Note: I do not own 'Harry Potter' but do own my own characters...if anything doesn't seem to jive with the books, it's not meant to...Hope you enjoy it...

The next week went by slow for some while it seemed to fly by for others. Pyx still fought against the Imperius but Lucius recast it on a daily basis. He was busy training Draco to use some advanced Dark spells for the duel.

Neville practiced with Sirius, Remus, and his friends. His grandmother had been angry when he told her but eventually backed off. He had gone to Ollivanders and found his wand (11 ½ inches, ebony with unicorn hair as it core). Even after hours of practicing, Neville would still be at it. He hadn't had much sleep but he was determined to beat Draco. Even after Hermione left the library, he was there looking up obscure spells. They could use anything but Unforgivables so he needed something great and something that Draco wouldn't be prepared for.

Harry, using Ron and Hermione as a distraction, spiked Neville's pumpkin juice with a sleeping draught so he would be well rested for the duel. Most of their friends had stayed to watch the duel and then would head home for the holidays. The only person Neville wanted there was Pyx.

The day of the duel had arrived and everyone was nervous, even Draco although he didn't look it. He knew he could best Neville but his father was going to be there and he didn't want to do anything to dishonor the family.

"So we're going to hurt your boyfriend," Draco said to Pyx.

"Draco, your cousin will be coming with us except no one will know who she is. Pyx, your name is Katherine. Your fiancé will be there, whom you will meet. You will not acknowledge any of your former friends. If they talk to you, make some comment worthy of a Slytherin," Lucius ordered.

"Yes."

"Good," he said, transfiguring her hair, eyes, and clothes into something else.

Pyx now had auburn hair and bright blue eyes. She had a freckle under her left eye and dimples when she smiled. Her robes were now a pale silver and clearly screamed pureblood.

The four of them left the Manor and apparated to Hogsmeade. They caught one of the carriages that were waiting there for the spectators. Dumbledore was waiting for them at the school.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy. Perfect timing. The duel will start in 15 minutes. I am aware that you know the rules but they will be gone over before the duel commences. You and your family may head into the Great Hall."

Dumbledore looked at the girl that was holding onto Draco's arm. She was quiet and sullen but something in her reminded him of Pyx.

"Would Mr. Neville Longbottom and Mr. Draco Malfoy please come here," the man, called in to supervise the duel, said.

The two boys stood and glared at each other as they approached the dueling stage.

"To assure my neutrality, have we ever met before, Mr. Longbottom?"

"No."

"Mr. Malfoy?"

"No."

"Good. I am here to supervise the duel and to make sure it's fair. The rules are that only Unforgivables cannot be used, otherwise it's up to you. It will go until Madam Pomfrey determines that your wounds are severe or until one of you forfeits."

"Malfoys never forfeit."

"Then prepare to bleed," Neville spat at him.

"If any of the spells go wayward, I will be ready to dissipate them. Any questions?"

Neither had any so they took their spots and walked the 10 paces. They turned and had their wands at the ready. The judge looked at the boys and then at Dumbledore, who nodded.

"On the count of three. One…two…three!"

"Incarcerous!" Draco called.

"Protego! Incendio!"

Draco blocked the fire spell and shot it back. It caught Neville's robes but without missing a beat, he shrugged them off and flung them at the floor. Neville spouted off a spell that he had found in a book. Those who knew it gasped since the choking spell was borderline on being Dark. He held it for a second before letting up and casting another spell. Draco blocked it and sent a cutting curse he had overheard Snape telling his father.

"Sectumsempra!"

Neville ducked and the spell hit the wall behind him. Pyx watched as the guy she liked was just missed by a nasty spell. She was fighting the Imperius curse and had even managed to move a foot when the duel began.

"Defodio!"

Draco erected a shield to protect himself from the gouging spell. He tried disarming his opponent but that too was blocked. Neville moved closer. There was another semi Dark spell he wanted to try but he needed to be closer. Until he was in range, he blocked spells and cast some minor jinxes.

"Convello!" he cried, pointing his wand at Draco.

Since the Great Hall was quiet, everyone heard several of Draco's ribs snap. He bit his tongue and wrapped his arm around his waist. It hurt like hell but he was not going to lose to the Gryffindor. Neville backed off for a second with his wand out. He could easily taken the boy down but he wanted him in pain.

"Where is she, Malfoy? You tell me and I'll bow out. I just want her back."

Draco's silvery eyes stared up at Neville. He pulled himself to his full height, disregarding the pain in his ribs. He smirked then glanced over at where his family sat.

"You think a Longbottom could beat a Malfoy? True, you are using darker spells than I expected but no teacher is better than the one who taught me," Draco replied, as he brought up his wand to chest level.

"Avis! Sectumsempra!"

Pyx knew what Draco was doing. She had been forced to sit in on several of his lessons. By distracting a wizard or witch, they never saw the second spell coming straight at them. She fought as the birds flocked out of Draco's wand. She pushed past the Imperius as he started to mutter the second incantation. Pyx made it up in front of Neville as the light left the wand. No one stopped her because everyone's focus was on the two boys. She took the spell in the back and instantly felt deep cuts.

"Nev…"she said, as she crumpled to the stage.

She didn't look anything like Pyx but Neville knew her voice anywhere. He fell to his knees and grabbed her. The instant his fingers touched the robes she was wearing, they both were whisked away, even through the wards surrounding Hogwarts.

The entire hall was up in arms. Everyone wanted to know where Neville was and why would a girl that the Malfoys brought had jumped up in front of him. It was Hermione who spoke the obvious.

"Who do we know who would keep Neville from getting hurt, if she had been here?"

"Pyx."

"Exactly. They wanted her here to see him get hurt."

None of the Malfoys could leave but if they didn't leave soon, there wouldn't be a Pyx left to marry off. Draco knew he put a lot of magic into the spell so he believed her to be near death. He hoped help would get there soon. Lucius and Narcissa read each other's expressions and he approached Snape. Since no one was looking, Narcissa vanished the blood where Pyx had fallen so they couldn't determine it was hers.

"Severus, I need you to contact Healer Gloughnot at St. Mungo's. Tell him to go to the cabin. He will know what it regards."

Snape now knew that Lucius had Pyx and Neville but had no clue where this cabin was. He nodded and left the Great Hall. He sent the quickest school owl and got back just as Sirius was being held back by Harry and Remus.

"What did you do to her? If that was her, she could be dead already. Don't you care about your own niece?" he yelled.

"That filthy blood traitor who has been missing? I have no idea why Katherine did what she did. We were asked by her family to escort her here to introduce her to her fiancé."

"So her family finally settled on a family? Who has the honors?" Snape asked, playing along.

"I do," a voice said.

The entire group turned to see who spoke. The Gryffindors were surprised and some mouths fell open. Standing next to one of Draco's friends was a very handsome man with short spiky dark brown hair, deep rich brown eyes, and the cutest dimple on his left cheek. His robes were meticulous and very expensive.

"Mrs. Malfoy, how are you this day? I do hope wherever that boy went with my fiancé, he'll seek medical help. I hadn't even had the pleasure to meet her before she's taken. Professor Snape, I hope the students are keeping you on your toes. Any in particular that are a handful?" the man asked with a slight smirk.

"As long as Longbottom doesn't try to brew a potion for your fiancé, she will be fine, Mr. Parkinson."

"Parkinson? As in Pansy Parkinson?" Ron stuttered.

"Pansy is my sister. She would have loved to have been here, Draco, but she is fighting off a nasty cold that isn't responding to any potions or healing spells. It was a pleasure catching up but I should help to find my fiancé."

The group of Gryffindors stared after him as he left. True he had ignored them to most extent but he seemed pleasant and happy, a far contrast to what Slytherins were normally like. Harry thought it might be a ploy of some kind. He was more worried about the girl who he knew deep down was Pyx.

Note2: Convello means to shatter.