Chapter 227: The Arena
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 227: The Arena
February 12, Ministry of Magic
"Ahh, the Potters, we were waiting for you." Dolores Umbridge offered them a fake smile before turning to the other person next to them.
"Headmaster Dumbledore…I'll admit, we were not expecting you to attend."
"Harry Potter is one of my students. I thought that…at the very least, I should be here as a witness. I hope that won't be an inconvenience." Dumbledore told her.
"Of course…follow me." She turned around and started walking at a brisk pace.
Harry observed his surroundings as they walked and paid close attention to the people working at the Ministry.
There was a clear tension in the air. It had been like that since Minister Fudge was relieved from his position with the most dishonor.
It only took two weeks for this to happen since the disastrous interview where he attempted to explain the presence of dementors at Hogwarts.
Not long after that, documents depicting many illegal deals he had made with Lucius Malfoy, among other Lords, ended up in the hands of Amelia Bones, as well as the press.
Former Minister Fudge was very lucky to avoid ending up in prison. But ultimately was forced to leave the country in order to escape the public's outrage.
The Wizengamot is due to get together and decide the next Minister in just a few days, but everyone knows it is merely a formality.
Lord Parkinson had the majority support in that chamber. This means that everyone who was not part of his Conservative faction is due to have a bad time working here.
"Here we are." Umbridge pointed her wand at an old-looking stone door and this one opened up.
Once inside, they found themselves in a large circular room. There were seats all around it and a stone arena in the middle.
There were barely any decorations at all. It was all very rustic-looking.
"This place hasn't changed…" Dumbledore commented.
"You've been here before?" Lily asked.
"It's been a few decades. This chamber was used often in the past. When a disagreement between two Lords could no longer be discussed with words…they would come here to solve it with their wands."
"And that is exactly what we are doing today." Lord Parkinson approached them.
"I was not expecting you to be here, Lord Parkinson." Dumbledore said.
He walked from the other side of the circular room. Behind him, one could see the four Lords: Flint, Montague, Derrick, and Pucey. As well as their sons, the ones who Harry attacked that day.
Graham Montague was still missing his arm, as for Peregrine Derrick…his wound was not visible but by the deadly look he was giving Harry…it was still there.
"These Lords are good friends of mine, I could not miss this. Like you, Albus, I am here to be a witness to this duel. Let us hope that after today, we can put behind this ugly business between us." Lord Parkinson said.
"Is that what you call this? An ugly business? Those Lords challenged my thirteen-year-old son to a Death Duel!" James shouted.
"And your son agreed to it." Lord Parkinson reminded him.
"Mister Potter! Be more mindful of how you address Lord Parkinson. You better learn to be more respectful if you want to keep that little job of yours." Umbridge's tone of voice became more acute, almost like a shriek.
Lily appeared ready to rip the toad-like woman a new one, so Harry decided to step in.
"Let us get this 'ugly business' going, shall we? Who am I dueling exactly?" Harry walked through the sitting area, getting closer to the others.
"The guy with no arm…the one with no dick, the other two losers? Or perhaps their parents? Those great respectable Lords who would gladly lower themselves to fight a child…how shameful…" He shook his head.
"Potter! You bastard!" Peregrine Derrick screamed at him.
"I'm going to kill you myself!" He was about to move to the arena when his father stopped him.
"Control yourself, Peregrine…don't fall for his provocations."
"Ehem, ehem!" Umbridge cleared her throat.
"Before we get to that…boy." She glared at Harry.
"We need to make the rules clear, as is customary."
She walked to the arena but stopped before it.
"Only those who are willing to fight to the death shall step on this arena. Killing will only be allowed in this particular space and only for the duration of this duel. There will be no restriction on spells. Everything is allowed."
"They are even allowing the Three Unforgivables?" Lily gasped.
"Mmm?...there is something off in the way she worded those rules." Dumbledore noticed.
"Silence! I was not done!" Umbridge huffed.
"Now, where was I?...right, there will be no res- Potter!" She yelled at Harry when she saw him stepping into the arena.
"What? You were taking too long. So, everything is allowed, got it." He looked at the four pureblood families.
"I assume you were thinking of stepping in all at the same time, right? Well, come on then. Get in here." He pointed at the arena.
"What? Is that true?" Lily asked.
"Of course…they didn't dare to fight him in an individual duel." James glanced at his son. He made them promise that no matter what happens, they will not intervene.
He had no reason to doubt his son's abilities, but this still felt wrong.
"That confidence is going to kill you, Potter!" Graham Montague shouted.
He and his other three housemates approached the stone arena.
"Since this is an issue between our boys, we are going to let them solve it." Lord Derrick said.
Although in reality, none of the Lords had the intention to sit there and do nothing if their heirs were in danger.
If they saw that Potter had a chance of winning, they had planned to step into the arena and kill the boy together.
The rules were left vague to allow this. Everyone who steps into the arena will have to fight to the death, but there is no restriction on who can step in.
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