Disclaimer: The fine tapestry of plot and characters belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am merely pulling threads at will and weaving my own design in counterpoint to hers.
Chapter 21
Dueling Partners
The end of the week approached and there was still no word from Lupin. As he passed the giant hourglasses that recorded the House Points on the way to breakfast, Harry noted that a large number of sparkling gems had been deposited into the lower chambers, although the glittering cache of emeralds was noticeably larger than all the rest. Slytherin’s solidarity indeed, but did it also signify a darker portent?
Harry didn’t need an exact count to know that there were fewer gaps at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall than at any of the other three. If Voldemort’s supporters felt that the world was soon to be theirs, they would have no qualms about sending even their youngest to school. After all, the scandalous events that had capped the previous school year had been perpetrated by Death Eaters. Was the fact that only one Slytherin student had returned for a seventh year an indication that others had chosen to follow in Draco’s footsteps? He forcibly stopped himself from falling into thought patterns that bordered on prejudice. To tell the truth, seventh year students were virtually extinct for all Houses -- and not all Slytherins were necessarily supporters of Voldemort.
By the time he reached the entrance hall, Harry found that there was a crowd of students surrounding the walls where the photos from Halloween had been posted. Even from a distance, he could see that rows of neatly framed documents had been added parallel to the doorway. He was joined by Ron and Ginny before he was close enough to see anything.
A cursory review of the first column indicated that these were the requisite House Points that had been awarded to each of the committee chairmen, with lesser points being awarded to each committee member that was listed beneath. He was gratified to see that Neville had been awarded fifty points for his masterful work with the lighting and props, but there were no surprises there.
Turning his attention to the second column, he noted that the surrounding crowd was thicker and liberally punctuated with squeals, cheers and much hugging. Apparently these were the special awards that had been made by the teachers to judge by the different signatures at the bottom of each. Flitwick had named the boys from Hufflepuff as the Best Musical Revue. Lupin had recognized Luna Lovegood for the Most Creative Use of the Patronus Charm. Slughorn had signaled out Neville Longbottom as Best Political Satire.
Jostled by the crowd, Harry had to strain to read the awards that continued for a third column.
“We should have found us a cushy spot on the staircase, mate,” Ron confided in a rather loud whisper. “Used your Omnioculars.”
Harry gave him a crooked smile in agreement.
The long hours that the Ravenclaw group had expended to transform the Greal Hall were recognized by Hagrid with a special Knight Owl commendation. From Professor Vector, Slytherin House was noted for having each and every member involved in the Refreshment Committee. That explained all the emeralds, Harry mused. Professor Sinistra commended Hufflepuff House for one humdred percent participation in the costume contest. Signed in her trademark purple ink, Tonks acknowledged Colin and Dennis Creevey for Photographic Excellence.
Ginny grabbed Harry by the arm and pointed to the frame at the top of the column. She had already started jumping up and down before he finished reading that Professor Sprout had credited Ginny Weasley with the Best Costuming Design for the Jekyll and Hyde Concept. Harry turned to give her a congratulatory hug only to find that she had already been engulfed in a sea of well-wishers. He settled for giving her a quick pat on the shoulder and a whispered word before working his way to the edge of the crowd.
He saw that Hermione was standing in the doorway of the nearby Costume Office watching him intently. With a tilt of her head, she motioned for him to join her inside.
“You really should have turned around and looked one last time,” she said very softly.
“Why? So I could see who else was congratulating her? NO, THANK YOU!” Harry barely refrained from sweeping the entire surface of the desk onto the floor and settled for tossing his book bag into the nearest chair instead. Good thing he wasn’t carrying any ink bottles today, he thought dryly.
“Just so you know, she was watching your back the whole time.” Hermione’s voice was no more than a whisper. “I know it’s none of my business.” She raised her hands in mock defeat.
Harry waited until his heartbeat settled down before prodding, “Is that why you called me in here?” His voice still had more of an edge than he intended.
“Colin brought this for you,” Hermione answered as she handed Harry a white cardboard photo envelope. She started to say something else then thought better of it. The noise of the boisterous crowd erupted from the doorway as she silently let herself out.
Harry stared at the white rectangle of the envelope against the brown wood of the desktop for what seemed like hours. He couldn’t bring himself to look inside. Remembering that Ginny sometimes used this office also, he tucked the unopened envelope into his book bag and made to leave the room.
A flash of movement from the window caught his eye as he spied Hedwig trying to get his attention through the glass. He opened the window to let her onto his outstretched arm. Stroking the soft feathers of her head made him feel infinitely better but she was impatient to return to the sunny weather outside. Dropping the small roll of parchment onto the nearest desktop, she took flight once more.
He slipped the bit of twine off the parchment and unrolled it gently. It was an official notification from the headmistress that five points had been awarded to Gryffindor on his behalf for participating in the Halloween Ball and an additional ten for presenting himself as a contestant on the stage. He was about to tuck it into his book bag when his fingertips told him that there was a second, slightly smaller sheet behind. He let the second sheet drop to the desktop. The only message was: 2:00 today
Harry knew instantly what that meant; Lupin had come through after all.
A few dozen turns around the Quidditch pitch on his Firebolt, followed by two steaming bowls of stew, and Harry’s stomach had forgiven him for skipping breakfast. The day was even colder than on his last trip to Hogsmeade but with the return of the sunlight, it didn’t seem to matter.
Harry was waiting in the corridor when Lupin turned the far corner deep in conversation with four or five students. One of them must have told a particularly funny joke as everyone burst out laughing at the same moment. Spying Harry, Lupin extricated himself from the group to open the office door.
“Sorry, Harry,” he apologized, still chuckling. “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”
“I’m the one who’s early, Professor,” Harry admitted.
“No matter. Give me a moment to get my things and we’ll be on our way.”
Most of the students had left the lawn to rejoin their classes when Harry and Lupin headed down to the school gates. They waved to Hagrid in the distance and then to a small group of sixth years who were spending a study period atop a large flat rock near the water’s edge.
Harry was relieved, then oddly disappointed that Ginny was not among them. Regretfully, he conceded that he had no idea of her day-to-day schedule. It’s not like he could just pop down to the Costume Office anymore. Well, not that he really ever had, but he could have if he’d wanted. It would be just the same with the schedule, he told himself, just because he knew where to find her didn’t mean he had to go looking.
Before he knew it, they had arrived at Dervish & Banges and were unwinding their neck scarves so they could speak freely again. Despite warm hiking boots, Lupin was stomping around trying to get the feeling back into his feet. With every step, the metal cauldrons on the shelves rattled and pinged. Harry was having a hard time keeping from sniggering even though he could barely feel his face.
Mr. Dervish was only too happy to show them his selection of wands. He was a bit taken aback when Harry asked whether they had any made by Gregorovich, but he sent an employee to fetch some form the cellar nonetheless. After a shaky start, Harry settled on a fine mahogany one whose handle had been carved in strange rivulets that made for a surprisingly comfortable grip.
To his amazement, Lupin insisted on buying a spare for himself as well. He selected a svelte ash model, minimalist in its design, the wood waxed so diligently that it seemed to glow from within.
“Just because your idea is a bit unorthodox doesn’t mean it doesn’t have merit,” Lupin whispered to Harry as they concluded their transactions.
Flush with a sense of accomplishment, Lupin insisted that they drink a toast at the Three Broomsticks before heading back. Madam Rosmerta suggested a hot toddy or perhaps a flaming Firewhiskey, but Lupin politely declined. Candidly, he confessed that he didn’t have much of a head for strong liquor.
Harry recalled the hot spiced cider from Halloween and inquired whether that was something she kept in stock. She deliberated for a moment and then agreed to take a stab at it.
Lupin offered to scare them up a snack as well. From their table, Harry could see that the professor had been corralled into a conversation with two of the locals at the bar. Harry took the opportunity to tuck his new wand more securely within the folds of his Invisibility Cloak and then into the deepest recesses of his book bag. His hand brushed against the photo envelope and he pulled it out and placed it carefully on the polished wood surface before him.
Presently Lupin returned with two steaming mugs garnished with cinnamon sticks and clove-studded orange wedges. The smell was absolutely heavenly. Harry took a small sip to test the temperature and rolled his eyes in ecstasy. This was a hundred times better than what had been served at Hogwarts! Lupin chuckled at Harry’s assessment and determined that Rosmerta must have added a dram of honey mead to round out the flavor.
Seeing Harry’s eye returning to the envelope that had been propped against the salt cellar, Lupin finally had to ask.
“Hermione gave it to me this morning. Said it was from Colin Creevey,” Harry replied as succinctly as possible, hoping that Lupin would not ask the inevitable follow-up question, but he should have known better.
“Why didn’t you open it then?”
Harry was tempted to retort that Hermione had been meddling again. But before he could finish the thought, he concluded that he was being unfair. Those words had been almost as difficult for her to say as it had been for him to hear them. He sighed and mumbled, “Dunno.”
To his surprise, Lupin chuckled deep in his throat as he examined the envelope from every angle. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think the Creevey brothers had developed a talent for blackmail,” he observed wryly.
Perhaps it was the relaxed atmosphere of the pub, perhaps it was the fact that they were away from the prying eyes of anyone else, but suddenly Harry didn’t care anymore. Between bouts of laughter and cider and still more laughter, he was finally able to get the words out. “Professor, would you like to do the honors?”
Lupin called for another round and then flexed his fingers experimentally “ which only started them laughing more.
Rosmerta returned with the mugs and two thick slices of treacle tart. Eying them each in turn, she warned, “Now don’t you two start on the pie until you’ve stopped laughing or you’ll give yourselves the worst case of hiccups ever.”
Sage advice or not, Harry thought that was the funniest thing he’d every heard. Rosmerta finally felt sorry for them and said, “Dolores Umbridge,” while motioning with her head towards the front door.
It was her turn to chuckle when they both whipped their heads around in shock, the merriment dying in their throats. “Works every time,” muttered Rosmerta as she returned to her customary station behind the bar.
Harry held the toad-like image of Umbridge in his mind to allow his breathing to return to normal. When he felt his eyes narrowing at the memory, he knew he had succeeded. He looked expectantly at Lupin who seemed to have regained his composure as well.
Lupin picked up the envelope and made a production of lifting the flap to demonstrate that it hadn’t even been sealed. Pinching the sides of the cardboard to bow it slightly, he blew softly into the opening and extracted a single photograph.
“Rather a nice shot of Ginny,” he said simply as he placed the photo directly in front of Harry.
The camera had managed to capture her in a rare introspective moment, gazing thoughtfully into the distance. He could see most of her hat and a bit of the rose woven into the hatband, but the photo had been cropped just below the neck. Remembering the problems with the chameleon suit, he suspected that Colin had simply enlarged the image and deleted the unusable portions.
He raised his head to find Lupin giving him that appraising look again, but this time Harry didn’t turn away. Suddenly he had the overwhelming desire to say, “Is it true that she calls you by your first name?” just to jerk Lupin’s chain.
In a flash of revelation, Harry knew he’d hit upon the key to deconstructing Lupin. The man was in a never-ending struggle to outpace the wolf that dwelt within, seeking to tame it through sheer willpower alone. His meticulous observation of social niceties was simply his way of keeping the beast at bay. Back him into a corner, though, and the extraordinary control started to crumble. Was this a chink in his armor or did it just make him a more dangerous adversary? Was it a shortcoming or an asset? Harry didn’t have the answers to those questions -- yet. Of one thing he was certain: having sized up his opponent, he could not wait to face him in a duel.
Harry seized the cardboard envelope and upended it over the table to demonstrate that there was no note demanding payment. With an elaborate sigh of relief, he tucked the photo back inside and returned it to his book bag. Spearing the last bite of treacle tart, he suggested that it was time they started back towards the school.
The cold felt like a thousand pin-pricks on his bare face as they left the warmth of the pub. Only the absence of any wind made it remotely tolerable. That and the fact that the cider has suffused his body with a warm glow, Harry conceded.
The bright afternoon sun helped to warm them through the bare trees that lined both sides of the path. Harry waited until they drew abreast of the hollow log where they had stopped before; then dropping his book bag carefully to the ground, he leapt upon the broken tree stump and drew his wand.
“Professor!” he yelled, adding just a touch of menace to his tone. He held his left arm aloft in the classic fencing pose to clarify his intent.
Although startled at first, a wide grin slowly spread across Lupin’s face. “All right,” he agreed. “This seems as good a spot as any.”
Lupin took a moment to tuck his new wand into Harry’s book bag and then unwound his scarf to allow for freedom of movement. Harry used those few moments to select his opening gambit, certain that the professor was doing the same.
Back to back they stood and then paced off, Harry’s heart hammering so hard he was certain it was echoing through the surrounding woods. Before he had totally turned around, Harry cast a non-verbal protego to shield himself then rolled quickly out of the way as he had seen Ginny do. Lupin’s spell sent bits of dried grass flying in the spot where Harry had stood an instant before. Without hesitation, Harry fired off a quick disarming charm from his position on the ground. Lupin was ready for him and waved it off with a flick of his wrist.
The element of surprise lost, Harry circled around slowly, giving himself time to consider his next move. Lupin lost no time in bombarding Harry steadily only to have most spells go wide courtesy of the repelling bubble that Harry had cast wide. He knew that as long as he kept moving, the angle of each jinx would vary enough to keep the shield from collapsing immediately. Harry ducked behind a nearby tree just as a red beam of light sent sparks flying from the trunk, effectively bursting his shield.
Harry peeked around the other side of the tree, but Lupin was nowhere to be seen. Taking a page from Ron’s book, Harry cast a quick reparo to a large broken branch on the other side of the clearing; the resounding pop sounding very similar to someone Apparating. He was gratified to see a white beam of light immediately cut the branch back in two. From the angle, he deduced that Lupin was standing somewhere to his right. Leaving the shelter of the tree trunk, Harry inched backward to draw his quarry out into the open. Lupin would have recognized the subterfuge with the tree branch by now.
A quick flash of movement to his left alerted Harry that Lupin had managed a virtually silent Apparition in the opposite direction. Hardly surprising, considering the lightning reflexes that Harry had observed before. He saw the shadow of Lupin move as if to strike and dodged out of the way “ and right into the path of a jelly-leg jinx. He let his suddenly wobbly knees collapse beneath him. Feeling his wand beginning to slip from his hand as Lupin attempted to disarm him, Harry managed to roll out of the way just in time to maintain his grip.
Knowing he barely had time for one last effort before Lupin closed in, Harry decided to take a chance. Locating the largest tree branch overhead, he quickly completed the movements for the sectumsempra spell with his wand hidden from view, repeating it over and over until he could hear the wood start to give way. Not daring to depend upon it getting tangled in the surrounding branches, he intoned, “Wingdarium Leviosa!” with all his might to keep it from actually crashing over Lupin’s head.
Alerted by Harry’s yell, Lupin looked up and quickly scrambled out of the way. He must have cast the finite spell in his direction as Harry found that he could feel his legs again. Not taking his eyes from the teetering branch, Harry backed out of range until he was standing next to Lupin. He then released the spell.
Almost in slow motion, the branch continued its trajectory, crashing through smaller branches along the way as it gained momentum. Just before it hit the ground, Lupin caught it with a flick of his wand and sent it crashing away from them.
They stood there shoulder to shoulder, wands lowered, trying to regain their breath as the last of the echoes and cries of the startled birds died off. Harry was about to offer his hand to Lupin in thanks for a well-fought match when he heard the sound of applause and crunching footsteps coming from behind.
“Well, well, well; I believe that was a check-mate to Potter.” They heard the familiar silken drawl and both snapped around immediately to face the intruder.
Severus Snape was striding towards them, looking every inch the country squire in his trademark knee length frock coat and black boots. Only it wasn't a riding crop that he had tucked under his arm as he adjusted his gloves in a haughty manner.
Snape seemed to be in no hurry to draw his wand, though, as he surveyed the scene critically. “Wouldn’t you agree, Lupin?” he added in a disdainful tone.
“Why, Severus, I didn’t know the Dark Lord’s leash extended this far.” Lupin’s tone was equally condescending.
For a spilt second, Snape’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but then he reined himself back. “You shouldn’t speak as if you know anything about my situation,” he sneered.
“Elucidate us then!” Lupin retorted.
“Forgive me if the pleasure of your company eludes me “ it’s the boy I came to see,” Snape announced, his voice like ice. With a causal flip of his wand he disarmed them both, holding their captured wands high in his other gloved hand.
“Seeing as how we’ve dispensed with the pleasantries then, you won’t mind if I get off my feet,” Lupin returned as he settled himself languidly on the nearest tree stump.
Despite his unhurried demeanor, Harry could tell that Lupin was a wound-up spring on the inside. Lupin’s outward nonchalance seemed to irritate Snape that much more. Harry hoped, no trusted, that Lupin was within reach of the book bag containing the extra wands, but did not dare to look in that direction.
Feeling a need to divert Snape’s suspicions, Harry boldly offered, “Halloween’s over, Professor; it’s too late to invite me to the dance!”
He felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction when Snape’s head whipped in his direction. Harry channeled every bit of indignation he felt over Dumbledore’s murder to keep himself from smirking.
A cloud of rage seemed to engulf Snape as he practically threw Harry’s wand back and ordered, “Count off!”
As he lined up back to back with Snape, Harry hazarded a glance in Lupin’s direction, but the man’s face was unreadable.
Harry spun around and jumped back just in time to avoid Snape’s first spell. An immediate protego diverted the next two, but as Snape continued to press his advantage, it was all Harry could do to parry each attack. To his surprise, he found that the steady rhythm of the barrage allowed him an unparalleled opportunity to study his opponent. Snape moved with a measured elegance that belied his deadly intent. Each movement was succinct and yet time seemed to draw out slowly. Harry knew he would have to break Snape’s concentration if he was to get the upper hand, even for a moment, but he was not sure that he knew how.
Harry began to circle around slowly with the objective of positioning himself so the he could at least see Lupin without having to turn his head. Snape would not make the fatal error of turning his back on Lupin, of that Harry was certain. He did not expect it to be so easy, however, as Snape began to circle of his own accord. Once he had Lupin in view, though, it was clear that at some point during their confrontation -- without seeming to break stride -- Snape had incapacitated Lupin with a full body bind.
Suddenly, all the memories of that night on the Astronomy Tower came flooding back in a torrent. Once again, he experienced the frustration of being forced to watch as Snape heartlessly cut down Dumbledore yet not being able to turn his head away or lift a finger to help. He was blithely dueling with a man who had already proven he could deliver an Unforgivable Curse with aplomb.
As an icy finger of dread blossomed deep inside him, Harry faltered and Snape’s jinx cut the ground out from beneath him. As he felt the broken branches and nettles rush up to meet his knees, Harry cast a finite spell in Lupin’s general direction to set him free.
In the space of two heartbeats, Snape was dragging Harry to his feet. Harry tried to make defiance blaze in his eyes in an attempt to salvage some last shred of dignity. Snape practically threw him against the nearest tree and pinned him there with a wand at the throat.
“Don’t ever break your concentration, Potter,” Snape hissed. “Find that moment in time when the heartbeats seem to slow, and in the extra seconds between them, you will find the room to attack.” With a scornful bow, he Disapparated in a swirl of his cape.
Harry’s legs buckled and he slid to the ground in a sitting position against the tree trunk, too overcome with relief, too breathless to immediately try to stand. As if from miles away, he watched Lupin summon his wand from where it had been deposited and send his Patronus galloping towards the castle to sound the alarm. Harry staggered over to Lupin and collapsed on the log next to him, his breath still ragged.
“Did you bring the Marauder’s Map with you, Harry?” Lupin asked softly. “It’s important.”
Remembering how Hermione always left her tower window open, he offered, “No, but I can summon it from here.”
“Quickly then, as we won’t have much time before the others arrive.”
On shaky legs, he stood and called, “Accio, Map!” then practically lost his balance as he sat down again.
Suddenly, he was so cold he was beginning to shiver. The afternoon shadows were lengthening at an alarming rate. Harry closed his jacket and wrapped his scarf more tightly around his neck. As he watched Lupin do likewise, he was struck by how pale the Professor looked all of a sudden. He wasn’t certain whether it was just a trick of the waning light.
The folded Map whisked into Harry’s hand and they anxiously spread it out on the leaf strewn ground. Although it displayed much of the area immediately surrounding the school gates, they could not find any other dots in their vicinity. “Map, show Severus Snape only,” Lupin ordered to no avail.
Harry faltered over the complicated ward movements and then intoned, “Map, show last position of Severus Snape!” A small blinking dot appeared right next to them, but nothing else. Releasing the Map into its usual mode, they could see that a small contingent from Hogwarts was almost at the gate.
“Harry, we haven’t but a minute, or less if they decide to Apparate. The new wands are to remain absolutely secret. Do not tell anyone; not Ron, not Hermione, not Neville, not even Ginny. Rest assured that I will not be telling Tonks. Keep mine wrapped in your Invisibility Cloak for now, I will get it from you later. In order for it to be effective as a secret weapon, it must remain so.”
“How will I learn to use it then?” Harry inquired.
“We will train together”alone and in secret. No more on the subject for now,” Lupin whispered. “Make sure your Map is put away, I hear them coming.”
Harry Potter and the Hero's Lament by L A Moody
Chapter Notes: The awards from the Ball are announced; Harry turns the tables on Lupin and issues the challenge to a wizard’s duel.