Chapter One: Reflections of Recent Events

Nagini gave a deep sigh. She was quite happy, a rare emotion for her, at being allowed to stay at Hogwarts during the holiday break. Even if most of it had been in the hospital ward.

Madam Pomfrey had expertly cared for her; her swelling had diminished and her skin-colouring had almost returned to normal. She was greatly appreciative of Pomfrey and had learned a few more things about healing, which had been fascinating. And, of course, getting to know the one other patient sharing the space, Remus Lupin, had also been an unexpected revelation.

A marked enemy, given that he was a Gryffindor, Remus was in a bed diagonally across from her when she had awoken from nearly two days' unconsciousness.

She had gotten a brief glance of him being brought in; his body was bloodied, covered with random splotches and cuts. He seemed to have been attacked by something. Or someone. Whether a dark spell or a wild beast, she couldn't tell. Dumbledore himself and Pomfrey had both consecutively cared for him; soft chantings alternated by strange scents, and bottles of dubious content had continuously been brought in and given to him.

Nagini was stung with guilt. The fleeting thought that she had something to do with Remus' state kept eating at her.

But wasn't he partially guilty for her condition, as well? Part of her was trying to reconcile herself that if she had had anything to do with his present condition, it must have been out of self-defence.

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Professor Galatea Merrythought, Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, had been holding an ongoing in-class competition of sorts between the students of sixth year. Wishing to challenge their creativity, as well as combining their Dark Arts hexes and Transfiguration skills, she had set the tasks of 'forcing your opponent to transform'. She was vague in instructions, giving them freedom to hex their opponent into anything from a sofa chair to a rodent. Which in hindsight had led to more than a few students being sent to Madam Pomfrey.

Unfortunately, unbeknownst to her, she had an exceptional group of Slytherins and Gryffindors put together, formidably capable and eager to be 'on the offence'; who, in their private lives, had far surpassed the average required skills of Transfiguration and had a plethora of dangerous Dark Arts, wand and wandless, hexes ready to be unleashed at any given moment.

But Professor Merrythought didn't suspect, or perhaps ignored, the level of animosity that existed, as she thrived on the unexpected, and had announced the competition in a slightly whimsical drone: "The student who can demonstrate him or herself to be the most competent, the most clever, the most skilled, thus far, in the Dark Arts, drawing upon any other resources, will receive the Young Wizards Merit Award.'' And with a slight twinkle in her eye and a giggle, she added, "Also, five galleons worth of delights from Honeydukes."

There had been an outbreak of various comments and exclamations to these announcements.

She continued gleefully, "You will be called up, two at a time; one student will take the offensive, initiating your curse, and the other, the defensive, repelling as able. Good luck to all!"

Immediately, jeers and insults were tossed back and forth amongst the rivaling houses, working the classroom into a raucous frenzy. This tense air of competitiveness continued in and out of classes; the past month had proceeded with an atmosphere of mixed dread, high adrenaline, humiliation and exhilaration.

After weeks of harrowing events, leading a concerned, albeit, amused Dumbledore to comment about the number of classroom injuries, the final four contenders had been narrowed down to: Severus Snape and Nagini Lestrange of Slytherin House, and Remus Lupin and Sirius Black of Gryffindor House.

Everyone's nerves were set on edge. The final pairings had been announced: first, Severus Snape versus Sirius Black, second, Nagini Lestrange versus Remus Lupin. Either pairings were going to be disastrous. The ongoing hatred and viciousness of attacks between Snape and Black on each other had been going on for years now. Each time seemed to be more threatening than the last one; how either kept on surviving the other's assaults still remained a mystery and the subject of much gossip and speculation.

But what was more titillating was the second pairing.

Both Remus Lupin and Nagini Lestrange had to be the most reclusive, shy, unassuming students among the sixth year. The oddity of Lupin's closest friends being the extroverted, hyperactive James Potter, Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew had also always been a curiosity.

Whereas Potter and Black were exceptionally skilled and let anyone and everyone know it, Lupin, in his own quiet way, had always shown a controlled expertise and precision in all hexes when having to demonstrate them and a disturbingly fathomless knowledge in the Dark Arts.

Anyone partnered against him had to double their concentration and will when attempting to hex him. His outwardly attractive, gentle facade and unassuming air seemed in itself a natural Shield Charm. When not in Dark Arts, the Gryffindor Prefect gave off the warmest, docile-like aura. But, in the Dark Arts class, he seemed to transform – his skills were irrefragable; his keen attention and focus were resolute. He was in his element. Distinguishable and separate from his housemates, he was his own person, absorbed completely in the Dark Arts material or task at hand.

Everyone speculated that he had great potential and adeptness for the Dark Arts, a little uncanny, considering he was a Gryffindor. The Slytherins had snidely remarked that regardless of his mastery, he was a half-blood of dubious background. Severus Snape diverted these remarks and commented on Lupin's pattern of disappearing once a month. "No doubt from his Mudblood Muggle blood'', ''chronic, contagious disease'' were the general comments, and then, in disgust, the topic of Lupin was dropped.

In general, other students had long ago stopped trying to befriend him. He had purposely avoided initiating interaction with them and kept to himself. But Potter and Black, the two most popular and notable students of the Gryffindor House, along with a third highly excitable kid, Peter Pettigrew, had somehow adopted and included him in their social circle. Together, the four of them were a lively pack, calling themselves the 'Marauders'. And in the last few years, now and then, Lupin could be seen hanging out with a few other Gryffindors more often, mostly Lily Evans and Alice Dearborn.

Lupin's opponent, on the other hand, was a complete loner. Nagini Lestrange was hardly ever seen with anyone else, outside of classes. During her entire time at Hogwarts, even her Slytherin housemates had seemed to have overlooked her. There was the exception of a few shared whispers before classes between her and Severus Snape. Or, randomly, she could be found in the library sharing a table, seemingly tutoring the younger fifth year, Regulus Black.

But, as with Lupin, when it came to the Dark Arts class, as well as Transfiguration, she irrefutably stood out in skills and knowledge.

And today was the day. Both the sixth-year Slytherins and Gryffindors filed into the classroom. Everyone was trying to settle down as quickly as possible. Professor Merrythought cleared her throat, and with bated breath, announced, "First up, Severus Snape and Sirius Black!''

The cheers and catcalls shrieked out from the onlookers. Severus and Sirius, however, were morosely glaring at each other as they moved into the centre of the room, standing a respectable duelling distance apart. An unspeakable, silent dialogue was occurring between the two of them.

"Settle down! Settle down, everyone!'' Merrythought called out. She rose from her chair and turned around to address a part of the unruly class, but at that moment, all hell broke out suddenly behind her between Severus and Sirius.