Fic for Savepureness
Gift For: savepureness
Title: Scenes From A Duel
Author/Artist: Secet!
Pairing(s): SSLE (if you squint), SSRL (squint harder)
Summary: From the playground to a meeting by the river, six duels.
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Angst, Implied Character Death
Author’s notes: Although slightly AU (of course), I’ve used canon as my guide. Thank you to my beta for her invaluable help.
From up on the climbing frame, red hair hanging down, she aimed.
“Pchoo, pchoo!”
The boy spun and darted behind the slide. “Missed me!”
Moments later, he heard the thud of her plimsolls racing across the playground. He waited until she came around the slide then jumped out, jabbing her in the shoulder.
“Gotcha!”
“Ow!” With a swift smack, she sent his stick flying. “Why’d you do that?”
“Because… I got you.”
“You’re not supposed to use the stick.” She jabbed her own straight into his arm. “How do you like it?”
He winced, rubbing his arm. “Spells don’t make a sound, you know.”
* * *
“Severus, look! I got my wand today!”
“Yeah? I got mine a month ago.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know. You only told me a hundred times.” She flopped down on the grass beside him.
“Put it away before someone sees.”
“No one’s here. Anyway, I thought we could practice dueling. For real.” She twirled the light wood in her hand, biting her lip.
“Can’t. No--”
“Underage magic. You’ve told me that a million times.”
“Do you want to go to Azkaban, Lily? That’s where they’ll send you.”
“I just turned Petunia’s pink socks black. Think they’ll lock me up for that?” She smirked.
He rolled onto his stomach. “You know, I think you’re going to make a good little Slytherin.”
“Yeah?” She hugged her knees, putting her chin on them. “So? What if we pretend duel, but use our wands instead of sticks?”
He sighed. “Okay. But if I see one spark from that wand, you’re in trouble!”
* * *
Red smashed onto the wall, just missing her as she dived behind an old desk. He ducked behind an archway and waited, thin chest heaving. Lily was good, but she was impatient. “Bringing the fight to him,” she called it. He called it waiting until the target was out in the open.
A rustling told him she’d moved to hide behind the tapestry. He lurched out and shot, but a bolt of green from the opposite direction hit his side.
“Wha--”
“You’re finished, Snape.” She sauntered up to him, smugly rolling her wand in her fingers. “You lose.”
He had her pinned to the wall, hands over her head, in seconds.
“Hey! Game’s over.”
“Game’s not over, Lils. Not until someone gives up.” He pressed more firmly against her. “You give up?”
“Never,” she whispered.
“Bloody Gryffindor.”
“Sneaky Slytherin.”
They broke apart when a clang from the knight outside the room warned them someone was near.
* * *
“What the hell is he doing here?”
“He wants to brush up on his dueling.” Lily pulled the boy further into the room. “Come on, Remus. It’s all right.”
“Hello, Severus.”
“Lupin,” he spat.
“Sev! He’s my friend.”
I thought I was your friend?
He shoved the thought down, staring at the floor. His stomach was roiling.
Well, if she wanted more friends, then so be it.
When he looked up from the floor, his face was neutral and blank. “Fine. Welcome to the dueling club, Lupin. We start now.”
The Bat-Bogey Hex caught Lupin square, and with an angry squeal, Lily fired back even as Remus, shocked, tried to undo the hex on himself.
The dueling club ended thirty minutes later with two participants needing Madam Pomfrey and one storming back to her common room, saying that she wouldn’t have anything more to do with “little boys.”
* * *
“Stop laughing!” Remus scowled at the black-haired boy. “This is the way that Professor Decker says to start.”
“Yes, of course. Both sides pair up, based on experience and skill, and then they take turns firing off hexes.” Severus rolled his eyes.
“Well, it’s the proper way. Look, you try it.”
Severus waited a moment, shrugged and got into position. Right foot out, left foot back and bracing, one arm behind his head, the other pointing at his adversary.
“En garde,” he drawled.
Even Lily laughed that time. He got butterflies whenever she laughed like that.
“All right, let’s try it Remus’ way for once,” she said, sliding off the desk.
“It’s not my way. It’s Professor--”
Severus fired before Remus could finish. To his surprise, Remus countered and shot back with reflexes like lightning. He hit his head on the floor as he went down.
“Oh, my god!” Lily knelt at his side, cradling his head. “Are you hurt?”
Yes, it bloody hurt. But she smelled like jasmine, and he found he didn’t care much.
Then strong arms were beneath him, lifting him to sit. Remus held him, making pained apologies, while Lily’s fingers threaded through his hair.
“Here.” She healed the scrape, then gently explored his face, as if looking for other wounds.
Remus’ chest was warm and broad behind him.
To his embarrassment, he realized he was hard, in his jeans.
Lily’s eyes flicked over the bulge, then, blushing, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I think you’ll be fine.”
He got unsteadily to his feet, feigning wellness as he fumbled for his robe, sliding it over his head and leaving.
He thought about both of them for the rest of the night.
* * *
The bitter wind struck him bodily, and he wavered.
Before him, the black water rippled, with violent echoes mirrored within his soul.
Another harsh gust, and he fell to his knees on the riverbank, the dampness seeping through his robes. Tucking his nose inside his coiled scarf, he shuddered, tears falling fast now.
A snapping twig alerted him. He jerked, and saw Lupin’s silhouette nearby. The man stood motionless against the wind.
He stood, pointing his wand at Lupin. “Go away,” he rasped.
Remus stared, and then slowly got into position.
Left foot… right… arm behind head…
Severus made a strangled sound, and Remus was there before he fell, catching him, holding him. His chest was still broad and warm, and Severus pressed himself into it. Their combined sorrow was a dark gleam in the October night, and the oily river continued to pass by.