You know, coding is pretty fun. Scratch that, it's really fun. Math? Eh, it's okay… I've gotten better at it recently, working on engineering.

Pain in my ass

On the upside, there is snow at my house! I was beginning to believe that we wouldn't get any, thanks global warming.

Along with this, I want to put this out here, once again. If you don't like the story, simply say it isn't your cup of tea. There is no reason for hate. There are hundreds of thousands of other stories, why waste your time and energy being angry at words on a page?

I am always happy to read reviews that ask questions, give constructive criticism, make theories, or even just say that it's a great update. I like seeing you all talk about this work, and I hope that it will continue to hold onto your attention for as long as it goes on.

Aside from this, I just don't appreciate reviews that hate on specific parts of the story simply because "they don't like them." If you don't like having a trans Harry, or a genderbent harry, that is okay. Simply say it isn't your cup of tea, and move on. You don't have to leave the following review.

"And there it is, another trans Harry story where the author was too stupid to mark it as such. I hate you all."

FFN only provides so much space to give a story's description. I luckily was able to scrounge up enough space to write "Tags AO3." So go there if you want the tags. And if you want to hate me and call me stupid for having Harry be trans or genderbent, even though it doesn't have a huge impact on the story until a very long way down the road. (I will not give spoilers, but it plays a big part in the end as well) Then go. I don't want bigots here anyways.

For those of you who go to search for this review, do not bother. I have deleted it. If someone who feels a kind of a way about the topics I covered makes it this far and gets angry, then let them. All they are doing is wasting their time and effort on a free to read story. Don't let others ruin your experience.

And to all of you who enjoy the story, thank you. I am happy to provide and keep you reading.

Anyways, the end of finals. Defense class. I really want this to highlight the growth of Merlot throughout this book. Yeah, she still doesn't like killing, nor does she enjoy injuring others. But Quirrel bonded with her as a teacher, and she has learned a lot. It is for that reason specifically that the final is the way that it is.

So let's go.

—0—

Ron sighed as he sat down at his desk. The defense practical had been pushed back, so he had some time to burn.

Outside, a few students were fooling around in the castle courtyards. A small explosion made Ron roll his eyes.

"Annoyed?"

Ron blinked as Nib walked out of her web. "I didn't see you there. No, I am not annoyed. Just a classmate trying to show off again."

The spider crawled down the shelf and onto the desk.

"Reading?"

"No, studying." Ron sighed, opening his defense guide. "Our final exam is today."

"What is an exam?"

Ron flipped through the pages meticulously. "It's a sort of test."

"I see… what are you being tested in?"

"A class called 'Defense Against the Dark Arts.' It helps us know what to do in dangerous situations."

The spider settled upon the corner of one of the pages.

"These pictures intrigue me… may I accompany you to this exam?"

Ron shuddered at the thought of having the arachnid on him, but took a moment to consider.

"Perhaps… have you eaten today?"

"Oh yes. A wonderful meal I did eat, just a few moments ago. I won't be hungry for some time."

Ron nodded. "And would you promise to stay with me?"

"Of course. I trust no other two legger."

Ron nodded. "Then you may join me."

"Joyous!"

Ron chuckled as he turned his attention back to his book.

Often used by many in major duels, the shield charm can consume a large amount of magic, and push a wizard or witch to exhaustion rather quickly. This variation of the shield charm- typically known as the aegis charm- was invented and performed by dueling champion Faunus LeChance in the world dueling championship of 1879. The incantation, aegelus, creates a localized protective effect around a casters non wand hand. It can be used to absorb spells, and deflect objects. The most famous users of the aegis charm are Faunus LeChance, Agregarrot Aberdeen, and Fillius Flitwick, who used the charm to halt the jaws of a lion that his opponent had transfigured.

"So it would be weird we to keep this charm in mind…"

"Charm?"

"A magic spell." Ron answered. "To protect myself from bad spells."

"Why not just avoid the bad spells?"

"If it were that easy, I would." Ron smiled. "I think that this spell is mainly for freeing up a person's movement."

"And how do you fight back?"

Ron tapped the pages of his book. "Why don't we find out?"

Nib hopped up onto the book as Ron stood up. The boy plopped down upon his bed and laid down on his back. His little arachnid friend tapped the page of the book with her front legs, before sticking a bit of silk onto the parchment and sliding down, hanging from the book by her strand of web.

"Ah, look at this one! The stunning charm." Ron nodded. "We learned that just after Christmas."

"What does it do?"

"It dazed an enemy, or something like that." Ron nodded. "Although if you hit a person correctly, it can kill them."

Nib spun down a bit more and settled upon Ron's stomach. "How about other spells? What if your prey is using that protection you were talking about?"

"Good point. let's see here… the obscuring charm. It isn't strictly harmful, so it can pass through many shields." Ron nodded. "Says it 'obscures the vision of an opponent.' Hm."

"Very good for two leggers, they rely too much on their eyes."

Ron nodded and took a moment to watch as Nib climbed up her strand of silk again. "Are you building another web?"

"Instinct. Helps to focus. Continue silktongue."

Ron nodded and turned the page in his book. He was impressed at the fact that Nibs web held strong and didn't break.

"How about this? The flame charm. We learned about it in charms, but we didn't practice it."

"Flames are death to spiders. The magic must be strong."

Ron nodded. "Not as strong as whatever Scortwit will do, I bet."

"Scortwit?"

Ron smiled. "She's a friend. She knows quite a bit. Despereaux, the brave traveler? He is her familiar."

"Oh! The mouse queen. The brave ray king spoke of her a lot. He wishes to save her from a dark curse."

"A dark curse?" Ron raised an eyebrow.

"I do not know if what he speaks. The brave king only told me of her."

Ron nodded. "You'll see her later. How about this one? The bat bogey hex."

"What is a bogey?"

"A sort of slime that grows in the two holes we have here." Ron pointed at his nose. "Gross as all get out in my opinion."

Nib seemed to shudder at the thought of bogeys. It made Ron smirk a bit. "Anyway, it causes the bogeys in a persons nose to fly around and attack them."

"How barbarian."

"I think you mean barbaric."

"Barbaric is brutal, barbarian is tasteless."

Ron shrugged and went back to reading, looking through charms that he could use to get past starfish charms and shield charms. He had a feeling he would need them.

"Anyways, I was saying the test would be a breeze, and then she- what are you doing in here?"

Ron looked up from his book to see Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan standing in the doorway of the dormitory.

"Last time I checked, I lived here."

"And last time I checked, we tossed you out." Seamus sneered.

"How was it, sleeping out on the couches?" Dean smirked.

Ron felt heat rise in his chest, but pushed it down. "Rather chiropractic actually. I haven't been so limber in my life!"

Seamus shook his head and walked over to his bed. "I'm going to give you a warning, Weasley. If you want to stay in here, you'll have to watch your back. You never know when somebody's wand may slip."

Ron closed his book and stood up, his face slack. "Is that a threat?"

"Yeah, it is." Seamus sneered, finding what he was look for under his bed. A box of chocolate frogs. "I'd like to see what someone like you is going to do about it."

Ron's wand was quickly in his hand, but both of the other first years were just as fast.

"It's two against one Weasley. You know how it would end."

Ron purses his lips and rolled the wand between his fingertips. "I'll still take at least one of you down with me."

"They have magic brewing in them silktongue, do not risk a fight where they have the first move."

Ron huffed and put away his wand, before walking to the door. "Don't you two worry, I'll have a new situation worked out for next year."

The two gryffindors sneered as Ron walked from the room, many thoughts racing through his mind, but one echoing strongly within his head.

'House of nobility my arse…'

—0—

"W-w-welcome to your d-defense against the d-dark arts final."

The students cringed at the man's stutter, as they always did. However, this time, many of them were looking on in interest as he paced back and forth upon a raised platform.

"One b-by one, I sh-shall call you up. Y-your task is to b-block and or avuh-v-void five ch-chains of sp-spells."

The first years became a bit rowdy at that statement. Some were grinning from ear to ear, all well practiced in the localized shield charm. Others were silently cursing as they had not studied any defending charms. And finally, there were a few that looked like a deer caught in a pair of automobile headlights. They had made fun of the professor a lot for his stutter, and now they would have to avoid spell chains from him?

Oh this would not be fun.

There was a handful of students that played it off well, boasting about how they would ace the exam. Those who knew what they were doing, and knew that they would be the best at it, kept to themselves. Students like Hermione Granger, Blaise Zabini, Draco Malfoy…

Merlot Scortwit.

The girl sat off to the side of the room, watching as all of her classmates acted like children. Which, they were children. But this was a serious task. This level of noise was improper.

"S-silence!" A bang cut off anymore chit chat. "Let us b-b-begin with Miss G-greengrass."

A slytherin student with blonde hair stepped up onto the dueling platform with her wand drawn. As Quirrell cast the first spell, Ron found himself paying more attention to his tagalong companion.

"I sense what the brave king speaks… there are two in this room that are unwell…"

"Two people?" Ron whispered discreetly into his collar.

"The magic lays heavy upon the air. The one at the side of the room… she holds two minds within her body… the man upon the table is the same…"

"Two minds?"

"Parasites. Something clings to them, using their bodies as a home. They are vile abominations."

"So… Merlot and Quirrell…"

"Could you keep it down? We're trying to watch here." A ravenclaw scolded. Ron bowed his head apologetically and waited for a few moments. The first test seemed to be concluded. Daphne Greengrass had avoided almost every spell, with only three exceptions.

"W-wonderful form." Quirrell nodded. "N-next… M-mr. Finnigan?"

Ron smirked as he watched the gryffindor swagger up to the dueling stage. He didn't wish any malice upon his fellow first year. He just hoped that the boy would learn his lesson.

"Begin!"

In the end, Seamus avoided almost every spell, aside from three stinging hexes and a stunning spell. He passed, but it was just barely acceptable results, especially since he was struggling to stay on his feet.

"They are incompatible…"

"Hm?"

"The two parasites… their magic is fighting each other. The mans face is more pale, the girl has a headache."

"How can you tell?"

"Can't smell blood from the man. Smell too much from the girl."

"I see."

"SHHHH!"

Ron raised his hands as the two ravenclaws shushed him. "Hey, I'm being quiet."

"You shouldn't be talking in the first place."

"I'm allowed to talk." Ron huffed.

'House of the wise my-'

"Miss S-scortwit. C-care to show the others?"

"I would be delighted sir."

Ron quickly turned his attention to the dueling platform and watched intensely. Merlot walked up and took her place upon the open end, her wand in hand. Quirrell held his own wand tightly, his eyes completely locked onto the witch before him.

"Cover your eyes."

"What do you mean cover my-"

"Lancia, Stupefy, Lancia, Obscuro, Stupefy, Flippendo, Expelliarmus, Lancia, Stupefy!"

The man had spoken so fast that Ron almost didn't catch it. The spells flew from his wand so fast that it seemed the instrument had become a fountain of magic. The light was bright enough to make Ron have to squint in order to keep watching.

"Aegelus. Momentum Tardus."

The spells flew about halfway across the platform, before slowing to a snail's pace. Merlot took a step forward and waved a hand through one of the spells, watching as it dissipated upon the magic that covered her non wand arm.

"B-brilliant Execution." Quirrell spoke quickly. "F-four more to g-go."

'Four more? She has to stop something like that four more times?"

Ron watched, gobsmacked as the professor unleashed another rapid fire chain of minor hexes and charms at Scortwit, who simply stepped out of the way to let the spells pass.

'The Professor is throwing spells so quickly… Scortwit is just avoiding them!'

"The d-detentions have p-paid off, I see." Quirrel nodded. "Th-three more."

The man flicked his wand in a complex series of movements once more. "Stupefy Repertere."

Three stunning spells flew towards Scortwit, at an even faster pace than Quirrell had cast before. Scortwit kept her cool, however, and summoned her very own hufflepuff house pin. With a quick mutter, the pin became a book, and blocked all three stunning spells.

"A b-brilliant d-demonstration of transfiguration." Quirrell nodded. "Can you prevent attacks from your flank?"

Quirrell jabbed his wand forward, before jerking it back. "Stupefy postem."

A red stunning spell appeared five feet behind Scortwit and flew towards her, hitting her in her left shoulder. The girl stumbled forward from the impact, clutching her arm with a wince.

"You made my arm numb with that one professor."

"D-did I now?" Quirrell raised an eyebrow. "One more chain remains. How will you defend yourself?"

Merlot's brow furrowed as Quirrell raised his wand once more. Everything slowed down to a stop. This time, Ron could feel just what Nib had spoken of. The air was heavy. It smelled faintly of burning wood. A testament to what was coming.

"Incendio!"

"Protego Aeolo!"

A blast of flames soared towards Merlot, only to dissipate upon a wall of gale force winds. Quirrell nodded as he released the hold on his flame charm. Merlot halted her own charm and fell to her knees.

"Well d-done Miss S-scortwit." Quirrell spoke. "Let th-this be a l-lesson to all of y-you. Th-the b-better you do, the h-harder it g-gets. M-miss Scortwit has p-performed admirably, and w-will r-recieve t-top marks."

The class just stared as Merlot slowly hopped down from the platform. "Hannah…"

The girls best friend was quickly at her side. "I'm here."

"Help me sit…"

Hannah quickly caught Merlot as she crumpled, exhausted from overextending her magic.

"You exhausted her!" Hannah shot at the professor.

"It is a p-part of f-finals… today, many of y-you will become just as exhausted. Y-your last t-test is your m-most difficult."

The professor turned and walked back to his position on the dueling platform. "B-believe m-me… I'd r-rather not harm anyone eith-ther."

Hannah helped Merlot to a chair and sat her down. The girl slowly reached into her bag and pulled out a green vial.

'Wiggenweld…'

"The girl knew of the trial beforehand." Nib spoke. "I sense that she has the most difficulty in this test."

Ron simply watched as Merlot downed the potion and leaned back upon her chair. Professor Quirrell summoned a green potion of his own and drank from it.

"N-next?"

—0—

Finals are officially over! Hooray!

Again, I wanted to show Merlot's growth. She knows defense spells, but doesn't really do much attacking.

I would also like to put this out there. The duel may seem impressive in this, but that is because it is through the eyes of a first year. Quirrell is a professor, and still must hold back a lot against students. Even if there are those who say he is one of the weaker professors. He is an adult wizard.

The test was specifically designed to have the first years defend themselves from underpowered stinging hexes and stunners. For reference, I did include the part where Ron talks about stunners being deadly in proper situations. Quirrell's stunning spell only numbs Merlot's arm in this. In the books, stunning charms throw full grown adults into walls. In the movie, Molly Weasley blasts Bellatrix to bits, but in the books, she casts a stunning spell that stops Bellatrix's heart. The stunning spell can be incredibly powerful, so this was my way of showing that Quirrell was in fact holding back a lot.

Even though Ron watches the first exchange in wonder, thinking it to be all powerful, all that is really cast by Quirrell is a series of stingers and stunners, along with a knockback jinx and an obscuring charm. The combination of this multitude of spells would seem incredibly bright, especially when confined to a classroom.

So far, throughout this story we have seen feats of magic that we could describe as powerful. So far however, the most powerful spells that Merlot has cast have simply been properly arranged charms to move and direct magic. An example of this would be Flitwicks exam. Merlot doesn't blast her way through with pure power, but instead plays her way through the exam with control. Other qualities are also described through the other finals. For Snape, even though he seems incredibly rigorous, his extra credit is based around creativity. While it is a quality that can be dangerous for potioneers, it can also be incredibly rewarding.

For McGonagalls exam, Merlot's transfiguration was a display of Humility. While other products, such as Hannah Abbot's dress are flashy and beautiful, Merlot's transfiguration blends in. It is specifically written in Merlot's description that it wasn't a high end cloak, but rather, it was made to last.

For Quirrells Exam, we see Merlot defending herself with magic power. While it has been mentioned that she can perform powerful spells, such as the composite charm she used to kill the troll, her skill is currently shown to lie more within runes, as she can generate long lasting effects with proper arrays. With major displays of magic, Merlot is also almost always seen exhausting herself magically. The firestorm charm in the beginning was mainly cast thanks to the overcharge of magic provided by the electroshock therapy. Killing the troll ended up placing her in a magical coma. When finishing detentions with Quirrell and using the gale wall charm many times over, she specifically says that it is tiring. For the final, she uses a spell to slow down many other spells that are cast at her, before absorbing them with an aegis charm. That coupled with the shutdown of Quirrell's flame charm makes her reach her point of exhaustion once again.

We will cover why Quirrell pushed her specifically later on. But for now, just know that while it seems flashy, it is really only flashy for a first year to be casting such protections. In future installments, such as the fourth or fifth books, Merlot will most likely look back upon the final and say that it was child's play.

In the end, even though I specified that Merlot must suffer in order to truly stand on par with Dumbledore and Voldemort, there are other factors at work. I want Merlot to work for her power. And even though she may become powerful, I don't want her to completely outstrip every other character. The first character we get a lot of development from will be Ron, and I have already started on that. Magically speaking, Ron will be a badass, not a bit of comic relief that just doesn't want to do his homework. While it is said that Hermione won't ever compare to Merlot, she will become very strong in her own right.

The end of this entire series ends with an eight year war between four factions, three of which are made up of old and incredibly experienced wizards. For Merlot to build her faction and have them compare, they must all do a lot of growing.

So, in short, while the demonstration may seem powerful in this chapter, it will most likely be the most lackluster duel in magical power that you will read in this story.

As always, leave a review. I am happy that there are many of you who are enjoying this.

Until next time, Adios.