A/N: Well I hope you like it the much anticipated duel. There are parts of this chapter that I am not entirely happy with but that is niether here nor there. If you guys like it then I have done my job. I realize not everyone is gonna be happy with this. I am adding somethings and changing a lot of things. remeber when changing History it gets boring if you don't throw a monkey wrench at your hero every now and then. lol.

Chapter 11

Dueling Lessons

Harry sighed and slowly opened his eyes, today was going to be interesting he thought, as he rolled out of bed and began his morning routine. A lite work out of push ups and sit ups, followed by a run in the Room of Requirement. And he finished it up with 45 minutes of weight training. Harry had found a happy medium in his work outs, it was very difficult for Harry to bulk up having spent most of his life skin and bones. But he found that if he trained with low weights at high repetitions, it increased his stamina and his muscle tone. Also eventually Harry was able to add more weight to the bars, so even though it was a slow process he was bulking back up to the stature he had when he left.

At this rate I have my old body back by the time I am 40.

He thought to himself as he threw a towel over his shoulder and headed for the shower Room. Yet no matter how built he'll get, Harry will be far from vain, the years with the Dursleys saw to that. But he had been proud of the shape he had gotten in once he began training with some of the hand to hand experts around the world. Harry had made good use of his time in hiding and traveling to find the horcruxes. The training had saved him more than once, most wizards didn't expect you to run at them and punch them in the throat when you lost your wand. Most wizards simply wet themselves if you took their wand from them. In this arena muggle borns ruled supreme, muggle dueling, as they called it was considered beneath wizards. Harry and his friends knew that when faced with a opponent that would just as soon kill you as give you a second thought, the normal rules of dueling were forgotten.

Harry finished his shower and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. He was met by Ginny Ron and Hermione.

"Hey, Harry where do you disappear to every morning?" Ron asked still rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Harry stopped and stared at Ron a moment.

"What?", Ron asked, "was I not supposed to ask that or something?"

Shaking his head Harry sighed and started toward the hall answering his friend, "No Ron I just forgot how much you missed when we were younger, I have been, disappearing, as you put it all year, and you are just now asking me what is going on."

Ron looked put out a moment then got a evil twinkle in his eye, "Well you are not the most forth coming with secrets Harry, and most of the time lately when someone asks something you don't want everyone to know, you get right pissed."

Harry titled his head and stared at his best friend a moment, "tou che, Weasley"

"He does have a point Harry, you haven't exactly been a fountain of knowledge this year. You have kept things pretty close." Hermione piped in as they neared the doors.

"Et Tou, Hermione, you cut me to the quick." Harry placed a hand on his chest with a feigned look of offense.

Hermione just stared daggers at him a moment then said, "oh just shut up Harry, we both know you have been hiding things from us," she held up her hand to stop what ever it was he was going to say, " and with good reason, part of me is glad we cleared the air between us. Another part wishes I had left well enough alone a little longer." She looked him in the eye, and shocked everyone present, " I am sorry I was so nosy and bossy about that Harry I know you were just watching out for us, but you are my friend, you and Ron are the first real friends I ever had. Some part of me couldn't stand for you to have a secret from me. Even if it was for my own good."

Harry reached out and hugged her, "Its alright sis, I know you were just trying to make sure I wasn't getting in over my head. You have been my conscience. You try, in vain most of the time, to keep me out of trouble."

The quartet continued the conversation as they moved to the doors and sat at the table. Soon Ron was piling food on his plate and they were talking about what they were getting some of the others for Christmas.

Harry looked up at the table and noticed someone that had been at the back of his mind since he came to this time. Oliver Olivander sat next to Albus Dumbledore, Cornelis Fudge, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and a toad faced woman Harry recognized immediately. She was talking with Professor McGonagall, who looked about three seconds away from cursing the woman into oblivion.

Harry snorted and turned back to his food, he made a mental note to corner Olivander later and have a serious talk with him.

"Whas fo funny arry?" Ron said spraying little bits of food on him.

Harry turned to Ron and raised and eyebrow, "Firstly Ron please don't talk with you mouth full. Second it's a private joke about the woman talking to McGonagall."

Ron swallowed his food and made a rude gesture at Harry but laughed it off as he turned along with Hermione and Ginny to look at the head table.

"Is that who I think it is?" Ginny asked stifling giggles. Harry nodded

"I don't recognize her, are you sure we know her?" Hermione asked.

"You don't, yet, Ginny and I do though we have some...," Harry paused and chose his next words carefully, "interesting memories of her."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry then shook her head and turned back to her breakfast.

"You know Harry now would be a perfect time to pull your first prank, as a Marauder." Ginny said her eyes flashing with a gleam that reminded Ron a little to much of the twins.

Harry turned and smiled a moment staring at the women as she took a drink of juice. He closed his eyes and concentrated a moment before turning back.

"Harry James Potter what did you do?" Hermione asked looking scandalized.

"Nothing that wasn't warranted or harmful, I promise you."Harry noticed she hadn't stopped him from doing it in the first place. He suspected that Hermione was curious as to what Harry could pull off, and that it had been a while sense they had broken a school rule. She must be getting antsy. He mused.

As the woman put the glass down and turned back to McGonagall she opened her mouth to speak, but what ever she intended to say was lost to a sound that caused all conversation to stop.

"RIBBIT"

McGonagall, for her part, appeared not to have noticed, "I am sorry Dolores, what was that?"

The woman opened her mouth and once again the loud sound issued forth. Snickers began to come from the tables, in a panic she turned to the Minister and tired to speak to him, but only ended up croaking again. Dumbledore' s eyes were twinkling so intensely it was almost blinding. Remus looked as if he was going to bust a gut, and Hagrid and Flickwick had given up all pretense and were roaring with laughter, as were many of the students. Including the four younger Weasleys, Percy was busy trying to figure out how the twins had pulled it off. Hermione was snickering while trying to maintain the scathing look she was directing at Harry. Who was calmly eating as if nothing at all was happening.

"The eggs are great today, you should try some Mione," at this statement Hermione gave up and went back to her breakfast, though she did find it hard to eat as every few moments a loud croak would issue forth from the head table.

As breakfast was winding down, Dumbledore and Remus were making their way out of the room and stopped near a certain set of Gryffendor.

"I do hope that poor Ms Umbridge doesn't suffer long from this ailment, Remus."

"I do too Headmaster, and no I don't know what happened, although it was a worthy prank."

"True, it seems like something James would have tried although I fear he would have attempted to get the whole table."

Harry who was beaming at the moment decided to speak up, "I am not sure but I believe that it should clear itself up before lunch time. I seem to remember reading something about such ailments in a book somewhere."

Dumbledore merely smiled and nodded, then turned and walked away. Remus leaned down to say something to Harry.

"I meant what I said Pronglet, It was a worthy prank."

"Oh that reminds me Remus could you make sure that Snuffles is there today, he will get a kick out what all is going to happen."

Remus gave Harry a look, but nodded and walked away. Harry turned back to the table and locked eyes with a questioning glare from Ginny, "What are you up to?"

Harry pulled a face and said, "you'll just have to wait and find out like the rest. Hey Ron I don't think you should leave Scabbers in the dorm today it is going to be a long duel, you might miss a time you need to give him a dose of medicine."

Ron nodded, "thanks mate, you sure it's going take that long?"

"Positive, if you all will excuse me I need to have a chat with someone," with that Harry rose and approached Olivander. The two of them left the hall together and then moved outside. Since Harry had approached him in such a public place Harry used the excuse that he wanted to ask him some private questions about his wand.

The two of them moved down to the lake and stood in a spot where no one could approach with out their knowing.

"Well Mr Potter what is that you really wished to speak to me about?" Mr Olivander asked taking out a small thin pipe and lighting it.

"I wanted to speak to you about the last time I was in your shop."

Olivander thought a moment, "ah yes the message you sent me when you were leaving my shop."

"Yes were you able to take care of it,"

"Yes, here is the wand you wanted. An exact replica of his original wand. I hope Mr Black likes it." Harry took the wand and looked it over before handing it back to Mr Olivander.

"Good job, your usual quality craftsmanship, but I have something else to discuss." Harry said as he checked the hallway to see if anyone was approaching. " I wanted to ask you how..."

"I was able to enter your mind, especially considering the level of Occlumency you have reached, without your knowledge?" Olivander interrupted.

Eyes narrowing Harry responded, "that about sums it up."

After pausing for a moment to muse over his answer Olivander looked up, "because Mr Potter I am not, nor have I ever been adept at or able to use Legilimency"

"What?"

I do not use Legilimency to probes young wizards minds as you," he paused choosing his words, "rashly speculated when you visited my shop last."

Harry raised and eyebrow, "the only other way I know of to get that kind of detail from someone's mind that quickly is impossible for wizards. Something about our magical core hinders it."

"Exactly, why it is a good thing I am not one." Olivander stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Then..."

Olivander silenced the question with a stern look, "Now is not the time for such trivial matters, I have contacted those that handle explanations. You should receive a visit from them over the holidays. Good luck today Mr Potter, May your path shine brightly before you." Without another word Olivander turned and walked away from Harry with more agility and grace than Harry believed possible. That was until he reached the main traffic area of the hallway, he then reverted to the slow methodical way of walking people were used to seeing him move around his shop.

Harry narrowed his eyes as he watched the man disappear, he felt more than heard Ginny slide up behind him and move to his side trying to figure out who he was staring at so seriously. "Everything alright?"

Harry sighed and let his shoulders drop, just a simple bit of time travel then everything will be alright. Just change a few things here and there and everything will be fine. Nothing hard about that. After all you know what is gonna happen, hard to be surprised then isn't it.

Ha you foolish foolish foolish boy how dare you think you like will ever be anything but complicated and erratic, life for you Harry is never simple, or easy for that matter.

"Nothing, Gin, situation normal." Harry said dead panned.

Ginny cocked her head to one side a moment before recognition dawned on her, "ahh gotcha." turning back to the main hall she tried to see what had flustered Harry so badly but knew it was futile, "Gonna tell me what it is?"

"As soon as I figure that out I promise to tell you first."

She turned back to him eyes narrowing, "another surprise?"

"Yes, though I am not sure how dangerous this one is yet. Or if it is at all." Turning to lead Ginny outside they noticed Draco Malfoy standing beside the main doors waiting for something.

"AHH Potter and the Weaslette, still hanging with the riff raff I see, Potter, doesn't their lack of true breeding every bother you?"

"Malfoy," Harry said turning to Draco but what ever Harry had intended to say was lost as he noticed standing behind the boy through the open door was none other than Lucious Malfoy. Harry had to fight the gut reaction to take care of the problems they would cause in the future right there, I need them where they are for this to work. Theirs egos play to big a role in what I have planned. Especially yours Lucious.

Harry and Lucious stood staring daggers into each other for a long moment before the patriarch spoke, "Potter," he said with a curt nod, but the disdain was evident, and his voice dripping with the venom of a hundred deadly snakes. "Come Draco, we shouldn't keep Serverus waiting." With that the two blond wizards left for the dungeons. Ginny had moved close to Harry trying to look scared when in fact she had drew her wand behind Harry and was ready, just in case.

Harry turned to her as she placed her wand back in the holster Harry had given her. He smirked as she watched the Malfoys disappear. "Edgy much?"

Never taking her eyes off the corridor they had taken until she was certain a random curse was not going to come flying out of it, "It pays to be careful around those two," turning back to him with worry in her eyes. "I sure hope you know what you are doing." Ginny was the only person who knew of Harry's plans for them, being as it was partially her idea to begin with.

"Time will tell, love, Time will tell. Come on we have a morning to kill before the duel."

She cringed but followed him outside, "ok but I can't say I care for your wording."

Harry stood silently as Mr Olivander weighed his wand and checked it for tampering. Having earlier removed the memory of his conversation with the man and put it in his pensive, the distraction had become a minor annoyance he could filter to the back of his mind. I need all of my wits about me today. Snape may have to curtail his curses because of Dumbledore and the Ministry, but that doesn't make him any less dangerous.

Having weighed and checked both wands Olivander returned them to their owners, "both wands check out Headmaster, everything is in order." with his duties complete the wand maker move to a seat on the front row behind the spectator shield Dumbledore had erected in front of the stands that now occupied the great hall near the dueling platform that had once again risen from the floor.

Harry and Snape took their places near Remus and Lucious, the only people not behind the shield.

"Wands Ready," Barked Dumbledore. Both men assumed different dueling postures, Snape was almost given pause as Harry assumed one he recognized, but couldn't place at the moment.

"Begin."

One little word, and it effected so much. Five little letters, spoken aloud and everything the wizarding world thought about dueling was changed forever that day. Harry was quick, quicker than even Ginny remembered him being, for the first few hours, he was totally on the defensive. Either blocking, reflecting, or out right dodging everything Snape threw at him. Then at the end of the fifth hour Harry struck, hard. It had been so fast no one had seen it one minute curses were flying at Harry in a ceaseless barrage, then suddenly with a feral yell, Harry sent his first curse of the duel at Serverus Snape. It hit Snape right between the eyes. The power of it propelled him end over end, over thirty feet in the air. He landed with a loud thud.

"First blood to Potter." Many cheered but it soon died down as they noticed that Harry was not celebrating the victory.

"What's going on?" several people asked.

It was Ginny that answered and for the first time Ron noticed his sister was ashen faced. Never taking her eyes off the man she loved she spoke in a mono tone voice that seemed detached and distant, "its what Harry and Snape agreed upon for before the duel. No rules, anything and any spell goes, and no winner declared until one or the other submits or is incapacitated to the point that continuing would mean death."

Hermione gasp and covered her mouth but it was Ron how best summed up the feeling of most of the people around Ginny that had heard what she had said, which was spreading like wild fire through the crowd, "BLOODY, HELL. THEY'RE BOTH NUTTERS!"

The now subdued crowd turned back to the duel, watching in eager anticipation at what promised to be a spectacle to remember. Harry Potter defeater of the worlds most evil Dark Lord in centuries, was facing off against a man older, wiser, and many considered more cunning. Not to mention the fact that Snape was far more likely to turn to dark magic, possibly even the Unforgivables, before Harry would. This was dangerous, this was exciting.

This was nuts.

Snape rose slowly and gingerly to his feet, swiveling his head from side to side. He approached the platform again. "That will not happen twice Mr Potter."

"Time will tell." Harry stated flatly as he resumed he stance.

The battle raged this time Harry went on the offensive must faster, only this time the spell was rebounded back at him, after dodging his own stunning curse Harry walked into a cutting hex that nearly took off his leg.

Snape sneered, "That's mortal. I win as per the agreement this morning between us Potter." He raised his wand as Harry stared at him nonchalantly, "Surrender, and I will spare you the embarrassment of being stunned as well."

"At this time I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request." Harry stated as he pointed his wand at his leg and the gaping wound healed itself.

Looking up and seeing the confused look on Snape's face, Harry elaborated, "that means, no." He said with no small amount of humor.

The incident caused Snape's blood to boil. Despite having bested the boy, or so he had thought. Harry had somehow manage to turn what should have been a shining moment to Snape into an embarrassing battle of wits. Harry resumed his stance and the battle continued. No quarter would be given this time, and none would be asked.

Harry caught Snape with a banishing hex then two more as he bounced the man clear across the room. Then leapt with a feral cry, aided by a levitation charm and another banishing charm cast at the floor. He had intended to land in front of Snape and end the duel.

But Snape was not made head of Slytherin house for nothing. As he rolled to a stop he was on his back. By the time he had completed the hand spring needed to be on his feet again instantly Harry was already airborne. By the time Harry was at the apex of his magically enhanced jump he had completed a complex curse and a healing charm as well as blocking the spells Harry had sent after him, when Harry noticed the man back on his feet.

Harry's eyes widened as the curse slammed into his shields with the sound of a large gong being struck. The sheer force behind the spell stopped his forward momentum and propelled him backwards. As he saw the floor approaching quickly he had a single thought before his face met stone. This is really gonna hurt.

Snape slumped against the wall and cast a few more healing charms on himself quickly while Harry was very slowly rising to his feet.

"That's the best you have? You will have to do better than that." Harry stated as he rose locking eyes with the amazed man, a normal wizard would be out cold from an impact like that. And when he did finally get to his feet he would have been very groggy, in other words an easy target. Harry was neither a normal wizard nor was he the least bit groggy. He was pissed.

Both men had the same thought at the same moment, and both yelled the same thing. "Expelliarmus"

Both spells hit. Snape was slammed against the wall, and Harry, his shield shattered by the impact, was thrown several feet back doing a excellent back flip mid air to land on his feet. Their wands flew in different directions, Snape's bounced off the spectators shield and clattered to the floor. Harry's went far across the room, this meant if they summoned their wands Snape's would get to him first.

So, Harry changed tactic, as soon as he landed his arm snapped out and a sword from the wall nearby flew into his hand. He shifted his feet and assumed a fighting stance.

Snape smiled and reached over his head pulling another down for himself. "You have no idea what you have just gotten yourself into Potter. I am no stranger to sword play."

"Who's playing? Snivillus"

This time it was Snape that let loose a feral yell as he attack the smaller supposedly weaker boy with all the fury and might he could muster. Several minutes into his attack he took a step back and paused as the two circled each other.

Not one single blow had landed. Every one of them was countered efficiently.

Damn, the boy is good. Enough of this! Snape shook his head pushing the stray thought from his mind. He had been surprised twice by Harry in this duel, it would not happen a third time. But it did.

Snape stepped forward and resumed the attack. His sword swinging in high and from Harry's left. Harry's sword was in this hand, the blow would be harder to block correctly, and should have nicked his neck.

Should have, the problem was Harry did not block the blow, he ducked under it using his smaller size to his advantage, he stepped past Snape, swinging his sword in a upward arch that cleanly took off the elder man's leg.

Snape teetered a moment then fell onto his back. Harry stepped over to him and looked down at the beaten wizard. "Yield, or bleed to death, I don't care which but I will not give you the satisfaction of becoming a killer," then very quietly so only Snape could hear him he added, "today."

Snape choked on the words but said them loud and clear despite himself, "I yield"

Harry summoned his wand from where it had fallen and muttered a complex charm. Snape's leg reattached itself, and the bleeding stopped. Levitating the sword back to the wall Harry turned his back on Snape, and started off stage. "You will be slightly limited by mobility for a while but it should heal, in a month or two. I can do nothing for the pain you will feel for the rest of your life.", turning back and narrowing his eyes at the man, "some scars are to deep," Harry turned again and continued.

Just as Harry was stepping off the stage, someone yelled something behind him. He turned and was hit in the face with a curse.

"SECTUMSEMPRA!" Snape lowered his wand with a pleased look on his face touched something in his robes and disappeared.

"HARRY!" Ginny screamed as she started boweling over people to get to Harry's side.

"BLOODY HELL!" Ron yelled as he grabbed a swooning Hermione.

Who was laying on the floor several feet from where he had been standing, in a growing puddle of blood from thousands of cuts all over his body. But Remus got there first followed closely by Snuffles and Dumbledore.

Without pausing Dumbledore ripped a piece of clothe off his robes and touching it with his wand. "Portus, Remus hold on to Harry this will take you to the Infirmary in five seconds."

Remus grabbed Harry and the Port key, the two of them disappeared shortly their after. Ginny ran up to Dumbledore and screamed at him for sending Harry off without her. Then turned and bolted out the door.

Thanks to my wonderful wife for helping me beta this, and for putting up with long nites as I sat down to try and write it. Christmas at the burrow coming soon. Expect the unexpected.