Chapter 11:

Duel with Lucius

Harry trailed Draco through the castle. Once he began to get closer to him, Harry quickly waved a hand across his body, and made himself invisible. He cast a Silencing Charm on himself just to be safe. Draco made his way through a series of corridors, and then out an exit of the castle that Harry did not even know existed. This was saying something considering how many hours he had spent poring over the Marauder's Map. Once Draco had exited the castle, it became apparently obvious what his destination was. Standing outside the castle was a cloaked and hooded individual that could only be a Death Eater. A quick wave of Harry's hand and the Death Eater was bound by a Disapparation Jinx.

Draco walked up to the individual and bowed, "Father."

Lucius nodded back to him, "What do you have to report that is so important that it required me to come personally?"

Draco replied, "They have just had an Order meeting in Dumbledore's office. Apparently, Potter went into the Forbidden Forest earlier and spoke with the centaurs. They have informed Potter of the Master's plan."

Lucius started, "What do you mean? Which plan?"

Draco sighed in trepidation, "Potter knows that the Dark Lord intends to attempt to alter time. He intends to try to stop him."

Lucius laughed, "He will never be able to stop our Master from going back in time."

Draco asked, "Will he be able to stop him once he goes?"

Lucius snorted, "That is ridiculous. There is no way that Potter will even know when he has left or to what time that he went to."

Draco shook his head in disagreement, "I have been spying on Potter for quite awhile now. He can sense magic of any kind. He will know when the Master casts the time travel spell, and he will be able to follow him back in time."

"Are you sure?"

Draco nodded, "Positive, Father."

Lucius replied, "Very well. I will take this news to the Dark Lord. Hopefully, he will not be too displeased. This is distressing news. The Potter boy can be quite a bit of trouble."

Draco snorted, "Don't I know it. I have been in school with him for over six years."

Lucius raised a hand, "Farewell, my son. I will speak with you again concerning anything that you have discovered."

Draco bowed again, "Farewell, Father. I live only to serve the Dark Lord." Draco turned and began walking back towards the castle. Lucius turned and headed for the border of the Hogwart's grounds so that he could Apparate away.

Harry grinned to himself. Lucius was about to receive quite a surprise. Harry followed Lucius to the edge of the grounds, and then made himself visible. Lucius caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and dove while drawing his wand and screaming out, "Crucio."

Harry stood still and waited for the curse to hit him. Once it had, Harry laughed lightly, "Come now, Lucius, did you really expect so feeble a spell from so feeble a wizard to harm me?"

Lucius stood up, "I will destroy you, Potter."

Harry laughed again, "My, what fantasy. I didn't know that you were so prone to such flights of the imagination, Lucius."

Lucius assumed a dueling stance, "I will kill you, Potter."

Harry continued to laugh, "Let's see it then. I am anxious to pay you back for all the misery that you have brought into my life over the years."

Lucius waved his wand, "Avada Kedavra."

Harry made a circle with his arm in front of him, "Dissipato." The jet of green light disappeared halfway to Harry. Lucius began to fire off other curses at Harry, which Harry ignored. Harry began to return fire with light curse of his own. He caught Lucius with a Boil Hex, and several Tickling Charms. Lucius reversed these and finally paused in his assault.

Lucius stood there panting, while Harry continued to smile haughtily. Lucis said, "I can be off the Hogwart's grounds in two seconds, Potter. Then, you will never catch me."

Harry shook his head, "You are entirely to naïve, Lucius. I cast a Disapparation Jinx on you the moment I saw you on the grounds. You will not be leaving to go anywhere. My score with you will be settled tonight."

Lucius taunted, "So, what are you going to do, Potter? Take me to the Aurors for imprisonment? The Dark Lord will send people after me within a week."

Harry shook her head, "I have no intention of taking you alive, Lucius. You have caused my family far too much heartache."

Lucius ripped his mask from his face, "You aren't serious. I am beaten, and you would still kill me?"

Harry smiled evilly, "Wouldn't that be the same courtesy that you would show me? Why should I treat you any differently?"

Lucius paled, "Because you are one of the so-called good guys."

Harry laughed, "The idea of good and evil is purely subjective. If I am killing someone that is evil, then I am doing good. Good-bye, Lucius."

Lucius protested, "Wait.."

Harry cut him off by lifting his hand and saying, "Cuttera." The Cutting Curse hit Lucius in the chest and sliced deeply into his chest. He gurgled and then fell lifeless to the ground. Harry raised a hand and a blue light came from his hand healing the wound so that Lucius appeared unharmed. Harry flicked his hand at Lucius's body, "Mobilicorpus." Lucius' body rose from the ground and floated beside Harry. Harry turned and walked back to the castle with Lucius' body trailing behind him.

Within a few minutes, Harry had returned to the corridor outside Dumbledore's office. He left Lucius floating just beside the gargoyle, and climbed up the stairs to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore looked up as Harry entered the room, "I didn't expect to see you back here this quickly, Harry."

Harry shrugged, "I didn't expect to be back here this quickly. However, Draco went to meet with his father earlier. I don't know how, but he was spying on the Order meeting. He went to report what was said during the meeting."

Dumbledore asked, "Did you stop him from making his report?"

Harry shook his head, "No, I allowed him to tell everything to Lucius. Then, I intercepted Lucius before he could get off the grounds."

"What did you do to him?" asked Dumbledore with a sense of foreboding.

Harry shrugged again, "He's dead if that is what you are asking."

"How did he die?"

"Cutting Curse. It wasn't pretty." Harry turned and waved his hand. Lucius' body rose up the stairs into the office.

Dumbledore walked from behind his desk to examine the body. "He doesn't appear to be damaged in any way."

Harry nodded, "I know. The sight was a bit gruesome, so I decided to heal his body before I went traipsing through the castle with his body in tow."

Dumbledore sighed, "You do realize that this will make it look as if you used the Killing Curse."

Harry nodded again, "I'm aware, but after what happened the last time that Fudge dragged me in front of the Wizengamot, he isn't going to be in any hurry to do so again."

Dumbledore smiled, "Good point. However, you could have taken him alive."

Harry snorted, "We have taken him alive. Twice. Both times he has been rescued. I'm not going to let him loose, again."

Dumbledore sighed, "I suppose I need to contact Dawlish, and have the Aurors come to collect the body."

Harry agreed, "I suppose so. They will need to question me as well."

Dumbledore grabbed Floo Powder off the shelf above the fireplace, and threw it into the fire while saying, "Dawlish, Ministry of Magic."

A moment later, Dawlish's head appeared in the fire, "What can I do for you, Albus?"

Dumbledore replied, "Mr. Potter has captured a Death Eater on the grounds."

Dawlish asked, "Which one?"

"Lucius Malfoy." said Harry.

"Alive or dead?" asked Dawlish.

"Dead." Harry replied evenly.

Dawlish nodded, "Let me get Kingsley and we will be at the castle shortly."

Dumbledore nodded, "Thank you, Dawlish. We will be waiting."

Dawlish nodded once more, and then disappeared from the fire. Dumbledore and Harry both sat patiently in silence until Kingsley and Dawlish popped through the fire. Both of them saw the body floating in mid-air at the same time. Kingsley asked, "What happened?"

Harry sighed, "Well, I guess that I have to explain this one more time. I caught sight of Draco as I left the Order meeting, earlier. I decided to follow him to see what he was up to, because he seemed to be in a hurry. He went outside to meet with a Death Eater that turned out to be his father. I waited until Draco delivered his message and then dueled with Lucius after Draco had returned to the castle. Needless to say, Lucius lost."

Kingsley nodded, "You're right. You didn't have to say it."

Dawlish asked, "Did you hear what Draco said to Lucius?"

Harry nodded grimly, "Yes, he was reporting on what we had said at the Order meeting earlier."

Kingsley gasped, "How did he know what was going on in the meeting?"

Harry shrugged, "I have no idea. He has found out how to spy directly into Dumbledore's office, though. We're going to have to determine how he is accomplishing it, and put a stop to it."

Dawlish said, "Well, I guess that is all we need to know for now. We need to return to the Ministry."

Harry smiled, "I need to get back to Gryffindor Tower before Ginny leads a charge looking for me. I've been gone for quite awhile."

Dumbledore smiled, "I suggest that you hurry. I don't relish having young Miss Weasley blowing my door off."

Harry chuckled, "I would imagine not. I will see all of you later." Harry bolted down the stairs and hurried towards Gryffindor tower. He arrived just as Ginny was exiting through the portrait hole. Harry smiled at her, "Going somewhere?"

Ginny put her hands on her hips, "Yes, I was going to come looking for you. You took off after Malfoy earlier, and I haven't heard from you. Something could have happened."

Harry gave Ginny a look that plainly said, 'Who are you kidding?' Harry actually said, "Voldemort is not going to come onto the Hogwart's grounds. He isn't suicidal. Since he is the only wizard alive capable of harming me at the moment, I don't think that you have much to worry about."

Ginny sighed, "I know. I just worry."

Harry laughed, "I think that is what all women do." Harry paused for a moment, "Have I told you how much I love you?"

Ginny smiled, "Not in the last hour or so."

"I should have. Can you forgive me for not doing it?"

Ginny nodded, "As long as you tell me what happened after you took off following Malfoy."

Harry smiled, "I have every intention of telling you, but I have already told this story twice, and I would rather not have to tell it any more than I have to. So, let's get the others."

"They're waiting in the common room."

Harry raised his eyebrows, "Even Luna?"

Ginny nodded, "Yes."

Harry laughed, "I can't believe that all of you let a Ravenclaw into the Gryffindor common room."

Ginny gave Harry a cocky look, "Hey, Luna is okay."

"I know that. It just seems weird that a Ravenclaw is in the Gryffindor common room." said Harry.

Ginny laughed, "I suppose so. Let's just go in." Ginny grabbed Harry by the hand and then turned around and headed back through the portrait hole into the common room.

Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna looked up as Harry and Ginny entered the common room. Ron said, "It's about time. You've taken forever."

Harry laughed, "I couldn't help it. Malfoys are always a pain."

Hermione caught the plural before anyone else, "What do you mean Malfoys?"

Harry shook his head in amusement, "Nothing gets by you , does it, Hermione?"

Hermione shook her head emphatically, "No, now let's hear the story."

"Alright. Here goes." Harry settled himself down into a cozy armchair, and Ginny sat down on his lap and leaned back into him. Harry wrapped his arms around her, and then began to speak again, "I followed Draco outside the castle where he met with his father."

Hermione interrupted, "Are you saying that Lucius Malfoy was on the grounds?"

Harry nodded, "Yes, Hermione, that is exactly what I'm saying."

Ginny broke in, "Hermione, it's going to take a lot longer for him to tell this story if you constantly ask questions."

Harry smiled, "Thank you, Ginny. Now, where was I? Oh yeah. After Draco met with Lucius, I listened to their conversation, and then waited for Draco to go back into the castle. Once he was gone, I allowed Lucius to see me, and then we dueled. After that, I returned to Dumbledore's office, where I have been for awhile. Dawlish and Kingsley came by, and the four of us sat around discussing Lucius being here."

Luna asked, "What were Lucius and Draco talking about?"

Harry replied, "They were discussing what we were talking about in the Order meeting earlier." Harry waited a moment for the response to this pronouncement. He wasn't disappointed.

All of them gasped as the implication caught up with them. Hermione asked, "How did they know?"

Harry shrugged, "Apparently, Draco has found some way to spy directly into Dumbledore's office."

Ron asked, "How is he doing it?"

Harry gave Ron a pointed look, while Hermione smacked him upside the head. Harry said, "If I knew that, I would have already stopped him."

Ron looked sheepish, "Oh."

Neville chortled at Ron, "Sometimes I wonder about you, Ron. If you don't start thinking before you open your mouth, Hermione is going to end up knocking your head right off your shoulders."

The rest of the group laughed as Ron bit his lip to keep from retorting. Harry stood up, "I think that it is time to call it a night." Harry kissed Ginny and then headed up the stairs to the dormitories.

The rest of the month of February passed by with Harry balancing his time between the Dueling Club, Quidditch practice, classes, homework, snuggling with Ginny, and Animagus training with Ron and Hermione.

One day at the end of September, Harry was sitting in the Gryffindor common room in a rare moment alone. He dozed slightly and drifted into Voldemort's consciousness. Voldemort was circling a large circle drawn on the ground in a silver chalk. Bellatrix was just within his peripheral vision. Voldemort spoke to her after just a moment, "My dear Bella, the time is drawing near. Soon, I will be ready to cast the spell."

Bellatrix bowed and smiled, "Yes, Master. Then, the Potter boy will know defeat."

Voldemort smiled maliciously, "Yes. The time travel spell will prove to be Potter's undoing. Once he is dead, I will rule everything."

Bellatrix smiled again, "Your loyal Death Eaters will await your return, Master. We will await your ascension to greatness."

Voldemort sighed, "I can barely stand to wait another week until the moon is right for the spell."

Bellatrix bowed, "Don't worry, My Lord, all will go as planned. There is no way that Potter will discover our whereabouts."

Voldemort nodded, "I know. I have planned carefully for this. He cannot retrieve the information from my mind, even though he is listening to this conversation right now."

Bellatrix whipped her head around as if she would be able to see Harry. Voldemort cackled, "Don't be foolish, Bella. He is listening through my mind. He is not here in any physical sense."

Bellatrix sighed in relief. It seemed as if she was about to say something more, but Harry was roused from his sleep by Ron, who raced into the common room yelling, "Harry, I did it. I did it."

Harry leaped from his chair, "What did you do?"

Ron literally seemed to be bubbling over with excitement, "I transformed into a bear. I can do it."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Is that all? You woke me up for that?"

Ron bristled, "Well, excuse me. I thought you would be happy for me."

Harry sighed, "I am, but I was inside Voldemort's mind for the first time in awhile. He was discussing the time travel spell with Bellatrix. I might have been able to find out something."

Ron's eyes widened, "Oh, I'm sorry."

Harry waved him off, "You didn't know. We'll try to find out another way. At least I have a general idea of when he is going to cast the spell."

Ron asked, "When?"

Harry replied, "Sometime next week."

Ron paled, "That soon?"

Harry nodded, "Unfortunately."

Ron asked, "Are you going to follow him back in time?"

Harry shrugged, "Do I have a choice?"

Ron grinned, "I suppose not. I guess all that I can say is good luck."

A/N: The moment that many of you have been waiting for has arrived. The death of Lucius Malfoy. Time travel next chapter. See you all Sunday. Thanks for reading.

Lucugirl07: I had to get Firenze back into the herd. He's cool. Thanks for the review.

Phred doesn't like you: More goodies. Thanks for the review.

HermioneGreen: You got it. Thanks for the review.

Gilly Loves Smut: The cockiness is his fault, but don't worry, it will eventually happen. Thanks for the review.

Katepotter13: I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the review.

Hunta: You better believe he is going to follow. Thanks for the review.

Aalikane: I would get them out faster, but there is no way that I could keep up. Thanks for the review.

Jbfritz: Be patient. The other Malfoy will receive his just desserts. Eventually. Thanks for the review.

Maria: I am going through the lists of my reviewers reading their stuff. I haven't gotten to yours, yet, but I promise that I will. Thanks for the review.

Dragonclawz54: Oh, he understands just fine, but he has been indoctrinated since birth not to care. Thanks for the review.

Post-Scriptum: I'm glad that I can keep you guessing. Thanks for the review.

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Blip-dragon: There are going to be several short ones, but they will further the story well. Thanks for the review.

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Potter and the Weasley: I'm sorry, but I felt that she deserved it. She was a bit too overprotective in Order of the Phoenix, and I needed to put her back in her place. Thanks for the review.

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Order of Dumbledore: There is going to be plenty more Harry/Ginny fluff. I don't particularly like dealing with Umbridge's character, so I'm leaving her out for the most part. Thanks for the review.

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