Chapter 30. The Duel
He tried to write a letter but it sounded awkward and just felt wrong, so it ended up burnt to ashes when he dispiritedly muttered, "Incendio." The next three attempts at writing down his feelings followed the same route. He even tried asking the Room of Requirement to give him the answer, but apparently, the room could not fix teenaged relationships.
Throughout Healing the next day, Harry kept looking at Hermione, trying, searching, for anything to say to make up for how he had made her feel—no—was still making her feel. He felt awful; like the worst friend, much less boyfriend, anyone could ever have. He didn't deserve her. She deserved more. Remus had given Harry a definition of love as someone you would die for, rather than let die. By all means, that described Hermione. And Ron, and Remus, and all the Weasleys and–well, obviously he wasn't in love with all of them.
Could he even admit it or want to admit it if he was? Neither can live while the other survives… If being in love wasn't living then Harry couldn't imagine what was. He may not have much experience with it but he'd heard enough from books, other people, and any film he'd ever caught a glimpse of…they all seemed to think being in love was the ultimate in living. But Harry wasn't meant to be living. Not now. It just wasn't meant to be.
He felt compelled to gaze upon her during lunch, quickly returning his eyes to his own plate of barely-touched food if she were to glance up and catch him staring. What was he playing at? Of course he—no! No, he couldn't admit that, not now…maybe someday, but not now. To admit that would be to live and to live would be to go against the fate that was his. As long as he didn't think of it that way, then he was safe; then she was safe. They were safe.
Care of Magical Creatures was next and Harry hadn't been looking forward to it much. He, Ron and Hermione were in the very small class and seeing as how none of them were really talking to each other, it promised to be a truly remarkable class.
What with each Ron, Harry and Hermione trying to hang around at the lunch table as long as possible to avoid having to sit and wait near each other by Hagrid's while waiting for class to begin, they all ending up making the silent trek across the grounds together. As they neared the paddock where class was normally held, they saw Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode, that one Ravenclaw and Smith standing around and waiting.
"Harry! Hermione and Ron!" Hagrid was rushing out of his cabin a short distance away and waving a letter as he hurried towards the trio. Hagrid's face was flushed (what you could see of it anyway) and his black eyes were sparkling as he waved to the crumpled piece of parchment. "I jus' got the best news! Yeh lot won't ever guess what it is—go on and try!" Hagrid's cheer made it impossible for Harry not to grin at his big friend, that is, until Harry realized just what kind of news could make Hagrid so happy. Oh no, if he's getting a dragon, then I'm going to drop the class, Harry thought.
"Er, Hagrid," Hermione said, smiling slightly at him and glancing at the other students waiting for class to start. "Don't we have a class today? It's about to start." Harry checked his watch; it was starting right now and he glanced around, seemingly waiting for a dragon to jump out in front of them, but thankfully, he saw absolutely no magical creatures for class at all. He wasn't sure if that was good or bad.
"Oh, er, righ'" Hagrid said, his smile faltering a bit. He looked at Hermione and grinned again, "I know yer always reading ahead and I'm right sure you can tell the class all they need to know today if they ask."
"Er, what are we studying today, Hagrid?" Harry asked warily.
Hagrid darted a look at the paddock and sniffed as he said, "Demiguises. But I need to go and see Dumbledore. Might be leaving soon." Hagrid grinned but Harry definitely wasn't happy to hear this. The disappointment in his face must have shown for Hagrid smiled down at him and said, "Don't worry, I'm not going back to where I was last year. And I just got the best o' news!"
"What about class?" Hermione asked.
"Oh right, well, yeh'll just all set down and observe them; there's two of 'em. See you later!" Hagrid started off with long strides towards the castle leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione staring at the empty paddock.
Ron spoke for all of them, as he spoke up for the first time in a week and said, "We're supposed to sit around for three hours and observe an invisible creature? Is he mad?!"
The rest of the class seemed to agree when Hermione told them what Hagrid had said they should do for the class. The Ravenclaw, Entwhistle was his name, seemed happy to do this and even climbed over the fence and sat himself down, rolling open a fresh page of parchment, on which to take notes. Millicent Bulstrode commented that she doubted there was even anything in the paddock. Inwardly, Harry agreed.
They sat down upon the lawn on the knoll giving them a view down into the paddock. Of all the days to have a class of three hours with nothing to actually do, Harry couldn't believe their luck that it had to be a day like this when they weren't even on speaking terms.
"Some class, eh?" Zacharias Smith said as he wandered over to the trio and seated himself. "You reckon we can just leave here and he'd never know the better?"
Harry shook his head but Hermione spoke his words when she said, "No, Hagrid would know and he wouldn't be happy. Besides, look, there's an island of luscious greens in the center of the paddock. We'll probably be able to see them feeding, or, well," she frowned. "At least see the shrubbery being eaten." Harry thought he almost saw Ron smirk at this.
After more than a half-hour of pointlessly staring at nothing at all in complete silence, albeit, with Smith's oddly questioning looks and heavy sighs, Harry had already decided that if he still hadn't managed to mend this rift with Hermione by her birthday next week, he was going to have to get one dandy of a gift. In fact, I'd best get it decided and ordered post haste if I want to have it in time.
"Hey," Smith said as he sat up and paused in his endeavour to shred blades of grass into nothing, "bet I know what that lot's up to." He jerked his head towards the three Slytherins sitting almost completely on the opposite side of the paddock.
Harry looked and saw Crabbe, Goyle and Millicent sitting as three great lumps huddled around something like a piece of parchment and conversing animatedly. Goyle (or was it Crabbe?) was leaning forward and gesticulating wildly and then Harry saw Crabbe crane his beefy neck and look over towards them, then glance back hastily.
Smith went on to explain, even though no one had inquired. "Heard them talking on the way down here. Rumour has it they've been working up some great plan to take the great Harry Potter down a notch in next week's duel in Snape's class." Smith seemed to be watching Harry for a reaction.
Oh yes, that duel. Harry really was not looking forward to this. His group was outnumbered nearly two-to-one and he wasn't on good terms with either of his best friends whom he would normally count on to help him work through a plan of his own. The previous evening in the DA meeting, Harry's group had all agreed they would need to work out some strategy. But regrettably, Harry had assured them that when they met on Saturday afternoon, he would have a plan in progress. So far he had nothing.
"Betting has the odds split so far," Smith said casually, still panning for a reaction.
Hermione whipped her head towards him and glared as she asked in a low dangerous voice "What did you say about betting?"
Smith seemed unconcerned as he explained; "Oh sure, Anthony's been taking flutters on the contest. He's got at least two—maybe three dozen."
"Anthony Goldstein?" Hermione said incredulously. Smith nodded and she scowled with disgust and said, "He's a Prefect! He ought to know that betting in not acceptable behavior!" She snapped her mouth shut, and just went back to whatever it was she had been ardently writing about.
Smith gaped at her for a moment and then turned to Ron and said, "What's eating her?" Ron just shrugged and Smith turned to Harry and asked, "So? Do you have a plan yet to take them all down?"
Harry just pulled his knees up towards him, rested his elbows upon them and rested his chin upon his hands as he lied and said, "Of course."
Smith looked surprised at Harry's confident answer and he sat up straight. He checked his watch and looked towards the castle before saying, "Well, I think I should head back. You know, not seeing much here are we?" He then hastily got up and nearly trotted back up to the castle; no doubt to either change his wager to Harry winning or increase his wager if he had already hedged his bet on Harry.
After a brief silence as Harry, Ron and Hermione were left alone; Hermione cocked her head to the side and asked Harry, "Do you? Have a plan already, I mean?"
Harry let out a sigh and just shook his head. "Nope."
Hermione let her mouth gape as she stared at Harry.
Before she could even lecture him on how he really ought to be working on some plan to ensure he didn't end up cursed and hexed into the hospital wing, Harry rushed out: "I have no idea what I'm supposed to plan against a group of all Slytherins who plot and scheme for a living. My group is woefully inept in several of the basics—Tracey can't manage a Shield Charm for more than five seconds and that other girl—
"Daphne," Hermione offered.
"—Daphne, thanks. She constantly questions everything I suggest anyway so I don't know if I would even be able to propose a plan to her and trust that she'd go along. Who am I supposed to work out a plan with? Susan has already said she hasn't clue and no one in my group volunteered to help me—they all think I'm just around to always save the day! So, of course, what do I do? I'm the idiot who tells them I'll have a plan worked out by tomorrow. But do I have anything? No!" He turned to look at Ron and then Hermione. "No, I'm sitting here constantly feeling miserable because I've gone and set off my two best friends. You're the ones I'd be planning with!"
Harry looked up and Hermione and set his face as he said, "I've gone and been an insensitive cad with you and hurt your feelings by not even thinking about what I was saying and how you might take it." He turned to face Ron and said, "And you, I don't even feel like I would know how to ask for forgiveness for what we made you find out in the worst possible way ever. There are so many things I want to tell you but you won't even look at me." Ron was indeed, still laying back and staring up at the clouds with his arms folded behind his head.
"You think I don't want to give Malfoy a lesson and wipe that perpetual smirk off his face? You think I don't want to stuff it right in Snape's greasy gob that his favorite little Slytherins got beat by the smallest and weakest group? I haven't got a clue how I'm supposed to do this!" Harry almost wailed as he threw himself back onto the grass in frustration.
A few moments of anxious silence passed after Harry's rant and then Hermione lay back on the grass, mimicking Ron and Harry. They were all staring up at the sky, watching clouds pass over the afternoon sun. Then Ron spoke with a determined edge to his voice, "I'm still not happy with either of you but I'll be damned if I want that ferret Malfoy to win."
Harry couldn't help but grin up at the sky. Harry then felt a hand of Hermione's reach over discreetly and squeeze his. "I…you still…I mean…we still need to…you know" Harry looked over to see Hermione biting her lip, pondering what to say. She caught his eye and smiled and said, "Of course I'll help you, Harry."
Harry sat up quickly and looked between Ron and Hermione and couldn't help the grin from spreading across his face as he said, "Malfoy won't know what hit him if we work on this together."
Hermione sat up, closely followed by Ron doing the same. She flipped open a field notebook to a fresh page and moved her inkwell in front of her and recovered her quill. "Ok, let's work on this plan," she said with a grin as she pulled out her wand and muttered a spell while charming the page to appear blank to anyone who would see it but them.
"What's the password?" Harry asked as she finished.
Hermione shook her head. "This one's not password protected. It's a variation on the Fidelius Charm I've been working on. I have to tell you what is on the page before you'll be able to see it. Of course, as you both are here as I'm writing it, you'll be able to see it."
Ron quipped, "So it'll just look like you're sketching the Demiguises?"
Hermione grinned and Harry laughed. "Exactly," she said. She then turned all business and asked Harry, "Have you thought about using one of the obscuring charms or fog like I did?"
Harry shook his head, "No, those are easy to Vanish once cast and I'm sure they'll have looked that up. Too predictable."
"What about using your Invisibility Cloak?" Ron suggested, all memory of their rifts laid aside.
"No," Harry said. "I don't want it to be public knowledge that I own one. Plus, I think Fred and George mentioned once that it's actually on Filch's list of banned items. Using it in class would give Snape a chance to confiscate it."
Ron's face grew bright and he said, "Maybe we can write Fred and George and ask them to send a couple of pranks to use! Something that would knock 'em out before they even started—we could even tell them about it and see what they can send!"
"Yeah, that is a good idea," Harry said as Hermione nodded along and kept writing the ideas down. "Maybe we could get some fake wands and use a switching spell to swap them with their real wands?" he proposed.
After a long string of brainstorming, Hermione chewed her lip and said, "There might be one problem in just making an offensive plan of our own, though." She looked over at the still huddled three Slytherins and said, "We don't know what they are planning to do first—their plans may blow these all to bits before you can even get started."
"Well then," Ron said thoughtfully, "we need to ensure we know what their plans are."
"Easier said than done, mate," Harry commented, wishing he had an Extendable Ear or two.
"We need to think like a Slytherin," Ron said as he punched one fist into his other palm. "If you were Malfoy, what would you do?"
Harry shrugged and said, "Simple, I'd spy on us once he knows we're planning and then try to find out what we're planning."
"Maybe one of those Slytherin girls in your group can get their plans!?" Ron suggested.
Harry shook his head. "Nah, I think they're kind of outcasts as it is in their House."
"Hold on," Ron said slowly, "maybe we don't need to get their plans at all. Maybe, we just need to let them happen upon your plans, Harry!"
Harry frowned and looked dubiously at Ron.
"Not your real plan, Harry, but a feint! A red herring to throw them off! Think about it—we write up this whole big fake plan and then, say, accidentally let someone see it or leave it somewhere or something so they just happen to find it! You know it's just the chance they'd be waiting for as soon as they knew there was a plan to find! Then—then, we know what it is they think we're going to do and we can lure them into feeling they can plan to derail our own plan. But really, our plan is not that at all, the fake plan will be a trap!"
Harry slowly worked it back and forth in his mind and then marvelled at Ron's idea. It was brilliant; simple, yet brilliant.
"Brilliant, Ron," Hermione breathed out, having paused in her frantic writing as Ron had came up with their plan.
After much debate about just how to go about planning their plan or, plans, Harry checked his watch and saw it was well past the end of class and that he had to get moving to make it back to the castle in time for the third years' Defense class. "I need to get going, class in about 10 minutes. Can we work on this later?"
Ron looked up from his ramblings about plans and strategies, looking slightly disappointed at Harry's announcement. "Yeah, after dinner then?" he asked.
Order Meeting tonight after dinner, Harry thought. "Er, well, there's…well, I've some other news for you." He felt Hermione watching him closely as he formulated his answer quickly. "Er, it has to do with all us getting a chance to do something for the Order, but I don't have time right now to go into it. I'll be busy after dinner with something to do with that, but I should be back to the Common Room by at least ten." They were all standing now and beginning to walk towards the castle.
"Well," Ron frowned, "can't you tell me anything about it?"
Harry saw Hermione start to open her mouth and he shot her a look, thinking it would be best for now if Ron didn't know she knew all about everything already. Harry then craned his neck around and saw other students drifting out of the castle and enjoying the warm autumn afternoon. "I don't want to talk about it out here; too many people."
"I don't think you should eat anything, Harry," Hermione whispered as Harry sat down to dinner.
"Why not?" he said as his stomach growled, echoing his sentiments. His third years had been extra inquisitive today and had asked question after question while revising their second year course material. It was all he could do to have refrained from casting a jinx upon them all to wipe the mouth off the face of the next person to begin a sentence with 'why'.
Hermione threw a dark look towards the Slytherin table against the far wall. Harry looked over, past the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables, and saw Malfoy and his gang all eyeing Harry and seemingly waiting for something. "They might have hexed your food or something," Hermione suggested. "Maybe a latent jinx on it that won't show up until your duel on Tuesday."
Harry groaned in frustration but she did
have a point and their watching was making him suspect something was up. "Here," Hermione said, pulling something out
her bag. She handed Harry a Chocolate
Frog surreptitiously under the table and said, "Here, eat this and let them see
you eating but not what it is. There's
food later at the meeting, they had a buffet out last week for the others. You can wait until then."
"You're here early," Remus commented, looking more tired and weary than usual as he swallowed a mouthful of food. Harry vaguely recalled it being only a few days past the full moon.
"So are you," Harry said as he headed strait for the table and filled a plate. When Remus looked at him questioningly, Harry explained, "Slytherins—they seemed a little too interested in watching me at dinner tonight. Thought it would be best to just avoid eating out there all together." Remus nodded with a wry smile that said he understood all too well.
"Do you know if Fred and George are going to be here tonight?" Harry asked between bites.
Remus shook his head. "Not tonight; it seems their business is best on Friday evenings; people like to stock up on the party jokes before the weekend. Did you need something?"
Harry nodded and told Remus about the duels they were having in Defense Against the Dark Arts and about his impending match up. Remus seemed thoughtful as he listened to Harry's ramblings about the class thus far.
"And you say they don't end until all one side has conceded?" Remus asked.
Harry nodded, "Yup."
Remus frowned and said, "Well, you have to give old Severus credit. He's really stuck you in a bind now. Do you go all out and duel with all you've got and go until you manage to force all those, including Malfoy, to actually say they give in? Or, do you hold your hand close to yourself, give an admirable effort using the skills and abilities everyone knows you already have and then swallow your pride and concede before you allow them to force you to tip your hand of all the skills you really do have? It's a real pickle, " Remus said thoughtfully, watching Harry.
Harry stared at him. Was Remus really suggesting he really just roll over and give in without a fight? He didn't think he could even fathom the thought of giving Malfoy such pleasure.
Remus seemed to know what he was thinking and said, "Really, it might even be what Malfoy has instructions to cause to happen. Think on it Harry—if Severus was told to assume the position of teaching Defense at Hogwarts to be able to watch and observe you, then others will have had the same instructions. I have no doubt Malfoy will have something planned and not all of it merely for his ends. If you're worried about rolling over in the match and having to deal with Malfoy's apparent triumph, then just think about the larger cause of things; perhaps his orders are to get you to reveal your abilities and the skills, strengths and weaknesses you have. By rolling over early you defy him to succeed and—in fact—if you do so blatantly, which I am sure if you lost even without rolling over, some people would still think you might have thrown the match. Now that would really irk Malfoy. Just think about it."
Harry could only stare at Remus. His mouth was getting a bit dry he realized and he shut it with an audible snap. "You can't be…Remus—you really?" Harry shook his head, not really wanting to comprehend. "You think I should throw the duel? Give in early and just shrug and say, 'oh, well, yup, you're way better than me, Malfoy. You win.'? Are you mad?" Harry goggled at Remus.
"You know, I can't say I hadn't given that idea some thought, too, Harry," Hermione said as she came up behind Harry and Remus. "Between you and Malfoy—I don't see either of you giving up easily. It might be more satisfying for you to give in early before he has a chance to actually prove anything or claim anything." Hermione looked like she was anticipating Harry's indignation and anger at this thought.
He didn't disappoint. "Are you mad? I think it'd be most satisfying to wipe the floor of the dungeons with Malfoy's pureblood arse!"
Hermione frowned and bit her lip. "Yes, well, I just thought it was worth mentioning. And, well, obviously, Remus did too."
Harry shook his head. He couldn't believe this was even being discussed as an option. There was no way he was going to let Malfoy think he'd gotten the bettor of him. No bloody effing way! It went against every competitive prideful bone in his body.
Hermione shook her hair back and gave Remus a quick, raised-brow look and then looked back to Harry and changed the subject as she asked, "Did you find out anything about Hagrid's news?"
Harry was able to calm down with the change of topic and said, "No, I had class this afternoon, remember? I thought he said he was going to Dumbledore about whatever was in the letter?"
Remus looked pensive and said, "Hmm, I wonder if he's heard from any of the other Giant colonies?"
"You mean like the one he went with Madame Maxime to visit last summer?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide with fear and dread at Hagrid making another trip like that one.
"Mmm, yes," Remus said. "There are, or at least were, several different factions and communities of Giants across Europe. I think this summer Albus had tried to put feelers out for any remaining communities in Scandinavia. There used to be rumours of colonies on the Isles of Loften off the coast of Norway as well as in the deep northern mountainous regions, south of the Barents Sea, and in Finland.
"The Scandinavian Ministry of Magic has had notoriously poor relations with our own Ministry as well as only being intermittently involved in the International Confederation of Wizards. I imagine Albus circumvented anyone in their Ministry with whomever it was he contacted.
"Too right you are, Remus," Dumbledore said, twinkling, as he swept into the room. He smiled at Harry and Hermione in greeting and asked, "So you were there when Hagrid received his news?"
"Yes," Hermione said, "Is Remus right? Has there been success in contacting more of the Giants?"
Dumbledore vacillated a moment and then offered, "Well, we have received word of their location and perhaps found a means to facilitate our contacting this new community."
"Does Hagrid have to leave to do this? Is he going away again?" Harry asked as he desperately hoped he and Hermione wouldn't be asked to check in on Grawp again if Hagrid had to leave.
Other members were arriving now and some were listening in. "Well, he is the best choice of envoy we have to send. It is possible, however, that he might be taking a travelling companion with him."
"Madame Maxime," Hermione assumed.
"Oh no, Madame Maxime is running a school this time of year, you mustn't forget. No, no, I meant someone from much closer to home here." Hermione, Remus and Harry all looked expectantly at Dumbledore for an explanation. "Hagrid's brother. Hagrid sent word late this afternoon that they should meet and he will ask Grawp then if he would accompany him on this journey."
"But I though Hagrid couldn't go into the Forest anymore?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore nodded and said, "Well, the Forest seems of late to be divided. Grawp is a considerable force with his strength and size and the Centaurs had not been able to do much but stalk him and keep him from resting. That is, until he made some friends of his own in the Forest."
Harry couldn't think of too many friends he'd ever met in the forest. But to a Giant? Harry paled, "Oh no, not…Aragog?"
Dumbledore looked shocked for a brief moment (you don't see that everyday) but then twinkled at Harry and said, "My, my, you do seem to get around here, Harry, don't you? Yes, Hagrid's friend Aragog and his family have become friends of Grawp now. Together, they seem to have carved out a small portion of the Forest that the Centaurs leave alone." Dumbledore peered intently at Harry as he added, "But no part of the forest is completely safe at this time. It is more dangerous than ever for humans to enter."
Harry held up his hands as he said, "Oh believe me, it's no place I'd choose to take a stroll."
"Albus," Remus said, "if I may ask, whom was it you contacted in Scandinavia?"
Dumbledore smiled as he said, "Ah, Charlie Weasley provided the contacts; he put me in touch with some of the dragon-keepers employed at the preserve in Sweden. It seems, the preserve is not too far away from where several communities of Giants are reputed to live."
Harry saw Bill Weasley arrive then and head straight towards Dumbledore, looking dour. "Well, I'm glad one of us has good news because I don't."
"I thought the Goblins were looking rather settled to work with us?" Professor McGonagall said.
Bill nodded shortly but said, "Well, they were, and I think still are, but it's not You-Know-Who who's trying to get something from them now."
Dumbledore looked grave. "I assume," he said, "Minister Fudge is of whom you speak? Is this in regards to his meeting with the Goblin Council of Gringotts?"
"Right in one," Bill said with a touch of disgust. "He met this afternoon with them. Ragnok was with them. He pulled me aside after and told me what went on and told me to pass it on," Bill nodded at Harry. "He said Gringotts would withhold a decision until they heard from you."
"About what?" Harry asked. He was uncomfortable with this whole thing with the Goblins; he wasn't sure he was the best person for whatever role he was supposed to play and he certainly was questioning the judgement of the Goblins for choosing him as the one they wanted to deal with.
"What Fudge wants," Bill said as he took a deep breath and then set himself down in a chair and then began to explain. "Fudge came in, and with none other than my own worthless sycophantic, poor excuse for a brother," Bill sneered as he obviously recalled Percy. "He had that new Official of the Finance Authority Council—Planesse or something, the one hired to clean up and replace Malfoy now--with him, too. Not to mention the fact that he brought three Aurors along, too. Anyway, he demanded to have the vaults of all witches and wizards serving life sentences in prison seized and transferred into the Ministry's coffers."
"He can't do that!" more than one person protested. Harry saw Mr. Weasley, Remus, McGonagall, Kingsley and Tonks, who had all arrived, nodding along.
"The Goblins will never go for that!" Moody said, shaking his head and causing his eye to revolve grotesquely.
Bill nodded and said, "Well, they're certainly not pleased. It would violate the standard contract that each vault in the world has with Gringotts if they were to suddenly agree to garnish capitol on our Ministry's behalf—hell, on anyone's behalf! But you see, the thing is, Fudge has made them an offer," Bill said darkly. "He's offered to allow Gringotts to retain a hefty percentage of the seized funds for their profit, just for cooperating."
There were more scoffs and comments from members present and Harry looked at Hermione.
"Imagine," she said quietly to Harry, "what it would do to Malfoy to not just be the son of a convicted Death Eater but also a penniless and destitute son of a convict."
Harry really couldn't imagine a Draco Malfoy with more rage than he currently had. Really, Malfoy had been the least obtrusive into Harry's life this year, but that only made Harry suspect he had had moved on from petty insults and plots to annoy to planning something much more complex and possibly more sinister.
In fact, the whole thing with Draco Malfoy really irritated Harry at this point. Here was Harry, number one on Lord Voldemort's 'To Kill' list and The One chosen to defeat this Dark Lord—this pretty much made Voldemort, Harry's number one rival and archenemy. But then there was little spoiled and bitter Draco Malfoy who for over five years has constantly tried to impede Harry's ability to live peaceably. Malfoy, in fact, seemed to not quite understand why Harry didn't recognize him as The Boy Who Lived's greatest archenemy. Malfoy seemed to be oblivious to just who and in what order the people on Harry's 'Most Hated' list were. As if Harry really had time to deal with Draco's obsessive schoolboy rivalry when he had Voldemort to worry about. Maybe it would be best to just blatantly roll over in the duel on Tuesday; that would really put Malfoy in his place of not even being a worthy enough opponent to fight.
"Do the Goblins realize this would concern all members of the Wizarding World?" Dumbledore asked, restoring calm with the raising of a hand. "We have what most see as a rather tenuous arrangement with the Goblins as it is and if they were to suddenly break from a contract that has been in place since 1692, then I think it quite possible this might do more harm than good—regardless of just how destitute our Ministry's coffers are. Tell me William, did it sound like Fudge wanted to amend the Treaty of Finance that has governed Gringotts all this many years to effect this new change? I believe he hasn't the authority; that lies with the International Confederation of Wizards to propose such a change."
Bill shook his head and looked at Dumbledore. "Oh no, sir, Fudge wanted to do this today!" Dumbledore looked extremely grave. "The Goblins brought in their own reinforcements to get rid of Fudge and told him they'd have to think about it and discuss it with their own counsel and maybe then they might let him know if the answer is yes. It was a debacle! Fudge getting thrown out of the back door of Gringotts and right into Knockturn Alley!" Bill seemed to be relishing this recollection. Dumbledore looked extremely troubled.
"No wonder I saw Fudge blustering about and in a right fit with this contingency you describe. They were all coming in through the Atrium when I was leaving this afternoon," Tonks said. "It must have been right after that happened. I know I heard him say something about bringing more force next time."
Dumbledore turned to Kingsley and said, "We need you to alert Amelia of this. It falls under her authority to punish those of our country who break International Decrees and if Fudge were to try to force Gringotts to hand over assets, that is precisely what he would be doing."
Mr. Weasley muttered, "Unless of course the rumours of dragons are true and they decide to dole on punishment." Harry quite liked the idea of Fudge getting roasted alive by the fiery breath of a dragon.
Dumbledore went on, "I will speak with some other close friends in the Confederation as well as on the Wizengamot to alert them of this development. Thank you, William, for bringing this to our attention." Dumbledore inclined his head towards Bill.
Bill shifted and said, "Well, that's not all, actually." Dumbledore raised his silver eyebrows at Bill as he went on, "You see, Ragnok told me the Goblins position is that they will wait until they hear word from Harry. They await his counsel."
Harry felt the weight of stares upon him. It was a small enough group of people that he all knew fairly well and he looked back around at them all and held up his hands and said, "Don't look at me! I'll just pass on whatever the Order decides together." He then muttered, "If it were up to me, I'd like to see Fudge go against those dragons. Preferably a Horntail."
"Well, that was an interesting meeting tonight," Hermione said the group broke up and she rolled up her parchments to pack up.
"Too right it was," Harry said.
"Harry! Hermione!" Mr. Weasley called out as he came over to the two. He was smiling and looking rather sheepish about something. "I just had to tell you both, how happy Molly and I are for both of you." Ah, right, the article. Mr. Weasley frowned a moment but then recovered and grinned at them both. "Molly's of course disappointed, Harry, that she can't count on making 'lovely green maids robes to match Harry's eyes' but I daresay she'll get over it." He clapped a hand over Harry's shoulder and looked nostalgic as he said, "Ah, young love; I remember it well. Molly and I met while we were still students here. That was during the first rise of You-Know-Who. Oh, he was mostly just rumour and myth when we were still in school. It wasn't until a few years after we left Hogwarts that he really had begun to pick up followers in the main and that he became as feared as he is now. But, oh, times were still foreboding. It's marvellous that even when futures look uncertain and times are dark, that love will still find a way to take root and blossom, isn't it?"
Mr. Weasley's eyes were looking off into some misty memory as he gave Harry's shoulder a squeeze and left them alone in the room. Harry, throughout Mr. Weasley's speech, had been looking right at Hermione. He didn't take his eyes off of her now as he took a step towards her and reached out a hand to grasp hers. "Can we talk?" he asked hoping she noted that he didn't just tell Mr. Weasley that his ideas and words were ridiculous.
Hermione turned to face Harry more fully and looked up and into his eyes. He reflexively stepped closer to her and placed his other hand on her waist as he held her luminous gaze. He could gaze at her forever, he thought, if only the world would let him. He felt his body responding to her nearness and the lack of contact he'd had with her over the past week wasn't helping him any at the moment. But he knew he had a long explanation and apology to get out before he got so much as a kiss from her.
With a deep breath, Harry began to explain. "I owe you an apology—and an explanation," he started. He felt it was a very good start that she hadn't pulled away from him yet.
"Before that article came out, I felt like, well, like I could finally, maybe, just maybe, use my fame for a purpose of my own. But then, when I read the headline and what they had made the story lead with—well, I felt like…like I was more of a joke; a celebrity to be looked at and talked about but not one who might actually have something to say. It—well, I've never but tolerated any of the ramifications of being famous, but with this, you know, using the Press and Rita to help effect things and do something positive —that thought made it almost seem worth it. At least I thought it could be. Even when we talked with her for that quick bit before the Express came to Hogwarts, she focused the story on the recent attack on your house more than anything."
Harry shifted and now placed both hands on Hermione's waist, looking deep into her eyes and willing her to see the truth in his words. "But this is no excuse, not really. I…I'm sorry. I didn't even think about how what I said might have made you feel. I was just angry. You've got to know…I mean I don't…it's not like I…" Harry dropped his head to his chest, closed his eyes and moved closer to lean his forehead against hers.
"I care about you so much, Hermione," he whispered as his hands tightened on her waist. "It's not ridiculous." He opened his eyes and met hers. In a low whisper he spoke, "Don't doubt me. You're the most important person in my life. Don't ever doubt that." The intensity of his words, he tried to pour forth from his gaze and into hers. His mouth grazed against her cheek, ghosting a kiss over it as he repeated, "Don't ever doubt me." He then wrapped his arms around her, feeling complete at last as she wound her arms around his neck and they held each other.
His mouth was so close to her ear. His lips grazed over it as he tried to further explain in barely a choked whisper, "Neither can live—I can't…I can't risk it…can't say it…can't feel it…well, I suppose I can feel, but no—I can't. I could never admit it. I can't—I'm afraid what that would mean. Please," he begged her, lightly kissing her ear and then her neck quickly as he screwed his eyes shut tight against any emotion that might try to seep out. "Please, don't ever doubt me."
He could feel Hermione trembling in his arms and he hoped he hadn't only made her angrier. She pulled back ever so slightly and he thought she was going to tell him off for not being all that she deserved but, instead, she met his mouth for a searing and searching kiss that felt like they were both struggling to give all of their soul to the other. It was the taste of promises and trust, laced with the need to give and to be received. It felt like completion.
"A-hem," A voice cleared itself from the door that had just opened. Remus stood there, looking determinedly not at Harry or Hermione.
They broke away and apart. "Er, sorry, Remus," Harry said as he cleared his own throat a bit. Hermione seemed to wipe a tear from her eye as Remus finally entered the room.
"Well," Remus said, "I just wanted to know what I should ask Fred and George to send you. Assuming you are or may go ahead with your duel, that is—what should I tell them?" Remus dug in his cloak and into an inner pocket, pulling out a small parchment roll. "Here, it's one of their adverts with a listing of wares."
Harry took the parchment and scanned down the list. He immediately saw several things that he would like to get. Harry turned to Hermione and said, "Hey, it's almost ten now, why don't you go to the Common Room and find Ron so we can get started working. I'll go over this stuff with Remus and be up in a bit."
Hermione looked at him like she knew he planned on asking for things to which she would object but she just nodded and said, "All right. See you later, Remus."
When she left, Harry closed the door with the flick of his wand and said, "Ok, we need to get some Extendable Ears here. Hermione might be okay with them but then again, she might not be; she is a Prefect and one who takes it rather seriously. As for whatever I might be able to use in a duel, well, I trust Fred and George on that to send me whatever I need. Once they know what it's for, I have no doubt they'll know just the stuff.
Harry went on: "I need to know what Malfoy's planning around here and I don't mean just about this duel next week. He's got it in for me and he's got a growing group of tag-alongs that all have the same goal—to blame me for their parent's getting caught and locked away. He's moved on from just insulting my friends and me—although he still does that—but now he's in a rage. He wants revenge and I'm quite sure he's trying to plan something."
Remus looked contemplative and nodded at Harry. "You must be careful around him. You do realize who he may be in contact with, don't you?"
Harry's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched and nodded. "Bellatrix," he ground out.
Remus nodded. "I'll talk to the twins tomorrow, Harry, and I'll tell them to send it off as soon as possible. Was there anything else?"
Harry was about to shake his head but then he remembered one more thing. "Uh, Remus? I don't suppose you'd have any suggestions about something I could get Hermione for her birthday, do you? It's next week and I haven't a clue," Harry bemoaned.
Remus smiled at Harry and said, "Ah, now you know her much, much better than I, Harry. I know she loves to read so perhaps a book?"
Harry shook his head. "I've always gotten her books in the past. It needs to be different, more, now that we're…together, you know."
Remus frowned and suggested, "Perfume? Jewellery? Flowers?"
Harry was shaking his head. "No—too…un-Hermione. I've never smelled anything on her but her shampoo and maybe whatever she just ate. I don't think she wears perfume. Jewellery? I don't think she wears any either. And flowers, well, there's not much point to them besides looking at them and then they die eventually anyway—just what kind of message is that to send to someone you care about?"
Remus laughed and said, "Well, like I said, you know her better than anyone."
Harry sighed. "It's okay. I should have asked Tonks while she was here. I'll just go back to flipping through my catalogue of Diagon Alley merchants and wares. There's got to be something in there.
When Harry finally returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron and Hermione were seated at their usual table off to the side and Ron turned to Harry and immediately said, "Tell me you're not going to take a dive in the duel against Malfoy!"
Several people paused and looked over curiously at this and Harry sat down at the circular table and held out his hands, palms down, to quiet Ron.
"Oh Merlin, Harry," Ron wailed in a hushed whisper as Harry sat down but didn't deny it.
"Shh," Harry urged quietly. "I just finished talking with Remus and I'll tell you all that he told me." Ron looked confused about Remus being around and Harry said, "First things first, let me explain about—oh, hold on."
Harry drew his wand and paused for a moment, spotted Ginny and called, "Ginny! Got a few minutes?"
She looked up from her game of chess she was playing against Dean, made a move, said, "Checkmate," and then happily joined them at the table.
As soon as she sat down, Harry conjured a privacy bubble to envelope the four of them at the table, drawing looks from several others whom he ignored.
"Ok, listen up. The Order has given us, as students, a mission." Ron and Ginny both looked awed by this and grew very attentive. "It's something we've already been doing really—the DA. They want us to foster inter-House cooperation and friendships. We've done a lot of that last year already and this year we've branched out and included some of the Slytherins—the only House that wasn't represented last year."
"So what's there to do now?" Ginny asked.
"Well," Harry said, "it's only the beginning. I'm still working with a member of the Order each Friday night like I was over the summer; still learning new things which I can then pass forth and teach to everyone else. Hermione's started doing some work as well at that time; picking up where she left off this summer. You two, well, I think you two could really help if you made conscious efforts to befriend and help the Slytherin members of the DA and as we go through our classes, if you meet anyone else who you think may be a good addition to the group, then we should bring them in, too. I think if there's all four of us doing this, then others will follow our lead."
Harry saw Ron frown. "Listen, the other Houses have enough members to have enough well-trained people help train and teach the other members within their Houses. I'm not that worried about the rest of the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws that lack skills to defend themselves; they've got people to help them if they need it. It's the members of Slytherin House that I'm worried about—and Professor Dumbledore is too. He's worried that members of that House may turn to the more high profile members—think Malfoy—as the one to look to defend themselves or--for a side to take. If we condemn them all for their House, then not only do we not enable them to make their own choice, but we also risk missing out some very well placed intelligence—both in what they know already and in what they may be able to find out someday." Harry looked pleadingly at them. "This is important, Dumbledore has spoken with me a few times about this. Your dad already knows you've been asked to help with this."
Ginny looked thoughtful and then said quietly, "You know, Tom Riddle told me in his diary that not only did students of other Houses shun him for being a Slytherin, but, also members of his House shunned him for being a half-blood." She looked resolutely at Harry and said, "I think you're right, Harry; they all need to feel they have a choice and someplace that will accept them no matter who they are."
Even Ron couldn't disagree with this and Hermione looked very pleased and proud of the way Harry presented this mission to them.
"Ok, Harry, now what about this duel with Malfoy?" Ron asked, turning the matter back to the important stuff.
Harry ran a hand through his hair and said, "Oh wait—you'll never believe who I saw this week—I'll give you a hint—you're least favorite brother."
"Ron?" Ginny said, with a glare and wink towards Ron.
Harry smiled.
Ron shot her a glare and then tentatively guessed, "Percy?"
Harry nodded. He then told them all about finding Percy and Fudge and their two undercover Aurors in Dumbledore's office earlier that week. He'd been dying to tell them since it had happened but seeing as how none of them were on the best of terms, it just didn't happen. Now, Harry was just eager to get back to being friends with everyone again. In fact, Harry was kind of hoping that Ron would just sort of forget that he was supposed to be angry at all.
By the time Harry was done, Ron was scowling and Ginny looked disgusted. "What. An. Idiot!" she said with contempt. Ron couldn't even find the words to say what he felt. Ginny went on and asked, "He actually said, 'proper Wizarding pride'?" Harry nodded sympathetically. Ginny scowled at that and almost laughed. "That's what Mum always says Fudge says about Dad and why Dad is stuck in his job. Mind you--Dad would go spare if he had to give up working with muggles; he loves it there! I wonder if those are Mum's words Percy is parroting or if that really is what Fudge says?" Ginny mused.
Ron shook his head and asked, "You really asked about Penelope? I bet he'd hate for Fudge to have heard that—Percy dating a muggleborn and lacking his 'proper Wizarding pride'!" Ron grinned at the thought and then turned serious. "Ok, now back to you hexing the bollocks off of that ferret."
Ginny stayed with them as they went over what Remus had said about why one might throw the match. They all decided that either way, they still had to work out a plan in case that just wasn't an option. (Actually, Harry knew he didn't want to do it at all, but he couldn't just say that in front of Hermione without risking her ire—something he was not willing to do right now.)
Ron had been working all evening on a strategy for the match that he'd drawn up; it included diagrams and everything. But as Harry was looking them over, he realized Ron didn't know about a lot of the skills that Harry had acquired over the summer in training. At first Harry was going to tell him and revise the plans to account for this, but then Harry realized that these plans allowed him to duel without showing off his extra-curricular training and skills. Maybe this would work after all, he thought.
"So, really the most elaborate part of this plan is the fact they think we're going to do this whole elaborate plan but really, we're not?" Daphne recapped once again looking at Harry like she thought him a bit mad.
It was Monday night before the duel and Harry was with his group, as well as Hermione, in the Room of Requirement going over their plans yet again.
"Come on," Harry urged. "The most important thing for you all to be able to do is to Stun, disarm and conjure a shield spell. Protect yourself and take them out of the duel." He'd also been trying to go over all the classes of jinxes and their appropriate counter-jinxes to help them along. So far, he was feeling pretty confident.
The "fake" plan consisted of a very elaborate plan will all sorts of purported spells that should keep the Slytherins too busy to know that the plan wasn't in effect at all. It had been completed on Sunday night and Harry had taken it with him into Potions class that morning. He had left it sticking out of his Potions book that was left out during class. He then arranged with Tracey and Padma to all be gone from the work table at the same time, gathering ingredients, in order to leave Millicent alone with access to the "fake" plan. He had also given copies of the "fake" plan to Tracey and Daphne to take back to their dormitories. After all, they did share a room with both Pansy and Millicent.
Harry received his shipment from Fred and George on Monday morning. It was so large it had needed two owls to carry it. He had passed along one of the Extendable Ears to Tracey in Potions so she could find out what she could about the other group's plans. So far, they hadn't heard anything of use.
Fred and George had sent along what appeared to be a sampling of almost their entire inventory along with extensive instructions with suggestions for uses of all their products. The twins lamented not being able to be present to witness the 'utter humiliation of the ferret' but 'felt honoured to be chosen allies in this fine endeavour'.
Fine endeavour, indeed. Come Tuesday morning, the school was buzzing as if it were the day of a Quidditch match. Harry had overheard several students mention that they had recently purchased some Skivving Snackboxes from Weasley Wizards Wheezes in order to help them get out of class that afternoon so they might just 'happen' to be wandering past the Defense classroom at the time Harry just 'happened' to be duelling against Malfoy.
After Charms class that morning, Harry went out for a short fly to calm himself. Then he returned to the Common Room and asked Ron to play a game of chess to keep his mind busy. Things were really very much like the old days with Ron. It was so much easier to just be friends like always.
After losing as usual to Ron, Harry stood up and stretched.
"Ready for lunch and then to kick Malfoy's arse?" Ron asked.
Harry shook his head. "No—I have to meet my group in the Room of Requirement at noon. We're going to eat lunch there—no chance of getting our food hexed—Dobby's bringing it himself. We're going to go over everything one more time and hopefully one of them has heard something on the Ears about what Malfoy's plan is."
Ron nodded and looked at Harry for a moment before saying, "Well, you do us all proud and remember—if you get the chance—"
"—transfigure him into a ferret," they chorused together.
Harry laughed, "I know, I know. I'm not sure if McGonagall could even give me a detention if I did it as part of a duel."
"It would be worth it," Ron said as his stomach growled. "Well, I'm going to lunch early, maybe they'll put the food out early if I'm there."
Harry waved and set off with his bag full of all necessary items from Fred and George to meet his group and complete any final plans.
Snape was lecturing about something; Harry didn't care so he really wasn't listening. He kept looking up at the clock in the classroom that read, 'Time to Pay Attention'; he didn't listen to the clock either.
Malfoy kept sending Harry smugly knowing little smirks across the room anytime Harry looked up. Hermione kept trying to nudge Harry to pay attention and to stop fidgeting.
Malfoy's smirking wouldn't normally worry Harry at all; in fact, it would probably make him feel like "The Plan" was working just perfectly. Unfortunately, Tracey and Daphne had failed to show up at noon to meet with Harry and Susan and he was still a bit edgy about it.
Susan had been a nervous wreck all morning and at noon, was having trouble performing the spells she had learned the previous year. Harry even checked her over for some jinx that was preventing her from performing. But when Tracey and Daphne failed to show up, Susan practically began to panic. (Secretly, Harry was, too.)
Finally, with less than ten minutes before class, Tracey and Daphne finally burst into the room, panting and looking frazzled. They apologized and said they had been held up in Arithmancy with revising a test they had just received back. They didn't have time to go over anything again but Daphne said that she heard on the Extendable Ear last night Pansy and Millicent discussing their own plans to counter the "fake" plan that was planted.
The words sounded right to Harry and he knew it should mean everything was going according to the real plan, but something just seemed off. He could see that Daphne and Tracey, while looking perhaps a bit apprehensive, still did not seem to be really that nervous. Again, this should have made him feel good, but something was not quite right.
Finally, the sound of Snape's baritone announcing, "Books away and clear off to the side," snapped Harry out of his pondering.
As they cleared off their desks all moved out of the way, Ron nudged Harry and asked, "Hey, I saw your two Slytherins in the Hall for lunch and talking with Pansy. Weren't they supposed to meet with you?"
Harry suddenly had about a dozen questions now and his inkling that something wasn't quite right suddenly found a description: he was dreading their betrayal. Not necessarily because they would turn against him and want to do him harm, but because they might be subject to coercion from the people they have to share a House and dorm with. Suddenly, throwing the match and ending it early was sounding like not such an awful idea.
"Ah, and let's see who we have to watch humiliate themselves today," Snape hissed with relish as he surveyed the students. Most had edged back, knowing they wouldn't have to go today. Harry had a fleeting wish that Snape would quick change his plans for the day, try to throw them all off.
Snape traced his lower lip with a long sallow finger and feigned ignorance as he silkily asked, "Mister…Potter, have you had an opportunity to show off yet?"
Harry bit his tongue to keep from rising to Snape's baiting and just marched out into the cleared away area. He spun around and watched Susan stumble out towards him and then saw Tracey and Daphne joining them but avoiding looking directly at Harry. Harry beckoned them all closer and huddled them together.
"Listen up," he said, quite sure that Tracey and Daphne's inability to meet his eye was only confirming his suspicions. "You two," he said to the Slytherins, "should I Stun you now or just watch my back the whole time?" They both looked at him startled; like they had just been caught stealing.
While it did anger Harry that he wouldn't even be able to rely upon his own group, he also knew he shouldn't blame them completely. "Just tell," he said, trying to refrain from sounding accusatory, "do they know the plan was a feint?"
Tracey and Daphne shared a look and seemed hesitant to say anything. Harry truly wished he could get a flash of Legilimency insight here to help him out. "Look," he said, "I realize they've probably blackmailed you to do whatever you're supposed to do. I won't tell, but at least tell me what they know. I can make sure they don't find out you've told me."
Harry saw Malfoy and his group ambling out to the open space and looking down towards the ground; this was good, Harry thought. The first part of the fake plan included making them think that they would be enclosed within a Perimeter defined Trip Jinx to make them spend time looking for it and trying not to set it off.
Harry dug into his robe pocket to pull out the first Fred and George Special. He looked back to Tracey; she looked like she really wanted to tell him something. He looked to Daphne; she mouthed, "They believe the plan."
Harry heard Snape's voice, "On my signal…"
Harry snapped his wrist to draw his wand and held the vial full of Weasley's Fabulous Festive Fog. It looked just like Hermione's Caligo Conjuring Charm but if you tried to Vanish it, it set off sparklers and whirring mini-explosions. Harry faced Malfoy and company and then he heard Tracey, "We're going to Stun you."
As a shower of silver sparks erupted from Snape's wand, Harry smashed the vial of Fog onto the floor between them, causing everyone to all be enveloped into a thick haze. He then turned to where he had heard Tracey and, sure enough, saw two jets of red light.
He conjured his Shield Charm without an incantation to avoid them knowing it had been deflected. He thought he them heard two thuds of bodies falling, shortly followed by the first sparkle and explosion from someone trying to Vanish the fog.
Harry turned back and edged along the far side of the room, edging closer towards Malfoy's group. He wasn't casting any spells because he was hoping they would think he'd been Stunned. He occasionally saw a spell firing through the fog, some Disarming Charms and a few Stunners. He saw there were at least some coming from where Susan would have been and he hoped she was finally under control.
"I can't find the damn thing!" he heard Pansy Parkinson call out. Harry smirked; he knew she was looking for the non-existent Perimeter Jinx.
"It's got to be there," he then heard Malfoy drawl. "Keep looking! Crabbe, Goyle, go help her."
Harry slunk forward through the fog, until he saw two lumbering shapes near him. Grabbe and Coyle, he thought. Harry pulled the second vial out of his robes, uncapped it, dumped the dust out and into the air and then banished it towards the two hulking shapes.
He heard some coughing and then a deep voice say, "Vincent? Darling where are you?" Harry had to stifle a snicker as the Weasley Wizarding Wanton Lust Dust did its thing on the two hefty thugs.
"Ew!!" he heard the unmistakable whiny voice of Pansy cry out. Picturing her pug face, he pointed his wand towards her voice and as soon as he saw her shape appear to find Crabbe and Goyle affectionately stroking each other's hair (Harry had to use a lot of discipline to keep from vomiting), he hexed her face to have a pug's nose and ears and the hands of a dog's paws. He followed that quickly with a Barking Jinx that made her yip like a dog when she tried to speak.
Three down, Harry thought. He pulled three of Fred and George's fake wands from inside his dragonhide boot and then pointed his own wand at them, switching them with the wands that Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy each had. In his hand, their real wands now appeared and he slipped them into his other boot. The dragonhide would prevent them from being disarmed from there or from being susceptible to a Summoning Charm. He let out a second vial of the fog to keep them thickly ensconced.
There's still Nott, Millicent and Malfoy now. Harry tried to edge further around the back of Malfoy's group. He could hear the whirring and explosions of the fog still going off as well as the yipping of Pansy the pug-dog. He even thought he could still hear Susan still calling out Disarming Charms and yelling, "Stupefy!"
Harry was completely on the opposite side of Malfoy and his group from where he'd started. Harry began to climb up the spiral staircase that usually led to the Defense Professor's private chambers. As he climbed he could look down and see the fog covering the room. He could make out the dark-haired head of Millicent still in the same spot where their group had started. Harry pointed his wand at the ceiling, mumbled, "Repetitio," to create a Volley Wall Charm to use as a deflector. He then muttered, "Stupefy," while aiming at the charm on the ceiling, angling it to strike directly down onto Millicent. She fell with a thud.
Harry knew she would have no chance to see a spell coming at her from directly above but he also knew Malfoy would have been able to see it. Sure enough, a flash of light flew up from the fog, and ended the Volley Wall Charm. Harry quickly aimed at the spot where he saw the spell originate from, almost believing he saw a blond head of hair, and cast, "Stupefy."
With the whirring, sparklers going off and intermittent explosions still sounding off, Harry couldn't be sure he'd hit anyone. He pulled two more fake wands from his boot and performed another Switching Spell on them, concentrating on where Millicent's and Malfoy's wands would be if they were indeed Stunned. Harry grinned as two real wands replaced the fake wands in his palm. He pocketed them along with the others.
He had all the wands—except for Nott's. Harry hadn't seen him at all and he couldn't see anything that made him think he was still there. Maybe Susan Disarmed him. Harry quickly climbed down the stairs, and pointed his wand at the fog, saying, "Evanesco," to set off more noise and distractions.
He lapped back around from where he came and nearly tripped over the still Stunned body of Tracey. He plucked her wand from the floor beside her and tucked it into his robe. He then saw Susan, looking confused and like she was about to revive Daphne. "No!" Harry hissed as he ran up to her.
Susan looked wildly at him. "They haven't been helping at all!! They must have been—where have you been?"
Harry hushed her, pausing briefly to send a Vanishing Charm at the fog to set off more noise, and asked quickly, "Do you have a wand? Did you Disarm anyone?"
She pulled a wand from her robe and Harry grinned and added it to the rest in his boot. "That's all of them then," he said. Susan looked shocked. Harry bent to pick up Daphne's wand, pocketing it, and then said to Susan, "It's time to make them concede. Just remember, none of their wands are real."
Harry turned back to face the heavy fog, full of twinkling sparkles and pops! and pulled out the counter vial and opened it. The fog in the room began to swirl and was pulled into a vortex, all funnelling itself to the open vial in Harry's hand. The fog was all pulled in and the room cleared.
Harry immediately saw Pansy the pug-dog try to pick up her wand on the floor using her paws and barking madly. Susan Stunned her as the wand turned into a slithering snake. Harry added magical ropes to bind her. He then saw Crabbe and Goyle---ewww! The entire class was pointing and nearly retching at the two large boys who were grunting away and petting each other fondly, holding hands and staring dreamy-eyed at the other. Harry promptly Stunned them to put everyone out of their misery. He bound them as well.
He heard the din of other students talking, rise in volume but he wasn't paying attention to them. His eyes fell upon the three Stunned bodies of Malfoy, Millicent and Nott.
"Incarcerous! Incarcerous! Incarcerous!" he commanded promptly to bind each. All six Slytherins were Stunned and bound on the floor.
Harry saw Susan grinning as he realized the rest of his classmates were cheering and clapping. Then Snape intoned, "Silence! No one has conceded this match yet."
Harry had to fight a grin. He revived Crabbe and Goyle first. They looked longingly at each other, still held in place in their conjured ropes.
"Do you two want to concede the fight so you can go off and be together?" Harry asked gleefully hoping the Lust Dust was still affecting them. They both nodded eagerly, making the observing half of the class roar with laughter. Harry Stunned then again to keep them silent and said, "Mobilicorpus," to each body to relocate it to the far side of the room and out of sight."
Harry revived Nott next. The scrawny boy struggled immediately against his bindings but then stopped as he looked around at the rest of Stunned and bound group members.
"They've all conceded and been defeated," Harry said coolly.
Susan then surprised Harry as she walked up to him and said, "Should I hex you until you give in or do you want to go quietly?"
Nott swallowed audibly, staring at her wand and Harry asked, "Do you concede?" Nott nodded warily. Susan Stunned him and took care of moving him off to the side.
They did the same thing for Millicent; making her believe she was the last one who needed to concede and she gave in begrudgingly, glaring at the prone, Stunned bodies of her House mates.
Harry revived Pansy next and she began to bark and yip. He countered her Barking Jinx and she screamed out, "Potter, you bloody filthy—" Harry put a Lock Jaw Jinx on her to prevent her from speaking. Her jaw locked shut tightly and her lips curled back grotesquely as she tried to fight it.
"Pansy, I can turn you into a poodle and then ask you to bark twice to concede or you can just give in now." She scowled and struggled against her bonds and the jinx on her jaw before glaring at Harry with hatred.
"I know an excellent Hair Shrivelling Hex, Harry. She might like it. Makes your hair fall out and it takes years for it to ever grow back." Susan offered. Pansy looked stricken and Susan smirked and said, "Just nod if you want to concede and keep those, er, lovely tendrils." Pansy nodded once and looked like she was trying to spit. Harry Stunned her to shut her up and Susan levitated her body away and off to the side.
Malfoy was the only one left now. Harry walked closer to him and saw that Malfoy's hand was still clenched around a wand. However, it was a fake wand and Harry was not worried about it. He saw Snape watching with an evil smirk about his mouth.
"Ennervate," he said, reviving Malfoy. Malfoy froze, feeling the ropes binding him. Harry saw Malfoy's cold silver-grey eyes scan the room, seeing no one but Susan and Harry standing there with their wands out. Harry saw Malfoy's eyes dart to behind Harry and fall upon the Stunned bodies of Tracey and Daphne.
"Not very bright, are you, Potter," Malfoy drawled, trying admirably to sound calm. Harry circled slowly around Malfoy and saw him clenching the handle of the fake wand. Harry knew these fake wands were meant to revert to whatever odd item they really were, whenever someone would try to use it. "With brains like yours, you belong in the Ministry, Potter. You could work for the bumbling bunch of Aurors and that berk, Bones."
"Alapa!" Susan cried out, cursing Malfoy for insulting her aunt. Harry marvelled at her quick cast as Malfoy's head snapped back as if slapped across the face.
Malfoy acted unaffected. "Forget it, Potter!" Malfoy spat. "If you want to beat me, you're going to have to do it like a man! Any fool can buy pranks from blood-traitors like the Weasels—you're just afraid to duel me like a man! You haven't got the bollocks!!"
Harry knew Malfoy was trying to rile him up; it didn't stop it from working. Susan looked anxiously between Malfoy and Harry.
"It's two against one, Potter and you're still too much of a coward—a baby! Wee little baby Potter!"
Hearing Bellatrix's words echoing from Malfoy's voice caused a roar of hatred to drown out all other sounds in Harry's ears. He took two steps back, faced the sneering Malfoy and waved his bonds away.
"Harry!" Susan hissed, hurrying back and beside Harry.
Malfoy grinned, narrowed his eyes in malicious hatred and held his wand out, ready to duel.
Harry ground out through clenched teeth, "Go on, Malfoy. Take your best shot," Harry dared as he held his arms out wide, one hand still holding his wand.
Malfoy's eyes got a perverse gleam in them as he cried out, "Castrare!" Harry couldn't help but flinch at the audacity of such a vicious curse but smirked widely as Malfoy was left holding a limp rat.
Malfoy flung the rat to side, towards the rest of the class and sneered, "A rat, Potter? How fitting, maybe Weasel would like his pet back—whatever happened to him, by the way?"
"Are you about done yet Malfoy or do you really think I want to stand here and listen to you run your mouth off?" Harry shouted, his anger rising with Malfoy's every bait.
Harry's eyes flicked to the clock on the wall; they had less than five minutes left in class. As his gaze returned to Malfoy, he saw the Slytherin turning around and flipping his robe up, baring his trouser-covered arse to Harry as he said, "You can kiss my lily-white pureblood arse, Potter!" Malfoy then spun around and cried, "Stupefy!"
Harry realized he must have pulled a spare wand when he had turned around and reflexively cast, "Protego!"
Malfoy countered with a Shield Charm of his own. Harry sidestepped the curse as it flew at him a second time. Unfortunately, Susan was too slow and was hit.
"Down to just you and me, Potter," Malfoy sang. He then pointed his new wand and cried out, "Flamacreacio!"
Instinctively, Harry shouted, "Congelare!" and froze the jet of flame that was coming towards him with the Flame-Freezing Charm. The jet of red and gold flames was frozen solid and turned into frosty blue ice crystals, stopping just a few feet short of Harry's face. The ice crystals suddenly feel to the stone floor with a resounding crash! as the ice shattered like glass. Harry followed it quickly with; "Malvisum!" to temporarily blind Malfoy as Harry kept moving around, still circling.
The ever-moving Harry didn't have to dodge as it was deflected back, off of Malfoy's Shield Charm. "Apotosus!" Malfoy cursed Harry.
Some brain cell recalled this dark curse from some book and Harry knew only one thing could prevent him from being crushed between two solid walls of air. "Reducto!" he cried, pointing to one side, blasting away the invisible wall. He rolled forward to the floor and silently jinxed Malfoy with a Clothesline Jinx.
Harry regained his footing as Malfoy was flung backwards and landed flat on his back, rubbing his throat. Malfoy's curses were past the point of just being nasty; they were downright dangerous. Harry could hear Hermione in the back of his mind, urging him to give in before it went too far and someone got hurt. As Harry watched Malfoy stand up, seething and rubbing his throat, Harry boldly shouted, "Stupefy!"
He watched the jet of red light soar at Malfoy and as he saw Malfoy cast a shimmering blue Shield Charm, Harry pocketed his wand in his holster, stood with his arms wide open and let his own deflected jet of red light strike him full on.
He was conscious almost immediately. Harry had practiced being hit by his own Stunners before when he was trying to master breaking through them. He remained lying on the floor with his eyes closed.
"Accio wand!" he heard Malfoy cried with glee. Harry's wand stayed put in his holster. His holster protected against Disarming and Summoning. Harry heard footsteps approaching and he cracked his eyes ever so slightly; peering through his lashes.
Harry felt Malfoy gave a kick to his hip and any thought of giving up was squelched by seeing the look of malice on Malfoy's face as he levelled his wand at Harry, just inches away. Harry suddenly swept his leg out and felled Malfoy, causing his second wand to clatter to the floor.
Harry was on his feet and quickly Banished the wand out of Malfoy's reach as he lunged for it. Harry stood looking down at the wandless Malfoy, panting, seething and his wand levelled directly at the pointy-faced, blond.
"Ready to give in, yet, Malfoy?" Harry said in a clipped and cool voice.
Malfoy glared at Harry and made to stand up but Harry cast a Jelly-Legs jinx on him, keeping him seated on the floor with wobbly legs. Malfoy glared sullenly up at Harry. "You're going to have to make me give in, Potter. Don't you know how this works?" Harry merely looked coolly at the beaten Malfoy. "You've got to make me feel pain so I want to give in. Have you got in touch with your inner anger yet, Potter? Wee…baby…Pot—"
Malfoy was cut off as Harry hexed his mouth right off. Harry stalked over and towards the rest of class, holstering his wand in his sleeve. The bell had to be about to ring any moment now. He was done with this duel whether Malfoy gave in or not. He wanted to get his bag and get the hell out of this class.
"Where do you think you're going, Potter?" A silkily voice inquired as flurry of billowing black robes swept in front of Harry, blocking his path.
"Class is over," Harry said trying to step around Snape.
A long black ebony wand was pointed at Harry's chest and he looked up to see Snape grinning garishly, fathomless black eyes glinting cruelly and nodding as he then hissed, "Class is over when I say it's over. You're not finished yet, Potter."
Harry glared at Snape and at the wand pointing at his chest. He then stalked back out to face the mouthless Malfoy. He peered directly into the cool and defiant grey eyes and without a word, pointed his wand at Malfoy and soundlessly cast, "Legilimens."
He was probing; seeking out what Malfoy least wanted Harry to know. It was instinctual how Harry directed with his mind where the probe was to seek out and pull forth. It was like using Imperius on an object to control it; he guided the spell, the probe, to flip until suddenly an image would flash. It was like scanning through all sorts of blank stations on a television and only glimpsing an image as you passed by a tuned in station.
Harry saw Bellatrix Lestrange's face pointing a wand at Draco as he writhed and screamed on the ground in pain…He saw Lucius Malfoy striking Draco across the face while Draco was wearing Slytherin's silver and green quidditch robes and was feeling hatred and rage…He saw Draco alone, nude, pale skin lying on a dark green duvet, surrounded by dark green bed hangings as he tossed off, biting his pillow as he felt shame…He saw the red eyes and thin-lipped mouth of Lord Voldemort as Draco bowed and kissed the hem of his robes, shaking with fear and loathing…
"ENOUGH!" A hand struck Harry's arm down, breaking the spell. "The bell has rung!" Snape said.
Harry stood riveted upon the sight of Malfoy cowering and shaking on the floor before him. If he had a mouth, it looked like Malfoy would have been sobbing. The rest of the class was not moving to leave; they were standing there, most with their mouths agape; watching Malfoy curled into a ball on the floor and Harry standing emotionlessly over him while Snape seethed at Harry.
Harry whirled around, revived Susan, then revived Daphne and Tracey. He removed the two wands from his robe and gave them to Daphne and Tracey without so much as a word or a look before he stormed out of the classroom.
"Harry! Harry wait up!"
Harry kept right on walking despite Hermione's pleas behind him.
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