Chapter 16- The Four Duels.

The next several weeks were fueled with romance that the Ball had created. Harry had seen couples everywhere. Even Ron and Hermione were open about their newfound relationship. Ron had told him soon after he got back from the Ball what had happened between himself and Hermione. Hermione came into the room with tears in her eyes and apologized to Ron for how she has been acting. Ron didn't know why she was acting like this until she told him that she knew about the broom and the necklace. Hermione couldn't fight her feelings any longer. They spent most of the night talking about how long they have liked each other and making up for lost time. Every now and then Hermione would kiss him, Ron explained, each time it lasted longer than the last. Harry still didn't find out how they ended up on his bed.

As Hermione and Ron's relationship blossomed, Ginny and Harry began to grow closer as well. When Ron and Hermione would escape to some cozy corner of Hogwarts, Harry had spent his time talking and laughing with Ginny. He could hear the gossip in the hallways that they were an item, but he didn't mind it at all. He enjoyed flirting with Ginny, between classes and seeing if Ron would get mad if he snuck a kiss in front of him. Ron's attention was more on Hermione, who was being much nicer to Ron since he elevated to boyfriend status, however, she still would not let him skip out on his prefect duties or his homework. Even Neville was enjoying the romance that comes with spring. Luna and Neville would always sit together during their meals; sometimes at Ravenclaw's table, but most of the time at the Gryffindor's table. It seemed that more Gryffindors found all this romance more palatable since a number of them found someone this spring to enjoy it with. Harry also thought that the Gryffindor girls were gigglier now that they had more to gossip about; Hermione and Ginny seemed to be the worst when they were together.

The topic of 'love' also came up with their sessions with the Longbottoms. The six of them would pay close attention to Frank and Alice as they spoke of their knowledge of Gryffindor's Shield.

"Magic is most powerful when connected with emotion." Frank said at the beginning of a lesson in late April. "This, you already know, but it's a great emotion that you need to be able to do this spell. We have gone over how we cannot teach you to conjure such spell without risk. If we calculate incorrectly it could mean death at the worst. This is because we might not have the estimated the right balance between the two elements of magaic, even the Gryffindor's shield needs to be balanced by the Killing Curse. See we believe that Lily's love for Harry was way more powerful than the hate Voldemort had for Harry. That is why it attacked Voldemort and almost destroyed him. Now if we were to use the spell to protect a good friend or even brother, we would not be able to manage this feat, the connection between mother and child is the most potent."

"Why is that? Hermione asked.

"Good question." Frank cheered. "Alice, dear, this is more your territory."

"See, Hermione, an theory by Amith Thochu, an Indian wizard from the 16th century, describes that for wizards and magical creature in the broader sense, magic is passed through the mother. Fathers are biologically important, mothers are more so magically. Its this connection draws the most power."

"Yes, but this does not mean you cannot protect your other family or loved ones. Just not to the degree with the effect of taking a Dark Lord out for 14 years. A wizard or witch with great control could protect their loved ones with less risk. One has to be able to focus that emotion and magic to pull off the spell, almost like the Patronus spell. However, this is more difficult because this is done without a wand."

"How is wandless magic possible?" Harry said curiously.

"All wizards and witches are magical, it's the wand that focuses that magic. If you think about it, that dependancy makes wizards the less evolved of magical beings." Frank said with a laugh. "Even house elves can do magic with the snap of their finger. But wizards need a wand to focus magic, but not all magic. Think about it, have you ever used wandless magic? The Summoning charm is an example of magic that does not need a wand. Focus is key. You see this with the greatest wizards, they have great focus. The same with Gryffindor's Sheild, when you ever need to use this spell, you must focus on the emotion of love, and not fear. This is what can save your life."

Harry and the others felt they had learned a lot from the Longbottoms during their lessons on the weekends. He was amazed at how they made the theory so clear, he wished Umbridge was that good? But Harry had learned in his first Potions class in his 1st year, not all teachers are created the same. Nor are all students.

Harry had grown frustrated with Apparation class. He still had trouble with his aim and he had never been able to apparate into the correct circle. Madam Hooch believed that the rest of the gang was close to testing for their license, while Harry needed another year of training.

"Mr. Potter, you do so well in Quidditch. You can focus on the Snitch, now focus on the large circle over there and apparate."

Harry had failed once more.

"I don't know why I can't do it?" Harry yelled in aggravation.

"I think you have some kind of mental block," Madam Hooch pondered. "Which type of magical travel do you like the least?"

Harry did not hesitate, "Floo powder."

"Ok, now we are getting somewhere. Which is one your favorite?"

"Broomstick."

"Ah, spoken like a true seeker." Madam Hooch nodded as she circled him. "Look, now focus on that red spot next to Ron, and imagine yourself flying to and land at that spot. Now apparate!"

Harry closed his eyes, and imagined flying to the spot. He felt himself being lifted in the air. I'm doing it, Harry thought, I'm finally I doing it. Harry had believed that he would be looking at Ron's smiling face when he opened his eyes. As he slowly began to open his eyes and the figure the appeared before him was neither Ron nor laughing. Madam Hooch stood before him scowling as if he had cheated at Quidditch. He could see Ron on the other side of the room almost in hysterics, all the others couldn't hold it back either. Harry looked down and saw that he had just apparated to the wrong circle, naked.

"You should stick to traveling with a broomstick, Mr. Potter." Madam Hooch said half disappointed, half laughing. "And never plan to play Quidditch in that uniform."

Neville and Ron would not let Harry live it down for the next week. Even Luna, Hermione, and Ginny would give Harry catcalls every time he entered the Great Hall. He made them promise not to tell anyone, but they made sure he wouldn't forget it. After a few days, he was laughing at the image of him, naked in the Apparation room.

Harry was entering Defense Against the Dark Arts as Neville and Ron presented him with a pair of underwear. Hermione entered behind them laughing uncontrollably as Ron explained it charmed so it wouldn't come off during apparation.

"Cause, mate, we don't ever want to see you out of your knickers again." Ron joked.

"You guys are the worst friends a guy could have." Harry said with a laugh.

"Clam down, students," Moody said as he hobbled into class. "calm down. Today is D-day."

"D-day professor?"Semus asked.

"Duel day." Moody answered.

"I thought that was suppose to be at the end of the semester?" Hanna Abbot complained.

"I thought I would give the top 5 students a little surprise. They should be ready no matter what, and you dear are not one of the top 5." Moody said with a tight smile.

He pulled out two wizard hats and placed them on his desk. "One hat has the names of the top 5, the other, names of the professors that have volunteered. To keep this somewhat fair, I will pick the students from they will pick their opponent from this hat. This way they will go in random order and will be matched up randomly as well. Let's see the first name is, no surprise there, Hermione Granger."

Hermione slowly walked toward the hat with the faculty's names in it. She apprehensively reached in and pulled out a folded sheet of parchment. Harry was surprised to see her turn pale once she read the name to herself.

"Who is it Hermione?" Ron asked cautiously.

Hermione attempted to speak but no sound came out. Harry thought she might have chosen Snape, but a moment later she announced it. "Professor M…McGonagall."

"Great, then lets get started." Moody cheered as he walked toward the door. "Minerva would you please come in."

Professor McGonagall walked through the door scanning the classroom. Once she saw Hermione standing outside the crowd, Harry could tell that Professor McGonagall knew she was her challenger.

"There are four others duels to get threw today, so lets not delay." Moody announced, "the dueler wins by claiming their opponents wand. No Unforgivable curses. Get in position, and go."

Hermione had little time to think, Professor McGonagall had sent a stunner as soon as she could. Hermione yelled "Protego!" out of reflex.

"Good, Hermione, you are quicker than I expected." Professor McGonagall said with a smile.

"Is Professor McGonagall trash talking Hermione?" Ron whispered to Harry.

"I think so. This is going to be good." Harry replied.

Hermione decided that it was time to go on the offensive rather than lay back. She used a Protean charm to change Professor McGonagall's hat into stone. The Professor's head quickly drooped backwards. Before she lost her balance, she transformed into a cat. Hermione smiled as she did so, and quickly ran toward her. Harry realized what Hermione had done; in cat form, McGonagall could not hold her wand.

Hermione searched around were Professor McGonagall had transfigured, but she could not find the wand. Soon, she realized that the tabby cat was changing back to McGonagall.

"Very clever, Hermione, but I learned a long time ago to transfigure my wand into a collar when I transformed. I do it by instinct now." Professor McGonagall said before hitting Hermione with a Tickling Charm.

With that, Hermione was laughing so hard she dropped her wand, leaving it for the Professor to casually walked over and picked it up.

"Winner, Minerva McGonagall. But I have to say, Hermione, that would have worked on most other wizards, to bad Minerva is not like most wizards." Moody said with a wink.

"That was good, Hermione." Harry said trying to sound cheerful.

"I should have known." Hermione said rubbing her ribs.

"You did great." Ron said giving her a hug.

"Thanks, but I don't ever want to face her in a duel again," Hermione said. "its hard to face your favorite professor."

"She's your favorite?" Ron said half jokingly.

"Ok, it's now time for our second duel, lets who is the lucky student. Ronald Weasley." Moody proclaimed.

Ron released Hermione from his hug and made his way to the black hat. He quickly grabbed a piece of parchment.

"Of course, Alastor Moody." Ron said sarcastically.

"Ah yes, I wanted to see if I still could hold my own against young ruffian as yourself," Moody smiled taking his spot. "Let's see what you got, Weasley. Go."

Ron quickly shot a silencing spell at Moody. Moody was faster than he expected, he ducked out of the way and shot a Bat-boegy hex at Ron.

"I have ducked many of those Professor." Ron said after rolling away from the curse.

"I thought I would give it a try, you sister is quite proficient with it." Moody laughed.

Ron quickly attempted to circle Moody. He made a shot toward his peg leg and was able blast an inch off.

"TARANTALLEGRA!" Ron shouted.

A moment later Moody was clanking around doing the most unusual jig Harry had ever seen. Harry had thought that Ron had beaten the famed auror, Alastor Moody, until he saw a smile appear on his Professor's face. Professor Moody shot a spell at Ron while dancing. Ron began to sing into his wand. Moody then cast the counter curse onto himself and limped over to Ron. He grabbed his wand, then spoke the counter curse to spare everyone a second verse.

"Good try Weasley, but I used to be a hell of a dancer before the peg. I know how to keep my balance and aim while doing a jig. You need to know that when hunting banshees in Ireland. But I will tell your father how impressive that was. Ok let's see whose next."

Harry was watching everyone's faces, no one but Draco seemed to wanted to be called next. Harry thought that everyone should be jumping at the chance to duel a professor. Even if they did lose, the experience itself would be worth it. Harry watched and listened as Professor Moody selected the third piece of parchment. Moody's face distorted after he read the name to himself.

"Oh, I seemed to have picked from the wrong hat." Moody said scratching his head. "Whoever's next, gets to duel Professor Snape."

Everyone around Harry, had gasped in fear, eve Hermione looked worried and she had already went. Professor Moody hobbled even more so, due to part of his peg leg being across the room, as made his way to the class room door and asked Professor Snape in.

"Who shall I dispose of?" Snape said as he entered.

"Well, I drew your name first by mistake," Moody growled. "so you can choose your opponent from that hat."

"Very well," Snape said striding toward the hat. He noticed Harry standing at the front of the class and made his way toward the group of students. "I do hope Mr. Potter has made it to the top of the class."

"We'll see." Moody said at his desk.

"I would so enjoy a chance to duel with you Mr. Potter." Snape sneered as he reached into the hat. "It would be like my birthday coming early."

Harry watched as he read the name of the next student. He thought he saw a smile for on his lips. Uh oh, Harry thought.

"Maybe, not my birthday, but definitely like a second Christmas." Snape smiled. "Neville Longbottom."

Harry could see Neville turn white; he knew this was the worst thing that could happen to Neville. Harry made his way toward Neville; he saw that Hermione and Ron were doing the same.

"Look you can do this, Neville." Ron said trying to build his confidence.

"Just be quick." Hermione said.

"Neville, this your chance to get even for every wrong Snape has done to you in Potions." Harry stated. "You've faced worse."

"Mr. Longbottom are you going to duel or would you like to forfeit, now." Snape teased.

Neville looked almost paralyzed; he slowly made his way to the dueling position.

"D—duel." Neville stuttered.

"He is going to get killed." Draco said loud enough so everyone could hear.

"Be fair, Professor." Professor McGonagall said in a worried tone.

"I wouldn't think of being otherwise, Professor." Snape replied snidely.

"Hogwarts Dueling rules, and no Unforgivable Curses. Understand." Moody said to Snape. "Go."

Snape waited for Neville to attack, but Neville couldn't move.

"C'mon Mr. Longbottom, at least make a sport of it." Snape said lowering his wand.

Neville just stood, frozen. Draco began to laugh louder every second Neville hesitated.

"Mr. Longbottom, I will even give you a sporting chance." Snape sneered, "I will lower my wand and allow you the first cast."

Neville, stood, gripping his wand tighter. Harry could see that Neville was coming to, but would he be able to do anything was another matter.

"T…t…t." Neville stuttered.

"Go for it Neville." Harry shouted trying to get Neville to snap out of it.

"T—Timudous!" Neville finally shouted. A blue spark erupted from Neville's wand, and flew across the classroom. Snape stood there in shock, to slow to duck before the blast hit him square in the chest. At first, Snape didn't react, or could Harry notice any change. Then, Harry could see it, Snape began to turn pale. His knees began to shake and his arms became ridged. He looked like how Harry felt the time Dementors attacked him during a Quidditch match in his third year.

Neville began to make his way cautiously toward Snape. Amazingly, Snape began to recoil as Neville approached. As Neville reached for Snape's wand, Snape dropped his wand and ran out of the classroom. The class erupted with laughter. Even Moody and McGonagall couldn't hold it in. The sight of Snape fleeing from Neville Longbottom was the last thing anyone expected to see. Draco stood their fuming, embarrassed at his Professor's cowardice. Harry didn't know which sight was better; Snape running as if he saw a Dementor, or Neville standing there with Snape's wand.

"What did you do?" Semus said patting Neville on the back.

"I didn't think it would work?" Neville said in a half daze.

"What?" Hannah asked.

"I learned that from my dad this winter break." Neville explained. "It takes the fear you have and places it in your opponent."

"Bloody brilliant." Ron cheered.

"Yeah, my dad thought I would need it." Neville smiled. " I wish he was here see it."

"Don't worry Mr. Longbottom." Professor McGonagall said walking toward the group of Gryffindors. "I'll make sure he knows about it the next time I see him. Great job."

Neville beamed from all the attention. Harry felt proud of Neville's accomplishment too, not everyone can come face to face with what they fear the most and stand up to it. Before Neville could celebrate for too long, Moody selected another name from the hat.

"Draco Malfoy." Moody growled.

Draco strode up to the desk, with a smug look on his face. Once he selected his opponent, an evil smile came across his face. Harry knew this could not be good.

"Hagrid." Draco said superiorly.

Moody opened the door for Hagrid who came in smiling, it look like he was carrying a Hogwart's wand, that was used if a student lost their wand, in his right had. Hagrid stopped smiling when Moody told him who his opponent was.

"Ta'ker easy on 'me." Hagrid joked.

Draco did not answer, he took his position and pointed his wand. Harry could see that Hagrid was a bit apprehensive.

"You'll do fine. Kick his butt." Harry mouthed to Hagrid. He nodded in return.

"Go!" Moody shouted.

"Petrificus Totlalus!" Malfoy shouted.

A yellow beam hit Hagrid on his arm. A moment later, Hagrid's arms and legs went ridged.

"That was simpler than I thought. Let's see, what do you look like in a dress." Draco said walking around a bound Hagrid, as if he was captured prey."

"I look down on poor sportsmanship." Moody warned from his desk.

"Oh very well, lets just make this the quickest duel I have ever won." Draco said reaching for Hagrid's wand.

Suddenly, Hagrid grabbed Draco's empty hand. Startled, Draco looked up to see Hagrid smiling down at him. Hagrid applied a little pressure to Draco's hand, which brought Draco down to his knees. With that, Hagrid removed Draco's wand without much fight afterwards.

"Neva 'new I'd do a lil actin' huh." Hagrid said to a stunned Draco.

"How did that spell not work?" Draco said walking to the back of the room, grabbing his crushed hand.

"Yer need a lot mor magic than yer hav ter take a giant down." Hagrid said handing Moody Draco's wand.

"I'd bes be leaving, got ter feed Fang and tell a little friend." Hagrid said with a wink to Harry.

"Good job Hagrid." Hermione shouted as he left.

Ron couldn't help but teasing Draco by holding his hand in mock pain. Moody made his way back to the table to draw the final name.

"I know its you Harry," Ron said. "you basically taught half the class last year."

Harry had felt he would be one of the top 5, however he was enjoying watching the duels to realize his name had not been called. Moody smiled as he read the last name, "Harry Potter."

Harry quickly made his was to the hat that contained the names of the opponents. When he opened the parchment he thought he didn't he read the name right. He realized, that even if some might consider him the best in this class, he was about to get his but kicked. Harry read the name with the tone of defeat already in his voice, "Professor Dumbledore."

Professor Dumbledore walked into the room with a smile to greet the class. He nodded to Moody and asked who his opponent was to be.

"Ah, yes, very good." Professor Dumbledore said with a smile after receiving the information. "Should I stand here?"

Harry was now standing in front of Professor Dumbledore, trying to figure out the emotion he was feeling, it wasn't fear or confidence. He could hear the students whispering in anticipation of the match; Hermione was the only on to look worried.

"Are you ready, Harry." Professor Dumbledore said gently.

"Um, no." Harry replied. Harry finally realized what he was feeling. He was standing before the wizard who looked after him all his life, who was friend and a mentor to him and his parents, and now he was about to duel the one wizard who would not harm him even if he is the greatest wizard alive. Harry was feeling humility.

"I surrender." Harry said handing his wand to Dumbledore.

"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked.

"I can't fight you, even if it was for sport." Harry said.

"I understand. I appreciate not having to have to deal with the possibility of spending some time in the school's infirmary." Dumbledore said with a wink, "Thank you, Harry."

Harry knew that Dumbledore truly did understand what Harry had meant, he was trying to show the amount of respect he has for his Headmaster. Even if the next few weeks, the halls would claim him to be a teacher's pet, Harry felt good about his decision.

"Well, let that be a lesson to all of you." Moody said getting up from his desk.

"Know when you are out matched, and when not to duel. I wouldn't face Professor Dumbledore of all the gold in Gringotts. Now for the students that have dueled, win or loss, you will not have to take the final, however, don't let me catch you slipping in the next few weeks or you will be helping Flitch clean out the latrines."