A/N: Hello everyone. I'm sorry for the extremely long delay…I've been distracted by quite a lot of things. I hope you like this chapter. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 6

The bright light of the sun woke me at dawn. My body was stiff from the long night, but the absence of the forest's natural chill was a welcome relief. I meandered into the sitting room where Diaval slept soundly on his perch in the corner. I moved to the French doors and let the cold, whipping wind into the small room. Diaval gave a disgruntled squawk behind me as the wind woke him. My feathers stretched a bit as I leaned into the wind and glanced down to see a sheer, seven story drop to the ground. I considered taking off, but the idea of exploring a castle I had only seen from the outside was too tempting.

"Come, Diaval. Show me where I'll be hosting the dueling club, and then we'll explore a bit. If we get lost, we'll fly out a window." Diaval stood up and brushed himself off.

"You could have woken me up first."

"Where's the fun in that?" I raised an eyebrow indifferently at his indignant look. After a moment, he let out a huff and let himself down the hatch. I smirked and jumped down after him.

"Dumbledore showed me the most direct route we should use until we get to know the castle." We came to the moving staircase. "Alright, so he told me that these aggravating contraptions move at any time, so we'll need to pay attention to where…"

"I have a better idea. This room is on the first floor, yes?" He nodded at me as I waved my hand in his direction. He transformed as I stretched my wings out about halfway and jumped over the railing. I dropped until I landed on a staircase, and immediately launched myself off of that one. Diaval followed in his raven form. Three "short" drops later I hit the top platform of the grand staircase that led down to the ground floor. The first floor started at the top of these steps and branched to my left and right. Diaval landed seconds after me and I transformed him again.

"It's this way." Diaval led me down the large corridor to my left. I looked at a sign posted on the wall. It listed the classrooms on this floor. On the left side of the castle was Muggle Studies, Defense against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and McGonagall's office. On the right was the Hospital Wing, and a few others. "The dueling classroom is near Umbridge's classroom."

"How convenient." I smirked. "I can drop by anytime I want." We passed another few classrooms before Diaval opened a rickety, old door. Its hinges squeaked terribly and the doorknob seemed on the verge of falling off completely. Inside the room was dark and dusty. Even though it was dark, I could sense the cavernous atmosphere of the room. When I lit the torches, the room showed itself to be about fifty yards long and twenty yards wide. The room was huge and would be perfect for a dueling club. I could potentially set up obstacle courses, and allow the students to duel in teams.

"What do you think?" I spun to see Dumbledore standing in the doorway smiling.

I nodded at the old man, "It is satisfactory."

"Only satisfactory?" The man sounded hurt, but I could see the teasing glimmer in his eyes. I did not dignify him with a response.

"Most humans are still asleep at this hour." I scoffed slightly.

"I am an old man, and the elderly don't sleep as much as the young." Dumbledore took out his wand and waved a tea set and small table into existence. He gestured for me to join him. With nothing better to do, I took a steaming cup.

"Or they're too busy conspiring." I took a sip of the hot liquid; it was nice.

"Conspiring? You wound me."

"I don't trust you."

"I am aware of that, but does distrust permit rudeness? You and I care about the same thing."

"Do we?"

"We care about the students' safety." Dumbledore continued as if I hadn't interrupted him, and gave me a guarded look. "If your being here puts the students in danger, I will do everything I can to remove you."

"You can try, but you will not succeed. I will stay until that woman is removed from the castle, and perhaps longer."

"Longer?" The gleam in Dumbledore's eyes that had slowly been dimming went out completely.

"I've become aware of something rather disturbing, and I want to be near if I need to intercede."

"What did you hear?" I felt a foreign probing in my mind so I forced it away. If the wizard was surprised, he didn't show it.

"It is not something I wish you to be privy to." Dumbledore looked away from me and sipped his tea.

"This room should do for any sort of plans you may have for your club. I will have some defense books copied and sent down to that bookshelf over there."

"Thank you, Dumbledore. However, I would like to go to the library myself. I need to learn about wizarding defense and offense as much as a first year would. It will be helpful."

"Of course." We lapsed into silence. Neither of us trusted the other, but I knew we needed to at least get along if not work together.

"Dumbledore, I call a truce for the time being. We have the same enemy and the same goal. We are not friends, but allies. We must help defeat our enemy for the good of those we care for."

Dumbledore dispersed the tea set and table, "I accept this truce. However, if you betray me, I will end you."

"I will not betray my godson. That should be good enough for you." I turned my back on the man and walked to the middle of the room. I studied the room a bit more before I drew a few twigs from my pockets and dropped them on the floor. The twigs immediately sprouted, grew into winding roots, and rose into the rafters as towering trees. Leaves blocked out the torchlight and cast the room in shadows. Vines wrapped themselves around the one to five men wide trunks and hung among the branches in the darkness above. Moss, ferns, thorn bushes, and other shrubery, dangerous or not, filled in the gaps between the close-set trees. In thirty seconds, the room had transformed into an atmosphere very much like the Moors. The only things missing were the faeries and other wildlife. I made sure that the growth had pushed Dumbledore back to the door. Once he was in the hall, I closed the entrance off with thorns as thick as small trees. I made a note to myself to visit the Herbology greenhouses. The more the students had to contend with the better.

Diaval walked up to me once all movement had stopped. "Feels like home." He grinned. "Dark, cold…"

"The Moors are neither dark nor cold." I reproached in a hushed tone.

"They are…at night." I rolled my eyes, moved the thorns, and walked into the hallway.

Dumbledore stood waiting. "That is a very good way to keep people out." I ignored him and changed the subject. The less he knew the better.

"Shall we go to the Great Hall?"

"Ah, yes. This way please." An uncomfortable five minutes later, we stood in the Great Hall again. We were a bit early. No one was there except a couple teachers. Professors Snape and McGonagall gave Diaval and I nods of greeting while a few others stared with mixed looks of contempt and fear. Curiously, Umbridge was not present. I expected her to be surrounded by the Ministry's best and ready to defeat me in battle. All well; it was her loss.

I sat down next to McGonagall, and Diaval sat next to me. The room filled rather quickly with students looking half asleep. Some of them were still trying to tame their hair while others were attempting and failing to straighten their ties. Many sat down and immediately stared straight at me; I stared right back. A blonde boy, Malfoy I believe, actually sneered at me. If he came to my club; I would have fun with him. Harry walked in surrounded by his friends about twenty minutes later. I made sure to look at anything but him. I knew he probably felt a bit hurt, but I couldn't risk his safety.

Dumbledore stood as soon as everyone had arrived. A hush fell over the room. "I'm sure you all remember our new arrivals from last night. I have approved of her dueling club, and I am happy to announce that a room has already been prepared. Lady Maleficent, will you please explain how your club will work?"

I stood fluidly. "I will warn all of you right now. This club is exactly what its name suggests. It is not a place for socializing or getting out of your other obligations. It is a place to learn how to defend yourself from other wizards and witches. I will also attempt to prepare you to fight other magical beings; such as myself. Do not come to this club if you are worried about physical harm. You will acquire injuries." I paused to take a breath and allow that to sink in. "If you wish to attend, you must come during your own free time. I do not have a set schedule, and I will not make one. Come in groups of four or more. If you have to choose between my club and Quidditch, then choose. The club will be held in Dueling Room number 1. It is on the first floor, and conveniently close to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom." A couple of the students chuckled at this. At least they were aware of my contempt. "That is all, thank you." I sat back down and noticed Diaval grinning at me. When I raised my eyebrow at him, he opened his mouth to say something, but he never got to say it. I changed him into a raven.

"Classes begin in twenty minutes." Dumbledore warned the students. The students went back to eating their breakfast and last minute studying. Harry was grinning like a loon and whispering to his friends. I smiled thinly and looked at my own plate. Bacon had somehow found its way onto it, so I pushed it over to Diaval. A bell rang twenty minutes later and the students rose as one entity. I rose as well and walked toward the large exit. Many of the students parted to allow me passage, while other less attentive ones were yanked out of the way by their friends. One boy apparently didn't have any friends. He stood with his back to me. When it became increasingly quiet, the boy stopped rummaging in his bag, and looked up to see plenty of students looking slightly terrified. I watched his shoulders tense as he turned slowly. His eyes met mine and all the blood drained from his face.

"What is your name, boy?" He swallowed audibly.

"Creevy…Collin Creevy."

"Will you be attending my club, Collin?" The boy searched in vain for a quick exit, but there was none.

"I…um…I…I have lots of classes…. I would like to…but…."

"But?"

"Not sure…I have…the…time." The boy's eyes began to shine.

"Perhaps you'll find the time." I smiled at him but I'm sure it was far from comforting. I put the end of my staff against his right shoulder and pushed him to the right gently. Collin stumbled into the waiting crowd and I continued out of the Great Hall.

(Two hours later…)

I lounged in a branch as close to the ceiling as possible. I had Dumbledore enchant the ceiling like the Great Hall, and the room to match the climate outside. A torrential downpour was the only climate change that I would not allow. I gentle sprinkle would be permitted, but nothing worse. Also, the bookshelf, which had already begun to fill with books, was waterproofed.

"So, no one has shown up yet." Diaval began. "Your little confrontation with Collin might have scared them all off. You could have just walked around him, or better yet, waited until all the students had left."

"I am here to protect these students, I am not going to gain their trust by ignoring them."

"And, neither will scaring them."

"It was not my intention to scare Collin."

"Well, you did." Diaval chuckled a bit.

"It was Collin's choice to be frightened. He could have merely said excuse me and moved away."

"Being frightened isn't a choice, its instinct."

"Fine, it's instinct. But, he had the choice to ignore his fear and do something other than stare in shock."

"He didn't stare in shock." I raised my eyebrow skeptically. "Okay, yes, he did stare in shock. However, he did answer you when you asked him a question. That should be acceptable, considering…."

"Considering what?"

"Considering that you are very intimidating."

"Thank you, Diaval."

"You're welcome. I wasn't sure you were aware." I rolled my eyes and closed my eyes to enjoy the sunlight.

"Someone is at the entrance." Diaval's excited voice piped up next to me. "Let them in." He prodded my shoulder with a twig.

"They must find their own way. That is their first test." I heard Diaval sigh and settle back down. Obviously, he didn't have much faith in their ability.

(Outside the entrance)

"Find our own way in?!" Ron exclaimed incredulously. "Your…." Harry enchanted Ron's mouth shut.

"Careful." Harry hushed him. "Maleficent is just testing our ability…. Hermione."

"For Merlin's sake! Why am I the one that has to come up the solutions all the time?!"

"Me brawn, you brain?" Harry smiled cheekily at her. Hermione huffed and studied the very thick thorns blocking their path.

"Find a way in yet, Mudblood?" The trio turned to see Malfoy leaning against the wall casually.

"No, but I bet it would go a lot quicker with some help." Hermione suggested snappily.

Malfoy looked at Harry and Ron, and smirked. "I guess it's up to me and you, since these two blockheads can't help."

"You can't work with us!" Ron exclaimed testily.

"Why not?" Malfoy asked. "This lady said anyone can come. It's not exclusive to Gryffidorks. Besides, I want to get a chance to throw spells around. That is what this club is for."

"This club is also an excuse to beat you to a pulp." Harry retorted. "So, please. Join us." Malfoy opened his mouth to threaten his rival.

"Will you three shut it, and help me?!" Hermione commanded.

"Uh-oh, is it your time, Granger?" The blonde cackled.

"Shove it, Malfoy!" Ron took a step toward the tall Slytherin.

"I can defend myself, thank you Ronald." Hermione spat out. "Are you three going to help me, or stand there bickering like old women?" The three boys backed down moodily and studied the thorns.

"Are they regular thorns or magical?" Malfoy asked.

"Regular. They don't give any signs that they are magical." Hermione stated. She prodded the thorns with her wand. Nothing happened.

"You could use a spell to check their magical ability, right?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded and did that. The patch of thorns glowed red to signify no magic present. Harry bit his tongue to keep his mouth shut. With Malfoy here, he couldn't tell his friends that Maleficent merely manipulates the plant life with her magic.

"Well, I suppose we could burn them." Hermione suggested.

"That would take too long." Malfoy shook his head.

"Cut them." Ron suggested.

"That is a great suggestion, Weasel."

"Shut up, Malfoy!"

"No, I was actually being serious." Malfoy smirked.

Ron gave him a dumbfounded look before turning bright red, "Well, how was I supposed to know? You ridicule us every chance you get!"

"Okay, forget it you guys." Harry commanded. "We only have an hour and a half before our next class."

Hermione and Malfoy pointed their wands at the thorns and cast the slashing spell.

(Up in the trees of the Dueling Room)

"I should look into magical plants." Diaval looked at me questioningly.

"To block the door more securely." I elaborated. He nodded his consent.

"But, it's only their first day." He commented.

"That's true." I looked down to see them finally emerge through the thorns.

(Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Malfoy)

"What the bloody hell is this?" Malfoy sneered at the dirt on his shiny black shoes.

"That's dirt." Hermione smirked at him.

"No, not…This!" Malfoy gestured to the rest of the room with his arm.

"Looks like a forest." Harry suggested smartly. Malfoy made a face at him.

"Well…where is she?" Ron asked no one in particular. They peered into the gloom. They didn't see a dark figure looming out of the darkness.

"Lumos." Harry lit his wand. A cloud had moved to block out the sun. The others followed his lead. "Hello?!" Harry called out. His voice echoed eerily.

"Maybe she stepped out?" Ron's voice sounded higher than usual. A twig snapped to their right. Harry immediately turned his wand in that direction. He noticed the others had as well. 'She hasn't shown herself.' Harry thought uneasily. 'Why?' Harry took a step further, even though every sense was telling him to get out.

"I'm having flashbacks of the Dark Forest." Harry heard Ron whisper.

"AH!" Harry turned to see Malfoy being dragged into the darkness.

"ACCIO MALFOY!" Malfoy lifted into the air, but he didn't come sailing toward Harry.

"SOMETHING'S GOT MY ANKLE!" He screamed.

Hermione sent a spell sailing toward Malfoy's ankle. Malfoy immediately dropped, and hastily crawled back to the group. Ron grabbed his arm and helped him up. The four formed a close circle facing outward.

"What now?" Ron asked shakily.

"I vote we get out of here." Malfoy immediately suggested.

"No," Harry held his wand steady. "Maleficent is here to teach us to fight. She wouldn't hurt us. She's…." Harry had to stop himself. He almost said 'my godmother.' "She's testing us."

"What sort of test is this?" Malfoy asked angrily.

"One that tests our skills? I don't know." Harry suggested.

"Just stick together and keep your eyes peeled for movement." Hermione said quietly.

"How can she hide herself so well?" Ron asked. "She's not small and her horns and wings are pretty noticeable." Harry opened his eyes wider to take in the darkness that seemed impenetrable.

"And this room isn't that big." Ron continued.

"It could be enchanted to be as big as it needs to be." Malfoy said to Harry's right.

"Let's go deeper in." Harry took a step forward.

"Are you mad?" Malfoy asked him.

"We're being tested remember?" Harry glanced at the blonde. "We might need to go deeper to beat the test."

"But, what's in between here and the end?" Hermione asked.

"Don't know." Harry continued forward. The others followed him cautiously. "Keep in a small circle and face outward like we are doing. That way if anything comes at us, we can defend ourselves." They walked for a while; over fallen logs and springs. At times they had to navigate around thickets of brush that would take too long to cut through. Another twig snapped to their left. Hermione gasped.

"I see something." Harry and Ron turned in her direction. Malfoy continued watching their backs.

"What is it?" Harry heard Malfoy ask. He could tell Malfoy was trembling slightly.

It was a dark form that blended with the gloom. The swirling mist didn't help. "I can't tell." He whispered.

The form flitted to the right and disappeared. "It's gone." Ron's frantic voice was loud in the silence.

"THERE!" Malfoy shouted. "Stupefy!" The trio turned to see Malfoy's spell race toward two glowing yellow eyes. The eyes disappeared before the spell got to it. Harry heard a rustling next to his foot and looked down. Thick vines were snaking around their ankles. He opened his mouth to yell, but it was too late. The vine tightened and yanked him off his feet and started dragging him. Harry immediately grabbed for anything to stop himself, and watched his friends get dragged in different directions.

"NO!" Harry turned and reached for the vine wrapped around his ankle. He had dropped his wand. Trees rushed past him dizzily as he was dragged over rocks and moss. Distance was lost as his sole goal became breaking the vine. Finally, he shoved his fingers under the thick vine and tore it apart. He rolled to a halt. Harry's breath was loud and shaky as he shot to his feet. He circled once, twice to look for danger. Nervous sweat trickled into his eyes as he fumbled for a weapon of some sort. He picked up a rock just slightly bigger than his fist, and backed against a tree. The darkness that had seemed manageable before was almost unbearable. The silence was maddening. 'Where are the others? Why can't I hear them?' Harry took an unsteady step forward but immediately pressed himself against the bark again. He knew it was irrational, but the tree gave him a sense of security. 'It's stupid, this tree doesn't help. She could be anywhere; she could….' Harry stopped breathing and gulped. He moved his eyes upward, hoping all he would see is darkness. Bright green eyes stared straight at him.

"GAH!" Harry pushed away from the tree and fell over a root. The breath rushed from his lungs as Maleficent fell out of the gloom right toward him. Harry rolled to his right just as Maleficent landed in a crouch in the spot he had been in. Her predatory eyes found his frightened ones. In the back of his mind, he knew he shouldn't be frightened, but he couldn't get past the terrifying look of malice on her face. She bared her teeth at him and let out a hissing growl. "Ma…Mal…" Harry couldn't make himself speak and backed against another tree. Harry felt like he was breathing water.

Maleficent lunged at him. Harry dove to his left and picked up a stick as thick as his arm, and held it like a cricket bat. "Maleficent! Stop!" Harry's voice was a quiet squeak, but he didn't care. Maleficent's glowing, deadly glare paired with her thin scowl and clawed fingers was too terrifying for him to handle. His godmother was in there somewhere. Maleficent blinked and straightened.

"Was that too much?" Harry let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding and collapsed to his knees. He felt very close to crying. "It was too much, wasn't it?" Her voice betrayed her glee. He looked up to see her grinning at him.

"Just…just a bit." Harry let out a shaky laugh. He stood back up unsteadily. "Do me a favor? Don't ever lose your mind and forget me. I don't think I would survive an actual attack from you." Maleficent laughed quietly.

"I wouldn't dream of it. Shall we see how your friends are doing?" Maleficent opened her arms to Harry. He wrapped his arms around her neck and she launched into the trees. In the canopy high above the ground, Harry perched on a branch next to his godmother and peered into the forest to find his friends. Ron was stuck dangling by his feet. His hand only inches from the ground where his wand lay among the twigs. Hermione was in the farthest corner fighting through thorns that kept growing back thanks to Maleficent. Malfoy was on the other side of the room shooting spells in random directions.

"What's Malfoy doing?" Harry asked.

"He's trying to hit Diaval."

"Oh. I…take it we didn't pass our test?" Harry glanced at Maleficent.

She grinned at him. "The hour and a half that you mentioned hasn't run out yet."

"How long has it been?"

"Five minutes."

"What?! Only five…" Harry stopped when she shushed him.

"Yes, only five. Amazing what fear does, isn't it?" Harry swallowed and looked back his friends. He could only imagine how they felt. They didn't have the slight reassurance he had concerning Maleficent. "Would you like to get back into it?" Harry nodded. "I will do everything I can to block your progress with my magic. Get to your friends, one by one and help them. Once you are all back together, the game ends."

"This is a terrible game." Harry stated.

"I think it's brilliant. Oh, here. You might need this." Harry watched Maleficent draw his wand out of her sleeve. He took it from her and looked down. "Good luck getting down." Maleficent took off in Hermione's direction. Harry huffed in frustration. How would he get down?

Five breathless minutes later, Harry's feet hit the ground. He had almost fallen ten times; he counted. 'Maleficent flew in Hermione's direction, and Malfoy is busy with Diaval. Ron's the closest, but he won't want to help Malfoy. Hermione will be his choice, but Malfoy knows absolutely nothing about Maleficent and Diaval. At least, Ron and Hermione both know the relationship between Maleficent and me. So, that lessens their fear. But, Malfoy….' Harry stood deciding for longer than he should have. Harry turned in Malfoy's direction.

Tree branches and vines reached for Harry multiple times, but he dodged the branches and cast spells at the vines to keep them away. He found the quicker he moved, the less chance there was of him getting snatched again. And, if he did get grabbed again, Harry vowed to turn his own fist to rock to hang onto his wand. He could tell Maleficent was not trying as hard as she could. As he got closer to Malfoy, the grasping plant life lessened. Soon he could see the flashes of spells. Harry held out his wand to block any stray spells that flew toward him and came up behind Malfoy. The Slytherin was frightened. Beads of sweat ran down his face and neck, and his breathing was erratic. He could barely voice the spells erupting from his wand.

"Malfoy." Harry said as calmly as he could. The terrified boy turned and pointed his wand at Harry.

"STUPEFY!"

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Malfoy's spell was deflected harmlessly into the canopy. "Malfoy!" Harry's voice reached Malfoy's ears before he could clearly see Harry.

"Po…Potter?" Malfoy let his wand arm fall to his side.

"Hey," Harry walked up to Malfoy and held his wand out. "Don't put that down. We still have to find the others. I'm sure once we find them, the test will end."

"How do you know?" Malfoy had regained some of his usual arrogance, but it was still unsteady.

Harry shrugged, "It's our first day?" Malfoy didn't look reassured. "Alright, I think the animal you're seeing out there is Maleficent's companion, Diaval. So, we don't really have to worry about him; just walk past him." Harry and Malfoy walked side by side, but kept their eyes peeled for Diaval, and moving plants. Eventually, they made their way back to the clearing where all four of them were together before being dragged away. "Okay, you were dragged that way, and I was dragged that way." Harry pointed in the two directions. "I saw Ron get dragged that way, so Hermione could only have been pulled that way." Malfoy looked between the two directions.

"Who do you want to go after first?"

"Um…I don't know." Harry didn't want to divulge his knowing that Ron was closer than Hermione. That wouldn't make sense.

"Well, they could each be in the corners of the room; equally distant. So, the question is…" Harry looked at Malfoy's smirking face. "Who do you want to save first?" Harry felt his face flush angrily. He should have gone after Ron first.

"HELLO?!" Harry turned his head in Ron's direction. "Is anyone there?!"

"Guess that's our answer." Malfoy stated in a monotone voice. Harry took off toward Ron's voice.

"RON!" Harry heard Malfoy's steps behind him. They came to find Ron still tangled in the vine that had dragged him away.

"Harry!" Ron's voice flooded with relief. "You found me!" Harry watched Ron's face fall into a scowl when he saw Malfoy behind him. "Guess you two had better luck with your vines."

Harry shrugged again, "I tore the vines around my ankle before I was hauled into a tree."

"Mine let go of me," Malfoy smirked as Ron fell to the ground when Harry cut the vines holding Ron above the ground, "but I was still being hunted by that animal we saw in the woods." Ron brushed himself off and stooped to grab his wand.

"Let's go find Hermione." Harry suggested before the two could start arguing in honest.

(Maleficent's POV)

I landed on a branch about a quarter of a mile away from Hermione. She was muttering to herself.

"They don't have any magical properties." She studied the thorns moving closer to her. "How are they moving like that?" She whipped her wand at a branch that came too close to her heel. It quickly shrank away from her. "That looks like the same magic that drifted off of Maleficent's hands when she would use magic." The girl seemed to ponder something and suddenly looked up. Her eyes scanned the canopy slowly.

I smiled. She was as smart as Harry said she was. I didn't dare move or else she would see me. Instead, I had the thorns converge on her. But, I got another surprise. The thorns couldn't get any closer than twelve inches all around her. I had vines drop down on her, but they also came up short. 'A full-body shield. Very good, however…" I narrowed my eyes and focused on the roots of the trees. The dirt at Hermione's feet erupted and roots wrapped around her entire body. The weight unbalanced her and pulled her to the ground. Her shield broke when her focus was disrupted and the thorns and vines wrapped themselves around her wrists and ankles. Moments later, she stopped struggling. I scanned the ground for her wand, but I couldn't find it. Perhaps she still had a hold of it.

"Hermione! HERMIONE!" Harry's voice broke through the silence of the forest. I covered the girl's mouth with a vine as I sensed her struggling start again.

"M'IONE!"

"Granger!" Ron and Malfoy yelled just after Harry. I smirked as they passed under me.

"Where is she?" Ron asked. His voice sounded quite desperate.

"What's wrong, Weasel? Miss your girlfriend?" Malfoy sneered at the redhead. The blonde brat dodged a swipe of Ron's long arm.

"Will you guys focus?!" Harry snapped at them. The two settled down and looked at Harry. My godson stopped glowering at them and looked in Hermione's direction. "What do you think is up with that bunch of thorns and vines?" Ron shrugged indifferently, but Malfoy stepped up next to Harry to look.

"Looks like they're converged. It's unnatural, that's for sure…." Malfoy pointed his wand at the clump. "Accio Hermione Granger." The thorns and vines leapt in the boys' direction, but I stopped the brush from snapping.

"HERMIONE!" Harry and Ron launched toward the plants, and I pulled it away from them.

"Guys!" Malfoy had held back, but the two Gryffindors didn't pay attention to him. I lured them a bit closer, closer…closer. The vines and thorns flew at the two and wrapped around their wrists and ankles.

Their shouts of surprise and pain echoed in the room. Malfoy raised his wand the shot spells at the winding plants but, the spells didn't disperse the plants quick enough. Almost instantly the boys were engulfed in plant life. Malfoy stood uncertainly off to the side.

I moved from my position and glided over them to land in a tree on the other side of the clearing. Malfoy watched my movements with a glazed look. Apparently, my wingspan was something to behold.

"What now Mr. Malfoy?" I asked him.

That seemed to snap him out of his daze, as he looked back at the masses of thorns. "I don't know. The plants are not magical and cannot be frightened away by sunlight like the Devil's Snare. Plus, the others are in there; I can't cut them without injuring them."

"So…." I coaxed an answer from him.

"I could leave them…."

"No, as soon as you did that, I would have those thorns squeeze the life out of them." Malfoy shuddered and held his ground. He made the connection that leaving would mean failing the test. I watched his forehead crease in thought. Every moment or so, he would shake his head.

"Do they have their wands?" I ignored him. "Oi! Do they have their wands?" I gave him a withering look and continued to stay silent. Malfoy huffed. "Fine. You did warn us about injuries…." The boy lifted his wand and pointed to the first clump of vines and thorns. Harry.

A shower of sparks cascaded from the wand and wafted to the thorns. They glowed bright red when they attached to the plants. Next, the boy sent breeze after gentle breeze to kindle the sparks but not light a fire. Slowly, the plants smoldered away. Harry's foot became visible and my godson began kicking with all his might. Minutes later, Harry thrashed his way out of the plants and crawled in Malfoy's direction. He climbed to his feet and clapped Malfoy on the back.

"Thank you." I smiled thinly. That would never happen outside of this room. Malfoy nodded and sent a burst of flames to the empty shell. "Well, tell me what you did so I can help."

"I don't know, Potter. What I did takes precision and requires patience." Malfoy looked at Harry's scowl. "Fine. I sent sparks at the thorns, but didn't light a fire. That would have burned you. Instead, I sent light gusts of wind to keep them smoldering and eating away at the plants. Eventually, you kicked your way out."

"I can do that." Harry reassured him. I raised my eyebrow quizzically at him when he glanced at me. "What?!" I didn't say a word.

"You work on getting Weasley free and I'll do Granger." Malfoy paused and grinned at the Gryffindor.

"What?"

"I just heard what I said." The Slytherin cackled. "Do Granger." His laugh got louder.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry growled at him.

"Why? I don't see you vying for her attention, and Weasley? I can beat his ass any day."

"I'm warning you!" I watched Harry take a step toward the blonde boy. He bent slightly as if he was going to launch himself at his rival.

"Okay, okay." Malfoy put his hands up placating. "Calm down. Let's just get them out." Malfoy turned and sent sparks at the Hermione's clump of thorns. Harry did the same for Ron. Within minutes, the captured two had kicked and yanked themselves free. Once they shakily stood together as a group, all four looked at me. I grinned and launched myself down to their level. Three of the four took a few steps back. Harry acted belatedly and followed them. Idiot.

"Very good, all of you." The four grinned at each other smugly. "Now, get out."

"What!?" Harry took a step toward me. "But, we passed. Aren't you going to test us more? Or talk to us at least?"

"Talk?"

"Um…." I watched a blush color the boy's cheeks. "Yeah, you know…critique us?"

"You lived, is that not enough?"

"I suppose it is, but is there anything we could have done differently? Done better?"

I thought for a moment and flexed my wings in slight agitation. Giving advice was not my strong suit. To stall, I had a throne-like chair grow from the vines and thorns on the ground, and sat. "There is not much that you could have done differently. One of you got free before the others and systematically found the others until you were together. I did decide that once you were all together again, I would end the game. So, you passed."

"That's not a critique at all." Malfoy said scathingly.

"I am not a teacher, Mr. Malfoy."

"Then why did you come here?" He asked. The boy was bold. I smiled evilly at him.

"I have my reasons, and I am not about to tell them to you." Malfoy simmered down after that.

"Is this room enchanted?" Hermione asked, and I smiled a bit more kindly.

"To be as large as it needs to be, yes. But, this forest is my creation. I can change it at will."

"So, the thorns and vines moving on their own; that was you. They aren't magic?"

"No, they are not. I am the only magical being in this room besides you four."

"What about…um…." Ron struggled to remember my partner.

"Diaval." The man came up behind Ron, and grinned when the tall boy jumped away from him.

"Diaval is not a magical being. In fact, he is not even human." Three of them looked bewildered and peered at Diaval. "He is a raven." Diaval bowed smugly at their shocked faces. "With surprising human intelligence." Diaval made a face at me and I laughed. "Is there anything else you would like to know?"

"Where are you from?" Malfoy asked.

"That does not matter. What matters is that I am here." Harry smiled a small smile. "If that is all, you may as well get ready for your next class." I moved the thick forest to reveal the door to the hallway. It was just a few feet away.

"It feels like we traveled a lot further than that." Ron mumbled.

"We did, Ronald." Hermione said exasperated. As they walked away, Harry turned back to me and gave a small wave when no one else was looking. I nodded at him and smiled.

"That went well." Diaval commented once the door had closed.

"I need to go to the greenhouses at some point today. If I want to make it any sort of challenge, I'll need those magic plants."

"Will magical plants listen to you?"

"Not in the beginning, but they will." I smirked. "After all, I am a fairie. Plant life is my life."