HPWW601-610
Chapter 601
"Bill came by to ask for an extension on his
bereavement leave from work. It was granted, but 'e
must be back no later than Monday morning. 'E
dropped in to the team and told us some of what the
family was going through. 'E also said that Ginny's
mind-'ealer friend had stopped by yesterday morning
to talk to the whole family."
She gave a little smirk to Harry and said, "'E was told
the elderly widowed witch sent to 'elp Ginny 'ad been
in contact with 'er and asked 'er to stop by and 'elp if
she could. She was there for over two 'ours. Bill said
she did 'elp, some; even 'im."
Harry gave a nod back and felt a little relieved to hear
that.
She gave herself a little shake, took a deep breath and
said, "For work, I was asked to 'elp with finalising
audits on some of the vaults of the deceased, today. I
was recommended because, without Bill there, my
training has... paused. And Gringotts is aware I scored
a high Outstanding on my NEWTs for Arithmancy."
"Enjoyable?" asked Hermione.
"Different," she shrugged and smiled. "I look forward
to Bill returning, though."
"Understood." After a quick check of his watch again,
Harry said, "Anyway. Time for dinner, I think."
His three all nodded and they rose from where they
were sitting, as usual, on the couches.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After dinner and back in the apartment, Harry sat his
three down before they pulled out assignments and
class notes and said, "Remember what I said at lunch
about what Madam Bones said about theories for what
happened on Tuesday night?"
While the other two nodded, Hermione replied, "Yes."
"Well," he said. "I have my own theory. And it has to
do with what she told me about where in the manor
the bodies were discovered.
"First, they were not all in the same room at what they
now figure was a meeting. Five were not there. Four
were upstairs in what I was told was the ladies'
parlour. All four were wives of four of the men in the
meeting room - reception room.
"The last one... was found in the basement, not far
from the manor's potions lab."
Hermione gave a little gasp of surprise and asked,
"That was Ron, wasn't it."
Harry nodded and said, "I think he was trying to brew
potions and the fumes from them... somehow... ended
up being spread throughout the manor.
"I also think that's why Madam Bones is very...
reticent... to speak on her theories. She doesn't want
the House of Weasley pilloried for an accident it looks
like Ron caused."
He hesitated a moment before he said, "And that's
why I'm also forbidding you three from talking about it
outside of us four. While I might have ended up
detesting Ron, I happen to like the rest of the
Weasleys. I don't want to see them pilloried either."
Daphne said, "It'll come out sooner or later, though.
Too many, as you said, important Houses went extinct
and important people died."
"Yes," he agreed. "However, she does not have to tell
anyone it's believed Ron was the one brewing the
potions. For all anyone knows, Nott was brewing the
potions and Ron was just the unlucky sod who ended
up closest to the lab when they all died. With no one
left alive who can gainsay that, I can't see there being
evidence either way."
"Indeed," she quietly nodded.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The Daily Prophet the next morning had the lead story
of the four Ancient Houses who were being elevated
to Noble status. Very soon thereafter, even before the
breakfast session had ended, both Hannah and Tracey
had other students approaching them to congratulate
them both for their Houses' elevations.
Unsurprisingly, Tracey had an easier time of accepting
the words of goodwill. After all, it had been Harry's
intent for some time to work towards the House of
Davis getting elevated. The death of so many was just
a sudden jump forward of that eventual time. And she
was already of the mindset it was going to happen.
Alicia Spinnet, though, still didn't know what to make
of it all.
However, after reading the article herself, she now
knew the identity of one of those responsible.
Harry found himself receiving a short note handed to
him by Angie Johnson asking for a quick meeting in
the entrance hall antechamber. He asked Neville to
join him.
When he got there it was to see the Three Flying
Foxes already there with Spinnet looking a little
anxious.
As soon as he walked in with Neville at his heels, she
almost plaintively asked, "Why?" There was no need
to elaborate.
Harry immediately replied, "For two reasons. Your
House is of the Light; and it was past due."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 602
"That's it?" she asked.
"Well, the rest had nothing to do with your House,
specifically," he replied. "Based on what happened at
the emergency session of the Wizengamot in
November 1981, we knew the Dark were going to
immediately take steps to see four more Dark Houses
elevated. That, personally, could not be allowed.
"In a meeting of the Grand Alliance last Saturday we
resolved to put forward four Ancient Houses who are
of the Light before the Dark could put forward their
own.
"We knew straight away we'd be putting forward
Abbott and Davis. It then took a while to determine
who the other two would be. The Ancient House of
Spinnet was short-listed before then being chosen as
one of the other two."
Bell, curious, asked, "Who else?"
"Who else were considered, you mean?" he asked
right back.
She nodded.
"Hilliard, Lovegood and Sturton were three," he
replied. "I don't remember the rest."
"Why not Weasley?" asked Johnson.
"They're only an Elder House and we felt there were
Ancient Houses who should be ahead of them," he
replied. "Plus, someone else put them forward during
the meeting, anyway. I think they only got one vote,
the one who put them forward. Just being nominated
is kudos to them, though."
Spinnet, who during the second part of the
'questioning', hadn't said a word and was clearly
thinking things over, looked up and heart-feltingly
said, "Thank you."
Harry gave a shrug and said, "Then, on behalf of the
Grand Alliance, you're welcome. It was an Alliance
decision, after all."
Johnson immediately frowned and asked, "You were
against it?"
"No," he said. "The Noble and Ancient House of
Potter, as part of the Grand Alliance, did this for the
Ancient House of Spinnet. This had nothing to do with
what Harry feels about Alicia. They're different entities
and different issues."
She looked away in perceived shame and nodded.
Quietly she said, "Sorry."
Harry left a few moments later.
As they crossed the entrance hall back to the Grand
Hall, Neville quietly asked, "That was a bit rude, what
Angie said, wasn't it."
Instead of immediately answering, Harry gave his
mate a 'look' and sighed. He drawled, "Yeah."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
With a late start before Ancient Runes, Harry hung
back with both his 'student' ladies and they discussed
the implications, Wizengamot- and Alliance-wise, of
what it meant.
Hermione asked, "Do you think Sirius and Frank will
be successful in convincing Spinnet and Diggory to
join the Alliance?"
Harry gave a shrug back and said, "I've no idea, to be
honest. Of course, I hope so... but we'll just have to
wait and see."
"How many voting Houses does that give the Alliance
now?" she asked.
"Umm..." he started.
Daphne cut in and replied, "Eleven, plus the
Directorship with Madam Bones."
Harry nodded and said, "That's right."
Hermione put, "So, if Spinnet and Diggory do join the
Alliance, that brings it to thirteen... fourteen."
"Yup," he replied.
"Will that be enough to get Sirius's Bill passed?" she
asked.
"I have no idea," he replied. "I leave the politicking to
the others. I'm not that good at it."
Daphne said, "And we'll have plenty of time to teach
you."
"I can read people alright," he admitted. "But knowing
how they'd react emotionally to an issue... I can only
make guesses based on prior behaviours to similar
issues in the past."
Both ladies gently smiled at him before Daphne said,
"I think Hermione and I... and Fleur, too... figured that
part of you out quite some time ago."
Hermione nodded as Harry blushed a little.
The girls now knew not to 'tweak' him for it. To them, it
was just Harry being Harry. A fraction of an inch over
six foot tall now and all fit and healthy young man, all
three knew he loved them; even if he had his slightly
odd quirks, at times.
His ability to accurately logically reason things out,
though... it still, on occasion, left them mentally
reeling in both shock and awe; even now.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The next day, the Thursday, Harry received a letter
delivered by Hermes, Percy Weasley's owl. It was a
request by Molly he and Hermione attend the funeral
for Ron to be held at the Weasley family plot. The plot,
he knew, was located behind Notice-me-Not charms in
a corner of the Weasley family land near the family
apple orchard. It was scheduled for the coming
Saturday morning at 11.00am. A feast would be held
as part of the wake at lunch the same day.
Harry read it and sighed before handing it off to
Hermione.
She, too, sighed when she read it. "At the same time
it's sweet that they specifically invited us, it's also a
little insulting they didn't invite Daphne or Fleur."
"My thoughts, too," he said.
"Do you want to attend?" she asked.
He shook his head and sadly replied, "No. And not
just for the probably unintended insult, either. His
behaviour over the past twelve months, let alone his
effectively being bribed to be my friend, let alone his
treatment of you over the same time... No, I have no
reason to go other than in support of the rest of the
Weasleys.
"Even then I might still have gone, due to wanting to
show support for them, but their not including Daphne
or Fleur was still an insult. That insult was enough to
tip the balance to not go."
She nodded and said, "Do you want me to write the
letter declining the invitation? I'll say something about
how you're distraught... no, you didn't feel
comfortable putting words... you didn't feel
comfortable attending the funeral of one who, when
they last saw you, tried to kill you. That's better."
"If you wouldn't mind?" he begged.
"I'll write it," she firmly replied. "You can proof read it,
before it's sent."
"Thank you." The relief in his expression was quite
evident.
Thankfully, they had yet another free first period. This
one due to Astronomy that night. So Hermione
continued to sit at the table well after breakfast had
completed with Harry sitting beside her; and she
wrote the letter back to Arthur. After all, such letters
should be sent to the head of House, even though it
was Molly who wrote the invitation.
Hedwig flew in just after she'd finished it, with both of
them informally signing it, and appeared quite happy
to take it to deliver it for them.
Both breathed a sigh of relief as she headed for the
rafters to leave via the owl windows.
"There'll be more of those sort of invitations over the
coming days," Harry softly said. "At least, these ones
will be 'official' invitations; for the funerals for those
who sat on the Wizengamot and the three of those of
Member Houses of the Alliance.
"If at all possible, we'll have to attend the three for
Philip, Eugene and Cyril; but we can excuse ourselves
for the others."
Hermione suddenly thought about something and
jerked up straight. She exclaimed, "I'm going to need
witches' mourning robes!"
He gave a nod and said, "I know Daphne has them.
She wore them the day of the Malfoy Will reading. But
I'm unsure if Fleur has them. Either way, so long as
the funerals are held no earlier than next Saturday
morning, we'll organise with the Headmistress for you
and the others who don't have them to floo across to
Diagon Alley for a couple hours."
"That would be helpful, yes," she returned.
It turned out later that it was discovered Fleur did not
have witches' mourning robes with her, after all, and
Daphne was looking for a new set, anyway. Once
they'd figured out all three would need to go to the
Alley to be fitted for them, they then went and spoke
with the other witches in the Heirs' group. Tracey had
a set but, like Daphne, only the one. None of the
others did.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 603
After discussing it with the Headmistress, she gave
them permission to attend Diagon Alley to 'rectify this
appalling situation' on the Saturday morning.
However, the three boys would also be going to
Diagon. They'd be going to Twillfit and Tatting's while
the ladies were headed for a clothier boutique called
'Lady Priss, Couterier'. According to Daphne, Lady
Priss was so discrete she didn't even have a shop
front; and was the witches' version of Twillfit and
Tatting's.
Harry had little idea the store existed until he received
the bill for the ladies trip to Diagon when Fleur joined
them. However, even now he had no idea just where in
Diagon Alley it was located, only that it was in Diagon.
He just gave a mental shrug and told Hermione, "Open
coin purse for this, Love. Spend what you want. You
know it's not an issue.
"Oh; and pay for the lot for the other ladies, too. You
should all be looking your best. If their guardians get
upset with me later for it, I'll take care of it."
That earned him a major snog from Hermione; then
Daphne and Fleur, almost together, when they found
out Harry had decided on, as he put it, an 'open coin
purse policy' when it came to witches, their clothing
and anything else relating to them.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The next morning's mail bomb brought with it all three
funeral notices for the three individuals of their
Alliance, plus a demand from Molly he and Hermione
attend the funeral for Ron as she 'wanted all her
children attending, even if they weren't of her blood',
and one on Thaddeus Rowle's authority for Harry and
his ladies to attend the one for Thorfinn Rowle. Cyril
MacMillan's would be on Sunday afternoon at 2.00pm;
Philip Bancroft's and Eugene Dallyhatch's would be
on Monday morning. Philip's was at 9.00am and
Eugene's was at 11.00am. Thankfully, Thorfinn Rowles
was on, also at 9.00am on the Monday, at the same
time as Philip's.
"Wow, they're close!" declared Neville, who held in his
hand his own 'notice'.
"I'm not surprised," said Daphne. "Don't forget;
there's forty seven funerals that have to be covered in
very short order. And that's not counting those few
which would be of witches and wizards who died
recently and weren't even at Nott's manor.
"As such, there is going to be quite a few funerals that
are going to be held at the same time, let alone
consecutively; and let alone how close these ones
are. I have no doubt there are other funerals being
held at the same time, or near enough, as these ones
and quite possibly even at the same place."
"Which is all the excuse I need not to attend the
funerals of the Members of the Wizengamot I really
have no desire to attend," Harry firmly stated.
"Some of those were of Houses considered Grey,
Harry," she firmly said.
"They might have been publicly recognised as Grey,"
he argued. "But the fact they were at that meeting
casts significant doubt on that."
She gave a nod and said, "You are likely to take a hit
in the press for not attending, but I doubt you'll be the
only one who'll refuse."
"Which brings me to this one," he firmly said, offering
the letter to Daphne.
"Rowle," she said. "Of course. One of the Seven."
"One of the seven died?" asked Hermione.
"No. His Heir Apparent," said Harry. "Thorfinn Rowle.
One of the so-called Imperiused Death Eaters in the
last war."
"It would be rude not to attend the Rowle funeral,"
said Daphne. "However, it would be disrespectful not
to attend the Bancroft funeral."
"We go to the Bancroft funeral," said Harry.
Daphne nodded, started folding the letter back up and
said, "Then it should be I who writes the response to
Rowle, stating your disappointment you will not be
able to attend due to the funeral of an ally being held
at the same time." She slipped the letter into her inner
robe pocket at the breast. "You'll sign it."
Harry nodded and said, "Thank you."
"And what do we do about Molly's demand?" asked
Hermione.
"We ignore it," he replied. "I'm not saying that just
because I want to be rude, either. I'm saying that
because we've already informed her we won't be
attending. All sending her a second refusal will do is
just upset her further."
Hermione nodded. "We leave it be, then," she said.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The trip to Diagon occurred immediately following an
early 'Harry' breakfast in the Potter apartment. While a
little put out he wouldn't be allowed to cook it, Dobby
was allowed to assist and clean all the dirty dishes.
Hermione had successfully argued that there was
likely to be quite a few people who would be in the
Alley to purchase things like mourning robes and it
would be best if they arrived early to get in first.
Because of the early hour, the previous day Harry
asked for and received permission from the
Headmistress to use the floo in the Potter apartment.
So, immediately after breakfast, they only had to enter
the apartment living room to floo to the Alley, rather
than troop across half the castle to the
Headmistress's office.
After dropping the ladies off at the quite plain door of
Lady Priss's shop, the three boys headed to their
appointment at Twillfit and Tatting's. They had plenty
of time and they knew it. It might take them about an
hour to be fitted, but the ladies were going to be even
longer.
Or, so they thought. Things were about to turn ugly.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Exiting the male clothier's, each with a large bundle
under their arms, the three boys were still discussing
the fitting and material selections when Harry was
knocked off his feet by a rude and hard shoulder
nudge.
By the time he landed and bounced into a combat
crouch, he already saw that Neville had someone
pinned to the wall of the building they were passing
by. He had the person pinned with his offhand forearm
across the back of the man's neck and his wand-hand
holding the other person's wand arm locked up
behind him.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 604
Able to see the person's face, Harry recognised him
immediately - Theodore Nott. While Neville's face
showed great anger, Nott's expression also showed
anger, but it was clear he was also trying hide
shocked fear.
A moment later, Justin was helping Harry to his feet.
"Are you alright, Lord Potter?"
'Nice,' thought Harry, recognising why Justin named
him that way. "I am, thank you, Heir Finch-Fletchley."
As Harry used his wand to clean his robes, he thought
fast about what to do about this. Already a small
crowd was beginning to gather.
Decision made he turned his attention more fully to a
thoroughly pinned Nott. Neville both out-massed him
considerably and also had leverage on his side. Nott
had been trying to struggle free, but it got him
nowhere; Neville just pressed harder.
"Heir Nott," Harry almost snarled. "You've just
attacked―"
"Aurors!" came a bark from just beyond the small
gathering of bystanders and gawkers. A moment later
a Senior and Second Class stepped through the
crowd.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded the Senior.
Harry recognised the Senior from off his protection
detail when he stayed with the Grangers.
"Heir Nott, here," snarled Neville, "Just attacked the
Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House... One of the
Seven... Lord Potter. I believe Lord Potter has
something to say to him about that."
Before the auror could speak and or make any
demands, Harry got in first.
"I do!" he firmly stated. "Heir Nott. You've just
attacked my person. As I know you were aware, I am
the Lord of a Noble and Most Ancient House. As I
know you are also aware, I have the right to demand
satisfaction for your actions... and I do!
As quite a few people gasped in shock, Harry
continued, "Heir Nott, for your ongoing attacks upon
my House... of which this incident is only the latest... I,
Lord Harrison James Potter, of Potter, hereby formally
challenge you to an Honour Duel. Such duel to take
place within one week. Such duel to take place, as all
such formal duels between Heads of Houses take
place, at the Ministry duelling arena at the Ministry of
Magic. What say you... cur!"
Neville immediately released the boy and stepped a
pace and a half back.
As Harry had challenged Nott, the other boy's eyes at
first widened in shock, before he began to look afraid.
However, he held his ground. With Neville pressing
him face-first into the wall, he really couldn't go
anywhere, anyway.
Once Neville released him, Harry wasn't sure if the
boy was going to show he had no honour after all and
bolted, or actually accept. After turning to face Harry,
it was a long moment before he braced himself up
and, with a sneer, firmly stated, "I accept!"
Harry gave a firm nod back, his eyes never leaving
those of Nott, and said, "Name your second."
Nott was about to say something when he then looked
a little unsure. Finally he said, "My second recently
passed. I shall have to seek another."
'So, his grandfather was his chosen second,' thought
Harry. Before he could say he didn't have a second
either, Neville firmly spoke up.
"I stand as Lord Potter's second," he stated. "Arrange
for your second... whoever is foolish enough to take
the post... to contact me by owl no later than sundown
tomorrow night."
Nott firmly returned, "So be it." Then spun and
stormed away.
"Lord Potter," snapped the Senior, finally allowed to
step in.
When Harry turned a cool gaze upon the man, he
continued, "While it is lawful... As you are still a young
man, as is Mister Nott, this will fall unfavourably
against you no matter the outcome."
"It's a Honour Duel, Senior," he returned. "It is not my
direct intent to kill the fool."
"It will be his to kill you, though," said the auror.
"I know," said Harry. "However, unless his past few
months at Durmstrang have greatly improved his
prowess with a wand, he won't have a chance to carry
that out."
The Senior gave a nod and turned to Neville. "Heir
Longbottom, I shall inform Madam Bones a formal
Honour Duel will be held in the Ministry duelling arena
within the week; and who it will be between. I daresay
she will have words for you."
Neville gave a nod back and the Senior spun away,
taking the somewhat stunned Second Class with him.
Harry turned to Neville as the boy closed the distance
between them. "Thank you."
Neville quietly asked, "You know you're going to take
a lot of guff from within the Alliance over this, don't
you?"
"Yeah," he replied. "But, they're not the ones whom
I'm worried about."
Justin got it right away. "Hermione and the others are
going to kill you before you even get a chance to step
onto that platform."
As Harry turned to him with a slight smile, Justin
handed him his bundle of robes back. "Yep," he
replied, accepting them. "I just hope Daphne will stop
the other two from tearing me apart. She'll be the first
to calm down, knowing this was necessary."
"You're going to need to be fitted for duelling robes,"
said Neville.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
None of the ladies witnessed what occurred between
Harry and Nott in the Alley. And, as the three boys
didn't say anything until they returned to the castle,
Harry wasn't subjected to a public berating from the
three of them; or the others.
He thanked God he was on his own when it happened,
as both Justin and Neville got out of there almost right
away to give him the opportunity to tell them in
private.
Before he'd finished explaining, Hermione was in his
face. he could see the fear in her eyes. "Are you OUT
of your naffing MIND?! HOW could you DO this?"
"It's one of those necessary evils that comes from
being one of the Seven, Hermione," he started to
explain.
"He's going to try to KILL you!" she ranted. "You
KNOW he is!"
"I know," he calmly returned. "And I'll be making sure
he doesn't."
She stared back in gobsmacked shock for a moment
before she gave an almost inarticulate cry of anger
and fear, spun about and ran from the living room to
her bedroom, slamming the door shut on her way in.
With a sigh he turned to the other two. Both were just
as angry and both were just as afraid for him.
"Even if you win, this is not going to end well for you,"
said Daphne.
"And this was also probably going to happen, sooner
or later," he said. "I'd rather it sooner, where I know I'll
have a much better chance of beating him, than later,
when he can get his skills up."
"You're going to need duelling robes and we're going
to 'ave to train you 'ard in what time we've got before
the duel," said a clearly unhappy and scared Fleur.
"Dobby," he called.
"Yes, Master Harry?" asked an also clearly afraid
house elf. "Check the vaults for me, Dobs. I remember
seeing a decent set of duelling robes in there."
Dobby gave a nod and popped away.
He was back in a long moment with three sets of
robes.
Harry spotted the ones he was thinking off and picked
them up from where the elf had put them, side by side,
on the long couch.
Both his two witches still in the room also came over
to have a look.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 605
"Acromantula silk with what I think is Ukrainian
Ironbelly plating," said Daphne, fingering them.
Fleur, also fingering the material, quietly said,
"Protection runes, arrays for cooling and comfort,
anti-transfiguration arrays, a few others I do not
recognise. I will need to go over them to determine
what they all are."
Daphne gave a nod and said, "Strip and put them on."
After Harry did just that, Fleur had already gathered
stationery and was using a conjured clipboard to hold
the sheets of parchment. He was quite surprised by
how well they fit him and mentioned it.
It was Dobby, watching, who said, "They belongsed to
Lord Charlus Potter, Master Harry. He beings known
as being very good dueller."
Harry then held his arms out and allowed the two
witches to walk around him, pointing out the various
enchantments and arrays woven into the material.
As they worked, Hermione came back out. It was clear
she'd been crying. However, what his other two ladies
were doing had her come over and join them. She
might be upset with him, but she would not let it
interfere with making sure he was as protected as
legally possible before going into that duel.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
About an hour after Harry first put on the robes, his
three ladies were still going over everything and
looking what could be improved upon in the time he
was likely to have left.
A knock on the door had Hermione going over to open
it. It was Neville, Justin and their four.
Hermione just stepped aside and gestured them
within.
Harry had to turn about to see them as he was still
facing almost completely the other way after donning
the robes. He could see that CeeCee had been crying,
too. Her eyes were red rimmed.
As soon as her eyes locked with his, she hurried over
and wrapped him in a hug under his arms, laying her
face sideways on his chest.
"You're an idiot," she firmly sniffled.
"This is something that happens, sometimes, at my
level," he replied. "Eventually, someone was going to
step up and challenge me, or I would have to
challenge them.
"Until it happened, there would be those... out there...
who would always wonder just how good I am. There
would be those who would always wonder if they
could make something of a name for themselves by
being the one who 'took me out'.
"I'd rather it be against someone like Theodore Nott...
and that it occurred because he finally pushed me too
far... than someone who I know is going to be so much
better.
"Once it's done, it will have sent a message. That
message is: 'Lord Harrison Potter is prepared to take
things to a duel if you push him too far'.
"Understand?"
Before CeeCee could reply, only going so far as to pull
her head back to look him in the eyes, he was glomtackled by Hermione with a Hermi-hug from the side.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" she squeaked.
"Don't be sorry for being upset with me because you
were afraid for me, Hermione," he firmly said. "It's
alright."
As she sniffled into his shoulder, he said, "In our
home, wherever our home happens to be at that point
in time, you'll be allowed to get verbally upset with
me; even yell at me. That's allowed. Just make sure
you don't do it in public or when we have guests."
As he felt her nod, CeeCee backed off and said,
"You're very bright."
Looking back at her he grinned and said, "Only just
figuring that out, are you?"
She grinned back, pulled away, whacked him on the
arm and returned to be nearer Justin.
As an aside as Hermione got control of her emotions
again, he thought, 'I don't think CeeCee's going to
want to part with Justin once she's of age. I think her
concubinage might become permanent, down the
track.
'I'll have to talk with Justin about it; make sure he
understands that and is prepared for it.'
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
As it was getting on to almost too late for lunch, Harry
quickly went into his room to change into casual. He
brought the robes out and laid them back on the
couch, as he thought the three witches might want to
make 'improvements' to them.
Then the ten headed down to the Great Hall.
As they walked Neville softly said to Harry, "I've sent
an elf off to Dad to let him know about the duel. And
asked him to let the others know. I've also asked him
to stand in as assistant to me as second to help
organise and book the duelling chamber at the
Ministry."
Harry nodded back, smiled and said, "Thank you."
A few moments later, he asked, "You're going to be
able to take him, right? That auror was right when he
said Nott's going to try to kill you."
"Yeah," he nodded. "Starting this afternoon I'm going
to start duel training. I might not have long, but
neither does he. I'll be focussing on honing my reflex
speed and spell-chains, plus making sure my stamina
is still up.
"He won't be fit, even with going to Durmstrang now;
so I'll be able to outlast him on physical fitness and
magical stamina. Plus, the faster I cast, the less
chance he has to cast back.
"What I'm more worried about is him going to the dark
arts. I don't think it'll be if he goes that route, but
when. I'll need to watch for that."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After letting his lunch settle, Harry again changed into
his Great Uncle's duelling robes and the Heirs headed
for the Room of Requirement.
For the next three hours they worked... hard.
While the others were going through books on
magical combat and duelling that the Room provided,
Harry was warming up with the duelling dummies.
This time he focussed on just one, but this one was
set to Level 5. It was one level down from it's best
setting; and that one was dangerous, even for him.
Curses were lethal at that level.
After warming up for fifteen minutes he'd taken a
quick break. That was all Hermione needed to call him
over and show him a list they'd prepared of grey and
dark curses. They'd listed the name, wand movement,
incantation and colour of the curse.
"When not actually training you need to memorise
these," said Hermione, in... well... Hermione-mode.
"We've kept it simple and in a fashion we know works
well for you... lists."
"It's actually quite clever," said Daphne. "You don't
need to know everything there is to know about each
curse or hex as it's not as if you're ever going to use
them. However, you need to know the basics of each
so you can then know how to defend against them."
"By listing them out," continued Hermione. "You have
a ready list - a cheat sheet - that you can far more
easily remember and recall when and if you need it.
Plus, we're only building a single list, at the moment.
Once we've got what we can get down, down, I think
we should break it down into effects and counters.
"For example, some are area effect; like, for instance,
Fulmos is the smoke cloud charm. A Protego won't
have any effect on that.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 606
"Then there are others that were designed specifically
to get through a Protego, even a Protego Totalum or
Protego Horribilis. With those, we'll determine if it's
better to dodge them, use a conjured shield or if
there's a shield charm designed for when the Protego
is useless."
"Already we've decided that the Avis charm is
worthless to you," said Daphne. "You tend to always
be in motion and the Avis, to be effective, requires you
to stand still."
"Oui," said Fleur. "That is why we are looking for
defensive methods that do not restrict you from your
always-in-motion style of fighting."
"For now, train some more," said Daphne. "We need
to watch you more, to get an even better idea on what
sort of defensive strategy would work best for you."
Harry smirked after the three-way tag team his ladies
just did and replied, "Yes, Ma'ams." And returned to
the duelling piste with its single target dummy.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After working all afternoon in the Room of
Requirement, Harry was back there after dinner.
Secretly, he borrowed the books his ladies used to
write down that list they were still developing of dark
arts curses and hexes and, one at a time, cast them in
the room to help him with memorising each and every
one of them to the best of his ability.
He felt he needed to see them because 'muddy
orange' wasn't that great a description. Neither was, 'a
greenish blue', 'a dark yellow' or similar.
When he successfully cast each one he now had a
better idea of just what those curses actually looked
like. For a start, 'a muddy orange' translated to 'burnt
umber', 'a greenish blue' translated to 'a dark aqua'
and 'a dark yellow' translated to 'mustard'. He
corrected each on the list the girls had already
created, knowing what he held was a copy of the
original they were still working on.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
With Cyril MacMillan's funeral that afternoon, Harry
was back in the Room of Requirement on the Sunday
morning, again practicing against a single duelling
dummy.
With the dummy set at Level Three, he had it casting
curses at him that were little more than jinxes. And
practiced what he'd read in one of the books was
called 'spell swatting'. He was surprised to learn that
spell swatting was also effective against almost all of
those curses that the Protego charm wouldn't shield,
except the Unforgivables. The weakness of spell
swatting was the disarming charm, Expelliarmus. And
Expelliarmus had a 'clear' colour. That is, it was so
transparent as it flew from the wand tip of the caster
that it couldn't be properly seen as more than a ripple
of displaced air. However, a Protego, surprisingly,
blocked it.
He'd spent part of the previous evening, after tiring
himself out magically, going over ideas of what
offensive charms and the like he could employ in his
forthcoming duel against Nott. He'd had Dobby collect
books on combat magics from Pottermore and was
going through them, practicing wand movements with
his wand hand and holding the book with his offhand
as he went.
That's when he thought about using minor hexes and
adding them to his repertoire; even Ron's Eat Slugs
hex was added, as its wand movement was little more
than a jab/twist. Ginny's Bat Bogey hex required a
quick twirl and a yank down, but fitted in well in a
spell chain immediately before a curse that started
with the wand tip pointing somewhat down.
Once he had a book on them, he was quick to see the
use they could have in a duel. They didn't hurt the one
they were cast at, but they could be very distracting
and allow an opening for a more powerful and harmful
curse to slip through.
The Silencing charm, Silencio, while not harmful,
could be used to stop the opponent using verbal
incantations; as could the Tongue-locking charm,
Langlock. A colour-changing charm, if accurate
enough, could be used to discolour the water in the
eyes of the opponent, temporarily blinding them. The
noise muffling charm, Muffliato, an area effect charm,
could create a noises-suppressed area around the
opponent, effectively deafening them.
And, of course, there was also battle transfiguration.
The use of transfiguration in combat.
Harry was nowhere near competent in the art, as
almost all of it was related to inanimate to animate. He
could, of course, do something like transfigure a
teapot to do a little dance; but the more impressive
and effective stuff was beyond him. He just hoped it
was also beyond Nott. However, he could use
transfiguration to turn the ground the boy stood upon
to quicksand momentarily before solidifying it again;
locking the boy in place and unable to dodge because
his feet were stuck in the floor.
He practiced what he could and tried to come up with
ways to counter what he couldn't with other ways he
could at least minimise the chance of it happening.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After a shower before lunch, then lunch, the Heirs
returned to their apartments to change. They needed
to change into their mourning robes in preparation of
the funeral.
The girls complained that they wouldn't have a lot of
time to, as Monica would put it, 'gussy-up'. They'd all
wanted to skip lunch, but Harry thought an hour was
more than sufficient and, apparently, so too did
Neville and Justin.
"No one skips lunch," Harry firmly stated. "If you skip
lunch you may very well commit that heinous sin of
falling asleep during the service... or whatever it is
that's the wizarding equivalent."
"Besides," said Neville. "You all now have access to a
Ladies' elf. That'll speed things up for you."
It did... apparently. All seven ladies were ready with
five minutes to spare before they had to make their
way to the Headmistress's office. Unlike other
students who would be attending funerals, who would
be going via their Heads of Houses floos, as the
Headmistress would also be attending the funeral they
went through hers.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry had never been to a funeral before, let alone a
wizarding one. So he didn't know what to expect.
Once it was over, Daphne told him it was quite short
for a Noble and Ancient House. "I wonder if they
shortened it because Augustus was embarrassed his
son's body had been found at that meeting," she
mused.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 607
Neville said, "To be fair, it may have also been
because there are so many funerals coming up."
Hermione said, "I've only been to two muggle
funerals, myself. And that was a little short, compared
to them."
"I liked it," said Harry. "I kind of expected it to be one
speaker after another extolling the virtues of the
deceased before they finally interred him. Leastwise,
that's what I read they were like. But, this wasn't like
that."
"It's going to be noticed that Augustus didn't speak,"
said Daphne. "Augustus is Lord of the House and
Cyril was his Heir Apparent. Some are going to see
that Augustus not speaking was a way of stating
Disownment without coming out and actually saying
it."
Justin added, "Lord Longbottom gave a nice speech
on the contribution of House MacMillan to the Alliance
and how he was looking forward to what contributions
Cyril would make as Head of House when his time
came."
Harry thought, 'He also made no mention of how they
now all thought of him as a traitor.'
Neville looked to Harry and carefully asked, "If I may
ask, Harry, what did Mum say to you under that
muffling charm after the funeral?"
Harry thought about and replied, "She wanted to talk
about the upcoming duel with Nott. And, let me put it
this way, I had no idea your Mum knew that many
swear words."
Neville winced and softly said, "Yeah, she does."
"She, Frank and Sirius all reminded me I'm One of the
Seven and have no heirs. As such, I need to... not go
taking risks that could render House Potter extinct,"
he explained. "Adeline overheard some of that and
said... what words did she use?... I should... 'Hurry up
and rectify that situation'. Then smirked at me."
Daphne winced.
"She never!" exclaimed Tracey.
Harry grinned back and said, "Her exact words,
Trace."
"That was bit forward," huffed Hermione.
"A bit?" asked Daphne. Then she muttered, "I'm going
to have to have words with that witch."
Harry, blushing a little again, said, "Don't be too hard
on her, Daph. I understand where she's coming from.
She just wants to make sure the Houses of
Greengrass and Potter has future Heads of House
lined up in succession."
She harrumphed, scowled and said, "Don't let her fool
you. She just wants grandbabies to spoil."
Harry shrugged and said, "I see nothing wrong with
that."
With an annoyed huff she said, "She wants them now,
Potter. That is, in nine months. She doesn't want us to
wait until after we finish our NEWTs."
"Oh," he softly said with a light blush again. "But,
that's not what you want, right?"
"No," she said.
"Then that's not what's going to happen," he firmly
said. "It's your choice, remember?"
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Having already received permission to skip classes on
the Monday morning to attend the two funerals - and
because the first one, Philip Bancroft's, was at 9.00am
- the heirs ate an early 'Harry' breakfast. Having it
before 7.00am, which is when the Great Hall laid it on,
gave the ladies time to get ready.
Fleur couldn't join them, as she needed to be at work.
While it was also Bill's first day back after his
youngest brother's death and subsequent funeral, as
the funerals were not of immediate family Fleur could
not in good conscience ask for leave for the morning.
Again they went out via the Headmistress's floo.
However, this time, they re-entered the school by way
of the Potter floo. Lady Marchbanks would return to
the school after Eugene Dallyhatch's funeral as she
had yet another to attend between the two; one of the
Grey Houses, the Elder House of Haworth, had the
funeral for their now ex-Head of House, Miles
Haworth, then.
As they stepped back through the floo into the Potter
apartment, Harry said, "Big day for Lady Marchbanks
today. I believe she has yet another funeral to attend
this afternoon."
"Olaf McLaggen," said Hermione. "Cormac
McLaggen's father. He was one of the first to find out,
due to Mister McLaggen the older's life stone."
McLaggen's life stone was kept at their home.
Harry wasn't bothered with getting changed, but the
girls were. Daphne explained, "It would be gauche for
we ladies to attend the second funeral in the same
mourning robes, Harry. We've got time to change, so
we will."
However, as there was no need to apply fresh makeup, only touch up what they had which Betsy took
care of in a moment, it didn't take them long to
change. Meanwhile, Harry had organised a morning
tea and 'let' Dobby organise and prepare it.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
The second funeral was very similar to the other two.
For the speakers on behalf of the Alliance, Lady
Marchbanks spoke at Philip Bancroft's; and Heathcliff
Davis, now Lord Heathcliff Davis due to the ennobling,
spoke at Eugene Dallyhatch's.
He'd also learned at the second funeral that 'the
deceased's' widow, Eliza, had temporarily moved into
the Sibbledotch home. Prissy Sibbledotch had
insisted. The Dallyhatch's had no children of their
own, who could step in to aid their mother.
Thankfully, the Heirs were able to return to the school
just after lunch had started and, after a quick change
of mourning robes to school robes, made it down to
the Great Hall in time to eat.
As they were sitting at the Seventh Year's end of the
Gryffindor table, this time, Harry looked around and
could see there were some wearing their own
mourning robes and looking quite morose in some
cases.
He sighed and said, "I'll be glad when these funerals
are over."
No one said anything back.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 608
The next morning Neville received an owl from Marcus
Flint of all people.
As soon as he realised who it was from and, though
he knew a number of detection charms, he asked the
others to carefully check over the letter, and him, to
see if any harmful charms or curses had snuck past
him.
When it all came up clear, Neville finally opened the
letter. Of course, by then all the other Heirs were
carefully watching, waiting for something to be
triggered they'd all missed.
A quick read and, as he did, his eyebrows rose in
surprise.
"It's from Flint, alright. Marcus Flint," he said, eyes
still on the contents of the letter. "Apparently, he's
Nott's nominated second.
"Flint wants to discuss the terms of the Honour Duel,"
he continued. "He's already been in contact with
Duelling Master Robards of the DMLE, Captain of the
Piste. He's asking for the duel to be delayed until next
Monday, due to all the funerals that are being held this
week, including his grandfather's, his Late Lord of
House. He claims Robards is willing to book the
duelling chamber at the Ministry for next Monday at
twelve noon and, get this, demands I confirm."
After a quick snort of amusement he continued, "He
wants terms to determine capitulation and victory set
before the duelling flag is dropped."
"How rude!" scoffed Tracey.
"It is," nodded Harry, remembering the book on formal
duels he'd read; and reread even as recently as the
previous night.
Harry thought for a few moments and looked to
Neville, "Your father, if I remember correctly, is a full
bottle on pre-duel etiquette, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is," replied the other boy, before what Harry
was getting at had the Lumos light up. "You're alright
with me asking my father for help in responding?"
"Yep," said Harry. "Consider it... making good use of
the resources available to you in your duties as
Second."
Relieved, Neville said, "Yeah. When you put it like
that..."
Daphne offered, "You can use the floo in our
apartment to floo call him."
After a glance at Harry to see he didn't have a problem
with it, he turned to Daphne and said, "Thank you.
That's most kind. I'll do that, tonight."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After a long day of classes with most students, those
who didn't find themselves having to attend funerals,
settling back into study after a previous week of high
drama, after their double of Herbology to wrap up the
day, Harry and his ladies returned to the apartment.
Neville said he was going to go change and would be
right back.
He was back less than fifteen minutes later and he and
Harry, assisted by Daphne, laid out what Harry saw as
'terms' for the duel. Since Flint had been quite rude in
his letter, Harry wanted the terms to be quite harsh.
Neville gave a low whistle and said, "I'll let my father
know and we'll see what we can come up with."
Then he headed for the floo, plucking the kneeling mat
up from its resting place against the side of the
fireplace and laying it down on the hearth.
Once the call connected and Neville had his head in
the green flames, Daphne asked, "Do you think he'll
agree?"
He gave one of his half shrugs and said, "If Frank and
Neville can rile the man enough with their response, I
think he'll accept."
After speaking for about half an hour with his father,
Neville finally pulled his head out of the floo and
groaned a little climbing back to his feet.
As he massaged his knees he said, "Dad's going to
write the response... based on what you told me... and
HEED it back. I'll then rewrite it in my hand and owl it."
Harry nodded, "Sounds like a plan."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After a quiet Wednesday, Thursday morning had yet
another letter for Neville from Flint. This one in
response to the letter he owled on the Tuesday night.
Harry had read that one and snorted in amusement at
the polite yet condescending tone of it. Basically, it
was worded to state that Nott should feel privileged to
be permitted to duel One of the Seven. Then went into
the terms.
There would be no Unforgivables. If such was cast,
the Captain of the Piste would step in. The one who
cast the Unforgivable, besides being arrested, will be
deemed the vanquished. As it was an Honour Duel, no
curses cast to be deliberately fatal were allowed.
Again, the Captain would step in at the first cast of
one and with the same deliberation. A few points
Harry didn't even think of included no use of potions
in the system before the start of the duel, they would
be tested for them; no carrying of any weapon other
than the one wand; no carrying of potions on the
person; no poisons; and scans would be made of both
duellers immediately prior to stepping on the piste for
all of the above to ensure compliance. There were a
few other points, but those were the 'biggies'.
Flint's second letter basically accused Harry of being
a coward, but then stated the terms were 'grudgingly
accepted' - and that was all Harry needed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 609
When Neville finished quietly reading it to them all,
Harry said, "Excellent. Let your father know to contact
Duelling Master Robards that it's confirmed for 12
noon on Monday."
Neville nodded back.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Friday morning's Daily Prophet had news of the duel.
It accurately portrayed who was involved, where it
would be held and at what date and time. And went
into quite a bit as to why it happened.
Harry was just happy the article didn't accuse him of
being an up-and-coming dark lord or something.
While it was bit scathing of him demanding the duel, it
also covered he was in the right to do it. So, he was
happy enough with the reporting of it.
What he wasn't happy about was it meant the
spectators' gallery would be packed. He asked Neville
to make sure he had three 'family' seats reserved for
it.
"Don't worry about that, Harry," said the boy. "That's
always the case. The family of both duelers have a
private box each opposite one another level with the
centre line of the piste."
Harry nearly sighed in relief. "Make sure those of our
family get those seats, would you?"
"You should ask Lord Black, as your godfather, to do
that."
"Good idea," he nodded. "I'll let him know, via mirror,
sometime today."
While the others were all in classes, Harry spent
almost the entire time in the Room. While there, he
practiced and practiced and practiced. During breaks,
he did his best to memorise the rewritten and
reorganised list of dark curses, so he could remember
what they looked like and what they were when they
were cast at him; and their counters.
He also wore his duelling robes throughout the entire
time, so he would become very comfortable wearing
them. As they had armour within them and were, even
then, padded, he needed to get used to the slightly
added resistance to his movements they caused. They
had weight reducing charms on them, but they did
little for the momentum of that weight. That was the
resistance he felt.
On one of his breaks he mirror-called Sirius and told
him to work out who could be in the family box for
him.
"I can do that, pup," his godfather replied.
He was so involved in what he was doing he was
almost late for Ancient Runes in fourth period.
When he joined Hermione and Daphne in the
classroom, just before the door was shut, he quietly
and confidently said to both of them, "I'm ready. The
weekend will be refining what I know."
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
And that's exactly what happened, to a point.
Across the weekend he spent an hour on the training
piste, then two hours of working on assignments, a
half hour yet again going over the list of dark curses
and hexes that could be thrown his way, then start
again. The only breaks were for morning and
afternoon teas and lunch. He started after breakfast
and stopped just before dinner time.
He was actually surprised he'd managed to get all his
assignments caught up by Sunday evening, leaving
him free to concentrate on the duel.
On Monday, he attended breakfast in the Great Hall
with the others, then the double of History of Magic.
However, after morning tea, when he entered the
potions lab for the double of Potions, the professor
told him not to attend and make himself ready for his
duel. The class would be working on a potion that
would take them right through to the lunch break and
he'd have to have left by then.
"Go meditate, or something!" she ordered him.
He thought that was a bloody clever idea so returned
to the apartment, told Dobby he'd be meditating and
to 'wake' him at eleven thirty, cleared a space on the
floor in front of the fireplace and assumed his
meditation pose.
His mind health was something he'd been ignoring of
late. Besides, it gave him an excellent opportunity to
make sure his spell repertoire, both light and dark,
was at the forefront of his mind; together with his
knowledge on what advantages he could take on the
piste and those which could be used against him.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
At a few minutes past eleven o'clock, he was
disturbed when Hermione came in, scowling.
"Problem?" he asked.
The Professor kicked me out. She said I wasn't
focussing enough and she thought I was a danger to
the other students. I wasn't, though. I know I wasn't."
He chuckled, rose and walked over to give her a hug.
As he backed off he said, "No, I daresay you weren't;
but, think about it. Why else would she kick you out.
And, did she deduct any points off you?"
It didn't take her long to figure out and she looked in
surprise at Harry.
"She kicked me out so I could be with you for your
duel," she said almost in awe.
"Yup."
That's when Daphne walked in, with almost the same
'tale'. However, she'd already figured it out.
Then Neville walked in with a smirk. He explained, "A
few minutes after Professor Grimfield threw Hermione
out, she threw me out."
Harry laughed.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
At eleven thirty five the four used the Potter apartment
floo to floo directly to the reception area of the
Ministry's duelling chamber. Master Auror Robards -
or, rather, Captain of the Piste Robards in his current
persona - was there to welcome them.
He quickly made sure Hermione and Daphne were
safely escorted to the Potter family box by an auror -
Sirius, Remus and a few others were already there and
waiting - then took both Harry and Neville aside to be
scanned. Both, of course, came up clean.
"I'll be scanning you again, just before you step onto
the piste, Lord Potter," he warned.
Harry gave a nod and replied, "Understood, Master
Robards."
After the scans both boys were allowed to enter the
floor of the piste, but not approach the piste itself.
They did so.
The first thing Harry noticed on walking through the
door and onto the floor was, as expected, the seating
was packed. Next were the flashes and pops of
wizarding cameras coming from basically one area of
the plush spectator boxes. Clearly, that was the media
area.
Walking further onto the floor, Harry looked to either
side and saw his 'family' sitting in a spectator's box
halfway along, as Neville told him it would be. It
appeared to have seating for ten - two rows of five. He
saw Hermione and Daphne, of course. They were
sitting between Remus and Sirius with Narcissa
sitting at the end seat left of that row. Behind them
were Frank, Alice, Samuel, Adeline and...
Marchbanks? He didn't know she was going to be
here.
Sirius waved and tossed him a jaunty salute. Harry
waved back with a grin.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Finally, the time was only one minute away from the
appointed hour.
Robards and his 'second' rescanned both him and
Nott, who had entered a minute after he and Neville
did and immediately directed them onto the piste at
either end.
Neville stood off the piste and back about three paces,
but level with Harry. It could be called a right angle.
And Nott and his second were the same.
During the whole lead up to then, both duellers and
their seconds were kept well away from one another,
with aurors enforcing that gap.
Robards then listed out the terms of the duel and
asked both duellers to confirm before turning to the
seconds, who also confirmed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------
Chapter 610
Then he asked, "As per the law I ask each dueller if
they wish to withdraw. Does either dueller wish to
withdraw?"
Nott just sneered and shook his head while Harry
politely replied, "No, thank you."
Robards sent a glare back at Nott for his rudeness
and gave Harry a smile smile and tiny head nod.
"Very well," he said to both, then called, "Activate the
wards!"
Instantly, the rune based ward scheme Internationally
accepted as the standard sprung to life on the piste.
The only weakness in the scheme was keyed to
Robards's magical signature. He could step through it
from the outside. It was a necessary weakness, to
allow Robards to step through and magically stop the
duel if he deemed the rules or terms had been
breached.
He then firmly stated, "The duel commences when I
next say the word, 'Mark!'. Are both duellers ready?"
As per the rules, Harry gave a slight bow to the Master
before turning to face Nott. Unsurprisingly, Nott had
ignored the man.
"Lord Nott!" The Captain barked. "I will have your
signal you are ready before I will begin."
'Lord Nott, eh?' thought Harry. 'Clearly old Caracticus
emancipated the boy in his Will. That's all the excuse
I'll need to do what I'll do when I win. He's no longer
considered a child.'
Nott finally gave the barest of nods to Robards before
he turned back to Harry and dropped into a dueller's
stance. Harry took his own and noticed Nott's stance
was one of instant offence.
Harry's was more one of relaxed poise and readiness;
right foot and shoulder forward, knees loose and
'uncocked' and on the balls of his feet with a bare
minimum of weight on his heels. His wand, of course,
was in his hand. However, it was pointed down and
slightly away, while Nott's was held up high.
There was short pause as Robards consulted a clock
bolted to the wall opposite and above the heads of the
spectators.
Then, "Three!... Two!... One!... MARK!"
Nott had timed it well. As soon as Robards began the
'M; for 'Mark', his wand was being jabbed forward with
an added twist as the tip glowed aqua.
'A simple gouging charm at the floor at my feet,'
thought Harry.
He blocked it with a Protego.
But Nott then didn't wait for Harry to cast back. He
just kept casting, one after another. Each getting more
vicious.
Harry mentally smirked to himself and cast back
annoying jinxes and the like. His plan was simple.
Enrage the boy enough he'll leave an opening Harry
could exploit. And Nott was burning through magical
energy like it was all going to be taken away from him
within the next five minutes and wanted to use it all up
before it was.
As Nott began to slow down a little after his first
dozen casts, Harry started to push more and more
onto the offensive. It kept the amount of magical
power he was using low enough Nott thought he
could simply spell swat it all aside. That was what he
wanted the other boy to assume.
Then Harry started into the spell chains; ones he'd
come up with, mixed in with short already known
ones.
He could see the anger steadily more and more
marring his opponent's face.
Seeing an opening in the middle of a chain, he broke
out of it and cast the colour-changing charm at the
boy's hair, turning it pink; then hit his wand with a
minor illusion, making it look like a muggle little girl's
fairy princess's wand with a big silver star on the tip
Nott snarled in rage and returned to an almost full on
offensive. And his curses became even darker in
nature. Some of those, he knew were fatal if they
connected; an organ expelling curse, an organ rotting
curse, a withering curse and one that turned your
blood into acid, for example.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see the glare
directed at Nott by Robards. It also looked like
Robards was quickly going to determine he would
need to step onto the piste and halt the duel.
Throughout it all, Harry had dodged, shielded and
spell-swatted it all. Only one spell, so far, had touched
him. He'd taken a clip to the wand-hand from a cutting
Curse and blood was dripping to the floor from his
hand. However, the same could not be said for Nott.
His robes were cut through, he was bleeding in a few
places, his front top teeth were about two inches long
- from an accurately cast Densaugeo - and Harry could
tell he was hurting from what he thought were badly
bruised and or broken bones in his chest, off arm and
'wand' leg. And that did not include the prank hexes
he'd landed on the boy. Nott's casts were becoming
less accurate and his wand movements far less
refined.
That's when Harry did something only Nott, Daphne
and Hermione, of those present, had seen him do
before. He cast a Protego shielding charm off the tip
of his wand and charged forward.
Nott;'s eyes widened for the moment, as Harry
charged forward, before the ends of the eyes pinched.
Then he cast one of those dark curses that bore
straight through a shielding charm, using the
shielding charm to empower it further.
Harry watched it cast and coming, dropped his shield
at the last moment while simultaneously jinking to his
right a pace and continued to charge forward while
casting.
This time he didn't hold back and put full power into
the cast. His bludgeoner hit the boy in the wand arm,
clearly snapping one or more bones, before his
follow-up double stinging hexes stop the other boy
trying to hit him with another curse.
By then, Harry was on him.
As this was a 'public' spectacle, he didn't kick the boy
in the twins again. He simply tagged the boy with a left
cross to the chin.
Nott spun about and his wand went flying out of his
hand, dropping to the floor just before he did, landing
on his back.
Harry stood over him for a second time with his wand
tip glowing, pointing at him right between the eyes.
"Yield!" he demanded.
Nott glared back and snapped, "Get fucked!"
"Very well," said Harry and raised his wand with his
elbow cocked.
"HALT!" bellowed Robards.
Harry immediately stopped and lowered his wand
again, but didn't reholster it.
"The winner, by clear margin, is Lord Harrison Potter!"
called Robards.
Over the resultant din of yelling and applause, Harry
glared back at the hate-filled face of Nott and firmly
declared, "As per the terms of the duel; I, Lord
Harrison James Potter, Lord of the Noble and Most
Ancient House of Potter..."
Knowing something momentous was happening, the
spectators all immediately quietened down as if
someone had tossed a bucket of water over them.
"... One of the Seven, under Section 42 of the Act of
Ennoblement, hereby strip the House of Nott of its
noble title and Seat upon the Wizengamot! As I say, as
per the law, so must it be so!"
Without waiting for Nott to say a thing back, as he
wasn't interested in anything his opponent would say,
Harry spun about and began to stalk back up the
piste. His experience with Dumbledore using blood
trackers on him had him wary of leaving any of his
blood anywhere. He felt the near desperate need to
vanish what drops had dropped from his hand from
the cutting curse.
"BAASTAAARD!" screamed Nott.
Harry ignored him and kept walking away.
"Mister Nott!" barked Robards. Then, "DOWN!"
Harry had only just started to drop to the floor,
knowing what that snap-called 'Down' meant, when he
was hit low in the back with a curse.
The effect of it hitting him, caused him to spin, right
shoulder forward, faster than he was at the time. Not
wanting to land on his face as he'd not be able to
protect himself from a follow-up attack, he made sure
to spin the full 'one-eighty' to land on his back.
Gritting his teeth to ignore the pain of the hit - it must
have found a gap in the armour on his back to hurt
that much - he crashed to the floor on his back,
already raising his wand. Again, he ignored the pain
caused by the jarring impact.
Cocking his neck forward and looking back between
his crooked up knees he saw Nott charging him back.
His wand was raised up high and began to glow that
evil green, the same green as his, Harry's, eyes.
"Av-a-da!" Nott was snarling out, halfway through the
incantation of the Killing Curse as he ran forward.