The news that Colin Creevey had been attacked and was now lying as though dead in the hospital wing had spread through the entire school by Monday morning. In the weeks that followed, the air was suddenly thick with rumor and suspicion. The first years were now moving around the castle in tight-knit groups, as though scared they would be attacked if they ventured forth alone.
Severus encouraged his Slytherins to travel in packs as well. Although Potter remained a popular target for suspicion, it was doing the Slytherin students in general no favors to be associated with the attack.
Severus had felt less than useless as he watched Potter shrink before his very eyes. He looked thin, pale, and terribly paranoid. The child was regressing back to his behavior when he first arrived at the castle last year. He edged around in the corridors and kept his back to the walls at almost all times. More than once Severus saw him sporting a fresh bruise on his wrists or face. He was certain he was being targeted physically by the other houses proportionally more than he had before Creevey's attack.
He had attempted to speak with Potter multiple times but the child seemed to be anxious and agitated.
"Nothing's wrong Professor," Potter mumbled. "It's fine."
Potter's evasive tactics in the halls had led Severus to be unable to track him down for conversations. He felt pity for the child as he watched his favorite pupil clearly suffering at the hands of his ignorant classmates. Who would believe Potter was attacking Muggleborns when he was rarely seen outside the company of Hermione Granger?
He had also continuously tried speaking with the other Professors to a similar end.
"If Potter won't speak up about his attackers there is little we can do besides monitor the halls," Minerva said with a pained look.
Albus remained unmoved in his own convictions.
"It is curious that the students recognize the boy as a threat," he'd said casually. "Do you believe they have seen more sides to Potter than we have?"
Severus did not believe that. He believed they heard Argus accuse the child on Halloween night and then heard Potter threaten Creevey in what might be the worst timing in history.
He also believed the students were ignorant and despised Potter because they did not understand him.
"Draco, remain behind," Severus called out nonchalantly before dismissing class one day after weeks of pursuing other avenues to end the madness surrounding his pupils. Potter glanced up suspiciously but quickly lowered his gaze back down to table as he quickly packed his belongings.
"See you in a minute," Draco murmured to his friends before approaching Severus' desk.
"One moment please," he told him, waiting for the last of the students to trail out of his office.
Draco stood in front of his desk, his face blank as they waited silently for privacy.
"Yes sir?" he asked.
"How are you?" Severus asked him politely. He knew that all the students in his house were feeling the current very strong anti-Slytherin atmosphere.
Draco frowned slightly, "Fine. It's... difficult," he said slowly. "Everyone thinks Harry is the Heir, so it's a little tense."
Severus was relieved Draco brought the topic up himself almost immediately.
"And how is Potter handling that?"
Draco's frown deepened at the question.
"Not well," he said bluntly. "He's getting in fights almost every day. He's avoiding us, he thinks it's better if he isn't seen walking with us. Even though Susan told him he's being stupid, he still walks by himself. I know he isn't sleeping much and if it wasn't for that weird elf sending snacks up to the dorms, I don't think he'd even eat."
Severus grimaced. He'd noticed Potter picking at his food as he watched the rest of the students vigilantly during meals, when he made an appearance at all. It was hard to begrudge the child his 'acquaintance elf' if it was ensuring he was eating at least minimally.
"Why have I heard no reports of Potter fighting other students?" Severus asked neutrally. He assumed when he saw Potter's daily marks that he would he bombarded with cries from the other professor's of his student attacking theirs.
"Because Harry isn't fighting them, they're fighting Harry," Draco said.
Severus raised a single confused brow at his godson.
"I do not understand the distinction."
Draco sighed, "They're attacking Harry and he isn't attacking back. It's worse now because they think Harry attacked that Gryffindor kid so the 'brave and chivalrous lions' are being even more hateful," he finished with venom in his voice.
This is why Severus chose to speak with Draco as opposed to Miss Bones, who was undeniably closer to Potter. Draco was an unrepentant gossip and held no qualms over sharing information with him.
"I did not know Potter to refuse an opportunity to show off his silent magic," Severus said drily. "Why is he doing nothing?"
Draco leaned across the desk slightly as he dropped his voice to a near whisper.
"He's being watched Uncle Sev. Haven't you noticed?"
Severus had indeed noticed Albus' continued steely gaze on Potter during the meals the child attended. Potter was no fool, he'd clearly already realized that he was the primary suspect behind the attacks in the Headmaster's eyes.
"Kindly inform Potter that if he has to justifiably defend himself that he would do best to have Mister Longbottom as a witness," he told Draco quietly.
"Longbottom?" Draco asked, with a crinkled brow. "Why?"
"Use your brain, Draco," he hissed, not unkindly. "Who better to defend Potter against Gryffindors than another Gryffindor? One whose family is firmly aligned with Dumbledore?"
Draco's grey eyes got a light of understanding in them.
"You're brilliant sir," he said breathlessly.
Severus smirked as he dismissed Draco. He had spent many years being unfairly targeted by Gryffindors. He thought about the karmic retribution that James Potter was facing as his son was now the utilizing Severus' own tactics against the Gryffindor students.
***
Severus was teaching his first year Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff course when Cassandra Owens, a fifth year Slytherin prefect, knocked briskly on his door before throwing it open.
"Professor- come quick!" she called breathlessly. "It's Potter!"
Severus barked at his class to continue and sighed internally as Lovegood immediately began trailing after him.
"You have to hurry," she said softly. "The Headmaster has spies on the walls."
Severus gave her a brief nod of thanks as he quickened his steps.
"What happened?" he barked at Owens.
"I don't know sir. I came in the hall and saw that there were a bunch of kids ganged up on Potter and he just lost it! I- I think he has a knife, someone was bleeding," she said nervously.
Severus snarled in irritation as he began jogging.
Foolish boy, he mentally chastised Potter. What on Earth was he thinking?!
He rounded a corner and saw Potter did indeed have his knife out and had four students; Davies from Ravenclaw, Towney and Finnigan from Gryffindor, and Taylor from Hufflepuff- surrounding him.
"Freak," Taylor hissed. "Nobody wants you here."
The other boys jeered, Finnigan was clutching his left shoulder, which Severus was pleased to see had an open gash on it.
Potter took a swing at Taylor with his knife and Severus raised his wand and cast a shield between Potter and the other students.
"What is the meaning of this?" he said sharply.
The four boys spun around and began exchanging guilty looks before they burst in to speech all at once.
"It was Potter-"
"Potter cut me!"
"He just attacked us-"
"He's completely mad-"
"Enough!" Severus snapped. He inspected each of the four boys. Only Finnigan looked to be in need of medical attention.
"Finnigan- hospital wing, now. 25 points from Gryffindor and two weeks detention."
Finnigan opened his mouth, no doubt to protest, so Severus cut him off before he could.
"Do not test me," he hissed. "One word and it'll be two months."
Finnigan snapped his mouth shut so quickly Severus could hear it snap. He shot a last glare at Potter, who snarled at him, then took off to the hospital wing.
"Davies, Taylor, Towney- 25 points from each of you and two weeks detention as well."
"That's not fair!" Davies howled, gesturing wildly towards Potter. "He attacked us! With a knife!"
"Oh?" Severus raised a brow at him. "So Potter, a second year, entirely without cause, had attacked you with a knife?"
"Yes, sir," Davies said. "We didn't do anything!"
"So I did not get a report that four of you, four, were attempting to attack him?"
Davies glanced again at his friends before lowering his head at the venom in Severus' voice.
"Get out of my sight, immediately," he said to the miscreants.
The boys slouched off, not without Towney shouldering Potter on his way though.
"Four weeks, Towney," he called after the boy.
The aggressors dealt with, Severus now turned his attention to his Slytherin.
"Potter?" he said softly, "Are you with me?"
Potter, who was still pale faced and trembling, abruptly caught his eye and cleared his face so masterfully that Severus was momentarily envious.
"Yes, sir," he said tonelessly, pocketing the knife that Severus decided to ignore.
He saw Potter glance frantically up and down the corridor, his green eyes wide and vigilant.
"Are you injured?" he asked as he slowly moved closer to Potter.
The boy looked down and raised the side of his shirt. Severus hissed between his teeth as he saw the ugly bruise in place before it shimmered out of existence.
"I'm fine Professor," Potter said dully as he lowered his shirt back down.
Severus studied him for a moment and came to a quick decision.
"No, you are not," he said simply. "Walk with me Potter."
"I have charms, sir," Potter said, without looking at Severus.
"I shall send your excuses to Filius," Severus told him. "Give me a moment."
Severus summoned a parchment and quill and quickly wrote an excuse for Potter before sending it off. After a moment he recalled the class he had walked out on and begrudgingly summoned another parchment for one of his Slytherin NEWT students.
Curts,
I am currently busy and require your assistance to cover
the remainder of my current class. -S. Snape.
Curts was an intelligent boy and had hopes of teaching Potions himself one day, despite Severus' advice to do otherwise. He would gladly take over the class as Severus knew he had no class of his own currently.
"Done," he said with a flick of his wand. "Come along."
"Where are we going?" the child asked quietly.
Severus gave him a small and tight smile, "It's a surprise. You'll enjoy it, I'm sure. Your mother did."
Potter's eyes got a small spark of life back in them, as Severus had hoped they would, and he trailed along side Severus obediently.
He glanced down and saw Potter's dark hair swinging wildly as the child himself continued turning his head back and forth. Undoubtedly watching for other students.
"You are quite safe with me child," Severus said quietly as the ascended the back stairs.
Potter let out a thin laugh; cold, humorless, and with a touch of hysteria.
"Sure," he said, still continuously checking the corridors.
Safety is something the child has never known.
"I was under the impression you owned your fathers infamous cloak," Severus said lightly. "Is there a reason you no longer use it?" He was sure that Potter had used it frequently in the halls last year.
Potter glanced up at him and Severus was surprised to see his face was hardened with anger.
"They'd like that," he spat. "If I was invisible then I'm basically gone and they'd be happy about it." Potter shook his head, "No sir, they don't get to see me disappear."
Severus hummed, privately believing that Potter is disappearing already. His humor filled cheek, his smiles, and the easy way he carried himself at the beginning of the term had already disappeared. He wondered how much more the child could bear before he was no more than a shell.
"Stand here," he instructed Potter as he paced in front of a blank stretch of wall concentrating on the spot he used to share with Lily.
Potter did not even react as a door suddenly came in to existence. Severus opened the door and gestured for Potter to enter ahead of him. The child took slow and measured steps as he crossed the threshold before gasping lightly.
"How... how did you do this?" he asked breathlessly.
Severus smirked down at him, pleased he was able to finally force a reaction from the boy.
"Magic," he deadpanned.
Potter's lips curved up in just the slightest mimicry of a smile as he gazed around what used to be a room. Currently, it appeared as a much nicer version of the playground Severus used to visit as a child. The place he had first met Lily.
"Brill," Potter sighed, stepping hesitantly towards the silver swing set.
"I met your mother at a playground similar to this when we were children," Severus told him walking towards the swing himself. "She was swinging as high as she could then jumping off and floating to the ground."
Potter sat carefully down on the swing and kicked his legs lightly.
"Did she know she was using magic?" he asked.
"Not until I told her, quite bluntly and rudely, that she was a witch," Severus said with a fond smile in remembrance.
Potter gave a ghost of a smile as he slowly swing back and forth. Severus let them swing silently for a few minutes before beginning what he was sure would be a difficult discussion.
"Why are you not fighting back with magic?" he asked Potter, keeping his eyes off the child to minimize his certain anxiety at the topic.
"Can't," Potter said after a moment. "It doesn't listen to me if I'm not listening to it."
Severus considered all he knew about Potter and the never before seen power he wielded.
"Most Wixen believe that magic works for them," he said.
Potter snorted. "They also believe goblins and elves work for them. Most Wixen are stupid."
Severus gave him a nod of agreement, "Indeed they are Mister Potter."
They continued swinging until it was Potter himself who surprisingly broke the silence.
"I keep thinking about leaving," he confessed softly. "I don't need this, you know? They can't take my magic from me. It's mine," he stressed. "Dumbledore could snap my wand and I'd still be a wizard."
"You are not incorrect," Severus said slowly, weighing his words carefully before speaking. "However, due to the prophecy you have in your possession- Albus Dumbledore would fight endlessly to keep you within his grasp. I do not believe there would be a place within the magical world where he would not work tirelessly to keep track of you."
Potter's legs momentarily froze before he spoke in what was surely too hard of a tone for a mere child.
"Dumbledore needs me as a weapon?" he snarled. "I suppose it doesn't matter if I get my arse kicked every day between now and then?"
"Language," Severus said softly. "But yes, I believe it does not matter one whit to Albus what happens as long as you are alive with enough strength to defeat the Dark Lord should he rise again during your lifetime."
"I'm not going to have much of a lifeline at this rate," Potter muttered.
Severus gave him a considering look. "You believe the attacks will escalate?"
Potter stared straight ahead at the trees that the room obligingly created.
"Sometimes I just wonder what the point is," he said quietly. "People here hate me. People outside of here hate me. I just..." he sighed quietly, "I just don't see a point to it all sometimes."
Severus' heart clenched and he felt his stomach flip almost painfully as Potter's words registered in his mind.
What did you expect? his mind whispered. A lifetime survivor of abuse is bound to wonder why he lives at all.
"When you wonder what the point is- you come find me," Severus told him evenly. "And I shall inform you of the many credible points of validity in you living a long, successful, and happy life."
Potter gave him a skeptical look but slowly nodded.
"Okay sir," he said simply.
Severus prayed to the spirit of Lily Evans that this child would indeed live to find a point in his life. But until then, Severus would remind him as often as he required.
***
"Severus! Just the man I was hoping to see!"
Severus raised his brow at the ignorance of Gilderoy's statement.
"You are in my office," he said coolly. "Did you anticipate finding Filius?"
Gilderoy paid no attention to his acidic tone and gave a cheerful chuckle.
"Of course not," he said with an annoying smile. "I just wanted to invite you to assist me on a little project I started."
"Oh?" Severus leaned forward in preparation of denying Gilderoy any favor he may request from him. "And what project is that?"
"Well after the incident with Harry last week I thought to myself, Gilderoy, how can you help these children channel their rambunctious energy in to something more productive? And I came up with the perfect solution!" The man was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as he rambled. "A dueling club! I can teach the children how to duel!"
Severus stared at the man, momentarily struck silent by his idiocy.
"Your solution to a group of students attacking a student... is to teach the children how to duel?" he clarified slowly.
"Exactly!" Gilderoy said with another insufferable smile. "The children need an outlet, you see? And we can give it to them!"
Severus raised his brows, unwillingly impressed by the man's sheer audacity.
"We?"
"Yes! That's the assistance I wanted to ask you about! Albus approved the project right away, of course, but he said I should find an assistant as it will undoubtedly be terribly popular with the kids."
Severus scoffed and turned back to the essays he was grading.
"I suggest Filius, as he was the World's Dueling Champion for over four years running."
"Oh he's busy," Gilderoy said airily, ignoring Severus' clear dismissal. "Minerva can't take on any more duties she says, and Pomona take away any attention from her plants, and Aurora says her sleep schedule wouldn't accommodate a date time club."
Severus unwillingly looked back up, affronted.
"I was your last choice?"
"Right-o!" Gilderoy said. "So you see why I need you?"
Severus stared at him. Again finding himself nearly impressed by the man's impenetrable thick skull.
"Yes," he agreed slowly. "I can certainly see why you need my assistance."
"Wonderful!" Gilderoy clapped his hands together. "I will see you Wednesday at seven then? Ta, Severus!"
Severus blinked after the man for a few moments before he found himself suddenly inspired.
A dueling club would require a demonstration.
On Wednesday evening Severus found himself on the side of a makeshift stage, listening as Gilderoy addressed himself to the crowd of gathered students.
"Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions — for full details, see my published works.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," Gilderoy continued, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin."
Severus nearly growled out loud at the implication that he knew 'a tiny little bit' about dueling. He'd learned at the right hand of the Dark Lord. He could easily kill Gilderoy with as much effort as the man requires to spark a lumos.
"Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry,— you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
Gilderoy gave a jaunty wink out to the students and Severus felt his lip curl. He caught Potter's eye in the crowd and saw the boy had an bright smile on his face. It would almost make him look more childlike if it were not for the bloodthirsty look in his green eyes.
He smirked out towards his Slytherins, they were eager for a show and he would happily oblige.
"Now, in traditional duels we face each other and bow."
Gilderoy did some sort of bow, he waved his arms merrily and twirled his body in a downwards motion. Severus merely jerked his head in show. He would never bow to an imbecile such as Gilderoy Lockhart.
Severus raised his wand in front of him with a challenging brow raised.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
Severus sorely wished he did not require Albus' goodwill to remain free from Azkaban.
"One!" Gilderoy shouted, raising his wand. "Two! Three!"
Severus waited half of a second for Gilderoy to twirl his wand before yelling, "Expelliarmus!" and watching with satisfaction as the man was blasted off his feet and in to the wall.
Severus gave a half smile to the students as he heard his Slytherins cheer.
He heard a low whistle and rolled his eyes in Potter's direction. You could take the child off of the streets but decorum was clearly still a much needed trait.
This is the most lively he's been in months, he thought to himself. Only Potter would come alive at a show of violence.
Gilderoy was getting unsteadily to his feet. His hat had fallen off and his wavy hair was standing on end.
"Well, there you have it!" he said, tottering back onto the platform. "That was a Disarming Charm — as you see, I've lost my wand — ah, thank you, Miss Brown — yes, an excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy — however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see..."
Severus considered the next demonstration he may showcase more of his own creations... Ones that were once popularly utilized freely by the Death Eaters. Possibly, Gilderoy had finally noticed the look on his face, because he hastily said, "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me —"
Severus made towards his second year students, paying no mind to the wide berth most of the others were giving to them.
"Draco with Weasley. Zabini and Bones. Nott and Granger. Longbottom and Lovegood." He paired Potter's group off quickly.
Potter stared up at him, his mouth slightly open and his eyes narrowed.
"And me, Professor?" he said curtly.
Severus smirked at him.
"Do you believe you require yet another lesson in disarming an opponent?" he asked him, reminding the child of his own instructions the summer before his first year.
Potter gave him a small smirk back, even as he shuffled slowly towards the edge of the room.
"No sir."
Severus hated seeing the child so visibly on edge, even with the spark he had regained in his eyes. It was as if Potter's entire personality had adopted Alastor Moody's screech of 'Constant Vigilance!'
"Walk with me, Potter." He cleared his throat lightly and sent a dark look at the students listening in, "You clearly need no instruction. You may assist me in helping your less fortunate classmates."
Potter inched towards his side, his eyes flickering around anxiously. Severus was willing to bet that if the child did not already have an anxiety disorder, to add to the multitude of others he is sure await in Potter's brain, that he would develop one soon at this rate.
"Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. "When I count to three, cast your charms to Disarm your opponents — only to disarm them — we don't want any accidents — one... two... three —"
Severus pinched the bridge of his nose as noise and chaos immediately erupted around them.
"The moment you graduate I am going to retire," he sighed quietly to Potter.
The brat just scoffed, "If I graduate," he mumbled.
Severus gave Potter a sharp look and was preparing to comment on that morbid thought when he saw a physical fight erupting from Bulstrode and Longbottom- who were not even to be partnered.
Severus went to their side and jerked Bulstrode, who had Longbottom in a headlock, backwards.
"What is wrong with you?" he hissed angrily. "Longbottom- explain yourself immediately."
"Nothing," Longbottom spat angrily, a bruise blossoming on his cheekbone.
"Bulstrode insulted Hermione's parentage, sir," Bones chimed in, rolling her eyes at Longbottom.
Severus would typically refrain from publicly disciplining one of his own but Potter was staring up at him quizzically.
"Bulstrode, detention for what I am undoubtedly sure was a prejudiced slur against a classmate."
Bulstrode bugged her dark eyes at him but Potter's lips curled up at the edge slightly.
The terrifying Heir of Slytherin- champion of Muggleborns.
Severus thought the rest of the students must be brain dead to believe Potter was behind the recent attacks.
"Dear, dear," Gilderoy tutted, skittering through the crowd, looking at the aftermath of the duels. "Up you go, Macmillan... Careful there, Miss Fawcett... Pinch it hard, it'll stop bleeding in a second, Boot —"
Severus pinched his own nose in blatant irritation. Gilderoy's 'perfect idea' was nothing less than an absolute disaster. All he had accomplished was gaining a hoard of students with minor injuries.
"I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," said Gilderoy, standing flustered in the midst of the hall. He glanced at Severus, whose black eyes glinted in a narrow eyed glare, and looked quickly away. "Let's have a volunteer pair —"
His eyes wandered around the room before predictably locking on to Potter.
"Ah, yes! Harry!" he said cheerfully. "We'll just have Harry and... Mister Malfoy!"
Draco's groan of dismay was audible through the crowd.
"A poor idea," Severus said, guiding Potter on to the makeshift stage alongside him. "Draco's father would undoubtedly bring the castle to ruins once Potter sends his son to St Mungos."
Severus gazed out around the room- spotting the looks of fear and loathing that were aimed at Potter. The child needed an opportunity to prove his strength now that he had a venue to do so without punishment.
"How about... Mister Weasley?"
Ronald's head snapped up quickly. Severus could practically hear his gulp of fear.
"Mister Fred Weasley," Severus clarified with a smirk.
Potter straightened up beside him, his interest piqued.
Severus spotted the gangly fourth year laughing beside his twin, amidst a group of Gryffindors.
"Do not react," he whispered quickly to Potter. "As I am confident in your abilities and am about to do you a favor which requires no repayment."
Potter flicked his eyes up at Severus and cocked his head to the side before nodding slightly.
"Bring your brother, let us showcase a paired duel," Severus called, causing the Weasley twins to abruptly end their laughter.
"Uh, Severus? I think that wouldn't be quite fair to Harry here, would it?" Gilderoy asked with a slight chuckle. "Won't he be needing a partner as well?"
Severus gave him a bored look. "I believe I understand the abilities of my students more than you do," he said coolly.
The Weasley Twins joined them on the stage, giving sweeping bows to the crowd.
"Now I don't want any of you to worry-" one of them said.
"- you'll still have your Heir of Slytherin when we're done with him!" the other called, causing the students, aside from Potter's friends, to jeer and laugh.
"What's off limits?" Potter hissed, his back straight and his shoulders tense.
"Nothing illegal or with long term injuries. Other than that, I believe it is time you had an opportunity to prove yourself," Severus replied quietly.
Potter gave him an appreciative look, apparently understanding Severus' plan.
Severus guided Potter to one end of the stage while Gilderoy ushered the Weasley Twins to the other end.
"You cannot be formally disciplined for accidentally injuring students during the course of a school sanctioned dueling club," Severus whispered to Potter as he saw Gilderoy speaking with the Twins.
"I won't be expelled- no matter what?" Potter asked back quietly, his eyes flicking around the room to the watching students.
"As long as you keep your attacks legal and refrain from serious injury," Severus clarified. "I want these students to see how you are able to fight. Do not limit yourself." He gave Potter a small grin, "I believe the Weasley's are responsible for your recent hospital stay, correct? Feel free to pay back the favor," he murmured.
Potter nodded and turned to face the Weasley's.
Severus heard many students in the audience whispering about his lack of a wand. He was pleased that the students would be able to witness Potter's power first hand. Hopefully this will cease the endless attacks on the child.
"Ready boys?" Gilderoy called happily. "Harry, Harry, Harry, no shame in backing down," he winked.
Potter cocked his head and gave Gilderoy a thin smile.
"I think I'll survive, sir," he said politely.
Severus gripped Potter briefly on his shoulder before backing away and preparing himself to enjoy the show.
"Three- two- one- go!" Gilderoy yelled.
Potter immediately raised his hand and shot a silent purple spell towards one of the twins.
Severus gave a steely gaze around the crowd of now shocked and silent students.
Wandless, silent, fast, and lethal, he wanted to shout. Leave the child alone.
Potter seemed to enjoy himself as he lobbied and dodged spells from the twins. Severus believed he was toying with the pair, he doubted whether it would take him more than a few moments to incapacitate the two Gryffindor monsters.
The Weasley Twins, for their part, were a respectable enough duo in a duel. They worked together effortlessly as one defended and the other attacked. While they spoke their spells aloud, no fourth year could match Potter's silent spells, they did seem to communicate silently.
Severus watched their faces and saw when they decided to change their tactics immediately.
"Serpensortia!" one of them yelled, clearly anticipating Potter to be unraveled when faced by a long black viper snake. There were screams as the crowd backed swiftly away, clearing the floor.
"Don't move, Potter," said Severus, "I'll get rid of it."
"Allow me!" shouted Gilderoy, moving before Severus could stop him. He brandished his wand at the snake and there was a loud bang; the snake, instead of vanishing, flew ten feet into the air and fell back to the floor with a loud smack. Enraged, hissing furiously, it slithered straight toward Justin Finch-Fletchley, a second year Hufflepuff, raised itself again, fangs exposed, poised to strike.
Severus was just preparing to dissipate the serpent, then perhaps curse Gilderoy, when Potter made the worst possible decision he could given the current terrible prejudice against him-
He exposed himself as a Parsletongue.