Jez: I figured you would. As for being not entirely human, well, you'll just have to wait and see. In the mean time...

---

The announcement made the next morning startled everyone in the great hall, teachers included. "I'm afraid, that with these new attacks, we may be forced to close the school." Dumbledore announced. Dorion jumped to his feet. "A moment, Professor Sechell. I said may. Unless we can figure out who is doing it, and stop them. Until that point, I ask you all, to travel in groups of no less than four, and stay alert. Yes, Miss Treborne?"

"Headmaster, I do have a bit of information that I wish to share. Something, I believe is rather important." Monica stood.

"Alright, what?" Dumbledore waved her on.

"I know what is happening, but I do not know how to stop it. Not yet. That is the reason I was sent here. There are shadows about, fragments of a power, which I cannot describe, called the Light of the Black Lance. They cannot exist, where there is light. The only other thing I know, is that they feed on magic, but only over time. They cannot handle bursts of it. I do not know if they are causing the attacks, but I feel it is important." She sat again.

"Well then, in that case, all students are advised to keep wands at hand with light spells in the fronts of your minds. Professor McGonagall?" He turned to her.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Have you included it in your lesson plan?" She nodded. "I assume you'll bump it to today's list?" She nodded again. "Excellent. Then, let us continue to eat. Professor Sechell, might I speak with you after the meal?"

"Of course." He replied, as Dumbledore sat again.

---

"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry asked. Monica sighed.

"I couldn't, and I probably shouldn't have told it to the whole school, but I couldn't keep it secret, and risk the injuries." She sighed silently.

"What do you mean, shouldn't have, if it will stop injuries?" Hermione asked.

"Because now I'm in danger." She replied. "They'll come after me now." She moved ahead of them. They moved faster.

"Dumbledore said groups of four." Ron reminded her.

"If they come after me, they'll all come, and having you with me will only get you injured." She replied.

"You keep saying injured, don't you mean killed?" Harry called. She stopped, making them smash into her back. The boys scrambled backwards, over the top of Hermione.

"No, injured. The Light of the Lance seeks to corrupt, it can't do that to the dead. It doesn't kill it turns to it's side. It'll try and turn me. That's why it's attacking at seeming random. It's trying to turn them. They're probably fighting suggestions to turn to it's side, to relieve the pain." She explained. "It'll do the same to me."

"Then why did it kill the house elves?" Hermione asked.

"Because they can't be turned." Harry replied, realization dawning. "Remember Dobby and Winky? They couldn't turn on their masters, even after they were free." Hermione shuddered.

"And that message?"

"A warning, that it won't stop, until it's stopped." Monica replied, as they passed through the doors towards Care of Magical Creatures. "I just don't know how to stop it." She lifted her briefcase, and opened it, continuing to walk, but letting the others move ahead. "Here's your book Hermione, thank's for the loan." She handed it over, latching the case again.

"Find what you wanted?" Hermione asked. Monica nodded.

"Apparently, the founders were afraid of hand magicians. Those that don't need a wand, or staff, to channel power. So they blocked the power channels, it takes several times the usual effort to do magic on the grounds. At least, without a channel." She sighed.

"What about that staff you had the other day?" Ron asked.

"Star?" It wasn't so much a spell, but the staff appeared anyway. She grabbed it. "It's a bit cumbersome to carry around, but I suppose I'd better, eh?" The rest of the class, both Gryffindor and Slytherin, were waiting at the front door of Hagrid's place.

"Just like him to be late." Malfoy snorted. Crabbe and Goyle laughed. Harry glowered at him.

"I'd be quiet Malfoy." Hermione warned. He turned around and saw Monica, swallowed and spun. Hermione and Ron laughed.

"Sorry I'm late, just..." Hagrid began, as he came out of the woods, dragging a length of chain. It snapped straight, and what ever it was, yanked him back into the woods. He reappeared a moment later, back pedaling and dragging whatever it was, before wrapping the chain around a tree. "This way." He called, hauling on the chain. The class, curiosity peaked, moved around to see what he had on the chain. Most of them climbed a tree on seeing what was there, except the Harry and Malfoy.

"Is that what I think it is Hagrid?" Harry asked, swallowing hard.

"It's just a baby one." Hagrid replied. On the other end of the chain, he had a Chimera. The chain was attached to a collar around the lion head, and despite his reassurances, Harry was fairly sure it was full grown. "They didn't have a chance to train him just yet, beyond getting rid of the tendency to kill you." He laughed. "Haven't taught him ter walk on the leash jus' yet." Hagrid wrapped the chain around itself, knotting it. "Just move slow, unless he charges ya, then fast might be a good idea. And don' snort, you'll make him mad." Hagrid replied with a smile.

"Run fast? You think?" Malfoy laughed. Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent Bulstrode, along with Ron, Hermione, and Monica, as well as a few other brave Gryffindor's slid down from their trees. With Hagrid beside him, Harry approached slowly. Hagrid laid a hand on the huge beast's head, and it seemed to calm down.

"Go ahead, just pet it's head." Hagrid urged. Harry swallowed, and did so. It nuzzled against him, the chain slackening, as it rubbed against him. "Now, Malfoy, don't insult this one. It'll be the last thing you ever do, if you understand my point." Malfoy nodded, and began to advance. Hermione did as well. Ron and Monica both elected to stay where they were.

"Cowards." Goyle said, and snorted. Everything seemed to happen at once. Monica moved the instant she saw him start to snort, spinning around, and letting her staff fly to it's full length. Hagrid moved the instant heard the snort, throwing his weight against the chain, and Ron dove for his wand as Hagrid moved.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" The blast lashed into Goyle, blowing him against a tree, as the Chimera which had lunged, and bowled over Harry, Malfoy, and Hermione, bit where his neck had been. An instant later, the stave crashed against his head, stunning him. Crabbe checked Goyle to find he was still alive, while Millicent checked Malfoy. Harry scrabbled to Hermione, who had also been caught by the chain. She was moaning in pain, holding her arm, but she wasn't rolling.

"Fools." Hagrid grunted, pulling the Chimera back. "Someone get the chain!" He yelled. Ron moved to get it but it wouldn't budge. Monica grabbed and shoved, between them, they moved it enough, that the weight of Hagrid and the creature moved it. It took Hagrid and the chain with it.

"We've got to get Hermione to the castle." Harry snapped.

"But we've got to help Hagrid." Ron pointed into the forest.

"Stunning spell." Hermione commented, through the pain. "It's very vulnerable to stunning spells."

"We'll get her, you go." Monica replied, indicating Ron and herself.

"Right, Accio Firebolt." The broom appeared, and he mounted, bulleting off into the air. Ron knelt beside Hermione. He was saying something the others couldn't hear. Monica was close enough to be able to.

"Don't worry, we'll get you fixed up. It'll be alright." There was something there she was sure, but what it was, she didn't know. She settled Star to the ground between Ron and Hermione.

"Roll her up, the staff can lift her like a stretcher." He rolled her onto her good side, and Monica slid the staff underneath her. It rose as he rolled her back, supporting her, as they headed for the castle.

---

Harry dodged between the trees, ducking limbs, and trunks, following the trail of the chain. He could hear Hagrid yelling, most of it stuff he probably shouldn't hear. It wasn't like Hagrid, but then, it wasn't like anything to be able to drag Hagrid like that, except maybe the full size dragon's from the Tri-wizard tournament. He saw flickers of it ahead, and he leaned low, squeezing every bit of speed he could out of the Firebolt. It was just enough to continue gaining on the creature. He doubted he'd have that, if it wasn't dragging a now very angry Hagrid. Harry cut low around a corner as he saw the beast turn. His wand whipped out, and he unleashed his spell. "Stupefy!" The massive blast slammed into the creature. Unfortunately, he slammed into a branch, and hit the ground, as Hagrid and the Chimera smashed into the tree.

"Harry? Are you alright?" Hagrid asked.

"I...ll...be...fine...once...you...stop...sha...king...me." Harry replied. Hagrid stopped and drew him into a hug.

"I was worried, after that nasty spill you took." He let Harry drop, and turned to the Chimera.

"My Firebolt?" Harry asked.

"O'er there." Hagrid pointed to a tree the broom was leaning against. Malfoy was standing beside it.

"What, how did you get here?" Harry asked.

"Dumbledore was worried, and I volunteered to save you." He smirked. Harry glared at him, but said nothing. "Stopped your broom over the lake."

"Thank you for saving my broom." Harry replied. Malfoy snorted.

"Figure I'll get anyway, once you kill yourself playing hero anyway." Came the reply. Hagrid turned around.

"Play nice, and send up a flare, I'm going to need help getting 'im back to 'is cage." Hagrid ordered, and turned back to the beast. It was awake now, staring at all three of them, the snake head watching Harry, the goat watching Malfoy. They drew wands, and fired Red sparks into the air. A yell came from the general direction of the school, meaning a search party had seen them. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape arrived shortly, joined by Ron.

"He insisted on coming, and he's quite insistent, as I'm sure you know." McGonagall replied, when Harry asked Ron what he was doing there. Harry nodded.

"That was a very foolish thing you did." Dumbledore pointed out to Harry. "And at the same time, quite brave. No point change in your house total, as fifty points for and fifty against, cancel each other out. Mr. Malfoy, you gain ten points for volunteering, and lose them, for poor conduct." He commented. "I know exactly how you feel about each other. And I'm asking you, to put that aside, until this particular crisis is solved. While you were away, there was another attack. Padma Patil and her sister were attacked. They very nearly died. I'm afraid, it's growing out of control." He shook his head.

"You two, help me lift this thing, and you Weasley." Snape snapped. The Chimera lifted off the ground, and Hagrid guided it away. As they watched them go, McGonagall turned to Dumbledore.

"Are you sure we should consider closing the school, I mean, with You-know-who lurking about, I mean, is it safe?" She asked. Dumbledore shook his head.

"I don't know Minerva, I just don't know." He answered, and they headed back to the castle.