Getting Knocked down a peg

*Morpheus pov*

Weeks passed smoothly, I have tried some basic methods to unlock the box holding my Ruby but, sadly nothing has worked. Not that I expected anything to work Alrazad is many things but stupid isn't one of them. He would never make it easy for me to unlock the box.

I have put off trying some more complicated and advanced methods to obtain the Ruby as, if they failed I would be out of commission for weeks.

I smirked softly remembering his angered expression when he realized the slate only works for him.

What he obtained is basically a death sentence, if he ever reveals the slate to anyone trapped by the veil they would stop at nothing to kill him just for the mere chance to be able to move freely.

Currently, I gently widdled at a piece of bone while my students worked diligently practicing their crystal ball divination. I help when I see I'm needed but besides that, I don't have much to do. I refuse to supply my students with all of the answers, divination isn't like charms or runes you need to reach your own understanding of the art to truly see into the future.

Every divination master does things differently and that's the true beauty of the art.

As I widdled away time slowly passed and soon the class was over, the students left for dinner while I stayed and asked the house elves to bring me dinner.

I am going to have a guest soon.

Not even ten minutes after my food arrived Helena floated through the door, "Helena, what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked while cutting into my steak

She frowned softly, "Lord Morpheus I've been wondering something ever since you showed me my mother's diadem," she said respectfully

"Ask away," I told her while taking a sip of the wine the house elves brought me

"Why do you let it be infected by a thing as foul as that? Surely you are strong enough to destroy it," she asked while looking deep into my eyes with a lost expression

I frowned habitually.

It seems my decision to keep the Horcrux intact has hurt her.

"Helena, I am keeping it intact for several reasons. One of them is that if I destroy it now, the person who made it and defiled your mother's magnum opus would realize someone is onto his plans," I replied my frown turning into a reassuring smile

She nodded, "I see, thank you for telling me," her tone was more upbeat

I nodded, "of course, it means a lot to your family after all,"

***

The day after talking to Helena, it was time for another dueling club meeting, and this time Albus and I think we found out candidate to take out Lucius Malfoy.

We both watched from the back of the club meeting as the students practiced their footwork, their etiquette, and resolve.

It was a magnificent sight, the students were looking better and better. Yes this was dueling and in a real battle there are no rules but; this practice is setting a strong foundation for the future.

When the club meeting began to wind down and a couple of pairs of students had already gone up to duel Albus locked eyes with Professor Abara and nodded.

Abara smirked and said, "Today I thought we should have something special, for the Last duel Lucius Malfoy will face the younger Frank Longbottom,"

The students erupted in cheers, excited to see the duel.

Frank had dominated every duel he has had so far and Lucius has yet to appear on stage.

The Slytherins cheered for Lucius as he stepped onto the stage while the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs cheered for Frank.

The Ravenclaws were neutral cheering for both.

The students bowed, and the battle began.

*Narrator pov*

The two wizards locked eyes, their wands raised high.

Frank Longbottom spoke first, his voice steady and resolute. "Expelliarmus!" he incanted, sending a burst of scarlet light toward Lucius. Lucius deftly sidestepped the spell, his silver-blond hair catching the flickering torchlight.

Lucius retaliated with a swift "Stupefy!" But Frank was equally quick, casting a Protego shield that deflected the Stunning Spell. The two wizards were evenly matched, their skills on full display.

The duel continued with spells flying back and forth: Petrificus Totalus, Impedimenta, and Confringo. Each spell was met with a well-timed counter or evasion, creating a mesmerizing dance of magic and skill.

The spectators watched in awe, as the duel between the two seventh-year students raged on. It was a battle of wills, intelligence, and precision. Frank Longbottom's determination and Lucius Malfoy's elegance clashed in a display of formidable wizardry.

As the duel wore on, the tension escalated, and Lucius, frustrated by his inability to gain an upper hand, began resorting to more aggressive spells. He uttered a dark incantation and unleashed a curse toward Frank, but Frank's quick reflexes saved him, narrowly avoiding the curse.

The air seemed to freeze, Lucius's eyes widened seeing Frank dodge the curse while Frank's narrowed.

With deadly precision, Lucius began advancing toward Frank while hurling curses, not quite dark enough to get him into trouble but definitely frowned upon.

Frank was put on defense as he had to continually shield himself from the curses. He gritted his teeth while wracking his brain for something anything that could help him when this duel.

Lucius smirked while sending another curse then he yelled, "Serpensortia, Engorgio!" a boa constrictor flew from the tip of his wand and began to enlarge into a giant serpent

The serpent pounced in Frank's direction.

Frank deflected the previous curse and then yelled, "Incendio!" the orange jet of roaring flames entered the serpent's mouth

The serpent began to flail about in pain, and while that happened Frank transfigured the nearby rubble into small needles.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" the needles began to float he thrust his wand forward causing the needles to fly toward Lucius

The needles were slow as they were just levitating, Lucius laughed, "Pathetic" he sneered

He sneered too soon as Frank yelled, "Accelero Momentum!" the needles suddenly shot forward like bullets

Lucius widened his eyes while conjuring a shield, the needles bombarded the shield like hail crashing down on a roof.

Frank followed up with a plethora of stunners suddenly the roles were reversed and Lucius was in the defending role.

Lucius began to back up as Frank approached, he was unaware that some of the needles landed behind him.

Frank seeing this patiently waited while conserving his magic by underpowering his stunners, something he learned from Professor Morpheus.

Just as Lucius took another step back Frank undid his Transfiguration on one of the needles turning it back into a piece of rubble.

Lucius stepped on the rubble making his ankle bend awkwardly, now distracted with no defense Frank shot two overpowered stunners.

Lucius put up a shield but it was for naught, the first stunner shattered the shield while the second hit him squarely on the chest causing Lucius to fly backward.

Time seemed to slow down for Lucius as he locked eyes with Frank. Frank's face was calm but his eyes blazed with flames of passion and dominance.

Lucius's vision went black, and the last thing he heard was the crowd cheering for Frank's victory

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A/N: Patre on : patreon.com/Boogie324