HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black [ Chapter 70 ]

Potter struggled to his feet and Aries considered attacking now but decided against it.

The Dark Lord was not yet distracted. Potter and the Dark Lord stood a few meters apart and the Death Eaters looked on with eager anticipation.

"You have been taught to duel, yes Potter?" The Dark Lord seemed to be teasing the boy. "First we bow. Come, Potter, we must follow tradition. I said bow." As the Dark Lord pushed the tip of his wand down, Potter bent downward into a bow.

"Now we duel." Aries could tell Diggory wanted to do something but he followed his lead.

Moments passed as Potter avoided the Dark Lord's curses and even managed to throw off his Imperious before hiding behind a tombstone.

"Come now Potter we are not playing games. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean you wish for me to finish it? Come, Potter, it will be quick. It might even be painless. I would not know, I have never died."

Aries watched Potter slowly rise to his feet in a defiant manner and face the Dark Lord.

They raised their wands towards each other and then Aries stepped in between them. The Dark Lord's eyes suddenly widen and he lowered his wand slightly.

"Aries Black." He hissed the name. "I've been looking forward to meeting you for some time, though I hoped it would be after I dealt with Potter. Be a good boy and step aside."

"I'm afraid I can't do that." Black immediately regretted the words, but he could not allow Potter to die tonight.

"And why is that?" The Dark Lord looked at him challengingly.

"You see, Potter is under my protection." Every eye was on him and Diggory was readying himself to strike. "Let him leave, and we can have our talk."

"Ah, no one is leaving tonight. Unless you kneel before me." The Dark Lord's red eyes narrowed.

"Not really the kneeling type. Now, Diggory!" The rush of power as his wand came into his hand was intoxicating and the torrent of magic raged inside him.

Fire erupted around him and he threw it at the Dark Lord. Diggory had sent a blasting curse towards the Death Eaters, but they were now unsure of just who to attack.

The Dark Lord dispersed the fire, not caring if it struck his own men and the duel began.

Aries stood alongside Potter, each throwing spells while using his free hand to wandlessly conjure a shield whenever a spell came towards them that they could not dodge.

The Dark Lord had little need for a shield, choosing instead to simply deflect the spells until Aries began to up the ante.

Powerful spells of the Dark Arts flew from his wand as fire and ice flowed wandlessly from his hand.

The effects of the powerful magic the two wizards were creating were harming the Death Eaters as well, but Diggory was starting to tire.

A rogue blasting spell struck the ground near Aries, throwing him off his feet. The Dark Lord shouted the Killing Curse just as Potter sent the Disarming Charm.

A red bolt of light met green and the wands connected.

At once a silver light burst from the center of the beam connecting the two wands before creating a bubble around them.

A ball of energy hung in the middle pulsing back and forth between the two wizards. Aries came to his feet, transfixed on what was happening, as did the Death Eaters.

Diggory leaned heavily on a tombstone, glancing towards the cup which seemed so far away.

Suddenly Aries felt power from Potter and the ball of energy pushed towards the Dark Lord. As it touched the yew wand a spirit burst from the tip. It was an old man.

The very same old man that Aries and Potter had seen die in their dreams. Another pulse and a second figure emerged.

Aries recognized her immediately from his family tree. Dorea Black was the ideal look of the Black Family and even in death had a stern look on her face that rivaled Cassiopeia's. She glared at the Dark Lord before turning to Potter.

"Hold strong Thomas, your grandfather is coming," Dorea stated. "Keep holding on for just a little longer." She turned to Aries. "Protect him. Make our family proud."

A third figure suddenly emerged from the Dark Lord's wand. He was an old man, older than the first, and with hazel eyes filled with an odd look as if one had seen far too many years.

Yet there were lines across his face, wrinkles from years spent smiling and laughing. For a spirit, he looked remarkably happy and also determined.

"When we tell you, release the connection," Charles commanded. "You will only have a few moments to get to the portkey." He looked at them both fondly, something Aries did not understand. "We are proud of you. Now go!"

Potter ended the connection and as the spirits raced towards the Dark Lord, he ran towards the cup. Aries unleashed fire creating a perimeter around himself, the Dark Lord and the cup.

Diggory was almost to the cup when a cutting curse struck him in the back of his leg. It ripped through his ligaments and he fell to the ground.

"Go, Potter!" Aries ordered. "I'll get him back. Just go!" Potter hesitated, but Aries wandlessly pushed him back into the cup.

He reacted instinctively and grabbed the cup. A swish of Aries wand and wards formed over the graveyard.

It was unfortunate that Diggory had not made it to the cup as he would have to adjust his plans.

The Dark Lord, recovered from the previous affair, raised his wand but stopped as Aries suddenly bound Diggory in tight, thick ropes.

The Hogwarts' champions shock was evident and only the gag kept him from screaming in surprise.

"I think it's time for our chat, my Lord." The roaring fire encompassed the three of them and the crackling of flames kept the Death Eaters unaware of what occurred in the circle.

"Sorry for all that mess. Had to keep up appearances with the Boy-Who-Lived after all." The Dark Lord's cold laugh filled the air.