"Come on, Mr. Behrens. Attack this." Snape stepped aside for Will and placed a target he had prepared on the lectern. "Any spell you like."
The target was shaped like a torso and held a small wooden stick.
Will walked up to the lectern and flicked his wand. A spell shot toward the target, jolting it hard enough to knock the stick from its hand. The whole target toppled backward.
Will flicked his wand again. As though sliced by an invisible blade, the target broke into several pieces.
Before the pieces hit the floor, Will cast one final spell. Roaring flames swallowed them, reducing them to ash in midair.
Another turn of Will's wrist swept the ash from the floor, leaving it spotless.
The classroom fell silent. You could have heard a pin drop.
Clap. Clap. Clap! A lone pair of hands broke the silence.
Snape was applauding. He looked quite pleased. "Did you all see that? Mr. Behrens's skill is remarkable.
"For his excellent performance, Slytherin gains five points!
"Who can tell me how many spells Mr. Behrens just used, and what they were?"
Hermione's hand was still raised high. Snape swept his gaze around the room, then, surprisingly, called on her.
"Miss Granger, you seem to consider yourself well-informed. Go on, then. Explain it to everyone." A trace of mockery glinted in Snape's eyes.
"Will used four spells. The first was a Disarming Charm, the second a Severing Charm, the third a Fire-Making Spell, and the fourth Scourgify." Hermione sounded certain. She had earned an Outstanding in Charms, after all.
The amusement in Snape's eyes deepened. "I'm sorry, Miss Know-It-All. It seems you aren't quite as knowledgeable as I thought."
Confusion crossed Hermione's face. How could she have been wrong?
*Was the first spell Stupefy, not a Disarming