You Chose This, Idol

The Great Hall had been rearranged that Saturday afternoon.

The four long tables were gone. In their place stood a gilded dueling platform raised from the floor.

It was about ten paces long and five wide, with winding vines carved along its edges—except some of the vines weren't decorative. They moved.

A few tendrils crept slowly along, occasionally reaching an inch beyond the platform before drawing back, as though testing whether anyone in the crowd dared step onto it.

The enchanted starry sky overhead had been dimmed.

Hundreds of candles floated beside the walls, their flames all tinted blue. The lighting made the Great Hall look like a boxing arena before the match began.

Gavin and Ernie stood in the third row of the crowd.

Justin squeezed through from behind and took his place on Gavin's other side.

"Don't you think—" Justin looked around, "in the Muggle world, you'd probably have to buy a ticket to get in here?"

"And champagne would cost extra in the VIP boxes."

"What's champagne?" Ernie asked curiously.

"A fizzy Muggle drink whose main purpose is to launch its cork."

Ernie looked even more puzzled. That sounded like a ridiculous drink even by Wizarding World standards.

But the mention of drinks reminded Ernie of something.

He took out a bottle of potion, uncorked it, and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls. Catching the looks Gavin and Justin gave him, he added, "Sorry, I forgot to drink it today."

"What is that?" Justin asked, intrigued.

"A tonic," Ernie said calmly.

"Have you been tired lately?" Gavin suddenly sounded concerned about Ernie's health.

"No." Ernie thought for a moment before answering.

"Then why...?" Gavin found it strange.

"Oh, my grandfather had someone make a whole crate of this over the summer. He told me to take a