A/N: To those who wonder why I put Lupin in the list of main characters: I already wrote the entire story, so I see the bigger picture. I know Lupin is barely mentioned for the moment, but he gets a more and more important role during the second half of the story (just as a teaser: you'll get to read about his childhood, about the night when he became a werewolf...) So I'm afraid those of you who are desperately waiting for more Lupin will have to be patient for a few more chapters...
Chapter beta read by Forty-Two Dreams. All remaining mistakes are mine.
DUELLING CLUB REVIVAL
The week that followed their meeting was quite uneventful. Snape still hadn't taken any action against Professor Wilson but was still working on his revenge - and terrible it would be. For the moment she seemed to be dedicating all her free time to the school's defences and was rarely seen outside her classroom or the library, hardly ever going to the Great Hall for lunch.
No, he would wait for the appropriate moment, when she was done with her work for the Order. The Ravenclaw Vs Slytherin Quidditch match the following week would probably be the perfect opportunity for some of his plans, Snape thought maliciously.
The main subject of conversation at school lately was the upcoming first session of Ursaglow's duelling club. However, only students ranging from first to fifth year seemed to be waiting for it eagerly. The older ones had seen the fiasco of Lockhart's duelling club and expected nothing from this new one. No sixth or seventh year student seemed to be planning on attending it.
Hence as Snape taught Potions to seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins on the day the first session of this duelling club was to take place, he didn't expect them to be so inattentive.
"Miss Granger, if you would care to heed your potion you would notice it's boiling, which it shouldn't be doing," Snape growled. "Twenty points from Gryffindor for your lack of attention."
Very rarely had he had any occasion to take points from the conscientious Head Girl during her schooling. He had also taken points from every single Gryffindor student at least twice already since the beginning of the lesson and there had been no protest. There had to be something going on - Gryffindors were usually quick to defend their fellow classmates, objecting to any unfair behaviour.
"Mister Thomas, Mister Finnigan, will you please stop that incessant whispering!" he exclaimed. "Thirty points from Gryffindor!"
They all sounded like undisciplined first years, paying no attention to his constant warnings. But at least first years were impressionable and feared him greatly.
Snape suddenly, violently slammed his hand on his desk. At the noise all the students fell silent and looked up to him.
"If I hear any sound, apart from the sound of your potions brewing, before the end of the lesson in this classroom, it will be three weeks of detention for all of you!" he warned dangerously. When Draco Malfoy sniggered Snape turned sharply towards him. "All of you," he repeated threateningly, making very clear that Slytherins were included.
Malfoy's smug expression instantly vanished.
During the next twenty minutes, Snape tremendously enjoyed the silence of his classroom. Whatever was on the students' minds was obviously not worth three weeks of detention.
When it was the end of the lesson at last, all left the classroom hurriedly - even more hurriedly than usual. Snape strode to the door with a sigh as soon as he noticed his uncaring students had left it wide open in their haste. About to close it, he froze as he overheard a group of students talking right outside his classroom.
"Dumbledore at the duelling club?" Snape instantly recognised the voice of Potter. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Granger replied enthusiastically. "I heard it from Parvati, who heard it from Dean! Professor Dumbledore is going to make a demonstration with Professor Ursaglow!"
"I hadn't planned to go at first, but if Dumbledore is there it's certainly worth seeing!" It was Weasley who had spoken this time.
"We'd better hurry then, if everyone heard about it the place's going to be crowded!" Potter again.
Snape closed the door as they left and walked back to his desk. How naive of them. As if the presence of the Headmaster would prevent the inevitable debacle of this duelling club.
He sat and pulled a pile of essays in front of him. Correcting tests was really the worst part of this job. As soon as a series was done another arrived. He picked up his quill and began reading the first piece of parchment.
Ursaglow was a useless incompetent, an annoying chatterer, an unskilled wizard. Nothing instructive or interesting could come from his initiative. This duelling club would be as ineffective as the first one had been.
Snape scribbled a mark, wrote down a few despicable comments and put the parchment aside. He began reading the next one, his fingers drumming nervously on his desk.
On the other hand, he was intrigued by the Headmaster's participation. Dumbledore probably had something in mind. Did he want to show the students what they might have to do during the soon-to-come war?
Snape scrawled a capital P on the parchment in front of him, put his quill back in the inkpot and crossed his arms, a foot tapping the ground impatiently. Surely nothing worth seeing would happen during the duelling club session, he thought. The only interesting thing that could possibly happen would be Dumbledore hexing Ursaglow off his feet.
Snape brusquely stood up from his chair and strode towards the door. He certainly didn't want to miss that even if there was only the faintest chance it would occur.
When he reached the Great Hall, it seemed all of Hogwarts's students had heard the rumours and were already waiting eagerly. All of the other teachers were there too, including Hagrid, standing close to the demonstration platform - Dumbledore's presence had probably attracted them as well. Even Filch and Mrs Norris were there in a corner, both eying the mass of students suspiciously.
And on the platform were Ursaglow and Dumbledore.
Snape decided to settle in a corner at the back of the room - he didn't wish to join the teachers next to the platform.
"Thank you all for coming in such large numbers," Ursaglow spoke at last. "I didn't expect so much success for this first session! Some of you may already know what a duel is, but for those who don't I'll make a quick introduction. Duelling is an ancient art that appeared during the Middle Age when the need to solve conflicts between wizards in a civil way rose. Of course the term civil is relative since it's common knowledge that – "
Oh no, he was doing it again, Snape thought with an exasperated sigh. When the young man would be done there would probably be no time left for duelling.
" – and it's only when Ministries of Magic were founded all around the world that international rules were set up. They were subjected to many changes along the centuries as the wizarding civilisation evolved, but they have been basically the same since – "
How could Dumbledore remain so calm and smiling? That wizard would forever remain a mystery to him.
"Nowadays duelling is no longer in use as a mean to solve conflicts, and is no more than a sport. It's also an opportunity to practice some spells that could be extremely useful should you have to face dangerous situations such as – "
Why did he come there in the first place? Snape wondered. His contacts with Ursaglow had been fortunately extremely restrained lately, so why torture himself by enduring his endless speech? Snape turned round and moved away.
"Now let's go on with the most interesting part of this session: the duel itself."
Snape turned back. About time.
"Professor Dumbledore was kind enough to agree to a duelling demonstration with me." The young DADA teacher turned to the Headmaster. "Professor, it's an honour and a pleasure," he said with a slight bow.
Dumbledore bowed back with an amused smile, and Snape rolled his eyes. Maybe it was just a game for the old wizard.
"We will now show you the basics of the art of duelling: disarming the opponent and blocking an attack."
Both wizards took their positions on the platform. Once they were facing each other and on their guards, Ursaglow cast a Disarming spell.
"Expelliarmus!" he exclaimed and a red light was cast from his wand.
Dumbledore stopped the attack with what looked like a casual and effortless wave of his wand. Many students applauded enthusiastically.
Ursaglow turned towards the audience of students. "See? This is how it works. Of course in a real duel it wouldn't be quite as easy. Now maybe we could all work on these two spells."
What? That was all? Dumbledore had come only to show how to block a Disarming spell? How absurd; Dumbledore was one of the greatest wizards of all times! He should have known it would be a waste of time, Snape thought.
As Severus was about to leave this obvious masquerade, he noticed something seemed to be going on among the teachers. McGonagall had just whispered something at Wilson's ear, and the witch had smiled and nodded. Both had now turned to their other sides and were whispering at their neighbour's ear. The other teachers passed on whatever they had heard until all the teachers had been informed.
Intrigued, Snape decided to wait a couple of seconds.
"You will work in pairs and only use these two spells. Each will try to disarm the other in turn while – "
"Mizar, my apologies for interrupting you…" McGonagall cut in. The young wizard turned to her. "Maybe we could show the students some real duels. All the staff members here would be happy to help."
"Oh. Certainly, Minerva, it's an excellent idea," Ursaglow agreed.
Within a minute all the teachers - except Hagrid this time - had spread over the Great Hall in pairs while Dumbledore and Ursaglow remained on the platform. The DADA teacher seemed to offer the Headmaster to duel, but Dumbledore probably replied he'd rather enjoy watching the others. Ursaglow nodded and looked around for an opponent. But all the other teachers had already found one.
Professor Vector had already started sparring with Professor Sprout, and a large group of students had gathered around them to watch. However, a larger group was gathering around Professor McGonagall and Professor Wilson, who both seemed to be greatly enjoying themselves.
These duels were no demonstrations for the students but real duels, though neither professor had any intention of harming the other. All the students watched the adults duelling in front of them with wide eyes. Occasionally there was some applause when some impressive action had been demonstrated.
Snape watched them with a mix of envy - he was himself very fond of duels - and repugnance - how could they have fun during such dark times? - for a few more minutes before leaving the Great Hall.
Enjoy the moment while you still can, he thought. Soon the Dark Lord's shadow will spread above all of us, and there will be no more time for rejoicing.
Coming next: "Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin"
