Disclaimer: The plot is ours, but the majority of the main characters belong to the imagination of J.K. Rowling. We do not gain any profit from writing this story.
Summary: With the Grimoire in safe hands and James Potter expelled, Severus Snape, Lily Evans, and their friends expected that their remaining time at Hogwarts would be smooth sailing. Unfortunately, the intentions of a few detestable individuals will make their lives more arduous. With the help of a few new friends, they all must join together to fight against the rising tide of evil in the Wizarding World.
A/N: This story is A/U (Alternative Universe) and is NOT canon compliant. If you don't like Sev/Lily fiction, don't read it.
What Not To Do In A Duel
Alethea27 and TheOneandOnlyEnigma
At breakfast the next morning, Gabriel asked Minerva if she had time to see him that day. He had something to show her.
"Yes, I can meet you after classes. Do you need me to come to the Defense classroom or do you want to come to my office?"
"If you could come to the Defense classroom. What I have to show you is located there."
Minerva nodded. "Alright then. I will meet you there after our last classes."
Irene came back later that morning and said that Silas was continuing to recover and would be transferred back to Madam Pomfrey's care later that morning. "I told Silas he wasn't going to be smoking any more Muggle cigarettes and I was going to be keeping an eye on him to make sure he didn't. Madam Pomfrey can probably give him a potion to help him break his habit."
The teens all decided that they would tell Irene what they suspected had happened to Silas, but not until they met in their safe place.
"I can't wait until the weekend and see Mr. Potter get his his arse kicked by Professor Schell!" Sirius crowed.
"Dad and Mum are coming to see him finally get his," Reg added.
"I think a lot of people are coming just to see cousin Charles get some of that arrogance knocked out of him," Irene stated as the warning bell rang.
Severus walked with Dorian. "You're awfully quiet this morning. Is everything okay?"
Dorian frowned. "After Dante said that about my dad the other day, I sent my owl to dad with the information and the next day he and his partner checked all the evidence in their most recent cases and none of it is missing. They and the officer whose job it is to log evidence in and out sighed dated receipts to verify that everything was present."
"That's good, isn't it?" Severus asked. "If they have dated receipts, verifying that nothing was missing and then suddenly something does turn up missing, neither your dad, his partner, nor the people who man the evidence room, can be blamed for it."
"Like I said before, Dad's said there are higher ups who know about us and they're the ones the Aurors contact when they need to arrest a magical criminal that's operating in the Muggle world. What if one of those people has been corrupted and is willing to work with whomever Dante's handler is?"
"You mean steal evidence and make it look like your dad did it? Isn't that evidence room always locked and manned at all times?"
"Yeah, because crimes are committed night and day and the evidence has to be logged in. They have to keep a detailed written record of evidence that comes in or goes out, who checked it in or out, and on what date and at what time."
"What we need to do is find out who Dante's reporting to and why," Severus said. "What's they're connection to all of this?"
They split up to go to their classes.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Minerva knocked on the door of Gabriel's classroom and waited until she heard him say, "Come in, Minerva." She opened the door, came in, and found Gabriel standing next to the Vanishing Cabinet he had re-sized. "Merlin's staff! Where did this come from? I haven't seen one of these since Albus defeated Grindelwald and imprisoned him."
"Marius and I found it in the Room of Requirement last night. One of the elves alerted me to it appearance up there. He said he'd never seen it before this year."
"This is something else to do with Dante?"
"Yes, it seems Mr. Doherty has been using it to sneak out and gamble at Muggle gambling houses, using magic to cheat them out of quite a sum. The owners of these houses are of a criminal persuasion and are quite angry about the cheating." Gabriel went over to his desk and got out the poster from Scotland Yard that Dorian had given him. It asked for information on a person who was obviously Cassidy Doherty. "Mr. Doherty is obviously too arrogant to use a Glamour Charm or Polyjuice before his forays into the Muggle World."
Minerva's hand shook with anger as she stared at the poster. "You know I am getting very tired of arrogant people who think they can break the rules with no consequences!"
"I know there has to be two of these so I'm interested in finding out where the second one is."
"Yes, it would be good to know who's working with Dante on the outside."
Gabriel locked the door of his office and re-cast Bobby Gold's spell on the lock. "Just in case somebody has an idea about breaking in here to retrieve this."
"Good idea," Minerva said.
They both stepped into the cabinet and when they stepped out again, they were in a large room filled with older, but still very nice furniture. They went over to a door, opened it, and walked out into a hallway where they could see stairway railing. Minerva leaned over the banister, looking down as they heard a voice.
"Now remember, Dazzy, only the freshest and finest food for the gala we're having after the duel on Saturday. Price is no object as our guests will be some of the most prominent…" Mavis' voice trailed off as she left the immediate area.
"We're in Potter Manor," Minerva hissed. "What are they doing with this Vanishing Cabinet?"
"My guess? They may not know it's here," Gabriel replied. "I'm assuming this may have been something James did for Dante to win his approval."
They went back into the room. "We can't just leave this here," Minerva said. She thought for a moment and then said, "I'll go back through the cabinet and then floo to Potter Manor. I'll say I'm here to see how James is doing with his studies. I'll keep Mavis distracted and you can shrink this thing and apparate back to Hogwarts."
"Sounds like a plan," Gabriel said.
Gabriel heard the floo sound at which point, he waited until he heard Mavis say, in surprise, "Minerva, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see how James was doing with his studies and see if he needs any further help," she replied.
Gabriel went back into the room, shrunk the cabinet, put it in his pocket and then he apparated back to Hogwarts.
"He is doing very well," Mavis replied coldly. "No thanks to you or Dumbledore."
"I'm glad to hear he's doing well. I'll return to Hogwarts then." Minerva said, flooing out again. She hoped Gabriel had gotten the Vanishing Cabinet out successfully.
Gabriel locked both shrunken cabinets in a draw in his desk. He unlocked his classroom so Severus and his friends could come in.
Minerva knocked on the door of the Defense classroom and when Gabriel answered, she stepped in and asked, "Did you get it out successfully?"
Gabriel laughed. "I did indeed so your having to listen to Mavis Potter wasn't in vain."
Minerva rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I cannot believe the delusions that entire family is under."
Gabriel chuckled. "Yes, even Grindelwald wasn't as deluded as the Potter's are."
"I'm looking forward to see Charles get his backside handed to him on Saturday."
"I can assure you, it'll be a worthwhile show," Gabriel replied with a grin.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
Silas had been transferred from St. Mungo's. Severus, Lily and all their other friends stopped in to see him. Irene was sitting by his bed. She had brought him his homework assignments that she had been collecting from the professors for him.
Silas sighed and moaned, "No more Muggle ciggies for me. Madam Pomfrey's giving me this potion that smells like horse piss and probably tastes like it, too."
Everybody grimaced at his description and Irene said, "If you hadn't fallen out of your bed because you were trying so hard to breath and woken your roommates, you might have died."
"I know...I know," Silas replied, ducking his head. "But they made me feel so calm and relaxed."
"That's because of the nicotine they contain," Lily replied. "It's really addictive. My dad smoked for about ten years and when he decided to quit, he had awful withdrawal symptoms and gained about one stone in weight because cigarettes deaden your taste buds."
The teens wished Silas well and headed for the Defense classroom, but Severus remained behind for a few minutes. "I'm sure Dante knows you've been spying on him and while it's good to have the information about what he might have planned, I don't want you to get hurt again. Messing with your cigarettes was his warning to you." Severus looked uncomfortable for a few moments and then said, "Look, I know you're not much of a joiner, but if you want to join our group, you'd be welcome."
"Uhmm...I'll think about it, okay?"
"Okay," Severus replied with a nod. He left the hospital and went to the Defense classroom where everybody was revising for mid-semester tests. "I invited Silas to join our group if he so chose. He said he'd think about it."
"He's always been a loner, even in our family, except for me. We've been close since we were in the nursery," Irene said. "But I'm glad you invited him. He respects you, Severus, so I think he might give it some serious thought."
Severus cleared his throat. "Sorry, to have to tell you this, Irene, but Silas confided in me before he collapsed that he's been spying on Dante because he's worried about Dante trying to hurt you. Dante found out about it and substituted a pack of cigarettes made out of ground up common ivy."
"Merlin's staff!" Alice exclaimed. "No wonder he had trouble breathing."
"I also think he's trying to get his hands on the Grimoire," Severus added.
"Irene nodded. "Your grandfather visited with mum and dad and he offered to put it in one of the Prince Vaults to keep it safe. Mum and dad accepted his suggestion, but I don't know when they plan to move it though."
"Maybe they should cast the 'Snoop's Retribution Charm' on it before they transfer it," Caddaric suggested.
The talk turned to the Halloween Hogsmeade visit in two weeks and the feast afterwards. Regulus was excited about being able to go this year, especially since he could visit some of the shops his mum wouldn't allow him in when he went with her. "I want to go to Zonko's and buy some dung bombs so I can put one under that little prick, Barty Crouch's bed!"
"Whoa!" Sirius exclaimed. "Let's not get too crazy because mum will blame me for letting you buy them."
"Crouch is a prick," Tav said. "The Slytherin House elves all hate him because he treats them like garbage."
"And that's after Sluggy telling us at the start of every year that the elves are not our personal servants," Dorian added.
Later, Severus, Dorian, Frank, and Remus were on there way to the library where they were meeting the rest of their friends.
"Do you guys realize we'll be able to attend the Yule Ball this year?" Frank asked. "Mum did. She bought me a new dress robe and packed it in my trunk. I found it when I was unpacking."
Severus nodded. "I'm going to ask Lily when we're in Hogsmeade." He looked at Frank. "Are you going to ask Alice?"
Frank turned red. "I was thinking about it," he admitted.
"I'm thinking about asking Chea Chedewick," Dorian said.
"Ahh...the mysterious Chea," Severus joked. "She's quite attractive and excellent in defense."
"I'll bet Tav asks Jane," Dorian said.
"What?" Frank exclaimed. "They're always squabbling over the most trivial of things!"
"That's how I know he likes her."
"What about you, Remus?" Severus asked. "The full moon isn't until December 29th."
Remus shifted uncomfortably. "Well, there is this Ravenclaw girl, her name is Donna Brezinski. I studied with her several times when we were all fighting. In fact, it was her who invited me to sit with her. She a Muggleborn, like Lily, and she's smart and funny."
"Go for it!" Dorian urged.
"Pete's probably going to ask Emily," Frank said. "He's always liked her. I don't know about Caddaric."
"Caddaric won't have a problem," Remus chuckled. "I'll bet the 4th year Hufflepuff girls are lining up to go to the ball with him."
"What about Mary?" Severus asked.
"The Gryffindor gossip vine says Renner Dain's interested in Mary," Frank replied.
"That will be different. If they get close, maybe that's our way into the United," Remus speculated.
"You sure?" Dorian asked. "Isn't he one of the United that Sirius had a dust-up with?"
"I think the question is who hasn't Sirius had a dust-up with," Severus remarked. "Who's he planning to ask?"
Frank and Remus both shrugged. "I haven't heard him mention anybody specific," Remus said.
"What about Irene?" Severus asked.
"I think Sam might be interested in her," Remus replied and flushed slightly. "I overheard Sam talking to Michael Ashdown last night after lights out, wondering if Xeno Lovegood could introduce them."
"I don't think Irene would be adverse to that," Severus replied.
"We can ask the girls when we go to Hogsmeade because they'll probably be buying their dresses then," Dorian said.
"If Pete's having trouble buying a dress robe, let's all pitch in and help him," Severus suggested
"Good idea, Sev," Frank said.
Severus had heard back from his grandfather that he had paid off the Pettigrew's mortgage at their Muggle bank and that he had worked out a satisfactory repayment plan with Pete's parents that gave them plenty of breathing space.
~*~* Page Break ~*~*
It was time.
It was the moment in which everyone was waiting for.
Charles Potter was going to get his arse kicked, er umm, Charles Potter was going to duel Gabriel.
The Great Hall was fitted to have the dueling stage in the middle of it. There were four bleachers for students and guest to sit and witness the duel unfold.
Gabriel was there before everyone. He stood up on the dueling platform as he finished his stretches as his students came into The Great Hall.
He was dressed comfortably in a grey sweater and matching sweatpants. This was the uniform that the dueling club would normally use during training. All of his students in the Dueling Club were going to be dressed in this attire during all club activities.
Severus and his friends were among the first to arrive as they were heavily invested in seeing Charles Potter getting trounced.
"Gabriel," Severus waved at his professor. "Well, I guess this is it! Are you nervous?"
"Nervous?" Gabriel gave a pale imitation of a serious look on his face. "Not really. I remember seeing Charles Potter getting beaten in duels when I was a student here. By opponents years younger than him. The blighter wouldn't know when to quit."
Lily asked Gabriel, "So you think he will attempt to cheat?"
"It's possible, but knowing Potter, I'm sure his pride and ego will make him do anything to ensure victory. However, Professor Flitwick will keep a keen eye over the duel as the referee."
Sirius looked at Gabriel, "What is your plan?"
"To do my best."
"Be serious."
Gabriel smirked, "I can't be, because you are."
Sirius frowned, but his friends, along with Regulus, laughed.
Gabriel laughed, "Come on that was funny."
Sirius wouldn't admit it, but that was good.
At that time most of the students including Sam and his friends came in as well. They took to a bleacher and all sat down.
Severus saw that Sam, ever the scholar, had a journal of some sort out and was set to take notes.
Gabriel looked over at Sam, then he took a look around to see if Dante or Doherty were around anywhere.
"Looking for Dante and Doherty, Gabriel?" Severus asked his professor.
"Yes, actually. I don't want those two around."
"Well, Doherty was caught taking bets on the match and was caught by Professor McGonagall. She gave him two weeks of detention and was barred from attending." Severus looked around the Great Hall, "As for Dante, I don't know. Nobody has seen him."
Gabriel looked over to Black Donal, "Keep an eye out for him."
Black Donal nodded.
Just then some handpicked guests arrived in The Great Hall.
Marius and Vesper had arrived along with Black Leif and Black Conor.
Severus wasn't surprised to see them as his grandfather told him that they would be coming.
They walked over to Severus' group, then Marius and Vesper gave both him and Lily a hug.
"It's great to see you both!" Severus and Lily gave both of his grandparents a mighty hug.
Marius and Vesper returned their hugs, and let go after a few seconds more. Marius smiled upon his grandson, "And it is great to see you, Lily, and your friends as well."
Black Donal reunited with his brothers as Severus spoke with his Grandparents.
A short while later Gabriel saw Walburga walk into the Great Hall. She looked around and saw Gabriel, the two shared eye contact for a brief moment before her attention was taken by her two boys.
"Mum!" Regulus hugged his mother as she stopped before her children
"Hello Regulus, Sirius." Walburga gave both of her sons a rare kiss on the cheek out in public. She would only reserve such behavior at home.
Sirius looked around, "Is Dad going to be here?"
"No, unfortunately he was unable to get the time off of work to come. However, he asked someone else to come in his place."
Sirius and Regulus both looked at one another. "Who is it Mum?"
Just then Alphard Black strutted into The Great Hall. He was wearing a cobalt blue overcoat which ended at the back of his knees, there were silver inlaid designs down the side of his coat, he wore a black waistcoat with a pocket watch in his left waistcoat pocket, matching cobalt blue pants, followed with black leather shoes made custom by an exclusive goblin leather craftsman, customer made sunglasses, and a silk handkerchief sticking out of his front coat pocket. Alphard looked at his two nephews and bellowed, "Hello, Starboys!" He took off his sunglasses and put them in his inner coat pocket.
Both Sirius and Regulus both were shocked to see their favorite uncle before them. They had hardly ever seen him since starting school. "Uncle Alphard," both Sirius and Regular exclaimed as they rushed to hug him.
Alphard bellowed in laughter as he embraced his most favorite nephews, "Oh my boys, my Starboys, how have you been?"
"Fantastic now that you're here!" Sirius' troubles were instantly pushed to the back of his head as he embraced his favorite uncle.
Regulus smiled, "What are you doing here?"
"Well I was invited home by your father. He got quite lonely, and we caught up. He asked me to accompany your mother here to watch Charles Potter get his arse…"
"Alphard!" Walburga cast a menacing look at her brother.
Alphard cleared his throat as he ended the embrace, "Right well, we all know what's going to happen. Have you been keeping out of trouble Sirius? We don't want a repeat of your second year, I was surprised to hear you got yourself into that much trouble!"
Sirius gave a remorseful frown, "Yeah, I'm not proud of that, but I've made some much better friends and I have cleaned up my act. Speaking of which," he turned to his mother. "Mum, how come you never told me and Reggie that you were a great prankster back in Hogwarts?"
Walburga squeaked in surprise as she knew who he had heard that from, "What has Gabriel told you?"
Regulus answered that for her, "That you were behind the legendary prank of the Prefect's Bathroom!"
Walburga tried in vain to stop her youngest son from speaking but it was too late.
"What?!" Alphard turned to his sister. "That was you?! I was in the Prefect's bathroom when those fireworks went off, Walla! I went deaf for two weeks after that!"
Walburga gave a sheepish apology to her brother before shooting a look off at Gabriel who was watching the whole spectacle.
Gabriel winced, he definitely was going to get an earful from Walla later. He saw Flitwick arrive with the other heads of houses in tow to watch the duel. Filius took his position on the stage, and began casting protective wards around the stage to safeguard the audience.
Now it was just a waiting game for Charles Potter to show up.
Marius walked over to Gabriel, "Gabriel?"
He knelt down to speak with Lord Prince. "Yes?"
"What if Potter doesn't show?"
"Then he will show himself to be a coward, but people like Charles Potter will always show up, and they will make a spectacle about it."
Just then, the man of the hour had arrived. Charles Potter had arrived with his entourage in tow. Mavis Potter walked alongside him, and his little shite-stain spawn of theirs, James Potter walked on Charles other side. The Troyers were behind them along with the former Gryffindor Governors, Benjamin Ashburton and Colin Bottsford. Rita Skeeter had also snagged an invite by way of offering to write an article about Charles Potter's victory when he 'wins.'
Charles Potter waltzed in as if he had already been declared the victor. He was dressed in some fanciful dueling attire, but if the duelist in question wanted to look like a giant turd. He was dressed in a dueling uniform colored in a very…pungent shade of brown with small bedazzled jewels of yellow and red adorning his collar. He wore a cloak that was also the same color of brown clasped to a medallion of a lion.
Gabriel looked repulsed at Charles Potter's dueling attire, he looked at Marius who was taken aback as well. "Case in point."
"Indeed, but still be on your toes Gabriel, and good luck." Marius gave him a nod before heading back to sit with Vesper.
Alphard looked visibly sick upon seeing Charles Potter's attire. "It has finally happened Walla, Charles Potter has finally transcended the physical plain, and has become what he always was. A gigantic piece of shite."
Walburga smacked her brother on the arm, but made no vocal argument. Charles Potter did look like a giant piece of crap.
Charles Potter walked into the Great Hall with a grin on his face. He was pleased to see everyone silent in awe of his power and might.
Then Gabriel broke Charles Potter's illusion. "You look like a bedazzled piece of unicorn shite."
The entire entourage gasped as they stopped in their tracks. The Great Hall was more silent.
Then Alphard gave his two cents on the matter, "You look like an inbred fur trader in Quebec in the 1760's."
The children all started laughing.
Charles Potter was furious, "S-Stop this at once!"
Gabriel quipped, "You look like a Monarch's bowel movement."
Alphard didn't miss a beat, "You look like somebody who sells illicit drugs to minors."
"When Muggle parents talk to their kids about 'stranger danger' you look exactly like what most parents assume said strangers look like."
"You look like a sanitation worker who's a bit too eager to work in the sewers."
"You look like somebody who gets really excited about missionary position."
Everyone, including Professor McGonagall we're chuckling at this point, except for those in Potter's entourage.
"You look like the physical representation of a stroke." Alphard looked at his sister, "Walla do you want a turn?"
Walburga manages to keep her laughter on the inside, "Absolutely not! I have to set an example for my children!"
"Aww c'mon Mum! Please?" Sirius begged his mother, he was interested to see her rare witty responses.
"Cease your insults upon my husband's attire!" Mavis shrieked in her shrill voice. "You are all just jealous of how good he looks before he claims a decisive victory." She gave a smirk at Walburga's direction, "Against your supposed affair partner no less!"
Walburga glared at Mavis Potter, seething on the inside, before speaking once more, "Your husband looks like the underside of a farmer's boot, before he steps in a pile of cow manure!"
Sirius and Regulus laughed hysterically at their mother's insult.
James Potter growled, "Shut up! You're nothing but a bunch of evil Slytherin supporters ready to kiss Moldywart's bum!"
"Oh shut up Potty no one asked for your opinion," Sirius stated.
Regulus grinned, "From the looks of it, Potter's father is taking inspiration from 'the brown pants' eh Siri?!"
"Good one, little brother!"
The two shared another laugh leaving James Potter shocked. Why were so many people making fun of his father? The Potter name isn't that much of a joke, is it?
Gabriel wiped his eyes of tears from laughing too much before he raised his hands. "All right, everyone please take your seats before we all get started here."
The students went to take their seats in their section while the other assorted guests went to their sections of the bleachers.
Gabriel took center stage of the dueling platform and addressed his students. "Hello everyone. I am glad to see that everyone is here, although I didn't expect anyone would want to miss this." He put his hands behind his back, "Near the end of our last club meeting I asked you all to memorize the various ways to lose a proper 'Code Duello' duel. Who here can tell me some of the various ways to lose a duel?"
Several hands raised up.
Gabriel called on John Slink, "Mr. Slink, the floor is yours."
"Ring out, sir."
"Correct, Mr. Slink. The act of forcing your opponent out of the area set for a duel. Take five points for Hufflepuff." He looked around, "Anyone else?"
Several more hands raised up.
Gabriel called upon Severus, "Mr. Snape?"
"Disarmament."
"Correct, Mr. Snape, take five points for Slytherin. The most common way to end a duel is to disarm your opponent. As a matter of fact, Vesper Prince, who is in the audience." He motioned at Vesper who was sitting next to Marius. The two were flanked by Black Conor and Leif. "Has the most wins via disarmament in the National Dueling League with one hundred and thirty-five. She also has the record of most wins in the International Dueling Grand Prix representing England at fifty-one victories. Forty of those being a win via disarmament." He then gave Vesper a round of applause which everyone else followed suit.
Vesper rose modestly and gave a quick bow so as to not distract from the proceedings any longer. Severus looked upon his grandmother with pride. He knew she was an accomplished duelist but had never known the grand scope of her accomplishments in the art of dueling.
Lily whispered to Severus, "I can't believe I didn't know that!"
"Well, my grandma had never gone in depth during her time as a duelist. From what my grandfather and The Magnusson's have told me, she was exceptionally skilled."
"We will have to ask her about her dueling after this wraps up!"
"Yes we will! Hopefully she can teach us a few things."
The applause died down as Gabriel asked for one more way to win a duel. "One more? Sami, err I mean Mr. Yalarad?"
Samuel was called upon. He stood up, "Surrender."
"Very good Mr. Yalarad, take five points for Gryffindor. In my opinion, to make your opponent surrender and give up is the most resolute way to win a duel. You rarely see in a professional match competitors asking their opponent to give up. In cases of Aurors, it is necessary to ask their targets to surrender to prevent needless loss of life."
Charles Potter crossed his arms and scowled as Gabriel gave his lecture. He was raring to go, and embarrass Gabriel as he had done to him.
Gabriel noticed Charles Potter's frustration and obliged him by getting on with it. "I have agreed to duel Lord Charles Potter today and in front of you so that you can observe and learn from the mistakes that he makes during this duel. Henceforth this session will be called, 'What Not to Do While Dueling.'"
Charles harrumphed, "As if I'd ever make such blunders! I am a fantastic duelist!'
"Keep telling yourself that, you may wind up believing it one day."
Charles Potter growled as he walked up the steps onto the platform. He unclasped his cloak and flung it upon the floor.
Gabriel scoffed and summoned the cloak with a flick of his wand and threw it into Charles' arms.
"Don't go throwing your crap on the floor expecting someone to pick it up for you! This isn't your stupid manor!"
Charles growled, but reluctantly folded his cloak and handed it to Mavis who held it for him.
Professor Flitwick stood between Charles and Gabriel as they stood across from each other to hear Filius' instructions.
"Gentlemen, we know why we're here. You are to obey my orders at all times. No curses, or illegal spells allowed. Keep all spells above the waist and below the neck. Do you understand?"
Charles put his expensive dueling gloves on, "Yes, of course. I'm not stupid!"
"I understand Filius," Gabriel respectfully responded.
Flitwick nodded, "Then both of you will go to your side of the platform and wait for my command."
Gabriel bowed to Filius and tried to bow to Charles, but Potter walked away in a sign of disrespect.
Right off the hat, Charles Potter had pissed off most of the attendees in the audience. To snub your opponent who had tried to show proper respect and decorum in a 'Code Duello' duel was very bad sportsmanship.
"Alright, fuck you too," Gabriel muttered under his breath as he turned to walk to his side of the platform.
Both Gabriel and Charles stood across from each other. Gabriel took his dueling stance, a relaxed variation of Pure Style. Charles Potter took no stance, and had only his wand drawn.
Filius waved his hand, "Begin!"
Gabriel waited for Charles to attack first, but was surprised to see Charles address the audience.
"I want all of you to bear witness as I, Charles Potter, triumph over this waste of oxygen…"
Gabriel maintained his stance and looked over at Filius who just shrugged; for the Charms Professor was just as confused as Gabriel was. Charles kept on with his rant, hamming it up for his supporters in the audience.
Gabriel looked at Charles and used a simple jinx to knock him off the platform as he was mid-rant.
"...and therefore I will show everyone...HWHAH!" Charles was knocked back off of the stage onto his arse.
Professor Flitwick blew his whistle, "Ring out!" Filius raised his arm towards Gabriel. "Winner, Gabriel Schell!"
Charles Potter was completely surprised to have been knocked off of the platform. He was furious. "You fiend! Attacking me when I least expect it!"
Everyone from Potter's camp started jeering and booing. Calls for Gabriel to be disqualified went unanswered. Mavis and James rushed to Charles as he recovered.
Professor McGonagall who was seated with the other professors just shook her head, "What the blasted hell did Charles think would happen? The match had already begun!""
Gabriel just turned back towards his students, "Okay, can anyone tell me what Charles Potter did wrong?"
Emily Dewhurst raised her hand. "He wasn't paying attention to you."
"Correct Ms. Dewhurst! Take five points for Slytherin! One of the first things I want you all to understand is that you always keep your eyes on your opponent!"
Gabriel turned towards Charles and scowled at him, "And that means you never face the audience and start commentating after the official commences the duel!"
Charles growled as he brushed his pants off as he stood up, "Alright. You have made your point! The fun is over, let's go ahead and begin."
Gabriel cocked his head, "Begin?"
"Yes! Let us start our duel officially."
"The duel already started, and Filius declared it over when you were knocked out of the ring." Everyone went silent in the Great Hall when they realized that he was right. Charles Potter lost.
Charles Potter looked shocked, "Wait a minute!"
Gabriel crossed his arms, "The duel is over. You lost Potter. It's done."
Potter's entourage started yelling before Filius quieted them. "Professor Schell is correct! Mr. Potter lost, and there is nothing to be done about it! Unless Professor Schell agrees to a rematch."
Charles looked at Gabriel, who then scoffed, "Fat chance! We agreed to one duel, and that was it! You lost, and now you're banned from Hogwarts, and the Potter line is banned along with you!"
Rita was scribbling like a madwoman in her notebook taking down everything that had just happened
Mavis Potter's eyes nearly bulged out of her head as she turned to her husband, "You agreed to what?!"
Gabriel chuckled, "Looks like you forgot to mention that to the missus, now did you?"
Charles was taken aback by Mavis' displeasure as he stammered, "I-I-I demand a rematch!"
"You can make demands all you like but there's nothing you can do." He turned back to address his kids. He thought to himself, 'Take the bait, take the bait, take the bait you moron!'
"Name your price!" Charles Potter called out to Gabriel.
'Idiot!' Gabriel turned around to Charles Potter. "What was that?"
"You heard me, name your price!"
Gabriel looked at Charles Potter, he knew he was flustered but not at a point where Gabriel wanted him yet. So he decided to see what else he could get from him. "Give me a moment."
He walked off of the platform and went over to Marius and Vesper to speak with them. Gabriel also motioned for Walburga to join them, he always appreciated her council.
Gabriel, Walburga, Vesper, and Marius, flanked by Black Leif and Black Conor, went into a side chamber.
"What are you thinking," Marius asked Gabriel.
"That he's not ready to put the cloak up yet, but I don't know if he'll play further into my hands."
"I'm sorry, but what are you two talking about," Walburga asked them both.
Vesper filled her in, "From what Marius told me, Gabriel is trying to anger Potter enough that he would put up his family's Invisibility Cloak."
That got Walburga's full attention, "You'd ask for the Potter's Invisibility Cloak?!"
Gabriel turned to his old friend, "Walla, look me in the eyes and tell me that the cloak would not be safer in my hands than Potter's?"
Walburga sighed as she shook her head, "You're right. From what Sirius has told me, Potter and his son would always abuse the cloak."
"So, if I take that cloak away from them I will essentially take away one of Potter's chief weapons."
Walburga nodded, "I don't think he will agree to putting up his cloak."
"No, not yet at least."
Vesper rubbed her chin, "Marius mentioned that this all stemmed from a lawsuit Charles Potter issued after you knocked him out."
"He tried suing Gabriel for one hundred and fifty thousand galleons," Marius explained.
Walburga's eyes nearly popped out of her skull, "Gabriel do you even have that kind of money?"
Gabriel shook his head, "Of course not."
"Well, you're going to." Walburga gave him one of her toothy grins from back in her youth.
Gabriel got what Walburga was saying and grinned, "That's brilliant."
"One thing, don't ask for galleons." Marius advised, putting his legal prowess into action. "He could possibly try and find a way to get it back in the courts."
"So, what then? Ask for something worth equal value?"
"Walburga snapped her fingers, "I've heard that bitch Mavis Potter say how they have an abundance of gold bars in their reserves."
Gabriel chuckled, "That's about to change."
They all left the side chamber and went back into the Great Hall where Gabriel came back to speak to Charles Potter.
"Well?" Charles Potter asked Gabriel.
"Okay I'll agree to another duel, but at great cost."
Charles sneered, "Whatever price you have in mind I can pay ten times over!"
"One hundred and fifty thousand galleons."
Charles Potter balked at the sum of galleons and recognized the significance of said amount. "You want that amount?"
"I don't want it in galleons. I would like it in ten ounce bars of Gold. An equal amount of Gold Bars to that monetary value will be roughly…" Gabriel thought quietly to do the math in his head.
Alphard was reading a copy of The Daily Prophet he kept in his pocket as he was waiting for the duel to start back up again, "That's five hundred and thirty five bars."
Gabriel and Charles turned to him. "Is that rounded up or rounded down," Gabriel asked him.
"Rounded up, of course."
Charles Potter grimaced. He barely had that amount of gold Schell wanted. "Fine."
"Swear it on your magic."
"My word isn't good enough?!"
"No, it isn't."
Charles raised his right hand and swore, "I swear on my magic that I shall give you your payment. Now can we get on with it?!"
Gabriel motioned towards Potter's side of the platform.
Charles Potter rushed back onto the platform.
Gabriel casually made his way back onto the platform as everyone in the audience got settled in once more. Filius made sure both competitors were ready. "Begin!"
Charles Potter fired off a sloppy flurry of spells and hexes in quick succession, one right after the other.
Gabriel was nonchalantly blocking and countering all of those spells as quickly as Charles Potter could cast them, perhaps even quicker.
Charles barked out the incantations, he was getting more and more frustrated. "Expelliarmus, Flipendo, Rictusempra!"
"You should not rely on such a limited selection of spells," Gabriel advised Charles as he blocked them. He wasn't even breaking a sweat, Potter had the dueling capabilities of a Second Year.
"Shut up!" Charles' form became sloppier as he got more angry.
Severus and the other students were watching Gabriel duel. He kept holding a Pure Style form as Charles Potter was formless, and was shooting spells haphazardly. Luckily, the ward that Professor Flitwick had put up were holding, keeping the audience safe.
Gabriel decided to end this quickly and decided to pay homage to Vesper and Eileen, "Adolebitque et scabies!"
Charles Potter erupted in a sense of itching, and his skin felt as if it was being pieced by several thousand needles at once. He began scratching his skin, and he took his gloves off in order to scratch himself all over his body, including his crotch.
"Charles, dear Merlin, don't scratch yourself there," Mavis shouted, her face flushed in embarrassment.
James put his head in his hand to avoid the stares and laughs from his former peers.
Gabriel just stood back as he watched his handiwork. He looked over at Severus and winked.
Severus and everyone in the Dueling Club were laughing at Charles Potter finally getting some measure of payback.
Charles Potter began scratching more frantically to the point that he threw his wand down to the ground so that his other hand could scratch his chest.
Professor Flitwick blew his whistle, "Disarmament!" He raised his arm at Gabriel once more. "The winner is Gabriel Schell!"
The jeers and hisses from Potter's camp were drowned out by the cheers everyone else gave him. Gabriel soaked the admiration in for a brief moment before casting the counter to Vesper's spell. "Revelo."
Charles Potter's skin suddenly stopped itching and he felt better as he stopped scratching. Those feelings stopped once he saw his wand upon the floor. He felt as if his heart was in the middle of his throat.
Gabriel crossed his arms, "It's over."
Charles Potter shook his head, "No it's not." He noticed everyone looking at him. "Come on, one more round! I'll get you more gold"!
"I don't want your money again Chuckie, use your head." He went to walk off the stage
Charles Potter saw red, "Damn you, name your price!"
Gabriel smirked as he turned back around, now was the time to strike, "Your family's Invisibility Cloak."
The entire hall went deathly quiet. Charles Potter looked taken aback, but was kind of considering it.
James snapped his father out of it, "Father you can't! That's my inheritance, my birthright!"
Charles stammered, "l-I protest! I will not risk my family's most treasured possession on a duel such as this!"
Gabriel uncrossed his arms, "All or Nothing then, everything that I've won, plus our previous wagers, and the cloak." He decided to taunt him, "You're not scared, are you Chuckie?"
Charles Potter raged, "Be silent!"
"Not as confident in your abilities as you thought?"
Charles Potter was too angry and flustered to see what Gabriel was doing.
"Maybe you don't have what it takes, or maybe you don't have the stones necessary."
Charles was going to agree right then and there, but Mavis stopped him. "Charles Potter, don't be a fool!"
"Mavis! I swear…" He caught himself before he raised his voice at his wife in public. Charles retrieved his wand and went to speak with his wife, and son. He managed to put up a silencing charm before Mavis could yell at him.
Everyone looked at the animated mannerisms that both Charles and Mavis were showing.
Marius and Vesper were watching their private conversation. As they watched someone walked into the Great Hall unnoticed. He looked around and saw a few people he recognized, being Sam Yalarad, and Severus Snape. He looked into the stands and saw who he came to see. That being Marius and Vesper Prince. He walked over to the stands and walked up the steps, and then walked behind them and took a seat. "Looks like there's trouble in paradise
Marius and Vesper both recognized that voice, Marius smiled as he turned around. "Edmund!"
Edmund Fawley gave his old friends a smile. "Vespy, Mary," He jested with them, all in good fun as he addressed them by his nicknames for the two of them.
Vesper gave him an exaggerated eye roll, "Eddy." She chuckled, "How are you Edmund? How is retirement suiting you?"
"Oh, for the past year I've been keeping my mind occupied with my latest hobby." He grinned, "Curios and relics! I'm helping Sherwood locate and retrieve some valuable antiques from across Europe."
"Is that right?" Marius' asked his old friend.
Edmund shook his head, "Yes indeed I am. May I say I am quite good at it as well."
Vesper smiled knowing that her old friend wasn't letting his great mind go to waste. They were all great friends back during their time at Hogwarts. Edmund was even in their wedding party as one of Marius' groomsmen. "I may have to ask you to find some nice bits of furniture for Mirrorvale, the old place could do with some new…Marius?" Vesper noticed that her beloved husband was deep in thought.
Marius looked at his friend, "Edmund, by any chance have you come across any vanishing cabinets as of late?"
Edmund looked at Marius with a surprised look. "Yeah, I mean no. A few sets were bought, and then imported through the business. It was strange as they all came in right around same time.." Edmund narrowed his eyes, "Why do you ask?"
"Gabriel and I found a cabinet in Hogwarts a few days ago. We figured out Dante was using it to get in and out of Hogwarts with ease."
Edmund Fawley looked disturbed, "Merlin save us, there's no telling what he could have done with such a thing!"
"Do you know who those cabinets were sold to? The sale of those cabinets are highly regulated, so there must be a paper trail."
Edmund scratched his eyebrow, "Yeah, you have to be on a waiting list for around three years before you can even purchase a set, and you have to declare your intent for why you wish to use them."
Vesper looked at Marius, "Do you think Edmund can find who Dante may be working for through the paper trail?"
"I believe so," Marius' looked at his friend. "What do you say, Edmund?"
Edmund nodded, "I'll have to sit down and look at the ledger to see how many imports of vanishing cabinets came through within the past…let's say ten years?"
Marius shook Edmund's hand, "Thank you."
"Please, anything to knock that brat off his pedestal. The sooner you find out who this puppet master of his is, the better." He turned back to the stage, "Looks like the happy couple is finished with their pep talk."
After a seemingly furious row, with lots of arguing between Charles and Mavis, they appeared to be in agreement. The spell keeping their secrecy ceased, Charles Potter went over to Gabriel and snarled, "I want something in exchange for a wager that big!"
"What? A handicap of some sort? Name it."
Potter stroked his chin, "I want your right arm tied behind your back!"
"Fine then, I accept your terms, but how about you go and retrieve the gold I've won, and the Invisibility Cloak you have put up on the line."
Gabriel decided to take a breather and got a goblet and went to get some water while Charles made the arrangements with Mavis to get everything brought to Hogwarts. As he did Samuel walked over to him. "What's all this about Potter being banned from Hogwarts?"
"Potter was trying to sue me over knocking him out, and I managed to coerce him into accepting this duel. That was the original wager he made, and I wagered my position here at Hogwarts."
Sam looked surprised, "What?!"
Gabriel waved it off as he filled his goblet full of water and took a sip. "But that's old news. I haven't got a chance to really talk with you since coming on board here at Hogwarts."
Sam nodded, "I mean you've been busy with the intensive coursework, and the Dueling Club." He shrugged, "It's not a big deal."
"Well I am happy to see that you have tempered your anger with Sirius and Regulus."
Sam put his hands in his pockets, "My fight isn't with them, it's with their father."
Gabriel looked at Sam, "Have you given any thought about what I mentioned?"
Sam looked at the floor, "About the parley? With Severus and his friends?"
Gabriel scoffed softly, "It's not a parley. It's just a meeting with Severus' so that you two can talk."
"Gabriel you just described what a parley exactly is," Sam joked. He sobered, as he kept his eyes down, "I don't know."
Gabriel saw the brief look of concern dash across Sam's face, "He won't find out. I'll make sure of it."
"He always finds out, I don't know how, but he does." Sam took his hands out of his pockets and rubbed the back of his head as he stretched. "I just don't want to get him mad, okay?"
"Why would he get mad for, Sam," Gabriel asked his godson.
Sam didn't answer, but his eyes looked over towards his siblings, Lyta and Augie. "I just don't need him lashing out." He looked at Gabriel, "If you can guarantee that he won't find out, I'll sit down with Severus."
Gabriel smiled, "You have nothing to worry about Sam. I promise that he will not find out." He still saw the concern on Sam's face. "Have I ever lied to you before?"
Sam's eyes drifted away. "Yeah…"
Gabriel frowned, "When?"
Sam looked back at him, "When you said everything was going to be all right after my dad died."
Gabriel sighed, and looked at his godson, even after all this time; Silas' death really hit Sam hard. He should have stayed, how Gabriel wished he could have stayed, but with Abraxas Malfoy breathing down his neck. He couldn't risk Sam's life, or his family's lives either.
"Are things better now?"
Sam quietly shook his head, "I mean…in a way."
"Then that's progress, you got to give it time, Sam." He gave Sam a small hug before sending him back on his way.
A few moments later Mavis Potter returned to the hall with a few of the Potter elves carrying duffle bags filled with the heavy gold bars. All the while she was carrying The Potter Invisibility Cloak.
Gabriel saw that the elves were struggling to keep standing while holding the bags filled with his gold bars, so he charmed the bags with a feather-light charm so that they could hold them with ease. He looked at Mavis with a scowl, but held his tongue. He looked at the cloak in her hands and then looked at Professor McGonagall. "Minerva, can you come here please?"
Minerva nodded and proceeded down the stands to where Gabriel was standing. "May I help you Gabriel?"
Gabriel nodded towards the cloak in Mavis' arms. "I believe you've held Potter's invisibility cloak before, given your history with James Potter. Tell me, is that it?"
Mavis scowled, "I don't know what you are insinuating, but I assure you this is our family's Invisibility Cloak."
Gabriel looked Mavis dead in her eyes, "My trust in your family is less than the dirt beneath my feet."
Minerva took a look at the cloak in Mavis' arms. "May I?"
Mavis looked like she wanted to say something, but relented.
Minerva took hold of the Invisibility cloak and examined it. She then draped it over her shoulders and her lower body was gone in an instant. "As Muggles say, this is the real McCoy, as it were."
Gabriel shook his head, "Thank you Minerva, would you be so kind and safeguard it and the gold until this is over?"
"Of course Gabriel."
Gabriel looked over to Charles Potter, "All right let's get the over with." He placed his right hand behind his back. "Minerva, be a dear?"
Minerva charmed a piece of thread to transfigure into a rope and bound his right arm behind his back.
Charles Potter immediately ran up to the stage and took his position. This time he would show Schell what was what.
Gabriel took his time to walked up the steps to the dueling platform and took his position.
Filius took his position again, and started the duel. "Begin!"
Before any spell was casted, and any incantation was spoken, a lone voice was heard in the crowd.
"Walla, isn't Gabriel ambidextrous?" Alphard asked his sister.
The whole hall once again got quiet. Charles Potter's eyes grew wide as he turned towards Alphard and then back to Gabriel who was twirling his wand in his left hand, like a gunslinger would twirl a Colt 45.
Charles Potter sneered, "You tricked me!"
"Really, pray tell?" Gabriel smirked, "You're the one who came up with your brilliant stipulation." He laid on the sarcasm real thick for Charles.
"You…you neglected to inform me about you being able to use both hands to wield a wand in a duel!"
"Then you should have thought about that. It's not my fault you are too stupid to think about these things before hand," Gabriel raised his free hand as he shrugged.
Gabriel readied himself but Charles Potter stood in his place with his arms crossed,
"Lord Potter the duel has started, ready yourself," Filius advised him.
"No, I won't duel him anymore, he tricked me!"
The audience stated to complain as Charles Potter was acting like a petulant child.
Gabriel shook his head, he wished that he was surprised at this, but he wasn't. "No wonder they didn't want you to become an Auror. You're just proving their point tenfold."
Charles Potter had his arms crossed and was still not engaging with Gabriel.
Gabriel decided to try and goad him into dueling him. It was childish, of course, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He looked over at Mavis Potter and had an idea. He walked over toward the side of the platform facing her. "A question Lady Mavis, is your husband able to bring you to climax when you sleep together, or does he just flop around on top of you like a fish brought out from the sea?"
Mavis Potter was speechless, "Wh-What?!"
Charles looked at Gabriel with a look of sheer hatred.
All the kids, except for James, were laughing hysterically. Severus was uncharacteristically guffawing like a madman. His gut was busting from laughing so hard. Sirius was laughing along with his brother so hard that even a stern look from their mother had no effect on curtailing their laughter.
The other guests attending were all amused at different levels. Vesper and Walburga found it amusing but didn't show any reaction, Minerva and the other professors found it funny and were holding back smiles, the Magnusson's were stoic as all hell but were laughing on the inside, and Marius was laughing along with Edmund Fawley and Alphard Black.
Gabriel continued, "You look like you haven't had a single orgasm when you've laid down with your husband, so how about this. We head out to The Golden Unicorn at Thesaurum Row, my friend Jeremy Blythe, is the General Manager so we'll get the best seats in the house. Then afterwards I'll go ahead and show you what you've been missing all these years!"
Mavis Potter was a stuttering mess, she was blushing brighter than a cherry . She was twiddling her thumbs as she didn't know what to do with herself. In the looks department, Gabriel was ten times more attractive than her husband, and she knew it.
Gabriel knew he'd struck paydirt when he saw Charles Potter draw his wand and point it at him. "I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!"
Gabriel corrected him, "Son of a bastard, really. My mother was a saint." Gabriel jested with Charles Potter to get another rise out of him.
Charles Potter casted an assortment of hexes and curses at Gabriel haphazardly. His form was even sloppier than before of you could believe it.
Gabriel, even with his handicap, he managed to block each of his spells with ease, although his movements were a bit more restricted.
"Piece of shit!" Charles Potter was raving mad, he was nearly foaming at the mouth he was so enraged. He cast another hex at Gabriel.
"Yes, you look like one! We've established this!" Gabriel said as he blocked Charles' hex.
Charles Potter was not having it anymore so he decided enough was enough. "Bombarda!"
Gabriel's eyes widened, he braced himself , and prepared to counter it.
The bolt of magical energy flung from Potter's wand, and Gabriel pointed his wand at it, "Consistere Signa!"
The bolt of magical energy slowed to a near halt in the middle of the air.
Charles Potter was flabbergasted, "What the.."
"Papilio Terrore!" Gabriel cast this jinx at the slowed Bombarda, and the bolt exploded in a rush of butterflies that flew all over the Great Hall before disappearing.
Charles Potter attempted to cast another Bombarda, but Gabriel was quicker to the draw. "Everte Statum."
Charles Potter was flung back, but he did not fall off the platform. He got back up, and wildly cast some more spells at Gabriel, who in return blocked them, and in the case of a hex or two, sent them back to Charles Potter.
They hit their mark, and Charles Potter started to grow boils all over his body, and his hair fell out leaving him bald.
This resulted in another round of laughter and belittlement from the students and most of the guests attending as well.
His anger engulfed his every being, but suddenly it stopped. Charles Potter felt small all of a sudden. Like he was finally was hearing the laughter from his embarrassment, and the shame from his losses and his current affliction.
He looked at Gabriel who hadn't even broken a sweat. "I never had a chance, did I?"
"No, you never came close." Gabriel looked at Charles Potter, "Surrender, and you might leave here with a bit of dignity left."
Charles Potter looked down at the floor and then raised his wand back up, "Never."
Gabriel could understand and respect where Charles Potter was coming from, but decided to finish it.
With a wave from his wand, he cast a simple tripping jinx, and Charles Potter went tumbling over onto the ground.
"Ring-out! Winner, Gabriel Schell!" Filius raised his hand towards his colleague.
The entirety of the audience, sans Potter's entourage, applauded for Gabriel Schell's final victory over Charles Potter.
Mavis and James quickly picked Charles up from the ground and made a quick exit with their entourage. Mavis was chastising her husband for losing not only their gold, but their ancestral Invisibility Cloak.
Rita Skeeter was behind them still writing in her pad as she was a few paces behind them. This was going to be a best selling issue, she could taste it.
"Ms. Skeeter."
Rita stopped in her tracks, and turned towards the person who called out for her, and was surprised to see Dante Yalarad standing there before her. She noticed that Dante had a packet in his hands. He strolled over towards her with a smile, and handed it to her.
"I believe you dropped this Ms. Skeeter," Dante motioned for her to take it.
Rita was a bit cautious, she heard the rumors surround Dante, but took the packet. "Thank you?"
"It's no problem," Dante smiled as he walked off.
Rita went back along her way, and took the floor back to her office at The Daily Prophet to get to work writing about the duel. However, she looked at the packet that Dante Yalarad had given her, and was tempted to open it.
She broke the seal of the packet and opened its contents. Inside was a letter to which she put to the side as there was some sort of binder detailing some sort of report. Rita Skeeter took one look at the title of the report and nearly had a heart attack. This was one of those stories that would only come across a reporters desk once in their lifetimes, and hers finally came.
The title of the report was, 'Ministry of Magic's Official Commission Report on the Death of Auror Silas Yalarad.'