at that. At my confidence, but she just took a breath and said. "Good, I am happy you have such determination. The second year's fights will happen in another hour. So go hang out with your friends and regain any spent strength."

With that I took my certificate for winning the first tournament, which would also be used to cash in my materials for my cultivation in the near future. And I moved to head back over to my friend group.

But all too soon, I was waylaid by a certain Slytherin. And it wasn't Daphne Greengrass either.

"Why did you teach Greengrass how to fight!?" Dorea snapped at me as she all but stomped her heels as she cut me off.

I gave the big titty silver-haired blond a very dull look before I adopted Snape's dull tone as I replied as though she was an utter dullard for even asking.

"She paid me, obviously..."

And in the distance, I could hear Rosaria snort in the background as my friends caught up to what was happening.

But Dorea was hard focused on me and wasn't paying attention as more and more people focused on this tangle up, as I had just come off of getting my reward for beating them all basically.

"So what!? I could have paid you more! And why have you been avoiding me as well!?" 

And somehow... With an even duller tone, I managed to say. "Because Daphne paid me even more to avoid you as well."

That was the straw that broke Dorea as she went to slap me.

Her fair hand sliced through the air. Like a marble artwork that was intent upon smacking the spit out of me.

I just... Leaned back a bit to avoid the swipe and then as her eyes went wide at missing me so horribly. I stepped forward casually and just knocked her over with my shoulder as I called out. "Ron! My ginger brotha from another motha, you said you were going to get me a drink after that fight you git!"

I threw my arm around Ron this time, and I could feel Dorea's eyes boring into my back as I met back up with my friend group.

And for a moment I thought one of the teacher's were going to call us out. But with a glance at Snape and Mavuika... I could see the two of them looking at Dorea with disappointment in Snape's eyes and just pity in Mavuika's own.

So yeah, no one got in trouble because the teachers literally just felt bad for Dorea, who quickly left the Main Hall after being so embarrassed.

And Ginny, being the sole ginger with a soul in the Weasley family. 'Because the last time I made a soul-lesser ginger joke in front of her she threatened to kick me in the nuts.'

She was the one who gave me a drink, and we talked for a good bit. They asked me how the fights went... I said it felt fucking weird to kick someone's chest in.

And both girls shared a look before Ginny said with a clear warning. "You better not kick me in the chest at any point, Jake. I don't want to end up with lopsided boobs you hear me!"

I was about to say teasingly about how I myself most certainly didn't want her to have lopsided boobs either. But uhhh her brother was right here, so I managed not to throw myself down into that social death canyon.

"Then you can't kick me in the nuts either." I said pointedly.

"Nah, I am going to kick you in the nuts as soon as I can get the chance. You keep throwing me out of the arena's like I am a bag of trash you are trying to throw into an alley bin!" Rosaria said with spite clear in her tone.

And I could only chuckle helplessly as Ron met my gaze, asking for help, and he just said flatly. "Sorry dude, no matter what happens. If you beat a girl in a fight, you lose." 

Both Rosaria and Ginny gave Ron dirty looks for calling them petty but as I felt Daphne's own pointed gaze into my back.... I realized Ron might not be so wrong either way.

Supposedly, Daphne had a 'reward' slash favor for me for beating her, especially if I win the second year's bout. But uhhh yeah. What if that reward was like more work, like teaching her younger sister on the weekends or something?

Soon enough, however, as everyone got back to their house tables to take a quick meal before the second year started their own round of bouts. McGonagall waved me over and I came over to listen to what she had to say.

"Jake, I am going to let you watch the first round of bouts, so you have an idea of what you are looking at. At least from beyond what you had seen in the training pits back in the House Common Room."

I nodded in understanding as while I had seen upper years who COULD use elemental martial arts and actual magical means. I was perfectly willing to take a skip through the first round after all.

"I am fine with that." I said firmly.

McGonagall gave me a nod of encouragement before she said. "Good, I will call on you after the first series of bouts is over. Now, excuse me, but I must get the event on the way.