Chapter 7 Dueling with Bumbling Fools:
Then came the hour of the court hearing and Minister Fudge showed up with nobody but himself and he was dressed in Battle robes.
Harry who had taken the time to think about this and came in his Dragon hide robes and the cloak from his vault, smiled and evil smile.
Fudge steps to the center of the room and says, "I Cornelius Fudge was challenge by the boy, Harry Potter, who upon challenging me turned his back on me, after he drew his wand," The pure bloods and those that were fully steeped in the wizard world knew that meant that Harry had no respect for Fudge's magical powers. "Further more when I attacked as the boy dare me to, one Ablus Dumbledore stepped in and stop the duel from happening." He pauses and turns towards Harry "I challenge you Harry James Potter to fulfill your challenge earlier and duel me with wands till one is unable to continue!"
The room was filled with out rage at the challenge but nobody saw that Harry was smiling to himself at the challenge. Dumbledore objected, Madam Bones Objected. They were upset when Harry took matters into his own hands.
Harry stood quickly a smile playing on his face.... now I have this Bumbling fool right were I want him, oh though he must have a plan I will have to be careful...he thought, then Harry turners and says. "Cornelius Fudge I accept your challenge and I chose to face you myself, my second will be Remus Lupin, I will meet you were and when you wish to finish this, but if I win you will resign and stop wasting my time with stupid charges."
Fudge says, "Mr. Potter I will meet you in the Auror dueling ring in 30 minutes, you should prepare yourself to the best of your ability."
With that said Fudge turns and walks out of the room, Harry turns and heads over to Remus.
Harry says, "Hey Remus I need the purchases I made today, more to the point I want the Dragon hide robes and basilisk cloak." He pause then adds, "I will also need My Dragon hide boots if you don't mind." Harry then looks around and leans in "Oh and Remus, I want you to know that if I loose and get hurt you need not fight for me."
Remus says, "Don't worry Harry if that fool hurts you I am going to destroy him, no matter what you say to me."
Harry laughs then says, "Well Remus so you know I do not plan on that bumbling fool to even hit me with a spell, though I will be asking Ron to bet large amounts on me with any one that will bet against me."
With that said Harry turned and head back towards Dumbledore but the steers to Tonks instead and asks, "Hey Tonks can you take me to the Auror dueling area?"
Tonks says, "Okay Harry follow me and make sure your not watching my behind or I will have to duel you next for my honor." She laughs hard as she sees Harry's shocked look.
Harry says, "Well in that case Tonks, you should link arms with Ginny and Hermione so I can really enjoy the view, three of the best looking bums I have seen, I would follow them anywhere." As Harry finish saying this he yelped out as both Ginny and Hermione who were behind him slapped him. Ginny slapped him on the arm and Hermione on the back of his head.
Harry says, "Hey what was that for?"
Hermione, "For looking at my back side."
Ginny says, "For making me walk in front of you so I can not admire your bum Harry."
Harry sputter for a second then says deadpan, "Well, after Fudge beats me and I head to Azakaban I want to take at least one good memory with me and at least there I could live longer."
Ginny, Hermione and Tonks all stopped dead and turned ready to start yelling at Harry, but Ron beat them to it with an imitations of Mrs. Weasleys voice, "Harry James Potter, you loose to Fudge and I will have in the Garden de gnomeing for the rest of the summer!!"
The girls though just looked at Harry.
Hermione is the first one to speak, "Harry do not joke about that, I am not happy your dueling Fudge but I know you better be able to beat him if you plan on doing what you told me." Ginny and Ron looks at Hermione then to Harry. Though none notice Mrs. Weasley looking at Harry and wondering what this is about with his earlier comment about survival.
Ginny though says, "Mr. Potter if you say that again I am going to have hex you with in an inch of your life, Besides Harry if you were in Jail who would all the girls in Gyrffindor have to admire, from behind of course."
Harry laughs and says, "Well Ginny there is your tomboyish butt to admire..." Harry ducks as Ginny tries to slap him after a short cry of out rage, "Though I guess that is what got you Dean. Well Ginny I don't know who you could look at, thought I guess you could go for Snape."Both Hermione and Ginny make faces and sick sounds at this.
Tonks says, "Harry you need to hurry if I know Fudge he is in the Dueling ring already trying to get the Judges to rule that your to scared to show up so he wins. On the Other Hand though Harry if this helps Fudge was an accomplished Dueler in his prime, but he has not been in the ring for 15 years, not since he became Minister of Magic."
Harry turns and walks almost runs to the Door Tonks points. Sure enough Fudge is in the Ring calling for a forfeit by Harry cause Fudge is saying Harry is to scared to duel him.
Dumbledore though is hearing nothing of it and saying Harry has ten more minutes before the Duel begins. Harry throws open the Doors and enters His cloak bellowing out behind him and he enters and looks right at Cornelius Fudge.
Harry says, "FUDGE, your calling me a coward!!"
Fudge seeing Harry and hearing his voice loud and clear says, "Yes Mr. Potter I am, and I will give you this chance to back out and drop the charges against me."
Harry turns to Dumbledore, "Headmaster Dumbledore, in this Duel may one kill their opponent?"
Fudge raises an eyebrow, but Dumbledore looks down and says, "Yes Harry one may kill the other Duel but you may not use Unforgaveable curses to do it."
Harry says, "Good, then I can not get charged with killing him." Harry turns and enters the ring; He then stands ready to face Fudge.
Fudge says, "You do not believe you can beat me do you, Harry?"
Harry says, "Why not Minister, I have faced and defeated Deatheaters, and even managed to escape Voldermort when I dueled him, why should I be scared of you." Fudge flinched at the name of the dark lord, as did half of the wizards in the room.
Fudge nods and steps up to the ring and faces off against Harry, Dumbledore sighs but steps to the edge of the ring, turns to Fudge and says, "It was nice knowing you Minister Fudge," then turns to Harry, "Mr. Potter the same."
Dumbledore then continues, "Now Gentlemen bow to each other," Both Harry and Fudge nod their heads to each other then, "Now one I say go you may begin, 1, 2, 3, Begin."
Fudge yells out, "Stupefy!" The spell shoots at Harry who is just standing there not even drawing his wand yet, as the spell is about to hit Harry he spins and throws up his cloak taking the spell on his cloak, which with Basilisk scales protect him from the spell.
As Fudge hits the ground Harry is already casting again, he says softly, "Confundo," the confusion curse and then, "Immobulus, Furnunculus, Protego." Then Harry stands back as Fudge who is starting to stand gets hit first with the confusion, stands up looking lost for a second then the immobulus curse hits him slowing him, but not stopping him. That leaves Fudge wide open to Furnunculus curse or the boils curse, though Fudges battle robes protect him from this curse.
The last was the Shield charm and Harry sets back while Fudge moved around very slowly, almost non-movement, it took like a minute for Fudge to Move his hand a quarter of an inch towards his head, Harry laughing softly and said the counter curses to the Immobulus curse. Then watched as Fudge shoot another stupefy and two cutting curses at Harry, His shield absorbed all three curses before coming down.Then Fudge sent two more cutting curses at Harry along with a burning hex and then a stupefy spell. Harry though side stepped the first cutting hex, fired back a tickling charm, then rolled out of the way of Fudge's second cutting curse shouting out Serpensortia to summon a snake that he told to attack Fudge. Harry then sidestepped the burning hex and sent a silencing charm at Fudge. The Stupefy charm Harry let hit his cloak that he flung up in the way and launched a volley of arrows at Fudge.
Fudge though was getting ready for Harry, he had put up a shield charm and it blocked the tickling charm and the silencing charm, He moved left by four steps so that the volley of arrows missed him and then casts a cutting curse at the snake. Harry though while Fudge was doing this started to throw spells as fast as he could.
Harry shouts out, "Relashio, Rictusumpra, Confundo, Incendio!!" the first one shot sparks at Fudge who stopped casting cutting curses at the snake and leapt to the side then cast a stupefy back at Harry then dodged the Rectusumpra curse and ducked under the Confundo throwing back a Expelliarmus, and a stupefy, but got hit by the Incendio on the legs though his battle robes absorbed it and didn't start on fire.
Harry didn't stop there though he yelled out "Rictusumpra!! Confundo!! Incendio! Stupefy!" Harry watched Fudge step into the Rictusumpra his battle robes taking the curse. Fudge then through up a Curse deflection shield deflecting Confundo up into the ceiling, though Harry's Incendio spell not the deflection charm down. Fudge side stepped the stupefy charm and started to counter attack.
Harry though dam I need to do something when I shout out the spell he blocks them or takes them maybe if I try to whisper them, or say them softly and focus on making them strong anyways? With this though going through his head he side steps the first Stupefy charm that Fudge throws at him then counters by sending back two confundo, while Fudge was burning the serpent with a burning hex.
Fudge after getting ride of the snake jumped to the side, yelling out, "Protego!" To block the second confundo curse and then yells out, "Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Petificus Totalus!"
Harry counter by through up a Protego charm followed by two of his own stupefy spells flying back at Fudge as the Expelliarmus hit his shield and shattered it, then the Petificus Totalus hit Harry in the chest but his Dragon robes took the spell and Harry felt no effects. Harry with that sent two more stupefies then dodged Fudge's return spells, a burning hex and cutting charm.
Harry side stepped the burning hex and then threw up protego shield to stop the cutting charm. Harry then says softly, "Confundo, Immobulus," Dodges a stupefy, then another cutting charm but continues with, "Stupefy, Dissendo, Protego" Fudge had successfully dodged the Confundo, used a protections charm against the Immobulus, the Stupefy shattered his shield and Harry's Cutting charm, while not a powerful one by any standers did cut into Fudges Battle robes and leave a small hole.
Fudge in retaliation to the Confundo charm sent back a burning hex, then after shielding against Immobulus, He sent two Stupefies and that was why he didn't see the shield fall and took the hit from the cutting charm, though his robes absorbed most of it. He did see it left a small cut in the robes.
Harry's Protego spell blocked the burning hex and was able to shield him from the two Stupefy. He countered with a more advanced cutting charm and then a stupefy of his own followed by Incendo and a Reducto curses.
Fudge for his part was able to block the cutting charm and then took an Incendo on his shield to but the Reducto curse blew threw his shield and knocked him down onto his backside.Harry capitalized on this and whispered out, "Stupefy," aiming for Fudges head, then he sends, "Reducto, Incendo," aiming right at Fudge this time. Harry doesn't stop there he send out two serpents and orders them to attack Fudge.
Fudge was stunned for a few seconds when he hit the ground, but just before Harry's first spell reached him he rolled to the side. Then Fudge started to stand up and never saw the Reducto curse that hit him and sent him flying through the air. Fudge hit the wall at the far end of the ring and landed in a heap at the bottom of it. The Incendo missed and started a small fire on the wall.
Harry saw his chance and shouts out, "Expelliarmus!" the wand hits Fudge before he is able to shack off the hard blow from the wall, and actually it seems he has blood on his head. Harry then Accio's the wand to him and orders the snakes to just circle Fudge.
Fudge however never moved, in fact it seemed that a small pool of blood was starting to form under him from a two cuts he had on his head from slamming into the wall. It also looked like Fudge's nose was broken. Harry dispelled the snakes and then just walked towards Fudge.
Dumbledore comes into the arena area to check out Fudge and turns to Harry, "Harry, Ex-Minister Fudge is out cold, you have a decision to make, you can kill him, or let him live, either way you will get your challenge rights." Calling medi-witch over to take care of his head wound.
Harry says, "Well, I will take the win, I will not kill him now but if he comes after me again I am not sure what I will do with him." He pauses then turns to Dumbledore, "Who is going to be Minister now Professor?"Madam Bones who had walked up to them says, "Well honestly Harry, you won the match and it called for him to step down so by Wizard Law you can appoint two or more names to be voted on though if you were of age we could have you as Minister."
Harry laughs and says, "Well Madam Bones I have two names already in mind but I would like to talk to Headmaster Dumbledore to see what he thinks before I decide on it."
With that said Harry made his way over to his friends and sat down, Turning and saying, "Hermione, I need you to brain storm three names or more that would make good Ministers, ones we can trust, Ron, I want you to go talk to your dad as I am naming him as number four for the vote."
Hermione says, "Harry, Might I talk with Dumbledore and Professor Lupin on this to see what they have to say about it?"
"Hermione I know you will give it your best and give me names of the best candidates for the job." Harry says.
Ginny says, "Harry what can I do for your?"
Harry says, "Sit here and make sure your brother and the rest of Fudge's Cronies don't attack me."
Ginny and Ron who hadn't left yet laugh, while Hermione looks scandalized at Harry but then stands and walks over to Headmaster and waves Moony over to her. They start to talk.
Ron says, "Well mate I will be right back, dad is talking to mom over there." Pointing to his father off to one side of the room.
Harry watched Ron walk off and turned to Ginny, "So who has your heart these days Ginny?"
Ginny looked to Harry and raises her eyebrow, "Why Mr. Potter I believe his name is Dean, you know, the bloke you share a room with."
Harry smiles wishfully, "Well Ginny, I hope for his sake he keeps you happy," Harry pause look at Ginny, "Because if he doesn't I can point two or three other boys towards you."
Ginny says, "Why Harry are you trying to tell me you like me?"
Harry sighs, "No Ginny, I won't have time to date a girl with what is going on in my life." Harry has a far off look in his eyes; Ginny who is watching him wonders why he looks so sad all of the sudden.
She asks Harry, "Harry what is wrong?"
Harry looks up at Ginny an says, "Nothing I am just tired at the moment, but you know I do have something to tell you and Ron."
Ginny says, "Oh is it what Hermione knows that we don't?"
Harry says, "How did you figured that Hermione knows?"
Ginny says, "I am not as thick as Ron and she has tear up a few times when looking at you." She didn't know but knew that Hermione had been upset since the vault trip and tended to watch Harry as if he was going to die or run away all day.
Harry says, "Later Ginny when we are back at my hideaway I will answer your questions." With that said Ginny seemed to relax then they watched as the Aurors at the door kept the press out and the rest of the people walked around trying to make deals with each other to deal with anyone that became Minister.
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Hello peoples, I hope to start to update more often, and so far the reviews have built my confadence in this fic. Thank you and hope you enjoy.
Fredrick