Summary: Hermione graduated from Hogwarts 2 years ago and is now twenty. War rages on and she builds barriers around her heart.
Genre: Angst/Romance Rating: Mature/Lemon Warnings: This is very OOC. If you want the characters just the way they are in the book, stop now and click on the back button. This is also AU. If you do not like it, do not read it! Now for those who want to, enjoy!
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I Don't Believe In Love
Chapter Ten: The Duel
Everything was running smoothly. Dumbledore was informed of the next meeting with Voldemort, the students were back on track concerning the DADA, and she was enjoying life.
Hermione was wandering around the school corridors, and was extremely bored. Severus was teaching fifth years. She was thinking of her new lesson. She would need assistance. 'I have an idea!'
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"Since ancient times, wizards have been dueling. Now, there are different types of duels. What I will show you, is dueling by staves instead of wands." Hermione's class was very attentive this lesson. Their ears snapped up at the word 'duel'.
Hermione took out her wand and said an incantation. Her wand slowly lengthened to her height and thickened. A small crystal ball began to grow on top. The color remained. By now, the small crystal stopped growing and was now the size of a fist.
"This is a staff. It is much easier to handle than a wand. In addition, waving is not necessary when using a staff. This is the reason why most dark wizards prefer it over a wand." Hermione showed the staff to the class. "However, it is extremely difficult to produce a staff. It is highly advanced magic. Professor Snape and I will demonstrate how to duel with staves." The whole class turned their heads towards the door. Snape merely raised an eyebrow and walked to the front of the room.
He said the same incantation and a staff began to form in place of his wand.
"Figures," Commented Hermione. "It's always black." She said, stating the obvious. Most of the class smiled, but none of them would dare to laugh at Snape's expense.
Severus just scowled at her.
(Everything stops and the lights turn off. A spotlight appears and a snake in a black t-shirt with the words 'Snakes Rule' printed on it, a black cap and a chain necklace, appears. Another spotlight appears and is directed to a snake in black leather and sunglasses. "You forgot the board you idiot." The one in leather spoke. "Sssshut up." The other replied. He continued. "Thisss isss the reassson why Darque had to take the protection potion off. The potion would let Ssseverusss feel every attack he throwsss at Hermione." Both snakes take a bow and leave.)
"Now watch closely, and I want observations." Hermione's eyes never left Severus'
Without warning, a red light headed towards Hermione. She deflected it with ease, and an orange light shot from her crystal ball.
Severus blocked it, but he did not expect another bolt to appear so fast. He evaded it but lost his balance. He used the staff to prevent his fall, and cast expelliarmus.
Hermione's staff flew out of her grip. Severus took the chance and fired another spell at her. However, she knew wandless magic. She quickly stepped side wards to evade it, disarmed him, and summoned her staff.
Now, it was his turn to lose his weapon. Hermione smirked. He waved his hand and a blast hit her. She slid on the floor but did not fall, her staff, protectively poised, diagonally in front of her.
Severus summoned his staff. They started circling each other, eyes never leaving the others. "You never told me you could do wandless magic." Hermione accused.
"When did you ever ask?" Hermione's smirk appeared again.
"I have to watch my back. Shall we raise it up a bit?" She said amused.
"Of course. Your boyfriend would hate it if that face of yours is scarred." They were both smirking now. He threw another shot at Hermione and the spell was about a centimeter away from her arm.
The students started to murmur. Each was trying to guess who Hermione's 'boyfriend' was.
"That is such a tasteless word. He would prefer to be called lover. Besides, your girlfriend wouldn't be so pleased if she had to patch you back up together." She shot a slicing spell and it caught his thigh.
The students were shocked to silence.
"I doubt it, she's pretty brilliant, and she'll manage." A slicing spell hit her shoulder.
"Oh, that is it!" Hermione rushed forward, Severus stepped sideward and knocked her head with the crystal in his staff.
"Oi!" A voice shouted and the class was still staring at Snape. His staff was now a wand again.
"Enervate." He said, kneeled, and pointing to Hermione.
"You bloody Slytherin!" Her staff reverted to a wand.
He chuckled at her. "How typically Gryffindor. Fight without thinking and rush to death."
"I'll take that as a complement." Snape offered his hand to help her up and she took it.
"So, did anyone notice the difference between a normal wizard's duel and a..." Her lesson continued. Severus left the room quietly.
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'I should challenge her to a wandless duel next time.' He thought wryly, while waiting for her behind a suit of armor.
A few minutes later, the class emptied out to the hallway. After all the students left, Hermione went out and he caught up with her.
"I still cannot believe you knocked me out with that staff." She walked with him to the infirmary.
"No rules." They finally reached the infirmary. Snape opened the door and gestured for her to step inside before him.
Poppy greeted them when they came in. "Goodness! What happened?"
"We got a little carried away with the duel." Hermione answered as if it were a normal everyday occurrence.
The medi-witch tutted, gave them a yellow healing paste and went back to her office.
"Would you like to duel wandless next time?" Severus asked while rubbing the yellow paste on his thigh.
"What makes you think that there will be a next time?" Hermione asked, also rubbing the paste on her shoulder.
"Are you afraid, you might lose again?" He challenged.
She snorted. "Actually, that was my first stave fight. You should be proud of me."
"Give me reasons." He said.
"I solved your puzzle in first year." His eyebrow rose.
"I stole boomslang from you in second year." His eyes narrowed.
"I found out that the basilisk was the chamber's monster. I successfully brewed a polyjuice potion in second year. I helped Sirius and buckbeak escape. I--" Severus cut her list.
"Those are enough reasons." He said. Hermione smirked at him. He looked at her. "You are my brilliant little witch." Hermione's smirk turned to a grin.
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I got to chapter ten! I'm so proud. Ok. I think the next chapter will be the death eater meeting. Should I put a duel in it too? Thanks to those who reviewed!
Poppins: And they shall stay. lol.
Varcolaci: Lol. Voldemort wouldn't harm Hermione. She's too precious fo him.
lydia: Nah. It's not intimate. Bestfriends hug and cuddle too.
aniamifan1988: No. My bestfriend and I snuggle too...
chibimecools: You're in luck. That's next chappie.
Mish Michelle: Thanks. I will. I'll keep the snakes then.
sexiprincess1228: No. They can't cuz of the spell. Not 'yet' anyway.
Fairy of Fire and Fury: Not by the end. lol.
JTBJAB: Thanks.
Kitlucky13: Well, he 'is' a spy. lol
Angelbabe385: Yes, they can't.
.pityfulanonymous.: Lol. Yeah he is.
Oh by the way. There will be something unexpected in the next chapter. (Sniggers). Can't wait to write it. But, I have to sleep first. Thanks for reading. Review. Please. -Darque-
