Episode Twenty Seven

Part One

            It seemed entirely extraordinary that Malfoy would challenge Gwen to a duel the very last night of the semester. But Gwen was up to the challenge. She would show him exactly what she was made of. That is if Graves would let her.

"I'm your second." He said, having seen the exchange and wisely guessing the result.

"Fine, you're my second. But Malfoy won't even have the chance to disarm me, let alone kill me."

"Gwen, when are you going to wake up?"

"To what?"

"To the reality that Malfoy is deadly. He doesn't care if he gets expelled. He'll kill you anyway. Consider it an early enrollment into the death eaters fan club. They'd admit him in a second if he had your death under his belt."

She sighed. Graves was going to argue her into the ground. "Fine. He's deadly. He'll try to kill me. You're my second. So if he succeeds do me a favor and kill him."

Graves looked at her gravely. "I'm serious."

"And I'm taking you seriously. We meet at midnight in the Transfiguration classroom."

Part Two

When they arrived at midnight the classroom was dark. They waited and within moments Malfoy appeared with Goyle at his side. Malfoy had his wand out.

Before Gwen and Graves could stop him Malfoy had disarmed them of their wands and had handed them over to Goyle for the meantime. Graves stood waiting tensely, prepared to jump on Malfoy if the chance presented itself. Malfoy raised his wand, trying to think of a quick curse to rid him of the two of them.

While he was thinking Graves seized the moment and jerked Malfoy's wand out of his hand. He plunged it into his robes, keeping it out of anyone's eager hands. Out of options, Malfoy raised his fist to punch Gwen.

            "You'd hit a girl?" Graves asked.

            Gwen sucker punched Malfoy before he had the chance to answer. "Some girl." He growled from the floor.

"Whatever happened to feminism?" Gwen exclaimed.

"Feminism?" Graves asked.

Gwen shook her head in disbelief. "I don't have time for this. I'll explain it to you later."

Malfoy was up again and ready for another round. Without their wands all they had were fists and well placed kicks to defend themselves. To Graves this seemed like an unfair match. To Gwen it was finally even ground. They went several rounds, both of them taking hits, falling and recovering. Malfoy was decidedly worse for the wear. Thank god I took those self-defense classes in college, Gwen thought.

            With one last burst of power, Gwen pummeled Malfoy landing three punches right, left, right. He fell to the ground unconscious and Gwen almost giggled at the light giddy feeling in her head. She'd taken one too many hits herself, but seeing Malfoy crumpled on the floor from a bare fist-fight was something to be truly proud of.

            Graves looked at her, terrified and amazed. The same feeling she had for Harry was now welling up in Graves belly. She frightened him when she was on top of her game and he'd never seen her this good, without magic. He couldn't imagine how Malfoy would have survived if she had had her wand.

            "Take him back to the dorm and toss him in bed." Graves said to Goyle, who looked at them with some confusion. Finally he spoke.

            "Nice work Gwen." He said, switching wands with Graves.

            She looked at him completely stunned. Goyle had never spoken to her before and she was surprised that he knew her name. She smiled at him and nodded. "Thanks."

            The boy hefted Malfoy onto his shoulder and struggled out of the classroom.

            "That was magnificent." Graves said softly, the terror he felt barely contained within his voice.

            She smiled and patted his arm softly. "Could you walk me back to Gryffindor, I'm not sure I can make it on my own."

            He picked her up gingerly, much to her dismay. "I can walk, you know."

            "I don't care." He said, holding her tightly.