Different Paths

Chapter 21: Giant against Super Wizard

"Roooooooon!!!!!" screamed Hermione and Ginny. They burst into tears as Fenis's blade came crashing down on Ron.

Ron silently braced himself for the blow. It was strange he was feeling no fear of death. All he felt was a sense of calm and a deep seated of honor that ran through his veins: an honor that came to people who gave their lives up on the battlefield for the sake of the greater good. 'Maybe this is what Harry feels every time he faces You-Know-Who,' thought Ron as he closed his eyes and silently waited for death to embrace him.

It never came.

Instead a familiar voice said, "Protego!" and Ron could feel the magical energies of a shield charm form itself into a large bubble around himself and the one now standing in front of him whom had cast the charm. The blade struck the shield with a dull, metallic sound that reverberated throughout the street.

Hermione, Ginny, and the Order members were quite shocked. They couldn't see anything as the blade had brought up a lot of dust as it struck but as the dust settled, they could see that Ron was very much safe underneath a gray shield charm cast by the old man that had suddenly appeared in front of Ron. A familiar looking old man wearing purple and scarlet robes, had his wand pointed upward creating the shield charm, and most telling of all, had waist length silver hair and a beard long enough to be tucked into his belt.

"Most impressive Ronald," said the old man, giving Ron a cheeky grin. "I must say I am not about to let such a remarkable young man as yourself lose his life right here right now, in such a way."

Ron fell to the ground, completely shocked. "Dumbledore!" he exclaimed.

"Dumbledore?!" said Wormtail, his voice now filled with terror.

"Professor Dumbledore!" exclaimed Hermione, her voice now filled with joy. "Ron! You're all right!" This was followed by murmurs of "Dumbledore, we're saved!" and "By Jove, it's really him!" from the Order members surrounding her. Most of them hadn't seen Dumbledore in years.

Dumbledore turned to Ron and smiled. "I must say Mr. Weasley that you did a remarkable job on your own against those Death Eater Sisters. Though I do say that your declaration of 'Big Time Super Wizard in training' was a little premature as you haven't quite started training for it yet."

Ron was clearly embarrassed. "You, you heard me?"

"I did," replied Dumbledore. "In fact I was only just down the street, listening to every conversation with a hearing charm. I heard absolutely everything that was said on Charing Cross Road over the past few hours while I was also making sure no muggles accidentally strayed into the area."

"What?" exclaimed Ron, completely forgetting that he was addressing his former headmaster, "You mean you were here the whole time? Why didn't you show up earlier to help us?"

"I did not think it was necessary," said Dumbledore. "All of you seemed to be handling the situation most impressively and I decided that I show up only when I was most needed. Now Ronald, all modesty aside how would you like to observe a true 'Super Wizard' in action?"

Ron was taken aback by Dumbledore's uncharacteristic words but Dumbledore was already facing the giant and shouting, "That was a most impressive blow. I wouldn't be surprised if you were truly amongst the mightiest of Voldemort's Death Eaters. Surely, without that shield charm, I would've been killed by that one blow alone."

From atop the giant's shoulder, Wormtail started laughing. "So says the great and mighty Albus Dumbledore," he proclaimed. "You flatter me, to imagine that you of all people regard me as amongst the mightiest of the Dark Lord's Death Eaters. So, even Albus Dumbledore is humble enough to acknowledge the fact of his weaker powers when confronted with fa..."

"Mr. Pettigrew, would you please kindly stop talking to yourself?" said Dumbledore, his voice stern, "I am trying to talk to Mr. Fenis."

"What?" exclaimed Wormtail, completely taken aback, "To Fenis?"

"Speak to the giant?" wondered Ginny out loud. "Can the giant even communicate with people?"

"Shh," Lupin shushed Ginny as he very much wanted to hear what Dumbledore wanted to say.

"Mr. Fenis," shouted Dumbledore. "Like I was saying, that was a most impressive blow. You seem to have the power and the heart of a warrior hidden inside that giant frame of yours. And I'm sure you have served Voldemort and the Death Eaters loyally for quite some time. However, don't you think it's about time you get to fight your own fight? To choose your own battles?"

Dumbledore's last two sentences clearly had an affect on Fenis, for behind his mask, his eyes widened and shone with a curious light.

"There is such a thing as being too strong," said Dumbledore. "For if you're too strong every time you go into a duel you're automatically labeled as being 'unfair' or 'having an advantage'. Especially in your case your immense size makes it impossible for you to participate in a 'fair fight' no matter how much you wish for it." Dumbledore than outstretched his arms, as if he were offering himself. "So, now that you've finally met someone who can truly match you, do you not want a fair fight? On equal terms?"

"Equal Terms? Of course!" exclaimed Wormtail. "Fenis! He's trying to convince you to remove your armor! He's trying to trick you into lowering your defenses by taking off your armor!"

"His armor?" questioned Ron as Hermione helped him up. "What's the armor got to do with being on equal terms?"

"It's a question of offense against defense," answered Hermione. "The armor, while it's excellent in protecting Fenis, is exceedingly large and cumbersome: which basically lowers Fenis's offensive capabilities to about half way. Without the armor, Fenis will be comparatively defenseless but he'll also have 100% of his strength available to him. Dumbledore is challenging Fenis to an all or nothing one hit duel."

"A one hit duel?" exclaimed Ron. "Is he mad? Dumbledore wouldn't be able to use a shield charm in a one hit duel. And with that giant at 100% power, he wouldn't stand a chance!"

"We just have to trust him," said Hermione as she hoisted Ron to what remained of the Leaky Cauldron.

Meanwhile, Wormtail was still shouting at the giant: "Fenis! FENIS! Are you even listening to me? Are you seriously listening to him rather than me? You overgrown ignoramus! Who found you wounded and exhausted from escaping hundreds of Aurors? Me! Who provided you with a new home after the giants kicked you out? Me! Who took you to the Dark Lord and had managed to get you inducted into the Death Eaters? ME! And you're letting this cooky old man talk to you this way while ignoring me? You fool! Answer me!"

"Was he always that annoying?" asked Ginny.

"Oh, you don't know the half of it," answered Remus.

Wormtail was still yelling at Fenis but it was clear that the giant was hearing none of it. The next second, the giant gave a mighty cry. Bit by bit, Fenis shed off his armor, even to the point where a terrified and shocked Wormtail was thrown to the ground along with Fenis's breastplate. Wormtail looked up timidly from the ground and whispered, "Fenis?"

There stood the giant, armor less and starring at Dumbledore, tears streaming down his eyes.

"What? Tears?" asked Ginny. "How come?"

Remus face palmed himself. "Of course! How could I have been so stupid? I of all people be so prejudiced?" he exclaimed.

"Huh? What?" questioned Ginny.

"Don't you understand?" said Remus. "Every place this Fenis has been, he's been treated like a monster. Everybody he has ever met has recoiled from him in terror and fear, just because of his enormous size. He's been a victim of prejudice for years, like I have been, and yet even I recoiled at him, thinking 'monster'! Dumbledore is the most likely the first person whom has ever treated Fenis like a person. Like an equal; like a warrior."

Ginny wanted to question Remus further but she was now too enraptured in the duel between Dumbledore and the giant. Fenis was poised at a spot where Dumbledore was poised just within reach of his blade. That blade was now held over Fenis's head, ready to strike down. Dumbledore was holding eye contact with Fenis, his wand pointed straight at him. Yet, neither was moving nor did they seem to be ready to do any moving.

"What are they doing?" exclaimed Ron. "Why aren't they doing anything?"

"In a one hit duel, everything depends on who makes the move first," answered Hermione. "Of the two, Dumbledore is the more accomplished dueler, but since he isn't going to be using any shield charms, Fenis could finish him off in one go. For example, Dumbledore could make the first move, whereupon the giant would strike him down while he's still making the wand movements or the incantation. However, if Fenis makes the first move, he might miss and be completely be open to whatever spell Dumbledore is planning on using."

"You're kidding! You mean they're actually going through all that just by starring at each other?" exclaimed Ron.

"A lot can happen with just some simple eye contact, Ron," said Hermione.

For a tense five minutes, Dumbledore and Fenis continued starring at each other. Finally, Dumbledore broke the ice by saying, "Tell me, are you that scared of me?"

The words clearly had their intended effect as Fenis's eyes gleamed and his lips twisted up into a smirk. Fenis made a thundering, deep cry that was heard throughout the surrounding area and swung his blade toward the ground in one mighty blow. The resulting sound of the blade smashing into the ground sounded like a canon explosion (which the muggles of the surrounding area would've recalled as thunder as soon as their memories were modified) and lifted a fog of dust. When the dust had finally settled, there was a twenty-five foot diameter crater on a large portion of Charing Cross Road. And there was no sign of Dumbledore.

"Ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!" laughed Wormtail. "You did it Fenis! You defeated him! You did want no one, not even the Dark Lord has been able to do: defeat Albus Dumbledore! Ha ha, now we are the mightiest of all! We are invincible! Why we don't even have to fear the Dark Lord any longer..."

"Oh shut up!" yelled Ginny. "And take a closer look! Fenis hasn't finished Dumbledore off at all!"

"What?" exclaimed Wormtail. He started looking around but only caught sight of the former Hogwarts Headmaster when Fenis raised his blade.

When the blade had come crashing down, Dumbledore had leapt away to the side away from the others and had clung onto that side of the blade after it had crashed, hidden from Fenis's view. Now that Fenis had raised the blade, and Dumbledore along with it, the aged wizard had a higher vantage of Fenis and a clear shot at him."

"Most impressive! Most impressive Mr. Fenis!" shouted Dumbledore. "But I am afraid I will take victory for myself for this duel!

"Fenis! Shake him off!" screamed Pettigrew. He was shocked when the giant did nothing but simply grin as Dumbledore pointed his wand at him.

"Maximus Reducto!" yelled Dumbledore. The resulting explosion hit Fenis in his chest, completely knocking the wind out of the giant. Fenis heaved and let out a small yelp. Then, like a mighty cedar falling before the axe of a woodman, the giant came crashing down to the ground, taking out several buildings in his fall and shattering more of the pavement of the road they were dueling on.

By the time the dust had cleared, Dumbledore had lightly landed on his feet and was calmly walking away from the fallen giant.

* * *

"News from the front! From the Death eaters attacking the Leaky Cauldron!" exclaimed Horace as an owl flew into the main throne room. The owl landed on Horace's shoulder and the Dark Lord's second in command hurriedly extracted the note from the owl's claws.

Horace read through the note very quickly whereupon he exclaimed, "WHAT?!" causing the owl to shriek and fly away. "Failed? All defeated? Even Fenis? How is that possible?!"

Voldemort, whom had been had been rather gleeful while Harry was invading his sanction, looked positively livid. "Whom else? Dumbledore. Only he could've defeated Fenis."

"Curses! Curses! Curses!" shouted Horace as he crumpled up the note. "How could they fail? How could they fail? All those Death Eaters! Five of the Elite Ten! Even Fenis who should've been undefeatable! All defeated!"

From his corner near Voldemort's throne, Seth started laughing. "Well the answer to that is quite obvious Mr. Salacion," he said. "The Order of the Phoenix was simply stronger than the Death Eaters and the Elite Ten: especially if Mr. Dumbledore was there. It's simply an example of the stronger consuming the weaker, natural law of nature."

Voldemort grinned. "Well said Seth," he said.

"Why thank you Mr. Voldemort," said Seth with a smile. Horace scowled but said nothing.

Voldemort stood up. "Whichever way, we can not let this deter us. We may have lost the Death Eaters, but I myself am still very much present and active so we are far, far away from being defeated. And besides, we should concentrate on the pests in this fortress right now." The Dark Lord turned to Seth and said, "Seth! Go prepare for your duel with Potter!"

"Yes sir."

"And remember Seth. Don't ever underestimate Harry Potter."

* * *

"Is he dead?" asked Ron as he prodded the prone form of Fenis. "It's not like you use a method of no mercy is it?"

"I was indeed merciful in this case," replied Dumbledore. "Fenis is still very much alive, though I dare say he will remain unconscious for several hours." As if to prove this point, Fenis's body twitched a little, though he remained knocked out.

"Hey everyone, look at this!" exclaimed Ginny from nearby Fenis's left arm. Ron and Remus made their way over to her to see what it was that caught Ginny's attention. There, unconscious and pinned underneath Fenis's arm was Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew. It was clear that the arm had landed right on top of him as Fenis had come crashing down to the ground.

"No way! He's still alive! He's slipperier than an eel. Or is it a rat in his case?" exclaimed Ron.

"Pitiful, just pitiful. Gotta wonder how a pathetic creature like this ever got to be one of the Elite Ten," said Ginny.

"I am so ashamed to call him a fellow Marauder," sighed Remus.

Meanwhile, Hermione was timidly speaking to Dumbledore: "Um, Professor, you mentioned to Ron that you heard everything that was said here."

"Yes I did Miss Granger. I heard everything," said Dumbledore.

Hermione blushed and said, "The, you know about... about... well about Harry and I..."

Dumbledore smiled and quietly said, "Yes Hermione I am very much aware that you are now with child. I do not condone such actions but I still believe you warrant a congratulations."

Hermione blushed a tomato red. Somehow she felt the need to explain herself and started ranting, "It just happened! I mean, Harry was there and I was there. He was looking like me in a way he had never looked at me before and he was just so handsome in the moonlight. And it just happened in this moment of passion. And now, I'm carrying his baby, and I don't know what he's going to think about that. And on top of that there's the possibility that he might not come back. And I'm so worried about how Harry is and if he's OK and..."

"Hermione," said Dumbledore. "You have nothing to worry about. I have plenty of confidence in Harry and I believe you do as well. Have faith in him and I'm sure he will be all right. Furthermore, if I know Harry's character, he would be ecstatic to learn about his baby."

Hermione smiled at that. Absently, she let her hand caress her stomach as she lovingly thought, 'Harry.'

* * *

'Harry.' Confused, Harry looked up for a moment and said, "Hermione?"

"Something wrong Harry?" asked Sirius as he placed Yasmin down and made his way over to his godson.

"It's nothing," said Harry. "It's just... well I just heard Hermione's voice."

"What?" said Sirius and Yasmin at the same time: hearing voices wasn't a good thing, even in the wizarding world.

"Not like she was actually here," said Harry. "More like I heard her voice and my head."

Both Sirius and Yasmin placed their hands on Harry's forehead, checking his temperature. "I'm perfectly fine," said an annoyed Harry.

"Well, you have no need to get anxious now," said Sirius. "We just need to get through a few more fellows, and we'll be clear sailing back home."

"Don't get so cocky," said Yasmin. "You forget that the next one you are facing is Seth Soran, greatest of the Death Eaters and the Elite Ten. There is no way you two can get through him!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," said Sirius as he hoisted the disgruntled Yasmin over his shoulder again.

"Why must you carry me like this?!" demanded Yasmin.

"What, you want me to carry you honeymoon style?" asked Sirius.

"Over my dead body!"

"Yeah, whatever. Now come on, lets go!" He and Harry started running down the corridor again.

"You know, hearing Hermione's voice sure has made me feel better," said Harry, smiling a little.

"Glad to hear you admit it," said Sirius with a smirk.

To be continued...