Disclaimer: This story was written purely for fun. I do not own any of the characters or make any money out of this.

A/N: This story is set at the beginning of Harry's sixth year, and is quite AU. It disregards HPB completely. I tried to keep Snape as much in character as I could. This chapter is quite short, I intend it only as an introduction to what is to come. The next chapter should be up tomorrow. I hope you enjoy!

Warning: contains Snape torture.

Chapter 1: A favour

There was a knock on the office door and Dumbledore looked up.

"Come in!"

The door opened to admit a familiar figure, dressed in black robes, with a black cloak that billowed behind him as he walked. Nodding to Dumbledore in greeting, he moved to stand in front of him, silently waiting for him to start speaking.

"Ah! Severus, I was waiting for you. Please have a seat."

Snape complied, and waited with a scowl on his face as Dumbledore moved to the window, staring outside and humming the tune to some children's song softly under his breath. It would do no good to rush him. Dumbledore would only talk when he was ready, probably after a lot of pointless chitchat.

"It's a beautiful day today, isn't it Severus?" Dumbledore questioned from his place at the window.

Snape only rolled his eyes in reply. He couldn't stand such inane talk. Yes, it was a bright sunny day, the flowers were blooming, the birds were chirping and all that, but what did that have to do with the reason he was here?

As if sensing the other's impatience, Dumbledore turned away from the window and moved to sit at his desk, elbows on the table, chin resting on his steepled fingers. He paused, considering carefully what he was about to say, then began, "Severus, I have called you here to ask a favour of you. I know you are not going to like it, but regrettably it has to be done."

Eying Dumbledore suspiciously, Snape gestured for him to go on.

"Voldemort is gaining power and followers day by day, and as you yourself have told me he is likely to be planning to again attack Harry whom he still, perhaps truly, believes to be his greatest obstacle. The prophecy too speaks of a final battle between Harry and Voldemort, and much as I would like to protect him from this, I believe it prudent to at least prepare him for an eventuality that we may not be able to prevent. It would be a great tragedy if Harry had to face Voldemort again as unprepared as he was last time. I trust you agree with me till this point?"

Snape nodded uncertainly, not sure where this was heading. "No doubt Potter needs to be trained, Dumbledore. In his current state the Dark Lord will hardly have to bat an eyelid to kill him. But I fail to see where I come in all of this…"

Snape faltered a bit as he saw the look in Dumbledore's eyes. He could see the answer there, before he had even asked the question. Comprehension dawned upon him, and he suddenly stood up, moving quickly backwards to the door.
"No, Dumbledore. Do not even think it. I will not be the one training that insufferable boy. I will not do it."

"Severus," Dumbledore said, fixing him with a steady gaze that stopped him in his tracks. "I need you to do this. I am sorry. I am aware of the …let's say… less than pleasant feelings you have for each other, but this is too important to let that stop us."

"Why me?" Snape protested. "You are a better duellist than me, why can't you teach him how to fight?"

"Because no one knows the dark lord as good as you do. No one understands his fighting style as well as you. And do not try to be modest, my boy, you would not have survived so long were not your duelling skills at least on par with mine." Dumbledore replied, a twinkle in his eyes.

"But…"

Dumbledore put up a hand to forestall any further arguments. "Enough," he said in a slightly harder tone. "I will instruct Potter to meet you in your office at 8 on Monday evening. The exact contents of your lessons I will leave up to you and your judgment on what you think will help Harry the most against Voldemort. Good night Severus and thank you."

Scowling at Dumbledore but knowing there was no way to change his mind about this, Snape only nodded curtly and left the room, slamming the door behind him a little harder than necessary.

A/N: Review please!