Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. Inc., Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Raincoast, and any other affiliated party.
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Chapter 8: The Lestranges
Ron knocked three times on the door to the mansion before it creaked open. The three Mage Knights stepped in apprehensively. The mansion was an elegant Tudor style building with 4 levels and looked as if it had at least two hundred rooms. A crystal chandelier was gleaming on the ceiling and there were portraits of sophisticated looking people on the walls. The main hall led to a main staircase that branched off two ways and had a scarlet, velvet carpet running down it.
Standing about half way up the staircase was a man who looked to be in his early forties. He was tall, with pulled back brown hair, and a small moustache. He was wearing an elegant black and violet robe, was carrying a black cane, and had a monocle over his left eye. He was also carrying a black silk, top hat in his other hand.
"Welcome, Sir knights," he said with high posh. "I am Baron Lestrange. Welcome to my humble home, Lestrange manor."
Harry, Ron, and Ginny politely bowed. "Greetings Baron," said Harry. "We are three knights traveling north and we chanced upon your home when dark came upon us. We request that you would provide us with lodging for the night."
Baron Lestrange smiled. "I would be happy to provide you with lodgings Sir knights. My wife shall show you to your rooms." A tall, sophisticated looking lady with waist length black hair emerged from the top of the staircase. The Mage Knights bowed and proceeded up the staircase and to the woman who led them to the guest rooms.
"I wish to express my gratitude, Baroness Lestrange," said Ron as he kneeled and kissed her hand. Harry and Ginny followed suit.
"Thank you, Sir Knights," said the lady. "And I prefer to be called Dame Lestrange." She bowed and walked away.
"Well, that was easy," said Ron with a grin.
Harry seemed to be deep in thought. "Yeah, a little too easy."
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That night, the knights had one of the best meals ever prepared. Ron worked the house elves to the brink of exhaustion with his monstrous appetite. Whenever Ron was starved, he developed an appetite the equivalent of three large men. He made a bit of a scene stuffing all the food he could lay his hands on into his mouth while Harry and Ginny ate politely. The Lestranges however, did not seem to be offended by Ron's eating habits.
After dinner, the knights retired to the guest room to have a good nights sleep. Within minutes of hitting their pillows, they were sound asleep.
That night, two shadowy figures crept into the room where the Mage Knights slept. They slowly made their way to the sleeping forms in the beds. Daggers were drawn, and the figures slashed at the sleeping figures! It was only then that they discovered that the figures were nothing more than bundled sheets.
"Lumos." Baron and Dame Lestrange backed away as the brilliant lights dazzled from the Mage Knights standing in the corner behind the door. Ron had a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Ha ha! Thought you had us fooled eh?" he said. "Well looks like you did the job very well."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Ron, they had you completely fooled. Harry and I were the ones who weren't."
"Shut up."
Harry stepped forward, his green eyes blazing. "I suggest that you two explain yourselves."
The Lestranges grinned. Suddenly, Dame Lestrange called out, "Accio." A thin sword that had been placed on the mantle place flew into her hand. Baron Lestrange also drew a sword out of his cane as he slapped his top hat on.
"Harry Potter," he said. "By order of the master, I am to take you to him."
"We are also to kill the red heads," said Dame Lestrange.
The Mage Knights drew their swords. "You take care of the guy, Ginny and I will take care of the gal," whispered Ron. Harry nodded his acknowledgement.
With a yell, the Mage Knights charged at the Lestranges who dashed out of the room. Baron Lestrange ran to the hallway pursued by Harry while Dame Lestrange ran to the dining room pursued by the Weasleys.
Harry chased Baron Lestrange to the staircase. Baron Lestrange was running down the stairs when Harry leapt from the ledge, twirled in the air and landed in front of Lestrange.
"Not so fast, Baron," he said. "Why not be a gentlemen and fight the proper way." Lestrange grinned as he raised his sword. With swift movements, Lestrange made three thrusts at Harry, all of which he deflected. Harry slashed at Lestrange who blocked the blade. The sounds of metal hitting metal rang throughout the hallway.
* * * * * * * * * *
Dame Lestrange had run into the dining room and was proceeding to make her way to the kitchen. Not willing to let her escape there, Ron leapt onto the long table and proceeded to slide down it, his foot on a saucer. With a flying leap, Ron landed in front of Dame Lestrange. Ginny soon came up behind her.
Without saying a word, Dame Lestrange swung her sword at Ron. Ron deflected the blow but was tripped by the Dame Lestrange. Ginny swung her sword down at Lestrange who caught the blade on her own. Ron scrambled to his feet and made a sideways thrust at Lestrange who blocked. Ginny slashed at her but was also blocked by Dame Lastrange. Metal sounds issued as Dame Lestrange continued to block the blows of the Weasleys. She had caught both blades on her own when she said, "Reducto!" Ron and Ginny were blasted into the dining table.
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"A most brilliant display of skill, Potter," said Baron Lestrange. The two duelers were barely moving, only their blades constantly hitting each other. "I would've assumed that life of royalty would have dulled your skill."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Shows how much you know of Gryffindor," he said. Breaking the stand still, Harry ducked and kicked at Lestrange's shins. Baron Lestrange tumbled down the stairs and landed in a heap at the bottom of them.
Harry calmly walked down the stairs a slight smirk on his face. "It looks like a high life in the nobility is more damaging to your skill."
Baron Lestrange scrambled to his feet looking murderous. "You'll pay, Potter!" he hissed. With a roar, Lestrange charged at Harry only to have Harry spin around him and ram his hilt into the back of Lestrange's head. Clutching at the back of his head, Baron Lestrange continued swinging his word at Harry only to have all of the blows deflected.
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Ron charged at Dame Lestrange and swung his sword at her. Dame Lestrange blocked three successive blows made at her by Ron and managed to trip Ron again. Ginny leapt off the table and slashed her sword down at Dame Lestrange. Lestrange simply blocked Ginny's blow by raising her sword up horizontally. What Dame Lestrange hadn't counted on, however was that Ginny used the momentum of the two swords hitting each other to flip through the air and land behind Dame Lestrange! Ginny placed a swift kick on Lestrange's back and sent her flying forward into the dining table.
Lestrange wearily stood up looking livid. She barely managed to compose herself to block Ron's continuous attacks as he constantly slashed at her. Ginny also charged at Dame Lestrange whom was barely able to deflect Ron's blows. She was clearly getting exhausted fighting two Mage Knights as beads of sweat started rolling down her forehead.
Finally, Ginny caught Dame Lestrange off guard and rammed her hilt into Lestrange's right cheek! Not missing his chance, Ron yelled, "Expelliarmus!" causing Dame Lestranges sword to fly away from her hand. It also blasted Lestrange through a window, causing glass to shatter. Dame Lestrange plummeted from the second level to her death in the frozen lake below the window.
* * * * * * * * * *
"You are a brilliant swordsman," said Baron Lestrange as he deflected another one of Harry's slashes. "But I am the greatest swordsman of all the Death Eaters. There is no way that you can out duel me." The two blades met again.
Harry couldn't help but smile as he blocked one of Lestranges attacks. "Oh really," he said, their swords still slashing at each other. "Well, I'm sorry to say this, but…" suddenly, Harry deflected Lestrange's sword away, spun around and ran Lestrange through! "You're not as good as Voldemort," finished Harry.
Baron Lestrange fell to his knees, a look of astonishment and disbelief written on his face. He tried to reach up at Harry but soon fell down dead. Harry sighed as he sheathed his sword. "Whew, I'm glad that's over," he muttered.
At that moment, Ron and Ginny dashed into the hallway. They stopped short when they saw Baron Lestrange's body and Harry standing over it. Ron grinned and gave Harry a thumbs-up.
"Looks like you didn't need any help," he said.
"Yeah, looks like I didn't," muttered Harry.
"So what should we do now?" asked Ginny.
Harry looked out the window to see the dawn sun rising.
"Well, I suppose we should rest here for awhile, but not to long," he said. "We should really be making our way soon. There's bound to be more trouble coming ahead."
"Yeah," said Ron. "I don't think I've had enough excitement today."
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A/N I have always wondered about this, but what the heck is this obsession girls have with Oliver Wood?! I just don't get it, although part of that might be the fact that I'm a guy with messy brownish black hair. My eyes are brown though, not green. I just don't get it. Oh, by the way, New Zealand Opaleyes are mentioned in 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' by Newt Scamander, Comic Relief. Next: Mage Knights go to the marketplace and meet a part veela.