Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Thicker Than Water	By : harriet Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male Views: 9575 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I don't profess to own any of the characters or plot co-incidents with the Harry Potter series written by JK Rowling, contained within this story. I do neither profit monetarily nor legally from anything contained within these pages.

Chapter List
- 9
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CHAPTER 10
Snape was already standing at the bottom of the Gryffindor staircase when Harry arrived later in the evening. As the young wizard approached him Severus took the opportunity to appraise Harry’s person for the second time that day. This first appraisal had been as he and Longbottom had entered the great hall for dinner. Snape hadn’t realized he’d been staring until his two ex-students had come to stand directly in front of him their hushed whisper almost conspiratorial in nature. Harry had looked every inch the handsome young wizard his father used to be at his age. The soft pale wool trousers clung to his slender hips and outlined the pert backside and long legs. The mauve shirt and waist coat accentuated his toned upper body, while the leather knee length coat just screamed wild rebellion. Snape had been enraptured by the sight as had many of the hormonal teenagers sitting in the hall at the time, and he’d caught himself just in time before anyone else had noticed his stare. He would not under principal look at his former student in such a manner but the young man was making it very difficult to stick to those principals when providing such a delectable image.
This time however Snape had spared the younger man another more extensive appraisal, noting the small nuances of adulthood that the boy had developed as he’d grown. The brown haired wizard walked with his head down avoiding eye contact with the few lingering students in corridors. The unruly brown locks hanging over his forehead successfully hiding the barely visible scar that had faded considerably over the years. The round, thin wire framed glasses fit his face much better than any of the ill prescribed pairs he’d been forced to wear as a child. His dress was much the same as it had been earlier except for the pair of muggle running shoes the boy now sported in place of the boots he’d worn earlier. It was yet another reminder to Snape whom he was dealing with and he snorted to himself in amusement as Harry stepped up to him, his head finally rising from his chest to smile crookedly at his old professor.
“I’m going to die aren’t I?” Severus rolled his eyes at Potter’s over dramatization of the situation. He chose not to respond and merely turned to begin up the stairs towards the Defense Classroom, and Dueling Hall. Harry knew he was unlikely to receive a reply to his comment but had thrown it out there just to make sure both the professor and he wouldn’t be surprised if it did happen. Harry had been fretting about the session with Professor Hartford all day and now as they approached the rooms his hands had become sweaty with anxiety.
Snape noted somewhat dubiously that the corridors were suspiciously quiet of students for a Friday evening and it wasn’t until he opened the door to the Dueling hall that he realized why. If it was possible nearly the entire student body was crammed into the Dueling Hall that adjoined Professor Hartford’s defense classroom. With his considerable height Snape was able to sweep the hall with a sneer of disgust. He was sure that Dueling Club had not been this popular last week and the only explanation he could put it down to was a certain Professor Evans’ appearance at Hogwarts. Snape mutter a foul word beneath his breath as he caught said Professor Evans trying to back out of the hall after the sudden realization he’d drawn a crowd.

“Not bloody likely.” Harry wasn’t spared the luxury of escaping as Snape reached back and grabbed his arm pulling him into the room. Snape didn’t bother reacting to the whispered comments and shy blushing smiles as he pulled Harry through the throng of students towards the raised dueling platform, where he could see Professor Hartford standing. The Professor looked positively pleased with himself as he surveyed the crowd from his raised position.
“Ah Professor Snape, Professor Evans it’s wonderful you could join us.” Harry stepped automatically back from Snape as the professor relinquished the hold on his arm to approached Professor Hartford, his face like thunder. Harry knew Harford was going to cop it but he dearly hoped it wasn’t going to be in front of the entire student body.
“What is the meaning of this?” Snape growled as Hartford continued to beam at him, as if nothing was a miss.
“Indeed Severus, the students have obviously decided that Defense Against the Dark Arts is a most important subject and skill to have, especially since the nasty business in Hogsmead.” Hartford smile out at the student body his hands coming to rest on his hips as he puffed out his chest and straightened his back in an attempt to look down at Snape’s imposing figure. Snape was larger however and Harry knew that the Death Eater turned spy was far scarier than anything Hartford could try.
“I’m sure their presence would not be as notable, had rumor not spread about Professor Evan’s attendance at this meeting? Especially since his schedule has not been released to the student body.” Snape glared at the fool of a wizard before him, smiling inwardly as he noticed some of the Professors confidence ebb away at the suggestion that he’d broken teaching protocol regarding Harry’s timetable. Snape continued to stare at the wizard as he shook off the comment and stepped away from the potion professor to address the students, no intention of acknowledging Snape’s accusation.
“Well now, welcome everyone to Friday, Dueling Club. It’s lovely to see so many of you here interested in the noble and ancient of art of dueling.” Harry took a conscious step closer to Snape as the professor strode back down the raised platform to stand beside him. Snape’s arms were folded across his chest and his acid like glare was firmly pointed at Hartford who was now pacing pompously up and down the platform. Harry couldn’t help but wonder why the headmaster had employed the wizard. He looked ridiculous. The professor’s formal teaching robes had been taken off and in their place he wore quiditch leathers. What was most ridiculous however was the elaborate leather strapping wrapped around the professor’s torso that ultimately served no other purpose but as a complicated wand holder.
Harry refocused on the conversation at hand as he watched Hartford draw his wand dramatically from its elaborate holder and turned to face Snape.
“Professor Snape, would you oblige me to a short duel to illustrate the protocols of such an event.” Harry smiled to himself as he watched a cruel and malicious smile break out across the potion professor’s face.
“With pleasure….” Snape spoke smoothly as he removed his own wand from within the folds of his robes and approached the center of the dueling platform. “Prat.” Snape muttered beneath his breath as he glanced back towards Harry who had sensibly taken cover down on the hall floor with the students. Harry knew how this duel would end, and he took small pleasure in knowing that unlike in the past he wasn’t going to be on the receiving end.
Harry watched as the wizards presented their wands to each other for inspection before they both turned and took four long strides away from each other towards opposite ends of the platform. The pair turned to face one another and a hushed quiet fell over the hall in anticipation. Harry rolled his eyes as he watched Professor Hartford take an unnecessarily flamboyant pose, his wand aimed squarely at Snape. Snape merely stood still his arms by his sides, his wand held casually in his left hand.
The curse that split the silence with a crackle of magic caused the student body to gasp in anticipation. Hartford had sounded commanding and confident as he began the duel. However Harry knew it wouldn’t last. As predicted Snape barely moved as he easily blocked the curse, his wand flicking in irritation as he repelled the curse and sent one back in Hartford’s direction. Harry knew the curse and from his own experience knew that Snape had varied the cast just enough that Hartford would have no chance of blocking it.
Spectacularly Hartford’s block failed and with a bright flash of yellow the curse struck him in the chest sending him back flipping off the end of the platform. A few concerned students gathered around the prone form of their professor lying stunned on the floor, as Snape slipped his wand back inside the fold of his robes and cross his arms over his chest. Harry knew that look on the professor’s face, the smug satisfaction the potions professor found in belittling idiots. Harry stepped back up onto the platform beside Snape, and glanced around at the students. Harry knew the emotions behind the eyes of the young witches and wizards gaze, as he’d felt a very similar emotion himself when he’d first seen Professor Snape duel. Admiration, respect and healthy dose of scared caution reflected from the young faces.
“Auror trained, my arse.” Snape muttered beneath his breath as he watched the students help Professor Hartford to his feet. “And that is why you never take your eyes off a wizard or witches wand, when dueling. A simple change in the way you cast, can alter a curse or charm quite effectively.” Snape addressed the student body whom all nodded, lesson well learned.
“Quite right Professor Snape, you illustrated my lesson quite well.” Snape raised a dubious eyebrow at Hartford, who was just straightening his appearance and gathering his wits about him. Harry rolled his eyes, the wizard was intolerable. “Any questions about this lesson?” Hartford turned to the students unwilling to meet the gaze of Harry and Snape at the other end of the platform.
“What if they don’t have a wand?” A voice spoke up from the back of the room, and Harry couldn’t identify who had asked it.
“Yes, like Professor Evans. He doesn’t carry a wand at all?” Harry cringed as another student spoke up from the other side of the platform, the focus of the students now falling onto him. Harry swallowed nervously as Professor Hartford glanced at him with almost predatory delight. Harry had hoped that none of the students had paid him too much attention to even notice the absence of his wand.
“What a good question, perhaps Professor Evans may like to enlighten us on the situation?” Harry began twisting his hands nervously in front of him as all eyes fell on him, and the silence stretched. Opening and closing his mouth a few times Harry tried to come up with an explanation that would seem plausible but just as he was about to make a monumental cock up, Snape stepped in to save him.
“Professor Evans does not need a wand.” Harry glanced nervously at Snape, who was staring at him encouraging him to nod in agreement with his statement.
“Wow, wandless magic. How fortunate we are to be graced with a wizard who has such a rare gift.” Hartford sounded unconvinced and Harry merely nodded in silent agreement. A twittering broke out among the students and Harry cringed as he saw a smirk break out across professor Hartfords face. “Perhaps we might be able to persuade you to demonstrate this skill in a friendly display.” The students broke out in calls of encouragement and Harry felt the situation rapidly spiraling out of control. Perspiration had broken out on his forehead and his breathing had become labored as panic set in. One of the main reasons he’d withdrawn from wizarding society after his magic had disappeared, had been in an attempt to avoid situations such as this, when he would be forced into a situation where he could not protect himself. Sensing the impending melt down of Harry, Snape stepped in.
“Indeed, but such a display I am sure would embarrass the professor, whose family heritage is steeped in wandless magic. Magic is magic Professor Hartford, no matter how it is used.” Snape’s cutting reply left no room for negotiation but Harry knew better. Hartford was not one to be discouraged in front of the crowd of students.
“Quite right. I apologize Professor Evans….” Hartford inclined his head towards Harry in false apology, but when Harry thought he was safe, Hartford spoke again. “However if the Professor will not object, I propose a duel with swords instead. The students I am sure would be grateful to see how a wizard from an illustrious family such as Professor Evans’, conducts himself in the ancient art of sword play.” Harry was horrified; he’d never picked up a sword in his life, and sought to express this information to Snape with a very pointed glare. Snape it seemed ignored this information and rose up to his full imposing height as he glared at Hartford, who knew he’d struck a nerve.
“Professor Evans accepts this invitation and thus will choose the weapons” Snape spoke calmly his voice dripping with undisguised disgust.
“What!” Harry squeaked as Snape gestured to the Slytherin prefects he easily identified in the crowd.
“Fetch the house swords.” Obediently the prefects scuttled off into the Defense Classroom to fetch what Snape had asked for. Harry was physically shaking now as Snape dragged him down off the platform and over to a dueling chest at the front of the hall. Waving his wand over the oak chest Snape stepped back as it opened to reveal a full set of training leathers.
“Holy shit.” Harry squeaked again uncaring of the student audience who were watching as Snape began pulling the leathers out of the chest and thrusting them in Harry’s direction.
“Language Professor Evans.” Snape glared at Harry as he pulled the leather vest over Harry’s head and began lacing it tight around his chest.
“You’ve cracked,” Harry leaned very close to Snape as the potions professor bent over him to pull on the leather gauntlets. “I’ve never fucking used swords in my life.” Harry gritted out from between his teeth, sure that only Snape could hear him as he bent close to the professor desperate to stop the impending doom. Snape ignored his charge and finalized the last few laces on Harry’s arm guards before leaning in close to Harry’s face. Harry’s eyes were as wide as saucers as Snape spoke, so softly even Harry had to strain to hear him over the excited chatter of the students.
“He just insulted your family Evans, you’re obligated to respond or you risk him looking into your family tree a little too closely.” Snape ground out as he stepped away and led Harry back up onto the dueling platform, where Hartford was already standing waiting. The prefects were standing in the middle of the platform holding four very large oak boxes. The boxes were beautifully carved and intricately inlaid with different runes and symbols.
“Your choice Professor Evans.” Hartford spoke confidently as he gestured to the boxes. Obediently the prefects opened all four boxes displaying the beautiful and deadly swords inside. It was obvious from their jewel encrusted handles which was Godric Gryffindor’s and which was Salazar Slytherins swords. Resigned to the fact he had to face this newest challenge Harry went to reach for the Gryffindor sword. However before he could take it Snape coughed loudly and gestured to Slytherin sword with a quick nod of his head. Confused and concerned Harry stared at Snape for a long few moments but when Snape didn’t waver from his suggestion, Harry sighed and picked up Salazar’s sword. The sword was heavy and Harry held it with both hands as he followed Snape down to the end of the platform, while Hartford collected his own sword and took up his own position.
“I told you I was going to die.” Harry muttered as he stared at the sword in his hand, the intricate handle made up of two entwined snakes, their eyes make of glittering emeralds at the hilt. Snape rolled his eyes once more at Harry’s dramatics before leaning in to whisper in the young man’s ear. The sensation of Snape’s breath ghosting across his cheek was strangely erotic and if the situation was different Harry was sure he would have enjoyed it more than he should.
“I suggest you talk to the sword, while I begin proceedings.” Snape whispered his gaze firmly fixed on the twin snakes on the swords handles. With a flurry of robes Snape turned to address the students, obviously outlining the rules and history behind wizarding sword play. Harry knew the basics of a sword duel having studied it briefly in Lupin’s classes when he was at school. However it was always said that only old pureblood families still participated in such activities, and thus Harry had promptly ignored the rest of the lessons. For a while Harry merely stared at the sword in his hand not sure if he had read Snape’s message properly. He was sure he hadn’t meant to speak to the actual sword but more the Snake that were wrapped around the hilt. Taking a deep breath Harry concentrated on the glittering eyes of the twin snakes and prayed that his ability to speak parcel tongue wasn’t linked to his magic or lack thereof.
“So hi?” Harry’s voice quavered but he was pleased that the sound that came out of his mouth was anything but English. “Hello, sword.” Harry felt suddenly stupid talking to his sword and turned self-consciously towards the back of the hall, so that the students wouldn’t be treated to his insanity.
“A parcel mouth, there has not been a Slytherin gifted with that talent in millennia.” Harry was a little shocked as he watched the twin silver snakes rise up from their handle, their bodies coiling around the handle and Harry’s hand that hold the sword.
“No indeed brother, not since the master. An honor indeed to be wielded by a talented Slytherin. ” The other snake spoke as well and Harry bit his tongue, deciding it was not a good idea to correct the snakes on his house preference.
“Listen, I’ve never actually used a sword before and this…..person has challenged me. I don’t want to die, can you help me?” Harry’s voice hissed in conversation and the twin snakes coiled up the sword to its point, to appraise the competition before returning to their restless curling around Harry’s hand and the hilt of the sword.
“We would never allow a Slytherin to lose such a challenge.” The first snake’s eyes flickered in irritation and Harry watched as its tail shuddered in anger.
“My brother and I will help, both hands on the hilt if you pleassssse.” The second snake shifted to allow Harry to take the handle of the sword with both hands. Almost immediately the snakes wrapped around his hands and up his wrists tightening to the point where Harry was sure he wouldn’t be able to feel his fingers after this. Satisfied that the snakes were going to help him, Harry straightened himself and turned back to face Hartford and Snape. Snape had successfully delayed the start of the duel but as Harry nodded to him, he quickly ended his speech to the students.
“Gentlemen, you both agree to the terms of this duel and a state of fair play?” Harry was shaking nervously as Snape looked from Hartford to him to ensure both men nodded in understanding. “Very well first blood wins. Good luck.” Snape bowed to the audience in what Harry assumed was a traditional thing before he stepped down off the dueling platform out of harm’s way. It may have taken a moment but Snape’s words finally sunk in to Harry’s muddled brain a moment too late.
“First blood?” Harry squeaked as he spared a fearful glance at Snape before Professor Hartford came barreling down the platform towards him, in full attack mode. “Shit…..” Harry breathed out as he felt the snakes around his hands tighten impossibly.
“Bite brother bite.” Harry spared a horrified glance down at the snakes before the largest of the twin reptiles opened its mouth wide and with his fangs extended bit down hard into Harry’s hand. The razor sharp incisors slid through the leather like butter and Harry cried out in pain his arms swinging wide and upwards. Most surprisingly the movement easily blocked Professor Hartford’s initial blow. The clang of metal upon metal rang out around the hall and Harry didn’t have time to appreciate Professor’s surprised expression before the snakes were biting him again causing his arms to spasm into another successful block.
The pain was blinding but every time the snakes bit his hand his body jerked into reaction successfully keeping Professor Hartford’s attacks at bay. The attacks were relentless and Harry could feel the frustration in the Professors hits. Eventually though Harry felt that the attacks were lessoning in severity and Harry was sure the Professor was tiring. As if reading his mind the snakes spoke again.
“Finish the foolish one…” The snakes spat in twin hisses and Harry was helpless as the sword pulled him forward and he found himself suddenly on the attack. Like before each bite of the snakes willed Harry’s body into a reaction and before he realized what had happened, Professor Hartford was falling backwards onto the platform, his own sword sliding out of his hand and out of reach. Harry’s heart was pounding as he looked down to find himself towering over Professor Hartford’s prone body. Fear glittered in the elder wizards brown eyes as the point of Harry’s sword rested precariously at his throat.
“First blood, first blood only.” Harry hissed in parcel tongue frightened suddenly that the snakes would finish what they started. Both snakes hissed in irritation and Harry howled in pain as the littlest of the snakes dug his fangs abruptly into Harry’s thumb causing the sword to flick up and slice a thin cut along Professor Hartford’s cheek. The man on the floor hissed himself in pain, his face turning away from the sword having expected the worse.
“First blood?” Harry could hardly believe it as Snape stepped up quickly onto the platform to assess the situation. There was an eerie silence that clung in the hall; every pair of eyes was glued to Professor Hartford’s cheek. The anticipation was excruciating as everyone watched the slice on the Professor’s cheek redden, before a thin crimson trickle began to flow down slightly bruised skin. “Acknowledged, Professor Evans wins.” As if not really believing it himself Snape spoke to the general audience, and like that the spell was broken. Joyous whooping and enthusiastic claps and shouts of congratulations rang through the air as the student body erupted in excitement. For the first time since the duel had begun Harry finally relaxed his shoulders dropping in relief as he felt the snakes recoil and settle back onto the handle of the sword. Without the snakes tight hold Harry dropped the sword and pulled his injured hands against his chest. The leather gloves and wrist guards were hiding the untold damage Harry knew would be on his hands from Snakes bites.
“Come along Professor Evans let’s leave Professor Hartford to his wounded pride.” Snape guided Harry down off the dueling platform, somewhat surprised that the crowd of students parted for him, all of them calling their congratulations as he passed. Snape paused at the entrance to the hall as he pushed Harry through and glanced back at the house prefects who were now waiting patiently for instruction.
“Ensure the students are returned to their dorms. Curfew is in ten minutes and anyone found out of bed when those ten minutes are up will be instantly given a week’s detention with Filch.” With his characteristic snarl Snape addressed the students and turned with a swirl of robes to follow Harry back down to the dungeons. It was with a satisfied smirk that Snape heard the thunderous movement of the students behind him all scrambling to return to their dorms before curfew. Somethings would never change at Hogwarts.
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A/N Hi all, sorry I missed the update last night. Hope you're all enjoying this little tale. Thanks for the reviews, *waves hello to all the familiar pen names*. It's so lovely to be back in the Snarry family. Enjoy :)
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Thicker Than Water