Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero or Harry Potter, they belong to their respective owners. I'm not making money, this is just for fun and a hobby at most.

AN: This is a side project story.. Expect a bit of crack-fic/fourth wallness from Fawkes this chapter. I couldn't quite write everything I wanted, but rather than make you guys wait, I'll post what I got right now, please look forward to next chapter for its continuation. So, if you are fine with all that, please enjoy!

Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel

In the outskirts of the Academy, somewhere inside a forest.

The creatures of the forest continue to live, despite many familiars hunting them.

Their plight to survive against familiars has raged for decades, no centuries.

But the creatures battle for survival would not be fought in the future.

It would be fought here in the forests of Tristan, in our present.

Today.

*Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel*

Fawkes landed on the ground, her flames scorching the grass. "There's my target!" She cooed. "It's lunch time!"

Many of the small woodland creatures ran in fear and panic. They were here. Everyone had to run! The Familiars! Critters everywhere darted into holes while others less fortunate were scooped up by the faster familiars... A blue haired hedgehog, and a fox were both grabbed up by a large lizard Familiar without any mercy. The creatures that survived would remember this day...

Flying over to a higher branch, Fawkes adjusted her black sunglasses. She had acquired them in Los Angeles from some biker dude. Why he had felt the need to take off his clothes as well when she asked to borrow them was perplexing, but oh well, now the glare from the sun wouldn't get in her eyes.

"This is blue team leader to big blue, do you see the target, it's at 3 o'clock. Over." Called a solider? No this was a bird, more precisely a Phoenix. Where it had gotten combat fatigues, or it's gear was anyone's best guess. I'd suggest you not even try.

"Fawkes Irukukwu doesn't understand. What's 3 o'clock?" Asked a flying confused dragon. The dragon was also supporting the best dragon military gear one could find... Alas I have no idea where Fawkes found it, nor how she acquired it, so stop asking already. Fawkes doesn't know either!

Fawkes was hiding in a tree, perched right above their prey. "Big Blue, address me as blue team leader, got that! And don't forget to say over. Over." Fawkes addressed her ally.

"Um, okay Fa.. Blue Team leader.. I still don't understand? Can I attack yet? Why do I have to say over? Um, over?" The dragon replied.

Fawkes ignored his friends lack of knowledge, she would learn in time. That brought back memories.. She helped that soldier named, Conner, Church, or was it John? What was his name again? I think he said he was a spartan, though she looked like no spartan she ever remembered seeing in the past. Oh well, not really important... She just remembered the big fella sharing his Peach flavored X10 2/3C ration bar with her, it was delicious. Alas it was not a lemon drop.

"Big Blue, target is on the move, it's heading towards the clearing. Do you have it in your sights? Over." Fawkes flew to a different branch, allowing the stray thoughts to be released from her head.

"The warthog? I see it. What do I do? Can I attack it. Over?" The dragon replied as she glided over the clearing.

"If you have the shot, then take it big blue. Then we can go have lunch! Over." Fawkes signaled back. She currently was tailing the target from afar.

Irukukwu really wanted lunch, and this warthog seemed very edible. She got ready to dive for the kill. It would be so easy, if she wasn't beaten to the punch.

"Hold your fire Big Blue! We got another team on the field. It's brown teams Verðandi, the one who digs.

Damn how did brown team beat us to the punch!? Fawkes swore internally.

The grounded mole beat her, she, a flying rhyme dragon! What a disgrace...

"What do we do now Fawkes..." The large blue rhyme dragon sulked...

"Get your #%ing #%t together Big Blue. We have a mission, I can't have you breaking down on me. Now check your six. We got us a Puma. Over." Fawkes swore as she flew to a new perch.

Irukukwu looked around, what was a six? That didn't matter, she sighted the puma behind her. It was in the adjacent field, which was currently filled with unicorns, a Chupacabra, and a Sasquatch buying drugs from a Leprechaun...

Again don't ask why such creatures are in the forests of Tristain, it's not like the nobles ever go in the damn forest, except in fanfics. Fawkes would know, she reads them all the time? Wait what are Fanfics? Oh it's not important... Why does that forest even exist? Was it to build a base for Louise? Perhaps? Obviously it was for Fanfics! Yup...

"I see it! Over!" Replied Irukukwu as she flew over the Sasquatch. This of course caused the Leprechaun who was currently holding and insidious bag of drugs to panic and drop it. The poor green clad creature ran quickly into the taller grass.

Fawkes didn't know why Leprechaun drug dealers were always so easily panicked, but that Sasquatch sure wasn't slow on the uptake either, as he too made a beeline for cover. Maybe they just need to eat some lemon drops? Drugs were bad, yup!

"Take the shot!" Fawkes yelled.

"I'm trying to get a good angle of attack. I need more time to aim!" Replied Irukukwu. The blue dragon carefully adjusted her wings.

"Just attack already!" Fawkes squawked.

"I'm just trying to adjust myself..." Irukukwu lined herself up better with the aid of her wind magic.

"Big Blue! Hurry and take the shot before some other team does!" Fawkes panicked as she flew to another branch.

"Oh no! Team reds; Simmons the crafty lion, and Grif the mad humming bird, are approaching the target!" Fawkes warned her ally.

Irukukwu dived down eviscerating the puma. "There Fawkes, I took the shot! The Puma is dead! Can we eat now!?"

"Big Blue you forgot to say over multiple times. Over." Fawkes came and landed by the dragon.

Irukukwu just growled at the bird. Meanwhile her eyebrow twitched...

Fawkes wasn't sure how a dragon had eyebrows that were able to twitch, but her friends eyebrows really twitched something fierce... Was the dragon mad, what had Fawkes done? Fawkes couldn't have done anything right? Nope, Fawkes was the perfect Familiar!

Irukukwu was not unhappy at her friend, her friend was just, weird. Why did lunch have to turn into war for Fawkes? She dropped the puma from her mouth, covering the grass in blood. At least lunch looked tasty, she would be sure to share some with blue team leader.

*Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel*

Colbert left the headmasters room ,after explaining to Osmond, who his guest was to be. He would have to carry his guest to meet with Osmond. Alas, since animated portraits couldn't walk themselves there, he would have to do it. Ah a professor relegated to a servant of an object, how low Colbert had fallen. Why couldn't he have hold himself up in his lab all day instead?

This however, left Colbert in quite the quandary of a situation. The animated painting of Dumbledore was missing as he reached its previous known location. The first thoughts that raced to Colbert's head was quickly dismissed. There was no way Dumbledore could have walked away on his own, despite being a living portrait, which only left the idea that it was theft.

That meant a student had walked off with the painting! "I should have put a tracking spell on it!" He cursed.

Now he would have to track down the painting itself! What student would have taken it!? For what reason, Albus was just a weird living portrait of an old man. Okay scratch that, such a piece of art would be worth a fortune... Colbert hurried back down the staircase, he had a thief to apprehend.

*Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel*

Kirche Von Zerbst, a Germanian of some ill repute, was currently watching from her table with rapt attention.

It hadn't taken very much to set this trap up for her rival Louise. Ever since she was little she had loved setting pranks, poking fun, and teasing others. But Louise, unlike all her other victims, refused to accept defeat. Louise would treat everything she did to her so seriously, and never even laugh at her jokes or teasing. She was an impossible nut to crack, she kept having to elevate her tactics, but nothing worked!

She was sure she could get some more teasing after the ritual, but then Louise went and actually manged to summon something! Louise was acting all high and mighty, and it really irked Kirche. She was just ignoring everything she did to her. Maybe she was taking things too far, even that nickname she had given the diminutive girl had stuck to this day. Not that she had meant any harm in the nickname of course. But Louise wouldn't let it go, she never laughed, she never gave up! It was so frustrating!

Well today was a new day. Moving the table with a simple wind spell had been easy. Well Tabitha did the lifting without knowing her real purpose. With the table moved, and some clever placement of chairs nearby, it was only inevitable that someone would bump into Louise, and they had.

Hell it was even better. The bumbling fool Guiche had split something all over little Louise's dumb book.

"What have you done, you idiot!?" Louise attempted to get the perfume off her book.

Guiche eyes shifted as he saw the split perfume on her book. "I didn't do anything! You were just clumsy!"

"I don't carry perfume outside, nor am I clumsy Guiche!" Louise looked over the book. The warning section for the slug vomiting hex which came after the spell in the book was barely legible now! "You damaged my book!"

"Calm down Zero! I told you, you are just clumsy..." Guiche words trailed off as Katie approached the table.

"Lord Guiche, what's going on here? I thought you said you would come have lunch with me today? I made a souffle just for you to try." Send the Academy first year girl.

"He's too busy to have lunch with you, he needs to pay for my book he damaged with this!" She held up the bottle. "Isn't this Montmorency's homemade perfume?"

"Guiche are you..?" Katie started to ask a question but shut her mouth when she heard another voice.

"Guiche what are you doing with the zero and a first year? You couldn't have forgotten about our lunch date could you have?" Said the yellow haired girl Montmorency.

"Katie, this isn't what it looks like!" Guiche pleaded with the girl.

"How could you!" Katie ran away, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Several of the other students laughed or giggled at the blonde fops expense.

"Guiche when are you going to grow up! Our parents have already arranged for our marriage this year! And here I find you cavorting with this young hussy, and the zero!" Montmorency snarled.

Montmorency walked up to Guiche her hand raised. "You're not even worth it." She lowered her hand. "Perhaps mother and father were right, your just a waste of time.."

Guiche watched Montmorency walk away after grabbing her frog familiar.

"How could you embarrass me like that Zero? Couldn't you have just left well enough alone!" Guiche berated Louise.

Guiche's parents did not want him to screw up his engagement to Montmorency. His father knew that even with the extra training he had given the boy, he would not last long on the front lines. With the new mandate from the state, everyone had to serve after graduation, however there was a clause in that rule.

Newly wed nobles would receive a two year break from forced enlistment. And what with one of Guiche's brothers already dead, due to the Albion conflict, Lord Gramont wished to protect his remaining heirs. Lord Gramont was of course also worried about his other sons as well, the war was not ending any time soon in the foreseeable future. That being the case he hatched a plan to give his son a higher survival chance. It was win win for the girls family as well, as pregnancy would allow her to avoid the war even longer. Their was also the fact that the Gramont line of nobles was a very prestigious one with lots of sway in court.

"You two should fight!" Kirche yelled.

"But, but we can't duel in school!" Louise quickly attempted to backpedal the conversation.

"That sounds like a fine Idea Kirche." Guiche responded to the redhead.

"No, well all get in trouble!" Louise head started darting around, she noticed Verðandi was nowhere in sight. "Let's fight with our Familiars instead?" Louise tried to sway her fellow students minds.

"Well where is your Familiar? Eh zero?" Kirche darted her head all around, in a mocking, looking gesture.

"No Familiars here?" She shrugged as there were no Familiars currently nearby, well besides Flame.

"It is not matter Kirche. Starting this year, the crown authorized sparring duels due to the war in Albion. It's only fitting that we should fight, as both our parents fight alongside one another in Albion. We shall just be exchanging friendly pointers." Guiche stated with a twisted smirk, masked as a pleasant smile.

"Then we should go get a teacher?" She started backpedaling. Her Familiar wasn't on her shoulder anymore, when had that happened. Dumb phoenix.

"Yeah, how about I go get one?" Louise offered, hoping to sneak away in the process.

"No need Louise, I already called for one minutes ago." Kirche smiled while she petted her familiar, Flame.

The Zerbst had her trapped from the start, she planned this! Louise grew angry. "Fine well duel Guiche, but I expect you to pay me back for my book should I win!" Louise shouted at him.

*Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel*

Pop! Came the sound of Winky the house elf returning once more to Hogwarts. In her hands was a large portrait of one Albus Dumbledore.

"Ah Minerva, how good it is to see you. I was starting to think your were avoiding me." The living portrait spoke.

"Albus, just where have you been? Winky told me you were off at some French magic school?" She rose an eyebrow at the portrait.

"Ah a most fascinating experience, while it's true they truly spoke french, I do not believe I was in France. Rather I think I was in Merlin's lost realm of the Holy Romanian Empire." He stated.

"You were brought to Albion? Next thing you will tell me is you met Morgan Le Fey or a member of King Arthur's court." Minerva joked. Although she took what Albus said seriously, it was in his nature to keep secrets, not lie. Albion had been recorded in magical history, it was even mentioned in classes. Why goblins also wanted to know its location was not known, but it was just another reasons for one of their rebellions.

"Albion was not the country I ended up in. It appears I was brought to be the property of Fawkes new master Louise Francoise, of the great and noble house of Valliere. Fawkes seems to have joined in a powerful magical familiar bond, even dare I say more so then myself. Her father is apparently a duke of high standing in a country called Tristain. Oddly it's very similar to Belgium." He finished his explanation.

"That is very interesting Albus. Pray do tell, how did you acquire all this information?" She asked in wonder.

"Ah, before Winky brought me back, I had quite the conversation with one of the professors of their school. In fact I was just about to meet up with their academy's headmaster. Oddly enough professor Colbert said the man held an uncanny resemblance to me." Dumbledore dropped a lemon drop into his mouth as he finished. "I look forward to it of course. Not everyday a portrait can go on adventures you know."

"Well as long as I know where you went... I'd honestly like to give this headmaster a peace of my own mind." Minerva glanced over towards Winky. "Winky please take me and Albus back right away."

"Of course Head Missy" The house elf said after grabbing them both.

With a Pop, Winky and Albus disappeared, leaving a rather flabbergasted Minerva behind. She had felt the initial symptoms of a side along apparition, but she had remained here. What had gone wrong? Was this magic school magically warded like Hogwarts? She would have to call Winky back.

"Winky!"

*Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel*

Colbert was having no luck, he had been all over the Academy, no portrait in sight. Worst yet he was keeping the headmaster waiting, thankfully he had ended his search back in the headmasters tower.

Wiping the sweat off his brow he took a seat on the stairs. He was no longer as fit as he had been serving in the military.

Taking this moment to rest he pulled out his hidden flask. In it was a concoction of his own creation. While others drank wine and fermented spirits, Colbert had his unique distilled spirits. He had created a bunch of this useless drink during one of his experiments, he had found a new process to obtain concentrated alcohol. He called the new creation, distilled spirits, it hadn't gone over very well.

Those he had try it complained it was, too harsh on the throat, had no flavor, or worse it was poison. Of course he had created a whole new process using a chemistry distilling method which he had tested on regular wines. It was just another one of his byproducts from yet another one of his ever growing list of failed inventions. All the nobles scoffed at the idea of ruining fine wine distilling it.

Then their was the other year, where he had managed to trap lightning in a jar. But the nobles paid it no mind, stating it was a silly thing, or it had no current or future applicable use. He had to fill an entire room with them to even get close to making a large spark capable of killing a rodent.

Colbert sighed as he drank away his misfortune. Maybe he would check his experiment on miasma later today. He couldn't stand the idea of another failure, but at least there was always something new to learn from such study.

Pop!

Colbert shot up after hearing the noise from the bottom of the stairs. "Was that?"

He didn't question himself further aloud as he rushed back down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs set the living portrait of one Albus Dumbledore.

"Ah, it's good to see you again professor Colbert... I do believe you have sprung a leak though." Albus stated while looking at the mans crotch.

Colbert looked down at his robes. He had split his distilled spirits on his pants. "Excuse me, it's not what it looks like." Colbert pleaded to Albus.

"Don't be embarrassed professor, accidents can happen to everyone." Albus tried to calm the young professor. "Let me tell you about the time me and my friend Grindl..."

"Another time perhaps! I'll be right back!" Colbert bowed before taking his leave to a nearby bathroom. Should one even bow to a living portrait? Colbert thought.

"What a peculiar young man.. I wonder where Winky has run off to. She probably popped back to go fetch Minerva." Dumbledore stated aloud, although he had no listeners. Though he was use to such things.

*Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel*

Irukukwu's stomach growled... She was still hungry. Her odd friend Fawkes was still finishing her own morsel. "I'm still hungry Fawkes... Maybe we can go beg for some food from our masters?"

Big sister also gave her extra treats. Though she always complained about ECU, whatever that was. Still a large red juicy steak sounded good. Irukukwu started to drool.

"Don't drool on me Irukukwu!" Fawkes cooed.

She was drooling... How embarrassing. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay..." Fawkes took a moment to think. "Would Irukukwu like some lemon drops for desert?"

The mysterious lemon drops... Were they tasty? Fawkes made them sound tasty. Her drooling mouth was all Fawkes needed to see.

"I'll be right back Big Blue." Fawkes burst into flames.

Irukukwu wasn't jealous of Fawkes void magic at all, nope not at all, not even a little... She was going to have to tell big sister if she remembers too. Why was Fawkes taking so long though! She paced back and fourth in the meadows of a forest that had seen their own judgment day.

Those thoughts immediately left her mind however.

"I'm back Big blue! I brought a whole lot since you're so big!" Fawkes struggled to stay standing atop a literal mountain of lemon drops...

Irukukwu rushed over and started to down the lemon drops in large mouthfuls. It was sweet, it was tasty, it was oddly calming...

"Sorry I took so long Big Blue. I had to move back master's painting to masters room. Can't have my masters things taken you know." Fawkes gobbled down a lemon drop after she apologized.

*Chapter Six: A Wizard's Duel*

Professor Chevreuse was currently sitting in a chair she had created with her earth magic. Below her, standing within a pit, one which she also dug with her magic, was two of her students. The pit formed a dueling arena of sorts, whilst also protecting the other students from errant spells. She would have to go down there to start the duel, thankfully one quick spell created steps down into the pit.

"Need I remind you both this is an official Academy sanctioned sparring duel. The use of lethal spells or attacks is forbidden. At anytime I may interfere an end the duel. Need I not remind you that you cannot leave the dueling pit unless you forfeit, or the duel is over. Spells should be limited to the variety which can't cause lasting injuries. Now both of you will swear on Brimir you will uphold these rules. After which you will declare your runic names and I'll give the starting signal. Are you both ready." The professor asked as she finished her required readings of the sparring decree, as set by the Tristain court of noble families and queen. She was currently standing at the center of the pit.

"Yes professor." Guiche flamboyantly declared.

"Yes..." Replied Louise meekly.

Guiche and Louise both crawled down to opposite ends of the pit. Both bowed as they recited the brimiric code of honor dueling.

"I am Guiche De Gramont. My runic name as decided by my peers is, Guiche de Bronze." He yelled.

"I am Louise De Le Valliere. My runic.c.c.c name is..." She was having trouble saying it.

"You can do it, Louise the Zero!" Kirche cheered out from above the pit, just behind Guiche. Her friend Tabitha was standing by her side reading a book.

"Shut up Zerbst. I don't need you help!" She shouted at her tormentor. She just really hated her runic name, is all.

"Ahem.." Mrs. Chevreuse coughed.

"My runic name is Louise the Zero!" Louise cried out. Much to her own embarrassment.

Snicker...

"Don't laugh at me Montmorency the flood!" Louise pointed at the blonde her girl off to the side of the pit.

"May the sparring duel begin!" Mrs. Chevreuse yelled. She wanted to get this whole thing over. Preferably before she ended up in one of her way-wards students explosive spells like she had yesterday.

"You don't stand a chance Zero! Why don't you just surrender!" Guiche yelled as he brought out his wand.

"I refuse!" Louise grimaced. She too, took out her wand.

"Then you leave me with no choice!" Guiche started to cast his first spell.

Louise prepared to cast her own spells. Better for her to react then to try attacking first.

"One golem should be enough to take you down Zero. Don't worry I've blunted her weapons, they will only leave you badly bruised." He said with a twisted smile.

Louise rose her own wand as the golem closed. An explosion was out, besides that had been when she hadn't a proper wand.. She wasn't even sure which of the spells she should use.. Recently she had only practicing the new ones from her new books. Well maybe not the best time to be testing new spells, but she had a gut feeling. They were the only spells that had ever worked for her.

Louise leveled her wand. The golem was rapidly approaching, she would only get one shot, it was already a few arms length aways. She took careful aim, then she flicked down her wand with an exaggerated flourish, just how the book had said too. At the same time she finished it up with the long verbal competent of the spell. "Fi-NEE-tay in-can-TAH-tem!"

AN: I fixed some stuff a day after posting. I apologize for the cliffhanger.