Introduction
Gryffindor verses Slytherin...
That is where we left off, and it appeared that Bellatrix was on the verge of completing three things with that last spell.
One: Becoming the first female Hogwarts Dueling Champion.
Two: Trnasferring her long-time rival to Slytherin House.
Three: Ensuring her place among the Death Eaters.
But has she truly won, and how does the aftermath affect all those involved?
Chapter 29: Bittersweet Victory
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the Headmaster called from the podium of the Great Hall. "This is a most auspecious occassion for us all. Today, we honor our triumphant House Champion who not only showed such great skill and ingenuity on the Dueling Field, but who is also the very first witch to win the title of Interhouse Dueling Champion."
The Champion made her way to the front of the platform as Dumbledore concluded, "For this a grand ball shall be arranged to congradulate our new Champion..."
The Grand Crest barer removed her helmet as the wizard announced to the amazed students.
"Ms. Lily Aurora Evans of Gryffindor House!"
A stunned silence swept through the Hall for one heartbeat, then everybody cheered for their school's new Dueling Champion. Professor McGonagall and James Potter were especially happy for the way things had turned out.
"Expelliarmus!" Bellatrix hissed in her snake voice at the struggling lion.
The spell connected and released the wand from the warrior's grasp.
"NO!" Potter cried out.
"Yes! Pay up Avery!" Mulciber cheered as Avery searched his pockets for his money bag.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Alan Jordin gapped into the megaphone, "it seems as if the Gryffindor Champion has just- Wait a minute! Something's happening on the Pitch!"
Indeed something was happening because, for one thing, the wand was still connected to the Champion's hand by a long piece of wood. The bark on it was becoming thicker and thicker as the flames increased around the lion. The lion itself was becoming wooden and feeding the flames as they climbed up to the wand's tip.
The second thing that happened was that the purple-flamed ropes had turned orange, and then splitting in half. This made two pillars of flames, mirroring the position that the original pillar had taken, and kept replicating until the Slytherin Champion was surrounded, wands pointed at her.
Then another figure emerged from behind the snake and tapped it on the shoulder.
Bellatrix turned around just in time for the true Gryffindor Champion to say, "Expelliarmus!"
Her wand flew out of her hand for the final time.
"I DON'T BELIEVE IT! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Jordin kept saying into the megaphone as he jumped up and down in his seat.
"That makes two of us!" Severus thought as he placed his head in his hands.
McGonagall kept shaking with excitement as she took the megaphone to announce, "Gryffindor has just won the Interhouse Dueling Championship!"
After Bellatrix was forced to give the victor her half of the pendant she marched out of the stadium and into the castle. There she made her way to her dormatory and was planning to weep in her pillow when she noticed a note addressed to her with a very familiar graphic on the front.
Once Lily combined the amulets the armor began changing its form, going from a lion's body to that of a traditional knight. The armor was white with the school crest showing proudly on the sexless chest, and her wand was transformed to look like a thin, double-edged sword with a jeweled handle and diamond tipped blade.
All of Gryffindor House and their supporters cheered and celebrated as the new Champion raised her wand and shouted, "Restora Finite Incantantum!"
At once the Quidditch Pitch was returned to its original state.
It was now after dinner and everyone was congradulating the Hogwarts Champion as she, and her Housemates, made their way up to Gryffindor Tower. However a voice called to Lily from the bottom of the staircase and she doubled back to see who it was.
All alone at the end of the stairs was Severus and he had a sad smile on his face as Lily made her way down.
"Congradulations on your victory Lily. I'm proud of you," he said as he gave her a hug.
"Thanks Sev," Lily replied before looking at him, "but I can tell you're also disappointed. What is it?"
Deliberating for a moment Severus answered, "Sorry Lily, I guess I'm just a little torn."
"Torn?" she asked.
"Yes, because of the results would have turned out either way," he elaborated. "On one hand I would've been estatic if you were transfered into Slytherin so we could be together nearly all of the time. But then we would have to suffer through Trixie's constant bragging and strutting around like an overpampered poodle.
"On the other hand, which is what we are on now, I am happy that you won, but I am also disappointed that you are not in my House," Severus concluded still looking Lily in the eye.
That is when he heard her think, "I'm just as disappointed, but there was no way I was going to allow that tramp to wear this medallion. Its power is far too great for a spoiled child like her to have."
Aloud Lily said, "I know Sev, and I guess it doesn't help that you'll probably be hearing her cry and complain that she didn't win."
"Don't worry about it, love. I've been used to her ranting about how kept losing to you for five years. I'm sure I can handle it again after a seven month reprieve," Severus replied with a smile as they hugged good bye for the day.
When he returned to the Slytherin common room he saw his LAER members in the chairs surrounding the small dining table, apparently having a heated discussion which was primarily centered around the day's results.
"What is going on?" Severus asked, taking a seat a the head of the table in a vacant chair.
"You mean besides the fact that Lily's things have not been carried inside the girls' spare room that we had made for her, we're practically back where we started from, and that Trixie's in her room right now howling at her loss like an overdramatic child, nothing really," Mulciber answered. "Oh, and I lost over one thousand Galleons after the tourney was over, so I think my parents are going to come here to kill me soon."
"What have I told you about gambling?" Severus asked, rubbing his eyes in annoyance.
Then he smiled at his fellow members saying, "But I do have some good news for you all. As far as Lily's concerned, we are not back where we started."
"What do you mean Severus?" Karkaroff asked.
"I mean we have only been detained," he replied, a cunning smile forming on his pale lips.
A.N. Sorry if I tested anyone's patience with the cliff-hanger, but I was just as anxious writing it as you were reading it.
I hope you all like this next installment of the series, and please feel free to let me know what you think.
*Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the other characters mentioned in this fanfiction story.*