Chapter 19: The Midnight Dual

Harry didn't stay at the Gryffindor table long since he knew he'd be having dinner with Draco and Uncle Severus later. He begged off saying he'd go to the hospital wing for something for his hands, and he'd see his friends later for the study meeting. He attended the meeting, but the Hufflepuff's had some sort of game night, so they weren't there, and of course Draco and Horatio were absent. The odd thing was that Neville, Theo, and Hermione were missing too, a fact that Daphne Greengrass was quick to tease him about.

"So have your friends abandoned you, since you're a rebel now?" she asked with a hint of a smirk as she leaned against Hermione's usual chair.

Harry shrugged, "They may have had something else to do, or Neville might be cleaning his pet's terrarium, he's supposed to do that once a week."

"Oh, what does he have?" Padma asked in interest.

"A toad, it was a gift from his great uncle." Harry explained.

Both twins winced in sympathy and Parvati sighed, "He probably doesn't know they're out of fashion these days, and Neville was too polite to refuse."

Thinking back to the confrontation from the flying lesson he asked, "Parvati what was with Parkinson and you on Wednesday? She really took offense with you sticking up for Neville."

Parvati fiddled with the bangles on her arms making the slim gold bracelets clink together, "Pansy and I used to be friends when we were small, but we drifted apart when our parents moved… I guess me being in Gryffindor and her in Slytherin was just the last knut to tip the scales for her." She glanced toward Daphne and Tracy adding, "Not that I think Slytherins and Gryffindors being friends is a problem."

"I think she's lonely," Tracy spoke up, "I mean Daphne and I are cousins and we're close, and Harriet and Adamaris have been friends since they were little."

Daphne snorted and dropped into the chair beside her cousin, "If she wasn't such a cow people would be friendly to her, besides Millicent doesn't have a problem with not having a bosom friend." Then the conversation devolved into the girls complaining how petty Pansy could be, and Harry excused himself, and headed to one of the empty spaces he used to turn back a couple hours. He met up with Draco inside Severus' office.

"There's the scoundrel, fresh from detention." Draco greeted him as the blond tapped the statue that concealed the hidden door to their godfather's private quarters.

"It wasn't so bad," Harry waved a dismissive hand, his palms were still a little tender after the detention, but it was no worse than how he felt after pruning Aunt Petunia's rose bushes, better even because he didn't have the sunburn to go with it. The thought brought a smile to his face as he flexed his fingers.

Draco snorted, "You sure are in good spirits for someone who just came from detention."

Horatio shrugged, using his hawthorn wand to wipe the disguise from his features, "I've gone through worse with Harry's, I mean my relatives."

The blonds scowl deepened, "Those people worked you like a house elf."

Harry sank onto the leather sofa to wait for Uncle Sev, ignoring the neat stack of essays on the coffee table, "It was good practice for Herbology class and now apparently detention."

"One would hope," Severus swept into the room from an adjoining one, "that you do not intend to make detention as regular an occurrence as your lessons."

"No sir." Harry said quickly, "Well maybe next week, but not after that."

Severus was about to pour himself a glass of wine at the sideboard, but he looked up sharply at Harry's words and asked, "Did you somehow manage to get into more trouble this afternoon?"

Knowing how odd this was going to sound Harry cringed before saying, "I asked Madam Hooch for more detentions next week."

One of the covers dropped back onto its dish with a clatter as Draco demanded, "Why in Merlin's name would you do that?"

"I would like to know the answer to that one myself," Severus took a sip from his goblet as he joined Draco at the table.

"To be able to stay in flying lessons," Harry explained as he joined them.

Severus arched an eyebrow, "Banning from flying lessons was only a remote possibility for a first offense, if you continued to disregard broom safety measures it would be more likely to happen." He tapped one finger against the stem of his glass as he added, "Though the ultimate decision rests with Madam Hooch."

Harry's shoulders relaxed and his heart felt much lighter as he realized he would be able to learn to fly properly with his classmates. He thought back to the promise he made to the flying instructor and said, "I gave Madam Hooch my word that I'd work on the school brooms this week, so that's what I'll do."

"What about Selwyn?" Draco asked with a scowl.

"I made the deal including him, but it's up to him to show up." Harry couldn't fight the grin that crossed his features as he added, "She said he has to not complain about it too, so somehow I don't see him managing that, even if he does come."

Severus waved his hand, banishing the covers from the dishes, "We shall see… Regardless, you must not take the Time Turner with you to flying lessons, as either Harry or Horatio."

Harry's shoulders tensed as he caught the disapproval in his godfather's tone, "I promise, I won't take it with me."

Severus nodded, changing the subject as he added food to his own plate, "Mr. Boot tells me the headache cure I gave you is working."

"It is," Harry closed his eyes briefly at the remembered relief. "I was able to take notes and read the text… Listening to Professor Quirrell has the usual complications though."

"Indeed…" Severus said mildly, "I find it challenging to decipher his gibbering myself."

The rest of their dinner passed in amiable discussion of the week's events. Harry even brought out the new chess set that Narcissa had sent him. Severus admired the gift and sat reading The Practical Potioneer while the boys played a couple games. Before long it was time for the boys to head to their dormitory before curfew. They parted from their godfather and headed back to the Slytherin common room. As the stone wall closed behind the duo, Ron waved them over where he was sitting with Crabbe and Goyle at the scarred table where they usually played exploding snap. The two went over to join their friends.

"I think Dominic is up to something," Greg was saying, squinting over at where Selwyn and Pansy were chatting.

"Yeah," Crabbe shuffled the pack of exploding snap cards in his hands, "I haven't seen him in this good a mood since… probably the sorting feast."

"Do you really think that's the last time he was happy here?" Draco asked incredulously as he and Horatio sat down.

The two boys looked at each other and shrugged, Goyle said, "Dominic's father, all our fathers really, made out like Slytherins were the kings of the school back in their day, and I guess that's what he expected it to be like."

Ron furrowed his brow, "Well my brothers always made out that the Gryffindor's ruled the school, or at least had the most fun."

Horatio adjusted his glasses, "I think each of the houses must think that they are the best in their own way. Uncle Sev…. Professor Snape, says each of the houses is different and has good and bad qualities, so if the hat is always right, then it sorts people where they will best fit."

Draco snorted, "Tell that to Theo, his father is going to eat his hat when he finds out where his heir and only son was sorted."

The friends nodded grimly, and Crabbe offered, "Exploding snap anyone?" The others agreed, and as the cards were dealt, Horatio noticed Selwyn and Pansy glancing in their direction and laughing together. Not knowing what to make of their behavior, he decided to focus on the game with his friends.


It was half past eleven when Horatio slipped quietly out of bed and crept silently out of his dormitory. He moved slowly through the common room, wavering shadows making him pause, but it was only a reflection of movement beyond the large window, so he crossed to the entrance and left. Because of the hour he did not want to inconvenience Woody, so he decided to head to Gryffindor Tower without the old elf's help. He changed fully into Harry's things in one of the bathrooms near the library before heading up toward the seventh floor. As he turned the last corridor toward the Fat Lady's portrait the sound of whispers made him shrink into the shadows beside a suit of armor. He listened, trying to figure out what to do when Hermione's voice caught his attention.

"What about Harry? Hasn't he been in enough trouble this week?"

Theo answered, "That's why we didn't wake him Hermione."

"I need to stand up to Selwyn once and for all." Neville said, quite bravely Harry thought, "Without hiding behind Harry or anyone else, I'm tired of him trying to get at Harry through us and treating Ron badly because he's a Weasley."

"Those are noble sentiments," Hermione sighed, "but I doubt Filch will care if he catches you."

"Then we won't get caught," Theo said while checking his watch, "but being stealthy takes time, so we are going to need to leave now. Granger, I know you don't approve, and we don't want to see you get in trouble too, so please go back to bed."

"But you see, you even think there's a chance you might get caught." Hermione gestured behind herself to the portrait as she turned to face the framed canvas, "Let's just all go back to bed and pretend this never…" She stopped speaking abruptly and concerned for his friends Harry decided to reveal himself.

"What are you lot doing out of bed?" he asked as he approached.

They all jumped, and Hermione quickly covered her mouth to stifle her shriek of surprise. "Harry, we thought you were asleep." Neville said.

"I went to the Hospital Wing to get my hands tended to after the detention," Harry reminded them, "and then I went to the study club, been in the library ever since… I lost track of time, may have dozed off."

"The detention… That explains why Selwyn was so hacked off…" Theo muttered.

Hermione winced sympathetically at the mention of Harry's discomfort. Behind her he noticed the Fat Lady's empty canvas, and realized why she hadn't gone back to bed. Turning to Theo and Neville he asked, "So Selwyn gave you both more trouble after I left him?"

"Yes, he said I wasn't so brave without you there to back me up." Neville's cheeks flushed from embarrassment or anger Harry couldn't tell. "So, I told him I'd take him on any time, and he suggested we have a wizard's dual tonight."

"Wizard's dual?" Harry asked.

"That's a battle of magical skill between two wizards," Theo explained, "and I offered to be his second, you know in case Neville couldn't continue."

Harry's brows shot up, "Like if he gets hurt?"

"I'll be fine Harry," Neville said, patting Harry's shoulder, a gesture that was supposed to be reassuring, but his pudgy hand trembled where it rested for a moment.

The thought occurred to Harry that this might be some sort of trap, but it didn't seem that this was the best time to mention it, since they literally had no way to get back to bed now. Harry glanced quizzically between the trio, "So, what have you three been up to all evening?"

"I was trying to convince these two not to go sneaking around after curfew." Hermione threw up her hands, "Obviously I failed."

Theo glanced up from his watch, "I was coaching Neville, for my father defending one's family honor is serious business, so I've been prepared for this sort of thing."

"It is for Gran too," Neville sighed, "and everyone knows I could use all the help I can get."

Harry ran a hand through his hair in thought, then said to Hermione, "Let's go with them, it's better than waiting for Filch or Mrs Norris to come find us."

"Oh alright," Hermione said, tugging her dressing gown more closely around her, "but if we all get in trouble for this I might just die from embarrassment."

As the four set off down the corridor Harry asked, "So who is Selwyn's second anyway, Crabbe or Goyle?" He had his suspicions, but that was based on knowledge he gained as Horatio.

Theo snorted in a very Draco-like manner, "No its Parkinson, seems she was the only one willing to do it."

They crept through the school as quietly as they could, bars of moonlight and shadow slanted across their faces from the high windows. Harry led the way, even though this was Neville and Theo's excursion, keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of movement, ears pricked for any hint of Filch or Mrs. Norris. The only person they encountered was the Bloody Barron gliding in the opposite direction, and they shrank into the shadows beside a large vase until he had passed.

As they paused outside the trophy room Theo whispered, "Five minutes to midnight."

Neville swallowed and squared his shoulders, he spoke to Harry and Hermione, "You two aren't supposed to be here—"

"None of us are supposed to be here," Hermione interjected.

"I know, I know," Neville held up a placating hand, "Maybe you two could stay out here, keep a look out?"

Harry nodded, "We will, but be careful."

Neville and Theo stepped inside and closed the doors quietly behind them. Harry watched the doors from beside the first suit of armor in a long gallery, checking his watch at intervals. Midnight came and then went, and he glanced nervously at Hermione who was chewing her bottom lip in anxiety. She lent close and put her lips near his ear, "You think this is a trap too, don't you?"

"I don't think Selwyn ever meant to come here tonight," Harry confirmed in a whisper. What he didn't say aloud was that Selwyn and Pansy had been in far too good a mood tonight, and even Crabbe and Goyle had thought something was up. Harry had just finished speaking when the shuffling gate of the caretaker came down the corridor. He drew Hermione deeper into the shadows as he glanced about for a way to warn their friends, but not give away his and Hermione's position.

"Sniff around my sweet, in case they're hiding in a corner," Filch crooned to Mrs. Norris as they entered the far door.

The closer doors flew open a moment later, and the two boys dashed out into the corridor, "Great lookout Potter." Theo whispered.

"Come on, let's move." Harry gestured for the others to follow him down the long gallery, he knew from sneaking back to his dorm to change that it was the fastest way back to their beds.

They moved quickly in their terror of being caught, and with that speed came mistakes. Hermione's slippers rasped against the stone floor as she tried to keep up. Whether it was the sound, or Neville simply panicked, he took off running and tripped, careening into Theo and the pair fell crashing into one of the suits of armor. The clashing and clanging were enough to wake the whole castle, and Harry abandoned all pretense of stealth, "Run!" he shouted as he helped Theo to his feet, and they hauled Neville up after.

They flew through the castle with no thought of direction. They burst through a tapestry to one of the secret passages Harry used frequently, as they rounded a corner, he thought he recognized the metal guardian that Professor Flitwick had been testing the other morning. He skidded to a stop and gestured to the others to do the same as he panted, 'We're…. near…. Charms." Neville bent over gasping with his hands on his knees, Hermione clutched a stitch in her side, and Theo wiped sweat from his forehead as he glanced around.

"I'm… so… sorry…" Neville wheezed, "I let… Sel… let him… trick…."

Hermione made a face as if she wanted to say something, but the pain between her ribs prevented her.

"Never mind that," Theo whispered, "we need to get back to bed."

Harry nodded and beckoned for the others to follow, "Come on Filch could be right behind us."

They had hardly taken ten paces when an unwelcome visitor zoomed out of their charms' classroom.

Peeves stopped at the sight of them and squealed in delight, "Wandering around at midnight, little firsties," he shook a reproving finger at them. "Tut tut tut, naughty naughty, you'll get caughty."

"Not if you don't give us away Peeves, please." Harry pleaded, he thought desperately of a way to convince the poltergeist to let them go, just this once, even if it meant owing Peeves, surely that was better than being expelled, or facing Uncle Sev's wrath at getting in trouble again so soon.

"Should tell Filch, I should." Peeves said in a saintly voice, but his eyes glittered wickedly. "It's for your own good, you know?"

"What if we owed you one?" Theo asked he'd been thinking along the same lines as Harry.

A grin split Peeve's face, "You only owe Peeves one, when I'd be letting four naughty firsties back to beddie-bye?" He made a show of holding up one finger on one hand and four on the other, "That doesn't seem fair to Peeves."

"Fine," Harry said in a resigned voice, "We'll each owe you one."

"Harry no!" Neville moaned, "You and Hermione wouldn't even be out here if it wasn't for me."

"Four firsties, four promises," Peeves cackled rubbing his hands together, "Or I'll tell Filch."

"Don't do it," Hermione shook her head, "the price is too high."

Peeves floated over to her and said in his most innocent voice, "It's just one little promise, is that so bad?"

She turned to the other three, "Peeves could wreak untold havoc if he had a promise from each of us. I read about one time when they tried to remove him from the school…"

Peeves scowled, not appreciating the direction the conversation was taking. "Then you leave Peevsie no choice." He patted her on the head and filled his lungs, "Students out of bed! Students out of bed! Down the charms corridor!"

They didn't wait around for Filch or his cat to find them, Harry led them down the corridor away from Peeves. The sound of footsteps told him Filch was closing in, running as fast as he could toward Peeves' shouts. They reached the last door at the end of the corridor and tried the knob, but it was locked. Harry knew there was a spell to unlock doors, but in his panic his mind had gone blank.

Theo already had his wand in his hand, "Alohomora!" he said and tapped the lock which clicked.

Without pausing to think, the four students rushed inside, closing the door behind them, and pressed their ears to the wood. They could hear Filch and Peeves' voices.

"Where did they go Peeves?" Filch was saying, "Quick tell me!"

"Say please."

"Don't mess with me Peeves, now where did they go?"

"Shan't say nothing, if you don't say please." Peeves said in his annoying singsong voice.

"Oh, alright… please."

"Nothing!" Peeves cackled, "Haha I said I wouldn't say nothing if you didn't say please. Haha Hahahaha!"

They heard Peeves whooshing away and Filch cursing in fury. Harry sagged against the door in relief, "Filch thinks this door is locked, I think we're okay."

"It was locked," Theo whispered, stowing his wand in his robe. "We can wait here until—What Longbottom?"

Harry watched as Theo turned paper-white and his eyes widened in terror. He followed his friend's gaze and saw quite clearly what had frightened him. Harry thought he had stepped into a nightmare; it was too much on top of everything else that had happened… They hadn't wandered into a classroom as he'd supposed, but a corridor—the forbidden corridor—and now he knew why it was forbidden. They were staring at a monstrous creature that took up the space between ceiling and floor, it had three heads with sharp toothed mouths dripping ropes of drool, six eyes staring at them, and three large noses quivering as they sniffed the air. The features were canine, but no dog had three heads or was this massive… The only reason we're not dead is it was surprised to see us. But the creature was quickly getting over the shock of their sudden appearance in its domain, if the three deepthroated growls were anything to judge by.

Harry groped for the doorknob, between Filch and death he'd take Filch. The door sprang open and the four of them fell backward out of the corridor. Harry slammed it shut and they all sprinted back through the castle back to Gryffindor tower. Harry paid more attention to where he was going, and they met no more trouble. The Fat Lady had returned from her nighttime visit because she stood in her portrait when they skidded to a stop before the heavy frame. Her eyebrows shot up as she stared around at their flushed faces and the clothes hanging off them, "Where have you all been?"

"Never mind that," Harry gasped, "Pig snout, pig snout." She had no choice but to open to them, but she scowled in disapproval as she did so.

All four collapsed into armchairs, Neville was shaking and looked like his voice had deserted him. They sat in silence for a while except for their gasping breaths which slowly returned to normal.

Finally, Theo broke the silence, "What do they think they're doing, having a Cerberus behind a door that can be unlocked by a spell from The Standard Book of Spells Year One?"

"I have no idea," Harry brushed his sweat damp hair back from his face, "but if any dog needs exercise, that one does."

"Tr-Trap-door." Neville squeaked out.

"What?" Harry asked bewildered.

"That's what it was standing on," Hermione moaned, "It's obviously guarding something."

Harry's eyes widened and he exchanged a look with Theo who nodded and said, "Must be where they moved whatever Professor Snape took from Gringotts."

"I guess so…" Harry said and thinking back to how shifty Hagrid seemed at tea the week before he added, "and Hagrid knows about it."

"Knows about it?" Theo scoffed, "I bet the bloody Cerberus is his, who else would have one around Hogwarts?"

"I still wish I knew what it was guarding…" Harry furrowed his brow, "What could be so important that they risk having that animal where students might find it."

"What it's guarding?" Hermione shook her head in disbelief and got to her feet, "I'm going to bed… before your curiosity gets us killed, or worse expelled."

Harry frowned, hurt by her comment, but Theo asked, "How do you figure being expelled is worse than being dead?"

She turned at the door to the girls' staircase, "Because we'd be alive to regret it, and probably injured since the Cerberus would have used us as a chew toy." Then she turned on her heel and headed up to bed, slamming the door behind her.

Neville put his head in his hands and spoke through his fingers, "I'm sorry Harry… I let Selwyn goad me into the dual… I should have known he wasn't going to show."

Theo shook his head, "It's not all on you, I practically accepted the challenge for you, but I'm sick of Selwyn's arrogance… I don't know how Weasley and our other Slytherin friends deal with him all the time." The dark-haired boy scowled and added, "He's one of the reasons I'm glad to be in Gryffindor."

Harry smiled for what felt like the first time that night, "You know, I think that's the first time I heard you say that."

Theo shrugged and said to Harry, "Well its true." He sighed leaning back into his chair and absently picking at the stuffing leaking out one of the holes in the arm, "We should probably head up to bed too."

Still trembling slightly, Neville stood and trudged to the boys' staircase. Harry and Theo exchanged a concerned glance before following him. The trio ascended to their dormitory in silence, each wrapped up in his own thoughts. Harry's mind drifted back to wondering what the Cerberus was guarding. As he climbed into bed a few moments later he mused. Hermione has a point, it's not worth our lives to find out… but maybe there's another way… If Theo's right, then Hagrid knows more than he's telling. Asking him some questions wouldn't be too bad, would it?


A/N: I switched some of the roles around for the midnight dual, I hope you all like my changes. Don't worry we'll be moving forward in time in the next few chapters and exploring some other character's perspectives a bit. I'm sorry for the long hiatus, I've had some other projects going on, and had a case of writer's block. I hope you all enjoyed this twist on the Midnight Dual chapter.

Disclaimer: You should know this isn't mine by now. I'm just playing in J.K. Rowling's sandbox and building a different sandcastle.