"Crazy bleeding women." Severus muttered, "I didn't even do anything wrong, she's just UMPH!"
The sudden introduction of an object at Severus's feet sent the skinny boy tumbling. Hard stone rose up to meet his chest, knocking the breath from his body. As he fought to shoo away the stars dancing in front of his eyes, a familiar voice grated against his ears.
"I suppose Wormtail was right, that tripping jinx is great for catching greasy slime-balls. How are ya going Snivelly?"
Severus groaned, "Oh you know, just checking the temperature of the floor. Send my regards to rat-boy would you?"
James's laughter didn't do anything for Severus's sense of well-being, "Oh Snivelly, I won't be leaving for a bit. I actually wanted to talk to you, have a friendly chat, and see if you could help me practice a few new spells."
Severus was sure James could hear the click in his throat as he swallowed, "Potter, as much as I would like to help you, wouldn't your bed-buddy Black be jealous if he wasn't here to help you out with your wand issues?"
Fury was just the look Severus was looking for. He rolled, pulling his wand as he found his feet. A quick spell was cast, and he began to laugh as spines began to burst from his snarling enemy's robes. James looked down, then let out a battle cry and let loose a rainbow cascade of spells at Severus. Each successive spell grew brighter, as though fueled by loathing in his brown eyes. Severus blocked and dodged as he backed away from the barrage of spells; however, it couldn't last forever. As practiced as he was at the art of dueling (as was expected when your worst enemies consisted of three of the best duelists in the school and one tricky bastard), Severus began to tire. Spells burnt holes in his robe and whiffed through his hair, and before long a red spell smashed into his chest. As he picked himself off the floor, Severus kept from going to a full stand, and instead waited on one knee as James's footsteps approached closer. Time seemed to slow as he waited for the right moment. His heart stopped as James finally stopped a pace away. As James raised his wand arm the fabric of his shirt whispered as it rubbed against itself, and Severus took his cue. Springing forward, he jammed the end of his wand underneath James's chin.
"Don't you move." Severus hissed. James froze, then tried to whip his arm around to catch Severus in a headlock. Severus was waiting for just that, "Petrificus Totalus!"
James's arms and legs snapped to his sides. He fell forward, stiff as a rod, and slammed face first into the castle floor. Severus heard the crunching of James's nose, and he smiled a bit at the resulting scream that tore itself from between clenched teeth.
He bent down and rolled James onto his back, "Those new spells did you a lot of good Potter. Take this as a lesson from yours truly. Don't." Severus kicked him in the ribs, "Fuck."; he kicked him in the gut, "With. Me.", both words accompanied by two kicks to the face. Tears ran down James's face, his eyes had moved past loathing and now burned with the ice of hatred. Severus turned away from his fallen foe, and bumped into the end of a wand. The handsome boy at the other end stuffed a piece of parchment into his robe pocket, then addressed Severus.
"Oh Snivelly, you've really screwed up this time. Expelliarmus."
Severus's wand went flying, and he turned to his assailant, "How did you find us, dog?"
Sirius smiled and dropped a wink at James, "I have my ways. You really should know by now that it's better to take what's coming to you than fight back."
Severus had been backing up with Sirius's advance, then stopped as he hit cold stone. He snarled at his captor, "Worried I'll hurt your lover Black?"
He hadn't seen James recover from the body-bind jinx. Nor did he see the callused fist that slammed into the side of his head. As he once again welcomed the stars in his sight he heard James thank Sirius, then bend down to speak to him, "I've got something special in mind for you Snivellus."
A boot impacted with the side of his head, and he knew no more.