Previously on Defiance…
Harry looked at him skeptically. "I do not understand your reasons, Dumbledore. If this is another way of trying to manipulate me-"
"Manipulation has its limits, Harry. I have decided to take the direct approach this time." Dumbledore replied. "I am giving you a chance, Harry Potter. A chance for you to hurt me back for every wrong that I have done to your life. Don't you want that chance?"
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE CHALLENGES HARRY POTTER TO AN OPEN DUEL!
IS THIS THE BIRTH OF THE DARK LORD POTTER?
In a rather surprising turn of things, Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts and the defeater of Dark lord Grindelwald, has challenged Harry Potter to an all-open duel to be held today afternoon at 2 PM. The venue for the upcoming duel is none other than our own Hogwarts grounds where the grand old man of Hogwarts will face off the newly coined Lord Potter-Black in what is being speculated as one of the most awaited duels in modern history. The most surprising fact is that Albus Dumbledore himself sent a missive to the office of the Daily Prophet, informing us about this upcoming event. We at the Daily prophet would like to quote a part of his missive here.
"This duel is simply a professional duel decided between me and Mister Potter. This duel, in no way, is demonstrating any kind of argument between us, nor does it demonstrate any kind of difference arising out of the fact that Lord Potter-Black shifted his House from the Light to the neutral side of the spectrum. Being a former battle-transfiguration master myself, I anticipate the chance to battle someone as powerful as Mister Potter has proven to be, in hopes that I might get someone worthy of being my apprentice, under the banner of the Transfiguration Guild. My former Master and friend, Arch mage Samuel Thüringen is going to be present as spectator to this duel, which I hope will be satisfying to the audiences."
Tiberius Odgen, the Lord of the Ancient and Noble family of Odgen had to comment, "Given the way Lord Potter demonstrated a corporeal Patronus wandlessly, it can be expected that he has the tremendous power reserve just as Albus Dumbledore was famed to have. While Albus has never been known for his wandless abilities, his knowledge of transfiguration is unparalleled, as is his knowledge of arcane battle magic. Will Harry Potter and his magical power match up to the mammoth, as Albus Dumbledore is known to be? I do not know but I am tremendously excited to watch the duel."
Lucius Malfoy commented from his family manor at Wiltshire, "While Dumbledore's abilities are greatly over-estimated, there exists no doubt that he is an able wizard, and I expect him to put Potter down from the self-made pedestal he is standing on." Mister Malfoy went on to describe the boisterous behavior demonstrated by Mister Potter at the Wizengamot, and commented that he would be present at the duel, if only to see how Mister Potter falls from the sky to the ground.
We also interviewed Lord Greengrass about his thoughts and the leader of the neutral faction had to say, "I cannot speak for Mister Potter as he is his own person, but I will attend this duel. In all probability, this duel will demonstrate Mister Potter's true magical prowess to the Wizarding world at large. Dumbledore is a magical titan and has been a connoisseur of the arcane arts for over a century. I do not think that there is any shame, even if Mister Potter fails to defeat Albus Dumbledore in this legendary duel that we all anticipate."
Harry looked up as someone slapped the Daily Prophet on the floor in front of him. Standing in front of him, hands folded and her face frowning with irritation was Daphne Greengrass. She stared at him and observed, the frown still marring her angelic face. Not getting a reaction, she began tapping her feet impatiently.
"Are you expecting me to say anything?" Harry asked solemnly.
"No. This is beyond the limit of all stupidity. Why would you agree to a duel with Dumbledore? You are powerful, I get that, but this is Dumbledore, we are talking about. Has this family magic gone to your head, Potter?" She scoffed.
Harry tilted his head and replied, 'Have you forgotten what my family magic can do, Greengrass?"
"No, I didn't, but you haven't mastered it all, have you?" Harry didn't reply, and Daphne continued, "In any event, this is Dumbledore. That man has been into magical arts for over a damned century. Surely you aren't thinking you could beat him?"
Harry got up. "This isn't about me beating him, Greengrass. I have my own reasons to fight him."
"And what are they?" Daphne demanded.
Harry gave her a cold stare as she swallowed. "My discussion with Dumbledore made me understand one single thing. There is one thing that matters more than everything else does in this world. That thing is power."
Daphne nodded, willing to listen to his reasons, before granting him a piece of her mind.
"You know very well how badly I behaved in front of everyone at the Wizengamot. Everyone should be mocking me right now, as they did in my second year and last year. I suppose you did not forget the 'Potter Stinks' badges that you all wore?" Daphne looked embarrassed. She had indeed worn one of those badges Malfoy had procured.
"Do you know why the Daily Prophet and the other esteemed members of the Wizengamot aren't doing that, right now?"
The answer was simple.
"Tell me, Daphne. What was it?"
Daphne swallowed as the answer left her lips. "Your wandless Patronus."
"Right." Harry returned, "While I would never have revealed any of my abilities in the right mind, this draught of rage did indeed teach me a simple lesson. Money didn't matter. Blood didn't matter. Fame didn't matter. Not when you had that kind of Power in your hands."
Daphne just listened.
"I realized why it was that no one cared that Voldemort was actually Tom Riddle, a half-blood at best and a muggle born at worst. Nobody cared that Albus Dumbledore was from a junior half-blood house. Both of them had power and knew how to wield it. Importantly, both of them demonstrated their power in public."
"You want them to know that you are not someone to be trifled with." Daphne surmised.
"Yes." Harry reasoned. "I don't care if Voldemort gets to know about it. If I keep on worrying about keeping my powers secret, I will have to live my life, keep myself from using my true power in my battles, fearing that someone will know about my true abilities and powers. Nevertheless, I have had my eyes opened. Let them see what I can do. This is not the Gryffindor in me speaking; this is me simply marking the line."
Daphne understood. The duel was a good way of sending a message. A message to the people all across the world. Here was a wizard by the name of Harry Potter. A wizard who had the ability to battle someone as legendary as Albus Dumbledore was. Even if he did not win the duel, the show would simply be enough for people to understand that Harry Potter was not someone to be messed with. Moreover, wasn't that the original idea? If the dark lord understood that Harry Potter commanded powerful magic and that Harry Potter did not want to fight him, he would take the threat seriously and stay away. If not, he would be forever be coming for him, trying his level best to kill Harry and make him fight whether he wanted to or not. In a weird kind of way, demonstrating his abilities was an extremely Slytherin maneuver.
"I agree with you, but is that the only reason you are fighting him?" She demanded softly.
"Mostly." Harry responded. Daphne knew that he played his card close to his chest, and would not answer unless he wished. She held his hand, squeezed it comfortably. No more questions were asked, no explanations given.
The next day…
"Are you sure about this, godson?"
Harry nodded. Sirius looked concerned, very concerned.
"Something on your mind, Sirius?"
Sirius fidgeted a bit, hesitating to speak his mind out. The Black scion had come to Hogwarts to meet his godson. The two were having a private moment, a pep talk of sorts, before the duel could officially begin.
"Sirius, there is only one person I trust completely, and that is you. If you need to hesitate before speaking to me, I don't know what I should say." Harry replied solemnly.
Sirius seemed to make up his mind and finally returned, "Look pup, I know you are powerful. Merlin, I myself trained you a little in the beginning and even then, I knew you held back. I understand that you have been training, and I understand that this is all-important to you on the one hand, but on the other- I can't help but ask-Why? Why? Why would you even want to do this?"
"Because I do not want to live in fear, controlled by manipulating old men and monsters who would force me to fight whenever they felt right. I want to go out there, and no matter I win or lose, I will make sure that both of them- Dumbledore and Voldemort, understand that I'm not the helpless child that both of them played with."
Sirius's eyes bore into his.
"At the end of every year, I begged Dumbledore to let me stay at Hogwarts, or just anywhere else for the holidays. I just did not want to go back and suffer at the hands of those filthy… Dursleys. Yet, Dumbledore did not take me seriously and despite all my begging, he sent me back like a good little present to be tortured for another summer. In my third year, he could have protected you himself, but he did not. I saw how my chance at a happy home disappear in front of my own eyes while Dumbledore did not lift a finger to help me. That is why I am going to fight him today. Even if I cannot defeat him, every spell I shoot will contain my rage and my helplessness and suffering that was caused by him. That is why this duel is so important to me."
Sirius was looking at him teary-eyed. "I—I didn't-" Harry simply hugged him back. "I don't blame you, Sirius. You did more for me than anyone else did. You gave me a chance to grow powerful, and here I am." He paused as he stared at the open grounds from the window. "During the fight with Voldemort, I was helpless. Voldemort played with me, he insulted my mother and my father and I just had a petty little expelliarmus up in my sleeve..." His words were filled with so much self-loathing that even Sirius felt repelled by it. "Fighting against Dumbledore will send a message to Voldemort, that the next time he comes for me, I will not be someone he can insult and play with, That is why this duel is so important for me."
Sirius rubbed the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. His godson, no matter how powerful he was or how strong and cunning he appeared to me, was a frightened little boy deep inside, who hated being weak above all things. In order to bring that little boy out of the shell, it was necessary to reveal to the world what he could do. It also explained why the boy, who was so powerful and charismatic at all moments, had become nervous and fidgeted so much before the trial. This was not some Gryffindorish bravery. This was defiance against the evils, which the world had cast upon him.
"Harry! Look at me." He held the young man's shoulders firmly and stressed, "I don't care what anyone says. I do not care if you are fighting Dumbledore or some dark lord. I just want to say one thing to you." He paused.
"Win the damn thing."
For the first time, Harry smiled. "I will."
The entire Hogwarts stadium was overwhelming with spectators, all awaiting the outcome of what promised to be one of the most legendary duels of all time. Older Hogwarts Alumni, agents from private companies, accomplished Masters of magical arts, Ministry officials- it was a never-ending list. Filius and Minerva had to actually use expansion charms to maximum effect on the expansive Hogwarts grounds, and even duplicate the existing number of seats, and yet, the number of spectators just seemed to increase more and more.
In the center of the stadium, an elevated rocky terrain had been transfigured for the upcoming duel. As always, Lee Jordan had been given the opportunity to show case his commentary skills and he took his usual place among the audience, his voice blaring out of the megaphone as he described the happenings going on.
"And the Headmaster- oh do my eyes really see what I think I see? Albus Dumbledore is walking up to the dueling platform dressed in formal battle-mage robes, with the symbol of Transfiguration Masters Guild imprinted on them. It seems that Harry Potter has to fight against not the Headmaster of Hogwarts, but an accomplished Master of battle-transfiguration. The transfiguration Guild has been invited to the duel and I can easily spot Master Thüringen among the audience. Master Samuel Thüringen is, of course, best known for his Mastery in battle-transfiguration and his discovery of 'Thüringen principle of advanced conjuration.'" Lee paused, allowing the audience to keep up with his commentary, "-and now it is time for our other duelist, and here he comes…."
Harry Potter walked up to the stage. Dressed in thick dragon hide armor, with a billowing cloak behind him, he stepped up on the dueling platform, looking every bit of the war mage he had read about from the family grimoire. It was time to witness if he had it in him to continue the legacy of his original roots. This might have been a duel for the spectators, but for him- it was a fight for his freedom, his independence- the answer to the shits he had been taking from the world all these years. He was going to fight Albus Dumbledore, no matter if the ancient wizard surpassed Harry in everything; only if that gave him a chance to push back.
"The two duelists have taken their place on the dueling platform, and I would like to inform everyone that there were no bars to the magic demonstrated in this duel; except, of course, the use of Unforgivables which are held as a criminal offense in the court of law. Apart from Unforgivables, all spells and magics are fair game, and the duel shall continue until one of them yields or is incapacitated." Lee commented. "And now our dear Charms Professor and nine-timed dueling champion Professor Flitwick is going to referee the game."
Filius Flitwick walked up to the stage; his cheerful countenance vanished under a serious demeanor, stood in the middle of the terrain and spoke up clearly, "On the count of three, the duel will begin. It is expected that both opponents shall make it a fair fight." Flitwick stepped back and then raised what seemed to be a white handkerchief. He raised it high in the air as he yelled, "One… Two… Three…"
He stepped out from the battle terrain, as the audiences sucked their breaths in anticipation.
"DUEL!"
BOOOOOM!
Two powerful exploding curses shot out of individual wands towards each other, met in the middle and then blew up with a tremendous explosion, as the most anticipated battle of the decade began its course. Harry whipped his wand and sent powerful and destructive spell-chains which, had it been any other person, would have ended the fight immediately. However, this was Dumbledore, who whipped his wand in complicated patterns, summoning rocks and conjuring obstacles, preventing the destructive spells from reaching him firsthand. Javelins, swords, powerful exploding curses and destructive hexes traversed the battle terrain as the two mages fought against each other. Not willing to accept defeat, Harry whipped his wand like a baton, sending a sliver of what seemed to be silver arrows at Dumbledore who waved his wand and conjured metal shields that intercepted them easily.
"Is this all you have got, Harry Potter? If it is, then you better want to forfeit the match." Dumbledore taunted. It was most unlike him, but it did not get to Harry as he had anticipated. After all, this was a battle and there was nothing that calmed Harry Potter more than being in battle. He felt his senses sharpen, as he weaved through the enormous number of spells shot out towards him from the old man.
Dumbledore isn't moving. He is defending using summoning and conjuring. If not for his power, this duel would have gone a different way.
It was true. The venerable mage wasn't dodging anything. He was too happy to simply summon things into the spell's path and save himself. While it spoke volumes about the man's magical power, it did give him a disadvantage too.
"Harry," Dumbledore yelled, "Stop playing around and take this fight seriously. If you don't, you will lose and lose pathetically."
Harry smirked in return. Time for the first go.
Waving his wand in complex arcs, he ran towards the old Headmaster, his magic speeding his movement, as he cast severing hexes at the man who for the first time, began to take things seriously and sent a sliver of dark spears at him. Deflecting them with nothing more than a slight wave of his wand, Harry jumped over him, thrusting his wand outward as he yelled….
"MALLEUS PUGNO PRIMUS."
Dumbledore seemed to sense what he was about to do and instantly raised his wand above himself and for the first time, spoke out, "IMPRIMIS MAXIMA..." A golden, sturdy shield formed between the two opponents with Harry Potter in the air shoving his spell down at the newly manifested shield.
WHAM!
The unstoppable force met its match against an immovable object, as the ancient shield held up against the powerful bludgeoner, causing an explosive wave so powerful that it lifted Harry and threw him back on the ground. Dumbledore, however, stood his ground, panting, with the sturdy shield still holding up there when-
CRACK!
The ancient shield shattered as Dumbledore fell down to his knees, panting. The defense had taken a lot out of him. After a couple of seconds, he stood up, wiping off the dust from his official robes as he looked at Harry and smiled. "That's more like it, my boy. And now, we duel."
Dumbledore stood his fullest height as he raised his wand towards the heavens as the sky turned cloudy and lightning began to flash now and then. Thrusting his other hand forward, he whipped his wand towards Harry, as lightning from the sky changed its course and spun towards Harry who stood his ground. The moment he saw the streak of lightning come near him, he lifted himself wandlessly into the air, as the crowd watched spellbound. The lightning crashed against the rocks and blasted them to smithereens.
"Did you see that?" Lee yelled in disbelief. "Harry Potter just flew up from the ground into the air, and now he is standing up there. How by Morgana is that possible?"
Harry smirked. Time for the second round.
"Ah, Harry, it's good to know that you have a few tricks up your sleeve." Dumbledore returned, and once again, Harry did not answer. Whipping his wand, he raised a huge mass of land, which rose upward like a mountain to reach his feet, and standing on it, he waved an arc across the stormy sky, yelling to the heavens… "FULMINATA MAXIMA!"
The arc of lightning shot out of his wand, and raced through the terrain towards Dumbledore, shattering the terrain as it crossed it. Rocks, pebbles, anything and everything that got into its way got demolished into the glassy sand, as the wave of lightning raced towards Dumbledore who waved his wand and raised another block of rock in front of him to defend against the arc. Powerful and knowledgeable he might be, but it would be a fool's hope to think that a shield would stand against something like that.
"Nice move, Harry, now it's my turn." He returned, as he waved his wand in an intricate pattern and spoke out, "AQUA ERRUCTO!" A humongous human fist, over fifty feet wide and almost equally long, composed of pure water, shot towards Harry who raised his wand to the heavens and yelled… "FIENDFYRE!"
A mammoth sized thestral emerged out of his wand, only that the thestral was made of fiery, crimson flames and galloped towards Dumbledore. Fire and water slammed into each other, with both opponents doing their best to propel their spells and supply them with increasing amounts of energy. The thestral almost roared as it drove against the watery fist, which seemed completely focused on destroying the raging beast out of existence. The heavens thundered, rain fell and the sky seemed to tear as torrents of lightning converged over the two mythical, elemental powers that raged against each other as the two powerful mages fought each other in what was presumably, a battle of wills. The clash generated powerful winds that lashed over the rest of the terrain, sending shockwaves everywhere. Most of the spectators had to hold up their hands and raise shields if only to try to stop the shockwaves from throwing them off.
"What is happening?" Ron yelled as he turned towards Hermione, whose eyes seemed to be glued at the clash of the titans before her. "This… this is…" Hermione could not find words. She knew her friend was powerful, but this… this was insane. How on earth could Harry Potter do that?
"Hermione?" Ron yelled.
"They are fighting over pure magical power. Harry is using fire against Dumbledore's water. The collisions from the clash is generating these shockwaves." She yelled back, focusing on her Protego, which seemed to buckle under the stress of the oncoming shock waves.
"Somebody STOP them!" Molly Weasley screamed from behind, "they are going to destroy the entire stadium if they continue that."
"We cannot do anything, Molly," Minerva replied, half in awe and half in resignation, "Potter and Albus are both magical juggernauts. Unless they decide to stop, no one can stop them."
Molly just swallowed in disbelief.
Harry was experiencing something he had never experienced before. The adrenaline rush and the excitement of the battle, sending shivers of excitement down his spine was propelling him to send out more and more of magical energy into the spell. He knew that he should have been magically exhausted but for some reason, more and more magical power became available to him as time progressed. Ancient words and spells kept flowing into his mind as he yelled out in fury, not wanting to lose to the man; he had lost so much to, already. He clutched his other palm into a fist and called into his magic, his logical mind already lost to his primal self as he thrust his fist out towards Dumbledore and yelled…
"INDIGNATIONE MORTIS PRIMUS!"
"How can he be so powerful? I knew he was, but this… this is inexplicable." Daphne muttered to herself as she found herself facing the truth about how devastatingly powerful her betrothed truly was. All that power, and yet he did not ever boast on it, except when under the compulsion of the rage draught. All that power… how was it even possible? Was he even human?
Dumbledore knew that unless he did something, that attack coming from Harry would kill him. With supreme effort, he somehow deviated the ongoing power struggle so that it engulfed the second attack into itself. Now Harry was forcing magic through both hands, while Dumbledore was barely being able to keep up, thanks to his incredible magical power and the Elder wand in his hand. However, if the fact that the colliding energy moving slowly toward him meant anything, it was that unless he did something, he would be blasted into smithereens. Harry Potter had lost his logical senses and was totally bent on killing him. Considering everything, Dumbledore did something had never done in his life. With an extremely complicated incantation, he summoned the powers of ancient blood sacrifice to activate a power of the ancient wand he wielded.
The power to cast true against the opponent's spell.
There was a reason why the Elder Wand, also known as the Wand of Destiny, or more infamously, as the Deathstick, was so sought after by wizards. Among all of its spectacular abilities, the most special were its ability to cast true against its opponent's spell. In simple terms, if supplied with energy, the wand had the ability to neutralize any spell coming towards its wielder. That was the true reason why it was known as the unbeatable wand. However, this ability was supposed to work only for those of Peverell blood, since the Peverells were rumored to infuse the wand with their own family magic. Any other wielder had to sacrifice something, usually blood to activate such powers, and that too for a short amount of time.
There was a slight problem though. The opponent, in this case, was a Peverell descendant, and if his hunch was correct, Harry was just one-step away from realizing that Dumbledore was holding onto one of his family heirlooms. The wand of Peverell was now facing a blood of Peverell. Peverell family magic against the family.
"I call you by my power, and I sacrifice my blood to beg for your power. Take my blood and fulfill my wish, and if that is enough, then take what you will." Dumbledore chanted mentally, praying that his blood sacrifice would be enough to convince the wand. The wand began to vibrate violently and he had trouble holding on to it. With supreme effort, he held the wand, which glowed brightly, channeling its ancient magic into the power struggle, as a huge black mist shot out of the wand, engulfing the entire mass of clashing energies into itself, as it dissolved into nothingness.
The mist faded, and everyone could see the shock in Harry's eyes as he felt his entire attack disintegrate to dust by that black mist, as he fell on his knees, unable to maintain his consciousness as the magical exhaustion hit him hard. Dumbledore fell down on his knees too, still awake and in control, happy in the knowledge that he had averted a catastrophe, though a part of him couldn't feel saddened as he felt a very familiar connection erase itself from his magical core...
The allegiance of the Elder wand had faded from him, and if his hunch was correct, the wand in question had sworn its allegiance to its blood and true master, one who had come to acquire full possession of it at last. The wand of Peverell in the hands of a Peverell, and it soothed the old man's heart that now that Harry had his chance to liberate his rage and demonstrate his defiance, it was time for the truth.