Lupin,
Despite your current level of incompetence, I would like for you to meet with Harry during the next Hogsmeade visit.
Do try and refrain from using words such as 'feelings' as Potter will either curse at you or simply curse you for insinuating that he has such things.
And I will curse you for wasting my time.
-SS
***
As was tradition apparently, Severus had spent the remainder of his Halloween night arguing with Albus and Minerva in Albus' office.
Though none of them believed Potter entered himself, it was an undeniable lapse in security that he was entered at all.
They also had no viable theories on who, or how, Potter was entered.
Which, they all agreed, was deeply troubling.
'Keep an eye on Igor, would you?' Albus murmured before Severus left his office. 'And let me know if your mark darkens even more. These are troubling times my boy.'
Troubling times indeed.
And Severus' ward was wrapped up right in the center of it, as usual.
Immediately after leaving Albus' office, Severus sent a fury filled letter to Lucius. He had depended on his friend to yank Potter from the tournament, instead he pulled some nonsense about heirships out of thin air quicker than any conjuring and cemented Potter's place.
If Potter was injured, friendship be damned, Severus would cut Lucius' throat open himself.
***
Severus,
Is everything alright? Sirius says he hasn't heard from Harry recently and your last letter was concerning.
I would be delighted to meet with Harry. Though, like you said, I do not believe my skills are up to par with a professional yet.
I'll have Sirius invite Harry to our place during the next Hogsmeade weekend, shall I? Perhaps if he had permission from his Head of House he could stay the night Saturday and I would ensure he came back Sunday by lunch?
-Remus.
***
Harry,
I apologize again for our spat last night. Please accept my offer for dueling lessons and defensive courses for you and your merry band of misfits as my formal apology.
I have even checked all of your schedules and believe you can all attend on Thursdays at 4 o'clock. Perhaps we can make this a biweekly occurrence? I believe there are many things I can teach you all.
Kindly try and refrain from dying or entering any other tournaments with a prior death toll between now and then.
Even you can survive three days.
Accolades: an award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit.
To be used in a sentence: 'I believe you would throw yourself in to a pit of fire for the accolades of others acknowledging your self-prescribed greatness.'
Brat.
-Snape
***
The morning after Halloween Severus groaned to see how the Slytherin table applauded his ward with a standing ovation when he arrived at breakfast.
And Potter stood there, his chest puffed out, preening, as smug and arrogant as his own Merlin damned father had been after a quidditch match.
Severus could scarcely decide which was the more amusing figure in the days following the announcement- Diggory or Potter.
Potter's placement in the tournament had Hogwarts divided. The Slytherin's were ecstatic that one of their own was in the tournament. Many of the Ravenclaws seemed to support Potter as well. Including Roger Davies, a seventh year student who plays on the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team, who publicly congratulated Potter during lunch. Davies' congratulations led to many other Ravenclaw students openly supporting Potter. Yet, many of the other students, specifically the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindor's, felt as if Potter was somehow stealing glory from Mister Diggory.
Both champions had a satisfied gleam in their eyes. Both had large groups of friends who were encouraging the other students to support them. The boys' houses each supported their champions and quidditch team captains. Severus took great pleasure in docking points from the other houses when he saw clusters of students holding up the corridors as they pestered either child for an autograph.
An actual Merlin damned autograph.
He was relieved that his Slytherin's held too much pride to do such a thing. Though, he was also exasperated to see little Trent Bailey, a Slytherin first year, walking around the castle wearing a pair of glasses identical to Potter's, despite the younger child having no prior need for corrective eyewear.
The Hufflepuff's had taken up the torch for their champion immediately and were eagerly discussing Diggory's upcoming successes, while the Slytherin's supported Potter to the point where Severus hardly saw the child at a meal without a student in green gifting him a book or drawing him in to a conversation. The students who clustered around Potter with excited auras surrounding them were the same ones who went out of their way to scowl at the more age-appropriate Diggory for daring to oppose their revered housemate.
Diggory had a classic type of golden appeal that the students flocked to. He was in the top ten percent of his year, prefect, and was a disturbingly cheerful boy. He appeared to take the entire contest in stride and smiled genuinely when his fellow Hufflepuffs, and the Gryffindors who would never support a Slytherin champion, wished him luck.
Potter on the other hand, was as different from Diggory as literal night to day. While Diggory accepted his well wishers with easy grace, Potter squinted at his suspiciously as if to determine their motives in speaking with him. Diggory spoke to every person as if they were his friend, Potter sneered at those who he was not already friends with. Diggory shook hands and accepted hugs. Potter sneered at proffered hands and hissed when arms were outstretched towards him.
If Diggory was a warm summer afternoon that brought smiles of cheer to others- Potter was a cold fall tornado which left chaos in his wake.
Yet Severus had never heard of a person who did not crane their neck in an effort to take in the awe that was the aftermath of a tornado.
Severus heard angry mutterings in the corridors that Potter was a cheat, a liar, and does not deserve to be in the contest. Potter subsequently silenced these students with polite smiles and silent jinxes.
Severus lightly scolded Potter in public, as he was expected to do. Yet he congratulated the child in private, Potter had came a long way from the twelve year old who was led to depression over the harassment of his classmates.
When badges began appearing on yellow and red robes that said to support Cedric Diggory 'the REAL Hogwarts Champion', Severus had to supply burn creams to Madame Pomfrey as the buttons were being burnt off the students' robes.
Severus awarded Miss Bones a silent 5 points when he was required an extra strength burn cream for the idiotic child who thought wearing a button saying 'POTTER SUCKS' in front of her was a good idea.
Severus was quite sure that this would be the longest year of his life.
***
Lupin,
I will allow Harry to tell you his recent news. Though I am surprised it has yet to make the news.
He is alive. Although I may kill him myself am not currently thrilled with his decision making abilities.
If Harry agrees, I give permission for him to stay at your home in Hogsmeade Saturday night. Kindly inform Black that it will be his head on a platter if my ward goes missing or is injured in any way.
-SS
***
Snape,
K, we'll be there Thursday at four.
Thanks I guess.
-HJP
***
Severus was midway through his fourth year potions class on Wednesday afternoon when a knock on the classroom door interrupted it.
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Yes?" Severus sighed. A third year Gryffindor student, Colin Creevey, interrupting his class is hardly an omen of anything good.
"I'm supposed to take H-Harry P-Potter upstairs," he stammered.
"For what purpose?" Severus asked as Potter perked up in the back of the room with cautious interest.
"It's... it's a champions thing," the boy said, his eyes continuously flicking towards Potter with an awe-filled look mixed with a hint of fear. "I think the news is here, for photos, you know?"
"5 points from Gryffindor," Severus snapped when Finnigan scoffed loudly and glared at Potter.
For a child whose worst fear is Potter himself, the imbecile seemed to have no understanding of not inciting that fear.
"May I go sir?" Potter asked politely, his green eyes eager and his back straight.
"Class dismissed," Severus said, making a quick decision. "I would like thirty-six inches on the properties of lacewing flies when mixed with salamander blood by Friday morning."
"Oh, I only need Harry," Creevey said, surprised by Severus' abrupt dismissal.
"I am aware," Severus sneered. "I will accompany him. You will return to your class."
"Yes sir. They're upstairs, the empty classroom on the third floor," Creevey mumbled, shooting a disappointed look towards Potter who was obediently waiting in his seat as his classmates fled before Severus could change his mind.
"Why are you going?" Potter asked as soon as the last student left and he got to his own feet.
"Because the mere mention of the media makes my skin crawl," Severus said truthfully. "And it would be remiss of me as your guardian to allow you to be alone with them."
"'Kay," Potter shrugged easily and followed along behind Severus as they made their way to the empty classroom on the third floor.
"I bet it's Rita," Potter said thoughtfully. "She said she got a promotion when she wrote about me in my second year, remember that?"
"Vividly," Severus said. How does one forget a series of articles that leads to them accepting the guardianship of a pre-teen?
"So yeah... I bet it's her."
Potter's quiet thoughts were proven true when they entered the classroom and Severus' ward was immediately greeted by the loud, blonde, irksome Miss Skeeter.
"Harry! Darling! It's been so long!" she cried, crossing the room quickly towards Potter. "How are you?"
"Brill," Potter said brightly. "I saw your article about the World Cup, I think you painted Snape here in just the right light."
"You read that?" Skeeter beamed while Severus scowled at the reminder. "Oh Harry, you're too sweet. Come in, come in."
Severus and Potter stepped further in the room and saw that the other three students, Olympe, Igor, the wand maker Ollivander, and a man that could only be the Daily Prophet's photographer were already present.
"We're just waiting on Albus now," Skeeter was explaining to Potter. "But while we wait, would you mind terribly if I got a few quotes for the article? The youngest champion is sure to add some color to the news." She winked at Potter, who unsurprisingly looked all too happy to comply.
"Sure," he said. "D'you already have your questions?"
"I do!" Skeeter dug in her bag and pulled out a parchment and the sickly green colored quill that could only be a Quick-Quotes. "Why don't we step out in the corridor for some privacy, hmm?"
"I'll join you," Severus said curtly as Skeeter led Potter to the corridor, none of the three paying any heed to the remaining students.
"Wonderful!" Skeeter smiled broadly, showcasing her two incredibly gaudy golden teeth. "I'd love to get a quote from you as well Severus."
That was not what he had meant.
"So Harry," Skeeter grinned at Potter and lowered her voice once the classroom door closed behind them. "Why'd you enter?"
"Thought it would be fun," Potter grinned. "But I don't want you to say that. I want you to say that nobody knows for sure how I got entered and," Potter sighed dramatically, "isn't it a shame Dumbledore's magic messed up like that?"
Severus hid a smile as Skeeter lit up like a first year on Christmas.
"Ooh Harry, I just adore you," she cooed. "And so will the rest of the world once they read this. Alright next question, are you scared?"
"Off the record? Nope. On the record? I'm a little nervous, but I think that with my friends' support that I can make it through it."
Skeeter laughed and gave Potter a fond look. Severus was begrudgingly impressed that Potter seemed to understand precisely the best way to play the media to his advantage. Or, more accurately, the Contessa had taught Potter the best ways to manipulate the press and the child actually absorbed the information.
Pity he seems to not have the same skill when it comes to retaining information regarding his sense of self-preservation.
"Now, Harry, champions have died in the past, does that worry you?" Skeeter asked.
"Nope, that's my official answer," Potter winked.
Fucking winked.
The Contessa, in her infinite wisdom, had done mankind a disservice when she instructed Potter to build allies through 'charming others'. Potter appeared every bit the roguish and mysterious teenager that he was hoping to portray in that moment. And he had Skeeter positively simpering.
"Do you feel as if you're being supported by your fellow classmates?" Skeeter asked him.
"Some of them," Potter said. "But half the kids think I entered myself and they're being prats, aren't they?"
"You're well used to hardship though, aren't you Harry? With your muggle relatives and being unfairly expelled your second year?"
"You won't print that," Potter said, his tone a cold contrast to its previously teasing warmth. "Not a chance."
Severus would have stepped in to ensure that his underaged ward would have his privacy respected in the media, but he was amused to see Skeeter hastily crossing her question off the parchment.
"Of course not, of course not. Why would I? Silly question..." she still appeared to be simpering after Potter, but had an appropriate level of fear in her eyes as well now.
"Um... Let's see... Okay! What do you think your parents would say about you being in the tournament if they were here?" Skeeter asked, wiping the amusement right off Severus' face.
"Er..." Potter glanced up at Severus and chewed his lip for a moment until Severus took pity on the child.
"His father would undoubtedly be excited to see his son compete, while his mother would be worrying herself sick," he said calmly with a reassuring hand on Potter's shoulder. "They would be furious at his being placed in the competition that he is too young to be a part of, but would attend each task to cheer him along eagerly."
Potter gave him a shy and thankful smile while Skeeter sighed theatrically.
"Beautiful," she said. "And you Severus? How are you feeling about Harry competing? Scared, angry, hopeful?"
"I am concerned for the safety of my ward and impressed with his determination in the face of adversity," Severus said smoothly.
"Just wonderful," Skeeter said. Severus took the opportunity to glance at the parchment the Quick-Quotes Quill was scrawling on and was pleased to see that their direct 'on record' quotes were being written.
"Aah, Rita!" Albus turned a corner and strode down the corridor towards them. "Welcome, I'm delighted to see you."
"Dumbledore!" cried Skeeter, hastily snatching her belongings and shoving them in to an appalling bag made of crocodile skin. "How are you?" she said, holding out one of her hands to Dumbledore. "I hope you saw my piece over the summer about the International Confederation of Wizards' Conference?"
"Enchantingly nasty," said Albus, his eyes twinkling as he cordially shook Skeeter's hand. "I particularly enjoyed your description of me as an obsolete dingbat."
Skeeter didn't look remotely abashed. Potter actually blatantly smiled up at her as if she were his personal hero in this moment.
"I was just making the point that some of your ideas are a little old-fashioned, Dumbledore, and that many wizards in the street —"
"I look forward to hearing the reasoning behind the rudeness," Albus smiled genially as he interrupted her. "Though I believe we should step inside and allow the Weighing of the Wands to begin?"
Severus inclined his head gratefully to Albus and followed behind a now whispering Skeeter and Potter. Severus stood beside Potter, who was ushered in to a seat beside Mister Diggory.
There was a velvet-covered table in the front of the room where four of the five judges were now sitting — Igor, Olympe, Bagman, and Crouch. Skeeter settled herself down in a corner and slipped the parchment out of her bag again, spread it on her knee, suck the end of the Quick-Quotes Quill, and place it once more on the parchment.
"May I introduce Mr. Ollivander?" said Albus, taking his place at the judges' table and talking to the champions. "He will be checking your wands to ensure that they are in good condition before the tournament."
"Oh," Potter sounded surprised and turned to glanced quickly at Severus. "Were we supposed to bring our wands? I didn't know."
Severus sighed. Potter would be the only damned student in the castle who did not carry a wand. An oddity not unnoticed by the others.
"Didn't you just come from class?" Diggory asked curiously.
"Yeaaah," Potter said slowly. "But I didn't have my wand on me, did I? Should I get it, I guess?"
"If you wouldn't mind Harry," Bagman said cheerily. "It's your official weapon in the tasks after all."
"'Kay." Potter grinned at Skeeter and Severus had a sudden sense of foreboding. Potter was about to show off, Severus was sure of it.
And sure enough...
"I want my wand," Potter said airily, one hand held out.
Not a soul in the room made a noise, aside from an insulting sound of disbelief from Igor, until Potters wand flew beneath the door and smacked in to his palm.
"Amazing!" Skeeter cried happily. "Did you get that?" she elbowed the camera man sharply, who grunted in an affirmative type of noise.
"Zat eez incroyable," Delacour said with a sweet smile at Potter that had Ludo Bagman blinking rapidly at her from his seat at the judges table.
"Merci beaucoup," Potter winked.
"You speak French?" Delacour cried, delighted.
"No," Potter admitted with a rueful smile. "I mean, a bit, but just a few words... Oh! And, tu es brillant." Delacour broke into a juvenile fit of giggles that had Severus rolling his eyes.
Only Potter would begin 'charming foreign allies' by targeting the quarter Veela whose father runs half of the French Magical Embassy.
"Can we begin?" Igor said tersely with a nasty look at Potter that had Severus gripping his wand tightly.
"Yes, yes, let's," Bagman said with an overtly excited look at Potter and Delacour that had Severus gripping his wand just as tightly.
Hatred, awe, and fear- the three horsemen of Potter's fan club, Severus mentally scoffed as the ceremony began.
"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you first, please?" said Ollivander, stepping into the empty space in the middle of the room.
Miss Delacour swept over to Mr. Ollivander and handed him her wand.
"Hmm..." he said.
He twirled the wand between his long fingers like a baton and it emitted a number of pink and gold sparks. Then he held it close to his eyes and examined it carefully.
Severus had never been a fan of Ollivander. The man's theatrics could put even Draco to shame.
"Yes," he said quietly, "nine and a half inches... inflexible... rosewood... and containing... dear me..."
"An 'air from ze 'ead of a veela," the girl said. "One of my grandmuzzer's."
Potter did nothing as obvious as jump, but Severus saw him startle all the same.
Potter had to be the only damned student in the castle previously unaware of Delacour's heritage.
"I never use Veela hair myself, I find it makes temperamental wands... though if it suits you..." Ollivander said as he swished the girls wand through the air.
Severus scoffed lightly as Ollivander produced a mixed bouquet of flowers and presented them to Delacour along with her wand.
"Mister Diggory," he said.
"It's rude to call your wand temperamental," Potter whispered to Delacour, ignoring the proceedings as Diggory's wand was examined.
"'E will see when I compete, yes?" Delacour smiled at Potter. "'Ere, for you 'Arry." She tucked one of the yellow conjured flowers in Potter's hair.
"Merci beaucoup, but I bet they look better in your hair," Potter said quietly as Ollivander sent smoke rings from Diggory's wand.
Severus wondered if Potter was truly this naive and oblivious, or if he was a tremendous flirt.
Naive and oblivious, he decided as Potter appeared to be impervious to the Veela's natural charms.
"Ze yellows bring out your eyes," Delacour whispered. Potter snagged one of the red roses and tucked it behind her ear.
"Now we match," he said with another one of the winks that he must believe to be charming.
Which, apparently they were. Because Delacour giggled again and gave Potter a bright smile that now had Bagman and the camera man both ogling her in a way that Severus found both distasteful and offensive to do to a child.
Actually, he would have found it to be distasteful and offensive if Delacour were a grown woman. That she was a mere teenager still in school just made it all the more so.
The two students went quiet as Krum was called forward and presented his wand to Ollivander.
"Hmm," said Mr. Ollivander, "this is a Gregorovitch creation, unless I'm much mistaken? A fine wandmaker, though the styling is never quite what I... however..."
Severus actually rolled his eyes at the hubris of the man.
"Yes... hornbeam and dragon heartstring?" Ollivander shot at Krum, who nodded. "Rather thicker than one usually sees... quite rigid... ten and a quarter inches... Avis!"
The wand let off a blast like a gun, and a number of small, twittering birds flew out of the end and through the open window into the watery sunlight.
"Good," Ollivander said, handing Krum back his wand. "Which leaves... Mr. Potter."
Potter stood up and strutted to Ollivander confidently.
"Sorry it's not polished, just sits in my trunk most of the time," Potter said with a cocky lilt to his tone.
"I bet that red knife of yours doesn't, does it?" Ollivander hummed as he accepted Potter's proffered wand.
Severus had never asked Potter before about his first interaction with Ollivander, though he was now undeniably curious as to how the queer old wand maker came to be aquatinted with Potter's pocket knife.
Potter didn't say anything, he just shrugged as Ollivander began inspecting his wand.
Ollivander spent much longer examining Potter's wand than anyone else's, though his previous commentary was markedly absent. Eventually, however, he made a fountain of wine shoot out of it, and handed it back to Potter, announcing that it was still in perfect condition. Which was unsurprising considering it's lack of use.
"Thank you all," said Albus, standing up at the judges' table. "You may go back to your lessons now — or perhaps it would be quicker just to go down to dinner, as they are about to end —"
"Ooh, don't forget we need photos!" Skeeter leapt to her feet. "The champions will need photos for the article tomorrow!"
Severus had never witnessed such a debacle as what should have been a simple task.
The camera man first got individual photos of each student. Then a photo of the judges. Then the group photo seemed to take eons as there was no placement to suit all parties. Skeeter wanted Potter front and center, the camera man continued to maneuver Delacour up front, Krum skulked in the back and had to be literally drug in to view of the camera.
It was madness.
And once they were satisfied with a group photo, not only had dinner surely already began, but Skeeter then insisted on a photo of Severus and Potter together. He would have refused, but Potter had looked suddenly bashful when she suggested it, so Severus gave in and stood behind Potter with a light hand on his shoulder while the camera man flashed the camera in their faces a few times.
"Insipid and insufferable," Severus grumbled on his way to dinner alongside Potter. "Must you be quite so well-known?"
"The pains of fame," Potter quipped, appearing rather pleased with himself and still sporting a bright yellow orchid in his hair. "At least nobody stares at your forehead."
"Your scar is not even visible," Severus said.
"Wanna know what I always think people do when they see me?" Potter grinned and his eyes were sparkling mischievously. "I bet they go home and tell their families: 'Guess who I saw? Harry Potter! And guess what? I saw his bangs!'"
Severus chuckled lightly at that. It was rather amusing when Potter stated it in that light.
"See you tomorrow at four?" Potter asked hesitantly when they approached the Great Hall.
"I will be there," Severus assured him, pleased that Potter seemed to easily accept his apologies when he gives them.
If his penance for screaming in Potter's face, an appalling lapse in behavior, was to spend two hours working on defensive magic for a group of children who would undoubtedly benefit from it then who was he to complain?
After all, Severus had survived much worse than a few hours of tutoring with Potter's gang before.
***
BOY WHO LIVED- HOGWARTS CHAMPION!
As many of you know, this year marks the first revival of the Triwizard Tournament since 1792. Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, made the decision to bring back this tournament in 'an effort to foster foreign connections with other schools'. Though it was an unpopular decision, like many of Albus Dumbledore's decisions, the champions for the tournament were chosen on Halloween night. And dear readers, whose name was pulled from the goblet?
None other than our very own Boy Who Lived himself, Harry Potter. I had the opportunity to speak with my friend Harry during the
Weighing of the Wand Ceremony to see how this amazing feat came to be considering that champions were limited only to those over the age of 17. Harry and his guardian and Head of House, Severus Snape, both
state that nobody knows how Harry's name came to be submitted in the Goblet. Albus Dumbledore claims to have set a ward preventing any underage students from competing, yet the question now is how was someone able to enter Harry's name? Is this a revenge plot of some kind? A prank? Those questions are not yet answered, but Dumbledore's lack of security in his school has many parents concerned. Despite this horrifying mistake on Dumbledore's part, Harry is determined to participate in the tournament to the best of his underaged abilities. "His parents would be be furious at his being placed in the
competition that he is too young to be a part of, but would attend each task to cheer him along eagerly," calmly stated the striking Severus Snape, classmate of James and Lily Potter, guardian to Harry Potter himself, and well known recent hero of the Quidditch World Cup. I asked Severus how he felt about Harry's placement in a tournament that Albus Dumbledore was meant to prevent young students from competing in and, although there was a worried light in his serene dark eyes, he smiled down at his legal ward of two years proudly. "I too am concerned for the safety of [Harry] and impressed with his determination in the face of adversity." And determined Harry is.
"A lot of students are being [rude] to me and I'm a little nervous,
but I think that with my friends' support that I can make it through it," Harry told me with a endearingly shy smile and sparkling green eyes. "I'm not scared. I know people have died before but I don't think I will." And why would he? During the ceremony I witnessed Harry
summoning his wand from the dungeons of the castle clear to the third floor. An accomplishment that no other Witch or Wizard has hardly achieved. Despite our worry for our beloved boy hero, we wish him luck
and eagerly await his upcoming tasks, the first of which will be November the twenty-fourth where yours truly will be on scene to capture the magic for my readers. The other champions are Flower Delacott of Beauxbatons
Academy, Victor Crum of Durmstrang, and Cedar Diggery. Full account of Harry Potter's defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-
Named on page two. Harry Potter's previously unjust Hogwarts expulsion on page six.
Recap of Harry Potter's guardianship with Hogwarts Professor
Severus Snape on page seven.
Severus sighed after reading the article on the front page of the Daily Prophet. Although Skeeter had indeed written their quotes verbatim, none of the champions, save Potter, would be pleased with the report. If Potter was not already openly despised by the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindor's, he would be now.
There was also a full size photo of Potter accompanying the front page article. Then a photo on a loop of Potter summoning his wand on the second page. And on the seventh page- a photo of Severus himself standing behind Potter.
Severus carefully clipped the photo out of the newspaper and saved it before throwing the rest of the newspaper in the trash bin where it belongs.
***
"Sir, we're here!" Potter bounced in to Severus' classroom at precisely 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon, trailed by his usual crowd of friends.
"Wait please-" Severus said as Potter went to sit at one of the desks. He instead waved his wand and cleared the desks to the sides of the room. "Everyone who is not Harry, sit alongside the walls and watch closely please."
Potter gave him a curious look while his friends happily moved to the sides of the room.
"We will be working on offensive and defensive magic, alongside dueling, every other week. I believe that as you all refuse to stay out of danger-" Severus laid his eyes on each individual unrepentantly grinning student, "-it would be prudent for you to be able to defend yourself."
"This has nothing to do with Harry being in a death trap of a tournament?" Ronald Weasley grinned.
"That too," Severus allowed. "Now, as I have been led to believe that Potter is the most accomplished dueler of your group, I will demonstrate a dramatically underutilized spell: Stupefy." Severus turned to a smug looking Potter, "Are you willing to demonstrate? I will of course be stunning you."
"Am I allowed to defend myself?" Potter asked.
"You may."
"Brill then, let's do it."
Severus hid a smirk and watched as Potter took his place across from him.
"Watch closely now," Severus called to the other students. "Go."
Potter immediately sent a silent spell the color of milk to Severus, who dispelled it while sending a few test stunners towards Potter. He watched carefully in the direction Potter tends to dodge towards and smiled to himself. Potter was fast, creative, fluid in both his attacks and his defenses, but he turned to the left each time a spell was aimed at his chest.
After a few more minutes of ensuring his stunner would land on target, Severus sent a stunner towards Potter's torso and immediately followed it with another aimed just to the left of his body and-
"Oh he's going to be pissed," Blaise Zabini laughed happily as Potter was stunned and hit the ground. "How'd you do that?"
"Allow me to revive Harry and I will explain," Severus said.
"Rennervate."
"What the fuck?" Potter sat up and blushed hotly as he glanced quickly at his watching friends. "How'd you do that?"
Severus offered him a hand to help him to his feet, which was ignored.
"Can anyone tell me what enabled me to stun my opponent?" he asked the watching students.
"Harry was distracted?" Neville Longbottom asked hesitantly.
"I bloody well was not," Potter snarled.
"No, anyone else?"
When nobody anything, Severus tapped beside his own eyes.
"The best tool to be used in a duel with your opponent is your eyesight-"
"Which is why Harry lost," Theodore muttered to Draco.
"-I simply watched Harry to determine which direction he would move if I aimed for his chest and he eventually stepped right in to my spell," Severus said. "This is why it is important to watch your opponent carefully, to strategize during the duel, but also why it is important to vary your movements so they do not become predictable. Now, let's pair up. We are stunning only, immediately followed by a revival, understood?"
At the students' confirmations, Severus paired Theodore with Granger, Draco with Ronald Weasley, Lovegood with Blaise, Bones and Frederick Weasley (as he would be the death Severus would be least likely to mourn), and then eyed Longbottom speculatively.
"Want me with Nev?" Potter asked brightly, Longbottom suddenly paled when Potter smiled.
"No," Severus said slowly. "I would like Mister Longbottom to take turns with Lovegood and Blaise. You are with me Potter. We practice until you stun me."
Potter was the one who would need the practice, it was a mere coincidence that he happened to be a package deal with his army of students. Though if they were determined to take a place by Potter's side in any oncoming conflicts, Severus would ensure their skills supported their positions.
The students practiced for an hour, during which time Severus had stunned Potter twice and after the second stunner Severus nearly ended their lesson.
"Are you ill?" he asked Potter. The child looked more flushed than was expected and was breathing heavily.
"Nope," Potter all but snarled. "I'm fine. Let's go again, yeah?"
Severus resumed their duel, but kept a close eye on him. Potter appeared peaky. It had escaped his notice before now, but he thought perhaps Potter had looked mildly ill since dinner last night.
Perhaps the tournament is weighing on his nerves more than expected.
It would be terribly in character for Potter to put on a cocky front while hiding his anxiety.
Severus pushed his concerns to the side for now, intent on training Potter until he absorbed the lesson Severus was hoping to impart. Which he did nearly twenty minutes later when he finally hit Severus with a Stupefy.
"Excellent," he said when Potter smugly revived him. "How were you able to guess which direction I would move?"
"I couldn't," Potter admitted with a sly grin. "That's why I sent seven in all different directions, isn't it?"
"While that may be effective, it is foolish," Severus said as he got to his feet and smoothed out his robes. "You will run the risk of stunning your allies if they are in the immediate area... Which leaves them open to attack Harry," he added with a sigh when Potter shrugged.
"Oh. Right... go again?"
Severus had intended on assisting the struggling students, but dueling Potter was a rare pleasure. Potter truly was a force in a duel, and Severus was pleased to see it. Potter had many enemies, and many more likely to come, and Severus would need to do all he could to ensure his wards survival in any given situation.
"Again," Severus agreed.
***
Lupin,
Harry informed me that he would only accept Black's request for him to stay the night at your home if he could bring along a friend.
I told him this was acceptable to me as long as his friend receives permission from their parent or guardian.
Enjoy.
-SS