Hiding Under the Ninth Earth
Book 02 : A Bit Of All Right
by I Got Tired of Waiting

Part I : Severus
Chapter Six : Duel Personalities

Saturday : 7 August 1999

"NO!" Harry's shouted exclamation could be heard from the hallway clear up to the staff table in the Great Hall. "Absolutely Not!" was soon followed by "I'm warning you! Back off, Draco! I AM NOT INTERESTED!"

Dumbledore and Snape had been enjoying a leisurely breakfast this late Saturday morning when they heard the shout and felt the surge of magical power, a duelling ward, out in the Main Hall; Snape would swear it felt like Potter's work. They both jumped up from their seats and pelted down the length of the tables to the Hall. Snape reached it first and was appalled to see his worst fears realised--down by the stairs, Draco and Harry were squaring off for a duel. He felt Albus reach his side and both men held their breaths over the tableau in front of them.

Harry and Draco stood in the Hall oblivious to the bystanders around them. A glowing protective Ward was already domed over them. Draco circled him, wand out, his face filled with a wild, unnatural rage. Snape had never seen him this out of control. Harry, in the meantime, his face flushed as if with a fever, stood still, his calm stance ready while he carefully watched Draco, making no overt effort to defend himself.

It was a position Snape knew all too well. He'd taught it to him to prepare him to fight Voldemort in the private Dark Arts Defense course he and Dumbledore had started with him two years before. He also knew it did not bode well for Draco.

"Draco, don't be an idiot! Don't challenge him!" Snape roared as he hurried towards them to try and stop the fight. He could see Harry's wand was still at his side pointed down, sparks already starting to fall out of the end of it. As he drew near, he heard Potter say in a low voice, "Don't Draco. I know you wouldn't listen to me last night, but hear me well now. Don't do this. Don't make me injure you. You've pushed me to the edge; I won't let you hurt me again. I Have Had Enough--Just Stay Away From Me--Please." The last word, a plea.

"Hurt me? Not bloody likely. I've seen you fight in class, remember?" he snarled. "So I'm not good enough for you? Is that it? What more do you want, Potter? Roses? Moonlit walks around the lake? More midnight fun?" he taunted, continuing his circling, his teeth bared.

"No, Draco. I just want you to leave me well alone," Harry said in a slow, defeated voice. "It's over. It's been over for quite a while now, and you know it."

"No! It's not over until I say it is. You're not going to get away from me that easily!" Draco called out, his chest heaving. He raised his wand, trying to provoke him. "Prepare yourself, Potter! Damn you! Raise your wand and engage."

Railing against an uncharacteristic feeling of helplessness, Snape considered his options and found none. 'Damn, do I have to spell it out for the idiot? What in the hell is wrong with him? Why has he lost all semblance of sense? He knew that despite his age, Draco was a powerful wizard in his own right backed by a cunning intellect. Harry was as strong in offense, his only weakness being mercy, a flaw Draco did not share. But there was no one who could touch Harry for defense magic, save Albus, and this stupid git was going to challenge him? 'But then again--he's never actually seen Harry's defenses. Only Albus and I know how truly powerful he is. And how can I possibly convince Draco this is a very bad idea when he's obviously beyond listening?'

Suddenly, it was too late for him to interfere--Draco let go the first disarming hex. Harry nimbly dodged it, his wand still at his side.

"C'mon fight me, you coward." Draco closed with in a rush and tried again with a binding hex, the spell sailed harmlessly past Harry who merely leaned out of the way.

"It figures, you never did know what to do with your wand," he cruelly called out even as he let loose a point-blank fire hex. Harry stepped out the way, wincing in pain as he ducked under the flame, which exploded with all of Draco's fury on the wall of the ward behind him. The spectators jumped back in alarm.

Snape was about to step forward when--

Frustrated, Draco lost all control and raising his wand, shouted "CRUCIO!" The crowd of students and staff froze.

Quicker than thought, a shimmering aura surrounded Harry. His wand was now up and ready, the sparks flying out of the end indicating how much power he was holding back. The green stripe of the Unforgivable Curse hit the aura square on and reflected back to Draco in a thicker ribbon before he could dodge it. He writhed briefly on the ground, his face contorted in agony before he could cut off his own spell by dropping his wand. He staggered to his feet, picked up his wand, and raised it.

--Snape felt a huge surge of power and quietly spoken spells from behind him, as Albus completely froze the participants through the duelling ward, their wands flying into his waiting out-stretched hand. 'Impressive as always.'

"That is enough! Both of you. My office. NOW!" Dumbledore didn't yell--he didn't need to. The fury was clear from the terrible expression on his face. "Severus, join us, please," he continued in a more normal tone of voice although the anger was still there. He levelled a scathing glare around at the small crowd of students and staff ringing the area to watch the fight and said, "I expect the rest of you have other places to be--now." They scattered.

Without a backward glance, Dumbledore waved his wand releasing the two combatants and swept off to his office, assured they would follow. Snape lagged behind to make sure they did; he noticed Harry was walking with a pronounced limp and he briefly wondered if he'd hurt himself when he'd dodged the spells in the duel.

The trip to the Headmaster's office was made in silence, Harry's eyes fixed at some point on the floor immediately in front of him; Draco was looking around him with his usual suspicious paranoia. Snape was just disgusted with the whole thing and it took most of his willpower not to knock some sense into the younger Slytherin. After his talks with Potter, he had no doubts who had started this fight.

Once in the privacy of his cluttered office, Dumbledore went behind the desk, sat down, and indicated to Severus to do the same in one of the comfortable chairs in front of it. He said nothing to the young men; it was obvious he expected them to remain standing.

Albus rarely showed his anger at anything, but he let them feel the full force of it when he asked, "What in the hell was that all about, gentlemen? Make it short; you have about two minutes before I decide to throw you both out of the school."

Harry said nothing, still looking at the floor, a slight flush in his cheeks. Draco looked around nervously. After about a minute, Harry finally broke the silence, "I'm sorry, sir. We lost control. We had no business bringing our argument into public."

'Oh, right. You intended to get yourself killed in private? Bravo, Mr. Potter.'

Albus stared at them. "Mr. Malfoy? Do you have anything to say?"

"Sir, we were just having a quiet conversation, when Potter here," he pointed to Harry, "started shouting and carrying on."

"And I suppose you were just minding your own business?" Snape's words cut harshly into the ensuing silence. "I have never felt such shame towards a Slytherin before, not even from a Death Eater; to draw a wand on a fellow student is as unforgivable as the curse you cast. There aren't enough points on the planet to punish you for this."

He turned to Dumbledore, his face paler than normal. "Headmaster, please accept my humblest apologies on behalf of the Slytherin House. Its Founder, Salazar, would be appalled at Draco Malfoy's actions today. Do with him as you will, we wash our hands of him." The formal words of censure and release, fell heavily in the air.

Harry spoke up quietly. "In a way, Professor Snape, it was my fault. I refused to stop when Draco wanted to talk to me. I should have stayed and listened. Maybe then this wouldn't have happened,"

Snape replied, "Potter, I find your statement hard to credit; your defence was limited to avoidance and warding--and you did not retaliate. I know what you did today, how much you held back. You were not the one who lost control."

Dumbledore continued the sentiment. "I'm not interested in the cause of this argument. I am, however, extremely interested and deeply disturbed by the results of it. To duel in the first place is unacceptable," he turned his eyes to Draco, "but to cast an Unforgivable Curse, here in this school, is reprehensible. What possessed you, Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco stubbornly remained silent. 'Probably not a bad idea, all things considered,' Snape thought blatantly staring at the stoic young man.

When he received no response, Dumbledore sighed. "Severus, I accept your censure and your release of House control over this student in this matter. In McGonagall's absence will you release Harry as well?"

Severus sighed and looked pained. He could do no less than for his own. Heavily, he said, "Headmaster, please accept my humblest apologies on behalf of the Gryffindor House. Its Founder, Godric, would be appalled at Harry Potter's actions today. Do with him as you will, we wash our hands of him." Harry closed his eyes against the reservation and pain in Severus' words. Draco still wouldn't look at either Snape or Dumbledore, instead fixing his glare on Harry.

'No, Godric would've been both impressed and pleased, but it's part of the formal release. I'm sorry, Harry,' Severus thought, wishing he'd not had to do this.

Dumbledore said to Severus, understanding in his eyes, "Very well, I accept your censure and release of House control." He turned his regard to the two young men still standing before him--one full of remorse, the other defiant. "You are both under 'house arrest' until we can determine the proper course of action. This is beyond mere detentions and ordinarily would result in expulsion from Hogwarts," he said sternly.

He sighed. "However, I abhor waste of any kind, so careful thought must be given to your disposition, as it's a Headmaster's prerogative in matters of this nature. Go directly to your respective Houses. Draco, you are to leave first and stay there until further notice. I want to take no chances of a repeat occurrence. I don't want to see one hair outside the confines of your common room. I'll have the house-elves bring your meals there. Now go, before I decide to hex you into tomorrow."

Draco left the room quickly, leaving Harry still standing in front of the cluttered desk.

At the click of the lock, Dumbledore said in his normal calm voice, "Please be seated, Harry," indicating by an outstretched hand the chair next to Snape.

Harry was startled and staring at Dumbledore, did as he was bid.

"Harry, I--and I'm sure Professor Snape--would like to offer our apologies for censuring you, but it had to be done in all fairness to Mr. Malfoy. Godric would most certainly have been proud of your control today. It was sorely tested this morning and don't deny it." He smiled. "We three are probably the only ones who know just how much you held back and we are proud of you too."

He looked to Severus who, without prompting and no small measure of relief, nodded his head and said, "I concur."

"Now, down to brass tacks. When did you put up the circle?" Albus asked him abruptly.

"When Draco pulled his wand, I was afraid he'd--Sir, I am so sor--"

"Not another word, Harry. I'll not have you apologising for something not your fault." He turned to glare at Snape, "I thought you warned him." The words held no small amount of his own censure.

Severus looked sideways at Harry. "I did try, Albus, but at the time Harry was not in the mood to listen to advice about staying away from Mr. Malfoy. The best I could do was separate them a little," he answered truthfully.

"Hmph. Obviously it was not enough. I had hoped to avoid this--and we've no proof," he mused out loud.

Harry raised his hand like a school child asking for permission to speak. "Yes Harry, you have something to add?"

"Sir, with all due respect, what are you talking about? Warn me about what?"

Dumbledore sighed wearily. "We have reason to believe Mr. Malfoy may be acting for the benefit of someone else, namely his father. There's been speculation his continuing purpose at this school is to gather information for the remaining Death Eaters and to either harm or use you, through possibly a spell or a potion, for information or control. Why, we've not yet been able to fathom. I'm sorry, Harry. I'm afraid Mr. Malfoy's motives in your former relationship are suspect. Unfortunately, we have no proof. Is there anything you can recall that could help us prove or disprove this theory?"

Harry sat stunned a moment; they could almost see him reviewing in his mind his and Draco's interactions. Finally, he said, "Sir, Draco did nothing to me other than have--an affair. I think I would've noticed a spell or something if he were trying to control me."

'He intended to kill you, today.' "Did you ever talk to him about the Order?" Severus had to ask.

"No, never." His words rang with conviction.

"Then he must have had other means to do so," Severus said. "Draco was trying to position you for his father's use. You're a very big obstacle to their plans." He hesitated, trying to find the right words without upsetting him further, "I have no doubt there was, perhaps, a certain amount of 'pillow talk' between the two of you--especially if you were to be away for a while on Order business?"

Harry's face pulled in as he thought about it when a look of dawning horror crossed it. "Oh Merlin, I'm so sorry. I might've told him where I was going. How stupid can I get? I just didn't think!"

"Well, maybe not with the head on your shoulders," Snape quipped.

Albus sympathised. "Harry, there's no reason to chastise yourself. What's done is done, and it's over; luckily, no one was hurt. No, I am more worried about Mr. Malfoy's actions this morning. Both of you could have been seriously hurt as could have many of the bystanders."

"I put up the ring as soon as I realised what he intended. I still can't believe he--"

Snape chuckled, very definitely a rusty sound. "Your shield confounded him. It was most gratifying to see him suffer for it."

"Now Severus--" Dumbledore warned, the twinkle back in his eyes, "--behave." He looked long at Harry who began to fidget under his steady regard. "Harry, I'm going to have to ask you to go back to your rooms. Please keep a low profile until I can decide what to do with Mr. Malfoy. It wouldn't do for you to be seen wandering around when I've confined him to his rooms."

"Yes, sir." Harry said, in a small voice. Severus could see that he was very upset: he suspected Harry was thinking of all the people who could have been seriously hurt on the raids he'd unwittingly betrayed. He knew Harry would be surprised to know it would have been his reaction as well.

As if reading his mind, Albus said gently, "Go on now Harry; we'll talk more about this later."

Harry nodded numbly and without looking at either of them, went directly to his chambers, his steps slow and pensive.

After Harry had left, Dumbledore shook his head sadly, "You realise, of course, I can't send Draco back to his father?"

Severus thought about it a moment. "Most inconvenient, Albus. He tried to kill him this morning; of that, I have no doubt."

"I know it. So what are my choices? I either keep Draco here where he can try to find another way to kill our Harry, or I send him back with the knowledge it will be the last time I ever see him, because Lucius is sure to have him killed."

Snape shook his head, "I think you are sorely underestimating Draco's survival instincts. I suspect he'll land on his feet, no matter what we do."

Albus smiled, "I'd wager the odds are in his favour, but am I willing to chance it? Lucius is extremely vicious to cross, or fail, as you have good cause to know."

He was silent for a moment. Severus didn't interrupt him. "No, it's better to keep him here. The chances are much better of them both surviving here, than Draco's are of surviving out there--cunning or no." He turned troubled eyes to Severus, "It's a sad thing when we must guard against those we raised."

"They are not children anymore, Albus," Severus pointed out gently.

"No, they are not. But are they truly grown up?"

"I've no answer to that, sir," Severus began, "but I do know we have at least one who, if not grown up, at least feels the weight of his obligations and takes his talents to heart for our benefit. Perhaps, too much to heart."

"Severus, you constantly surprise me. I didn't know you'd even noticed," Albus replied with irony, a small smile forming in the corner of his mouth.

Given what they'd gone through in the days following Voldemort's defeat, Snape was more than a little irritated by the Headmaster's glib words. He said nothing and just glared at him, his arms folded across his chest, one brow raised. He knew he would never get an apology for the hasty words, but making Albus uncomfortable was almost as satisfying.

Snape knew he'd got his point across when Dumbledore's smile faded and looking away, he cleared his throat continuing in a rush, "Well, that's settled then. We keep Draco here. Besides it will give us more time to find out what he's planning. Just because his physical and emotional link to Harry has been severed, does not mean he will stop trying to gather information. You have more experience with this and as Head of his House, I expect you to find out what he's about." Snape nodded although he was not pleased with the situation. He wanted Draco well away.

Almost as an afterthought, he added, "I found nothing in the way of a spell or a charm Draco could have used against Harry that we have not already considered. Have you been able to find alternate means other than the one potion we discussed?"

Severus winced. He'd been so convinced he was right, he'd not looked at any other options; a fact he could see had not escaped Dumbledore's notice. "No more than I've already told you. I'll keep looking."

"You do that, my boy. In the meantime, keep an eye out for Harry, too. I suspect he'll be out wandering under that cloak of his and I hear it's going to rain tonight."

Severus smiled and shook his head, saying nothing with his mouth but plenty with his eyes. It was with Dumbledore's laughter he left the room.