"Foolish!"
With a sharp flick of his wand, Snape conjured a Protego shield, blocking the long sword blazing with ghostly blue fire. In the same breath, he unleashed another spell, sending Qin Yu—all offense, no defense—crashing through the air.
Qin Yu hit the ground hard, breath knocked from his lungs.
"Again!" he growled, pushing himself upright with the sword and swiping a smear of blood from his mouth.
It was evening, and Qin Yu had once again come to the Room of Requirement with Professor Snape. Their dueling practice, interrupted for two months, was finally resuming.
Tonight, Qin Yu had asked to use his sword. Against Snape, he needed every advantage he could get.
Snape agreed, and so began a relentless assault. Qin Yu fought like a wild animal—reckless, aggressive, pressing every attack, abandoning defense entirely. The style he'd honed battling the Basilisk left even the experienced Potions Master a little off-balance. But Snape was holding back; he wouldn't go all out on a student, and Qin Yu knew it.
"Your mind is unsettled. What's the point of this kind of training?" Snape said coldly, voice echoing in the cavernous room.
"If the lily in your heart was bullied, would you be calm?" Qin Yu shot back, gripping his sword with both hands, eyes fixed on Snape.
A dangerous glint flashed through Snape's eyes. His fist clenched, knuckles white.
"Take this seriously, Professor!" Qin Yu taunted, a wicked grin on his lips.
"Very well," Snape replied, raising his wand in a formal duelist's salute before bringing it down with force.
Qin Yu's eyes narrowed. He tensed, every sense on high alert.
As long as he didn't hear Avada Kedavra—or, as the joke went, "gnawing big melon"—he figured he still had a fighting chance. (Translator's note: The Killing Curse's incantation, Avada Kedavra, is sometimes humorously misheard as "啃大瓜"/"gnaw big melon" in Chinese fan circles.)
...
Half an hour later.
Qin Yu slumped, battered and bruised, against Snape's back.
Snape's robes were torn in several places, a thin cut tracing his cheek. Both of them sat on the floor, back to back, chests heaving, silent for a long while.
"Harry's going to hate you," Qin Yu finally muttered, voice weak but laced with dry humor.
"...Did Hagrid tell you about my past?" Snape didn't answer, but instead asked quietly.
"Not all of it. You know me—I have plenty of sources," Qin Yu replied, unwilling to elaborate.
"I heard from Hagrid that you went with him to fetch the boy?" Snape pressed.
"Yeah. We picked him up from a rocky island. Pretty dramatic, right? The Dursleys weren't exactly kind, but not monsters either. Still, you know how it is—kids in a bad environment end up living with all sorts of pressure," Qin Yu said, his tone meaningful.
"...Seems you know more about me than I thought," Snape replied, catching the hidden implication.
His own childhood had been miserable—there was no denying it. But there had been a bright spot: near Spinner's End, he'd met a girl named Lily Evans, with her deep red hair and brilliant green eyes. She was kindness itself. The days he'd spent as her friend were the happiest of his life.
He'd ruined it all, lost her forever...
"It's only natural to care about your past, isn't it? I really do see you as a brother," Qin Yu said with complete sincerity.
"...Stop trying to provoke me. I have no desire to heal your wounds again," Snape replied, voice low and edged with warning.
"Ahem. Then maybe be a little nicer to Hermione next time," Qin Yu said, changing the subject.
"I knew it... such a little tattletale," Snape muttered darkly.
"She didn't say a word, actually. But come on, I know your temperament better than anyone," Qin Yu shot back with a smirk.
"...Rested enough? Let's continue."
"Uh, Professor, maybe we should call it a night—"
"And I think you've still got plenty of energy left!" Snape barked, getting to his feet. "Pick up that flashy sword!"
"Can't we wait just five more minutes? Five minutes, that's all I ask... Fine, fine, I'm up... Wait, what's that green spell you're casting?! No need to go for the kill, right—?!"
Fortunately, the green light was more yellowish than emerald. No Avada Kedavra tonight.
...
...
Later that night, in the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore poured tea for Snape, eyeing the Potions Master's tattered robes and the red lines on his face with amused curiosity.
"Would you like a bit of help with those?" Dumbledore offered, gesturing with his wand and a twinkle in his eye.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore, but I can manage. No need to trouble you," Snape replied stiffly.
"Well then, Severus, do you think the boy can control himself now?" Dumbledore asked, his tone turning serious.
"Whether he can fully control himself, I can't say for certain. But I did push him hard today, and he never once called on that power," Snape answered honestly.
"Oh? That's quite an improvement," Dumbledore nodded, pleased.
"Yes. He's remarkably gifted with magic, but more than that, he's imaginative. Far more than most."
"Exactly. Magic, above all, requires imagination... Ha! It seems you're rather fond of him, Severus?"
"...I'm only observing and evaluating him as you requested."
"Yes, yes, I understand... Well, let's give it a bit more time. I'll find an opportunity to speak with him myself," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.
Their conversation didn't last much longer.
When they'd finished, Snape drained his cup, stood, bowed slightly, and left the office.
Dumbledore remained at his desk, lost in thought.
"...Voldemort... Grindelwald's army... Qin... Harry... that power the Sorting Hat fears... Well, bring on the trouble, then..."
Muttering to himself, Dumbledore suddenly drew his ancient wand and gave it a gentle wave toward Fawkes, his phoenix.
A long feather drifted from Fawkes's tail, and the moment it left the phoenix, it burst into flames midair.
Fawkes cracked open one eye, let out a disgruntled chirp.
"Don't be cross, old friend. We need your help..." Dumbledore soothed.
Fawkes grumbled again, then tucked his head back under his wing and went back to sleep.
...
Thanks to Snape's healing, Qin Yu was battered but not seriously hurt.
When he finally returned to the Gryffindor common room, he found Hermione alone, curled up with a book.
It was late—so late that she was the only one left in the common room.
Clearly, she'd been waiting for someone.
The moment she saw the bruises on Qin Yu's face, her brows knitted in worry.
"...It's really not that bad... Here, why don't you blow on it? I'm sure I'll be good as new," Qin Yu teased, leaning in.
Hermione puffed up her cheeks and blew gently, several times.
Qin Yu nodded, satisfied. "Mm, that's pretty effective..."
"I have an even better method," Hermione murmured, her eyes shining.
Before Qin Yu could ask, she leaned in and pressed a quick, feathery kiss to his cheek.
"Good night, Qin~"
Mission accomplished, the little witch darted away, vanishing before he could react.
Staring after her, Qin Yu touched his cheek, bemused. Was this confidence the result of all that admiration from her classmates today? Had she unlocked some hidden side of herself? She was getting bold...
Not that he minded. He could handle it.
Smiling to himself, he left the common room and headed up to the boys' dormitory.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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