"You're not doing it right." remarked Tom, from his position above her on the ladder.
"I know that, Tom." said Hermione annoyed, gritting her teeth. They had both been practicing different light and gray spells from the book Mr. Malfoy had given Tom.
"Here try it like this." said Tom hopping down from the ladder. "It's a sharp jab not swish." said Tom placing his hand over Hermione's.
"Bombarda." Hermione spoke and the practice dummy exploded.
"Good. More power next time." said Tom.
"Like you could get every spell on your first try!" Hermione exclaimed angrily.
"I have and I could. Pick any spell and I'll do it." said Tom coolly.
"Fine. Do this one." said Hermione placing a finger on a random spell.
"Expecto Patronum. This ancient and mysterious charm conjures a magical guardian, a projection of all your most positive feelings. The Patronus Charm is difficult, and many witches and wizards are unable to produce a full, corporeal Patronus, a guardian which generally takes the shape of the animal with whom they share the deepest affinity. You may suspect, but you will never truly know what form your Patronus will take until you succeed in conjuring it." Tom read from the book.
"Go on. I'll be over here." said Hermione.
"Expecto Patronum." Tom said while waving his wand. Nothing happened. He tried once more.
"Expecto Patronum." Tom said again a bit more forcefully.
"See? Nothing." said Hermione, smirking.
"This spell is defective." said Tom defensively.
"Or, you're not doing it right." said Hermione.
"I am. You do it if you think you can." said Tom.
"Fine. The book says that you have to think of a powerful happy memory, did you do that?" asked Hermione.
"I don't have many happy memories." said Tom.
"That's probably why you couldn't do it." Hermione replied and tried the spell.
"Expecto Patronum." A white mist came out of her wand. She tried it once more.
"Expecto Patronum." More mist.
"I do believe I am owed an apology." said Tom smugly.
"At least I know when I'm wrong." said Hermione.
"I am perfectly capable of knowing when I'm wrong. Those times are few and far between though." said Tom.
"Just pick another spell." said Hermione, annoyed. Tom scanned the book for a second and pointed to two of them.
"Avis and Oppungo. It's to conjure birds and fire them. Could be useful." said Tom.
"Let's try it then." said Hermione.
"Avis." said Tom, waving his wand. Four little blue birds sprouted from his wand.
"Oppungo." said Tom pointing his wand at the wall. When the birds hut the wall they exploded in a cloud of feathers.
"Interesting. I wonder if you could conjure birds of prey." said Tom.
"You can. The book says that it's the same principle, but a different incantation." said Hermione.
"What is it?" asked Tom, hovering over the book.
"Venerunt Volucres. Try it out." said Hermione.
"Venerunt Volucres." said Tom, moving his wand in the same way he did before. Three large falcons burst forth from Tom's wand.
"Oppungo." said Tom pointing his wand at their practice dummy. The birds sped rapidly toward the dummy and shredded the head to pieces.
"They'll disappear when you don't have a use for them." said Hermione.
"What have you two been doing?" asked Theo, entering the library.
"Practicing spells." said Hermione.
"Do you two ever try to have fun?" asked Theo.
"It's fun learning spells that aren't normally taught in school." said Hermione. "For example, Avis, Oppungo." said Hermione. Four little red birds sprouted from her wand in Theo's direction.
"Oi! Hermione call them off!" exclaimed Theo, swatting at the birds.
"Evanesco." said Hermione waving her wand once again.
"I never expected you to be so afraid of some little birds, Theo." said Tom smugly.
"I'm wasn't afraid. Just surprised." said Theo defensively.
"Do you want to join us in this or not?" asked Hermione.
"Fine. No more firing birds at me though." said Theo.
"Pick a spell out of the book and we'll do it." said Tom. Theo scanned the book for a moment before tapping one in the book.
"This one will work." said Theo.
"Stupefy. Temporarily stuns whoever is hit with the spell. Often used to take down dragons." Hermione read.
"There was one saw earlier, it's Protego I believe, shield spell." said Tom, flipping to the proper page.
"So one of us does it and the other tries to deflect a spell we've never practiced before. Wonderful." said Theo.
"That's why we're doing it over here, where there's cushions." said Hermione.
"Don't be scared, Theo. Hermione will most likely go easy on you." said Tom.
"It's not Hermione I'm worried about." muttered Theo, going to stand in front of the cushions.
"Just try to block, okay Theo?" said Hermione.
"Alright." said Theo.
"Stupefy!" shouted Hermione pointing her wand at Theo.
"Protego!" Theo shouted, but he said it a moment too late. The spell hit him in the chest and blasted him backward into the cushions.
"You alright, Theo?" asked Hermione, pulling the other boy up.
"A little dizzy but otherwise fine." said Theo.
"Do you want to go again or give Tom a try?" asked Hermione.
"Let's go again, I'm not ready to die just yet." said Theo. Once again they stood across from each other and Hermione cast the spell.
"Protego!" Theo shouted and the spell bounced off his shield.
"Good job, Theo." said Hermione. They switched turns a few times before Tom stopped them.
"My turn now. Hermione you and me." said Tom.
"Let's go then." said Hermione. Tom was about to cast the first spell when Bellatrix walked in.
"You don't have to stop on my account. Continue casting." said Bellatrix.
"Stupefy!" Tom yelled pointing his wand at Hermione.
"Protego!" shouted Hermione, Tom's spell ricocheted off Hermione's shield.
"Passable. When you cast a spell you don't throw your arm out and cast, you'll hurt yourself. You keep your wand arm level and straight and then cast your spell. You keep your eye on your opponent and always be ready to throw up a shield. Also when your opponent is down make sure that they are either knocked out or dead before turning away." said Bellatrix.
"You could teach us the more advanced spells. Help us get better at magic." said Theo.
"I could. I did always want to demoralize our youth and mold them into little Ministry destroying machines. I'll do it." said Bellatrix.
"Will you be teaching us from the book?" asked Hermione.
"No, magic is all about creativity. You will be creating your own spells and working with some of my own. I can put a spell on the book that will extend the blank pages and you can record your own. Once you learn you can continue to practice, even while at school." said Bellatrix.