After the two bowed to each other, the duel began.
Barty Crouch Jr. flicked his wrist sharply, and a red spell shot forward with a piercing shriek, straight toward Snape.
There wasn't a trace of panic in Snape's black eyes. His wand flicked rapidly through the air, and in the blink of an eye, three ordinary candles melted and twisted. Their flames entwined together like living serpents, forming a shield flickering with silver fire.
The spell slammed against the shield with a violent impact, scattering sparks in all directions, illuminating both of their faces.
Taking advantage of the moment, Snape began his counterattack. With a sweep of his wand, a jet of black light from a Barricade Curse shot toward Barty with a sharp hiss, the air crackling as it tore through.
"Protego!" Barty's face changed, and he quickly raised his wand. A transparent barrier instantly enveloped him.
The Barricade Curse hit the shield with a screeching clang, rippling the surface of the magical dome.
Two powerful magical forces collided fiercely in the confined space. Beads of sweat appeared on both of their foreheads, and for a time, neither could overpower the other.
Snape's wand moved faster and faster, flicking through the air like a whip as he fired spell after spell at Barty.
Finally, with his greater magical power, Snape seized the brief opening when Barty paused for breath. A Stunning Spell struck Barty square in the chest.
Barty flew backward like a kite with its string cut, slammed hard against the magical barrier surrounding the stage, and crashed heavily to the ground. His wand slipped from his hand.
"Cease fire!" Professor Flitwick shouted almost at the same instant. He leapt down from his tall stool with a speed that looked almost practiced, his sharp eyes fixed firmly on Snape's every move.
Snape immediately tucked his wand back into his robe and stepped lightly across the platform. He bent down to pick up Barty's fallen wand, then gently helped the unconscious boy to his feet.
"Professor, I'll take Barty to the hospital wing," Snape said politely.
"You?" Professor Flitwick narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I'll go with you."
After asking Professor Slughorn to oversee the remainder of the competition's closing tasks, Flitwick and Snape left the Great Hall together, carrying Barty toward the hospital wing.
"Professor, how did you know what would happen if the Unlocking Charm was used on a person?" Snape asked curiously as they walked down the corridor toward the hospital wing. He admitted to himself that he had been far too impulsive yesterday.
He was deeply grateful that Professor Flitwick had stopped his spell in time. Otherwise, that incident might have ended both his and James's school careers. Public pressure would have seen to it in different ways, Snape expelled, James withdrawing voluntarily.
"For heaven's sake, Severus," Professor Flitwick said, his tiny face scrunching up in exasperation as he stomped his foot. "Not every door is meant to be opened! I've heard of your... conflicts with James, but do you really want to go down in Hogwarts history as the boy everyone gossips about for generations?"
"My apologies, Professor. I didn't mean to startle you," Snape said, showing a rare, shy smile. "I promise, I'll never use the Unlocking Charm on a classmate again."
Talking as they went, the two soon arrived at the hospital wing.
When they pushed open the double doors, a strong herbal scent filled the air.
Madam Pomfrey was busy tending to other injured students from the past few days. When she saw them enter, she looked up in fury. "Filius, when will this blasted dueling tournament finally end? How many students have been injured now?"
"Oh, Poppy," Professor Flitwick said awkwardly, forcing a smile. "The tournament ended tonight. After this, only regular lessons will continue."
"What?" Madam Pomfrey squawked in outrage, sounding rather like an indignant hen. "And you're still talking about regular lessons? I'm going to see the Headmaster!"
Grumbling under her breath, she took Barty from them, laying him gently onto a bed. She brushed back his straw-colored hair and felt his forehead.
"Stunning Spell?" she asked.
"Yes, Stunning Spell, Poppy," said Professor Flitwick quickly. He hastened to add, "This training is meant to help them avoid serious injuries in real battles later on."
"I understand, these are troubled times..." Madam Pomfrey muttered under her breath. "All right, you may go. I'll take care of him."
"I'd like to wait until he wakes up, Madam Pomfrey," Snape said softly. "I was the one who stunned him, so I'd rather make sure he's all right before I leave."
"Oh, he'll be fine," Madam Pomfrey said, her expression softening a little. "But if you'd like to stay, you may. Just remember to stay quiet."
"Yes, Madam," Snape said obediently, sitting down in a chair beside Barty's bed.
Madam Pomfrey extinguished the candles in the ward and returned to her office.
Snape sat beside Barty's bed, gazing at the strips of moonlight across the ceiling. Outside the window, the night breeze stirred the trees, their leaves rustling softly...
He didn't know how long he had dozed before a faint sound woke him.
The sky outside the window was deep blue now, and Madam Pomfrey was already at work.
She was feeding Barty a spoonful of a shimmering blue potion.
Snape rubbed his sore neck and looked down at Barty's pale face.
This seemingly frail boy would one day pass twelve O.W.L. exams, resist the Imperius Curse, and imprison Mad-Eye Moody, the Auror Charlie Weasley once called "the best there ever was," who filled half of Azkaban's cells, inside a trunk for an entire year.
A strange, complex emotion stirred in Snape's heart.
He thought that if he couldn't pull Barty away from Voldemort's side, then for the peace of the wizarding world, he would rather find a way to make Barty sleep forever than allow him to grow into an even greater threat.
Pulling back Barty's sleeve, Snape found no skull-shaped mark on his arm.
Some time later, Barty's eyelashes fluttered slightly. Under the effect of the potion, he slowly opened his eyes.
"You're awake," Snape said softly, making an effort to appear gentle. "The treatment was a success."
"What are you doing here?" Barty sat up abruptly, his voice wary.
"Sorry I hit you too hard yesterday," Snape said, smiling with a fatherly kindness. "For someone your age, you're remarkably talented. I found it difficult to hold back against you.
"I was worried I might have caused any lingering effects, so I stayed to make sure you were all right.
"Do you feel any discomfort?"