Chapter 12: Training

Chapter 12: Training

Actually, I was just about to laugh, when the pain hit me.

Hard.

"Oh fudge." I murmured as my eyes rolled back into my skull. Then, all I saw was blackness.


The next thing that I knew I was staring up at the ceiling in my dorm, and my body hurt like hell. Little flashes of my unconsciousness came to me. I could only recall extreme pain and heat, but that was it.

I sat up slowly, trying not to jar my sore body too much. I looked around and saw Carmen in the corner, engrossed in a novel. I cleared my throat, but it felt dry and scratchy. I looked around frantically for water.

Carmen must have heard me because she was up and at my side in a flash.

"What do you need, Shawn?" She asked with concern. I pointed to my throat and signaled that I needed a drink. She nodded in understanding and instantly conjured a glass, filling it with the 'Augmenti' charm.

"Anything else?" She asked as I took in the water with large gulps. I shook my head, causing water droplets to fall on me and my bed.

"No, but what's happened to me?" I noticed that my hand was a fading red.

"I think Madame J can best explain that. I'm going to go get her and Nick and Troy. They've been going crazy over you!" She huffed in exasperation before she walked out the room.

"That's nice…" I said softly to the empty room. I swung my legs out of the bed and stood up, though a bit wavering. I searched for my wand frantically, before realizing that it was still in my waist holster. Whipping it out I held it up to the air.

"Tempus." The time '2:37 P.M.' began to write itself in big red letters into the air. So I had been out for over 6and a half hours. Weird.

"SHAWN!" Identical screams met my ears as I was tackled down by two very heavy bodies. My own hit the ground with a thud as I heard Madame J angrily telling the boys to get off of me. It seemed as though Troy and Nick had resolved their differences to care for me. Awww, how sweet.

"Ow." I groaned, though it was extremely muffled by the two of them. They quickly got up, however, and pulled me to my feet.

"Thanks" I rolled my eyes sarcastically before the two of them wrapped me in a group hug.

"We thought you were dying--"

"--But Madame J knew--"

"--Exactly what was wrong with you--"

"--And you're going to be just fine!"

"Though we are terribly--"

"--horribly, really,--"

"--right, we're horribly sorry--"

"--that we've been acting like total jerks this year." The two of them easily reminded me of the Weasley twins with their tennis match conversations. I beamed at the two of them though, and pulled them closer into our group hug.

"Oh, its okay boys." With that I pulled myself away, and immediately cuffed the both of them on the back of the head.

"Ow! What was that for?!" They chorused together, and I couldn't help but beam again at their adorableness.

"That, was to make sure that the two of you never do anything like that to me again! Do you know what it was like, not knowing what was wrong with either of you?!" I groaned loudly.

"We're sorry." They looked down shamefully and I smiled sympathetically.

"You're forgiven." I conceded and they sent near-identical grins my way.

"Now Shawn. About your little bout of unconsciousness. Do you know what that was caused by?" Madame J asked curiously. I shook my head. How would I know what caused it if I was unconscious the whole time?

"Well, what do you know about pyrokinetics?" She asked.

"Well, pyro means fire and kinetic means in motion or to be moving, so I guess it's like the ability to move fire?" I had no idea where she was going with any of this.

"Very good. And now, what can you tell me about every 50th women to be born in a pure-blood line?" She looked a little more intense as she said this.

"Uhh, they usually inherit some unknown power or whatever." I said uncaringly. I'm pretty sure the 50th female Black was my Aunt Narcissa.

"Are you aware that you are the 50th female Black?" Obviously it wasn't Narcissa then.

"Uhh….no." I stared at her blankly.

"I believe that because you are the 50th female to be born of Black blood, you have inherited the ability to control fire." She said bluntly.

"Well we can't tell anybody. Whether or not this is true, it would be dangerous if anybody knew." I looked around to Carmen, Nick and Troy.

"We know, that's why Madame J made us take an oath not to tell." Nick said quietly.

"Oh. Thanks guys, it really means a lot." I said genuinely. It's true, it did mean a lot that they cared enough to take an oath for my secret.

"So now we have to help you learn how to control it." Madame J said firmly.

"Great, when?" I was excited to get this started. There's nothing more fun than testing out a new power.

"How about now? Classes are still in session for another hour at least." She answered with a secretive smirk.

"Sweet!" I grinned as she began to apply a flame-prevention ward around the room. Following her movements, I began to as well. After about 30 seconds of applying the wards, everything in the room was fire-proof, and we were allowed to begin my training.

"Do you want them here while you learn? It won't be easy." She motioned to my three friends as she tried to look stern. I nodded my head. I didn't care if they were here to see. It was cool, and I didn't mind showing it off.

"Alright. First I want you to try and light this candle, using only your finger." She conjured a candle and held it out for me.

I pointed my finger sternly at the wick of the candle. I squinted hard in concentration and tried to push my power into the candle. Sagging after about 20 seconds of nothingness, I let out the breath I had been holding.

"Don't try and force the flame out. Don't shoot the flame out of your finger either. Try and picture it as a lighter of sorts. Allow the flame to be on your finger, and then hold it to the candle." She said wisely.

I took her advice and closed my eyes. I must have stayed like that for at least 10 minutes, because I could hear impatient sighs coming from Nick and Troy. Finally, I opened my eyes when I heard a gasp from Carmen. I looked down at my finger.

There on my index finger, was a tiny orange flame. It tickled my skin and I couldn't help but beam as I held it to the candle.

"Wicked." I whispered. It was silent for a moment.

"Did you just say wicked??" Nick asked incredulously with a snort.


FIN!

A/N: Sorry this came out so late. I was kind of busy all day. Hope you like the chapter! Next is the drawing of the champions! Please review!

-Shawn