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"I'd take you on any time on my own. Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only — no contact."
Draco Malfoy issuing a challenge to Harry Potter for a formal duel[src]
Duel in ministry

Albus Dumbledore duelling Tom Riddle in the Ministry Altrium

Duelling was a formal practice in wizarding culture in which two or more wizards or witches engaged in combat under the condition that only magical means could be used.[1]

The combatants faced each other and bowed, as a sign of respect, before they placed themselves in an accepted combative position and, at the count of three, attempted to disarm, stun, injure, defeat, or kill each other in order to force submission, and thus a winner would be decided.

Duelling also existed as a sport in the same way that fencing is a sport in the Muggle world. Outside of actual combat it could be turned into a friendly sporting competition.

History[]

"The bang was like a cannon blast, and the golden flames that erupted between them, at the dead centre of the circle they had been treading, marked the point where the spells collided. "
— Harry Potter's and Voldemort's infamous final duel[src]

Sometime before 1984, a room was set aside at Hogwarts Castle to allow students to practise duelling. The marks on the walls from various spells were left as a visual reminder of the dangers associated with the practice. Duelling outside of this environment was strictly forbidden and grounds for expulsion.

During the 1984–1985 school year, Jacob's sibling and Merula Snyde were caught duelling over Merula's bullying of Ben Copper.[2] They had previously learnt how to duel from a secret duelling book found in the Artefact Room.[3] In response, Albus Dumbledore formed the Hogwarts Duelling Club, under the supervision of Professor Flitwick and Jacob's sibling's Head of House, to allow students to practise in a safe and supervised manner. The club presumably ended sometime before 1992.

During the 1990–1991 school year at Hogwarts, Professor Cuthbert Binns had his seventh-year History of Magic research famous and historical duels for his class, with students having to research the subject in the Hogwarts Library and then produce a written essay in class.[4]

B2C11M2 Great Hall Duelling Club

The first and last meeting of the Duelling Club at Hogwarts

During the 1992–1993 school year, Albus Dumbledore allowed then Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, to start a Duelling Club at Hogwarts, perhaps in part because he saw dark times coming in the wizarding world and therefore the need for training students in the art of battle. Professor Lockhart taught the formalities of duelling: bowing, holding the wand in a certain way, and flourishing the wand in the attack.[5] Harry found himself, two years later, facing Voldemort in a desperate duel to the death. Voldemort used the Imperius Curse to force Harry to bow and obey the other niceties of duelling. Harry, who had learned to resist the Imperius Curse, used the moment to duck for cover, although he later successfully defeated Voldemort using the one spell he learned from Snape during Duelling Club — the Disarming Charm.[6]

Dumbledore's Army learning Expelliarmus

Harry Potter teaching Dumbledore's Army how to disarm their opponent

The following year, Harry began teaching duelling techniques as part of his Defence Against the Dark Arts student organisation, Dumbledore's Army. He started off easily with practising the Disarming Charm and told the group, especially a disbelieving Zacharias Smith, that the charm actually saved his life during his first duel with Lord Voldemort.[7] Harry was so successful and instructive as a teacher that some of the students he had taught fought well against experienced Death Eaters in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.[8] Some of them used those same duelling skills against Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle aboard the Hogwarts Express on the way home from Hogwarts, when they tried to assault Harry, resulting in his friends hexing them into looking like bloated slugs.[9]

Members of Dumbledore's Army proved themselves to be valiant duellists, in the subsequent battles of the Second Wizarding War: the Battle of the Astronomy Tower,[10] Battle of the Seven Potters,[11] and the climactic Battle of Hogwarts,[12] where many of them even managed to hold their own against seasoned Death Eaters, such as Bellatrix Lestrange.[13]

Professor Filius Flitwick was rumoured to be a champion duellist.[5][14] It is unknown if this was true and if it was, whether he was a champion of some particular competition.

The term "warlock" originally referred to a Wizard who was trained in duelling and martial magic, as well as to those who had performed feats of bravery.[15]

During the fall of 1995, the Ministry was trying to get other countries to sign an International Ban on Duelling. Percy Weasley in particular was working to get the Transylvanians on board.[16] It is uncertain if this type of duelling was the same as the sport variety, or if it referred to the more lethal “pistols at dawn” variety of duel.

A full-on wizard's duel was something incredible to behold. The duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald in 1945 was legendary,[17] and the duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort in the Ministry Atrium at the climax of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries was equally spectacular.[18]

DH2 Kingsley Shacklebolt Protego

Kingsley Shacklebolt casting the Shield Charm while duelling

Many duels involved non-verbal spells for speed, but saying the incantations aloud seemed to be preferred if there was time (e.g. Voldemort used verbal spells in his duels with Harry). The Shield Charm was one of the most common duelling spells.[19] Other spells typically used in duelling included Stunning Spells, the Impediment Jinx, the Full Body-Bind Curse, and the Dancing Feet Spell. Harry’s use of the Disarming Charm in duelling could be considered somewhat unusual in more serious and life-threatening situations, but this spell was actually one of the key spells to any duellist’s arsenal.[19]

Aspen wands were favoured by those who aspired to be top duellists. In fact, a secretive 18th century duelling club called itself The Silver Spears because they exclusively used aspen wands. Other good wands for duelling included red oak and rowan. Yew wands were feared in duels for their association with curses and evil magic.[20]

Winners of Duelling competitions included: Alberta Toothill: Winner of the All-England Wizarding Duelling Competition of 1430. Famously overcame the favorite, Samson Wiblin, with a Blasting Charm.[21][22] Elizabeth Smudgling, who won the title of Supreme Dueller in a famous Dartmoor contest in 1379 using a spell of possibly her own invention, the Disarming Charm.[19]

Formal duels between multiple active participants (ie: not just a wizard and their second) were sufficiently rare that a three on three duel in the 1980s between Diego Caplan and two other students, and Nymphadora Tonks, Jules Egwu, and Jacob's sibling may have been the first three on three duel done for sport, although this is unlikely.[23]

Rules[]

"You have been taught how to duel Harry Potter? We bow to each other, Harry. Come, the niceties must be observed... Dumbledore would like you to show manners..."
Lord Voldemort to Harry Potter in the graveyard of Little Hangleton[src]
Duel harry draco

The beginning stage of a formal duel, after the challenge has been accepted

There were rules and customs that defined how a proper duel was performed, and that were normally known to wizards and witches born to magical families, even at a young age. For instance, Ron Weasley 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.[1] 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.[5]

The challenge[]

In a formal duel, one wizard or witch challenged another, although it is implied that duels were not commonplace in modern polite society. If the other person accepted, they then arranged a meeting time and place for the duel. 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.[1] Opponents bowed to one another before beginning to fight, as Lord Voldemort reminded Harry Potter before their duel in the graveyard of Little Hangleton in 1995.[6]

Lockhart went as far as twirling his hands while bowing, possibly trying to make himself look more gentlemanly.[5] However, duellists who did not respect their opponents would not usually bow correctly, as Snape simply jerked his head, while Harry, Draco Malfoy,[5] and Voldemort[6] barely bent their heads at all.

Seconds[]

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

Duellists would often have a "second" in a formal duel — a person, usually a trusted ally, who would act as a replacement for one duellist if necessary. Ron Weasley volunteered to be Harry's second in the aforementioned planned duel with Draco, who chose Vincent Crabbe.[5]

Limits[]

Priori Incantatem Pottermore

Priori Incantatem initiated during the duel between Harry Potter and Voldemort in 1995

There was a standard rule in duels that only magical means could be used to fight an opponent, and that there was to be no physical contact (which wizardkind refers to as Muggle duelling) between the duellists. 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.[5]

The parties of a duel could also agree to other limits, unless they were planning to duel to the death, which was only common practice in a war. For example, Minerva McGonagall 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.[24] This may indicate that duellists generally agreed not to use particularly dangerous and/or illegal spells, such as the Unforgivable Curses.

Practice duels[]

Unidentified Members of Dumbledore's Army in 1995.

Dumbledore's Army practice duelling during one of their lessons

Duels could also be used for training purposes, as was the case at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which had a club that students could join to hone their skill at magical self-defence lead by Professor Filius Flitwick, which occupied a room where in the Dungeons of the castle, where students engaged each other while overseen by a teacher. Any damage done to it was left unattended to, so the students there could see them and remember the implications behind the act of duelling.[25]

Practice duels was also commonplace at Durmstrang Institute, where martial magic was a prominent part of the school's curriculum.[26]

Notable duels[]

1430–1899[]

Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Alberta Toothill versus Samson Wiblin All-England Wizarding Duelling Competition in 1430 Alberta Toothill won the competition using a Blasting Curse.[22]
Emeric the Evil versus Egbert the Egregious (Duel between Emeric the Evil and Egbert the Egregious) Battle for the Elder Wand. Egbert defeated Emeric and became the master of the Elder Wand. It should be noted that he was the only known wizard, apart from Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter, to defeat the possessor of the Elder Wand in a duel.[27]
Chadwick Boot, Webster Boot, Isolt Sayre and William versus Gormlaith Gaunt (Duel at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) At Ilvermorny cottage in Mount Greylock, Massachusetts in 1634 after Isolt's wicked aunt Gormlaith Gaunt made her way to North America to enact revenge upon her niece. When Gormlaith cast a curse on James and Isolt which put them in a deep sleep before speaking Parseltongue to disable Isolt's wand, the wands of Chadwick and Webster Boot alerted them to the danger.[28] Chadwick went to hold off the Dark witch, while Webster tried to wake their parents. Webster joined the duel and the couple were awakened by the cry of their infant daughters. While James went to protect the babies, Isolt tried to join the fight, but her wand was useless, being disabled earlier. In the duel, the whole family was driven to the bedroom, and Isolt called out to her late father William for help and was answered by her old friend William, a Pukwudgie, who killed Gormlaith with a poisoned arrow to the heart.[28]
Albus versus Aberforth Dumbledore versus Gellert Grindelwald (Duel at Godric's Hollow) Albus and Grindelwald were plotting 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.[29] 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.[29]

Global wizarding war[]

Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Albus Dumbledore versus Credence Barebone (Duel between Albus Dumbledore and Credence Barebone) Credence confronted Dumbledore about their family, angry that they failed to find and protect him while he endured a life of abuse and lies. He had been encouraged by Grindelwald's manipulation into fighting Dumbledore.[30] Dumbledore repelled and persuaded Credence of Grindelwald's lies and told him the truth. He apologised to Credence and they temporarily go their separate ways.[30]
Albus Dumbledore versus Gellert Grindelwald (Duel between Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald (1932)) Dumbledore intervened when Grindelwald tried to kill Credence at the walk of the Qilin, which broke their blood pact. He and Grindelwald began duelling and transported to another dimension to protect everyone at the scene.[30] They duelled until they reached a stalemate and departed.[30]
Albus Dumbledore versus Gellert Grindelwald (Duel between Albus Dumbledore and 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.[17] Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald, who was subsequently imprisoned in Nurmengard, in what witnesses described as the greatest duel ever fought.[17]

1946–1994[]

"Snape's wand flew twelve feet into the air and fell with a little thud in the grass behind him."
— James disarms Snape after an O.W.L. exam[src]
Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Girl who played Amata versus Girl who played Asha Before a production of The Fountain of Fair Fortune, the boy who played Sir Luckless broke up with "Amata" and fell for "Asha".[31] As the Ashwinder that portrayed the worm exploding in a spray of hot ash, "Amata" and "Asha" turned on each other and began duelling. Who won is unknown, as the hall was vacated.[31]
James Potter and Sirius Black versus Severus Snape When Sirius Black was bored after an exam, James Potter then noticed Severus Snape outside and decided to bully Snape to lighten Sirius's mood. James and Sirius approached, prompting Snape to draw his wand upon seeing them.[32] Snape was disarmed by James and hit with a Scouring Charm when Lily Evans came to his defence. However, Snape regained his wand and shot a misaimed Sectumsempra curse at James, resulting in James and Sirius together suspending Snape in mid-air and humiliating him further after he called Lily a "Mudblood" in his frustration.[32]
James tormenting Severus flashback
Jacob's sibling, Ben Copper, and Merula Snyde versus Patricia Rakepick (Duel in the Forest Grove) After Jacob's sibling intercepted a possible meeting between his brother Jacob and "R", he, along with Ben Copper and Merula Snyde went into the forest grove, where they ran into the Dark witch Patricia Rakepick. Rakepick started duelling with the three, eventually leaving only Ben Copper standing, who only successfully attacked Rakepick once.[33]After Ben successfully threw Rakepick backwards, this prompted Rakepick to cast the killing curse at Ben to kill him, however Rowan Khanna, a friend of Ben's, who had been watching the entire duel from a close distance, jumped in front of Ben to protect him, ending their life and saving that of their friends.[33]
Rowan Death
Gilderoy Lockhart versus Severus Snape A demonstration for the Duelling Club in 1992. There was also small duels between Harry and Draco, Seamus Finnigan and Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom and Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Hermione Granger with Millicent Bulstrode. The outcomes of these duels were Harry getting knocked down but placing a Tickling Charm on Draco, Ron's broken wand had knocked Seamus over, Neville and Justin were lying on the ground beaten and Millicent had Hermione in a head lock and both their wands on the floor.[5] Snape easily defeated Lockhart, who was made to look even clumsier than usual.[5]
Snape disarming Lockhart COS
Harry Potter versus Draco Malfoy Harry communicated with the snake conjured by Draco, therefore learning (along with the rest of the school) that he could speak Parseltongue.[5]
Serpensortia
British Ministry of Magic workers versus Death Eaters Riot at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup Death Eaters were rioting at the World Cup, hanging Muggles upside down in the air and blasting tents away. Ministry of Magic workers fight the Death Eaters, until Barty Crouch Jnr fired the Dark Mark in the sky and the Death Eaters fled in fear.[34]
Harry Potter versus Draco Malfoy Outside of Potions class Harry fired a Pimple Jinx at Malfoy. At the same time, Malfoy fired a Densaugeo hex. The spells hit each other and ricocheted everywhere, with Harry's hitting Goyle and Malfoy's hitting Hermione.[35]
B4C18M1 Densaugeo and Furnunculus

Second Wizarding War[]

1995–1996[]

Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Harry Potter versus Lord Voldemort In the graveyard of Little Hangleton on 24 June 1995 after Voldemort's return (Duel in Little Hangleton).[6] Voldemort used Avada Kedavra and Harry used Expelliarmus. Due to 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.[6]
Duel little hangleton
Albus Dumbledore versus Cornelius Fudge, Dolores Umbridge, John Dawlish and Kingsley Shacklebolt In 1996, after Dumbledores Army got exposed to Umbridge, Dumbledore blamed himself for the organisation to protect Harry and Fudge ordered Dawlish and Kingsley to arrest Dumbledore.[36] Dumbledore incapacitated Fudge, Umbridge, Dawlish and Kingsley despite the fact that Kingsley (Who was the only notably powerful one out of them) was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, as it would raise suspicion by Fudge. This allowed Dumbledore to escape from Hogwarts with Fawkes before they could recover.[36]
B5C27M3 Dumbledore's escape
Rubeus Hagrid, Fang and Minerva McGonagall versus Dolores Umbridge, John Dawlish and three other Aurors Umbridge attempted to sack and arrest Hagrid during the night with some Aurors but McGonagall intervened.[37] Hagrid was resistant to stunning spells because he was half-giant as they bounced off him while McGonagall was badly injured by four stunning spells. Fang was also stunned by one of the Aurors. Hagrid then defeated all the Aurors with his great strength and escaped from Hogwarts with Fang before Umbridge could stop him.[37]
Battle of the Department of Mysteries[]
Duellists Outcome
Harry Potter and Hermione Granger versus two Death Eaters Harry stunned one Death Eater; Hermione stunned the other.[8]
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom versus Antonin Dolohov and Jugson Harry put Jugson in a Full Body-Bind Curse and Hermione silenced Dolohov. Dolohov hit Hermione with an unknown curse then broke Neville's wand and nose. Harry then struck Dolohov with a Full Body-Bind Curse while he was distracted.[8]
Nymphadora Tonks versus Lucius Malfoy Tonks attempted to stun Lucius, allowing Harry to get away. It is unknown if this spell made contact but since Lucius wasn't seen duelling for a bit, it possibly hit him.[8]
Kingsley Shacklebolt versus two Death Eaters Kingsley defeated the Death Eaters.[8]
Sirius Black versus Death Eater They duelled so fiercely their wands were blurs. Sirius defeated this Death Eater, and was unhurt and able to fight Antonin Dolohov later on in the battle.[8]
Nymphadora Tonks versus Bellatrix Lestrange Bellatrix defeated Tonks and cursed her badly enough that she had to spend some time at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries after the battle.[8]
Antonin Dolohov versus Alastor Moody Dolohov defeated and injured Moody.[8]
Remus Lupin versus Lucius Malfoy Remus likely defeated Malfoy as he was uninjured and subsequently able to prevent Harry from running into the Veil of Death after Sirius.[8]
Battle of the Department of Mysteries GIF
Sirius Black and Harry Potter versus Antonin Dolohov Sirius rammed Dolohov with his shoulder, and they started to fiercely duel one another. Dolohov attempted to use his curse on Sirius, but Harry hit him with a Full Body-Bind Curse and prevented it.[8]
OOTP Death Chamber Sirius Harry Antonin Lucius
Kingsley Shacklebolt versus Augustus Rookwood Kingsley presumably defeated Rookwood, because he was able to fight Bellatrix Lestrange later on in the battle.[8]
Bellatrix Lestrange versus Kingsley Shacklebolt Bellatrix defeated Kingsley who fell with a yell.[8]
Harry Potter versus Bellatrix Lestrange Harry, filled with rage over his godfather's death, chased Bellatrix into the Ministry Atrium. Harry hit Bellatrix with the Cruciatus Curse but did not cast it properly.[18]
Crucio1
Albus Dumbledore and Fawkes versus Voldemort In the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic at the end of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, between the two most powerful wizards alive (Duel in the Ministry Atrium). Dumbledore managed to protect Harry Potter from Voldemort, who was forced to flee when Ministry officials arrived and saw him. Fawkes swallowed a Killing Curse sent at Dumbledore.[18]
GrandpreBattleDumblemort

1997[]

Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Harry Potter versus Draco Malfoy Harry followed Malfoy into a bathroom in an attempt to find out what he was planning. When Malfoy discovered that Harry was there, they began to duel.[38] Malfoy attempted to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry, but Harry countered with the curse Sectumsempra, severely injuring Malfoy. Severus Snape entered the room and healed Malfoy, then sent him to the Hospital Wing.[38]
Sectumempra Curse
Harry Potter versus Severus Snape After Snape killed Albus Dumbledore in 1997, Harry pursued and tried to attack him several times.[10] Snape easily defeated Harry and Disapparated.[10] Harry was only saved by the arrival of Buckbeak, whom had flown at Snape.
Snape vs Harry
Battle of the Astronomy Tower[]
"Harry now saw red hair flying like flames in front of him: Ginny was locked in combat with the lumpy Death Eater, Amycus, who was throwing hex after hex at her while she dodged them..."
— Harry witnessing Ginny duelling Amycus Carrow[src]
Duellists Outcome
Bill Weasley versus Fenrir Greyback Greyback brutalised Bill, who survived, but retained scars and mild lycanthropic symptoms.[39]
Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter versus Amycus Carrow Amycus was firing Cruciatus Curses at Ginny while she dodged them. Later on in the duel Harry hit Amycus with an Impediment Jinx.[10]
Minerva McGonagall versus Alecto Carrow Harry Potter saw McGonagall, Ron, Lupin, and Tonks each battling a separate Death Eater. Harry glimpsed Alecto running away while McGonagall screamed "Take that!".[10]
Ronald Weasley versus Death Eater Harry glimpsed Ron battling a Death Eater. Ron defeated the Death Eater, as he was unhurt after the battle.[10]
Remus Lupin versus Death Eater Remus defeated the Death Eater, as he was unhurt after the battle.[39]
Nymphadora Tonks and Harry Potter versus Thorfinn Rowle Rowle was firing curses in all directions, making them ricochet at all angles. Harry Potter hit Rowle with a hex and Rowle ran away.[10]
Rubeus Hagrid versus Thorfinn Rowle Rowle hit Hagrid with curses, but, since Hagrid was half-giant, they didn't affect him. Rowle lit Hagrid's hut on fire.[10]
Battle of the Seven Potters[]
"And then, out of nowhere, out of nothing, they were surrounded. At least thirty hooded figures, suspended in midair, formed a vast circle in the midst of which the Order members had risen, oblivious — Screams, a blaze of green light on every side: Hagrid gave a yell and the motorbike rolled over."
— Order members duelling Death Eaters at the start of the battle[src]
Duellists Outcome
Kingsley Shacklebolt and Hermione Granger versus five Death Eaters Kingsley and Hermione injured two Death Eaters, including Travers, and may have killed one, and escaped.[11]
Nymphadora Tonks and Ron Weasley versys several Death Eaters (including Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange) Ron Stunned one Death Eater; Tonks injured Rodolphus; they both evaded capture and injury.[11]
Alastor Moody and Mundungus Fletcher versus Lord Voldemort Mundungus immediately Disapparated in terror and Moody was killed by Voldemort's Killing Curse.[40]
Remus Lupin, George Weasley and Severus Snape (secretly) versus several Death Eaters Snape's Sectumsempra, intended for a Death Eater who was trying to kill Remus,[41] permanently cut off George's ear, but he and Remus escaped.[40]
Harry Potter and Rubeus Hagrid versus three Death Eaters and Stanley Shunpike Harry and Hagrid held off their attackers until they got to the safehouse.[11]
Harry Potter versus Lord Voldemort Harry's wand recognised Voldemort as an enemy and fired golden fire at him, allowing Harry and Rubeus Hagrid to escape. Hedwig was killed by a stray Killing Curse.[11]
Battle of the Seven Potters
Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Wedding guests versus Death Eaters Attack at the Burrow After the Fall of the Ministry of Magic, Death Eaters managed to penetrate the enchantments around The Burrow and interrogated the guests for information about Harry Potter.[42]
DH1 wedding interrupted Remus making Harry leave
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger versus Antonin Dolohov and Thorfinn Rowle The two Death Eaters attacked the trio on Tottenham Court Road in August 1997.[42] Harry stunned Rowle, Dolohov bound Ron with conjured ropes, stunned Harry and Hermione then placed him in a Full Body-Bind Curse. Hermione then performed a Memory Charm on both Death Eaters.[42]
Stupefy-harry-potter
Augusta Longbottom versus John Dawlish Dawlish attempted to capture Augusta in order to force her grandson Neville to follow the new agenda at Hogwarts.[43] Augusta hospitalised Dawlish, who had to have a prolonged stay at St Mungo's, and went on the run.[43]

1998[]

Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley versus 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.[44]
Ambush lovegood
Bellatrix Lestrange versus Four Snatchers In Malfoy Manor in Easter of 1998 when they defied her. Bellatrix swiftly incapacitated the four Snatchers.[45] Harry noted that the Snatchers did not stand a chance against Bellatrix's superior skills and reflexes.
Bellatrix duels Snatchers
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Dobby versus 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. Ron disarmed Bellatrix. Harry Stunned Lucius Malfoy. Bellatrix threatened to kill Hermione with her knife and stole Harry and Ron's wand from them but Dobby dropped the chandelier on Bellatrix and Hermione and it narrowly missed. Harry stole back his and Ron's wands and he took Draco's too. Harry stunned Greyback with the three wands and the spell was so powerful it lifted Greyback off his feet and he flew to the roof and back down again. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Dobby escaped with the wands of Bellatrix and Draco, but Bellatrix threw her kneif and killed Dobby as he Disapparated.[45]
Malfoy manor duel
Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick versus Severus Snape Shortly prior to the Battle of Hogwarts McGonagall was duelling Snape alone until Flitwick enchanted the suit of armour that Snape was hiding behind. Pomona Sprout and Horace Slughorn were behind Flitwick but didn't cast any spells. Snape ran away when Flitwick came.[24]
Battle of Hogwarts[]
Main article: Battle of Hogwarts
First part[]
"Harry looked around and his heart seemed to fail: Death Eaters had penetrated Hogwarts. Fred and Percy had just backed into view, both of them duelling masked and hooded men."
— Death Eaters penetrate the castle's wards and the fighting commences[src]
Duellists Outcome
Nymphadora Tonks versus Bellatrix Lestrange Bellatrix murdered Tonks.
Remus Lupin versus Antonin Dolohov Dolohov murdered Remus.
Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger versus Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe Harry, Ron, and Hermione travelled to the Room of Requirement to get Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem; Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle followed them and they engaged in a duel. Harry, Ron, and Hermione defeated Draco, Crabbe and Goyle, resulting in Crabbe's death by his own Fiendfyre, which he had conjured in an attempt to kill the trio.[12]
Fiend fyre Fleeing GIF
Percy Weasley versus Pius Thicknesse Percy defeated Thicknesse, hitting him with a jinx that seemed to turn him into a kind of sea urchin.[46]
Fred Weasley versus Death Eater The Death Eater fell under three spells cast by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, who arrived to help. Fred was killed by an explosion almost immediately afterwards.[46]
Dean Thomas and Parvati Patil versus Antonin Dolohov, Travers and another Death Eater Dean and Parvati were duelling individually (Dean with Dolohov and Parvati with Travers) until a masked Death Eater was distracted by Ron Weasley and Dean stunned him. Dolohov tried to curse him until Parvati cast the Full Body-Bind Curse on him. It is unknown what happened to Travers, but since he was outnumbered Dean and Parvati probably won.[46]
Percy Weasley and two wizards versus Augustus Rookwood Rookwood was pursuing the two wizards until Percy came and attacked Rookwood. It is unknown who won this duel because both wizards had another duel against another wizard.[46]
Filius Flitwick versus Corban Yaxley It is unknown who won this duel, but it is most likely that Yaxley retreated after Voldemort called a one hour ceasefire to the battle.[46]
Kingsley Shacklebolt versus Death Eater It is unknown who won this duel, but it is most likely the Death Eater retreated after Voldemort called a one-hour ceasefire to the battle.[46]
Momentum-reversing spell
Second part[]
"Harry saw Yaxley slammed to the floor by George and Lee Jordan, saw Dolohov fall with a scream at Flitwick's hands, saw Walden Macnair thrown across the room by Hagrid, hit the stone wall opposite, and slide unconscious to the ground."
— The final stage of the battle[src]
Duellists Outcome
George Weasley and Lee Jordan versus Corban Yaxley George and Lee defeated Yaxley.[13]
Aberforth Dumbledore versus Augustus Rookwood Aberforth defeated Rookwood.[13]
Rubeus Hagrid versus Walden Macnair Hagrid defeated Macnair, hurling him across the Great Hall.[13]
Ronald Weasley and Neville Longbottom versus Fenrir Greyback Ron and Neville defeated Greyback.[13]
Filius Flitwick versus Antonin Dolohov Flitwick defeated Dolohov, who fell with a scream; it is unknown and unlikely if he survived, as he fell from a likely lethal hight.[13]
Arthur Weasley and Percy Weasley versus Pius Thicknesse Arthur and Percy defeated Thicknesse (see above).[13]
Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood versus Bellatrix Lestrange After Bellatrix's Killing Curse nearly struck Ginny (missing her by a mere inch), Molly Weasley took over the fight. Molly refused to let any students help her as they duelled.[13]
DH2 Ginny blocking Bellatrix
Molly Weasley versus Bellatrix Lestrange After Bellatrix had cruelly taunted Molly about the death of Fred, Molly struck Bellatrix in the chest with a curse during a fierce duel, which killed her.[13]
Molly vs Bellatrix DHF2
Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minerva McGonagall and Horace Slughorn versus Lord Voldemort Voldemort knocked the three backwards when he saw that Bellatrix Lestrange had been killed; the three of them survived.[13]
Harry Potter versus Lord Voldemort 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 (Duel in the Great Hall).[13]
B7C36M2 Voldemort vanquished

2020[]

Duellists Circumstances Outcome
Harry Potter versus Theodore Nott After hearing a rumour about an illegal and very powerful Time-Turner, Harry and his team of Aurors raided the Nott residence and confiscated it.[47] Harry defeated Nott in a duel and then arrested him. He was arrested for the illegal possession of an unregistered and advanced Time-Turner.[47]
Harry Potter versus Draco Malfoy Draco upset about his missing son, started, a duel with Harry in his office at the Ministry of Magic.[47] Ginny Weasley interrupted the duel before it got out of hand.[47]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 9 (The Midnight Duel)
  2. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 5 (The Duel)
  3. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 4 (Revenge is Best Served Magical)
  4. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 8 (Back to Hogwarts) - Assignment "Duelling Mastery"
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 34 (Priori Incantatem)
  7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 18 (Dumbledore's Army)
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
  9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 38 (The Second War Begins)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 28 (Flight of the Prince)
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4 (The Seven Potters)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
  13. 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Plan)
  14. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
  15. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "The Warlock's Hairy Heart"
  16. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 23 (The Yule Ball)
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 2 (In Memoriam)
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Wonderbook: Book of Spells
  20. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Wand Woods" at Wizarding World
  21. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
  22. 22.0 22.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
  23. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Side Quest "Family Feast"
  24. 24.0 24.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 30 (The Sacking of Severus Snape)
  25. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery - Duelling Club
  26. Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Durmstrang Institute" at Wizarding World
  27. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "The Tale of the Three Brothers"
  28. 28.0 28.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" at Wizarding World
  29. 29.0 29.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 28 (The Missing Mirror)
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
  31. 31.0 31.1 The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "The Fountain of Fair Fortune"
  32. 32.0 32.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28 (Snape's Worst Memory)
  33. 33.0 33.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 18 (Into the Forest)
  34. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 9 (The Dark Mark)
  35. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 18 (The Weighing of the Wands)
  36. 36.0 36.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 27 (The Centaur and the Sneak)
  37. 37.0 37.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
  38. 38.0 38.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 24 (Sectumsempra)
  39. 39.0 39.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 29 (The Phoenix Lament)
  40. 40.0 40.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 5 (Fallen Warrior)
  41. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33 (The Prince's Tale)
  42. 42.0 42.1 42.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 9 (A Place to Hide)
  43. 43.0 43.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 29 (The Lost Diadem)
  44. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 21 (The Tale of the Three Brothers)
  45. 45.0 45.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 23 (Malfoy Manor)
  46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 32 (The Elder Wand)
  47. 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

See also[]

External links[]

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