DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER

CHAPTER 7: THE CHALLENGE IS MADE

Monday finally came and Harry sat at the Gryffindor table alongside Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville. Each one of them, except Ginny, was looking at Harry nervously and had barely touched their dinner. Harry and Ginny looked as calm as can be. They ate their dinner and occasionally stopped to exchange some small talk about their classes that day.

He knew the routine of the evening meal and waited for the right moment. As soon as the headmaster pushed his pudding away, Harry looked at Remus who was sitting next to Dumbledore. Remus inclined his head towards Harry and he stood up and walked towards the teachers table..

"Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore acknowledged the young man's tall presence in a sea of sitting students.

Harry stepped onto the platform that held the teachers table and turned towards the Slytherin table, raised his voice, and said, "Malfoy, you have taunted me since we both started school here at Hogwarts. You have cursed me, sabotaged my schoolwork, tried to kidnap me for your master Voldemort, and even tried to kill me on more than one occasion. After this Saturday's incident and yes I know the words you spoke, this ends now. I challenge you to a duel to take place at noon, this coming Saturday, on neutral Hogwarts grounds by the lake."

"Students dueling on school grounds is forbidden." Headmaster Dumbledore said starting to raise his voice above the startled students in the Great Hall.

"Then the open courtyard in Hogsmeade. What say you, Ferret Face?" Harry continued, staring at Malfoy.

Malfoy stood up and straightened his robes. "I accept and since you have made the challenge I will set the rules. The duel shall be a family honor duel. The loser's family will have all their assets taken from them and they shall become servants and slaves, in every meaning of that word, to the winner. Do you accept these terms?"

Harry thought about it and since he didn't have any family but the Dursleys, and well they really didn't count as family in his eyes, he felt safe. "I agree then. No unforgivables will be used during this duel or the one casting it shall forfeit the duel and lose. Do you accept these additions to the terms?"

Malfoy sneered and bowed towards Harry as custom demanded. "I agree. This Saturday at the courtyard at Hogsmeade."

Dumbledore stood up and reminded everyone of his presence. "Everyone to their common rooms now. Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy to my office. Remus I expect you should join us there too." Remus nodded his head and walked out of the Great Hall following the headmaster and the two students.

Once everyone arrived at the headmaster's office the tension between the two students could clearly be felt. Dumbledore sat behind his desk and motioned for everyone to take a seat. The look of sadness on the headmaster's face clearly showed his age. Gone was the usual sparkle in his eyes.

"Harry, I understand why you feel you have to do this but I'm disappointed that you've gone and taken this step. Mr. Malfoy could it be that the words Harry heard you speak where words that you've heard your parents saying?" Dumbledore was trying everything he could to convince the young Slytherin and the young Gryffindor to cancel the duel. But the stone determination on their faces clearly told him that his goal would not be accomplished today.

"Sir, I have no idea what you are talking about. My parents are upstanding citizens in the wizard society. They are one of the oldest of the pure blood families and hold themselves to a higher standard than others. I have no idea what Potter here is talking about but he has challenged me to a duel and I will not put a stain on my family's honor and back out

"Well if that is your final word and since I know Harry won't back out either, then I will allow the duel to take place on neutral Hogwarts ground by the lake." Draco was about to protest but Dumbledore cut him off. "Mr. Malfoy, you do understand that if we held the duel in Hogsmeade the press would get wind of it and it could also get back to Voldemort that Harry will be there and involved. It would be a perfect opportunity for Voldemort and his followers to make an attempt on Harry's life. Now as we all know that your parents are upstanding citizens, I would have to assume that they would also agree on this. Don't you think so?" The twinkle was back in the old man's eye. He may have wanted to give Draco the benefit of the doubt but he also knew that there were times that he could not be trusted.

Harry cut in before Draco could speak, "The duel has to take place in the evening then."

Draco just sneered at him as he got up to leave. "Of course headmaster. Now if you don't mind I'm going to head back to my common room and prepare. Good night."

Harry watched as Draco left and then turned back to the professor. The headmaster's face was looking sad again and Harry felt a bit of guilt begin to rise but he held his ground and pushed the guilt aside.

"Harry, I truly wish you didn't have to come to this choice. A family honor duel is one of the most serious duels in wizard history. If you lose, not only you would become a slave to the Malfoy family but so will your family and your future family. If they even allow you to have one."

Harry was puzzled. "Sir, I don't care about myself really. And as for my family all I have are the Dursleys and honestly I couldn't care less about them. But you see I don't plan on losing this duel."

"Harry, have you stopped and thought about the position you've put Remus here?"

"What does Moony have to do with this? Yes, I consider him family but he's not a blood relative." Harry was looking at Remus wondering if he missed reading something important in that book.

"Harry, you've made Remus your godfather and since your parents are not alive he has agreed to step in and become a surrogate father for you. In the wizard world he is your family and now he is bound by the terms of the duel." Dumbledore sighed heavily wondering how he had not seen how bad the situation between Harry and Draco was becoming.

Harry stared at Dumbledore and then at Remus. He was ok with risking his freedom but now that Remus would also be bound he wondered if his actions were a mistake. Before he could say anything Remus spoke up. "I knew the risks going in when Harry decided to challenge young Malfoy and I'm willing to accept his terms too. We can't expect Harry to train and defeat Voldemort if he has to be on the look out for any attacks from Malfoy in this school. I know that Harry has told you many of the things that have gone on and yet you've chosen to turn a blind eye to this. And even when I was there to hear him admit that he played a role in Sirius' death you still didn't want to act. Sirius deserves justice and come Saturday he will have it."

"Very well then, I see that I can not change your minds then. But I can prevent Voldemort from attacking and that is why I'm allowing this duel to be held on Hogwarts grounds. I will also make sure we have a few order members and aurors on hand just in case." He looked at Harry with a sense of sadness for this poor boy has had to deal with so much. He was growing up too fast and making hard decisions. "Harry, why did you insist that the duel take place in the evening?"

"Because the stars will be out that night." Harry got up and bid the headmaster good night. Remus walked behind him and back to his chamber to begin to map out their strategy.