Disclaimer: It all belongs to JK Rowling, I own nothing. Well, I have a computer, but nothing in relation to her works.
Yes, that's right; Neville cast a breath freshening spell before shifting and scaring Susan. Now if ever there was a sign of a nice guy, that's it. Sure, he's going to scare the giblets out of her, but at least she wont have to smell bad breath . As far as I know that's the first time someone has used such a spell in a duel: -snickers-
Sunday's breakfast was a tense one. The rest of the school kept trying to sneak glances or stare at the five. Flickers of fear flashed across the faces of some due to the violence and skill that Hermione and Ginny had displayed yesterday. The fact that they all had expressionless faces was also quite intimidating.
Indeed, hidden behind occlumency masks, four of them plotted, planned and were developing the necessary tactics to defeat the others. Years of training together, intimate knowledge of each others fighting styles and tactics as well as minds, meant that there would be few surprises between each other.
The quiet murmur of breakfast was interrupted by the quiet chiming of a glass being tapped by the Headmaster.
"I am sure that many of you are looking forward to the duels that will be shown today. Indeed, it has been many years since students have displayed such talent in the field of magical combat. This skill has also caught the attention of others outside the school and as it would be churlish of me to refuse, they have been invited to attend as spectators. I understand that not only many from the Ministry but also some international competitive duellers will be attending. Due to the numbers involved, the decision has been made to adjourn the matches from the Hall, down to the quidditch pitch. Those who wish to watch should be there by no later than ten o'clock."
With that he sat down, a hint of smugness about his bearing as the noise from the students picked up.
As they made their way, with the rest of the school, down to the quidditch pitch, Harry was startled by the very distinctive sounds of a motorbike. Turning his attention, he saw the very distinctive shape of Sirius Black bringing his flying motorbike in for a graceful landing. He was flanked on either side by an exhausted looking pair of Weasley twins. Dressed in black and blue quidditch robes, they were still on their brooms.
"Sorry I'm late Pronglet" Sirius' grin was disarming as always. "I was supposed to be here before your fight yesterday but the bloody Canons had to make things difficult."
Ron was dragged out of his thoughtful step with a jerk "The Canons? Chudley? What happened?"
Sirius smirked. "Well, we played them yesterday. Midday launch, so we all expected to be home by one at the latest" His grin faded a bit "But they got lucky with a bludger. Too damn lucky really, took out our seeker in the first three minutes with a bludger to the head."
Ron looked tearful for a moment, pure hope and rapturous joy shining in his eyes. "You mean they won?"
"Won? Hell no, where did you ever get that idea? Their seeker is so useless that he couldn't find the snitch. The game doesn't end till the snitch is found. So in the end, our seeker came around, the healers fixed his skull and concussion and he re-joined the game, caught the snitch a few minutes ago, I was a bit unhappy that I couldn't make yesterday, but as the owner, I have a moral responsibility to stay with my team till the bitter end. You don't mind do you?"
Ron had slumped when he heard of the Canons, his beloved Chudley's poor form.
Meanwhile, Harry couldn't stop grinning. "I'm glad you could make it Padfoot. I didn't expect you to be here at all, so I hope you enjoy the show." He paused and looked confused "Um, I don't want to sound ignorant, but what team are you talking about?"
Sirius blinked. Slowly a light of understanding dawned and he beckoned down the twins. "Harry, old son, mate, buddy, Pronglet, pal, chum. Allow me to introduce you to two of the finest beaters in the league. Gred and Forge, who just happen to be my beaters, for my team." He smirked "When my mother died I took the Black fortune and went a little crazy. I woke up one day with blue eyebrows, no body hair, wearing a tutu and clutching a deed of ownership. It turned out that in the middle of some drunken binge I'd bought and paid for my own quidditch team. So I named them 'The Middlesex Marauders', Prongs is the symbol and we are currently sitting smack bang in the middle of the league." He smirked at Ron. "Let me guess, you are a whole reality away and the Canons still can't win a game?"
"OI!" Ron's cry of indignation was matched by his glare. "They are just re-building"
"So, Pronglet, hows it feel to know your Godfather owns a quidditch team?" Sirius preened.
"Hmm, a team eh? What else do you do?" Harry looked amused.
"Well, there is the Chaos Inc chain of joke stores. We bought out Zonkos and Dervish and Bangs about five years ago. Given the current rate of growth and so long as my two creative genius' over there don't bugger off for warmer climates, then I'd say we will be the biggest joke store chain in the world in the next five years. Then there is the Prophet, I don't own it, but owning twenty five percent means they listen to me. I have stakes all over the wizarding world. Why?" A curious look flashed across the playboys face.
"Oh, no reason, just making sure that you can afford pocket money" Harry smiled softly. "Cause Hermione and I are going to move in with you for a bit when we graduate. I didn't think you'd mind, you know, what with Grimmauld Place being so large." Harry's expression turned wistful for a moment, then he nodded. "If that's alright with you?"
The hug and cheer of joy seemed to be enough confirmation.
"So, Moony, you think this match will be any good?" Sirius Black had launched a one-man invasion of the staff and VIP box for the stands. Jumping in to sit next to his best friend, he shot a grin at the Minister and then winked at Professor McGonnegal whose lips were pursed with disapproval of his behaviour.
Remus Lupin nodded slowly, carefully choosing his words. "I think, that given their performance in class and a number of other factors, that today will see the best duels that Hogwarts has seen in a very, very long time. I might even go so far as to call them potentially spectacular."
Sirius blinked. "Coming from you, that's high praise. Hey, is that Benito over there? Merlin's beard, what's he doing here, he's ranked second in the world in the Duelling League, you'd think a school level tournament would be a bit below him"
Remus nodded "Yes, and he's sitting next to Volkstov, so it seems they must be expecting something fairly serious. I suppose though, they had heard about the new spells and wanted to see them in action."
"New spells?" Sirius blinked. "As in, not refinements, but new spells? I didn't think there had been any in decades?"
Scratching the back of his neck, Moony looked vaguely embarrassed "It's hard to say, they wont talk about them, but there is one spell that seems to be able to punch through shields and has some kind of conditional activator that turns it into a stunner. I've seen a shield breaker and some kind of jet or ray that's a stunner, but can cut through a conjured wall. I have no idea where they get these spells from but they seem very effective. Then there is their familiarity with weapons. Did you know that Miss Weasley has a short sword made from a basilisk fang? Let alone that she can cast through it?"
"A casting blade?" Sirius looked awed. "I've heard of those. Apparently the Black Family has one, though I don't dare try to use it in case it doesn't accept me and kills me or worse, ruins my good looks. Wow, a casting blade. Made from a basilisk fang, I don't think I want to know the story behind that." He shuddered. "But that just means that Harry is going to be that much better. He has to be, he's family."
Remus shook his head slightly and then blinked as an owl landed on his knee and offered him a letter. Taking it, Remus paled as he read. "Dear Merlin, I don't think I can handle much more of this."
"What's wrong?" Sirius looked concerned, worried even.
"It's Ron and Harry's terms for the duel they are about to have. Body armour is allowed. No Unforgivables. No projectile weapons. That's it. No other terms. Anything goes. They want me to pass this on to the Minister and Headmaster." Remus was slowly blinking. "Oh dear, I do hope St Mungo's has some off duty staff watching."
Sirius looked stunned. "That's it? Nothing else? Bloody hell! Well, at least they wont be bringing out Weasley's ballista."
Ron and Harry made their way to the centre of the pitch. Dressed identically in dragon hide boots pants and armoured vest, their belts had a variety of small pouches and scabbards hanging from them. Their faces were emotionless masks; their gait was smooth, fluid and predatory in nature. Everything about them screamed out to the trained eye that neither of these two was to be taken lightly.
"The terms for this duel, by prior agreement, with the permission of Professor Lupin, The Headmaster and Minister Bones, are as follows. Body Armour is allowed. No projectile weapons. No Unforgiveables. No other conditions. Gentlemen, if you could take your places." The Auror for today was none other than Emmaline Vance, who had won the chance to judge the semi-finals in a hard played game of poker the previous night. However, as she moved to her place, she was looking more than a little intimidated.
The two slowly made their way to their starting marks. As they walked, hands dipped into pouches and potions were swallowed. No less than a half dozen each. Then swords were drawn and wands unsheathed. Turning to face each other, they assumed very different stances. Harry was low, crouched like a cat waiting to pounce, his sword held high and ready. At the far end of the arena, Ron kept his sword back, holding it extended behind him as he held his wand to the fore.
"Begin!" Auror Vance shouted.
From the instant the word left her mouth the pair were already in motion. Wands spat out hexes and curses then flickered up a shield for the split second it was needed to deflect a spell before coming down to allow more spells to be cast. The pair were not just dodging spells, but also running at an almost full sprint towards each other. Their paths however were not intersecting, rather as they closed they both changed direction so they were spiralling in to each other at speed; leaping, ducking and rolling around the other's spells while they hurled off their own barrages.
In the stands, Hermione blinked for a moment then buried her head in her hands as she groaned softly.
"What is it Brains?" Ginny looked concerned.
"The buggers are showing off." Came the muttered reply. "Remember that movie we saw about two months before we came here? While we were waiting for Ron to regrow the bones in his legs? I knew I should never have let Harry pick the film. Thats it! No more Hong Kong action films for him."
"Oh." Ginny suddenly giggled "You know, they do seem be enjoying themselves a little too much, at least they wont hurt each other."
"It's not just that Ginny, look at the spells they are using!" Hermione sounded faintly despairing. "I should have known they wouldn't take this seriously."
Ginny frowned and leant forward then started to giggle again. "Oh nice, steady progression in power, they are up to third year jinxes already. Very well done, I was a bit worried at first with the opening spells, but they must have been pretty light. Oh, there we go, things just got interesting, Ron just used his first explosion hex."
Back on the field, the two had closed enough that their swords were bought in to play. This was not the refined lockstep that Hermione and Ginny had used, both the boys had levels of strength that the girls couldn't match and it showed. Each of the blows that was swung and then parried or avoided would have caused a serious injury. Their swords didn't flick like snakes tongues rather they clove the air. Harry's lighter longsword matched Ron's hand and a half blade as they strove to seemingly kill the other. While this was going on, their wands danced. Fewer spells were cast, as the other would use his wand to parry away the attempt before it could be aimed. Resulting in the spectator shields rippling and glowing as the spells that were cast exploded into them, to the shrieks of the crowd.
Ron suddenly leapt forward; his blade had been pushed wide so he attempted to club Harry with the pommel. Harry simply rolled back and as his back hit the ground, he kicked up, sending Ron flying through the air a good twenty feet. Ron twisted like a cat and landed cleanly before leaping aside to dodge the spell coming in at him. Those in the Ravenclaw stand lost sight of him from the explosion of earth that erupted where the spell had hit where he was crouched. The rest were treated to Ron doing something they would have previously sworn could not be done. His dive took him far from the point of origin, his feet glowing as he tumbled and then bounced off the spectator shield, turning his evasion into an attack. A look of shock flickered across Harry's face at this new tactic and a spell was travelling down the length of his wand when he was hit by a bludgeoning hex, square in the chest. The force of it blew him off his feet and left him tumbling across the ground to where he came to rest, flat on his back, sprawled out, his eyes closed.
Ron landed and took a moment to catch his breath. Wiping away the sweat that was attempting to roll down into his eyes, he eyed Harry cautiously. "Ya give up mate?"
He took a step back as Harry's eyes snapped open; glowing faintly with raw power he was on his feet in an instant. "Just getting started mate, time for round two." The words were chilling in their intensity and seemed almost overwhelmed by the raw power in his voice. Ron just smirked.
"Sounds good to me, just try not to rip off any bits the girls might like."
Harry didn't reply, instead, he muttered a word and his sword started to glow, softly at first, then with a pure sapphire light. Ron just grinned and tapped his sword with his wand, which began to glow with the same light. Then the two charged each other. Their sword slicing through the air as the crowd watched in awe.
"Um, Hermione," Neville sounded a bit confused as he leaned down to the girl who was currently hitting her forehead on the railing of the box they were in. "Doesn't that act as a blunting spell on their sword?"
"Yes Neville, they're showing off!" Asperity touched Hermione's voice. "Right now those swords couldn't cut butter, but no one else knows that, look at everyone." She waved her hand to indicate the awestruck faces of the students in the stands. "Right now everyone things it's some horrible spell that will probably blow great big chunks off whatever it connects with. Those two little boys are grandstanding!"
Ginny was too busy giggling to comment.
On the field, the battle had gotten more physical. Fewer spells were being cast as now the two had turned their bodies on each other, though they had moved beyond schoolyard hexes now, and were casting spells the equal of what trainee Aurors would know. A spell ducked, a blow parried and Harry slammed his fist into Ron's ribs. The response of a kick to the face separated them before they attacked anew. The raw brutality of the fight left some of the younger students in tears as now blood started to flow. Harry's nose was broken and Ron had a series of slashes across his arms and legs that left the much cut and abused pants and vest stained. Finally Harry leapt over Ron, a spell shooting out into his leg as he did so. The distinctive sound of bone breaking was heard a fraction of a second before a roar of pain was torn from Ron's lips. Harry landed and rolled to his feet to watch his friend topple to the ground.
"I give. Argghh…Merlin on a bike Harry, did you have to do that?" Ron lay on the ground, hands clutched on around his thigh above where the shard of bone was poking out of the skin. "That's going to leave another bloody scar."
Harry grinned and crouched so his friend could see his face. "Payback, for the time you hexed a manure pile with the Bludger charm and gave it a 'seek me' spell aimed at me...besides, you've broken at least four of my ribs."
Ron chuckled and winced. "Fair cop. Oh look, Madame Pomfrey is here, don't suppose you could be my personal hero and get me out of here before she gets her claws on me?"
Harry just laughed and began to limp towards where the medical supplies were, his weapons away, the most perceptive could only just hear him muttering about skele-grow and how he'd rather a good rousing dose of the Cruciatus than spending the night in the hospital wing.
A break was declared while the injured were stabilised and the Headmaster, with the assistance of Professor Flitwick, renewed the spectator shields after the battering they had received during the last duel. Students congregated in huddles, all of them discussing various aspects of the duel they had just seen. In the stands a small group of older Wizards, known to be some of the finest professional duellists in Europe, were gathered. Awed faces were the order of they day as they also reviewed what they had seen. Some of them were re-watching parts with omnioculars while others discussed aspects of the match.
"I agree Helga" A moustachioed man wearing a florid red cloak nodded. "The majority of the spells used weren't seriously dangerous, but they were treated as if they were. I'd have to say both knew what the other was doing. Their fighting styles were too similar; those two were trained by the same Master, else have spent many years training against each other. Their showmanship was amateurish but they made up for it with fighting skill."
Helga, a slender witch with the lush silver hair that only one with Veela blood can have naturally, smiled slyly. "Eet does non mean zat aye would wish to match against eezer of zem though. Zey have not just skill, but ze spells and heets zey did take, zey ignored. Zey are dangerous men indeed, despite zere youth."
The others who were listening nodded in agreement.
It took a good hour before Madame Pomfrey was ready for the next match of Neville and Hermione. Harry and Ron, after much pleading, were allowed to sit on their stretchers, rather than immediately going to the hospital wing.
The pair made their way to the Aurors who checked them over and went to their starting points. Bowing to each other, Neville drew a pair of wands and eyed Hermione, who also drew a wand for her off hand then settled into a semi-crouch, her gauntlet held out in front of her.
At the signal to begin, Neville pointed both wands at the ground and bellowed a word. Instantly, a shield of an opaque soft white formed in front of him. Hermione had not moved, rather from her outstretched hand sprang not one, but five rays of crimson light.
A quiet murmur spread through the visiting duellists, if the previous duel had interested them, it had provided few real surprises. This was wholly new, and had grabbed their attention.
"What in Merlin's Name is that?" The Head of the Unspeakables had rocked back in his seat, his face slack with shock. "She can't do that! It's against the laws of magic!"
"Actually" Dumbledore had raised his omnioculars to get a closer look. "It isn't. As Miss Granger explained it to me, her glove, while not capable of channelling the same amount of magic as a wand, allows her much finer control over the magic. I strongly suspect that what we are seeing is not five separate spells, but rather, one incredibly complex spell, in its component threads. A sort of unweaving if you will."
Indeed, the rays of light from Hermione were playing over the shield, leaving glowing orange lines in their wake. When two of the rays met, a piece of the shield seemed to be ripped out of the very substance of the spell, to fade into nothingness before it hit the ground. Behind the shield, Neville nodded slightly and aimed the wand in his left hand at the shield. A continuous stream of energy the same colour as his shield spewed out and the shield seemed to grow in strength. The orange trails faded in the wake of the rays. Hermione frowned slightly and raised the wand she held in her left hand. A muttered word later and a pea-sized ball of energy shot towards the shield, shattering it on contact. Neville calmly sidestepped the now fist sized stunner and his right hand snapped up, the rays of crimson magic ignored. Both his wands danced and wove around eachother before being thrust foreward, causing a massive gout of pale blue energy to erupt and hurtle towards Hermione who braced herself, allowing the crimson rays to fade from her gauntlet, before she slammed her hand directly into the beam of magic from Neville.
The crowd blinked as, seemingly, with her hand, Hermione caught the stream of magic, and then, as Neville leant forwards, pushing his weight behind the spell, Hermione's fingers seemed to dance. Her other hand dropped it's wand as she bought it up to brace her wrist. Her entire body pushing forward as she slowly began to slide backwards. Her fingers in the gauntlet however were not idle. Shards of magic were ripped away from the beam as her fingers dipped in and out of the ray, pulling shards and tendrils of magic with them. Neville frowned and furrowed his brow as the light of his spell seemed to grow darker. He hunched his shoulders and the beam faded slightly, only for a few seconds before Hermione's work continued, the steady unweaving and ripping apart of his spell.
Just as the spell seemed to loose all colour, Hermione smirked before she blinked and suddenly toppled over, out cold. Neville, stood there for a few seconds, catching his breath before he ambled over and cast a simple 'Enervate'
She sat up and blinked at him in shock before colouring. Taking his offered hand, she allowed herself to be pulled to her feet before she hit him on the shoulder.
"I can't believe you did that!"
Neville grinned softly and wrapped an arm around her shoulder as they made their way to the edge of the duelling area. "You know Hermione, I've spent the past five weeks modifying that spell. You are the only person alive it will work on." He chuckled. "If you didn't unweave the outer spell, nothing would have happened. However, you did and it was the collapse of the outer spell, because it was unwoven like that, that actually created the stunner that was hidden inside it. The stunner didn't even exist until you made it."
Hermione stopped walking for a moment and just blinked before turning and playfully kicking him in the shin. "I bloody taught you to do that! See if I help you with any homework ever again!"
A/N Wheee!
This was a fun chapter. Hong Kong Cinema action for Ron and Harry while Hermione once again confuses the hell out of the spectators when she does her thing.
Next chapter: Snapish issues.