The work on the entryway didn't take long. The darkness and ward spells were up within the night. The flying keys were replaced by the mirror, with the door rebuilt out of solid oak. The key mechanism was replaced by a simple mechanical lock with a disenchantment hex to block spells. It was actually quite the trap – someone seeking to get through the door would see themselves getting through, but without any suggestions as to how.

The flames were returned to the final room, but Snape's potions were replaced by a simple phrase. "The commonality between a chess piece, an owl, and a legal body." A proper answer cleared all passages, one which lead to the dungeon room, and a new side corridor leading to a drainage line that terminated next to the Chamber of Secrets.

Once all the barriers were re-created, it hadn't taken long to convert the dungeon rooms to a class area. Professor Frugilagus was impressed. "Discreet, private, and well suited to our needs. I commend you."

Eric smiled to his new teacher. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you need two rooms?"

"The Chamber of Secrets is a good choice, though we really should replace the door with something more fitting for us. You see, I'm going to have Sheena teach you how to fight."

Eric turned his head slightly. "She's going to teach me?"

Corvin looked down to him. "Don't underestimate her for a second. Sheena's a fierce combatant. Even more, she's developed her own styles of fighting. I doubt that anyone could stand up to her for long."

"I didn't mean it like that. I was wondering how I was going to explain the broken bones to the school nurse."

The professor smiled. "That's better. Don't worry, she won't hurt you too much. It is important, however, that you learn how to fight. We'll start with hand to hand, and move on to swords as soon as possible."

This was becoming more frightening by the second. "Swords?"

Corvin put his hand on Eric's shoulder. "You see, Eric, the difference between myself and Professor Dumbledore is that I teach comprehension, not results. Most schools teach results; that is, how things work. I prefer to work with students willing to look below to understand why things work. The results are less predictable, but more gratifying.

"Now, I won't hide anything from you. Albus and I believe that there's something happening – something sinister. We are both working with those we associate with to prepare. In your case, it means that I am to take over primary responsibility for your education, to train you to defend yourself – and eventually to fight back. Your combat training will teach you about how to fight, so that you will be able to engage the enemy not just as a wizard, but as a warrior. This should give you quite the advantage."

To be sure, Sheena wasn't a gentle instructor. She especially liked the Chamber, as it had the right mood for teaching combat, the floor made fights more challenging, and landing on it hurt – an excellent incentive for improvement, in her opinion. Everything she taught was focused on balance: how to keep it for yourself and how to take it away from your opponent. Setting an opponent off balance and on the ground put them at their attacker's mercy. This was a position Eric found himself in on a regular basis.

During one such incident, Eric felt a bit more humiliation than usual. "How long will this have to go on?"

"Until you get it right." She smirked back at him. "Hey, don't feel so bad. You're actually improving considerably."

"I don't suppose there's a way to make this less humiliating?" He returned to a prime stance to try again.

Her response was to move far faster than before, sending him back to the ground far more quickly but less painfully than before. "Introduce me to George Weasley."

For a moment, Eric was sure he had hit the ground harder than it had felt. "Huh?"

She paused for a moment, setting her hands on her hips. "I want to meet George Weasley. He's fun, and he's cute!"

He gathered his wits together before rising again. "Does it really make a difference whether or not it's George?"

She drew his arm past her before tripping him up, sending him sailing across the chamber. "Of course, you dope – Fred's hot for Angelina Johnson."