I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Hello everyone, hope all are well. I am changing up my post schedule today for a couple of reasons. I decided that it's been a while since there's been a cliffhanger for people to stew over and while today's chapter isn't exactly a cliffhanger, it's similar enough to count so decided to treat it as such. Also I have been sitting on this chapter for a very long time and was really happy with how it came out and I didn't want to wait to share it. So I hope you enjoy. Extended Family will be updated tomorrow.
As always, thank you for reading and commenting. Your reviews and likes mean a lot to me. Have a wonderful weekend!
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A Taste of Magic
105th Course – Beware the Gentle Man
Gales of laughter echoed around the demonstration floor as people heartily enjoyed the display. A variety of fruit were dancing with one another to music. They twirled and spun around the floor in a very identifiable dance.
"Wonderful!" the ICW Charms Master laughed, clapping her hands with glee. "Such a lovely display! Animation charm combined with a dancing charm and a weightless charm for more grace, a charm for a record to play without a record player, and even some dancing lights to make things even more bright. A splendid combination that was thoughtfully applied."
Harry beamed. "Thank you, Ma'am!"
"What dance are they doing? The music is very familiar but I cannot quite place it," she asked.
"A salsa," Harry said.
She laughed even louder. "Oh my, what a lovely joke too!"
"I can't take credit for it," Harry said. He nodded to the audience.
"Of course you have a hand in it, it has your flair for the dramatic," the instructor grinned at the person Harry nodded to.
Drake looked incredibly pleased and smug. "Harry is a very excellent wizard and I adore him for many reasons with this being not the least of them."
Harry twirled his wand and incanted softly. The record floating in mid air stopped and a second one appeared and began to play. The music that came out was even more bombastic and spritely and the dancing fruit assembled in a line and began to dance together in a different way, bouncing and bobbing to the new beat. A roar of approval came from magicals dressed in Beauxbatons robes and colors and Nicolas and Perenelle cheered, clapping in time to the music.
"The cancan?" the instructor smiled, deeply amused.
"Something else that fruit can do," Harry said with utter sincerity.
"That joke I did not come up with," Drake snorted, also deeply amused.
"You are a delight," the instructor said with an even broader smile. "I see Professor Flitwick continues to be an excellent instructor."
"He's the best," Harry said stoutly. "I've learned so much from him."
"Clearly. Excellent work, Mister Potter," the instructor said, clapping along to the music.
"I love that boy," Perenelle smiled, laughing at the wiggling fruit.
"He is an excellent student and a fine young man," Flitwick said proudly.
"He does seem to be acquiring a flair for irreverence," Andromeda smiled warmly. "A credit to his company."
"Good," Drake snorted. "Britons are typically unfunny fellows as it is. A spot of brightness is something to be encouraged and nurtured."
-0-
"Yes Filius?" Dumbledore looked up from his desk in the train. "Is something the matter?"
"Yes and no," Flitwick said, closing the door behind him. "I wanted to inform you that someone tried to tamper with one of the train cars. I was informed by Gates and his team."
"What happened?" Dumbledore said, standing up and looking alarmed.
"Oh nothing that wasn't actually prevented by the protections," Flitwick said soothingly. "They think that the perpetrators were trying to open a window and slip something in. But the protections stopped them and held them in place for Gates and his team to apprehend."
"Oh good, where are they?" Dumbledore said, relieved.
"Being escorted back to their tent," Flitwick said with a grim smile.
"Oh no, Sanguis students?" Dumbledore groaned.
"Indeed. And since their actions can be construed as an attack on Gringotts itself-"
"-the Gringotts delegation are handling it," Dumbledore concluded. "Oh dear. I hope they will not be too…extreme."
"Again, yes and no," Flitwick hummed. "Doran will be completely appropriate and professional."
"Oh good."
"Dee on the other hand will be completely inappropriate and unprofessional."
"Oh, good."
"If you hurry, you might be able to catch up," Flitwick offered.
"No, I will not intrude on Gringotts authority," Dumbledore said, sitting back down. "Also, this will serve our interests more, keeping Tom off-balance and bothered."
-0-
Narcissa looked equal parts irritated and apprehensive. She had been alarmed when she was told by her secretary that a few Sanguis students had been caught doing something inappropriate and had been brought in by a few individuals.
When she had entered the office, she had looked disappointed and annoyed when she recognized Theodore Nott, Cormac McLaggen, And Zacharias Smith in the office. Her annoyance became apprehension and even fear when she saw Doran wearing full Gringotts regalia alongside three other goblins. Two of the others also wore Gringotts uniforms while the third wore what could only be described as armor, complete with a helmet fashioned from a skull of something that looked vaguely draconic.
The very large axe that jutted over Doran's shoulder was also a source of fear.
"Headmistress Malfoy," Doran greeted politely.
"Deputy Headmistress, technically," Narcissa said politely.
"Seeing how the Headmaster refused to meet with us, I think not," Doran said simply. "However, I can recognize protocol so, Deputy Headmistress Malfoy. These three were apprehended by the Hogwarts Express. They tried to break into one of the cars and introduce something unsavory to them."
"It was just a prank!" Zacharias shouted.
"Quiet," Narcissa growled. She smoothed her features and looked back at Doran. "That said, I am sure that it was in fact a prank. A stupid and misguided one, but a prank nonetheless."
"Goblins do not recognize pranks," Doran said coolly. "The word for 'prank' in Gobbledegook is basically 'mild aggression'." He smiled thinly at Narcissa's sour expression and the rising panic on the faces of the three boys.
"I can understand that," Narcissa said slowly, "but I do not understand why you have returned them in such a way. Surely this is a matter between Hogwarts and Sanguis."
"Normally you might be correct. However, since Gringotts Britain arrived on the train and we have placed our protection on the train and the space around it, it is also Gringotts territory," Doran said. He smiled toothily at Narcissa's not quite smothered groan. "Therefore, this act of 'mild aggression' was leveled at Gringotts Britain and well, we do not take kindly to any levels of aggression."
"How were we supposed to know that?" Cormac gasped.
"By being slightly intelligent," Doran said scathingly. "You three are Purebloods, part of the Society families. I recognize your features. I wonder how your Houses will react to the news that you have started a conflict with us?"
"I am sure that will not be necessary," Narcissa said swiftly.
"And I am sure that it is," Dee said.
Narcissa blinked at her, eyes straying to the fearsome helmet. "And who are you? You are not wearing any Gringotts clothing or uniform and that means you do not speak for them."
"Very good," Dee said in a condescending tone, making Narcissa frown. "No, I'm not a part of Gringotts, at the moment. I am speaking as the Matriarch of StoneHeart." She smiled at Narcissa and the boys' expression. "Yes, that StoneHeart. You attacked one of mine. I do not appreciate that at all."
Doran smiled broadly. "I will let you off with a warning. Do not approach the Express again. Do not try to harass or harm with any level of aggression any of the students from Hogwarts. I am khabor, I speak with the authority of the Director of Gringotts Britain. Any act of unpleasantness, no matter how small, will be construed as an act of war. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal clear," Narcissa gulped. She smiled as warmly as she could. "We appreciate your discretion in this matter. It will not happen again."
"See that it does not," Doran said. "Or else you will find the consequences to be especially…dire." Without another word he turned and left, followed by the other two Gringotts goblins. Dee glared at the boys who shied away and she saved one last toothy grin for Narcissa before she left too.
"Deputy Headmistress-" Nott started.
"Not another word," Narcissa said coldly. The boys flinched at her tone and she glared at them. "You nearly started a bloody war! A war with the goblins by pulling a prank! Why would you do something so monumentally stupid and dangerous?!"
"We didn't know that the Express was considered goblin territory! It never was before!" Cormac sputtered.
"Who put you up to this?!" Narcissa asked, glaring at them. "You know what, I do not care. You are all confined to the tent for the rest of the Showcase unless you are accompanied by a professor for a sanctioned event. If I catch any of you even looking at the Express or at any of the students, I will send you home immediately and will put you in detention for the rest of your career at Sanguis, and inform your parents that you almost lost them all their gold and any standing to do any business at Gringotts. Now get out of my sight!"
She sat heavily as the boys fled, rubbing her temples. She heard someone enter and she glared at them. "What, too much?"
Lucius shook his head. "Not at all. Rather lenient I must say. Conflicts with goblins have been started over less." He shrugged weakly. "I am sorry, my wife. I thought it was best if you met with the delegation. The Headmaster…does not treat with goblins very well and he is under some stress about the upcoming duel."
"He is under some stress?" Narcissa resisted the urge to sweep everything off the desk in front of her. "What about us?!"
"We are under more than some," Lucius admitted. He rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Things are coming apart faster and faster."
"At least we are showing some semblance of competence during the classes and demonstrations." Narcissa glowered at the wall. "Not as much as I like."
"Of course the year we formally start is the year Hogwarts does better educationally," Lucius snorted.
"Tell me Draco did not put them up to it," Narcissa begged.
"I do not think he has. He's been rather…focused lately," Lucius said slowly. "He has shown considerable dedication to his studies and is performing very well." He shrugged limply. "I cannot say for sure though."
He shook his head. "We are in a precarious position, are we not."
"We are," Narcissa said grimly. "I never imagined we would be opposite to the Alchemist, his wife, the Tepes Eld, and now Gringotts. If it was just Dumbledore and Sirius, that would be one thing." Her face twisted. "Even with the other families having turned against us."
"We will have to try and overcome a lot when this is over," Lucius said. "Make amends. Perhaps try to mend breaks and make overtures."
"If we survive that long," Narcissa said glumly.
-0-
"Well done everyone," Dumbledore said warmly and proudly. The Showcase was mostly over and the majority of the demonstrations and classes had concluded. He gathered all the students in the big sitting car and he enjoyed everyone's looks of happiness and pride. "You have done yourselves and your school proud."
He led the applause. "Hogwarts students have performed at the top in every subject we have joined and I am incredibly proud of all of you. I have received numerous compliments in regards to your skills, your knowledge, and your natures. I am also grateful that there have been no unfortunate incidents or altercations."
Everyone turned to look at the Weasley twins who looked back with completely insincere innocent expressions.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Now, we are approaching the end. The ICW committee has put up a final competition between the four invited schools to decide on the two that would be a part of the final exhibition. The committee has also asked for a certain student to be our representative and they have asked that Mister Potter be Hogwarts' representative."
He smiled as everyone applauded and cheered. "Well, Mister Potter?"
"I technically have a choice, right?" Harry asked with a sheepish grin.
"Of course you do," Dumbledore said warmly.
"I'll give it a go," Harry said to more cheers. "I'm not the best duelist though so don't be mad if I lose."
"No one will hold it against you," Dumbledore smiled. "You will do your best and that is all we can ask of you."
"You got this," Dora said confidently. "Just remember what I taught you."
"Keep moving, always push on, do my best, and don't be afraid to fight dirty," Harry said.
"Exactly," Dora said proudly.
"You taught him to fight dirty?" Amelia asked, glaring at him.
"Hell yeah I did," Dora retorted, her hair turning bright red and her eyes a similar shade of red. "When it comes down to it, the only winner is the one that's still alive and better the other bastard goes down before you."
"Hmm, where have I heard that before," Dumbledore mused dryly.
"Dora just said it," Ariana said. "Literally, a second ago. Are you having problems with your memory?" She squawked when Dumbledore poked her, smacking back irritably.
"The problem is, she and Ariana are not the only culprits that would teach a lesson like that," Dumbledore sighed.
"Allegedly teach a lesson like that," Flitwick coughed.
"Better to be over prepared than under," Nicolas shrugged. "She is not wrong. The easiest time to kick someone is when they are down. And there is nothing wrong with that."
"Thank Merlin and the powers for Harry's good nature," Dumbledore groaned.
"When it comes down to it, Harry will do the right thing," Perenelle said. "I have the utmost faith in him."
-0-
A large dueling circle was made in the center of the Colosseum. It was on a raised platform of marble but the floor of the dueling circle was covered in sand. Numerous wards and protections were worked into the platform and the circle as well as a second circle that was made between the platform and the rest of the Amphitheatre. Everyone who attended the Showcase was there to watch, even the vendors. They sat in the stands and the ancient seats of the Colosseum itself to watch. Large mirrors hung over the dueling circle, ready to magnify the actions of the duelists below.
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" A wizard wearing battle robes stood in the circle with arms outspread. "It is my pleasure to be the announcer and the central referee for the upcoming duels. My name is Gregory Graves and it is my honor to be here. Allow me to go over the rules for the duels between the schools."
He waved his wand and magical writing filled the air. "The duels will involve the duelists alone. No outside aid will be allowed. The duels will go until one duelist capitulates, is knocked out of bounds, or if any of the referees or judges see fit to intervene. We will intervene if we believe the duelist is going too far or uses a spell that is considered too extreme. Otherwise, we expect the duelists to behave themselves and adhere to the generally established rules for dueling."
He smiled and clapped his hands. "The first duel will be between Akin Okoye from Uagadou and Tsumugi Watanabe from Mahoutokoro!"
"That means you will be dueling Sanguis," Pansy gasped, looking at Harry.
Harry nodded, looking somber. "Draco, specifically. The Headmaster informed me a little ago."
"You got this," Lavender said, hugging him tightly and kissing him on the cheeks. "You're an awesome wizard Harry and you'll do great!"
He hugged her back gratefully. "Thanks," he said. He looked across the way at the Sanguis contingent. Draco was looking over as well and their eyes met. For a moment they stared at each other before Draco turned away.
"No way that just happened to shake out like that," Sirius said grimly.
Drake huffed softly. "Unfortunately, that might be something the committee decided upon without outside influence. I'm sure they would like to see the differences between both British schools."
"Makes sense," Andromeda said unhappily.
Applause and cheers rained down on the dueling platform as Akin and Tsumugi took the stage. Akin wore pants with broad legs that flowed with easy movement. He was bare-chested save for the colorful shawl wrap around one shoulder and it was bound at his waist as well. He had a stave hanging from a strap over his shoulder as well and he waved with a confident smile. His classmates cheered and chanted his name while making roaring sounds.
Tsumugi wore a gi made from dark blue fabric, the top bound by a belt over the flexible pants. Her long hair was bound in a tight pony tail and she was tying a bracelet of large beads around one wrist and held something long and flat in her other hand. She bounced on the balls of her feet and waved to her friends who chanted her name.
"Duelists, are you ready?" Graves asked. When both Tsumugi and Akin nodded, Graves swung his hand down and an arc of light followed the wand tip. "DUELLUM!"
Akin gestured with his hands, incanting in his language. The sand at his feet gathered into pillars and turned into stone and with flicks of his fingers, the pillars broke into discs and went flying right at Tsumugi. She incanted just as swiftly held her wrist with the bracelet up. A shield of light shimmered into being and it blocked the initial barrage of stone discs were blocked and fell to the side. She flicked her other hand and the slim object unfolded into a fan and she drew a large circle around herself. The fallen stone discs were swept up and when she slashed with her hand, sending them back at Akin.
The young man moved his hands down then up, holding his palms flat. Sand flowed up in a wave and caught the stones handily. Akin formed a fist and the sand followed suit, turning into a large fist floating in the air. At Akin's punch, the sand fist went flying and turned into stone in mid-flight.
The fan slashed down and a large blast of wind shot at the fist, a shriek filling the air. The razor-sharp wind cut the fist in half and Tsumugi stood still, both halves of the stone fist fling on either side of her. She spoke rapidly and with economical fans of her wrist, she shot several spells at Akin.
"Holy crap," Ron breathed, enthralled. "This is amazing."
"Uagadou really emphasizes transfiguration," McGonagall said, deeply impressed. "That young man is very talented, wandless as well which is even more impressive."
Akin ducked and rolled, dodging a few spells. As he came to his feet, he whipped his stave into hand and blocked the last of the incoming spells. He started chanting rhythmically, his voice rising and falling. He moved the stave in an intricate pattern and pulses of magic made the sand shiver and shake. He swung his stave with both hands and each swing sent a spell at Tsumugi.
The girl ducked too, dodging them but stumbling when the last struck her side. The Impediment Jinx slowed her down and she gritted her teeth. She drew a line in the sand with her fan and a shimmering wall separated her from Akin. She started incanting rapidly in Japanese, her voice rising and falling much like Akin's had. The sand melted and became water, swirling about her. With a shout, she slashed with her hand with the fan and the wall dissipated and an immense wave of water surged towards Akin. Akin thrust his stave into the ground moments before the wave came crashing down and for a moment, his side of the circle was smashed by water. The water was stopped by something and it swirled around the stave, held back.
A loud roar pierced the air and the water was thrown back violently. A dark streak burst from the space that was made by the stave and Tsumugi and the majority of the watchers gasped as a lion streaked across the dueling circle. The lion roared as he ran and his mane was short and black, the top of it was streaked in silver, like Akin's hair.
"SIMBA!" the students from Uagadou shouted with more than a few roaring like a lion too. "OKOYE! OKOYE! UAGADOU!"
"He's an animagus!" Hermione shouted.
"So cool!" Susan shouted.
Tsumugi shrieked and ducked when Akin in his lion animagus form went flying at her, pouncing and roaring. She rolled and flipped to her feet, dodging back. A hasty swipe of her fan magnified an air blast, making Akin stumble back. She fanned with her fan several more times, keeping Akin at bay. Akin would not be deterred however and he chased after her, tail lashing. She reached into a pocket and threw a handful of pieces of paper in front of her and they scattered with the wind, some of them hitting Akin.
Akin roared again and pushed through the wind and paper and he leapt. His front paws slammed into Tsumugi's chest, making the watchers groan and scream. The screams became sounds of confusion when Tsumugi seemed to fold and all of a sudden, Akin stood on the ground, pinning a large piece of paper to it and had a look of leonine confusion on his face.
Tsumgui appeared behind him, having swapped places with the piece of paper. She incanted and stomped the ground hard and slashed with her fan, dragging it across. The water that had collected where Akin landed flowed to him and Akin roared from shock as the water wrapped itself around his legs and body and threw him hard. The lion flew through the air and landed on the ground, off the platform.
"BANZAI!" the students from Mahoutokoro shouted. "WATANABE AND MAHOUTOKORO!" They pounded immense taiko drums and Tsumugi jumped up and down, shrieking with victory. Applause and cheers from the rest of the watchers rained down as the girl celebrated her victory.
"Winner!" Graves shouted and shot magical lights from his wand. "Tsumugi Watanabe from Mahoutokoro!"
Akin rose to his feet and shuddered, turning human once more. He looked soaked and a bit sheepish, but he bowed at the waist to Tsumugi, an easy smile on his lips. At her gesture, he climbed up the platform and they bowed once more before shaking hands. He held Tsumugi's hand up in celebration and the crowd roared with approval.
"That was incredible!" Millicent said excitedly. "Holy cow I so want to get better at dueling!"
Pansy looked over at the Sanguis contingent. She blanched a little at the expression on Draco's face, at his look of utter coldness and focus. "Harry, be careful," she said softly, looking at him seriously.
"Don't worry about me," Harry said with a small smile. "I'll be fine. Thank you though."
As soon as the platform was cleared of remaining magic, the sand was restored and evenly distributed, Graves made a gesture for Draco and Harry to mount the platform.
"Go Harry!" Lavender shouted and a beat later the rest shouted too. "You can do it!"
Harry nodded at them, trying to feel and look confident. He approached the center of the platform, suddenly conscious of being in the center of attention for everyone in the Colosseum. His apprehension there was replaced by a new form of concern when he came face to face with Draco.
The boy had changed. It had been over a year since they last saw each other and Draco was taller than before, still slim and pale but with an air of confidence he did not have before. His eyes bore into Harry and his lips curled in a sneer. "Finally, I will get my revenge on you," he said coldly.
Harry felt his insides calm slightly, feeling that familiar sense of disdain for Draco coming up. "What, for the honor duel third year? Aren't you over it yet? I thought you got everything you wanted by going to your own school. When are you going to let it go?"
Draco glared at him. "I got what I wanted? You took everything from me!"
"You threw it away," Harry replied scathingly. "You threw your best friend away, and for what? You never knew what you had until you lost it through your own actions!"
"And I'm going to take back what is mine," Draco said coldly.
"I'm not afraid of you," Harry said coolly.
"Oh? You will be," Draco countered and walked to his side of the dueling circle.
Harry did the same, shaking his head. The fact that Draco was still utterly Draco was oddly comforting to him, yet he also saw a change in the other young man. There was a different kind of coldness there, a focus that was honed razor sharp.
Harry steeled himself. He also changed this last year, he knew it. He knew he was better at dueling after his many lessons with many different people. He too had grown. And he had defeated Draco before.
"From Sanguis Verus Academy, Draco Malfoy!" Graves announced. There was polite claps from the watchers. The others from Sanguis cheered for their champion and oddly, Draco did not acknowledge any of it.
"From Hogwarts, Harry Potter!" Graves said. The Hogwarts students and the professors and escorts cheered loudly for Harry and there was more enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Tsumugi and Akin and their friends also cheered for Harry, something that made Harry feel warm inside.
"Duelists, are you ready?" Graves nodded when Harry and Draco did. "DUELLUM!"
Harry aimed with his wand. "Stupefy!"
Draco hissed and slapped the Stunning Jinx out of the air, sending it to the ground with an irritable slap with his wand. "A Stunning Jinx?! You think that will work on me?! Diffindo!"
Harry leapt to the side and he gasped at the giant line carved through the sand and into the platform. The Severing Charm had been cast with definite intent and the wooden platform beneath the sand had a deep line gouged out of it.
"Oh no," Padma gasped. "He's serious!"
"Get him Harry!" Blaise shouted. "Fight!"
Harry dodged as two more Severing Charms carved deep lines where he once stood. Gritting his teeth, he shot forth a sheet of oil and grease from his wand, coating the sand and ground in front of him. He flicked his wand and sent the sheet of slippery oil right at Draco.
"Incindio!" Draco shouted and set the oil on fire. He sent the burning oily mess back at Harry and when he saw Harry shoot water at it, he thought Harry was only trying to put it out. He gasped when the burning mass rose above the water and was sent back towards him. He tried to put it out with even more water and had to vanish it with a hastily incanted vanishing spell when the mess had risen even higher.
Harry had cleared the space around him with a strongly casted Scouring Charm and with Draco distracted, shot a string of stunners at him. Draco summoned a shield charm and blocked the stunners, looking at Harry with obvious astonishment when his shield creaked and cracked under the strength of the stunning spells.
"He is doing well," Andromeda said, pride and apprehension in her voice.
"That boy is seriously trying to injure him," Perenelle growled as Draco conjured gleaming metal spikes and sent them hurtling at Harry. They dug deep into the ground, hitting the surface with violent force.
"There is some history there," Remus said seriously. "You can do this Harry, come on."
"Manus praesidio!" Two magical emerald hands appeared on either side of Harry and they slapped incoming spikes out of the air. They flew about him, catching some spikes while deflecting others and Harry's friends cheered at the sight.
"That's my boy!" Ariana shouted proudly.
Harry sent a few spikes back at Draco and shot an Impediment Jinx at him in an attempt to make him stumble, followed by even more stunners. Draco blasted the spikes aside and deflected the Impediment Jinx. He dodged the first few stunners but the last one struck his leg and he toppled over with a cry. He aimed his wand down and incanted as he fell and thick black smoke billowed out of the wand, forming an obscuring screen around him.
Harry cast a Wind Blast Charm to blow the smoke away and stopped short. Where he expected Draco to be, there was no one. Motion to the side made him spin but it was too late. Under the cover of the smoke, Draco disillusioned himself and snuck out of one side and he reappeared as he aimed his wand. "OPPRIMENDI TIMOR!"
Thick black and purple smoke shot out of Draco's wand, forming into long grasping tentacles and they closed the space between Draco and Harry swiftly. Harry tried to dodge and blast the tendrils away but was unsuccessful and they went straight through the magic hands. When they grabbed Harry's body, they were so cold he burned and his mind burned too.
"No!" Perenelle gasped.
"What's wrong, what's that?!" Sirius said, alarmed.
Drake growled and his eyes shone red. "That is a disgusting spell! It magnifies your greatest fears and forces you to live them in your mind."
"That sounds incredibly Dark," Primrose gasped.
"It is not certainly a pleasant one," Nicolas spat. "Resist Harry! You must!"
"Step aside, girl," Voldemort said coldly.
"No, please," Lily wept. "Kill me instead!"
Harry was back in the nightmare of his past. He felt like he was in absolute darkness once more, trapped between walls that pressed down on him from all around. The smell of dust and neglect and mold assaulted him. He saw shadowy figures in the oppressive dark, Voldemort with his wand out and Lily trying to shield him. She screamed as she died, as Voldemort laughed cruelly, and Harry screamed with her. He was paralyzed by the spell, held up by the tendrils, unable to escape.
"Harry!" Lavender shrieked. She had to wrestle with a struggling Hedwig. She was holding Hedwig in her arms and at Harry's screams, the owl tried to burst out to intervene. Hedwig barked and screeched, trying to fight her way free. "Hedwig, we can't interfere!"
"Draco you bastard!" Daphne shouted.
Draco laughed and laughed, his smile cruel and hungry. "How does it feel, Potter?! How pathetic, trapped by your own mind! I'm not letting you go until you break!" He poured his hate and malice into the spell and the tendrils tightened their grip around Harry.
Harry's body shook as he screamed, his body stiff and burning while he was forced to see terrible things. He saw his mother die. Saw Voldemort stand above her. Then the scenery shifted. Voldemort became Dementors, Lily became Lavender and Pansy. He was forced to watch them as they were consumed by the Dementors. He saw his friends be taken away, one by one. Sirius, dying in a prison cell. Dora, killed while doing her duty. The Tonks' home in flames. Padma and Parvati, pale and lifeless. Ariana, dead on the ground with a torn throat. The Flamels cold and still in caskets. Remus, lost to the frenzy under a full moon. Gringotts utterly destroyed. The Hog's Head a pile of smoking rubble.
"Why doesn't the judge stop it?!" Valentina cried.
"He can't," Flitwick spat. "Harry hasn't capitulated!"
"You expect him to do that while screaming like that?" Adele exclaimed.
"Fight Harry!" Dora shouted. "Fight! You can do it!"
Harry was feeling colder and colder, his mind creaking and snapping. His body stiffened, finally recognizing the dread chill. As if acting on its own, his arm slowly came up, his hand and wand shaking. He stared sightlessly and screamed but instead of blind panic and fear, it was a scream of desperate defiance.
Silver light shone from the wand tip. It flared, brighter than the sun and more than a few people looked away from the sudden intensity. The light burst and an audible crack shattered the air, the crack became a screech. The silver owl Patronus came hurtling from the wand and with talons extended, flew straight at Draco.
Draco, completely caught unprepared, shouted from surprise and he dropped his aim, diving beneath the Patronus. The tendrils from the Crushing Fear Curse still clung to Harry but they were thinner and weaker.
Harry's wand shone once more and two more snowy owl Patroni clawed their way into existence. They tore the tendrils from Harry with fervor and once he was clean of them, flew at Draco in a rage. The three Patroni screeched and keened, beating at him with their wings and clawed at him with their talons, chasing him about. Draco swore and cursed, shooting spells at them with wild abandon.
Harry shivered, having fallen to his knees once freed by the spell. He looked up and saw one of the Patroni get blasted from the air, landing on the ground with a squawk.
Something within him snapped.
He climbed to his feet, shaking from true anger. "You won't hurt them! I won't let you!" Harry screamed. "YOU WON'T TAKE THEM FROM ME!" He slashed his right arm down violently. "IGNIS FLAGELLUM!" A thick lash of burning flame spilled from his wand and he snapped his right arm back high and with a shout of exertion, snapped it forward.
Draco screamed. The Patroni, seeing the incoming whiplash, scattered and Draco saw the burning fire whip come straight for him. He dove and the lash missed him by inches and he could feel the heat of the fire on his skin. He shouted in alarm when a conjured shield was shattered by the force of the lash and he rolled desperately, trying to flee.
Harry swung again and again, the whip cracking and snapping. Each lash came close to striking Draco directly, only barely missing him or being barely deflected.
Narcissa rose to her feet, naked fear in her eyes as she watched her son barely dodging the burning whip. Lucius groaned as a snap of the lash carved a line through Draco's robes, burning a long line clean through, burning the skin beneath, making the boy howl.
Seeing the burnt robes, the burned skin, Harry faltered, his rage subsiding slightly. As if seeing his thoughts and feeling his intentions, the first Patronus dove towards the whip. She grabbed on and melded with the whip itself, disappearing but the whip itself became bright silver fire. The other two dove into the whip as well and soon the entire whip was shining silver, releasing no heat, but brilliant argent light.
Harry, feeling the difference in the whip, struck hard with it and was gratified to see Draco get knocked down by the force of the blow but was not burned.
"Whip his arse Harry!" Millicent shouted. "Get the fucker!"
"Go Harry!" Parvati and Padma shouted.
"Did the Patronus just combine with the Flame Whip?!" Andromeda gasped. "That can happen?!"
"I honestly have no idea!" Nicolas said, looking astounded. "I have never heard of such a thing!"
"GO CHERI! BREAK HIM!" Perenelle shouted.
Draco tried to mount a defense but a solid hit from the whip to his hand knocked his wand away and his hand ached from the impact. Before he could do anything else, the whip round around his arm and he screeched as Harry pulled hard with both hands, sending Draco flying towards him. Draco grunted in pain when Harry stopped his flight with his left hand and for a moment, pale slate grey eyes full of fear met burning emerald green eyes full of anger. Harry dispelled the whip and jabbed Draco in the stomach with his wand, making Draco grunt once more.
"DEPULSO!" Harry shouted in Draco's face.
Draco screamed as the Banishing Charm sent him flying. He tumbled through the air and slammed hard onto the Colosseum ground. Wincing, he looked around, pushing himself to his knees and looked up at Harry who looked down at him from the dueling platform.
"WINNER! Harry Potter from Hogwarts!" Grave shouted and led the thunderous applause that rained down on Harry.
Lavender and the others jumped up and down, screaming and cheering. Hedwig barked loudly, flapping her wings, joining the others. "Harry! Harry! Hogwarts!" they cheered, clapping wildly. Tsumugi and a few of her friends commandeered a taiko drum and started a rolling beat, also cheering while Akin and his friends hammered on smaller drums as they did the same, joining in and chanting Harry's name.
Harry stood there, not even registering the applause, the cheers, the victory. His chest heaved and his mind roiled from the conflicting emotions. He flinched hard when Graves grabbed his hand to hoist it high, nearly yanking it away from reflex. He flushed deeply at Graves' look of confusion and shook his head jerkily. "S-Sorry," he stammered. "Nerves."
"I understand," Graves said sympathetically. "You did very well." A scream caught their attention.
Draco screamed again and hammered the ground with clenched fists, a scream of anger and frustration. He climbed to his feet and glared at Harry but there was something else there now in his gaze, something more than loathing and hate, a tinge of uncertainty, a trace of genuine fear. Draco grabbed his wand that lay on the edge of the platform and without another word, walked back to the Sanguis side. He ignored the silence from his fellow classmates and sat down beside his mother and father, his face an expressionless mask that was at odds with his parents' looks of undisguised relief.
Quirrell looked disdainfully down at Draco but he was ignored by the Malfoys entirely.
"Go on then," Graves said gently, steering Harry to the edge of the platform where his friends waited. "Take a rest. You earned it. That was splendidly done."
Harry nodded without pride and walked to the edge on slightly shaky legs. He climbed off the platform into the arms of his friends who were waiting.
"Are you okay?" Lavender asked fretfully. Hedwig fluttered to him, nuzzling him and cooing and barking.
"I saw you dead," Harry said, sounding lost and in pain. "All of you, all of you were hurt and gone. I was alone again…"
She kissed his cheek and held him close. "No you're not," she said firmly. "Not now, not ever again." She and the others led him to a side bench where the others gathered. They watched as Pomfrey cast diagnostic charms on Harry.
"Will he be okay?" Pansy asked worriedly. "Is he alright?"
Pomfrey nodded and smiled gently. "He's fine. Did not exhaust himself this time. Still a touch delicate however."
"I'm not delicate," Harry said automatically, shocking himself out of his stupor a little. That made everyone smile with relief and surrounded by the smiles, he felt a tiny one grow on his lips too.
"Only a touch this time," Pomfrey teased softly. "Understandably so."
"What was that?" Hermione asked, eyes round. "What did Draco cast?"
"Crushing Fear," Drake said with disgust. "An old and despicable spell. It forces the victim to confront their deepest and darkest fear and it can be amplified by the caster and their intent. It can be construed as Dark, but unfortunately there is some debate on that."
"How'd you know to cast the Patronus to combat it?" Sirius asked.
"I didn't," Harry said, shaking his head slowly. "But I guess after some time, my body felt like it was being attacked by a Dementor and I swear I just cast the spell without trying to."
"A reflex, born from experience as well as you being very proficient with the Patronus spell," Flitwick said, proud and sad in equal measure. "That is extraordinary."
"I thought I was lost and alone again," Harry said. "I saw all of you being taken away, being hurt. All of you."
"Never," Perenelle said. Her eyes were wet and her voice raw. "Not ever."
"I just snapped," Harry said, his voice shaking. He looked down at his trembling hands. "Something in me snapped and I just wanted to hurt Draco. I wanted to make sure he couldn't hurt any of you."
"Harry," Dumbledore said gently but firmly. He waited for Harry to look up at him. "You did what any good person would do. You stood up for yourself and the ones that you love and you reacted when you were pushed. You said it yourself, you wanted to make sure that your fears would not come to pass by protecting us from the one that threatened it. You have done incredibly well. You have nothing to be ashamed over. You exemplify the finest that Hogwarts has to offer and have once again proved that you are an incredible young man with a kind heart."
Harry looked up at the man hopefully. "Really? But I tried to hurt him with the Flame Whip."
"And when you did, you stopped. You held back," Dumbledore said. "We all saw it. You only continued when the nature of the whip changed and you could continue without more lasting harm and damage. You held back when you saw the consequences of your action, against your enemy that truly tried to harm you, physically and mentally. Who did harm you in those ways. Your kindness shone."
"He is right," Nicolas said. "Not a soul here would blame you if you had went further and you chose not to. You did. That is strength of character."
Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly, shuddering. "Thank you," he whispered, feeling better when Lavender wrapped her arms around him with Pansy doing the same, the others touching him gently on the arms and hands, lending him comfort and strength. Hedwig had climbed into his robes and her head poked out from the top. She hooted comfortingly, fluffed up against him.
"Thank you," Dumbledore said warmly, "for continuing to show us your kindness and your heart, and why we are in this together." He rose to his feet and his body language shifted. He took off his cloak calmly but every movement was as if it was being restrained, like energy begging to be released. He smiled and it was a smile that the students had never seen before, a hungry smile. "Now, it is time for me to follow your example, and to do my best."
He turned and looked across the arena and even with the distance between them, his eyes met Tom's and the other man flinched, eyes widening before narrowing.
"Are you going to kill him?" Ariana asked, her mouth not moving.
"I am going to try my best not to do that right now," Dumbledore replied, also not speaking out loud.
"Make him hurt then," Ariana said savagely in her mind. "Make him bleed."
"Oh that I will do with no question," Dumbledore said with equal ferocity. "With distinct pleasure. Tom miscalculated. He thought he could hurt Harry through Draco with impunity. Time to make him realize that he most certainly cannot."
"Have fun," Ariana said out loud in her rough raspy voice.
"I will." Dumbledore's smile was one that made even Drake look again. "I think I will enjoy myself."
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sfu - Thank you, glad you liked that.
exillion - But they are still human and they can let their emotions get the better of them.
Kaya - Thank you.
Hands Off MY Wolfie - He is pretty arrogant and has a high opinion of himself. Makes it more satisfying to see it fail though. Hedwig knows her place, and it's hers forever. I always liked the idea of animals just loving Harry like that. Thanks for reading.
TheSphynx - Yes and no. I saw it as him wanting to keep Quirrellmort off guard and off balance. Also, he can't really control the Flamels and who wants that responsibility? I'm glad you liked the chapter title, I work hard on those and always like it when people comment on them.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I was really proud og the meetings. I thought they both hit the note I really wanted and thought the impact of revealing Snape's role in things to really hit the characters. And UI didn't put that much work into Snape this time, so don't want tot reat him exactly like he was in Family, but still different from canon. Yes, Okoye was the name of the general in Defiance and there was a master of the same family in Extended. I wanted this Okoye to be a member of the family too. Leomattok is a lot of fun as well.
DarkRavie - Thank you.
alix33 - I think Perenelle is the more dangerous of the two as well. She's quieter than him and more focused in some ways.
odonnellzoo99 - Hedwig is very selfish and possessive. It's been fun exploring new characters and new cultures, which was also why I said that this arc is going to be more challenging to write. I think it was a smart ploy by Dumbledore and Nicolas in finally drawing Voldemort out like that. I hope you enjoy today's and the next chapter as well in regards to your last comment.
scpotter - Glad you do, thank you.
poka - Yeah, a lot of the chapters for the Showcase arc has a lot going on and I hope they flow well. I didn't want to drag it out too much but I also really liked the flow from chapter to chapter showing how busy and varied the world is and the event itself. I think Uagadou is the biggest main school of all of Africa. I did some reading on the wikis and decided on these two schools because I wanted to try and flesh them out and explore them a little, which will show more in today's chapter. I thought QuirrellMort digging that knife in with Snape's role was a smart ploy by him to try and mess with Dumbledore and his allies. I'm eager to see your reaction to today's chapter.
Hedwig being a selfish gremlin is one of my favorite things.