The Defense against the dark arts Professor made me wish Snape was teaching it. Dumbledore decided that no one would make a better teacher about how to handle vampires than an actual Vampire. So he hired Trocar Sanguine to teach the class. With an undead teacher leading the class I will struggle with the same problem I have with ghosts. If I ever cross eyes with him: he will know what I am.

As the primordial of death, I hate such abominations as vampires. They are bastardized imitations of the living and the dead! A mentally unwell dark wizard's attempt at immortality. He thought," the dead cannot die". That isn't the case with vampires though. They can be slain and the magical channels in their bodies eventually degrade. Sure, it takes a thousand years for a true Vampire to degrade, but still defeats it's purpose.

Trocar Sanguini is far worse than I initially anticipated. A former wizard turned vampire is already a true Vampire in longevity. Even more troubling was when he pulled out a wand and cast a spell. Vampires can't use magic... At least that's how it always used to be.

To be precise they can use magic but they use their magical reserves to maintain their bodies and require energy from blood to replenish it. So any spells they can cast are typically weak and cause them to need to feed sooner.

A wizard or witch has this reservoir within themselves with which they can draw their magical energy. A wand allows the addition of external energy, but without a reserve within the body - that is ready to use magic is impossible.

Since Vampires use that reserve to move and regenerate and consume energy from blood to replenish their reserve, there should be no way to do what Trocar showed off and yet he did it.

First, I suspected he wasn't what he claimed to be, but using my power I took a glimpse which showed the truth. He is a vampire and his name is Trocar Sanguini.

Yet another obstacle to avoid, as I train my companions to be masters of their crafts.

"Draco, how's archery training going for you?" I asked the silver-haired boy.

Earlier this week I started accuracy training exercises with Draco. I had noticed in his brief spar with Ron in swordsmanship that his hand-eye coordination was good. Draco has talent in marksmanship.

"It's kind of fun to hit the target but I'd rather practice with a spell," Draco whined.

"The weapon doesn't matter. It's the training of your hand and eye Draco. Arrows are just easier to track your progress with," I assured him.

"Any lame exercises you plan to waste my time with," Hermione said mockingly.

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"Honestly, you are already great at casting spells. There's not much for you to work on or any other talents for you to train to round yourself. The only way you could be more powerful is if... Never mind," I said hoping Hermione didn't notice my last words.

"What's the way I can be more powerful?"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it," I said.

"Just tell me," Hermione whined.

"Sorcery..." I muttered.

"What?"

"Sorcery, it is your base ability to channel magic," I explained.

"Like the sorcerers stone?"

"Yes, its original name was the philosophers stone - when Abraham the mage invented it but, due to its ability to conduct and channel magic on its own, a new nickname was made," I lectured.

"What's the difference between casting a spell and utilizing sorcerer?" Hermione asked.

"Not much unless your using word and wandless magic. Normally it just makes a person spells a good bit more powerful like with him who shall not be named," I added.

"He's a sorcerer?"

"He was borne with a naturally magically conductive body. His soul is also extremely conductive, but it's way less natural. He was born with a soul scarred by a love potion used on his father. This scar and others he made himself using magic to split his soul conduct magic well. I would, however, suggest against anyone using such a method as like with the human brain there are no unnecessary parts of the soul," I instructed.

"Then how would you do it?" The girl asked excitedly.

"I'd increase the magic conductivity of the bones first. Bone's naturally conduct magic which is why they make very weak but basic wands. Like with my wand this effect can be increased and the material purified but... For a living being, this process is very very painful. An adult wouldn't survive and I wouldn't suggest it for a child."

"I'll do it," Hermione replied arrogantly to my statement.

"No!"

"You mean yes," She smirked.

"Did you not hear me? It's cruel and can result in being put in an early grave," I told her.

"I trust you and I know you wouldn't let me die," She claimed smiling sweetly at me.

"Ugh, you're such a pain sometimes..."

"I want to be the best I can be and a witch has gotta witch, you know," She smirked triumphantly.

"You won't be smiling once the process starts," I scolded.

"I think I will surprise you," She answered chin held high.

"I hope so because I will need your help," I stated.

"With what?" She asked.

I put on a pleading expression, "I need help with making a wand for Neville and I will need a hand for my own extracurricular training."

"Why me?"

"I don't trust anyone else who's reliable enough," I answered.

"Careful Ben, you'll make a girl blush with words like those," She winked mockingly.

"..."

"It's a Joke!" She stomped.

"Ah," I replied flatly.

"You are so lame sometimes," she said while shaking her head in annoyance.

"Sorry," I apologized.

"Don't apologize!" Hermione huffed.

"..."

"Just come on, let's go to Diagon ally. What all do we need?" The girl asked changing the subject.

"Some reagents that Snape wouldn't have in his stockpile. I can take the ones he does have without him discovering me but he won't have the inorganic material I need. Stuff wizards and witches normally don't use in potions, but in enchantments. For some reason, they never connect that it's magic, and there are exceptions to the rule. " I explained.

"I love it when you give knowledge with a history lesson," She smiled.

"..."

*Smack* "Ow!" I exclaimed as she struck my shoulder with a rolled-up parchment.

"Let's just go!" She huffed.

I never understand why females act this way...