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Duel

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Priori Incantatem initiated during the duel between Harry Potter and Voldemort in 1995.
"I'd take you on any time on my own. Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only – no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"
—Draco Malfoy challenging Harry Potter to a duel in 1991[src]

A duel is a confrontation between two or more wizards or witches. The combatants face each other, bow, and then attempt to disarm, injure, or kill each other in order to force submission, and thus a winner is decided. Opponents are only permitted to use magical means of combat.

Contents

[edit] Rules

Duelling Club at Hogwarts in 1992.

There are rules and customs that define how a proper duel is performed and that are normally known to wizards and witches born to magical families, even at a young age. Ron Weasley, for instance, told Harry Potter some of the rules of duelling as a first year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after Harry was challenged to a duel by Draco Malfoy in 1991 In the 1992–1993 school year Gilderoy Lockhart formed the duelling club, in which duelling strips were used in a system similar to that of modern fencing.[1].

[edit] The Challenge

"You've been taught how to duel, I presume? Yes? First we bow to each other... Come now, Harry, the niceties must be observed. Dumbledore would not want you to forget your manners, would he? I said, bow."
—Lord Voldemort to Harry Potter in the graveyard of Little Hangleton[src]

In a formal duel, one wizard or witch challenges another, although it is implied that duels are not commonplace in modern polite society. If the other person accepts, they then arrange a meeting time and place for the duel. Opponents bow to one another before beginning to fight, as Lord Voldemort reminded Harry Potter before their duel in the graveyard of Little Hangleton in 1995.[2] Lockhart has gone as far as twirling his hands while bowing, possibly trying to make himself look more gentlemanly. However, duelists who do not respect their opponents do not usually bow correctly, as Snape simply jerked his head, while Harry, Draco Malfoy, and Voldemort barely bent their heads at all. Draco challenged Harry this way in their first year, though it was really an attempt to get Harry into trouble for being out of his dormitories after curfew[3].

[edit] Seconds

"Well, a second's there to take over if you die..."
—Ron Weasley[src]

Duellists will often have a "second" in a formal duel — a person, usually a trusted ally, who will act as a replacement for one duellist if necessary. Ron Weasley volunteered to be Harry's second in the aforementioned planned duel with Draco.[1]

[edit] Limits

Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort duelling in the Ministry of Magic.

There is a standard rule in duels that only magical means may be used to fight an opponent, and that there is to be no physical contact between the duellists[3]. Millicent Bulstrode broke this rule when she duelled Hermione Granger in 1992 in the Duelling Club; the much larger girl ended up wrestling Hermione to the ground and holding her in a headlock.[4]

The parties of a duel might also agree to other limits, unless planning to duel to the death, which is only common practice in a war. Minerva McGonagall, for example, informed fellow professor Horace Slughorn just before the Battle of Hogwarts that if any Slytherin attempted to sabotage their defence efforts or to fight them, they would "duel to kill", which alarmed him[5]. This may indicate that duellists generally agree not to use particularly dangerous and/or illegal spells, such as the Unforgivable Curses.

[edit] Practice Duels

Duels can also be used for training purposes, as was the case in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1992, when Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart founded the short-lived Duelling Club. Its function was to teach students self-defence while "Slytherin's Monster" was on the loose. The club did not last long, as Professor Lockhart was incompetent.[4]

[edit] Noted Duels

Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Albus and Aberforth Dumbledore vs. Gellert Grindelwald Albus and Grindelwald were going to expose the wizarding world and enslave muggles. Aberforth tried to stop them but Gellert was furious with him and tortured Aberforth. Albus protected his brother and a three-way Duel broke out. By the end of the duel Ariana Dumbledore stepped in and was killed by a rogue spell. Gellert fled and the two brothers were left in ruins.
Albus Dumbledore vs. Gellert Grindelwald Arguably the greatest duel in history. Dumbledore confronted Grindelwald, a powerful Dark Wizard who possessed the Elder Wand and who was gaining power in the wizarding world, in 1945. Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald, who was subsequently imprisoned in Nurmengard, in what witnesses described as the greatest duel ever fought.[1]
Gilderoy Lockhart vs. Severus Snape A demonstration for the Duelling Club in 1992. Snape easily defeated Lockhart, who was made to look even clumsier than usual.[4]
Draco Malfoy vs. Harry Potter A demonstration for the Dueling Club in 1992. Harry communicated with the snake conjured by Draco, therefore learning (along with the rest of the school) that he could speak Parseltongue.[1]
Lord Voldemort vs. Harry Potter In the graveyard of Little Hangleton in June 1995 after Voldemort's return. Voldemort used Avada Kedavra and Harry used Expelliarmus. Because of the twin cores of the wands, the wand streams locked and through Harry's willpower, Priori Incantatem was triggered from Voldemort's wand, and Harry managed to escape.[2]
Two Death Eaters vs. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom Battle of the Department of Mysteries Harry stunned one Death Eater; Hermione stunned the other.[6]
Antonin Dolohov and Jugson vs. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom Battle of the Department of Mysteries Harry put Jugson in a Full Body-Bind Curse; Hermione silenced Dolohov, who then incapacitated her with a nonverbalcurse and broke Neville's wand and nose; Harry struck him with a Body-Bind Curse.[6]
Bellatrix Lestrange vs. Nymphadora Tonks Battle of the Department of Mysteries Bellatrix defeated and injured Tonks.[6]
Antonin Dolohov vs. Alastor Moody Battle of the Department of Mysteries Dolohov defeated and injured Moody.[6]
Remus Lupin vs. Lucius Malfoy Battle of the Department of Mysteries Remus defeated Malfoy as he was uninjured and subsequently able to prevent Harry from running into the Veil of Death.[6]
Bellatrix Lestrange vs. Sirius Black Battle of the Department of Mysteries Sirius was killed when one of Bellatrix's curses pushed him through the Veil in the Death Chamber.[6]
Bellatrix Lestrange vs. Kingsley Shacklebolt Battle of the Department of Mysteries Bellatrix defeated Kingsley.[6]
Albus Dumbledore vs. Lord Voldemort In the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic at the end of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. Dumbledore managed to protect Harry Potter safe from Voldemort, who was forced to flee when Ministry officials arrived and saw him.[6]
Harry Potter vs. Severus Snape After Snape killed Albus Dumbledore in 1997, Harry pursued and tried to curse him. Snape evaded Harry and Disapparated.[7]
Bill Weasley vs. Fenrir Greyback Battle of the Astronomy Tower Greyback brutalized Bill, who survived, but retained scars and mild lycanthropic symptoms.[7]
Kingsley Shacklebolt and Hermione Granger vs. five Death Eaters Battle over Little Whinging Kingsley and Hermione injured two Death Eaters, including Travers, and may have killed one, and escaped.[5]
Nymphadora Tonks and Ron Weasley vs. several Death Eaters, including Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange Battle over Little Whinging Ron stunned one Death Eater; Tonks injured Rodolphus; they both evaded capture and injury.[5]
Alastor Moody and Mundungus Fletcher vs. Lord Voldemort Battle over Little Whinging Fletcher immediately Disapparated in terror and Moody was killed by Voldemort's Killing Curse.[5]
Remus Lupin and George Weasley vs. several Death Eaters, including Severus Snape Battle over Little Whinging Snape's Sectumsempra permanently cut off George's ear, but he and Remus escaped.[5]
Harry Potter vs. Lord Voldemort Battle over Little Whinging Harry's wand recognized Voldemort as an enemy and fired golden fire at him, allowing Harry and Rubeus Hagrid to escape.[5]
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger vs. Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle The two Death Eaters attacked the trio on Tottenham Court Road in August 1997. Harry stunned Rowle, Dolohov bound Ron with conjured ropes, and Hermione then placed him in a Full Body-Bind Curse. Hermione then performed a Memory Charm on both Death Eaters.[5]
Harry Potter and Hermione Granger vs. Nagini The pair was ambushed at Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve, 1997. Nagini bit Harry, but was repelled by Hermione, which accidentally broke Harry's wand. She and Harry Disapparated just before Voldemort arrived.[5]
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley vs. Xenophilius Lovegood In early 1998, the trio visited the Lovegood House, where Xenophilius attempted to ambush them to try to save his daughter. An Erumpent horn in the living room exploded, and the trio hid as Death Eaters Selwyn and Travers arrived, and then escaped.[5]
Bellatrix Lestrange vs. Fenrir Greyback and four Snatchers In Malfoy Manor in Easter of 1998 when they defied her. Bellatrix swiftly incapacitated the four Snatchers and neutralized Greyback.[5]
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley vs. Bellatrix Lestrange, Fenrir Greyback, and Lucius, Narcissa and Draco Malfoy Harry and Ron were freed from the dungeons by Dobby and raced to rescue Hermione Granger, who had been tortured into unconsciousness with the Cruciatus Curse. The trio escaped with Dobby's assistance and the wands of Bellatrix and Draco, but Dobby was killed by Bellatrix with a knife.[5]
Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout vs. Severus Snape Battle of Hogwarts Severus flees away.[5]
Bellatrix Lestrange vs. Nymphadora Tonks Battle of Hogwarts Bellatrix killed Tonks.[5]
Remus Lupin vs. Antonin Dolohov Battle of Hogwarts Dolohov killed Remus.[5]
Percy Weasley vs. Pius Thicknesse Battle of Hogwarts Percy defeated Thicknesse.[5]
Fred Weasley vs. Death Eater Battle of Hogwarts Death Eater fell under three spells cast by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger who arrived to help. Fred is killed by an explosion almost immediately afterwards.[5]
Aberforth Dumbledore vs. Augustus Rookwood Battle of Hogwarts Aberforth defeated Rookwood.[5]
Rubeus Hagrid vs. Walden Macnair Battle of Hogwarts Hagrid defeated Macnair.[5]
Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom vs. Fenrir Greyback Battle of Hogwarts Ron and Neville defeated Greyback.[5]
Filius Flitwick vs. Antonin Dolohov Battle of Hogwarts Flitwick defeated Dolohov, who fell with a scream; it is unknown if he survived.[5]
Arthur Weasley and Percy Weasley vs. Pius Thicknesse Battle of Hogwarts Arthur and Percy defeated Thicknesse.[5]
Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, and Luna Lovegood vs. Bellatrix Lestrange Battle of Hogwarts After Bellatrix's Killing Curse nearly struck Ginny, Molly Weasley took over the fight.[5]
Bellatrix Lestrange vs. Molly Weasley Battle of Hogwarts Molly struck Bellatrix in the chest with a curse while she laughed, killing her.[5]
Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minerva McGonagall, and Horace Slughorn vs. Lord Voldemort Battle of Hogwarts Voldemort blasted the three backwards when he saw that Bellatrix Lestrange had been killed.[5]
Harry Potter vs. Lord Voldemort Battle of Hogwarts (Duel in the Great Hall) Voldemort used Avada Kedavra and Harry used Expelliarmus. Because Voldemort was using the Elder Wand, which owed its allegiance to Harry, not only was Voldemort disarmed, but his own curse rebounded, killing him.[5]

[edit] Appearances

[edit] External Links

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Philosopher's Stone, Ch. 9
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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