The next few weeks were of O.W.L. level exercises and one that Hermione would never speak of again.
Kakashi had them do potions, with one team member brewing the Draught of Peace as everyone else scrambled for ingredients (The Cat Lovers won). The next few tasks were to dive into the Lake and find the glittering Galleon (with the whole team looking for one Galleon), and one particularly troublesome task.
They had to hex their teacher, and hope to god they actually hit him before he throws a spell at them.
So far, as Harry and his team and several others waited for the call, Kakashi had single handedly 'slaughtered' the first few teams. He had called on them randomly, with three teams entering the dueling room on the other side simultaneously.
As the Slytherin Slimes, the Crumple-horned Snorkacks, and the Quidditch Angels limped out of the room, Harry looked on horrified. Oh gods, the teacher did a number on them. Malfoy was being supported by his teammates, as two large moose antlers erupted from his head. Oliver Wood was nursing a rather nasty burn on his arm, and Marcus Flint was continuously sprouting slugs from ears.
Professor Hatake burst his head out from the door. "The Seekers, Cat Lovers, and Team Seven, get in." The way he said it indicated that they were doomed, for sure.
Harry saw Hermione and Ron wince before they all entered the dueling room.
They were on a platform, Harry saw. Surrounded by spell-proof glass, the platform was inside the Great Hall. The House tables have been overturned on the walls, and the rest of the school was staring at them in excitement, sitting on wooden benches, with Dumbledore and the other staff on their chairs, smiling.
Kakashi smiled as well and took off his cloak, letting it rest on the ground, drawing his wand out with a small snap from its leather holster. He was attired in a leather vest, with a grey linen shirt underneath and wore knee-length boots. He noticed their stares. "Dueling uniform." He replied, smiling slightly, cracking his knuckles. He then cleared his throat.
"Alright, in a duel, one must bow." He was saying, until Hermione interrupted him. "Um, so it's like…the 12 of us against you?"
Professor Hatake gave a smile. "Yes, is there a problem?"
Hermione found this…discomforting, but Professor Hatake assured her, that they would not get even a few paces near him, nor would they hit him. After they bowed, Kakashi turned, exposing his back to them, wand raised.
"Turn around and walk five paces away from me, then spin and start the duel." Kakashi said, as they did so.
As the count ended, Harry instantly took out his wand and tired to do a Full-Body Bind on their teacher as Ron did the same. Hermione threw a Stunning Hex. All around them, their teammates did other spells.
Kakashi gave a smile and vanished. The people outside their glass box clapped as Professor Hatake appeared behind each teammate and stunned them with a hushed 'Stupefy'.
So it was then that only the Golden Trio was left standing. Kakashi holstered his wand and gave a smile. "Sa, teach me what you've learned. I'm anxious to find out how you use what I've taught you."
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other and nodded.
Harry formed the seals for Great Fire Ball while Ron ran at Kakashi, hands forming seals. Hermione was standing by, seemingly concentrating as her hands formed the seals.
"Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu!"
"Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!"
A second later, a great burst of yellow-orange fire came from the Potter boy's mouth as Ronald Weasley somehow found out how to launch multiple fireballs out of his mouth.
Kakashi seemed riveted to the spot. If he tried to move, a shock went through his body. He smiled. Hermione was whispering under her breath, and Kakashi knew what it was.
"Kanashibari no Jutsu." She whispered, her eyes on her teacher, seemingly saddened as the fireballs hit the teacher with shocking finality, the corpse burning brightly.
Everybody screamed outside the glass box. As the charred remains of his body hit the wooden deck of the dueling platform, smoke rising in huge billows of grey, Harry knew then they had made a fatal mistake.
Still smoking, the remains of a Hogwarts tapestry lay down on the dueling platform.
Behind him, Kakashi was already behind Hermione, casually knocking her out. He was walking towards him and Ron, one sleeve smoking, the flesh underneath raw and bleeding. Kakashi pointed his wand at the shirt and it repaired instantly.
There was a slight frown on his face as he massaged the small burn on his arm, wincing. "No more games." He said, frown descending into a glare.
At an instant, Kakashi had knocked Ron out and was now behind Harry. The teacher took his time as he leaned forward to whisper in Harry's ear.
"Meet me by the Lake tomorrow."
And then, Harry's world grew dark.