Disclaimer - Only the plot.

Thank You Lord Voldemort

Chapter 9 - The Duel

"Alex, Alex, wake up."

*groaning*

"Come on Alex. Get up."

"Wha.. Why?"

"Get out of bed now or I'll use a watering charm on you."

"Okay, okay. I'm getting up."

"Well, you'd better hurry or we'll miss the carriages to Hogsmead."

Alex finally rolled unceremoniously out of bed and onto the floor. Throwing his robe around him, he ran to the shower to get ready. Ten minutes later he was clean and dressed and walking to the entrance hall with Severus. Although he wanted to, he resisted the urge to hold Severus' hand. They had decided two days ago that it would be best if they didn't come out in the open just yet.

It was a perfect fall day in Hogsmead. The sun was shinning and the air was crisp. For much of the day they walked around window-shopping. Alex noted that there were a couple of stores that didn't exist in his time but he didn't tell Severus. When they neared the end of the main street Alex kept walking ahead towards the shrieking shack but was surprised when Severus pulled him backwards.

"What's wrong?"

Severus seemed a little shaken up. "We should turn around."

Then it dawned on Alex why Severus was afraid of the shack. "Yeah, you're right. I'm thirsty, let's go have a drink or two."

Severus looked instantly relieved as they entered the Three Broomsticks for a late lunch. They each had a couple of butterbeers and had a sandwich.

"I really had a great time today Sev."

Severus smirked. "Sev?"

Alex grinned slyly. "You don't mind do you? I let you shorten my name."

Onyx eyes showed amusement. "That's fine. As long as it doesn't migrate to Sevvie, that is."

They both laughed aloud. A sound that Alex was glad to hear. He had always wondered if the snarky Professor Snape knew how to laugh.

"Hey, look if it isn't the slimy Slytherins. Probably plotting on how to kill more muggles."

Alex turned around to see the four marauders smirking. Severus responded before Alex could.

"Go away Potter."

Alex was surprised at how Severus spit the name out just has he does in the future.

James smirked and sat down at the table with Sirius, Remus, and Peter behind him. "I don't think I will Snivellus."

Alex remembered back to the scene he saw in his professor's pensieve and decided to do something before things got that out of hand.

"Look, Potter, we are trying to eat lunch peacefully. I'm sure there is another table you could sit at where you would enjoy the company more. I assure that we like you just as much as you like us."

James picked a chip off of Alex's plate and ate it. "Pretty brave for a Slytherin aren't you? I like this table so I think it's time for your kind to get back to the castle."

Alex sneered at his father. "We are not finished so I suggest you go maraud elsewhere."

That wording seemed to have got their attention and Alex noticed Peter back up several steps. It only caused James to get angrier. "Look, I don't know who you think you are, but if you're going to play your games you're going to get hurt."

Severus was confused, as he didn't quite get what they were talking about.

Alex jumped up and turned on the Gryffindor. "Don't threaten me Potter. I don't want to have to hurt you."

James laughed and was joined by the other marauders. "You, hurt me? Is that a challenge? Tomorrow on the quidditch pitch then. Remus is my second. Who's yours?" Sirius looked a little hurt briefly, Alex noticed.

Severus stood up next to Alex. "I am."

Later that night Alex and Severus walked the halls talking. "I wish there was somewhere we could be alone Alex."

Alex had been thinking the same thing as they walked around. Suddenly a door appeared. "Hey, I forgot about this place. Come on."

Severus looked a little nervous about entering. "What is this place?"

After Alex looked inside to see what it had become he turned back around to Severus. "It's a surprise. I'm not telling you. You'll just have to go in."

When Severus entered he was stunned. The room was like an apartment. It was lavishly decorated and very large with a living room, bedroom and kitchen. The fireplace was already lit and there where shelves of books on either side.

"What is this place?"

Alex smirked. "A place where we could be alone. That's what you wished for right?"

Severus nodded and Alex led him to the sofa, explaining to him about the room of requirement.

Alex was beyond nervous. Not about the duel he had agreed to, but about what to say to Severus. Luckily Severus started the conversation.

"So, I know you can't reveal the future, but can you tell me a little more about you?"

Trying to think about what was safe to discuss, Alex was silent for awhile before speaking. "Well, my favorite subject is Defense."

"You mean it's not potions? Even though I teach it?"

Alex tried to keep a straight face. It shocked him that Severus was being serious. "Well let's just say the teacher doesn't like me very much."

"I .. I don't? Why not?"

"I can't tell you. Let's just say that your future self hasn't figured out who I am yet."

"I see. So, aren't you nervous about the duel tomorrow?"

"No, you?"

"No. I probably knew more hexes when I started school then most seventh years do now."

Alex smiled when he remembered Sirius telling him the same thing back in his third year.

"Alex, just ... be careful okay. I don't want you to need a second."

"I promise I'll be careful." Alex whispered as he leaned in to kiss Severus. He didn't like seeing the worried look on his face.

The two Slytherins snuggled in to one another as their kiss deepened. When they broke apart it was only for Alex to lay his head on Severus' shoulder, wrapping an arm around him. Severus laid his head on Alex's as they both dozed off.

Back in 1997

"Hey Ron, Hermione. What can I do for you?"

Hermione decided to do all the talking. "Well, Professor Lupin, we were wondering if we could talk in private."

Remus ushered the two students into his office, closing the door. "What is it? Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I guess. We were wondering if you could tell us about Harry. We know that the time he went back to was when you were there."

Remus paled and tried to think of something to tell them. "Well, his name was Alexander Campione."

"Really? I wonder why he picked that name. Basically Ron and I want to know that he is happy. We really miss him." Ron nodded his head in agreement.

The werewolf cleared his throat before continuing. "Well, I think he was happy most of the time. He was in Slytherin so he hung around with Professor Snape much of the time."

Ron stared with disbelief. "You mean he was friends with Professor Snape?"

"Yes, he was. They were inseparable really."

"But what about his dad? Didn't he hang out with his dad? I figured he'd want to get to know him."

Remus stayed silent for a moment. "Professor Lupin? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Harry didn't hang out with his dad. He stayed with the Slytherins."

"That's bizarre. I don't see how Harry could be friends with Snape. Especially after how Snape has treated him."

Hermione answered Ron with a glare. "Professor Snape may not have been that bad back then. Was he Professor Lupin?"

Remus swallowed. He was praying for someone to rescue him from this inquisition. He had finally come to terms with the fact that Alexander was Harry but he wasn't ready to answer all these questions. "Professor Snape was to Harry's father and I, what Draco Malfoy is to you guys. He may not have been a bad person but he was our personal enemy. Unfortunately Alexander er .. um Harry was friends with Snape, which made him our enemy."

"That must be awful for Harry. I hope he makes it back soon."

"So do I. You two should probably head to your tower now. It's getting late and I have papers to grade."

Ron and Hermione excused themselves and headed to Gryffindor tower. "Ron, don't you think he was acting a little strange? He seemed a little pale. It isn't near the full moon either."

"I don't know Hermione. We'll have to keep an eye on him."

Back in 1977

The following day seemed to fly by. The school was abuzz with the rumors of a duel to the death between the Gryffindor and Slytherin. Alex wasn't worried about himself as he had extra defense training the past year and could out duel almost anyone he had faced with the exception of his three defense teachers; Professors Snape, Lupin, and Dumbledore. Those three had taught him relentlessly. He just hoped he wouldn't hurt his father and that Lupin wasn't as good as his future self yet.

That evening Alex and Severus escorted by the rest of Slytherin house made their way to the quidditch pitch. When they arrived the Gryffindors were arriving at the same time and it seemed as though the other two houses were with them as well.

"Potter, what rules do you want?"

James sneered. "Unfortunately for you, we can't use any dark magic at Hogwarts without setting off the wards. So, light magic only and it goes until your opponent and his second are disarmed. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

The two students walked several paces from each other before turning around to face each other in a dueling stance with wands at their hips. The students oohd and ahhd at the formality of it all. Most had never seen a proper duel.

James was the first to fire a curse. A leg locker curse that Alex dodged easily while countering with a petrificas totalas that James had to throw up a shield to prevent hitting him. Alex took that time to follow with a laughing charm that broke through the weakened shield and caused him to roll on the ground laughing. Through the laughing he managed to throw an Expelliarmus which Alex blocked. Immediately he cast wingaurdium leviosa and raised his father off the ground. He had hoped to use it to spin him around until he was dizzy but Sirius decided to come to his aide by hitting Alex from behind with a jelly legs curse. When the curse hit Alex it caused him to loose control of the spell he cast on his father which caused his father to fall to the ground with a loud thump. He countered the curse on himself and rushed over to see if James was okay.

After assuring that his father would be okay he turned around to face Sirius. "What did you think you were doing Black? You are not part of this duel."

Sirius was about to reply when an angry Remus stepped up. Alex thought he could see the wolf in the mans eyes. "That's right Campione. But, I am. Let's carry on then."

Remus and Alex bowed to each other and starting walking away from each other. Before Alex could turn around Remus cast a powerful disarming spell at him, throwing him from his feet. The force of the spell knocked him out cold.

Severus felt like is heart had dropped into his stomach and he wanted nothing better than to run to Alex to make sure he was okay but the duel wasn't over yet. A slytherin that had ran over to check Alex gave Severus a thumbs up which relieved him greatly. He marched up to Remus. "Looks like it's down to you and me. Let's see if you can keep this fair."

The two best duelers in the school bowed to each other and started flinging curse at the other. Both of them were fighting to avenge the honor of their friend. They were a blur as they traveled the length of the pitch. Flashes of light crisscrossed the pitch and flashes of white circles as each raised a shield at various moments. After nearly a half an hour Severus finally got a curse through. It was a leg-locking curse and after it hit Lupin, Severus quickly grabbed his wand, ending the duel. There was applause from all of the Slytherins and from the students from the other houses that enjoyed the duel as entertainment.

Severus ran to Alex who was being looked at by the captain of the Slytherin quidditch team. They levitated Alex back to the castle to put him in the infirmary. The Gryffindors were levitating their fallen comrades to the infirmary as well.