"You're such a cry-baby."

"Am not"

"Are too"

"Am not"

"Are too"

"Am not"

"Are too" Valkyrie continued to argue with Scapegrace. She had punched him, and he had begun to cry. That had been the origin of the argument.

Valkyrie sat crossed legged on the desk, a hardback book open in her lap, as she waited for Skulduggery to come back. Harry would be there soon too. At the moment of her thinking about him, Harry opened the door and shuffled in. Valkyrie smiled as he eyed Scapegrace. Valkyrie wasn't sure, but she thought Thrasher had fallen asleep. Poor Thrasher.

"Hey Harry. Skulduggery will be back in a minute."

"Why? Where'd he go?"

"No idea." Valkyrie said, jumping from the desk and landing on the ground silently, closing the book in a single fluid movement.

"Then how'd you know he'll be back?"

"I don't, but that's usually what people say isn't it?"

"I guess so." Harry shrugged his school bag from his shoulder and dumped it on the ground.

"Face me Cain!" Scapegrace ordered. Valkyrie turned and threw the book. It connected with Scapegrace's head with a satisfying crack, and after a brief moment of deathly silence, he howled, cursing her name and crying, waking Thrasher with a jolt.

"So, what were you saying Harry?" She smiled at him, leaving Scapegrace to curse and yell.

"Um, nothing." He muttered, eyeing Scapegrace with wide eyes.

"Don't mind him. He's just a cry-baby." Valkyrie smiled.

"I am not!" Scapegrace whined, wailing slightly. Valkyrie noticed that when the corner of the book had connected with his head it had cut his scalp. The small wound was beginning to bleed.

Skulduggery strode through the doors and halted. In a single glance he saw Harry, Scapegrace, a very confused Thrasher, the thick hardback book on the floor, and innocent smiling Valkyrie. He shrugged and continued into the classroom.

"So Harry, is there anything you'd like to try today?" He asked, taking off his jacket and draping it over the back of a chair.

"Um, I don't think so." Harry muttered.

"Would you like to do more physical training or would you like to try magic?" Skulduggery asked, turning and standing next to Valkyrie. Harry looked slightly startled.

"Like, wand-less magic? As in sorcery?"

"That's right." Skulduggery nodded. Harry bit his lip, chewing it slightly as Scapegrace continued to whine in the background and Thrasher began to question the mark on his master's head, much to Vaurien's annoyance.

"I am the Zombie King, Killer Supreme, and I will not be treated like-"

"Shut up Scapegrace!" Skulduggery bellowed, causing both Valkyrie and Harry to jump, and Vaurien shrunk back in his chair, whimpering slightly.

"I do apologise." Skulduggery said politely to Harry. Harry nodded, having quickly gone pale. Valkyrie had almost forgotten how scary Skulduggery could be sometimes to people who didn't know him. And to the people who did.

"It's your decision Harry." Valkyrie said calmly, smiling slightly reassuringly. Harry continued to think for a moment, and then brushed a hand through his hair.

"Um, we could try sorcery… I guess."

"Wonderful choice Harry." Skulduggery nodded, as if he had said something very wise, and Valkyrie rolled her eyes, but smiled all the same.

"Which would you like to practise Harry? There are many choices."

"Which one's the easiest?" He asked. Skulduggery titled his head for a moment in thought.

"I would say air of fire of the Elemental branch. Water times skill with air and no elemental practises with earth willingly. The Adept mages vary from anything to everything, and Necromancy can't be learnt without an object."

"He could use my ring. I learned Necromancy from Solomon's cane, remember?"

"So you did." Skulduggery nodded, although he didn't seem particularly happy that I'd brought up the origins of my Necromancy powers. Then again that was when he was trapped in the alternate dimension being tortured by the Faceless Ones. Not good.

"Ok, whatever." Harry shrugged. Valkyrie sensed he felt slightly awkward.

"It'll take a while, if you have sorcerer capabilities at all, but that's normal." Skulduggery nodded to himself before he picked up his jacket and began to search one of the pockets before pulling out a paper clip. He placed it on the desk Valkyrie had been sat on, and Harry raised an eyebrow quizzically. Both Valkyrie and Skulduggery took small steps backwards.

"Ok, try to focus your mind on moving the paper clip." Skulduggery said. Harry blinked a few times, and then raised both eyebrows.

"Really? A paperclip?"

"You have to start small."

"Trust me, it's difficult." Valkyrie said, remembering how Tanith had told her not to start too big, back in China's library, the library that was now destroyed and the China that was now a traitor. Not to mention Tanith was now a remnant, possibly forever.

Harry sighed and sat on the chair, beginning to focus on the paper clip. His face scrunched up, and for a second, just a second, Valkyrie thought it moved. No one else seemed to notice though, so she kept the information to herself, moving across the classroom and wiping the black board clean.

After a few silent minutes, Harry exclaimed in frustration and leant back in the chair.

"Nothings happening." He complained.

"It takes a while, sorcery isn't the same as putting your power into a wand and instantly being able to do things. It requires endurance and patience, and soon, you'll be able to move things much, much bigger." Skulduggery flicked his wrist and the paperclip flew from the table with such force that it slammed into the wall over 2 meters behind. Harry sighed.

"Maybe we could do defence, and I'll practise this in my own time?" He suggested. Skulduggery tilted his head and nodded.

"Valkyrie, if you would be so kind?" Valkyrie looked over and smiled, nodding. Behind Skulduggery she saw Scapegrace bite his lip – had he been planning to say something? Probably. Shame, Valkyrie would have liked to hit him again.