Author's Note: Thanks for all your reviews and patience in waiting for the last chapter. Here's the next one and we're half way through now *sigh*. Remember, this is AU and I've kept people I like alive.
Thanks to River in Egypt for her help in betaing this chapter.
Chapter 3: Duels
Severus knocked briefly on the door of the Defence Against the Dark Arts office before swinging the door open and marching in. He sneered a little as he took in the changes that had been made since he'd vacated it at the end of last year. Once more, it was cheery and bright with fascinating creatures littering the surfaces here and there. How depressing! There was nothing cheerful about the Dark Arts but - sadly - he was one of the few who realised and appreciated that.
"Severus, how can I help you?" Remus Lupin asked, looking up from the essays he was currently marking.
"I've come with a proposition for you."
The werewolf looked intrigued, which was precisely what Severus was aiming for. He wouldn't normally want to interact with Lupin, but in order to win the bet with the Headmaster, he needed the competitive qualities of the Head Students to be released with, hopefully, dire consequences.
"I want to bring back the duelling club and need another professor to help me run it. I thought you'd be the perfect person."
"Really? Wasn't it a bit of a disaster last time?"
"The fault of that fool Gilderoy Lockhart and unforeseen circumstances with the Chamber of Secrets being reopened. With two competent wizards in charge, I rather think the students will benefit," he said, the compliment towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor sticking a little in his throat.
"Hmm … you have a point and it would be rather fun, as well as excellent preparation for my class. The upper years are so excellent in duelling and repelling dark curses thanks in part to Dumbledore's Army. It was a little like a duelling club," Lupin mused.
Severus mentally rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes," he said impatiently. "I take it I can count on your support when I take this to Albus?"
"Of course."
"With the Headmaster's permission, I thought we could start the club up by the end of the week. We're already in February and it would be a shame to waste any more of this term."
"I agree and suggest Friday evenings as the perfect time."
Severus nodded curtly before leaving. The first part of his plan was in motion. He knew that Albus would agree to the club. He would see it as vindication for bringing Lupin back to teach at Hogwarts and would be keen for students to benefit from a well-run duelling club. Severus was also aware that the Headmaster would also see through his machinations and know it was an attempt to further the rivalry between the Head Students, but that couldn't be helped.
Hermione looked across the Great Hall at dinner that night and smiled a little at the sight of Malfoy showing off the little Quidditch figurine to his friends. It really was a brilliant bit of magic, even if she did say so herself. He looked as pleased with it as she imagined he would be, too. She wasn't sure why, but the accident in the Potions class had calmed her anger towards the Head Boy. Maybe, it had been the real prospect of him dying that had done it. It was a little scary that an argument could get so out of control that he ended up lifeless on the floor at her feet. His still, unmoving body had sent an icy shiver down her spine and, now, when looking at him, she couldn't help but see that image, which made her realise that he was as vulnerable as anyone else behind that snarky demeanour. As she watched his glee at a gift she'd given him, it was more rewarding than it should have been – even if he wasn't aware that the gift came from her.
She turned her attention away from Malfoy and towards the podium, where Professor Dumbledore had called for their attention.
"I have some exciting news for you all. Professor Snape and Professor Lupin have decided to collaborate together to reinstate the duelling club. It will be recommencing from this Friday in the Great Hall, and all students are welcome."
Excited whispers tore around the Hall as students looked at each other. The Lockhart attempt at putting a Duelling Club together had become legendary amongst the Hogwarts students. How disastrous it had turned out to be was a never-ending source of amusement for the school. And now there was a chance for the younger years to see what it was all about – although Hermione highly doubted that it would descend into the farce that the previous club had. For a start, Lupin was a highly proficient duellist and secondly, everyone knew that Harry had been a Parselmouth and how he'd come by that ability.
"So, are we going to check it out?" Ron asked.
Hermione sighed. "I guess. I don't really have a choice. As Head Girl, I'm expected to turn up to events like this."
Ron frowned. "But you don't go to the Gobstones Club meetings or anything?"
"No, but they've been an established club since the Founders were in charge. This is something new and I should really show my face."
"I bet Malfoy will be there, anyway. Hey, Harry! Do you reckon you'll get a chance to duel him again?"
The black haired boy shrugged. "Who knows? Snape will probably try and make it happen but I have plenty of spells up my sleeve this time."
Ron chuckled. "After taking on and defeating Voldemort, Malfoy will be a doddle!"
"I reckon Hermione's got a better chance of duelling Malfoy – it's pretty much what they've been doing all year, anyway," Ginny cut in slyly.
She flushed in embarrassment at the remark. "I doubt it. I'm sure both Professor Snape and Professor Lupin will prefer to use younger students."
Ron snorted. "Yeah, right! Everyone is going to want to see Harry duel."
Harry groaned. He hated being touted as the Saviour of the Wizarding World with all the attention that came with it. He wanted to sit in the background and get on with his Voldemort free life.
He also got irritated at those who tried to whip up hostility between him and Malfoy. After Narcissa Malfoy had become an Order of the Phoenix informer to stop her son from having to take the Dark Mark, the rivalry between the two boys had dissipated. Malfoy no longer felt a burning need to best him at everything and they enjoyed a civil – if not friendly – relationship. They would nod in the corridor and whilst they would still fiercely compete on the Quidditch pitch (where Malfoy still hadn't managed to defeat him, much to his pleasure), it was a lot healthier.
Ron would still make little comments at Malfoy's expense but, crucially, this was never in front of the sensitive Slytherin. Ironically, it was Hermione who couldn't stand Malfoy. When they'd been younger, she'd always been the one who would take the higher ground and, more likely than not, ignore Malfoy's jabs. Or if she did retaliate, then it would be verbally rather than with hexes, barring the Slapping Incident, as they'd come to call it. But since they'd returned as the Head Students this final year, they'd fought like cat and dog, resulting in that disastrous Potions lesson where Malfoy had nearly died.
At least this had the effect of calming their rivalry down. They had both stayed far away from each other in the past few days.
The excitement regarding the duelling club didn't abate in the few days until Friday came around. It was all the students talked about in between classes and after homework. Well, the younger students anyway. Draco had become so fed up over the incessant wondering about what the club would be like that he'd banned any talk of it in the Slytherin common room. The younger years had glared at him resentfully, but he didn't care.
"So, do you reckon Professor Snape will call on you to duel?" Blaise asked.
"Possibly."
"You are his favourite and you are the best duellist in Slytherin."
"That's not saying much considering how much Professor Snape hates all students and how little duelling any Slytherin has done."
It was a source of annoyance to Draco that the other three houses were so much better when it came to duelling – well, the older years anyway, thanks to their participation in Dumbledore's Army and the role that some of them were allowed to play in the final battle. The Slytherins in contrast had nothing to compare, as throwing a few hexes in the corridor really didn't match up.
Draco had considered fighting to free his home from Voldemort but, when he'd casually suggested this, it had been very unpopular with the Order. They had questioned his loyalty, worried that if they allowed him to take part then he would somehow switch sides and destroy all their plans. Draco had been hugely unimpressed with this reasoning, as, if he were so stupid to do such a thing, he'd be signing his mother's death warrant.
But the real stopper to his plans had been his mother, who had a backbone of steel. She'd gone against her upbringing to keep her son safe, gone to the man the Dark Lord had ordered Draco to kill and ruthlessly betrayed all and any secrets the Death Eaters had confided in her. It was thanks to her information that the Order was able to kill Voldemort off so quickly and easily. And there had been no way that she was endangering her son by letting him fight. When he'd tried arguing with her she'd refused to relent, so he'd had to watch the Order leave Grimmauld Place and return his own home to him. It had hurt his pride.
But he'd stood by his mother's side, when his father, released from Azkaban after the war, in accordance with the deal his mother had struck with Professor Dumbledore, had railed at her for running to a bunch of 'Mudbloods and Blood Traitors' instead of remaining true to the Dark Lord's vision and ambitions. She'd weathered his father's storm calmly before mercilessly ripping Lucius' character and actions to shreds. Draco had been worried that his father would lash out at his mother, and had his wand ready, but once more he'd underestimated his mother's character. Narcissa had thrown a powerful Petrificus Totalus at his father when he'd attempted to hit her, which had knocked Lucius out cold for twelve hours. She'd then shut herself and her husband away for a day, silencing their room and when Draco had next seen them, his father was a changed – albeit subdued – man. No more words were spoken about pure-blood superiority. More surprisingly, when they'd gone to Diagon Alley to replenish Draco's school supplies and bumped into the Weasleys, his father had said nothing as his mother and Molly Weasley exchanged polite pleasantries.
Draco had confronted his mother after that, asking if she'd used the Imperius Curse on his father. His mother had laughed long and hard at that, patted him on the cheek and reassured him that she'd used the rather more effective method of some much needed home truths. Needless to say, it was now his mother who ruled the roost and he had to admit that things were a lot better. Draco was still just as spoiled but he was no longer encouraged to best Harry Potter and his friends. In fact, his mother had made him promise to be a lot more civil to the Boy-Who-Lived, which he had - partly due to the fact that he'd seen the reality of Voldemort and hadn't liked it, but mainly because he was scared of what his mother would do to him if he didn't.
Draco strolled into the Great Hall with Blaise and raised his eyebrows as he saw that the whole school was in attendance.
"I don't know why I'm surprised, but I didn't imagine everyone would be here," Blaise remarked.
"It's something new and exciting."
Silence descended on the gathering as Professors Snape and Lupin strode onto the raised podium, especially erected to give everyone a view of what was happening.
"Good evening," Professor Lupin said pleasantly. "I'm glad you're all so eager and excited at the prospect of the duelling club."
Draco smirked as he glanced over to Professor Snape, who looked anything but happy. In fact, he looked surly and disdainful. Draco couldn't work out why his Head of House had wanted to be involved in the club. He'd understood the Potions Master's motivations during their second year: he'd wanted to humiliate Lockhart. But this time Draco was confused as to why he was setting the club up.
The two professors then gave a short display of proper duelling etiquette and conduct, which Draco zoned out of. It was the maniacal laughter and the thump on the floor that regained his attention along with the titters from the crowd. It appeared that Professor Lupin had hit the Slytherin Head of House with Rictusempra and the sight of the usually sullen Potions Master laughing hysterically was very amusing. The werewolf lifted the spell and Professor Snape struggled to stand, his feet trapped in his cloak and his hair mussed and in his face. The murderous glare the Potions Professor gave to Professor Lupin, and then the laughing students, promised retribution.
The Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, impervious to the death stares, turned once more to the mass of excited students. "A simple, seemingly harmless spell is often the most effective. Now, how about we get some students up here to have a go?"
The chattering broke out anew and Professor Lupin was about to choose two students when Professor Snape interrupted.
"I think it might be a good idea if our Head Students gave a demonstration. After all, we all know they are proficient at duelling each other," he said silkily.
Draco groaned as Blaise poked him in the ribs, sniggering. "Told you so."
"That doesn't endear you to me."
"What? You've entertained us enough this year with Granger, what's one more duelling exhibition in controlled circumstances?"
He shot his amused friend a dirty look before dragging his unwilling body over and onto the podium. Professor Snape beckoned him over.
"Right, there's no need to play fair, Draco. She won't."
He looked up and over at Granger who was confidently standing next to Professor Lupin, who wasn't even bothering to give her instructions.
"Go on, Hermione! Hex him back to the dungeons!" someone called out from the crowd.
Great! he thought, I'm going to end up with another trip to the Infirmary. The Head Girl's hexes were vicious – he should know, he'd been on the receiving end of them far too many times this year.
"See! Hit her with all you have," his Head of House encouraged.
Draco would probably feel a lot better about this if he wasn't facing one of the most talented witches alive. The way she'd taken down several Death Eaters during the Battle at Malfoy Manor was legendary.
They moved towards each other, bowed and then paced the requisite steps back, their wands raised in a combative stance. Professor Lupin started to count to three but as he reached two, Draco found himself flying backwards, somersaulting through the air. He landed with a sickening crunch back on the podium. He stayed down for a brief moment, catching his breath before righting himself, flipping his hair out of his eyes.
"Oh, sorry!" Granger gushed at the other end of the podium, as if she hadn't just cheated and hit him with Flipendo Tria before he was even ready.
"I thought I was meant to be the Slytherin, Granger!" Draco snapped at her.
"Hermione, the count is to three," Professor Lupin scolded.
"I know, but I thought Malfoy would jump in early, as he did with Harry back in our second year."
Draco glared but turned once more to Professor Snape, whose eyes were glittering with excitement. At least someone was enjoying this.
"Try Levicorpus," Professor Snape told him, showing him the wand movement covertly.
"What's that? I've never heard of it."
"A spell of my own making, but it'll teach her a lesson."
Draco was a little wary. He didn't want to hurt Granger and Professor Snape could be more than a little vindictive. He then caught sight of her smug smile in the direction of her friends and narrowed his eyes. So, she was deliberately playing dirty. Well, he'd show her.
Once they were positioned again, Draco didn't give the Head Girl an opportunity to get in first, shouting "Levicorpus!"
Granger swung upwards into the air and was suspended upside down, her robes and skirt rushing around her head. Gasps, jeers and catcalls ran around the crowd as she dangled in the air, her knickers on show.
Draco stood there in shock for a few seconds. He'd thought the spell would fling her backwards into a wall or something – not hang her upside down, which would be harmless if she wasn't wearing a skirt, with her bare legs on display. Nice, long legs, he thought.
The noise of the Great Hall pierced through his shock. He stripped his robes off, rushing to cover her and turned to Professor Snape. "What's the counter-curse? Quickly!"
The Potions Master seemed to be enjoying the spectacle of the Head Girl being humiliated but at Draco's words, he languidly swished his wand, muttering "Liberacorpus."
Once Granger had landed in an untidy heap of twisted limbs and cloth, he rushed over, offering her his hand and heaved her upwards. He then straightened her robes as she smoothed her skirt down, blushing heavily as the catcalls continued.
"What did you do that for?" she snarled angrily at him.
"I didn't realise what it did."
"Oh, well, that makes it even better! You used a spell and you had no idea what it would do! What if it had been harmful rather than just embarrassing? You could have seriously damaged me."
He squirmed under her tirade. She had a point but he didn't think Professor Snape would give him something truly awful, even if his Head of House did loathe Granger and her friends.
She went to stomp off stage but he stayed her arm. "I really am sorry. I didn't mean to humiliate you."
She shot him a glare before tossing her hair. "You could've fooled me."
Draco gazed after her guiltily as she made her way over to her friends, many of whom weren't bothering to hide their dislike of him. He really hadn't meant for that to happen.
Severus eyed how upset his Head Boy was with misgiving. He wasn't meant to have rushed to Granger's defence but react to her angry question by getting defensive and then all hell was meant to break out. That was how it was supposed to have happened. Instead, Draco was now shushing, shouting and docking points off any student, who dared make a ribald comment about the Head Girl's knickers. Granger herself had fled the Hall.
Lupin hadn't seen the point in continuing the duelling club after that and had dismissed the students, promising them that the club would continue but probably without the Head Students duelling each other.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Professor, I doubt anyone saw that outcome … well, not many of us, anyway," a dreamy voice to his side said.
He looked down in the big blue eyes of Luna Lovegood and his eyebrow rose at her temerity to come and talk to him like this. No students volunteered to start a conversation with him – not even his Slytherins.
"No doubt you're one who did see this happening, Miss Lovegood," he bit back.
"Yes," she replied simply.
"If you would be so good as to enlighten me, then?" he asked acerbically.
"They are so very aware of each other and Draco was so protective of her modesty. It's interesting."
"Really? I fail to see that."
She turned her unfocused gaze on him. "Most people do," she said before drifting off in the direction of the Weasley girl, who smiled smugly at him.
Severus narrowed his eyes at the two friends. Something was going on, and it didn't help when they passed Albus on their way out and gave him big smiles.
"Ah, is it over already? I had hoped to see some of the duelling," the Headmaster said, once he'd crossed the Great Hall to the two professors, who were clearing the paraphernalia away.
"Yes, Severus thought it would be a good idea to have the Head Students give a display."
Oh! How did that end?" the infernally nosy wizard asked.
"With Hermione dangling up in the air with her underwear on show," Lupin replied.
Albus sent Severus an amused look. "Levicorpus?"
"I thought Draco could do with an edge," he replied defensively.
The Headmaster smothered a laugh, unsuccessfully.
"At least Draco had the common sense to shield Hermione," Lupin said.
"He did, did he?"
"Yes, he looked upset to have been the cause of her embarrassment."
Albus stroked his beard and his eyes twinkled. Severus pursed his lips in distaste. This had not turned out how he'd predicted. Draco had rushed to help the Head Girl instead of standing there laughing and enjoying her discomfort. It was most off-putting. He could see the chivalrous spin Albus was putting on it as well. He was going to have to do something about this. He was not losing this bet.
"Yes, well, I will be picking the duellists next week," Lupin continued, oblivious to the competitive undertones passing between the Headmaster and his Potions Professor.
"Hey, Hermione! Wait!"
She turned around and saw Ginny sprinting up the stairs to catch up.
"Hi, Ginny," she said quietly.
"How are you feeling?"
"Oh, I don't know. How about humiliated? I just had to face a third-year commenting on my knickers. A third-year!"
"Oops! In Malfoy's defence, I really don't think he meant for that to happen."
"That makes it so much better then. But when has Malfoy ever missed a chance to embarrass me?"
"He hasn't really looked to do that since the fourth-year and those Rita Skeeter articles."
Hermione thought back and realised that Ginny did have a small point. Okay, so their mutual hatred this year had focused on their different methods to get their Head duties done and competitiveness in class.
She shrugged. " Hmm... I guess you're right. He hasn't been pulling my appearance apart for a while now but I bet he still enjoyed that … that spectacle today."
"Actually, you're wrong. He looked shocked and upset by it. You saw how he rushed over to shield you from view with his robes. It was quite chivalrous really."
Hermione snorted. "This is Malfoy we're talking about it. He doesn't do chivalrous."
"It was a turn up for the books, but he really is defending your honour down there. He's docking points off any student making comments about you."
"Really?" she asked, shocked.
Ginny smiled at her friend's disbelief. "Yes. So far, he's taken more points off Slytherin in the last few minutes than the rest of the year combined."
"Oh!" she said in response. She couldn't think of anything else to say. If true, then it was an unexpected turn of events. Malfoy had never seemed inclined to do anything like that in the past.
"Well, so he should! It's his fault that I'm getting all these comments!" she snapped, not sure what to make of Malfoy's strange behaviour.
"Maybe you should give him a break. It's obvious that Snape gave him that hex to use and he's sorry about it," Ginny said, linking her arm through hers.
Hermione stared off up the Grand Staircase, unseeing. Her thoughts were swirling with the implications of Malfoy actually being nice and defending her. It appeared he had a decent side, after all. As if you weren't already aware of that! a little voice in her head said.
AN: Draco has a chivalrous side - who knew?
