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Harry Potter: The True Lord- Chapter 49: Arena & Rules
🕑 Added 2025-08-15 16:47:20 +0000 UTCAntonio, for the first time, was going to see the legendary arena of the Ministry. Arcturus had given him some idea, and hence he was quite aware of what he should expect.
The large group of Wizengamot members, along with quite a few other Ministry officials, arrived in the deeper sections of the Ministry building. The word of the duel had spread rather quickly, and no one wanted to miss it.
The group finally reached a large wooden door in the shape of an archway. The words ‘The Arena’ were plastered on the wall just above the door. The Minister did not even slow his pace as he walked directly through the door, disappearing behind it.
Had Antonio not known about it, he would have surely been surprised. He too followed suit and walked into the door, feeling a ripple of space as he crossed some sort of barrier.
When he emerged from it, he, along with all the others, was standing in a large circular pit, the arena of the Ministry.
The arena was located in an enclosed space just behind the Ministry building, and the only available access to it was through this gate. The arena had been constructed five centuries earlier and embodied one of the most masterful uses of runes. The hidden enclosed space, the doorway that allowed one to step through as if walking into another dimension, everything was ancient rune work.
Runes were woven into the arena itself, making it almost indestructible. And if some spell was powerful enough to damage it, the self repairing runes would come to life. Unless someone destroyed the wards and the keystones powering those runes, it was impossible to destroy the arena.
And no one knew where those wards and keystones were hidden. Normally, a magical connection should have been apparent between the runes in the arena and the keystone powering them, but another set of runes concealed that link entirely. It was just brilliant. Genius.
The duelling area was a large circular pit, roughly 100 metres in diameter. The pit was divided into two equal parts.
At the centre of each part stood a stone platform almost three feet in height. Surrounding this platform were three concentric circles. The first circle was filled with water, almost knee deep.
The second circle was covered with small stones, pebbles, and boulders and even a few large stones scattered here and there.
The third circle, which also occupied the largest area, was filled with a mixture of sand, soil, and small gravel.
Around this pit lay a stretch of empty space, beyond which large elevated seats of pure stone rose in tiers. The seating could accommodate almost a thousand people, and nearly half of that capacity was expected to be filled today.
"Who will oversee the duel?" someone mumbled as most of the people began leaving the pit to take their places in the stone stands.
Several names were whispered as suggestions, but one stood out among them. Madam Griselda Marchbanks.
She was one of the most respected names in Wizarding Britain, known for her discipline, impartiality, and unwavering adherence to the law.
She was also extremely well versed in wizarding legal codes, making her an ideal choice to oversee the duel. In addition, she was one of the oldest witches in Britain. She had herself overseen the OWLs and NEWTs of Albus Dumbledore himself.
Madam Marchbanks did not shy away from the responsibility that had been bestowed upon her and stepped forward to take charge of the duel.
The rest of the people, except Antonio and Alicus, had left the pit and were seating themselves in the stone stands. With her experience and command over the laws, Madam Marchbanks needed no extra guidance. She was ready to take the command.
“Please climb onto the stone platforms,” she said in a polite voice.
Antonio and Alicus nodded and both of them climbed onto their respective stone platforms, facing one another. The expression on Alicus’ face had calmed down considerably. He did not seem that outraged which he had been earlier. He was taking deep breaths and was preparing himself for the duel.
Madam Marchbanks stood between them in the empty area outside the circular pit.
"Before we proceed, let me announce some important rules," she said, her voice now firm and carrying a sense of conviction.
"Number one,” she continued, “both of you will get five minutes before the duel actually begins. This time is for you to make changes to your side of the arena. You may make whatever changes you wish."
Antonio had been made aware of this rule by Arcturus. Each duelist could modify their own side of the arena. The arena had been divided into three zones, and this rule allowed them to incorporate transfiguration into their duel. This might have sounded a strange rule, but every duel in this arena followed this rule.
“Number two,” Madam Marchbanks said. “Once I officially initiate the duel, it will only end when one of you dies. There is no way out of here other than death.”
This was already known by all.
“And finally, number three,” she added. “Since neither of you has any direct heir to your house’s lordship, if you die, the other will automatically inherit the lordship of the deceased by right of conquest.”
Quite a few gasps were heard among the people watching from the stands. This was a rather obscure rule, and it was a rare event for both participants in an honour duel to be without heirs. In such a scenario, the person winning the honour duel got rightful lordship of the house of the defeated and the dead person. As such, not many were aware of it.
This, this was the biggest reason Arcturus Black had orchestrated the whole event. After the duel, he would gain a seat in the Wizengamot. One vote in the Wizarding Council. The first step toward political power.
“Am I clear?” Griselda’s voice echoed throughout the arena silencing every mumble and whisper among the crowd. Both nodded.
She raised her wand, a white light glowing at its tip.
“The moment it turns yellow, your five minutes will begin,” she said. “And when the light goes off, the time of your actual duel will begin.”
And the light turned yellow.
