OOOOOH the drama in this chapter! Hi guys I'm still alive! I survived project hell! Now I just have to survive finals week and I'll be good to go! Happy Reading!
Mistress Slytherin
Chapter 14
Dueling Club
Severus had been right, as far as the school was concerned he was old news in comparison to the apparent threat Hogwarts was facing. Unfortunately for Harry the political arena had apparently picked up on his story and Circe was kept busy bringing in notes from 'concerned' politicians. Harry however was making them sweat it out, he would wait until Christmas before actually making any moves so that it wouldn't interfere with school. Severus of course kept grilling him for answers which Harry denied him quite easily making the man rather frustrated and amused at the same time. It wasn't often that Harry had the upper hand when it came to the two of them and he was delighted at the challenge. Besides, their little games were always separate from his needs as a student, which now apparently included learning the art of Dueling.
Nearly the moment he'd exited the hospital wing Severus had let him in on a tidbit of useful information while loading him down with the necessary texts. Apparently Dumbledore's idea of protecting his students from the unseen danger in the Chamber of Secrets was to give them armature dueling lessons though even Severus had rolled his eyes at being paired with Lockhart. It was obvious that the headmaster was attempting to smooth whatever differences the two had with each other.
"The professors must provide a united front in the face of danger." Severus quoted with a sneer before going on about narcissistic frauds. Harry had taken it in stride. Severus had already begun to teach him the basics of defending himself after Filches cat had been found and Harry had taken to defense quickly never wanting a repeat of what had happened earlier that summer.
He shivered in remembrance.
He still couldn't stand to be touched and was bound to hex anyone foolish enough to stand behind him for too long. Severus had assured him that it was normal for these things to happen and didn't push him like Pomphrey did to get 'help' which Harry thought was a ridiculous notion. He was fine. He had a bit of a problem but it would go away with time.
Meanwhile he studied and dueled with Severus in his free time.
He ignored the drama around him.
Kept an eye on Draco- who was still pouting.
And learned better silencing charms to put around his bed to hide the screams caused by nightmares.
He was fine.
Perfectly fine.
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Harry sighed as Draco dragged him down the hall towards the great hall which had been especially set up for their dueling lessons. Despite Draco's sulk, Harry was still far more intelligent than Crabb and Goyle and a far better choice to partner with in lessons.
"Uncle Sev is going to cream him!" Draco said grinning evilly. Sometimes it worried him to see that look of blood lust on Draco's face but then he remembered Draco's father and knew that it was only natural.
"Gather round gather round!" Lockhart said cheerfully snapping Harry out of his thoughts. The man twirled dramatically on the long stage allowing his plum colored robes to flare out around him as he sent a wink at some of the girls. Harry rolled his eyes at the resulting swoon. Despite the fact that Lockhart had officially fallen from social grace and that no bookstore would buy his books and had in fact burned the ones they had- Lockhart's aesthetic appeal kept many female supporters loyal.
"Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions- for full details, see my published works." Harry rolled his eyes visibly and Draco snorted. As if any one would buy his books.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry- you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!" Harry snorted loudly at this drawing several curious gazes and a small smirk from Severus. Lockhart was about to have his arse handed to him and Merlin wouldn't that be sweet. Severus wasn't just good, he was a phenomenal duelist.
Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did, with much twirling of his hands, whereas Snape jerked his head irritably.
Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them. "As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd.
"On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course." He said genially. Harry grinned slightly.
"I wouldn't bet on that," Harry murmured, watching Severus bare his teeth.
"One-two-three- " Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent; Snape hissed,
"Expelliarmus!" There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet. He flew backward off the stage, smashed into the wall, and slid down it to sprawl on the floor. Draco and some of the other Slytherins cheered, Harry let out a dark laugh.
Lockhart struggled to stand with a silly grin on his face and pat at his hair making sure it was perfect before climbing back on the platform. It was only once he was back on his feet that he realized that he didn't have his wand. Harry shook his head, if that had been a real battle the man would be dead.
"Yes, well- er, yes thank you miss Brown." He said accepting his wand. Harry shook his head slightly as the girl nearly swooned. "Very good, now- Mister Snape if you would step aside I will begin working with some of the students here." Severus sneered at the man before sinking back into a small nook. Harry nearly snorted. Severus wanted a real fight with Lockhart- or rather he wanted to beat the man to a bloody pulp. That half- arsed duel was not nearly satisfying enough. "Ah Mister Potter!" Harry stiffened as the man called him out blue eyes smiling brightly at him. "Don't worry Potter I won't hurt you this is for demonstrative purposes only, come on up!" Harry twitched slightly as all eyes turned towards him but stiffly made his way through the crowd and up the stairs. Lockhart swooped forward causing him to take a step back and he nearly cursed when blue eyes seemed to shift to hazel. He flinched visibly when Lockhart settled a hand on his shoulder and pulled away with a scowl causing the man to frown.
"Don't worry Harry I'm not about to hurt you, I might be a great deal more advanced than you but that will come with time." Lockhart said in what was probably meant to be a reassuring way. But all Harry could understand was the crawling sensation under his skin, the memory of helplessness. Lockhart stepped back and made his way over to the other side of the platform and Harry's magic tickled his fingers.
Don't want you to burn those beautiful hands
You can struggle all you want little bird but you're mine
...the firm press of the man's lips or the scratch of the stubble on his jaw
No...not here not now! He hardly registered that Lockhart was talking- he flinched when the man ducked his head-
leaning in for a kiss
-to bow before moving back his hazel- no blue! Blue Lockhart-
"One-"
Pain ripping through him.
"-Two-"
You are mine little bird.
"-Three!"
Harry's hand moved defensively and magic exploded from the tip in a (thankfully) nearly-harmless bright yellow. The charm was too strong though and the force of it sent Lockhart flying into the other wall with a deafening crunch! Harry didn't hear it though. He didn't see the blood smearing the wall or hear the silence that had fallen over the hall. There was a scream and then panic but Harry saw and heard little of it-
Petunia laughed exaggeratedly half leaning, half clinging onto someone. Harry swallowed thickly as he stared at her for a moment in disbelief before glancing to see just who she was clinging to. The man was tall, lightly tanned and a quick look at the cut of his suit told Harry that he was also very wealthy...Harry blinked in surprise recognizing this man as the man from Vernon's funeral.
"Harry?" Severus' voice cut through the memory and Harry realized that he was tearing at his wrist repeatedly. He tried to tell Severus that he was fine, tried to be fine. But he wasn't and all that came out was a pained sound before he began trembling and fell to the floor.
Severus stared at the book his breath catching in his throat when a familiar dullness glazed over green eyes. Harry's body fell lax and he stared at Severus for a long moment. Severus let out a sigh. Harry had fallen into shock again.
"Harry?" He said again this time his tone gentle. Green eyes blinked up at him slowly.
"The bad man isn't going to hurt me is he?" He said softly his shoulders trembling slightly. Severus frowned.
"Who Harry?" He asked forgetting their audience for a moment.
"Uncle Sev-" Draco tried.
"Marcus- he was here just a minuet ago-" Harry said tilting his head to the side. Severus pressed his lips into a thin line just as the headmaster and heads of house swept into the room.
"Severus what's happened here?" Dumbledore said as Pomphrey swept over to Lockhart. Severus felt a familiar rage fall over him then.
"What happened?" He seethed his eyes flashing as his stood towering over the old man. "What happened?" He snarled. "I'll tell you what bloody happened!" He hissed angrily only to jerk back at the feel of a small hand wrapping around his wrist. He glanced down and green eyes flickered and twitched.
"Severus?" Harry slurred his voice shaky. Severus clenched his jaw and helped Harry stand using his body as a shield from prying eyes.
"Severus..." Dumbledore said worriedly. Severus sneered.
"Your sorrow has blinded you Albus Dumbledore, Harry might not hate you, but I will. For every tear this boy sheds, for every waking nightmare he faces I wish and evil twice as terrifying and painful visits you." He hissed causing the headmaster's eyes to widen.
"Severus that's-!" Severus sneered.
"Old magic? Yes headmaster, very old magic. And I pray that magic listens to me this time, for Harry's sake." He said before guiding a trembling Harry out of the chaotic hall.
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"Old magic." Harry said nearly a week later. They hadn't spoken about the flashback, Severus seemed to understand that he didn't want to talk about it, especially since it was all Hogwarts as a whole could talk about. Severus sighed and set his book aside.
"Is too dangerous for one so young to even contemplate." He said stiffly his gaze hard. Harry tilted his head to the side.
"Why?" He demanded setting his book aside, Severus had never forbidden him anything in his pursuit of knowledge before. Severus leaned back slowly and let his eyes fall shut.
"I assume that your asking me why and not what means that you know something about old magic to begin with?" Severus said with a small frown.
"It's wild magic, from around us." Harry said quietly. Severus nodded.
"Old magic is whimsical and requires a frame of mind that I doubt you are ready for." He said quietly. Dark eyes gazed at him for a long moment. "I refuse to teach you." Harry stiffened. Severus had never refused to teach him anything before.
"Why?" He demanded. Severus shook his head.
"Because I would lose myself to it. The last time I allowed magic to guide my actions-" His voice caught in his throat. "-I lost my best friend." He finished. Harry felt the anger melt away and he nodded slowly.
"I will find someone else to teach me then." He said picking up his book.
And that was the last they spoke of it for a very long time.
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Harry was nearly unsurprised to find Severus waiting for him in the Slytherin common rooms come Christmas morning. He simply shook his head and leaned against the ornate railing.
"It seems that Draco was determined that you share Christmas with him this year." Severus said looking away with an almost innocent expression. Harry snorted.
"Last time I checked Draco was still pouting at me." He said cocking his head to the side. Severus smiled thinly.
"Tis the season." He said blandly. Harry chuckled and shook his head.
"Gather up your gifts Harry we really must get going." Severus said with a quirked eyebrow.
"Of course, be must arrive before Lady Malfoy runs out of sweets." Harry said striding to the tree. He smiled slightly at the packages and scooped them up reverently.
"As if Malfoy Manor would ever run out of sweets." Severus said with a sneer. Harry huffed and took a hand full of floo powder.
"Very well, then I say we get there before Lord Malfoy runs out of Liquor." Harry said grinning. Severus smirked.
"Ah, yes that would be a possibility." He said with a malicious smirk. Harry let out a short laugh before climbing through the floo. As ever the grandeur of the main foyer astounded him. Even after living in Malfoy Manor for a time he still had a hard time taking the beauty that surrounded him for granted.
"Harry!" Harry blushed slightly as he was enveloped in a short perfumed embrace.
"Lady Malfoy, I appreciate the invitation." He said relaxing into the hold and relishing it for a moment before she pulled away. A pale hand wrapped around his and suddenly he was being dragged down the hall by a bouncing Draco.
"Come on Harry presents!" Draco cheered his face alight with a childish joy that Harry couldn't help but envy a bit.
"Draco!" Lucius Malfoy said exasperated as he strode towards them.
"Ah husband of mine!" Narcissa Malfoy said her eyes glinting. Harry was treated to a rare flinch from the man. "I suppose that oh so very urgent business at the ministry had been taken care of?" Harry shared an amused look with Severus before Draco yanked him into the large room. Harry smiled slightly in exasperation as Draco very nearly dove into the pile of gifts.
"Go on Harry open your gifts." Lady Malfoy said before moving to the customary tea table that had been set up for them. Harry grinned slightly before unwrapping the first of his gifts his eyes bugging out as he stared at the decadently curved blades.
"Lucius!" Severus snapped his eyes glittering slightly. Lucius smiled thinly
"Yes Severus?" He said calmly. Narcissa snorted.
"It's no use Severus, Lucius has been talking about it since he heard about the Dueling Club." Harry stared down at the blades and gasped as his fingers traced the metal etching. When he looked up silver eyes were looking at him critically.
"You feel it don't you Harry?" Malfoy said with a curve of his lips. Harry nodded slowly. He did...it was a small vibration, so small that it only tickled, and the blade seemed to sing a sweet metallic sound. Narcissa Malfoy blinked at him with wide eyes.
"But how?" She said shaking her head. Severus let out a sigh.
"He's been meditating." He said rubbing his forehead. Harry tilted his head to the side in shock.
"You mean that was..." He looked down at the blades and closed his eyes focusing, blocking out the small argument that was beginning at the tea table, blocking out Draco's cheers blacking out everything except the small metallic noise and the vibrations under his fingers.
Magic...it is in everything, from the ever changing water to the steady resolute rock.
He let out a gasp as the thought which wasn't his spoke to him- no through him? He didn't know, he couldn't tell.
Welcome my child...
There were voices, millions, thousands- one voice, laughter, screams, love- life- vibrations- singing such sweet singing-
"HARRY!"
His eyes snapped open and met dark eyes but he could still feel it, surrounding him, enveloping him, protecting him. It thrummed beneath his skin and tickled his senses crackling around him and shivering through his own core.
So long I've wished to hear you my child.
Harry shook as an emotion that was not his own swallowed his conscience. Love.
He felt the magic smiling.
Yes Harry, you are loved- so loved.
Tears began to spill down his cheeks.
"Harry darling what is it whats wrong!" It was Lady Malfoy this time and Harry smiled weakly. Did she know? Had she met Magic?
There was a thrill of affection this time directed at Narcissa Malfoy who blinked in surprise.
"Narcissa?"
Your mother and father agreed to make you mine the day you were born little one.
Magic whispered gently.
You had only to find me.
Harry blinked slowly. How?
"Narcissa what is this? Whats wrong-" Harry watched as if through a foggy looking glass as Severus paled his face twisting.
"How can this be? He is only twelve!" Lucius Malfoy said shaking his head. His wife sent him a sharp look.
"Lucius you know better than anyone that it cannot be controlled it does what it likes." she said with a short nod.
In time my child, all will be revealed in time.
And with that the presence faded becoming less finite though Harry could feel it still. A warm spot that sat in his chest. The dim ringing sound amplified drawing his attention to the blades. His head jerked up with new found determination and green met onyx.
"Teach me how to use them." He said a part of him burning for them. Severus was frowning.
"They are not allowed at Hogwa-"
"Oh but they are." Lord Malfoy said slyly his eyes glinting with what Harry could recognize as glee. "I've ensured that they have been properly documented and are accepted under one of the how shall we say it...rarer clauses in Hogwarts' rules." he said smiling smugly. Severus grit his teeth for a long moment before lifting his chin.
"I'll be damned if I-" But Harry had seen enough. Severus was being stubborn.
"Either you teach me Severus or I find someone else, tell me Severus, does that idea sit well with you?" Harry said blithely. No matter what Severus might have sacrificed for him Harry had to remember that he had goals of his own to meet. He had to make certain that he was unbeatable and he had precious time to do so if this whole chamber business was really as dangerous as he could assume. Dark eyes met his and Harry held his breath wondering if he'd pressed the man too far.
"Very well, you will begin your lessons when we return to Hogwarts. I will not be an easy teacher Harry." He added with warning but Harry merely grinned. He'd already been subjected to Severus' harsher methods of teaching when they dueled, he suspected that this would be no different. The blades in his hands sang happily in response.