The next day's matches continued in an orderly fashion.
By the end, the winners of each year stood upon the final stage.
As expected, the champion of the first years was Harry. Having spent so much time in the Reserve, Harry not only understood Pokémon better than anyone else in his year but also possessed exceptional reflexes—an advantage that made him excel in Pokémon battles as though born for it.
In contrast, many Ravenclaw students, though strong in theory, fell short in practical combat. Charles merely placed those students on a reserve list; if the Pokémon Masters Club expanded in the future, they might be admitted then.
The third-year winner turned out to be Cedric, a familiar face to Charles, while the fifth-year victor was Oliver Wood.
Charles had noticed a clear pattern—students skilled in Quidditch seemed to have a natural edge in Pokémon battles. Perhaps it was because Quidditch players were constantly engaged in intense physical activity.
Whether dodging Bludgers, chasing the Snitch, or maneuvering through the sky, Quidditch players were trained to maintain focus, react swiftly, and adapt to unpredictable situations—qualities that perfectly matched the demands of Pokémon battles.
"After two days of selection," Charles announced, wand in hand, "I have decided who will be admitted into the Pokémon Masters Club. Besides the seven final winners standing before us, twenty-nine other wizards have also met the requirements."
Suddenly—
A burst of blazing fire ignited before him! The flames roared higher than Charles himself, engulfing him completely in a flash of crimson light.
The surrounding students gasped in shock, but Charles walked through the inferno unscathed, as though untouched by fire or heat, moving gracefully within the flames.
And then—
The flames surged once more, reaching almost to the ceiling of the classroom. A wave of heat washed over the young witches and wizards watching below.
In the next moment, the fire faded, leaving behind glowing letters suspended in midair—words formed from molten flame that flowed like living liquid.
"Excellent Transfiguration," Professor McGonagall said approvingly, nodding with pride. She was clearly pleased that her student hadn't neglected his studies in her subject all these years.
Of course, Charles would never neglect Transfiguration.
There was good reason why Transfiguration was considered distinct from Charms—it possessed unmatched versatility.
For one thing, most Transfiguration spells didn't even require spoken incantations, allowing for quick, creative use in real combat situations.
And as a defensive art, it was superb. Even against an opponent who could tear through Protego Maxima, one could simply raise a wall of solid earth using Transfiguration for protection.
However, very few could perform such a feat in the instant between life and death.
Charles's own comment on the matter: "Rolling out of the way is probably more practical."
"Look, we're in!" Ron exclaimed, tugging excitedly on Hermione's sleeve, nearly jumping with joy.
Hermione was calmer, though she couldn't quite hide the gleam of pride on her face.
"I didn't make it…" Neville said miserably. In truth, he had come very close—winning his first match before being eliminated in the second.
"Don't be upset, Neville," Hermione and Ron said in unison. "We all know you would've done better if first-years were allowed to battle personally."
They weren't just comforting him. Both had seen Neville train in the Reserve—his swordsmanship alone could easily defeat a group of first-years who couldn't even cast Wingardium Leviosa properly.
Two other first-years were selected alongside Harry: Draco Malfoy and Susan Bones of Hufflepuff.
"How unfair—Malfoy got in too," Ron groaned. It was probably the only thing that ruined his night.
"That's not surprising," Hermione said, fair-minded as ever. "He did perform quite well."
"No, he didn't! He lost his first match!"
"That's because his opponent was Harry—and Harry became the champion."
"Still! Hermione, whose side are you on?" Ron snapped, clearly irritated that she wouldn't side with him and Harry against Malfoy. Was that how a real friend should act?
Hermione ignored him.
Gryffindor ended up claiming three first-year spots, which naturally stirred some discontent among the other houses—especially the Ravenclaw first-years, none of whom were chosen.
Fortunately for them, the second-years redeemed their pride.
The second-year champion was Cho Chang. In this version of events, Cho was even more stunning than in the films. Both Harry and Cedric found their eyes drawn to her at the same moment.
Harry didn't understand why—it was rude to stare, yet he couldn't help it. Every time he tried to look away, his gaze drifted back to her as if pulled by invisible magic.
It was as though Cho had become a "white demon" constantly casting "Follow Me".
Cedric, being older, knew better—it wasn't Follow Me at all. It was Cute Charm in full effect.
His heart stirred with youthful excitement, and he silently vowed to get to know Cho better once the club's meetings began.
Five second-years made the final list, with no Gryffindors among them this time. The third-years, however, included two Gryffindor representatives—the Weasley twins.
The fourth-year winner came from Slytherin, and Slytherin also had the most members selected overall.
By the fifth year, the competition had narrowed almost entirely to Slytherin and Gryffindor—after all, fifth-years were permitted to battle personally.
In such circumstances, it was inevitable that these two long-standing rival houses would dominate.
Other houses still had standout performers, and overall, the final club roster was quite balanced among all four houses.
When the list of new members was posted, reactions were mixed—some cheered, others sulked. But Charles wasn't done yet. He dropped one last surprise that immediately made even the complacent students tense.
"The names I've just read are those officially accepted into the club," Charles said. "Those who weren't selected shouldn't be discouraged—the club may open for new members in the future.
"As for those who were chosen, take note: our gatherings will be held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. If that conflicts with your schedule… well, you'll have to make your own choice."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing:
"Attendance isn't mandatory, but be aware—I will periodically assess each member's progress. Anyone failing to meet standards will lose their qualification. Meanwhile, students who perform exceptionally well in class may earn the right to challenge a current member.
"Whoever wins such a challenge will take that member's place in the club."
A murmur spread through the students—half excitement, half anxiety.
And so, the first round of Hogwarts' Pokémon Masters Club selection came to an end.
(End of Chapter)