CH. 2 The duel between teachers.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked out of Professor Iceus's class, feeling rather pleased about their new Dark Arts teacher, as they were the many years before. It was apparent that they would like their new teacher.
"He's got a limp though," Ron state, "wonder what made him a cripple?"
"True it is, he must have a fascinating story about it." Hermione said, still feeling proud that a teacher stood up for her once, it was a flattering feeling. Although the constant thought that Malfoy had started all of that was a depressing feeling.
"Should we go ask him? Besides, he was a Death Eater afterall, let us ask him why he changed so suddenly." Harry asked the other two, beginning to turn around. Like in every adventure that they had had, It was always the Dark Arts teacher who would give them their next assignment to save the wizarding world once again. As they began to enter the door, back into Professor Iceus's chamber, a familiar voice sounded from within. Snape no doubt was talking to Iceus.
"Now Iceus, it is not like Dumbledore to keep two of the Dark Lord's men around here." Snape said, in his usual spine shivering tone.
"I'm well aware of this Snape, don't mind if I call you that. I have changed since last we met on the grounds of Lord Voldemort. In any case, I do not bow before his darkness now that Harry Potter has routed his forces at every turn that they intend to attack. Personally, should Harry learn anything more about the dark arts, he will be a force to be reckoned with. Personally, I would prefer to be a teacher of the Light than a servant of the Darkness when Harry rises to challenge Lord Voldemort. His skills are nearing completion. Wouldn't you agree Snape?"
Harry cracked the door farther to see what was unfolding before their eyes. They saw Snape standing before Iceus, pointing at him as if he were giving a lecture. Iceus on the other hand was leaning back in his chair behind his desk with a clear glass of wine in his hand. He seemed almost too relaxed for anyone being lectured by Snape.
"Hmm. Yes, I agree that Potter is gaining great speed. However, if he is to become like the Aurors he wishes to become. Should he, he wouldn't excel in my potions class, that's for sure."
Iceus laughed lightly, "I didn't excel at potions either Snape. Look at me now, I'm about the equivalent to an Auror on the Dark side of this war. I've changed, just as you have. Much as how Sirius did, although he was never for the Darkness now was he, didn't have to do much changing." Harry's heart lurched at hearing about his dead Godfather; it was almost too much for him to bear. Iceus continued.
"Now, I intend to teach him everything that he would need to know should he want to become one of them. Don't worry, he should be accepted with open arms to all the other Aurors. Besides, few of the Aurors had any use for Potions."
"I think you will disagree about that Iceus." A soft swish of a wand was heard. It wasn't unusual for Snape to pull free his wand at any given moment. Hermione gave a small gasp, then quickly shut her mouth with both of her hands. Harry and Ron looked back at her as if she were insane to do such a thing.
"Snape, need I remind you that I know more about using a wand than you do?" Iceus took a last drink of the wine within the glass, then set it down on the desk. He then began to reach for his cane, but Snape had him cornered there as he pointed his wand at his hand.
Iceus spoke up again. "You have become much better than I thought you would have become. Well done Snape, although wand drawing isn't exactly my forte'. Do you wish to challenge me to a duel? To see who is the better of the Darkness to serve the light?"
Snape narrowed his eyes, and put his wand away. "You lead first, old friend."
Iceus stood then began walking with the limp that he always had. Harry Ron and Hermione stood up and began to walk away from the door, acting as though they had just recently passed by this room.
The door burst open behind them, Iceus and Snape trotted out and began to enter the grand courtyard. "Now Snape, most of your students congregate around this place after class so, let us have the deciding factor here?" Iceus suggested.
Harry began to slow as he watched Iceus talking to Snape. He turned, as did Ron and Hermione.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasly, and Ms. Granger, please join us in the courtyard we have something great to show you. Your potions teacher will be accepting a cruel fate, it seems." Iceus easily convinced Hermione to watch. She was blushing at his locks of silky hair that fell lightly around him. Her eyes twinkled as she accepted. "Y-yes. I will join-I mean- watch you."
Harry and Ron agreed as well, though half-heartedly. "Yes, sure."
"Oh, to all three of you. If you wish to speak to me, don't hesitate. Ah, the ol' courtyard." Apparently Iceus heard this as well, it was astonishing that he did, and remembered the school after these few long years.
Snape led on, and took his position down on the far end of the courtyard. "Students! It is with my dearest sympathy that your new Dark Arts teacher will be leaving much earlier than expected." Snape called out to all the students around. Each of them crowded about, knowing full well that a duel was about to begin. The students made a narrow alley for both the teachers on each side.
"Oh no! What ever shall I do? Students? I call for aid? No? Well then, I guess I'll have to defeat this old man by myself I suppose, with the ease that a first year could defeat this wretched old heathen. You have tolerated him long enough, and I will defeat him for you." Iceus was doing a little acting as his beginning/accepting speech was happening. Some of the Ravenclaw students laughed at knowing the sarcasm within his words.
"I, from Slytherin, shall challenge you!" Snape called out pulling free his wand at the ready.
"Then I, from Ravenclaw shall accept your challenge and smite you!" Iceus pulled up his cane, then pulled free a wand made of oak, with runes all around it. The unsheathing of Iceus's wand was as if he were pulling free a sword.
"I'll let you go first, Snape. How about we use some of the more advanced spells. None of the more children spells. No Unforgivables either." The students giggled at seeing the adults making rules as if it were a game played by small children.
Snape nodded to the rules then waved his wand around a little in a circular motion. "Lumen flamma!" Iceus slightly widened his eyes, at watching this. A white flame shot forth at Iceus, he lowered his wand and called back. "Atrum gelu!" A black sheets of ice shot forth and consumed the flame in moments, as it sizzled the air around it until it fell to the ground with a thud.
"Lumen laedo ledo!" Snape called again, sending a beam of light at Iceus. He couldn't block from this, and hit him head on sending him back into the open corridor leading to the Grand Courtyard.
Iceus hit the stone wall with a thud, and fell to the ground hard. Snape smirked at himself, and watched Iceus shake his head and stand up again. "Ha, very good Snape. Inundantia!" This time a transparent flood of water came shooting out of Iceus's wand, flooding Snape, and sending him to the ground.
As the water subsided, Snape gasped for air, rubbed his eyes and shook the hair away from his face. "Avada Incurro!" This was a spell similar to the Avada Kedavra of the unforgivable spells. Iceus watched in slight horror, "this will hurt." A white light shot at Iceus, again the feeling of being thrown and hitting the stone wall surged through every aching part in the Elf's body. The pain continued even after he had hit the wall.
Iceus Growled at Snape and the pain, now for his counter curse. "Multinavitas." Multiple bolts of energy shot from Iceus's wand and hit Snape repeatedly in various areas, ending the spell. Snape lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for air.
Iceus fell to the ground again, shook off the pain from his face and stood up. Unusually he walked normally, for a crippled man. "So much for your victory speech, Snape." Iceus said, standing over Snape. "Iceus Frostus." Iceus said, pointing his wand at each of Snape's limbs as he lay on the ground. To each of them, a large amount of ice formed on to the ground, sealing him there for some time.
"I think, I win don't you think Professor?" The students of Ravenclaw, who heard this, roared out at Iceus's victory. Iceus smiled at himself, picked up his sheath for his wand, and began to limp once again. "Sir?" one student asked from Hufflepuff. "Uh- why are you limping now? Weren't you a cripple?"
Iceus placed a hand on the boy's cheek; it seemed as though his hand had turned completely to Ice. "Deception is a good key in battle, remember that young one." Professor Iceus then trodden off into his office once again, seeming to be as calm as ever, it seemed he did not feel any pain at all. Any normal man would have been going to the nurse, Madam Pomfrey. Then the remembrance to all the students that day, he was an Elf.
