Chapter 13- "Be aware of evil men."

Circe's Friday evening was going much the same as all her other Friday's had been for a long while: namely, very busy. She was nested into her corner of the library, already several books and maps deep in her research. She must have looked at every blueprint and drawing of Hogwarts from the Norman Conquest to World War Two. All of them invariably absent of a neatly labeled subterranean room showing where The Chamber of Secrets was located. Circe was beginning to lose her nerve. She had found very little of use at all. All of her hours of work stuck in these book-lined walls with nought to show for it was breaking her spirit. Not to mention her stamina for long days and late nights was already wavering.

She closed another useless book on the plumbing structure of the castle and tossed it to the side. It had been dark out for a number of hours and Minerva would skin her alive if she wasn't back in their rooms by the late evening. She always managed to smuggle a few books under her coat and into bed with her as Mcgonagall kept a very close eye on her following the night of Colin Creevey's attack. She'd already be annoyed that Circe was out by herself past dark. She reckoned Minerva would give her a detention if she still could. Still, she appreciated her friend was trying to save her from burnout, but every second spare Circe had was vital. The quicker she found her breakthrough moment, the sooner the school could be a safe place again.

That is, of course, if Quidditch practice, gigging, a full teaching timetable and Gilderoy's new Duelling Club didn't finish her off first… Of course, Gilderoy couldn't pass up the opportunity to be at the center of attention. Her little alcove in the library enabled her to be hidden from sight enough to eavesdrop in on students' conversations. From what she'd heard, everyone and their mum would be attending tomorrow and somehow she'd been roped into chaperoning.

Circe sighed to herself, internally bemoaning how she'd managed to wave goodbye to the first free Saturday she'd had for almost three months. Myron had blissfully cancelled their gig that weekend and all Quidditch matches had been postponed for the near future. Yet she could have guessed the fates would find a way of dropping something onto her plate. Something with Gilderoy's presence, just to drive the knife in. She glanced down at her watch and sighed again. She looked around the room and noticed that she was yet again alone in the empty space.

Bugger, Minerva will be pissed with me. I should know better than to be caught by myself with something awful stalking about. Especially after the search party I caused last time…

She started filing away her books and manuscripts in a hurry, already hearing Mcgonagall's chiding voice in her ears.

She stopped dead as she lifted the last of her books off the desk she'd been working at. Underneath her evening's work she'd placed an old newspaper from The Daily Prophet from some twelve years ago, judging by the date in the corner. She'd found the news archives at the beginning of her evening and had been searching for any headlines pertaining to renovations or exploration done at Hogwarts in days gone past. She'd found two things of use in her newspaper hunt: the first being reports of the first time attacks like this had happened at Hogwarts, all the way back in the forties. Surprising, to say the least, but ultimately a dead end as she theorized whoever had been conducting the attacks back then would be long gone from Hogwarts now. Plus, they seemed to have come to a swift end when a student had died, and Circe hoped this time around it wouldn't come to that, if she had anything to say about it. Still, would have been nice if Dumbledore had told me this had happened here before… she thought.

The second newspaper find had peaked her interest for an entirely different reason. That particular issue had caught her eye, not because of her enquiry, but because of the dark, brooding photograph on the front page: Severus, looking up from his shoes, straight into the camera that had snapped him, emerging from what looked like a Ministry hearing. "Full story on page 3." read the caption beneath it. She of course wanted to read it then and there but self-discipline had forced her to place it on the bottom of her research pile as a keepsake for later. As her fruitless hunt for the Chamber gained momentum, she'd ended up completely forgetting about it… until then.

She looked down at Severus's dark eyes, suspicious and shifty in his picture. Circe'd had half a mind to try and smuggle the paper back under the covers with her that evening. She'd found herself thinking of Severus often enough as she stared at the canopy of her bed, her hands roaming to the tender places on her body. But now, she paused and reconsidered the headline again. The Newspaper was published not long after the end of the War, in that strange time of turmoil when wizarding families from all over the country found themselves exposed as Death Eaters and pulled up in front of the Minister. It was the "Nuremberg Trials" of the wizarding world and it had all happened around about the same time Circe had been largely removed from the magical world. She knew Severus had served in the wizarding war, being almost six years her senior, but in what capacity she didn't know. She sank slowly back into her chair and teased apart the slightly yellowing pages.

"The trial of Severus Tobias Snape concluded today in hearing room 203 of the Ministry. A jury of his peers found Mr. Snape not guilty of the charges raised against him.

Allegations had been made against Snape (22) pertaining to his loyalties in the Great Wizarding War. Several prominent Death Eaters mentioned Snape in their trials as an ally of the now deceased Dark Lord. "Severus was present at our meetings. Check his arm, he bears the same mark of allegiance as all of them." stated Karkaroff. V, at his trial on the 23rd of December.

Despite the surmounting and damning evidence against him, Severus walks from the Ministry today a free man. This is largely due to the testimony of his star character witness. Court records do not disclose who this individual was but following the testimony of this person, they were able to assure the jury beyond reasonable doubt that Snape was innocent.

The Daily Prophet asks the following questions: who was this person and why was their word enough to discount the many many accusations put towards Snape by other convicted Death Eaters? Furthermore, should Headmaster Dumbledore be letting into his employ an individual who fought possibly on the wrong side of the war? Would you want your children to be taught by an alleged Death Eater?"

Circe closed the paper solemnly, feeling like her chest had been ripped apart. She sat still for a long while, trying to mentally digest what she had just read. Her eyes stared vacantly at the picture of Severus on the front page, each time he looked up at the camera sending a shiver down Circe's spine. She wanted to weep, but no tears came. She felt numb, heavy limbed, cold to her core.

"A Death Eater…" she whispered to the air around her. "Not you… please not you...".

The next morning, Circe heard the buzz of excited chatter and talk of almost all of Hogwarts from a great many paces away from the Great Hall. By the time she got there, the noise was cacophonous. A dueling dais had been erected in the center of the Hall, around which everybody present crowded, waiting patiently and eagerly. A few of the students nodded and waved to her as she slipped inside to cast a wary eye over them all, making sure no misbehavior was underway.

"Professor Smith!" A voice called to her from within the gathered crowd. She looked over the tops of the students heads, searching for who had called to her. Pushing his way through the bodies was Percy Weasley. She groaned to herself, not having the mental energy for Percy after her fretful night of troubled sleep. The words of the Prophet article she'd read in the library kept swirling around her mind's eye, refusing to let her rest. She'd been a little more generous with the application of her concealer today, but she still ventured that she looked more wired than usual.

Wait, did I remember to brush my hair?

"Professor! Isn't it exciting?" Percy said again. She smiled politely and hummed in agreement. "Do you suppose Professor Lockhart will let us practice this session, or just demonstrate?"

"Oh Professor Lockhart won't pass up the opportunity to perform, Percy." She responded rather sardonically. "Are there any other Staff members here?"

"No, just you, Lockhart of course, and-"

Almost on cue, the crowd parted to the left of Circe and there was Severus, looking back at her. Something stirred in Circe's stomach as their eyes met across the room. She felt herself grow heavy limbed and numb again, as Severus nodded ackhowedgingly to her. It was as if she were looking at him again for the first time, and in a way she was. He felt almost like a different person to her now. Someone she didn't know at all. And yet… the darkness of his eyes and his imposing straight-backed stance still managed to send a familiar spike of pining through her. She nodded back to him and quickly turned away, striding off to a quiet corner to watch the children discreetly and silently torment herself with uncomfortable thoughts. Perhaps if she were left alone she could mentally work through just how confused she felt.

The children quietened and a hush descended over the gathered crowd. Gilderoy mounted the stage in a splendid dueling outfit of plush royal blue velvet. He looked even more peacock-esque with each passing day, and here he was in his element: strutting about, showing off and making it sound like he was the authority on everything in the world. After his introductory speeches he threw off his cloak and produced his wand.

"So, shall we begin with a short demonstration?" He asked the students. A mutter of excitement rippled through them and Percy Weasley turned back to Circe, smiling broadly.

She gave him a congratulatory thumbs up, as if to say 'well done for pre-empting this', and folded her arms. As he turned back around, she rolled her eyes and chuckled slightly.

"I'd like you all to welcome to the stage my assistant!" Gilderoy waved a hand down the dais, and there climbing the steps was Severus. His arms were folded across his chest too and Circe immediately let her hands drop to her sides, noticing how she had unintentionally mirrored his body language.

"I am not your assistant, I am your colleague, Professor Lockhart." He spat in a low voice. Gilderoy pretended not to have heard him and proceeded with his explanation of the rules of dueling.

Circe watched in grim fascination as Snape and Lockhart faced one another, performing the ritual bow at the start of any formal duel. They turned from each other and walked away into their initial positions.

Gilderoy's starting pose is all wrong, she thought to herself critically. Why go defensive when he can clearly see Severus is on the offense?

Gilderoy began the countdown.

"One...Two...Three…"

"Expelliarmus!"

It all happened too quickly. Light flashed from Snape's wand, heading for Lockhart, and the next thing Circe could see when the stars faded from her eyes was Gilderoy on the floor several feet from where he had started. It took him longer to recover his breath than it had been to defeat him, but eventually he rose to his feet to a few awkward laughs from students around him.

"I… I let him do that, kiddies." He stuttered. "Just so you could see what being disarmed by an opponent looks like. Of course, had I been properly engaged in the fight I could have easily deflected Professor Snape's attack."

"Of course…" Severus muttered. He moved to leave the stage and turned his back on the hand of congratulations Gilderoy had offered him.

"Well… uh… how's about we do a little loser-goes-off? Hmm? Just so the students can see a different fighting style and they don't have to watch too much of me letting people win…?" Lockheart stuttered.

Circe rolled her eyes.

Severus had dismounted the dais prematurely and he too groaned. This would mean he'd have to beat someone else… Which poor student would Lockheart choose for his next easy victory? He thought rather confidently. He wandered through the gathered children as Gilderoy played the huddled crowds of students like a ringmaster asking for a volunteer. Somehow Snape found himself by Circe's side, arms folded. He groaned, hoping to garner some sort of sardonic quip or muttering from her as they were known to do in staff meetings together. Nothing.

If anything, he thought he sensed her tense slightly as he positioned himself at her back. She didn't even turn to look at him.

"The stupid peacock will get some poor student hexed into next week." He offered, hoping to coax her into their signature sardonic sparring matches. "Three galleons Potter volunteers for it."

Circe couldn't help but smirk, his wit breaking her steely resolve for a moment. She cleared her throat and her ice wall went up again, refusing to turn to see him. On her tongue burned a thousand questions, she did not trust herself to not scream them at him if she looked into khis face. She felt like her skin was seared red from the tense anger bubbling just under the surface. Is this the same man she had read about in the Prophet? The Death Eater… Supposed ally of The Dark Lord… Was Severus really capable of it? She knew the answer was yes, but it still stung. As well as being rude, brooding, short tempered, he was dangerous, too-faced, mysterious. It had left her head reeling with questions and confused anger. But in the midst of her head, one realisation sat protruding from her mind-fog like an obelisk at the center of the maze signaling what lies at the core of it all:

Rather infuriatingly, she realised it had only deepened her infatuation with him…

In avoiding Severus' eyes, she inadvertently made eye contact with Gilderoy.

"Ah! Circe!" He piped. She groaned as Lockheart broke the unspoken rule that Teachers never used each other's Christian names in front of students. "I remember, back when I ran the Ravenclaw Duelling club as a Prefect…"

No you bloody never… Circe thought to herself.

"That you were quite the upstart Under 16's duellist! Learnt all your skill from your dedicated Teacher, of course." Gilderoy smiled sweetly.

Circe felt the red mist of rage falling around her. She tried to concentrate on happier memories: putting Lockheart on his backside quite a few times. Her a humble third year, him taking his NEWTS. He had refused to duel her after a while, and Circe had worked her way through all of the other budding duellists without stopping to pander to the sulking Lockheart once, despite the nasty rumors that circulated around the club after Charlotte Ambrose's party...

"Now, I won't ask the student to duel against her Master…" Lockheart crooned, Circe's knuckles went white around her folded arms "But what about you versus Professor Snape?"

The students erupted around them. Whispers and nudges rippling through the gathered children surrounding the dais. All eyes were on them. She saw Granger's mouth hanging open in shock, Potter and Weasley in excited conversation, and Mr Malfoy whispered to his two cronies at his flanks. Fred shook George's hand, probably placing a bet on her and Severus similar to the one Snape had made moments ago at Potter's expense.

Snape had been hurt by her coldness of recent. He wanted to be a tad spiteful. He was the master of cold and haughty, not her. He wanted to grasp at any tenuous grip of dominance he could, even if it was pointless. Confused as he was, he reverted back to his shield, his protective outer display of nastiness once again. Quietly enough, just audible for her ears, he leaned close to Circe and whispered "You do not have to accept if you're scare- ahem -nervous, Smith…"

She gritted her teeth together in anger.

"You. Wish." She whispered to the air in front of her. Lost in the crowd's hubbub, Snape did not hear it.

Purposefully she turned around to face him, her lips set in a cold line, but her eyes ablaze. Snape razed an eyebrow at her to match her in the unspoken war of haughtiness between them.

"I accept the challenge." Her voice was low, steady, purposeful.

If the students had been buzzing beforehand, they were practically bouncing off the walls now.

Circe mustered her sweetest smile for Severus and held his gaze. He cocked his head to the side, showing his tell-tale sign of visible confusion. Yet, much to his own chagrin, he caught himself smiling wickedly back after her.

He waved his long black sleeve towards the dais invitingly. A path through the throng of students seemed to clear before them instantly as Circe walked to the stairs. As she passed Fred and George she overheard one of them up his bet on her to four galleons and smiled to herself, struggling to suppress a snort.

What am I doing? She thought. You know this won't change anything. Even if you beat him, he's still what he is. He still did what he did. And if he beats me... Circe's thoughts halted in their tracks as she locked gaze again with Severus at the opposite end of the platform, walking purposefully up the steps once more. It was a look of hunger, intimidation, palpable sexual tension, like the meeting gaze of two lovers from across a bar, and Circe's heart leapt into her mouth. Well, if he beats me maybe it'll help sever this stupid little crush…

She shrugged off her outer robe, clasping her wand in her hand. Both started their agonisingly slow walk towards each other to meet in the middle of the dais. By the time they stood almost toe to toe, the room was silent.

I've never fought a Death Eater… The thought seemed to thunder in the silence around them. The thought should have scared her. It didn't, it exhilarated her.

In unison, they both raised their wands and bowed reverently. His eyes burned at her as they broke to take their primary positions.

"Are both parties ready?" Lockheart asked.

"Ready." Circe replied curtly. Her heart pounding.

"Ready." Severus purred. His hands sweating.

"On three then." All held their breath. "One… Two...Three!"

Two powerful jets of red magic erupted from both wands instantly. They collided together and the magic boomed and sparked at almost the strength of a small explosion. Students around them gasped and looked away as the blinding light flared. The previous match had been child's play compared to this, lulling them into expecting something tame and civilized. It was shocking to them just how much raw power had just burst forth from their mentors.

Circe and Severus were both sent reeling backwards slightly on their heels at the strength of each other's pent up primary move. Circe took the initiative and broke the headlock, pirouetting on her feet and wrapping the magic stream around her and back at Severus. Snape lurched forward as if an invisible tether tied to him had been yanked towards her. He lost his footing, almost stumbling into the re-directed red stream of magic coming his way.

"Protego!" He shouted. He recovered just in time, blocking and sending the red light ricocheting into the ceiling above. He was taken aback by her skill. He would not underestimate her again.

She pressed her attack and sent a series of small sizzling jets of magic his way. They whizzed like a rocket firework, deafening to anyone watching in awe. Each time, Severus shielded himself from the onslaught, sending the sparks in a myriad of directions around him. But she was pushing him back, getting closer and closer to him. Yet there was no break in her onslaught for Severus to retaliate. He was almost at the end of his side of the platform when she was almost upon him. In a moment of desperation, he swept his wand at her vulnerable feet, screaming "Everte Statum!" as he allowed one of her hexes to hit him square in the chest.

Simultaneously, an excruciating electrical shock wracked Severus's chest and he sank to the floor, whilst Circe had been blindsided by Severus's tactic and she went spinning through the air, landing hard on her front. With the wind knocked out of her, her face landed hard on the platform below her. Her nose exploded in pain and she cried out. Severus was the first to rise and saw the steady stream of blood now flowing down Circe's face. She dabbed at it with her sleeve, much to the horror of the onlooker's face's around.

"I'm fine! Don't stop!" She almost screamed. What crazy bastard takes a hex full on in the chest? She raged in her mind. That could have been a cruciatus or the killing curse if I was an enemy. He's either incredibly stupid or incredibly brave… or both. Despite her protestations, Snape halted momentarily, his wand poised protectively in front of him. He moaned quietly from the ache in his chest, luckily for him only a small electrifying hex, but he almost pained just as much from seeing Circe's bloody nose.

"I said I'm fine!" Circe shouted at him "A Death Eater wouldn't stop for you mid-duel if you'd hurt yourself fighting them!"

Circe saw the lightning quick twinge of hurt pass over Severus's face. She regretted saying what she'd said almost instantly, but there was no going back now.

"Kampanoulia Flamaria" he hissed, his signature blue flame erupting from his wand. He sent it in a wave-like onslaught at her, and it was now her turn to block. How cool it felt as it nearly enveloped her, involuntarily bringing back memories of how Severus had used it in the Stone's protection. She could almost feel Severus's hurt in the icy lick of those flames around her. It was overwhelming. Deadly. Consuming.

She had to think. How to fight back? She couldn't break the barage like Snape had, she'd freeze-burn to death from the bluebell flame. She gritted her teeth together in a feral snarl, building up the push charge deep inside her. She roared as she felt her magic pool in the pit of her stomach. Mouths hung agape around her, even Severus stared in awe.

"Expulso!" She finally shouted, sending the charged retaliation back down the platform. It broke the torrent of blue flames as Snape and others close enough to feel the shockwave of the blast had to duck for cover.

She was exhausted, panting and sweating freely, but she dared not stop now. As Severus stumbled and tried to maintain his balance, Circe could see it was time for her final move. Snape reeled, his ears ringing from the blast he had just endured. His balance shot, he knew he was a gonner when he raised his head to see Circe powerfully stamping her foot down into the wood of the dais.

The wood creaked and rumbled below his feet. It seemed to warp and distort, all coming from Circe's foot, snaking and moving its way like a live animal scrabbled beneath the surface. Suddenly, a board beneath his footing sprang upwards as sharply as a heavily weighted seesaw. It caught his left foot and He finally lost his precarious balance as the springboard sent him toppling backwards. He landed hard on his back as the wind was knocked out of him.

Within seconds she was on top of him. "Expelliarmus!" Her final spell came, and he felt his wand spin from his fingers into her hand.

There was absolute silence as they stared fiercely at each other, her wand pointed square at his face. Above him, her nose was still bloody and her breath still ragged, looking every bit like the conquering warrior she was. Despite his wounded pride and sore back, he found himself utterly captivated by her savagery. Their eyes locked and their panting breaths synched. Slowly, Severus raised his arms.

"Yield." He said in a low voice, yet the room was still enough that all heard it.

Heated discussions rippled through the students once more as Circe dropped her wand. She thought she better offer him a hand up, being the good sportsman she was. He took it after a second's reluctance and was pulled to his feet. Lockheart came bounding towards them both, eager to bask in their hard-won glory for himself.

"Fantastic, Professors!" He cried "It just goes to show, when you're taught by the best, even the most seasoned duellists fall prey to you, eh-Circe?!"

He nudged her in the ribs. Circe wanted to punch something, namely him, but she was too exhausted to even entertain following the idea through.

Through it all, the chatter, Lochkeart's crooning, Fred and George exchanging their bets nearby, Severus and Circe had not stopped staring at each other. Severus gave a short little stiff-backed bow to her.

I guess that's all the congratulations I'm getting from you. Circe thought dryly.

She returned his curt bow. "Professor." And turning on her heels she marched from the dais and out of the Great Hall.

She felt all eyes upon her as she did so, including Severus', but she dared not look back. The adrenaline within her now fading, her nose was excruciating.

Still, it was a measly wound to have suffered for someone who had taken on a Death Eater and lived to tell the tale…