CHAPTER 9: THE DUEL

     "Are you ready Harry?" asked Voldemort.

     "Aren't you just a bit impatient?  I guess that's what happens when you keep messing up." Harry sneered back.

     All around them there were wizards.  More than half were Harry's supporters, but there were more dark forces closing in.  Harry could feel them.  He turned to see Dumbledore along with the rest of his professors standing close to him.  His emerald eyes were glowing.  "Albus, I can feel his reinforcements coming from the south.  You must tell Arthur Weasley.  He's on his way along with Hermione and the rest of the Weasley family.  Bill and Charlie are on the way too." 

     "Very well Harry.  Is there anything else?"

     "Yes." Looking to Dumbledore's left he said, "Professor Snape.  Severus, I've never asked you for anything, but I'm going to ask now.  Think of it as a last request."

     "What is it Potter?"

     "Please try to be nice to Neville.  He is trying, and you never know what might happen.  He might surprise you."  He took a step back and bowed gracefully.  He turned to face Voldemort.  Looking him straight in the eye he raised the sword, and said calmly, "One shall stand.  One shall fall."

     "Yes, but I intend to be the one standing."  He jumped up and lunged at Harry.

     Harry quickly dodged Voldemort's first attack and was quickly on the defensive.  He was blocking and parrying just as if he were in a wand duel.  He let his instincts take over.  The battle was just beginning and Harry could feel the nervousness of everyone there.  Suddenly Voldemort jumped away.

     "Not bad Harry.  I'm impressed.  Where did you learn the art of dueling?"

     "Now why would I tell you?"  In reality he didn't even know, but he just remembered what Godric had told him.  Just to let go, and let his feelings take over.  He looked around at his surroundings.  To his left were Death Eaters.  To his right were ministry wizards, hit wizards and his professors.  He saw a group of people running up from the entrance of the park.  He inwardly smiled as he recognized the Weasley clan.  Then he saw her.  His eyes fixed on the one person in the whole world he wanted to protect more than anything.  That's when he heard the twig snap.

     Instinctively he rolled forward to avoid the attack from behind.  'Damn Harry pay attention.  Focus.  For her I will not lose!'  "Come on Tom." he said.  "You've got to do better than that.  Let me see what the high and mighty Tom Riddle can do with a sword."

     "Are you sure you want to see that Harry?  I'm just toying with you.  I can do much better if you want me to."  His laugh filled the air as he pressed his attack.  He was leading Harry to his right when all of a sudden he stopped.  He held his sword up so that Harry could see it and magically it split.  He now had two swords.  Harry could see him smile.  "Come on boy," he hissed.

     Harry's scar was burning now.  All the evil that was in Voldemort was flowing freely.  Harry staggered, and slipped to one knee.  'Not now!  Block out the pain.  You've had worse.  Concentrate.'  He was breathing heavy, but still watching Voldemort.  A flash suddenly hit him.  He saw the new Death Eaters arriving.  "Albus!" he called.  "Send them now." 

     There was a voice in the crowd.  Harry realized that it belonged to Mr. Weasley.  "Red and Blue units let's go.  They're trying to flank us."  He looked over towards Fred, George and Ron.  "Boys, take care of your mother and Hermione."

     "Dad, Fred and I are coming with you," George said.

     Mr. Weasley was about to say something when there was a voice behind him.  "I don't think so George Weasley."  The twins turned to see their older brothers Charlie and Bill.  It was Bill who spoke.  "We called into the house and the Grangers filled us in."

     "You guys stay here like dad said." Charlie said.  "We're going with him.  The dragons are ten minutes behind us."

     "Okay, I'm proud of all of you.  You all know what to do.  Good luck."

     Just then Ron spoke up.  "Fred, give them half of your inventory.  I think they'll find use for them."

     "What do you have Fred?" Bill asked.

     "Here the red ones are binding and locking spells and the pink ones are freezing spells.  They'll only work on humans though.  The dragons will be fine."

     "More stuff from 3W eh guys?  Good work." Charlie said with a smile.  "Let's have 'em."

     "I can sense the flanking maneuver Tom.  That's not bad thinking, but it's a bit out dated.  You look surprised.  Your tactics are getting old.  You might want to think of new ones."

     "You wanted this duel Potter.  Are we going to talk or fight?"

     "What's the matter?  I thought you enjoyed bantering back and forth.  I thought it gave you a feeling of security.  No worries though if it's a fight you want then we shall start again."

     The fight was back on.  They battled for twenty minutes, neither of them giving an inch.  It was Lucius Malfoy that tried to tip the balance.  Harry was back pedaling to avoid another slash from one of Voldemort's twin blades when Malfoy stuck his foot out.  "Maybe you should learn to walk before laying down a challenge Potter." He snickered.

     Harry started to get up when there was a kick to his body.  "Come on Harry.  Don't make it that easy.  I thought you were going to beat me senseless."

     Harry rolled to his right looking straight at Voldemort he said, "I am.  Don't you worry about that Tom," he stood and got back into his fighting stance.  "I hope you're ready to lose."

     "We'll see Potter.  We'll see." 

     Voldemort attacked, but this time Harry was ready.  In one split second he decided to just let instinct take over.  Voldemort was continuing to press the attack.  He had the edge because of his twin blades, but Harry was up to the task.  As the fight carried on Harry made a quick decision to move slightly to his right.  There was a twig sticking up in a peculiar way.  When he reached it he pushed his foot underneath it and kicked up.

     The dirt rose in the air toward Voldemort who had to duck out of the way to avoid it getting in his face.  The twig on the other hand rose straight at Harry.  In one smooth motion he grabbed the twig and transfigured it into another sword.  He started to go on the offensive.  He could feel the astonishment in the air from everyone.  He could sense that Voldemort was felling confused while McGonagall's reaction was of pride.  He could feel the tide of battle turning to his favor.

     "Impressive, very impressive Harry," Voldemort said.  "I see that Professor McGonagall's lessons were well learned.  Come on Harry.  Join with me and we can rule the world." 

     "I will never join you Tom.  Do you hear me?  Never!"  In a sudden rage Voldemort pitched his right hand up and caught Harry's left wrist causing him to loose his new sword.  "Aggh!" he yelled.  Harry was now back down to one sword, but still continued to fight valiantly.  'Damn.  Just when I was gaining the upper hand he gets me.  I'll get him back though.  I can do this.' He quickly spun around Voldemort's left side and slashed downward.  Voldemort's forearm was cut, but more importantly he had dropped the sword.  Harry laughed at this.  "Now we're both in the same boat.  Come on!"

     Harry jumped and swung his sword with little effort.  He started to press the attack once more.  Voldemort was backpedaling – dodging more than parrying.  He looked into Harry's eyes and saw that they were focused and determined. 

     He started to move to his right when he felt a wall blocking his path.  He realized that this sixteen year old boy had the mind to put up a blocking spell so that he could not escape.  'Damn.  He's better than I expected' he thought.  'I'd best be more careful.'  Gradually his years of experience brought him back to equal footing with Harry.  He was forcing him to go back on the defensive.  "You're strong.  I'll give you that, but I've got the experience.  I'm better, and I'll prove it."  He started to attack relentlessly, but Harry stood his ground to the best of his ability.

     Harry saw his other blade lying on the ground to his right.  He slowly started to move that way with Voldemort following.  He was bringing Voldemort along slowly until he was a few feet away from the sword.  While never once wavering he took one hand off his sword as he called for the other.  It lifted up off the ground heeding the call.  Harry suddenly charged making a circular motion with the two blades.  As one was slashing down the other was coming around for a killing blow.  Voldemort took one step back.  The sword in Harry's right hand hit nothing but air.  Voldemort threw his sword straight and up towards the sword in Harry's left hand.  With a twist he reopened the cut on Harry's wrist and once again the sword was dropped. 

     Voldemort went quickly on the offensive driving Harry back.  Further and further he rode Harry until suddenly he stopped.  As if driven mad by rage Harry lost his composure spinning and slashing hard.  Voldemort pushed his sword out and slashed in an upward motion intercepting the sword.  He curled both swords around the other, and flung Harry's away from him.  When it landed it was sticking straight up out of the ground directly in front of Hermione.  Everyone in the circle was deathly still.

     Her eyes (along with everyone else's) looked from the sword back to Harry.  She could no longer control the tears that were welling up in her eyes.  "No Harry.  God please no." she cried softly.

     "So it ends Mr. Potter."  Voldemort said.  "You fought well, but now you are mine."  He started to come forward.

     Harry looked at his surroundings.  There was nothing there to help him, and since it was his challenge no one could interfere.  As he was looking he heard Voldemort speak to him, but the only thing he could see was the look of shear terror and pain in Hermione's eyes.  He saw Voldemort come towards him. 

     Showing no fear of his own, he spoke softly, "You have already lost."  Nothing but the length of Voldemort's sword separated them.  To Harry it was if they were in slow motion.  He sidestepped to the right, and went into a spinning motion.  During the spin he reached over and grabbed the hilt of the sword out of his Voldemort's hands.  As the spin was almost finished Harry was in full control of the sword.  At the last second before the spin was finished Voldemort noticed two things - Harry was glowing gold and crimson, and that he had lost the duel.

     Instead of the lone sword being in Voldemort's hand it was in Harry's, and instead of Harry being on the ground dead it was Voldemort.  Harry looked and saw that he cut about a quarter into Voldemort's neck.  He was about to go over and finish him off when there were three Crusciatus Curses thrown directly at him.  As everyone was in shock because of what Harry just did no one noticed the Death Eater's curses right away.  It didn't matter anyway because they just seemed to bounce away harmlessly.  He turned to face his attackers. 

     Two Death Eaters ran up to Voldemort and apperated away with him while the third was headed toward Harry.  No one noticed a young man of seventeen had picked up one of the fallen swords. 

     "Damn you Potter." said the voice.  "You should have joined us.  Now you have to die."

     "Your master has been beaten Malfoy." Harry said recognizing the voice.  "Do you want to be next?"

     "You forget boy I have the wand while you only have a sword."  Raising his wand he said, "Goodbye….Harry Potter." 

     Then there was silence.  There were little skirmishes here and there.  Dumbledore, McGonagall, Ron and Hermione were running towards Harry shooting spells as they went.

     "Harry look out!" Ron yelled.

     "Avada -" was the only thing Lucius Malfoy got to say.  As the rest of the Death Eaters apperated away everyone turned to see only one remained.  As the group of Harry's supporters came to a resounding stop they could only look at the body of Lucius Malfoy on his knees in front of Harry with blood coming from his mouth and chest.  His transfigured sword was sticking out of the elder Malfoy's chest.  The professors, Ron and Hermione stood looking in disbelief.

     Harry looked past Lucius Malfoy and saw his classmate, Draco Malfoy at the other end of the sword.  "Draco?" Harry asked.  "Why?"

     "Because Potter, I happen to agree with you."  Turning to his father he said, "I'm also tired of this game.  Now, hopefully the world is rid of Voldemort, and she is rid of you.  I am rid of you.  Goodbye, Lucius."  Draco Malfoy took one last look at his father and turned walking away in disgust.

     Dumbledore smiled, "Mr. Malfoy," he said.

     "Yes Headmaster?"

     "That took a lot of courage.  Well done.  If we were in cession, I think that would be worth at least a hundred points for showing true courage in the face of danger."

     "Thanks Professor.  I just wish that I did it sooner."  He turned and slowly walked away.  He didn't even notice the pair of eyes who saw that the ice around his heart slowly melting away.

     Dumbledore turned looking at Harry.  "Are you alright?"

     "I think so.  I did as um…he said.  I let myself go, but I don't think these surges are over.  It just doesn't seem like I let everything go."  He bent down, and picked up his sword.  "Professor Dumbledore, I would like for you to hang on to this.  Do you mind?"

     "Certainly not Harry, but I'm curious.  Why?"

     "Well, I don't think that it would be prudent if I kept it in the dorm.  Someone may hurt themselves by accident.  If I should need it again I'll just ask for it."

     "You know Harry I think you're a wiser man than you let on.  I would be honored to hold on to the sword for you."

     Harry and the others quickly left as the wizards from the Ministry of Magic worked to repair any damage that they had caused by the battle.  They also had the job of giving new memories to the muggles who just happened to walk by.  Everything included it took them a good remainder of the day. 

     "Professor Dumbledore.  Can I ask a question?"  Hermione spoke up.

     "Well I think you just did, but you can ask me another one if you like."

     "Well I was wondering if you knew why Harry's eyes were glowing during the duel, and also at the end why was his entire body glowing?"

     "I think that's a question for another time Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall spoke up.

     "I quite agree Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said.  "Ah, here we are.  Hello Molly.  I hope everything is in order."

     "Yes, Headmaster it is.  Arthur is coming back with Bill and Charlie now."

     "Good, then we're all set."  Turning to Harry he smiled.  "Harry you will go to your aunt and uncles for the night.  Pack your belongings and be ready at eight o'clock.  I will send Arabella for you and she'll bring you to the Burrow.  Is that okay with you?"

     "Yes sir.  There are things I need to get organized. Err…Mrs. Weasley?"

     "Yes Harry?" she asked.  "What can I do for you?"

     "Before you leave can I speak with Hermione for a minute?"

     "I have no problem with it, but I would ask her permission first.  Wouldn't that be the right thing to do?"

     "I see your point.  'Mione, can I speak with you?"

     "Yes.  Of course Harry," she said blushing at little.

     Turning to the group he said, "If you will excuse us.  I promise we won't be long."  He extended a hand to Hermione and they were off.  "We'll see you at Mrs. Figg's house."