Yes, I know I said that I would update sooner but I had a severe case of Writer's Block. It was impossible to get the chapter how I wanted it until now. Any way enjoy, read, review.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter never will. I do own the plot and my OCs though.


Xave was getting pretty worried. His plan had to work almost perfectly for it to have positive results. One of the things that had to happen was for Hermione to see the reason that he did it without him telling her exactly. The problem was that from the venom laced in her voice he figured she would rather tear him apart atom by atom than listen to him.

He was broken out of his thoughts by footsteps on opposite sides of the four way intersection . Perfect, phase 1: Split Harry and Weasley up. Complete.

Now for phase two. He took out his wand knowing that Hermione was watching and began to make intricate movements and mutter randomly. To Hermione it should look like he was doing a complex spell but in reality he just made walls of fire rise with his Elemental powers, blocking Harry and Weasley's path to him.

Hermione started to yell that it was a trap and other things that Xave decided to ignore. Xave watched Ron closely through the flame as he came running. Bingo, there it was he faltered.

Waving his wand once more he made words appear in front of both of them:

I see you finally decided to come and with no teachers, good for you. By now you probably see that wall of fire ahead of you. Now before you do any thing know that the fire is a rather special form of dark magic that on contact feels like nothing but instead slowly burns your internal organs until you die a painful death. I suppose you might still be able to get to your precious Hermione, but at what cost. Your choice.

Nothing to do now but wait Xave thought.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Harry and Ron were running top speed towards the dungeons praying that the person hadn't already killed Hermione.

They continued to run until they came to a fork that both had am arrow and 'Hermione' under it. After some quick arguing they split up each going on separate paths, having no idea that that was exactly what was wanted.

He continued to run until he saw an opening that was soon covered with a wall of fire. Words appeared before him. Basically it said that he could die and save Hermione or live and not.

Remembering the time limit, Harry smirked. The idiot. That loser actually believed he would leave Hermione just because his life was forfeit if he did. Well, he was wrong. Harry, Hermione and Ron all have a bond that means he would put his life on the line just to save either one.

With that thought in mind, Harry charged the wall of fire jumping through with ease. The weird message hadn't lied about it not hurting at all but he had at least thought his clothes would be burned. Shrugging it off he turned to stare at Volde- Hey! He's not Voldemort he's…

Standing in front of him twirling his wand around was none other than the Slytherin that Ron had constantly accused: Xavier Zorac.

His eyes filled with hate as he thought of all the times Hermione had defended him and how he had considered him the only okay Slytherin he knew. All this rage built up as he sent him the strongest death glare he could muster.

Xave was barely paying attention to him he even yawned at him. He aimed his wand at him before saying in an even, "Let Hermione go."

Xave just smirked at him, "Make me."

And thus the battle began as they began firing off spells at each other. Harry noted that he seemed to be a lot weaker than he looked while facing Ron. Most of his spells were easy to dodge but harder to shield from.

Xave got a leg-locker curse past his defenses. Even though he didn't fall over, it left him wide open. Xave sent a simple disarming spell at him. Harry thought that he looked a bit expectant. The spell hit him before he could block and he fell backwards as his wand clattered on the floor. Since he was struggling to stand he missed the disappointed look on Xave's face.

When Harry finally stood he saw his wand on the ground not far from him and Xave whispering to Hermione. Xave smirked and snapped his fingers as the fire faded and Xave disappeared in a blast of flame.

Harry hopped over to his wand muttering things about evil Slytherin's and pyromaniacs as he undid the curse. Rushing to Hermione, he saw Ron there and briefly wondered why Ron hadn't helped. Shrugging it off as that Ron had only just gotten here.

That was when he noticed that Hermione was crying. "H-Harry I'm so sorry," she cried as he bent down to help her. Harry briefly had an image of Ginny doing something after he saved her from the chamber.

With a sinking feeling he listened to Hermione tell him about how she had been lying about going to the Library. He already knew that part. She went on to tell him that she had been learning spells under Xave's tutelage. Harry's eyes widened as he remembered what he had thought Hermione was doing. Harry was fighting hard to resist the image of Hermione and…

He turned away and took a deep breath to prevent himself from puking.

"You were hanging out with that rotten Slytherin and you were defending him. What else were you doing with him Hermione," Ron yelled at her. She started crying again with new sobs. Something in Harry broke and he did something h never thought he would do to Ron ever. He punched him hard across the jaw.

There was a stunned silence only broken by Hermione's quiet sobs. "Shut up, Ron, just shut up," Harry said quietly as he helped Hermione stand. Ron was staring at him with a shocked expression. His shock quickly faded and it was replaced by anger.

"Don't you know what he did, Harry," Ron yelled at him, "he kidnapped her but only because she trusted him. She brought this on herself. It's her own fault."

Harry froze. He slowly turned around. He felt a weird sensation in his stomach. It was like there was a game of tug-o-war inside his stomach. His head was down so that his bangs covered his eyes.

He walked up to Ron and lifted his head. His eyes were full of anger. He punched Ron as hard as he could sending him back about six yards. "Don't ever say that again or you'll regret it."

He walked back to the Common Room with Hermione in tow having no idea about that Hermione was thinking about the last thing Xave had said to her: Mr. Weasley has been at my fire wall this entire time and done nothing while Harry gambled his life for you. Figure it out.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Xave was relaxing outside. He was sitting by the lake, watching the Giant Squid bathe in the last bit of warmth there'd be for a while.

He was staring up at the clouds when he heard the telltale magic of another Elemental. Not just any Elemental mind you, an Elemental that he was quite familiar with. One that had tried to kill him and his friends multiple times even though he did help them sometimes as well.

The person before him, the person that was the final part of the eight Elementals all together, the boy that was Xave's greatest and toughest rival.

The person before him, sitting on a dragon completely and totally constructed of earth was…

"Hello, what brings you to these parts, Jack" Xave asked.

"Oh, you know, the usual I'm just here to kill you," the boy, Jack, said.

"Bring it."


There we are. Well now it gets interesting. Did you like Harry punching Ron? Did you think it was too OOC? I won't know unless you review.

There are about 25 people that have this story on alert but last chapter only got one review from my ever faithful reviewer: murdrax.

Thanks for the review. ShadowLight signing out.