Bane

A/N: Special thanks to Miriam1 for help with the names of the students I needed for the chapter. I knew there was four names I wanted, but couldn't think of more names. I did know who I didn't want.

I am sorry to say: There is one more chapter after this. It has been a crazy ride.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. See chapter 1.

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Chapter 28

Saturday arrived. Albus had spent the few days before trying to make Harry to see reason about holding this class, but the teen stood firm.

"Please reconsider, Harry, my boy. Wild magic is dangerous. You don't know how wild and uncontrollable it can be."

"Of course, wild magic is dangerous! However, for the health of Hogwarts and the power it holds, it needs to be done, sir. I know what I am doing. I also know full well how uncontrollable it can be. I have seen the results of adepts losing control," Firefox agreed, glaring at the aged wizard for refusing to call him 'Firefox'.

"This is how I was trained, and I plan to pass on my knowledge. The Wizarding World had lost much, and the Star-eyed has commanded me to bring back the old ways, which I believe you have been trying to remove from the teachings of magic, right, headmaster? Big mistake. Magic is everywhere and has been left unchecked for centuries. Just like the magical node under Hogwarts. It's crying for help."

Albus stuttered a denial. "B. . . .!"

"Sorry, sir," Firefox interrupted. "I'm only one mage among hundreds of ignorant hedge wizards, like you. You don't have the power to tap into the wild magic, which isn't dark, as much as you want to believe it to be. It just is hard to manipulate. Remember, wands are easily broken. I don't need a wand or any foci. Magic is all around me and, yes, I do need to teach this. Teaching and cleansing the land are what Healer Adepts are known for."

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What everyone didn't know was Firefox had already picked out his eight students. How well they will take to his teachings is up to them and how much they had to unlearn.

He knew they had the ability to pull magic from the nodes. However, he just had to convince everyone that the wild magic isn't for everyone. In other words, he had to put on a convincing show to knock the stubborn heads together.

He and Sal had been testing the staff and students quietly throughout the whole term. He found only eight possibly students that had mage potential.

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Standing in front of the semi closed doors to the Great Hall was Firefox with a very stern look. Lying by his side was Keiryn, watching all of the students to gathered in front of those doors.

"You need to step in one at a time and deal with the challenge inside," Firefox informed them.

Just inside the Great Hall, first test was a magical chest. Everyone was to place their wands and other magical items into it. Those that didn't would not be allowed to enter.

"What is the meaning of this!?" demanded Draco Malfoy. "Why must I give up my wand? I certainly will not! Let me enter, for I wish to know how you do your tricks!"

"This test was to see how many of you. . ." Firefox told him and everyone who was denied entry into the second test. ". . . were depended on your magical foci and toys."

Several students from all four houses loudly protested.

"Then you fail and may leave," came Firefox's reply. "I cannot teach anyone that is very dependent on such trinkets."

"But Harry. . ." Hermoine also protested, also refusing when she had entered, when it was her turn.

"Sorry, Hermione. You are too dependent on your wand, and the rules. Magic is very flexible, and you are not. Book smarts will only get you so far, if you aren't willing to listen. You have failed, Hermione. I'm sorry," came the sad reply.

Ron didn't even try. He considered this a waste of time and dark magic. Ginny and the twins passed, as did Luna, the Creevey brothers, Neville and over half of the first and second years.

Of the entire student body only two-thirds had failed to place their wands willingly into the chest. Of the staff, Flitwick, Pomona and Severus surrendered their wands. Also failing was two of the ministerial workers who had come to proctor the test at the Minister's request.

The professors realized what Firefox was doing – he was teaching a very important lesson even if the students didn't realize it. They also knew that it was going right over the headmaster's head.

If a wizard/witch lost his/her wand, they were helpless. A mage was not.

Firefox waved a hand and the Great Doors closed blocking those that failed out. Keiryn moved from beside Firefox to hop unto the head table. The students gasped as they didn't see much of the gryphon over the past few weeks, as he kept mostly to himself.

"To show that you are willing to give up your wand means you are not tied to it. A wand is a tool and nothing more," Firefox informed them, closing the chest. "The next test will be mediation. You need to ground and center. Those that can't – fail and go stand with the others."

Turning to the headmaster and his deputy – Professor McGonagall, "You will not interfere as I have locked your body in place. You are here to observe only. AND you will remain silent!"

Sitting on the table in front of the pair of professors was Salazar, stretched out like a sphinx, his eyes half-closed. It was his job to keep Albus Dumbledore silent and non-interfering.

When they were working out the tests, the trio needed something showy and to drive home a point. They had already done the testing during meal times the past month. They were also glad the eight they had chosen decided to appear and take the testing.

"Now then, there isn't much to the second testing. There are no bells and whistles. The test is about your magical core and how much control you have." Firefox walked to stand and lean against the head table.

The students exchanged questioning looks.

"Now, listen to what I am saying: grounding and centering is the fundamental foundation of using the wild magic. You need to ground yourself into the earth and center your core. If you can't, there's no shame. Even one of your skills can still take out an adept if they play to their strength."

"That's it?" called a Ravenclaw.

"That's it. If you don't like it, you demonstrated you are not ready for this. I can't teach closed-off minds," came the answer.

Suddenly, Firefox began to glow as he tapped into the node below them. "This is the physical aspect of grounding and centering. Mostly, it is a deeply personal thing. Known only by you."

He allowed the glow to fade before saying, "If I tap you on the shoulder, it's over, you've failed. Go stand with the others by the wall. No arguments."

For the next hour, Firefox had the students sitting on the floor in rows mediating to find their centers. He walked through the students, ignoring the staff that sat around the edge of the hall.

The Weasley twins lasted only 30 minutes while Ginny lasted 15. It was disappointing, but Firefox had no room in his class for anyone who couldn't take magic seriously. They had the potential for doing great things, good or bad. He just couldn't take that chance.

Flitwick along with Pomona and Severus were mediating to one side away from the students. The others staff members silently stood by against the wall, confused, but unable say a word.

Firefox sighed as he walked down the different rows. Suddenly, he stopped and stared at a Slytherin fifth year. The boy fell over backwards with a shout and the young mage didn't touch him.

Several came out of the mediation at the shout and grumbled.

"You're out, go stand by the Headmaster, for now. Don't say a word." Turning back, he started walking through the rows again.

After an hour, only Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, both Dennis and Colin Creevy, Astoria Greengrass, Benjamin McEwen, Gwendolyn Hedgeflower, and Malcolm Maddox. A fair mix of all houses.

In that number, Firefox didn't count the three staff members still mediating. So the total of his new class would be eleven.

When one of the eight students grounded their magic, they let out a gasp of surprise, followed by a look of 'all is right with the world' crossed their face. It was noted that the professors were very close to getting there but failed time and time again.

Firefox sighed, after an hour of mediation. He hated doing this as he slowly went through the hopeful students. "Alright. I have seen what I need. You may stop."

Giving everyone an encouraging smile, he continued. "As I said, to ground and center is the foundation of being to be one with your magic. It is the bases for all magical mediation, I will help you if you ask, but you have to work on it. It has to be your choice. However, I will be not teaching you about how to be a mage. Play to your own strengths when you use your wands. There is no shame in failing here today."

Albus stepped forward, "That is all, Harry, my boy?"

Firefox frowned, but turned his back on the headmaster, refusing to answer the probing question.

He wasn't about to explain more than he already had. The Heralds of Valdemar were not mages since the time of Vanyel Demonsbane. Mind magic was common and highly regulated.

He wasn't about to get into a debate in ethics with a man that has no morals to read the minds of everyone that crossed his path, just for his need to know everything.

"The tests are over. I was looking for those that can handle their magic and can draw on the outside magic. You eight are what I was looking for. Thank you everyone for coming. Those of you who failed now claim their wands. Remember this: Wandless magic isn't impossible if you are willing to work on it." Turning to the three waiting teachers, he gave them a slight bow of respect.

Firefox dismissed every one, except for the three professors. "I need to talk to you if you don't mind?"

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Again, Albus Dumbledore was side-lined. He needed to find out how Harry's magic works. And soon!

Wild magic wasn't dark, was it? And yet, he didn't see Harry work it. How did he do it?

Why those eight students? Why them and not others? What was the common thread he was missing?

With a sigh, he looked down at his blacken arm. It wasn't getting better. He knew he was now dying.

Was he wrong to remain silent?

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Firefox asked the three professors to follow him and lead them down to the ward-stone cavern.

"This is where the original ward-stone is housed," he informed them, pointing to the closed and rune locked door. "I will be working you three the hardest, as you, because of your age, have too many bad habits that need to be broken. I suggest you lock your wands away to keep you from being tempted to use it. A foci is a crutch, learning tool only. It is time to put away your toys, professors. You are too old for them."

He motioned them to take a seat on the floor. "Now then, I want to go back you to go back into your mediation here. I will show you the trick to ground and center. Once that is done, I want you to continue to mediate as often as possible and to keep yourself centered and grounded. You will understand why later, when I test you."

"Why didn't you do that in the Great Hall?" asked Professor Pomona.

"Because I needed a way to prove to them this was no circus," came the answer. "Everyone here has the potential, but not the power. Only a few here has the ability to pull the wild magic from the earth. The eight proved to me that they are flexible enough to learn."

Firefox activated his mind-sight and watched as they dropped into mediation. They almost had it. He gave them a mental push and they fell out of meditation. "Again."

This time instead of pulsing he entered their minds and flashes the knowledge on how to do it. Flitwick and Pomona got it quickly and literally felt and heard a snap as they centered their core and sent their magic into the ground. Suddenly for them, everything felt right with their world.

Severus took longer as he had strong mind shields that Firefox was unwilling to break through. His mind shields were very fortified.

:Sir, let me show you the trick, please?:

:How?: He sounded worried.

:You almost have it.: Firefox assured him. :Just one more step. I'm not in your mind, I am speaking mind to mind. There is a difference. You either can mind speak or you can't. It is a talent you must be born with, as I was.:

In Severus' mind the trick was flashed to him and then. . .

Severus sat straight up. It was amazing. The world was bigger and brighter.

As the professors came out of their meditations, Firefox finished the lesson:

"Now, your lesson is done for the day. I want you to continue to practice this. Do not worry about the headmaster probing your minds. 'Grounding and centering' is a natural defense against mind invasions. But there are ethical rules which I will be teaching to you and the others," he informed them. "Also, do not go into that room without me."

He pointed to the door of the ward-stone. "It's very dangerous to non-mages. The magic that is inside that chamber is alive and will attack anyone that isn't keyed into it."

As the group was leaving the hallway, the professors could now feel the aura of the magic radiating from the far door. It was frightening to behold.

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A/N: Sorry this is late. I spent the last two weeks on vacation, visiting my daughters and their families. I had a blast and really hated to leave. And no, I didn't take my laptop with me as I was very limited on what I could take. The next/last chapter will be sent to Miriam soon. Please be patient.

Until next time. - GF