This Weekend, Read This
The Unofficial Harry Potter Bracket Part 7
By Curt David and Emily Gibson
May 21, 2020
BoxOfficeProphets.com
To see the 32 seeded wizards and witches, and more info about the tournament, click here.
To learn how the previous duels went down, click here.
Note: All of these Harry Potter columns might contain spoilers from the series.
The Elite 8 duels went down, and I am going to share with you the results here. If you would like to vote for the remaining duels, feel free to follow along on Twitter @himmelberger_c and Instagram @curt_himmelberger.
Also, the amazing and wonderful Emily Gibson (FB: emily.gibson.12) has created the dueling stories you’ll see below.
Without further ado, here are the results:
MATCH 1: Who would win in a duel between Molly Weasley (1) and Nymphadora Tonks (2)?
Molly Weasley received 76% of the votes vs. 24% for Nymphadora Tonks, so Mrs. Weasley moves on to the Final Four.
How did the duel go down? Emily explains:
Official: “Up next Molly Weasley and Nymphadora Tonks.”
Molly walks up with her head held high, confident and unfazed that she is in the final 8. Tonks walks up with bright red hair that matches all other Weasley hair.
Official: “The combatants face each other, bow, and then attempt to disarm, injure, or kill each other in order to force submission, and thus a winner is decided. On the count of three…”
Tonks starts to transform.
Official: “One. Two. Three.”
Molly is now standing across from Ginny/Tonks who looks worried and says, “You don't want to duel your own daughter.”
Molly shakes her head, ``You're not my daughter!” And her wand lights up just as Ginny’s wand lights up to prevent the curse from getting her.
Ginny cries, “Mom it's me! I love you, why are you doing this?!?”
Molly looks confused for just a second and Ginny's wand lights up. Molly's wand fends off the attack. She closes her eyes and amplifies her attack. Ginny stumbles and falls. Molly has ropes coming from her wand that are wrapping up Ginny.
Official: “Molly wins.”
On the floor is Tonks wrapped in ropes with bright neon green hair.
Match Analysis:
Out of the voters who commented, there were three main reasons to vote for Molly Weasley. The first reason usually offered little explanation and were just voters describing Molly Weasley in terms like “unstoppable.” The second reason had to deal with her being an expert mother who is unstoppable. And the third reason had to deal with all of her experience and training as a wizard, including defeating Bellatrix, and often also used the words “unstoppable.” Almost a quarter of the votes went to Tonks, but very few reasons were given.
Molly Weasley beats Tonks and moves on to the Final Four where she will duel either Hermione Granger or Severus Snape (keep reading this article to find out that winner).
My conclusion: Voters like Tonks, of course, but their passionate writing came out with voting for Molly Weasley. Mrs. Weasley does indeed seem unstoppable. I predict that she will make it to the Final 2 after beating Granger or Snape based on the responses so far. The only way this prediction might be skewed is that fact that she has had an easier bracket than anyone else in the Final Four.
MATCH 2: Who would win in a duel between Kingsley Shacklebolt (4) and Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody (2)?
Kingsley Shacklebolt received 59% of the votes vs. 41% for Mad-Eye Moody, so Shacklebolt moves on to the Final Four.
How did the duel go down? Emily explains:
Official, “Up next is Kingsley Shacklebolt and Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody.”
Shacklebolt appears in the middle of the stage confident and aware of what was on the line. He has a hunger for the win after defeating Bellatrix.
Mad-Eye wobbles to the stage with his gnarled walking stick helping him along the way. He hobbles to his side of the stage with his magical eye going crazy looking in every direction.
Official: “The combatants face each other, bow, and then attempt to disarm, injure, or kill each other in order to force submission, and thus a winner is decided. On the count of three…”
Both take their stance.
Official: “One. Two. Three.”
Both wands light up different colors. One sends a curse, the other counters the curse followed by another curse. They both circle with colors flying from both wands. This goes on and on and on. The circling looked like a well planned distance dance. The colors coming off the wands are hypnotic. Seconds turn to minutes, as minutes turn into hours. They are both sweating and not taking eyes off one another. Mad-Eye’s magical eye flips to the back of his head. As Shacklebolt tosses another curse, Mad-Eye is a second late on his counter curse, and falls to the ground as his walking stick flies across the stage.
Official: “Shacklebolt wins!”
Match analysis:
Out of the voters who commented, the main reasons to vote for Shacklebolt were comparative adjectives against Moody (he is younger, smarter, has more ability, calmer, etc.). There was a tie for the next two most common reasons to vote for Shacklebolt. People either described the actual events in the book (I’ll try to keep spoilers out, but comparing who lives and dies and who battles and who gets captured, etc.) OR they described what actually happened in this tournament (Shacklebolt beat Bellatrix; therefore, he can beat Moody)! About the same number of people said that Moody would win because he wouldn’t hesitate and gives zero F’s as the people said that he is too paranoid to win.
Kingsley Shacklebolt moves on to the Final Four where he will duel either Ron Weasley or Minerva McGonagall (keep reading this article to find out that winner).
My conclusion: This match was pretty close. Of course, the Elite 8 is exciting, but I am already getting the sense that the Final Four is going to be out of this world. I thoroughly loved how people took the previous results in the tournament into consideration for who would win this fight. It adds gravitas to this whole experience and conversations like these have now completely fulfilled the hole in my heart when March Madness was cancelled this year due to the pandemic.
MATCH 3: Who would win in a duel between Minerva McGonagall (1) vs. Ron Weasley (3)?
Minerva McGonagall received 89% of the votes vs. 11% for Ron Weasley, so McGonagall moves on to the Final Four.
How did the duel go down? Emily explains:
Official, “Up next is Minerva McGonagall and Ron Weasley.”
McGonagall proceeds up to the front; she looks composed and unperturbed by the groups cheering loudly. Ron speaks with George and Fred and then stands up with his face slightly ghostly-looking, very contrasting to his bright red hair. He anxiously walks to the stage while smoothing out his robes, and fiddles with his pocket.
Official: “The combatants face each other, bow, and then attempt to disarm, injure, or kill each other in order to force submission, and thus a winner is decided. On the count of three…”
McGonagall, “Mr. Weasley, is there something on your robes that is causing you to fidget?”
Ron, “No, Professor McGonagall.”
Official, “One. Two.”
Ron pulls out his clicker outer and the lights went out; it was pitch black. He then tosses out a Basic Blaze Box: fireworks go everywhere, and light up the stage.
McGonagall’s wand goes red; then Ron is rendered defenseless as his wand leaves his hand. McGonagall sprays water over the stage to prevent a fire as everyone watches the fireworks.
Ron stands in awe.
Official, “McGonagall wins!”
Match analysis:
Out of the voters who commented, the main reason to vote for McGonagall (not counting the hordes of people whose reasoning was the fact that she IS McGonagall!) was of course her skills, experience, and power. However, just as many people mentioned the fact that she is a teacher, Ron is her student, and she would use this duel to teach him a lesson. But all those reasons for McGonagall do not equal the number of people who voted against Ron, with comments like: it’s cute that he’s even trying, how did he even get this far in the tournament, wouldn’t stand a chance, he got this far by falling upward, etc.
McGonagall moves on to the Final Four where she will duel Kingsley Shacklebolt.
My conclusion: I was actually surprised! Beginning of the tournament, I would have thought that she would have easily beaten Ron. Hence why he was only ranked a third-seed in the region. He barely beat Professor Flitwick in the first round (who is a worthy competitor) and then annihilated second-seed Dolores Umbridge in the Sweet 16, making me think that Ron Weasley’s fan base was going to make him a harder opponent for McGonagall. Nope, McGonagall easily beat him. (I still wish Umbridge would have beat Ron, because a McGonagall vs. Umbridge duel is what we all really wanted to imagine).
MATCH 4: Who would win in a duel between Hermione Granger (1) and Severus Snape(2)?
Severus Snape received 55% of the votes vs 45% for Hermione Granger, so Snape moves on to the Final Four.
How did the duel go down? Emily explains:
Official, “Up next is Severus Snape and Hermione Granger.”
Snape approaches the stage, his greasy black hair covering his cold black eyes as he looks very unimpressed with the duel. Hermione puts down the book she was reading and walks up confident and cool-headed.
Officials: “The combatants face each other, bow, and then attempt to disarm, injure, or kill each other in order to force submission, and thus a winner is decided. On the count of three…”
Snape snarls, “You have always been an insufferable know-it-all, Miss Granger.”
Hermione takes her stance.
Official: “One. Two. Three.”
Both wands light up, with curses and anti-curses flying back and froth. It's a light show unlike we have seen. Neither was giving an inch. Both are two steps ahead in casting spells.
The circling on the stage, and all the lights stirs up a Boggart from under the stage and it catches Hermione’s eye. She sees that she was not supposed to be there and that she was not good enough. She pauses just long enough to get a leg locker curse, which makes her fall. Then Snape turns on the Boggart who had turned to him and was showing Lily’s death. He yells, “Riddikulus.”
Hermione sends one more spell. Snape disarms the spell and sends a full body curse to Hermione. Then he walks off the stage without looking back.
Official: “Snape wins!”
Match analysis:
Out of the voters who commented (and SO many comments for this duel), the main reason to vote for Snape was his experience and cleverness (his wizarding power, being just as booksmart as Hermione, creating his own spells, etc.). The next reason was his ruthlessness and ability to play dirty. And a third reason was the fact that Dumbledore AND Voldemort trusted him. Hermione also had a strong showing of support, with people of course mentioning her skills and cleverness and the fact that she has had years of Snape torturing her and her friends. Another strong reason to vote for Hermione was the thought that Snape wouldn’t think she was strong and would underestimate her.
Severus Snape moves on to the Final Four where he will duel Molly Weasley.
My conclusion: Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! This was such a nailbiter! Counting the votes was so stressful. Snape didn’t pull ahead until the 11th hour. I have never sweated so much in my life. I really, really wanted Hermione to win too. This was the closest match so far this tournament, and she has the record now for the most votes scored for a second-place showing. What is my conclusion, though? I don’t know; I am too shocked to process this. But I think I may have underestimated Snape when I seeded him as a second-seed. I still think Molly Weasley will beat him next round, but my confidence in predicting this tournament has gone out the window (like Snape did in the book!).
Next column: the results of the Final Four!