DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER

CHAPTER 8: OF STARS AND DUELS

The week went by quickly with most of the professors giving Harry the week off to prepare. Ron and Hermione were beside themselves with worry. Hermione was not talking to Remus because she felt that he should have put a stop to this. She owled Mr. and Mrs. Weasley hoping that they could convince Harry to drop the duel but not even they could break through his determination. She was also wary of Ginny knowing that she would stand by Harry no matter what. Silently Hermione prayed to the gods that Harry would come out of this ok.

Everyone was waiting in the common room for the start of the duel. It was 8:45pm and everyone seemed to be fighting with their nerves. Mr. Weasley had a hard time keeping Mrs. Weasley calm. She was begging Arthur to do something but there was nothing he could do. The twins tried their best to lighten the situation but they didn't have their heart into it. They were too worried about their young friend and their baby sister. What would happen to her if Harry lost. Could she be able to go on without him?

Harry and Remus were in a corner talking. They had spent the whole week looking over past duels in Harry's book and going over different spells to use. Remus made sure that Harry spent at least 3 hours each day practicing how to dodge from spells. It was hard but by Friday Harry could dodge and shoot spells at the same time. It came natural to him and Remus was sure it he got that ability from James.

Professor Dumbledore walked through the door and cleared his voice to get everyone's attention. "It's time to head down to the lake. Mr. Malfoy and his family have already been notified and they have already made their way. The Daily Prophet has received news of the duel and are here to cover the event but I have cast a line around the lake and they will not be able to come within 20 feet of the lake. Shall we then?"

Everyone started to walk out of the common room and head down to the lake. Ginny stayed behind and went up to Harry. "Hey there. I'll know you'll kick his arse. I have faith in you. I have faith that you will win and we can make plans for our future. Just remember that I love you ok." Harry wiped a lone tear that slid down her cheek and kissed her. He whispered in her ear before she turned to walk away, "I love you too. Don't forget that." With that she smiled and walked out of the common room.

Dumbledore walked up to Harry and put an arm on his shoulder. "Harry, I understand why you are doing this and I truly am sorry that I have allowed things to come to this point. But I have trust in you. You are, after all, Lily and James' son. I am certain that they are proud of you as am I. No longer does a boy stand before me but a man." The twinkle was back in his eyes and Harry smiled.

"Professor, why didn't you do anything before this? I mean I know why but why do you believe so strongly that he could be brought to see between wrong and right?"

"Harry, the day we believe that one can not redeem themselves is the day we have all lost and humanity is no more." Harry inclined his head towards the old man and walked out of the common room with Remus walking behind.

Every one was at the lake waiting for him. He looked at the heavens and saw that Sirius' Star was shining extra brightly tonight. He smiled and walked to where professor Flitwick was standing there.

The tiny professor stood between the two duelists and spoke. "This is an official wizard duel between Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. The wizard to lose will forfeit all of his property and he and his family will be bound to the winning wizard as servants and slaves. No unforgivable curses shall be used during the duel or the wizard who casts it will be forced to forfeit. Do both duelists agree to these terms?"

Harry and Draco stared at each other and both raised their wands up into the air and made their pledge. "I swear to abide by the terms set forth and to duel with honor and respect that is expected of me by my family and of the magical world." A silvery wisp came out of each wand and circled each duelist.

Flitwick continued, "Let the duel commence!"

Harry allowed Draco to circle him like prey. Harry stood his ground but never kept his eyes off the Slytherin prince. Harry began to chant "Protego conlucero a tergo cohonesto ab meus domesticus' Harry kept repeating the chant while dodging many of the spells Draco shot his way. "Come now scar head, do you just plan to dance around all night? If I had known I would have brought my dance shoes." Harry continued, "Protego conlucero a tergo cohonesto ab meus domesticus". A white glow surrounded Harry and as soon as it disappeared he smiled at Malfoy. "Ok ferret, now the duel begins."

Hermione looked at Ginny and Remus for answers. "Guys, what did Harry just do? I've never heard that incantation before." Remus turned and answered her. "He has just called upon the power of his family and their honor to protect him during the duel. When we researched that book we noticed that every duel the Potters had been involved in and won, they had chanted this charm as soon as it started. Malfoy insisted that this duel be one of family honor thinking that he'd win and Harry would then be his slave but he forgets that the Malfoys have no honor and probably never will. The magic of Harry's heritage will protect him throughout." Hermione smiled for the first time in days. She was now relaxed knowing that Harry truly knew what he was doing.

"Reducto! Reducto! Reducto!" Malfoy shouted sending three curses at the same time. Harry dodged the first two quickly but didn't move out in time for the third one. The last one caught him on his shoulder and caused a gash to appear.

"Fernunculus!" Harry sent the spell towards Malfoy and caught him on his arm. Boils began to appear all over his arm. "Is that all you've got Potter! Surely you don't think that you can beat me with that do you?" Harry looked towards the people watching and could see Draco's mother and father, who had again avoided going to Azkaban, laughing at him.

"Locomotor Mortis!" Harry's spell hit Malfoy and his legs were locked. Now he wouldn't be able to move around but could still shoot spells. Harry began to advance on him while moving from left to right. "Mobilicorpus!" Harry now had raised Draco up and flung him up against a tree. Before Malfoy could say anything Harry raised him again and threw him to the other side of the clearing. Draco staggered to get up but the distance between he and Harry was enough for him to do so. With hate in his eyes he yelled out, "Reducto!" The spell was speeding towards Harry and with determination Harry waved his wand in front of him and yelled "Protego!" A red and gold shield appeared and protected him from the curse.

The audience was stunned. They didn't know where Harry had learned to fight like this and many were now looking at the young Gryffindor with respect. Hermione noticed that the area began to get bright. She looked up and saw a light moving in closer and closer. She turned to Ginny and Remus, "Guys, look at that! That star seems to be falling." All three were looking up in wonder. "I don't know 'Mione, it's not moving fast enough to be falling. Hopefully the duel will be over if it does hit."

The duel continued at a fast pace. Draco continued to cast his spells and Harry continued to block them with his shield. Unlike most magical shields, his did not weaken with each spell it blocked. It seemed to get stronger and stronger as if it was absorbing the energy from those spells. No one seemed to notice that the star was headed closer to them and how it was illuminating the area.

"Diffindio!" The spell bounced off of Harry's shield and back towards Malfoy. He quickly moved out of the way and the spell found its way to Ginny's leg. Harry looked to see that Ginny's leg was shattered and that Madam Pomfrey was now attending to her. With all the Weasleys surrounding her he could no longer see her face but he could hear her cries. "NO! I'm not leaving until the duel is done. I promised him that I would be here for him and here is where I'll stay!" The Weasleys began to move aside to give her a view and he could see that Madam Pomfrey had conjured a splint for her leg.

Harry decided that enough was enough. Nobody had thought to put up some kind of barrier so that no one would get hurt; he needed to end this now. He quickly ran towards Malfoy with his shield still in place and fired off four spells. Not knowing which way Malfoy would turn he yelled out to the left "Stupify! Expelliramus!" and to his right he shouted "Mobilicorpus!" and "Incarcerus!"

Malfoy chose to go right. He was now suspended up in the air and bound by ropes. Harry walked up to him with his shield still up and pointed his wand at his throat. "Do you yield?" Malfoy looked at him with pure hate and spat in his face. Harry cleaned his face with the sleeves of his robes and looked at him again. "Do you yield or should I send another curse at you right now!" Malfoy was caught with no escape. He looked over at his parents who were in complete shock. There was nothing he could do. He gritted his teeth and stared back at Harry, "I yield." It was more of a whisper and Harry wanted everyone to hear. "I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that. Do you yield!" "YES! I YIELD!"

Gasps could be heard throughout the audience, then Harry released Malfoy from the spells and walked towards his friends. Cheers were beginning to rise when Hermione screamed and pointed to the sky. The star that they noticed earlier was now practically upon them. Everyone was looking up in shock when Malfoy took this opportunity to his advantage. "You're wrong Potter if you think that my family is gong to give up everything we have to you. We'd rather die than become your servants! Avada Kedavra!"

The killing curse was sent his way and Harry stared at the bright green light headed towards him. Ginny screamed and Remus tried to get to Harry as fast as possible. Before the curse could hit Harry the falling star came upon him first. No sound was made and no fire was caused. The light of the star had taken Harry and enveloped him inside. The curse bounced off the light and headed towards Draco. He was not prepared for this outcome and didn't have any chance to jump out of the way. The killing curse hit him right in the chest and came out of his back. Draco fell to the floor with his lifeless eyes still opened. Suddenly a scream could be heard coming from his parents as those gathered had seen the light hit and go through Narcissa and then to her husband Lucius. Both fell to the ground lifeless.

"Harry!" Ginny screamed. "Someone please help Harry!"

"Ginny calm down. We can't get anywhere near him right now." Remus was frantic. He wanted to help Harry but he held himself back. He knew he had to be brave for Ginny.

Everyone watched as the light lifted Harry off the ground . It seemed as if he was moving inside the light. Those that had the nerve to walk closer noticed that Harry's face was one of ecstasy; as if the lights were giving him something that he had been craving for. Dumbledore walked closer, concern clearly showing on his face. "We can't do anything yet. We don't know what this is and I don't want to cause Harry any harm!"

"Albus, what's happening here? Why did Draco and his parents die?" Dumbledore turned to see Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing behind him. "Draco wanted this to be an honor duel and he bound his parents to the oath he pledged at the start. When he broke that oath the killing curse bounced off that light and redirected itself towards Draco and his parents. He brought their own deaths upon them. It's as if this light knew to protect Harry. That is all I can surmise right now."

"Look! It's letting him go!" Everyone turned to see Ginny leaning heavily on Remus as he helped her get closer to Harry. Everyone was running towards them as the light began to release Harry and gently lay him on the ground.

"Harry! Harry! Come on cub, wake up. Wake up!" Remus let the tears fall down his cheeks and he continued to urge him to wake up. Ginny put his head on her lap and began to smooth his hair away from his face. She too was crying, "Come on love, open your eyes. Come back to me. You can't leave me here. I need you. I need you with me, it can't be anyone else."

Harry began to open his eyes and woke up with a start. He looked at everyone that had gathered and he began to cry and laugh at the same time. He looked to Ginny and kissed her. Then he looked to Remus and put his hand on his shoulder as he continued to laugh and cry.

Madam Pomfrey was the first to speak. "He needs to go to the hospital wing. He's suffering from shock!"

"No, I don't need to go anywhere." Harry finally spoke. "I'm ok. Actually I've never been better."

Dumbledore knelt in front of Harry and looked him in the eyes. He nodded and smiled at Harry. "Harry, can you tell us what happened? What was that light?"

Harry began to cry and laugh harder. He stat up straighter and nodded his head. He turned and looked at Remus and through his arms around him. Remus held him tightly not wanting to let him go. "Go on cub, tell us what happened.

Through his tears and laughter Harry answered. "It was Sirius and he said hello."

Fin…

A/N: please tell me what you thought of my first try!!