Hey all you people out there! Listen up! I'm Fairy of Fire and Fury hear to tell you that the all mighty Severus and the other Hogwarts characters are not mine, but J.K.R.'s. So please don't sue me!

Chapter Eighteen
Battle and Bloodshed

How could she? How dare she! Severus was fuming at his teacher who wasn't even there, although she was suppose to be. Sarah had canceled his lessons for Sunday morning without even an explanation. She hadn't even had the guts to tell him in person. Instead she had sent a paper airplane flying into his office though the crack under his door. The childish paper contraption had then hit him smack in the nose before unfolding itself to relay Sarah's message:

Severus,

I have canceled your morning lessons for today. We shall still meet in your classroom tonight after dinner for mediation and a practical session.

Sarah

Severus cursed at the note that still lay on his desk. Then he gathered up a few ingredients and went into his private lab just off of his sitting room.

Setting down his ingredients Severus swept over to a cabinet to retrieve a small cauldron. Sitting down on a stool behind his work table Severus began, with some difficulty, the meditative breathing and set to work.

Hours later, stiff and edgy Severus came out of his hypnotic trance. His potion was perfectly brewed and all it need to now is simmer until sometime late tonight.

Glancing at the clock that hung on the wall Severus realized that he had missed lunch by mere minutes. Getting up he turned down the flame under his cauldron bringing the potion to a low broil.

After eating some leftover lunch down in the kitchens Severus had intended to go up to check Poppy's supplies in the infirmary. However as he passed the Great Hall Severus heard a racket coming from inside. Thinking it was some sort of brawl between some students Severus swept into the Great Hall, robes billowing and a smirk firmly set in place ready to deduct house points from any Gryffindor in sight. About to shout out some sinister remark, Severus was frozen dead in his tracts.

The Hall doors had shut firmly behind him and in front of him stood a sort of fight Severus had never thought he would see.

"Auhhhh!"

Severus watched as from onto of the schools wizard Dueling platform stood both Cami and Peter. Both the muscular, little, red-heads seemed to be trying to kill the other. Cami stuck her hands firmly to the ground. Severus was shocked when the floor of the platform began to turn red with intense heat. Peter let out a cry of pain as he leapt into the air throwing wooden stakes at his sister. Cami was thrown back at the stakes pinned her to the wall immobilizing her.

"I give," she said with her head hung, "you win."

A broad smile came to his face as Peter raised his hands calling the stakes back into his. As Cami fell unceremoniously from the wall Peter said, "It's nice to see you finally admit that I am the better twin."

In a second a small metal blade was levitating not even an inch from Peter's throat. "Anything you say brother, dear." Replied the other mage sweetly.

As the blade was lowed Severus heard James call from beside the stage, "Hey Peter! Are you going to pick the next pair or what?"

"Oh, right," said Peter dumbly. "As winner I pick… umm… Sarah and… James."

Severus continued to watch from the shadows as the to smaller mages hoisted the new competitors onto the platform.

"Mages, take your positions!" Shouted Neil as Cami and Peter jumped off the stage. "This has to be a clean fight… Nothing to physical Sarah." She gave him a threatening glare before getting back into position. "On my mark… get set…" Sarah balled her fist and set her arms in a cross in front of her head. "Go!"

James leapt into the air coming down again on the platform as a panther.

Sarah immediately thrust out with her arms and to long daggers slid into her palms. Swilling the blades in a sort of complex circular pattern she then formed an X with the blades as she had done with her arms moments earlier.

The panther let out a low, ragged growl as it leapt for Sarah, but she blocked its paw with the X of the crossed blades.

It was then that Emma spotted him. She waved Severus over as the other mages were entranced in the battle before them. Severus swept over silently coming to the a stop a good two yards from Emma. She shook her head slightly than stepped over to him and pulled him towards the stage. "All of Sarah's old students back home loved to she her battle too." She said with a smile. Before Snape could interject she added. "We all do as well. She's a hero you know… your teacher. You should feel very proud… and safe.

Severus quickly adverted his attention back to the battle in time to see the panther started to back away slowly toward its side on the platform. There it leaped into the air and changed into a falcon.

The daggers quickly disappeared back up the sleeves of Sarah's lose, white, dress shirt. Then she leaped into the air as well. Doing a fan kick that extended far above her head she knocked the bird right out of the air. With a 'squawk' it fell and landed as a wolf.

Sarah appeared to have expected this for when she landed her sword was already drawn. This time she made the first approach. Thrusting forward she just missed the wolf's right leg. She then did a sort of half spin with her sword before bringing it to the animals throat.

The whole room froze for what seemed like an eternity before the wolf began to slowly morphed back into the tall, decrepit looking figure of James. However, he was not all James, for though his eyes were bloodshot and his cloths considerably ruffled he still seemed to have the ears of a wolf.

Emma giggled from beside Severus and James shot her a rather sarcastic look before closing his eyes and changing his wolven features back to human.

The next battle was between Kaki and Raoul. Severus watch working hard to surpress a smirk as the male mages hair stood on end from the static of the tiny lighting bolts the weather mage had thrown at him.

Within the hour the five mages who had one their battles faced of. Neil and Peter went first. Severus again watch as Neil defeated his friend who was now asleep on the platform. Kaki creating a small rain storm to wake him up. After men the lady winners were next. Kaki, Emma, and Sarah took the stage as Neil said the count. Their battle was the longest yet lasting the good part of an hour. Emma was the first to be defeated. She gave Severus a small disappointed Smile as she leapt of the stage, a huge lighting bolt and a dagger following her close behind.

As it came down to just the two of them Kaki threw an unexpected lighting bolt at Sarah who took it with her sword shocking her. With a clang the sword landed on the floor mere inches from Merra's feet. Severus was shocked to see lighting still dancing carelessly over the blade of the sword, but his head snapped up at the sound of Sarah hitting the platform floor, hard. Forcing down the urge to leap at Kaki he turned his attention to his teacher. Taking a step towards her he felt Emma grip his arm. "It's not over yet." She whispered.

Severus felt himself shake with rage. What did she mean it wasn't over! That was his teacher laying on the ground in pain. Were they just going to let her lay there till one strike killed her. Severus glanced up at the weather mage. She still had a globe of lighting resting in her palm as if daring Sarah to rise. He felt himself shake once more, this time tacking a step towards Merra, but Emma once again held him back.

"She's stronger than you think, just wait."

But he didn't wish to wait. He wanted to kill that bloody mage for hurting his teacher.

"Just wait." Emma said calmly.

It annoyed Severus even further when he realized how calm all the mages were. None were rushing to his teachers side trying to help her up they just stood their staring at her as if she was some sort of dead animal.

Counting backwards from ten Severus waited. As he reached one Sarah stirred. A low angry cry erupted from her throat as she used her arms do a sort of leaping pushup that lifted the upper half of her body into the air long enough for her to reach a hand in each of her pockets and throw two quills at the enemy.

The quills pierced the very edge of either arm of the mages lose habit by the wrist. They flew straight through the hole they had made before they stun around and made another hole slightly higher. The quills repeated this process working like needles up the mages sleeves.

Severus watched as the enemy mage tried to through lighting at his teacher, but Sarah dodged it easily for the quills whizzing be the mages arm made her enable to move them.

Sarah was now standing fully erect once more. Severus watched in amazement at her strength as his teacher walk slowly and calmly closer to her supposant friend. The quills were beginning to come dangerously close to the top of the habit's sleeves. Sarah whirled her hands and enlaced her fingers in a tight embrace. Severus felt Emma's hand on his arm tighten immensely as he saw it. The quills snapped up from the mages sleeves to formed a perfect X over the mage's throat.

"X marks the spot." Said Sarah sarcastically. Then she let the weapons drop.

From the back of the Hall came the singular noise of clapping when out from the shadows stepped Dumbledore. He was smiling one of his most broad smiles. "Well done Sarah and… Kaki?, it is always nice to see young people competing in friendly battle. Sharpening their skills for the upcoming battles in which death by the enemy is a real factor."

The mages all seemed floored at the Headmasters ability to radiate such happiness, but then suck the room as dry as a dementor would leave it in a matter of seconds.

Kaki was the first of the mages to regain some composure. To the head master she smiled and said, "Yes, Sarah is one of the best." She turned to Sarah, "Well done my worthy opponent." she said bowing in a mocking way.

Everyone, with the exception of Severus, laughed at the joke and the intensity of the room subsided.

"Perhaps you would like to stay Headmaster," said James after catching his breath, "Sarah and Neil are up next for the final battle… as always." He said this with a wink towards Sarah who had collapsed into a sitting position at the side of the stage.

"Well what do you expect from the third and thirty-second best mages in the world." Said Neil hopping up on the stage. He took Sarah's hand to help her up, but she swatted it aside and stood by herself.

"Jesse, your really modest aren't you, Inknote." Sarah said with a very Snape like smirk.

Neil replied, "Ha, Ha, Sarah, very funny. Now my I suggest we tack at least a five minute break you look exhausted." Neil received one of Sarah deadly glares in reply before she hoped off the stage to asked Dumbledore if it would be possible to get a drink of water.

Half an hour later Sarah and Neil were in their starting positions and all the other mages and wizards were in fluffy, newly summoned, purple chairs.

"Whenever your ready Headmaster." Said James.

"Thank you Staghorn number 12 in Winding Circle." Dumbledore replied cheerily, happy to use the new mages names and place numbers he had just learned over water and salted crackers.

Severus watched insight wonder at how intense everything had now become. He saw how organized and how formally both of the mages were tacking this battle. It was almost as if it was a real battle and not just practice… Almost.

"On you marks…"

Sarah and Neil both took a step forward.

"Get set…"

Neil pressed his trumpet to his lips, as Sarah drew her sword.

"Go!"

Sarah lunged at Neil with her sword outstretched, aiming straight for his chest. Her feet so far outstretched she was scant inches from completing a full split.

Neil stayed fully erect with his brass trumpet pressed to his lips. Just as the sword was about to strike he played a high-pitched, screeching note. Then the sword hit some sort of invisible shield that caused it to spot in mid air as if frozen.

Neil continued to play the extraordinarily high note as he walked around to Sarah's back ever so calmly. Sarah tried to pull the sword out, but it was stuck in the air.

Severus watched in horror at she tried to let go of the sword yet her hand was frozen in place as well. Thinking quickly about what he could do to save his teacher, Severus watched Neil's advance on her. He watched as Neil once again brought his trumpet to his lips. Then, without warning Sarah kicked she feet into the air using the cemented sword as something to hoist her up. Sarah successfully kicked the trumpet out of the other mages hands before pushing him back ten feet sliding on his back. A cry on pain came from Neil as he came skidding to a halt on the hard floor.

Sarah landed expertly with she hand still firmly attached to her sword. As Neil began to raise once more Sarah used her free hand to reach in her pocket and pull out a quill. With it she made a small slash in the pointer finger of her frozen hand.

Severus felt Dumbledore wince beside him.

As soon as a drop of her blood touched the sword both she and the weapon were free. She whirled it in one large circle before she sheathed it easily.

Neil who had not yet recovered his trumpet saw this and pulled of the black pore belt he was wearing and threw it at she feet. He then pulled a clarinet out of the other pocket of his robes and began to play. The rope began to dance like a snake in a trance slithering even closer to Sarah it's head raised. Before her it paused as if readying itself to strike.

Sarah remained stock still in position waiting for it's next move. But when it struck she could not stop it. The rope wound it self around her seeming to elongate in a way that didn't seem within Neil's power to do.

Severus caste an accusing glance at Merra who seem thoroughly intent of the match before refocusing on his teacher. Her seemed trapped in the rope as Severus' mind wheeled once again to find an answer to her problem. However, she beat him to it.

The daggers in either arm of her shirt slid into her palms. With these she easily cut the rope and leapt soundlessly to the ground. Severus could see the beginnings of her battle face come to the surface and against his will and his character as it was Severus began to feel a slight fear for the mage Neil.

The battle continued for almost an hour when the final attack was made. Sarah freed herself from Neil's latest imprisonment. She then pulled a golden hair comb, that Severus had never noticed before, out of her hair. She ran her finger over the prongs of the comb and Severus would have sworn he saw them shift slightly. Then she walked towards Neil who had yet to free himself from the two daggers and a hilt knife that were whizzing around him not allowing him to move. Sarah waved her free hand downward and all of the weapons dropped with a clatter. Then gabbing his shoulder she spun him around with his back to her and grabbed him around the waste. Adjusting the golden comb till it was perfectly placed under his throat.

"I win." She said in a breathy, hiss of a voice before she let the other mage go.

Later at his lessons that night when Sarah called a halt to meditation Severus already knew how he wished to spend hid lesson.

"Why did he try to trap you? Why didn't he fight?"

Sarah looked up at him from her place on the floor. "Sit." She said in her teaching voice. "I was going to teach you some of the more basic steps on how to battle as a mage, yet if this is indeed what you wish to study today… I will not stop you."

When Severus said nothing she knew his answer. "You ask why he did not fight me. By this I assume you mean Neil?"

Again no answer.

"Well, in ways I suppose you could say he didn't really fight me, however what he did is one of the more brilliant ways to go about battle with me. I am not easily defeated Severus. In fact out right battle with me in next to impossible to win. By trapping me and limiting my abilities he is given a better chance to win… Do you see?"

Severus continued to ask questions as he completely engorged hers. Later that evening Sarah told he that she would be extending his lessons in the evening to three hours and he agreed with little complaint. Then just as Sarah was about to release him for the night Merra popped her head in the room.

"Forgive me Sarah, I didn't mean to disturb you." She said welcoming herself into the room, not even taking notice of the death glare Severus was giving her. "I just wanted to be sure Severus new what to wear of the mission Friday." She smile at Severus and he gave her an obviously fake smile back.

"We have yet to go over that, but perhaps you would be a better judge at that than I." Said Sarah.

Merra smiled. "Well in that case I suppose I could be so some assistance. I should only take a minute." And with that she plopped down on the floor and began to hurass Severus, telling him that pale skin tone should not wear black and who jeans wear all the rage in the muggal world right now.

Half an hour later when Severus finally did escape the classroom and the horrid stitch witch inside it he felt ready to barf. It's a squibs nightclub not a muggal one! He though earnestly.

On the following Friday in mid November Severus Snape stood in front of his full-length mirror looking at himself with disgust.

Thanks BlackFire and everyone else I hope you enjoyed this rendition of the Hogwarts Mage. Now that we have seen what the mages can do in the next few chaps will see it put to use.

?QUESTION? How do you like more:
Severus or Sarah?
This shall play a vital part later so chose carefully.

Oh by the way I an to sick and to tired to proof this so… ZZZzzzZZZ…