Slytherin's Heir Sequence Book I:
Test of an Heir
Prologue: A Duel
The lightning shattered across the sky, and the rain pounded down, but the two men standing in the court of Hogwarts either did not notice or in Albert Gryffindor's case he thought it was fitting for what was about to happen.
"Harold Slytherin I challenge you to a duel, the prize being the hand of Cecila Potter in marriage!" Harold's eyes widened, he had known that Albert did not agree with Cecila's choice to marry him, but seeing the hate in his best friends eyes made him shiver.
"This is preposterous we have been friends, brothers even from childhood! Cecila has agreed to marry me, please do not make me defend both of our honours!" Harold knew that nothing would stop Albert now, He was extremely stubborn and he had always been easily angered, but Harold had know idea the hate Albert had hidden for him, but now that he looked back he could see many instances where he had gotten things that Albert had wanted, His mother was alive, and he had Cecila.
It seemed very ironic that he would have to kill his best friend the same way their father's had died. Godric and Salazar had been best friends but Salazar eventually became obsessed with blood purity, no one knew why, after Salazar had killed Violet Longbottom the wife of Godric, (who was a muggleborn) Godric had challenged Salazar and won and then impaled himself upon Salazar's blade.
Albert was angered further when Harold had mentioned his engagement to Cecila, he had drawn his blade and wand in a second and sent a series of curses at Harold while charging him kamikaze with his blade.
Harold had always been better at the art of swordplay, and magic, he had more knowledge of spells and was quicker on his feet, he twisted in the air to dodge the curses and ducked and parried the blade with his own blade that he had conjured.
"Goodbye my brother, my friend…." Harold had tears in his eyes when he whispered these words. "Avada Kedavra."
There was a flash of green light and neither man knew no more, but only one of them would open his eyes again.
"It's a boy, dear." Cecila reached out and held the child close. Harold had committed suicide a few months ago, he had been withdrawn and quiet since Albert's death, and then one day he had stabbed himself with the Sword of Gryffindor taken from Albert's body.
Cecila hadn't told him she was pregnant, because she was afraid of what the new withdrawn Harold would say about it, but she wished she had, maybe he would have stayed long enough to see his child.
"His name is… Harold Potter"