Disclaimer: Wish they were mine, but they're J.K. Rowling's.
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Chapter 15: Enter Icicle
Icicle smirked at the young girl whom had just emerged from the cave. "Hello my dear, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, my little mudblood." Her gaze went down to the two rings on Hermione's fingers. "My, what pretty little rings you have. I would like to take them for myself."
Hermione felt a chill run down her spine. She raised her staff, spread her legs, and lowered her hips, thus placing herself in a battle ready stance. "Are you a..."
"Death Eater? I most certainly am. But I would like it if you called me Icicle. And what may your name be, my little mudblood?"
Hermione gritted her teeth. "Hermione Granger."
"Pleased to meet you," Icicle smirked and took a step towards Hermione. "You wouldn't mind if you just hand me those rings could you." Hermione didn't move at all and just continued glaring at Icicle. "I guess not. It looks like I'm going to have to hurt you a little after all. Crucio!"
With lightning fast reflexes, Hermione dodged the Cruciatus Curse, leaving behind a smoldering crater. She raised her staff and shouted "Expelliarmus!" Icicle blocked the disarming spell. She grinned at Hermione and said, "You're good, but not good enough I'm afraid." She sent another Cruciatus Curse at Hermione who once again dodged the curse.
Hermione shouted, "Stupefy!" Icicle smirked as she blocked the spell. She was startled however, when she suddenly found Hermione right in front of her, swinging her staff down! Icicle raised her own staff in a defensive posture and the two staffs met with a dull sound. Hermione wasn't finished yet as she shouted, "Incendio!"
Icicle screamed as she caught on fire. She rolled on the ground, trying to extinguish the flames while dodging Hermione's stunning curse at the same time. She glared at Hermione, malice shining from her eyes. The time for games was over.
"Avada Kedavra!" she shouted. Hermione dodged the green light and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Icicle blocked the curse again but was forced to dodge Hermione's stunning curse. It didn't take a genius to figure out who was winning the duel.
Trying to slow Hermione down, Icicle shouted, "Inpedimenta!" Hermione blocked the curse with a shield charm. Hermione shouted, "Stupefy!" and sent another stunning spell at Icicle who rolled out of the way. Seething with anger, Icicle fired the killing curse at Hermione again. Hermione rolled out of the way of the Avada Kedavra curse and shouted, "Furnunculus!"
Icicle gasped in horror as boils started breaking out all over her body. She quickly did a spell that got rid of them. During this time, Hermione had closed in on Icicle and swung her staff towards her opponent's left side. Icicle quickly blocked the blow with her own staff, but Hermione didn't give her a moments rest as she shouted, "Reducto!" The small explosion, blasted Icicle away. She hit the ground with a thud.
Thinking that Icicle was knocked out, Hermione made her way over to where Icicle lay. She was startled when Icicle sprang to her feet and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Hermione's staff flew out of her hands and landed about three meters away. She wasn't defeated yet however as she balled her right hand into a fist and punched Icicle in the face! As Icicle reeled back, Hermione scrambled towards her staff. Just as she was about to grab it, Icicle shouted, "Crucio!" This time, she wasn't able to dodge.
It was pain that Hermione had never felt before. It felt like a thousand knives were stabbing her and her insides were being ripped to shreds. Hermione started screaming in agony in ways that she had never screamed before. Tears started falling out of her eyes as more screams issued out of her lips. Icicle advanced on the girl who was screaming on the ground. "You bitch!" she hissed. "You mudblood! How dare you humiliate me like that! You are going to suffer for that, my little mudblood!"
Hermione continued screaming in agony. 'Somebody...anybody...help me! Anyone... help...Harry...where are you?....Help me Harry!...Please!' Suddenly, Hermione heard an angry voice call out, "Expelliarmus!" At that moment, the voice sounded like the most beautiful, heavenly voice she had ever heard. Abruptly, the pain stopped. Weakly, Hermione looked up.
Standing at the mouth of the cave, his sword drawn and his green eyes blazing with rage was Sir Harry Potter.
Icicle glanced up at the Mage Knight whom had just disarmed her and smirked. "Sir Harry Potter! How nice of you to join us!"
Harry had never been more angry in his life. "You dare....you dare to hurt her! How dare you!"
"Going to save your mudblood friend?" sneered Icicle. "Well now, I can't have you spoiling my fun. Crabbe! Goyle! Take care of Potter!"
Two, thick set Death Eaters apparated on either side of Harry. On his right side was Crabbe, with a pudding bowl hair cut and a large broad sword. On his left side was Goyle with short, wiry dark hair and a monstrous battle axe. They charged at Harry, but Harry simply ducked out of the way, causing the two large Death Eaters to collide into each other.
Crabbe and Goyle grunted and turned on Harry. Crabbe swung his sword towards Harry's left side. The sound of metal hitting metal rang through the air as Harry raised his sword to block Crabbe's attack. Crabbe swung his sword again, only to have his blow once again deflected by Harry's blade. After deflecting a third strike, Harry spun around Crabbe and rammed his hilt on the backside of Crabbe's neck. Crabbe sprawled out on the ground.
Goyle suddenly charged at Harry, brandishing his axe over his head. He swung the axe downwards with one powerful blow. Harry, however, simply stepped back and let the axe hit the ground in front of him. As Goyle struggled to pull the axe out of the ground, Harry placed a well aimed kick on his chin. Goyle keeled over.
Crabbe took this opportunity to attack Harry from behind. Harry, however, flicked his sword behind his back and deflected Crabbe's blow without even turning around. Harry swung around and slashed his sword at Crabbe who blocked it with his own sword. This left his face wide open, however, as Harry flung his left fist into Crabbe's nose.
Goyle lunged at Harry and swung his axe at him. Harry simply ducked and let the axe fly over his head. Before Goyle could even react, Harry shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" Goyle's body suddenly went rigid and he fell over backwards.
Crabbe slashed at Harry again. Their blades met a number of times before Harry caught Crabbe off guard and shouted, "Impedimenta!" Crabbe froze in mid lunge. Harry shouted, "Stupefy!" and stunned Crabbe, who was still frozen.
Having won the battle, Harry turned on Icicle and froze in horror. Icicle was holding up the barely conscious Hermione and had her staff pointed at Hermione's head! "One move and the mudblood gets it!" she snarled.
Harry stopped in his tracks and glared at Icicle. He was so angry that sparks were actually flying from his eyes.
Icicle smirked. "My congratulations for taking care of Crabbe and Goyle! But you are quiet foolish to have forgotten about me!" She then grinned at him. "I'll make you a deal, Potter. If you surrender, then I promise to let her live!"
Harry continued to glare at Icicle. Hermione tried to shake her head. "Don't do it, Harry!" she said. "Please, don't throw your life away for me!" Tears were streaming down her face.
"You, shut up!" snarled Icicle. She turned back to Harry. "It's your choice, Potter. Either she gets the Avada Kedavra in her head or you do!"
Harry was still glaring at Icicle, but his expression suddenly softened. Hermione stared at him, horrified as He gave her a weak smile and threw down his sword! What he said after that shocked her even more: "I love you, Hermione."
"Oh, how sweet. Too bad those had to be your last words, Potter," said Icicle with a smirk. She raised her staff and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!"
Hermione screamed. "Harry! Please! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The last thing she saw before she blacked out was Harry crumble lifeless to the ground.