The Last Sanguimagus

Harry, Ron, and Hermione barely made it to the Talismans class before the bell sounded. Fortunately, there were plenty of empty seats, and they found three together easily. He saw Malfoy, Goyle, and Crabbe sitting with a few other Slytherins. Neville, Lavender, and Parvati sat on the other side. Harry shivered. It was freezing.

Professor Tanner stood stiffly at the front of the classroom. It was even more obvious to Harry that something was wrong with her left arm; she held it pressed against her robes.

"Good morning class," she said. She flicked her wand and the chalkboard filled with writing. "I am Professor Tanner. Welcome to Talismans class." Someone sniggered on the Slytherin side. Her wand was short, quite possibly the shortest Harry had seen next to Umbridge's wand, which brought up bad memories. "I am in this classroom for one reason, and one reason only: to teach you how to create and purpose talismans and amulets. Who can tell me what an amulet is?" Hermione immediately put up her hand, though no one else did. "Yes, Miss...?"

"Hermione Granger. An amulet is an item that contains a spell or a number of spells triggered by an outside stimulus or stimuli."

"Obviously you've read the textbook," said Professor Tanner. "That is quite correct. However, that is an extremely broad generalization, as even Pepper Imps fit that definition." Harry noticed that she was standing completely still. He wondered when she had graduated from Hogwarts and what House she had been in. She seemed a little younger than he had first guessed, with shoulder-length brown hair and pale green eyes. Apart from her nondescript grey robes, the only thing of notice was a disc hanging from a cord around her neck. It was slowly changing colours, from light pink to light orange and back again. "Yes, Mister...?"

"Ron Weasley," said Ron. "Wouldn't that mean even brooms are amulets?"

"Yes, it would." Hermione and Harry stared at him in utter incredulity. In five years at Hogwarts Ron had never voluntarily raised his hand. They looked back at each other and Harry shrugged. "But for this class we are going to add a few words to narrow down the definition even further. In this class we are only going to consider defensive amulets. Has anyone here ever seen or used a defensive amulet?"

Draco raised his hand coolly.

"Yes, Mister...?"

"Draco Malfoy. I've seen dozens of them. Usually they're for bouncing off hexes, but they don't always work."

Harry watched in surprise as Professor Tanner stared at Draco. Her eyes narrowed. "Malfoy," she said, almost to herself. A long moment passed.

"Amulets have to be made properly, or they'll work only intermittently," said Hermione.

"Yes, Miss Granger, that is correct," said Professor Tanner, her attention snapping back to the rest of the class. "Many things can go wrong in the creation and purposing stages. A well-made amulet, however, can last a great deal longer, and that is what we will be creating here." She flicked her wand precisely, and several small items levitated off her desk and began to float towards the class. A few more flicks and they rearranged themselves in front of the desks. "Here are a few different amulets. Study them closely; I'll ask you questions about them in a moment. If you'd like to get closer, feel free, but please don't touch any of them."

The small class all stood up and pressed forward. The amulets hung suspended in midair. Harry noticed that some were large, some small; some were hanging from a chain or cord, and some looked as if they were meant to hook into a buttonhole. Others were just plain polished pieces of rock.

"Mr. Malfoy," said Professor Tanner. For a moment Harry thought he could see some emotion flash on her face, but then she concealed it. "Do not touch." Draco pulled his hand away from the amulet.

"Back in your seats and we'll discuss them." She stood next to the hovering display.

"I wonder why she knows Draco," whispered Hermione. Harry could only shrug.

"Who can tell me which amulet is the most dangerous?" asked Professor Tanner.

Neville raised his hand along with Hermione.

"Yes, Mister...?" she asked.

"Neville Longbottom," he answered. "The one in the corner--the blue one."

"Why do you think it is the most dangerous?"

"It has a skull on it."

"And Miss Granger. Which one do you think is the most dangerous?"

"The amulet third from the end, in the second row," answered Hermione.

"And why...?"

"It is a chimaera's tooth, which is traditionally considered a symbol of the Dark Arts," she answered, blushing a little. Draco made a derisive noise. Professor Tanner's eyes focused on him.

"And which, Mr. Malfoy...would you consider to be the most dangerous?"

"The silver rose on the chain," said Draco casually.

"And why?"

"It's the most innocent-looking."

"Anyone else have guesses?" The class was silent. "None of you are correct. It is this one." She gestured with her wand and a thick silver chain with a silver starfish drifted forward. "The moment it is placed on someone's neck, it casts a Reduction Charm upon itself. The chain has an Unbreakable Charm on it, so the unlucky wearer dies within a matter of moments." Hermione had a look of revulsion on her face and even Ron looked uneasy. "So this is our first lesson. Amulets do not always reflect their purpose, their effect, or even their creator or Purposer. The blue one with the skull on it, Mr. Longbottom, actually repels a very old-fashioned bone-breaking hex. The chimaera's tooth is a trophy, nothing more. And the silver rose is quite a delicate piece of work; it masks the scent of the wearer."

"Who would need that?" asked Nott, who was sitting behind Draco.

"Mr....?"

"Theodore Nott."

"Imagine that you are trapped in the woods with werewolves, and you will begin to understand its value," said Professor Tanner.

Parvati raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss...?"

"Parvati Patil. What does the amulet you're wearing do?"

Professor Tanner fingered the colour-changing disc on her neck. "I purchased this at Diagon Alley," she said. "It was described as a 'Hypno-disq' that would entrance anyone who looked at it too long. I've brought it as another lesson. We'll analyse why it doesn't work and how it could be made to work a little later in the term." She looked back at the floating collection. "Now, I would like to bring your attention to this." She waved forward a simple leather cord with a pendant carved out of shell. "This is a very simple amulet. It only does one thing. When worn, it turns a different colour. This will be your first project. It will give you a good sense of what creating and purposing feel like. We'll start on that in the next class. Your assignment will be to read the first chapter in your book. Unless, of course, you have already done so." Here she looked at Hermione. The class bell rang. "You are dismissed." As the students began to file out, she stopped Harry. "Except you."

"Go on," he said to Hermione and Ron. "I'll catch up."

"We'll save a seat at the table for you," said Hermione.

Professor Tanner closed the door with a flick of her wand, and then motioned again. Abruptly the noise from the hall was completely cut off. "I will only take a moment of your time. I know you are most likely eager to join your friends for lunch. The amulet that Dumbledore asked me to create for you is nearly finished, and he has expressed to me its urgent nature. Therefore we must arrange a time when--"

"He told me you need blood for it," blurted out Harry.

She paused for a moment, unruffled. Her pale eyes stared at him, and he was bizarrely reminded of Luna. "Yes," she answered simply. "The earlier we seal it to you, the better. Would tonight work?"

"Er...yes," he said hesitantly.

"Very well. After dinner, come back to this classroom." The door opened, and suddenly he could hear the usual castle bustle again. "Do not worry yourself unduly. It will take only a minute or two."

"Okay," he said, feeling self-conscious. He walked out into the corridor, feeling vaguely apprehensive about putting an amulet on after hearing about the one with the Reduction Charm. What if she was an agent of Voldemort's? He took a deep breath. No, Dumbledore trusted her, and he had to trust her too. If it meant that he would finally be free of his connection to Voldemort, then he would put it on gladly.

***