Disclaimer: This story parallels one of my earlier stories, The Duel. When I wrote it, I always had an alternate, less PG story in my head. I finally decided to write that second story. Anything familiar pertaining to the dueling club is creditied to Rowling.
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The Duel
Part Deux
Snape stepped forward, waved his wand, and the snake vanished in a small puff of black smoke. Snape, too, was looking at Harry in an unexpected way: It was a shrewd and calculating look, and Harry didn't like it. He was also aware of an ominous muttering all around the walls. Then he felt a tugging on the back of his robes.
"Come on," said Ron's voice in his ear. "Move-come on-"
Miriam watched from a distance as Ron and Hermione dragged Harry from the Great Hall. How curious. It would appear that Mr. Potter was a Parselmouth; not that he even knew what that was, judging by the expression on his face. Severus was still staring at the door the trio had vanished through, while Lockhart was standing around with a somewhat dazed expression. Typical, Miriam thought with a sigh as she walked up the stairs to stand beside Professor Lockhart.
"I think that's enough excitement for the evening. Students, return to your dormitories." Miriam turned to Lockhart. "Professor, would you mind seeing to the students? I'm worried about them getting back safely, and I know with someone of your caliber watching over them everything will be fine," Miriam said as she smiled sweetly.
"Of course," Lockhart said as he puffed his chest out. "I wouldn't want you to worry. Should I help tidy up—"
"Oh, no," Miriam cut him off. "Severus and I can handle this. You just worry about the students." Miriam smiled at him again as he swaggered off, herding the students in front of him. As soon as his back was turned, Miriam's smile switched off like a light. The sooner he got everyone out of here the faster she could talk to Severus about what just happened.
Miriam made her way across the golden stage towards her husband. The pair stood side-by-side in silence as the last few students made their way out the door. When at last they were alone, Miriam sighed. "Took him long enough," Miriam muttered. "Sorry we're stuck with the cleanup, but at least we can talk now." Miriam warded the doors and cast a silencing charm before she turned to Severus. "Did you have any idea?" she asked.
"No," Severus said slowly as he shook his head. "And before you ask, I'm not sure what it all means yet. I do know I will need to speak with Albus tomorrow."
"I'll come with you. Tonight's 'dueling club' was a complete disaster. If Albus wants it ran properly, he'll just need to hand it over to me," Miriam said decisively as she stepped off the stage.
Severus' eyebrow disappeared into his hairline as he followed his wife. He raised his wand and began to help her place the tables and benches in their original spots. "You and Flitwick would be good choices to head up a proper dueling club. I remember you being quite adept at dueling while we were in school."
Miriam smiled shyly at her husband. "Thank you, Severus." She gracefully flicked her wand. "I remember you being rather skilled yourself. By the way, I enjoyed watching you tonight," Miriam said softly.
"Did you like that?" Severus asked with a smirk as he gave Mia a sideways glance.
"Like it? I loved it!" Miriam exclaimed with a laugh. "The only thing better would be if I got a crack at him, too. Oh, Gilderoy's face when he smacked the wall was classic!" Miriam snickered.
Severus joined in Mia's laughter. It felt good to finally get a jab in at Lockhart, and in front of almost the whole school, no less. He and Mia had very similar senses of humor—she could appreciate how good comeuppance felt. Finally, their laughter died away and together they resumed straightening the Great Hall.
When all that remained was moving the dueling stage and extinguishing the candles, Miriam turned to Severus. "It's a shame, though. To waste skills like yours on an opponent like Lockhart is a tragedy."
"Mmm, well, who else was I going to duel?" Severus asked as he swished his wand at the air. Several of the candles scattered through the room and their flames went out.
"You could duel me," Miriam offered.
Severus paused. "You? You want to duel. With me?"
"Well, we never got a chance in school. Flitwick always preferred to match houses against each other rather than housemates. Said it was better to learn from others who didn't think as yourself, remember? I would love a chance to duel with you, Severus."
Severus listened to Miriam speak, her words carrying him back to his own memories of the dueling club. Severus was a fair duelist, as was Miriam. He looked hard at his wife, sizing her up as an opponent. She was a few inches shorter than he, with a svelte build. She had soft curves where they counted, making her appear as though she was a vulnerable woman. Severus knew that assumption was a mistake. His wife was a fighter and had won her way out of several tight spots; she had an inner strength that Severus deeply admired. Dueling someone of her skill would be a challenge, and Severus rarely backed down from those.
"Unless, of course, you're worried about losing…" Miriam trailed off. She folded her arms across her chest, tilted her head, and gazed at Severus through her dark lashes.
Severus smirked and matched her posture. "Hardly," he replied. "You really want to do this? I won't go easy on you, just because you're my wife, you know."
"Absolutely," Miriam said as she slipped off her robes. "Though I think it's you who should reflect on your decision—I have no plans of going easy on you either, dear husband." She tossed the black cloth on the table, and began unbuttoning her jacket. The jacket joined the robes, followed quickly by her pointed hat.
Severus watched, curious, as Mia let down her curly hair. She shook it out and with a twist of her wand secured it in a braid. From the looks of it, she meant business. Severus shook his head and slipped his robes off, followed by his frock coat. He tossed them on the table and walked to the stairs at the far end of the stage. He stepped onto the stage the same time Miriam appeared at the other end.
"I think we should place a wager on this duel," Severus said as he eyed his wife from across the room.
"What kind of wager are you proposing?"
Severus paused. He wasn't out to make Miriam grade his papers, or even scrub his cauldrons. Oh no—Severus wanted something else from his witch. "When I win, I want us to go away for a weekend. No schoolwork, and no responsibilities from the business either. In fact, no telling Will where we're off to."
He watched Miriam; a frown creased her brow as she thought about his offer. Severus knew it would be a tantalizing, yet difficult prospect for Miriam to follow through on. Mia was a bit of a workaholic.
"Agreed," Miriam said as she flipped her braid over her shoulder. "And when I win, I want you to take me out for dinner. Someplace fancy—Houdini's! Yes, that'll do nicely."
"Agreed." Severus marched across the stage and met Miriam in the middle. They flourished their wands, bowed, turned, and walked fifteen paces. Severus spun around and assumed a fighting stance, his wand raised. Miriam had done the same; they stared each other down, and for a moment Severus' concentration faltered. Miriam's wand raised over her head and the scooped neckline of her dress left her breasts on full view. Miriam smirked at him and raised a delicate eyebrow. Severus frowned; he wasn't going to be distracted so easily.
"Diffindo!" Severus exclaimed as he pointed his wand at Miriam's dress; he severed a large piece from the bottom.
Miriam gasped as she felt the cold air hit her thighs. "Colloshoo!" she shouted and immediately followed up with "Avis Oppugno!"
Severus cast a Protego for the birds and then a Lapifors. Several large tacks that held the padding to the stage popped up and turned into rabbits, hopping about Miriam's legs. Severus used the distraction to unstick his feet from the floor.
Thus, the duel began. Miriam and Severus traded spells, jinxes, and even a few hexes. The flashes of color that emanated from their wands reflected off the windows of the Great Hall and cast beautifully bejeweled shadows on its interior. After about ten minutes, Miriam and Severus were tied. They were both starting to tire, and Severus looked for a quick way to end the duel. Severus summoned a shield from a suit of armor and cast a Ducklifors midair.
Miriam briefly diverted her eyes from Severus to dodge the oncoming fowl. That was all the time Severus needed. "Carpe Retractum!" he shouted. The rope from his wand pulled her towards him; Severus lunged forward and easily caught Miriam in his arms.
"Ha! I win!" Miriam stated triumphantly.
"How so?"
"You broke etiquette, Severus. Only magic is to be used, and you violated that rule by touching me."
Severus looked down at Miriam; her cheeks were flushed from their duel and her grey eyes sparkled with excitement. Her lush lips were so close to his, like a ripe piece of fruit begging to be tasted. "So, it doesn't matter if I do this, then?" Severus bent down and kissed Miriam, gently at first. He ran his hand down her side, releasing the spell as he did so. She eagerly kissed him back, so Severus decided to try his luck. He then kissed her urgently, and gently wrapped his fingers around Miriam's wand.
Miriam quite enjoyed Severus and his kisses, but she wasn't as distracted as Severus thought. Her body tensed when she felt Severus reach for her wand, and instinctively, Miriam reacted. She pushed him back and swept his legs out from under him. Severus landed hard on his back; the stage bounced a bit to absorb his fall.
"Nice try!" Miriam hissed as she straddled Severus' lean hips. She pinned his hands above his head. Severus groaned and opened one eye to glare at Miriam. A look of concern clouded Miriam's features, though she did not release his hands. "Severus, are you hurt?"
"Obviously—you knocked me on my ass," Severus huffed. "I have one hell of a headache now," Severus groused.
"I didn't mean for you to land so hard," Miriam admitted. "Does anything else hurt besides your head?"
Severus studied Miriam's guilty face. In all honesty, his headache was slight. However, it had been ages since someone bested him and got Severus on the ground, so he decided to play up to Miriam's emotions. "Yes."
Miriam waited for Severus to elaborate, but all he did was stare at her pitifully. Frustrated by the silence, Miriam huffed. "What? You need to tell me, Severus or I can't help you."
"I'm afraid my ego is quite bruised."
Miriam arched an eyebrow, and she frowned at her husband. "Really, Severus? Your ego?"
"Yes." Severus wrapped his fingers around Miriam's wrist, and made a sweeping arc from above his head down to his side. He then placed her hand over the front of his trousers. "I think you need to soothe it," Severus said lowly.
Miriam tried to hold back her laughter, but she failed. She caressed him slowly through the wool material and brushed her nose against his. "That's not your ego, Severus."
"It's close enough," Severus whispered back. He wrapped his arms possessively around Miriam—his wand hand splayed across her back as his left caressed her hair. Severus pulled Miriam closer and kissed her gently; his thin lips soft and insistent over hers.
Severus' large hand smoothed Miriam's hair. The witch felt her braid come undone, and a curtain of curls fell around them. Miriam smiled at the bit of wordless magic Severus cast. Severus' dark eyes shined up at her from the shadows her hair created, and he smiled back. He wove his hand through her curls; his kisses grew more insistent as the time passed.
When Miriam felt his tongue taste her lips she stiffened and pulled back slightly. "We shouldn't continue this here," Miriam breathed. Severus nodded in agreement. She rolled off of him, slid off the dueling stage and stood.
Severus sat up and quickly followed Mia. "Take our things, and I'll summon an elf for the rest of this," Severus told Miriam as he gestured around the Great Hall.
Miriam nodded and gathered their clothes from the table. She walked over to the grand fireplace, grabbed a handful of floo powder, and stepped in. Miriam reappeared in their sitting room. She quickly stepped out of the fireplace and hurriedly shook the soot off their clothes. Miriam then sat her hat on the coffee table and tossed their clothes in a chair. On her way to their medicine stores, Miriam waved her hand at the torches and then the bed.
Severus quickly stepped from their fireplace. He dusted the soot off his clothes onto the hearth as his black eyes swept from wall to wall in search of his wife. The room appeared empty, so Severus headed for their bedroom. The low torchlight bathed the room in shadow; as he stood by the bed, Severus noticed the covers were already turned down.
Severus turned from his musings and chuckled at Miriam as she walked towards him. "What's so amusing?" Miriam asked as she handed the headache potion to Severus.
Severus drained the brew and eyed Miriam appraisingly. The neckline of her dark blue dress scooped off her shoulders and showed off her cleavage invitingly, but the skirt of her dress was what made Severus chuckle. He'd cut it off rather high during their duel, and left behind a jagged, sloped hem. "You look like a pirate wench."
Severus grinned as Miriam's breasts rose with indignation. "Did you just call me a wench?"
"No, I said you look like a pirate wench with your torn dress," Severus corrected.
Miriam looked at what was once the full skirt of her dress, then to Severus' amused expression. "Is that so?" She stepped closer and pushed Severus onto the bed. Severus bounced as the mattress gave slightly; he scooted back, his black eyes watchful as Miriam climbed in after him. "You'd best hope you can fix it, since it was one of my favorites."
"If not, I'll buy you another," Severus breathed as he laid back, and pulled Miriam on top of him.
Miriam melted into Severus' arms as they kissed. Severus tightened his hold and wove his fingers through Miriam's curls. This time, when his tongue tasted her lips, Miriam readily accepted him. As their tongues twined together, Miriam started to slowly unbutton Severus' shirt. Miriam only opened a few buttons before she looked down at Severus, her eyes hot. "Is your ego still bruised?" Miriam asked.
"Quite," Severus purred.
"Mmm, well, I'll just have to take care of that," Miriam whispered seductively.
Severus growled softly as Miriam brushed his hair back and trailed her finger across his cheek. His eyes narrowed slightly at Miriam's devilish grin as her hands worked on his buttons. Severus grasped at Miriam's hands to slow her progress, only to realize Miriam was already laying his shirt open. She rose slightly and pulled Severus' shirt free of his waistband. Severus attempted to rise, but was halted when Miriam kissed him roughly, yanked the shirt over his shoulders, and pinned his arms down at his sides.
Miriam ran her hands over Severus' bare chest, his paleness even more pronounced by the low torchlight. His muscles felt taunt under her searching fingertips, and Miriam knew Severus wasn't going to let her earlier takedown go unchallenged. Miriam bit her lip as she though about Severus pinning her under him. She lowered her head and began to leave progressively lighter kisses up his neck, and high up behind his ear. He tensed and turned away. Miriam gripped his shoulders and breathed along his neck, and she smirked when Severus sharply drew in a breath through his clenched teeth.
"You don't know what to make of this, do you? Being on your back twice in one night," Miriam teased. She gazed down at Severus. His eyes were closed and his breathing sporadic. He swallowed hard and opened his eyes.
"Impertinent witch," Severus hissed, which turned to a strangled moan when Mia slid her hand to his hip. He dared not breathe as they stared at one another. Miriam slowly slipped her hand to the button of his trousers and hooked her finger around it. She watched his face; the tick of his cheek barely visible in the low light.
Finally, a word. A soft, implored whisper. "Lower."
Miriam opened the button and moved. Her hand teased over the wool, palm open and featherlight before she returned with more confidence. She created a pattern as she teased him through the fabric. Severus groaned and his eyes closed. Miriam felt his chest rise and fall erratically and a look of satisfaction settled over her face. She felt very powerful in this moment.
Severus opened his eyes. "Release me," he growled.
"Gladly," Miriam breathed. She shifted slightly to better move his clothes; as she sat up, Miriam pulled her knickers aside, took Severus in hand, and guided him inside her. Wide-eyed, Severus stared at her. His breath hitched, and his hips arched up to meet her; his pinned arms tensed as his hands grabbed at her thighs.
Miriam threw her hands down onto the mattress on either side of his head, her fingers splayed wide for balance as Severus thrust into her hungrily. Miriam gasped loudly and Severus smirked at her reaction.
Miriam lowered herself fully on his next thrust and took him as deep as she could. Severus hissed as Miriam ground against him. "How's your ego now, Severus?"
Severus twisted; he rose and yanked his arms free. Miriam heard the seams rip as Severus rolled them over. He kissed Miriam roughly as he moaned into her mouth, his hands lost in her hair. Miriam scrambled for a hold; her hands slid down his back and settled around his hips. Insistent, Miriam pulled him closer as she fiercely kissed him back.
Severus pulled Miriam's wand from her dress pocket and hastily uttered a spell before he unceremoniously tossed it aside. "My ego needs to hear you shriek my name whilst pinned beneath me," Severus breathed.
Miriam's mouth dropped open at Severus' forwardness. Severus lowered his naked body on top of hers and sensuously moved his mouth across her neck. Miriam's head dropped back to give Severus more room; his teeth nipped at her, followed by the warmth of his tongue, and trailed by his hair as it teased her skin. Their bodies joined together and Miriam's breath hitched. As she arched against him, Miriam wrapped herself around him.
"Severus!" Miriam cried out as he stroked into her; his hands left tingling trails of fire everywhere they touched.
"That's a start," Severus purred as he gazed into Mia's flushed face.
"Maddening wizard," Miriam hissed playfully. She twisted a hand into his lank hair and kissed him soundly; it tasted of prurience and possession, and Severus shuddered. "Severus, please, I need—"
Severus silenced Miriam's fervent words with a gentle kiss. "Shh, I know—you'll fall apart soon enough," Severus reassured her.
"Yes," Miriam sighed. Her eyes closed. She held her hand to the back of Severus' head, and her fingers rubbed his scalp as he lavished her neck with kisses.
Severus watched all coherent thought leave Miriam as Severus made love to her. As her hands explored his body, Miriam's caresses were free of everything except reverent, lustful adoration. Severus knew what she needed—what they both needed. A space to let go, to allow their feeling to consume them. Repressed as they were in their daily lives, the private moments he and Miriam shared were truly freeing and beautiful.
Miriam pressed against Severus' lower back to pull him closer. There were murmured words whispered against her ear, phrases only meant for her, a satisfying check at the end of each one as Severus filled her completely. Miriam responded in kind; her tongue loosed by their coupling as their desire reached a low boil. Severus' breath on her damp skin as he grazed the shell of her ear with his nose was Mia's undoing. She shuddered in his arms and gasped his name.
Severus tried to stop and collect some semblance of control, but then he felt Miriam's small hand press against his cheek. He looked into her grey eyes; the love and bliss he found there finished him. Severus moved frantically as Miriam's hands grabbed at him, her legs tightened around his waist; he groaned loudly as his release quaked through him.
Spent, Severus rolled to his side. Miriam shivered from the absence of his body heat, so Severus waved his hand and pulled the sheets around them. "Come here," Severus breathed as he wrapped his arms around Miriam and pulled her tight against him.
Miriam sighed as Severus held her. She swept Severus' hair away from his eyes and smiled at his relaxed features. Miriam leaned in and kissed Severus; for the next several minutes, the couple took turns returning to one another's lips as they held each other.
At length, Miriam spoke. "Why don't you plan for that weekend away?"
Severus raised an inky brow. "I didn't win the duel," Severus reminded her.
"Technically, neither did I—it was a draw," Miriam added. "However, I see no reason we can't combine our wagers and treat ourselves to some time away."
"I like the way you think, Madam Snape. If I can't claim victory, this is the next best thing," Severus teased.
Miriam smiled and squeezed Severus tightly. "Perhaps soon I'll challenge you to a rematch, Severus."
Severus' dark eyes glittered. "I look forward to it."
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A/N: Thanks for reading! To any new readers stumbling across my stories, I suggest you start with Things That Come to Pass, followed by Remnants of the Past to better understand the inner workings of my world. Things may not make sense, otherwise.