Hey Jilly - I'd like to say that I won't leave you hanging again, but where's the fun in that?

Radioactive rainbow - welcome to the second duel. That's over 70 chapters! Thanks for sticking with it!

Neci also now has a short little vignette about Lupin, one about Percy's ambitions, and one about Ron, and how he debates whether or not the Sorting hat put him in the right house. Her writing style is unique, and she offers an interesting perspective in each of her pieces. They're short, but well-worth reading.

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Nytd sits at the small table and stares back at the man across from her. She nods hesitantly. "Alright...Tom," she says. It feels a bit awkward to use the name, but it would probably be even stranger to sit there and call this (currently) pleasant-looking man Voldemort.

She clears her throat. "So, you've had a chance to look at the chapters I sent you?"

"Yes." He takes another sip of cappuccino. "I've added a few notes here and there with a red quill where I would tweak things a bit, but other than that..." He shrugs and hands her a stack of papers.

"Tweak?" She asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. Just a line or two here and there," he says rather innocently.

Nytd knows better, and instinctively flips to the pertinent chapters. Red ink is everywhere, and two long paragraphs have been added to the end of the chapter.

"You can't re-write the end!" Nytd whispers agitatedly.

"Oh, can't I?" Voldemort asks, more serious now.

"No!" she says, trying to keep her voice down.

Voldemort's eyes flash dangerously red for an instant, and then he regains his composure. "We shall see," he says ominously.

"Look, this is my version, and it's going to end the way I want it to," Nytd says, trying to be insistent but remain civil. It wouldn't do to make Lord Voldemort angry in a bookstore full of muggles. "I merely asked for your input so that I portray things accurately."

Tom leans across the table and drops his voice dangerously. "You want accurate?"

"Yes."

"Completely authentic?" He continues.

"Yes." Nytd takes a sip of coffee.

"Very well then, Mistress Nytd. Let's start with this scene," he says.

Nytd chokes a bit on her coffee. "This scene?"

"Yes. I suppose that it goes something like this?" Voldemort narrates further. "Nytd talks to Lord Voldemort, they have cappuccino and then they have words. Nytd sticks to her guns and refuses to change the end of the story, and they glare at each other, and part ways angrily -Voldemort returning to his plotting, and Nytd to her writing. Sound about right?" He asks, somewhat sarcastically.

Nytd nods.

Tom leans closer again and places his hand over hers. "That's a bit dull, don't you think? Perhaps we can liven things up?" The eyes flash red again as his hand clamps firmly on her wrist.

Nytd gasps, realizing she's in deep dragon dung.

Tom continues, a bit more casually. "Have you ever been to England, Nytd?"

Nytd appears momentarily puzzled, and then horror slowly slips into her expression. "You wouldn't!"

"Oh, I wouldn't?" Voldemort tightens his grip on her wrist as he reaches with the other hand for his wand in his robes.

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Playing Rough ~*~

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By the time Snape had been helped to the edge of the clearing, he had enough hazy vision back to be able to walk on his own, and he shrugged the two men that were helping him off with a gruff word of thanks.

Marius was being helped by a number of young wizards that had taken his side in the matter, and it was only a few moments before the vertigo was gone and he was nearly recovered.

Lorien looked a bit frazzled but went to Severus to guide him the rest of the way to the edge of the clearing to sit down on a nearby stump. Commotion surrounded the entire area as the implications of the duel's outcome reached the rest of the gathering.

"Are you alright?" She asked, quickly dispelling the remains of the blindness, and starting to feel his jaw.

He nodded slightly and let her deal with the bleeding that was still trickling from where he'd been struck. The side of his jaw was bruising, and his lip was split and swollen. He was grateful for the repair that she did quickly and gently, and when she pulled her hands away to look at him, only the faintest discoloration could still be seen.

"Better?" She asked.

"Much," he said, starting to appear just a bit pleased with himself. "Well?" He asked expectantly.

"You did wonderfully," she said with a smile, but her eyes gave the fact that something was wrong away.

Severus frowned. "What?"

"You're not done," Lorien said.

"Yes, I am. It's quite evident that the duel is over, Lorien," he said, starting to become annoyed.

Lorien shook her head, looking somewhat dismayed, instead of giving him the look of adoration that he'd fully expected after having taken such a beating on the field of combat.

"You look worried again," he said, unhappily. "Aren't you pleased with the outcome?" He asked, sneering at her a little.

"Of course, Severus." Her tone wasn't convincing.

"Lorien, is it just me," he asked, "or isn't this the point where the vied- for female, having had her honor justly defended by her champion, throws herself into said champion's arms, declares how wonderful he is, swears undying love for him, and promises him many, MANY sexual favors?" He looked at her expectantly. "Well, ISN'T IT?" He asked, clearly becoming more agitated.

"There's something you don't know," she said softly.

Severus looked at her incredulously. "There's not another ex-boyfriend that I haven't heard of, is there?"

"I believe there's another Nemorosi custom that you haven't heard of," she said quietly.

His eyes narrowed and his voice dropped dangerously. "And just what would that be?"

She told him.

"WHAT?" He asked. "I have to what!?"

His eyes went to Perth Taber nearby, and he wondered for a moment if he'd have time to wrap his fingers around that the man's neck and choke the life out of him before he was mobbed by a large number of angry wandless wizards.

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Remus and Sirius were staring at Perth as he explained the fact that Lorien herself would now have to enter the duel.

"You must be joking," Sirius said, frowning with concern.

"I assure you I am not," Taber replied solemnly.

Remus looked worried. "I don't like the thoughts of her having to face the two of them," he said.

"Surely you don't think Severus would do anything to endanger her?" Taber asked.

"No, it's not Severus that I'm worried about," Remus answered, glancing across the clearing at Marius.

Perth laughed. "You're worried about Lorien dealing with Marius? Frankly, Remus you ought to have pity on the man, in my opinion. I'd be willing to bet that after the stunt he's pulled, she's not going to show him much mercy." Taber seemed completely amused at this point.

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Draco, Harry and Beska stood together, watching the news of what was going to happen spread across the gathered crowd of onlookers.

"Care for a new wager, Potter?" Draco asked sarcastically.

"No thanks." Harry answered. There was no way that he would side with Snape in this duel since he'd be facing Harry's own mentor, and he was hoping to see Lorien teach Snape a whole different lesson in wandless combat.

Beska looked at Draco. "Who are you betting on?" she asked.

Draco looked back from where he'd been watching Lorien speaking with an agitated Snape across the clearing. "I'll have to take Snape this time," he said.

"You're going to bet against Lorien in a wandless duel?" She asked, laughing in surprise. "Well, in that case I'll take your wager," she said, grinning at the young blonde wizard.

"You're on." Draco smiled, knowing that Beska had not seen what he just had across the clearing.

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Snape was now up and pacing as he spoke in agitation again to Lorien. "I don't think this is a good idea," he complained.

"It's tradition, Severus," she said. "I have to finish this."

He whirled on her. "You don't have to do anything of the sort. It's over and done."

"It isn't," she insisted softly.

"I don't want you dueling with Marius," he replied, "and I certainly don't plan on dueling with my own paramicaan."

Lorien's eyes narrowed. "Explain why you think I shouldn't face Marius after all the grief he's caused me."

"Grief he's caused you?" Severus asked, rubbing his jaw a little. "No, I won't have it, Lorien. You might get hurt." He knew he'd made a mistake the second the words were out of his mouth.

Lorien glared at him. "You think I might get hurt?" She asked dangerously. "Well, since when did you start playing the part of overprotective Gryffindor?"

Snape glared back at her. "There's no need to get nasty, Lorien. I was merely voicing my concern for your well-being."

"Huh! And were you implying that I might get hurt by Marius or you?" She inquired.

Severus knew he was on dangerous ground now and backed off a little. "Surely you can't expect me to ...."

Lorien cut him off angrily. "You think I can't handle facing you in a duel," she snarled. "Admit it!"

Severus groaned aloud. "Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not being ridiculous," she said. "Look me in the eye and tell me that's not what you're thinking."

"It would be a mistake," he said icily, his irritation at the situation now getting the better of him.

Lorien stared at him. "So, is your lack of faith a personal one, or is it simply because I'm a witch?"

How did he answer that loaded question? He offered no reply.

Lorien fumed at him and turned and walked rapidly toward the clearing to meet Marius first, muttering to herself as she went. She got only a few paces away when she suddenly turned and strode back in Snape's direction. She walked to stand a foot away and stared up into the black eyes, taking his hand in hers. "Just so there are never any questions later on..." She reached into her robe, and drew out his wand, pressed it into his hand and then walked away again.

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Snape stood at the edge of the clearing with Taber, Black and Lupin, arms folded across his chest, watching where Lorien now stood, waiting for Marius. He was glad at least to have his wand back, and planned on using it if Marius did anything to harm Lorien. At least the fact that Lorien faced the challenger first gave him a brief respite to rest and decide how he was going to handle the situation at hand.

Lorien was seething by the time she'd left Severus and made it to the middle of the clearing to meet Marius, who sauntered out to meet her, clearly thinking that facing her in a duel was going to be a joke. She met his gaze with an icy stare.

Marius spoke to her arrogantly. "Ah, the lovely Mistress Lorien, come to play at a boy's game." He knew the sexist comment would get her riled. "Going to try to finish what your friend the professor failed at?"

"He didn't fail, Marius, and you know it," she said steadily. "You're very lucky you faced him without his wand."

Marius laughed at her. "You've really got a thing for that Snape- fellow, don't you?" He asked. "Funny, I never pictured you as going for a teacher."

"And why is that?" She asked.

"Teachers? Why, they're rather dull, aren't they?" He asked, half serious. "I always rather thought you liked a bit of excitement."

It was Lorien's turn to laugh at how little Marius knew. "You're right, Marius," she said as the signal came from the head of the council that the duel should begin. "I do like a bit of excitement in my life."

Marius circled her, readying himself. "What more excitement could you ask for than being with me, love?" He asked in a playful manner, and then he threw the first hex.

Lorien blocked it and shrugged. "Hard to top, I know." A devious thought sprang into her mind. "Makes a girl flustered just thinking about it," she flirted.

Marius grinned. "So, you admit you've....thought about it?"

Lorien moved closer and dropped her voice. "How could I not?"

"Really?" Marius froze in place, wondering how serious she was. He never got a chance to see the look in her eyes that gave away the fact that she was duping him as she hit him with his own favored blinding spell.

"Damn it, Lorien!" His hands went to his eyes.

"Here, let me take your mind off your eyes," Lorien offered, and she hit him with a brutal version of the vertigo spell again.

"Sh--!" Marius swore as he felt the ground start to spin wildly again.

"What's wrong, Marius? Dizzy?" Lorien asked sweetly. "Here, let me give you a hand."

Lorien reached out and gave him a small shove, and he went crashing to the ground, unbalanced from the brutal hex. It was only a few seconds more before he was retching again, and then laying on the ground moaning as he felt the ground spinning beneath him.

Lorien stood over him and watched him writhe on the ground with nauseated misery. "Do you yield?"

Marius nodded weakly, and Lorien quickly dispelled the two curses. He rolled onto his back and looked up at her ruefully. "That was dirty, Lorien."

Lorien pressed her hand over her heart in a gesture of mock sincerity. "I'm sorry. Did I do something wrong?" She asked sweetly. "I'm unfamiliar with this game you boys play. Was it wrong for me to kick your ass in under two minutes?"

Marius glared at her from the ground.

"Oh, get off it Marius. Serves you right for all the trouble you've caused." Lorien offered him her hand, and yanked him to his feet as he gripped it.

Marius stepped close. "Well done, Sylvanesti," he whispered angrily. "Enjoy your next duel." He turned and walked off, defeated but knowing that he was still about to have the last laugh.

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Snape watched as Marius walked away after being beaten by the blonde witch. So much for the rest he'd been hoping for. Remus and Sirius were clapping each other on the back and laughing along with Perth and Lorien's girlfriends in celebration of her quick victory, but Severus knew that he had a decision to make in the next few minutes.

Wand or no wand? Technically Nemorosi duels were wandless, but Lorien had figured that it was her prerogative to waive that rule as the declared-for female, and had given him back his wand. He briefly considered handing it to Taber, and then thought better of it. He wasn't stupid, after all.

Gripping his wand tightly, he walked determinedly to face Lorien in the center of the clearing.

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Lorien watched nervously as Severus approached, his expression unreadable. She had no idea what to expect from him, and it had her on edge. She wondered if he would treat her as he would Marius or any other wizard, or if he'd fear hurting her, and pull his punches, so to speak. She wasn't sure which thought bothered her more. She certainly wanted to be treated no differently, but on the other hand, she knew what a formidable opponent she faced in Severus, and she didn't relish the thought of being the target of some of the things she knew him capable of. Especially now that she'd given him back his wand. What the hell had she been thinking?

The only thing she took comfort in was that if he won, the decision was made, and if she won, all she had to do was pick him. Then it would be over. Of course, they still had to get through the duel.

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Snape stood there for several long seconds, just looking at Lorien and trying to decide how he was going to deal with her. He certainly didn't want to see her get hurt, but he knew that should include her feelings as well, and he decided that he knew her well enough to know that she'd be more upset if he treated her gingerly than if he caused her discomfort during the duel. It was settled in his mind. He might hold back a little, but not enough so that it would be obvious to Lorien.

And he was certainly not going to hold back enough so that she'd stand a chance of winning. He smiled to himself as he found that the thought of beating her soundly, after all the trouble she'd caused him, held a certain amount of sadistic, vengeful appeal.

He smiled a bit wickedly at her. "Are you ready, my love?" He purred dangerously, raising the wand she had unthinkingly returned to him in a fit of anger.

Lorien knew she was in trouble, and that she was really no match for Severus in the dueling arena, but she was damned if she was going to back down now. He might defeat her, but she was at least determined to make him earn the victory. She looked at him, and then suddenly found herself smiling at the odd situation.

"I'm ready," she said, stepping a little closer to him. "Are you going to be gentle with me, Severus?" She asked, teasing him.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Gentle?" He asked. "I hardly think you'd enjoy it as much if I were gentle with you," he said amusedly.

She sighed a bit dramatically. "Very well, if you insist on playing rough, then."

He stepped a bit closer. "I don't recall hearing any complaints from you before," he said quietly so that only she could hear him.

Lorien knew where his train of thought was momentarily focused, and jumped at the chance to take advantage of the situation. He was going to kill her for this, but she needed to do everything she could to gain any sort of advantage. Before he could even raise his wand back up she had drawn her fist back and hit him as hard as she could.

Snape was so shocked that his own witch had just punched him in the face, that his mouth dropped open. Lorien knew that nothing would have caught him more off guard, and as she shook her aching hand momentarily, she cursed her own stupidity again, and then she cursed him, sending him back into perpetual darkness as he gaped at her.

"There," she said, looking ruefully at the split knuckles on her hand. "I can play rough too, Severus."

She made the mistake of not moving quickly from where she stood.

Snape reacted quickly, despite the blindness, and the blood that was now trickling down the corner of his mouth again, and Lorien found herself slammed none-too-gently onto her backside on the ground.

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On the sidelines, Perth winced as Lorien belted Snape and then hexed him, and Sirius grabbed Remus and throttled him good- naturedly as he watched the witch score the first points against the Slytherin. "Got him good, the greasy git!" He said jovially. "She oughta hit again a few more times just for fun."

"Hers or yours?" Remus asked, still watching the duel intently.

"Mine, of course," Sirius said, grinning.

Taber spoke up at that moment. "What she really ought to do is.." He winced. "Move." He finished belatedly after seeing Lorien thrown to the ground.

"Damn! He hit her pretty hard with that one," Sirius observed angrily.

"She's in for worse if she doesn't get out of there fast," Remus added, watching Snape shaking his head. The blinding spell was wearing off quickly thanks to the potion he had taken not all that long ago.

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Lorien pulled herself off her tender backside, and started to get up slowly. When it dawned on her that Severus was looking directly at her she scrambled to her feet quickly and barely managed to duck the next hex.

Snape was livid. "You wench!" He hissed. "I can't believe you actually hit me!" He flung another hex at her, and this one she wasn't able to avoid.

Lorien felt something splatter her robes and left hand, and it only took a second to realize that whatever it was burned. She reflexively covered her burning flesh with her other hand, but by the time she had managed to stop the damage from being done, the rest of her robes were smoking in places. Acid was eating through her clothing, and she quickly shrugged out of her outer garment and let it fall to the ground. The delay, unfortunately, was long enough to allow Snape to make it to where she had backed up, and he grabbed her by her just repaired hand.

"It'd be better if you just conceded now," he said, gripping her fingers so tightly that she winced.

"I'm not making it that easy for you," she said defiantly, looking up into his midnight eyes.

"Oh, aren't you?" He asked arrogantly, knowing it would infuriate the witch.

"Bastard," she spat as she tried to yank her hand away and he tightened his grip even more.

"Whispering such sweet nothings will get you nowhere, my dear," he said. "Last chance." He looked at her meaningfully as he gave her a last opportunity to surrender.

Lorien yanked her arm away fiercely, glaring at him. "Get stuffed, Severus," she snarled, and backed away a few paces to better defend herself.

"Such language, Mistress Lorien!" Snape said, obviously enjoying her irritation. "Very well, if you insist on continuing.." He hit her with another hex, which she blocked, and then again with several more that she defended herself from in rapid succession, although she was being driven back a pace or two each time.

He let up for just a moment, and Lorien stood there panting from exertion, mind racing to find a way to deal with his aggressive attacks. She wasn't going to be able to last against that very much longer.

Severus spoke again as he watched her trying to catch her breath and with a flick of his wand sent her skidding onto her rump again. His slightly arrogant manner returned as he stood over her. "Nothing like a tumble in the dirt before a roll in the hay, right, dearest?"

Lorien glared at him as she got to her feet again. "Roll in the hay?" She asked, thinking he couldn't possibly be insinuating what it appeared he was.

"Oh, yes," he said, gazing at her steadily, and then he dropped his voice. "After all I've been through on your account today, Sylvanesti," he said, "I believe you'll have your work cut out for you making it up to me...tonight."

She never had a chance to retort as he hit her with another spell. She felt nothing at first, and thinking that he'd missed, issued a sigh of relief and faced him again. She was just beginning to think that his suggestion for later that evening sounded like an excellent idea when she saw the smirk he was looking at her with and realized what he'd done.

"You didn't!" She whispered, trying to be angry, and failing somewhat. She knew that he did, even as she felt the increased adrenaline in her veins.

He could have hexed her into next week at that point, but he stood there savoring the idea that he was now facing one very pissed off and turned on witch. He smiled knowingly at her, watching her struggle with the desire to throw herself on him for two different reasons entirely. "Interesting sensation, isn't it?" He quipped.

She glared at him, from where she struggled silently.

"Oh, you're mad, I know," he said, walking closer again, "but wouldn't you just love to get your hands on me?" He raised his wand again.

Lorien meant to say something cutting to him, but his comment, under the influence of the arousal spell he'd just charmed her with, caused her picture something altogether different than her initial thoughts of strangling him, and she had all she could do to hold herself back. She winced a bit as Snape spoke another word and rapped her on the top of her head with his wand.

Of course, she didn't defend herself since she'd been so preoccupied, and a faint mist now cascaded down over her as she stood there, horrified at what else he might have done. When she suddenly felt overwhelmed and hopeless, she knew what it was he'd hexed her with. The Mists of Despair. Lorien knew that all she had to do was step away from the mist surrounding her, but actually, what was the point? What was the point to any of this? She looked back at Severus, wanting him more at that moment from the first hex, but thinking that she'd probably never have him again because of the second one.

The man was playing with her, teaching her a lesson, but it just didn't matter. Lorien nearly sank to her knees, distraught, knowing that the spell would end if she could just get out, but why even bother trying?

"Lorien." He spoke her name softly, and the first spell took over again a bit as she sighed at the silken voice. She took one step toward him out of charm-induced longing, and quickly the hopelessness faded as she emerged from the mist.

She shook her head to clear it. "You're a monster!" She hissed at him, despair gone, and now dealing with only one spell, part of which had been canceled out by the other.

"I've been called worse," he mused.

"I can't believe you've been so cruel," Lorien said, suddenly. "I...I didn't think that you'd ever be so mean to me, that you'd humiliate me like that." She started to sob a little. "I thought you loved me!" She said, a bit more emotionally, and then she started to cry harder, burying her face in her hands.

Snape at first didn't know what to think, wondering if the effects of the mist had been too strong, but he knew they should have worn off the moment she stepped away from them. He frowned. That only meant one thing - Lorien was now really distraught over what he'd done, and he mentally kicked himself for not going a little easier on the woman so unused to combat. He felt even worse when she sank to her knees, crying even harder than before.

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A/N: Lorien's predicament of being hexed simultaneously by Severus with a sexual arousal spell, and the Mists of Despair was inspired by a similar situation that arose during a Dungeons and Dragons adventure that I took part in many, MANY years ago with a character named Lorien that has inspired part of the Nemorosi witch's personality. A particularly evil Dungeon Master found it amusing to impose the same pair of spells on my character during a melee. It occurred to me one day while I was contemplating the duel that it would be just the sort of thing that might amuse Snape.