Hullo, people. I'm sorry I haven't updated for so very long. But it's the students' favorite time of the year: EXAMS!!!! *Aaah, run for your life!* And I don't know if I'm going to finish this particular fic because of the upcoming release of the next book, but I wanted to explain why it's called Chaos Mage. Anyway, thank you so much to the people who reviewed. I'M SO HAPPY!!! *muse comes over and slaps her about till she's calm, then turns to the reader: thank you and please forgive the little dear, she's already tried to curse her test papers with her ruler, good thing she's not taking OWLs or NEWTs *

Part VIII

"Albus, that is totally preposterous!" Heads turned as Cornelius Fudge strode into the hall in a furious dispute with Dumbledore. Ron raised an eyebrow. The Minister of Magic had lost a lot of respect after his vehement denial of Voldemorte's return. "I know we should make peace with the giants, but to bring them here?"

"Fudge, as soon as they side with us, they to will be under threat," Dumbledore insisted. "And with this full out war we could more than use their assistance!"

"Use who's assistance, headmaster?" Ron stiffened. Lucius Malfoy slipped into the Great Hall right after Fudge.

"Looking more like a slimy git of a snake than ever," he breathed under his breath.

"I dunno, Ron," Hermione answered him lightly, "I think that would be an unfair comparison for the snake."

"Why except their help, Minister?" Malfoy murmured. "It would become an even greater threat to our students." Dumbledore's eyebrows drew together at this. If he hadn't been who he was, the two would have probably been cursed to bits.



"No not just the giants' help, but their alliance and friendship." Most of the students who had been watching the discussion from the breakfast table, twisted around as Damion came up, a soft smile on his face. Malfoy gave him a cold stare, but the smile didn't fade.

"And you have become such an authority on relations with giants since when, Mr..."

"Damion. Damion Atwell. I'm the current DADA. During my...earlier years in school I had the most excellent fortune to have a mentor, who was half giant. I would never trade his friendship for anything," Damion replied smoothly.

"Really," Malfoy sneered. "And if there are already Deatheater spies among them? What then Mister Atwell?"

"Oh, I doubt it," was the cool response. "But I suppose you would be the better authority on that than I would." Lucius Malfoy's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean to say, Atwell?"

"Why, Mister Malfoy. I meant to say exactly what I did say." Dumbledore lead the rather nervous minister and Malfoy out of the hall and Damion made his way up to the head table. Ron swore that he winked at them as he passed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dungeons, Dragons, Curses, Counter curses, Cackling Audreys... There! Chaos Mages! Hermione slid the extremely thin volume (make that a three-page pamphlet) of the bookshelf. Madame Pince, seeing she had found what she needed, hurried back to her desk. Hermione regarded the cover in puzzlement: The Studies and Findings of Corny Krensky. There was a jotted note in the corner. Please keep in mind this is a completely unproved study of a lunatic. She turned around and brought it back to the table where Ron and Seamus were arguing if the Dingbat really existed. Professor Atw - Damion, she reminded herself, had been teaching them about the legends of the wizarding world.

"Just because it has never occurred or been seen, doesn't mean it can't exist," he had explained that morning. "You need to be prepared for anything. And it will be fun, you would be surprised at what others have claimed to have seen. Take the Dingbat for example..." He had then gone on to assign them all a myth or legend to research, giving Ron the Dingbat after nearly being deafened by enthusiastic begging. He hadn't seemed to mind. Hermione thought he had grinned rather strangely at her when he handed laid hers on the desk.

"This happens to be my favorite, Hermione," he explained softly. "See if you can find anything on the subject."

Chaos mages. What in the world...? There was very little material. She didn't want to bother with that right now, she wanted to know why he reminded her of something she couldn't remember. Also, whom had he been talking to in the back room? With a sigh she settled down to read the rather boring looking pamphlet. What she read, however, caught her interest instantly.

Chaos mages are not bound by the standard rules of magic. In fact they are not controlled by any rules at all. This very rare wizard is capable of bending or breaking the principles of magic to suit their purposes. For example one may be able to throw off the effect of a poison, travel through time without assistance, apparate into warded locations, fly without a broomstick, or be able to make curses and hexes like the Imperio and maybe the Avada Kedavra harmless and useless. In short, they are the epitomy of power controlled only by their own limitations.

These kinds of mages are so rare that that no one has met them face-to-face. I believe that the last known chaos mages to exist were Xanos from Atlantis, Merlin, and Godric Gryffindor founder of Hogwart's School. I also believe that this ability is passed down, not by blood line, but by the training of master to apprentice...

Hermione stared off into space. A thousand ideas whirled around in her head. That guy that kept helping them during the attacks...he was invulnerable to Avada Kedavra! And, and... it would be so wonderful if he was one! Voldemorte could be vanquished for good. He might even be able to find Harry! Damion Atwell, you have done me the best favor!

She didn't see him watching her with dancing eyes behind the bookshelf. She didn't hear his soft chuckle, or his footsteps as he left. She didn't make the connection, as yet, which was what he wanted. Soon, though, he thought. Soon...