Ginny was nervous as Dumbledore looked Harry in the eyes. "You know, a formal duel is not needed, Mr. Potter."
"I know, Professor, but if you let me disarm you, it won't work. I need the transfer of ownership to be natural like it was the last time. Draco disarmed you up on the tower. Then I disarmed Draco nearly a year later. We will have to duel for the wand this time."
The older man nodded. "Very well, Harry. But I will be dueling you with my old wand, the one I used before I took up the Elder Wand. That should still count."
"If that is what you want, Professor." Harry looked around the office full of delicate magical equipment. "Where and when do you want to do this?"
"We should do it in secret." The headmaster mused. "Perhaps this weekend in the Room of Requirement?"
Ginny smiled. "Mind if you have the Weasley's in attendance?"
"Mrs. Potter, it would be a pleasure." Dumbledore bowed. "I must admit, I am looking forward to seeing what one of my favorite pupils has learned since he left school. The delight of teaching is seeing one's children become adults and using what you taught them."
Harry and Ginny took their leave under the cloak. "Do you think this is the best course?" She fretted once they were safely back in the Common room of their House.
"I think it might be the only way." He admitted. "Though I wonder if his wand will spit golden flames at me for using another wand like the last time."
"Is there no way to prevent that?" She asked.
"I'll have to ask a wand expert." He mused. "Just so happens I know one."
She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'll help you with the letter if you like."
He gave her a smile. "I was hoping you would."
*A-Weasley-Redo*
Dear Ollivander
This is Harry James Potter. I know we have not spoken since the Weighing of the Wands earlier this term. I have discovered something in my research that I hoped you could help me with. You mentioned when I first got my wand, that it was the brother of the one that gave me the scar. I worry that one day, I will have to face that wand again. My research has told me there is a chance that the connection between the wands and owners might cause a powerful effect that prevents us from harming the other. However, I cannot be defenseless if such an encounter were to ever happen. For my peace of mind, can you suggest anything in case such a situation occurs?
Wishing you well,
Harry James Potter
A-Weasley-Redo*
Dear Mr. Potter,
I was delighted to receive your letter and the puzzle you presented to me. I had to take a long walk and ponder your question. Had I been rushed, I might have said just use any other wand to get past the bond, but I believe that to be incorrect. The bond is not so weak as to be fooled like that. I have begun construction of a box that can suppress your connection to your wand while it is closed. This will allow you to battle The Dark Lord's wand, should it ever be used against you. I will personally deliver it at the end of the month when I make my trip to Hogsmeade. Hoping this letter finds you well, Mr. Potter.
Your servant,
Garrick Ollivander, Maker of Wands and Master of Wand Lore.
A-Weasley-Redo*
Harry showed the letter to the others as they gathered on Friday after dinner.
"I wish he had time to come with something like this last time." Ron mused. "That wasn't an issue as you were both using other wands."
Harry nodded. "Very true. I doubt we could swap Voldermort's wand for another before it's time for him to try to kill me. So, suppressing mine seems like the best option."
Fleur smiled. "A smart man, that Ollivander. He was a delight to have in our home for the time he was."
"You nervous, Harry?" Fred asked. "You're gonna be dueling Dumbledore!"
Harry smiled at him. "I am ready." He answered. "Whether I can beat him or not, I have to try. I'm only going to have a chance against Riddle with a wand that is as loyal as my holly wand, and we don't have time for me to forge a proper alliance with another wand. Besides, I have a special combo I can use."
Ginny, Ron, and Hermione grinned. No one ever saw the 'Potter Special' coming. Especially not a Dumbledore who had never seen Harry battle as the strongest Auror of his generation.
"Is that something cool?" Fred asked George about it as they left the room of requirement.
"No spoilers, brother mine." George teased him, which earned him a punch in the shoulder from Angelina.
Harry sat down on a sofa conjured by the Room and Ginny came to snuggle up with him. They just sat there quietly for a while, lost in their individual thoughts.
*A-Weasley-Redo*
While everything at Hogwarts was going down, the rest of the Weasley family, with Sirius and a recruited Remus, was not sitting idle.
Bill had shown them a spell to create a magical familiar they could use to scout around the old Riddle Mansion and Graveyard without detection.
"If Riddle was stronger," Bill explained as they complied the data they gathered. "He would likely sense it. Given his diminished state, I doubt he can."
"And Wormtail was never good at that sort of thing," Sirius confirmed as he marked a map. "I think we got it. The perfect spot to wait to launch our assault on the graveyard."
Molly was nervous as she fretted with Charlie's hair. "We have to all be careful." She responded. "I wish Harry had perfected that counter to the Killing Curse he was researching before we were sent back."
Arthur kissed her on the head. "Well, we will have to do without. We all have experience battling Death Eaters, other than Freddie. And he has been training with Ronald. I think we are as safe as we can be."
"If you think about it," Sirius nudged Remus. "The Killing Curse is something a child would make up. A spell to win any battle in one shot."
Molly whipped her head around to look at him. "Sirius… I think you are on to something there. Arthur, get me some floo powder!"
*A-Weasley-Redo*
Harry was in the Common Room and mentally preparing himself for the upcoming duel when the fire flashed as if someone was coming through. He watched the flames and Molly Weasley's head appeared in the fire.
"Harry, I had an idea. Remember that project you were working on before we were cast back in time?"
He blinked. "Yes, the spell to block the Killing Curse. I'm still working on it, but I had to restart from scratch. What about it?"
She grinned at him. "Well, Sirius made me think today. The Killing Curse is too powerful. It kills instantly and cannot be blocked. In other words, it's something a child who fears losing would create. Well, what if it's been unblockable 'because' we've been told it should be."
He stared at the fire around her for a long moment. "Magic is heavily influenced by our minds." He agreed. "I did technically intercept the beam of the killing curse with the beam of my Disarming charm and that should not have been possible either if it was truly unblockable."
"Just try imagining a shield that can block any spell." Molly urged. "Something like 'Protego Maximum' or something like that."
"It's worth a try next time someone throws that curse at me. Thanks Molly."
"No problem, Harry. I hope this saves some lives. We are practicing as best we can here."
"Oh, you need my practice spell," Harry added. "It looks like a killing curse and is… was unblockable but only causes a mild tickling instead of death. It's Avada Ridiculous."
"How many times has Ginny hit you with that spell?" Molly asked.
"I still do almost every day, Mum," Ginny called as she came down from the girl's side. "We got to go, Harry is dueling Dumbledore today."
She dragged him away as Molly demanded they return and explain themselves.
"We are in so much trouble later." He gave her a smile.
She kissed him softly. "If you didn't want trouble…" She trailed off with another soft kiss.
"I shouldn't have married a Weasley." He finished.
A/N: Sorry I wanted to do the duel with Dumbledore this time but I want extra time to work on it. I will have it for next month and likely start the final task as well. See you in February! Please consider checking out my other fanfics on this site and my original works on Royal Road. I also stream games on twitch under Stormermia and post videos to my YouTube channel, Stormermia Plays. See you soon!
Link to Royal Road: fiction/55565/song-of-phoenix-ordeal-part-1