The lessons continued and in early November she felt some of her students were ready for the next step. She was discussing her idea with the other teachers and the consensus was generally positive.
"A duelling club eh?" Obadiah Slope the astronomy teacher looked at her with approval, "We do need our young ones able to protect themselves" he grunted, "And it might give them an outlet for that youthful energy the possess"
"Yes" broke in Paulette in her accented English, "We always have a duelling club at Beauxbatons it is so exciting to watch" she proclaimed breathlessly. Allegra understood Gilderoy Lockhart had started a club, however the demise of the teacher later that year had put an end to any further ideas of one. Filius took her aside, she leaned down at him and he said quietly,
"You know, Professor Snape is an excellent Duellist, you may want to speak to him regarding an opposite… "
"I was hoping you would actually help Filius" she replied, looking at him squarely, but he backed away a little
"No, my dear" he replied, straightening his waistcoat. "My desire to fight even in a minor capacity is gone" he looked at her sadly, "I will never lift my wand against another again." He slowly headed off to the tea and cakes, his sadness at the death and destruction from previous events palpable in the distance between them. She thought about it for a while then made a decision.
"Yes" the word was lengthened into a drawl, the sonorous baritone reverberating in the empty classroom. He was standing in front of his potion bottles, checking ingredients, she sighed and walked in.
Severus watched her walk through the door to his classroom, the dungeon cold around them. She looked at him thoughtfully wondering the best way to go about this, her first thought was that he would say no outright, so it required a little tact.
"I am starting a duelling club" she began softly, bracing herself for his answer, and as expected,
"No" the answer was clipped and to the point, it brooked no further dissent.
"But you"
He turned to face her, robes swirling around his feet "are you deaf?" he snarled "What makes you think I would be interested in your ridiculous club" Hmm she thought, plan B..
"Well the fact you yourself are a brilliant duellist, or so I have been told" she said sweetly, not rising to his snark.
"Find someone else" he snapped.
"Fair enough" she sighed as she left "Filius said he wanted a chance to try his hand at the best" she was sure he wasn't aware of Flitwick's current feelings on the matter.
He rounded on her, "Don't think you can appeal to my vanity woman... and do not think that you are even close to the best."
She swept out, leaving his words to echo behind her, a small smile ghosting on her lips.
Severus stood there, breathing heavily. The gall of the woman, a duelling club... who did she think he was? Someone so easily manipulated? The best... ha... he stalked the room... unaware of doing so. She thinks she is the best? Just trying to get a rise from me… Hah... trying to get him to put on a show. He threw himself into his chair, pulled his parchments and quill to him and started to write. An hour later he pushed them away unable to concentrate any further and stalked from the room.
A week later in the large weapons room the students gathered. The high vaulted ceilings, the leadlight windows allowing the weakening sunshine to enter, the braziers alight glinting off the weapons in the corners. Allegra stepped onto the raised dais, watched them gather around and started talking.
"Think about the rules you have been taught, to bow, the stance you take and the spells desired. Always think about your opponent, what you expect and have a plan to achieve. This is to disarm only; any infractions of this rule will be an instant loss and removal from the class. We now require some volunteers." She looked around expectantly, there were a mixture of students, eager faces looking up at her.
"DeWitt….you…..Parsons… you" the two students climbed the steps and faced each other.
"Wands up" she gestured, they both placed their wands in an upright stance, staring into each other's face. She could see the apprehension there, "bow" she called and stepped away, they both bowed and moved to one end of the dais, she was behind Parsons, a 5th yr. girl, who was showing skill in her defence spells. DeWitt on the other hand was more bravado than skill. Since the beginning of the year he had been eager to show off to her, however his academic abilities were sorely lacking.
"Expelliramus" he cried
"Impedimenta" she called, both at once, extending their arms at their opponent, in this case, DeWitt was successful, knocking Parsons back with white hot sparks as her spell whilst a good one, was not as fast as his ... she got up with a wry smile on her face... DeWitt looked stunned, she was usually better than he...
"Again" Allegra called and they both took up their stances once more.
As the lesson wound up, she noticed a dark figure in the doorway...
"Professor Snape" she called "Come in", he reluctantly came in, unwilling to slink out in front of students. She wasn't sure how long he had been there, so she asked, "How do you think they went?" He looked at her a moment, and replied, he just couldn't help himself.
"Some of them show talent, most on the other hand would be worm fodder before a real death Eater" His gaze swept around the room, trying to intimidate the class. Before she had stopped to think she replied,
"So, show us how it is done then" she retorted, He stared at her, eager eyes were upon him, some of the Slytherin students started to murmur eagerly, "Yes professor do it, show them", he looked around, he couldn't believe he had fallen for it. He was ramrod straight, eyes glittering, teeth clenched.
"Very well then." He swiftly climbed the few steps and waited.
The formalities over Allegra stood at the end of the dais and held her wand, waiting for the tell-tale sign of a cast spell.
"Stupefy", the spell rang out sharply in the silence, she just had time to flick the spell away with a shield, she lunged forward, and sparks crashed onto her shields.
"Expelliramus" a blue flash shot from her wand, which he was also able to disarm easily… ok she thought,
"Impedimenta" came the next... and a response of "Petrificus Totalis" these were batted away like flies on a hot summer's day. Sparks shooting from their wands at each spell, the hexes grew thick and fast as they reached into their knowledge of duelling spells, the students were spellbound, watching the riposte. Soon she realised most of the spells were now silent as they were staring at each other, eyes locked together, moving cautiously around like caged animals, their wands erupting with coloured lights, concentration levels for both at a maximum. She lunged forward trying to press the advantage but the blasting curse she had thrown his way dissolved before it had reached him, she heard him grunt, so it hadn't all dissipated. She could see him visibly clench his jaw and his arm was thrown out with another unknown spell, they circled each other, sweat starting to form on her brow, both so focused at the task at hand that neither of them noticed the headmistress walk in.
She clapped her hands, the sound loud in the rapt silence... "Enough" her shrill voice cut through with the sound of an axe on concrete, heads swivelled around and in that split second, Allegra lost concentration as she looked at the older woman. She was suddenly thrown backward with a hex squarely to her chest… "Ugh..." she cried, and she hit the floor, heads snapped back to her and everyone looked upon them in panic. Commotion erupted... Professor Snape looked stunned, not having expected the spell to have made contact, he was rooted to the spot, Minerva ran over and yelled at one of the students,
"Run" she said" Go and get Madam Pomfrey, Quickly"
Allegra couldn't move, she could barely breathe... their spells had progressed more and more in ferocity as the duel wore on, Severus finally moved, both leaned over her. She opened her eyes, groaned and closed her eyes again and passed out.
When she awoke, her chest felt she had been hit by a branch from the whomping willow, she looked around and as expected was in the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey looked at her with a stern expression,
"That was a disgraceful display, you were supposed to be showing the finer points of duelling, not all out combat, how are we supposed to keep our students in line if our teachers cannot exercise some control." All out combat? she sighed, hardly. She had taken worse hits than this, and as if Poppy had read her mind, she continued, "You aurors may think you are tough, but it takes a toll on the body, all these dark spells interfere with your magic in the long run" she looked down at her. "I will let Minerva know you are awake,"
She struggled to sit up, Poppy walked out, and in a short while Minerva was by her bedside again. The woman clucked like an old hen. "When I agreed to a duelling club, it was to teach the students, not to show off," her lips thinned.
"Mm" she replied quietly, the pain reduced to a dull throb, "It did backfire a bit, the man is good"
Minerva looked at her, "That boy came to us as a child knowing more hexes and jinxes than any one should at his age. his mother allowed him to read her schoolbooks before he came to us. Mind you being bullied as it allowed him to hone his skills further."
Allegra looked at her, "He must have been a handful." She stopped as she saw the look on her face. "Is he ok?" she asked. Minerva looked surprised, "Poppy said he was worried he had caused serious damage, and as you can see, I am fine,"
She tutted at this but replied. "As soon as Poppy let me know you were awake, he took off, I assume to his quarters."
Severus was almost running, he had heard Madam Pomfrey let Minerva know that Allegra was awake and talking coherently. He hadn't realised he had been holding his breath until he'd made it to the heavy wooden door to his rooms. He threw it open and when closed, leaned his back against the dark wood. Suddenly, his legs gave way and he slid down onto the cold stone, his robes billowing around him almost as a sigh. He hadn't meant to escalate the duel it just evolved naturally into a real contest. Of course, they both could have come up with final spell to end it, but it had become a real contest within the limits of the rules. He placed his forehead to his knees and sat there for what seemed like hours.
She had the next day off, spending it in the infirmary and leaving only when the apprentice medi-witch cleared her of any lingering magic that remained of the spell. She was given a salve for her bruising and she walked gingerly to her quarters, having settled on her comfy sofa with a book and a cup of tea, she entertained a few visitors that afternoon as the other teachers' classes allowed it. Thank goodness it was Friday, she would have the weekend to recover. No visit to Hogsmead for her.
It was almost nine when a knock on her door woke her from a light doze, "Come in" she called, she mentally unlocked the door to allow entry and was surprised when she saw who it was.
"Severus, come in" He took in her messy hair, her book that had fallen to the floor and said quickly,
"My apologies, another time perhaps, when you are less tired" he turned to leave when she called,
"You don't get out of it that easy" he looked at her with apprehension until he saw the smile on her face, he relaxed somewhat which in his place was only be a degree or two. She motioned to the straight-backed armchair in which he quickly sat, stiff as a board, hands, palm down on his knees, clearly uncomfortable.
"Severus," he looked up, "Would you mind? That armoire, left hand side cupboard, and two glasses" he stood up, walked over to the cupboard and opened the door, seeing inside a bottle of Whisky and several solid crystal glass. He looked at her and she nodded, he took them out and placed them on the small table in front of them both. He picked up the bottle to turn the lid and read the label.
"Hmm" he intoned, "I don't know this one, is it goblin made, Ogden's is the usual one " she saw his confusion.
"No, you wouldn't recognise it, its muggle made, one of my favourites" she gestured for him to pour, and the smoky peaty aroma was unmistakeable. A small jug of water appeared, "Would you mind, just a dash"
He handed over the glass, the whisky inside was golden, the cut glass sparkling in the light. She took in the aroma, seeing him lean toward his glass and doing the same.
"Interesting" he said as he took a sip. The warm liquid made its way over her tongue as she also saw his face relax into something like pleasure. His eyelids half closed the glass, still to his lips. He sat back into a more relaxed posture, placing one ankle over his knee. "That is a delight" he murmured again, sipping slowly from the glass. They both sat back, enjoying the quiet moment, with the sound of the low fire, crackling over the coals.
She broke the silence, "Well that was fun, don't you think?" referring to the duel. He raised an eyebrow and looked if he was about to deny that when he relaxed and replied.
"Yes, it was actually" he had been concerned for the last 24 hours that people would brand him with the blood lust of the Death Eater trope, but Minerva had been quick to re assure him and all around that it had been her decision to bring him into it, and whilst they had battled hard, the final outcome was not in any way his fault.
"Mind you" he said, it was a good thing Minerva came in when she did" Allegra stared at him in amazement, he replied quickly "Apart from what happened of course" again, a stare, "Well" he said loftily, "You were slowing down"
She almost laughed out loud and sat up a bit further on the sofa, "You really think you were winning? Seriously?" she couldn't believe it, the arrogance of the man.
"I was not slowing down, I was considering my options" He snorted into his glass, took a sip and then refilled it. She passed hers over for the same and when he leaned over to give it to her looked her in the eye and said,
"I certainly wouldn't have let myself get distracted" She stared back and knew he had a point, she certainly wouldn't have let that happen a few years ago.
"I remembered we were in a classroom, not a battlefield" she saw him wince, and went on quickly, "We will call it a draw" he raised an eyebrow but did not comment further. Back on safe ground the banter continued, until he saw her supress a yawn. He stood up, looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face.
"I think it is time to retire my dear, thank you for the whisky, you must let me know when you replenish your stock, I would order one for myself," with that, he gave a slight bow and left.
He walked slowly down the quiet hallway, lost in thought, it had been a pleasant evening, the conversation, the spirits. Before the final years with Voldemort, he would enjoy a small drop with Dumbledore occasionally, one of the few people he would socialise with. He wouldn't admit to it, but he missed the old fool. He thought after the war he would be seen as well, maybe not a hero, but had not expected the hatred. He felt sure that people would understand his years of service to the old man would be seen for what it was, a loyal soldier, following orders, but for some reason, he was a target, a focus for the pent-up fear and distrust for the last 5 years. He found himself a scapegoat, whilst of course, St Potter could do no wrong. It had been so freeing to find someone who was not tainted with the perceptions of his previous life.