Harry Potter and the Guardians of Power
Usual Disclaimers apply, folks – If you think I own these characters, I don't think you should be allowed to travel by yourself, it's just not safe.
AN: Please review and thanks especially to those of you who have reviewed every chapter and added this story to your favorites list. It's about 50/50 for a longer story or a sequel so I'll just add a few more chapters and then decide what to write next. Maybe a Snape is a snarky bastard and Harry falls in love with Pansy? Eww, bad mental picture!
Chapter 23: The Tournament Begins
Deep in the bowels of Hogwarts, a meeting was taking place with the non living inhabitants of the castle. Nearly Headless Nick was adamant that Peeves had crossed the line, he had severely injured a student; something no inhabitant within the walls was permitted to do. He had been trying for decades to get the poltergeist expelled, but he had never been able to get all of the other House ghosts to agree and it would take all of their power to expel Peeves once and for all. Only the combined power of the ghosts representing the four Houses of Hogwarts could expel Peeves no matter how many of the other ghostly inhabitants wanted it.
The Bloody Baron compelled Peeves to attend and the small being appeared in mid air within the large circle of ghosts. Nick smiled evilly at him as all four of the House ghosts raised a transparent hand and began to weave a gray mist around Peeves. Peeves laughed at them and started to blow raspberries, fully intending to disappear before they could cast him out. His smile froze as he 'felt' the castle come alive, something very few of the ghosts could ever remember happening before.
#You have broken your pledge and deliberately injured a student. The ghost's council has voted for your expulsion, but the gravity of the injury caused exceeds that punishment. I will cast your very molecules upon the wind and you will cease to exist. No one within these walls may harm my Master! Be gone! #
And with that pronouncement, Peeves burst into thousands of little sparks and the sparks flashed briefly and disappeared. The Bloody Baron looked at Nick and solemnly intoned, "You may inform the Headmaster that the problem has been eliminated. And let the portraits and house elves know that our Mistress is awake and that she has proclaimed Master Potter as her Master." The ghost council dissolved and they all went back to whatever it is that ghosts do with their days.
After breakfast, Harry left his friends to head up to the third floor to find the quarters that Hogwarts had prepared for him and his dad. They really hadn't had any time to go look and to be truthful, they had forgotten about them in the rush of being back in their own time.
Harry sent to Severus, 'Dad, I'm going up to look at the chambers that the Founder's made for us. Can you come?'
Severus leaned over to speak to Eric for a few moments and then stood up and walked towards the entrance doors. 'I have two hours before my next class. Eric will be taking over the class that is meeting now next week anyway so he didn't mind taking it today.'
Harry said goodbye as the others headed off to their classes for the day and met his father outside in the entrance hall. They talked about the werewolf's cure potion and decided who would be able to duck into the room for the next few critical steps before being able to leave it to simmer for the last two days. Severus informed Harry that he had made arrangements for them to go to Gringotts on Sunday afternoon, unlike Muggle banks, the goblins of Gringotts never closed. Harry looked forward to visiting Diagon Alley. Now that he could morph his shape and transform Severus' looks he would finally be able to move around like any other wizard. There had been no shopping at all during the past. Any vendors just came to the castle, and that was just for the necessities of school life. He would like to visit some of the shops that he had never been allowed to take the time to visit.
They were still arguing companionably about which stores were most important to visit when they reached the entrance to Fluffy's old quarters and stood before a massive oak door that was deeply carved with a beautiful phoenix in flight above the Hogwarts crest. The colors were exceptionally bright, the carving almost lifelike in its depth and complexity and the two stood for a moment just enjoying the beauty of the door.
# Place your right hand on the crest and state your full name to key the door to you; and then have your father do the same. You can key others to the ward as you like, but they will not be able to enter if you are not within unless you give me permission to grant entry. The entire floor is hidden through a modified fidelius charm. Only you or your father can tell someone where your chambers are. No one who does not know of them directly from you can find them.
You also need to place both hands upon the eyes of the gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office and state your full name It will then open for you without ever needing a password. That will work for your father as well. Welcome home, Master Harry, welcome to your home. #
"Hogwarts says we need to place our right hand on the crest and state our full name to key the wards. You can key the ward to anyone else, but they won't be able to enter unless one of us is inside or you tell the castle to allow entry. Also no one that we don't tell directly the location of our chambers will be able to find them. She says we can do the same to the gargoyle in front of Albus' door so we never have to stand there guessing sweets again."
Harry stood in front of the door and placed his hand on the crest, "Harry James Potter-Snape" A blue glow surrounded both Harry's hand and the door for a second before fading and his father repeated what he had done.
The door opened to reveal a magnificent entry way with marble floors, polished hardwood paneling and a row of very familiar paintings. Merlin was the first to speak, "Took you long enough to find us. You've been back forever and just now came to visit. Where has your curiosity gone to?"
The two spent almost an hour visiting with old friends before exploring the rest of their new home. It was two stories and had a living room, a library that Rowena had started and had Hogwarts continue to fill after her death, a formal dining room, quarters for several house elves and both a dueling chamber and a fully stocked potions lab on the main floor.
The upper floor had four very large bedrooms each complete with a bath that made the prefects' bathroom seem skimpy, and a Room of Requirement for anything else they might need. Severus' room was done in cool blues and greens with silver accents and Harry's was in warm browns and tans with red accents. Each had a huge walk in closet full of clothing, wizard and muggle, as well as shoes and boots. Harry laughed when he saw Severus' closet. There were no simple black robes at all and most of the shirts were white or colored in soft tones. "Rowena and Helga never did like you dressed like the undertaker, did they?" Harry teased.
Severus muttered under his breath about meddlesome women and brats who couldn't show proper respect, but he didn't really mind. His life had changed so much for the better that he no longer felt the need to dress only in black. He left Harry exploring their new home and went to teach his seventh year Slytherin class. That class he wouldn't leave to Eric. He held that class for those Slytherins who didn't make it into N.E.W.T. potions and anything could happen. Of course, now that he didn't have to kowtow to death eater parents, he would no longer have to keep teaching dunderheads that couldn't pass their O.W.L.'s no matter what their parents demanded!
Harry had noticed a blank picture hanging above the fireplace in his bedroom and went to investigate it more thoroughly after Severus left. He found a parchment neatly rolled on the ivory colored marble mantelpiece and opened it.
Dearest Harry,
I have had a recurring dream that started way back in fifth year, that I should have this portrait made for you for your first birthday and then leave it in Hogwarts. Now the dream is coming almost every night, so I guess I really needed to listen to it. I felt really stupid doing this, but I guess it can't harm anything.
Happy Birthday, son. I left you with Daddy and Uncle Sirius to bring this to Hogwarts today. I hope the house is still standing when I return home, and that the two of them haven't taught you to fly a broomstick yet. I love your daddy truly, but I wish Uncle Sirius would grow up and quit talking Daddy into getting into trouble. Not that he needs much encouragement!
Well, I don't know what else to write since I will see you in just a little while when I get back home, so love and kisses!
Love,
Mummy
Lily Potter, July 31, 1981
Oh I forgot; to activate the portrait say 'Mummy and Daddy send me all their love."
Harry forgot to breathe as he read the letter, could it be? Had the Founders and Hogwarts found a way that allowed him to finally 'meet' his Mum and Dad? He was almost afraid to say the words, but he finally screwed up his courage and said them, barely above a whisper. "Mummy and Daddy send me all their love."
The dull white film covering the portrait melted away to reveal a handsome young couple sitting together on a couch, holding hands and leaning on each other. They opened their eyes and smiled.
Harry didn't leave his bedroom for the rest of the afternoon as he told the story of his life to the two who should have been a part of it all along. He finally cried for the loss of his parents, something he had never allowed himself to do. He basked in their love and pride as he told them of the last years of his life and what he had yet to do. He was thankful that they had been told all about Harry by Merlin and the Founders after they had died, so he only had to speak about things that he wanted to share and didn't have to retell anything he found too painful. He was very grateful that they had accepted the relationship between Severus and their son, and was happy to know they only felt friendship and gratitude towards his adoptive father. Harry called Severus and asked him to come to his bedroom after their last class and arranged for dinner in their own dining room that night.
Harry led Severus into his bedroom by the hand and made him close his eyes as he entered. He sat him down on the couch facing the fire and sat beside him, putting his arm around his father and leaning his head down on the man's shoulder. "I love you, Severus Snape. Open your eyes, Dad."
Severus looked down at his son's dark head and placed a soft kiss on the silky hair, before glancing up at the fire. He froze in place, too dumbfounded to speak. James looked contrite and apologetic. "I'm sorry Severus, for all the stupid and childish things that we did to you. You have every right to still hate me for making your life miserable, but I want to thank you for saving my son's life. I want you to know, that I consider Harry to be as much your son as he is mine, and I am honored to share the title Dad with you."
Lily leaned over and kissed her husband's cheek, "I want to thank you too Severus. It cannot have been easy to put aside your hatred of James to willingly save the life of his son; and then to care for, and finally adopt that son. Especially as Harry looks so much like James. I am sorry we never really got to know the real you and believed the worst of you without proof." Her husband reached over and wiped a tear from her face and then turned to face Severus once again.
Severus took Harry's hand in his, leaned over and whispered "Thank you, son." He looked up at the portrait and, his voice raw with emotion, spoke to the man he had hated since he was eleven. "You were not totally to blame. I did my fair share of mean tricks and sabotage to you and your friends, and I did my best to have you expelled. I can now confess that mostly I was jealous. You had friends, you did so well in classes, and you had a beautiful woman and a family who loved you. I have always been a loner, my father allowed no one to get close to me, and I never learned how to love someone; your son has taught me how to love. I thank you for the precious gift that you are sharing with me. Thank you, James, thank you, Lily, and thank you Harry."
James and Lily, as well as all the other portraits were able to move between the frames in any of the rooms andjoined the two for a lively dinner, filled with stories, reminiscences and love. Harry and Severus had decided to move into their new chambers the next day and both went to sleep feeling more at ease than they had since before they had returned to the future. Harry even managed to forget about the dueling tournament the next day for a few hours.
Harry brought Ginny, Hermione, Ron, George and Fred up the next morning after breakfast to 'meet his parents'. The five were impressed with his new quarters and eager to explore. After introducing the teens to his parents, they all went into the dueling chamber to stretch and warm up. All of them planned on competing, of course not at the level that Harry was, but they all hoped to do well in their own age group. Godric, Salazar and Merlin had joined the group and gave them suggestions and hints from their portraits on the wall. Harry was just wishing for someone he could really warm up against when his father joined the group after directing the house elves to move his belongings to his new room.
Severus was already dressed in deep green silk dueling robes when he entered the room. His form fitting black trousers were tucked into black dragon hide boots that reached just below his knees. His robes were cut in the Founder's style; buttoned to the waist and open below, sleeveless while showing the soft ivory shirt beneath, and stopping just before his knees. The cut was close and tight against his body to not catch or trip him, while still being loose enough to provide the maximum freedom of movement. When he moved, the embroidered figure of his dragon animagus across his back almost seemed alive. His hair looked much less stringy tied back out of his way with a black cord. He told Harry to go change while he stretched and warmed up.
Harry only took a few minutes until he returned wearing the purple silk battle robes that his father had given him. The black and silver decorations highlighted his athletic build with broad strong shoulders, narrow waist and hips, and muscular legs clad in black trousers tucked into black dragon hide boots that reached up just past his knees. He had chosen to wear a black shirt under his robes and had tied his ponytail back with a purple satin tie that matched his robes. He gripped his staff in his right hand, Carus was perched upon his left shoulder and he had a magnificent sword belted in a jeweled scabbard hanging down the left side of his body. The embroidery across the broad expanse of his back matched the silver and black of Carus exactly, except for the eyes. The real Carus had startlingly blue eyes while the embroidered one had almost luminescent green ones. Only his friends and family knew it was his own animagus form that shimmered and seemed to be alive in the firelight.
Ginny caught herself thinking about how he looked even better than the pictures on the front of the romance novels her dorm mates were always reading. She would have to remember to ask Colin to take lots of pictures today. She would just have to add more pages to her already full scrapbook of photos and clippings.
Severus smirked at Harry and called for a house elf. He whispered to the small creature that popped out and then popped back with a sword in a gem encrusted leather scabbard and his own staff that Merlin had helped him make. Its black ebony wood shimmered with power, the golden snake climbing the staff and a realistic Viper Tooth dragon on the top, wings spread, a perfectly round focus stone of star sapphire clutched between its body and its hands.
Harry and Severus spent about half an hour simply stretching and doing a mock battle between the staffs and swords that looked memorized and well choreographed. At the end they sent stunners at each other using wands and hands which they ducked and rolled from, neither wizard using a shield. At the end of another thirty minutes they bowed to each other, called their staffs to their hands from where they were leaning against the far wall and invited the five watching teens to join them in a late lunch as they refreshed themselves and rested before the afternoon's tournament.
Lunch seemed to crawl slowly, until it was finally time for them to leave for the Great Hall to begin the student tournament before the official duel. None of the teens was really nervous, they knew they could duel as well as if not better than most of the other members of the DA, and all the members of the DA could duel better than almost anyone else in school, except perhaps some of the Slytherins.
And Professor Snape said they shouldn't be too much of a problem, most of them could duel fast and dirty but they had no physical staying power and all of them would lose their temper and open themselves up to a well thought out plan of attack. Unfortunately, the same mental characteristics that drew someone towards Slytherin house tended to be those who wanted a quick way to power, not those willing to work hard and practice for long hours to build up their stamina!
Harry and Severus had removed their battledress andwere outfittedin their customary robes for the first set of duels. They might as well save their dueling robes for the real fighting. It would make their opponents too aware of their abilities if they appeared in full battle robes for a student competition. Too many people would guess they were being set up! They had Dobby store their outer dueling robes, swords and staffs in the small ante room off of the Great Hall for them and headed down to the entrance.
Professor Snape left them before the entrance hall to go around to the staff entrance while they entered through the huge doors to the Great Hall. The room had been transfigured much as Harry remembered from the duel with Merlin, but the others were surprised at the bleachers and the dueling platform in the middle.
Harry and the others climbed up into the area that had been reserved for those entered in the student elimination rounds. They would begin with the only two fourth year students that had been given permission to enter, Ginny would actually have almost no competition, since she and Colin Creevey were the only fourth years and she knew from the DA that she could beat Colin nine times out of ten.
At a quarter to two, Professor McGonagall announced that anyone not sitting down within ten minutes would be ejected from the room so all the students and visitors hurriedly scrambled for seats. Harry noticed that fully one half of one side of bleachers were taken up of Ministry members, Order members, and even a few members of the press. He say Rita Skeeter and a man that looked suspiciously like he could be Luna Lovegood's father, who he knew owned the "Quibbler".
Tonks and Mrs. Weasley caught his eye and waved wildly at them. He smiled and waved back, he knew he would be nervous later, but for now he was willing to just enjoy. After all, how many teenagers could say they had dueled Merlin and won? He knew none of the teachers here could beat his father, and he could beat him, so there was nothing to be worried about, right?
Right at two o'clock, Dumbledore stepped out, dressed in modern battle robes of bright blue with gold stars and moons adorning the hem and sleeves. He had his long hair tied back out of the way and even had his beard wrapped so as not to get in his way. Harry was a little surprised, he hadn't known that Dumbledore was planning to duel, but of course, he didn't know the entire schedule of the events. He knew it was designed to instill confidence in the side of the light and to give the students and even their parents who might be thinking of joining with Voldemort pause to wonder if the dark lord was the one to choose to join or not.
Dumbledore raised his wand and sent up crimson sparks for attention and began talking, "The rules for the student elimination round are as such: the duel will continue until one contestant has lost their wand, they are incapacitated in any way, or they forfeit the match. No crippling or permanently damaging spells are to be used. And the Unforgivables or any other fatal spells are of course banned. The year mates will duel against each other in elimination rounds until a clear winner for each age group is declared. Then the fourth year will duel the fifth year, the winner of that round will rest while the sixth year winner and the seventh year winner compete. Then the winner of those two elimination rounds will duel for student champion."
"While the winner rests, the teachers will compete in elimination rounds as well, those rounds do not end with the loss of a wand, only incapacitation or forfeiture. After all elimination rounds have been completed, the student winner may choose to compete against the winner of the teacher's competition, or the teacher of their choice. There will be a one hour break for supper, and then the final formal duel will begin. The rules for that competition will be announced at that time. Thank you for your support and encouragement for all our competitors."
Ginny met Colin and they both bowed while maintaining eye contact as they had been taught. Colin predictably started with an expelliarmus, which Ginny ducked sending a jelly legs jinx that slipped through Colin's hastily erected shield. As he wobbled on rubbery legs, she stunned him, walked over and picked up his wand. The entire duel had lasted less than two minutes. She handed his wand to Professor McGonagall while Madame Pomfrey enervated Colin. He stood up sheepishly and they both shook hands and returned to their respective seats. Hermione hugged Ginny, whispering "Good job!" as the first of the fifth year competitors were announced.
Ron won against all three of his competition, but he lost spectacularly to Hermione who clipped him with a confusing jinx before stunning him in less than five minutes. Hermione had made it clear to the semi-finals when she was taken out after nearly ten minutes of dueling, by Pansy Parkinson with a barely legal blasting curse that they had not covered the shield for in the DA. Harry made a note to himself to learn the counter to that one, as Pansy smirked. Harry was secretly glad, he wouldn't mind wiping up Pansy and he would have felt bad humiliating Hermione. Harry had been pleased to see that all of his DA members won their rounds against non DA members and were only eliminated when dueling against other members; except for the dirty trick played by Pansy!
Harry had kept his abilities well hidden, using only second and third year spells, and making sure he only used one finger pointed down the length of his 'wand', and his power well damped down. None of his rounds lasted more than two or three minutes, he could have won much faster, but he still wanted to surprise some people, especially Sirius and Remus. Severus had edited his memories so the two had no idea how well, or against whom Harry had dueled and they had been on the far side of the battle at Hogsmeade and had assumed it was Albus who had called the tornado. Harry thought Severus just wanted a little revenge against the Marauder's for all the years they had tormented him, but he was willing to go along with it, Colin had promised plenty of good pictures.
At last it was time for Harry to duel against Pansy, he had decided he would just get it over as quickly and simply as possible because she was liable to get dirty really quickly. Pansy cast an unknown hex against him but it hit his air shield and simply curved around him, never closer than two feet from him. He took advantage of her inattention as she gawped at him, flipped her sideways with a blast of air, chained her tightly and then walked over, stunned her, and picked up the wand she had dropped. As he handed her wand to Professor Dumbledore he whispered to him, "She has the dark mark, I could feel the evil wrapped around her left arm when I brushed against it."
Dumbledore blinked at him in astonishment, nodded his head once in understanding and had him release her from the hex. Harry sent the information to Severus and as he turned to return to his seat, he saw his father walking her out of the room, talking fervently to her. Severus gestured to one of the aurors standing on duty at the doors and passed Pansy over to him before returning to sit with the other teachers who were judging the tournament.
There were no surprises with the sixth and seventh year elimination rounds, though Harry was surprised that Cho Chang had lasted through four elimination rounds before being stunned. He hadn't thought she paid that much attention in the DA classes. It was almost a tie for the final winner between Fred and George in the seventh years. They had won all of their rounds, but the two knew each other too well to be able to duel effectively against each other. It was almost as if they could read the other's mind and responded instinctively. Finally Fred hit George with Ginny's infamous bat boogey hex and George threw down his wand in disgust as giant boogies came out of his nose and attacked him. The audience roared with laughter and even George was laughing after Fred cancelled the hex.
Fred quickly eliminated the sixth year Slytherin Adrian Pucey; Harry suspected that Pucey didn't want to suffer the same fate as George and just was too nervous to really duel properly.
Ginny didn't even really try against Harry; she threw a half-hearted blasting spell at Harry and then dropped her wand deliberately as she threw herself out of the way when Harry threw a blasting curse back at her. He had really tried to make it weak, but she had seen him warming up against Severus and she was taking no chances.
Harry was looking forward to dueling against Fred, he knew lots of pranking hexes that should be fun! No matter what Fred sent, Harry just ducked or waved his wand to dispel it before it even came half way to him. And Fred knew Harry was playing with him, he had bright pink hair, house elf ears, pointed shoes and a pig snout before Harry took pity upon him and simply sent a mild stunner at him. With a single wave of his 'wand' Harry canceled all the hexes, not noticing the calculating glances from the judges' table that the simple movement garnered.
As Harry shook Dumbledore's hand after being declared the winner, Harry noticed that both Sirius and Remus were giving him a shrewd stare. Oh, well, he would be dueling against them next, no use trying to hide it any more!
Severus was dueling with Professor Flitwick first and he was muttering across the mind link about the man being way too small a target to hit. Harry laughed and told him to just keep remembering his trick of bouncing things off the floor and he would probably hit him instead.
'Blast, why am I reminding you of my dueling tricks just before I'll probably be dueling you. Okay, Dad, go ahead and lose so I can duel against Professor Flitwick who has never seen me fight.' Severus merely laughed out loud and sent, 'Brat' Sometimes Harry thought that Severus thought that was his name; he called him that often enough.
Professor Flitwick turned out to be a creative and accomplished dueler. Of course being two feet tall would make you accomplished or dead in the wizarding world. Severus and Filius sent mild stunners and blasting curses at each other until they had judged the other's strengths and weaknesses. As they settled down to serious dueling, Harry was analyzing their moves. They seemed to be fairly evenly matched, trading spells of about equal power, but Harry noticed that Professor Flitwick always cast a shield, he did very little physical ducking and swerving.
As Professor Flitwick shot a blasting curse at Severus, Severus used his left hand to cast a reflecting charm on the floor in front of him, then ducking to the left to miss the curse, he shot a petrificus totalus with his wanded right hand at the floor where it bounced up and hit the tiny charms professor in the chest. He fell to the floor, petrified and Severus stunned him to be safe before walking over and claiming his wand.
Sirius and Remus dueled almost like Fred and George, they had been friends and dueling partners for so many years that they knew each other's styles and favorite spells almost too well. Sirius favored powerful blasting and cursing hexes, while Remus went more for the well placed binding or disabling curse. Sirius would send a reducto and Remus countered with a blinding hex. They tossed spells back and forth like a tennis match, equally matched, one would win over the other only when one made a mistake or got tired. Sirius finally won when he tossed a reducto, a stunner, and a petrificus totalus one right after the other. Remus ducked the stunner, blocked the reducto, but his shield shattered and the petrificus totalus hit him in the chest. Sirius also stunned Remus before coming to claim his wand. Harry thought that might be a good idea, he knew some people could throw off certain spells and it was better to take no chances.
There was a fifteen minute break before Severus and Sirius were scheduled to be the final round. Harry heard some serious betting going on in the student section and couldn't help but smile knowing the twins were set to win quite a lot of money when Severus won the round. Harry had fought both of the men, and Severus was too crafty and cunning for Sirius to win, unless he got a really lucky shot in.
Severus and Sirius circled each other like two wary dogs, each flinging an occasional spell at the other to test them. Harry noticed that Severus was flinging the fingers of his left hand in an almost unconscious manner at the floor as he circled. Harry centered himself and felt the magic. Severus was making the entire floor around Sirius into a reflective surface. Sirius tried the triple combo that had taken out Remus, but Severus leaned right to miss the stunner, squatted under the reducto and used a strong protego to bounce the petrificus totalus right back at Sirius. As Sirius was casting his own protego, Severus sent an expelliarmus to the floor directly in front of Sirius and it bounced up and sent him crashing to the floor ten feet away. Madame Pomfrey had to hit him with two enervates and then gave him a vial of pepper up potion before leading him away to sit down. He looked funny with a dazed expression on his face, steam coming out of his ears and Remus sitting beside him laughing.
Dumbledore congratulated Severus on his stunning victory and then called Harry up to announce his choice of dueling the teacher of his choice or the winner, Professor Snape. Harry heard speculation all around him in the student section about who he would choose to duel, the money was going on Professor Flitwick, because he had been disqualified first.
Harry turned around and whispered loud enough for everyone in his section to hear, "They won't let me duel with Professor Trelawney, so I guess I'll have to pick Madame Pomfrey for all the times she hasn't let me out of the hospital wing!" The entire section burst out into laughter as Harry climbed down, students congratulating him and patting him on the back and shoulders as he went. Apparently he had unconsciously sent that sentiment over his link to his father, because Severus leaned over and shared it with Remus and Sirius, who almost choked on his laughter. All three of them had spent more than their fair share of time in the hospital wing under the Matron's iron fisted care.
Professor Dumbledore welcomed Harry to the center of the platform and shook his hand in congratulations again as he asked Harry for his decision. Harry turned to look at the teachers sitting behind him, winked at his father and announced, "Professor Snape, sir."
There was a collective gasp from the students and visitors. The animosity and downright hatred between the two had reached legendary proportions over the past five years and now Harry was giving his hated potions professor the right to hex him! What was the boy thinking?
The Headmaster clasped a firm hand on his shoulder and squeezed it in support before announcing another fifteen minute break before the last elimination duel of the afternoon. Harry leaned over to his grandfather and whispered, "My first choice was Professor Trelawney, then Madame Pomfrey, but I guess I'll have to settle for Dad." Albus chuckled and said, "I'd almost like to set those up for you just to have the pictures! Be sure and let Poppy know that she was your choice before Severus, she actually has a wicked sense of humor, but I wouldn't mention it to Sybil, she predicts your death too often, she might actually try to make one of her predictions come true."
Harry left to visit the bathroom and then to get a drink of water. He took off his student robe and exchanged it for his battle robe. He called Carus to bring his sword and staff to him and then waited in the anteroom to be called out. His father joined him shortly. He had also replaced his customary frock coat with his battle robes, and had his sword strapped to his side, his staff ready in his right hand.
Albus called for quiet from the audience and then announced the match between Professor Severus Snape and student Harry Potter. Severus led the way out followed closely by Harry, with Carus perched tightly on his left shoulder. Albus glowed with pride at the picture his two 'boys' presented. Strong, sure and confident in their abilities; the two epitomized the fighters for the light for the wizarding world to rally behind.
Harry just wished the wizarding world was relying on someone else. He dampened down all his emotions as he followed his father out into the hushed dueling chamber. Absolute silence met the two as their appearance was registered. They both seemed to radiate power and confidence. Many of the students and visitors took a sharper look and decided that they had never really seen Harry Potter or Severus Snape before.
Harry walked out to stand facing his father and Carus flashed off to reappear on a stand in the corner. Harry centered himself and opened himself up to his magical core. He felt the power flowing easily and comfortingly to both hands. He started to softly glow and seemed to grow taller. Severus watched him with pride as his son prepared to face him.
Harry banished his staff to the side of the room and drew his sword. It glistened as the flickering light from the torches reflected off its polished surface. Severus copied his movements and the two met, formally bowing before standing ready, balanced lightly on the balls of their feet to begin.
Harry started with a two handed swing that was easily blocked by a thrust upwards from Severus. The clang of steel on steel rang loudly through the chamber, echoing with power. The two reached their stride quickly and the elegance and grace of their movements made the audience gasp in wonder. It looked easy as the two battled, but no one witnessing the encounter had any doubt that they were watching two masters in action.
Swing, parry, thrust, and block, the two formed the two halves of an intricate dance. The grace and power of the two was magnificent and awe inspiring to watch. The clang of steel on steel echoed through the chamber as neither missed a beat. The swirling blades moved almost too fast to watch, forming a blur of light across the retinas of the watchers.
They circled, twirled and advanced. Harry and Severus were amazing to watch, each advancing only to have to retreat. The sound of clashing steel sped up until it sounded like there were more than two swordsmen. One handed, two handed it mattered not; the blows were blocked and returned with skill and precision. They made it look effortless.
Finally Harry twirled, ducked and then swept up under his father's thrust and touched the tip of his sword directly into the middle of the man's chest. Severus dropped his sword and bowed in acceptance of his defeat.
Harry stepped back, sheathed his sword, and held out his right hand, his staff flew into it as he caught it gracefully and firmly. Severus had also exchanged his sword for his staff and stood at the ready. The steady clang of the swords was now replaced by the dull thud of wood on wood as the two swung, thrust, and swept their staffs towards each other.
Hermione was reminded of the martial arts movies her father loved to watch. The movements and grace shown here though, bespoke a power and expertise that those choreographed movies never held. Ron, the twins, and probably half of the male members of the audience were madly thinking on how they could get Harry or Severus to teach swordsmanship and fighting with a staff to them.
The audience was unnaturally quiet, too caught up in the power and proficiency of the two experts to make a noise. The duel continued until both had sweat glistening on their faces. They were too equally matched for one to have a clear advantage over the other, but Harry gradually wore the older man down. He ducked and swept his staff, catching Severus behind the knees and throwing the man down to the floor. Harry continued the movement and on the return swing, he brought the phoenix of his staff down to plant it in the middle of his father's forehead. Severus dropped his staff and raised his hands in submission.
Dumbledore came onto the platform and held out a hand for Severus to help him up. Severus and Harry stood together and shook hands while bowing. Albus declared Harry the winner and dismissed the teachers and visitors, and then the students. "Dinner will be served in one hour, please enjoy the grounds and the main floors of the castle. Students are reminded that visitors are not allowed in the dormitories without express permission from your Head of House. I look forward to seeing you back here in one hour. Thank you." Harry and Severus had escaped to the anteroom and then Harry had apperated them into their new quarters. Severus called a house elf and instructed them to invite the Weasley family and Miss Granger to their chambers to wait for dinner.
In 'Gerbil land' Peter was ecstatic, he had finally managed to get the wheel to himself, those goons Crabbe and Goyle hogged it all the time! As he ran around and around, he thought to himself, 'Whee, I love this place, why didn't the Weasley's ever have a fun place like this? Run, run, run, oh I love this.'
Lucius looked through the clear plastic at the next chamber where his 'son' was trying to hide under the disgusting cedar shavings in one corner. 'If I go through that yellow tube and them make a right at the elbow, maybe I can find a way…'
Nine of the younger death eaters that had just been caught at Hogsmeade were playing with a small plastic ball, 'Now, why do we want to escape and go back to that mad man, this is much better than Azkaban or that idiot throwing crucios at everyone! Oh, my turn, my turn, push the ball this way to me!' One of them thought, as he ran after the ball.
Buckbeak just watched the maze of plastic tubes and chambers while eating a dead ferret, ignoring the cats that had been charmed to smell repulsive to him. Maybe today those little rats would escape, maybe today he could play!