Chapter 17
Exams are not the end
May 22 1992, Hogwarts, Scotland
After the dragon episode which was the subject of the conversations for the next week, the events accelerated themselves in the magical school. May was coming, and with it the exams of the end of the year.
The positive side of this period was that despite the huge mountain of homework they had to do, the Gryffindor and Slytherin leaders were oddly silent. Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback wasn't the only reason for that of course, but it was welcome all the same. Indeed, May was traditionally the period where the Lions and the Snakes took the backseat and let the Ravenclaws and the Hufflepuffs compete for the best academic grades. Hermione was the only exception in Gryffindor, being in first place from nearly the beginning of the year and having never been dethroned by anyone. The rest of the Gryffindors and Slytherins were revising, Alexandra knew it by having seen Ron Weasley using the library to try to catch up his huge deficiencies in every class. But the boys and girls who had been the attention of the school the whole year by their pranks and various rule-breaking started to realise working one month of the school year wasn't enough to stay on top of the rankings. Even if a student had had previous tutoring like Neville Longbottom the Boy-Who-Lived. It did not stop Slytherin from inflicting a large defeat upon Hufflepuff on the Quidditch pitch 200 to 40, though.
In the mean time, in the Ravenclaw common room the masks of friendship were falling. Figuring at the top of the class was a moral imperative for any Ravenclaw, and it was a question of prestige for the fifth and seven years passing respectively their OWLS and NEWTS. Not that it was limited to the older students. Alexandra saw a second-year girl named Cho Chang throwing ink on the notes of her housemates, several sixth-years throwing compulsions charms in order for their challengers to forget to revise and seventh years enchanting parchments and others magical artefacts to erase any homework made by their rivals. Prefects and older students had not any spare time for the younger ones. Good will, cooperation and kindness were getting scarcer and scarcer. Even her year-mates were not spared. She had seen Stephen Cornfoot destroy several dozen Transfiguration notes belonging to Padma Patil, Antony Goldstein sabotaging several spells of Michael Corner by casting "Finite!" at the most inopportune times and Terry Boot cursing Morag MacDougal because the pure-blood girl had insisted she was going to finish below him in the final exam rankings. After the year she had just lived, Alexandra was not particularly proud to be a Ravenclaw. Where was the feeling of being part of a family that Professor McGonagall had loudly proclaimed before they were sorted in their Houses? Where were the friends and the unity she had read in her books of fantasy and science-fiction? House Ravenclaw, as far as she was aware, was no Fellowship of the Ring. The Ravens were more like a band of orks under Sauron, fighting each other as soon as there was no Dark Lord to put a little order in the formation. Not a funny comparison, but an accurate one in her opinion.
As far as the Potter Heiress was aware, she and Morag MacDougal had had the best marks of the first-years this year, and now that the final exams approached, the other boys and girls they were supposed to call 'housemates' were trying their best to improve their chances by illegal means. It was not a problem for Alexandra. The first time Antony Goldstein had tried to put a bottle of Weasley potions on her homework, the Heir of House Goldstein had been sent directly to the Hospital Wing with the warning next time she would not be so gentle. Morag MacDougal on the other hand, was taking the behaviour of a trapped animal, and in a certain fashion so did Parvati Patil and Su Li.
Fortunately for her mental sanity and the rest of the Ravens, the exams came on schedule in the middle of May. For the first years, who had only seven classes to pass (Flying was not a graded class to everyone's disappointment), the tests were in the late afternoon after every other year had finished. The temperature was as a result hellishly hot, at least compared to the usual warmth found in Northern Scotland. As for the exams, Alexandra impression of them was too easy. The written exams, in particular, were basically a sum up of everything they had seen in class during the year. No imagination or any creativity was required.
The practical exams were more advanced work, as the test was usually a spell which had been covered only in April or May and had to be demonstrated in a new way. For the first exam of Charms, they had to make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Professor McGonagall watched them in Transfiguration turn a mouse into a snuff-box – points were given for how pretty the snuff-box was, but taken away if it had whiskers. Alexandra obtained a shining silver coloured one, but Hermione had been by far the best as her snuff-box was golden with a sapphire jewel. In Herbology, they had to recognise different species of mushrooms and fungus, classing the ones which were toxic and the ones who entered the composition of valuable potions. In Defence Against the Dark Arts, they had to demonstrate five low-level jinxes under Quirell eyes. Alexandra noticed many of her year-mates proved themselves unable to do so: with the dreadful teaching of Quirell and his inability ( or was it unwillingness?) to explain wand movements correctly, it was not a surprise but still a confirmation one of their most important classes had been utterly and completely sabotaged for the year. For Astronomy, the whole class had to complete a star chart at midnight. This exam was not so different from their 'normal' class.
The Potions exam was dreaded, for the simple reason Professor Snape's was present, his appearance of bat-like creature making everyone really nervous. The Forgetfulness Potion was the object of the exam, and during the hour and half that was necessary to brew the potion, many boys and girls forgot to take the elementary precaution of not breathing over the cauldron and as a consequence forgot crucial steps. Less than a dozen students managed to come up with the perfect pale white colour signalling success, and Hermione was the only Gryffindor who achieved it. Alexandra managed it too. Nigel unfortunately had missed a stir anti-clockwise and his cauldron contained afterwards a white-blue substance. It was still better than the livid green and the bright red obtained by Crabble and Goyle respectively, not to mention the putrid black slime Ron Weasley got.
The last exam was History of Magic, which for obvious reasons had no practical. One hour of questions on a few important wizards and witches who had been pioneers in cauldron inventions and the period of exams was over. So far, Alexandra judged it was the test where most of her classes of the year had proven irrelevant, as neither Binns nor Tiroflan (she would never qualify those two attractions as 'professors') had been interested in teaching them anything besides goblin rebellions and laziness. But when the ghost of Binns told everyone to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, Alexandra couldn't help cheering with the rest of her year-mates.
"That was far easier than I thought it would be," said Hermione, as their trio joined the crowds flocking out the castle into the sunny grounds. "I needn't have learnt about the 1637 Werewolf Code of Conduct or the uprising of Elfric the Eager."
"Only you, Hermione." Smiled Nigel. The shy Gryffindor was a lot more confident than he had arrived at Hogwarts, and if one forgot his score of Potions thorough the year in the final rankings, his performance would likely be more than average.
"You do not hear Alexandra complain." Replied Hermione. Alexandra rolled her eyes at that.
"It was only a definition in Charms, Hermione." The black-haired Ravenclaw smirked."I'm sure you will be the best of the class in all the other subjects. You don't have to worry, no one is going to take you the first place."
The brown-haired witch had such a big advantage in points over Alexandra before the first final exam started the name at the head of the ranking had never been in doubt.
Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterwards, but Nigel and Alexandra politely and firmly told her they didn't need a headache right now. Instead, the two Gryffindor and the Ravenclaw wandered down to the lake and sat under a tree. The Weasley twins and Lee Jordan, servants of chaos as ever, were tickling the tentacles of a giant squid which was basking in the warm water.
How and why a wizard had amused himself to bring a giant squid was a mystery Hogwarts: A History had never been able to answer.
"So it's over for the year." Alexandra sighed happily. "One more week and we will know our grades. After that holidays!"
Which certainly wouldn't include the Dursleys, if Alexandra had a word to say in it.
"No more revision," approved Nigel."Not that you or Hermione needed them!"
Alexandra groaned. Saying these words in presence of Hermione Granger was not going to end well. Three. Two . One.
"Not revising? Are you mad? Have you an idea of how much books I read to prepare this History exam?"
Closing her eyes and trying to ignore the despaired look on Nigel's face, Alexandra cleared her mind and profited from the sun. After a few minutes, Hermione's rant stopped and she opened her eyes again. Nigel's face was frightened, and Hermione's had a certain similarity to Professor McGonagall. Evidently choosing to change the conversation for another subject, Nigel cleared his throat and spoke in his shy voice.
"What do you think Neville and the others are doing, running to Hagrid's hut like that?"
Alexandra turned her head, and effectively, saw the Boy-Who-Lived, followed by Leo Black, Ron Weasley, Lavender Brown and Seamus Finnigan, racing to the house of the Keeper of Keys. As they were the only five boys and girls not profiting from the pleasant summer conditions on the grass, their movements were not exactly subtle.
"No idea." Alexandra said. "Don't worry Nigel. Longbottom and his sidekicks have learnt with their pet dragon how a bad idea it was to break the rules. I really doubt they want to gain more detentions or lose more points, not with the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw in three days."
"Easy for you to say," grumbled the auburn-haired pureblood. "It's not your House which loses points by the hundreds when the Golden Trio decides the rules of Hogwarts are not for them."
"Not my fault they were sorted in Gryffindor, isn't it?" quipped Alexandra.
"No," sighed Nigel. "Though I would like to ask what the Sorting Hat what he was thinking when he sorted them in our House."
"Once you've eliminated all the choices but one, what's left must obviously be the truth." declared Alexandra. Seeing Hermione raising her eyebrows, she had caught the reference.
"What's Sherlock Homes doing right here, Alex?" questioned the bushy-haired Gryffindor.
"We all assume the Sorting Hat is choosing the House where each boy and girl will thrive best in his or her seven years at Hogwarts" reasoned Alexandra. "But what if it isn't the case? What if the Hat first proceeds by elimination and only take the House left at the end?"
Hermione puffed indignantly.
"That's pure speculation!"
"But it would explain certain things, isn't it?" said pensively Nigel. At Hermione questioning look, he added. "Crabbe, Goyle, Weasley..."
"All persons who are truly lacking the qualities of their House. And all the other Founders prized qualities for that matter."
"And Neville?"
"I suppose it was Gryffindor or Slytherin for him." Alexandra said with black humour. "As no teacher wanted to have the Boy-Who-Lived murdered on his first day, they put him with the Lions."
"You're exaggerating again!" said Hermione in an aggravated tone.
"You're right." Conceded Alexandra.
Personally, Alexandra was sure Longbottom had been destined for Slytherin. Neville was courageous and noble...when it suited him, that much had become clear in all the months passed at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, he was also arrogant to believe nobody would call him when he disregarded the rules. A feeling more than justified at the light of the last events. And when it came to prank someone, there was no nobility in his acts. Humiliating the students who were not in measure to retaliate was not exactly a chivalrous quality. The Boy-Who-Lived had however a certain cunning and the ambition to rule Gryffindor. It was not hard to see the similitude between him and the valued qualities of Slytherin House.
"Look!" Said Nigel. "They're coming back!"
Black and Longbottom running ahead, the group of five Gryffindor were effectively rushing in the direction of the castle doors from the hut of the Keeper of the Keys. Longbottom was speaking passionately about something to Black, with Seamus Finnegan and Lavender brown harbouring sombre expressions and Ron Weasley looking lost. Passing near their position, Alexandra was able to hear the words "Fluffy", "Forbidden Corridor", "music" and "dragon". Seeing Hermione and Nigel becoming livid, they had also heard enough to connect the dots.
"I retract my previous statement, Nigel." Alexandra tried without much success to sound calm. "Neville and his sidekicks are stupid enough to lose even more House points before the end of the year."
"Do you think...?"
"That they're going to explore the Forbidden Corridor this evening? There's a good chance they will."
"They are going to get killed!" Shrieked Hermione. "Or expelled!"
Alexandra face-palmed at that and seeing Nigel, she wasn't the only one. Sometimes she was forced to recognise Hermione's priorities were largely out of bounds.
"I don't think we will be so lucky, Hermione."
"It's not a joking matter, Alexandra!"
"No, it's not." she admitted. "But unless, I'm far off the mark, the Forbidden Corridor is not that really dangerous."
"What do you mean?"
Seemingly ignoring Hermione's question, Alexandra turned her head to look Nigel in the eyes.
"You're the one who knows the most about magical beasts, Nigel. If Dumbledore wanted really to kill someone, would he have used a Cerberus to guard the corridor?"
"No," replied Nigel, passing his hand in his hair with a frown. "A Cerberus will only attack if you're coming near the thing he protects. And unlike dragons or dementors, they're supposed to be really easy to tame when they are young." Nigel stopped at that, the two girls in front of him seeing the thoughts passing in his eyes. "Wait a minute, you're thinking this a test?"
"A trap or a test." Said Alexandra, sitting against the tree one foot away from her previous position on the grass. Not knowing the exact intricacies of what the Headmaster and the other Professors had realised their obstacles and the contingencies going on with them, all they could do was speculate.
"What should we do?" Asked Nigel. "Warn the professors?"
"Personally, I will do nothing." Alexandra affirmed. Before the surprised looks she added:
"Contrary to Neville, I can't afford to be caught near the Forbidden Corridor. As Hermione so justly proclaimed, I would be expelled on the spot." Hermione blushed at that. "My position in Ravenclaw also means I can't afford losing hundreds of House points, not when we're in first place."
Left unsaid was that if she did such a stupid thing, her housemates would not be slow in organising a new wave of assassination attempts, and this time the entire House would come to tear her apart. With her having gained the Philosopher Stone (or a very convincing fake) on her first passage there, going back was not only pointless but also risky: there was a high probability she would betray the fact she had already visited the area and in turn be denounced to the teaching staff. With only Flitwick to defend her, the consequences did not bear thinking about.
"I see your point." Said Hermione slowly. "But surely we can't let things happen doing nothing!"
"And why not?" The Potter Heiress asked curiously. Hermione stayed with her mouth open several seconds at that. Alexandra took the opportunity to continue. "Whatever sum your parents paid for Hogwarts, Hermione, wasn't to prevent the Golden Trio from meddling in things the Headmaster warned us to stay away from. If Longbottom and the others want to play the heroes let them. Anyway, Professor Dumbledore was here at lunch, so he will intervene if there is a problem."
"It's still not a very Gryffindor thing to do, sitting and doing nothing when the action is about to begin." Grumbled Nigel.
"So?" smirked Alexandra. "I'm a Ravenclaw, do you want to sue me?"
Laughter echoed on the grass and for once the two Gryffindors and the Ravenclaw forgot about everything concerning a Cerberus, the Philosopher Stone and the Forbidden Corridor. They discussed again for two more hours their plans for the holidays, then marched back to the castle as the hour for dinner approached. Sitting at the Ravenclaw table, Alexandra remarked the absence of the Headmaster. Watching the Gryffindors first-years whispering between themselves, her bad feelings began to return. Not that her former arguments were not valid: if Longbottom was stupid to rush to "save" the Philosopher Stone, she was not going to be the one to stop him. With luck, the teachers would be intelligent and competent enough to stop this idiocy.
Sighing once more, Alexandra finished her meal and walked in the direction of the common room.
May 22 1992, Unknown Place
The throne room had not changed much since the last meeting. It was still as huge, magnificent, opulent and pricelessly decorated. Several paintings and sculptures had been added.
The atmosphere however, was significantly different. The masked figures participating in this secret meeting were not worried, disappointed or scared like the last time.
They were utterly and completely terrified.
The reason of this general fear was sitting on the throne. The dark cloud surrounding the King of the Exchequer had nearly tripled in volume and in density, dispersing an aura of world's end and gloom no one in the room was immune. Small black lightning emerged from time to time from this very dark void, creating an odour of ozone after they dissipated.
Simple prudency had convinced eleven of the Knights and the Queen to take no less than twenty steps back from their original positions. All signs pointed to their leader about to unleash his wrath, and none were so stupid to be in the close vicinity when such an event was happening.
As a result, only one figure in light violet robes was left in range of the dark cloud, and by the small shivers agitating it, the figure was aware of the bad position nearing its actual location.
"Knight Alchemist, I must profess myself...disappointed." The guttural voice came out of nowhere like a nightmare. "You know I do not tolerate betrayal. And yet you did it anyway."
"Your Majesty. Surely..."
"Such a shame. When some of your colleagues came to me to tell they had suspicions of your treachery, I must admit I did not believe them. One of our senior members, conspiring with one of our sworn enemies of the Light? Preposterous!"
"I do not share your goals anymore." Somehow the protestation did not impress the darkness on the throne. A dark chuckle resonated.
"You have served in the ranks of the Exchequer for three centuries. The moment is ill-chosen to have cold feet, Nicolas Flamel!"
The famous Alchemist paused a second before replying.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe I am a coward. But I have morals, and I have taken steps to ensure the humans of this world will have a chance against you when the time comes."
"By steps, I presume you speak of letting a Philosopher's Stone fall into the esteemed Albus Dumbledore's hand?"
A nod of approval was answer enough.
"In that case, I find your plans are going to be dangerously...incomplete. Dumbledore is no match for me."
"We will see..."
"I will. You won't." The voice of the King turned meditative. "I assume there's no chance to convince you to peacefully surrender and participate in some of our most horrible experiments?"
"Indeed not. AVADA KEDAVRA!"
One second had been all that was necessary for the Knight Alchemist to draw his wand under the heavy robes he wore. One more second, and the most lethal spell ever created by wizardkind was hurled at the figure on the throne. For the beings assisted to the scene there was barely any time to react before a striking pale green bolt of energy materialised and rushed towards the leader of the Exchequer.
Avada Kedavra was the third Unforgiveable. Instant Death. Powerful Dark Magic. Impossible to shield, deflect or reverse.
The dark figure on the throne raised one hand and made the deadly incantation disappear in the darkness surrounding it like a black mantle.
"You wish to kill me, Knight Alchemist?" Asked the King, clearly gloating of his former subordinate's monumental stupefaction and the dark clouds expanded again. "This is an...annoyance. Every creature or wizard who tried in the last couple of millennia has failed."
Then a sinister murmur like a funeral melody sounded. With absolutely no warning, a halo of pure night surrounded Nicolas Flamel, hiding it from the rest of the world.
Twelve of the observers flinched, in spite of their relative experience in matters of torture and carnage, when the screams of their former colleague arrived to their ears. After approximately two minutes of this treatment, the globe retracted and nullified, letting the body of a blonde-haired man covered with black burns, robes in tatters and marks of self-mutilation appear and fall on the cold floor lifelessly.
"So die all traitors." Grumbled the King, with an obvious hint of satisfaction to his voice. "Knight Summoner, Knight Informer."
"Yes, Your Majesty?" The voice of the beings were very determined all a sudden.
"The betrayal of Knight Alchemist is going to force us to abandon our plans for the British Isles and the goblins for the time being. Deal with the problems at Brise-Roc and Hogwarts. Leave no traces of our involvement and no witnesses. Take Flamel's body and pass his death as a burglary which has turned badly."
"Yes, your Majesty. The Philosopher's Stone and Voldemort?" Asked the being in red robes.
"Let the Chief Warlock have his little victory and keep the Stone for the time being. I'm sure he will realise the default of this artefact soon enough. The wraith will keep most of Dumbledore's attention for years to come."
May 23 1992, Hogwarts, Scotland
"THEY DID WHAT?"
Alexandra's shout had certainly alerted half of Ravenclaw tower. Not that she did care. In front of her Nigel, her poor friend who had just paid the brunt of her anger. Surprisingly, he was looking her straight in the eyes, shaking but still firmly standing in ground.
"Neville and half of the Gryffindors first-years went to the forbidden Gryffindor. They think Snape is about to steal the Philosopher Stone of Nicholas Flamel." Repeated Nigel. "They brought Hermione with them, they forced her, Alex!"
"By all the powers of the War of the Wrath..." Swore Alexandra, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry, Nigel. I shouldn't have shouted on you."
When the picture in the Ravenclaw Common Room had interrupted her night reading to affirm her Gryffindor friend was outside asking for her help; the green-eyed girl had believed it was a poor joke.
Curfew was not informed since the end of the exams, but the teachers were not exactly happy with those walking in the corridors at the light of the moon. Not to mention, it was very late, in fact one quarter of an hour later and Alexandra would have gone to sleep too. But this book on the legend of Merlin had been captivating...
"I understand." Reassured Nigel with a small smile. Smile which disappeared the moment after. "What do we do? If Snape is after the Stone..."
"Snape is not after the Stone, Nigel. It's Quirell."
Her friend looked about to object, but Alexandra swept his objection with a gesture of the hand.
"Yes, yes. I know that all the Gryffindors are convinced it's Snape. Not that it matters. Both Quirell and Snape are dangerous enough to crush half a dozen first-years if they want to do it."
"Do we go help them or do we go search for a Professor?"
"How much time do you think you were immobilised by the Petrificus Totalus of Leo Black?"
Nigel frowned."Twenty minutes or so."
"Then we go. I don't care what happens to Longbottom and his lackeys, but if they have Hermione... Run!"
The first-year Ravenclaw girl and the first-year Gryffindor boy began their sprint towards the third floor. As it was one o'clock in the morning, the patrols of the prefects and the ghosts were non-existent, a very good thing as their sprint was the very opposite of subtle and silent.
In ten minutes they managed to reach the Forbidden Corridor without being noticed. Charging through the stairs that separated them from the Cerberus, the duo was forced to stop. A man was standing in front of the forbidden door, and it was neither Snape nor Quirell.
It was Devkins, the Junior Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Professor!" Shouted happily Nigel. "Neville and the rest of my housemates are..."
"No." Abruptly cut him the Potter Heiress. "He intends to steal the Stone too."
"Very good Miss Potter." Said Devkins in an humorous tone. "What gave me away?"
"For a man who forgets everything, your office and your affairs are always impeccably classed. You should have kept them a bit out of order, should a student break in to verify if your incompetence was all an act."Alexandra admitted. "You also participated in this travesty with Quirell on Halloween night."
"Observant as always." Said calmly Devkins. "I should have known the Weasley Twins couldn't be responsible for all this paint. And have you managed to discover for you I'm working for?"
"I've managed to narrow it to Nicolas Flamel or a potential Dark Lord. Nothing else makes sense."
Devkins clapped away slowly, his face for the first time reflecting a bit of admiration.
"Bravo, Miss Potter. Excellent deductions. Although I'm afraid I can't let you walk away right now."
"Because you intend to ambush whoever comes out of the corridor and steal the Philosopher Stone?" Alexandra asked in a semi-inquisitive tone, taking into account her potential opponent. Devkins had the same look and was wearing the same type of robes shown all year, the only difference was a small pendant worn around his neck emitting a sort of black light. Looking at it, it looked to be a pawn of a chess game, surrounded by a crown of flames. Strange.
"I prefer to think it is a legitimate restitution of propriety." Affirmed the Junior Professor of DADA. "My superiors weren't happy when one of the Stones was stolen from the goblin fortress of Brise-Roc by the Order of the Phoenix."
Alexandra widened her eyes. So Dumbledore had really stolen the Philosopher Stone from Flamel! So much for the integrity and the nobility of the venerable Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Unfortunately," continued calmly Devkins "I intend to be far away when Dumbledore will notice he has been robbed. And you know a bit too much for your own good, Miss Potter. I'm rather afraid I will have to deal with you in a permanent manner. Any last words?"
Not leaving her eyes from the DADA professor, Alexandra talked to Nigel, who had stayed just behind to her left.
"Nigel, run, find Flitwick and bring him back. I am going to need him here."
"You can't fight a professor alone!" protested Nigel. "I must stay with you!"
"All I need is to hold him as long as possible." Alexandra reminded him. "Now go!"
Nigel ran like a legion of hell was at his pursuit.
"Incarcerous!" Casted Devkins, in direction of the fleeing Gryffindor, but Alexandra shouted a rapid "Flipendo!" who diverted the ray of light far enough to bounce harmlessly against the wall.
"You think you can delay me long enough for your friend to bring back your Head of House, Miss Potter?" Asked calmly Devkins.
"I will never know if I don't try." replied Alexandra.
"Very well." Devkins was sporting now an interested smile. "But I should make you remark I am more dangerous than the mountain troll or the baby dragon supplied by Quirinus. And anyway, my defeat or my very probable victory will not be of any importance. The true order is going to come back and cover this earth in darkness."
"Aure entuluva!" Replied Alexandra drawling out her wand and taking a fighting stance "Day will come again!"
"Pestilentia Interficio!" A ray of sickly yellow spurted from the professor's wand and struck the position where Alexandra had been a moment before. The green-eyed Ravenclaw had had only the time to jump back, and it had been apparently a marvellous idea: the floor was now looking cracked, with a pale yellow cloud rapidly dissipating over it. Acid. Fantastic.
"Malevolus Lupus!" A black wolf formed of grey pale flames was conjured, which on Devkins order jumped to devour her. Using Flitwick teachings, she evaded the attack with pure speed and used a powerful Flipendo to send it in a free fall from the corridor, hoping this magical creation could not resist a fall from three floors.
Devkins did not look at all discouraged from the failure of his two first spells. As far as Alexandra could judge, it motivated him. Dark spells succeeded to dark spells. Most of the spells that flew in her direction were completely unknown to Alexandra, forcing her to dodge, jump throw spells to divert their trajectory or outright running away to be sure she wasn't there when one revealed to have 'special' effects. The frequency of each spell also increased after each miss. Alexandra was suspecting more and more the man in front of her was playing with her.
Despite the young witch duels all with Flitwick over the year, there was simply a gap of power, knowledge and experience between her and Devkins she could not match. Her knowledge on magical shields was non-existent, forcing the eleven-year old to deflect in one manner or another everything which came her way. Alexandra was getting tired and she had not still had a single opportunity to retaliate, never mind hit him.
What was worse what the fact she absolutely didn't master the environment around her. The stairs which had brought her to the Forbidden Corridor and allowed Nigel to escape were gone, courtesy of the hazardous nature of Hogwarts, so retreat was not an option. The entrance of the corridor was also not very large and there were no places or statues to hide behind in case she felt the need. It was a simple corridor, with nothing to throw at her opponent, no kind of advantage she had benefitted in her fights against her fellow students, the dragon or the troll. Alexandra was forced to admit internally she was outclassed in every way.
"Maleficus Dens!"This time she was able to correctly anticipate the spell and the livid blue spell passed harmlessly to her right. Seizing the occasion with both hands, Alexandra screamed "LUMOS!", illuminating the corridor in a stunning flash of light.
Opening her yes, she sent an overpowered Cutting Charm and two other nasty hexes at Devkins, hoping the spell had blind him long enough for her to take advantage.
Her hopes were in vain. The Junior DADA professor had not anticipated her attack, judging by his red and bleeding eyes, but he had had the reflex to cast a blue-red glimmering shield immediately after. Alexandra three spells impacted the magical protection, which didn't seem to even register the assault. Damn.
Seeing the angered face of the enemy duellist, the Potter Heiress had the sudden and unpleasant realisation she had at least managed to make him furious. Devkins looked at her with a look of pure hate and Alexandra knew she had achieved the minor victory of letting her former Professor go at full power.
"Ignis Obscurus!"
Despite the impressive amount of what she supposed had been very Dark Magic thrown at her, Alexandra was caught off-guard by the magnitude and the power of the spell which manifested into reality. In the short instant she had to observe the spell, it was like a tornado of black flames had been created and was advancing towards her burning the very air she breathed.
Nothing she casted with her wand was about to stop it. The two water-based spells she knew were simply swatted away like flies. Finite Incantatem disappeared once in contact. The basic counter-curses had no effect. Alexandra was forced to quickly retreat to the extremity of the corridor, and even that did not afford her a lot of time, as the black flames rushed in her direction with a speed which was terribly frightening.
Figuring she had at most ten seconds before she was a roasted Ravenclaw, Alexandra did something completely suicidal by her own standards. Cutting one part of the railing with a powerful Diffindo, she levitated the stone over the void where the stars should have been and jumped on it, praying her magic was strong enough to carry her own weight.
The dark light behind her told Alexandra she had made the good choice. Her last position before she jumped was now engulfed in the inferno of dark magic. Not that her new situation was really that much an improvement. She was now on a levitating stone, standing very very high over... nothing. She could not dodge or evade any spell coming at her. Devkins had only to wait right now for her the stone to fall and she was doomed.
Thankfully, her opponent didn't think she had managed to evade the spell and cancelled his deadly fire incantation. Just in time too: the stone she was upon was showing imminent signs of falling. Knowing she had only one chance before her enemy threw her another unstoppable assault, Alexandra rolled on the floor before her and shouted a powerful "BOMBARDA!" with all the power she had left in her at the ceiling.
Devkins's horrified face, appearing just as the leftovers of the black fire dissipated, was priceless when the ceiling began to explode over his head. Time almost stopped for Alexandra at that moment. The Ravenclaw had no idea if Devkins had the opportunity to acknowledge his demise and the fact he was not going to be powerful to stop the collapse of a part of the Hogwarts wing, and she would never will. But the man screamed a last incantation "MORTALIS NOX!" before a huge rock fell and bashed his skull like an overgrown fruit.
Alexandra had no time to rejoice. The dark coloured curse sent by the now dead professor was impossibly fast and she was too slow to dodge. The only thing she had time to do before it hit was raising her right hand. One second, the black-haired witch thought she had seen a golden light protect her arm before the black curse struck it. After that, she had far more imminent problems. Such was the power of the incantation Alexandra was slammed into the corridor's walls, and the shock took out all the air in her lungs in one second. Pain erupted in all the muscles and bones of her body, especially in her back and her legs. The young witch tried to move from her position against the wall, but only managed to collapse on her face and stomach, the after-effects of the incantation paralysing her. The pain was growing progressively unbearable.
"This is not how victory is supposed to taste..." The Potter Heiress whispered.
Closing her livid green eyes, Alexandra let darkness claim her.
