Rapture of the Innocent
DaggersBloodPain
A/N I am almost done with this story, about three more chapters and an epilogue to go. There is not going to be a very extended fight scene just because I get sick of writing them after about the tenth time or so, therefore I have written a very stylized battle scene for this story, I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Ten
Challenge
The students of Hogwarts were all enjoying a relaxing dinner after a tough day of classes. Few noticed the absence of a few key people, and those that did shrugged it off us unimportant. As the meal was winding down and drawing to a close the doors to the Great Hall burst open with a ripple of palpable magic.
In the doorway a figure stood robed completely in black with a hood drawn up to shade his face, as the figure was most definitely male as shown by the closely fitted robes. He was tall and deceptively lean, but any further identifying markings were completely covered.
His voice was heard, strong and confidant, "Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, I challenge you to a magical duel to find out once and for all who the strongest wizard is!"
"Identify yourself and name your terms," Dumbledore commanded no trace of the kindly old grandfather persona.
"My name is Aidan Liam Malfoy, as for my terms no Unforgivables, and no wands." Aidan announced as he pushed his hood back to reveal his scarred face and calico hair. "The match does not end until one of us is either incapacitated or admits defeat. The winner gets full control of the Light forces in the fight against the Dark Lord."
"I accept your terms and your Challenge!" There was a flash of magic as the magical contract was sealed by the Headmaster's response.
The students watched with rapt attention and followed instructions blindly as they were herded out of their seats and the Great Hall was turned into a dueling room just like the second year dueling club disaster. The long platform conjured up was quickly surrounded as safety wards were placed up by the Professors, the layering of each Professor's spell creating an impenetrable barrier to protect the children.
Dumbledore claimed one side of the platform as Aidan calmly went to the other. Both wizards were almost unnaturally calm about the whole thing, they both had a reputation on the line Dumbledore's which he had taken many years to achieve the high regard in which he was held by the general population, and Aidan's which had slowly been building amongst the students since the day he had taken in and cared for an injured Hufflepuff. Dumbledore's was built off of awe, a little bit of fear, and a dash of mystery. Aidan's was built off of good deeds that were immediate and real.
Aidan was aware of nothing beyond his opponent and the comfortable surge of magic flowing through his veins. They bowed low to each other and Aidan felt his heart beating in a steady rhythm as he released the first few blasts of magic, all tightly controlled and testing. These first few strikes were barely a tenth of his power but you could feel the charge in the air from the crackling magic.
He felt the return blows emanating from Dumbledore. Their two magics blending together and washing the spectators with the current as it rose goose flesh onto their skin and stood the hair up straight from the backs of their necks.
His opponent and him kept up with the measured testing blows. Aidan slowly and smoothly sliding up the power he used for each blast, feeling Dumbledore do the same. Blast for blast they kept up with each other no visible signs of weakness or fatigue. Aidan did not know what he was looking for with his testing strikes but he knew this was the right course o action. He was not going to reveal his full power unless he had to. He knew there were at least a few Voldemort supporters watching who would immediately report back to their parents exactly what happened. He wanted the Dark Lord to consider him a threat but he needed to keep back some surprises for when they fought.
Dumbledore was beginning to sweat with the amount of power he had to control. What had once been an asset to him was now a hindrance. His power was too great for him to really control this tightly in his advancing age. He did not have the early practice that Aidan had and his body had not adapted to the huge flow of magic wandless magic took like Aidan. He had used a wand for far too many years before learning wandless, for him to be able to use it to its fullest extent.
In other words Aidan calling a completely wandless duel took away Dumbledore's biggest advantage his experience. Aidan had the upper hand in this duel because he had grown and developed as a completely wandless wizard during his formative years. To him a wand was a tool not a crutch like it was for most wizards. He was actually better off without his wand.
Why Dumbledore didn't see that when Aidan laid down the terms Aidan didn't know. He assumed the headmaster had grown overconfident in his power. He couldn't comprehend another, much younger, wizard being that much stronger than him. He might have been right if they were allowed wands but he was digging his own grave with this one.
By the time Aidan saw the sweat on Dumbledore he was up to using about half of his power per blast and the headmaster was struggling with this level. He saw where a few quick strikes could have him down and he took them swiftly.
Dumbledore was on his knees, there was no blood drawn and no injuries but he was exhausted. "I concede defeat." He whispered in a voice that matched his years.
"I will give you the dignity of leaving under your own violation. You were once the greatest of us, no one, not even myself can take that from you. It is time for you to retire and the new generation to take over where you left off." Aidan said bowing gracefully and letting the Headmaster keep his dignity. He had won fair and square there was no reason to kick a dog while it was already down.
A/N well what do you think of it?