Chapter Text
Draco turned around and fired a disarming curse which Harry easily dodged. Harry retaliated with a few stunners and disarming spells but surprisingly Draco blocked all of them, leaving the crossfire unscathed.
“Reducto” Draco shot out which hit Harry on the leg but not enough to bring him down.
“Dammit,” Harry spoke under his breath. He could see the triumphant look in Malfoy’s face but the was far from over. Regaining his footing, he fired disarmer after disarmer, stunner after stunner. Malfoy got hit by a few but that still was not enough. Harry looked relieved, he knew he could win this he just needed one more spell.
As Harry readied his wand on the panting Malfoy, the ferret blasted him with a heavy duty Slicing hex. Harry, not expecting this, was caught off guard by the sudden sprawl of dark magic. His left arm was sliced deep enough for it to bleed profusely. Harry, in shock, did not notice the wound until the next slicing hex cut through his left leg, making him kneel on his right.
“The hell do you think you’re doing Malfoy?” Harry said as he mediated his wounds, only stopping the flow of blood enough for him to stand up. He looked around and was surprised to see that no one was surprised or intervened when the Malfoy scion clearly used a dark spell.
‘oh, right, Slytherins.’ Harry thought to himself. He turned to Draco who was smiling like a child in a candy store. Draco knew that he had the upper hand. Some so light-sided as Potter wouldn’t even think about using dark spells in an official duel.
Harry raised his wand but Draco used an Incendio which was directed on his right leg. Immediately, Harry started to catch fire starting from his leg all the way up his thigh. Harry used an Aquamenti on it to sooth the pain and fire.
Daphne, behind her Ice Queen mask, was horrified. She wanted to stop this now but judging by the looks Anastasia, Henry and Astoria had, they all knew that Harry will triumph over this.
“What’s wrong Potter? Scared to fight back? Don’t worry, I won’t kill you, but I can’t guarantee it won’t hurt.” Malfoy, with a devious smile, casted “Crucio.” Which Harry took on with directly. Harry knelt down in pain.
Daphne moved forward but Henry blocked her path. The older Greengrass only nodded. Daphne frowned and looked to her mother. Their eyes met for a second before Anastasia continued to watch. Daphne found Astoria with her eyes covered with her hands. With the echoes of Harry’s pained cry, she could read Astoria’s lips muttering over and over again “You can do it.” Daphne saw the crowd. It was present in their emanating emotion and facial expression that they all shared one thought in mind. Harry Potter will triumph.
“Give up Potter? Do you yield?” Malfoy asked with a tremendously saucy voice as he stopped torturing the wizard. Harry, who had his head bent down, was quiet for a minute. Silence. Everyone in the crowd, especially the Greengrasses but specifically Daphne was tearing up.
Henry looked devastated. Not only was Harry brain dead, but Amelia will chop him up into little pieces. He stepped forward and said.
“With the terms fulfilled and the duel ended, the victor is-“ Before he could announce the winner, Harry started to laugh manically. He stood up and started cracking up. The crowd looked surprised and Daphne gave a smile, her mask breaking. Anastasia twitched a smile and Astoria began openly sobbing.
“The boy is broken. There is no reason for this to continue.” Lucius said as he stepped closer but Henry raised his hand.
“There is no victor until one yields or is unable to continue, which in this case is obviously continuing.”
Malfoy yelled as he fired a barrage of dark hexes which Harry blocked and dodged but some hitting him, all the while laughing.
“I don’t give a flying fuck about your dark magic.” Harry said as he openly dodged every hex Draco sent. Harry moved forward slowly, closing the distance between the two. Draco seemed to step back, looking scared for his life. He must’ve hit Potter with at least a dozen dark bludgeoning spells and even more slicing ones, not to mention the Cruciatus that almost left him brain dead. So why? Why was he still fighting.
“I won’t stoop to your level.” Harry said as he dodged the last hex. He spat out blood and wiped his brow. “You’ll see, I won’t even use a single dark spell to finish you.”
“Do I look like I give a damn? Maybe I will kill you,” Adrenaline pumping into Draco’s veins as he said “Avada Kedav-“ Daphne’s face paled as she heard this but couldn’t look away.
“Lumos Maxima” Harry quickly cut Malfoy off but was too late. In the white light, there was a quick bolt of green and two loud thuds. The blinding bright light engulfed the entire hall and everyone covered their eyes or squinted because of the most powerful Lumos they could say they have witnessed.
When the light began to fade, Harry could be seen standing in front of Malfoy, nose broken and in a fetal position, cradling his family jewels.
Harry looked to the audience and to then to Daphne who was obviously shedding tears. He gave a grin and Daphne hugged her father.
Anastasia moved forward towards the broke (quite literally) Malfoy scion. “Do you yield?” She asked loud enough so everyone could hear.
“Fucking piece of shit, I’ll get you!” Malfoy stood up and fired another Killing Curse which was poorly aimed and missed Harry by mile. Harry quickly swiped Malfoy’s leg, making him land head first on to the cold floor. “I told you so.” Harry said to the unconscious Heir of Malfoy.
“With the terms fulfilled and the duel ended-“ Anastasia started but Lucius interjected.
“This is a disgrace, letting him fight in such a muggle way disrespects our Duels all together.” Lucius’ face contorted.
“Actually, there isn’t anything about fist fighting or brawling in the rules of Ancient Battle Etiquette. Mostly since pureblood never really thought about it.” Henry explained.
“So, technically, Harry isn’t disgracing anything.” Anastasia stated. “Now, Lord Malfoy, if you would stop interrupting. I have to announce our victor.” Anastasia went back to position and cleared her throat.
“With the terms fulfilled and the duel ended, the victor is Heir Potter of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter!“ She finished and everyone applauded. Harry gripped his shoulder that was tender walked towards a vacant chair, all the way shaking hands and receiving praise. Draco was levitated out of the ball room. Henry personally escorted the Malfoys out of the venue.
“Here Harry, it’ll help.” Astoria came towards him and handed him a deep green potion. Harry made a sour face as he downed the wretched potion.
“Taste like death.” Harry said as he shook from the aftertaste.
“I’ll give you more than that if you ever attempt something like that again.” Daphne now said as she approached the wizard. Astoria hugged Harry which prompted an “Ouch” from him then left to rejoin her friends.
“Reckless idiot. You do realize you could use dark spells right?” Daphne said as she placed her hands on his shoulders.
“It would’ve been a help to know.” Harry said as he leaned his head on her arm.
“But why?”
“Why what?” Harry looked up to see her caring face reserved only for those she truly treasured.
“Why didn’t you use the more effective dark spells?”
“I’m a Gryff, and we-“ Harry wanted to say but was cut off.
“Being a Gryffindor doesn’t justify what you did.” Daphne kissed the top of his forehead and smiled.
“Look Daph, Just because one action is allowed doesn’t mean it’s the best thing to do. Once I justify using dark spells, I’ll justify doing it again until it gets to the point where you stop justifying and simply accept. I’m not like that no matter how delicious it must feel to use it.” Harry said as he leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Mister Duel Victor ser,” A small elf popped up in a suit spoke and grabbed both Daphne and Harry’s attention. “Master Greengrass has told me to fix yous.” The elf snapped his finger and in a flash, Harry’s tux was fixed. Without the scorch marks and the tears, it looks like Harry never dueled at all. The elf popped away before anything could be said.
“So, you never really told me why we are at a ball and not at dinner.” Harry said as he stood up examining his newly fixed clothing, searching for spots where there might be a few tears left but since magic is magic, there were none.
“It’s… a long story. Oh look, I see a nobleman waving at you. He looks like he wants to talk.” Daphne grabbed Harry’s hand and dragged him towards a man in a green tux and a bowler hat clutching a snake cane on one hand and a cigar on the other.
“Heir Greengrass. Heir Potter.” The man acknowledged.
“Lord Sigma.” Harry replied. Daphne curtsied and Harry bowed. Sigma waved it off. “I was hoping to congratulate you, Heir Potter, on your spectacular display earlier. I must say, I have never seen any brighter Lumos being casted until now.” Sigma took a whiff of his cigar and continued.
“And how funny it was to see that arrogant prink Malfoy roll around.” Sigma laughed. “Priceless.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Harry said as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
“Modest as always. Come, the two of you. I want to discuss something for the future of your families.” Sigma turned around and started walking to the more spacious part of the ball room where there were vacant chairs. Harry and Daphne sat on one said of the table while Sigma sat on the other.
“As you both know the Sigma family runs a vast network of businesses in the magical world. One of our more bigger shareholder is the Greengrass house while one of the biggest investors are the Potters.” Sigma stated as he blew another puff of smoke.
“Sir, that’s impossible. The Potter’s, as far as I’ve known, never delved into the business world.” Harry stated, examining the man in front of him.
“Of course not. The Potters invest through a series of off-shore accounts, shell companies, and different names. But it belongs to the Potters no doubt. Your grandfather told me so. Here.” Sigma pulled out a folder from his jacket and handed it over to Harry.
“The list of all the accounts under the Potter name, all of whom has given much to our cause.” Sigma said. Once Harry was done, he passed it over to Daphne.
“What is your cause exactly?” Harry asked.
“For years the wizarding world is in the shadows. Both of your grandfathers, Henry’s and James’ father, and with the help of other decided it would be best to make the wizarding world coexist with the muggles.” At this, both Harry and Daphne were astonished.
“It is a long shot, I know, but we have been getting results. See over there?” Sigma pointed over to the window behind them. “You may not see it but currently, we are building the first radio tower for the muggles powered by magic.”
“Such a thing is a myth.” Daphne said.
“Aye, but thanks to your families’ generous help, we have achieved the impossible. Which I think young Potter is quite adequate at doing.” Sigma said.
Harry smiled at this. “That can’t be it, what is it you want.”
“Nothing much. You see, this is off the books because as you may think, muggle and wizard coexisting may stir some people which will lead to mass panic.” Sigma said as he started to cough.
“Nasty piece of work, my lungs are. I won’t be with you for very long.” Sigma stated as he put a hand on his chest. “All that smoking will kill you.” He continued to cough. “You think with all the magic we posses we could cure the incurable.”
“Easy there Lord Sigma.” Harry said as he stood and fetched water, leaving Sigma and Daphne alone for a while.
“You picked a fine young man Daphne.” Sigma said as he wheezed.
“Uncle Howard, I warned you a thousand times to stop with the cigars. You even took Dragon Smoke which the only real killer in those.” Daphne scolded as she shook her head in disapproval.
“You do understand what I’m saying, correct? About the company?” Howard asked.
“Maybe I do, maybe I don’t,” Daphne responded with a smirk. Sigma smiled at this.
“Heh, well if this turns out fine. You won’t have to worry about the future.” Howard said.
Daphne couldn’t help but smile. She knew where this was going, she just wanted to see how Harry would react to the news.