Disclaimer: The funniest thing happened the other night. I was sitting at my computer writing this very chapter when J.K. Rowling called. Apparently she likes my fic so much that she wanted to sign over her rights to Harry Potter and all of his friends. I was flattered of course but I felt that her fans would be offended. Besides I don't want the attention. So, none of the characters are mine (even though they could have been) and I don't pretend to own them or try and profit from them in any way.
Harry's crazy inner voice #1
Harry's crazy inner voice #2
Chapter 4 – A Son's Battle
As Harry finished his count to three the duel began with a vengeance. As Harry had been standing between the two them he had to quickly raise a shield to avoid being hit by the first volley of curses. Both Bellatrix and Neville were playing for keeps.
"EXPELLIARMUS!" Neville shouted as he dove to side, narrowly avoiding being hit by an orange coloured curse.
Why is he firing a disarming spell at her? Isn't it to the death?
Sigh Tell me, is it easier to kill someone if they are shooting spells at you or if they're disarmed?
Never mind.
We are so lucky that we're powerful enough that we don't have to be smart otherwise you would put us at a serious disadvantage.
Yeah, we are lucky. Wait a minute.
(chuckles)
Ha ha. Very funny.
I thought so.
"PROTEGO!" Neville's spell rebounded off of Bellatrix's shield and went flying back towards Neville.
"PROTEGO! STUPEFY!" Neville yelled deflecting his original Diarming spell back towards the witch and sending a stunner on its heels.
Nice rapid spell casting.
Be quiet and watch the duel. You're distracting me.
Sorry.
Bellatrix was not caught by this trick however and calmly took a step back while waving her wand in front of her.
"ARRETIUM" she called and both incoming spells stopped before slowly disappearing.
"Well it looks like baby Longbottom has picked up a couple tricks over the years. Pity your parents weren't able to put up as much of a fight." Bellatrix smirked as she saw her words cause Neville to wince. "I was actually disappointed in how quickly I beat them. They were both rather useless if you ask me. I probably did you a favor by ensuring you weren't raised by them. You should be thanking me."
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY PARENTS!" Neville yelled, his face turning red. "REDUCTO!" He sent his curse flying and while Bellatrix managed to dodge it the resulting explosion from the spell hitting the ground sent her sprawling and sent up a cloud of dust.
Go Neville! Show her who's boss.
Ummm, aren't we supposed to be impartial. I mean if we're just going to be cheering for the Order members then this whole contest is kind of a waste of time.
We aren't going to cheering for all of them. Think about it though. Who is responsible for Sirius being dead?
Well Bellatrix of course. She fired the spell which sent him falling into the veil.
And who is Neville fighting right now?
Bellatrix. Why are you asking such stupid questions.
Just bear with me. Now if Bellatrix killed Sirius and Neville is fighting Bellatrix then we should be cheering for...
Oh right. (blushes) Suppose I should have thought of that.
And you say I'm stupid. Yeesh.
Oh just watch the duel.
By this point the dust had settled revealing Bellatrix looking slightly disheveled with blood coming from a cut on her forehead from a fragment of rock.
Neville gave her a smirk of his own. "Well Lestrange, looks like first blood goes to me."
Oh taunting the enemy. Nice touch. Mention that Voldemort is a half-blood. That really makes her mad.
He can't hear you. You do know that don't you?
Do I tell you what to do while watching a duel? No. If I want to make comments and pretend that they can hear them then I will.
Fine. Whatever.
That's right.
Bellatrix's only response was a growl, her smirk now visibly absent from her face.
"INCENDIO!" she shrieked. A blast of flames flew towards Neville missing him for the most part but singeing his robes slightly. "RELASHIO!" She cried again sending sparks towards his face.
"AARGH!" Neville cried as he threw up his hands to protect his face. Bellatrix began to smile again.
"Looks like I spoke to soon. You aren't as good as I thought you were. Hmmm, why don't we kick things up a notch? AVADA KEDAVRA!" She screamed the killing curse sending the deadly jet of light towards Neville. A gasp came from the side of the Order as Neville dropped to the ground narrowly avoiding the curse.
"AVADA KEDAVRA! AVADA KEDAVRA! AVADA KEDAVRA!" Bellatrix continued to scream sending jet after jet of the green light towards Neville who began to roll along the ground as each spell hit the position he had just vacated.
"What's wrong Nevy-poo? Afraid of a little curse?" she taunted. "Are you getting tired yet? You won't be able to dodge forever."
While she wasted her breath Neville took the opportunity to regain his footing and glare coolly at her.
"You won't beat me Lestrange. Nothing about you scares me. You're just a pathetic old hag serving a demented lunatic."
Oh Neville. Never mention a women's age. That's just asking for trouble.
Such a rookie mistake.
Neville's words had enraged Bellatrix once more. "CRUCIO!" she yelled and this time Neville wasn't quick enough to get out of the way.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHH!" He screamed as he felt the pain of a thousand knives plunging into him. Each time he felt like he was about to slip into unconsciousness another wave of agony would rush over him. He fell to the ground and began to writhe in pain.
Cries of despair came from the Order members while the Death Eaters began to laugh at their distress.
"CRUCIO!" Bellatrix cried again, keeping her want pointed at Neville, doubling the pain he felt. "How does it fell Nevy-poo? Bet it hurts doesn't it?" She appeared to be in ecstasy as she listened to Neville's cries of pain.
That is one sick puppy.
She really gets a kick out that doesn't she?
She takes being insane to a whole new level. Coming from me, a voice trapped in my head with another voice of me, (A/N If you can follow that.) that's saying something.
Er...right...
After what seemed like an eternity to Neville but in actuality was only a few seconds for everyone else, Bellatrix halted the curse.
"Care to beg for mercy Longbottom. The terms of the duel are to the death but I could finish you with a quick Killing curse or we could play for a little more first."
Neville began to raise his head and looked her in the eye.
"You are one sick puppy." He croaked out before spitting at her.
Yeah! He agrees with me. What's that muggle expression? Great minds think a like?"
Yeah, and fools seldom differ.
Now that was uncalled for.
Funny though.
Bellatrix smiled. "I was hoping that would be your answer."
"Really? You hoped I'd say you were sick. Well whatever does it for you. I never realized just how well your name suits you LeSTRANGE." Neville croaked out placing particular emphasis on the ending of her name.
Bellatrix continued to smile. "Brave to the end eh? Typical Gryffindor I suppose. Don't worry though I'm not going to finish you yet. There's still lots more fun to be had. INCARCEROUS!" She yelled sending yellow ropes out to restrain Neville. "Now before I kill you maybe I should let you see some of your friends die. AVADA KEDAVRA! AVADA KEDAVRA! AVADA KEDAVRA!" The three Killing curses sped towards the Order members where Ron, Hermione and Ginny stood, Ginny having returned to near her brother when the duel began. Ron and Hermione quickly dove to the ground...they tried to at any rate. There lower body still that of a frogs hindered there movement causing them to simply fall to the ground in an undignified heap. Ginny on the other hand didn't move as she stood frozen in terror watching her death approach her. Unable to move due to her fear she simply shut her eyes tightly and awaited the end.
After a couple seconds of no death, she opened one eye to see the spell just floating about an inch from her nose.
"Now, now Bella." Harry's voice could be heard. "There'll be none of that now. The duel is between you and Neville and attacking bystanders is very rude of you. Any more disturbances like that and you'll forfeit the duel." As he finished speaking the curse dissipated.
Painting a false smile on her face Bellatrix directed a curtsy towards Harry. "Oh why of course Harriekins. Please forgive me." She said in a sickly sweet tone.
SHE TRIED TO KILL GINNY! SHE TRIED TO KILL GINNY!
Calm down now.
MUST KILL!! MUST KILL!! SHE TRIED TO KILL GINNY!
Yes, I believe we've covered that. I really don't think we should get involved though.
But she tried to kill Ginny. We still love Ginny.
Yes we do. Tell you what. If Bella wins we give Voldie the win but kill her anyways, deal?
Okay. Hey, can we bring her back from the dead so that we can take turns killing her as much as we want?
I don't think so. There's some things even we can't do.
Pity.
"Oh it's quite alright Bella. No problem at all. Please continue with your duel." Harry replied in the same sickly sweet tone.
She's gonna get it. She's gonna get it.
Stop it.
She's gonna get it. She's gonna get it.
I said stop it.
She's gonn-
BE QUIET AND WATCH THE DUEL!
Sorry. No need to yell though.
ARGH!!!!!!!!!
Why don't you pour yourself a nice big glass of calm-down juice?
(mutters angrily to himself)
You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity.
You have got to be kidding me.
No, it's true. I swear.
Why me?
Bellatrix redirected her attention to Neville who was still struggling with the ropes that were binding him. "No where were we?" She asked.
"Uh, you were about to let me go?" Neville said smiling.
"Not quite." She responded. "CRUICIO!"
As he began to feel the pain once more Neville slumped to ground and his body began to shake violently. Before long his spasms became so strong that the ropes binding him broke. Freed from confinement his limbs began to flop about as the pain coursed through his body.
"What fun." Bellatrix chuckled. "Why don't we see just how long you can last under this Nevy-poo. I'm kind of curious how you'll compare to your parents. It took almost fifteen minutes of straight torture before they lost they're minds and turned into blubbering fools. Do you think you can last longer?"
Somehow Bellatrix's words managed to make it through the fog of pain that Neville was feeling. A spark began to grow in the young man and he poured all his hatred for the women before him into it. Finally in a flash of light the spell was broken and Neville had regained his footing. Bellatrix looked on in first surprise, then fear as she felt the raw magic radiating from him.
Neville's words were spoken with such fury and hate that Bellatrix stumbled back as if struck as he spoke. "That is the last time you will ever speak of my parents you hag! I've had enough of you and your insanity and I won't put up with it any longer." He picked up his wand and raised it into the air before bringing it down in a slashing movement. A large cut appeared on Bellatrix's face and she cried out in pain. "THAT WAS FOR MY MOTHER!" Neville yelled as he raised his wand once more before repeating his gesture. Another cut appeared on Bellatrix's face. "THAT WAS FOR MY FATHER!" he yelled before raising his wand one final time. "AND THIS IS FOR ME AND FOR EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S LIVES YOU'VE TRIED TO RUIN! INCENDIO INFLAMMARE!!" With his final words a tidal wave of flames rushed towards the witch, completely enveloping her in flames. Nothing could be heard but her screams of pain and that crackling of burnt skin. When the flames cleared all that remained of Bellatrix Lestrange was a pile of ashes, quickly blown away in a gust of wind.
Silence covered the field, the only sound that of Neville's deep breaths before he fell to the ground, giving into exhaustion.
Nobody moved.
Finally the silence was broken.
CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP
Yeah Neville! Good going! That's the spirit. Roasted Lestrange on the menu tonight folks.
A small part of me feels bad for her. That had to hurt.
Really? You feel bad for her?
Well, no. Not really. I thought I should pretend though. Makes me seem less blood thirsty that way.
I guess you're right. Wait a minute. Does this mean we don't get to kill her?
Very good Captain Obvious.
...Boo Neville! Boo, boo, boo!
Oh stop being such a baby.
Harry was floating in front of the scoreboard with a smile on his face slowly clapping his hands together. The scoreboard had changed and now The O.R.D.E.R.S. had a big number one posted beneath their team name.
"Now that was a great way to end the duel. Bravo Neville." Harry smiled as he looked down at the remaining champion. He then looked up to meet Dumbledore's eyes. "So, are you just going to leave him there or might it perhaps be wise to see if he needs some medical attention. It would be such a shame if something were to happen to him after he had given you the first win wouldn't it."
Harry's words spurred Dumbledore into action and he quickly had a group of witches led by Madame Pomfrey, the school nurse, hustle to the middle of the field before transporting Neville back in a stretcher.
Harry nodded once before speaking again.
"Congratulations to Neville Longbottom for winning the first duel. It's nice to see such spirit in young people these days isn't it." He looked around as if looking for others to agree with him. "With Neville's win The O.R.D.E.R.S. now have a 1 to 0 lead. Team D.E.A.T.H. had better get its act together or they may be facing a long term of...well...not existing anymore. Enough of those morbid thoughts though. I believe you're all interested in knowing who the next duel will be between am I right?"
All eyes were riveted on Harry as he opened his mouth to name the next competitors.
"The next duel will be between...PETER PETTIGREW and REMUS LUPIN!"
And may the best Marauder win.
A/N: Well there's the duel folks. I hope that you enjoyed it and don't mind the fact that Neville won. I like the thought of him getting revenge for his parents. I also like the fact that I was able to get this finished before I went away. Yeah for me! Anyways, I hoped you all liked the chapter and will stay tuned for more next week. I figure I can probably get another chapter up within the next week and a half or so but I make no promises. Keep checking though cause you never know when it will come.
Now for some responses:
kreag001: Yeah! You updated your story today. I'm always very excited whenever I find an update for "The Heir of Gryffindor". Glad you liked the "Hop along Ron." Comment and hope you enjoyed Neville's triumph.
Calen: What can I say? I tried to kill her for you but Harry wouldn't let me. He just had to go and stop it. It's really out of my hands. I don't think I should try and kill her anymore though because between you and me...Harry is a little crazy and I don't want to get on his bad side.
Emma-Lizzy-Black: Neville having muscles scared you? Okay...
chire: I'm thrilled you like the story so much and like the crazy Harry. Harry naturally could have changed into an Animagus for if had wanted to but by the time he had the magical power to do it without training he was too crazy to care and was actually in the middle of training a speck of dust to do tricks. Funny what people will do when they're crazy isn't it?
Thanks to everybody else who read and reviewed and thanks to my beta reader Ceilinh. Hope you all keep reading and reviewing.
P.S. REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
P.P.S. Let me know who should win the next duel and suggest more combinations.