5. The Dueling Club
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Disclaimer: It's none of it mine!
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"Good evening, Professor Snape," said Ginny coolly as she swept into the Great Hall after classes the next afternoon.
Severus merely grunted from his stiff position near the teachers' table. He looked about as happy to be there as a person awaiting execution.
Ginny stepped up onto the dais where the teachers' table was situated and looked out over the crowd of eager faces with a grin.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm glad to see that everyone who signed up with me yesterday has shown up! It's good to see that you all have an interest in learning how to duel properly –" she ignored a low snort from Severus behind her – "and I hope that you all have a good time doing this. Now…I believe we'll have a demonstration before we begin – Professor Snape will be aiding me."
Ginny tried not to shudder in reaction as she felt him move from behind her – he walked up to stand behind her very slowly, and she felt his gaze on her as she smiled weakly at the students again.
"Now, the distance between you and your opponent should be ideally, at least five feet – gives you plenty of room to work with. But it doesn't always happen on polite terms…anyway, Professor Snape, if you will, take your spot and we'll begin."
Severus tipped his head up slightly, obviously taking offense at her ordering him about. His black eyes glinted in the candlelight before he turned with a sweep of his robes, and moved several feet away before turning back on her, his rarely seen wand suddenly in hand.
Ginny swallowed uneasily before drawing herself up and pulling her own wand from her pocket.
"Tonight we'll be practicing the disarming charm only – I do not want to see any of you attempting anything else – or else you'll be spending time in detention with Professor Snape and I." Ginny gave them all what she hoped was a stern look, and turned her eyes back to her 'opponent'.
"First, if at all possible, bow – " Ginny bent forward slightly, and she watched Severus's lip curl slightly as he barely nodded.
"And raise you wands before you, like so…"
Severus brought his wand up boredly, though the look in his eyes was anything but.
"Now, on the count of three, we cast the first spells."
Ginny drew in a deep breath, narrowing her eye slightly, and counted to three out loud.
"Expelliarmus!"
The demonstration couldn't have worked out any better if she herself had planned it – since they both shouted the disarming spell at the exact same time, their wands simply changed hands – she caught his deftly, her palm tingling as it curled around the handle, which was still warm from his hand.
He looked at her, his brows arched in surprise, as he looked at her over the tip of her own wand.
"Professor – what happens if the disarming charm doesn't work? What if their spell hits you first?"
Ginny tore her eyes from Severus's with difficulty, and searched out the student who'd asked the question.
"Well, the disarming charm is helpful when you wish to avoid a confrontation – obviously you must use it quickly. If their spell strikes first, it's dependent upon the strength of it, if you'll be able to continue the duel. That's why it's important to be fast."
"Now – you lot partner up – get your wands prepared…yes, yes, good. Everyone ready?"
Ginny eyed the placement of the students carefully, and then nodded. "All right then –bow…and on the count of three – one…two…three!"
The hall echoed with shouts of 'Expelliarmus!'
She watched several students go blasting backwards, and thanked heaven she'd had the foresight to use a cushioning spell on the walls and floor.
"Everyone all right?"
Relieved to see no injuries, Ginny allowed the students several more tries, before bringing the lesson to an end.
"We'll meet again, next week – and we'll see about trying a few hexes, all right?"
Encouraged by the excited whispers of the students, and their smiles as they filed out of the hall, Ginny turned to retrieve her wand – and found it was still being held captive by Severus.
Her heart picked up speed in an almost painful manner as she saw him standing there, a silent shadow, rolling her willow wand in his slim fingertips thoughtfully.
She approached him, trying desperately not to trip over her robes.
"I believe this belongs to you," she said, holding out his wand handle first.
He took the wand slowly, and just as slowly, handed hers back.
Her fingertips brushed his, and she froze, looking up into his guarded face.
Severus pulled his hand away, still watching her.
Ginny cleared her throat and turned away, moving toward a silver tray on the table that held two goblets of wine.
"Would you care very much for a drink?" She picked up one of the goblets and took a suspicious sip. "I'm not much one for any kind of spirits, but this is actually quite tasty – I didn't think you'd care for juice, so I asked the House Elves to have this ready for you-" aware she was running on, Ginny clamped her lips onto her goblet and took a hasty gulp.
Severus reached past her for his own drink and her eyes widened as his arm bumped hers.
She took another long swallow, and then realized the goblet was empty.
She licked her lips, and set the cup down, feeling slightly woozy.
"Wow…that's really…strong." She swayed a bit on her feet, and she felt him push her none too gently into Dumbledore's high – backed chair.
"I believe, Professor Weasley, that you are not at all alcohol tolerant."
Ginny squinted up at him as the room began to swim around her. "Sure I am… I bet I could drink you under thisssis, er…this table."
"Mmm – hmm. More like drink 'yourself' under this table," he murmured near her ear as he bent to replace his cup.
Ginny shivered slightly, turning her head to look at him.
He paused, inches from her face, and narrowed his eyes.
"What are you looking at?" He snapped.
Unable to believe she was saying it, she heard her voice whisper, "Why can't you like me, Severus? I don't expect your love…but why can't you at least like me?"
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Severus found himself staring into her soft, lonely brown eyes with something akin to fear.
He tried to move away from her, but he didn't move fast enough – she reached over, grabbed the back of his head, and kissed him deeply.
He almost let her do it, and it made him furious.
Severus pushed her away, scowling fiercely.
"What the bloody hell do you think –"
She murmured something unintelligible and her head rolled forward onto her chest as she fell back into the chair.
He rolled his eyes, and stood up, raking a hand through his hair in indecision.
He could leave her there, leave her to the humiliation of waking up with a hangover in front of everyone in the castle the next morning – it was really what he ought to do. It actually might teach the girl a lesson…
She mumbled again, in her sleep, and tried to find a comfortable position in the chair.
Severus crossed his arms, and looked down on her in immense dislike. He actually turned away, and was walking down the steps when she sighed his name behind him.
Fairly growling, he turned on his heel, walked back to her and picked her up in his arms impatiently.
He managed to find her rooms with little difficulty – and luckily enough, no one saw him.
Depositing her on her bed, he tugged the pointed hat from her head, and carelessly tossed a blanket over her before he left, snarling under his breath about silly females who couldn't hold their liquor.
*****************
Ginny heard Severus leave very vaguely, but even the slight knowledge that he had carried her to bed, left her with a tiny smile on her lips throughout the night.
*****************
To Be Continued…
A/N: Sorry if this was a bit boring – I'm working on the next chapter, and it's kind of gotten most of my attention. Thanks! - Key
****************
Disclaimer: It's none of it mine!
****************
"Good evening, Professor Snape," said Ginny coolly as she swept into the Great Hall after classes the next afternoon.
Severus merely grunted from his stiff position near the teachers' table. He looked about as happy to be there as a person awaiting execution.
Ginny stepped up onto the dais where the teachers' table was situated and looked out over the crowd of eager faces with a grin.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm glad to see that everyone who signed up with me yesterday has shown up! It's good to see that you all have an interest in learning how to duel properly –" she ignored a low snort from Severus behind her – "and I hope that you all have a good time doing this. Now…I believe we'll have a demonstration before we begin – Professor Snape will be aiding me."
Ginny tried not to shudder in reaction as she felt him move from behind her – he walked up to stand behind her very slowly, and she felt his gaze on her as she smiled weakly at the students again.
"Now, the distance between you and your opponent should be ideally, at least five feet – gives you plenty of room to work with. But it doesn't always happen on polite terms…anyway, Professor Snape, if you will, take your spot and we'll begin."
Severus tipped his head up slightly, obviously taking offense at her ordering him about. His black eyes glinted in the candlelight before he turned with a sweep of his robes, and moved several feet away before turning back on her, his rarely seen wand suddenly in hand.
Ginny swallowed uneasily before drawing herself up and pulling her own wand from her pocket.
"Tonight we'll be practicing the disarming charm only – I do not want to see any of you attempting anything else – or else you'll be spending time in detention with Professor Snape and I." Ginny gave them all what she hoped was a stern look, and turned her eyes back to her 'opponent'.
"First, if at all possible, bow – " Ginny bent forward slightly, and she watched Severus's lip curl slightly as he barely nodded.
"And raise you wands before you, like so…"
Severus brought his wand up boredly, though the look in his eyes was anything but.
"Now, on the count of three, we cast the first spells."
Ginny drew in a deep breath, narrowing her eye slightly, and counted to three out loud.
"Expelliarmus!"
The demonstration couldn't have worked out any better if she herself had planned it – since they both shouted the disarming spell at the exact same time, their wands simply changed hands – she caught his deftly, her palm tingling as it curled around the handle, which was still warm from his hand.
He looked at her, his brows arched in surprise, as he looked at her over the tip of her own wand.
"Professor – what happens if the disarming charm doesn't work? What if their spell hits you first?"
Ginny tore her eyes from Severus's with difficulty, and searched out the student who'd asked the question.
"Well, the disarming charm is helpful when you wish to avoid a confrontation – obviously you must use it quickly. If their spell strikes first, it's dependent upon the strength of it, if you'll be able to continue the duel. That's why it's important to be fast."
"Now – you lot partner up – get your wands prepared…yes, yes, good. Everyone ready?"
Ginny eyed the placement of the students carefully, and then nodded. "All right then –bow…and on the count of three – one…two…three!"
The hall echoed with shouts of 'Expelliarmus!'
She watched several students go blasting backwards, and thanked heaven she'd had the foresight to use a cushioning spell on the walls and floor.
"Everyone all right?"
Relieved to see no injuries, Ginny allowed the students several more tries, before bringing the lesson to an end.
"We'll meet again, next week – and we'll see about trying a few hexes, all right?"
Encouraged by the excited whispers of the students, and their smiles as they filed out of the hall, Ginny turned to retrieve her wand – and found it was still being held captive by Severus.
Her heart picked up speed in an almost painful manner as she saw him standing there, a silent shadow, rolling her willow wand in his slim fingertips thoughtfully.
She approached him, trying desperately not to trip over her robes.
"I believe this belongs to you," she said, holding out his wand handle first.
He took the wand slowly, and just as slowly, handed hers back.
Her fingertips brushed his, and she froze, looking up into his guarded face.
Severus pulled his hand away, still watching her.
Ginny cleared her throat and turned away, moving toward a silver tray on the table that held two goblets of wine.
"Would you care very much for a drink?" She picked up one of the goblets and took a suspicious sip. "I'm not much one for any kind of spirits, but this is actually quite tasty – I didn't think you'd care for juice, so I asked the House Elves to have this ready for you-" aware she was running on, Ginny clamped her lips onto her goblet and took a hasty gulp.
Severus reached past her for his own drink and her eyes widened as his arm bumped hers.
She took another long swallow, and then realized the goblet was empty.
She licked her lips, and set the cup down, feeling slightly woozy.
"Wow…that's really…strong." She swayed a bit on her feet, and she felt him push her none too gently into Dumbledore's high – backed chair.
"I believe, Professor Weasley, that you are not at all alcohol tolerant."
Ginny squinted up at him as the room began to swim around her. "Sure I am… I bet I could drink you under thisssis, er…this table."
"Mmm – hmm. More like drink 'yourself' under this table," he murmured near her ear as he bent to replace his cup.
Ginny shivered slightly, turning her head to look at him.
He paused, inches from her face, and narrowed his eyes.
"What are you looking at?" He snapped.
Unable to believe she was saying it, she heard her voice whisper, "Why can't you like me, Severus? I don't expect your love…but why can't you at least like me?"
****************
Severus found himself staring into her soft, lonely brown eyes with something akin to fear.
He tried to move away from her, but he didn't move fast enough – she reached over, grabbed the back of his head, and kissed him deeply.
He almost let her do it, and it made him furious.
Severus pushed her away, scowling fiercely.
"What the bloody hell do you think –"
She murmured something unintelligible and her head rolled forward onto her chest as she fell back into the chair.
He rolled his eyes, and stood up, raking a hand through his hair in indecision.
He could leave her there, leave her to the humiliation of waking up with a hangover in front of everyone in the castle the next morning – it was really what he ought to do. It actually might teach the girl a lesson…
She mumbled again, in her sleep, and tried to find a comfortable position in the chair.
Severus crossed his arms, and looked down on her in immense dislike. He actually turned away, and was walking down the steps when she sighed his name behind him.
Fairly growling, he turned on his heel, walked back to her and picked her up in his arms impatiently.
He managed to find her rooms with little difficulty – and luckily enough, no one saw him.
Depositing her on her bed, he tugged the pointed hat from her head, and carelessly tossed a blanket over her before he left, snarling under his breath about silly females who couldn't hold their liquor.
*****************
Ginny heard Severus leave very vaguely, but even the slight knowledge that he had carried her to bed, left her with a tiny smile on her lips throughout the night.
*****************
To Be Continued…
A/N: Sorry if this was a bit boring – I'm working on the next chapter, and it's kind of gotten most of my attention. Thanks! - Key