diff --git a/app.js b/app.js
index c03aa9e..49ad5eb 100644
--- a/app.js
+++ b/app.js
@@ -81,10 +81,11 @@
         currentInput: "",
         attempts: 0,
         startTime: 0,
-        timeTurnerCharges: 0
+        timeTurnerCharges: 0,
+        forcedAnswer: false
     };
 
-    let dementor = { interval: null, progress: 0 };
+    let dementor = { interval: null, progress: 0, timedOut: false };
     let snitchTimer = null;
     let cheatClicks = 0;
 
@@ -168,6 +169,7 @@
         resetDementor();
         game.currentInput = "";
         game.attempts = 0;
+        game.forcedAnswer = false;
         game.startTime = Date.now();
         
         document.getElementById('answer-display').innerText = "";
@@ -175,6 +177,10 @@
         const hintGrid = document.getElementById('hint-grid');
         hintGrid.innerHTML = "";
         hintGrid.classList.remove('has-stars');
+        const castBtn = document.querySelector('.key-cast');
+        const answerDisplay = document.getElementById('answer-display');
+        if (castBtn) castBtn.classList.remove('ready-cast');
+        if (answerDisplay) answerDisplay.classList.remove('forced-answer');
         
         if (game.timeTurnerCharges > 0) {
             game.timeTurnerCharges--;
@@ -284,24 +290,7 @@
             }
             saveData(); updateUI(); setTimeout(generateQuestion, 1000);
         } else {
-            state.streak = 0;
-            game.attempts++;
-            addToTroubleList(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2);
-            card.classList.add('apply-shake');
-            setTimeout(() => card.classList.remove('apply-shake'), 500);
-            dementor.progress += 0.2; updateDementorVisuals();
-            saveData(); updateUI();
-            game.currentInput = "";
-            document.getElementById('answer-display').innerText = "";
-
-            if (game.attempts >= 3) {
-                feedback.style.color = '#ffb0b0';
-                feedback.innerText = `Answer is ${game.currentFact.ans}.`;
-            } else {
-                feedback.style.color = '#ffb0b0';
-                feedback.innerText = "Count the stars...";
-                drawHintGrid(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2);
-            }
+            handleWrongAttempt();
         }
     }
 
@@ -697,6 +686,7 @@
     function startDementor(resume = false) {
         clearInterval(dementor.interval);
         if (!resume) dementor.progress = 0;
+        dementor.timedOut = false;
         let speed = 250;
         const step = 0.02; 
         if (game.timeTurnerCharges > 0) speed = 600; 
@@ -706,6 +696,9 @@
             if (!game.active) return;
             if (dementor.progress < 1) {
                 dementor.progress += step; updateDementorVisuals();
+            } else if (!dementor.timedOut) {
+                dementor.timedOut = true;
+                handleDementorTimeout();
             }
         }, speed);
     }
@@ -725,9 +718,11 @@
         overlay.style.setProperty('--circle-blur', `${blur}px`);
         overlay.style.setProperty('--vignette-strength', vignette.toFixed(2));
         overlay.style.background = buildDementorBackground(p, size, darkness, vignette);
-        const ring = document.getElementById('timer-ring');
-        if (ring) ring.style.setProperty('--timer-progress', p.toFixed(3));
+        const castTimer = document.getElementById('cast-timer-fill');
+        if (castTimer) castTimer.style.width = `${Math.max(0, 100 - p * 100)}%`;
         document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--focus-glow', glow.toFixed(2));
+        const uiGlow = Math.min(1.2, 0.15 + (p * 1.05));
+        document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--ui-glow', uiGlow.toFixed(2));
     }
     
     function resetDementor() {
@@ -739,10 +734,12 @@
         overlay.style.setProperty('--circle-blur', '0px');
         overlay.style.setProperty('--vignette-strength', '0.18');
         overlay.style.background = 'transparent';
-        const ring = document.getElementById('timer-ring');
-        if (ring) ring.style.setProperty('--timer-progress', '0');
+        const castTimer = document.getElementById('cast-timer-fill');
+        if (castTimer) castTimer.style.width = '100%';
         document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--focus-glow', '0');
+        document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--ui-glow', '0');
         saveData();
+        dementor.timedOut = false;
     }
 
     function buildDementorBackground(progress, size, strength, vignette) {
@@ -798,6 +795,82 @@
         grid.classList.add('has-stars');
     }
 
+    function handleWrongAttempt(options = {}) {
+        const { timedOut = false } = options;
+        const feedback = document.getElementById('feedback-msg');
+        const card = document.querySelector('.card-container');
+        state.streak = 0;
+        game.attempts = timedOut ? 3 : game.attempts + 1;
+        if (card) {
+            card.classList.add('apply-shake');
+            setTimeout(() => card.classList.remove('apply-shake'), 500);
+        }
+        if (!timedOut) {
+            dementor.progress += 0.2; updateDementorVisuals();
+            game.currentInput = "";
+            document.getElementById('answer-display').innerText = "";
+        }
+        if (game.attempts >= 3) {
+            revealAnswerAndAdvance(timedOut ? 2000 : 0, timedOut);
+            return;
+        }
+        if (game.attempts === 2) {
+            feedback.style.color = '#ffb0b0';
+            feedback.innerText = "Count the stars...";
+            drawHintGrid(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2);
+        } else {
+            feedback.style.color = '#ffb0b0';
+            feedback.innerText = "Try again!";
+        }
+        saveData(); updateUI();
+    }
+
+    function revealAnswerAndAdvance(delayMs = 0, timedOut = false) {
+        const feedback = document.getElementById('feedback-msg');
+        const card = document.querySelector('.card-container');
+        const factId = `${Math.min(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}x${Math.max(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}`;
+        game.active = false;
+        setTimeout(() => {
+            // guard in case question changed
+            const currentId = `${Math.min(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}x${Math.max(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}`;
+            if (currentId !== factId) return;
+            if (card) {
+                card.classList.add('apply-shake');
+                setTimeout(() => card.classList.remove('apply-shake'), 500);
+            }
+            feedback.style.color = '#ffb0b0';
+            feedback.innerText = `Answer is ${game.currentFact.ans}. Press CAST to continue.`;
+            addToTroubleList(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2);
+            game.currentInput = game.currentFact.ans.toString();
+            const answerDisplay = document.getElementById('answer-display');
+            if (answerDisplay) {
+                answerDisplay.innerText = game.currentInput;
+                answerDisplay.classList.add('forced-answer');
+            }
+            const castBtn = document.querySelector('.key-cast');
+            if (castBtn) castBtn.classList.add('ready-cast');
+            game.forcedAnswer = true;
+            resetDementor();
+            saveData(); updateUI();
+            game.active = true;
+        }, delayMs);
+    }
+
+    function handleDementorTimeout() {
+        const factId = `${Math.min(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}x${Math.max(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}`;
+        game.active = false;
+        setTimeout(() => {
+            const currentId = `${Math.min(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}x${Math.max(game.currentFact.n1, game.currentFact.n2)}`;
+            if (currentId !== factId) return;
+            const feedback = document.getElementById('feedback-msg');
+            if (feedback) {
+                feedback.style.color = '#ffb0b0';
+                feedback.innerText = "Saved by a Professor...";
+            }
+            handleWrongAttempt({ timedOut: true });
+        }, 2000);
+    }
+
     function applyXPToMastery() {
         const levelData = CURRICULUM[state.levelIndex];
         const requiredFacts = getFactsForLevel(state.levelIndex);
@@ -864,7 +937,7 @@
     // --- GOLDEN SNITCH EVENT ---
     function scheduleSnitch() {
         if (snitchTimer) clearTimeout(snitchTimer);
-        const delay = 20000 + Math.random() * 20000; // 20–40s
+        const delay = 45000 + Math.random() * 30000; // 45–75s
         snitchTimer = setTimeout(spawnSnitch, delay);
     }
 
@@ -874,6 +947,10 @@
             scheduleSnitch();
             return;
         }
+        if (dementor.progress > 0.6) { // scared off by looming dementor
+            scheduleSnitch();
+            return;
+        }
         const snitch = document.createElement('div');
         snitch.className = 'flying-snitch';
         const fromLeft = Math.random() > 0.5;
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index e71076b..6a5e5b7 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -64,7 +64,6 @@
 <div id="snitch-layer"></div>
 
 <div class="card-container skin-default" id="main-card">
-    <div id="timer-ring"></div>
     <div class="header-info">
         <button class="shop-btn" onclick="openShop()" title="Student Trunk">🎒</button>
         <div class="currency-badge">
@@ -106,7 +105,10 @@
         <button class="key-btn key-clear" onclick="pressKey('C')">C</button>
         <button class="key-btn" onclick="pressKey(0)">0</button>
         <button class="key-btn" onclick="pressKey('BS')">⌫</button>
-        <button class="key-btn key-cast" onclick="checkAnswer()">CAST SPELL</button>
+        <button class="key-btn key-cast" onclick="checkAnswer()">
+            <span class="cast-label">CAST SPELL</span>
+            <div class="cast-timer"><div class="cast-timer-fill" id="cast-timer-fill"></div></div>
+        </button>
     </div>
 
     <div class="feedback" id="feedback-msg"></div>
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 13a9ac0..d84671b 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
             --burgundy: #740001;
             --bg-dark: #121212;
             --focus-glow: 0;
+            --ui-glow: 0;
         }
 
         * { box-sizing: border-box; user-select: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; }
@@ -238,21 +239,6 @@
             display: flex; flex-direction: column; transition: background 0.3s, border-color 0.3s;
         }
 
-        #timer-ring {
-            position: absolute;
-            inset: -6px;
-            pointer-events: none;
-            border-radius: 14px;
-            z-index: 90;
-            --timer-progress: 0;
-            --timer-fill: #d4af37;
-            background: conic-gradient(var(--timer-fill) calc(var(--timer-progress) * 1turn), rgba(255,255,255,0.08) 0);
-            mask: radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, transparent calc(100% - 8px), #000 calc(100% - 6px));
-            -webkit-mask: radial-gradient(circle at 50% 50%, transparent calc(100% - 8px), #000 calc(100% - 6px));
-            opacity: 0.9;
-            box-shadow: 0 0 12px rgba(212, 175, 55, 0.45);
-        }
-
         .header-info { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; margin-bottom: 10px; font-family: 'Cinzel', serif; color: var(--burgundy); font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: bold; }
         #xp-text {
             display: inline-block;
@@ -264,6 +250,11 @@
             text-shadow: 0 1px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.6);
             box-shadow: 0 0 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.25), inset 0 0 8px rgba(255, 225, 140, 0.15);
         }
+        .header-info, #xp-text, #mastery-display, .currency-badge, .shop-btn, .help-btn {
+            text-shadow:
+                0 0 calc(4px + 10px * var(--ui-glow)) rgba(255,255,240,calc(0.25 + 0.35 * var(--ui-glow))),
+                0 0 calc(6px + 12px * var(--ui-glow)) rgba(0,0,0,0.35);
+        }
         
         .currency-badge {
             background: var(--burgundy); color: var(--gold); padding: 5px 10px; 
@@ -298,6 +289,14 @@
             position: relative;
             z-index: 200;
         }
+        #answer-display.forced-answer {
+            animation: pulseAnswer 1s ease-in-out infinite alternate;
+            border-bottom-color: #ffd966;
+        }
+        @keyframes pulseAnswer {
+            from { box-shadow: 0 0 12px rgba(255,217,102,0.6); }
+            to   { box-shadow: 0 0 18px rgba(255,217,102,0.95); }
+        }
 
         #hint-grid {
             display: grid; justify-content: center; gap: 6px; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 220px;
@@ -320,7 +319,23 @@
             -webkit-text-stroke: 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.55);
         }
         .key-btn:active { background: var(--gold); }
-        .key-cast { grid-column: span 3; background: var(--burgundy); color: var(--gold); font-weight: bold; }
+        .key-cast { grid-column: span 3; background: var(--burgundy); color: var(--gold); font-weight: bold; position: relative; overflow: hidden; }
+        .cast-label { position: relative; z-index: 2; }
+        .cast-timer {
+            position: absolute; left: 8px; right: 8px; bottom: 6px;
+            height: 6px; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.3); border-radius: 4px;
+            overflow: hidden; z-index: 1;
+            box-shadow: inset 0 0 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.4);
+        }
+        .cast-timer-fill {
+            height: 100%; width: 100%; border-radius: 4px;
+            background: linear-gradient(90deg, #ffd966, #d4af37);
+            box-shadow: 0 0 8px rgba(255, 217, 102, 0.7);
+            transition: width 0.2s ease-out;
+        }
+        .key-cast.ready-cast {
+            box-shadow: 0 0 14px rgba(255,217,102,0.9), inset 0 0 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.4);
+        }
         .card-container .key-btn.key-clear {
             background: #ffd966;
             color: #2c2c2c;
@@ -331,11 +346,11 @@
 
         .feedback {
             height: 20px; margin: 5px 0; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1rem;
-            color: #fffdf2;
+            color: #fff8f8;
             text-shadow:
-                0 0 calc(4px + 10px * var(--focus-glow)) rgba(255, 245, 230, calc(0.4 + 0.45 * var(--focus-glow))),
-                0 0 calc(8px + 16px * var(--focus-glow)) rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55);
-            -webkit-text-stroke: 0.5px rgba(0,0,0,0.35);
+                0 0 calc(5px + 12px * var(--focus-glow)) rgba(255, 240, 240, calc(0.5 + 0.45 * var(--focus-glow))),
+                0 0 calc(9px + 18px * var(--focus-glow)) rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75);
+            -webkit-text-stroke: 0.6px rgba(0,0,0,0.55);
         }
         .quick-consumables {
             display: grid;