Adversaries Gone Awry

Chapter Two: Adversaries Gone Awry

Professor Merrythought turned around to find Severus and Sirius slashing into one another with powerful strokes of non-verbal magic. Sirius had already suffered two slashes across his face, and his shirts had been cut through, revealing his chest, which had one huge single cut, from his breastplate down to his navel, bleeding profusely. He had dropped to his knees, doubling over.

Severus' nose had been broken, blood profusely gushing out, already congealing. Reamed gashes were striped across his upper torso. Sirius had thrown one last hex at Severus, causing him to fall, writhing in pain; he was flipping and flopping like a live fish on fire. And, for good reason. His backside was lit with flames.

"Finite Incantatem!" commanded Merrythought.

The Incendio hex was extinguished, leaving Severus moaning and lying, panting heavily, on his side. The acrid smell of burnt flesh and cloth had filled the room.

"Merlin's Beard! Merlin's Beard! Evans – go for Madam Pomfrey!" Merrythought yelled, waving her hands wildly, jumping around the crumpled students, trying to access who needed emergency help first. Deciding it was Sirius, she knelt down by his collapsed body and started a counter-curse to stop the flow of blood.

The students were slowly rambling around, dazed by what had just happened. Some were trying clumsily to offer assistance to Professor Merrythought; others were just standing around looking lost, not knowing what to do or say.

Nagini was angered that the majority of attention was being given to Sirius. Even the Slytherin part of the class were absorbed amongst themselves in plotting and brooding, taking it in stride that Severus was some sacrificial casualty not worthy of further attention.

In a split-second decision, not waiting for anyone's approval or notice, Nagini knelt down by Severus. Pulling out her wand, she pointed it at Severus' face. "Episkey!" she said decisively, fixing his broken nose. Then, she quietly started chanting a counter-curse for his bleeding. Her mind was racing in angst about his burnt flesh, knowing he needed immediately healing ointments; the longer the necessary medical attention was delayed, the more severe the trauma and scarring would be.

Barely had Nagini started, when Madam Pomfrey entered quickly, followed by a heavily panting Lily Evans. Pomfrey was sweeping around Severus and Sirius with her wand out, muttering some esoteric incantation; assessing the nature and level of harm done to each one. She stopped, abruptly, making a decision. She said, "Galatea, if you will assist me in levitating Mr Snape to the Hospital Ward, I shall Mr Black. Please, step aside, Miss Lestrange."

Conjuring a levitation spell, Professor Merrythought began to guide Snape's body towards the door. Over her shoulder, she called out angrily, "Class dismissed! Return to your common rooms!"

Such a display of adversarial hatred left a sombre residue on the students as they slowly trickled out of the room. A few dawdled around uncomfortably. And then, giving a look back at five particular Gryffindors, who remained huddled in a group whispering, the others randomly trailed out.

Having whispered something to Nagini, Avery and the other Slytherins unanimously stormed out of the room. Nagini needed to clean herself of a few stains of Severus' blood from her efforts to help him. Glancing over at the Gryffindors, and trying not to draw their attention, she softly said, "Scourgify", waving her wand over herself where needed. Then, she went quietly over to collect her rucksack, intending to snatch it, and hurry off to catch up with the other Slytherins.

The lingering Gryffindor students were still consoling their classmate, Lily. She, alone of the group, seemed to be deeply affected by what had happened. "It's horrible. Just horrible!" cried Lily. She was visibly weeping. "I just want it to stop, James. Just stop. You could make it happen," she pleaded with him.

"I can't control that greasy git. No more than you could, Evans. We all know you've tried to help him. Help him be different. But, he is what he is. Evil. Like all Slytherins." said James, casting a dark glance over at Nagini's back.

Lily sniffed haltingly. Then, she looked at James. Poignantly, she asked him, "And Sirius isn't? They seemed to be equally matched, in case you didn't notice. That fire hex was horrible – he wanted to burn him alive?" She started crying in earnest.

"Lily, he was just defending himself," commented Remus quietly. "Anyone would have done the same," he added pointedly.

"But not everyone would have known how to do it, Remus!" she said imploringly.

"Not everyone was up against an embryonic Death Eater, Lily!" raged James.

At the mention of 'Death Eater', Nagini swiftly made for the door.

"Hey, Lestrange!" It was Potter. "You – wait a moment!" he commanded arrogantly, moving towards her.

Remus tried to stop him. He said, "James – don't – you don't need to..."

Ignoring Remus' attempted intervention, James spelled out, "Just to make it clear to you. If you try any underhanded Dark hexes on our friend here, I'll make sure, personally, that you regret it the rest of your miserable Slytherin life."

Nagini looked around at his entourage: Lupin, Pettigrew, Dearborn and Evans, sizing them all up. She couldn't let Potter have the last word. She took a step towards him. "Personally, Potter? You mean one-on-one, just you and I?" Affectedly, she fluttered her eyelashes at him.

James grimaced. She was taunting him, egging him on with her look.

Enjoying his look of repugnance, she continued smoothly, "But that's not your style, is it? Won't you wet your pants, without the others around to back you up?" Then, before he could retort, she lashed out, "You Gryffindor coward!"

Incensed, James whipped out his wand. Remus jumped in between them, grabbing James by his upper-arms and holding him back. He warned, "It's what she wants. Don't! She wants you..."

"That's right, listen to Lupin," Nagini cut in, "he is the brightest of your lot." Then, she smiled at Remus. "But, believe me, Lupin, Potter's not what I want. You, on the other hand..."

At her last comment, he turned half-way to face her. Remus and Nagini's eyes met. Her comment to him wasn't at all antagonistic, nor, as he held her gaze, even ambiguous. Her bright yellow eyes were searching his creamy brown ones with a secretive smile. A caressing, allusive invitation in their golden orbs.

Experience had taught Remus well not to trust surface impressions, definitely not to trust Slytherins. Rationally, he was telling himself she was capable of anything, knowing she was a notorious Lestrange, knowing they were the finalists in this futile competition. He was telling himself that her look was but a coy disguise, an amusing, deceptive whim of hers to throw him off-guard. It was a mere tactic to set him up, to lower his defences – and, no doubt, to humiliate him as he had never been humiliated before.

She broke eye contact with him, swirling around to the exit. Turning back, with a last taunt directed to James, she said, "See you around Potty-face, of course, with your pathetic minions in tow behind you, to clean up, after I'm finished with you!" With that, she swept out of the room.

James was furious. "Pettigrew! Lupin, let's go!"

Remus held his grip on James, not budging. "Prongs, stop! Let it go – let her go. She's just trying to get us all worked up for nothing."

"Nothing?!" yelled James. "Sirius is in the hospital ward, cut up, by the likes of her, in case you've already forgotten! Whose side are you on? What – has the skanky Slytherin tart charmed you out of your senses already?"

"James," Remus said quietly, controlling his rearing anger with disciplined force. "As you've pointed out, Sirius is badly hurt. I think we should all calm down, get our rucksacks, and go to the ward to check on him."

"I agree," piped in Alice Dearborn.

Lily also joined in with Alice to encourage the change of focus. She coaxed, "James, what's important is Sirius. Let's be on our way."

"We can always get Lestrange later!" Peter offered eagerly.

Still fuming, but being soothed by Lily's demure eyes, James grabbed his bag in silent compliance, and they all slowly made their way out of the Dark Arts room and headed to the hospital ward.

On arriving, Madam Pomfrey curtly greeted them, stopping them in their tracks. "You young people can go straight back to your common rooms; both boys are recovering well. Nothing permanently damaged. Both will be out and back in classes in a day or so; at least, they'll be out in time enough to enjoy the holidays. In the meantime, there will be absolutely no visiting, no further provocations from either side. Thank you very much! Off you go!" Shooing them all away, it was her final word.

Disappointed, and still disgruntled, they complied. Having heard the good news relaxed them a bit. Sauntering down the hallway, they were now able to more calmly discuss the recent events of the class as they made their way back towards the Gryffindor tower.

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Three days later, the Dark Arts class had a solemn air about it. Being the last class of the term, everyone should have festively been looking forward to the end-of-term feast and going home for the holidays. Instead, everyone was morosely waiting for something dreadful to happen. The usual taunting and carousing atmosphere was non-existent. Resignedly, the students watched Professor Merrythought, who was silently pacing around the classroom, absorbed in contemplation.

Also, unexpectedly, the Headmaster, Dumbledore himself, had come to the class. He sat a little off, on one side, of the front row.

Seated, everyone patiently waited as Professor Merrythought slowly continued to stroll up and down in front of the class, immersed in some kind of rigorous dialogue with herself. But finally, she stopped, composed herself, and looked out at the class. Clearing her throat, she said, "Given the current events, I had wished to dismiss with the competition."

At this announcement, random protests piped up sporadically across the room.

Ignoring them, Merrythought continued, "We can safely ascertain that both Mr Lupin and Miss Lestrange are equally tied for their talent."

James Potter snorted loudly, and mumblings of disagreement were heard from various Slytherins.

Sternly, she continued, "However, the Headmaster feels we must finish what we've started, and he has kindly consented to help oversee and control the final pairing.

"Lupin, Lestrange, come forward!" she called out.

They came forward and distanced themselves, taking their places, seemingly regarding each other respectfully.

"You will strictly follow my instructions, step-by-step," Merrythought continued authoritatively.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. An amused look shone over his glasses, very intently.

"We'll start on simple hexes, and then, we'll work our way up," she instructed. "Hex one: disarming your opponent."

Remus and Nagini bowed to each other. Then, they each shifted into place, posing in stance, with wands held up high.

But Nagini was the first to act. "Expelliarmus!" she cried.

"Protego!" Remus countered swiftly.

Coruscated flashes of lights continuously bounced off of both wands, as both hexed and shielded each other synchronistically.

"Very good. Now, remember, control yourselves!" sang out Merrythought. "Offensive-Defensive spells!"

"Stupefy!"

"Impedimenta!"

Hexes continued to shoot out. Each one clashed in mid-air as it met against the counter-curse blocking it. Both were evenly hexing and shielding, back and forth, working up a hard sweat; drops of perspiration were visibly seen running down their foreheads and around their temples. Regardless of the apparent increasing strenuousness, they both seemed determined to continue indefinitely.

"Perhaps, we should jump to the main task which you had in mind, Professor Merrythought," suggested Dumbledore, temporarily halting the duelling. "I have a feeling we could be here all night, and we do have a feast to attend to." His clear blue eyes sparkled knowingly.

"Yes. Right then. Let's step it up a bit. Wandless Transfiguration," she announced.

Remus eyes steeled themselves on Nagini. Here is the real challenge, he thought to himself. His adrenaline started to kick into a higher gear. His eyes were dark and flashing, boring through Nagini's. Her eyes were like a beacon drawing him in, but he wouldn't be hoodwinked. Not by her. Not by anybody.

Not waiting for Merrythought, he initiated an attack by sending a silent incantation towards Nagini: "Transformiarbus!"

Caught off-guard, Nagini was a second late to shield herself. She felt the hex hit her. And, in a blink, Remus sent yet another hex on top of that one, hitting her full centre. She staggered backwards. She started to feel a tingling in her feet and legs. A bole-like layer started to appear on her shoes, her legs cementing to the floor.

Her mind raced. He's too quick, inhuman reflexes – like an animal, she intuited. Her anger flaring up, she thought to herself, That's it – I'll see how his 'animal instincts' like this!

Foregoing Merrythought's instructions, whipping her wand up, pointing it at him, Nagini whispered fiercely the incantation, "Revelio Animagus! Revelio Animagus!" She repeated it ferociously.

The incantation hit Lupin hard. He froze, waiting for any sign of Transfiguration to start. He knew the hex wouldn't produce what she intended – but which effect would it have on him? He waited, the seconds seeming like minutes. The hexed sensation from the spell didn't materialise. But then, Lupin's face took on a feral look, as a clandestine realisation flashed across his face. His anger was unleashed; he retaliated viciously with a non-verbal hex, simultaneously making a fierce slash with his wand at her.

His hex hit Nagini, knocking her entire body back. As her legs had petrified together, she keeled over on the floor backward, her head popping hard on the floor. She watched, in throbbing pain, as this hex of Lupin's started changing the rhytidome layer that had begun to form around her lower limbs from the former hex. She felt her entire body go weak and felt as if she was sinking into the floor. She was astonished as she saw her lower legs, which had been meshed together, mutate into a jelly-like substance.

Professor Merrythought was screaming, "Stop it! No wands! No wands!"

But Remus, even though he had, by now, fallen down, was sending yet another hex, which hit Nagini detrimentally.

At first, she thought it was simply a Stinging Hex, as it burned her, head-to-toe, in prickling agony. But, as her wand fell out of her hand, her vision started changing. Through blurring vision, she saw her fingers webbing together; then, they started to shrivel up. The pain of her bones disappearing caused her to cry out in a blood-curdling scream. Her skin was simultaneously turning purple and black; she felt her whole torso wavering uncontrollably, turning into one massive lump. An excruciating ache in her head was making her see black and green spots burst around her.

She felt herself slipping into darkness. Before she completely blacked out, she found her eyes finding Remus' – or, rather, what used to be Lupin's – for a wolverine creature was gloating at her where he had been.

The room had erupted in panic and screams; students were fleeing left and right.

In the midst of it all, Dumbledore had stealthily walked to the creature that had been Remus, seeming to hold him at bay, with his fingers held out in a horned position.

Dumbledore said quietly, "Galatea, I believe Poppy is needed, yet again."

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