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This installment contains remnants of chapter 2 from the original version of Demonic Teachings. Of course, while the events are similar, I spent a lot of time adding in what I liked and changing what I didn't. I hope you appreciate the changes and newly added material.
Also, pardon the shameless plugs, but I recently updated Fragmented Fate and Forgotten Hero, two of my other crossovers. Check them out if you have the time! XD
Chapter 2: Sudden Encounters! The DADA Practical Exam
Present, Tuesday evening, September 1, 1998
"A professor, Blaise?" Pansy asked the boy by her side, wearing a crooked grin, "You have your work cut out for you. I don't think you'll be able to bag this one."
Blaise scoffed, undiscouraged by Higurashi's newly announced position. "Pans, I believe you are grossly underestimating me. This is nothing that I can't handle."
"Even after what happened on the train?" she replied incredulously, "Higurashi obviously isn't as clueless as the girls you usually consort with, and she's a teacher on top of that. If anything, she's out of your league and definitely out of your age range."
"Oh please. That won't be a deciding factor," Blaise countered with a devious smirk, "She's in her early twenties at the most. Believe me, this is only a minor setback. Kagome is still as good as mine."
Theodore Nott, who was listening in on the conversation from the other side of the table, chimed in, "Then I suppose you'll both be snogging in her office in between classes?"
"Really, Theo?" Blaise remarked, "You should know that's much too tame for me."
"Terribly sorry," Theo replied with a roll of his eyes, "Would you prefer doing it in the Great Hall when she's making her evening rounds?"
"Still too tame," Blaise quipped.
"On the Quidditch pitch?" Pansy suggested, "Or perhaps in the Infirmary?"
Theo grinned. "Now that would give Madam Pomfrey a real shock!"
Draco snorted as he poked around his dinner plate. "You are all depraved."
"Don't be so quick to dismiss it, mate!" Blaise told him, "As if you've never thought of it. The excitement of sneaking around campus, sampling the forbidden fruit unknown to most Hogwarts students?"
Draco raised an eyebrow and flicked his eyes toward the faculty table at the front of the Great Hall. He certainly hoped that Blaise was just being overly dramatic, and no one in their right mind desired any of the Hogwarts staff in that way.
"Alright, I will admit that most our professors are far too overripe in that analogy, and Asakawa is no more than seedling," Blaise amended, "but Kagome is fresh and waiting to be plucked." He paused and groaned heatedly.
"I do hope she'll give me detention. I need so much of her correction."
"Oh dear!"
Draco rolled his eyes as Pansy fanned herself, appearing hot and bothered by Blaise's declaration. He almost wished the dark-skinned boy continued to ignore him like he did in their early years of school if this kind of conversation was all he had to contribute.
A small pang of hurt and guilt rushed through him as Draco was reminded of late friend and companion, Vincent Crabbe, one of the Wizarding War's many casualties. He appeared to be his lackey and was in a sense, but he was a dear friend above all else. As a result of that tragedy in combination with many others, Gregory Goyle, his other friend, didn't return to Hogwarts and went to live with some relatives in Sussex for the time being. Draco understood the need for him to take a short break, and the two continued to exchange letters on occasion.
"Hey," Pansy said as she nudged Draco in the arm, "Are you okay, love?"
"You barely touched that French-y cake you like so much," Theo added, trying to be helpful.
Draco snorted. "It's called dacquoise, peasant."
Theo sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yep, he's perfectly fine, French-y bastard."
Despite himself, Draco smiled as the chatter typical to the Slytherin table ensued as he took a bite of the meringue cake. Even with the aftermath of the Wizarding War, his housemates were still the same, and that was mildly comforting.
-O0o0O-
Kagome and Mimiru walked down the Hogwarts corridors, trying to find their private rooms. After the welcome feast was over and the Prefects ushered the rest of the student body to their dormitories, the two Japanese professors were invited by Hagrid to join him in his home on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest for some after dinner drinks and conversation. When Hagrid was completely sloshed, the duo helped the friendly half giant into bed before leaving and entering the castle. However, because of the constantly changing staircases and immense size of the castle, they quickly lost their way back. Fortunately, McGonagall placed their separate quarters in the same wing.
"I thought our rooms were down this hallway. We were here just a few weeks ago," Kagome whined, nearly ready to pull her hair out.
"This place is huge! I can't believe we're lost, and the term hasn't even started yet!"
"I would agree," Mimiru stated, her arms crossed over her chest, "Navigating through it is very agitating."
Kagome weakly chuckled. "Well, on the bright side, as professors we won't get in trouble for being out after curfew!"
"Strangely, that does little to comfort me," Mimiru replied, turning to the side to hide the roll of her eyes.
"I saw that!" Kagome playfully scolded, lightly rapping her companion on top of the head.
They didn't wander for much longer when someone called out to the two of them.
"Professors!" an excited female voice shouted.
Kagome and Mimiru turned to see a bushy haired girl accompanied by a lanky ginger teen walking toward them.
"Looks like we have company," Mimiru commented with a small, amused grin.
Kagome immediately noted the rare expression on her partner's face. "Do you know them?"
"I snatched some chocolate off the red-haired one, but he shouldn't recognize me," she answered.
Kagome rolled her eyes, recalling that day in the bookstore. 'I think those two were sitting next to Potter-kun in the Great Hall. They might the friends McGonagall-sama mentioned with that affinity for trouble.'
"Hello, professors," the girl greeted Kagome and Mimiru with a charming smile when she and her companion stopped in front of them, "Welcome to Hogwarts, and thank you for coming to teach us this term. My name is Hermione Granger."
"Ron Weasley," the boy stated with a firm nod.
"Nice to meet you both," Kagome replied before asking, "You're both Prefects, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," Hermione answered proudly, "From Gryffindor House."
"In that case, do you think you could tell us how to get to the fifth floor's east wing?" Kagome asked, sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck, "I think a staircase switched around on us and we got a little lost."
Ron chuckled. "You're more than a little lost."
"We'll show you the way," Hermione said and quickly took the lead with Kagome trailing a few footsteps behind her. Mimiru and Ron brought up the rear, each walking behind the girl they were with.
"Pardon me if I'm wrong," Kagome began, "but you see a bit anxious, Granger-chan."
"Well, I am!" Hermione admitted, "You two are the youngest instructors in Hogwarts history not to mention the only ones to travel from so far outside of Europe. It's amazing!"
"Oh, thank you, I suppose," Kagome awkwardly responded. Hermione was more excited about this development than she first thought.
"You're most welcome!" Hermione continued, "I did a little research on a few spells and charms exclusive to the Orient in my spare time, and I find them absolutely fascinating. Meeting Japanese witches is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"
"Ah," Mimiru uttered, lightly dropping her fist into her opened palm, "An otaku."
"A what?" Ron asked.
"Granger-san is an otaku," she clarified.
"Oh, what does that mean?" Hermione asked, eager to learn more about the foreign term.
"It's just a person who's really interested in a particular subject like you are in foreign magic!" Kagome interjected before Mimiru could answer. She knew the blunt girl wouldn't hesitate to label their student a highly obsessive fangirl without any thought of the repercussions.
Hermione blushed, bashfully tucking her hair behind her ear. "Like I said, this is a very rare chance for us. I'd like to learn as much as possible from both of you."
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," Kagome told her reassuringly, "I hope all of our students are half as zealous as you are!"
The quartet continued walking until Hermione stopped in from of the passage Kagome and Mimiru were looking for.
"Well, here we are," she announced, "I'll be looking forward to both of your classes. The same for you too, right Ronald?"
Ron shrugged. "I guess so."
"Thanks for helping us," Kagome stated, "See you later."
Mimiru nodded and bowed, politely folding her hands in front of her. Then the two professors departed, recognizing their surroundings and finding the portraits leading to their rooms, as Ron and Hermione went in the opposite direction.
"I think you scared them off with all of your rambling," Ron commented.
"I most certainly did not!" Hermione protested, "Professor Higurashi certainly appreciated my enthusiasm."
"Maybe," he countered, "but the other one looked like she could care less."
"Please refer to her by her proper name, Ronald," his girlfriend insisted, "She is our professor and deserves your respect."
"I can't help it," he replied, "How can I do that when she looks years younger than Ginny? She can't be older than a third or fourth year."
"It is irrelevant what she looks like. If she's here, then she must be qualified to be here," Hermione reasoned, "I don't know much about schooling in Asia, but Professor Asakawa must have been brilliant student to make it this far so quickly."
"What about Higurashi?" Ron asked, "Harry said she was the one he spoke to in the bookstore. I don't she just happened to find him there. Pretty shifty if you ask me."
"That doesn't matter either. Whatever reason she has for getting acquainted with Harry, I'm all for it," Hermione answered, "And she must have been just as accomplished as Professor Asakawa was when she was her age. If anything, that makes me even more interested in getting to know her. She must have all sorts of experience and know so much advanced magic!"
Ron teased, grinning widely, "Jealous, love?"
"Of course not!" Hermione cried indignantly, "I can admire the accomplishments of other witches without feeling envious of them."
She huffed and turned away from Ron with her hands planted firmly on her hips. "I'm going to do rounds down in the dungeons. You take the opposite end."
"Alright," Ron replied, but Hermione already began walking away.
He sighed before doing as he was told. He didn't understand why she was so annoyed when he was only joking. A normal girlfriend would have suggested that they ditch their Prefect duties for the remainder of the night and snog in an empty classroom. Hermione was definitely not a normal girlfriend.
-O0o0O-
Harry yawned as he sat up on his bed ready for the first day of classes to begin. Unfortunately, he wasn't dwelling in the familiar Gryffindor Tower he was accustomed to in his previous years at Hogwarts. All eighth years were lodged in shared housing located of a renovated section of the castle due to their small number.
'At least we're still divided amongst our Houses,' he thought. He couldn't imagine having to share a room with anyone other than the fellow lions he grew up with.
"Morning," Ron grumbled from the adjacent bed, his ginger head sporting a very impressive bedhead.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked with a grin, "You and Hermione spend the whole night snogging?"
Ron snorted. "I wish. Spent the whole night doing routine Prefect duty I'm afraid. But we did run into those new professors during our rounds."
"Yeah?" Harry replied as he stood out of bed and dressed for the day while Ron did the same.
"They were drifting around the castle last night, and we had to show them to their portraits," he answered.
He paused, looked at Harry inquisitively, and added, "You didn't know that girl was teaching here, did you?"
"I had no clue," he responded, "When she said she'd be at Hogwarts, I thought she was another student." Harry pulled on his golden and burgundy tie, finishing his morning preparations.
"We've had a lot of teachers at Hogwarts, but none of them ever looked like that."
"You got that right. The both of them are pretty abnormal," Ron commented, "Hermione's convinced they're both brilliant."
"I reckon they have to be if they're supposed to be teaching us."
As the two boys walked to the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help but recall the day he met Higurashi in Flourish and Blotts. He didn't disclose every detail of their meeting despite how much Hermione pressured him. There was still a clear image in his head of the petite Asian reaching for the top shelf of a dusty bookcase as she stood on the very tips of her toes. It would have been easy for her to perform a simple levitation spell before he did—with a wand or otherwise—if she was a talented as everyone assumed.
'Could she be a Squib?'
Harry immediately dismissed that thought. As many flaws as there were with his intuition, he could tell there was just something about her.
"Hey!" Ron shouted, calling his attention.
Harry blinked as he automatically took his seat next to Ron at the Gryffindor table, unaware they already traveled this far. "What?"
The redhead shook his head before pulling a piece of parchment out of his robes. "I asked if you looked at your schedule yet, mate."
"Oh. Not yet."
After removing the parchment from his pocket, Harry took his wand and lightly tapped it. He didn't expect his schedule to be much different from Ron's or any other eighth year excluding a few elective courses. In addition to sharing a dormitory, all eighth year students were required to attend classes together regardless of House.
Within seconds, the ink appeared on the parchment to reveal the schedule with all of the course names and classroom locations listed underneath each weekday. Herbology, Transfiguration, and Care of Magical Creatures were scheduled on Mondays; Charms and Potions on Tuesdays; Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) and Demonic Characteristics and Behavior (DCB) on Wednesdays; The Magical History of Eastern Nations, Charms, and Potions on Thursdays; and Herbology, DADA, and DCB on Fridays.
"Looks like we have both of those new professors today," Harry remarked, folding his schedule and putting it back in his pocket.
"But you have a free period before that," Ron commented, tapping his own schedule in frustration, "I got History of Magic right after breakfast."
Harry leaned over and looked at his friend's schedule, nodding when he saw the anomaly. He turned to Hermione, who was seated close to them but conversing with Ginny and Parvati Patil, and tapped shoulder, asking about the schedule difference.
"You don't have History of Magic because Professor Higurashi's history class counts for the same credit," she explained, "I'm also taking it, but I happen to have Arithmancy instead of a free period."
Harry chuckled at the demanding look on Hermione's face. "Sorry, Hermione, but no number of Galleons will get me in that class."
"Fine," she answered with a flippant wave of her hand, "It's certainly no concern of mine if you want to waste your morning away."
Ron snorted. "As soon as I can change my schedule, I'll be right with you, mate."
"Honestly," Hermione interjected, "How can the two of you sit around all morning and not take advantage of our last opportunity to take classes?"
"Quite easily," Ron answered flatly.
"Think you could give me a wakeup call before Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Harry added, intentionally jabbing her.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "If you're late for our first class, I will not put in a good word for you."
When she finished her breakfast, Hermione stood and joined a group of Ravenclaws walking to the main corridor who were also in her morning Arithmancy class.
"You better get going too, mate," Harry told Ron with a cheeky grin.
Ron groaned and stood to his feet, grabbing a piece of toast before leaving the Great Hall.
"Harry," Ginny gently called out to him, smiling sweetly when he looked at her.
"Ginny," he replied, "Do you have a free period right now?"
"No, I've got Charms," she answered, sounding disappointed, "Walk me to class?"
"Sure."
Harry stood and held Ginny's hand as they walked out of the Great Hall, pushing pass the other students heading for class.
-O0o0O-
"So what's on the agenda for today?" Kagome asked Mimiru once again, curiously leaning over the neko's desk. She sighed when her partner remained silent.
"Stop being so secretive! I told you what I'm doing in class today," she urged her, reaching out and ruffling Mimiru's hair, "You've kept me in the dark since breakfast, so spill!"
She sighed and gingerly flipped open a manila folder containing her lesson plan for today, not bothering to fix her hair.
"As we agreed, first through third years will deal with applying basic theory behind appropriate offensive and defensive measures in several different scenarios and overall physical strengthening in the fall and move to practical applications in the spring. Because of this, their preliminary assessment test will be written," Mimiru stated, "All later years will have practical assessment tests tailored to their current skill level. Once all those are done, I'll take it from there."
"Now was that so hard?" Kagome remarked with a wide grin.
Mimiru returned it despite her deadpanned response. "Painstakingly."
"Let's hope everything goes as smoothly as possible," Kagome said, "The Ministry's planning to send an Auror evaluation team to pick up our first reports by the end of the week. Despite what the Wizengamot said in our hearing, they seem like they're waiting for us to screw up." She sighed and stood straight, crossing her arms over her chest.
"The last thing I want is to give them a reason to interfere. We'll never get any real work done if they do."
Mimiru snorted. "There's nothing they can do that we cannot handle."
Kagome chuckled and replied, "That's my fearless partner!" She unfolded her arms and rushed for the classroom exit.
"See you later!" she called out just as third year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs filed inside the classroom behind her. Mimiru nodded before walking to the head of the classroom, waiting for everyone to arrive before she addressed them.
Kagome continued down the corridor, heading to her own classroom to get ready for her own students. Ahead of her, she saw Harry giving a redheaded girl a small hug before watching her leave the hallway for her classroom. When he turned and spotted her as well, Kagome grinned and walked up to meet him.
"Good morning, professor," he greeted her amiably.
"Good morning, Potter-kun," she returned, "Shouldn't you be in class right now?"
Harry shrugged. "I have a free period."
"I'll take your word for it," Kagome answered, "I happen to have a class to teach, so I can't speak with you long."
"I'll walk you," Harry suggested and hastily added, "That is if you want me too."
"Of course," she answered.
As the two walked, Harry continually glanced at the unconventional professor. The first thing he noticed was the absence of normal wizarding robes. Kagome wore a simple, Hufflepuff yellow camisole with a modest V-shaped neckline and a grey pencil skirt. Her black hair was tied back in a messy bun with a few strands left hanging on the side of her face. Harry blushed lightly before looking away. Kagome's physical appeal did not diminish even if he now knew she was one of his professors.
"I apologize for our first meeting," Kagome said abruptly.
"Excuse me?" Harry questioned.
"I'm sorry for not being completely honest when I told you I would be at Hogwarts this year," she clarified, turning to look at her companion, "My employment here had to be kept a secret until McGonagall-sama formally introduced me and my partner to the student body. No one was allowed to speak of it outside of Hogwarts until now."
"Oh, it's no big deal. I understand," he replied, "So in the bookstore…"
"That was a total accident! I didn't even knew you were a student until you told me," Kagome answered with a giggle, "I suppose I should also thank you for what you did last night. I have to admit I was a little nervous when it got so quiet!"
Harry grinned. "You're welcome." He paused cautiously before asking his next question.
"So how old are you?" He blanched when Kagome began to laugh more vocally than before.
"I didn't mean anything by it! It's just that you look so young and all. Much younger than anyone who's ever been a professor here—"
"Calm down! I'm not offended. I turned twenty-one on the 18th of August," Kagome answered, "How about you?"
"I made eighteen on July 31st."
"I figured as much. Well, this is my stop," Kagome announced as she halted in front of an opened classroom door. Inside, her students were a bit rowdy considering their teacher was a little late but not uncontrollable.
"I should see you by the end of the day, right?" she asked Harry.
"Yes, Kago—I mean Professor Higurashi," Harry replied, ducking his head at his slipup. This would still take some getting used to especially with such a small age difference between them.
"Ja mata ne, Potter-kun!" Kagome whispered before walking into her classroom and alerting the attention of her students.
Just before Harry closed the door, he heard Kagome cheerfully call the class of fourth year Gryffindors and Slytherins to order. Despite being from two rival Houses, her disposition began to quell the usual tension between them even if it was only to a minute degree. He faintly smiled; she would make a good addition to Hogwarts.
-O0o0O-
Mimiru sat on top of her desk, nonchalantly digging in her ear with her pointer finger as she kicked her legs back and forth. Her first class went better than she expected. They all finished their assessment exam with time to spare, so she spent the rest of the period answering as many questions as she could. The next class would be more of a challenge than their juniors.
'They will be eighth year students, most of whom fought in the Second Wizarding War,' she thought as she withdrew her finger, 'As upperclassmen, they are required to take the field exam regardless of past experiences, but I took that into account. I wouldn't want it to be too easy for them to complete.'
After a few more minutes of waiting, students began to file into the classroom and take their seats. Among them, Mimiru noted the three she remembered from the bookstore. Hermione took a seat on the front row, nodding in greeting with a smile. The less ambitious Harry and Ron sat four rows behind her. Within a few minutes, more and more students from Hogwarts' four Houses filled in the empty seats. The Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws mixed amongst themselves while the Slytherins occupied an isolated corner.
When the final bell rang, Mimiru pushed herself off of the desk and landed with thump on the stone floor. Her students watched in curious silence as the professor walked to the chalkboard on the far right of her desk and wrote her name on the black surface twice: first as Asakawa Mimiru-sensei and again as Professor Mimiru Asakawa. After she finished writing her name, Mimiru turned to the class and began to speak, her voice loud and clear.
"My name is Asakawa Mimiru. You may address me as Asakawa-sensei or Professor Asakawa; I have neither preferences nor any other titles. I am sure that most of you have questions for me and, before I officially begin with my planned lesson, I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.
"Raise your hand, and I will address you," Mimiru continued, "State your name and House first, so I can begin learning your names." Many hands went up and, of course, Hermione's was the first. Mimiru pointed in her direction signaling Hermione to speak.
"I'm Hermione Granger from Gryffindor House. How is it you were able to obtain this position?" she asked, "A new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor has been appointed every year for the past seven years; all for different reasons."
Although she knew Kagome's and Mimiru's appointment wasn't possible without the approval of the Headmistress and the Board of Governors, Hermione wanted to know what credentials they both had for ones so young.
"I was appointed for this assignment by the Japanese Minister of Magic as was Higurashi-sama after your Minister of Magic Kingsley Shacklebolt personally sought the aid of our Ministry," Mimiru answered, "The appointment was then approved by McGonagall-sama, the Wizengamot, and all other relevant parties." After she finished her response, she pointed to the next student, a Hufflepuff sitting on the row behind Harry and Ron.
"Ernie Macmillan from Hufflepuff," he said, "How are you going to teach this class this year since we are eighth years?"
"The way I will instruct this course depends on the results of a pre-examination I have prepared specifically for this class." Mimiru pointed to the final student she wanted to address before she proceeded.
"Pansy Parkinson. Slytherin. What this is pre-examination you have planned?" the Slytherin girl asked.
"Another good question," she said with a small smirk, "and a perfect way to bring us into our lesson."
Mimiru walked back to her desk and knelt down behind it, picking up a small white box when she stood. In full view of the class, she reached inside the box and retrieved a white circular sticker about three inches in diameter.
"This is a special seal that was altered to use during your exam," she explained, "I will attach one to each of your robes. Once I do, the seal cannot be removed by anyone other than me until your exam is over."
Mimiru walked around the room and placed a seal on her students one by one. A few immediately tried to take them off, but, as she stated, it adhered to their clothing and refused to move.
When she placed them on the two last students, Lavender Brown and Parvati, both girls noted a sudden change in the seals.
"They changed colors," Lavender said when the seals became light blue in color.
"Yes," Mimiru commented and walked back to the front.
"The color of the seal is an indication of your hit points," she continued. By the time she stopped, Hermione's hand immediately shot into the air.
"Yes, Granger-san?" Mimiru addressed the young witch.
"What do you mean by hit points, Professor?" Hermione asked, "Are you referring to Muggle video games?"
"Indeed," Mimiru answered, "For those of you who aren't familiar with the team, a playable character in a video game has a certain amount of hit points which are deducted after the character is dealt damage. After all the hit points have been exhausted, the character is dead."
She paused before continuing. "For your examination, as I cannot allow you to die, the seal will serve as a medium and absorb all the damage dealt to you. However, be forewarned. That does not mean you will not be able to feel any physical pain."
"So how do these things work?" Seamus asked before hastily adding his name and House.
"As I was saying, the seal gives you a total of three hit points and changes color to indicate the number of points that remain. The seal is currently blue indicating you have not sustained any damage. When the seal is yellow, you are slightly hurt with two hit points remaining. When the seal is red, you have sustained critical damage with one point remaining. The seal will return to its original white after all hit points have been lost. The number of points lost varies depends on the strength of the attack, so take care," she explained, "To make things more interesting, a number will also appear on the seal ranging from -50 to 100 after it returns to its original color. The last student from each House to finish the exam will have points awarded to their House equal to the number on his or her seal."
"And the exam?" Hermione probed.
"As for the examination, it's really quite simple," Mimiru said and her dual colored eyes glimmered with mischief, "I was told that a past professor of yours had his final exam in the form of an obstacle course. My exam is similar except it's a game called 'Onigokko', meaning 'Demon Chase'. It's somewhat like a game of tag. You will all be separated into random locations on the exam field and confronted by several creatures and beings, some you have studied or encountered before and some you have not. Defend yourselves using what you have learned throughout your studies and experiences until all your hit points have been exhausted.
"And last, but not least, no game of 'Onigokko' is complete without the demon, the one in the game who is 'it'. I will be playing that role and as such will be one of the obstacles you must overcome. If you fail in a battle against me, all your hit points will be lost. So please refrain from holding back your abilities. My assessment on your abilities will not be accurate if you do. Is that understood?"
Most of her students responded favorably, confident in their ability to complete the exam with flying colors.
"Well then," Mimiru commented after observing the reaction from the class, "Quite the confident group. I look forward to seeing all of your strength."
Curiously, Harry watched the small professor close her eyes and crack her knuckles, a manic grin slowly snaking across her face. As she moved her hands, her nails elongated and sharpened to fine tips. When she opened her eyes; they also changed, becoming hardened and feral. She opened her mouth to speak, the peaks of her canines easy to detect.
'Fangs?' Harry thought absently.
"Boku wa oni desu," she drawled in a deep ominous tone.
In an instant, Harry felt the familiar feeling of a hook digging into his navel and pulling him through time and space. When the feeling dissipated, he landed on the ground with a hard thud. He winced as he stood up, rubbing his sore bottom.
"What is this place?" he said to himself. His current setting was reminiscent of the Forbidden Forest, but he was sure he wasn't there.
"Harry!"
Before he could react, Harry immediately tackled back onto the ground engulfed in a large hug.
"Hello, Hermione," he said, relieved there was someone he knew nearby. She removed herself from the boy and sat up on the ground next to him.
"I'm so glad I found you. Have you seen, Ron?" Hermione asked pointedly, "I only got here a few moments ago, and you're the first person I found."
Harry shook his head. "Same for me. I just got here myself."
Hermione sighed at his answer.
"So, in addition to serving the purpose Professor Asakawa explained to us, these seals were also Portkeys activated after she said that incantation," she surmised, gingerly tracing the edges of the label, "An somewhat advanced technique and very clever. She definitely caught me off guard with that one."
"Me too," Harry said with a nod, "We should try to find the others. We don't know what else Asakawa has planned, so I reckon it would be best to regroup and figure out what do from there."
"Right!" Hermione said as she stood. She gave Harry her hand and helped her fellow Gryffindor up. When they on their feet, both made their way deeper into their surroundings, intent on finding their friends.
-O0o0O-
Mimiru stalked throughout the wooded area of the exam field with a surprised look on her face.
"Some of them fell already. I thought for sure they would last longer than this," she thought aloud, feeling somewhat disappointed. She was hoping for more of a challenge.
"Well, if it isn't the professor herself," a gruff voice called out to her.
Mimiru snorted and turned away from the direction it came in. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
Koga grinned as threw his arm over the neko's shoulders, playfully poking her cheek. "Don't be like that! You should be grateful I came all this way to help you out."
"Believe me, I would not have missed you if you chose not to show up," she said before pulling away from his lax grip, "So how have they been faring?"
"Not as good as I thought," Koga answered with a shrug, "Their magic is more than competent than I expected, but their choices are predictable and most of their strength and stamina is below even the average human's. That being said, it's easy to tell the difference between those with actual combat experience and those without it. The ones that have it are very good, better than some of our candidates at the Auror Academy." He sighed.
"Looks like the learning gap is pretty steep."
"I expected as much," Mimiru inferred with a nod, thoughtfully placing her hand on her chin, "Combat wizardry requires more improvisation and quick thinking, more so than what's involved in traditional dueling. It would be easy to tell who's accustomed to such situations. How about their teamwork?"
"How do you think?" Koga countered, "These eighth years may be clumped together, but their loyalty lies with colors on their robes."
"I was aware of that but hoped the current situation would at least change foster a momentary change." Mimiru looked at the wolf demon expectantly.
"Do you think you can get me a full assessment complied by the end of the week?"
As the Head of Japan's Auror Headquarters in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and one of the main directors of the Auror Academy, Koga was more than capable of assembling a thorough report on her students.
"I suppose I could if you ask me nicely," he answered with a cheeky grin, one fang over his bottom lip.
Mimiru's eyebrow twitched. "I'll do it myself."
Koga sighed, raising his arms and clasping his hands behind his head. "What's with you two? I swear you and that sister of yours act like you don't like me."
"Of course we do. You're just too childish for you own good," Mayaru announced as she stepped into the clearing, approaching the two demons.
"You look like you're about finished," Mimiru commented, giving her sister all of her attention.
Mayaru nodded. "I'm heading out. You should be able to dismantle the plants on your own."
"Of course," Mimiru answered, "I'll have them shipped back to you as soon as possible."
"Don't bother," Mayaru replied, "One of your colleagues seemed interested in cultivating them herself." She chuckled at the dry look on Mimiru's face.
"Of course I'm coming back to give her my assistance!" she added, "I would be liable for any repercussions if I didn't.
Koga huffed and turned away from the two felines. "Geez, I can see when I'm not wanted."
Mayaru rolled her eyes before reaching for Koga's tail and pulling it. "Just do your job."
"I hate it when you do that!"
She smirked. "I know."
"Don't get too frisky. You're not my type," Koga wryly retorted before skulking back into their surroundings before either neko could reply.
"Anyway, I'll be back by the end of the week with all of the data you need," Mayaru stated, "Perhaps you, Kagome-sama, and I can have lunch?"
"I'll pass," Mimiru replied, "I'll be busy."
"You think that you would put in some time to for your older sister," Mayaru quipped with a knowing grin on her face.
Mimiru scoffed before dashing off, deeper into the surrounding flora. "You would."
-O0o0O-
"We've been walking for ages," Harry complained.
"It hasn't been that long," Hermione argued and continued to move.
The two periodically sent Patronuses during their trek but still haven't found Ron or any of their other peers. Fortunately, their seals were still blue in color.
While navigating their way through the terrain, the duo encountered many creatures and beasts impeding their pursuit. Some were easy to handle like a group of fire crabs menacing cracking their claws or pixies trying to steal their wands and cause a little mischief. Others were more difficult class XXXX and XXXXX creatures. They just barely managed to escape a group of Kelpies and other aquatic beasts when they passed a dark blue lagoon. There were also strange, fluttering pieces of cloth stalking them throughout the woods, possibly Dementors or Lethifolds. Both teens were alert, watching for any sign of danger.
"Harry! Hermione!"
The two turned to see Neville Longbottom running toward them, panting heavily with his robes torn. His seal was red, but, other than that, he looked completely fine.
"What happened to you, Neville?" Hermione asked as she rushed to aid their friend. Harry was right behind her.
"It was completely mad!" Neville exclaimed, "I ended up with Seamus, Dean, and some Hufflepuffs. We traveled together and picked up some others along the way. Once we formed a larger group, this…woman appeared in front of us in the fog."
"A woman?" Hermione repeated, "A witch?"
Neville shook his head. "We thought so at first, but something was off about her. She was so pale and didn't answer when we spoke. She wasn't facing us either, so we were ready to defend ourselves when she started to slip off her clothes." The bashful boy paused, a dark red blush decorating his face.
"What happened next?" Hermione pressed.
"She had this really big snake tattoo from her neck down to her…well—her bottom," Neville answered, "When she didn't respond, some of us attacked her, but she didn't even move. Then the tattoo began to lift off her skin and slithered off her body. It was huge! And, all of sudden, we were surrounded by snakes. Bloody hell, I swear some of them crawled out of her!"
Hermione and Harry both cringed at the graphic explanation. They never encountered anything like that before.
"We tried to hold them off, but we had to retreat. There were so many of them that we ended up being scattered all over," Neville continued, "Some us that fell behind, and she ended up taking all of their hit points."
"What happened when they lost all their hit points?" Harry asked, extremely apprehensive about all the possible outcomes.
"They died just like that," Neville answered, noticeably shaken, "Well, I reckon it's not really dying, but, when they got hit, they went completely white before they disappeared." He stopped speaking and winced, grasping his right upper arm.
"Are you hurt?" Hermione asked and pushed up Neville's sleeve without waiting for answer. Even though he appeared to be in great pain, there was no visible cut or wound on the appendage.
"One of the snakes managed to bite me," Neville replied, "It hurt like hell, but there was no blood or anything."
"Just like Asakawa said," Harry grimly mused, "We're not dying, but we sure as hell can feel like it."
"Sounds right to me," Neville commented.
"If that's the case, everyone must be transported back to the classroom after their hit points are gone, right? That is the only logical explanation," Hermione stated, speaking mostly to herself.
"Did you see Ron with the others?" she asked Neville, growing increasingly worried.
"I don't remember seeing 'im," he answered with a sympathetic look, "I lost track of everyone when we ran away, but I know he wasn't with us before that. Sorry."
"It's alright," Harry said, placing a confronting hand on Hermione's shoulder, "If he's gotten into any trouble he couldn't handle, at least we know he'll end up right we started."
Hermione nodded before composing herself and pressing on. "Let's keep moving."
The trio continued moving forward, conquering all obstacles in their path. However, their fatigue began to become apparent, and it was getting harder for them to make sufficient progress as they advanced. Despite their bodies' protests, they continued until they approached a thicket with bushels of large, overgrown plants obscuring their current path. After using charms to cut away the unruly plant life, they saw a mostly barren field containing gnarled, stretches of unknown vegetation.
"What are these, Neville?" Harry asked the boy; he was the Herbology expert after all.
"I dunno," he said, "I've never seen plants like these before."
He stepped closer to get a better look. Suddenly, he fell back on his bottom, his face ashen.
"What is it?" Hermione asked the disturbed boy.
Neville said nothing but pointed to the plants he was cowering from. Upon closer inspection, their peers could be seen tangled in the vines of the ghastly looking plants and firmly plastered to the ground. The vines covered their bodies any and everywhere they could reach, deeply embedding their tendrils into the flesh of all exposed areas. They viciously delved into unprotected pant legs and arm holes, even pushing their way into opened mouths to take root.
Luckily, their apparent suffering didn't last long. Their seals changed from blue to ranges of yellow then red before becoming pure white. As soon as they did, their peers faded in to nothingness, only leaving behind the hellish, writhing plants.
"Ah!" Neville screamed and tried to shuffle away.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, but it was too late.
A vine began to twist itself around Neville's leg and dove into his flesh. He tried to reach for his wand, but another grabbed hold of his arm, curling tightly and digging into his wrist. As he struggled, the color began to drain from his face as his seal simultaneously grew paler until it was a shade of light pink.
Hermione reacted quickly, pointing her wand at the vile creeper.
"Diffindo!" she shouted.
The vines were immediately slashed from Neville's body and landed in innumerable pieces around them. A few fragments landed on Hermione's sleeves, but she shook most of them off before kneeling down to help Neville up. Before the duo could raise, the cut pieces of vine began to move with renewed vigor. They drove themselves into the soil before attaching to Hermione and Neville growing at an alarming rate.
"Diffindo!" Harry cried, but severing the plants only made matters worse. Each severed piece of vine spawned several more.
Neville, who was in poor condition to being with, began to fade out of sight as Hermione's seal turned yellow then red. Using what strength she had left, Hermione grasped her wand in a shaky grip and mumbled a spell.
"Everte Statum," she whispered, and Harry was sent flying away from her and Neville, forcing him to leave them behind.
He landed on his stomach some distance away from where Hermione and Neville were being drained. Harry stood to his feet and tried to find the direction he came from, but there were no clues left behind. He stopped and looked down at his seal. It was still blue in color and proof that he was untouched. He couldn't help but be extremely frustrated with Hermione's actions. She sacrificed her fate to save him from certain demise.
'A death that isn't a real death,' Harry had to remind himself. Before he could move forward, a particularly unwelcomed voice called out to him.
"You still around, Potter?"
"Malfoy!" Harry shouted as he turned to face the Slytherin. He then approached him, noticing Malfoy's seal was yellow and his appearance was a little less than perfect.
"So where's your posse?" Malfoy sneered, "Did you abandon them? Not very noble of the famous Harry Potter."
"Shut up!" Harry shouted and pulled out his wand. He may have spoken on behalf of Malfoy's family during the postwar trials, but there was still a lot of bad blood between the two of them. Malfoy was still the same sniveling little git Harry knew for years, and nothing would change that.
"You're alone too, so how are you any different?" Harry continued harshly, "How many times did you abandon your so-called friends to save your own skin?"
Malfoy's face hardened as he mercilessly whipped out his wand. Harry knew the comment was a low blow, but, at this point, he didn't care.
"You bastard!"
"Yare yare. You are the only two remaining in the exam, and you turn on each other."
Asakawa emerged from the shadows, standing a few meters away from the two boys. Harry quickly turned his wand from Malfoy and set his sights on her, the instigator of this entire predicament.
"What happened to everyone?" Harry demanded, his grip on his wand tight.
"You shall find out soon enough," she replied, "I'll send you to them myself."
"And just what are you going to do?" Malfoy queried, also taking a defensive stance against the girl.
"I am the demon, and I have caught my prey," she answered cryptically, "You put up a good fight to make it this far, but the game is over and you both have lost."
Harry and Malfoy sent spell after spell at Asakawa, but she dodged each one before disappearing from sight. She appeared behind them in an instant, breaking the boys' only defense. Harry found an opening and ran as fast as he could, leaving Malfoy behind.
Asakawa crooked her neck and frowned in the direction he went before turning to Malfoy who remained frozen in his spot. She briefly placed her fingertips to his neck before pulling her arm back and striking with absolute precision. Malfoy gasped for air as her claws pierced his neck, cutting his crucial blood vessels.
When she withdrew her claws, Asakawa turned away and began to walk as Malfoy fell to his knees and disappeared behind her.
-O0o0O-
Harry continued running even after he Malfoy's pained screams reached his ears. They only made him run faster. When he paused to catch his breath, a familiar voice called out to him from behind, one he was steadily starting to hate.
"Cowardice does not become you."
"I am not a coward!" Harry asserted through clenched teeth. He turned and looked directly into Asakawa's dual colored eyes. She began circling him like a predator trying to intimidate its next kill.
"Maybe not. Perhaps you utilized the weakness of your enemy," she suggested, saying the last word with disgust, "to execute your own escape."
She paused and sighed. "Honestly, is your rivalry the only thing that matters to you in a situation like this?"
Harry raised his wand and pointed it at Asakawa. She arched one thin eyebrow and didn't attempt to shield herself.
"Everte Statum!" he shouted. As expected, the spell made Asakawa fly back in the air, but the movements of her body were completely under her control. She twirled in the air and landed onto her feet land with inhuman grace only a short distance away.
"Your power is great, but your magic will not be so effective on me," Asakawa told Harry, "You have lost, Potter."
As she slowly raised her right hand, Harry watched mesmerized when flames began to lick and engulf the points of her claws before immersing her entire palm in dark red fire. She slashed her hand downwards and lines of fire spiraled in Harry's direction.
"Protego!" Harry shouted, but the shield charm did not work. The fire were undeterred and made direct contact with him. He screeched in agony as the flames covered his body and burned through his robes; the sensation was unbearable. Within seconds, he felt the pull of the Portkey activating just before he disappeared.
-O0o0O-
"Harry!" Ron shouted when his best friend plopped down on his seat next to him, hitting his head on the table. Harry groaned and lifted up his head, pressing a hand to his injury. The redhead was beaming with Hermione by his side; she abandoned her spot in the front row to be with her friend and boyfriend.
"Ron, what happened to you?" Harry asked, lowering his hand.
"I was just telling Hermione," Ron began to explain, "I ended alone before I ran into Ernie and Padma. We were doing fine until this mangy looking fellow showed up. He was bloody fast and knocked us out without even trying. Then he called up a bunch of wolves, and that's all I remember before getting back here," Ron paused and took a deep breath, "Those bites were brutal they were."
"How did you get back?" Hermione asked Harry, "You were the last one to get here right after Malfoy."
Harry nodded and answered, "Asakawa did me in. I think she conjured fire and attacked me with it."
"Really?" she commented, "So it was a duel?"
"Not really," Harry clarified, "It just sort of appeared around her hands, and she threw it at me."
Hermione scoffed. "Not possible. She must have been using a wandless magic technique."
"Either way, I'm not bad mouthing her again," Ron remarked, shaking his head, "That kid's pretty wicked." He paused and looked closely at Harry's face.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"How'd you get that writing on your forehead?" Ron inquired.
"What writing?" Harry responded. He touched his forehead but feel nothing odd or out of place.
"I see it too," Hermione added.
"I think it says 'Oni'," Ron read, struggling somewhat to pronounce the foreign word. As he did, Harry noticed black lettering appearing on him as well.
"You have it too," Harry said.
"What?" Ron said in a panicked voice, "What's it say?"
"It's still appearing," Harry said, "I can't make it out yet."
"Poor strategic maneuvers."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione heard Asakawa's voice over their heads and saw the small professor leaning over their table with an inquisitive look on her face. Behind her, the rest of the class began to scream and rave as letters appeared on each and every one of their foreheads as well.
Asakawa quietly moaned and pushed herself up before walking in the front of the classroom. The students stared at the professor in combination of fear and awe. She plopped down on top of her desk, looking mildly disappointed.
"First things first," she began, "The last students to lose all their hit points were Abbott-san of Hufflepuff, Boot-san of Ravenclaw, Malfoy-san of Slytherin, and Potter-san of Gryffindor. Please read the number on your seal, and that will be the number of points added to your House."
The students read their seals according to the order their names were called, their housemates awaiting the results.
"-2," Hannah announced sadly.
"17," Terry read, nodding slightly.
"82," Malfoy read, and his Slytherin classmates began to applaud. He didn't seem to share their cheerful sentiments.
"-27?" Harry read in a confused voice.
"That's not fair!" Seamus shouted, angrily standing in his seat and glaring at the professor.
"That is irrelevant," Asakawa calmly told him, "I informed you the seals were randomly numbered. Because of that, no one in your House had any more value than anyone else."
"But that doesn't make any sense!" he insisted and pointed to the Slytherin corner of the room, "Those snakes have done nothing to deserve that many points!"
A majority of the class murmured in agreement.
"This whole thing was a setup! A crock!"
Asakawa's lips pressed into a thin line. "I disagree. The exam served its purpose."
She stood before talking again, pacing the classroom as she spoke.
"Despite the nature of this course, there is no possible way for you all to be educated on each and every creature, monster, and demon you may or may not encounter. You must be able to assess the situation, quickly determine a strategic course of action, and utilize your skills and abilities accordingly. Any areas you were lacking in were the cause of your downfall, and you have been marked accordingly."
She paused in front of Pansy, lightly tapping the writing on her forehead. It read "Insufficient Knowledge of Combative Magic".
"You must also learn how to utilize the skills and talents of others, not focus on a single person's or group's wellbeing, and ignore those you have past grievances with to promote survival and success. That being said, you may have noticed that some of your classmates have been marked with the names of one of the four Houses."
Asakawa waited for the class to look around the room and observe the markings. Combined, "Gryffindor", "Ravenclaw", and "Hufflepuff" showed up exclusively on the foreheads of Slytherin students. Malfoy was among them with a "Gryffindor" brand.
"I placed you in an environment where you were separated amongst yourselves and where your knowledge was extremely limited," Asakawa began once more, her voice thick with emotion. It was almost as if she were suppressing a horrible memory, but everyone was too upset and angry to care.
"Instead of disregarding preexistent prejudices and unifying to combat a common enemy, you left your companions, classmates, and even your friends to slaughter. It was a rather pathetic display of cowardice and incompetence, one I was not prepared to witness."
"But don't misunderstand me," she interjected, sufficiently silencing the impending uproar, "Your powers are great, far greater than I expected, but there is still much for me to teach you."
Asakawa returned to her desk and sat in her chair, swiveling it so that she faced away from the class. "You are dismissed."
Most of the students wasted no time leaving Asakawa's presence. Harry and Ron stood and waited at the door for Hermione; the witch in question had made her way to Asakawa's desk.
"But professor I have some quest—" Hermione began, but she swiftly cut her off.
"Save your comments for our next class, Granger-san. There will be time for you questions then."
Hermione huffed and retreated from Asakawa's desk to the exit, bypassing Ron and Harry. It was apparent to them that she was heading for the library to seek the answers she was denied.
When the door to her classroom closed with an angry slam, Asakawa tiredly placed her head in her hands. The day was hardly over, and she was already exhausted.
-O0o0O0-
Kagome stretched her hands high above her head as her last student trailed out of the classroom. The period was more eventful than she expected, but it was also much more fun.
'So far so good!' she thought, 'But I have a lot of ground to cover.'
When she lowered her hands, Kagome saw a barn owl fly into her classroom, holding a small note in its beak as it hovered in front of her.
"Hello there," Kagome greeted it as she took the note. The owl then perched on her desk, lightly ruffling its feathers.
"An emergency faculty meeting in the Hospital Wing?" she questioned as she read the note, "I have a bad feeling about this."
She sighed before folding the note and placing it on her desk. She exited the room and made her way to the indicated meeting spot. McGonagall was standing in front of the entrance, seemingly waiting for her with no other faculty members present.
"Headmistress?" she addressed her.
"Professor Higurashi," McGonagall replied sternly, "Do you know anything about this?"
"This?" Kagome repeated and looked past her.
Madam Poppy Pomfrey was tending to a large group of students with large boils on their foreheads spewing yellow pus onto the floor in foul smelling puddles.
McGonagall sighed before she stated, "Please follow me to meet with the other faculty in a more private location. I'll explain everything there."
Kagome gulped before following her strict boss, feeling less like a teacher and more like a student by the second.
-O0o0O-
punkish furball – Poor, Kagome. And she had such high hopes for the day. Don't worry! She'll be able to salvage it. I hope you've enjoyed this installment and eagerly await the next one.
Until next time, TCB! ^.^
(revised 12.07.2013)