Draco almost dropped his fork his mouth agape has she entered the great hall with her army of followers. Draped in black robes glints of fae armour could be spotted underneath, they were dripping wet as they walked in from the fully raging thunder storm that was blowing. He wasn't the only person shocked by their entrance, also it wasn't only the boys gawking. Across the great hall all the girls were openly oggling the boys within the group.
There were seven of them all dressed alike all about Draco's age one or two may have been younger. Their footsteps made no sound on the stone floor of the great hall. Dumbledore rose from his seat and stepped down the aisle to greet them, their was a broad smile on his face as he stepped down to the only adult among the teens he was at the lead guiding them toward the head table, "Professor," he said inclining his head. Dumbledore simply smiled and took his hand in both of his.
"Welcome Nightgaurd, I hope you find your accomodation in my charming school to your high standards,"
"I'm sure they will be," he said so softly that Draco barely heard him.
"I'm glad that your bosses could spare us a few of their best,"
"For you Albus, you get all of the best."
"Nightgaurd, you really know how to make an old man blush. Professor Snape will lead you to your rooms," At his name Severus swooped down from his seat at the head table and was at Dumbledore's side. He nodded in the direction of Nightguard, before letting his eyes drift to the girl standing just behind him. His jaw tighten noticebly but her eyes never shifted from the back wall.
Dumbledore ushered them out of the very public great hall and into the quieter entrance hall.
Severus led them down through the halls and toward his dungeons, "Where exactly are we going?" Nightgaurd asked.
"Down to the dungeons, you requested somewhere cold, correct?"
"Yes, but are they cold enough. Some of my students powers are very fragile."
"I'm sure they'll suffice." Snape replied curtly his eyes darting toward the head girl again.
He led them past the Slytherin rooms down a tapestry concealed flight of stairs, "Dumbledore has provided a practice space," he said indicating to a door on the right, "as well as a common room and a dorm for the children and your own private quarters." he said indicating to a door opposite the one they were about to enter. "All dorms and private rooms are password protected, Basilisk Venom." the door slid open. Nightgaurd and the students filed in but one held back. No one asked why she stood to the side and waited for the door to close.
"What are you doing here?" Snape hissed through his teeth.
She pulled down her hood and looked up at him, "My job, I didn't have much of a choice in the matter." she said calmly.
"We swore not to see each other until-"
"Yes, I know and had I known the full assignment at the beginning I would have tried to get out of it but even then I'm very sure I'd still be here."
Severus took a deep breath, "What are we going to do?"
"You're going to take a page out of my book and do what your told. No questions asked."
"I think this may be proof that you don't always do as your told."
"No," she said softly crossing the space between them. "This is proof I do what I'm told no matter what," she ran her finger up Severus' chest, "Like, marrying an older man who can't stand to be in the same room as me or even look at me."
Severus stepped back, and out of her reach, "Think whatever you want, just do what you have to do and leave as soon as possible,"
"Yes, sir." she said sarcastically. "Basilisk Vemon." She turned and walked into the common room. As the door closed behind her Severus took a deep breath and steadied himself against the wall. Wiping his brow with the sleeve of his robe he made his way back toward his rooms. His Slytherins were now roaming the dungeons the having finished awhile ago. Usually at this time they would be heading to there rooms to rest, but most of them were hanging around his room door, "Go to bed, all of you. I'm not going to tell you anything." He sneered walking into his room sand closing it roughly on his dejected students.
"What about me?" said the voice from behind him, he didn't need to turn around to know who was there.
Snape removed his cloak and threw it over the back of a chair, "Go to sleep Draco, you'll find out eventually and trust me when you do. You'll be glad you slept tonight."
Draco had to admit he was tired and by the looks of it Snape was in no mood for arguements, "Are you ok?"
Snape waved him off, "Fine. Goodnight." he said definitively. Draco nodded and led himself out.
Harry stood in the corner and watched Ginny stretch before practise. The tables in the great hall had been magicked away and they were waiting for the others to join them. He smiled as he watched her not simply because she was a beautiful girl, doing elaborate stretches in front of him, it was because she was his beautiful girl . . . doing elaborate stretches in front of him.
The anex room door opened and Ron and Hermione filed in to join them. The main doors had been locked for their privacy, even though it was five in the morning and everyone else in the castle was asleep.
The last to arrive as usual was Draco and Blaise, they strolled in lazily and took seats in the corner, "Start at any time Potter," Draco said casually waving his hand for Harry to commence.
"Well, thank you, your lateness." Harry muttered.
"Sorry, Potter but people don't just fall out of bed looking this good . . . Well I do, but I prefer to sleep than spend time with you."
Harry rolled his eyes and gathered everyone around, Ginny sat in second stretching while Harry went through what they were going to do for the day. Draco took up a stance right behind her, a little too close, but Harry didn't notice as he went through the explanation of different spells. Ginny rose to go and partner Hermione when Draco leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Nice stretch Weasley, I love a flexible woman." with a smirk he walked over to Blaise who was laughing a little.
Ginny rolled her eyes and went over to Hermione, as they prepared to start the anex door opened again and the strange group filed in silently. The Hogwarts students stopped and watched them as they made their way to the other side of the room, the last to enter was their chaperone, Nightgaurd.
"So if someone enters the room during a battle, you're going to stop and look at them?" He said disapprovingly. "Distractions are every where people, learn to phase them out."
The Gryffindors nodded but the Slytherins simply sneered, "Dumbledore asked us to come and help with your traning. He seems to be under the impression that you may need a little more advanced magic. These are my students, The Elite." He finished as the group dropped there hoods. The fully wizarding among the group gasped and went wide eyed, the Slytherins only for minute before regaining their composure.
"I-I'm sorry, my friends reactions tell me this is something special." Harry said with and indifferent shrug.
Nightgaurd gave an amused smile, "My apologies Mr. Potter. I forgot that there was few among us who didn't grow up with the stories." He removed his cloak and handed it to one of the students. "If you only get your information from the daily prophet, then you are highly misinformed about the protection of our magical society. Yes they keep muggles at a distance and every now and then catch a fallen death eater but the real magical protection comes from The Alliance." When Harry showed no recognition he continued. "The Alliance is a society of practitioners of old Magick, most have which have a special ability that separates them from the rest of the magical world. They have been protecting the wizarding world for centuries and of course as most of the originals are now old men, who would like to spend time with their families. They recruit young people who show promise into their ranks,"
"Like Hogwarts," Harry summized.
"Yes, Mr. Potter the recruitment process is very similar to Hogwarts except these children give up their entire lives to your protection. Not just a few years to learn some parlour tricks." The members of the Elite gave a small chuckle before regaining their composure. "The Elite, is a core group within that society, the students you see before you are the best of the best and they have ben pulled off assignments to aid Dumbledore simply because he asked. They are fully trained wizards, untraced. In short they don't exist and we want it to remain that way. The school will soon settle back into routine and we will fade into the background, become part of the scenery . . . the norm, but now you know different." Harry realised that, like Lucius Malfoy. Nightgaurd carried a cane, not a particularly stylish one , a simple black cane with a silver knob handle on one end and much like Lucius Malfoy his wand lay concealed inside. Nightgaurd removed the small wooden instrument from the cane and waved it over the rooms occupants. "I don't suggest you discuss us with anyone, without explict permission. The concequences won't be pretty." he reconcealed his wand and smiled. "Now, I'm off to meet with Dumbledore and have a spot of breakfast, I'll leave you to get acquainted," He turned to the girl next to him. "Zandra, you're in charge." She nodded and handed him back his cloak. He took it and with a brief nod to his students and the Hogwarts group he left them.
As the door swung shut, silence fell among the students, it was tense on the Hogwarts side and superior where the Elite stood quietly. Harry cleared his throat, "Are you going to join us?" he asked tentively.
The girl who had been referred to as Zandra gave a very small smile, "No, Harry. I'm going to teach you. Could you go back into your partners please? My members will join you as well so you don't feel so . . . watched." The rest of the Elite removed their robes, showing off their matted fae armor. They placed them in an ordered pile by Zandra's feet before walking down to where the Hogwarts students stood. They broke off into ordered pairs and waited, "So Harry, what were you about to practise?"
Harry shook himself slightly, to break out of his daze, "Um, we- we were,"
"We were going to practice 'Sectumsempra'" Hermione said over Harry's stutters.
Zandra's head gave a twitch as she looked over at Hermione, "Thank you, What's your name?" She said softly.
"H-Hermione Granger,"
"Hermione, I'm Zandra."
Hermione gave a nervous smile and nodded. There was something about this girl that just made you want to please her, something in her soft voice that made you want to make her talk to you more. Simple sentences just weren't enough, the next sentence was addressed to Harry again, "Sectumsempra' That's dangerous. Especially performed without supervision."
Harry blinked speechless so Hermione spoke again, "Harry was going to go first. Show us how it's done and how to reverse it. Then we, He and I, were going to take turns supervising."
Zandra looked back over to Hermione, "Are you going to do that every time I ask a question?" She said simply. "Please tell me so that I look at you from now on, all this back and forth is giving me a stiff neck."
Draco and Blaise snickered as Hermione pursed her lips and looked at the ground, before they knew it they found themselves under Zandra's gaze, "Of course Misters. Malfoy and Zabini. Had potential but a family history that could turn anyones stomach." She said simply, hinting about their miss at being recruited into the alliance.
Before they could answer she continued around the room, "Mr Ronald and Miss Ginevra Weasley, Both showed promise. Ronald was a late blosom and Ginevra's record got smudged in first year, but i won't dredged that up." Ginny shifted under Zandra's unjudging gaze. "Yes I know all about you, excepting of course Miss. Granger. Through no fault of her own she was exempt from magical recordings but I have brushed up on what I could get since your entrance into the wizarding world. Always top of the class, loyal, intelligent, witty, perfect candidate for further recruitment but always busy. We didn't want to interrupt, plus had we taken you who would have helped Harry through all those rough patches. You are of course the brains behind most operations. That leaves me with Harry, nothing more to say that hasn't been said, Dumbledore made it clear that we should leave you in the company of your family and we respect his word. Of course you were still closely monitored, being such an intergal part of the wizarding world and all."
The Hogwarts group stayed silent mezmerised by Zandra's deep knowledge of their lives so far, underneath their amazement they were all thinking the same thing. How much did she know of their personal lives?
She waved her hand for them to begin their practice and they did. They performed their spells slicing and healing each other and Zandra watched. The Elite members played along with their games holding back as they truly didn't want to hurt each other before Zandra called for a stop. The Elite members drew back into a line next to the Hogwarts students, "Okay, I've seen enough and we have very little time to do alot of work. I'm Zandra, as i've already said. My associates are Blake, Susan and Sophie," The girls nodded at their names. "Smith, Treborvir and Foxworth." The boys stepped forward placing their fists together they gave a small bow before stepping back in line, "We have practice at 4am, you'll be joining us from now on. Don't be late." Her group had already started for the door, Harry looked down at his watch, it was time for breakfast and people would be wondering why the great hall was still locked. When he looked back up Zandra was at the door and he had finally found his voice, "What days?" he asked before she disappeared.
Zandra stopped and gave a small smile, "Everyday," with that she was gone.
"What the fuck was that fucking shit?" Sophie mused as Zandra closed the door of their common room.
"What your language?" Zandra repremanded, pulling off her robes, unlike the rest of the Elite she was still in her pajama bottoms and a t-shirt.
"Sorry, What the fuck was that fucking mess?" Sophie said correcting herself.
"Better."
"Unfair, why didn't you have to change?" Susan said as she took a seat next to Treborvir.
"Because I'm amazing," Zandra said simply taking a seat on the step by the door.
"Very True, Those kids almost pissed themselves when you reeled off all that information on them," Smith said lounging in the corner.
"I aim to please," she shrugged.
The Elite students sat comfortably around their common room. It felt wierd to them, they were on an assignment but had their days and most nights totaly and completely to themselves. They knew, as they sat around their common room, they were all thinking the same thing. How long were they going to be staying there?
They were use to being shipped off around to various parts of the world on assignment but they had never been there for long. They made sure that their jobs never took long to complete, but this one had completely blown them off their usually structured course. They had not only been given accomadation but a practice room and license to train and get to know . . . other people. Though none of them showed it, they were nervous.
Like most things they had been experiencing, the knock that sounded on the door behind Zandra was, unexpected. She rose excepting the jeans that someone had thrown at her and quickly changed out of her sleepwear. She opened the door and amazed even herself at how well she hid her surprise, "Severus." She said softly.
"I have been sent, like some ministry errand boy, to tell you all that Dumbledore requests you take dinner in the great hall tonight."
"With the students?"
Severus gave a curt nod.
"That really doesn't mesh well with the we're not really here theory we work by,"
"He knows this, but with Nightgaurd leaving in a few hours he didn't want you all to feel like you were in exile."
"Thoughtful," she said simply.
"The final decision of course remains with you." Severus said giving her a piercing stare that spoke volumes.
"I'll talk it over with the others, if we don't show. We're not coming."
With a small nod Severus turned and swept away. Zandra closed the door and turned back to her waiting team.
"This place is fucking with my head."
Harry sat in the warmth of the Gryffindor common room, classes for the day had been a blur. As he and his friends had spent the day reflecting on their strange practice session. They shared the feeling that the Elite had been niether impressed nor to pleased with their amature practice. Ginny shifted next to him, her eyes closed but he knew she wasn't sleeping. He stroked her cheek and placed a kiss on her forehead.
She smiled and shifted closer.
Hermione looked from her advanced spells book, "We better get down to Dinner or they'll be no food left. I have a feeling we'll be needing quite a bit of energy tomorrow." She said snapping her book close and leaving it on the coffee table.
They waited until they reached the crowded hall to talk properly, people in crowds were usually too distracted to ease drop, "Can you believe it? They're our age and fully trained wizards! It's amazing." Hermione hissed under her breath as they popped out from behind the tapestry and started down the stairs.
"I've been doing some reading-"
"You've always been doing some reading," Ron moaned.
Hermione kissed him on the cheek and continued, "and I realised the Alliance is in alot of books. Not directly of course," she adding matter of factly before continuing, "But they're everywhere." She stopped, "They're serious wizards Harry. I mean some of those teenagers could very well be as good as Dumbledore, some . . . better."
Harry nodded when she said this immediately thinking of Zandra, he had yet to see her perform any magic but he didn't need to, to tell that she was good, really good. As they reached the crowded entrance hall Harry turned to continue conversing with Hermione.
Draco stood just by the banister of the stairs leaning casually against it, he leaned over slyly and whispered, "Do you enjoy being ignored by your boyfriend? Is that what gets you off?"
Ginny let out an exasperated breath and rolled her eyes, "Yes, Malfoy. If you really want to know that's exactly what pushes my buttons. Maybe if you follow suit, I'll jump you in the broom closet." she said in a sarcastic hiss.
"Promise," he sneered and with a wink he wound his way thorugh the crowd toward the Slytherins. Ginny stood her mouth slightly open and very confused ever since Dumbledore had taken Draco under his wing he had completely changed, or at least where Ginny was concerned. He had taken to openly flirting with her, their entire summer at Grimmauld Place she could have sworn he had been touching her under the table, even in front of Harry! Or slightly in front of Harry.
Ginny had to concede, while she knew Harry loved her, he really hadn't been paying her much attention lately. She had chalked it all up to pressure of the job, but she did have her doubts. Ginny pushed her doubts to the side as Harry took her hand and led her to the Gryffindor table, even if he didn't fawn over her, he loved her and thats all that was important, right?
"Dinner?"
"Yes."
"They want us up there with all those other . . . people."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Zandra sat trying to explain Severus' invitation to her friends, "I know, it's so wierd. People usually just go about their lives, happy to ignore us, but for some reason Dumbledore wants us to be part of his school."
The Elite sat on the couches in the common room, wondering about Dumbledore's strange offer. They knew he out of all the elders was the odd one but this was a bit much, they weren't even prepared what were they suppose to tell people if they asked? They hadn't even prepared stories, were they suppose to tell the truth?
As they thought it over, the door opened and the man of the hour entered. The group stood at attention as Dumbledore's frame filled the door, "Are you planning to join us?"
"We . . . don't know," Zandra was pretty certain she had never said that before.
Dumbledore gave her a warm smile, "I know it's a difficult request, It would be easier for me to ask for your blood than your company, but I was hoping that the pleas of a lonely old man, and the thought of company your own age would suffice to entice you upstairs."
The group listened but didn't make a move to follow Dumbledore upstairs. Dumbledore bowed his head slightly and entered the room fully closing the door behind him. He ushered the group back into their seats and took up residence in a near-by arm chair, "I must admit to not being completely honest with you. While I did ask you to be brought out here to help my students, it's not the only reason. Myself and the other elders have been in talks over your social growth. There is no arguement that you are all great wizard and will continue to be great throughout your lives, but the only way for the Alliance to continue growing is for you to make connection outside it's walls. That means, being amongst people your own age and making a few friends. Now, we're not asking you to introduce yourselves as the Elite, but just to be yourselves and be teenagers. If only for a few months."
The Elite members sat in a complete daze. They were actually expected to act. . .normal. It was the simplest task they had been given and it had floored them all, "Are you sure we can't just give you blood instead?" Blake asked softly sitting back in her seat.
Dumbledore smiled and shook his head, "Great Hall, all of you now."
They nodded and filed out.
The students were stunned as they entered the Great hall. The House tables had been removed and in their place were several rectangular tables that sat about ten each. There was no house affiliation on any table and they figured they were just suppose to sit anywhere. Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron took up residence at an empty table and looked around, "This place just keeps getting stranger and stranger." Ron muttered.
"This year, keeps getting stranger and stranger." Ginny corrected.
As if to prove their point the next people to enter were Dumbledore and The Elite. They weren't wearing the robes they usually donned, nor were they in Hogwarts uniform. They wore normal muggle clothes Susan and Blake had even worn skirts.
Their faces were their usual mask of calm and collected order. Almost immediately they realised the immpossibility of sitting together in comfort and split into smaller groups. Dean, Neville and Seamus had already joined Harry's table. They were soon joined by Blake, Susan, Sophie and Treborvir. Zandra, Smith and Foxworth made their way over to the sparsely populated Slytherin table containing Blaise and Draco, as well as Xander, Phillpe and Alexander.
Dumbledore made his way over to the head table but didn't sit, "I opted for a change of scenery in honor of my guests. As you have noticed we have new faces this year, who aren't in first year. They are guests from another Magical school, Immaculate Academy in the west. Show them your usual Hogwarts hospitality." with that he took up his seat at the head table and dinner started.
"So? Immaculate Academy? Must be nice." Draco began with a smirk as he portioned food onto his plate. Blaise snickered and waited patiently for an answer.
Foxworth answered in his silky baritone that had a few of the girls from nearby tables look up, "It's beautiful really. It's on a small island, summer all year round." he said naturally.
Zandra concealed a smile at Draco's disappointment in his well prepared answer.
"Sounds wonderful," he muttered. Zandra leaned over feigning reaching for the string beans.
"Try to trip us up again and I'll tell everyone one of your fantasies is touching yourself while class is in session." she muttered under her breath so only Draco could hear. He coughed almost choking on his rice and gave a small nod before sitting back and eating in silence.
The Gryffindor table was much more civil, Dean, Neville and Seamus spent most of it oggling Sophie, who Hermione had deduced to be part veela, while Treborvir and Susan huddled together at the end of the table. Which left Harry and his friends to talk to Blake, She was a very pretty girl Harry had to admit to himself. She had light brown hair with odd purple streaks in it, her eyes were a piercing green and she smiled more than any of the other Elite.
"So how do you like Hogwarts so far?" Hermione asked tentatively.
"From what I've seen? It's very. . .clean." Blake finished slightly put off. "I haven't really been very far out of our rooms and this great hall."
"What are you guys doing here then? What happened to not being here? Fading into the background." Ron asked, taking a bite out of his Cottage pie.
"Ronald, if I knew I wouldn't tell you," she said simply with a slight smile.
Ginny bit back a laugh and shoved mashed potatoes into her mouth to help silence herself.
Dinner was a strange experience. The Great hall was quieter than it usually was with every one watching their new guests. The Elite didn't do anything out of the ordinary, mostly spoke amongst themselves at the Gryffindor table. Yet at the Slytherin table Blaise and Draco spoke comfortably with Smith, and Foxworth even managing to loop Zandra in every now and then.
Zandra tried to pay attention to the conversation but Severus' piercing gaze was digging into the side of her face. Finally, she excused herself and exited the great hall amongst whispers. Smith almost immediately followed her ot of the hall. The remaining Elite exchanged glances quickly before going back to their separate conversation, Draco blinked, "What just happened?"
"Forget about it Draco, eat your food." Foxworth answered, spearing broccoli with his fork.
Xander, Alexander and the other Slytherins sat quietly listening. Draco bit back an arguement, he seemed to have been doing that alot lately.
Slowly the great hall went back to their separate conversations, and as dessert appeared people began to roam form table to table talking to friends some skipping pudding to finish work. Draco was one of them, he walked through halls, hands stuffed inside his robes and made his way down to the dungeons. On his way down, as the crowds thinned and the halls got colder, he passed a classroom. It was the charms classroom, and the door had been left slightly ajar. Draco was about to walk passed when he heard voices from behind the wooden panel.
Draco slowly, stopping by the crack, he peeked in, "Shh, calm down breath," it was Smith. It didn't take an arour to figure out he was talking to Zandra. Draco stepped closer and spotted them. Smith stood by a desk, Zandra perched on top of it, her arms around his neck, her face hidden in his shoulder. Draco's mouth opened slightly as he drank in the scene in front of him, Zandra was glowing.
Draco blinked and looked back he realised that she wasn't in fact glowing, but that there were miniture flames flitting around her body. Smith hushed her, running his hand through her hair, the flames licked his fingers and extinguised themselves. Right in front of Draco's eyes Zandra took a last deep breath and the flames died away, Smith stepped back from her and held her head between his hands, "Better?"
She nodded, and parted her lips slightly. Smith took a deep breath and exhaled. A large white cloud of breath blew from between his lips and covered Zandra's face, she inhaled and the cloud disappeared into her lungs. Her lips were tinged blue and her teeth chattered, "Remind me to get you some ice mice," Smith whispered.
Zandra nodded, "I think Treb had some."
She slid off of the desk and gave a stretch, before starting toward the door. Draco began to step away when Smith stopped her, "Don't let him get to you , you've gone through to much training to have him throw it all away."
Zandra gave a small nod and sigh, "He just doesn't know what he does to me. . .He doesn't care."
Draco started down the hall, his aim to get as far away from the door before Zandra and Smith exited. He was turning the corner when he heard the door open behind him. He disappeared.
The Hogwarts students stood, stifling yawns and waiting around for the Elite. It was almost 4am, and they had yet to make their dramatic appearence. The door had just touched closed as the Slytherins strode in, before it was flung back open. Six Elite members filed in quickly, each went to a Hogwarts student and gripped them tightly. Hermione and Ginny were picked up and thrown wieghtlessly over shoulders, while the boys were simply dragged harshly. As the boys began to protest, hands raised to cover their mouths, and the girls simply fought not to throw up from their upside down positions.
They were led violently, through the Hogwarts halls and down to the dungeons. Not stopping at the Slytherin common room they carried them beyond a nearby tapestry and straight into the Elite practice room. It was three times larger than the great hall, about half the size of a regulation quidditch pitch. There was a barre' along the mirrored walls and hung along the only noon mirrored wall were weapons. Heavy, antique armour, and deathly dripping spikes. What they were dripping with Harry didn't know but he didn't want to find out.
Zandra stood arms folded in the middle of the room waiting paitently for the group. Upon entering the Hogwarts students were deposited in front of her, and the Alliance members stepped back, their hands tucked into the sleeves of their robes, "You're late." she said calmly, she didn't make eye contact with any of the students but focused above their heads.
"We were waiting in the great hall-"
"We aren't practicing in the great hall, Harry." she said her voice stil calm, but blatantly unimpressed.
"Well, you didn't tell us that!" Harry said impaitently.
"Did you ask?"
"No, I assumed-"
"You assumed? Well you know what they say about assuming,"
Harry fell silent, he wasn't going to get anywhere productive arguing with her. Zandra cast a glance ove the Hogwarts students and sighed, "OK, first things first. We're going to show you how we practice and then play spot the difference." She indicated for the Hogwarts students to stand with her. They formed a line next to her and watched as the elite not only disrobed but unclipped their fae armor. They all wore plain t-shirts and black trousers. Zandra steped in front of the Hogwarts students and down toward her group.
"Susan and Sophie," She called. The two girls stepped forward, they bowed toward Zandra and then to each other, before taking stances opposite each other. The girls drew out their wands at tensely slow speeds, never breaking eye contact with each other. Sophie blinked and Susan attacked, a purple jet of light shooting from her wand and hitting Sophie. The right side of Sophie's T-shirt darkened with blood but, it was like she hadn't noticed, as she launched her next attack. The Elitle members were clapping and a few of them seemed to be keepng score. Awarding points for spell, skill and the amount of damage done to the opponent. Then it happened, Susan disarmed Sophie and prepared to hex her when Sophie ran for her. Swiftly knocking her legs out from under her before swinging her leg up and bringing it down in her chest. Susan coughed,blood spattering her bottom lip. Harry felt Ginny turn her face away burying it into his robe sleeves. He hushed her as Susan pushed Sophie's leg out of her chest and punched her in the jaw, "Hey!" Sophie cried indignantly, "Not in the face!" she yelled frowning.
Susan smiled hauntily, and got up, "oops, I forgot."
Sophie scowled, "How about I give you a reminder?" she threatened dangerously crouching low to the ground and hitting.
"Zandra, I thought you said no powers." Susan called, a nervous hitch in her voice.
Zandra shrugged, "Sophie also said not to hit her in the face," she said simply. "Fair is fair."
Susan eyes widened, as the smile on Sophie's face grew, "What are you going to do now, Seer?" she said circling Susan dangerously.
"Surrender," Susan muttered dejectedly.
"Do it properly," Sophie said standing gracefully.
Susan pouted and sunk to her knees, Sophie skipped over to the large armored wall and pulled off a small dagger and handed it to her opponent. The Hogwarts group stood stock still not believing what they were seeing. What was she going to do with that blade?
Susan accepted the small dagger, held out her left arm, slicing and inch long cut. She dropped the dagger and grabbed her wand up from the ground, "A week?" she asked
"Make it two," Sophie said with a triumphant smile.
Susan smiled and pressed the tip to her cut. It healed it self leaving a sizable scar. Sophie extened her hand and helped Susan up. They embraced shortly before returning to their positions. The Hogwarts students stood in a stunned silence Hermione and Ginny covering their mouths in utter horror. Zandra turned to face them and held back a laugh at their faces, "Spot the difference? Anyone?"
The stunned silence continued before Blaise tentatively raised his hand, "Blaise?"
"You beat the shit out of each other, and we don't."
"Correct," Zandra said simply. "But we don't actually hurt each other. Sophie and Susan are perfectly alright."
"She coughed up blood," Ginny said in a shocked voice.
Zandra looked at Susan and back at Ginny, "That happens all the time, It's perfectly normal to cough up blood after getting kicking in the stomach." Susan nodded from behind Zandra. Before the Hogwarts students had time to process how okay she seemed with the brutal violence Zandra continued, "Also, unlike you, we practise hand to hand combat. Sometimes, you don't have a wand. What are you going to do them? Let them kill you?" she said simply. "I know that may have been a little violent, but remember. . . it was only your introduction. By the end of our time together you will be fighting against my unit and some of you may even win."
"Yeah, if your fighting Susan," Blake muttered under her breath and the Elite laughed. Susan spun on her friend, "Look I'll take you right now if you don't think i can fight."
"Oh really, Come on seer. I predict me kicking your ass."
Susan and Blake squared off and before anyone saw her move Zandra was between them, "Calm." she said softly.
Somehow her soft command made the two auomatically back away from each other. Zandra turned back to the Hogwarts students, "If you haven't realised, I never repeat myself. If I tell you to do something, for your own safety I suggest you do it."
Draco remembered the scene he had witnessed the night before and shivered with the thought of what it would be if she was angry.
"So, today we decided it would be more of a watch and learn excercise for you guys. We're not going to push you in the deep end. . .today. Tomorrow, prepare." She pulled out her wand and conjured seats for the Hogwarts students and herself. They watched as the Elite blindly followed her every order. They also discovered some of the other powers the group had and it made them even more intimidating. Smith froze Treborvir's wrist before breaking his nose, in retaliation Treborvir shocked him and broke his wrist. Foxworth wrapped Blake in sharp thorns that cut into her skin, after she blinded him with thick black smoke which had him coughing up black tar for at least a quarter of an hour. Zandra watched this all with a placid, unfazed demeaner and she refereed it all from her seat next to Ginny.
Every now and then Ginny would insticntively grip her arm and turn away which made Zandra smile and pat her head before instructing her to keep watching. Harry watched the blood bath only helf paying attention to what he should be learning which was defanse and attack, but he couldn't help letting his eyes drift over to Zandra. She was amazing, he didn't think so because she was pretty, she really was just your average pretty girl, but the air around her and the way she carried herself made her for lack of a better word, "...amazing." Harry muttered as Smith, flung Treborvir to the ground like a ragdoll. Hermione looked up at Harry confused, "Harry either you're getting into this violence really quickly, or you aren't paying attention at all."
"Huh? No, Hermione, look at them. They maybe beating each other up but they have such skill. We could. . .die, Hermione. It may be violent but this is what we're going to be faced up with. Fully trained wizards, who won't be holding back because we're kids."
Hermione nodded and bit her lip as Blake stepped in Foxworth's chest and did a little victory dance over him. Hermione had to admit there was calculation behind their cruelty. They thought their movements through before striking, and even though they moved quickly Hermione had a feeling that each knew what the other was going to do before they did it but they took the blows anyway, because in battle they were going to get hurt. The pain was something they had to get use to.
"Why do they cut themselves when they surrender? What is all that?" she asked quietly.
"Ancient wizarding tradition, you surrender. You leave a scare so that everybody knows." Zandra answered not taking her eyes off of her unit. "We don't make ours perminent, the winner gives a time frame in which the loser is suppose to keep theirs but way back when if you saw a wizard or witch with a scare on them. You knew they had surrendered in battle. They were weak."
She called for her team to stop, and pulled a watch out of her pocket. Harry noted it's five hands moving in opposite direction, except one that didn't move at all. There were no numbers on it and it reminded him of Dumbledore's twelve handed watch very much, "You guys, should go and have breakfast and get ready for class. Elite, heal up and shower." she said stuffing it back into her pocket. As she and a few of the Hogwarts students started moving Ron spoke, "So what's your power?" The room froze at the simple question. Smith stepped forward to answer him but Zandra held up her hand and he stilled, "No, Smith. Ron's right, we should cut down the unexpected as much as possible. Draco,"
Draco's head snapped up, "Come here, I need a target."
She knew, Draco thought wildly and now she was going to sauteé him alive! "Um, maybe one of the Gryffindors want to volenteer for that. I think this is more of a spectators sport for me."
Zandra quirked her mouth into a smile, somehow that smile was a command and Smith and Foxworth advanced upon Draco. They each tucked and arm under Draco's and lifted him effortlessly into the center of the room holding him there. Unnoticed, Sophie had retrieved a large bow from the wall and was handing it to Zandra. The Hogwarts students took a cue from the Elite and back away from the center of the room. The Only people that didn't move were Zandra, and Draco. Who was still being held in place by Smith and Foxworth.
Zandra stood stretching the bow string pulling and releasing it a few times before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. The room went deadly silent during the next moments as warm wind began to whip around Zandra, eyes closed she raised the bow again, but this time when she pulled back and arrow lay in place. It was made out of blue flames, but didn't flicker in the wind. Harry heard Hermione gasp next to him. Zandra's eyes were still closed as she took aim for Draco's chest.
Her eyes flew open, the usual hazel and white replaced entirely with firey blue flames on a black background. She let go and the arrow cut through the thick air the Hogwarts students held their breath as they watched the arrow heading straight for their friend. . .well Blaise's friend, the Gryffindor's acquaintence. Draco felt hot flames lick his face before it disappeared. His eyes creaked open, Zandra stood in the center of the room smiling. The bow by her side, "It's rude to eavesdrop Draco." She said simply, handing the bow off to Susan.
Zandra let the Hogwarts students go and get ready for their day, and as the door closed on the last student. She collapsed
So, here's another story from me to you. It is only the beginning. Thank you for reading, Strawberry Blonde and Betrothed and oblivious. This as you can probably tell, is darker and harsher. It's twisted but I love it and I hope you will too.
I hope you enjoy it.
Flutterby xxx