The Last War Maiden Ch.3
VRDTrio does not own Harry Potter, or Madan no ou to Vanadis (Lord Marksman and Vanadis for those who don't know which Anime I'm listing)
AN: Hi Guys! Sorry bout the delay. Had some issues when trying to write this chapter, and maybe a few idea fluctuations. It took me a while to figure out which Ideas flowing through my head were for which story, as now I have three main stories I 'm working on, with Fate Re-Written still being the biggest of the three. Without further delay, here we are, enjoy!
Hogwarts, Scotland October 31, 1991
Elaina slowly came to, and noticed she was leaning against the wall of the hallway near the girl's bathroom on the first floor. Nearby was Hermione, shocked but unharmed, as well as Susan and Hannah standing near her on opposite sides, weapons drawn and and standing in a defensive manner. Looking past her two best friends, Elaina noticed an elderly woman with what looked to be medical supplies.
"Ngh... Susan, Hannah, how long have I been out?" Elaina asked as she noticed her Dragon Gear in her lap. "I thought I replaced them on my back, why are they in my lap?"
"That would be our doing, Elen." Hannah lowered her daggers as she turned around. We had to make sure Arifar and Levias were still near you to get you sat up against the wall. Although to answer your first question, you've been asleep since half way past seven in the evening. It's now a quarter to midnight."
"We,ve been standing vigil and protecting you since then." Susan responded. "Trying to move you would have meant that one of us would have to carry the two of them, and both of us know how that would end."
"Yes, yes. As touching as that is, let's get all four of you to the Hospital Wing and in to bed." The healer spoke out kindly as she motioned to the girls to follow. "I know Ms. Granger is merely suffering from shock of the near death experience, and Ms Bones and Ms Abbot are physically exhausted. From what I can tell, you are both physically, mentally, and magically exhausted. Just what was it that did this?"
"I used a technique my ancestor Eleanora had used called Ley Admos. It is a rather powerful technique, and will normally knock me out for a day and a half." Elaina responded as she got up. "It gathers and compresses the wind into a sphere at the tip of Arifar, and has the power to slay dragons. I can use it, but I'm not quite ready to do so. I'll need to ask Aunty Lim how long it took Eleanora to perfect the technique." Elaina straightened her skirt as she readjusted her weapons to her back. "I know everyone else here, but who are you, if I may ask?"
"I am Poppy Pomfrey." The elderly healer introduced herself as she started to lead the way to the Hospital wing. "I have been the school's medi-witch for a long time. I remember your father, Miss Potter, and all the people he sent my way when his 'pranks' got out of hand. How your mother tamed him down in her last two years here is a mystery beyond all. I hope you do not follow in his footsteps." That last part was said with a stern look sent Elaina's direction.
"I'd never stoop so low as to purposely hurt someone." Elaina huffed as she looked away from Madam Pomfrey. "Besides, I'd prefer to work on my spell work and my skills with my gear. My role here as the War Maiden on the ground is to be the first line of defence for the students and professors. I may be a student myself, but I know what is expected of me from the Founder's Charter."
Madam Pomfrey was surprised at Elaina's response. She remembered all the times that James Potter would specifically target a younger Severus Snape as a target. The two's rivalry over Lily Evans was well known by the majority of the staff there at Hogwarts. The only one who didn't seem to see it was the Headmaster. She knew deep down that when Miss potter started school that the foul man would never see her for being her mother's daughter, but only as the 'Spawn of James Potter.' She had half expected the young girl to be sent to her in the first week due to Snape letting the Slytherins sabotage the potions the other students made. Instead, she saw a fine young lady that had set her priorities to be keeping her fellow student safe. Accepting the words of the young lady, she led the four young witches to her domain, where she would make sure they were well taken care of for the night.
When they got to the Hospital wing, Dumbledore was waiting for them there, along side the stunned bodies of Daphne Greengrass, and Cedric Diggory. The Matron of the Hospital Wing could tell by the way the two were sitting, that they had been left stunned for many hours. The frown on his face showed the clear displeasure of having to be awake at this hour in the evening.
"Headmaster, as much as I am honored you'd give us your presence this late in the evening, WHY are the two students beside you stunned?" Madam Pomfrey almost growled. "From the looks of things, they've been unconscious for a few hours."
"They refused to let me leave the Great Hall." Dumbledore was looking the students over, specifically Elaina and her friends. "I am the Headmaster, and yet they seemed to think an order by me could be refused. Their time stunned will be the punishment for disrespecting a teacher. As for why I am here, it pertains to the fact that I need to ascertain the situation with the troll, and why a student thought it was acceptable to disregard their professors in the event."
"You do not have a right to deal out any punishment in this situation." Elaina barked at him. "If you would actually pay attention to the Founders' Charter, interfering in the operations of the active War Maiden on site and her Strike Force is not allowed by the staff. In the charter, situations where the call to arms by a War Maiden is needed, the Maiden's orders are absolute. The charter you wrote would let the students be put in more harm than anything else. I am to be the FIRST LINE of defense. My duty is clear."
"Even still, I must insist that my charter be followed. If we follow the original charter, you would be required to show no mercy to your foes. We must forgive those that wrong us, and give them the chance to atone." Dumbledore tried to act like a disappointed grandfather berating his grandchild. "If we don't learn to forgive, we will never become better people."
"Headmaster, what you suggest would be that we simply let the culprit get away while the victim suffers." Susan fired off. "In the first week here in the castle, we stopped five attempts to seriously injure first year muggleborns by upper year Slytherins. There were at least two times that week where we arrived after the other first years were harmed."
"I highly doubt that they meant any harm." Dumbledore waved it off. "I'm sure had you left them alone, they would have realized their mistakes before apologizing to the first years."
"I remember those first years, Headmaster." Madam Pomfrey interrupted him. "I had to transfer three first years to St. Mungos the first week of school. This is far beyond just being a simple case of being forgiven. That being said, I have four for the beds in the Hospital Wing, and you are impairing my ability to see to my charges. Leave. Now." Madam Pomfrey issued the children into the Hospital Wing.
"Now see here, I am the Headmaster here, and I did not give you permission to be dismissed, Elaina." Dumbledore tried to regain control of the situation, only to be met with a spear tip made of ice pointed at him between his eyes.
"And you do not have permission to call me by my first name. To you, I am Miss Potter, or 'My Lady War Maiden." Elaina forced out through clenched teeth. "We have slayed the troll that got in and nearly killed our friend Hermione. I am beyond tired, and you are keeping me from a well deserved rest. You have your answers, now let us rest. I am through dealing with you. One more time, and you will be removed from your post. This is your only warning. So I say as Heiress Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, so mote it be. Good night." Elaina put Levias away as Madam Pomfrey revived Daphne and Cedric, before ushering them into the Hospital Wing behind Elaina. Madam Pomfrey closed the doors before any other words could be said, and locked them.
Hogwarts, Scotland November 1, 1991
The school was alight with bustling voices as everyone gathered in the Great Hall to watch the duel between the crowd's favorite, Elaina Potter, and the rumored Prince of Slytherin, Draco Malfoy. As the crowd gathered to watch, Dumbledore couldn't help but feel like he was being snubbed. This duel being an affront to have, as it mocked his policy of second chances. If she had been raised the way he had intended, he could have kept the school as his personal chessboard, with himself as the chess master. The fact that she was the Heiress of three of the founders, and was ratifying their charter, made him frustrated beyond all belief. He knew now that he couldn't control her through conventional means, but how can he get her to follow the plans he had meticulously planned out for her?
Also in the crowd, Amelia Bones was sitting next to a man in a green bowler cap on her right. Next to her on the left, Limalesha was looking at the impromply made dueling arena. The two women had been there for two reasons. Lim and Amelia both came to see how well Elaina did in the duel. Lim was also there to see just how far Elaina had come in her training without Lim's guidance, while Amelia...
"Cornelius, while it is good to see you, I have to wonder why you are here... with three of my aurors..." Amelia deadpanned how unhappy to see her employees here. "I do hope you have a valid reason to have dragged them away from the assignments I know I gave them this morning."
"Amelia, yes, well..." Cornelius Fudge was blustering as he was put on the spot. "I had been given advice that powerful relics belonging to a pureblood household had been stolen, and grabbed these fine aurors to help in the retrieval and return of the acclaimed relics. It was only natural to be seen doing something."
Lim decided to chime in at that point. "Would the relics in question happen to be a spear that can control ice and a sword that controls wind?" Lim didn't move her eyes from the arena. "Also, who was it that told you they had been stolen?"
"Yes, my dear lady. Those would be the very relics we received word had been stolen." Cornelius stated as the aurors behind him nodded in agreement. "As for who, it was my good friend, Lord Lucius Malfoy, Head of the Noble House of Malfoy."
"Then you three aurors are dismissed to return to the tasks I had assigned." Amelia almost barked at them. "The weapons in question are sentient, and bound to a specific bloodline each. Arifar, the sword of the silver wind, is bound to the bloodline of Eleanora Viltaria. Levias, the spear of ice, is bound to the bloodline of Ludmila Lourie. Elaina Potter is the last descendant of the two, and the chosen wielder of their weapons."
"My Lady Eleanora wound up in what you call the Founder's Era due to a rift in time and space. The same rift deposited myself and Rurick at the spot where Elaina found their weapons. Attempting to take them from her would be thievery, and an assured way to a very painful death." Lim didn't mince her words. "Levias nearly cost an Unspeakable her hand when she grabbed it, mere minutes after having her other hand nearly torn to shreds by the winds created by Arifar."
"But Amelia and... I'm sorry to admit I don't know your name my dear." Cornelius admitted as he stumbled for words. "Anyways, Amelia. Tools like that shouldn't be in the hands of anyone less than those of proper purebloods. Our world is dying out. We need to show that our noble houses are still as powerful as ever."
"It is the fault of the traditionalists that the noble houses are on the decline." Amelia scolded Cornelius. "If the last six generations are anything to go by, all of the purebloods only marrying other purebloods has weakened them. The Ancient and Noble house of Bones introduces fresh blood in every few generations, unlike most purebloods who end up marrying their second cousins to keep their line 'pure.' Aurors, you have your orders. Snap to it or i will be busting you back down to the last three weeks of the Aurors Academy."
"Ma'am!" The three aurors snapped to attention, before rushing out of the Great Hall to get to their assignments.
Just as the aurors raced off, Filius Flitwick called everyone else to attention. "Sonorus. If I can call everyone to attention." Flitwick spoke calmly. "This duel is to be the offficial end of a bitter schoolyard dispute. If both combatants are ready, please step into the arena." Draco and Elaina both walked into the arena. As ever, Elaina was calm as she carried her weapons on her back, wand in hand. Draco, on the other hand, was less calm but boasting his blood status.
"Scared, Potter?" Draco boasted. "I'm sure you won't have the knowledge to be able to best me. I am a proud pureblood, and you a lowly half-blood are just a bit above those Mu-"
"Cut your slander of those you deem inferior for no good reason." Elaina moved her wand to her left hand as she drew Levias from her back. "Once this duel is over, I don;t want to hear another word about blood status from you. It is infuriating how many of our peers are dismissed without even being given a chance to prove themselves. Not even the Founders, or my predecessors the previous War Maidens, would have done as you do. One's pedigree does not make the person."
"As If. The only founder worth their salt is Salazar Slytherin, who knew just where true power should lie in our world." Draco sneered. "I'll prove just how worthless your views are, much like those Mudblood War Maidens, or what ever they are, used to be."
The air in the arena dropped in temperature as Elaina lowered her head to the point where her bangs hid her eyes. She tightened her grip on Levias as she trembled in barely contained fury. NO ONE insults the people she holds in the highest respect without due cause, and Draco Malfoy just crossed that line. His words were far from kind, and definitely uncalled for, as Elaina knows from Ludmila's journal that Salazar held the War Maidens in high regard, and often spoke to them for advice on many matters.
Of to the side closest to the arena, two of three young witches flinched at the words spoken by the Heir Malfoy. The two that flinched didn't move, as if the air itself was too dense to do so. The two looked to each other, moving just their eyes.
"Sue, did he just...?" Hannah started to ask.
"Yup. He just did." Susan affirmed.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Hermione was confused.
"Pardon the pun, Sue," Hannah nearly gulped from the nervousness caused by Elaina's trembling. "But he is totally boned."
"Most definitely." Susan agreed. "Hermione, if you take anything we say to heart, let it be this. Never, and we do mean never, insult the people that Elaina holds in the highest regard. Those people are her mother, her aunt, and the Ladies Eleanora and Ludmila. The whole school is about to learn that thanks to Draco."
In the arena, Flitwick noticed the change in Elaina's posture, and backed up to the edge of the arena. He promptly went over the rules, informing the two that they were to avoid seriously injuring the other participant, and that the duel would be over once one was no longer able to continue. Having said that, he began the duel, and watched as Elaina tapped Levias on the ground to create many ramparts of ice.
Draco, seeing his opponent create the ramparts, decided that his upbringing would give him victory no matter what. He decided that the curses his godfather and father had taught him would be perfect for putting the girl in her place. He began to cast dark curse after dark curse, each slamming in to the ramparts as Elaina dashed through the arena. She kept distance between herself and those curses, each rampart being repaired just as fast as the curses and hexes could damage them. She stopped when she got to the rampart closest to her foe. Reinforcing the barrier, she spun Levias to where its tip pointed towards the ground.
"Levias, Fimbulvetr!" Elaina stabbed the floor, and a cage of ice spears burst forth around Draco, encasing him to his neck to where he didn't dare move. "Expeliarmus!" She snapped up her wand, and cast, disarming Draco of his wand.
"The duel is over. The winner is Elaina Potter." Flitwick called as Elaina's ramparts shattered.
Before the ice cage trapping Draco shattered, she pointed the tip of Levias at Draco. "Heed my words, Heir Malfoy. This time you will walk away unscathed, even with all thos dark curses you were throwing at me." Her tone brokered no way for him to not understand her clearly. "I do not mind if you insult me. I have faith in who I am, and insults will not bother me thanks to that. However, I will not tolerate insults to those I hold in high regard. Salazar Slytherin himself would be ashamed of you, as he often asked Ladies Ludmila and Eleaonora for advice, holding them just as highly as I do." She lowered Levias, and the ice encasing the Heir Malfoy shattered. "Next time you insult them in front of me, Heir Malfoy, I will declare a feud of honor, and you will not like the price. This I swear in the name of Ratagaskr, god of contracts." Elaina then turned, and left the Great Hall, her mood still being quite infuriated.
An: Ant that is a wrap, guys. This chapter had quite a few spots where I had second-guessed myself over and over, almost driving myself sparse over how it was turning out. A lot of the chapters I write for all my stories tend to write themselves out in my head, making it so as I type, I sometimes have change the wording multiple times to make it fit. The duel in this chapter was the hardest part, as i could picture it, but I had trouble putting it into words.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed it, and I will have the next chapter up as soon as possible. Merry Christmas, guys! Don't forget to let me know what you thought in the review section, I do read them.
VRDTrio, signing out for the holidays!