Chapter 17: Fight or Flight

In the large courtyard Draco was standing beside Goyler and Crabbe, Obelia had when to the library and had left him with those two, even after knowing the duel would take place soon.

The courtyard had high tensions, few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were present, and most didn't seem to want to get caught up if things went wrong and watched from a distance.

This was different from the Gryffindors and Slytherin, as they came in large groups. They were divided by an invisible line, Harry stood with the Griffindors while Draco stood with the Slytherins.

"Oh my, looks like we have an audience." Draco turned and looked at the familiar voice,

Obelia was walking slowly towards the Slytherin, but her eyes were on Harry.

"Remember the plan?" Obelia asked whispering to Draco, her eyes still on Harry Potter, as well as Hermione and Ron who were right next to him.

"Of course, I'm not a fool," Draco said looking toward where Obelia's gaze was lingering. "I'll disarm him then stun him, and if he strikes first I'll shield and counter," Draco whispered back and both of their gazes looked at the group of Gryffindors.

"Good, and if anyone interferes I'll step in," Obelia said, although she was hesitant in speaking, she didn't want Draco and Harry to be harmed, she viewed Draco as a friend and Harry as someone she needed to protect for a year. "Let's try and avoid a full-on war."

Draco noticed the Gryffindors glare at him and started to understand the weight of this duel but had no plans to back down. Obelia was the same, even if she wasn't fighting she didn't want to back down and face the embarrassment of a loss.

Draco and Obelia noticed how Harry started to walk to the center of the Courtyard with Hermione and Ron trailing behind. Draco did the same but was only accompanied by Obelia as Goyler and Crabbe decided to watch this time. Obelia took notice of how Hermione kept looking around her and back at Harry.

'…I feel like she is looking for McGonagall, but it's not like that will stop the Duel…'

Obelia started to recollect the events that happened in a certain class after school.

___

"You two! Do you have any idea what you have done!?!?" Snape said, his prideful and loud voice piercing both Draco and Obelia's ears as they were getting yelled at.

"Wel it's not like we wanted this ether," Obelia said, making the furious Professor even more furious. While Obelia took notice she continued to speak, "Why are you nagging us like we can back down now? What is said is done."

Obelia felt like she could see Snape turn red with anger, which caused her to glance and Draco trying to avoid eye contact with an angry Snape.

"Professor I…" Draco also felt like he should say something, but words failed to come out and he glanced at Obelia causing them to make eye contact.

Obelia felt a little guilty dragging Draco into the duel but also remembered their hatred and rivalry against each other and figured she was only spreading up the process.

" Draco… if you don't want to fight I can create a Polyjuice potion and fight in your place," Obelia said, she didn't want to but offered since watching Draco practice endlessly made her feel guilty after declaring the duel herself yet not fighting.

"That's not it, I-" Before Draco could explain what he was thinking Snape broke the heartfelt conversation with a deep sigh.

"Creating a Polyjuice potion? You?" Snape glanced at Obelia up and down before shaking his head. Obelia had forgotten she was in front of the very person who was considered a potion prodigy at the age of 11.

Before Obelia shot back with an insult Draco had finally put his words together and looked at both of the confidentiality.

"I'm fighting in this duel, while it wasn't planned originally we can use it as an example." Draco formed a small smile and continued, "We will show Harry fame isn't everything, and how some wizard families are just better than others."

When Obelia heard that her first thought was how cringe he was acting, like some bully in a book… then she realized he was a bully character in a book.

'Well I guess what makes it okay… but are they just characters now?'

___

"Hey Obelia, focus, didn't you say you would control the crowd?" Draco whispered they were now standing face to face with the trio, only a few feet apart. Obelia snapped out of her trance and clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.

"Alright everyone, we all know why we are here, it will be Harry versus Draco in a one-on-one match, any interference from either side will result in an immediate loss." Obelia said loudly, looking at Harry before continuing, "I'm sure we all know duel etiquette correct?" She tilted her head, watching Harry's face turn into confusion.

"First the opponents must face each other and bow, then attempt to disarm, stun, or defend their opponents." Obelia said after a short yet noticeable silence, " This isn't a fight to the death, let's try and keep the spell casting to a minimum harm level."

Obelia took out a thin vile filled with red liquid and drake it, she received questionable stairs but just brushed them off and walked away from Draco and Harry, signaling to Ron and Hermione to do the same.

"Ready?" Obelia signaled for both Draco and Harry to raise their wands and bow. While both of them did what was asked they had a bitter face causing Obelia to let out a small chuckle with the fact neither wanted to show respect to the other.

'I wonder what Harry heard from the other Gryffindor…'

Obelia waved her hand and the duel started, Draco was the first to react quickly waving his wand in a fast and fluid motion.

"Expelliarmus!" Draco shouted, and while it caused Harry to nearly lose his grip on his wand the spell wasn't strong enough, Obelia noticed Harry's strong grip and felt like the Gryffindors prepared well. After recovering Harry countered with an offense spell flicking his wrist and pointing directly at Draco.

"Stupefy" Obelia started to smile, while Harry's spell was performed well Draco managed to counter it with a Shield charm. She then noticed a small movement in the corner of her eye, Ron had his wand out and mouthing a few words, yet Obelia was unable to identify what exactly he was saying and decided to make her way to him.

"Hey!" Obelia slapped her hand on Ron's head and caused him to fall face-first into the floor. "What do you think you're doing with your wand out?!?" She said glaring at him, and noticed Hermione still looking around.

While she was focused on the two the duel was still going on, Draco would use the shield charm every time Harry used an offense spell, but when Drack performed a offense it wasn't strong enough, causing them to go back and forth.

Obelia took a look back at the duel and her eyes widened in shock, the last spell she heard was stupefy, and it came out of Draco's mouth.

'We won right? Why is everyone so quiet?' Obelia suddenly felt a chill staring down her neck and running down her spine. '… I recognize this feeling… Forget the fight, it's my time to fly out of here.'