Saving Miss Granger (Small Edit)

Chapter 28 ~ The Duel


Marcus immediately flung his wand arm toward Severus

“Flambe!” he cried, fire bursting from his wand tip and racing toward the Potions Master

“Aguamenti!” Severus chanted coolly, a stream of water pouring from his wand to meet the roaring stream of fire in a great hiss, a large cloud of vapor rolling upward where the streams met.

“Damn, he tried to fry Snape!” Ron said to Harry, “I thought they weren’t supposed to use deadly spells!”

Harry’s green eyes rested on the wizards, both who had darted away and were now behind pillars, peeking out at each other.

“Well, the fire may have burned Snape badly, but he could have survived it, so maybe that’s why Marcus was able to do it,” Harry replied.

In the arena, Severus leaned around the pillar and narrowly missed being blasted by Marcus, who had worked his way a bit closer and was now behind a mound.

Severus grinned wickedly, stood directly behind the pillar, pointed his wand and said, “Accio Marcus Delaluci!”

Marcus felt a powerful pull dragging him from around the mound.

“Shit!” he cursed, clutching at the stone, his fingertips dragging as the spell pulled him toward the Potions Master. Suddenly the wizard was airborne, and flying at great speed directly toward the stone pillar. That was going to hurt.

Desperately, Marcus pointed his wand at the pillar and gasped, “Reducto!” blasting the pillar to dust, which covered Severus, who barely managed to duck before Marcus collided with him. Marcus landed hard on the ground behind the wizard but rolled, dulling the impact and rising to his feet.

“Densaugeo!” the blonde wizard cried.

“Furnunculus!” the Potions Master hissed

Both were hit by the opposing spells at the same time, Marcus breaking out in terrible boils that covered his entire body, and Severus’ front teeth growing at an alarming rate. The stricken wizards raced for cover, then tended the spells.

“Finite!” Severus said, pointing his wand at his mouth, ending the spell, but his front teeth were about three inches long and very crooked, almost twisting around each other.

If Hermione wasn’t involved with the wizard, she might have found Severus’ predicament fitting justice. Draco had cast a similar spell on her when she was a student at Hogwarts, and when she tried to show the effects of the hex to the Potions Master, he coldly replied he saw no difference in her teeth, which had grown past her chin. Hermione was buck-toothed anyway, and his reply sent her racing away in tears.

“Damn it,” Severus said, feeling his long teeth with his fingers.

Marcus was behind a pillar and in great pain as the boils began to burst, puss soaking his shirt and running down his legs under his sweats. He managed to gasp out “Episkey!” which healed him immediately. Then he scourgified himself and his clothing was cleaned. He scowled blackly.

“All right, Snape…you fuck,” he growled, darting to another pillar. Where was the wizard?

“There’s too much cover here,” Marcus said to himself, “but I’ve got the cure for that.”

Marcus raised his wand, pointing it toward the pillars and mounds.

“Reducto! Reducto! Reducto! Reducto!”

Marcus began destroying the pillars and mounds, the third blast revealing Severus who ran for the next one, Marcus following him with blasts destroying every pillar the Potions Master went for, the wizard getting closer and closer to Marcus as he dipped and ran.

When he was within range, Severus pointed his wand at the wizard, who was still concentrating on destroying the arena’s protections.

“Tarantallegra!” the wizard cried, hexing Marcus, whose legs began to dance wildly as the Potions Master smirked at him.

But the blonde wizard had more presence of mind than the wizard gave him credit for. Even with his legs flailing wildly Marcus was able to cast a spell and hit the wizard before he could send a second, crippling hex.

“Insectus Corpus!” Marcus cried.

Severus immediately sprouted antenna, dropped to the ground and began scuttling about like a bug as the audience laughed. Both wizards cast the “finite” spell and quickly recovered.

There were several mounds left and Severus, running low because of his ground position when he recovered, dove behind one as Marcus shot another stream of fire at him, singing one of his trainers. Severus patted it gingerly.

“All right, Mr. Delaluci…it’s time to get serious,” the Potions Master said, his words a bit garbled because of his long teeth.

Marcus decided to leave the rest of the pillars and mounds. It wouldn’t do to be completely in the open. But now the fighting area was diminished and the opponents much closer in proximity.

Severus pointed his wand at himself.

“Corpus Diviso Tres” he whispered, shuddering as the spell took effect.

“Show yourself, Snape! You can’t hide the entire duel!” Marcus cried out. “Take it like a man, you dungeon dweller!”

Marcus was hoping to piss the wizard off to the point he became reckless.

“As you wish, Mr. Delaluci,” Severus called back, then stepped from behind the right of the pillar into the open.

Marcus was about to take aim when Severus also stepped out from the left side of the pillar. Then stepped out from the right of it again.

Marcus rubbed his violet eyes…there were three Snapes!

“What the fuck?” Marcus breathed as all three wizards suddenly ran toward him in a zigzagging pattern.

Marcus fired at the charging wizards desperately, trying to blast them before they reached him. Which was the real Snape?

He caught one with a blast and it melted into nothing. That was a false wizard. The other two continued charging and were quite close. Marcus wavered as he tried to decide which one to hit. They were almost on him when he blasted the Snape on the right, which melted as Severus tackled the wizard, taking him down, the two men rolling across the ground, wrestling desperately, Severus’ long limbs wrapped around Marcus’ strong frame, restricting him as the crowd screamed in excitement.

Wands clattered away as the wizards tussled man to man, Severus elbowing Marcus viciously in the face with his pointy elbow, blood bursting from the wizard’s nose. Marcus managed his own facial blow, cutting his knuckles on the Professor’s long teeth as he broke them off just below his lip. Now Severus had a rather jagged buck-toothed look. The wizards broke apart, leapt to their feet and began raining blows and kicks down on each other, ducking, blocking and connecting.

The crunch of bone could be heard in the stands, Hermione wincing as Marcus caught Severus with a powerful uppercut that sent the wizard flying to his back. Marcus tried to dive on him, but the Potions Master caught him with both feet and kicked him away, leaping to his feet and running for his wand.

Marcus scrambled to reach his own wand before the Potions Master reached his, catching the wizard by the back of his wife beater and tearing it off of him. The witches in the audience murmured appreciatively as Severus’ ripped pale body was exposed. Even the wizards were a bit surprised at his lean, muscular physique.

“Wow, Severus!” Tonks breathed, as Kingsley scowled at her. She looked at her lover.

“A girl can look, can’t she?” Tonks said to him, punching the wizard in the shoulder.

Severus and Marcus both dove for their wands at the same time, Severus reaching his first.

“Impedimenta!” he cried, hitting Marcus with the spell.

The wizard was in midair when the hex hit him, and he slowed down almost to a standstill, drifting maddeningly slow towards his wand. Severus calmly stood up, brushed himself off and walked over to Marcus’ wand, kicking it away. Marcus’ head turned slowly to watch the wand slide away, then twisted back to look at the Potions Master, who wore a rather ugly grin as he pointed his wand at the impeded wizard.

“Looks like this duel is over, Mr. Delaluci,” Severus breathed. “But first, Sectumsempra!”

A gash appeared on Marcus’ face, blood slowing rolling down his cheek.

“Sectumsempra!” Severus hissed again, another gash appearing on the wizard’s chest. “Sectumsempra!”

The crowd began to boo and hiss in protest as Severus sliced the wizard several more times. The Potions Master didn’t care. Marcus was going to feel this. He wanted to make sure the wizard knew not to fuck with him or what was his ever again.

Finally, Severus cast the Finite spell, which returned Marcus to normal velocity and he crashed into the ground hard, totally unprepared for his landing. He was stunned. Severus kicked him over with his foot. He was bleeding profusely.

Severus scowled down at him. If not for the Cuttlesbury Rules, this would be the point where he killed the wizard. The Potions Master looked up, scanning the crowd for Hermione. He located her, the witch looking worried and upset, twisting her hands. She was glad Severus had won, but was afraid of what spell he was going to cast on Marcus. She hadn’t known he could be so vicious. The Potions Master might not kill him, but there were a number of nasty hexes he could hit the fallen wizard with. He was already out for the count.

“Please, Severus,” she breathed, “Please…show some mercy.”

Severus’ dark eyes met Hermione’s amber ones, and he saw the pleading look there. Marcus groaned and was beginning to rouse. Severus looked down at him, then back at Hermione. Finally, he sighed and pointed his wand at the wizard.

“Stupefy,” he said blandly.

A red beam issued from his wand tip, effectively rendering Marcus unconscious and consequentially, defeated. Severus walked away from his prone body without looking back, heading for the door he entered through. Marcus Delaluci ought to thank his lucky stars that the Potions Master had a witch that was so damned compassionate.

The crowd was completely silent. That was not the end they expected from the cruel, Potions Master. It was almost anti-climatic.

Hermione sighed with relief and sat back in her seat.

She was proud of her wizard. Very, very proud.

Albus reappeared in the arena, directly next to Marcus. He bent down, checked the unconscious wizard and declared Severus Snape the winner amidst scattered and scant applause. Poppy hurried into the ring, scowling as she looked at the unconscious, bleeding wizard.

“Barbarians,” she thought, pulling out her wand.

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“Hermione, you really aren’t thinking about going with Snape!” Ron said to Hermione as he paced back and forth in her private rooms. “That’s sleeping with the enemy!”

Harry watched Ron pace back and forth silently. Hermione frowned up her face as she looked at Ron. He was still such an idiot.

“Ron, Severus is not the enemy. He is a fellow staff member and a very intelligent, interesting wizard. I like him,” she said, an understatement if there ever was one.

Ron spluttered.

“Like him? What the hell is there about him to like, Hermione? He’s a right bastard. Look what he did to Delaluci. He cut him up like he was a piece of meat or something. You really want to be with someone capable of doing that to a person?” Ron demanded, “How do you know he won’t do it to you if he gets mad enough?”

Hermione scowled blackly and was just about to answer Ron, when she was cut off.

“Because, Mr. Weasley…even I am unlikely to harm a witch that gives me pleasure such as Miss Granger is capable of,” Severus said silkily, walking through Hermione’s door as if he lived there. His teeth were back to normal and he was dressed in his robes again. The Potions Master looked at Hermione with heat in his eyes, much to Ron’s disgust.

“Besides, there are other ways I can show my…displeasure, should the need arise,” he purred, Hermione turning bright red under his predatory gaze.

Hermione walked over to the wizard, placing her hand on his arm and looking up into his pale face.

“Are you all right?” she asked him, concern in her eyes.

Severus’ face softened somewhat at Hermione’s expression of true concern for him. He felt like spiriting her away to his rooms again and reassuring himself she was truly his witch in an unmistakable manner. His dark eyes shifted towards Harry and Ron and his lip curled slightly with displeasure.

Cockblockers.

He looked back down at Hermione.

“I’m fine, witch,” he said familiarly.

Ron’s eyes narrowed. Shit. Hermione was already fucking him.

“Congratulations on your win, Professor,” Harry said amicably.

If Hermione and the Potions Master were going to be an item, then he might as well try to be polite to the wizard if nothing else.

Severus’ dark eyes washed over Harry, then he said, “Thank you, Mr. Potter.”

He turned back to Hermione.

“I was wondering if you might join me for a late supper in my rooms, Miss Granger?” he asked the witch, his dark eyes glinting.

“Hermione, you can eat right here,” Ron said sharply. “I’m a bit puckish myself.”

”Then I suggest you skive off to the kitchens and get yourself a sandwich before you depart, Mr. Weasley,” Severus said blackly.

Ron huffed up visibly as Hermione shook her head at Ron then looked up at Severus.

“I’d love to have supper with you, Severus. After all, you’ve earned the right to my company, haven’t you?’ she asked softly.

“Yes,” the wizard said, lifting her hand and kissing it.

Ron made a gagging sound. Hermione ignored him, while Severus’ wand hand itched terribly.

Harry stood up.

“Come on, Ron. Hermione has the rest of her night tied up. We’d better go,” he said.

Ron turned colors.

“The rest of her night? What do you mean ‘the rest of her night?’ He’s just invited her to supper…she’d going to eat and then come back to her rooms like a decent witch, aren’t you Hermione?” he asked her.

Harry shook his head.

“No, Ron. You didn’t just say that,” he thought.

“A decent witch? What is your definition of a ‘decent witch’ Ron?” Hermione said, her hands on her hips and her eyes going glassy.

Both Severus and Harry backed up a bit.

Ron colored.

“A decent witch…you know…someone who doesn’t sleep around,” he said lamely.

Hermione scowled blackly.

“You didn’t seem to have any issues about my being a decent witch when you…a married man, tried to get in line to fuck me,” Hermione seethed, “I imagine you thought that the act of a decent wizard?”

Harry blanched. No, Hermione. No…he doesn’t remember.

“What are you talking about, Hermione? I never got in line for you…and what do you mean a line to fuck you? What have you been about Hermione?” Ron asked her, looking confused, “Who was in line to fuck you?”

It was Hermione’s turn to blanch. She hadn’t known Ron had been obliviated. He had left and the witch assumed he’d kept his memories. Shit.

“Obliviate,” Severus said silkily, flicking his wand at Ron, who went stiff. Both Harry and Hermione looked at him wide-eyed.

“Let’s just keep life simple,” he said, returning his wand to his pocket, and taking Hermione’s hand.

“Eight o’clock, my rooms,” he said in a low, promising voice. His voice dropped lower. “And I’d like it if you wore something…clingy and terribly short.”

Hermione looked at the wizard, surprised. Her voice dropped low too as Harry waved his hand in front of the stricken Weasley’s face.

“You want me to dress like a…a trollop?” she asked the wizard, feeling a bit excited.

“Yes. A very accessible trollop,” the wizard purred, running his fingers slowly down her arm. Hermione’s nipples tightened immediately as desire rushed through her.

“All right,” she breathed.

Severus straightened and looked at Harry.

“He’ll be fine. I just erased up to when he made that asinine ‘decent witch’ statement. Just take him home, Mr. Potter, before he forces me to call him out as well,” the Potions Master said, his eyes hard.

Harry nodded. Snape was certainly very protective of Hermione. Maybe he would be good to her.

“Until eight,” Severus said to the witch silkily before turning and walking out the door.

Hermione looked after him, her breathing noticeably increased. Harry studied the witch.

“He really turns you on, doesn’t he Hermione?” the wizard asked her.

“You have no idea how much, Harry,” she replied, still staring at the door.

Harry thought he might have an idea. He had been dreaming about Lucius Malfoy for weeks now, but couldn’t muster up the courage to go to his manor.

Ron began to blink and Harry caught him by the arm.

“Say good-bye to Hermione, Ron. She has a late dinner date,” he instructed the red-headed wizard.

Ron looked at Hermione a bit confused.

“Bye Hermione,” he said rather quickly.

Harry gave the witch a quick peck on the cheek.

“Enjoy your night, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” he said to the witch.

“Like that’s possible,” she replied smiling and kissing him back.

“Bye Ron,” she said to the wizard as Harry guided him out the door.

He was still a bit dazed. But Severus’ obliviation was better than telling the wizard everything that had happened all over again. He would have blown a torch and been wracked with guilt. One thing was for certain…Ron’s double standard hadn’t changed. Good witches didn’t fuck. Susan actually held out until they married. And despite this “standard” Ron had his share of witches before settling down with his wife. He was no virgin in his marriage bed.

Harry and Ron now gone, Hermione hurried to her bedroom and opened up her wardrobe to see what she could transfigure into something short and clingy. Hm.

She opened the lower drawer and pulled out a rather long t-shirt. Her eyebrow arched as she considered it.

“This will do just fine,” she thought, pulling out her wand and transforming it into a stretchy, form-fitting and tantalizingly short red dress. Then she took out a pair of red, four-inch heels.

Dear gods…she felt positively wicked as she transformed a pair of white knickers into a red thong. Severus wanted trollop? He’d get trollop.

Hermione quickly showered, wetting her hair thoroughly. She finished washing, exited the stall and dried off quickly. She pulled on the red thong, then slipped into the red dress. She studied herself in the mirror. Circe, it looked as if she had painted it on. She walked back into her bedroom, carrying a jar of magical styling gel. She sat down and applied the gel to her curling locks and slicked it back, turning a blue hair tie red and putting it into a tight ponytail. She then changed the color of one of her lipsticks to a bright cherry red and applied it liberally, then applied heavy eyeliner and mascara which brought out the amber of her eyes.

Wanting to complete the package, she transfigured another hair tie into an ankle bracelet with tiny silver bells on it, which tinkled when she walked. Next, she put on the shoes, which made her legs look fantastic. She thought about conjuring up some cheap perfume, but decided against it. Severus’ nose was large and sensitive. He might not react well to the scent.

Hermione looked at herself in the large full length mirror on the back of the bathroom door, striking a sexy, wanton pose, puckering her lips and fluttering her lashes.

Yes, she looked like a trollop all right. A very hot one.

The witch smiled naughtily, her belly tight with anticipation. How would Severus react when he saw her? She had never dressed like this in her life…and it felt…freeing. Like she was someone else.

Hermione picked up her wand and disillusioned herself. She couldn’t let anyone see her looking like this. If the gossip was bad now about her and the Potions Master, she could only imagine the heights of slander it would rise to if someone inadvertently saw her dressed this way.

Her belly tight with anticipation, Hermione lowered the torches and put out the floo. She knew she wouldn’t be sleeping here tonight. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and exited her rooms, walking the short distance down the corridor to Severus’ office. She knocked on the door.

In a moment it opened, Severus looking down on the small shimmer in front of him.

“Hermione?” he asked, wondering why she was disillusioned.

“Yes, let me in,” she hissed urgently.

The wizard stepped aside and let the shimmer in. He closed and warded the door then turned toward the witch.

“Why are you disillusioned?” Severus asked her.

Hermione removed the spell.

“This is why,” she said, grinning at him.

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A/N: Good old Ron…you can always count on him to say the wrong thing. Severus took care of it. Nice duel. Marcus is lucky that Hermione affects the Potions Master the way she does, or he could have been in the infirmary for a long time. Lol at Severus’ teeth. Good for him. I always hated the way he made Hermione feel when her teeth grew. Now…Hermione dressed like a trollop. Man, I can only imagine what’s going to happen behind those closed doors.