Chapter 25: Slytherin vs Ravenclaw
The week had passed in a blur, much to the gratitude of Bellatrix, who thought she was ready for the bout, and the disappointment of Severus, who thought she was still not ready for the upcoming duel with Ravenclaw.
This must have been evident on his face because, when he was about to go into the Great Hall for breakfast, Lily spotted him and pulled him over to the side.
"Are you alright, Sev?" she asked, worried about the unusually dark circles under his black eyes.
"I'm fine Lily," he answered, stiffling a yawn. "I've just been exhausted trying to teach someone who is-"
"Beyond incompetent," Lily finished, smiling. "It'll be alright, Sev. The moment this tournament is over it'll be one less burden we have to deal with before the OWLs, and we can all get some well-deserved rest."
With a parting smile and a kiss on his cheek Lily walked toward her fellow Gryffindors.
"I'll rest better when you're in your rightful House," Severus thought as he too went to join his fellow Housemates at the green table.
The moment he sat down Bellatrix snapped, "What was that? You didn't tell her anything about me being the Slytherin Champion, did you?"
"No, Bellatrix, I didn't. If you don't believe me, look at our hourglass," he indicated toward the House Hourglasses next to the staff table.
The emerald-filled glass still contained the four hundred and twelve points, and not a single one dropped from the top of the container.
"Very well then," Bellatrix huffed, "but if you ever tell anybody, especially that precious Mudblood of yours, I'll-"
"You'll what?" Severus snarled as the tip of of wand was discreetly pointed at her. "Don't you dare call Lily that in front of me, and you better not ever say that outside of this table again. You may be the Slytherin Champion, but I still know more spells than you ever will in a lifetime."
Slipping his wand back up his sleeve Severus grabbed some toast, jam, scones and sausages, leaving a stunned group of Slytherins looking at him wide-eyed.
The offender spoke up, "Sorry Severus, but you know it's your fault."
"My fault? For what?" he asked, looking up from his sausages.
"For overworking me with these little dueling tutorials," Bellatrix sighed with a coy smile. "Honestly, you know what too much pressure does to me. It brings out my un-ladylike nature, and I don't to jeoparidise my role in the Dark Lord's plan. Don't worry though, I'll make sure not to use that word again in Evans's presence, however true it is."
Before Severus could retaliate to the back-handed promise Dumbledore spoke, "It is now time for the second Semi-Final Match between Ravenclaw and Slytherin. All students, teachers and staff please report to the Quidditch Pitch."
Just like before the Heads of House filed their pupils out of the castle by year order. When Lily spotted Severus and her other Slytherin "friends" she mouthed "Good luck" and disappeared amoung her fellow Gryffindors, a smirk playing on her face.
"It won't be too hard to figure out who the Slytherin Champion is once the duel starts," Lily thought as she took a seat with the others in the stands. "Although, after seeing the dark circles under the eyes, I can already assume who the Champion is."
Alan Jordin's voice was soon heard from the magic megaphone, "Welcome to the second match of the Interhouse Dueling Tournament Semi-Finals! I'm your commentator Alan Jordin and I would've loved to give you all the usual introduction, but my pay was threatened to get cut, so I'm just going to get to it. This match is between the Champion of Ravenclaw"
The bronze and saphire side cheered as their Champion gave a short caw from the entrance.
"And the Champion of Slytherin!"
The silver and emerald side chorused as their own Champion came slinking out of its entrance.
"Whoever knocks their opponent's wand out their hands three times wins and gets a chance to go against the Champion of Gryffindor in the Finals!" Jordin continued. "Opposites shake hands, take ten paces, and come out dueling!"
The two Champions did shake hands, but the silver snake pulled away first after a fleeting second. Then they made their way to their ends and started the duel.
The serpent hissed its attack first, but the blow was deflected by the eagle's lazy wand movement. Then it made one swift motion, like that of a sword slash and the force of the spell knocked the Silver Champion of its feet and free of its wand.
"First blow against Slytherin!" Jordin announced to the roaring cheers of the other three Houses while the Slytherins groaned.
Then the snake attacked again and was once again liberated of its wand.
"Another well deflected spell," Jordin said, laughter in his voice. "One final blow will earn Ravenclaw a spot in the Finals!"
"Want to bet?" Bellatrix thought, a crazed smile playing under the helmet.
That is when things got turned around...
When she attacked once more Bellatrix hissed out, "Ricoshampra!"
Naturally the Ravenclaw Champion blocked the spell, but when it lowered its wand the spell came back with full force. It curved back in the air and made contact with the eagle's back, knocking it forward and disarming it.
"The Ravenclaw Champion has lost its wand," the commentator said in disbelief.
Before the bronze eagle could completely recover from the first spell three more spells came at it. The first was deflected from the front, the second one from behind, but the third made contact on the side and deprived the warrior of its wand once more.
"The bout if now tied. One more blow from either of them will earn the victor the chance against Gryffindor," Jordin said while everybody looked at each other for an explaination to this turn of events.
Bellatrix decided that it was time to finish the job, so she cast a spell on her opponent, and it left the eagle hanging upside down by its ankle. Then she yanked her arm down and the other animal feel on its back. The impact resulted in the crunching of grass and the final disarming of the opponent.
At this point the crowd was booing and calling out for a disqualification.
"Leave it to a bloody Slytherin to play dirty!" Sirius growled.
Agreeing Potter stated, "It's obvious who that snake is! Only he would be merciless with that spell."
A hand then made contact with his face.
"What the bloody hell was that for Evans?" he asked, rounding on the red head that was behind him.
"It isn't Severus!" Lily snarled. "He is a brilliant duelist who would have won in half the time it took this match, and he would have done it without the sloppy spell work."
"How do you know it isn't him?" Potter asked hotly.
"How do you know it is him?" Lily rebutled.
Professor McGonagall's voice was then heard from the megaphone, "After much consideration we have decided to award the victory to go to the Slytherin Champion, due to the fact that the Ravenclaw Champion has not sustained any type of injury."
"That's rubbish!" half of Gryffindor cried while the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs agreed.
The Slytherin Champion then went over to where Madams Pomphery and Hooch and the fallen Champion were at, holding out its hand to take the promised amulet.
Getting up the eagle removed the crest and its identity was revealed to be Xenophilius Lovegood.
"Thanks," Bellatrix hissed while leaving for the hidden room, connecting the medallions together and forming the bottom half of the capital "H".
Watching the Silver Snake leave the Pitch Lily thought, "A child like you doesn't need something that valuable hanging from your neck. You're a disgrace to your House and this school. Enjoy it while you can, because you will never have that kind of power ever again for as you live. "
As she made her way back to Gryffindor Tower she smirked, "I'll be looking forward to facing you in the Finals and showing everybody how foolish you truly are. Good luck... Bellatrix."
A.N. In case you are all still wondering as to why Bellatrix is the Slytherin Champion instead of Severus I'll gladly explain that later on. I also apologize for the lack of action in this duel, but I want the Finals to be something unforgetable. (That and I'm a pacifist, which means I don't approve of fighting unless it's a last resort.)
Thanks and please let me know what you all think!