Chapter 8. Demon Hunters

"What, in the name of all that's holy, are you doing here?" Mel asked her two elder brothers, without even trying to hide her annoyance.

Harry and Hermy couldn't help but snicker slightly at her tone. It was well known to the younger 'Charmed-Children' that Mel hated being compared to her elder brothers, which was why she had been so happy to be allowed in Hogwarts; a place where she was her own person. However, Wyatt and Chris didn't seem to notice, or maybe they just didn't care.

"Why…You offend me Mel, my dear sister." Chris said in a mocking tone. "I come all the way here and you can't even say 'welcome'."

"Welcome." Mel said in the same annoyed tone. "Now please, do us all a favor and return to San Francisco, both of you."

"We can't." Wyatt interfered, seriously.

"Why not?" Henry asked, noticing the brother's tone.

"Mom sent us…" Wyatt began, and when noticing his sister's face added immediately. "And before you go crazy, it's not that she doesn't trust you Mel, or any of you for that matter. Aunt Phoebe had a premonition."

That immediately caught everyone's attention.

"A premonition?" Mel asked concerned.

"Was it something bad?" Draco feared.

"Very much." Wyatt admitted. "The final battle is coming closer. It will be big, it will be bad, vicious, and many people will die, in both sides."

"Isn't there anything we can do to prevent the deaths?" Hermy asked terrified by the idea.

"Maybe, but it will be very risky." Wyatt told her.

"What can be more risky than fighting demons almost every day?" Henry asked.

"Fighting demons And death eaters almost every day." Wyatt replied.

"What?!" They all cried out at that.

"You can't possible mean that…" Hermy didn't dare finish the sentence.

"He means exactly that." Chris replied. "We had noticed that things were unusually quite in San Francisco, even in the summer while you trained and we patrolled. So Wyatt had the idea for us to go spy on the Underworld. And what a surprise we got when we found it empty as well. We went looking for Bianca and…well, things couldn't be worse…"

"Is she alright?" Hermy asked.

"Physically, yes, but she's scared out of her mind." Chris replied angrily, thought not at the teens. "She has gone back into hiding. For what she told us some strange men went looking for some demons to join them, those who accepted became part of their evil army, those who refused were immediately killed. She had to flee in order to survive."

"Things are worse than we had thought possible then…" Draco murmured. "Now Voldemort has a greater army."

"An army that wizards don't know how to fight…" Henry added.

"That's why I'm here." Billie stepped into the conversation right then. "Paige and I managed to convince the Elders, of letting us join forces with the wizarding-community. So we sent Albus Dumbledore a letter explaining who I was and that I could be of help, training those who were interested. The aurors refused my help, they don't even believe in demons, less of all in demons allying with Voldemort. So Dumbledore suggested that I came here and trained the students. So at least some people would be ready to fight."

"Did you or anyone else say anything about us?" Mel asked.

"No." Billie shook her head for extra emphasis. "As far as the Headmaster and everyone else are concerned Mel is indeed Wyatt's and Chris's sister, yet 'too young' to be a demon-hunter; though, it wouldn't be a surprise if she were to show some 'special abilities' in my class."

"So that's what all this is about." Hermy understood. "The abilities. After what she showed in class, and especially what she said that there's the possibility of some people having abilities, we can show one of ours publicly without looking suspicious. That's brilliant!"

"Well, thank you." Billie said. "But, even though it is a good excuse for that, that's not the only reason. It Is true that some people here may possess psychic abilities, or from some other sort. People with that kind of abilities could be a great help in this upcoming war."

"Only if they learn fast how to control them." Draco pointed out. "If not they could very well become a problem."

"That's why we have to make this class progress as fast as possible." Billie nodded. "You've got until Friday to decide which of your 'abilities' you'll show. Though I suggest you leave healing and orbing out, those are too particular of white-lighters, they could give you away."

They all nodded. Even if they would begin to reveal some things, most of the truth would remain hidden, and should for as long as possible.

.---.

Most of the classes passed in a way that was normal for all the students. Even if it was true many students were missing, it was obvious that Dumbledore and all the teachers were doing their best for things to remain the way they used to be.

However, there was one class that was entirely different, and that made all the students wish to be in it: DADA.

The second day the seventh years had that class they already knew what would be coming.

"Very well." Billie declared after greeting them. "Before I can begin teaching you I need to know how much you know thus far. And for that I'll put you in pairs and each of you will duel against the others. Nothing too rough please, I only want to see what you're capable of, and from where will my teachings begin."

They all nodded in agreement.

And so Billie began calling them in pairs. Draco went against Neville, and to the surprise of most of the students the Slytherin was calm and fair; Neville gave a good battle with a lot of spells he had learnt in the previous years and already used successfully against DE twice. But in the end Draco was the one to defeat him by getting him in a full-body bind.

As soon as Billie declared Draco to be the winner he undid his own spell and offered a hand to Neville, which surprised the others even more.

"Great duel." Draco praised the boy. "Though you may want to keep an eye to your left side, you leave yourself too open when you attack."

"Thanks…" Even Neville was shocked. "I'll have that in mind."

Most couldn't understand what had made the blonde boy change so much.

The next duel was between Henry and Ron. It was an incredible duel in which Henry kept himself back so as not to look too suspicious. But even then, when having to depend only in his wand and not his other abilities, he found himself having a difficult time. Ron was quite skillful and liked to take the offensive, unlike his friend Neville or his girlfriend Lavender, who preferred to be defensive.

After almost ten minutes straight Billie decided it was time to stop the duel and call it a draw. The abilities of those two, when limited to a wand, were very much the same.

Hermione defeated Lavender in their own duel fairly quickly; though some of the students watching were quite surprised when seeing her fight, as she seemed to be acting defensively and offensively at the same time. It was a very particular way of fighting, either with a wand, weapon, martial arts or with other kind of magic that very few could handle.

The last duel of that day's class, and the one that surprised them all the most was the Potter vs. Potter; Harvey against Harry. The two boys remained silent as they brought out their wands and went through the usual steps for an official duel. Even if it was obvious that in a real fight their enemy would never be so formal, they still did it that way in class.

The exchange of spells began just an instant later. One after another, flashes of light flew in both directions, while the teens managed to dodge or deflect them.

The classmates could almost immediately notice the difference in the way the twins fought. Even if both knew a lot of spells, Harvey depended completely in his wand, both to fight and to defend; while Harry used his wand to fire the spells, but most of the ones his brother shot him, he would dodge them using his agility and good reflexes he had learnt in his time in SF. That way he saved magic-energy to fight back.

Even when their tactics were slightly different, it seemed that, being twins, those two always knew what the other would do; making it extremely hard to predict who of them would win, if any would at all.

Eventually both Harry and Harvey fired the same spell, at the same time, it was a red-orange flash of light most couldn't identify (and as they all used nonverbal spells already they didn't know what they had done). The spells didn't really reach their marks, but instead collided one against the other, provoking a small explosion tat sent both duelists backwards.

Harry's reflexes were faster than his own mind, making him arch his body backwards as he flew back, managing a back flip, after which he landed on the floor, near the limits of the classroom, still slightly roughly, with a knee on the ground.

Harvey, on the other hand, didn't have that kind of reflexes. Neville and Ron tried to help him, though and because of that all three of them ended in a heap in the floor. The only positive thing could be that they managed to soften Harvey's fall, preventing him from being seriously injured (even if they all ended slightly bruised, it wasn't that bad).

"Well…" Billie said, not bothering to hide her surprise. "That was quite an interesting duel. I do believe both of Mr. Potters have a lot of knowledge they could share with the rest of the classmates. As do several more duelists we've seen in this class. But we'll leave that for next week. Now I want you to remember that in the next class we'll see which of you possess any special talent and how you could obtain good advantage of it." She smiled. "That's all for tonight, class dismissed."

It was definitely a good thing that Billie's class was the last the days they had it. Because if that day was any indication at all, they could all expect a lot of tiring classes, and it was a good thing that afterwards they only had to think about getting some dinner and sleeping.

.---.

The following day everything the seventh years would talk about was the duels there had been in DADA class, especially the Potter's duel. Seeing what those two had been able to do was more than enough to leave many people thinking on what they each could achieve; which had been exactly what Billie had been intending. The students needed to know they were capable of many things, they needed to have the desire of doing those things, because only then would they be capable of them. She had learnt that firsthand with all the training she'd gone through after discovering her own powers all those years ago.

After hearing several of the things the students were saying Dumbledore decided to call Billie for a small chat.

"You wanted to talk to me Headmaster?" Billie asked him casually.

"I've heard quite a few of the seventh year students talking about the way your class went last night Miss Jenkins…" Dumbledore began.

"Billie, please." Billie interrupted him softly.

"Miss Billie." Dumbledore nodded. "I heard about several of the duels that took place in the classroom, especially the one between the Potter brothers."

"I assure you Prof. Dumbledore that all the students were perfectly safe, all the time." Billie assured him. "Wyatt and I had the means to break off a duel the moment we believed it to be dangerous; even without Chris there last night, I would never endanger those children."

"I know, I'm not questioning your security measures. I'm more intrigued by the arrangement between the duelists; especially the duel between Mr. Harvey Potter and Mr. Harry Potter."

"Ah, that. To be completely honest it was pure luck that they ended going against each other. As I had never before taught the students of this school I had no way of knowing what to expect from them, so I couldn't exactly pair them up according to their abilities."

"That's true. But, am I correct in assuming that you did know what to expect from Mr. Harry Potter, and maybe even his two friends?"

"You're right in assuming that Professor." Billie knew there was no point in denying that. "I have been friends with the Halliwell family for years, meaning Henry's and Mel's mothers, as well as Harry's and Hermione's godmothers. "

"So I can also guess they will know quite a bit about the topics you intend to teach your class, like martial arts and weaponry."

"Again you're right. The children's mothers are retired demon huntresses, as such they trained their kids in the same ways since they were little, so they could continue with the tradition."

"But, children as demon hunters?" Now Dumbledore seemed to be slightly scandalized. "Why would anyone put them through something like that?"

"Why not?" Billie hadn't raised her voice, not even a bit, yet her tone was stern, showing she believed in every word that she spoke. "Hunting demons is something someone's gotta do. Why not them? It's true it's dangerous, a lot. I myself have been in the verge of death more than once, and I've known of people that have died just for being related with these matters, even without being demon hunters themselves. Like my parents…" Billie sighed sadly but pushed it aside. "I know you may believe it is outrageous, but don't be wrong Professor. We would never push the children into becoming something they don't want to be, we train them to defend themselves, and then it's up to them if they continue on the same path or take one completely different. Being demon hunters is a millenarian tradition, one that's been passed from one generation to another, along with the magical powers and the knowledge. You must understand that even if the kids decide not to be demon hunters, they still need to know how to defend themselves, because not being one of us doesn't mean that the demons, or any other foul creatures won't attack and even kill them if they get in its path."

Dumbledore nodded, he knew Billie was right, it was just that he had never expected to hear something like that. To know that several of the students in his school had been trained for years to become something that most in the world believed to be nothing but legends. It just seemed to be too much.

"I understand this may be difficult for you Headmaster." Billie said sympathetically to the old man. "Our ways are significantly different from yours. But you must understand this is the way we live, the way we survive. We can't change that. Most of you wizards are pacifiers, and that's understandable; we, on the other hand, prefer to stand out ground and fight, because that's the way we've learnt to act. We know that even just one step in false could bring our doom. Ours and of all the world's."

"How can that be possible?" Dumbledore suddenly asked her. "How can only a few hold the destiny of everyone."

"That's a good question. I think it's because that's the way our ancestors chose it to be." Billie replied after thinking for a moment. "We didn't make that choice, but we follow what our parents, grandparents and other mentors taught us." She sighed again. "Maybe that's why our 'worlds' are so apart from one another. We have a very different view of things, both good and bad, and of life in itself. I'm not asking you to change the way you do things, because I won't change the way I do mine either. We're both grownups who chose the path we would take in life long ago; and one day, the moment will come for the children we're teaching to make the same decision. We can't decide for them, we can only teach them everything we know and trust they'll make the best choice, not for us, but for themselves."

Dumbledore didn't say anything else. He would have never expected to meet a woman such as Billie. All the knowledge she held, and it was obvious she couldn't be any older than forty, maybe even a few years younger.

There was only one thing the Headmaster still wondered: those teens Billie knew, those that had grown and trained in the ways she had told him about. What decision would they make? Or had they made it already?

Billie had a very good idea of what may be in the Headmaster's mind, even without being a mind-reader, but she said nothing about it. She was pretty conscious that all four of the teens had made their decisions already, had made them quite some years ago in fact. And even if there was still the chance that one day they may decide to change the path they were traveling through, Billie really doubted they would. They knew the dangers there were in being demon hunters, had known them ever since they were born; and yet for that very same reason they were used to it. They were used to the fights, to the dangers, and to the satisfaction of knowing they helped making the world a better place, even if no one knew that.

.---.

The next DADA class came fast enough. All the seventh year students were quite anxious and excited about it. The thought of having any 'special ability' made them be ready to do their best that night.

"Very well." Billie declared after seeing they were all there. "I know most of you are quite excited about this class, yet I must leave some things clear first. One: not all of you may have any gift at all, and I know it will be frustrating for those of you that don't, but you must always remember that with or without additional gifts, there are many more things for you to learn. Two: those of you who do have gifts, I have to tell you it won't be easy, it won't be easy to bring out your gift at first, and specially it won't be easy for you to learn how to control it. It is true some may have the 'natural talent' with it, but most of you will have to work hard, and I mean really hard, to handle any ability you may show, and it might take you longer than a year. I just want to tell you, don't give up. It's hard, right, but it's worth it. Just do your best and I'm sure you'll all do great."

They all nodded, they knew they would be needing that kind of advice and encouraging sooner or later with the training they were about to begin.

"Very well." Billie continued. "I will be calling each of you, one by one, randomly. Once you get here before me I'll want you to concentrate deeply, leaving your mind blank of everything, of any possible distraction. Only then will your inner power surface. Don't be scared if you see or feel something strange, it's normal; and I assure you that Wyatt, Chris and I won't let anything bad happen to any of you."

They all nodded. For some reason they all seemed to trust in what she told them.

"Mitchel, Henry." Billie decided to begin with someone who already had gifts to get the other students on a positive mood.

Henry, who had already made up his mind on what gift he would reveal had no problem with standing at the front, where he closed his eyes and remained unmoving for a moment, just to keep appearances. Everyone waited, but nothing seemed to happen, with apparent frustration he kicked the table next to him, making a flower vase fall and break in hundreds of pieces. Henry gasped, dropped on his knees and extended his hands, as if intending to take the pieces of porcelain in his hands; but right then there was a soft glow and the pieces floated, reforming the flower vase under the astonished look of the students.

"Well, it seems Mr. Mitchel here has the power of regeneration." Billie said, pretending to be surprised at the sight. "For those of you who don't know what that means I'll tell you that he has the ability to repair broken things to the point were it seems like they were never broken. Some of you may not believe this gift to be of much use, yet with some practice Mr. Mitchel shall be able to reform things, even when a part has been turned to ashes, or vanished; though this, of course, doesn't work with living being, only with inanimate things."

Those who knew Henry enough, knew he could do that, yet it would bee too suspicious if he had been able to perform an advanced regeneration at his 'first try'.

More students came after Henry, and as expected many got frustrated when they didn't show any special ability at all. That was why every several non-gifted teens Billie called one of those she knew had gifts, that way she made sure the rest of the students didn't get their hopes too low, which certainly wouldn't be good.

Hermione had decided to show her ability with the telekinesis, and in her 'first attempt', she concentrated on moving random objects, making it look like she had no control at all.

Between those who showed gifts, were some who had been expected and others who hadn't: for example Draco, who revealed abilities as a mindbreaker, meaning he could literally 'break' other's spells, as he broke the energy-flow; once he was powerful enough he might even be able to break someone's mind (the mind, not the brain). Ron showed the power of 'deflection', it was like some of mirror-shields that would send the attacks back or sideways. Lavender came out to be a true Prophetess, she just needed practice before she was able to predict the future and find other people. Neville surprised many of his classmates when it was discovered he had the ability to 'connect' with the plants, he could feel what they feel when touching them, and with some training he would be able to control their growth at will.

Yet the biggest surprise came from the Potter brothers…again. Harvey went first, he closed his eyes and concentrated, just like his classmates had done. A quill began floating before him, but it didn't stop there; he was called by Chris and when the young boy raised his hand Chris suddenly was thrown back, and then Wyatt ended trapped by the full-body-bind.

Before Billie could do anything at all to stop it Harry raised his hand at his brother, the effect was instantaneous: he collapsed as if he had just been hit by the 'Demaius' spell.

"Well, it appears that both of the Potter brothers here have just shown the most common gift between wizards: wandless magic." Billie declared with a soft smile.

Hermione smiled as well as she brought out her wand and undid all the spells.

"Very well class." Billie declared. "Congratulations to those of you who had gifts, to those of you who don't, remember this isn't over, you can still have a great potential with your wand, a weapon or in martial arts. Be prepared, because your real training is just about to begin."

And her words weren't a threat…they were a promise.


Well, some of you might think I gave the twins too simple gifts, yet they are in fact more complicated than they seem at first sight. You'll know why in the next chapter.

Now, I believe I remember someone asked me about Henry's gift of Regeneration when I first mentioned he had it; so I decided this chapter would be perfect for the explanation to be given.

I hope you all liked the chapter, don't forget to leave a good review!

Coming next: Halloween has come, and with it the official beginning of this huge magical war, and some people will have to decide whether they will just watch history pass or stand and fight. Two prophecies shall be revealed, and their contents will change once and for all the course of this story... (Yeah, it's a lot, I know, but you just can't miss the following chapter!)