The first few weeks at Hogwarts were a bit of an adventure for Sora, Donald, and Goofy. They had been attending classes with Harry, just as Professor Dumbledore instructed, but what these students were learning was far beyond their comprehension. Even Donald, the King's Mage himself, was a bit flustered. Transfiguration, mixing potions of all kinds, even charms and spells that were handy in defending oneself from danger. All the while, they had earned the same curious stares from the other students since their arrival. The tales of the fiasco on the train had obviously spread throughout the school, and no one was shy to question them.

"Who are you?"

"What was that 'key' thing?"

"Are you new students?"

One day during lunch in the Great Hall, Sora grew tired of the berating interrogations.

"Ugh, when are we going to start our lessons," he frustratingly asked his two friends.

"Gawrsh, I dunno," Goofy responded. "We've been here for almost a month and all we've done is go to class. Of course, some of the spells here are pretty neat."

"Aw phooey," Donald added. "We should ask Professor Dumbledore when it's our turn."

"Hey look," Goofy said, pointing towards the open doors. Walking in was the Transfiguration teacher, Professor McGonagall. In her hand she held a rolled piece of parchment.

"You three," she said as she approached their table. "It looks like it is your time to shine." She handed the paper to Sora and he unrolled it.

Sora, Donald, Goofy,

It is time for your teachings to begin. I have arranged a classroom next to Professor Snape's class to help you out. You will have your first class today at 3 pm. Please see me beforehand.

Professor Dumbledore

"Looks like we're on," Sora said as he finished reading.

"C'mon, let's go see the Professor," came the Mage.

…..

"So what new class is this?" Ron asked as Harry looked around the room. There were no desks, just empty space leading up to the blackboard and large cabinet that stood alone in the center. Other students were coming in, and much to Harry's chagrin, Draco Malfoy had found his way in the room.

"I shouldn't have to take this. We've already got Defense, now this?" he said with disdain. "Potter, just another class with you."

"Shut it Malfoy," Harry fired back.

"Oh, feeling brave are we."

"Harry, don't," Hermione interjected.

"I'll show you how brave."

"That's enough!" A very loud and annoyingly duck-like voice screamed.

The students turned their attention back towards the door where Sora, Donald, and Goofy now stood. Donald had his staff drawn as if to intimidate the students. They walked in towards the center of the room and had the students encircle them.

"Wait a minute," Harry started, "you're the professor?"

"Uh, looks like it," Sora answered.

"You can't be serious," Malfoy scoffed. "You're no older than any of us, and I've yet to see you with a wand. How do we know that any of you can do magic?"

Many of the students nodded and voiced their agreement with the Slytherin.

"Well, you're partly right. Goofy here can't do magic. But as for me and Donald…" Sora trailed off as Donald gave a demonstration. He raised his staff and bolts of lightning rained down in class. Luckily, he aimed around the students. The room fell silent, eerily impressed with the Mage.

"Ooh, one spell—," Malfoy started.

"And one is enough for now." Sora interrupted. "Now, we need to get started." He turned towards the cabinet before another question was raised.

"What about you?" Harry asked.

Sora turned back, and the students were staring at him with curiosity. Clearly, they desired another demonstration.

"Well…" Sora stuck out his hand, and in a flash of light, something took residence in his grasp. Slight gasps were among the students as they looked on at the key-like sword that Sora now held.

"This is my 'wand'," he stated. "It's called a Keyblade, and I am its chosen wielder."

"Chosen?" Hermione inquired. "It makes a choice?"

"Yes. It's how I perform my magic. Now, no more questions, we really need to get started."

"I'm not taking orders from the likes of you," Malfoy yelled out. "C'mon Crabbe, Goyle." Two burley looking students grunted and started to leave with Malfoy before someone blocked their way.

"You will do as you are told, Mr. Malfoy." Professor McGonagall had impeded their progress. Malfoy looked up at her disgusted, then back at Sora, who had a slight grin on his face. Professor McGonagall took a seat, one she had conjured, near the back of the room.

"Uh, Sora?" Goofy asked

Sora turned to his friend. "Oh, right." He walked to the cabinet, hoping there would be no further interruptions.

"Inside is a creature you all are familiar with, or so we've been told. It's a boggart." The students were now looking on with great interest. "So what does it do?"

The first hand flew up in the air just as Sora finished the question. "Yes, Hermione?"

"A boggart is a shape-shifting creature that takes on the form of whatever is our greatest fear."

Sora looked at his two friends as if to confirm the answer. "Uh, right, at least, I think that's how Professor Dumbledore described 'em," Goofy said.

"Uh, yea. Now, he also said that the way to combat this is with a charm, um…Ridikkulus?" Sora added. "But we won't be using that. Today, we are going to introduce you to the heartless."

"Heart….less?" Hermione asked. At that, students started whispering. "Wow, something Hermione doesn't know." "Must be pretty dark."

Hermione ignored her fellow classmates. "Sora—er, Professor, what exactly are heartless?"

Grim features appeared on the three 'Professors.' "They're the darkness in peoples' hearts," the Mage started.

Questionable and surprised faces stared back at them. "Uh, what Donald means is, when someone lets darkness into their heart, then that darkness takes form. That person loses their heart to darkness, and the being left behind is one born of darkness. That being is a Heartless." Sora explained.

"How could a person actually lose their heart?" Hermione asked.

"C'mon Hermione, no one could actually lose their heart," Ron scoffed.

Some students agreed, while others, including Harry, looked on.

"If you heard about the incident on the train," Sora continued, "that is what we fought. Some of the students in that train car saw them. And if they are here, then the darkness is coming. So we have been brought here to teach you all how to fight the darkness." Sora paused, letting Goofy go on, "The Heartless will stop at nothing to take you're heart and turn you into one of them."

"Right. So today, you're going to get a look at you're first Heartless." With that, Sora stood in front of the cabinet. He let the image of a Shadow form in his mind. Goofy opened the door, and a dark creature came out. It had four appendages, two antennae, and small, beady yellow eyes. At first the students were a little surprised, and then became rather disappointed.

"That's a heartless?" One asked, disbelieving. Professor McGonagall had stood up to get a better look.

"One kind," Donald responded. "There are many different kinds, and many much more powerful."

"He's right," Sora added. "Obviously, I'd like to attack, but this isn't a real Heartless. Dumbledore has a spell of Light around the school to keep them away. But we will encounter them."

The class went by, and Sora had the boggart change into various forms of Heartless: Soldiers, Rapid Thrusters, Icy Cubes, Pirates, only the small variety. The students, found a way to take notes, with Sora noting that he would ask Professor Dumbledore for desks next time.

"Well, I guess that's it for today," Sora said, having closed the cabinet with the boggart inside. The students started to disburse, along with Professor McGonagall, leaving the three heroes alone.

"Not bad, huh," Goofy stated of their performance.

"Yea, but we really need the 'real' Heartless if they want to learn how to fight," Sora responded.

"So that'll be our next lesson," Donald said.

Over the next week, Sora, Donald, Goofy showed the same Heartless to other students. They noticed only the older students attended their classes. Sora contemplated that Dumbledore must not want the younger ones to have to face the darkness. After lunch at the end of the week, the three made their way out of the castle.

"Feels good to come out here," Sora said as he took in a breath.

"Yea, this teaching is kinda wearin' on me," Goofy complained. "I wonder how the others do it."

"Tenure," Donald answered.

Sora chuckled. He then looked up at the trees and could tell the leaves were changing. The air was also considerably cooler than when they first arrived a month earlier. "Hey, Halloween is coming up soon, isn't it?"

Donald and Goofy looked at each other before nodding yes.

"Wonder what Jack has been up to."

"They must be busy," Donald said.

"Yea, it is their time of the year," Goofy added.

"Maybe we can bring a little of Halloween Town here. What do you guys say?"

"Good idea, Sora! Ah-hyuck."

"Dumbledore said that they're having a special feast on Halloween. Maybe we can spruce the place up."

All of a sudden their glee came to a halt as dark beings appeared out of the ground and air.

"Heartless?!" Donald shouted.

"But how-?" Sora started as he drew his Keyblade.

Donald unleashed a ring of fire with his staff, catching a few unlucky Shadows in its wake, as Goofy threw his shield in the fray. Soldiers responded by twisting and turning their arms, creating a vortex and hitting the Mage.

"Wak! I'll show you." With that, he unleashed a fury of thunder attacks on the Soldiers, easily clearing a path.

"That'll show ya!"

"Donald, look out!" Sora shouted, as smashed a Shadow leaping towards the Mage. "Where are they coming from?"

Sora then leapt into a group of Soldiers and let loose a series of combo attacks. He brought his Keyblade down to the ground, unleashing a powerful explosion of light, slaying the Soldiers.

"Sora!" Goofy called. He had become surrounded by Darkball Heartless. Donald and Sora jumped in beside their friend. "You guys ready?" Sora asked. The two shook their heads yes.

In an instant the three attacked simultaneously, firing a barrage of drive orbs at the Heartless. The other Darkballs closed in on them, but they reacted in time to summon a cluster of fireworks on the unlucky dark creatures. Quickly they vanished, but more Shadows and Soldiers appeared. Sora, growing tired, delivered powerful slashes, slaying them all. One final wave came upon them. A hoard of Darkballs, Shadows, and Soldiers. The three regrouped to commence the final attack of the Trinity. They raised their weapons towards the sky, where a massive orb of energy formed. The Heartless closed in, but the orb exploded in a magnificent blinding light.

When the light subsided, Sora, Donald, and Goofy collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

"Where did they come from?" Sora gasped.

"Guess we need to see the Professor," Goofy wondered.

"Look!" Donald shouted pointing towards the castle.

Coming down the hill, accompanied by Professors Snape and McGonagall, was Professor Dumbledore.

"Sora, Donald, Goofy. What happened?" the headmaster asked.

"Sir," Sora started still on the ground, "the spell you put on the castle didn't work. The Heartless have found a way in."

"What'll we do, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"I think we should head back into the castle." He responded, and hastily made his way back up the hill.

"But sir—" Sora started. But the headmaster was already at the door, before disappearing inside. "Wow, he's pretty fast."

"Come along you three," McGonagall said. With that, they went into the castle, hoping to find an explanation to the now-invading darkness.