Chapter Two
Alaina took a deep breath as she carefully formed her answer. These were good people, and she hated to insult them, but facts were facts. Finally she sighed and spoke.
"I am afraid that there is no other way to put this, but the biggest problem that I see with British wizards and witches is that they rely far too much on their wands. If disarmed, the majority of you would be completely helpless. Another problem is that you have no stamina to endure a long duel. This poor conditioning begins in childhood, and I hate to say it, but Quidditch is not enough exercise. Therefore, part of my classes will seek to rectify this failure. I have each year and house three times a week for two hours. During this period, not only will they be learning age-appropriate hexes, jinxes and shields, they will also be enduring physical training and different forms of non-magical self defense. I have also taken the liberty of bringing a special training tool to demonstrate the current weaponry in use by Muggles for self defense. A modified 9mm Glock that fires paintballs rather than bullets." Alaina paused as she heard a derisive snort from the other end of the table. "May I ask what is so funny, Professor Snape?"
"A death eater would simply cast a disarming spell before you took the safety mechanism off. As for this physical training, wizards have no need of this foolish muggle concept."
Alaina smile sweetly at the man. Time to teach this condescending jackass a lesson. "Perhaps a demonstration is in order then, but I need a volunteer that is pretty quick at pulling their wand." Alaina stood up and walked into the middle of the great hall, pulling a small box out of her bag and lightly tapping it with her wand. It quickly expanded, and Alaina proceeded to pull her gun, holster and the magazine of paint rounds. With everyone watching, she strapped the belt and holster on, loaded the gun, and holstered it with a snap. She reached into her bag again and pulled out a tiny light colored vest, tapping it to return it to its normal size. She walked over to hand it to Snape, who had volunteered for the demonstration.
"What is that for?" Snape sneered.
"It will protect your clothing from the paint and lessen the impact from the round."
"I'll take my chances without that ridiculous thing, Mackenzie."
"Suit yourself," Alaina shrugged, setting her wand down in front of Albus. "Whenever your ready, Professor."
Before he even had gotten the first syllable of the disarming charm out, Severus Snape was flying backwards, his wand flying out of his hand and he landed with a thud on his back. A second later, Mackenzie was standing over him, pointing his own wand at him.
"Any more questions, Professor? Oh and by the way, you're dead. If that paintball had been a real bullet, it would have gone through your heart and you would have died instantly. Nothing magical or muggle can stop a bullet." Snape stood up, glared at Alaina, and stormed off. As soon as the door slammed, everyone erupted into laughter.
"Alaina, thank you." Minerva said patting her shoulder. Matthew Vector nodded his agreement.
"Severus is a good man," Vector said, "but his attitude needed…well, Severus needed to be knocked on his arse."
"I'm not looking forward to one thing though." Alaina commented. "He is a head of house, correct?" Minerva affirmed this with a nod. "I give it two days before he is in Albus' office complaining about me mistreating his students."
Severus Snape was cursing violently as soon as he reached his office. A huge red spot covered the front of his robes and he could feel a bruise forming on his chest. How in Merlin's name did that blasted woman get to him so fast?
That night, Alaina finished unshrinking the contents of her bag, and set up her office and quarters. She decided to go for a run, and from what Filius had told her, the Quidditch pitch was the most suitable place. As soon as she got there, she tapped a disk and the area was soon filled with the sound of "You Give Love a Bad Name." Alaina slipped off her jacket, and began stretching, before beginning her run. She paused briefly, sensing that someone was watching her, but quickly realized that her observer meant no harm.
Severus Snape had decided to avoid his colleagues and that damnable woman and headed toward the gates of Hogwarts to have supper at the Three Broomsticks. He was about halfway there when he heard what sounded like some form of music coming from the Quidditch pitch. Curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to investigate. As he got closer, his eyes widened at the sight of Alaina Mackenzie, clad in a tank top and shorts, running laps around the pitch. He watched as she stopped, looked at her watch, then continued running. She ran ten more laps, before stopping completely, and then stretched her legs. Severus was even more surprised at the tattoos adorning her upper arms, shoulders and legs. The most prominent was a skull with what looked like a sword and gun crossed an American flag and the words 'Death before Dishonor' on one of her shoulders. A phoenix guarding a snake adorned the other with the words 'Semper Fi' adorned the other. Snape couldn't see the other tattoos clearly, but he assumed they were similar. Suddenly, he heard her voice ring out.
"Are you going to stand there and stare all night, or did you want something?"
"When did you realize that I was there?"
"About ten minutes ago." Alaina took a deep breath, and turned to face him. "Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Ya'll are at war, the kids we teach are probably going to be involved, and it's up to all of us to give them the best chance we can. That ain't gonna happen if the adults are acting like a bunch of brats. Truce?" Alaina extended her hand and waited for a response. Snape nodded and the two shook hands. He was surprised when she handed him a large white tube. "That's an advanced bruise salve for paintball injuries. Works overnight." She smiled and picked her jacket.
"Goodnight, Severus," and Alaina walked back to the castle, leaving a stunned Potions Master staring at her.
A/N: Don't worry more conflict between Alaina and Sevvikins to come.