Hand-to-hand combat training was one of the most difficult for Evan. He was the youngest, the scrawniest, and the shortest of the troops. Despite "beefing up" during his recent training, he was no real match for the other marines – the martial arts he had learned in preparation for the PJFT was different from that taught by the Royal Marines. One day he approached his CO and asked what he could do to help him overcome this. The CO did two things: made Evan always train against the biggest and strongest of the troops, and called in Instructor Fairburn. Instructor Fairburn was a solid 5ft 4 man, slim in stature but made of steel. He went up against every marine in Evan's troop and "tore them apart".
Then he took all the marines shorter than 5ft 6, and trained them separately for a week. Fairburn had given them the confidence they could survive and overcome in a hand-to-hand combat situation if they really tried. Evan took that to heart – intent! He incorporated the new techniques in his "after hours" work out. He relentlessly practiced with the largest, strongest and meanest of the troops in his unit, and continued his "magical exercises" as well as Haragei. Evan expanded his Haragei training, using it while he practiced his self-defense moves. He found that, when employing Haragei while practicing with others, he was able to anticipate some of their moves. In the end, he could hold his own against any of the larger marines.
Of particular interest for him was the incorporation of unarmed combat against an armed assailant. Just because you didn't have a knife (or a wand) you were not helpless! Instructor Fairburn stressed two points – when you are at a great disadvantage, any type of fighting including dirty fighting, was fair. When your very life is at stake, anything goes. The other point he made was that if you are not a wrecking ball, going up against a concrete wall is like trying to put out a 5-alarm fire by pissing on it. You can't expect to overcome a solidly built opponent by using force on force. Especially if there is a 10-stone difference! Attack pressure points, nerve bundles, and other "soft" targets like joints.
He showed them elements from Systema (a Russian martial art), aki Jui-jitsu, and Kempo. The instructor also talked about a technique called "leading by the nose", outlined in a book called Go Ri No Sho (the Book of Five Rings, by Miyamoto Musashi). Using this technique, you lead your opponent in such a way that benefits you. You may attack their forces to reduce their number, or put them in situations where they can only expose the weak side to defend themselves thus providing you with an advantage over them. This brought Evan back to his thoughts about leading the Death Eaters away from their target and into an ambush the other day.
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December 6 –Only two weeks left to end of term. Headmistress Maxime at Beauxbatons approved Hermione's request for transfer, sending her approval to Hermione's parents. Winky elf-jumped the letter to her. Hermione was ever-so-grateful for Winky's assistance and care. Hermione was feeling quite isolated and lonely. Other than Winky she had nobody to talk to directly. In between subjects, Hermione worked on a set of communication mirrors similar to the one Sirius had given Harry for his last birthday. It involved a lot of rune work and a few charms. Winky had to purchase several sets of mirrors as unsuccessful sets had literally exploded! Now she had a set of three – one set using a pair of Lady's cosmetic compacts, and one unit using a men's pocket watch. She was able to password protect each of the communication devices using the phrase "Lily Managed Mischief". After activating the devices, one can call one of the other devices by saying "call home" or "call Fenix". She sent these off to Evan and her mother via Winky express.
Hermione communicated with Professor McGonagall, Ron and Neville via letters delivered by Winky. Winky knew to scan each letter for tracking charms as well as any other magic. When she exchanged letters with Evan, they used lemon juice on one side, and regular ink on the other side. This way, even if a letter was intercepted, people would only think to read the side with the ink. Not many non-magicals remember lemon juice was used as an "invisible ink", which could only be revealed by heating the page. Of course, magicals didn't know or care for muggle ingenuity.
Since going into hiding, Hermione coordinated through Professor McGonagall with the other Professors (except Snape) to meet twice a week for a short period of time (in Professor McGonagall's office) to go over what was being taught that week, and a review of her self-study progress. She would turn in any homework directly to the Professors at those times. For potions, the Room of Requirement was able to provide her with a potions lab. Using ingredients purchased via Winky express, she was able to prepare the potions being done in class.
To prove it was her that was brewing the potions (as if she anticipated Snape wouldn't accept the potions without proof), she provided a memory from Winky of her brewing the potion. She would start each session with declaring the date and name of the potion, then as she was brewing she would explain what she was doing and why. Lastly, when she labeled the potion vials, she imbued the label itself with a bit of magic, so her magical signature could be identified.
Then she had Winky deliver the potions and homework to Professor McGonagall, who in turn presented them to Professor Snape at the regular staff meetings. This seemed to really piss off both Professor Snape and the Headmaster, especially as they had no success in tagging (and maintaining) anything with a location spell.
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