Chapter 23
It was almost a relief when Monday finally came, bringing with it lessons and homework. The weekend had been difficult for him. During the week there was a chance to get away from his friends. Harry didn't think he would have coped otherwise.
However, he was doubting this wisdom as he walked down the steps of the dungeons. Monday also meant lessons with Snape.
He glanced down again at his map, double checking that no one else was anywhere near the classroom. He was not going to let Malfoy or anyone else pull something on him again.
He paused for a moment outside the door to steel himself. He had to be strong. He was not going to give the man even more to use against him. But with the familiar sinking feeling, he realised it was far too late for that. He pushed the thought away, trying to calm his nerves.
In what was becoming almost a ritual, he clenched his fist tightly and knocked.
"Enter." He heard the customary bark from Snape.
He walked in, closing the door behind him, as he took his usual seat in front of the Potion Master's desk. He didn't look at the man, but regardless he felt his burning gaze. Very gingerly he pulled the amulet over his head and put it in his pocket.
"We will be working on combat tonight, Potter." Snape said emotionlessly as he stood and moved to the cleared area. Harry took a breath and followed, trying to stop his stomach from twisting at the thought.
"You have become competent enough in the movement patterns I have given you that I think it is time to move on to using them in a combat situation." The man spoke as he flicked his wrist, clearing a space in the room. "We are only going to deal with physical manoeuvres to start with. Once you are proficient enough, we will start working with magic too. I suggest you remove your robe."
/\/\/\/\\/\/\
The boy pulled his robe over his head without complaint, revealing baggy jeans and a worn t-shirt. That was unusual. Potter hated taking off his clothes almost as much as his amulet. Perhaps he saw it made sense.
The said teen was eyeing him nervously. He gestured him forward. Severus had thought carefully about how to go about this. Obviously it was going to be difficult since even standing close to him made Potter panic. He had decided that he would start by teaching him offense first. Unconventional perhaps but he somehow doubted the teen would stand up to being attacked by him, under any circumstance. It was a bridge he would cross when they got there.
"I want you to repeat the original punching exercise we did to start, Potter." He held up his hands flat in front of himself.
Warily, the boy moved in, punched his palm softly then moved out quickly. Clearly Potter's feelings about this hadn't chanced in the least.
"Harder, alternating hands." He commanded, starting to move back as the boy moved to hit him. Potter followed uncertainly, the blows barely gaining any strength. He gave the teen a hard look.
/\/\/\/\/\
Harry didn't like it. He did not want to hit the man. It put him on edge that he had to. Snape's eyes bored into him.
"Hit harder, Potter."
Harry moved forward as his professor moved back. The man was getting annoyed. He steeled himself and swung harder, wrestling with the sudden urge to back away that followed.
"Better." The praise did nothing to assure his ill ease.
Harry drew back his fist to hit the hand again when it suddenly moved. He missed it completely. Snape's lips twisted slightly, his hands continuing to move. Harry concentrated harder, becoming worried that he was going to miss and hit Snape by mistake.
/\/\/\/\\/\
Severus moved his hands, watching Potter trying to hit them. The boy didn't want to hit him. That was abundantly clear. He wondered why. He called a halt. The teen immediately stopped, moving back to put more distant between them. Severus ignored it.
"You have good hand eye coordination, Potter," He said tersely, "But you will have to work on being able to move faster and hit harder."
Next Severus moved to show the boy how to kick in several ways. The teen imitated him awkwardly, unbalanced in the movements and unable to lift his leg high enough for some.
Severus pulled his wand out, once again ignoring Potter's reaction to it, silently conjuring a heavy round bag. With another incantation he caused it to expand and yet another he suspended it in the air. He gestured for the boy to move toward it.
/\\\/\\/\/\/\/\
Snape motioned for him to go to what he had just conjured. It looked like a muggle boxing bag, like the one Dudley used at Privet Drive to practice. Once the Potions Master explained what he expected him to do, he realised that it was.
The man instructed him to kick the bag, starting with a low kick and gradually moving higher. He had to repeat it using both legs, until he could balance enough.
After 20 minutes Snape told him to stop. He was sweating profusely, panting at the effort.
"You've leant the very basics of offense Potter." Snape said coolly, seemingly not even breathing heavily despite demonstrating the moves repeatedly. "Now I want you to try to hit me."
Harry glanced up nervously, not quite sure what to do. Snape moved opposite him, arms hanging loosely by his sides.
"Hit me, Potter." The man repeated brusquely.
Tentatively Harry drew his fist back and swung. The Potions Master dodged it easily, weaving to the side. Harry followed, trying again only to be evaded again.
Harry tried. Again. And again. Snape simply ducked away every time, forcing him to move around to try follow.
/\/\/\/\/\
Severus was becoming annoyed. Potter moved in warily, threw a pathetic punch then moved away to safety.
"Potter," he growled, "Faster, harder. At least pretend you are not trying to waste my time."
The boy glared up at him. Severus could feel the anger that his comment stirred. He hoped it would make the boy overcome his hesitance.
It seemed to, at least to some degree. But not completely. Although the boy swung more frequently and harder, he still would not stay close enough to engage. So Severus changed tact. Instead of merely dodging he stood his ground and blocked the blows. Potter seemed thrown by sudden change. Severus used it to his advantage and managed to force the boy to backpedal as he tried to keep distance between them. He managed to gain so much ground that he backed Potter up against the desks banked on the edge of the room.
"Enough" He said. "Look behind you."
/\/\/\\/\
Harry turned warily and glanced behind. He was startled to see that Snape had managed to manoeuvre him so far without attacking him in any way.
"You were using offense Potter, it is not I who should have gained ground." Harry looked down, blood rushing to his face. He felt weak. He couldn't help it. It made him feel ashamed that the thought of attacking the man made him nauseous. He looked down, avoiding Snape's look.
"Why are you holding back, Potter?"
"I- I-" He fumbled the words, not knowing what to say.
"Again."
...
Harry trudged wearily back to the Tower, glancing at the map to check he wasn't going to be discovered by any of the prefects patrolling the corridors. His arms and back ached from Snape's lesson. He hadn't managed to hit his teacher once although at least the subsequent bouts had been better than the first.
He muttered the password to the Fat Lady, to tired to care about her sniping comments about being woken up. He clambered through the portrait hole and made his way up the stairs to the boy's dorm, trying to be quiet as to not wake anyone. He slid under the covers of his four poster, murmuring a spell to close the curtains and waited for sleep to take him.