The Dueling Master\'s Tournament

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters you recognize. The one’s you do not know are completely mine.


Thanks to Julie Campbell, the author of all the fantastic, young adult mystery books called The Trixie Belden Mysteries. If you haven’t read them you really should.


Now, on to the next chapter.


RWH

Dueling Master’s Tournament


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Bad news


Friday evening, two nights before the day he and Miss Belden were eaveeave for the tournament, Professor Snape found himself standing before his hearth watching the green fire dancing and thce wce within the flames. The expression on the normally stoic man’s face told of disbelief and anger.

“You have GOT to be kidding, Albus. That is…is…unexceptable.”

The elder man’s face frowned and shook from side to side. “I know what you must be thinking Severus, but it’s the only housing prospects that I could arrange. All hotels have been booked for months in anticipation of this tournament. This was the best I could do under the circumstances. If we had only gotten the invitation sooner I could have made more suitable arrangements.”

“Miss Belden is not going to like this any more than I do, Albus…” Severus moaned as he started to pace the room his hands clasped behind him. He tossed an accusing look at his friend and employer. “What are we to do for a full week? Perhaps it would be prudent to call this off.”

“That won\'t be necessary, Severus, I’m sure you two will work it out.” Albus’s fire image smiled good-naturedly at the agitated man. “I have every ouof fof faith in the both of you to act as adults in this situation.”

“That…” ‘is exactly what I’m afraid of, Albus…’ “…is unacceptable, Albus.” He finished out loud leaving his inner thoughts unsaid.

“Don’t worry Severus, since I was unable to get you two rooms, I was assured that there would be two beds. You won’t have to share moran jan just the room. You and Miss Belden are friends enough to not step over any inappropriate lines. I have great faith in the both of you.”

“Thank the Gods for small favors.” Severus ran a hand through his hair in defeat. At least there would be the two beds, temptation would be less…tempting. “I still don’t like it. Perhaps I should just cancel this. Perhaps next year would be…”

“Are you sure you want to cancel this, Severus?” Albus’s smile started to fade as he watched the man before him pace. “Miss Belden’s parents have already been informed and given their permission for this adventure. I would hate to cancel all the arrangements I have done in such short time. There would be no getting back the down payments I had to fork out…and…”

“Fine.” Severus bellowed cutting off the whining of the other. “I won’t cancel, but I insist that Miss Belden at least be informed of this deceitful development. She may change her mind knowing she will be sharing one room with me.\"

“Or…that just may decided it for her in another way.” The impish grin returned to the elder’s face.

“Albus…” His voice lowered in warning. Why was everyone always trying to set him up? He was happy with being a free wheeling bachelor. He didn’t need female company on a daily basis to be happy, so why in Merlin’s name was everyone so intent on accomplishing the impossible and getting him settled. It was starting to get on his nerves. The constant badgering to get him to go on blind dates and accidental ‘run-ins’ on evening excursions to Hogsmeade. It was all starting to annoy the hell out of him. And now it seems that not even poor Honey was excluded from r mer meddling, and a student at that. Was nothing sacred to the triple terrible tamperers, Albus, Minerva and Poppy? He groaned inwardly knowing that the other two of the triple T’s were probably sitting in Albus’s office watching the exchange and laughing their fool heads off at his expense. They all knew that Honey had a crush on him and they were going to play it to the hilt. Severus ran a hand over his face deep in worry. He should have chosen someone else, anyone else but Honey Belden. What the fuck was he thinking at that time? Perhaps it wasn’t too late to change it. Miss Parkinson…perhaps…

He shuddered.

This was ridiculous, not that he thought Honey would be that bad a person to be tied down with, but she was still young, way too young to have to deal with dating an older and normally foul tempered man. Even if he has changed a little since the death of the Dark Lord.

The older man watched the emotions fluttering across the man’s face and mentally shook his head. If this didn’t work out in the long run, he would have hell to pay in the near future. “I will leave it up to you to tell her Severus. I’m sure you will do what’s right.” Albus finally spoke and with a smile and a wink. “You will have a good time, just try to enjoy it and not dwell on the situation.”

“Fine! I will inform her later.” Severus vowed and as the flames died down he turned to head back to his chambers, he had a lot to think about.


~_~_~_~_~


Albus turned from the flames to face his fellow tormentors, who were watching him intensely, looks of worry across their faces. They both leaned forward with a similar solemn expression exchanging looks with the other.

“You sure this is a good idea, Albus?” Poppy asked raking a hand over her apron wiping off imaginary lint. “I feel like I’m setting them up for a fall. Maybe this is a bad idea.”

“It will be worth it in the long run, Poppy.” Albus answered sinking into his seat. “They are suited for each other. Even if he doesn’t think so. Severus deserves to have this. He has given up so much of his life for the order and the war. It’s time he got some of that back. It’s time he had his life returned to him.”

Both women exchanged another look before looking away, back to the fireplace.

“She’s still a student…” Minerva sighed loudly, starting to feel guilty of her part of this scheme. “Perhaps this could wait another year.”

“Miss Belden is a student,” Albus agreed solemnly “But for only a few more months. I know Severus, Minerva. He won’t do anything to separate her from her innocence. This may be unorthodox, but I’m viewing this as a stepping stone for our Severus. He has no actual previous knowledge of love. He needs this gentle push to set him off in the right direction.”

“If you say so, Albus.” Minerva stood to her feet and smoothed back her hair, the worry still evident in her eyes. “But if she does come back with a…souvenir…from this trip, we all will be held responsible.”

“She won’t. Trust him, Minerva…” Albus returned and walked to the door opening it for the two women. “Things will work out. You will see.”

“I certainly hope so…for that young woman’s sake.” Poppy retorted and walked from the office turning to toss a lasting comment at the Headmaster. “And for our friend’s sanity.”


~_~_~_~_~


“Miss Belden…A word with you if I may?”

Honey paused on her way out of his classroom and nodded. She whispered to her friends that she would see them in the next classroom. She ignored the knowing glances between the two girls as they left giggling. Children! She muttered as she stepped up to his desk. They both waited in silence as the last of the class trouped out and closed the door.

Once they were alone, she sat her boag oag onto his desk. She lifted her gaze to his and frowned slightly at his expression. “Yes sir?” She attempted a smile at him wondering what he was looking so worried about. “Is something wrong?”

He raised a hand to his temple and rubbed in a circular motion. His headache was getting worse. Just having to have this conversation with her was tiring him out. First, he was afraid that she wouldn’t want to continue with the plans for the Tournament. Second, he had a fear that she would. He took a deep breath and raised his eyes to hers. The concern evident on her face as she observed him that made him hope more for the latter.

“There are a few things that have come up that I would like to go over with you regarding this trip.”

“Of course sir…” She watched him in appreciation as he leaned forward to clasp his fingers on the desk before him. “I am looking forward to it sir. I think it will be a huge learning experience.”

Severus nodded and swiftly stood up to round the desk to face her. “There is a complication regarding this trip that I think you need to be aware of. You see…Albus has…”

CRASH!

Both jumped as a noise from the hallway echoed around the dungeon classroom and put a halt to whatever explanation Professor Snape had prepared. Muttering some rather amusing curses he gave her an apologetic look and excused himself from the room. Turning on his heals. He rushed out of the door. His angry bellowing rang in her ears as she learned who the troublemakers were.

“MALFOY! POTTER! The Headmaster’s office…NOW!”

She laughed and decided to head on back to her room. If this had anything to do with Harry and Draco, Snape will be busy for some time to come. Staying in his cold damp dungeon wasn’t an ideal situation even on the most pleasant of days.

She picked up her book bag and scribbled a quick note to the professor stating that whatever the problem was that she can work through it. If he wanted to contact her, she would be in the common room or the library. Looking around her to make sure that she wasn’t seen, she pressed her lips to the parchment before laying it on the desk. Okay. So, she had it bad. But nothing was going to happen in America, no matter what Violet or Diana said.


~_~_~_~_~


Sunday morning found Honey in a chaotic frenzy, running around packing up everything she had forgotten. Things that she thought she would need in the coming week. Excitement of going to Las Vegas, Magic Capital of the World, made her a bit more giddy than ever.

“Man! You’d think you were going on a honeymoon instead of a tournament.” Violet exclaimed watching her move about the room tucking a few more gowns into one of two sasesases she was taking along. “Do you REALLY need that many night gowns?”

Honey shot her a glare. “I’m not going to wear the same gown twice in a week, that’s gross. I refuse to sleep in night sweat.” She carefully folded a matching robe and placed it among her others. “Besides, I don’t think there will be house elves where we are going and my cleansing charms are not the strongest.”

Diana and Violet exchanged looks with a smirk. “Yeah right!” they said in unison causing her face to darken again at their hardly veiled insinuation.

“I do wish you two would stop insinuating that something is going to happen because it’s NOT! Now, just help me with this, will ya?”

Violet giggled in response and moved to help close the suitcases. “Boy, Honey. What have you got in these things?”

“Essentials. That’s all.”

“Yeah…right.”

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Thank you all very much to all of the reviews you have been kind enough give. Blessed Be

Red