Severus looked at the offending student with opprobrium. "You will treat Professor Potter with respect, Cutterstorm, which includes listening to him when he gives instructions. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir," mumbled the student in question.

Harry smiled slightly, wearily, and started over. "Welcome to the first meeting of the reinstated Dueling Club. It may shock some of you that we would have such a club in peaceful times, but Dark Lords are not the only reason to know how to duel. There are many reasons that dueling is still important. Alastor Moody was fond of saying 'constant vigilance.' Please note this still holds true."

His face became sterner. "We are emphatically not teaching you how to duel so that you may hex your classmates in between classes. It will be punished most severely, as you already know. We are trying to further your education, not provide you with ways to maim each other."

The kids nodded.

"Very well. I suppose it's time for a practical demonstration. Professor Snape?"

Severus nodded. They took their places on the raised platform and bowed.

"It's important to bow," Severus stated. "It officially starts a duel and proves that you and your opponent are intending to follow common dueling convention."

They straightened.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry cried. Severus smirked, remembering the first Dueling Club that Harry had been part of. Of course, then Severus' opponent had been that useless fop, Lockhart, and not an excellent and experienced dueler like Harry.

Severus put up a shield and watched as the spell failed. This was almost familiar. Severus knew that it brought Harry back to their training, throwing spells at each other, dodging, insulting their technique, their choice of spells… It was almost familiar. They had no spectators then, and more than one dueling session ended up with them fucking each other into the stone floor. And they hadn't censored the spells they used in the sessions. Severus doubted they would use the really interesting spells during the Dueling Club.

"Stupefy!" Severus returned.

The spell failed against Harry's shield.

"Locomotor Mortis!" Harry intoned.

It failed.

"Petrificalis Totalis!"

It failed, too. Harry raised an eyebrow, and Severus gave a slight nod.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry cried again, and Severus allowed his shield to fail just then, let his wand fly out of his hand and flew backward.

The students giggled.

Harry helped Severus to his feet, and they shook hands.

"Your turn," Harry said pleasantly. "Pair up, and attempt to disarm each other. You may only use the spells we used during this duel. Anything else will result in you being banned from the club."

The students nodded and began dueling.

Severus watched as his husband smiled slightly, pleased with the outcome of their first session.

"Remember our training sessions?" Severus whispered.

"How could I forget?" Harry smiled. "Those were more… intense than these, though."

They frowned as they heard a forbidden spell used.

"Mr. Cutterstorm, pray tell, why are you attempting to summon a dangerous snake?" Severus asked with immeasurable opprobrium.

Opprobrium – n. 1. Disgrace; infamy; reproach mingled with contempt. 2. A cause or object of reproach or disgrace. Word of the Day, July 25, 2000)