Different Paths

Chapter 24: Duel against the Dark Lord ~ Half Time

Snape's charge came so suddenly that absolutely no one had any time to react, not even Voldemort. There was a violet curse on the very tip of Snape's wand that Sirius didn't recognize, though it was undeniably lethal. And that curse made direct contact with Voldemort's forehead.

"Ha! Direct Hit!" exclaimed Snape. However...

"Magicus Ensis!" Snape buckled as Voldemort's scarlet magical blade slashed at Snape's legs. Though Snape didn't let any pain show on his face, it was clear just how painful the slash was since Voldemort had just added to the already existing wounds on Snape's thighs courtesy of Grindelwald.

"Underhanded, sneaky, and downright malicious, Severus," said Voldemort. "What do you know? I'm proud of you. Wasn't I the one who taught you those underhanded tactics?"

Snape said nothing. Voldemort glanced down at the wounds on his legs. "I see Grindelwald's left his mark on you. Your charge was somewhat slower than what I usually expect of you. I assume the reason why you used Potter as a decoy like that was because Grindelwald injured you a little more than you were hoping for."

Sirius looked absolutely furious at the idea of Snape using Harry as a decoy but did nothing. While he was constantly on the edge while Harry was dueling, he wasn't as keen on breaking the Fundamental Rules for Snape's sake. Snape still said nothing but his silence was confirmation enough for Voldemort.

The Dark Lord laughed. "Well Severus, whether you were injured or not, I doubt your little 'sniper' attack would've worked anyway as I was fully aware of what you were planning. Oh and as for why your attack had no effect on me..." Voldemort tapped on an invisible shield charm that was engulfing his head, "ever since I was defeated by Potter when he was just a baby, I've learned to take extra precautions."

"Well not even those precautions of yours are going to help you this time!" sneered Snape. He threw a vial containing a green potion at Voldemort's feet and a bottle containing a red potion at his own feet, which rocketed him into the air. The potion at Voldemort's feet caused several large, thorny vines to grow out of the ground at an alarming rate. They entangled around the lower portion of the Dark Lord's body, attempting to root him in place.

Voldemort was unfazed. Saying, "Magicus Ensis Inflammarae!" Voldemort let forth his fiery blade with which he burned and hacked away at the vines. Snape meanwhile was now raining different potions onto Voldemort from above, all of which were deflected by the shield around his head.

"Surely you aren't making such an elementary mistake," said Voldemort. He quickly learned that he had spoken too fast when the shield around his head started flickering. The shield all but disappeared when Snape came falling toward his head, ready to curse Voldemort. Voldemort pointed his wand at Snape and said, "Reducto!" blasting Snape away.

"It really is a pity Severus," said Voldemort. "I always thought you were a most promising Death Eater. Those attacks just now really say something; you went all out with the explicit purpose of attempting to kill me. Fruitless of course, but that merciless quality of yours is something I've always liked about you."

"Your point?" said Snape as he got back onto his feet.

"I'm offering you a position with the Death Eaters again," said Voldemort. "The old faults can be forgotten. I am after all in need of a new Elite Ten." He offered his hand to Snape. "So, what do you say?"

For a brief second it looked like Snape was considering the offer, which made Sirius's blood boil. However, Snape smirked and said, "That arrogance of yours in presuming things is going to cost you your life!" He suddenly pulled out the black "Harpoon Potion" that he had used to kill Grindelwald and blasted his magical powers toward Voldemort at point blank range. However...

"Magicus Ensis!" Voldemort's scarlet blade stabbed right through Snape's shoulder, as the Dark Lord had easily dodged the Potion Master's "Harpoon Potion". Snape's face contorted into a grimace of extreme pain.

"Arrogance?" said the Dark Lord with a smirk. "Such a harsh word. I believe the correct term would be 'absolute confidence'! Crucio!" Snape was blasted away as the brunt of the Cruciatus Curse rippled right through the wound on his shoulder. He crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap.

"Well I guess you were a challenge enough," said Voldemort. "I figure you are worthy of at least being mentioned when I rewrite history."

Sirius finally snapped. "You bastard!" he screamed, running straight at Voldemort. He rammed the full force of the Double-Neutral Spell into Voldemort's now shield-less face; so powerful that the aftershock completely shattered the bones in Sirius's right hand.

To Sirius's horror, Voldemort was completely unharmed. "You fool!" he hissed. "Next time, don't get over your head and perhaps you'll live a little longer Black!" Voldemort's left fist suddenly curled up into a fist and struck him, to Sirius's surprise, with the full force of the Double-Neutral Spell. Sirius was thrown back into the wall. He slid to the ground leaving the wall cracked.

"Shit," he muttered before falling unconscious.

"Shit is what you are," smirked the Dark Lord.

Voldemort looked over the fallen forms Harry, Snape, and Sirius. Slowly but surely, he started laughing, until soon his hysterical laughter filled the arena with its sinister echoes.

'Powerful!' thought Horace, his face curled into a sinister grin. 'Powerful! Powerful! Powerful! Powerful! All powerful! I knew it! With Lord Voldemort's power alone world domination is a reality!'

Voldemort was still laughing when a voice suddenly piped up, "You know they may say laughter is the key to a long life but there's no way laughing like that can really be healthy."

Voldemort, Yasmin, and Horace looked up to see none other than Draco Malfoy standing at the entranceway of the arena. "Well, well, well, I had quite forgotten," said Voldemort, "I still have one more loser to take care of."

* * *

Back at the Leaky Cauldron, clean up was taking place. The authorities had carted off all the fallen Death Eaters and Elite Ten and the members of the Order of the Phoenix were rummaging through what remained of the pub. There was an overall feeling of relief and relaxation amongst the Order members, which was what was taxing Ron Wesley's patience.

"Dammit! What are we still doing here?" he yelled. "Why are we standing around looking like we just saved the world? We've got to go help Harry kick You-know-who's arse!"

"You've got to hand it to him," muttered Ginny to Remus. "He's probably the most beat up of all of us and he's still ready for more."

"I guess he's got the adrenaline of youth," said Remus.

Ron continued raving: "What are we just standing around for? Lets move! Move! Move!"

"Patience Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore as he calmly sipped some tea. "There are times where you must simply learn to count your blessings and rest to recuperate. Otherwise you might end up burning yourself out."

Ron looked incredulous. "Burn out? Who said I was on the verge of burn out?" He took a few steps forward, only to fall on his face as he succumbed to his wounds and exhaustion. "Oooooh," he groaned. "OK, maybe I need a break."

"That would be highly advisable Ronald," said Dumbledore with a wink. As several Order members treated Ron, Dumbledore caught sight of Hermione. She was looking toward the Tower of London with a troubled expression on her face.

"You are still worried about him, are you not?" asked Dumbledore.

Hermione nodded. "I can't help it," she said. "You're right professor, I do have absolute confidence in Harry, but there's this constant voice of doubt in my head telling me that he's not going to come back, or that I'm going to have to raise the baby by myself. It won't shut up now matter how much I tell it too."

Dumbledore placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "It is natural to feel worried and concerned for our loved ones," he said. "But if it helps, let me tell you a secret about the Stellar Patronus. The spell Harry acquired is a spell borne of pure good and the will to survive. It has never been beaten before and those whom are arrogant enough to believe they could beat it will find their powers sucked up in a vacuum, powerless to protect themselves from the full onslaught of the Dark Magic Cleanser. So you see, Harry truly is in good hands."

* * *

"Loser, yes I believe that would be an accurate term," sneered Horace. "Draco Malfoy, what are you doing here? What do you hope to accomplish. You have already been defeated and humiliated by Harry Potter. Do you truly think you could stand up against our master if Potter couldn't?"

"Wouldn't hurt to try now would it?" snapped Draco.

"Anybody is welcome to try," said Voldemort, "although that would mean that your relatives would have to plan a funeral. The surviving ones that is."

"Magicus Ensis," said Draco, conjuring up his blue magical sword spell.

Voldemort smirked. "So you really are planning on facing me. You who couldn't even beat Potter! Ah, if only Lucius could see you now."

"It is because I lost to Harry Potter that I'm facing you," said Draco. "And you're fully aware that I could care less what Lucius Malfoy would think of me. Now, are we doing this or not?"

Voldemort smirked again and conjured his own blade. "My lord," said Yasmin worriedly, glancing at her watch. "The time..."

"Don't fret Yasmin," said Voldemort. "I'll take care of this in just a few more seconds. Magicus Ensis."

Draco and the Dark Lord slowly started circling one another. Draco twirled around his blade while Voldemort simply observed him, the smirk never leaving his face.

"Curious," said Voldemort. "Potter, Snape, and Black insisted on charging me and trying to defeated me with their best attacks and spells. You however appear to be taking your time. Why if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were, oh I don't know, hesitating?"

Draco's eye twitched a little. Wordlessly, he lunged at the Dark Lord, their blades crossing several times letting magical sparks fly. Voldemort appeared to be keener on observing Draco's movements rather than defending himself or going on the offensive.

"I just prefer to take things slow," said Draco.

"Perhaps so," said the Dark Lord. "Every fighter has his own style, only fools would charge blindly into a fight. However, I'm thinking you're being too slow, even for you."

Draco lunged once again. Voldemort easily deflected each of the blows then sent a minor curse at Draco. Draco dodged it by jumping to the side.

"Praestigae Multiplico," said Draco, creating multiple illusions of himself. They started circling around the Dark Lord.

Voldemort looked thoughtful before he said, "Imperio!" Draco was clearly caught off guard and his illusions disappeared as he fought off the Imperious Curse.

'Voldemort grinned. "Very clever young Malfoy, but its not going to work on me. Crucio!"

Draco dodged the Cruciatus Curse by propelling himself into the air, somersaulting and landing right behind Voldemort.

"No! He's got his back!" exclaimed Horace.

"My Lord!" screamed Yasmin.

Draco however did nothing. "Oh, what's the matter, Draco?" said Voldemort, still facing away from Draco. "Why don't you attack? I've got my back turned on you, when are you ever going to get another perfect chance like this?"

Draco hesitated once more apparently thinking something over. Eventually however, he came to a decision and started spinning around shouting, "Cyclonus Diffendo-Hex!"

Draco's spinning spell quickly engulfed Voldemort from the back. Voldemort however didn't even use a spell to defend himself. Instead, all he did was strike downward with his wand, slapping Draco's wand hand and knocking his wand out of it. Draco's spell instantly dissipated. Draco stepped back clutching his hand as Voldemort stepped on Draco's wand, snapping it in two.

"Was that a Cyclonus-Diffendo spell? Pathetic," sneered Voldemort. "Why I could barely recognize it. The spell, Lucius developed and you refined yourself. Such a sad legacy Lucius has left behind."

"I no longer care about my promise to Lucius," said Draco. "Potter is the most powerful wizard of all, not you. A promise like the one I made to Lucius is meaningless next to Potter."

"Yet Potter has already fallen," said Voldemort. Draco stiffened for a moment but held his ground; this was not missed by Voldemort. "Now wait a minute, that's interesting. You're hesitation, you're Cyclonus Diffendo spell not being able to achieve its full power. Why of course, why didn't I realize it? Your Dark powers were drained by Potter's Dark Magic Cleanser, and as a result you still have severe magical depletions in your power."

Draco said nothing. Voldemort continued: "So, if your powers have been depleted, that would mean that you knew from the start that you would be no match against me. Yet you still insisted on fighting me knowing you would be no match against me. And when I consider how much time you're taking with each attack... Of course! Magicus Ensis Inflammarae!"

Draco braced himself as Voldemort slashed at him with his fiery blade. "You pathetic fool! All you are doing is 'buying time'!" Voldemort slashed at Draco again, severely burning him.

"Buying time?" exclaimed Horace. "The pathos astounds me. I pity you Draco Malfoy. You really expect Potter to regain consciousness?"

Voldemort laughed as Draco crouched down, Harry's fallen form right behind him. "You're a fool Draco Malfoy. Placing your hopes on one whom has already fallen. I can't believe you were actually hoping to gain time necessary for Potter to wake up, failing to realize that he isn't going to wake up!"

"A fool am I?" said Draco. "Perhaps I am. But I am not a hopeless fool. For you see, Voldemort, no matter how much I think it through: no matter how many factors or options I consider, I simply cannot believe that Harry Potter is less powerful than you."

It was in that moment when the fates decided to intervene, as the random magic in the atmosphere vibrating began with power. Horace was about to retort when he did a double take when he realized that Harry Potter was standing up, behind Draco Malfoy.

"What?" he exclaimed. However, Harry's eyes were lifeless and his body wasn't moving an inch as if he were petrified. Horace let out a breath of relief. "My Lord, there is nothing to worry about," he said. "Potter simply stood up on reflex as he is still out cold. It is clear when you look into his eyes that he has already been defeated..."

Horace quickly realized that he had spoken too soon for suddenly Harry's eyes blazed a startling fiery green. No longer shielded by his glasses (as they had shattered when Harry went down with the Cruciatus Curse), those emerald blazes of fire glared at the Dark Lord with untamed fury as the magic of the atmosphere started to react. Horace gulped as Snape and Sirius also regained consciousness to witness the full fury of Harry Potter's power.

" If ever the Boy-who-lived falls, he shall rise again," said Draco.

Voldemort grinned. "So starts round two then."

To be continued...