Jez:Thank you, I rather liked it myself. I see what you mean. Most of the inspiration for my writing style came from Terry Brooks, one of my favorite authors. I personally think he's a little long winded, so I try not to over describe things.

---

"Another attack?" Harry asked. Hermione nodded.

"Over night, a Hufflepuff. Filch found her unconscious on the second floor. She hasn't woken up yet." She informed him and Ron.

"I wonder what is going on. Last time it was a basilisk, but this doesn't make any sense. Did they know each other?" Ron asked. Hermione shook her head.

"The Slytherin was a sixth year, and the Hufflepuff was a first year. They'd never even crossed paths before." She sighed.

"Sounds like something we should..." The lights in the great hall dimmed, and went out. "What the?" Harry yelled.

"Luminos!" It was Monica, and she flared up like a star. Shadows moved along the walls, as the light returned, and she dimmed. "Not again." Pansy Parkinson lay on the floor, curled into a ball, blood running from her arms, and the back of her neck.

"Get back." Snape snarled, wand whipping out, and levitating her onto a stretcher.

"Did anyone see what happened?" McGonagall asked. Heads shook, except Monica who was face down on the table, panting with effort. "Might I have a word with you?" She asked her. Monica nodded, rising, and walking a bit unsteadily after her. Harry watched them go.

"Wonder what that's about?" Ron asked. Hermione shrugged.

"Probably getting into trouble." She replied. "I don't doubt we'll lose..." The Gryffindor meter on the wall rose a bit, the points increasing. "points." Monica returned, and McGonagall met Dumbledore as he entered. He stared at Monica for a moment and nodded, then they walked out. Hermione turned to her. "What was that all about?"

"She wanted to know if I knew anything. I told her what I do know." She replied. The bell tolled. "And I'm going to be late for class." She rose, and ran out, robes flying behind her. The room cleared. Harry, Hermione and Ron were the last one's out. After they went, the candles went out, and a dozen house elves entered. Shadows rose around the edges of the room. Hours later at lunch, a message was discovered, scrawled in house elf blood on the wall.

'The Light of the Lance will not be denied.'

---

"So in order for the sleep charm to work, one must be facing one's target, as well as have them facing you, unlike the stunner spell. The latter is more popular, simply because it doesn't have such a restriction. Yes, miss Treborne?" She'd lifted her hand into the air.

"Isn't it also true, that the sleep charm works for a longer time though?" Flitwick nodded.

"Yes, and it can, and is used by aurors after a stunner spell is, to keep a captive under for long periods of time." Flitwick nodded. "Now, if you'll pair off." Neville and Dean paired off, as did Harry and Hermione, as well as Ron and Monica. "Alright, begin." Neville managed to miss on his first try, dropping Flitwick. Dean burst into laughter, then tears. Harry had better luck, knocking Hermione out on the first try. Ron found himself suppressing the urge to cheer.

"Now, don't do anything naughty while I'm asleep." Monica warned playfully, making him flush as red as his hair. She laughed.

"Somnus." He spoke clearly. Her eyes rolled into her head, and she toppled over backwards, softly dropping onto the pillows behind her. She began to snore, loudly. "Awaken." He spoke the counter spell it hit, and did nothing. He leaned down, and nudged her. Her eyes snapped open, crystal blue, and they drew him in. Within them, he found himself mirrored, pain and torment in his eyes. He shuddered back, then saw something he hadn't expected. Love, but for who. No, he didn't want to see. He forced himself back, back into his own body, into his own mind. He looked away.

"Three down, a few hundred more to go." Monica commented, and when he looked back, they were green again. "Congratulations, you passed." She grinned, and stood. "My turn." She used the spell, but only made him drowsy. Dean put Neville out, and Hermione dropped Harry like a stone. "I can't understand why. Hermione?'

"Yes?" She answered, waiting for Harry to recover.

"You wouldn't happen to have a copy of Hogwarts, A history would you?" Hermione, Harry, and Ron, all nodded. "Could I borrow it? I want to look something up, but the Library is clean of it."

"Sure, later tonight?" Hermione asked. Monica nodded.

"Mind if I try again Ron?" She asked he shook his head. "Star." She spoke it as a spell, and white mist formed beside her, shaping itself into a staff. "A touch showier than a wand, but it's the best I can manage." She sighed. She set it on the ground and tried the spell again. Ron tumbled to the ground. "Guess I'll have to start using this." She sighed again, and woke him. "You alright?" She asked, offering him a hand up. He nodded, rising.

"That was bloody impressive." He commented. She winced.

"Wasn't supposed to. I still can't control my powers. Hit me again?" He nodded, and tried again. She fell again, and woke on command this time. The class ended sooner than they all would have liked, since the next one was double potions. Monica was with them this time. Snape stared at her as she entered.

"And you are?" He asked. She stood firm before him, one of the few people Harry had ever seen do so.

"Monica Treborne, I only have your class once a week unfortunately. Potions are my specialty. A pity I won't be able to show you what I can do." She smiled at him. He coughed.

"Fine, you're paired with Mr Malfoy." He turned and stalked to the table at the front of the room. She sat down beside Malfoy.

"Ah, so finally a chance to meet Potters new girl." She ignored him. "Or, are you more than that? His woman maybe." She continued to ignore him as Snape began to speak. Ron watched them and listened to Snape.

"Harry. I think Malfoy's about to get it." Ron whispered, carefully eye droppering manticore blood into the potion.

"Good for him. Ron, four drops." He snapped, snatching the fifth one out of the air in his hand. He slammed it into a vat of water as the blood began to burn. He swore through clenched teeth.

"Sorry Harry." Ron apologized, continuing on. Hermione carefully watched Snape pour the powdered dragon fang into potion.

"Miss Treborne, no talking." He called. She hadn't said a word, but Malfoy was trying to get her in trouble, and didn't stop his imitation of her. "Miss Treborne. Five point deduction." She leaned over to Malfoy. She whispered a few words in his ear. He grinned from ear to ear and nodded. Ron and Harry couldn't, but Hermione saw Monica's hand slide between his legs. Then he doubled over. She saw frost on his stool as he fell. She managed to suppress gasp. Monica raised her hand. "What Miss Treborne?"

"I think Mr. Malfoy had an accident, he's on the floor, it looks like sand seed." She held up a small bottle, frosted on the inside. Sand seed held enormous cold, and was incredibly dangerous to handle without Dragonhide gloves. It was an almost perfect match for her ice.

"Idiot. Can you take him to the infirmary please?" Snape asked. Harry started. Snape almost never said please. What was going on with him now? Monica nodded, and levitated Malfoy up and out of the room. Snape rolled his eyes, and returned to the potion he was brewing. Monica reappeared before the end of class. Snape snorted. "You and Mr. Malfoy will see me after the end of the school day, and re-brew your potions. Understood?" She nodded.

---

"Sand seed didn't do that, did it?" Hermione asked, after Monica had returned at the end of the day, as she handed her the book. Monica smiled delicately.

"Only the sand in my hand." She winked. "Thanks for the book, I'll get it back in a day or so." She grinned, and settled in to read the book.