Kate Chase - Luke will (probably) find out who she kissed in this chapter, and if he doesn't he'll find out soon. Do you think I'm going too fast? There can only be a few more chapters before the demigods can be saved. If you have any ideas for chapters, please tell me and I will use them. The quote came from Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I've just finished doing about the USA in the 1930s for my GCSEs and I really wanted to use this quote. I kind-of wrote about the almost-killing of Dumbledore and McGonagall wanting to send everyone home just so that I could use that quote. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this chapter.

Gladium Aureum

Hermione:

"We should use sword as well as wands," I suggested as we sat, once again, in the Head Dorms. All of the adults had decided to give us our own space and they were busy evacuating the school of all those who didn't want to fight.

"Muggle weapons?" Draco asked in disbelief, his nose scrunching up with disgust.

In the next instant, Jase had stood and had his wand trained on Draco's chest, glowering at the younger boy - man? - as he stood poised, ready to hex if need be.

"Jase, don't," I commanded, trying to loosen the tension by joking around - and everyone knows Hermione Granger should never joke because she's about as funny as a demented penguin, although penguins are rather cute. "We all know he's not very clever."

For all my troubles, I just got loads of raised eyebrows and a snort from my brother.

"Thank you," I exclaimed, pointing at Jase, "You found it funny."

"No," he disagreed, "You should never joke, sis."

That got snots of laughter from almost everyone in the room. I glared at him, sticking out my bottom lip in a pout, which, instead of making them feel guilty or anything of that sort, just made them laugh harder.

"Back on track," I said eventually, turning their attention to me once more, "We can catch them off guard by using swords, but these aren't the normal muggle swords." I saw Draco exhale in relief, although I was sure it wasn't as much for the fact that they were muggle but for the fact that he had no idea of muggle things.

"I read about this spell a couple of years ago for a bit of light reading..."

"Light reading," Ron murmured to Harry for all to hear, earning a nod of agreement from one of my best friends and more laughter from everyone else.

"Stop making fun of me," I wined, sitting down on one of the sofa's with a soft thump and pouting even more.

"Alright, we're sorry. What were you saying?" Harry tried to placate me like he always did.

"The spell is called Gladium Aureum, which literally translates from Latin to mean golden sword. I am sure that the Death Eaters will know it's twin spell, Nigrum Gladio, which, in Latin, means Black Sword. However, they will not expect us to know this." I rummaged around in my bag for the book I had picked out of the library earlier. Once found, I placed the thick tome on my lap and began to read.

"The Gladium Aureum spell, or more commonly referred to as the Golden Sword spell, creates a golden sword, which can then be used to fight against even the most dark of magic. However, it can only be used to wound, not kill, a victim as then it will change into the Nigrum Gladio, it's twin spell. The Nigrum Gladio, or more commonly referred to as the Black Sword spell, is only used by the most darkest of Wizards and will slowly suck away the life-force of its user. This must not be used under any circumstances as eventually the user, as well as the victim, will die."

I stopped reading and stared at everyone giving me their rapt attention for a moment before I read the final bit. "Both spells need an extortionate amount of magic to use but only the Nigrum Gladio will eventually kill their user, instead anyone who does not have enough power and is attempting the Gladium Aureum will literally not be able form the sword."

"Impressive," Neville stated quietly, "But how will you be able to tell who has enough power or not?"

I scanned the text for a moment to see if it had anything on it and, right at the bottom, there was a small paragraph on this exact question.

"There is a spell to determine that. You must wave your wand and say Magicae a venis, ostende te. It is literally translated to Magic from my veins, show yourself." A number will appear in front of you and if that number is higher than 100, you can attempt this spell. The higher the number, the more magic you possess. The highest number in the history of magic is 500. Okay, so who wants to go first?"

"I will," Neville said gently, standing so that everyone could see him. "Magicae a venis, ostende te."

There was a heart-stopping moment before the number 195 came up. He gave us such a happy grin I couldn't help grinning back.

"Who's next?"

"I'll go," a petit sixth-year called Mindy-Rose said as she stood. "Magicae a venis, ostende te..."

Again there was a pause before the number came up, this time showing a 64. She looked utterly crushed as she sat, but the next person was going so there was no way anyone could comfort her. Soon everyone apart from me, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Jase and Draco had gone, and Ginny was standing up. She got a 209, while Harry, who went next, got a 510.

"That's the highest in history," was Neville's shocked reply to that as Ron stood up, receiving a 493. Then Draco went, his eyes firmly fixed on Harry. It was clear that he wanted to get higher than Harry, which would be virtually impossible. However, when he spoke the spell, a 510, the exact same score as Harry, came up. Pouting slightly, he sat down once more. It was clear that the animosity between my two friends would never completely disappear.

"Go, Jase," I instructed, motioning for him to stand, which he did with only a hint of nervousness in his eyes. He spoke the words in a quietly clear voice, earning a 497.

Finally, it was my go.

"Magicae a venis, ostende te," I said in a loud voice, breathing heavily and waving my wand as I'd been instructed. I felt like my heart was going to burst out of my throat in my nervousness but eventually the number came up.

1015

XxX

Luke:

I could feel something tickling my cheek, dragging me from the darkness I was currently happily under. Blinking my eyes blearily open, I stared into concerned eyes leaning over me. The face was still slightly blurry but it was her blond hair that was tickling my cheeks, making my face itch. Groaning slightly, I raised myself weakly onto my elbows, staring at all of the demigods staring at me. I shuffled backwards for a moment until I reached the wall, which I gratefully leant against, closing my eyes in order to get my breath back. Even moving a couple of steps in my weak state made me feel like I was going to faint.

"Are you okay?"

I raised my eyes to stare at Annabeth, who was staring at me with the utmost concern. "I mean, they took you out and threw you back in barely conscious. You were delirious, Luke, shouting things like 'I don't want to,' and 'Hermione will hate me.' What did they want you to do?"

"They wanted me to join them. I said no because I'm not like that anymore. Hermione taught me that. Needless to say, Voldemort wasn't particularly happy about that."

"That b..." Annabeth began, stopping before she could say the offensive word.

"Still don't swear?" I asked, letting out a pitiful laugh before coughing horrendously. It was so horrible to be unable to do anything and if the war started I would be less than useless. I let out an annoyed sigh as the bars on the cell door were pushed back and Narcissa Malfoy stole in.

"No-one knows I'm here," she murmured, "So if anyone comes in, you must act injured, okay?" I nodded, trusting her completely as she waved her wand over my body, healing the broken bones.

A sickening pain starting in the top of my head washed over me, causing me to scream piercingly from the pain. In a distant recess of my mind I was glad that the cell that a Muffliato (courtesy of Professor Snape) spell had been put over it so that no-one could hear my yells. That was only in a distant corner of my mind, however, as the pain was dominating most of it.

As sudden as it had come, it was gone, leaving me panting loudly but no longer hurting. I was still aching in places but I could finally move and I didn't feel as weak, although it would still be a little while before I was up to full health.

"That's all I can do for the moment," she whispered once she'd finished, "I'll bring you some potions to increase your health tomorrow, but I have to go before I'm missed."

"Thank you," I whispered.

Narcissa nodded once before leaving, shutting the door securely behind her.