One thing I will try to do is when I post a new chapter I will answer any questions that have been asked in reviews in between postings that are about this story and not my themes and concepts because if you don't like them then don't read my work. As such there are two questions to answer after a review last week. The first is in regards to Harry's animal companion and whether or not it will be a spirit and the second asks about whether or not a nonbender will become a member of Team Avatar as the previous two Avatars have had a nonbender. So without any spoilers here are my answers.

1. Yes Harry will have an animal companion, no it will not be a spirit as non have been in the series and that includes Wan's companion. However the animal will not be introduced until the 1st chapter of Book 2 though the animal will not have a major role until Book 3. This is more because of the story arcs of Books 1 and 2 preclude the need for an animal companion. Besides it is never clear if the animal is supposed to be found before or after the revelation of the Avatar.

2. No there will not be a nonbender in Team Avatar. The Team is set from this point on. I did consider it but as I wanted all magic users to be benders it was hard to have a nonbender as I do not create my own characters, well I do but only as background characters, and the only muggle Harry really knows that is his own age is Dudley and I didn't want to use him in that role. Dudley will make an appearance in Book 3 though.

Anyway I hope that clarifies those two points so here is the latest chapter on time as always. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: As usual I own nothing pertaining to these two great works of fiction.

Chapter 8

It had been a month since the attempt to kidnap Harry in the arena and nothing new had happened. The 4 individuals were in the White Lotus Supermax bending prisons now and serving out their life sentences. In that month Harry and his friends, the new Team Avatar as they had begun calling themselves, had been training hard just in case of another attack and to be prepared. Plus Harry really wanted to master firebending so that by the time the winter break rolled around he would be ready for his test.

That training had paid off as Harry felt he was ready to take his firebending mastery test and Master Albus had agreed with his assessment when Harry had asked the venerable master if he could take the test. He had mastered all the techniques to be deemed a master in firebending, the sub-bending arts were always considered above master level. Now he had to prove that he had mastered firebending and the only way to do that was through combat. It was a tradition in firebending. Harry didn't need to win the contest just prove to Master Albus or one of the other firebending teachers at the Academy that he could hold his own in combat and display his knowledge of offensive and defensive firebending. However Harry wanted to win the fight.

Harry was standing on a small stage in the Fire House Banquet Hall with Master Albus. The hall was the only place in the Fire House which was big enough to hold all the firebending students who were masters. Normally for a mastery test a notice would be plastered on the boards in the common rooms of the Fire House and people who wanted to take on the student to be tested would sign the attached list to the notices and then student to be tested would choose his or her opponent. The test would then happen in the practice arena in front of Master Albus or one of the other firebending teachers. However as Harry was the Avatar all the students who were masters had wanted the chance to face him when the notice went up that they had to hold this meeting in the Fire House Banquet Hall. Also many of the students at the Academy wanted to watch so the bout would be held in the competition arena where the bending tournament was held.

"Attention Fire Students" Master Albus called out to the gathered students. "Today you have been gathered here for a great opportunity that many of you have waited months for. This is of course the chance to duel the Avatar, one-on-one, in firebending so that he can prove he has mastered our bending art."

There were murmurs of excitement at this. As Harry had progressed with his firebending, faster than normal students but he was the Avatar after all, many had begun to speculate as to when the test notice for the Avatar would go up. It was the talk of the dorm on who would get the honor to face him in his test. There was even a pool going for who would be chosen. Neville had the best odds but Harry knew he wouldn't be choosing Neville so he had Neville put a bet down on who he knew he would choose. Harry only gambled when he knew he would win.

"All of you know why you have been invited here." Albus continued silencing the murmuring crowd. "You represent all the students who have passed their test and been deemed master firebenders and have volunteered to be the Avatar's opponent in his test. As such you all have the right to take on Avatar Harry in his final test to master the element of fire. You all know what that test will entail. As you have all indicated that you wish to accept the challenge from the Avatar he will now chose from amongst you who he wishes to test his skills against."

When Albus had finished all the assembled firebenders were looking at Harry with eagerness hoping they would get the honor of facing him. It was seen as one of the highest honors to be chosen to be the Avatar's opponent for his proof of mastery test and a chance for them to showcase their skills against an opponent as famous as the Avatar.

"Make your selection Avatar." Albus whispered to Harry as he stepped back to let Harry make his selection.

Harry looked over the assembled crowd of people. He knew many of them from his months in the Fire House. Some he trained with during the afternoon training sessions, others he knew from the common rooms and getting to know them. Many had wanted to talk the Avatar and try and befriend him or at least get the chance to meet a celebrity like the Avatar. This was something Harry hated, he hated being the center of attention for something he hadn't chosen but he still loved being the Avatar.

He had wanted to pick Neville at first but while it was expected he knew that he couldn't pick his friend. It would cause too many questions such as that he had only picked Neville because he knew Neville would let him win. Especially from that cunt Hermione. That bitch would never see a victory over Neville as valid but only as another example of Harry cheating.

His gaze fell up the aforementioned bushy haired plain looking bitch who was almost jumping up and down at the chance to take one Harry. Yes the arrogant, self righteous, intolerant cunt that was Hermione would make a perfect opponent. Crabbe would have done so as well for a similar reason but he was nothing more than a dumb brute who followed those with a brain while Hermione was very intelligent, enough to be deemed a leader by her peers, though her intelligence was book smart and narrow minded to the point that she saw only her own views as intelligent. Therefore making her defeat more important as well as victory all the sweeter.

No she was perfect. Not only would she underestimate him given her warped beliefs, not only did she try to undermine and belittle him at every opportunity and try and prove her superiority over him, but she would also provide excellent entertainment for the whole Academy. Beating her would give him immense satisfaction as well as prove that the bullshit she had been sprouting about being a superior bender based on her birth was false and that birth did not equate to bending skill. Hopefully his victory would humble and knock the brat down a peg or two and definitely humiliate her planet sized ego.

"I select Hermione." Harry said making up his mind.

He knew he would select her from the get go but wanted to keep all his options open. It was why he had had Neville put money on Hermione being his selection for an opponent.

"Yes" Hermione screamed jumping up in the air. "Finally the time to show my superiority and mastery of fire to all by defeating the Avatar in single combat. This will prove everything I have been saying about those of us who are first generation being the best benders. Listen all of you, hopefully when I wipe the floor with the Avatar you will all know how right I am about everything and subsequently follow me and my views like you should so that we can make the world truly equal and restore balance."

Harry just smiled at her elitist and arrogant rant. It will be fun to put her in her place in front of the entire Academy. It would prove all her so called perfect, irrefutable and unchallengeable claims were wrong. Most thought of her as nothing more than a racist, intolerant, elitist, arrogant far left joke and her quick and easy defeat at his hands, a so called pureblood, would end her. Hopefully she wouldn't snap at the defeat.

"Yes Hermione your 10 years of firebending practice and experience verses my 3 months with the art." Harry said calmly to his opponent. "We shall see who is more skilled in firebending in the arena soon."

"The Avatar has made his selection." Albus said in interrupting Hermione before she could retort and start an argument. "The duel shall occur tomorrow on the last day of the semester before the winter break and shall take place in the bending arena, not the practice one. Given the fact that it is the Avatar being tested most of the Academy, both students and masters, wish to watch this duel so it will be opened to all who wish to see it."

"Excellent." Hermione said a gleam of joy in her eyes. "I look forward to defeating an inferior bender in front of the whole Academy. It will further prove all my tolerant, inclusive and equality driven views. It will show the whole Academy that I am the best firebender in the Academy if not the world and convince those of you stupid, racist and intolerant enough to doubt me and my enlightened views."

Harry just ignored this crazy bitch and left the hall with Neville running to catch up with him. He had to prepare for the match tomorrow and wanted to do so with his friends.

The next day most of the Academy had gathered in the bending arena. This was the most packed he had seen the arena since the final of the tournament last year. At one end of the arena in the players' preparation box Harry and his friends were gathered. They had talked the night before about strategy for the duel and Harry felt confident that he could get it over with quickly. He had watched Hermione practice this semester and while she certainly knew all the moves and practiced them religiously Harry did note that she wasn't very good at firebending itself, she wasn't a natural talent or the prodigy she claimed to be. No her skill came from intense repetition and memory of forms. She had no imagination, no creativity, if it wasn't by the book it wasn't in her repertoire. She was likely not a skilled duelist as her skills were good in theory and practice but would they hold up in the heat of battle? Harry was about to test that and come to his own conclusions. All those things considered Harry had no idea why she had such a superiority complex. The only good things about her firebending that Harry saw was her control over the element and the precision she displayed with her attacks despite her attacks appearing to be easy to avoid.

At the other end of the arena in the opposite box was Hermione with a few of her sycophants. One was Justin, an earthbender and commoner who was a first generation bender, the other was an airbender girl with her master tattoos. Harry didn't recognize her other than that she was one of the 7th year students but he assumed that she must be a first generation bender as well or at least a devotee of Hermione's philosophies seeing as she was with Hermione tight before the duel.

Both Harry and Hermione were wearing canvas suits with leather armor and helmets with plastic face shields, the same stuff they would wear in the Academy's bending tournament. Dumbledore was sitting in the official's chair judging the fight. A duel of this importance would have the Head of the Fire House personally officiating and judging it.

"Good luck Harry" Ginny said kissing him.

"Yeah put that bitch in her place." Neville said. "She should learn to keep her mouth shut and her intolerant and bigoted views to herself if she isn't going to at least listen to the opposing side and engage in a healthy discourse without resorting to bullying and shaming those who do debate her."

"It will be my pleasure." Harry said.

As they had been speaking the metal jetty that took competitors from the box to the platform had been extended and Team Avatar was being brought to the platform. Harry stepped of it and waved to his friends as they returned to the box on the retreating jetty. On the other side Hermione had gotten off her jetty and was striding towards the center of the platform with purpose and confidence. Harry met her in the center circle each in their respective zone 1. He had to give it to her she did have a shit ton of confidence.

"Welcome all to the Avatar's test to prove his mastery of the element of fire." Albus said his voice amplified by the microphone in front of him so that all could hear him. "Avatar Harry as chosen to face a fellow 4th year student Hermione as his opponent in this test of fire. I shall be the judge of this duel. In order to prove that he has mastered firebending the Avatar does not necessary need to win this duel but merely prove he has control and mastery over fire and hold his own against a proven firebending master using both offensive and defensive techniques. As many of you may be unaware of how one of these tests work I will explain the rules that the Academy has created for this test. The rules are simple and similar to those employed in probending. Each competitor will begin in zone 1 and try and push their opponents back through the zones until one falls of the end. However unlike probending there is no time limit. As with probending when one goes back a section the opponent can move forward a section. They can only use fire. The Avatar cannot use earthbending and we have a Richter Scale built into the platform to prove it if he does earthbend. Hermione is not allowed to use lighting which while she can produce is a technique considered to be above master level. Also given the lethality of the technique should she use it she will be expelled for use of deadly force and possibly face criminal charges. Now begin."

As Dumbledore shouted the last Hermione attacked sending three powerful and intense fire blasts right at Harry from her fists that took Harry by surprise. Not only had her reactions be faster than he expected but the heat had been greater than Harry had seen her produce in practice. Harry smirked, this would be a little more interesting maybe she wasn't entirely by the book as he had thought. Harry easily dodged the blasts taking a light fighting stance on the balls of his feet and sent back two fire medium powered blasts at her. They were easy for Hermione to dodge but that was the purpose of the blasts, to gauge her reactions.

"Is that the best the best that you got you pureblood bastard." Hermione said the scorn and hate evident in her voice. "I knew you would be pathetic. You don't even deserve to be in the arena with a talent as great as mine let alone the same platform. Come on don't hold back just cos I'm woman or are you a sexist pig as well."

Harry smirked at the comment. He had hoped that she would interpret his attack this way, she was almost too predictable but Harry wouldn't let that blind him just in case she showed something unexpected.

"Try this on for size then you intolerant and ignorant bitch." Harry said with a grin.

Harry leapt into the air sending an arc of fire from his right foot in a diagonal arc at Hermione before she could reply. She was barely able to dodge the attack. The move wasn't in any firebending books it was one he had copied from airbending so defending against it would be tough for someone as rule orientated as Hermione. As Harry landed he leapt up again to catch Hermione off guard. This time he sent a whirlwind of flame from both his feet at Hermione as he back flipped to preserve momentum. She was still recovering from his first attack and couldn't avoid this one. The blast caught her clean in her leather chest plate lifting her off her feet and sending her crashing back into zone 2. The move was seamlessly executed and took Harry less than 30 seconds to perform.

Hermione rolled with the blow when she landed in zone 2 and leapt up with a vicious scissor kick sending fire from both feet in a continuous stream of intense heat at Harry as she righted herself. He was impressed. It was an unorthodox and unpredictable move of pure raging power. Not something he was expecting from a by the book precise fighter like Hermione. The move stunk of desperation and preservation which was the only way Hermione would use such a move, a moment when she had no other options available to her. She was likely very pissed at Harry landing an attack against her "perfect" defense.

Harry ran at the flames, he was allowed to move forward a zone after all and had begun doing so as soon as Hermione had been pushed back a zone, and launched himself into the air using fire jets from his fists at his sides to gain more height with his leap. Despite this he just barely clearing the inferno Hermione had sent at him. Harry was pretty high in the air and he knew it would hurt when he landed and preformed the move he had in mind especially without his earthbending to cushion his fall but the pain would be worth it if this worked. Wrapping his right fist in fire Harry landed in Hermione's zone 1 on one knee and punched the platform upon landing. The landing and punch hurt his knee and hand but he could tell that nothing was broken. This technique was an earthbending technique used to create a seismic wave of earth using gravity to generate power into the move but now Harry had hopefully adapted it to be a firebending move as well. Once his fist hit the platform a wave of fire shot out from the point of impart, radiating the way the earth would should he try the move with earthbending. Naturally the wave would hit Hermione where she was standing.

Hermione was forced to leap up to avoid the fire wave but she didn't use fire jets to do so and as such she was not entirely able to clear the fire. The top of the wave burnt the bottom of her right boot and likely her foot beneath it. Landing badly on the charred surface of the platform Hermione stumbled back from the injury and fell into zone 3.

Harry wasted no time in following up his advantage by charging forward a zone and sending a series of fire blasts from his fists at her prone form. Instead of going for large blasts Harry instead opted for a series of short sharp jets of fire similar to how Ron and Ginny used water in the arena. Hermione tried to dodge them as she rose but she had no time to counter. She wasn't fast enough to avoid all the blasts. Either from lack of mobility, her possible injury or both, two of the blasts got throw and struck her as she was rising and dodging them at the same time. One caught her right shoulder, just as she got to her feet, spinning her around so that the second blast took her in the lower back. The force of Harry's blasts were similar to how he earthbent so there was a lot of power behind them. The second blast was enough to send her sprawling face first into zone 4.

Hermione was able to push herself up onto her hands and knees as Harry moved into her 3rd zone. That was as much as she was able to get up before Harry kicked viciously upwards sending a vertical arc of fire from his right foot that caught Hermione in the gut while she was still down. The force of the blast lifted her spinning into the air and sent her cleanly off the end of the platform and into the water below. She landed with a sickening splash.

"The Avatar wins" Albus said to cheers from almost all of the spectators who had just watched Harry's display dominance over Hermione, the only deliberate attack she had gotten off had been the initial 3 shot salvo.

Most of them had been on his side, only the bender supremacist purists whose parents sympathized with Voldemort and those who followed the teachings of Hermione as if they were gospel lore weren't cheering. Both groups didn't like the fact that they had failed to get the Avatar onto their side and as such shunned him, not that Harry cared for the thoughts of those on the extremes, be it the right or the left. He had heard that Ron's twin brothers Fred and George had been holding bets on the fight but few were willing to bet against Harry according to Ron.

"It is in my opinion that the Avatar has clearly shown his mastery of firebending and thus passes his test and is now deemed to be a master firebender." Albus said, "He has now mastered two of the four elements."

As Albus was speaking Harry's friends had arrived on the stage to congratulate him. Ginny kissed him, Ron and Neville slapped his back while Luna just hugged him. Their public celebration was ruined when Hermione suddenly limped onto the stage haven taken the elevator up from the water to the box and limped across the now extended metal jetty. She'd removed her helmet and mask, her hair and armor soaked from the plunging. There were several scorch marks on her armor from where Harry's attacks had landed.

"The Avatar cheated!" Hermione screamed as she limped forward, since his victory Harry had retreated to the center of the platform. "He earthbent when he created that fire wave. It's the only way he could have done that illegal move. It's not in any firebending book or scroll therefore it shouldn't be allowed and he should be disqualified. The only way he could have defeated a superior bender like me is by cheating."

"No I didn't." Harry responded feeling his anger at Hermione begin to boil dangerously. Of course this horrible cunt would try and delegitimize his valid win by a false accusation, it was completely her style. "That move was pure firebending. I simply took an earthbending move I knew and used firebending instead of earthbending. If I had earthbent there would be a clear crater and ripples from the bending. That move leaves a clear and distinctive mark when executed using earthbending. It was very hard and painful to execute that move with just firebending. Furthermore the rules said I could firebend not that I had to use only firebending moves listed in books and scrolls."

"I felt the platform move when you punched it." Hermione said the insanity and hate clear in her eyes. "That is a telltale sign of earthbending. Typical of a pureblood to cheat when faced against a superior and more skilled bender such as myself."

Was this bitch serious. She had lost fair and square. Not just lost but been destroyed. She got of 3 fire blasts and one unique move during the whole match and none of them hit him. Harry looked down at his fist and saw the irrefutable proof that he had not used earthbending. He held it up so that Hermione, Albus and everyone else could see it. It was bloody and bruised from where he punched the platform without earthbending to cushion the blow.

"I'm a master earthbender." Harry said anger clear in his voice as he rose his fist so that Hermione could see the injury. "I know how to punch stone like this platform without injuring myself like this. However the only way to avoid injury is with earthbending and seeing as I couldn't in this duel, and I don't cheat, I punched the platform with only firebending. Hence the injury."

"Give me your hand Harry." Ginny said tenderly taking Harry's injured hand and calling up some water from her water skin. She began to expertly heal his hand. Harry inwardly sighed as he felt the cooling and soothing effect of waterbending healing.

"That proves nothing." Hermione yelled. It was clear that her loss had unhinged her. Harry wondered who she faced to claim her mastery of fire. "If anything it proves that you are in fact a terrible earthbender as I always knew you were. As you said a skilled earthbender wouldn't hurt themselves from a move like that but seeing as you definitely cheated and that you hurt yourself like that you must be a terrible earthbender. Further proof that purebloods are inferior to us mudbloods as you racists call us. I knew anyone who was the offspring of two benders couldn't possibly beat one of the Chosen like me."

Harry couldn't believe this chick. How delusional was she? Was she always like this or had his defeat of her caused something to snap in her mind? Harry had a feeling he would never know the answers to those questions.

"Harry beat you fair and square you completely delusional bitch." Ginny said the venom and anger dripping from her words. "No actually your a complete cunt and as a woman I hate that word but you are the dictionary definition of a fucking cunt. Why don't you for once in your delusional life accept that you have been beaten by someone who is clearly better than you at something. You aren't all powerful, you clearly aren't the best firebender in the school, just accept that you don't know everything and aren't 100% right about every issue. Master Albus I apologize for my crude and vulgar language and accept any punishment you deem fit for it."

"I will never accept such lies, especially from a pureblood, racist, elitist, arrogant little bitch like you Princess Ginny." Hermione spat putting a lot of emphasis in Ginny's official title and making it sound like it was a bad thing. Harry saw Ginny wince at it and knew his girlfriend hated using her title as she felt it made her appear superior to others, it was the same with her brothers, and she never saw herself as being above others because of her noble birth and never wanted to be seen as such.

"Tell them Master Albus." Hermione continue turning a pleading look at the ancient Head of the Fire House. "Tell them the Avatar cheated. You have the technology to prove me right, not that you need to do so as I know that I am always right. As an Enlightened my word is infallible, I am always right, my views should be law. Only an Enlightened knows what the world needs to be a better, more tolerant and equal place."

Harry was just wide eyed at her escalating rants. It seemed that this defeat pushed her over some edge into complete madness, only that Bellatrix chick seemed madder than Hermione did right now. Harry hoped it was only temporary due to taking the defeat really badly.

"As a matter of fact Hermione the Avatar did not cheat." Albus said in his kindest voice as if he was trying to mollify a distraught child which is how Hermione was acting right now. The Head of the Fire House was looking intently at his bushy haired student making a scene in front of the whole school. "According to the Richter Scale set into the platform Harry never earthbent during the whole duel, including during that fine firebending move. By the way Harry you must show me how you did it that move so it could be taught to future students once all the kinks are worked out. The move he created was new and even if he had lost that move alone would have been enough to confirm him as a master. No Hermione you have lost the duel fair and square, again, and I'm sure that Harry would submit to a truth seer to prove his innocence if you don't trust the equipment. Remember Hermione non of your previous accusations of cheating in these duels have been proven by a truth seer and this time we have technology to prove Harry's account beyond a shadow of a doubt."

"He's a fucking truth seer himself." Hermione screamed swearing for the first time Harry had heard. "I'm sure he knows how to beat them besides seeing as he is a truth seer he should know that I am currently telling the truth and as such serve as proof that he cheated, if he really is as good as he claims which I doubt it."

"Sifu Albus." Harry said trying his best to ignore Hermione. "There is only one person who has ever been known to beat a truth seer and that was Azula and she was good enough to fool Toph herself, the greatest truth seer of all time, and as my friends and family can attest I am a terrible liar. If it would appease Hermione I will submit to a truth seer to prove that I am telling the entire truth about this fight. As for Hermione's words right now I am wearing boots so I cannot confirm her words as I need direct skin contact with the earth to be able to truth see but given her current state I would say she would pass a truth seer not because she knows how to beat one but because she seems to honestly believe everything she is saying is the entire, irrefutable truth."

"Very well but that is not necessary." Albus said looking at Harry. "You won fairly and proved your mastery of firebending."

"NO!" Hermione screamed, "I will not be humiliated like this by a vastly inferior bender."

Before anyone could react Hermione made a quick move with the 2 fingers on her right hand and sent a jolt of lighting straight at Harry's chest.

Harry felt himself being roughly pushed aside by Ron and Harry stumbled and fell to the floor. He watched as his best friend put himself in the path of the lightning bolt. Catching it with one hand Ron hunched over as if in pain before redirecting the lightning out his other hand right back at the now, likely, expelled firebender. Harry had never seen lightning redirection done by anyone and never heard of a waterbender being able to do it. From the looks of it it wasn't pleasant for Ron as he was still hunched over gasping for breath. Hermione easily dodged the redirected lightning and it struck the stone wall far behind her harmlessly.

"Hermione." Albus ordered with an authority Harry had not heard before. "Stand down and surrender. You have attacked another student with lethal intent and using a bending art that can easily cause death. As of this moment you are hereby expelled from the Elemental Academy and are under arrest pending criminal charges."

Harry rose and slammed his foot down pulling up a rock disk. He really wanted to turn it into a lava disk but resisted the urge as few knew he could lavabend and it had as much lethal potential as lightning. Ginny pulled water from her water skin and formed it into a water whip, Neville created a fireball and Luna took a fighting stance. Only Ron didn't join in as he was still recovering.

"Never" Hermione yelled as she spun in a circle creating a ring of intense fire around herself to protect herself. It was a high level move that impressed Harry as he knew Neville had spent weeks trying to master that particular move, he hadn't even tried it yet as it was seen as above master level. "I will never submit to the authority of an inferior bender, especially one who's authority is not valid as it goes against my views and they should be the ultimate authority in the world. I know the truth, I am the truth. I am the leader of the Enlightened, those who have had their eyes opened like me, are almost as smart as me and know that my views must be made into law for all. My vision is one of true social justice, fairness, equality, tolerance, peace and balance and should be followed without question, without complaint, without hesitation and especially without any opposition. I am equality incarnate. We Enlightened will rise up to take our rightful places as leaders of this world. Only an Enlightened leader can be a legitimate leader. Submit to my every view and idea for I alone know what is best for the world. I am also one of the Chosen, those people who have been chosen at birth by Raava herself to become benders when their parents are not. We are the most powerful and purists benders in the world for we are Chosen and did not inherit our powers. Our bending has not been diluted by being passed down over the generations making purebloods the true impure benders. I am tolerance, I am understanding, I am justice for all those who have been oppressed by the elites, by purebloods, by the incompetent fools who currently run the nations. I am what the Avatar should be and the only person who the Avatar should listen to and follow not those purebloods around him who pollute his mind. Only with me can he truly restore equality to all. Those who are with me or who want to stand with me on the side of victory and justice join me know and caste off the shackles of this oppressive society. Together we will create a true utopia one that you will all beg us to implement in your failed nations in due course. Join me now and leave this place of tyranny and oppression behind us."

With that Hermione sent a fire blast at Master Albus and then sent the fire vortex that had surrounded her out in all directions though with a focus at Team Avatar before propelling herself into the air on fire jets and diving into the water before any had the time to reach to her warped ramblings. While Harry and Neville moved forward to dissipate the fire and Albus easily did the same to the fire blast aimed at him, several students where following Hermione into the water. They were those who were already loyal to her or those who had somehow been swayed by her speeches that day.

"The Chosen shall rise a create a new world order." Several of the defectors yelled as they jumped.

As the final flames dissipated Harry just stared blankly at the spot where moments before Hermione had been.

"What the fuck was that." Harry said when he finally regained his composure. "Another self righteous, unstable, megalomaniac, extremist, zealot who thinks so highly of their so called correct views of the world that their word should be law and will achieve their goals through the use of violence."

"Just another mad, extreme villain for the Avatar to deal with." Ginny said shaking her head before taking her boyfriend's hand and leading him off the stage, quickly followed by the rest of Team Avatar with Luna helping her own still sore boyfriend.

As usual I will attempt to publish the next chapter next Sunday. I will point out that this is the last time Hermione will appear in Book 1, except for a brief appearance at the end of the next chapter, and the story will shift more to Voldemort going forward. That being said Hermione and her views in my story will be mentioned at various points in later chapters. Constructive reviews regarding my terrible writing, grammar, punctuation, etc. and any inconsistencies I miss in my story will be listened too and any questions regarding the story will be answered. Any reviews that complain about the fact that my well stated Hermione bashing and smart Ron decisions in this story are not to their liking or interpretation of the characters and any reviews that take my extreme depiction of a minor, antagonistic, character as a sign of my own personal views being the same as racists, intolerant and bigoted assholes or infer my support for certain people with absolutely no evidence will be ignored. Until next week.

Stringdog