Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter 46: Back to Earth

-Harry-

The marble tunnels were pitch black, only the glaring light of our wands slowly illuminated the way as we went further and further down the mine. The silence was almost oppressive, as if someone, or something, had forced everything to be quiet.

A single cart remained standing on the railroad leading down the mine, the tracks disappeared into darkness, giving us no clue about what was waiting for us.

"Let's get in." Dumbledore squinted down into the dark abyss. "I'm afraid that's our only choice."

With a weight settling in my gut, I got inside the cart and, soon, we were speeding down the mine. The wind ruffled my hair, making it messier than ever before. My eyes scanned the walls and ground for any flash of light, any flicker of movement. Anything at all.

But my eyes found only one thing, dark and sullen walls carved out of the black rock.

The headmaster and I went deeper into the earth, the air adopted a biting cold tinge to it. I felt myself hunching and wishing I'd brought a coat. We turned around a corner and it was as if we had entered an oven.

The ground trembled beneath us, making the cart perilously close to dashing off the tracks. Followed by the tremble came a mountain-shattering roar which tore through the caves like a colossus.

"Dragons," Dumbledore muttered. "I believe our intruders have encountered one of the security measures. " He stood with his arms folded inside his coat, his face betraying nothing of what he felt.

Dragon. Dragons.

I'd gone full circle.

We descended, ever closer, at an uncomfortable speed, and ever so slowly, sounds of fighting rose from the depths into our ears. Bangs, roars and crackles of spells were heard, growing stronger and stronger as every second passed.

Our of nowhere, the rails went dived a thin tunnel, and a whole new world was revealed to us.

A skeletal dragon was roaring furiously below us, spitting liquid flames out of its gaping jaws. Small dark figures covered behind pillars, trying to get away from the inferno.

I tried to recognise them, but the figures were unintelligible from our distance. The fight disappeared from view as we entered an encompassing tunnel.

The cart ground to a halt with a shrieking hiss and for a moment, both me and the headmaster sat in complete silence.

We sprang into action in synchronisation, each taking a leap back onto the solid, black ground. The fight and the dragon was just down the corridor, I could feel the radiating heat already. It was like a furnace, but I knew that this was only the outskirts, we were still far away from the core.

Another great rumble shook the cave, making stones clatter from the roof. A furious scream from the dragon followed soon after. The fury of the great beast was tangible in the air; everywhere around me, it felt like the world was itching for blood.

"I hope this isn't caving in," I muttered as my shield saved me from another rock.

Dumbkedore held his wand forward as he crept along the corridor, towards the source of the fighting. "We should be alright." My headmaster waved his wand in the air, looking for any traps or threats. "The goblins know more of construction than wizards ever will."

I didn't reply; I only wiped the sweat off my brow.

The ground started shaking beneath my feet and I felt myself sway. Rocks tumbled from the roof like rain, yet it held firm.

We continued walking, but then, an unearthly scream echoed throughout the cave, clashing against the walls. It was as if someone had been flayed alive, and as if that someone was a large as the dragon.

Just as suddenly as the scream had started, it stopped, I could imagine why; but I didn't dare to think about how.

I wiped the sweat off my brow again, but now I felt cold, despite the heat.

A dark, rumbling voice emerged from the depths of the mines; it sounded as if the speaker stood right next to me, but there was no one there.

"You've already failed," the deep voice said, mocking whoever it spoke to. "You know as well as I do that there is no scenario in which you win. Everything you've worked so hard for will be lost." The voice chuckled, but there wasn't anything nice about it. It was as if everything going on was paused for a moment, there was no sound except that voice. "Give up, now," the voice urged. "You will die, and everything you stand for will die with you, but it doesn't need to be that way, does it? You can spare me, and we can preserve everything, just like you want to." There was silence for a few moments, yet it felt as if something important was happening. I was missing something. "He will never–"

The voice cut off abruptly. This time I was certain it would not reappear. Whoever —or whatever— had spoken was dead.

Life was breathed into the mines again, I could hear the clash between dragons and wizards once again.

I glanced at Dumbledore who was leaning against the wall, eyes narrowed in concentration. I led the way towards the battle. "Let's get going, sir."

"Wait, Harry." Dumbledore caught up to me. "I'll go first."

I nodded and took a deep breath. We were mere steps away from the end of the corridor, I could see the dragon's tail swinging back and forth mere metres away from me. I swallowed and gulped and wiped the sweat off my palms.

Concentrate.

The dragon roared, almost shattering my eardrums. It had several metallic spikes driven into it, making blood pour out like rivers. The wings had holes in them, they looked like torn pieces of old cloth.

It will soon be dead, I realised.

And indeed, it collapsed to the ground, its legs giving up from beneath. Then it went limp, the tail dying and the wings stopping their frail fluttering.

Someone started to laugh from the other side of the dragon. A female voice; a female voice laced with excitement I knew only one person possessed.

As we walked out from the tunnel, into the huge cave, Bellatrix appeared before us. She was accompanied by two men, both of them with aristocratic features and the same brown hair. Bellatrix had a crazed look in her eyes, like a child who had just gone on her favourite rollercoaster.

Bellatrix looked pristine as ever, her clothes not torn an inch. Her companions were a little worse for wear with burn marks and cuts.

"Hello Harry! Hello Headmaster!" Bellatrix said with a broad smile. "What brings you here today?"

Dumbledore began circling the group without a word. I wordlessly did the same in the other direction.

"Huh, no mood to talk?" Bellatrix pouted. "Oh well. I guess we can see if some torture can loosen up your tongue."

The three Death Daters fired spells at the headmaster in perfect synchronisation. Dumbledore tore himself out of the way, retaliating with a spell of his own quickly.

"Stupefy." I jumped out of the way just a moment my spell had been fired. One of the brothers, I didn't know which, had his attention on me. I narrowed my eyes and ignored my beating heart. The flashes and shouts from Dumbledore's fight got blocked out.

All those bodies up there, all that gore, this man was responsible for it.

A stream of flames rushed towards me. I just about managed to dart out of the way before the red inferno sailed past. My eyes fixed on my opponent, registering every single twitch of his fingers.

This was something I knew as well as walking.

Let's dance.

"Feriollo." A pink light burst from behind him. To my surprise, the man was ready for the spell and shielded aptly. He retaliated quickly with a spell which clashed against my shield with a resounding gong.

We circled each other, I felt myself growing further and further into the rhythm.

The shouts and sparks and the explosions were like a melody. A melody to the perfect dance, beautiful, but deadly.

The man I faced knew how to dance too.

He shielded my spells, retaliated gracefully and left me with no margins. I felt my frustrations growing, I needed to end this and get further inside, find out whose voice it was.

As I used wind to guide an onslaught of rocks away, I got a plan in my head, thinking rationally.

Just as I was about to begin, I felt a sharp pain at the back of my shoulder. Then came another and I was knocked to the ground.

Someone attacked me from behind! Cowards!

But clever.

I groaned in pain and tried to clear my vision. A stabbing pain attacked my hand and my wand was dragged out of my grasp. I tried to get up but was forced down by a foot on my chest. I saw colourful flashes and heard roars of monsters in the background, but I did not spot my headmaster.

"It's good to see you again, Harry." Bellatrix smiled broadly. "I've looked forward to meeting you again, we had such fun last time, didn't we?"

I glared at her and tried to fight the immobilisation spell she cast on me.

"It's a shame the Dark Lord wants you." Bellatrix Lestrange pouted. "I would love to spend some more time with you; murder someone there, someone else there. It would be great, wouldn't it?"

"If that someone turned out to be you, then yes." I tried to clench my fists. "You still haven't paid for what happened to Sirius."

Bellatrix looked down on me with large, shining eyes. The dark irises didn't show an ounce of anger, nor regret. They didn't show anything, except pure excitement.

"Harry, my cousin was a bad influence, I can promise you–"

There was a swoosh, a thud and the man I had fought screamed in pain somewhere out of my vision. Dumbledore was back. Then there was a splashing sound, and the scream stopped.

Bellatrix's smile slid off her face, and for the first time ever, I saw something else than childish excitement in her face. Concern.

Fear.

Her eyes were settled on someone standing out of my vision. I tried to fight the spell which was binding me, but made no progress. It was like breaking a wall of concrete with bare hands.

She took a step over me. Approaching Dumbledore cautiously. "But hello there!" Bellatrix bounced with excitement again, or it sounded that way. "I don't believe we've met. I would ask you to shake my hand, but then, you don't seem to be able to."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. It dawned on me that whoever she was talking to was not Dumbledore.

There was no reply from the newcomer. Instead sounds of fighting came from above me, yet I could see neither Bellatrix nor the stranger. I tried with all my might to break free of the invisible bindings; the sounds of fighting only intensified as my struggle went on.

Just when I thought the intensity couldn't increase more, it all stopped. A wand clattered against the ground. Nothing else to made any sound. I suddenly felt very alone.

After a couple of moments, I felt the spell capturing me disappear. I darted to my feet and grabbed my wand. There was no one around anymore, only quiet.

One of the brothers lay a mere metre away from me, his head had been crushed against the rock. His entire left leg was missing. A pool of red liquid had formed around him. I felt myself sway on the spot.

Just by the entrance to the tunnel we'd arrived from, lay Bellatrix, completely still. I stared at her and felt my breathing constrict. My fingers grasped the wood of my wand and I approached her warily. There were no signs of who had left her in that state. There were no signs of Dumbledore either.

I heard the trickling of water drops in the background, the low crackling flames from the torches.

I checked for Bellatrix's pulse, I found one. A faint one. Her hand was cold as ice, but there was a pulse. What had the unknown attacker done to her? Who could have done this?

"Crucio."

I heard the words and instinctually dove out of the way. The red light struck Bellatrix's body; she started to convulse and thrash on the ground. I scrambled to my feet and raised my wand at the attacker.

On the other side of the cave, next to the carcass of the dragon, he stood. It had been over a year since last time, but his red eyes never left me alone. "Did you see the thief?" Voldemort hissed and started approaching me, slowly.

I raised my chin and squared my shoulders.

This was it. The last dance.

"I've seen nothing but your dead followers," I said. "Hopefully, you'll join them soon."

The Dark Lord sneered at me, nothing but annoyed. "I haven't got time for this." Voldemort increased his pace, his wand hanging loosely by his side.

I remained alert. Every single sense I had on full focus, I was ready to dance. I was ready to do the dance.

I clenched my fists and sent a wave of purple flames towards him. Putting as much power and will into it as I could.

They disappeared, as if someone had snuffed out a candle.

Before I could react, something invisible struck me in the abdomen and I was flung against the wall, something warm trickled down my forehead, the taste of iron appeared in my mouth.

Voldemort stopped over Bellatrix's body and muttered a few spells. He sent me a glance and then left with hasty steps. Leaving me panting against the wall.

He just left me?

I was the only person who could kill him. He had me defeated, and he ignored me.

The last moments before I became unconscious, only one word echoed in my mind.

Why?

-()-

The room I woke up in was dark. I closed my eyes again and breathed in and out. Slowly and even slower again.

What had just happened?

It all came back to me in a wave of memories.

Auror Rush and the massacre at the entrance to Gringotts. Finding and fighting the Lestranges. Saved by someone. Then Voldemort.

Defeat against Voldemort.

I blinked rapidly, trying to get my eyes to adjust.

The room was small, too small to be the hospital wing. I breathed out a sigh of relief, my wand was on the nightstand, that meant I hadn't been captured.

I pushed myself up and groaned heavily; it felt like I had been attacked by a flock of ravens.

My fingers closed around the door handle, the other hand gripping my wand. I pushed it down slowly. It didn't make any sound.

I was at Hogwarts, I realised. I would recognise the familiar stone walls and statues anywhere.

I did not know where, but I was at Hogwarts. Soon enough, I found the entrance hall and not soon after, I was outside the Headmaster's office.

The gargoyle jumped out of the way immediately. He was waiting for me.

I paused outside the door, just before I was about to knock on the door.

I needed answers.

I knocked.

"Come in." Dumbledore was sitting at his desk inside. There were several items on his desk as I approached. I recognised the ring and the diary from before. But there was also a third object, an expensive-looking goblet.

I stared at them for a moment, fumbling for words.

"Please sit down." Dumbledore gestured to the chair. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

"That would be an understatement," I said and fell into the chair.

"I fear I don't have the answer to all of them, but one thing is clear, we have one less horcrux to worry about."

I glanced at the goblet, my brows furrowed. "That is, or was, a horcrux?"

It couldn't be, right?

"Indeed."

"Are you sure it was a horcrux?"

The headmaster tilted his head, looking at me curiously. "I am absolutely certain. Why? Shouldn't it be?"

"No, it's just. . . where did you find it?"

Dumbledore frowned, his blue irises full of doubt. "It was inside the Lestrange vault."

My mind scrambled to puzzle it together. "So Voldemort kept a horcrux inside the Lestrange vault for protection?"

"Everything points towards that." Dumbledore sighed and leaned back. "The question we need to ask ourselves is who broke in and destroyed it."

"It was a one-armed man." I thought back on the encounter. "Bellatrix made some remark about how the person was missing a hand. What are the odds that it just happened to be someone other than this one-armed man?"

Dumbledore folded his hands. His blue eyes seemed to be staring into thin air. "None of the witnesses I spoke to mentioned the person missing an arm."

"Illusion?" I proposed. "Perhaps the person entered the bank under disguise?"

The headmaster hummed. "That is possible." He paused briefly. "There were traces of a fight in the vault itself. The disguise could have been destroyed then, if not earlier."

I nodded. "Did you fight him?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, I am all but certain Tom and this person fought in there, presumably over the horcrux."

"And Voldemort lost," I whispered in awe. "He must have lost, because the one-armed man managed to escape and Voldemort arrived moments after, chasing him."

"Escape doesn't necessarily equal a win." Dumbledore frowned, his wrinkled face scrunched up in concentration. "I have to ask Harry, did you curse Mrs. Lestrange?"

I shook my head. "No, that was the one-armed man too." I paused, thinking back to what had happened. "He saved me. I was at Bellatrix's mercy and he saved me. Killed one of the brothers and put her in some kind of coma."

Dumbledore stood up and started to pace the room. "That's concerning."

"Isn't it a good thing that the one-armed man didn't try to kill me?"

"Of course it is, but why didn't this person do it? That is what we must ask."

I shrugged. "If he goes around destroying horcruxes, I think it is safe to say he is on our side."

Dumbledore shook his head. "Unless it is a rival dark lord looking to rid himself of competitors. Remember, this man has broken into Nurmengard and killed Grindelwald."

"And killed a bunch of people in Albania!" I remembered what Dumbledore had told me in Nanshu. "He probably went there looking for Voldemort. Voldemort hid there when he was a wraith, right?"

The headmaster stroked his beard. "Yes, that was my conclusion too."

We descended into silence, both of us trying to figure out who it could be. "Do we even know what happened in the bank?" I asked eventually. "Apart from the massacre, of course. I mean, how the hell did it even start?"

Dumbledore sat down again. "I think I managed to piece together some kind of narrative, but it has holes." He sighed. "I'll tell you what I know for certain."

I nodded. "Please do."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. My eyes were drawn to his black and shrivelled hand.

"At around fifteen minutes past eight, a cloaked figure walked into the halls of Gringotts. The aurors got a call about a break in and arrived, to find nothing wrong at all. Soon after the Death Eaters arrived with Lord Voldemort and killed everyone who was inside, apart from the aurors who they forced out of the bank."

I nodded, this I already knew.

"Now the details get a bit hazy because it is conjecture and from witnesses who managed to survive long enough to give a testimony."

I swallowed. I couldn't imagine one's last breaths being spent on retelling a story about how one was murdered.

"Voldemort went down into the mines, together with the Lestranges."

"Hold up," I said. "Do we even know why Voldemort came in the first place?"

"My guess is that he kept surveillance over the bank, and when it became clear that someone was making a move at the Lestrange vault, he went to stop it."

"Hmm."

"Yes. You already know what happened to the Death Eaters in the entrance. So let's move on to what happened underground, where things get. . . unclear."

The voice, what was the voice? I found myself leaning forwards in anticipation.

"My guess is that the intruder got to the Lestrange vault without a hitch, then got stuck trying to get inside."

I paused. "Really?"

"Yes, the protections would be difficult for anyone to get past. By the time the intruder got inside, Voldemort was almost there."

"Okay."

Dumbledore frowned. "Do you remember the voice?"

Of course. The sound still made my shrill crawl. Whoever said those words, with that voice, wasn't human, I was certain.

"Could it have been the one-armed man?" I wondered."

Dumbeldroe stroked his chin. "It could be, but I don't think so."

I raised my eyebrows. "Who else would it be? It wasn't Voldemort. . ."

Dumbledore smiled thinly. "Almost. . . you see, each horcrux will do anything they can to survive. You saw what the diary did in your second year, I believe this horcrux tried to use some kind of reasoning to save its own skin."

"But it failed, right? That's why the voice stopped so abruptly."

"Yes, the horcrux was destroyed. I don't know by which means, but it has been destroyed."

I nodded. "So what then? Voldemort found the one-armed man and they fought?"

"As far as I can tell, yes. The dragon woke up when Voldemort and his followers came, he left them to deal with it and confronted the intruder."

"But the intruder managed to escape him," I said, wondering who on earth could be the one to elude Voldemort.

Voldemort who had dispatched me like I was a toddler. Just like he had after the third task.

Despite all of my training. Nothing had changed.

"The intruder escaped, but we don't know how, exactly."

I sighed. "Do you have any idea who this one-armed man could be?"

Dumbledore frowned. "When I tracked him last year, I found nothing. There are rumours about a dark lady surfacing in America, but there hasn't been anything said about her missing an arm." He closed his eyes. "I've visited old classmates of Tom's, those that are still alive, but none of them even know that Voldemort was once called Tom Riddle, so I doubt its any of them either. We don't just have to look at someone proficient enough, but also someone who knows enough about Tom to find his horcruxes."

I nodded. "This dark lady in America, do we know anything about her?"

"She is a skilled duelist, a very skilled duelist. Killed nine members of the American magical law enforcement, in one fight."

"She certainly seems skilled enough," I remarked.

Dumbledore inclined his head. "Perhaps, but why would someone from America intervene in matters in magical Britain?"

"Renown?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Perhaps. I don't know, Harry. As you can see, we have to do a lot of guessing here."

Silence came upon us again. Minutes went by with both of us lost in our own minds. What a crazy evening this turned out to be.

"Headmaster, I have a question."

Dumbledore gestured for me to continue.

"Where did you disappear to when we fought the Lestranges?"

Dumbledore grimaced, flexing his cursed hand. "Would you believe me if I told you that Rabastan is a very good fighter? He and I were knocked down to one of the lower levels, it took some time to get up again."

I blinked. "You must be a better fighter than him, headmaster?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly. "I was once, but this-" He held up his shrivelled hand. "-has done more harm than I previously thought." The headmaster stared wistfully out of the window. "There is one thing we lost today that we'll never get back…the element of surprise."

"Voldemort knows that both the one-armed man and we are hunting the horcruxes."

"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "He'll most likely move the rest of them to a safe place, if there are any left."

Would he try to get the other horcrux in the castle? I needed to speak to the Grey Lady soon, otherwise, that one might slip out of our hands.

"It's a shame," Dumbledore said. "I thought I had a lead for another one, but I fear we won't find anything there anymore. . ."

"Might still be worth checking out. . ."

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "It might."

I closed my eyes, trying to process everything. The responsibility of this war bore heavier and heavier for every moment. I had help to carry the burden; everything pointed to the fact that I would not have help for much longer.

-()-

It was close to five in the morning when I came back to the Gryffindor common room. I was ready to drop dead when I fell into the inviting covers of the bed.

Sleep embraced me almost immediately. Allowing my mind to drift in the peaceful confines for only a couple of hours before I was woken by my classmates rumbling about in the dormitory.

None of them had a clue that I had dined with death mere hours earlier. I stayed in bed for longer than I should have. It was just, brushing teeth and finding socks felt so insignificant compared to what had transpired.

The dark bags under my eyes would stay there for the entire day. I closed my eyes and almost fell asleep again; I already longed for evening, to get back to the warm and fluffy sheets.

Hermione was waiting for us downstairs, and together, we made our way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. My stomach growled loudly on the way there; who knew that fighting Death Eaters and Voldemort would invoke such a hunger?

Inside the Great Hall, only clangs of cutlery and whispered conversations could be heard. I noticed that several heads turned towards me as I made my way towards the Gryffindor table. Most of those people had a newspaper in front of them too.

I sat down and prepared a sandwich. In the corner of my eye, Hermione received an owl with a newspaper in its talons.

She took a sip of pumpkin juice as she unfolded the piece of paper. Her eyes widened almost comically and she started to choke on her pumpkin juice. Ron gave her a curious look.

Hermione cleared her throat. "Harry." She gave me a warning look. "You haven't left the castle recently, right?"

I smiled sheepishly. "I had a small. . . uhhh. . . adventure, kind of, yesterday. . ." I trailed off.

Hermione held up the newspaper in front of me. The front page was covered by one large picture with a glowing title above it.

Gore at Gringotts!

I stared at the picture. Someone had taken a photograph of me and Dumbledore just before we broke the door into the bank. I was saying something to Dumbledore in the picture, a serious frown etched into my face. Aurors in red robes stood on either side listening intently.

If I hadn't known otherwise, I would have guessed that I was the one leading the charge inside.

Hermione gave me a questioning look. "You didn't think this was worth mentioning to us?"

She unfolded the paper and started to read aloud. "At around eight yesterday evening, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers broke into the bank for unknown reasons." Hermione paused and whispered, "29 are confirmed dead, four of them aurors. Two others are currently in Saint Mungos, suffering from critical injuries. The law enforcement has neglected to make a comment until further notice." Hermione looked up from the paper. "What the hell happened?"

"It happened during my meeting with Dumbledore, since I was on hand, he allowed me to come with him."

"And how did it go? Did you see him?"

I grimaced. "Voldemort? Yup." I took a sip of tea. "Fought him, actually, it was a rather illuminating experience."

More like being dragged back to earth.

"Illuminating experience?" Hermione was staring at me with a warning look. "29 people have died, and you call it an illuminating experience?"

"I. . . I didn't mean it like that, you know that." I paused for a moment. "We learned a lot though. A lot of things which could prove to be important in this war."

"Can you tell us?" Ron asked.

I shrugged. "A little." I glanced around us. "I'll tell you what I can tonight, okay? But not here."

Hermione nodded. "You better." She checked her watch. "Hurry up now, we've got defence in fifteen."

-()-

We arrived for defence outside Snape's classroom amidst a storm of whispers. By now, everyone had heard and read about the break in at Gringotts. Strangely enough, the article did not mention a word about the one-armed man.

One thing was clear though, Voldemort had broken in, and me and Dumbledore were the ones to force him away. Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard alive, apparently.

I was an extraordinary genius, currently being taught by the most knowledgeable man on the planet.

It wasn't entirely wrong, I guessed. I was being taught by the most knowledgeable woman on the planet.

The door slammed open magically, revealing the confines of the defence against the dark arts classroom. Snape had 'decorated' the room with paintings of people suffering from different curses and spells. Most of the spells, I had learned how to perform, but it was something different entirely to see people affected by the spells, compared to only a burst of colourful light.

I sat down at the back of the classroom together with the other Gryffindors.

Not many had chosen defence as a N.E.W.T. Most of the people in the class were from the infamous Dumbledore's Army from last year. My eyes settled on Michael Corner, who was sulking with his fellow Ravenclaws in the corner. From Slytherin, there were only four students, all seated at the front of the classroom.

I saw Malfoy lean over and whisper something to Greengrass and Zabini.

The classroom door shut with a loud bang, sending everyone back to rigid positions.

"Today, we will begin a new project." Snape strided soundlessly to the front of the classroom. "By now, I expect everyone to be able to perform everything we've covered at the highest level." Snape's black eyes settled on Ron with a mirthless smile. "That includes non-verbal casting."

Murmurs appeared at his statement like a low buzz.

"Silence!" Snape snapped.

All the noise disappeared as if someone had turned off a lamp.

"The next project will be about advanced curses and offensive spells." He peered out over the class. "All of you will be given one spell which you will specialise in." His lips curled into a maliciously smile. "At tomorrow's lesson, all of you will demonstrate your assigned spell in front of the whole class."

Hermione's hand shot up into the air.

Snape pursed his lips. "Yes, Ms. Granger?"

"Do we only get one day to learn an 'advanced' spell? Isn't that a little too hard?"

Snape raised his eyebrows. "This is a N.E.W.T class, Ms. Granger, the standard is much higher than any extracurricular circus you may have participated in previously."

Hermione opened her mouth to retaliate but snapped it shut quickly.

"Other questions?"

Malfoy raised his hands. "What spells are we going to learn?"

Snape waved his wand and a list appeared on the board. "These are the spells you will be required to learn about." He gestured to the board. "After tomorrow's lesson, you will have three weeks to prepare a thorough presentation about your spell."

Several hands shot into the air. Snape sighed audibly. "Yes, Mr. Corner?"

"What should the presentation include?"

Snape shrugged, mocking in expression. "You tell me. Everyone in here needs to know every single little detail about all of these spells." He paused for a moment with a nasty smile. "All of you will be tested on all of these spells at the end of the term."

Groans and murmurs broke out. Presentation and a big test? That was a lot.

"I've already assigned everyone a spell I believe is fitting for them." Snape waved his wand and a name appeared next to every spell.

I searched for mine. I found it.

The Stunning Charm.

I blinked. The stunning charm?

Stupefy?

I sighed. Snape was smiling at me. I glared back at him, trying to come up with a way his choice could backfire.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! As for the chapter next week, there is a possibility that it gets released a bit delayed, just a day, or at worst two. I've got a lot of my plate right now, and it's a chapter I want to get just right, so therefore, it could pushed back.

Cheers!