Arch Mage, the Path of Magic Chapter 51 (Patreon)

Hey friends and fans, Kairomaru is here with another chapter of Arch Mage, the Path of Magic! With a formal Writ of Challenge issued by Maxim, a Duel between two High Sorcerers could take place. The witches and wizards that saw the challenge being issued instantly start spreading the rumor. A few reporters from the Daily Prophet also overheard and rushed to get the story, as vague as it was, into the next issue of the paper. Just what kinds of magic will Maxim bring to bear, given that, as a High Sorcerer, he is a wizard beyond any regular wizard. Will it be interesting enough to keep Harry’s attention?

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So, without further delay, please enjoy.

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Chapter 51 – High Sorcerer versus High Sorcerer

Hogsmeade was busier than usual for a random Sunday in July; but that was to be expected after the rumors that had spread like wildfire throughout Magical Britain. Even the Daily Prophet had run a front page article about the event said to be taking place today at the Three Broomsticks pub.

A Duel, issued through the ancient tradition of a Writ of Challenge, had been requested of Harry Potter by an older and more experienced High Sorcerer!

The shops were practically filled with wizards and witches that had come to see the spectacle, even though the meeting to even decide if the Duel was going to happen or not didn’t take place until noon. Not that any of the shop owners were complaining about a boost in sales for a day. The Hogs Head was hosting the ‘rougher’ crowd that were skulking about to get a look at the upcoming Duel. While the Three Broomsticks had been packed since they’d opened in the late morning.

The crowd was made up of witches and wizards of every age, from the young children not even old enough for Hogwarts yet, all the way to elderly wizards and witches that had been retired for many years. Everyone wanted to see a Duel between such accomplished wizards that had achieved immense recognition for their magical knowledge and skill. Before the Duel had even been truly decided on, entire families were making the day an outing together.

Among the large crowd were some foreign witches and wizards as well, some of whom were Sorcerers and High Sorcerers as well. But most of them seemed to be keeping a low profile at the moment, just curious as to the outcome of the Duel should it happen. One among their number that was spread throughout Hogsmeade, was sitting on a balcony under the shade of an umbrella, sipping tea that he’d made himself from a small, lacquered box that contained an entire traditional Japanese tea set.

“My, my, to cause such a stir with merely the chance of a Duel happening.” Yasashī said with a light chuckle as he looked down at the packed streets of Hogsmeade.

The Bakeneko flicked his ears once and his long tail lightly tapped the wooden floor of the balcony. He was no stranger to getting odd looks, of course, but the witches and wizards of Britain all seemed absolutely stunned to converse with a cat…even one that could walk and talk like a person and even wore proper clothing. That was why he’d taken to having some tea in peace and solitude on this particular balcony as he waited for noon to come. A tiny little bird, made of what looked like white paper, fluttered its wings and landed on the Yasashī’s outstretched paw. The paper bird opened its beak and a voice came from it.

“It is almost time. Is the young man not here yet?”

A second voice, clearly female, spoke next.

“Not yet, sir. Please, wait until noon, as was agreed upon.”

Yasashī couldn’t help but grin at what his shikigami had ‘overheard’ from within the Three Broomsticks. “Going to make your challenger wait until the very last minute, Harry?” He questioned his one-time student, even though Harry wasn’t around. Checking his pocket watch, Yasashī saw that there was still seven minutes until noon and settled in to wait while sipping his tea.

-The Three Broomsticks-

The popular pub was packed this morning as people eager to see Harry Potter, and the supposed Duel between High Sorcerers, crowded the place. Madam Rosmerta and her staff were making food and even pouring a few drinks, despite the early hour, as the crowd had not only taken up every seat inside, but were also standing and milling about outside of the pub.

The small flames in the fireplace in one corner flared up and turned green, getting everyone’s attention. A moment later and Sirius stepped out, looking at the packed pub with an almost expectant grin. Ted came through the Floo right behind Sirius, then came Andromeda, followed by Harry, and then Tonks (who had managed to get the day off by trading with her friend Hestia Jones), Remus brought up the rear, stepping out of the Floo last.

The pub was silent for all of a moment before it burst into a cacophony.

“He’s here!”

“Mr. Potter!”

“The Boy-Who-Lived!”

“How do you feel about the upcoming Duel?!”

“Bring the honor of victory to Magical Britain!”

Many of the patrons quickly stood up from their seats, while those standing tried to get closer to Harry and ask questions.

BAM

A sound like a cannon blast silenced everyone as Sirius held his wand aloft, a stern look on his face. “While the enthusiasm is appreciated, please don’t swarm my godson.”

Madama Rosmerta, having seen Sirius raise his wand, had managed to cover her ears before the spell had gone off. Lowering her hands from her ears, the matron of the Three Broomsticks spoke up loudly so that everyone in her pub could hear her. “IF YOU CAN’T BE CIVILIZED, YOU CAN LEAVE!” Many patrons quickly sat back down in their seats, not wanting to get on Rosmerta’s bad side.

“Thanks, Rosie!” Sirius shot the lovely woman a charming smile.

“The room you reserved is upstairs, you troublemaker.” Rosmerta waved him off; much like she’d done back when Sirius was a student of Hogwarts. Sirius pretended to be shocked by her dismissal, which only made Rosmerta roll her eyes at him.

The group took the stairs up to the second floor and entered the second room on the right. As soon as the door was open, Maxim looked towards them from where he sat on one side of the large table. Harry smiled politely as he sat down in the chair across from the other High Sorcerer, while Sirius sat to his right and Tonks sat to his left. Amdromeda sat next to Tonks, and Ted sat next to his wife, while Remus sat on Sirius’s opposite side.

Maxim began the meeting without any fanfare. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”

“We’re still a few minutes early though.” Harry said, casting a Tempus Charm to see the time. “Anyway,” He moved the conversation right along. “You want this Duel to prove that you’re correct and that I was being arrogant in my words, right?”

“Yes, just as I wrote in the Writ of Challenge.” Maxim nodded once, his eyes sharp. “There is no prize in this beyond honor and proving which of us is correct.”

Sirius looked at the grown man that had picked a fight with Harry. “You’re a bit of a nonce, getting angry at the words of a teenager.”

Andromeda looked at Sirius pointedly. “Sirius! Manners!” The last thing they needed was to start an actual fight, instead of a Duel.

“He’s not wrong.” Tonks agreed with Sirius, looking at Maxim with blatant annoyance in her (currently silver) eyes.

“Dear…” Ted gently reached over to put his hand on Tonks’s shoulder, giving her a look of understanding…that also conveyed that this wasn’t the time for such comments.

Maxim didn’t seem fazed by the words, his gaze barely leaving Harry at all. “Say what you will. I only need to hear from the one I challenged whether or not he will accept.”

Remus looked at Harry and then back at the Russian wizard. “Why go this far over the short speech that Harry made while receiving his Order of Merlin? His words weren’t directed at anyone in particular, beyond the ICW as a whole.”

“His arrogance is an insult to all other High Sorcerers that have spent decades earning their achievements and accolades.” Maxim said coldly, his eyes briefly looking at everyone on the opposite side of the table. “He practically demanded that the ICW grant him the Title of Grand Sorcerer, as if it was owed to him.”

“Forgive any offense, sir, but it sounds like you’re angry that Harry has achieved his current Title so young.” Ted spoke up, looking at Maxim with curiosity. “Are you feeling threatened because he made his achievements at half the age that most Sorcerers and High Sorcerers do?”

Maxim denied Ted with a single shake of his head. “No. This Duel is to teach the boy some humility. His family has clearly failed to do so.”

Andromeda’s normally kind expression became cold and pointed. “How dare you. A grown man trying to threaten and fight a teenager over a perceived slight has no standing to try and speak about humility.”

“You seem rather self-important the more you speak.” Tonks said with a sharp tone, her voice practically laced with razor blades. “You’re not the only High Sorcerer in the world…not by a long shot. Everything you’ve done might’ve earned you that Title, but it doesn’t mean that Harry hasn’t accomplished just as many, if not more, achievements worthy of his Title.”

“Will you accept the Duel or not?” Maxim clearly didn’t want to get into a debate on his actions as he looked at Harry to the exclusion of all else.

Harry looked at Sirius first, then towards Andromeda and Ted, then Tonks, and finally Remus. Not receiving any negative responses, he looked at Sirius and gave his godfather a small nod. “I will.” He said to Maxim, meeting the Russian wizard’s eyes again.

Maxim nodded back, his expression unchanging. “When and where?”

“Today.” Harry answered instantly before pointing with his thumb to his left. “There’s a wide valley just a bit north from here. We could get there in a short time without trouble.”

“Agreed.” Maxim locked in the agreement as he placed the Writ of Challenge on the table between himself and Harry, keeping his hand on the document. “Place your hand on the Writ and the Duel will be upheld.”

Harry reached forward and placed his hand on the parchment. The words glowed briefly and then the parchment followed suit for only a moment. With the Duel agreed upon by both parties, the parchment returned to looking perfectly normal.

Sirius picked up the Writ of Challenge, his face set and his gaze just above frigid as he looked at Maxim. “I’ll hold onto this as Harry’s godfather; until such time as the Duel is complete.”

“Very well.” Maxim didn’t much care who held onto the Writ now that the agreement had been bound. “I will make for the center of the valley you mentioned. We will begin the Duel once you arrive.” Without another word, the large man stood up and walked towards the door. He was gone a moment later and it was only a few seconds afterward that a loud cheer nearly shook the Three Broomsticks.

The cheering spread throughout Hogsmeade like a wave as people learned of the location for the Duel. Dozens, if not hundreds, of loud cracks from Apparation were heard as people left immediately to try and find the best spot to watch the upcoming Duel out in the valley. Quite a few witches and wizards even pulled out shrunken broomsticks and returned them to normal size before taking off into the air, heading north towards the stated location.

“Shall we go then?” Tonks asked rhetorically as she stood up from the table.

Harry grinned as he stood up and headed for the door along with his family. When the group reached the main floor of the Three Broomsticks, they found it completely empty, save Madam Rosmerta and her employees. Stepping outside of the pub showed all of Hogsmeade now empty, and almost eerily quiet.

“Like night and day.” Ted said as he looked left and right down the main street of the village.

“Word does spread fast.” Remus agreed as he couldn’t recall any time he’d ever personally seen Hogsmeade so empty.

Harry turned his head as he felt a familiar presence approaching. “Headmaster.” He waved to Dumbledore as the old man (currently wearing light purple robes with animated stars on them) walked towards the group at a normal pace. It was as if the headmaster was merely out for a stroll of the village.

“Mr. Potter.” Dumbledore greeted with a small smile. “It seems that your Duel has been agreed upon.” He said while briefly sweeping his right arm to the side, gesturing to the empty Hogsmeade. “Like always, the rumor mill moves information the fastest.”

“So it would seem.” Harry shrugged once. “Are you coming to watch?”

Dumbledore chuckled a little. “I feel the need to, since one of my students is participating under the eyes of such an immense audience.” His tone was light, but Harry saw the question in the old man’s eyes: ‘Is this in any way connected to Voldemort?’

Harry barely shook his head, letting Dumbledore know that Maxim was doing this out of his own reasons. That seemed to take a little weight off the headmaster’s shoulders as he straightened up just slightly.

“As this Duel seems to have come about because of your desire to become a Grand Sorcerer, I also feel as though I may be able to give some insight on such a goal.” Dumbledore said with a slight twinkle having returned to his eyes. The subtle, or not so subtle as it may be, reminder that he WAS a Grand Sorcerer was clear.

“I see.” Harry lifted into the air under his Flight spell. “I’ll see you all there.” With that he flew off towards the north, looking forward to what magics that Maxim would show him.

Tonks sighed and looked at the others. “So… Are any of you familiar with the valley Harry was talking about?” It was MUCH easier to Apparate to a place that one had been before, after all.

“Me and Moony are.” Sirius grinned while throwing his arm over Remus’s shoulders.

“Sirius…” Remus sighed at his best friend blatantly admitting to Dumbledore that they’d snuck away from Hogsmeade trips back when they’d been students.

Dumbledore only chuckled softly at the mischief the two had gotten up to back when they’d been at Hogwarts. “I’m familiar as well. I could side-along Apparate two of you with me, if you’d like.”

Arrangements were quickly made and with a few loud cracks, they all vanished from Hogsmeade.

-Valley-

The area was wide and covered with a mixture of grass, trees, and some rocky outcroppings poking up from the earth here and there. As Harry slowly descended towards the ground, he took his time so that he could get a good understanding of the landscape. The large number of people sitting along the hillsides on either side of the wide valley to watch the Duel as if it were a spectator sport couldn’t be missed. He could already see several sunshades set up from people that were treating this as pure entertainment. There were also a few families that were sitting beneath the shade of one tree or another and having a picnic before the Duel began.

As Harry’s feet touched the grassy ground, a few more loud cracks of Apparation were heard in the valley as last minute arrivals appeared. A quick glance confirmed that his family and Dumbledore had arrived, but on both sides of the valley, Harry also saw cameras set up from multiple Magical newspapers. One or two were clearly foreign ones as well, given that Harry had never seen the emblems on the robes that witches and wizards operating the equipment wore. Harry couldn’t count the number of people that had come out to watch this Duel, but if he had to estimate, he’d say at least a thousand people were here.

“I’m glad you didn’t try to run away.” Maxim said, standing at his full height across from where Harry had landed. His wand was in his right hand already, clearly ready to begin.

“This seems interesting, so why would I run?” Harry asked genuinely, his body loose and ready to move and cast as needed.

Without a word or any signal, the two High Sorcerers aimed at each other. A visible, blue, semi-transparent shield charm of some kind appeared along the path of Maxim’s wand. Harry’s Barrier spell appeared in front of him at the same instant, both of them looking for an opening instead of lunging for the first strike. Harry barely shifted his foot and a thing pillar of earth shot up from the ground next to Maxim, looking to hit the wizard in the side and send him flying.

Crack

The hardened earth shattered into small fragments as it hit Maxim’s shield charm, the man hadn’t even needed to look to block the Transfiguration spell.

In the next instant, merely a fraction of a second, Maxim’s wand whipped forward and three bright blue spells shot forward. The first was easily as large as Harry’s head, while the second was twice that size, and the third was double the size of the second. Harry didn’t move, letting the trio of spells slam into his Barrier without taking his eyes off Maxim. The air briefly crackled as Harry summoned a dozen Shot spells and sent them at Maxim from all directions. Maxim’s blue shield charm surrounded him in a sphere as the crackling yellow spells repeatedly slammed into it, trying to find a way towards their target. Maxim swiped his wand to the side and his shield expanded and burst like a bubble, wiping out the Shot spells instantly.

No words were spoken as the two High Sorcerers escalated the spells they were using, now that they’d done their initial testing of each other’s defenses.

Harry tapped his feet on the ground, sending his magic deep as he sought out the essence of earth and the memories the land held. ‘That’ll work.’ He thought as he found a memory of what the valley had looked like long in the past, before a fierce battle had happened here in the Highlands and changed it.

Rmmmbbblllee

The earth shattered as thousands and thousands of stones shot upwards and formed into a towering rocky outcropping. The stones flying through the air repeatedly bounced off Maxim’s shield charm as they rushed to reform into the landscape feature that had existed here long, long ago. The spire of stone loomed over both wizards as Maxim retaliated with a bright beam of orange light from the tip of his wand. The spell struck Harry’s Barrier and created a cloud of sparks as it failed to penetrate at all. With a slight wave of both hands, Harry sent nearly invisible arcs through the air towards Maxim. The other wizard didn’t stay still to find out what Harry’s spell did; moving backwards and lifting into the air with a circle of his wand.

‘Featherlight Charm…no, levitation on his boots and his robe.’ Harry saw through the false ‘flight magic’ even before he activated his Mage Sight spell and took to the air himself.

“Molniya.” Maxim cast and from the tip of his wand a dozen purple lightning bolts arced in every direction, before they all bent and aimed at Harry specifically.

Harry created his Magic Manipulation strings in the air around him and redirected the lightning away, the ground exploding into clouds of dust and dirt debris everywhere the lightning struck. Seeing the wide area spell not reaching Harry, Maxim changed how he cast the spell and a bolt of lightning shot straight at Harry like a beam. Harry’s flight spell gave him free movement in the air as he easily spun to the side to avoid Maxim’s spell.

“So, you want to throw lightning around?” Harry grinned as the air crackled and a very similar purple lightning bolt blasted at Maxim, forcing the older wizard to dodge to the side while Harry’s spell struck the ground below and blasted it apart.

With a wide swiped of his wand, Maxim unleased and arc of lightning, forcing Harry to drop low, the powerful electric spell cutting into the pillar of rock that Harry had recreated. Maxim dropped to the ground swiftly and aimed his wand at where Harry had landed, only for the tip of his wand and Harry’s outstretched hand to be nearly touching. The two stared each other down, unblinking; just waiting for the other to try another spell.

Crrrmmbbllee

The top half of the towering rocky outcropping tipped to one side, the lightning from Maxim’s spell having damaged it enough that it collapsed under its own weight. The multi-ton stone fell towards both wizards, casting them in shadow as it got closer and closer to crushing them.

“Peklo.” Maxim cast, dark black and red fire erupting from his wand.

Harry cast his own magical flame, almost matching Maxim’s as it was black and dark purple.

The two magical fires erupted upwards as they hit each other. The falling stone was held up from the sudden updraft, then went through red, orange, yellow, and white hot as it was turned into molten stone which burst and scattered in all directions as tiny little droplets.

In the swirling magical flames, Harry and Maxim walked straight towards each other as if they couldn’t feel the insane heat around them. With a point of his wand, Maxim sent his dark fire swirling straight at Harry. But with a wave of his hand, Harry scattered it with his Barrier, nullifying the black flames that tried to get around it by pulling the magic out of them with Magic Manipulation. Seeing his flames disperse, Maxim pointed his wand at Harry’s feet and unleashed a spiraling yellow beam of a spell. Harry easily flew over the attack, letting it tear up the ground where he’d been as he flipped through the air and was hovering several meters in the air behind Maxim now. Maxim only looked over his shoulder at Harry for a half-second before he vanished with Apparation, and then reappeared right in front of Harry, the tip of his wand in the younger wizard’s face and crackling with bright lightning.

In the crowd watching the Duel, among the many loud exclamations of surprise, shock, and amazement, Tonks was on her feet.

“I thought they weren’t allowed to kill each other in this Duel?!” Tonks said loudly, only being held back by Sirius and Ted holding onto her arms.

“They’re not trying to.” Dumbledore said from where he was standing. “Not a single one of those spells has been aimed to kill.” He would know, having fought multiple Dark Wizards in his long life, and he’d even assisted with subduing magical forces moving behind the scenes in both World Wars.

“What do you call that?!” Tonks pointed towards Maxim’s wand, sparking with lightning and illuminating Harry’s face with a purple-white glow.

Harry grinned as he took the lightning spell apart with Magic Manipulation before Maxim could even cast it. In the next fraction of a second, Maxim’s eyes left Harry’s as he turned his wand and his blue shield charm appeared just in time to block a massive blast of silvery light from hitting him. He was pushed several meters away from Harry before the strange spell exploded into a thick cloud of smoke.

Maxim blasted the thick cloud of smoke away with a flick of his wand. The simple motion flowed into a spiral of swirling loops. “Vikhr'.” The wind rapidly spun and twisted together until Harry was surrounded by a howling tornado. “Pylat'.” The wind swirling around Harry rapidly turned into fire, a swirling tower of fire rising high into the air for all of the onlookers to see.

“From Charms to Transfiguration.” Dumbledore noted what Maxim had done with the two spells, turning wind into fire, even as the tornado of flames burst apart to reveal Harry safely within a spherical Barrier.

“Razoreniye.” Maxime jabbed his wand at Harry in the Barrier and dozens of bright white bolts of crackling light fired simultaneously. The barrage slammed into the Barrier with great force, even exploding upon impact, but couldn’t pierce Harry’s defense.

Harry dispersed his Barrier while moving his hands forward, sending the almost invisible lines towards Maxim again. This time, however, Maxim countered with a dozen slashes of his own. The two spells collided in the air, unleashing shockwaves as they severed one another. The air was filled with thick smoke for a moment as Maxim lowered himself from the air so that he could better focus without having to split his attention between the spells he was casting at Harry, and the one he was maintaining on his clothes to stay airborne.

“Are we done feeling each other out?” Harry asked, already back on the ground across from Maxim.

The Russian wizard didn’t respond verbally, he merely held his wand pointing straight up as the air visibly warped and then a black sphere appeared above the tip. The air rushed towards the point of blackness as it rose into the air above the two High Sorcerers and grew bigger. The rubble and debris from their Duel began to roll along the ground before being picked up by the increasing pull of the spell Maxim was using. Loud clacking and crunching could be heard as the various small stones smashed together under the force of the strange spell. Sparks flew as more and more larger stones slammed into each other as a huge boulder was formed in the air. The rocks glowed with heat as they were suddenly compressed down into a much smaller form in less than the time it took to blink. Pink-purple flames escaped the compressed stone before it exploded and intensely hot shrapnel was launched in every direction like artillery fire. The ground was blasted apart wherever one of the pieces of stone impacted, throwing up clouds of dirt, dust and huge chunks of debris.

The spray of deadly shrapnel hit Harry’s Barrier over and over again, causing brief, but bright, flashes of sparks. But that didn’t even faze Harry as he was examining the odd spell and figuring out how it worked. ‘Let’s see how he reacts to this.’ Harry used the large chunks of upturned earth to create Earth Shikigami and filled them with plenty of magic. The three Kooni shapes quickly grew incredibly tall, at least six meters high, and became humanoid as they towered over Maxim.

Maxim’s wand was a blur as he swiped it through the air, unleashing a massive bolt of lightning. Harry’s Barrier appeared in front of the shikigami, blocking the spell easily. With a grin, Harry, now standing atop the middle shikigami, dispersed his Barrier as he, and the three shikigami, unleashed their own powerful bolts of lightning right back at Maxim. The area where Maxim was exploded into a dust, debris and crackling electricity.

“Very impressive.” Yasashī smiled as he watched Harry’s improved use of shikigami. “To advance so quickly that even his simple shikigami can mimic the spell he’s casting, his understanding truly knows no bounds.” The Bakeneko hummed thoughtfully, already seeing Maxim’s next move. “But how will you handle what comes next, Harry?”

Maxim wasn’t where he’d been a second ago; having Apparated behind Harry and his three giant shikigami. A mere swish and twirl of his wand saw the very light around him swirling and gathering into a point near the tip of his wand. The intense light easily told Harry where his opponent was as he turned around and squinted to avoid having his eyes burned by the bright light. With a thrust of his wand, Maxim unleashed what appeared to be a laser straight towards Harry.

In the fraction of a second that Harry had to see what was coming, He clapped his hands together and focused. The three Earth Shikigami slammed into each other, merging into one…but not growing larger. In Harry’s mind’s eye, he saw the Wuxing, the five classical elements of Eastern Philosophy, and as he focused on the circle, he followed the generating interaction and turned Earth to Metal.

The laser spell struck the, now singular, shikigami. But to Maxim (and the audience’s) surprise, there was no piercing through the towering giant, nor was there an explosion. Instead, the light of the laser scattered in multiple directions, refracting off something as the beams burned up the grass wherever they hit, flashing the plants from green to blackened ashes instantly.

“Whew…” Harry let out a breath with a grin on his face. “That was almost bad.” It was clear that he still hadn’t been in any real danger, and was, in fact, still having a blast. His six meter tall shikigami was now a Metal Shikigami with a VERY reflective surface. The humanoid spirit had its arms crossed in front of it, glowing hot from taking the laser directly, but mostly undamaged as the majority of the spell had been scattered. With only a thought from Harry, the shikigami charged forward and tried to slam its massive fist into Maxim. The ground practically exploded as the Metal Shikigami’s fist drove into it, but Maxim was on top of it now, his wand pointed downward, the tip touching the spirit.

“Treshchina.” Maxim uttered and the Metal Shikigami vibrated for a half-second before bursting apart into tens of thousands of fragments. With a flick of his wand as he fell, Maxim sent the sharp metal straight at Harry like an incoming wave.

Seeing the incoming wall of sharp metal death, Harry inhaled deeply before exhaling powerfully with magic. The shards of metal sailed through the air and then turned into flower petals. The wave barley reached Harry’s feet as the petals fluttered through the air, filling the area with a pleasant smell.

Maxim flicked his wand and then swished it once. The ground around Harry morphed into massive wolves, each almost the same size as his shikigami had been at the shoulder. The massive canines lunged at him, jaws wide and each fang almost as tall as Harry himself.

“It went like this…right?” Harry floated into the air, avoiding being chomped on by the three massive transfigured wolves, and lightly tapped each of them once with his hand. In the next instant, all of the wolves shattered into thousands of fragments, returning to being earth and rock in a shower of debris.

“You copied my spell.” Maxim seemed shocked, though he kept his cool. With a wide circle of his wand, a black ring was left in the air. That ring filled with blackness before it exploded forth in a torrent of darkness.

A Barrier appeared between Harry and the incoming spell with but a thought. The darkness splashed against the powerful defense and spilled over it like water, the spell began to run down the opposite side of the Barrier, slowly submerging it in the odd darkness. To Harry Mage Sight spell, it was somewhat similar to the oil-like blackness that clung to his Barrier and Magic Manipulation strings while fighting Voldemort and his minions back in the graveyard. He released his Barrier, letting it shatter under the ‘weight’ of the darkness, and was immediately confronted by Maxim, his wand bursting through the remaining darkness with a crackling golden spell on the tip. The glow was only centimeters from Harry’s face before Maxim stopped moving in midair.

Maxim tried to unleash his spell, but Harry grabbed it and yanked it from the tip of his wand before tossing it to the side as mere motes of light. He hung in the air for a second before he understood the type of spell that was holding him. With a full-body use of Finite Incantatem, Harry’s Bind spell was broken. Maxim’s feet had barely touched the ground before a massive hand grabbed him tightly and yanked him high into the air. His eyes went wide as he saw Harry standing on the wrist of an immense Over Soul, that put giants to shame in height.

“Spirit of Fire.” Harry said as the massive flame sprite held Maxim tightly, its spiritual fire already consuming any magic that the other High Sorcerer released to try and free himself. “Tell me, where did you learn that magic?” Harry questioned Maxim, leaning down to get right in the Russian man’s face, his green eyes nearly boring holes into Maxim.

“So, you don’t know that kind of spell, eh?” Maxim grinned up at Harry, even from his trapped position. His head rocked back as if he’d been physically struck when Harry slammed a Legilimency probe against the other man’s mind, finding strong Occlumency defenses that repelled him a half-second later. “You…!” Maxim glared at Harry for the attempt on his mind and his knowledge.

Harry, wanting to know what kind of magic Maxim had unleashed that was similar, even slightly, to the strangeness of Voldemort and the odd beings that served him, wasn’t in the mood for Maxim’s pride. The grip Spirit of Fire had on the Russian tightened, making him grunt, but it was the heat going from mildly uncomfortable to painfully hot that was the worst. Maxim broke out into a savage sweat as the heat continued to rise, his cloak and robes starting to smolder as wispy smoke rose from the cloth, despite its magical protections. As the heat kept spiking higher, Maxim gasping for breath that stung his throat, he finally gave in.

“I yield! I yield!” Maxim cried out, admitting his loss in the Duel.

The Writ of Challenge in Sirius’s hand glowed once, getting everyone’s attention, even though the rest of the audience was too busy staring in shock at the towering Spirit of Fire. At the bottom of the parchment the words: Victor: Harry Potter appeared and signaled the end of the Duel.

“Why isn’t Harry dispelling his Over Soul thing?” Sirius asked a few seconds later as the giant fire sprite continued to hold Maxim in its grip while Harry looked down at the trapped man.

“Something’s wrong.” Tonks knew it for certain. Harry wasn’t the type to drag on with a Duel that he’d already won, or lost interest in. She was off like a shot a second later, changing the air into solid ‘bricks’ that she could stand on as she ran through the air over the stunned crowd that was still watching Harry’s massive Over Soul.

Harry looked at Maxim intently as the wispy smoke rose up off the man as it cloak started to burn. “Tell me. Where did you learn that magic?” Maxim crying out in pain as his skin started to burn through the protection of his magical robe was mostly ignored.

A sudden presence nearby…far too close for Harry not to have noticed it approaching…broke Harry from his intensity as soon as he heard a very familiar voice.

“That’s enough, Harry.” Yasashī said as the Bakeneko tapped his kiseru pipe on top of the Spirit of Fire’s head, as if he was putting out the flame in the bowel with an ash tray. In a blink, the shikigami was snuffed out entirely, both Harry and Maxim falling towards the ground.

Maxim, even surprised from the sudden freedom and fall, still managed to cast a Cushioning Charm on the ground and fall safely with a muffled ‘whump’ sound. He looked over at Harry and a single, undeniable truth filled his mind. ‘I was never any match for him. He could’ve ended this Duel as soon as it began, he was merely humoring me.’ It wasn’t even a ‘hard pill to swallow’ given how thoroughly he’d been defeated the instant that Harry had gotten even slightly serious.

Harry simply used his Float spell and slowed his sudden fall. He slowly lowered himself to the ground and touched down lightly a few seconds later. “Yasashī? What’re you doing here?” He blinked at the Bakeneko Onmyōji that had taught him back during his family’s trip to Japan.

“Stopping you from going too far, apparently.” Yasashī said as he looked between Harry and Maxim, the Russian man standing up and looking a little abashed now that he’d experienced the depths of Harry’s magical skill and the wisdom of magic that he couldn’t hold a candle to. “What had you in such a state that you were about to burn your opponent alive?” His feline eyes looked straight into Harry’s and the unspoken message of ‘That’s not how I taught you.’ made Harry bow his head slightly.

“That odd darkness spell of his reminded me of the one that kidnapped me last month at the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament. I wanted to know where he learned such magic, but he wasn’t inclined to tell me.” Harry explained to his Onmyōdō teacher.

Tonks made herself known as she wrapped her arm around Harry’s shoulder and then put him in a headlock, giving him a noogie for good measure. “That’s no reason to go overboard, Harry!” She admonished him while he struggled against her hold.

Harry grunted in annoyance, having thought he was done with noogies now that he’d gotten this old. “Alright! Alright! I get it! I’ll apologize!” Once Tonks let him go, he stood up straight and gently ran his hands through his messed up hair. “I a bit old for noogies now, Nym.”

“Says you.” Tonks grinned as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Maxim and Yasashī watched the back and forth for a long moment. The Russian man was a bit confused, wondering who the young woman was. But the Bakeneko was just amused, seeing that the two hadn’t changed since he’d last seen them.

Harry turned to Maxim and looked the other man in the eye. “I’m sorry that I went overboard at the end. I let my desire to know about that magic be an excuse to make a bad decision.”

“It’s alright… I shouldn’t have taunted you.” Maxim waved it off, still looking abashed before he bowed low, and apologized as well. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. You have most certainly earned every achievement, accolade, and merit you have and are more than worthy of holding the Title of High Sorcerer. I doubted your magical understanding, your skills, and your wisdom. As a fellow High Sorcerer, I know better than that.” He let out a long exhale while still bowing. “I just assumed you didn’t understand the importance or the difficulty of obtaining the Title of Grand Sorcerer.”

Dumbledore, calmly walking towards the small group, looked at Maxim as the Russian man stood up. “If the Grand Sorcerer Title is truly what you wish to earn, Mr. Volkov, then you cannot simply do the things that you’ve already done to achieve your previous Titles.”

Maxim clearly recognized Dumbledore as he looked at the olde man. “You’re…Grand Sorcerer, Albus Dumbledore.”

“I am.” Dumbledore nodded once, giving Maxim a small smile. “Do you want to know how I got this Title, and why Mr. Potter is so much closer than most to achieving the same at his young age?”

“Y-Yes, please.” Maxim nodded, wanting to know why he’d never been able to make progress no matter what he tried.

Dumbledore was in ‘educator mode’ now as he began to speak. “If you wish to earn a Title beyond High Sorcerer, then you must branch out and explore more than just what you’re comfortable with or good at, Mr. Volkov. My Titles came from decades of research in various fields: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Alchemy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and even Dueling. I didn’t accomplish everything alone either.”

Maxim blinked at that, seemingly having thought that Albus Dumbledore didn’t need anyone’s help. “You had help?”

“I was fortunate to study with incredible people in my years. I wouldn’t be half as good at Alchemy without having worked with Nicholas Flamel, for example. I met many amazing teachers and fellow scholars in my travels as well, and they opened my eyes, and my mind, to concepts that I would’ve never discovered myself. So many of my own accomplishments can be directly traced back to those great witches and wizards and what they taught me. Even though defeating Gellert Grindelwald was what pushed the ICW to grant me the Grand Sorcerer Title; it was all of the many branches of study that I researched and made discoveries in that got me so close in the first place.” He was very good at not letting his emotions show when talking about Grindelwald. To this day he wished things could’ve been different, that he’d made better choices in his youth. ‘Alas, there is no fixing the mistakes of my youth. I can only try and prevent similar tragedies from occurring again while I’m able.’

“I just do it because magic is so interesting.” Harry said with a shrug, getting everyone to look at him for a second. “What?” He asked, seeing the looks he was getting.

“Hehe… Never change, Harry.” Yasashī chuckled lightly while waving his long tail behind him.

Tonks leaned over and kissed Harry’s cheek. “We know you’re a nerd, Harry. It’s okay.” She teased him, breaking up into laughter when Harry rolled his eyes at her playfully.

Maxim shook his head, but there was a small smile on his face now. “I think I understand.” He’d never asked for help in all his years of striving to be better. Only now, when someone else so accomplished that their name was known across the world had laid it out so simply for him, did he realize what a mistake that had been. ‘I’m such a fool. Why didn’t I ever try to ask others to teach me things I didn’t know and wasn’t good at?’ His mistake just seemed so damn obvious now that he’d been shown the error of his ways.

“Magic is, indeed, interesting, Mr. Potter.” Dumbledore agreed with a small chuckle of his own. He was so very happy that Harry was nothing like Tom; that relief was like a balm to his heart in the rough climate that was building within Magical Britain already.

“Harry! Are you alright?” Sirius called out as he, Andromeda, Ted, and Remus were jogging over after finally making their way through the crowd.

Harry smiled and nodded to Sirius. “I’m fine.” He shifted his gaze to Maxim. “But I do still want to know about that magic.”

Maxim thought for a short moment before a small chuckle escaped him. “I’ll tell you where I learned it. It’s not like it’s a secret.”

“Go on.” Harry said as he took a big step closer to Maxim, putting him in the Russian’s personal space.

“Too close.” Maxim said as he took a step back from Harry.

Harry didn’t mind, too curious about where Maxim had learned the strange darkness magic, and if he could go there and ask some questions.

“I know that look, Harry.” Andromeda said with a fake put-upon sigh.

Ted chuckled at his wife’s little act. “Maybe just a quick pop over this time, instead of a vacation?”

Tonks pulled Harry backwards a little when he’d leaned in closer to Maxim, clearly making the other man uncomfortable. “A little manners would go a long way right now, Harrikins.” She said into his ear, still holding his shoulder with one hand.

“Anyway…” Maxim looked over at the approaching reporters and their cameras approaching. “…perhaps we should talk elsewhere? It is going to become crowded and noisy soon.”

Dumbledore seemed to think that was a good idea. “Why don’t we retire to Hogwarts for the length of this little discussion?” He pulled a long piece of twine from his pocket and tapped it with his oddly knotted wand. “Portus.” He cast and held the new Portkey out to everyone.

Before the various journalists and their camera people could reach the two High Sorcerers that had just put on such an incredible showing of magic, the entire group of people vanished in a swirl of colors. The use of a Portkey to travel instantly cut off any chances for an interview with Harry Potter, making several of the journalist curse under their breath.

-End Chapter-

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And THAT’S why you don’t challenge Harry to a Duel!

You’re only going to last as long as you remain ‘interesting’ to Harry.

However, Maxim does prove that he’s not a complete jackass. Just a misguided dum-dum that thought he could do everything himself.

Thankfully, for him, Dumbledore was willing to tell him how to actually work towards the goal he’s been chasing for so many years. You can’t rise any higher if you never do anything truly new and innovate or improve magic, potions, or even a Branch of Magic as a whole.

But, Harry did get something unexpected out of this Duel…an interesting new spell that is similar, but not quite the same as the odd phenomenon that Voldemort and his undead have when they cast magic. It seems there’s going to have to be a bit of a trip to ‘study’ at some point!

Probably AFTER they figure out the cure for Lycanthropy! That’s still the BIGGEST interest Harry has right now.

Now that Harry’s prowess is known on an even larger scale, thanks to foreign journalists showing up to the Duel, will that lead to good things or bad things in the future?

Keep reading to find out!

Until I get your reviews, later!