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(I have expanded on the significance of the duel to include the impact on the reader, and how it influenced Voldemort's later actions in the two succeeding Harry Potter novels.)
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{{MagicAwakenedSpoiler}}
 
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{{Event infobox
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{{Battle infobox
|name=Duel in the Ministry Atrium
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|conflict=Duel in the Ministry Atrium
|image=[[File:Movie-duel.jpg|250px]]
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|image=Duel in ministry.gif
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|partof=the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]]
|bgcolor1=
 
 
|date=[[18 June]] [[1996]]
|bgcolor2=
 
|location=[[Atrium]], [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic Headquarters]] in [[London]], [[England]]
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|location=[[Atrium]], [[British Ministry of Magic Headquarters]], [[Whitehall]], [[London]], [[England]], [[Great Britain]]
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|cause=[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] wanting [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy]], therefore planting a false vision in [[Harry Potter]]'s mind in order to lure him to the [[Department of Mysteries]]
|date=[[18 June]], [[1996]]
 
 
|result=*[[Albus Dumbledore]] forced Voldemort to retreat; the duel ended with the inability of Voldemort to maintain [[possession]] of Harry Potter and the arrival of [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] [[Auror]]s and [[Minister for Magic]] [[Cornelius Fudge]].
|participants=*Albus Dumbledore
 
 
*Victory of the [[Order of the Phoenix]].
*Lord Voldemort
 
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*Open war declared on the [[Wizarding world|wizarding community]]<ref name="OOTP36"/>
|description=[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] and [[Albus Dumbledore]] battle to stalemate; the duel ends with the inability of Lord Voldemort to maintain possession of [[Harry Potter]] and the arrival of [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]] [[Aurors]] and [[Minister for Magic]] [[Cornelius Fudge]]
 
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|commander1=[[Albus Dumbledore]]<ref name="OOTP36"/>
|first=''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
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|commander2=[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]<ref name="OOTP36"/>
|latest=''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]''
 
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|combatants1=*[[Harry Potter]]<ref name="OOTP36"/>
|last=
 
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*[[Fawkes]]<ref name="OOTP36"/>
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|combatants2=[[Bellatrix Lestrange]]<ref name="OOTP36"/>
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|casualties1=[[Fawkes]] {{C|[[Immortality|reborn]]}}<ref name="OOTP36"/>
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|casualties2=
 
}}
 
}}
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{{Dialogue a-b|Albus Dumbledore|It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way -|Voldemort|By which time I shall be gone, and you will be dead!|Taunting each other briefly prior to the duel|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
The '''duel in the Atrium of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]]''' was a critical [[duel]] fought between [[Albus Dumbledore]] and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in the [[Atrium]] of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] at the end of the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]] in June of [[1996]].
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This was a critical [[Duelling|'''duel''']] fought between [[Albus Dumbledore]] and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in the [[Atrium]] of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] at the end of the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]] on [[18 June]] [[1996]].<ref name="OOTP36">{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref>
   
==The Duel==
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==History==
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===Beginning of the duel===
[[File:Books chapterart ootp 36.jpg|thumb|242px|Voldemort fighting Dumbledore.]]
 
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{{Quote|But the headless golden statue of the wizard in the fountain had sprung alive, leaping from its plinth, and landed on the floor with a crash between Harry and Voldemort. The spell merely glanced off its chest as the statue flung out its arms, protecting Harry.|Dumbledore protecting Harry from Voldemort's Killing Curse|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
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The duel began when Voldemort entered the Ministry, to find out if the [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|Prophecy]] was destroyed and to try once again to kill [[Harry Potter]], who had been chasing [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] from the [[Department of Mysteries]] and was then in the Ministry Atrium. Dumbledore, following Harry, intervened as Voldemort was about to kill Harry. [[Piertotum Locomotor|Enchanting]] the statues from the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]] as his opening move, Dumbledore had the wizard statue (minus its head which had been blown off earlier by Bellatrix) shield Harry and keep him back from the fight so he would be out of danger.
   
The duel began when Voldemort entered the Ministry, to find out if the [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|Prophecy]] was destroyed and to try once again to kill [[Harry Potter]], who had been chasing [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] from the [[Department of Mysteries]] and was then in the Ministry Atrium. Dumbledore, following Harry, intervened as Voldemort was about to kill Harry. Enchanting the statues from the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]] to protect Harry, immobilise Bellatrix, and warn important Ministry officials, Dumbledore proceeded to take on the Dark Lord. Voldemort responded by [[Apparition|Apparating]] near the fountain pool and firing a curse at Dumbledore, which Dumbledore easily dodged by Disapparating and Apparating by the fountain.
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Of the remaining statues, the witch went for Bellatrix and pinned her to the floor so she couldn't intervene on Voldemort's behalf, the goblin and house-elf statues left to warn important Ministry officials and the centaur (minus one arm) charged Voldemort. Voldemort responded by [[Apparition|Apparating]] near the fountain pool and firing a [[curse]] at Dumbledore, which Dumbledore easily dodged by Disapparating and Apparating by the fountain. The two wizards ceased combat for a moment, trading barbs over each other's life choices and guiding principles, before combat resumed.<ref name="OOTP36" />
   
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===The duel intensifies===
[[File:Grandpre_Dueling_Wizards.jpg|thumb|left|The duel.]]After Voldemort missed Dumbledore, Dumbledore then sent a powerful spell at Voldemort, one which the Dark Lord was forced to block with a [[Silver shield]]; the spell did not harm the shield, but made a deep gong-like sound as it was deflected. Voldemort realised that the nature of the spell was not meant to kill him, and, surprised, tried once again to kill Dumbledore; this time, the animated centaur statue intercepted the curse and was destroyed. Dumbledore then cast a [[fiery rope]] around Voldemort, which Voldemort transfigured into a snake and sent after Dumbledore. Voldemort again Disapparated and Apparated in the middle of the fountain, sending another Killing Curse at Dumbledore. The snake and the curse nearly struck simultaneously, but [[Fawkes]] the [[phoenix]] sacrificed himself by diving into the path of the curse. He burst into flames and was immediately reborn as a tiny, featherless phoenix.
 
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{{Dialogue a-b-a-b|Voldemort|You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore? Above such brutality, are you?|Albus Dumbledore|We both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom. Merely taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit —|There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!|You are quite wrong. Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness —|Voldemort arguing with Dumbledore whilst in the midst of their duel|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
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[[File:GrandpreBattleDumblemort.jpg|250px|thumb|left|The duel]]
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After [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] missed Dumbledore, the latter then sent a [[Albus Dumbledore's forceful spell|powerful spell]] at him, one which the Dark Lord was forced to block with a physical [[Silver shield spell|Silver shield]]; the spell did not harm the shield, but made a deep gong-like sound as it was deflected. Voldemort realised from the non-lethal nature of the spell that Dumbledore never meant to kill him, and, surprised, tried once again to kill Dumbledore; this time, the animated centaur statue intercepted the curse and was destroyed.
   
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Dumbledore then cast a [[Fire rope|fiery rope]] around Voldemort, which he transfigured into a [[Fire to snake spell|snake]] and sent after Dumbledore. The snake served as an attack and as a distraction for Voldemort to Disapparate and Apparate in the middle of the fountain, sending another Killing Curse at Dumbledore. The snake and the curse nearly struck simultaneously, but [[Fawkes]] flew in front of Dumbledore and swallowed the curse. Being a [[phoenix]], he burst into flames and was immediately reborn as a tiny, featherless phoenix chick.<ref name="OOTP36" />
Dumbledore then, simultaneously, caused the snake to vanish while raising the water from the fountain to surround Voldemort like a sphere of molten glass. Voldemort struggled unsuccessfully to throw off the suffocating sheet of water, until he finally Disapparated out. After a brief pause where Dumbledore showed his first sign of alarm during the duel, Voldemort attempted to possess Harry, in the hopes that Dumbledore would sacrifice his pupil to kill the Dark Lord. However, the power of Harry&apos;s love made it impossible for him to possess Harry, and he fled, taking Bellatrix with him, but not before he was seen by Ministry officials who had just Apparated into the Ministry. The duel was over, Harry was saved, and the Ministry could no longer deny the fact that Voldemort had returned.
 
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[[File:Orb_of_water_OOTPF.png|250px|thumb|right|Dumbledore imprisoning Voldemort in water]]
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Simultaneously, Dumbledore [[Snake-Vanishing Spell|caused]] the snake to [[Vanishment|vanish]] before [[Orb of Water|enchanting]] the [[water]] from the fountain to surround Voldemort like a sphere of molten glass. The suffocating sheet of water had been powerfully enchanted and try as Voldemort may, he was unable to break free through sheer force and was forced to Disapparate out.
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===Aftermath===
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After a brief pause where Dumbledore showed his first sign of alarm during the duel, Voldemort attempted to possess Harry, in the hopes that Dumbledore would sacrifice his pupil to kill the Dark Lord.
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[[File:Auror Dawlish, Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley.JPG|250px|thumb|left|[[Cornelius Fudge]] and other Ministry officials witnessing Voldemort]]
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However, the power of Harry's [[love]] made it impossible for him to possess Harry for long and he was forcibly ejected. Realising that he had run out of time, and that he had failed to kill either Harry or Dumbledore, Voldemort fled as Dumbledore tended to Harry, taking Bellatrix with him, but only after he was seen by Ministry officials who had just Apparated into the Ministry. The duel was over, Harry was saved, and the Ministry could no longer deny the fact that Voldemort had returned.<ref name="OOTP36" />
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Barely managing to escape the duel, Voldemort was forced to acknowledge he could not fight his former teacher head on and hope to win. So began engineering a [[Plot to assassinate Albus Dumbledore|plot to assassinate the headmaster]] using [[Draco Malfoy]].
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
===Ministry duel (film version)===
&nbsp;
 
 
{{Quote|You're the weak one. And you'll never know love. Or friendship. And I feel sorry for you.|[[Harry Potter|Harry]] breaking [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]'s possession over him|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)}}
===Ministry Duel (film version)===
 
In the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|film adaptation]] of [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]] after Harry chases Bellatrix, in rage of [[Sirius Black]]&apos;s death, he attempts to use the [[Cruciatus Curse]] on her. The spell knocks her down, but doesn&apos;t cause her prolonged pain. Harry stands over her with his [[Harry Potter's wand|wand]] pointed at her, while the Dark Lord&apos;s voice whispers to him to give into his hatred and kill her. [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] Apparates into the atrium and Bellatrix laughs. Harry turns on Voldemort, who Disarms him with a slashing wave of his hand. At that moment Dumbledore appears from one of the fireplaces by way of the [[Floo Network]], and warns Voldemort that the [[Auror]]s are on their way.
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In {{OOTP|FA}} after Harry chases Bellatrix, in rage of [[Sirius Black]]'s death, he attempts to use the [[Cruciatus Curse]] on her. The spell knocks her down, but doesn't cause her prolonged pain. Harry stands over her with his [[Harry Potter's wand|wand]] pointed at her, while the Dark Lord's disembodied voice whispers to him that he must truly mean to cause her pain in order for the curse to work, goading him to give into his hatred. [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] Apparates into the atrium in a plume of black smoke and Bellatrix laughs. Harry turns on Voldemort, who Disarms him with a slashing wave of his hand. At that moment Dumbledore appears from one of the fireplaces by way of the [[Floo Network]], and warns Voldemort that the [[Auror]]s are on their way.<ref name="OOTPF">{{OOTP|F}} - Chapter 29 (''Wizard's Duel'')</ref>
   
[[File:Dumbledore_vs_Voldemort.gif|thumb|left|300px|Dumbledore fighting Voldemort in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic.]]
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[[File:Dumbledore vs Voldemort.gif|250px|thumb|Dumbledore fighting Voldemort in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic]]
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Voldemort taunts him with impending death and attacks Dumbledore with a jet of bright blue light with a slight tinge of green (possibly the [[killing curse]]), which Dumbledore - whilst pushing Harry through the air and out of the way with a hand gesture - counters with a cord of red light (possibly ''[[Disarming Charm|Expelliarmus]]'' or ''[[Stunning Spell|Stupefy]]''). During the chaos, Bellatrix disappears through the [[Floo Network]]. As both spells collide producing a heating and dripping magma effect and the two wands connect in a manner similar to [[Reverse Spell|Priori Incantatem]] (though not truly Priori Incantatem because one wand does not force the other to relive its most recent spells, this only happens if both [[wand]]s share the same [[Wand core|core]]), Harry backs away to a wall behind Dumbledore.
   
Voldemort attacks Dumbledore with a jet of green light (possibly [[Killing Curse|Avada Kedavra]]), which Dumbledore counters with a cord of red light (possibly ''[[Disarming Charm|Expelliarmus]]'' or ''[[Stunning Spell|Stupefy]]''). During the chaos, Bellatrix disappears through the [[Floo Network]]. As both spells collide and the two wands connect in a manner similar to [[Priori Incantatem]] (though not truly Priori Incantatem because one wand does not force the other to relive its most recent spells, this only happens if both [[wand]]s share the same [[Wand core|core]]), Harry backs away to a wall behind Dumbledore. Voldemort attempts several times to direct his curse (still locked in battle with Dumbledore&apos;s wand) towards Harry, with lightning-like tendrils popping off from the main beam, but is unsuccessful and destroys part of the wall, causing tiles to explode and parts of the fireplace to come crashing down on the wooden floors.
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Voldemort attempts several times to direct his curse (still locked and clashing with Dumbledore's own spell) towards Harry, with lightning-like tendrils popping off from the main beam, but is unsuccessful and instead hits three fireplaces near Harry, causing tiles to explode and parts of the fireplace to come crashing down on the wooden floors. Dumbledore counters this by advancing towards Voldemort, resulting in their clashing beams gradually shrinking in length.<ref name="OOTPF" />
   
[[File:Voldemorts_snake.jpg|thumb|278px|Voldemort's fire serpent.]]
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[[File:Tumblr mlq0d7zOc01r3lpslo5 r1 250.gif|250px|thumb|left|Voldemort's Fiendfyre serpent]]
 
Voldemort slashes his wand to break the connection and with his hand under his mouth, quickly breathes fire that transfigures into a Fiendfyre serpent.<ref name="MA">{{MA}}</ref> The serpent immediately realises the presence of Dumbledore rearing and, while it is striking down with exposed fangs and a completely opened jaw, Dumbledore backs up and slashes at the creature with his wand in a flick like movement, breaking it apart into a shapeless mass of fire. Dumbledore then gathers and whirls the flames into a large fiery wave and sends them hurtling towards Voldemort. Voldemort likewise defends himself by pushing the fire to the side with a wave of his wand and free hand, causing the flames to disappear.<ref name="OOTPF" />
   
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[[File:Dumbledore using water based spell.gif|250px|thumb|Dumbledore trapping Voldemort in a sphere of water]]
Voldemort slashes his wand to break the connection and quickly with his hand breaths fire into conjuring a huge, fiery serpent (possibly [[Fiendfyre]]). The fire transfigures into the form of the serpent immidately and realises the presence of Dumbledore rearing and striking down with exposed fangs and a completely opened jaw in an attempt to devour him. Dumbledore backs up and slashes at the creature with his wand in a flick like movement, dispelling the flames. Dumbledore then gathers the flames for himself whirling them into a fiery ring like mass, and sends them hurtling towards Voldemort. Voldemort likewise defends himself by pushing the fire passed and around him causing the flames to disappear.
 
 
Dumbledore then [[Nonverbal spell|non-verbally]] casts a [[Orb of Water|hydro-kinetic spell]], where he draws the waters of the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]] so that it erupts and flows out surrounding and encasing Lord Voldemort inside an enchanted sphere of water in an attempt to drown him and finish the duel. Dumbledore maintains the shape of the complex water sphere by continually sculpting and spinning it.<ref name="OOTPF" />
[[File:Dumbledore.png|thumb|400px|Dumbledore's water sphere.]]
 
Dumbledore then [[Nonverbal spell|nonverbally]] casts a hydrokinetic spell, where he draws the waters of the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]]so that it erupts and flows out surrounding and encasing Lord Voldemort inside an enchanted sphere of water in an attempt to drown him and finish the duel. Dumbledore maintains the shape of the complex water sphere by continually sculpting and spinning it.
 
Harry gets too close to the duel, necessitating that Dumbledore magically repels him away whilst attemp
 
   
ting to maintain his spell and breaks Dumbledore&apos;s concentration, this combined with Voldemort slashing through the water causes the sphere to collapse, allowing Voldemort to escape from his watery prison. Voldemort then casts a large, continuous torrent of darkness towards Harry, but Dumbledore holds it back with an exceedingly powerful charm (possibly [[Shield Charm|Protego]] or [[Protego Horribilis]]). In a second attack, Voldemort gathers the black energy into a ball of incandescent light, which he releases with roar, sending the energy in all directions; this explosion of Dark energy knocks over Dumbledore and Harry and causes all the windows in the [[Atrium]] to shatter.
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Harry gets too close to the duel, necessitating that Dumbledore again knock him to the floor with a hand gesture whilst attempting to maintain his spell, which breaks Dumbledore's concentration. This combined with Voldemort slashing through the water causes the sphere to collapse, allowing Voldemort to escape from his watery prison. Voldemort roars as he [[Tom Riddle's explosive spell|casts a large, continuous torrent of darkness]] at Harry and Dumbledore, only for Dumbledore to hold it back with an exceedingly powerful torrent of bluish white light (possibly [[Shield Charm|Protego]] or [[Protego horribilis|Protego Horribilis]]). In a second attack, Voldemort pulls the black energy back towards him and gathers it into a ball of incandescent light, which he releases with a roar, sending a massive shockwave of black energy and bluish white light in all directions. The explosion knocks over Dumbledore and Harry and causes all the windows in the [[Atrium]] to shatter.<ref name="OOTPF" />
   
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[[File:Tumblr lxxm4exxI91qeb3sro8 250.gif|250px|thumb|left|Dumbledore defends against Voldemort's attack]]
{{quote|You're the weak one. And you'll never know love. Or friendship. And I feel sorry for you.|[[Harry Potter|Harry]] breaking [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort's]] possession over him.|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)}}
 
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The millions of tiny shards of glass start to rain down upon Voldemort and with a flick of his wand he [[Oppugno Jinx|magically diverts]] their path, causing them to home in on Dumbledore and Harry mid-way through their descent, to which Dumbledore responds by [[Glass to sand spell|transfiguring the shards into sand en route]] by means of a transparent, bluish-white shield (possibly [[Finestra spell|Finestra]]). The Dark Lord then conjures a small whirlwind which whips up the sand around him. As it falls to the ground, the Dark Lord appears to have Disapparated in a whirlwind of sand.
   
[[File:Dumbledore_shield.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Dumbledore defends against Voldemort's attack.]] The millions of tiny shards of glass start to rain down upon Voldemort and with a flick of his wand he magically diverts their path, causing them to home in on Dumbledore and Harry mid-way through their descent, to which Dumbledore responds by [[Glass to sand shield|transfiguring the shards into sand en route]] by means of transparent, bluish-white shield. The Dark Lord then conjures a small whirlwind which whips up the sand around him. As it falls to the ground, the Dark Lord appears to have Disapparated. However, he then attempts to possess and torture Harry. Harry tries to fight back, but is unable to do so until his friends enter the hall. He is reminded of all the happiness he has had with the people he [[love]]s, and as he fills with emotion he is able to eject Voldemort from his body.
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However, as the wind dissipates, one last breeze blows toward the two and Harry suddenly collapses. Voldemort then proceeds to [[Legilimency|possess]] and [[Legilimency|torture]] Harry, with visions of all his fears and painful memories rapidly flashing through Harry's mind. Harry tries to fight back but is unable to do so until his friends enter the hall. He is reminded of all the happiness he has had with the people he [[love]]s and is able to eject Voldemort from his body, with a blast of wind from the ground and from Harry's body sending the sands into the air.<ref name="OOTPF" />
   
Voldemort materialises above Harry, and appears to nonverbally cast some form of [[Shield Charm]] around himself and Harry. A faint ring of sand encircles them, floating in mid-air, and whilst Dumbledore seems to be touching the edge of the barrier, his gaze appears fized on Voldemort. Voldemort advances on Harry, but at that moment the [[Minister for Magic]] and various [[Auror]]s arrive through the fireplaces in time to see Voldemort just before he Disapparates in another whirlwind of sand.
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Time appears to have frozen inside the barrier and its tip, with Dumbledore seemingly being frozen along with the sand in the air. As Voldemort materialises above Harry, a faint ring of sand encircles them, floating in mid-air, and whilst Dumbledore seems to be at the edge of the barrier. Voldemort taunts and advances on an incapacitated Harry, but at that moment the [[Minister for Magic]] and various [[Auror]]s arrive through the fireplaces in time to see Voldemort just before he Disapparates in another whirlwind of sand, while Dumbledore is now unfrozen.<ref name="OOTPF" />
   
[[File:Auror_Dawlish,_Cornelius_Fudge_and_Percy_Weasley.JPG|thumb|[[Cornelius Fudge]] sees Voldemort after the duel]]The duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort ends in a stalemate as Voldemort flees. Harry and Dumbledore are vindicated, Fudge is forced to admit that he has been wrong about the Dark Lord, and the [[Second Wizarding War]] begins.
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The duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort ends in a stalemate as Voldemort flees. Harry and Dumbledore are vindicated, Fudge is forced to admit that he has been wrong about the Dark Lord, and the [[Second Wizarding War]] begins.<ref name="OOTPF" />
   
===Ministry Duel (game version)===
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===Ministry duel (game version) ===
[[File:Voldemort vs Dumbledore game.jpg|thumb|[[Albus Dumbledore]] tries to stun [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic.]]
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[[File:Voldemort vs Dumbledore game.jpg|220px|thumb|left|[[Albus Dumbledore]] tries to stun [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic]]
*In the video game for consoles, PlayStation, PC, Wii, XBox, Dumbledore arrives and duels with Voldemort. There are four stages for the player to complete. The player as Dumbledore duels Voldemort using the spells learned in the game in Stage 1. Then in Stage 2 Voldemort can absorb any spell that the player casts at him and then throws it back at Dumbledore. Stage 3 is the same concept as Stage 1, but this time Voldemort will be floating chairs and tables against the player. Stage 4 the player becomes Harry forcing Voldemort out of his mind. After Voldemort has been dealt enough damage a cutscene happens with Harry telling Voldemort he&apos;ll never know love or friendship or true loyalty and he feels sorry for him (exactly what he says in the film). The Aurors appear and so does Fudge and they must admit Voldemort has returned.
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*In the video game for consoles, PlayStation, PC, Wii, Xbox, Dumbledore arrives and duels with Voldemort. There are four stages for the player to complete. The player as Dumbledore duels Voldemort using the spells learned in the game in Stage 1. Then in Stage 2 Voldemort can absorb any spell that the player casts at him and then throws it back at Dumbledore. Stage 3 is the same concept as Stage 1, but this time Voldemort will be levitating and throwing chairs and tables against the player. Stage 4 the player becomes Harry forcing Voldemort out of his mind. After Voldemort has been dealt enough damage a cut scene happens with Harry telling Voldemort he'll never know love or friendship or true loyalty and he feels sorry for him (exactly what he says in the film). The Aurors then appear as well as Fudge and they see Voldemort, who then vanishes.<ref name="OOTPG">{{OOTP|G}}</ref>
 
*In the DS version they engage in a duel like the one in the film.
 
*In the DS version they engage in a duel like the one in the film.
*In the LEGO game for consoles it is kind of the duel in the film, however with small differences. Harry chases Bellatrix and fires multiple Cruciatus Curses at her. Bellatrix trips and just before Harry reaches her, he runs into Voldemort, who just Apparated in front of Bellatrix, and is knocked back. When Harry points his wand at Voldemort he uses a slashing movement with his hand, like the film, to disarm Harry. Then Dumbledore Apparates in front of Harry. Voldemort and Dumbledore engage in a duel with their green and red spells, while Harry runs around and defeats Apparating Death Eaters (Voldemort has three lives). When defeated, Voldemort jumps onto the edge og the Fountain of Magical Brethen and conjures a fiery snake, like in the film, which Harry and Dumbledore has to avoid, along with it&apos;s fire balls and fiery gangs. They have to build the sprinkler-system, turn it on and extinquis the snake with water. Then Dumbledore creates a watery sphere and traps Voldemort inside it, like in the movie, and lifts it up onto the height of the top of the Fountain and drops it in an attempt to hurt Voldemort, however Voldemort quickle jumps off and back to the Fountain&apos;s edge. Then Voldemort jumps down and duels Dumbledore with same spells as before. When defeated again, he Apparates away and smashes all the offices&apos; windows in the entire Atrium, then picks them up and throws them at Dumbledore who has conjured a shield to protect him and Harry, like in the movie, while Harry tries to find and build an object to throw at Voldemort (three rounds with this). Then Voldemort uses Legilimency to travel into Harry&apos;s mind and looks at Harry&apos;s bad memories, however when his friends turns up Voldemort accidentally shows him the good memories and Harry then overpowers Voldemort (like in the movie), and then Fudge and [[Williamson]] shows up and sees Voldemort (like in the book).
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*In the LEGO game for consoles it resembles the duel in the film, however with small differences. Harry chases Bellatrix and fires multiple Cruciatus Curses at her. Bellatrix trips and just before Harry reaches her, he runs into Voldemort, who just Apparated in front of Bellatrix, and is knocked back. When Harry points his wand at Voldemort he uses a slashing movement with his hand, like the film, to disarm Harry. Then Dumbledore Apparates in front of Harry. Voldemort and Dumbledore engage in a duel with their green and red spells, while Harry runs around and defeats Apparating Death Eaters (Voldemort has three lives). When defeated, Voldemort jumps onto the edge of the Fountain of Magical Brethren and conjures a fiery snake, like in the film, which Harry and Dumbledore have to avoid, along with its fire balls and fiery gangs. They have to build the sprinkler-system, turn it on, and extinguish the snake with water. Then Dumbledore creates a watery sphere and traps Voldemort inside it, like in the film, and lifts it up onto the height of the top of the Fountain and drops it in an attempt to hurt Voldemort. However, Voldemort quickly jumps off and back to the Fountain's edge. Then Voldemort jumps down and duels Dumbledore with the same spells as before. When defeated again, he Apparates away and smashes all the offices' windows in the entire Atrium, then picks them up and throws them at Dumbledore who has conjured a shield to protect him and Harry, like in the film, while Harry tries to find and build an object to throw at Voldemort (three rounds with this). Then Voldemort uses Legilimency to travel into Harry's mind and looks at Harry's bad memories. However, when his friends turn up Voldemort accidentally shows him the good memories and Harry then overpowers Voldemort (like in the film), and then Fudge and [[Williamson]] show up and see Voldemort (like in the book).<ref name="LEGOY2">{{LEGO|Y2}}</ref>
   
 
==Significance==
 
==Significance==
 
*Benchmark for the start of the [[Second Wizarding War]].
 
*Benchmark for the start of the [[Second Wizarding War]].
*Causes the Minister for Magic to finally accept [[Voldemort]]&apos;s return
+
*Causes the Minister for Magic to finally accept [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]'s return.
  +
*Voldemort realises that Harry, via the ancient magical power of Love (and/or remorse), can fight off Voldemort's Legilimency. He also presumably was finally was forced to acknowledge that, from his only managing to avoid defeat at the hands of his former teacher, he might not be able to defeat him personally, as he had already speculated, a speculation that made Voldemort fear only Dumbledore. This may have played a hand in his decision to order Draco to kill Dumbledore rather than reengaging him personally, likely as Voldemort saw that Draco would be very willing to harm Dumbledore, but Dumbledore unwilling to harm him.
*Voldemort realizes that Harry, via the ancient magical power of Love, can fight off Voldemort&apos;s Legilimency.
 
  +
*Allows the Ministry of Magic to understand [[Sirius Black]]'s innocence and honour him a hero (though he was too late to enjoy his freedom since he was murdered by his [[Bellatrix Lestrange|own hated Death Eater cousin]] in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries nearby) and that [[Peter Pettigrew]] is alive and a traitor.
*Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort are now definitively proven to be of equal magical power and the reader sees why The Dark Lord fears the Headmaster of Hogwarts (book). &nbsp;Due to this stalemate, Voldemort (possibly) realizes he will have to exploit Dumbledore&apos;s guardianship of his students in order to kill him, and that Dumbledore must die in order for him to be able to kill Harry (perhaps motivating Voldemort to order one of Dumbledore&apos;s students to kill him (Draco)).&nbsp;
 
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==Media==
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<gallery widths="300" position="left" spacing="small" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
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<gallery widths="300" position="left" spacing="small" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
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File:Harry Potter - Possession - HD|right|Harry Potter's possession
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</gallery>
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
  +
*{{OOTP}} {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' {{1st}}
 
  +
*{{OOTP|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]''
 
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*{{DH|F1}} {{Flashback}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]'' {{flashback}}
 
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*{{DH|F2}} {{Flashback}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]'' {{flashback}}
 
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*{{PM}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
 
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*{{WW}}
[[Category:Events]]
 
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*{{LEGO|Y2}}
[[Category:Second Wizarding War]]
 
  +
*{{HPK}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter: The Wand Collection]]''
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*{{MA}} {{Spell card}}
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==Notes and references==
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{{Reflist}}
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{{Start box}}
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{{Succession box
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|predecessor=[[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]]
 
|position=Battles of the [[Second Wizarding War]]
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|years=[[18 June]] [[1996]]
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|successor=[[Attack on London]]
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}}
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[[de:Kampf in der Mysteriumsabteilung]]
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[[de2:Kampf im Foyer des Britischen Zaubereiministeriums]]
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[[es:Duelo en el Atrio del Ministerio]]
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[[pt-br:Duelo no Átrio do Ministério]]
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[[pl:Pojedynek w Atrium Ministerstwa Magii]]
 
[[Category:Battle of the Department of Mysteries]]
 
[[Category:Battle of the Department of Mysteries]]
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[[Category:Duels with the Elder Wand]]

Latest revision as of 13:48, 31 December 2023

Albus Dumbledore: "It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way -"
Voldemort: "By which time I shall be gone, and you will be dead!"
— Taunting each other briefly prior to the duel[src]

This was a critical duel fought between Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic at the end of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries on 18 June 1996.[1]

History

Beginning of the duel

"But the headless golden statue of the wizard in the fountain had sprung alive, leaping from its plinth, and landed on the floor with a crash between Harry and Voldemort. The spell merely glanced off its chest as the statue flung out its arms, protecting Harry."
— Dumbledore protecting Harry from Voldemort's Killing Curse[src]

The duel began when Voldemort entered the Ministry, to find out if the Prophecy was destroyed and to try once again to kill Harry Potter, who had been chasing Bellatrix Lestrange from the Department of Mysteries and was then in the Ministry Atrium. Dumbledore, following Harry, intervened as Voldemort was about to kill Harry. Enchanting the statues from the Fountain of Magical Brethren as his opening move, Dumbledore had the wizard statue (minus its head which had been blown off earlier by Bellatrix) shield Harry and keep him back from the fight so he would be out of danger.

Of the remaining statues, the witch went for Bellatrix and pinned her to the floor so she couldn't intervene on Voldemort's behalf, the goblin and house-elf statues left to warn important Ministry officials and the centaur (minus one arm) charged Voldemort. Voldemort responded by Apparating near the fountain pool and firing a curse at Dumbledore, which Dumbledore easily dodged by Disapparating and Apparating by the fountain. The two wizards ceased combat for a moment, trading barbs over each other's life choices and guiding principles, before combat resumed.[1]

The duel intensifies

Voldemort: "You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore? Above such brutality, are you?"
Albus Dumbledore: "We both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom. Merely taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit —"
Voldemort: "There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!"
Albus Dumbledore: "You are quite wrong. Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness —"
— Voldemort arguing with Dumbledore whilst in the midst of their duel[src]
GrandpreBattleDumblemort

The duel

After Voldemort missed Dumbledore, the latter then sent a powerful spell at him, one which the Dark Lord was forced to block with a physical Silver shield; the spell did not harm the shield, but made a deep gong-like sound as it was deflected. Voldemort realised from the non-lethal nature of the spell that Dumbledore never meant to kill him, and, surprised, tried once again to kill Dumbledore; this time, the animated centaur statue intercepted the curse and was destroyed.

Dumbledore then cast a fiery rope around Voldemort, which he transfigured into a snake and sent after Dumbledore. The snake served as an attack and as a distraction for Voldemort to Disapparate and Apparate in the middle of the fountain, sending another Killing Curse at Dumbledore. The snake and the curse nearly struck simultaneously, but Fawkes flew in front of Dumbledore and swallowed the curse. Being a phoenix, he burst into flames and was immediately reborn as a tiny, featherless phoenix chick.[1]

Orb of water OOTPF

Dumbledore imprisoning Voldemort in water

Simultaneously, Dumbledore caused the snake to vanish before enchanting the water from the fountain to surround Voldemort like a sphere of molten glass. The suffocating sheet of water had been powerfully enchanted and try as Voldemort may, he was unable to break free through sheer force and was forced to Disapparate out.

Aftermath

After a brief pause where Dumbledore showed his first sign of alarm during the duel, Voldemort attempted to possess Harry, in the hopes that Dumbledore would sacrifice his pupil to kill the Dark Lord.

Auror Dawlish, Cornelius Fudge and Percy Weasley

Cornelius Fudge and other Ministry officials witnessing Voldemort

However, the power of Harry's love made it impossible for him to possess Harry for long and he was forcibly ejected. Realising that he had run out of time, and that he had failed to kill either Harry or Dumbledore, Voldemort fled as Dumbledore tended to Harry, taking Bellatrix with him, but only after he was seen by Ministry officials who had just Apparated into the Ministry. The duel was over, Harry was saved, and the Ministry could no longer deny the fact that Voldemort had returned.[1]

Barely managing to escape the duel, Voldemort was forced to acknowledge he could not fight his former teacher head on and hope to win. So began engineering a plot to assassinate the headmaster using Draco Malfoy.

Behind the scenes

Ministry duel (film version)

"You're the weak one. And you'll never know love. Or friendship. And I feel sorry for you."
Harry breaking Voldemort's possession over him[src]

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix after Harry chases Bellatrix, in rage of Sirius Black's death, he attempts to use the Cruciatus Curse on her. The spell knocks her down, but doesn't cause her prolonged pain. Harry stands over her with his wand pointed at her, while the Dark Lord's disembodied voice whispers to him that he must truly mean to cause her pain in order for the curse to work, goading him to give into his hatred. Voldemort Apparates into the atrium in a plume of black smoke and Bellatrix laughs. Harry turns on Voldemort, who Disarms him with a slashing wave of his hand. At that moment Dumbledore appears from one of the fireplaces by way of the Floo Network, and warns Voldemort that the Aurors are on their way.[2]

Dumbledore vs Voldemort

Dumbledore fighting Voldemort in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic

Voldemort taunts him with impending death and attacks Dumbledore with a jet of bright blue light with a slight tinge of green (possibly the killing curse), which Dumbledore - whilst pushing Harry through the air and out of the way with a hand gesture - counters with a cord of red light (possibly Expelliarmus or Stupefy). During the chaos, Bellatrix disappears through the Floo Network. As both spells collide producing a heating and dripping magma effect and the two wands connect in a manner similar to Priori Incantatem (though not truly Priori Incantatem because one wand does not force the other to relive its most recent spells, this only happens if both wands share the same core), Harry backs away to a wall behind Dumbledore.

Voldemort attempts several times to direct his curse (still locked and clashing with Dumbledore's own spell) towards Harry, with lightning-like tendrils popping off from the main beam, but is unsuccessful and instead hits three fireplaces near Harry, causing tiles to explode and parts of the fireplace to come crashing down on the wooden floors. Dumbledore counters this by advancing towards Voldemort, resulting in their clashing beams gradually shrinking in length.[2]

Tumblr mlq0d7zOc01r3lpslo5 r1 250

Voldemort's Fiendfyre serpent

Voldemort slashes his wand to break the connection and with his hand under his mouth, quickly breathes fire that transfigures into a Fiendfyre serpent.[3] The serpent immediately realises the presence of Dumbledore rearing and, while it is striking down with exposed fangs and a completely opened jaw, Dumbledore backs up and slashes at the creature with his wand in a flick like movement, breaking it apart into a shapeless mass of fire. Dumbledore then gathers and whirls the flames into a large fiery wave and sends them hurtling towards Voldemort. Voldemort likewise defends himself by pushing the fire to the side with a wave of his wand and free hand, causing the flames to disappear.[2]

Dumbledore using water based spell

Dumbledore trapping Voldemort in a sphere of water

Dumbledore then non-verbally casts a hydro-kinetic spell, where he draws the waters of the Fountain of Magical Brethren so that it erupts and flows out surrounding and encasing Lord Voldemort inside an enchanted sphere of water in an attempt to drown him and finish the duel. Dumbledore maintains the shape of the complex water sphere by continually sculpting and spinning it.[2]

Harry gets too close to the duel, necessitating that Dumbledore again knock him to the floor with a hand gesture whilst attempting to maintain his spell, which breaks Dumbledore's concentration. This combined with Voldemort slashing through the water causes the sphere to collapse, allowing Voldemort to escape from his watery prison. Voldemort roars as he casts a large, continuous torrent of darkness at Harry and Dumbledore, only for Dumbledore to hold it back with an exceedingly powerful torrent of bluish white light (possibly Protego or Protego Horribilis). In a second attack, Voldemort pulls the black energy back towards him and gathers it into a ball of incandescent light, which he releases with a roar, sending a massive shockwave of black energy and bluish white light in all directions. The explosion knocks over Dumbledore and Harry and causes all the windows in the Atrium to shatter.[2]

Tumblr lxxm4exxI91qeb3sro8 250

Dumbledore defends against Voldemort's attack

The millions of tiny shards of glass start to rain down upon Voldemort and with a flick of his wand he magically diverts their path, causing them to home in on Dumbledore and Harry mid-way through their descent, to which Dumbledore responds by transfiguring the shards into sand en route by means of a transparent, bluish-white shield (possibly Finestra). The Dark Lord then conjures a small whirlwind which whips up the sand around him. As it falls to the ground, the Dark Lord appears to have Disapparated in a whirlwind of sand.

However, as the wind dissipates, one last breeze blows toward the two and Harry suddenly collapses. Voldemort then proceeds to possess and torture Harry, with visions of all his fears and painful memories rapidly flashing through Harry's mind. Harry tries to fight back but is unable to do so until his friends enter the hall. He is reminded of all the happiness he has had with the people he loves and is able to eject Voldemort from his body, with a blast of wind from the ground and from Harry's body sending the sands into the air.[2]

Time appears to have frozen inside the barrier and its tip, with Dumbledore seemingly being frozen along with the sand in the air. As Voldemort materialises above Harry, a faint ring of sand encircles them, floating in mid-air, and whilst Dumbledore seems to be at the edge of the barrier. Voldemort taunts and advances on an incapacitated Harry, but at that moment the Minister for Magic and various Aurors arrive through the fireplaces in time to see Voldemort just before he Disapparates in another whirlwind of sand, while Dumbledore is now unfrozen.[2]

The duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort ends in a stalemate as Voldemort flees. Harry and Dumbledore are vindicated, Fudge is forced to admit that he has been wrong about the Dark Lord, and the Second Wizarding War begins.[2]

Ministry duel (game version)

Voldemort vs Dumbledore game

Albus Dumbledore tries to stun Lord Voldemort in the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic

  • In the video game for consoles, PlayStation, PC, Wii, Xbox, Dumbledore arrives and duels with Voldemort. There are four stages for the player to complete. The player as Dumbledore duels Voldemort using the spells learned in the game in Stage 1. Then in Stage 2 Voldemort can absorb any spell that the player casts at him and then throws it back at Dumbledore. Stage 3 is the same concept as Stage 1, but this time Voldemort will be levitating and throwing chairs and tables against the player. Stage 4 the player becomes Harry forcing Voldemort out of his mind. After Voldemort has been dealt enough damage a cut scene happens with Harry telling Voldemort he'll never know love or friendship or true loyalty and he feels sorry for him (exactly what he says in the film). The Aurors then appear as well as Fudge and they see Voldemort, who then vanishes.[4]
  • In the DS version they engage in a duel like the one in the film.
  • In the LEGO game for consoles it resembles the duel in the film, however with small differences. Harry chases Bellatrix and fires multiple Cruciatus Curses at her. Bellatrix trips and just before Harry reaches her, he runs into Voldemort, who just Apparated in front of Bellatrix, and is knocked back. When Harry points his wand at Voldemort he uses a slashing movement with his hand, like the film, to disarm Harry. Then Dumbledore Apparates in front of Harry. Voldemort and Dumbledore engage in a duel with their green and red spells, while Harry runs around and defeats Apparating Death Eaters (Voldemort has three lives). When defeated, Voldemort jumps onto the edge of the Fountain of Magical Brethren and conjures a fiery snake, like in the film, which Harry and Dumbledore have to avoid, along with its fire balls and fiery gangs. They have to build the sprinkler-system, turn it on, and extinguish the snake with water. Then Dumbledore creates a watery sphere and traps Voldemort inside it, like in the film, and lifts it up onto the height of the top of the Fountain and drops it in an attempt to hurt Voldemort. However, Voldemort quickly jumps off and back to the Fountain's edge. Then Voldemort jumps down and duels Dumbledore with the same spells as before. When defeated again, he Apparates away and smashes all the offices' windows in the entire Atrium, then picks them up and throws them at Dumbledore who has conjured a shield to protect him and Harry, like in the film, while Harry tries to find and build an object to throw at Voldemort (three rounds with this). Then Voldemort uses Legilimency to travel into Harry's mind and looks at Harry's bad memories. However, when his friends turn up Voldemort accidentally shows him the good memories and Harry then overpowers Voldemort (like in the film), and then Fudge and Williamson show up and see Voldemort (like in the book).[5]

Significance

  • Benchmark for the start of the Second Wizarding War.
  • Causes the Minister for Magic to finally accept Voldemort's return.
  • Voldemort realises that Harry, via the ancient magical power of Love (and/or remorse), can fight off Voldemort's Legilimency. He also presumably was finally was forced to acknowledge that, from his only managing to avoid defeat at the hands of his former teacher, he might not be able to defeat him personally, as he had already speculated, a speculation that made Voldemort fear only Dumbledore. This may have played a hand in his decision to order Draco to kill Dumbledore rather than reengaging him personally, likely as Voldemort saw that Draco would be very willing to harm Dumbledore, but Dumbledore unwilling to harm him.
  • Allows the Ministry of Magic to understand Sirius Black's innocence and honour him a hero (though he was too late to enjoy his freedom since he was murdered by his own hated Death Eater cousin in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries nearby) and that Peter Pettigrew is alive and a traitor.

Media

Appearances

Notes and references