A/N: Another bit of transition, but we're getting to some other points... sorry for the delay, I've been reworking a few things to come! Hopefully the next updates will come a bit faster...

Enjoy!

Dia hid a smile as Hermione paced another circuit around the kitchen, mumbling softly to herself even as she smoothed the front of her robes for the the fifth time in the last several minutes.

"Relax, darling," Dia murmured, looking up from her parchment. "You've already met Ana. Trust that Konstantinos and Melina are going to be much less... volatile. I cannot quite guarantee the same for the children, however considering you're a new face and my apprentice, I daresay you already have quite the advantage."

"I know, I know," Hermione replied impatiently. "I just can't help my nerves now that I know Konstantinos is going to be testing me today."

"Ana will be testing you eventually too," Dia replied with a soft chuckle. "I'd be far more worried about that if I were you."

"So you know that she wants to teach me dueling?" Hermione asked, clearly unconvinced that Dia had given her approval for the subject at all.

Her apprentice had been anxious ever since Dia had explained that half the purpose of their impending visit to her family was for Hermione to move into the next stage of her training. While Dia traditionally waited until after the start of an apprentice's second classifications, she was anxious for Hermione to begin ahead of schedule.

Recent events were also a cause for her concern.

"Ana will teach you the formal rules to have under your belt as we move toward your debut in both Societies. Consider her lessons a variation upon those you are currently pursuing with Yiayia," Dia replied, setting down her quill. "Konstantinos will teach you the more well-rounded practice of how to duel for your life."

Caramel eyes widened and Hermione groaned, plunking her elbows on the island despairingly.

"I don't understand the issue, kopelia. You are already far more accomplished than any apprentice I've brought to him before," Dia said puzzledly.

"Yes, but I was never good at Defense. I barely scraped an "O" on my N.E.W.T.s," Hermione replied fervently, her eyes slanting with the force of her hands pressing at her temples. But you succeeded, Hermione.

"I still don't understand," Dia replied.

Her apprentice seemed to be spiraling through insecurity after insecurity if their bond was any indication, and Dia was further puzzled after the redrawing of their contract the day previous. Hermione already knew that she needed to further her training in this manner, and she had already spoken of it with passion.

Dia couldn't understand why now, of all times, the witch seemed to be doubting her abilities.

Hermione sighed and hopped up on a stool, her brows drawn in frustration.

"Defense and dueling was always Ron and Harry's thing," she said softly. "I was always the bookish one. And while I could hold my own for a while, I always knew that they would be there to step in and help out. I'm not good at this, Master, I already know it. I just… don't want to disappoint."

"Hermione, I will have no more of this talk," Dia said firmly. "You are here to learn, not to be judged on what you do and do not know at this moment. You have plenty of practical experience from the War, you are a creative thinker, and you are in excellent physical condition. Konstantinos is a wonderful teacher and he is the one who shall help make this your 'thing,' as you say. The assessment today is to merely discern the direction your training will take."

Hermione mumbled something under her breath and leaned forward, kicking the island sullenly with a bare foot.

"Stop your petulance and speak your mind," Dia said calmly, growing tired with the witch's moodiness. She is being irrational.

The command seemed to cut through Hermione's haze and she sat up at once, a guilty expression crossing her face as she folded her legs demurely and smoothed her features.

"I simply wish that you would be teaching me," Hermione replied softly, her caramel eyes still betraying her feelings.

Dia's jaw worked for a moment before she sighed softly.

"Hermione, darling… the reason I so often include my family in my curricula is not to shirk my duties with you, but to challenge you. We are already quite comfortable with each other and when it comes to dueling and defense, our relationship can create a disadvantage," she explained patiently.

"Konstantinos and Ana will be able to assess you more objectively, without blind spots or preconceptions of how you might respond in a duel… not to mention they are both extraordinarily talented in this realm. You will receive a good education, and only when you have mastered your own style and approach will you work with me to refine it."

Hermione's lips pressed together into a thin line and she nodded curtly, bizarrely reminding Dia of Minerva.

"Today is not a punishment, it is a challenge… and if your enthusiasm for your physical training is any indication, I daresay you might even enjoy it."

"I understand," Hermione said. Dia waited to see if there was anything more, but the witch simply looked at her. While she could still feel the threads of uncertainty, Dia knew that her words had been absorbed.

"Very well. A few more minutes and I shall be ready. You have an extra set of clothes?"

Her apprentice nodded and Dia gave her a warm smile.

"All will be well, darling. I promise you that."

A knock on the door caused Arthur Weasley to look up from his report.

"Come!" he called loudly, sitting back as the door swung open to admit the Minister of Magic in dark purple robes.

"Kingsley," he exclaimed in surprise, rising to shake the other man's hand. "Didn't expect to see you here today."

All thoughts of an impromptu discussion quickly evaporated as the taller wizard's broad features formed a grimace and he sighed slowly, one hand rising to pinch the bridge of his nose. Kingsley shook his head sorrowfully. His wand emerged from one sleeve, waving the door shut absently and continuing with a series of flicks that Arthur recognized as a series of silencing and warding charms.

He frowned even as Kingsley sat in the chair on the other side of his small cramped desk overflowing with parchments. His friend looked haggard and Arthur felt a flash of sympathy for the wizard.

"If all had gone well, my friend, neither of us would have been spending our Sundays at the office," Kingsley replied after a moment. He leaned back and fixed Arthur with an opaque expression.

"I'm afraid I don't understand," Arthur replied, sitting carefully and clearing his desk with a flick. He had an inkling that the Minister was speaking of Sturgis Podmore's death, though he didn't see why his friend would have traipsed all the way into the bowels of the Ministry to have a simple conversation about it. All of the investigations were being routed through Arthur's colleague and boss, the Head of Internal Security. Why not have simply summoned Walt?

"Sturgis' death was no accent, as I'm sure your preliminary investigation seems to suggest."

Arthur remained silent, drawing a deep breath as he considered that bit of information. His eyebrows rose.

"I admit the Aurors have left me with a number of questions," he replied slowly. "Their diagnostics have been remarkably inconclusive and at odds with the one's I've cast over the warding in Section 12. After these reports I was about to send a recommendation to Walt that we expand the investigation beyond the Ministry's walls."

"What do you believe you will find?" Kingsley asked quietly. Arthur tilted his head, steepling his fingers as he considered the question. It was clear that the Minister already had thoughts upon the matter.

"As of right now, I wouldn't be comfortable hazarding a guess. The Healers indicate that Sturgis' injures are consistent with an energetic build-up of a warding misfire that would have killed him instantly. The Aurors indicate that Sturgis' wand cast several multiphasic shields prior to his death, none of which should have interacted with the wards in such a manner, and all of which should have set off the security sensors."

Arthur paused and frowned as he thought.

"Furthermore, the wards themselves indicate an energetic disruption, but at a low level that would have been uncomfortable, yes… but hardly strong enough to kill him. I have three sets of inconclusive data and must believe that there is more to this matter than what currently meets the eye. A number of the Aurors working with me are in agreement."

Kingsley nodded and his gaze slid away, traveling over Arthur's teeming bookshelves and stacks of parchment. The large wizard sighed softly.

"Regrettably, I do not believe you will find the answers you seek. Perhaps it will come as a surprise to you that Sturgis' death does not come as a surprise to me. I had thought that he would have been discreet enough to avoid arousing suspicion, but it seems my confidence was misplaced…"

Kingsley trailed off, a deep furrow marking his brow as his mouth twisted into a wry smile. Arthur's jaw worked for a moment as he absorbed the Minister's cold words and blasé attitude. Gods above… is he really admitting to what I think he is?

"Sturgis and I worked together for nearly twenty years. A few days ago he came to me with information that threatened not only the Ministry's internal security and the people within our ranks... but the safety of every magical man, woman, and child within all of Great Britain," Kingsley intoned quietly.

Arthur blanched.

"I admit that I thought Sturgis was exaggerating a bit... and so I sent him to take care of it. Alone."

The wizard fell back and scrubbed a hand over his face. Arthur was surprised to see that dark eyes were bright.

"I failed him, Arthur… I failed to listen closely and now my best friend is dead."

The statement came out as little more than a whisper and Arthur watched with a sense of detached fascination as the Minister's shoulders shuddered softly, his heavy hand falling away to rest at one side. For a moment, Arthur would have easily believed that the man before him held the weight of the world on his shoulders.

But a moment later, Kingsley sat forward rather abruptly, his expression a mix of sorrow and regret.

"It seems I am now in need of someone who can take over Sturgis' position and continue the work that he left unfinished. You've always had an eye for strategy and logic, Arthur. Half the missions in the Order succeeded because of your ability to see what others did not."

Arthur shifted uncomfortably even as dark brown eyes gazed back at him resolutely. A deep sense of foreboding began to settle in his stomach and he already knew what his friend was about to tell him.

"I am shifting you over to Sturgis' position as Deputy Head of the Investigative Department. I've wanted you over there for a long time, though I never imagined it would happen in this manner. Unfortunately, you will also inherit the task which lead our friend to his untimely demise," Kingsley said, shaking his head softly.

"I cannot impress upon you the importance of discretion in this matter, Arthur. Following our inquiries, the Ministry's reputation must hold in the public eye. Internal matters are to remain within the company… I cannot have even the slightest hint that the Ministry has been compromised..."

"If I were to refuse?" Arthur asked quietly. The hairs on the back of his neck were standing on end and every instinct told him that the matter at hand was far too large a commitment to make on such little information.

While he didn't doubt the sincerity of his friend's words, a wizard had just lost his life. A good man, a good Auror… what makes him think you can do what Sturgis could not?

Kingsley's expression shifted and Arthur thought the taller man might've been regretful.

"Then I would be forced to promote someone less qualified and whose council and discretion I would trust less… whose life would be placed at risk as they absorbed the burden that Sturgis failed to relieve," he replied seriously.

"There is also the matter of the Order of the Phoenix. I trust you received Minerva's message?"

"It was I who told her to send it," Arthur replied honestly. Kingsley sniffed mirthlessly.

"Then you are already wrapped into this deeper than you know," Kingsley replied slowly. "Your discoveries have undoubtedly already made you a target… but, you already have more resources available to you than Sturgis did. I will not make the same mistake twice, Arthur."

Arthur shifted in his chair. There were far too many variables to weigh and his mind raced with the implications of what the Minister was telling him. His brow furrowed as the tall wizard sat forward again, his eyes boring into Arthur's own with an intensity that made the room seem to shrink in around them.

"I need you to accept this, Arthur. I need you to do it quickly, quietly, and under the radar… I trust you, Arthur. Pick two or three wands that you trust above all - do not give me their names, but take any measures necessary to ensure that Sturgis' killer is brought to justice and this leak is contained. You can take them from the Ministry or involve the Order, it's up to you. Send any and all provisions you may need directly to me. Not to my secretary nor to my office. To me. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Arthur rasped, the pressure in his chest suddenly constricting.

"Good," the wizard said quietly. They gazed at each other for a long moment, the weight of their words hanging in the empty room.

Arthur took a deep breath. Not only would he be ascending to a position within the Ministry that was demanding in both its breadth and scope, but he would be absorbing the mysterious mission that had gotten Sturgis Podmore killed. Whatever the scheme, it had to have been enacted by someone high up in the Ministry's ranks… no one else would have been able to hide the evidence.

For a bizarre moment, Arthur Weasley felt a heady sort of disconnect from his own body - a surreal sense that he had just signed onto a task that delved far deeper than he currently understood. It was a pivotal sort of moment, a defining one, perhaps… and even as he sat forward to listen Kingsley's subsequent words, he couldn't help shake the feeling of deep-seated doom that settled in around them.

A moment later the faces of his wife and family flashed through his mind… followed by close friends and the resolute members of the Order. He had a duty to them all.

"Tell me what I need to know."

Hermione swayed on the spot as she materialized in a deserted alleyway, one hand immediately rising to cover her nose as the smell of raw sewage quickly ghosted over her.

She looked around in bewilderment for a moment, her ears picking up a siren echoing in the distance, muted by the sound of rushing traffic and the heavy rhythmic clang of train cars.

A moment later she was flinching as Master Kallas let go of her waist and set off walking down the narrow passage, nimbly avoiding a few damp puddles and a number of broken bottles. Hermione hurried to follow, attempting to mimic the easy confidence her master exuded despite the strangeness of their unexpected surroundings.

It was clear they had Apparated into Athens if the ambient sounds were any indication, though unlike the clean and slightly surreal atmosphere of the Pharmakeion, the location seemed to indicate that they were in a Muggle part of the city.

Her Master's bright silk robes seemed out of place against the dingy atmosphere, though they did seem to blend into a few artful sprays of graffiti littering the walls as she moved forward confidently. Hermione picked her way through the alleyway carefully, absently noting how a majority of the bright paintings seemed to depict images of political protest. Many were violent or inflammatory and a number were covered in cruder scrawls demanding freedom of speech. Some of the images were rather good, and despite the smell and precarious pathway, Hermione was surprised to find that she rather enjoyed the colorful art.

Blue robes disappeared around a corner and Hermione quickly followed, slipping into a narrow passageway between buildings that seemed barely large enough for them to walk through. Her robes scraped along a stretch of dirty brick and she winced as something dripped on her from above, resisting the urge to ask the witch ahead of her just where the hell they were headed.

A moment later the passageway widened into an uneven square of pavement, surrounded by three industrial looking buildings with broken windows and a narrow driveway that appeared to extend into a shadowy street. A dog barked in the distance and as Hermione looked around, she could discern no evidence to suggest that any of the surrounding buildings were inhabited.

There wasn't as much graffiti on the walls in the small enclave and no signs that seemed to indicate what the buildings were used for. An eerie feeling settled over her and Hermione shivered a moment before turning back to the witch who was leading them.

Master Kallas moved off to their left, heading for a rusty looking metal staircase that led upward toward a scuffed grey door. For some reason, the nondescript entrance seemed rather foreboding and Hermione shivered again, wishing that she knew where they were.

Her master glanced back at her expectantly and Hermione dutifully followed, adrenaline pumping through her system even as her mind worked to rationalize their strange journey thus far. She's not going to kill you and leave your body… she's your master. She's bound to protect you.

A moment later she watched as her master stroked the door with a finger, waiting for a moment and before giving Hermione an enigmatic little smile as there was an audible click from within.

Pulling it open she gestured for Hermione to go first.

"We're almost there, darling," Master Kallas murmured, as Hermione stepped through, nose picking up the scents of sweat, metal, and a few other synthetic smells that she couldn't name.

She walked down a shabby grey hallway whose singular lightbulb flickered ominously, clutching her wand and feeling her body tense with nerves and anticipation. She's not going to kill you…

Master Kallas pressed past her as they reached the end of the hallway, two doors on their right indicating bathrooms, while a door to their left boasted a caution sign and some chipped red paint.

With a delicate hand, the witch opened it and stepped through, a curious little smile already painting her face even as Hermione shivered again.

Stepping through, Hermione froze and blinked.

And kept blinking.

They were standing in the corner of a huge… gym, though it was unlike any sort of gym Hermione had ever seen.

The entire space looked like it had once been a large warehouse, with narrow windows near the top of the tall ceiling and big fluorescent lights shining down from above. The large space below boasted a sprawling mess of stairs, ramps, and uneven surfaces; everything looked like one large complicated obstacle course, including several overhangs and handholds on the walls that gave Hermione a bizarre sense of standing before a compressed city or large adult playground.

The walls were largely white, though a number were heavily graffitied in the manner she had seen outside, boasting complicated images of bodies engaging in what looked to be martial arts combat and complicated acrobatics.

Blinking again, Hermione was surprised at how clean and… well, legitimate everything appeared, but before she could open her mouth to ask a question, a voice interrupted.

"Theia!"

A tall man suddenly bounded into view, jogging over to them wearing Muggle basketball shorts, a loose tank top, and bright neon blue trainers. He had a lanky, muscular build and Hermione found herself admiring the fluid ease of his movement as he drew closer, a lopsided smile gracing his face. Dark curls peeked out from a relaxed grey beanie and she was surprised to see a number of tattoos crossing the tanned olive skin.

"Konstantinos," Master Kallas murmured affectionately, reaching up and bringing the man's face to her lips as she kissed him three times on both cheeks. The tall man blushed immediately and Hermione was suddenly reminded of Ron.

"You must be Hermione," the man said, brightening as he noticed her.

He extended a large hand and gave hers a surprisingly gentle shake. If Hermione had any doubt that the wizard was her master's nephew, it was solved as her gaze caught seafoam eyes that smiled down at her kindly.

"Darling, this is Konstantinos," Master Kallas said unnecessarily, smirking softly as she placed a gentle hand on Hermione's shoulder.

"Konstantinos, Hermione. You must give her a moment to recover from our journey. Likely she thought I was bringing her to an untimely demise."

"I… didn't think that," Hermione stammered, flushing even as her master chuckled knowingly.

"I know the neighborhood leaves a lot to be desired," Konstantinos said good-naturedly, bumping Hermione with a lanky elbow. "But Exarchia has a radical history and I've always thought it lent itself well to our activities here…"

He leaned forward to speak in a stage whisper.

"My aunt always complaining about it, but I secretly think she likes it… she's always been a bit of a rogue at heart."

Hermione found herself grinning at his overly dramatic eyebrow wagging, even as her master pursed her lips disapprovingly and crossed her arms. Despite the pose, she could see the witch's eyes twinkling and somehow she knew that the two had a good relationship.

"Anyway… welcome to our gym!" Konstantinos said enthusiastically, walking backwards to gesture to the space. He motioned for her to follow as Master Kallas drifted away behind them.

"I've never seen anything like it," Hermione replied truthfully, looking around in amazement. It's all so… bright.

"I co-own this place with a few good friends of mine… though they've graciously allowed us the room for today," Konstantinos explained with a smile. "We've modeled it after some of the Muggle gyms that are starting to spring up across Europe. Ever heard of something called parkour?"

"It's like free-running, right?" Hermione asked, even as Konstantinos visibly brightened and gave her a smile.

"Yes… good! So you've heard of it!"

He paused at the center of what appeared to be a slanted ramp in the middle of the huge space, holding out a hand for her to join him. Hermione stepped up and looked around, still taking in the strange environment.

Everything was covered in a thin layer of black foam that looked like it was meant to absorb impact, and Hermione noted a few places across the floor that appeared to be strategically placed trampolines. All of the other surfaces were painted in various neon colors and she could see a number of footprints in odd places, as though people had been bouncing off the walls.

"The roots of parkour go back as far back as Muggle World War I… beginning with a man called Georges Herbért who sought to train military soldiers more efficiently. He was one of the first people to develop obstacle courses for the troupes, creating a system called parcours du combattant, which means-"

"The fighter's course," Hermione supplied, beginning to look around the room in appreciation.

"Ah, you speak French?" Konstantinos asked, his face brightening. Hermione smiled and nodded as he clapped her on the back cheerfully.

"Well! Très bien! Unfortunately for you… that's about all the French involved in this experience," he chuckled, waving to the gym at large. Hermione found herself smiling again in reply.

"Military obstacle training is sometimes shortened to le parcours, and essentially is made up of what you see in Muggle movies - running, climbing, jumping, crawling through things. Activities to challenge the body, ensuring that a person develops stamina, strength, and agility together."

Konstantinos gestured as he spoke, pointing out various obstacles around the gym including various ropes and ladders, freestanding railings and uneven bars, and lots of varied surfaces of different heights and slopes that almost looked like the complex rooftops Hermione remembered from Paris or from more industrial areas in London.

She looked back as Konstantinos continued, her admiration growing as he continued to speak.

"Parkour developed a few generations later, fairly recently in fact. David Belle is considered the official founder... he was a Muggle who started bringing some of those same ideas to more urban areas in France a few years back, though his father trained in le parcours and some people debate where the credit should really go," Konstantinos paused and rolled his eyes, smiling as he continued.

"Anyway… boring history aside, you'll notice that our gym has a few things that you might see in city streets or on top of buildings. Basically, the practice of an obstacle course has been brought into contemporary life… for the purpose of sport and physical training, and also simply, for the fun of it."

He paused and looked at Hermione, shrugging lightly.

"Care to guess as to why it might prove a good method of training for witches and wizards?" he asked.

Hermione blinked, only slightly caught off-guard by the question.

"Well… I suppose it would force your body to move in unexpected ways. Your muscles would have to react differently to the changing surroundings and you would have to know how to use your body in order to do everything safely. I suppose that would correlate physical agility to magical agility?" Hermione replied, thinking aloud.

Konstantinos nodded thoughtfully. "Good… what else?"

Hermione's brow furrowed, her arms crossing unconsciously as she looked at the diverse environment. There were so many different pathways to choose from… almost like a terrain of sorts.

"I guess that in a real dueling situation, you're not always going to be in control of your location. Parkour would give you a physical advantage that would allow you to react to your environment well?" she replied, half-asking the last statement.

"Nice, good answers," Konstantinos replied warmly, his eyebrows raising slightly as he gestured to the room.

"I would also add that parkour encourages you to go with your gut instincts - a skill that doesn't come naturally for many witches or wizards when they find themselves in a real-life dueling situation. Defense classes teach us a method of polite exchange… one person fires a spell and the other parries. It's great for learning, but in a real battle, you know that's not how it really happens, neh?"

Hermione nodded grimly, mind already flashing back to memories from the Battle of Hogwarts. There was only one rule: survive.

"I have found that parkour helps connect the mind and body together in a way that helps facilitate that ease of reaction. There are two parts to the practice… maybe three," Konstantinos smiled and began ticking off on his fingers.

"The first part is the most complicated and involves learning physical methods and tricks to get yourself through a complicated environment safely - making sure you know how to leverage your weight, roll out of jumps quickly, all the practical things your body can accomplish to help you survive… the second step is to add magic to the equation - finding unexpected places to cast spells and hexes, using your environment to your advantage, and what I call quickfire spells that can enhance and help you through the physical part with a bit more ease. The last step, for some, is to add a wand… and do all of those other things without snapping it!"

"That sounds complicated," Hermione replied dryly, already feeling a bit nervous. So… you're here to learn parkour…

Seafoam eyes crinkled and Konstantinos laughed, a full musical sound that Hermione found rather infectious and unexpectedly reassuring.

"It certainly is," he agreed, face splitting into a wide smile. "Come… let me show you what I mean."

He gestured for her to return to the side of the room where Master Kallas was watching with a soft smile. The witch had set out her Muggle exercise clothes on a small bench by the door and Hermione was surprised to feel relatively comfortable and excited. What is with this entire family of talented people?

"Now… T. D. here is going to depart in a moment, but not before she helps me with a little demonstration. It's one thing to talk through everything, but I think the most effective form of motivation is to see what we're going to be working toward," Konstantinos explained, fingers already beckoning to Master Kallas.

Hermione nodded, her curiosity growing as Master Kallas removed her outermost sets of robes and transfigured the rest into black leggings, a cropped black tank top, and a set of royal blue trainers. The dark mane of curls whipped itself into a severe braid and suddenly the witch looked like an entirely different woman.

While she used to train alongside her master more often, it was always startling to witness the transformation from the enigmatic Master to the serious athlete, and Hermione couldn't help but admire the woman's chiseled body as Konstantinos wolf whistled.

She bit back a smile as her master bit out a snarky reply in Greek, pushing Konstantinos away with one palm as he moved to envelop her in a hug. Bemusedly, she noted that the witch barely came up to her nephew's chest.

"Watch him, Apprentice," Master Kallas growled irritatedly as she breezed past. "My nephew is a handful."

Konstantinos simply chuckled and winked at Hermione. With a dawning realization, she suddenly realized who he reminded her of. He's like the Greek version of Fred and George…

"Now… Hermione if you want to stand over to the side, we're going to warm-up by exchanging roles," the wizard explained, gesturing toward the bench along the wall. "As soon as T. D. is ready to go, we're going to switch off - one person will fire an assortment of offensive spells from a stable position, the other person must work to evade them."

"T. D.?" Hermione whispered curiously, looking past him to where her master had begun jogging around the gym with practiced ease.

Konstantinos chuckled in reply.

"One of many nicknames I have for my aunt. She hates it. Theia Dia has a good rhyme going, but shortening it to T. D. always reminds me of the Muggle abbreviation for toilet paper and it's too good an opportunity to pass up," he grinned before cupping his hands around his mouth and calling, "Theia? You warm?"

Hermione bit back a laugh as her master sent a rude gesture in reply.

"Just asking!"

Konstantinos chuckled, waving after the witch cheerfully.

"Is this what you're going to have me do later?" Hermione asked, wondering what lay in store for the rest of her afternoon. The running and climbing she could do. But the defense?

"A version of it," the wizard replied, putting his hands on his hips as they watched his aunt leverage through a series of ropes and metal railings. "You can rest easy on the magic. T. D. tells me that you have had… practical experience," he paused and gave her a sad sort of half-smile as Hermione sniffed and nodded.

"Today, I'm mostly curious to see how you move… training the body often proves most difficult for the apprentices my aunt brings to me," he paused and gave her a wink. "I already know she never accepts anyone of below average intelligence or magical ability."

"Have you trained many of her apprentices?" Hermione asked, realizing that she had never truly thought to ask after the students who may have come before her.

Unexpectedly, the thought made her deflate slightly. What if you're just one of many?

"Yes and no," Konstantinos replied evenly. He watched his aunt take another easy lap before turning to her with folded arms, his head tilting to one side thoughtfully.

"My aunt has never brought someone before the middle of their second classifications," he said quietly. "Usually she brings them for the experience… to encourage her students to try something new and different that might appeal to their other interests or hidden talents. I've really only trained two apprentices with any sense of seriousness, though the first had very little natural ability and it was more of a mind-over-matter challenge for her… she did all right in the end. The second was a wizard who was already a fairly accomplished dueler and looking to increase his chances of applying for jobs in the Auror field after his Apprenticeship."

"Am I the youngest?" Hermione asked uncertainly. Seafoam eyes crinkled into a smile.

"Perhaps in terms of physical age… though from what Dia tells me, I think we might both be in for a surprise," Konstantinos replied cheerfully.

Unfortunately, that did nothing for Hermione's nerves and she bit her lip, turning back to watch her master navigate the complicated room with ease.

"I get the feeling you are worried," Konstantinos intoned calmly. She turned back and found him studying her with an open expression, his light eyes curious.

"I am… defense has never really been my strong suit," Hermione replied, her focus pulled as her master began picking up speed - sliding down a metal rail with ease before springing across a sloped surface and twisting into a complicated flip that ended in a roll before she took off running again.

"And… I don't know that I'll ever be able to do that," she whispered, her eyes following the witch across the room with trepidation.

A moment later, a large wall of black cotton interrupted her gaze as Konstantinos stepped in front of her.

"Eyy! First rule in my home is not to talk yourself out of something you haven't tried, neh?" he said, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. She had to crane her neck to look up at him.

"You are here to learn and it is my role to teach you. Leave the assessment and the possibilities to me, neh?"

Hermione nodded uncertainly, already feeling the spiraling threads of self-consciousness and embarrassment begin to weigh down. Yes, but Master Kallas seems to believe in you… what if you let her down? What if this is all for nothing?

"Listen. Neither me, nor my sister, nor my aunt was born with the skills that we have now. All of this took time and dedication," Konstantinos said softly. "The fact that Dia is bringing you to me tells me that you are unique. Maybe that means you have a talent for this, maybe it doesn't. Either way, we're going to train and we're both going to learn in this process. Any time you find difficulty, it's up to me to find a better way to help you learn. It'll keep us both on our toes."

Hermione's lips twisted and she dropped her gaze, suddenly unable to look at the hopeful expression on Konstantinos face. The firm hand on her shoulder shook her gently.

"Eyy."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes as the wizard planted his other hand on her shoulder and began shaking her back and forth in a cajoling rhythm.

"Eyyyyy!"

Unable to help it, Hermione giggled, even as Konstantinos suddenly pulled her into a large bear hug, her arms automatically rising to wrap around his wiry frame.

"We're going to get through this, little sister. Ola tha pane kala," he murmured reassuringly. Hermione blushed lightly as he patted her back, stepping back to find that Master Kallas had jogged over, a concerned expression on her face.

Before either of them could say anything, Konstantinos turned in place, keeping one warm hand thrown across her shoulders carelessly as he fixed his aunt with a grin.

"Are you ready to get crushed, T. D.?"

"My nephew has a fondness for nicknames, Hermione," Master Kallas answered dryly, giving Konstantinos a stern look. "Doubtless you are going to leave here today with something equally… childish."

Hermione's eyebrows lifted in bemusement as Konstantinos laughed heartily before moving away and clotheslining the witch into an awkward sort of hug.

"Undoubtedly," he replied, spinning her around and marching them a bit away. "So do you want to go first or should I?"

A few minutes later, Hermione was standing at the edge of the gym… her breath held as one hand steadied herself against the wall.

I've never seen anything like this…

The thought floated through her mind quickly, almost too fast for her to consider as she watched her master and Konstantinos duel in a manner that was astounding in its complexity, terrifying in its speed, and ultimately…

Exciting.

Another thought soon followed and Hermione tried to bury it even as spells flashed with such rapidity she could barely follow… thrilling her with the inherent difficulty and flooding her with conviction even as she flinched - her body moving in response to the duo whirling throughout the gym, utilizing every inch of space available...

Beneath the layers of flickering uncertainty, she knew a seed had been planted. And suddenly the lioness within her was invigorated, teeth ready to sink into a new challenge, and claws itching to get a handle on this entirely new way of utilizing magic.

I want to be good as good as them.

A/N: Translations:

Ola tha pane kala - Everything is going to be, OK