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A few weeks later, Harry had settled himself into his usual spot across from Severus at his--their--kitchen table. The day had been pleasant enough, enhanced by it being the start of the weekend. Visiting Severus on Friday nights meant getting a good start on his homework before they could participate in more pleasant pastimes.
This wouldn't have been so terrible, except for the latest History of Magic essay waiting to be completed. Never mind that it wasn't due for another week--Severus insisted on Harry completing at least half that evening.
As Harry finished his twelfth inch, hand mildly aching, he idly wondered if a DADA lesson with Lockhart might be less painful.
"I thought you ought to know," Severus said, without preamble, "that your inept Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has proposed a dueling club, and the headmaster has given permission. The first meeting will be Thursday."
Harry, grateful for a chance at a break, put down his quill and looked up from his essay. "Er. Do you think that's a good idea?"
Severus snorted. "Not in the slightest. I merely wish to inform you so you're forewarned, should you choose to...participate. Moreover, I'll be there at the beginning for a demonstration."
"A demonstration?" Harry echoed.
"On disarming your opponent. More than that, and..." Severus smirked. "I don't believe he could manage."
Harry grinned. "Definitely not. He couldn't even handle pixies."
"My point precisely." Severus reached across the table and put a hand on top of Harry's. "I did not bring this up merely to inform you...though, that is, of course, appropriate reason in and of itself."
"Oh...?"
"The headmaster believes that the student body should be divided into pairs to practice disarming, and then, Lockhart or myself will select two students to show the rest of the school," Severus explained. "Do you plan to be in attendance?"
"I think so. I expect Ron and Hermione will want to go."
Severus nodded. "In order to reinforce the idea that I loathe you and favor the Slytherin house, I'd planned to pair you with Draco Malfoy. If," he added quickly, squeezing Harry's hand, "you are truly averse to this, please tell me and I will be think of an alternative."
Harry gnawed on the inside of his cheek. The rivalry between Malfoy and him mostly consisted of hurled insults, mostly when they were in Potions lessons and Harry couldn't do much except glare. Although Severus had, on occasion, stepped in. Not that he could do much without blowing his cover, but he'd managed to stop Malfoy (for the time being) under the guise that he was distracting Harry or Ron or even Neville from Potions.
"And as I don't plan to waste my spare time with tutoring those too foolhardy to pay attention, I implore you not to tempt them, Draco," was what Severus had said the last time.
Harry's dad was a genius, really.
On the one hand, Harry reckoned he stood as much of a chance against Malfoy in a duel as Malfoy did against him. It would be an even playing field. On the other hand, Malfoy never played by the rules, and it would be typical of him to throw a hex at Harry before the duel officially started.
Then, there was Severus's cover to maintain. If people suspected he was being too decent to Harry, this would certainly throw them off the trail. He'd have to watch whatever they did to each other with apparent passivity, but Harry knew he'd step in if things went too far.
"I don't mind," Harry said, after a bit of consideration. "Thanks. For asking me."
Severus squeezed his hand again. "I wouldn't think of doing otherwise, child."
An idea came to Harry. "Would you teach me a few hexes? Just in case Malfoy goes beyond disarming?"
"Tonight? In lieu of our usual game of Chess?" the older man queried.
Harry nodded enthusiastically. "Please?"
Severus chuckled. "Very well. After you make some more progress on your essay," he added, pointedly.
Sighing, Harry got back to work. When he looked up, he saw a plate of chocolate biscuits directly beside him. A warm feeling filled him, increased when Harry took a bite of the fresh from the oven biscuit.
A half hour later, Harry had finished his essay, and now stood in front of Severus. His guardian had a look on his face Harry reckoned meant he was thinking hard.
"I shall use the full extent of my power upon Lockhart, but to use even half on you would result in your ending up in the hospital wing. Not something either of us desire, as much because I wish to do you no harm as it would be an unproductive lesson," he began, with a small smile. "First, I will have you master blocking charms, which are considerably easier to learn than the Shield Charm. That's fourth year level. Perhaps third year if your professor next year is competent. After you have mastered blocking your opponent's hexes, I will teach you some common hexes. I will use a very, very mild version on you, so should you not succeed in blocking them, the results will be...bearable. Finally, child, you will...retaliate, as it were, or attempt to. I will be using blocking charms."
Harry swallowed. He didn't fancy being hexed by his guardian, but what other way was there to learn? It wasn't as though Malfoy would use any restraint...
"Sure, that sounds good."
"Moreover," Severus concluded, "the lesson will end either at your request, or when I have determined it is sufficient, whichever is first. I don't wish to wear you down."
Harry nodded. "Okay."
Severus moved to stand behind Harry, then gently positioned his hand so he was holding the wand in a circular motion. He had Harry repeat these steps several times while holding his arm before letting go.
"Let's see you make an attempt without me," he instructed.
He was in teaching mode, but the way he acted when it was only him and Harry. Severus always held authority, always made Harry just a bit uneasy (although this was fading with their months together, but he wasn't cruel or sarcastic. His comments were instructive. Blunt at times, perhaps, but not cutting.
It certainly made it easier for Harry to learn.
Harry repeated the series of complicated motions. He managed all right until the halfway point, or what he thought had been the halfway point.
"I forgot the rest. I'm sorry," he said, not meeting his guardian's eyes.
"No need to apologize, child." Harry managed a smile at the endearment. "Blocking spells requires precise, complicated motions, but it’s essential to master--particularly before you master the Shield Charm. We'll keep practicing until you are performing it in your sleep."
"Better make sure I have my curtains closed, then," Harry quipped.
Severus laughed openly. "Indeed."
After what felt like ages, Harry mastered the movements.
"Good." Severus nodded. "Once more, and then we'll put it into practice."
Harry swallowed hard. No one had ever hexed him, although Malfoy had used the Leg-Locker curse on Neville last term, and Hermione the Full-Body Bind later on. Not that it hadn't been necessary at the time, or so they thought, but really, the Stone had never been in danger...
But hexes were part of school, be it now or later. Best to learn under Severus than Malfoy--and in front of the entire school, at that.
"What sort of hexes will you use?" he asked, after performing the blocking motion successfully.
"Nothing that will cause you pain, child. Besides, there is only so much damage a second year student can do, and I intend to use only that level of power. Ideally, you'll experience nothing, as you will have blocked me in time," Severus reassured Harry. "The thing is to begin as soon as I utter the first syllable. First, though, we'll work against the Disarming Charm. The verbal utterance for this is Expelliarmus. I shall give you a count of three before beginning." He squeezed Harry's shoulder. "Does that sound acceptable?"
Harry nodded, this time with determination. "Yeah. Let's begin."
Severus counted down from three. Just as he uttered "Ex--" Harry began the blocking movement. As a result, nothing happened: his wand remained firmly in his hand. Granted, he'd been gripping it far fiercer than usual, but still. He grinned.
"A solid beginning," Severus praised. "Let's continue."
After ten further attempts, Harry got a bit clumsy and found his wand lifted up through his hand. More than that, he found himself jerked backwards, as though Snape had physically taken his wand, and given him a good push. Harry stumbled before regaining his footing.
Severus handed Harry back his wand. "You became overconfident," he reprimanded, but his tone lacked any venom.
"I'm sorry."
"Don’t be. Just focus," Severus instructed. "Yes?" He saw Harry open and close his mouth suddenly.
"I was just wondering...when you disarmed me, it felt like you--or someone--was there. Pushing me, too."
"Ah. Yes, that's part of the spell. Disarming someone can be quite poweful. I've even known witches and wizards to pass out. While I could use that level of force on you, it would be cruel and unproductive. Should Draco Malfoy or your dueling opponent manage to disarm you, you may be knocked backwards and lose your balance," he explained. "Not merely stumble."
"Right. And I reckon that without a wand, he could hex me however he wants," Harry noted, shivering slightly.
"Precisely. It is far better to be the one doing the disarming, rather than it being done to you," Severus said, mildly.
Harry shuddered slightly. He didn't know of every hex in existence, of course, but there were some nasty ones out there. Even the Full-Body Bind made you be unable to do anything but blink...and a dark wizard could make that simply be the starting point.
"You're shivering," Severus observed, drawing Harry into a hug. "Are you all right?"
Harry buried himself into his dad's robes. "You can do a lot more damage with hexes than Muggles with fists."
Severus held him a bit tighter. He released Harry, keeping his hands on his shoulders, but standing so they were facing each other.
"That’s why you must be prepared. Practice daily, preferably with Weasley or Miss Granger. You'll improve, and as you grow, your magic will develop."
"I will...is that what you did, Dad?"
"Rather...to my detriment, at school. It became so that certain people would not fight fairly, as it were, and only start something when there were at least two," Severus explained, guardedly.
Harry guessed immediately. "My father. And his friends."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
Severus tightened his grip on his arms. "Despite what appearances may indicate, Harry, you are not your father. Not even remotely."
"I still...feel bad that he hurt you," Harry admitted.
"Most of the time," Severus allowed, hugging Harry again, "I was able to inflict as much damage as I caused. In any event, we both survived our school years physically intact."
Harry let himself enjoy the words of reassurance almost as much as the hug. When he let go, they started up again on dueling.
Severus kept his word--or so Harry supposed--about only using the same level as a second year. Mostly, Harry managed to block them. A few got through, particularly in the end, and he found himself laughing uncontrollably for several seconds before Severus lifted the curse, and then with a nasty round of hiccups. After two goblets of water failed to cure them, he retrieved a No Hiccup Draught. The taste was foul enough to make Harry forget about hiccups altogether, which may have been the point. A mug of hot chocolate, thankfully, removed the bitter taste.
"I know, most potions taste horrendous," Severus allowed, sitting himself and Harry on the couch. "But they're quite effective."
"I reckon most Muggle media taste just as bad. Dudley always made a fuss if he had to take cold syrup or something."
"And I suppose you took yours without complaint?" Severus teased.
"I rarely got sick...and my aunt always said it wasn't bad enough to waste good medicine. Mostly, she kept me in the cupboard so I wouldn't get others sick," he recalled.
His dad laid a hand on his shoulder. "That will never happen with me."
"I know." Harry yawned a bit. "I was ill last month, remember?"
Looking back, he considered those days to be happy memories. Not feeling dreadful or the endless potions, of course, but Severus caring for him patiently. Sleeping beside Harry, despite his sweats and (he imagined) foul odor. His dad had even bathed him because Harry hadn't been able to. Just one of those ministrations would have been more than he could expect from the Dursleys, yet his new guardian had done them all without complaint.
"Yes, my memory functions quite well," Severus retorted, with a chuckle. "Now, you're nearly fast asleep. Unless you wish me to make up a bed on the sofa and you sleep in your school robes, I'll help you up."
"Mmmkay," Harry murmured.
He felt a bit more awake after a quick shower and cleaning of his teeth. Still, Severus had placed a Warming Charm not only on his bedclothes, but his night shirt.
"Shall we read a bit, or would you prefer to go straight to bed?" Severus questioned, after joining Harry in his bed.
"I'm pretty tired...maybe tomorrow?" Harry asked, hopefully.
Severus wrapped his arms around him, and Harry let himself curl into them. His dad's frame felt so familiar, by now. Harry knew just where to place his head to receive the most support, and how to curl himself into Severus's arms for warmth and comfort. Even his scent, a mix of spice from all of the potions he brewed, and thanklessly at that, felt familiar and safe. If, a year ago, someone had told Harry that the hated Potions master would cuddle with Harry willingly, Harry would have been certain they were lying or flat out crazy.
Yet, here we are, Harry thought, drowsily.
He wasn't at all worried about the Dueling Club, nor whatsoever Malfoy would throw at him. There would be plenty of time to practice, and he'd made a good show of it so far.
As Severus released one hand from Harry's frame to begin carding his hair, he felt himself fall into a deep, undisturbed sleep.