Dudley's Training
Number 4 Privet Drive
Friday June 14, 1996
6:00 A.M.
The morning came way too early for Harry. He felt like he had barely closed his eyes when…
"Get up boy! You lazy freak, if we have to be up, then so do you." When Vernon grabbed him by the ankle to drag him out of bed, Harry was amazed to hear Dudley's voice from the doorway.
"Don't do that dad, if you hurt him, he won't be able to keep up. Then I'll have to slow down and not get a good run." If Harry had had his glasses on he would have seen Dudley wink at him. But Harry could feel his uncle's hand tighten on his ankle, only for a quick moment, and then let go.
"Alright Dudley, we wouldn't want your training interrupted." Turning back to Harry… "And you, if you mess-up Dudley's training, in any way, you will not be leaving this room again. And if that doesn't stop you from…"
"Dad let's get going." Vernon turned and left the room in a huff… "Hurry up Harry. Oh, and here…"Dudley tosses a not too old but not new, sweat suit and trainers on Harry's bed. "Maybe you'll be able to keep up with those."
Harry couldn't help but smile. Who would have thought that, just a year ago, these people were just his last living relatives. But now, even if only one of them could be, they were becoming… family.
By the time Harry got dressed, and down stares, the rest of the family was ready. Petunia and Vernon were dressed in brand new sweat suite and top of the line trainers. Harry couldn't help but to laugh to himself at the sight of Vernon with a sweatband pulled tight around the top of his head. After Dudley showed them some stretches they left the house. It wasn't long until Vernon and Petunia were starting to fall well off the pace set by Dudley and Harry.
"Dad it's about time for you to get ready to go to work. Why don't you and mom head home? Me and Harry are going to make a few more laps around the block."
"Good idea son. I will see you tonight. Don't you slow him down boy." Dudley looked at Harry and rolled his eyes. "Ya Harry, don't slow me down. You ready to really start this?"
"When ever you are." With that the real training began. After three more laps around the neighborhood at a quicker pace they stopped in the park. There they did fifty sit-ups and push-ups in five sets of ten each, with twenty pull-ups in-between. After that they did another set of stretches, then for the hundredth time in two days, Harry was totally surprised…
"Aright Harry time for meditation." Now to say Harry was surprised is an understatement, he turned to Dudley so fast that he fell over. "Harry, you alright? I didn't think you would react like that." While laughing he helped Harry into a sitting position. "I learned how to do this in school. The counselor at the school thought it would help me with…my over active imagination. They thought I was making up the reason I couldn't sleep. Well it did help with my sleep as well as helped me focus on school, my training, and my life in general. Anyway, it seems to work so I do it every morning and then again before bed." Harry couldn't believe how close to Occlumency this all sounded but he couldn't see how this could hurt.
For the next two hours Dudley taught Harry how to clear his mind and then focus on his internal self. To picture a room within his mind, and within that room to store all his thoughts, all his memories, all his emotions and then organize them so he can quickly recall everything in an instant. Harry found that Dudley was a much better teacher then Snape had ever been. (As if that is hard) After about an hour Harry was more relaxed then he had been in years. His mind felt fresh and awake. But there was something else that he didn't expect…he felt powerful! Like all the magic in him was right there ready to be tapped into, like he could take on the world, or at lest the menaces to it. As the first light of the day shone on his face, he felt, for the first time in his life… at peace. With himself and most importantly, his fate.
***HP***
The Burrow
The first light of the day shone through the open window. Ron couldn't help but cringe from the light. He hated mornings, but what makes this morning all the more appalling was that it came far too quickly. As he finely opens his eyes they came to rest on the reason for the early morning. His desk is covered with fifteen or more crumpled pieces of parchment. A night's worth of failed attempts at letters. Not just any letters though, and not just to anyone. These are attempts at love letters. And the person these botched letters were meant for…Hermione.
When Ron saw the pile of crumpled parchment he groaned. "What's wrong with me? She's my best friend, why is this so hard? Am I that pathetic that I can't just tell her how I feel?" With that he begins to bang his head on the desk. The sound was so loud it attracted Ginny's attention.
"That would be a yes." Ginny couldn't help but smile. She had known about Ron's feelings for Hermione since her third year. "Ron, you know that she has the same feelings for you right. You would have to be stupid not to have noticed. Let me see what you have written so far." Ron didn't bother to look up from where his head was resting on the desk. He just handed her the last miserable attempt.
Dear Hermione,
Do you like me?
Yes
No
Ron
"Ron you must be kidding. What are you a first year? Let's try this again." She crumpled the sheet of paper. "How do you feel about Hermione? Really how do you feel? Is this just a like or do you think you just might love her.
Ron didn't bother to look up again. He just held up two fingers.
"Oh Ron…Ron…Ron look at me. I'm not going to judge you. You know how I feel about Harry. I have no right to make fun of you for feeling the same way about Hermione as I do about Harry. I for one am glade you have finally come to your senses. I love you bro, but sometimes I think the twins dropped you on your head more times then they say they did. Have you not seen how she looks at you or how you seem to be the only one to get her to stop studying for just a moment and have a life. That "You" are the one that makes her smile and the only one that has her heart. And if you don't tell her just what you think, so help me I'll…."
The whole time she was talking Ginny was walking towards her brother. Who had the look of a man that had just, inadvertently stepped on a dragon's tall and was now in fear for his life? If anyone had walked by Ron's room at that vary moment would have laugh at the sight of a five foot nothing Ginny having a six foot three Ron cowering for his life.
Ginny suddenly came to her senses and relented. "Ron I'm sorry. It's just I get so frustrated when you boys don't understand. I'm in love with Harry and I can't seem to get through to him. And then I see you, and you being so thick and bull head. It just Urghh.... Look I know you love Hermione, and that she loves you." At this Ginny got a look on her face that would make the twins cringe from the mischievous glint in her eyes.
"That's it!! I'll help you with Hermione and you'll help me with Harry. With the two of us working together there is no way we can't get who we want."
Ron started to protest but then thought; 'then again I am a Weasley.'
***HP***
Surry England
Privet Drive playground
As Harry and Dudley sat in the field by the play park meditating. Harry suddenly had the feeling he was being watched. As he slowly opened his eyes, he moved his hand to his wand. As his hand meets the end of his wand, Harry springs to his feet rolls to his right between the adversary and Dudley ready for anything. Anything that is except for what he sees…
***HP***
Ministry of Magic
London England
Misuse of Magic Department
Accidental Magic Division
15 minutes earlier
At the desk of the Auror on duty an alarm sounds. A massive power surge centered in one place, Surry England. The Auror on duty rushes to contact the one person he knew could handle this, Albus Dumbledore.
***HP***
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster's office
Dumbledore is quietly reading in front of his fireplace. When there is a bright flash of emerald light and a voice calling to him.
"Albus, Albus are you there. Code emerald and black. I repeat emerald and black."
For an older man Dumbledore dropped to his knees in a flash.
"Joseph, are you sure? In Surry?"
"Yes, it just happened. What should I do?"
"Nothing I will take it from here."
With those words said Dumbledore touches a phoenix medallion on his chest and called out the code "Emerald and Black" then vanished.
***HP***
All over England
The moment Dumbledore touched his medallion, medallions all over England began to glow green and black flashes. As the wizards and witches touched their medallions they too vanished.
***HP***
Back in Surry
Harry was in awe of the power he was feeling. The awareness of everything around him, the birds in the sky, the slow and steady breathing of Dudley, deep in his own meditative state. He began to stretch out his awareness to the breeze on the grass, the strays in the ally, the…
Without a second thought Harry rolls to the right. In-between Dudley and the more then twenty wizards and witches that just appeared two seconds after Harry moved. At the head of the group Albus Dumbledore the head of the Order of the Phoenix, greatest wizard of the last century, stood doing what can only be described as the best impersonation of a guppy out of water that had ever been seen. For not two inches from his nose was a holly wand held by a very powerful and pissed off teen.
"Well ladies and gentlemen, it appears that your services are not required here. Professor Dumbledore if you, Professor Lupin, Professor Moody and Tonks wouldn't mind staying, I have a few questions to ask." With that Harry lowered his wand from a very relieved and smiling Dumbledore.
"Of course Harry, Ladies and gentlemen as Mr. Potter has already stated your services are no longer required here, as you can see the situation in well in hand. Alastor, if you Remus and Nymphadora could please remain. I also have some questions." Turning back to Harry and a very frightened Dudley. "Boys if you could please follow me I think we should adjourn to your home. Where we might have a bit more privacy." Begrudgingly Harry nodded. Whispering something to Dudley, who along with Mad-eye immediately began to snicker; the two young men feel inline behind Dumbledore.