A/N: I am not J.K. Rowlings, so cut me some slack. Also sorry for the delay in getting this chapter out, been very busy. Hopefully future chapters will be out quicker.

"The magic you shall be practicing today is more powerful than any of you have ever seen in your life. In this class you shall learn magic to bend the laws of nature to your will. Some of the magic you will be learning today is considered dark by your silly ministries of magic, I do not care for such nonsense classification of magic." Professor Biya said in his strong baritone voice. Professor Biya was the Professor of Battle Magic, he had a reputation for being very stern. He didn't tolerate any stupidity or pranks in his class and any slight mistake could get you kicked out of his class permanently. He had a long scar on his right check that ran down across his right eye.

"If you attain your masters in this branch of magic, you will have the power to bring entire armies to their knees. Make no mistake, this is not a easy class. Since the past decade I have been teaching here, only 4 students have attained their master in Battle Magic. Within the next year, 80 percent of you will no longer be in this class. The simple truth is very few of you have the magical power and the will to pursue this branch of magic to Mastery. A demonstration is in order to show you what is possible through battle magic." Professor Biya concluded.

The students took several steps back to give Professor Biya room as he removed his staff from the strap on his back. The students of the beginner Battle Magic class were outside the pentagon in a clearing just at the boundary of the forest that surrounded Emry's Academy. All their previous Battle Magic classes have been theoretical, today was the first time they would be experiencing the true capabilities of battle magic.

"I've been wanting to see this for a long time." Kane whispered to Harry. Among the friend group, only Harry and Kane were taking the Battle Magic classes. The rest considered the class too violent and were instead taking other classes like Enchantments and Elemental Magic.

Professor Biya's staff was about 5 feet in length, it was thick at the handle and it narrowed slightly towards the tip. It also had spiral patterns and runes carved all around.

Professor Biya raised his staff towards the sky and started chanting in Latin.

"Exitium ignis Storm. Depluet inimicos meos" The runes and markings on Professor Biya's staff glowed blue as he chanted. Suddenly the weather changed and cloud started forming ahead of them covering the sun. What was previously a bright and sunny afternoon became a very dark, cloudy and windy day. The wind started gathering heavily in the forest ahead of them, the trees were swaying wildly. A giant storm was forming in the forest, lightning bolts came down from the sky setting several trees on fire and scorching the earth.

Professor Biya lowered his staff and the storm began to clear, the clouds disappeared giving way to the bright sun. The forest had been destroyed beyond recognition after Professor Biya's display. Several trees had been uprooted, some had been broken in half, there were craters in the earth several feets wide.

"What you just witnessed was a tiny percentage of the destructive capabilities of Battle Magic. Compared to other branches of magic, Battle Magic is the most destructive and it has a singular purpose, destruction on a large scale. This is why it is banned in most countries and knowledge about it is very restricted or lost to history." Professor Biya concluded. The students were murmuring excitedly among themselves discussing the magical feat they just witnessed. Harry had never heard of Battle Magic throughout his time at Hogwarts, he supposed all books referencing it must have been removed from the Library. If any books on it existed in library he would have found it while preparing for the Tri-Wizard tournament.

"Now each of you are going to get a chance to perform your first bit of Battle Magic. Your goal is to do as much damage as you can, you will be using the same chant I used." The students quickly arranged themselves in a line with Kane at the front. Harry took a position in the middle of the queue, he was very nervous and wanted to watch the performance of others before he took his turn.

"You are going to step forward one after the other as I call on you and attempt the chant. You raise your wand high in front of you and chant. Your wand is not as strong a conduit as a staff but it would suffice for now. Eventually each of you will craft your own staff." Professor Biya instructed the students.

Professor Biya called on Kane to step forward and attempt the chant.

"You are up Mr Kane."

"Where is Ron?" Hermione asked Neville as he came down from the staircase leading to the boy's dormitory.

"He is still sleeping. I tried to wake him up but he wouldn't listen."

Hogwarts was not the same without Harry for Hermione. She had underestimated how much she would miss her best friend. They tried to keep in touch as much as possible through letters but the distance between Hogwarts and wherever Harry was made it difficult. One of the things that changed the most in Harry's absence was her friendship with Ron.

In Harry's absence Hermione realized she had very little in common with Ron and they fought too often. Harry was the glue that held their friendship together, wthout Harry they probably would have never been friends.

Ron spent his free time with Dean and Seamus playing gobstones and wizarding chess while Hermione tried making friends from the other houses. His grades had also been dropping as he rebuffed all Hermione's attempt to get him to turn in his assignments on time. Hermione had soon given up on helping him. She had also started making friends from other houses like Susan Bones and Luna Lovegood. Susan was in the same Arithmancy class with Hermione and they had become friends during a group project Professor Vector set for them. Hermione had learnt to tolerate Luna's quirky attitude and she found the younger girl to be very intelligent and insightful.

Hermione decided to leave Ron behind and go for breakfast in the Great Hall. She was also expecting Harry's mail to arrive today with the owl post during breakfast. Harry's last mail had included some details of the new classes he was taking, some of the classes were unavailable at Hogwarts. He also talked about the regular duelling matches they had every weekend, he had not participated in any public duels yet but enjoyed watching them. He regaled her with a colorful account of the duels which was very entertaining for Hermione, she wished she could be there to experience them herself. He also included a list of interesting spells he had learnt which Hermione researched in the library and practiced in the Room of Requirement against training dummies.

Not much had been going on in Hogwarts this year. The only interesting thing that had happened was that Malfoy had not been his usual self this year. For the first time he had failed to insult her on the Hogwarts Express ride. He looked thinner and was often missing classes, Hermione suspected he might be leaving the grounds but couldn't prove it yet. She had shared this concern with Dumbledore who assured her that he would look into the matter. Whether he looked into it or not she didn't know and didn't particularly care. A year without Malfoy harrasing her daily was a win for her.

Hermione took a seat beside Luna and Susan at the Hufflepuff table as she entered the great hall. For the first few days students stared at her oddly whenever she sat at the Hufflepuff table. Snape had also tried to dock points and give her detention for seating at the wrong table and causing a nuisance but she had quoted the Hogwarts charter which stated that students were only required to seat at their house tables at the Welcoming Feast.

Flashback

Hermione decided to seat at the Hufflepuffs table as she walked into the great hall with Luna Lovegood. She was tired of arguing with Ron everyday at breakfast so she decided to seat with her new friends in Hufflepuff. She had become good friends with Susan Bones while working on a group project for their Arithmancy class.

The students around the table looked at her oddly as she sat with Luna at the Hufflepuffs table. Luna had wanted to seat at the Ravenclaws table but Hermione knew she had no friends in her house and convinced Luna to join her at Hufflepuff's table.

"What are you doing? This is not Gryffindor's table." Susan asked Hermione in a hushed whisper.

"Eating breakfast of course." Hermione replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world

"But you are supposed to eat at your house table."

"I know, but I am tired of arguing with Ron every morning. Besides, it is not against the rules." Hermione replied.

"Welcome to Hufflepuff House then" Susan said. The rest of the Hufflepuff house who had been staring at Hermione went back to their breakfast after that. Hermione piled a decent breakfast onto her plate as she waited for the delivery of the Owl mail. The first class of the day was double Defense Against the Dark Arts. How Snape had managed to convince Dumbledore to give him the role Hermione didn't know, at least she could take comfort in the fact that he would be their DADA professor for only a year. Their Defense Against the Dark Arts professors never lasted more than a year, some couldn't even make it to the end of the session.

There was no doubt that Snape was well versed in the dark arts and their defense but his method of teaching were very questionable. In the absence of his favorite victim he had turned his focus to Neville, his second favorite victim. Unfortunately for him, Neville Longbottom had gained a lot of confidence and competence after the fiasco at the Department of Mysteries and was not easily scared anymore.

"shh. Professor Snape is coming. He looks angry." Hannah said in a whisper.

"Snape is always angry" Hermione whispered back as she looked up from her breakfast. Professor Snape was striding to the Hufflepuff table with his robe billowing behind him like a dementors cloak.

"Granger, what do you think you are doing here." Snape asked as he got to the Hufflepuffs table. The entire student population in the great hall abandoned their breakfast to watch the unfolding event.

"Eating breakfast, Professor." Hermione took a few seconds to slowly chew her food before replying. Professor Snape began to redden in anger as he realized Hermione wasn't taking him seriously. Usually Hermione was one to respect authority, particularly teachers, and would never speak to one in such manner. But Hermione had since lost all respect for Snape since he had started singling her out and trying to put her down this year. Previously she would have just put her head down and tried to get through with the session, but the Battle at the Department of Mysteries had given her the confidence to confront him. While they were outmatched by the Death Eaters, they still managed to hold them off till the Order of the Phoenix arrived. To Hermione that was something to be proud of.

"You insolent brat. Twenty points from Gryffindor for sitting at the wrong table and causing distractions." Snape shouted loud enough for the entire hall to hear.

"According to section 34, subsection 2 of the Hogwarts Charter, students are only required to seat at their house table during the welcoming feast, so I am not breaking any rules and you cannot deduct points from me." Hermione replied quoting the Hogwarts rule book to Snape confidently.

Snape stared at Hermione in shock, he didn't expect any rebuttal to his point deductiion.

"How dare you talk back to me." Snape shouted, the veins in his neck were pulsing visibly in anger.

The entire hall watched the confrontation between Snape and Hermione in shock. No student had ever countered Snape publicly in such manner.

"THAT IS ENOUGH." Dumbledore said in a loud voice that reverberated around the great hall.

"Professor Snape, Miss Granger is not breaking any rules seating at the Hufflepuffs table. She is free to seat at any table of her choice, I encourage more students to do this. Perhaps this would improve inter-house unity."

Snape looked to Dumbledore in shock, he couldn't believe Dumbledore would reprimand him in front of the entire student body. He glared at Hermione with a angry look that promised future retribution then stalked out of the great hall with his robes billowing behind him.

"Wow, I've never seen Snape that angry before. He is going to take it out on us in defense class." Susan whispered to Hermione.

"Let him try." Hermione responded with a shrug.

End of Flashback

Hermione expected Snape to take out his anger on her and her fellow Gryffindors during DADA classes but surprisingly he had avoided them throughout his classes. Perhaps Dumbledore publicly admonishing him in the Great Hall had finally put an end to Snape bullying.

About 100 owls flew into the Great hall carrying different packages with them. Some were carrying the latest edition of the daily prophet, others were carrying parcels for students, the only owl Hermione was concerned about was a very beautiful, snowy owl carrying a letter in its talons. Hedwig landed on the Hufflepuff's table beside Hermione and stuck its talons out for her to take its package. Hermione stroked Hedwig's feathers as she loosened the rope tying the letter to it's talon, the owl looked very tired from what must have been a very long journey.

"Have some bacon, you must be tired and hungry." Hermione said as she placed some bacon into an empty plate and pushed it towards the owl who started eating immediately. Hermione unfolded the letter and started reading.

Dear Hermione/Ron

I know it has been a while since my last letter but things have been really busy here. I am learning soo much here, much more I could have would love the library here Hermione, there are many old tomes and scrolls in different languages.

But enough about me. How is Hogwarts? Is Malfoy still keeping to himself? While I am glad Malfoy has not been giving you any problems I am worried about what must have caused the change. Now that Voldermort is in the open he will begin recruiting massively and Dumbledore once said Voldermort got his first followers from among the Hogwarts student population. I wonder if he is doing the same thing again and has recruited Malfoy. It wouldn't be surprising since his father is also a Death Eater. Perhaps you should use the Marauders map to investigate this.

I have also started learning to duel from some new friends. There is soo much to learn about duelling, perhaps when next we meet I would teach you some of of the things I learnt. I still have about four months until I am allowed to leave the school on my own, so it will be a while before we meet again. I will keep sending you some new spells to practice till then.

Finally, how was the quidditch match against Slytherin. Hope you crushed them Ron. Tell me all about the quidditch match in your response.

I have to go now, I am late for my study period with my friends.

Good Bye.

Harry's letter gave Hermione a lot to think about, particularly about Malfoys strange behavior. While Hermione was also concerned about Malfoys strange behavior, she didn't want to question the reason for his new attitude too much. She was enjoying the peace and quiet that came with his new behavior. But Harrys opinion that Malfoy had been recruited to the death eaters concerned Hermione a lot. Hogwarts was one of the targets the Dark Lord had never attacked throughout his attempt to gain power from the first war. Dumbledore's presence at the school had discouraged him from a direct assault on the school. But if he had managed to recruit current students to his death eaters then it spelled trouble for the entire student population. Perhaps it was time to consider resurrecting Dumbledore's Army. If death eaters were already in Hogwarts they would need to learn to defend themselves, she didn't have much faith in the school teachers who had done very little to stop Umbridge's reign of terror.

Just then Hermione saw Ron stumble to the Gryffindor table, his tie was lopsided and several of his buttons were done wrongly. He immediately started shoving food into his mouth not bothering to chew properly. Hermione looked away in disgust, she would give him the letter later when he was not eating like the food was about to disappear.

"You should go to the owlery to rest." Hermione whispered to Hedwig. She had developed a new habit of talking to Hedwig, something she had picked from Harry.

"We should go now. We have potions in a few minutes" Susan said. Hermione nodded her head in agreement as they both stood up and left the Great Hall.