F&L: Chapter 61

The time came for my rematch with Draco soon enough, as we both found ourselves down in the Slytherin Duelling Pit. This time, it seemed that the entire House had turned up to watch, while last time it had only been members of our own year, plus those in the know about myself and Draco. I even saw seventh years present, like Rhys Maybury, whose pet Kneazle, Sharpe, was curled on her lap as she watched the contest, snoozing softly. Of course, I'd brought Daphne as my second, as agreed, and while Draco had brought Goyle, like he'd agreed, Goyle was hardly the only member of Draco's clique down in the pit right now, as both Crabbe and Pansy Parkinson had come down as well.

"That seems suspect, doesn't it?" I questioned, gesturing over toward the cluster of Draco and his three most fervent minions. Daphne took one look over there and her nose wrinkled in disgust.

"Suspect is right. I wonder where the Prefects and Professor Snape are? They should be dealing with this, shouldn't they?" Queried Daphne.

"They should." I confirmed.

Unfortunately, as I looked up over the Spectators' Gallery, I found the reason for the delay by any authorities who might have told Crabbe and Pansy to clear off, just in case they interfered with the duel. It was both fairly predictable and unwelcome, but also sort of par for the course for my life here in the Wizarding World. It seemed that Lockhart had tried to make his way into the Spectators' Gallery even though he had no real jurisdiction in Slytherin. He was currently making the case to Snape that he ought to be allowed to spectate as a professor. Apparently, he was still considering starting up his own, separate duelling club this year and wanted to see how the students did it before making up his mind. Personally, I was fairly certain that was all a smokescreen, though I couldn't figure out what for. I was fairly sure nothing I had done had alerted Lockhart that I was onto him. I turned back to Daphne and shook my head, chuckling sadly.

"It seems that Gilderoy Lockhart just can't help himself." I sighed.

"Why is he even here? Does he really think Professor Snape will let him watch house business?" Asked Daphne.

"I have no clue. Lockhart worries me, though." I admitted.

"Why? Sure, he's won the Order of Merlin, and yes, he's been on hunts, but Daddy keeps saying his reputation is overblown. After having seen the debacle of the First Defense Class, I'm inclined to believe that, too. What worries you about a wizard like that?" Questioned Daphne.

"I think it's all obfuscating stupidity." I huffed.

"What gives you that impression?" Queried Daphne.

"I can pick up most people's surface thoughts with a scan, Daphne. Even those who have basic Occlumency shields now, I can at least get something from them." I informed.

"And you're getting sinister thoughts from Lockhart when you scan?" Asked Daphne.

"No, that's the thing. I'm not getting anything at all from Lockhart. That means he has to be at least as good as I am with the Mind Arts, and better than me with them to stymie me repeatedly like this." I explained.

"Oh." Frowned Daphne.

"Yeah, Oh. Mark my words, Daphne. Lockhart isn't as harmless as he seems. The only reason to project that kind of false incompetence is to hide something else. He's up to something, just you watch." I insisted, distilling a generalized warning against Lockhart to give to Daphne in a way that just barely skirted tripping my Meta-Lock drawback.

Unfortunately, Daphne and I were so hung up on Lockhart's appearance, alongside the various Spectators and authorities, thanks to Lockhart making a scene, that we missed it when both Crabbe and Pansy slipped Draco a flask each. The application of said flasks' contents to Draco's wand and gullet were also missed. By the time the issue with Lockhart had been sorted by simply allowing the man to watch the duel, Crabbe and Pansy had been shooed out of the pit by Snape and the Prefects, and everyone had taken their seats, Draco had already managed to cheat, right under our noses. It would wind up being a significant advantage for Draco during the duel.

Regardless, once everyone was seated, Snap stood up and made his way over to the railing that separated the House Dueling Pit from the Spectators' Gallery. He cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Once again, we have been called here to settle a matter of honor between Mister Malfoy and Mister Zabini. I am told another wager has been agreed to? If so, have your seconds declare your names and your aims for those present to hear." Exclaimed Snape.

"Blaise of the Princely, Imperial, and Senatorial House of Zabini, Rightful Conte del Villagio del Mistero, Rightful Lord of the Castello Dell'occhio Interiore, Favored of Fortuna, Darling of the Fates, Last Descendant of the Claudii of Rome, and Principe del Sangue of the Kingdom of Magical Italy has accepted the Challenge of Draco of the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy, that should he win Draco must henceforth cease all harassment, verbal, physical, or otherwise, of Blaise and his associates, for a period of no less than three years, two months, and one week!" Pronounced Daphne, stepping forward to do her job as my Second.

As she stepped back, Goyle stepped forward. He was far more confident this time than he had been last time, and his pronouncement showed it. I actually had to pay attention when he announced Draco this time.

"Draco, of the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy, Heir to the Magical County of Wiltshire, has proposed this challenge to Blaise of the Princely, Imperial, and Senatorial House of Zabini, with the understanding that should he win, Blaise will will disband his Cross-House Study Group and swear allegiance to Draco as the leader of our year!" Announced Goyle, before stepping back.

"Very well. You will duel once more under the standard rules until one of you gives up, cannot duel any longer, or I call a halt to these proceedings. If I call a halt, you will immediately cease combat and await my judgment. I will not have either of you crippled permanently by dunderheaded recklessness more suited to Gryffindor. Is that clear?" Demanded Snape.

"As glass, Professor." I nodded.

"Absolutely." Agreed Draco.

"Then you will bow, take your positions, and await my command to begin." Intoned Snape.

With that, I bowed to Draco while Draco's bow was still shallower, but deeper than it had been last time. Apparently, between that and him having Goyle use my proper Rank this time, it seemed like I had managed to beat some respect into him since the last time. Of course, then he had to go and ruin it by opening his mouth as we took our positions.

"I've been waiting for this for a whole year, Zabini. I'm going to enjoy making you submit." Smirked Draco.

"Si fa presto a parlare, talk is cheap, Malfoy." I retorted.

"Begin!" Called out Snape.

Almost immediately, I drew on the Dead Moment, time slowing down as I cast a Leglimency Scan to effectively read Draco's actions as he thought them up. His Occlumency Shields were present, but not enough to keep my scan from picking up on his plans. That was how I knew to cast the Grit Shield immediately instead of trying to dodge the beam of pale yellow light that came out of his wand first. The grit shield tanked the hit, which would have followed me with a sort of homing quality to it. My riposte was to open with Bombarda, casting the Bombardment Spell back at Draco and forcing him to dodge. I frowned as I realized that he was moving fast enough to keep up with me while using the Dead Moment. Not totally, but enough that I was suspecting him of cheating with Potions somehow.

As I fired off a flipendo that slammed into him as he came out of his dodge, he managed to get another spell off, this one a pale blue ray of light that chilled the air as it passed through. Thankfully, I was able to put my Dueling Glove in the way of the spell, backhanding the ray of light in such a way that the spell shattered like ice, though not before proving itself to have been powerful enough to partially bleed through the Dueling Glove's enchantments. The back of my left hand felt numb, like it was weighted down. I knew that if that had hit bare skin, it would have caused some major frostbite. As it was, I was shaking my hand out even as Draco got back to his feet from being knocked on his arse.

"What in the Hell was that, Malfoy?" I questioned, dodging an incoming Impediment Hex.

"Frigidus Sepulchrum. The Chill of the Grave. What's the matter, Zabini? Too much for you to handle?" Demanded Draco, ducking under a Severing Charm I flung his way.

"Perish the thought. I just was curious, is all." I scoffed, tucking myself into a shoulder roll to avoid a Jelly-Legs Jinx.

"I know plenty of spells that you wouldn't allow me to demonstrate! Corrugo!" Exclaimed Draco.

As he did that, he whipped his wand into a series of movements, and a black bolt flew toward me. As that happened, I knew from the Mind Arts that if I was hit by that, it would wither the body part that was hit. I dove to the sand at the bottom of the pit, literally hitting the dirt as the bolt flew overhead to splash harmlessly against the wall behind me. My mental scan alerted me to Draco's next move, and I rolled to the side to avoid a Stickfast Hex. I got to my feet and fired off an Incendio Dua, green flames launching themselves at Draco and forcing him back with a squawking noise. He was forced to cast the Water-Making Spell to douse his robes as he caught a bit of the tail end of the flames.

I had managed to stay one step ahead of Draco, thanks to the Mind Arts, and I had him on the run. Now, I would have to keep the pressure up, and if he didn't manage to regain the initiative, I would win this. As I cast more spells, I tried to box Draco in. I cast the freezing spell on his sodden robes, taking away his extra mobility. His response was to fire a jet of water back at me with Aguamenti, thinking I would counter by using the Water to Steam Transformation instead of just dodging the high-pressure jet. That would have warmed things up enough to allow his robes to thaw. Instead, I used the Banishing Charm on the water. Draco suddenly found himself bowled back over by his own attack. Unfortunately, he managed to roll with the blow, and my follow-on Expelliarmus didn't manage to end things.

"Incarcerus!" Growled Draco, getting to one knee and firing at me.

"Diffindo!" I exclaimed, countering his Incarcerous with a severing charm, cleaving the rope he flung at me like a bola in twain.

"Squama Oculo!" Bit out, Draco, forcing me to dodge away from the Scale-Eye Hex.

A flash of mental warning had me casting the Spell of Invisible Armor on myself as Draco's Next incantation was Magnus Malleus. The Spell that Terry had used against me earlier in the week hit my invisible Armor, breaking my defense, but I already had a Scutum Charm up to deflect his follow-up, a Knee-Reversal Hex that splashed harmlessly against my Scutum Charm. My riposte was a Battering Ram Spell that Draco was just a touch too slow to get away from fully, now that his speed boost had started to wear off and his robes were still semi-frozen from earlier. My spell clipped him in the shoulder, spinning him around even as he gritted his teeth and cast a spell back at me, a skull-like orb that shattered my Scutum Charm with enough force to send me to the ground, even as he was bowled over too.

A flash of the Sight hit me then, and I knew that the Wizard who gained their feet first would be the one who would win the duel. Fortunately for me, I was a far more athletic wizard than Draco Malfoy was. Indeed, most Wizards' idea of exercise was to ride around on brooms playing Quidditch. Without his speed boosts from the potion, however, I had Draco edged out in terms of speed and stamina. I managed to get to my feet just as Draco got to his knees and cast a Flagrante Curse on Draco's Wand. Draco dropped his wand with a yelp at the sudden heat, and I immediately hit him with a Flipendo, knocking him back to the ground in one decisive blow. A stickfast hex to keep him there followed, and that was when Snape spoke up.

"Enough! I am calling this duel in favor of Mister Zabini! He has clearly proven to be the superior wizard in both duels that he and Mister Malfoy have had so far. I expect the terms to be followed to the letter. Mister Higgs, if you would please help Mister Malfoy extricate himself from his current situation?" Announced Snape.

And with that, I had successfully managed to get Draco out of my way for the next few years. That should last up until the start of Fifth Year, which meant that I should have a free hand to solve various issues without his interference, including, hopefully, keeping Voldemort from returning at the end of Fourth Year. As Terence Higgs came down into the Pit to help Draco, however, he frowned as he picked up Draco's Wand.

"Why does it seem like there's Ectoplasm coating your wand?" Demanded Terence.

"What are you trying to say, Higgs? That I cheated by sneaking in a wand coating? I would think very carefully about any accusations to that effect, were I you!" Scowled Draco.

As another kerfuffle unfolded there, I couldn't help but nod to myself. I thought Draco's Necromancy Spells had been a bit more powerful than I thought they would be. If he'd coated his wand in Ectoplasm beforehand, that would explain it, though. It was a known amplifier of such spells, after all. That meant that Draco had probably cheated twice and still lost. Not that I expected anything to come of the situation. Not with Lucius Malfoy on the Hogwarts Board of Governors, at any rate. Unfortunately, I was so wrapped up in my victory here that I missed Lockhart staring at Gemma Farley, the Seventh-Year Girls Prefect for Slytherin, clearly plotting something.

And that would come back to bite me in the future. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the actual duel with Draco. Of course, Draco tried to cheat twice over, but it didn't help him because Blaise was in his head, reading his thoughts and being able to use that to figure out Draco's moves as he made them. The Mind Arts are no joke, and Draco's Occlumency Shields are crude by any standard. Sure, he has them, but he doesn't have the sort of dedication to the Mind Arts that Blaise does. Lockhart, on the other hand, does have that sort of dedication, and Blaise's preoccupation with Draco, both in the duel and the aftermath, is going to give the man an opening to have a thrall in Slytherin.

At any rate, the next chapter will be an interlude from Lockhart's POV. Then we'll have another timeskippy chapter until Ginny opens the Chamber of Secrets under the direction of the Diary for the first time at the start of October.

Stay tuned. . .