Everything

The cavern's natural splendor was lost on Harry as Matei's voice echoed through the vast hall.

"How did you find us?" Harry demanded, his wand held firmly at his side, eyes blazing with anger. Matei smirked, his wand casually twirling between his fingers.

"You underestimate me, Potter. I cast a trace charm on your dear Charlie while he was busy talking to Nita and Katrin. It's amazing what a little vigilance can accomplish." Charlie's eyes widened with realization, stepping in front of Harry protectively.

"Harry, stay behind me," he commanded, his voice firm despite the growing tension. Matei's laughter rang out, cruel and mocking.

"Helpless romantic, aren't you, Charlie? Always the protector." He took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with malicious amusement. "Do you remember our first meeting, Charlie? All those... activities we engaged in?" Harry's face flushed with anger and disgust, not wanting to imagine whatever sordid details Matei was implying.

"Enough!" he shouted, his wand pointed directly at Matei, a spell ready on his lips. Matei's smile grew wider, more sinister.

"Ah, the hero ready to fight for love. How touching." He raised his wand, the duel about to commence. Harry stepped forward, his voice steady.

"I have defeated a loveless soul before. You are no different." Matei giggled, the sound echoing eerily through the cavern.

"Loveless? You couldn't be more wrong, Potter. I fell in love with Charlie years ago. But he never reciprocated my feelings. He could only talk about you... Harry this, Harry that." He sneered, his eyes flicking to Charlie. "Isn't that right, Charlie?" Charlie felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him, his cheeks flushing. Harry, sensing his discomfort, cast a quick Mufliato in Matei's direction, silencing him.

"You're not going to rile us up with your lies," Harry said firmly, his wand still aimed at Matei. Matei's eyes narrowed, realizing the spell had taken away his voice. His expression turned from smug to furious, and he brandished his wand, ready to strike. Without another word, the cavern erupted in flashes of light and bursts of magic as the duel began in earnest. Matei's eyes narrowed as he pointed his wand at the pair, undoing Harry's Mufliato charm with a flick of his wrist.

"Incendio Fyndfire!" he shouted, sending a wave of cursed, blue fire rushing towards them. Harry's eyes widened in horror. He had encountered Fyndfire before and knew how deadly it could be. Panic surged through him; he didn't know how to counter it effectively. But Charlie acted swiftly.

"Harry, cover your ears!" he shouted, raising his wand. "Sonorus Maxima!" The spell amplified a sharp, piercing sound that destabilized the magical flames, causing them to flicker and sputter. The intense noise reverberated through the cavern, making Matei wince in pain and clutch his ears. Furious, Matei cast a glare at Charlie and then raised his wand again.

"Crucio!" he bellowed, the Unforgivable Curse shooting towards Harry. Harry braced himself as the curse hit him, but instead of the excruciating pain he remembered, it was a mere sting. He grinned, the years of resilience and training showing their worth. Matei stared in shock.

"How?" Matei gasped, his confidence faltering. Harry's grin widened.

"I've built up a bit of resistance," he said calmly. Without missing a beat, he pointed his wand at Matei and cast, "Incarcerous!" Thick ropes shot from Harry's wand, wrapping tightly around Matei and binding his arms to his sides. Matei struggled, his face contorted with rage.

"You underestimated us," Harry said, stepping forward. "And that will be your downfall." Charlie's eyes flickered with pride as he watched Harry take control of the situation. He knew they had the upper hand, but they needed to stay vigilant. Matei was cunning and dangerous, and the fight was far from over. As Harry and Charlie discussed what to do with Matei, their backs momentarily turned, Matei's hands moved subtly. The ropes binding him charred and fell away silently, and he rose slowly, his eyes glinting with malice. He realized he was outnumbered and needed to even the odds. With a sudden movement, Matei pointed his wand at Charlie and was ready to sent an unknown spell.

"Exanimus!" A bolt of dark energy shot from his wand, hitting Charlie squarely in the chest and sending him flying backwards. Charlie landed hard on the cavern floor, the energy visibly draining from his body.

"Charlie!" Harry screamed, rushing to his side. Tears flowed down his cheeks as he knelt beside his love, his hands trembling as he caressed Charlie's face. "Stay with me, Charlie. Please." Charlie coughed weakly, struggling to focus on Harry. "I'm...okay...just...weak..." Matei's cruel laughter echoed through the cave.

"Now it's just you and me, Potter," he sneered, his wand trained on Harry. "A fair duel, as it should be." Harry's sorrow morphed into fury. He stood up slowly, his grip tightening on his wand.

"You'll pay for that, Matei," he vowed, his voice shaking with emotion. "You’ll regret ever coming back here." The air crackled with tension as Harry and Matei faced each other. Matei's smirk faded, replaced by a look of grim determination. The duel had turned into a personal vendetta, and neither wizard intended to back down. Harry fired spell after spell, his desperation growing with each failed attempt to hit Matei. The dark wizard deflected each spell with ease, a sneer plastered across his face. As Harry's frustration grew, his control over his magic began to slip. The cave walls trembled slightly, and some of the glittering crystals fell to the ground, shattering upon impact. Matei, sensing an advantage, cast a shield around himself, smirking as he watched Harry's magic spiral out of control.

"This will be your undoing, Potter," he taunted, his voice echoing ominously in the cavern. "You're not in control."

"Harry!" Charlie's weak voice cut through the chaos. "Focus...you need to focus." Harry's eyes darted to Charlie, lying on the ground, struggling to stay conscious. The sight of his love's vulnerability brought a moment of clarity. He took a deep breath, trying to rein in his rampant magic. The shaking walls began to still, and the falling crystals ceased. Seeing his opportunity, Matei moved quickly. With a swift flick of his wand, he disarmed Harry, sending his wand flying across the cave. Before Harry could react, Matei summoned the wand to himself and snapped it in half, the pieces falling to the ground with a dull thud. Harry stared at the broken wand, shock and despair flooding his features. Matei's laughter filled the air, triumphant and cruel.

"Now you’re truly defenseless, birthday boy," he jeered, advancing on Harry with a menacing gleam in his eyes. Charlie's heart sank as he watched the scene unfold.

"Harry..." he whispered, his voice barely audible. The situation seemed dire, but the bond between them was strong. Even without his wand, Harry wasn't entirely defenseless. He had something Matei lacked—love, and the determination that came with it. Harry's eyes widened in shock and fury as Matei cast the Cruciatus Curse on Charlie, who winced and cried out in agony. Without hesitation, Harry rushed to Charlie's side, grasping his hand tightly to show his presence and support.

"I'm sorry, Charlie," Harry whispered, his voice filled with anguish and frustration. "I'm so sorry..." Feeling utterly helpless, Harry's mind raced, searching desperately for a way to help Charlie. As Matei continued to torment him, Harry's love for Charlie surged within him, an unstoppable force that he couldn't contain. Subconsciously, Harry began to channel his magic, infusing it with healing and love as he directed it toward Charlie. With each passing moment, Charlie's cries of pain began to soften, replaced by a sense of calm and comfort. The healing magic worked its way through Charlie's body, easing his suffering and restoring his strength. Matei watched in disbelief as the effects of his curse began to diminish, unable to comprehend how Harry's love could have such a profound impact. Anger flared within him, and he intensified his assault, determined to break them both. But Harry remained resolute, his focus unwavering as he continued to pour his love and magic into Charlie, shielding him from further harm. In that moment, their bond grew stronger than ever, a beacon of light in the darkness of the cave. With Charlie now stabilized, Harry's focus shifted back to Matei, who stood before him, stunned and helpless. Taking swift action, Harry conjured blinding light that enveloped Matei, disorienting him and leaving him vulnerable. As Matei struggled to regain his bearings, Harry commanded the surrounding crystals to converge around him, forming an impenetrable prison. Matei's laughter turned to panic as he realized the gravity of his situation. Stepping closer to Matei, Harry's expression hardened with determination.

"Stay away from him," he warned, his voice laced with authority and resolve. Matei's laughter grew increasingly manic, his defiance unyielding. But Harry remained undeterred. Drawing upon his own strength and willpower, Harry cast a powerful spell that began to drain Matei's magic core, sapping away his abilities until he was left powerless and defenseless. As Matei's once formidable magic dwindled to nothing, a sense of defeat washed over him. He stared at Harry, his eyes filled with bitterness and resentment. But it was too late—the spell had taken its toll, leaving Matei nothing more than a mere mortal.

Charlie stood in awe, his heart swelling with admiration as he watched Harry's remarkable display of power and devotion. Never before had he witnessed such a potent expression of love, and with each moment that passed, his affection for Harry deepened immeasurably. As Harry approached him, concern etched across his features, Charlie found himself overcome with emotion. He reached out to Harry, his hand trembling slightly as he reassured him that he was more than okay—indeed, he was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love.

"It's... it's incredible, what you did," Charlie murmured, his voice tinged with wonder. "I've never seen anything like it." Harry's expression softened, a tender smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"I didn't even know I could do that," he admitted, his eyes reflecting the depth of his feelings for Charlie. "But when it comes to you, I guess anything is possible." With a gentle touch, Harry caressed Charlie's cheek, his love and devotion evident in every gesture. Together, they stood in the aftermath of the duel, their bond stronger than ever before. Matei, still immobilized within the crystalline prison Harry had conjured, began to rant and rave, his words filled with bitterness and resentment.

"This is my birthright!" he cried out, his voice echoing off the walls of the cavern. "That wand should be mine, and Charlie should be by my side, not yours!" Charlie listened to Matei's tirade with a mixture of pity and disgust. It was clear that Matei's obsession with power and legacy had consumed him, twisting his desires into something dark and twisted.

"Your obsession with power has clouded your judgement," Charlie responded calmly, though his voice carried an edge of frustration. "Love can't be forced or claimed as a possession. It's something freely given, and I've chosen to be with Harry." Harry stood beside Charlie, his presence a comforting anchor in the midst of Matei's tirade. With a determined gaze, he met Matei's eyes, unflinching in the face of his anger.

"You've lost, Matei," Harry said firmly. "It's time to accept that and move on." But Matei's ranting continued, his words filled with venom and spite as he refused to acknowledge defeat. As Charlie and Harry looked on, they knew that their ordeal with Matei was far from over. Charlie's heart ached as he watched Harry's crestfallen expression, the shattered pieces of his wand a stark reminder of their recent ordeal. Determination flickered in Charlie's eyes as he picked up the broken halves, a silent apology lingering on his lips.

"It served well, Harry," Charlie murmured softly, his voice heavy with regret. But Harry offered no words in return, only wrapping Charlie in a tight embrace. In that moment, their connection spoke volumes, conveying more than words ever could. Charlie knew that Harry hated to see him blue, just as much as he hated to see Harry hurt. With a deep breath, Charlie focused his energy on the broken wand, his concentration unwavering. Harry attempted to dissuade him, but Charlie remained resolute. Slowly, meticulously, he pieced the halves together, pouring his magic into the mending process with unwavering determination. As the wand began to take shape once more, Harry looked on in awe, his eyes widening in disbelief. He realized then that he wasn't the only one capable of extraordinary feats. Charlie had just performed a small miracle, repairing the wand with a skill and precision that left Harry speechless. With a gentle smile, Charlie handed the fully repaired holly wand back to Harry, a silent offering of hope and renewal.

"Happy birthday, Harry," he said softly. Harry's eyes shimmered with emotion as he pulled Charlie into another embrace, holding him close with a grateful heart. In that moment, amidst the echoes of their recent trials, they found solace in each other's arms, their bond stronger than ever before.