It seams through out history there is no better way to show your true strength than with a one on one duel. Wizards seam to have taken this as part of their culture. My exams start soon and I seam to be learning a lot of things that would be useful in a duel. But then this must be tied to the fact I am to become an auror, and their job is a series of duels.

Lucrius Next

Hogwarts Great Hall 9:00 AM 14th February

Once again the Great Hall was crowded, but then it was breakfast and so it should be. Lucrius stood outside, his wand was in the belt of his trousers and facing towards the ground. This was simply a safety precaution, as sometimes wand would go off when a lot of magical energy built up. He straightened his hair and pulled up his hood. He then straightened himself down and then looked in to see if everyone was in the great hall. When he was satisfied that everyone who was coming was there he marched into the great hall. The two great doors swung open as he pushed on them and when they hit the solid stone walls the crash rang out over the whole hall. Suddenly all eyes turned to him and all lips stopped moving. The hall rippled into silence.

Lucrius shouted in the same majestic way he always spoke.

"Malfoy! I want you!" Half the eyes turned to Malfoy and now the hall was deadly silent.

"Come now Malfoy. Your not scared are you?"

"No." came the almost scream back.

"Then come before me and bring your wand." Malfoy stood not quite as confidently as normal but then he was never as confident around Lucrius. He came and stood at the opposite end of the hall from Lucrius.

"I challenge you to a duel for the honour of Lucy Betts." Said Lucrius.

"You can have her honour." Snapped Draco,

"So you decline my challenge and walk away from this disgraced by all in this room."

Draco looked around the four tables and then said, "You think I am a coward?"

"So far I don't need to think."

"No one calls me a coward I accept you challenge." Snapped Draco.

"We go now." Said Lucrius. And the four tables started to slide sideways towards the sides of the room. As the tables reached the edge walls a long thin platform appeared and Lucrius stared at Draco before unbuttoning his robes and pulling them off to show the leather straps of the harness wrapped around his body. The knives let of a glint that temporarily shone the light in Draco's eyes and Lucrius saw him recoil slightly and saw this point of weakness. Lucrius stepped up and walked for three paces on the platform, the hall was mainly silent as this happened and the clicking of Lucrius' heels as he did this. Draco shivered slightly and he too stepped up drawing his wand and pointing it with shaking fingers towards his opponent. Lucrius though that Draco was doing a good job of composing himself but he noticed the small shakes, trembling fingers and even the quivering lower lip. There was no doubt in Lucrius' mind that Draco was scared, and so he piled on the pressure. He drew his wand with lightning speed and pointed it right at Draco's heart not even readjusting his stance for the now new position. For the first time since the proceedings had begun Dumbledore stood up and said,

"Standard Wizarding rules, that is first to five hits." The whole hall looked at him as he added; "You may begin."

And now for the first time Lucrius moved. He adjusted his stance so he held wand above his head and waited for Draco to adjust his. But he didn't he fired off two spells in quick succession. A de-arming spell and a stunning spell; Lucrius waved the counter spell for the sunning spell and dropped his wand as the de-arming spell hit. This resulted in the effect he wanted no wand no de-armament required, he quickly kicked his wand two feet in front of him, so it flew up to about the height of his head, letting out a scream as he did so. He then charged forward catching his wand as it dropped to his hand and shot off a reverse reaction spell, Draco blocked it but was not ready for the stunning spell that Lucrius' shot off next. Dumbledore shot a line in the air under Lucrius' name that had suddenly appeared. Lucrius still move forward and blasted off a couple of colourful spells that were normally used for moving things around and Draco jumped to dodge the one aimed at his feet. This turned out to be a mistake as the one that hit his stomach sent him flying off the platform. Draco dropped his wand as he put his hands out to stop a nasty fall onto the benches, he stood up with pain in his eyes and picked up his wand and walked over to the platform. He once again fired off some more spells this time relentlessly until he felt weak with the magic drained from him. Lucrius summoned all his energy and shot his wand towards the oncoming array of flashing lights and hazy glows and they bent to his will, they slowed and touched his wand being absorbed. Professor McGonagall looked shocked and stood up, with the intention to stop the duel, only to be ushered down by Dumbledore himself.

"Let us see where this leads." He said to the now seated McGonagall. As the last of the magical energy flew into Lucrius he fell to his knees and the whole audience gasped, but Lucrius who was used to the sensation of nausea associated with magical overload got to his feet and started to formulate the correct wording for the spell he wanted. As he found it he muttered it and his body started to warm up as his wand tip started to glow. After he said the last word he shouted, "This one will blow you away."

And with a last dance of defiance he lunged forward all his energy. And out of the end of his wand he produced a Lepidartus spell. This was a modified version of the Patronus, except it wasn't designed for scaring away Dementors it was designed for attacking the magical energy of all creatures, magical or muggle. Lucrius' formed a Dragon a huge dragon's head appeared, open mouthed, and charged towards Draco who fell backwards half running half crawling away from the creature. Lucrius' flicked his wand and the dragon faded away into a single silver point just before it hit Draco. Dumbledore cancelled the score board and declared Lucrius the winner. Draco was ushered off in the direction of Madam Pomfry and Lucrius was shown to Dumbledore's office in attendance of all the teachers. But as he was being taken there the great hall rose into a sea of cheers and clapping and as it subsided there was a deafening roar of talking as everyone discussed the morning's events.