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Chapter 10

Protego Maxima

Harry and Hermione struggled to keep up with Snape, and before they knew it, they were on the seventh floor facing the barren wall.

Alone in the room with Snape! Gulp.

Prof Snape, Harry.

Snape glared at them and quickly walked past the wall three times, as was the procedure. A dark shiny iron door materialized out of the wall. Something that lokked like Hogwarts crest was intricately engraved in it but before Hermnione could analyze it Snape headed towards it and wrenched the door open.

Dark!

Both of them thought together.

It took a moment to register, but the Room of Requirement had an aura unlike the time Harry had been in there training with Dumbledore's army. Gone were the cozy cusions and organized spaces. In its place was the formidable looking ragged stone floor and ivy covered walls. There were no windows or any other openings. The only light came from behind them, the seventh floor.

"This would be enough to make anyone claustrophobic" Harry Thought.

"Harry!" Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"Come on Mione, he wants us to train in here? This feels like a cage!"

"Quit complaining, luxury is something we just can't afford right now"

"That's enough telepathy; we have a lot of work to do" Snape cut in and the door closed with a bang.

Harry wondered how he knew about their communication. Legilimency perhaps? No, he certainly did not feel anyone entering his conscience and Hermione's mind was definitely not easy to penetrate. Then how?

"Potter, I don't need to use any magic to read your emotions, it's all in your eyes. As I already said, I've been spying on you for a long long time, so you better be careful in this training, I don't need any slip-ups".

"Told ya" Hermione's voice resonated within him.

"Oh this is going to be a long day…"

"As you can see, there are no props for this training, just you and me. Today, we will begin our physical defense classes. We will start with the most basic shield charm"

"Protego?" Jumped Hermione.

"Yes, Protego. A simple yet effective shield charm which deflects most of the charms cast at you"

"This is a waste of time, Professor… Both of us have already perfected this spell, and have used it to good extend in the past… So, that's it then, we should move on to animagus transformations or whatever"

"Not so fast, Potter!" Snape said sharply as Harry was just about to turn around and walk away.

"Do you consider me so insolent as to not know that you have mastered this already? You used this last year during our Occlumency lessons to see some of my memories, remember?"

"All the more reason that we should skip this"

"Let me finish, Potter. The charm that we are going to practice is not Protego, it's a shield charm much more powerful than that, this charm, when casted, would not only deflect the spell cast at you, but magnifies it effect and bounces it back at the caster"

Snape's gave a cynical smile as the two pair of eyes staring at him widened.

"Not only deflect…" Whispered Hermione

"…But also magnify and repel it back?" Harry was clearly louder.

Snape kept quiet for a few moments, and when he was confident that the feeling had set in, continued,

"Protego Maxima is the incantation"

"Protego Maxima? But is't that the spell used to create a protective barrier around an object?"

"Typical Hermione" Harry thought, and was immediately treated by a glare from Hermione.

"For once, you are wrong, Granger. Protego Maxima, when used with Fianto Duri causes the barrier you speak of. In which, Fianto Duri is the spell that is used to expand the power of Protego Maxima to a larger area, thereby creating a barrier."

Hermione's jaw dropped. How could she not have known that?

"So, there really are things that even you don't know" Harry's smile was almost gleeful.

"However…" Snape continued, "…There is a reason that this spell is not used alone. The power that it produces is so large, that when left uncontrolled, could repel away any energy in it's proximity, even your life force."

Snape did not notice a couple of eyebrows raising.

"Simple put, if you are not able to control it, you'll die casting it."

"Then how are we supposed to learn it? It's not like we can control it in the first try!"

"That's why I am here, Potter! I'll make sure that you don't die." His cold tone was not much of a reassurance.

"That's enough time wasted talking, let's begin the training. Both of you stand face to face, wands at the ready."

Hermione walked over and stood facing Harry, drew her wand while Harry did the same.

"Now Granger, I want you to cast the ventus jinx on Potter and Potter, use protego maxima and deflect the jinx back to Granger. Let's go"

"Just like that? What if something goes wrong?" Hermione was concerned.

"Time is something we are short on! Now hurry up."

Hermione paused. "Here I go, Harry."

Hermione's hand moved back and forth, like a whip, "Ventus!" A jet of spiraling wind poured out of her wand and whistled it's way towards Harry.

Harry flicked his wand upwards, "Protego Maxima!"

There was a sudden pressure on his right hand. His wand felt so heavy. But, he felt in control. He saw the jet of wind meet his wand, reflect, it's whistle turning into roar, spiraling back in the opposite direction. And then, he felt it. All the air in his lungs being pushed out. It was as if someone shoved him hard. He was losing balance, falling backwards. The force created by the shield spell knocked him back. He literally flew until he hit the back wall, which felt soft, almost like a canvas rather than a solid wall he expected. He hit the wall at full force and then fell forward on to the floor. All his nerves were screaming out in pain, blood trickling out from the back of his head. He raised his head just enough to see Hermione also lying flat on her stomach, motionless. He wanted to check on her, but just couldn't move. The pain was intense, his limbs were going numb. Warm blood still trickling down his neck from the back of his head… He was losing consciousness…

"Where is snape?"

His sight was fading. He moved his head sideways, with much effort. Vision fading, he was just able to make out a figure standing near a corner. The figure shrugged, like he knew that this was going to happen, and starting walking towards him. The already dim room turned darker and darker with each echo of the step. The figure stopped near his head and came down on his knees. It bend towards Harry's ear and whispered sarcastically "You didn't disappoint me" and the lights went out in Harry's eyes.

A/N : Sorry guys, if we disappointed you We never seem to have time, what with being in different colleges.