Melody Riddle and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 36: A Historical Duel

 Wormtail eagerly approached Harry, who scrambled to his feet just before the gag was taken out of his mouth and the ropes were cut.

The Death Eaters closed up the spaces between them as he stood and looked around him. Wormtail found his wand off to the side and came back, thrusting it at Harry and returning to his spot in the circle.

This was going to be fun... "You have been taught how to duel, Harry Potter?" Voldemort asked softly.

The boy didn't answer, just standing where he was. His thoughts were open to him, and he smiled to see that he knew he was going to die. There was nothing he could do to save himself from him.

It looked like he needed one last school lesson.... "We bow to each other, Harry," he said, bending a little while keeping his head up to watch the boy. "Come, the niceties must be observed.... Dumbledore would like you to show manners.... Bow to death, Harry...."

Voldemort smiled as his Death Eaters laughed. Harry didn't obey, he just stared back as defiantly as ever. Now, that could not be tolerated at Hogwarts, especially not if he had become a teacher as he was supposed to....

"I said, bow," he said, raising his wand once again. He watched as Harry bent forward, pushed by the invisible force of his magic. The Death Eaters could have fallen over, they were laughing so hard.

"Very good," he said softly, raising his wand. He and Harry stood up. "And now you face me, like a man... straight-backed and proud, the way your father died....

"And now — we duel."

He raised his wand and hit Harry with the Cruciatus Curse once again. The boy fell over and screamed loudly. Voldemort released the boy from his torture, and he instantly scrambled to his feet, shaking uncontrollably. He staggered into the wall of Death Eaters who pushed him back towards Voldemort, stumbling over an injured leg.

"A little break," Voldemort said excitedly, "a little pause... That hurt, didn't it, Harry? You don't want me to do that again, do you?"

He didn't answer. Would he ever say anything to him? A few last words?

Voldemort was losing patience. "I asked you whether you want me to do that again. Answer me! Imperio!" He entered into his mind, telling him; just answer no... say no... just answer no....

But he fought the curse, fought the voice, and broke free of it shouting, "I won't!"

Nobody laughed. Voldemort frowned... perhaps he was stronger than he thought. A second Cruciatus should loosen him up a bit. "You won't? You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die.... Perhaps another little dose of pain?"

Voldemort raised his wand, but Harry flung himself sideways and rolled behind Tom Riddle Sr.'s headstone, the curse just missing him.

Games... what a child.... "We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry," he said, walking over to the headstone. "You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean that you would prefer me to finish it now, Harry? Come out, Harry... come out and play, then... it will be quick... it might even be painless... I would not know... I have never died...." And will never die... he would be happy, in fact, if he could just kill Harry now.

Just before he went to look around the headstone, Harry stood and walked around to face him, a new determination in his eyes.

As Harry shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Voldemort cried, "Avada Kedavra!"