The two men entered the broken house. One had a stern and cold face, the other looked in shock and awe at the carnage within the charred doors. The mutilated bodies of the three Aurors were splayed across the floor like rag-dolls. Terror was frozen on their faces from their last living moments. In the hands of one was a broken wand. It had been snapped cleanly in half. Sparks of light shot out from the wand at irregular intervals, giving off an eerie glow to the room. They had hardly been dead for ten minutes.

The body of Lily Potter rested off to the side, completely untouched by the destruction around it. Hagrid stared openmouthed at the slaughter. He nudged Dumbledore with his elbow and pointed to a patch of bloodied fur hanging on a cloak by one of the Aurors. A werewolf had been there. Dumbledore bent down and reached for the fallen cloak. The blood red dragon scales glittered evilly in the dim light. Vandermine!

Two months into the school year things had settled down with Vandermine's group. The anticipated adventures and exciting battles never happened, much to the dismay of the die-hard fans. Actually, the students barely noticed them wandering to and fro in the school hallways. The squad took on a largely unnoticed role in the doings at Hogwarts. Signs of their presence were everywhere; missing possessions appearing at the owner's bed, wild animals suddenly disappearing, occasional intruders being quietly hustled off the school grounds. Once or twice Vandermine appeared in teacher's rooms to talk with the teachers at the end of classes, but he largely stayed in the background. Their existence gradually became unnoticeable until early December.

Harry and Ron chose their usual seats in the Defense against Dark Arts class. They eagerly awaited the day's class. Professor Lupin had hinted that there would be a special object lesson. Knowing him, the treat would be very special. He was the best teacher they had had in the Defense against Dark Arts class. Time could not pass fast enough for the two while they waited for the class to begin.

Lupin came into the classroom from the backdoor and greeted the class. Harry noticed that he looked ill and was limping slightly. He had a haunted look in his eyes. Lupin brushed off any potential inquiries with a wave of his hand and strode straight into his teacher's room. For several minutes not a sound came out. Then the door slid open. No one was more surprised then Harry when the door opened fully to reveal Vandermine. Lupin exited his office behind Vandermine and called the class to order. It took a minute for the students to settle down.

"Good day." He said briskly. "I hope that your day has gone well."

His eyes glanced intently over the students. Nearly all of them were too dumbstruck by the sight of Vandermine in the room to answer. None of them had even considered the fact that he could be in their lesson. Hermione seemed to be the only one not overawed by Vandermine's sudden appearance. She scowled at the looks on her compatriot's faces.

Lupin gathered everyone's attention and continued. "Mr. Vandermine has gracefully agreed to help with our class today. He will provide supervision over one half of the class while I work with the other half." He gestured to the nearest half of the classroom. "You will be with me. The other half will accompany Vandermine to the prepared area on the grounds."

Ron and Harry nodded silently as they saw Vandermine's half of the class leave the room in single file. They turned expectantly to Professor Lupin. Unconsciously they craned their necks forward to hear him speak. He did not disappoint.

"I have decided that this course is not focusing enough on practical issues involved in spellcasting. So, with Dumbledore's permission, today the class will learn how to practice under stress. For the first half-period you will be with me. The last half will be outside with Vandermine. In here you will face time constraints and noise distractions while you cast spells. Outside..." He chortled and closed his eyes. "It will be different."

Harry glanced nervously at Ron. What does he mean, different? Ron shrugged as if he had heard Harry's thoughts. They were thinking the same thing. Different meant potential danger.

The first half of class passed by rapidly. By the end of the period, Harry had mastered the use of minor hexes while facing an emptying hourglass. Broken vases and pots littered the floor around an elevated stand, where a near-continuous stream of hexes peppered everything on top as it appeared. Hermione received top marks in the group and earned Gryffindor ten points for dropping twenty pots in under nine seconds. She skillfully bounced her hexes off the targets into nearby targets, creating some spectacular showers of pottery. Seamus managed to shatter three in one shot when he tripped on his feet as he moved for a better angle. Even Neville Longbottom had shot down ten floating vessels in fifteen seconds. The period soon turned into a friendly competition as row after row of plates, pots, and vases exploded in showers.

The only one not doing well was Ron. Sweating profusely from strain and embarrassment, he continually missed his targets, pasting the wall behind the stand with gooey slime and scorch marks. Frantically he lashed out with his wand, missing his targets by mere inches as this hexes grazed by, filling the air with a powdery burning smell. When Lupin called the class to halt, he collapsed exhaustedly in his seat, all of his energy drained from his exertions. As they filed excitedly out of the room he hid his face in a book. His face glowed as red as his hair, and Harry could see tears welling in his eyes. He didn't mention it. Better to let him deal with it on his own.

He pointedly avoided the others until they reached the grounds where Vandermine tested the other half of the class. The other half of the class hurried past them with looks of sheer terror and exhilaration as they entered the courtyard. Vandermine stood alone in a small circular field surrounded by a low shrub wall. He motioned for the students to line up outside the arena. When they had sufficiently situated themselves he commenced his portion of the class.

He vaulted over the shrubbery and glanced around at the bright apprehensive faces surrounding him. "I don't know all your names, so don't expect me to remember them once you tell me them." He pointed to Harry. "Starting with you, state your first and last name."

Harry took a step forward and spoke his name. "Harry Potter." And so on down the line it went until Neville stepped forward. Vandermine halted him mid-name.

"You are Neville Longbottom?" A far-off look clouded his face. He stared blankly at Neville for several moments before jerking back to reality. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Vandermine said "Can I see you after class? I need to talk to you."

Neville gulped fearfully and glanced at Harry. Students around the arena muttered quietly to each other until Vandermine silenced them with an exasperated wave.

"You don't have to stay, Neville. If you don't want to you can leave with the rest."

Malfoy snickered at Neville from across the arena. Seeing that he was gloating at his own discomfort, Neville straightened up and adopted a resolute expression. He stared pointedly at Malfoy before turning to Vandermine.

"I'll stay."

Vandermine brightened a little. "Great." He faced the last part of the class. "Please continue with your names."

The others rapidly filled in their names. When they had finished, he cleared his throat and began.

"Now that that's over, we can begin." He pointed to the arenas' center. "Malfoy, go stand in there."

Malfoy strutted arrogantly into the arena. Vandermine entered on the far side and indicated a small circle to Malfoy's left.

"Hit that with a fire hex."

Malfoy sneered with contempt and faced the circle. Raising his wand, he haughtily issued the command. "Ignis ..."

A collective gasp arose behind him. Whirling around, he shrieked in fear. A brick hurtled through the air and smashed onto the arena floor at his feet. Malfoy threw his hands up to cover his face as shards soared in all directions. The fire hex shot off into the air, soaring faster than a lightning bolt. The sizzling ball hurtled wildly through the arena as it bounced off of invisible walls. Vandermine calmly stepped to the side as it shot by and neutralized it.

"That, Malfoy, is why you always watch your back." Vandermine flicked his wand and the fragmented brick disappeared. "One never knows what is happening when one isn't looking."

Malfoy shot him a murderous glare and sneered. "Is this how you always work, attacking from the rear like a craven coward?"

The students recoiled at his remark. Everyone knew about the train incident and expected something similar to happen. However, Vandermine shrugged off the comment as if Malfoy had not spoken. Vandermine casually stretched his wand out and aimed behind Malfoy. Malfoy gave a shout of terror as iron hands clamped down on his back. Wrenching himself free, Malfoy rolled away from his attacker. Regaining his feet, he turned to face his assailant.

A full-grown gryphon paced about on the far side of the arena. Vandermine appeared by his side and shoved him forward. "Take it out." He whispered.

After three minutes Vandermine called Malfoy out. Sweat drenched Malfoy from head to toe. The gryphon resumed its haughty pacing along the arena wall as Vandermine pointed to the next student.

"Ron, hop in."

Ron swallowed hard and entered. The gryphon returned to its corner as his foot broke the magical barrier. Vandermine indicated the center of the arena as Ron looked about. The air inside the arena shimmered slightly as he moved. Faintly he smelled the scent of his worst fear.

Silently a trio of spiders detached themselves from the opposite side of the arena. The students murmured outside. Evidently they could not see what was on that side of the arena from the outside. Ron gripped his broken wand protectively as the spiders circled around his lone form. Distantly he heard Vandermine offering encouragement to him.

"Take them out one at a time. Don't let them get behind you."

Ron turned to acknowledge Vandermine's tip. The lead spider pounced on him, dragging him to the floor. Instantly the other two scuttled in, expecting a quick kill. As they launched themselves into the air, Ron lashed blindly at the spider already on him. He was rewarded by an agonized screech as the spider flew upwards. The three spiders collided in midair and scattered like ninepins.

Ron rolled onto his feet and staggered upwards. Spasms of pain shot through his back where the spider had hit him. He tentatively approached the nearest spider, wand aimed at its abdomen. It flipped over and hurled itself at Ron. He sidestepped the incoming arachnid and shouted , "Tenere arachnia!"

Invisible bonds clamped down on the spider. Helplessly it rolled over and over on the floor until it reached the arena's wall. With a flash of light it vanished. An admiring applause broke out among the students. Ron's face flushed with excitement as he faced the other two spiders, all fear forgotten. The spiders hesitated as he strode confidently forward, waving his wand threateningly. The nearest spider lunged at him and hissed venomously. Ron dove under the spiders legs and thrust his wand against its soft belly. "Velle iam." The spider scurried off towards the arena's far side. With a soft popping noise it vanished through the barrier.

Ron's maneuver had carried him too close to the other spider. Triumphantly it latched onto his unprotected back and clamped down with its sharp beak. Ron's head swam and he fell forward onto the floor. His vision started to fade out as pressure mounted on his back. He vaguely heard alarmed cries coming from the others. Through the din and pain he recognized the distinct voice of Hermione calling out to him.

"Ron!"

Determination flooded through Ron like fire. He would not let himself and his friends down. Ron mustered his strength and pushed himself upwards with his feet. The spider tumbled off and sprawled on the floor. Dizzily Ron steadied himself and locked eyes with the spider. A wild lunge by the spider knocked him over as he clumsily dodged away from it. With the last of his strength he whacked the spider firmly across the mouth. Flames exploded in the spider's face as the wand sparked and sputtered. The spider soared across the arena and landed with a sickening crunch on the ground.

Wild cheers erupted while Vandermine helped him out of the arena. Ron staggered wildly and clutched Harry's arm for support. Harry laughed at Ron's ripped clothes and patted him on the back. "That was awesome. I didn't know you could do that!"

Hermione wiped blood off of his face with a handkerchief and smiled. "That was an extraordinary show. I thought you were scared of spiders."

Further discussion was cut off as Vandermine motioned Neville into the arena. Neville cautiously entered and walked to center of the arena. Two figures detached themselves from the waiting throng and advanced on him. The two giants lumbered forward, oafishly bumping each other. Neville glanced pleadingly at Vandermine. Vandermine shook his head and pointed to the giants.

Hermione groaned as the giants moved towards Neville. "He's going to get Neville killed! What is he thinking?" She tugged on Harry's sleeve to get his attention. "Look, that giant is over thirty feet tall! Neville is a goner."

Harry shrugged and studied the giant in question. "Vandermine isn't that crazy. You heard him before; he values our lives above his own."

Hermione rolled her eyes and focused on the trembling Neville. "People lie, Harry. I sincerely doubt that he spoke in earnest. If he knew anything about Neville, he would know not to try this."

Harry and Ron exchanged humored but apprehensive looks and ignored her ranting as they watched the arena. Neville was ducking, dodging, and fleeing for his life as the giants stumbled over themselves in their attempt to grab him. Vandermine circled the arena, shouting help and encouragement.

"Get underneath them! Go for their legs!"

Neville gave him an incredulous look and ducked as a gigantic club whistled past his head. Vandermine shouted to him again as he rose to his feet.

"Get under them!"

Neville sighed and rushed under the nearest giant as it straightened for another swing. The giant paused stupidly as Neville disappeared between his monstrous feet. The other giant didn't pause. Its gargantuan club crashed down on the unsuspecting giant as it tried to reach Neville. Neville squealed in fright and launched Blinding spells at the remaining giant as it hurled the senseless giant aside. One spell hit the giant dead in the eye, bathing its eye in light. The giant stumbled backwards and tumbled into the barrier. In a flash it was gone. Even louder cheers rang out as Neville hurried out of the arena, face as pale as snow. He doubled over in the soft grass and threw up several times. When he rose, he had returned back to his normal self, albeit a shaken self.

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione marched into the arena and took up a position slightly off of the center circle. She twirled her wand expectantly as she waited for her test. Vandermine stepped to the side and grimaced as she confidently glanced at the creatures approaching her. Three gigantic snakes slithered towards her, tongues shooting in and out at her.

Vandermine circled around the snakes, pointing out weaknesses. "Don't hit them head on. Pick them off one at a time."

Hermione stared coldly as him and scoffed at his advice. "I'll ask when I need your help, sir." She approached the nearest snake with a casual air. The snake slid forward to her left. She lifted her wand and aimed at its head.

"Parva Slytherin!"

The snake wriggled furiously as the spell took affect. Slowly the snake shrank until it resembled a small string of rope. She proudly turned to face the next snake.

WHAM!

The snakes lunged for her head, jaws snapping wildly. Hermione ducked as the gigantic head soared by, but was too slow to avoid the lashing tail. The blow caught her across the chest and lifted her into the air. All of the air left her lungs as she slammed down on the first snake. It hissed wildly and looped itself around her neck. As the snakes converged on her, she gave a strangled cry.

Vandermine reached her in an instant. Flicking his wand, he sent the large snake flying head over tail across the arena. Then he bent down and slashed the little snake. With an agonized spasm it rolled off and shriveled up. Reaching down, he lifted Hermione off of the ground. She groaned and rubbed her throat.

Vandermine spoke softly as he carried her outside the arena, so no on else could hear. "This seems familiar. I seem to recall a similar situation like this."

Hermione scowled at him and bit back a retort. Her throat hurt too much to express her indignation. Besides, she thought, he does have a point. She settled for a muffled complaint under her breath.

Vandermine set her down on the ground and touched her neck gently. Feeling for damaged tissue, he called out over his shoulder, "Harry, in you go. I'll take care of Hermione. You shouldn't need my help."

Harry reluctantly entered the arena. Steeling his nerves, he confronted the beasts that waited for him. A half-dozen Stygian birds flapped overhead, cawing harshly to each other. Harry studied them closely, looking for possible weaknesses. A solid wall of razor-sharp feathers hurtled down on his unprotected head. Dodging the fatal bolts, Harry searched his mind for effective spells.

The birds descended cautiously, moving as a team. Harry cast about furtively for a shield with which he could block the shafts. Finally a bird came in range. Leaping over a pile of feathers, he aimed at a low-flying bird that ventured too close.

"Scio animam."

Incomprehensive thoughts flooded into his mind. He could not translate the animalistic urges, but suddenly their tactics became clear. Searching their darting forms, he picked a target and fired.

"Incindere Aves."

Fire enveloped the target. Screeching in pain, the bird plummeted to the floor. On its way down it collided with another bird. Together they tumbled to the ground in an immobile heap. Harry felt a sense of euphoria rise in him as he targeted the next bird. They fell easily before him as he read their flight patterns ahead of time. Like mindless puppets, they carried on their pattern until all six lay on the ground.

Harry turned to face the audience of students to find them huddled around two unmoving figures. His heart rose in his throat as he realized that the figure on the ground was Hermione. Madam Pomfrey rushed across the field and thrust herself through the crown. A distorted voice broke the barrier, screaming for help.

"She's not breathing!"

Harry staggered as if hit by a lightning bolt. His vision swam as he dimly felt himself fall forward. The ground rushed towards him invitingly.