It was quiet too quiet Harry Potter realized he lay still on the ground listening for anything to tell him where the enemy was. Dragon skin boots spun and Harry was again on his feet. Bottle green eyes closed and breathing of the dark haired boy slowed dramatically. Harry's finely attuned ear heard every sound in the room as he turned his head slowly. Months of reflexes pushed him back as a blade flashed across him, the sword of Godric Gryffindor appeared in his hand with a muttered word just in time to deflect the next blow.
Eyes wide open now he allowed a feral grin to caress his handsome features. This was what he enjoyed, what he strived to be able to do. The blade flashed again and using the reference point he lunged blindly, he felt the movement as his assailant moved to the side. His dark turtleneck blended into the darkness surrounding him, he could feel his body responding to adrenaline his every move becoming smoother and quicker.
His blade moved in a slow lazy circle, his dragon skin ankle length coat swept silently with him as his movements stilled. The coat whipped in a circle as Harry moved down to his knees allowing the blade to fly into the head of a practice dummy.
As soon as the dummy was 'killed' lights flickered on in the large empty room, he gave a miniature salute to Remus Lupin on the other side of the mirror. The dojo was owned by a squib that had been more than happy to help the famous Harry Potter begin his training.
"Good go Harry, I think its dead," the werewolf joked at the sight of Harry's cautious approach of the dummy.
"Last time you said that the thing stabbed me, I'm done taking chances mate," Harry said with a chuckle as he retrieved his blade.
"Potter we started this at Hogwarts and your already one of the best swordsmen I've met," Lupin said smiling, "And Hermione is the best swordswoman. I'd say you're ready to go back to Privet Drive."
"Must I?" Harry asked forlornly. The summer of his sixth year Harry had been training in sword fighting while at his aunts and uncles, once he returned to Hogwarts in a month he would begin with defensive and offensive spells. Ron and Hermione where receiving the same lessons, Ron showed promise with hand to hand combat but found swords "Too bloody personal" while according to Lupin Hermione's progress with her matched blades was rivaling his own.
"Albus said that he was dropping off a present for you," Lupin said trying to lighten his apprentices' mood.
"Swell," Harry said his voice void of emotion, he had been forced to stay at the Dursley's all summer due to the fact that the burrow was no where near an acceptable training ground and the protection of his mother's relative that Dumbledore had explained the basics of prevented him from staying at Hogwarts.
"Shower quickly mate I'm late," Lupin said checking the large clock. Harry rolled his eyes and whipped his black turtleneck over his head revealing a finely tuned torso. A six pack was prominent and hard yet fluid muscles coated the rest of his body. Harry had begun using contacts to stop his glasses from inhibiting him in a fight and had found the wizard wear 'put them in once and never take them out' contacts very helpful.
Vernon Dursley craned his meaty neck around the doorway as he heard the sound again 'KNOCK KNOCK'. He checked his watch yet again and saw the same results; he smoothed his suit and walked to the door ready to invite guest's entrance into his home for his traditional dinner party. His wife Petunia and son Dudley came to stand close to him while Harry, the vile creature, dressed in a tuxedo stood as far away as he could get. After his escapades at the last dinner party Vernon had hosted he had been forced to have his nephew appear at this one.
"Hello," a man with a long silver beard said as Vernon opened the door, he saw his nephew perk up a bit as half moon spectacles and the blue eyes behind them surveyed him carefully.
"Who the hell are you?" Vernon hissed, a trunk swooped into his living room and with a swish of the man's hand it had settled in the center of the room.
"Hi," a female voice said, Harry's face became downright ecstatic at the sight of the rather attractive brunette. Her dark hair fell around her shoulders in light curls and an ample figure seemed to be what captured his nephew's attention her plain black cocktail dress surprised Vernon but he continued to watch the long haired man.
"Hermione," Harry called, he rushed to her excitedly picking her up and spinning her.
"Harry, do I look like a steak to you?" the girl asked as soon as Harry put her down.
"What?" Harry asked shocked.
"Well your cousin seems to be drooling all over me and I was wondering if I resembled a steak, that would be the only reason he would look at me in such a way… am I correct?" Hermione said with a wink.
"What the hell is going on?" Vernon asked again.
"Why Mr. Dursley Mrs. Granger will be staying with you, I'm sure she can manage to explain the rest," Dumbledore said sparing a smile for his students.
"I will not have any more of that kind in my home!" Vernon bellowed surprising his wife.
"Well then you will be forced to explain to your relatives why you have a donkey permanently imprinted on your forehead," Albus said waving his wand threateningly.
"Very well," Petunia said shaking a bit, "We have a cot she can use." Unbeknownst to the three adults Harry and Hermione heard not a word of the conversation, after scaring Dudley from the room Harry had again wrapped his friend into his arms. He couldn't help how good it felt to feel her body against his.
"You look good," he whispered hearing his uncle yell but thinking nothing of it.
"So do you, Lupin told me about your progress," she whispered back aware that Harry's arms where still around her but unwilling to have him let go.
"Yah I love it," Harry commented watching as Dumbledore moved the trunk upstairs with a flick of his wrist.
"Well I disarray you have catching up to do, I will take my leave… good afternoon Harry," Dumbledore said and with a pop he was gone.
"Vernon?" a low voice questioned from the door, Mr. Dursley walked quickly to the door and extended a hand to the tall man standing between the frames. He muttered to his wife to set an extra plate and pushed his son forward content to leave the two freaks deep in conversation on his couch alone.
"Well this must be your nephew Vernon, strapping boy isn't he," the tall man said walking over to Harry.
"Hello sir," Harry said standing and offering a hand to Hermione allowing her to stand beside him.
"And polite too isn't he," the man said surprised.
"I'm Harry, Harry Potter and this is my good friend Hermione Granger," Harry said pleased at the look on Vernon's face.
"Hello sir," Hermione said nodding to the man.
"Why if this isn't your girlfriend?" the man asked shaking Hermione's hand.
"Yes that's right, couldn't be without her so we invited her," Vernon cut in.
"This way please," Petunia said leading the man and his wife and son who had also been eying Hermione to the dining room.
"Act like you're together," Vernon muttered.
"How do we do that?" Harry asked looking helplessly at Hermione.
"I don't know boy just do it," Vernon said pushing them to the dining room. Hermione slipped her hand into Harry's and he nodded as they entered the room.
"Well let's get this place a bit cleaned up then," Hermione said as they entered Harry's room, with a quick shove the cot was out of the way as Hermione opened her trunk.
"You can't use magic," Harry said shocked to see her pulling miniaturized furniture out of said trunk.
"Oh do relax Harry, Dumbledore put a button type deal on all of this stuff, all you have to do is press it and it comes back to normal size," she said rolling her eyes, she put a bed next to Harry's leaving about five feet of space between the two, she fiddled on the underside of it a bit until it slowly returned to normal size. She quickly went about moving his chest of drawers around to accommodate two large comfortable chairs, a coffee table, a sword rack on which she placed Harry and her weapons, a bedside table, and an impossibly large bookshelf.
"Hermione, all the rest of this is books, where are your clothes?" Harry asked peering into the hundreds of miniaturized books.
"Well I can borrow one of your shirts tonight and we'll go shopping tomorrow," Hermione said like he was completely daft.
"Well excuse me for wondering why my best friend was here without clothes," Harry joked rummaging around for his longest tee shirt.
"Honestly you make it sound so dirty Harry," Hermione said, as she put the miniaturized books on the shelf they immediately grew in size to fit the shelves.
"Here," Harry said smirking and handing her his Soccer Jersey and a pair of his boxers.
"Well that answers that question," she muttered as she took the clothes.
"What question?" Harry asked cocking his head to the side.
"Boxers or briefs?" Hermione said with a chuckle as she left the room in search of the bathroom. Harry watched in amazement as she walked off hmm she wondered, think that might mean something you dolt his inner voice childed.
"That's not very nice," Harry responded as he slipped between the covers to change incase Hermione returned early. Harry's small argument with himself was stopped as he heard Dudley's squeal and Hermione's laughter.
"Mum, Mum dad look," Dudley said bearing his nose to his parents. Harry was hard pressed to hold back a chuckle at the smashed in nose his chubby cousin currently sported, Hermione shot him a self satisfied smile as she rubbed her knuckles.
"What the bloody hell did you think you where doing!" Vernon yelled rounding on Hermione.
"I don't particularly like being felt up by a large waist of space, if you have an issue with that… get over it," she said turning on her heel.
"Well that went well," Harry commented standing and watching Hermione pick a book from the large shelf.
"Listen here," Vernon said, he stopped short at the sight of the room but soon decided he didn't want to know and continued, "You two are to come to the mall with us tomorrow we cant find someone to watch you."
"Fine by us," Hermione said with a small smirk at Harry.
"Dumbledore," Harry said smirking.
"Of course, good night Harry," Hermione said slipping into her bed.
"Good night Hermione," Harry said flipping off his light. After only a moment of rest he flipped it on again, "Hey Hermione, you sleeping?"
"Well I was," she said sitting up.
"I just wanted to… you know to say thanks," Harry said, Hermione smiled and slipped out of bed.
"You don't have to say thank you, I wanted to come," she said, Harry felt his bed dip as she sat next to him.
"Friends?" he asked sticking out his arm.
"Forever," she whispered gripping his forearm and squeezing.