The Duel

"Today," Snape drawled from the front of the Defense classroom. "We begin a section I expect most of you will have grossly overinflated expectations of. Dueling is a noble art, one steeped in control and mastered by very few."

The whispers died as Snape spun back to face the class, his cloak billowing behind him. Harry surreptitiously glanced at the other students, noting the various expressions on their faces. Malfoy was of course preening, making Harry wonder if Moody should've turned the boy into a peacock in their fourth year instead of a ferret. His ever present bookends Crabbe and Goyle just looked lost, which he had to admit seemed to be their default setting. Ron and Seamus seemed to be in an intense discussion that may or may not have had anything to do with the topic. Either way they stopped when Snape came up behind them and swatted the back of their heads.

"Ten points from Gryffindor," he intoned, smirking as he watched the pair rub the pack of their heads.

"As I was saying," Snape continued once order had been restored. "To gauge your progress, we shall have a tournament to begin the section, then again once it is complete. As you will have very little knowledge, the first tournament will have simple rules, simple enough even you should be able to follow them, Potter. The matches will happen in class next week and the final match will be public, in the great hall, before the entire student body."

The rules were simple, but left so many ways to get around them Harry wondered if Snape was doing it on purpose. They were meant to mean no lethal spells, the match ended when one participant lost their wand, things like that. The actual reading of rules was open to creative interpretation. For example, the rule that landing of a deadly spell meant an automatic disqualification was meant to prevent the use of the more destructive spells. In reality it meant that they could use deadly spells, they just couldn't hit their opponent with them.

Once the matches began the next Monday, it was obvious who had participated in the DA the year before and who hadn't. Padma Patil went on a tear and took out Tracy Davis and Theo Nott before falling to Hermione. Ron took out Justin Finch-Fletchley and Anthony Goldstein before Harry was forced to defeat him and Zacharia Smith fell to Neville, as did Su Li of Ravenclaw. In the end, the semi-final matches were well anticipated. Hermione faced Malfoy, who had defeated Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy while Harry faced Daphne Greengrass whom Neville had fallen to in a rather enjoyable and surprisingly fair match.

"Want to just give up now mudblood?" Malfoy sneered, taunting her as they waited for their match to begin.

"Are you that afraid that you're looking for the easy way out?" Hermione asked coolly. "We both know you're a pathetic wizard; heck, you've only ever hit me with a spell when I was a bystander and you missed your target."

"If you are done prattling Miss Granger," Snape sneered. "We do have a duel to complete."

"I'm ready whenever he is."

"Begin."

As soon as Snape started his command, Malfoy started casting. That was fine by Hermione, because she had anticipated it. Her wand waved before her, encompassing her in a translucent sphere and she stepped back as spell after spell disappeared into the shield. For two minutes Malfoy kept casting, but nothing he cast seemed to even stress her defenses. Harry had watched intently, then not ten seconds in he'd chuckled for he'd spotted what Malfoy had not. While each spell appeared to impact a shield, if you watched closely you could see it exit out the other side and impact the dueling ward behind. It took him a mere twenty more seconds to spot the barely there shimmer of Hermione's disillusionment charm as she slowly worked her way around behind the arrogant ponce while the 'Hermione' inside the shield pulled out a book and started to read.

"Come on you filthy mudblood whore, fight!" bellowed Malfoy, then he grunted and fell to the floor unconscious as the red stunner impacted his back.

"I am," Hermione said evenly as she stepped up and picked up the blonde's wand.

Once he was revived, Malfoy of course cried foul. His claim that she had cheated and should be disqualified for hitting him in the back seemed to sway Snape, whose favoritism for the ponce was legendary. The decision was taken from him when the headmaster spoke from the doorway.

"Mr Malfoy, had half of your curses landed, you yourself would have been disqualified for using a deadly spell. As it is, she used your overconfidence against you, and as you have repeatedly tried to curse several other students in the back, it hardly becomes you to cry foul when one of them succeeds where you have failed. The match goes to Miss Granger."

"Potter! Greengrass!" Snape bellowed, despite both students already assuming their positions. The tall dark haired Slytherin watched Harry carefully, taking the measure of the unassuming young man.

"This isn't going to end well, is it?" she asked him softly as they shook hands.

"You've never been actively nasty to me like Malfoy, but neither have you supported us, Greengrass. I understand trying to maintain neutrality, but the day will come when that is no longer an option," Harry spoke evenly, and while his tone was neutral the dark haired Slytherin shivered in response.

The duel began slowly, each testing the other with light spells. Daphne began to probe harder and harder, searching for her opening while Harry merely deflected each spell as it came. Finally, when they'd circled twice, Harry moved. At least, Daphne thought he moved. One second he was there, then there was a bright flash and she couldn't find him anywhere. Spinning, she searched frantically, trying desperately to find him. Three seconds later she collapsed as a red stunner hit her from above.

Looking up, the audience saw Harry hanging from one of the house flags draped along the walls, his wand still pointed at his opponent. It was a very grudging Snape that finally declared him the victor, and announced that the final duel would be Friday after dinner in the Great Hall.

"Hermione!" Harry called as they left. "Wait up."

"What is it Harry?"

"Listen, I know things have been a bit rocky between us this year, but I…" he hesitated, then surged on. "I don't want to fight you."

"I know, but it's just a duel, Harry."

"Maybe, but I don't want to… I'm not sure I can honestly," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck almost like he was embarrassed to admit it.

"Why not? Am I not worth your time?" Hermione's tone was hard, but not totally accusatory. She felt insulted, like he didn't feel her worthy but was giving him a chance to explain.

"Hermione, you're worth everything to me." He looked around, making sure they were alone. "No matter what happened, you've always been there for me. Even in third year when you told McGonagall about the broom, you were trying to protect me. You stood by me in fourth year, and even followed me into the trap at the Ministry last year. I… You…." he trailed off, losing his words as he shrugged helplessly.

"I'm what, Harry?" Her voice was softer now, almost hesitant.

"You're too important to me, okay?" he almost snapped, then whispered. "The most important. I don't want to hurt you."

Hermione was shocked, utterly and totally surprised at the admission. She heard the words, and the absolute truth in them, yet she heard more than that. She heard the unspoken words as well, the meaning behind them, even if he never voiced them.

"Harry." She placed her hand gently on his shoulder, then forced him to look at her. "You can do this. We can do this. It's just a little duel. We aren't going to be trying to kill each other. This is a training exercise, meant to help us get better for when we will need those skills. We just won't use anything that will really hurt the other, okay?"

"You're okay with this?"

"Of course I am Harry." Her smile grew as his tension eased. "Then we'll talk more this weekend, because I know you haven't told me everything."

"Okay, Hermione."

Four days later the whole school crowded the Great Hall to watch the final duels. The seventh years went first, with Katie Bell winning over a particularly nasty Slytherin boy. The arena was cleared and the battle of the friends began.

Harry began lightly, probing, with Hermione doing the same. Each tested and poked, feeling the other out. Knowing Hermione was adept at her illusions, Harry extended his magic, not with a spell but just a permeation of the area. Hermione blushed as magic enveloped her, its tendrils warm and welcoming. Extending her own, she searched for the origin of this magic, all the while each began throwing more and more original magics at the other.

Around them, the hall began to quiet. The duel had started softly, incantations called as spells flew back and forth, but as the spells flew faster, the incantations went silent. Everyone watched as the two duelers began tossing silent spells at each other, faster and faster until they were point casting. Ribbons of energy permeated the ring as spell after spell was deflected and turned away. Then, without any indication of why, both dropped their wands simultaneously.

Harry was soon at the point of just casting. He didn't think about the spells, he didn't analyze each counter, he just acted. He knew he would never hurt Hermione, his magic would not allow it. It flowed through him, energizing and guiding him. The wand in his hand became an obstacle, so he got rid of it, becoming a conduit as the magic fulfilled his purpose. He fell into the well of power rushing through him, surrendering to the magic, no longer directing, merely guiding.

Hermione's brain had gone to its happy place as Harry's magic enveloped her, leaving her to fight on instinct alone. Spell after spell spat from her wand even as she deflected just as many from Harry. She tossed her wand aside as it was slowing her. She guided the magic itself, no longer channeling it but shaping it, forming it as she strove to win. No, not win; to feel the other magic, to merge with it.

The students watched in awe as the two titans battled. Their duel shifted from spells to just pure power getting tossed back and forth. The power seemed to grow, but there was no hostility between the fighters. In fact, they were smiling. So focused were the spectators that no one noticed when the spells stopped getting reflected. The balls of eldritch power simply disappeared as they neared their targets.

As spells gave way to raw power, the crowd began to shift back. Even the teachers shifted away as the two powerhouses collided. Dumbledore, who himself had fought both Grindelwald and Voldemort in epic confrontations, paled at the magic being displayed. Their auras became visible, flaring around them as the power exchanges continued. Tendrils of their auras reached out, tentatively touching the other while the combatants juggled back and forth between them with orbs of pure power.

Harry felt the magic touch his, felt the warmth and invitation. He knew this magic, this affection and support. He felt Hermione through their magic, saw her laughing and the smile that he was sure was reserved just for him. He felt her hugs, and the kiss on the cheek she gave him when they got off the Express at the end of last year. He felt her drive and intent to win this duel, but felt no malice in that desire. He didn't want to fight her...

Hermione felt heat pool in her belly as the magic around her sang. Harry's magic, so caring and familiar, wrapped around her like a blanket. Goosebumps spread up her arms as memories flashed before her. His rescue in the bathroom against the troll, placing himself between her and Lupin while he was transformed. The look on his face when she came down the steps at the Yule Ball. His scream as she fell last year in the DoM. Each vision drawing more and more emotion out of her. She couldn't fight Harry...

The crowd gasped as the pair began to rise. The power was no longer thrown between them but arcs of raw energy still rolled along the dueling shields like lightning. They floated up, auras still flared, but twisting now, spinning to and fro, joining together while they drifted closer and closer and came face to face. Their heads were thrown back in response to the power coursing through them, their auras merging. A brilliant blue-white pulse of power surged from them, shattering the dueling shields and washing everyone it passed through in a euphoric haze.

As eyes and heads cleared, the sight before them caused them to pause. On the dais, standing face to face, hand in hand, were Harry and Hermione. They appeared to be lost in each other's eyes, oblivious to everything else. The single aura they jointly projected flared around them, far greater than any had ever seen before.

"Both have stopped fighting, they are disqualified and forfeit. Mr Malfoy is the winner."

Heads snapped around to stare at the greasy haired potions master, whose grin was obvious. The sneer began to morph into rage however, as he saw the change in the floating pair. Their eyes never left each other, the far off look told anyone who saw them they were looking at something no one else could see, but their bodies moved. Each leaned into the other, arms moving around each other and heads closing in. The light as their lips touched blinded everyone.

Then the screams began.

Eyes tore themselves from the pure expression of love before them. At the front of the hall, Malfoy was writhing on the floor, screaming bloody murder as he rocked from side to side, cradling his left forearm. The students around him jumped back, afraid that whatever had affected him would get them as well.

Snape would normally be by his godson's side, taking outrageous points from Gryffindor. He was not this time however, as he too yelled in pain as the dark mark upon his forearm burned. It felt like he had placed it in acid, like a basilisk had bitten it, a hundred times more painful than the Cruciatus. He fumbled in his robes, pulling a pain relief potion out and downing it, but it had no effect; the pain, the burning, continued.

Both Malfoy and Snape began to panic as they felt their energy draw into the pain, their life and magic consumed by the mark upon their bodies. Malfoy cried, calling for his father, his mother, anyone to make it stop. Snape was slightly more practical. Realizing it was his dark mark causing the pain, he thought to merely get rid of it. He searched his pockets desperately and pulled out his potions knife, but it was too late. The drain was so bad that by the time he brought out the knife, he was shaking so hard he dropped it.

"Harry! Harry you must stop this," Albus rushed forward, thinking Harry had somehow caused this. He slid right through the dueling shields, but bounced off the translucent golden globe that had encased the couple.

This happenstance proved fortunate to Albus Dumbledore, for unlike every other eye in the room he was looking up at the globe rather than down at the weakly screaming Death Eaters. It was only he who saw the screaming black shadow ejected from the globe before it too was consumed by the light.

As Albus stared in awe at the now disappeared specter, the screams stopped despite Madam Pomfrey's best efforts. When they did, the headmaster sighed deeply at the mediwitch's sad shake of her head. Those closest saw the lifeless stare on the faces of the Head of Slytherin and his godson before white sheets were conjured.

"Headmaster?" Albus looked up, seeking the one who had spoken into the silence. Spotting the red haired Hufflepuff he nodded his encouragement even as the floating couple began to descend to the floor once more. "What happened to them?"

"It appears," Dumbledore spoke softly, awe lacing his voice as he stared at the now solid seeming, translucent sphere of magic enshrouding the young couple. "We are all blessed to witness an extremely rare occurrence in Magic tonight. The joining of magics is a very difficult and dangerous undertaking. For it to spontaneously occur as we have seen is even rarer still. Please, give these two some privacy, they will be unprepared for the changes this will bring and need time to adjust. As for Professor Snape and Mr Malfoy, well, I'm not sure but the events tonight will be investigated."

"What changes, Headmaster?" Albus noted it was a concerned Ginny Weasley that asked the question. He shuddered to think about the floo call he was going to receive from the girl's mother once this was reported, the woman was hell bent on her daughter marrying Mr Potter, something that was now impossible.

"Many things, Miss Weasley, from an increase in their magic, to their personal interactions. You see, when one's magic, which for a magical can also be called their life force or even their soul, is joined to another's, it is a more intimate connection than a marriage. In fact, despite their ages, per Ministry law they are now considered married. They will share each other's experiences, and share their combined power. They will know when the other is in trouble, or happy. At times it will seem as if they are one person."

"Married!" This time, the exclamation came from the other Weasley student. "But they can't be!"

"I assure you Mr Weasley, according to the laws of our land they are." Albus glanced at the couple, still staring into the other's eyes. They occasionally twitched, obviously reliving something painful or unpleasant, though smiles rose occasionally as well. "It will be an adjustment for everyone, but a joyous one i'm sure. Now they will be like this for some time, so off with you. I shall update you in the morning as to their condition."

Oblivious to everything around them, Harry and Hermione felt their beings merging. Looking back they really couldn't say what triggered their bonding, just that they felt the other's magic and sought it out. As they tried to pull that brilliant and warm magic to them, everything faded away, until it was just them, face to face. Realization broke over both of them as they experienced everything the other had in their life. Every bump and scrape, every beating the Dursleys had given Harry and every lonely birthday party Hermione had had. Each moment in Hogwarts, they saw themselves through the others eyes. Harry felt the outpouring of relief and gratitude when he saved Hermione from the troll, Hermione saw how utterly enthralled Harry felt as she walked down the steps at the Yule Ball. He saw and felt her determination to keep him safe when she turned in his broom, while she felt the world disappear when she was hit in the DoM. Most of all though, they felt the love the other had for them in return.

"Harry."

"Hermione."

The raw emotion in each name said so much, told them they were still there, still together, and together they could face anything. Leaning closer, they shared a gentle kiss, full of love and promise. A pure, perfect kiss.

"Ah, finally back among us are you?"

Started, the pair finally looked around them. They were in the Great Hall, up where the head table would normally be upon the dais. Sitting in a pair of comfy looking armchairs were Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall, sharing a pot of tea. The darkness of the enchanted ceiling told them they had been out of it for some time, but not how much.

"What… Professor?"

"I imagine you are rather confused at the moment," Dumbledore said sagely. "But I also suspect you are desiring some explanation, no?"

Both teens looked at each other, feeling the other's confirmation. They nodded.

"Basically, your magics merged," Albus began, waving and conjuring a small loveseat for the pair. "During your duel, you both opened yourselves so fully to your magic that when it felt the other's, you both chose the other. You now share your magic, and if my suspicions are correct, your very beings with the other."

"Our beings?" Harry asked, blushing as he glanced at Hermione.

"I am no expert, this is a magic last seen over thirteen hundred years ago," Dumbledore warned. "But effectively, a magical being's soul is tied to their magic. As you two share one combined magic now, you share your souls as well."

"What does this mean?" Hermione asked, worried.

"Well, I expect you will need some time to regulate your power some, having access to the other's magic means you are both far more powerful than you were. In fact I expect even without your merging you would have a little power surge as you fully opened yourself to magic tonight, which forced your complete magical maturation. Also, there may be some personal adjustments as well. I would expect Harry to become a bit more studious, while you will likely become slightly more impulsive."

"Maybe you'll actually like Quidditch now, Hermione," Harry teased, earning himself a smack in the arm.

"It is possible, but you shall have to discover that for yourselves over the next few days," the headmaster grinned, pleased at the ease with which the couple interacted. "Now it is late, so Professor McGonagall shall show you to your new quarters."

"New quarters, Headmaster?" Hermione interrupted.

"Of course Mrs Potter-"

"MRS POTTER?"

"Ah, I see I may have missed a point or two. You see, this is such a deep bond that the Ministry recognizes it as a marriage bond." The headmaster glanced at Minerva. "I hope this doesn't upset you too greatly."

"I… No, I mean…" Hermione looked at Harry and blushed as he squeezed her hand in support. She saw and felt the love and support pouring from him. She knew he wanted this as much as she did and was waiting for her approval. "I guess we have a lot more to talk about than we thought."

"Indeed Mrs Potter," Professor McGonagall agreed. "I will, of course, be available should you have questions, though I admit I am no expert in this. No one is really, but whatever support or advice I can offer shall be yours."

"Thank you Professor." Harry gave in to the urge and threw his arm around Hermione, pulling her closer. "We are used to figuring things out on our own, it will be nice to have help."

"It will," Hermione agreed, wrapping her arm around his waist. "It's like I said before, we're always there for each other. Now we just have help."

"There is just one more thing," Albus spoke gently, yet his tone drew looks from both teens. "An unexpected side effect of this. Voldemort is dead, as are all his followers."

"He's what?"

"How?"

"Everything is conjecture at this point, but it seems you did it Harry."

"I did?"

"Well, both of you did." Albus sipped his tea as the couple stared at him in shock. "We can discuss the details another time, but essentially the magic and love of your bonding fed to him through your link destroyed him, Harry. The Dark Lord knew no love, no compassion. He was so far gone in fact, that these emotions actually caused him pain, forcing regrets and remorse into his mind. To a dark creature such as him this was worse than the Cruciatus. He fought it, obviously, however in order to do so he pulled on his followers."

"Pulled on them?" Hermione asked in abject curiosity.

"The dark mark is more than a method of identifying other Death Eaters, Mrs Potter," Dumbledore spoke in a lecturing manner, but not condescending. "It allowed Voldemort to call them to him, to send pain to them, and to draw on their magic to augment his own. Now this last bit was rarely used, for not only was he a powerful wizard in his own right, but should any of his followers have figured out that he could… Well, they may have figured out how to do it in reverse."

"But sir, if he only called on them to augment himself, how did they die?" Harry seemed to be blaming himself, but Hermione squeezing his hand and snuggling into him seemed to hold his guilt at bay.

"He did pull on them to augment himself, but he pulled too much in an effort to oppose the love you two sent to him through Harry's link to him. It consumed him, yet he failed to stop or even mitigate it on his own so he pulled everything he could from his marked followers. That pure a love, that trust and adoration, it was a poison to him, and he took his followers with him when it defeated him."

"So I killed him."

"No Harry," Hermione grabbed his face, forcing his eyes to meet hers. He was awed by the fierceness in them. "You did nothing but prove you are a hundred thousand times better than him. He was selfish, thinking of only himself, while you would gladly sacrifice yourself to save your friends. His own darkness killed him."

"But-"

"No buts mister." She gently butted her forehead against his. "He is gone, now our only job is to do well in school, live, love and be happy."

"Love huh?" His smile was lopsided, but it melted her heart anyway. "I think I can do that."