Disclaimer: not really mine.

Chapter 12: The Just and Loyal

*************************** Garth Slytherin reveled in the bedlam created by his father's attack. Salazar's greatest rival had fallen at his hands. Now his son sought out his turn.

She wasn't hard to find either. Helga's fire bright hair made her an easy make. At the moment, she and Ulric were fighting back-to-back. That would do from what Garth had in mind. After all, the woman had humiliated him all his life, he wanted a little of his own back.

"Firmin Malfoi, Crabbe, Goyle," he called to three of his best fighters. "I want you three to take down Ulric Hufflepuff. He's doing far too much damage."

"I can take him on my own!" the Frenchman said.

"No, you can't," Garth said. "I trained you remember. And he is my best friend. I know his skill better then any."

"My Lord, I swear I can take him!" Malfoi said again.

"Fine," Garth growled. "Just get him away from the woman. I want to kill her without interruption." ******************************** Helga was surprised at how fast the battle grew around her. She was extremely thankful that the children were gone. Despite the fact that Elsie and Hero would have been helpful, she didn't want them exposed to this.

"Stay with me, love," Ulric called.

She smiled slightly. "I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."

They were impressive pair to watch fighting. Ulric was a master swordsman and Helga could hex a pixie and forty paces. Working together nothing could stop them.

Helga felt the presence at her back lessen slightly. "Ulric?" she called.

"I'm here," he answered a few steps away.

Helga turned slightly to see him up against three men. She recognized the one in the middle as a Frenchman named Firmin Malfoi. The other two were mindless goons she never paid attention to.

"Watch it love!" she warned.

"Oh I can handle them," Ulric called smiling, stepping further away.

"Confident isn't he?" Garth drawled back in front of her.

Helga wiped her head around and glared at him. "He's your friend!" she said. "How can you just stand there and let them..."

Garth held up his hand. "I assure you, Helga, Ulric can handle those three. Young Malfoi is ambitious, but not quite up to Ulric's level."

"Why, Garth?" Helga couldn't help but ask. "Why so this?"

His eyes narrowed. "Very simply, Helga, to get to you. Getting to you has always been my goal. It's why I had Robin killed."

Helga froze. "You killed Rob."

"Had him killed, dear," he said viciously. "There's a difference. He was my friend too. I couldn't do it myself."

Helga felt the blood drain from her face. "You vile, foul, evil," she stuttered.

"Finally speechless?" he smirked.

She closed her mouth and took a deep breath. "I will kill you for this," she said deadly calm.

Garth's smile widened. "A dual then? To show who truly is the better man."

"You," Helga spat, "are not a man. And I have always been your better." "A fight to the death then," Garth said. "Anything goes."

"Anything, to the death," she agreed.

"I'll almost be sorry to see you go," Garth said falling into a dueler's stance.

"Quit stalling and bow," Helga said viciously.

They both bowed, and began. In the midst of so much fighting, these two should have gone unnoticed, but they weren't. A number of students watched their two teachers battling each other.

Helga had strong shields that could stand the curses Garth was sending her way. The only thing that would cut through would be the killing curse. Helga was banking on the fact that Garth wanted to taunt her before actually killing her.

She knew her opponent well. They had learned to duel together as children. She had always beaten him. She wasn't about to let him bet her now.

Garth was getting frustrated. "I will kill you!" he grounded out.

"Yeah, sure," Helga said grazing him with a slicing hex.

A fire flashed in Garth's eyes and Helga smirked. She had him. He rushed forward firing off his own slicing hex. Helga dodged and the table behind her was torn in half.

"Wingdaruim Leveosa!" she called, levitating the largest piece of the table over his head.

Garth didn't noticed what she lifted. He turned back to her and smirked. "Do you really think such a simple hex can beat me?" he asked.

Helga smiled. "Look up."

Garth looked up. The table dropped. One of the loud pop-snaps heard was the wizard's neck braking.

******************************************* Helga turned frantically to find Ulric. Where was he?

He wasn't a small person. How could she not find him? Even in this mass of humanity he should stand over most the crowd.

She spotted him about forty paces away. Malfoi was bleeding and Ulric was grinning. The two goons flanking Malfoi were trying to attack Ulric and defend the smaller man at the same time. It wasn't working well.

She made short work of them from where she was by firing stunners at them. Now it was only Ulric and Malfoi. The younger man almost seemed pleased at this.

Helga couldn't hear what he was saying but it looked like 'Now it begins.'

She had to admit, the boy was good. He was at least holding his own against

Ulric. He might even last long enough for Helga to get to them, even if he did resort to taunting.

Helga saw Ulric turn and look at her after Malfoi said something. He had a nasty gash across his face, but other than that seemed alright. Ulric smiled and Helga smiled back, still trying to get to him.

Malfoi seemed to see her now too, and he paled. He quickly found the place where she had been fighting Garth with his eyes.

Malfoi seemed to see what had happened. He sneered. Helga was now close enough to make out his words through the din.

"She may have beaten Lord Garth, but will shall win this day!" he cried. "Conjunctiva!"

Ulric dropped his sword and wand, blinded by the curse. Malfoi smirked, but disappeared with a small 'pop' as Helga approached.

"Anti-apparition wards," Ulric said distantly as Helga knelt down to help him. "We need anti-apparition wards so scum like that can't skip out on a fight!"

"Ulric," Helga said.

He turned to her, and faced her. Ulric smiled lightly before passing out from the pain.