A/N: What can I say…Inspiration struck me so this chapter is coming out quicker than I expected. I would like to thank those who reviewed the last chapter and I hope this is up to your liking. I would like to mention again that I won't be going through all of Harry's training but some just to give you an idea of what is going on so when he starts doing stuff nobody is going 'where did that come from?' Anyway enjoy…
Chapter 4- The Training
Harry awoke at 6.00 am with a sharp pain in his chest. His heart was physically aching for no real reason. Grumbling to himself he got up off of his padded straw mat which he was sleeping on, and stretched out the kinks in his back from sleeping on the mat and made his way outside into the morning air.
After they had arrived yesterday Knithsil had made a small hut appear from the ground. There was only one room in which he and Knithsil resided and also another room. One could call it a bathroom but it would be an understatement. It seemed to be a cave which had a pool in it that was heated from, or so Knithsil said, lava currents underneath the earth, like hot springs. It had a basin in it which had water falling into it from the wall, like a miniature waterfall and another basin, for the other reason why someone would use this room.
When he stepped outside the hut he already saw Knithsil watching the horizon intently. The stars were still visible in the sky but the horizon was tinged with pink as the sun was sure to come up.
"Get running or breakfast will be at lunchtime." Knithsil said briefly and without a word Harry set off at a jog towards the lake.
It was 8.00 when Harry got back to the hut. He was worn out and sweating profusely as he collapsed into one of the chairs Knithsil had made the night before.
"So Harry… how did you sleep?" Knithsil asked in a light tone as he slid Harry what appeared to be a plate of bacon. Harry eyed it warily and Knithsil chuckled. "Don't worry Harry, it is bacon. We have pigs here too you know? Don't get used to me giving it to you, in a few weeks you going to have to catch and cook for yourself." Harry muttered something Knithsil couldn't hear but nevertheless started eating.
"I slept alright I suppose, but when I woke up I had this very strange pain in my heart." Knithsil's eyes twinkled at this.
"Good, at least we know one thing is working for us." Harry gave him a confused look. "Don't worry Harry; you will know what it means when the time is right, for now you must focus on you training. Now finish your breakfast, I daresay your skills with a staff aren't adequate." Knithsil said, but not unkindly. Harry still felt a little hurt though. After all he wasn't hopeless. As if sensing Harry's feelings Knithsil spoke again. "Don't worry Harry. I am sure you will pick up how to use your staff very quickly. There aren't any fancy movements to it really; it is more a matter of learning how to project your magic through it." Harry brightened at this and quickly finished his breakfast.
They made their way to a grassy hill where they could see over the plains, in the distance Harry could see animals running around. Knithsil let him scan the countryside but after a few minutes of silence spoke up.
"Where is your staff Harry?" he asked. Harry was dumbfounded. He had forgotten all about it.
"Er… I'll go and get it." Harry said as he blushed furiously for forgetting it. So much for Constant Vigilance, Harry thought. To Harry's surprise Knithsil chuckled.
"I let you forget on purpose Harry. Your first lesson is how to summon your staff, or wand to you. Your wand chose you Harry so it will answer your call, as a staff or a wand."
"Ok… How do I call it?" Harry asked.
"Simply picture it. Imagine it in your hand and let your desire for it call out." Harry did what he was told, picturing the staff in his hand, and unbidden into his mind came the times he used his wand, he remembered the feeling he got when he first used it and before he knew it his staff was hanging in the air in front of him. He plucked it out and felt the warmth between his fingers again.
"Well done Harry. To call it, remember that feeling. After a while it will become second nature. Now more about the staff, to cast through it you must push the magic through it, a wand helps it out of you but it is harder to control how much power is put into it. With a staff you must control how much power you put into it. It will help with your wand skills as well so I would concentrate on this…"
Later that day…
Harry groaned as he found himself in the dust once again. He and Knithsil had been sparring for an hour now. It seemed no matter what he did he couldn't overpower the Elf. Knithsil was very strong and very fast, beyond the capabilities of any human. He had tried head on attacks, waiting for him to attack in some hope of blocking him but to no avail.
"I think that is enough for today Harry." Knithsil said. He was standing in the center of the ring, without so much as a bead of sweat on his brow and not even a scratch on his while Harry once more had sweat pouring off of him and had many bruises over his body. "I think that you need much more physical strength. I want you to do 50 press ups every morning and evening for me, before your run and before bed." Harry groaned even louder but Knithsil smiled. "If it helps Harry it will greatly increase your magical potential…and I'm sure Hermione would like it." Knithsil smiled at the blush on Harry's face but felt pride in the boy when he saw determination in his eyes at the mention of Hermione's name.
"If it is what it takes to beat Voldemort." Harry said determinedly.
"I am pleased that you use that name Harry but please call him Tom. That is the name he was given, and it is what he should be called by. Now I said we will be studying magical theory from your world and so we shall. But be warned I will not have you performing anything less than what I think you are capable of, do you understand?" Harry nodded. "Good, now first is some of your magic we can practice here. Occlumency. It is defending the mind from attacks. When you get back to your world it should stop the dreams you have of Tom and his followers. They key to Occlumency is…"
And so the lesson went on. From Occlumency, Knithsil explained about non-verbal and wandless magic. While Harry could perform Wandless magic here, he would have to wait until he was back in his own world before he could use non verbal spells through a wand. Knithsil had also summoned no less than a hundred books with complex and powerful spells in Charms, Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts.
"Now Harry I expect you to get through about a book a week. In a few weeks we will take a trip back to your world where we can practice some of these through a wand and through your staff, just to get you used to the feeling. Wandless magic is all very well but it does not give you as much power in a spell. However while you are here you will need to use some." Knithsil said.
The sun was setting when Knithsil headed off into the plains leaving Harry alone to think. He was wondering what everyone was doing, especially Hermione. He was wondering how they would be taking the news of his 'death'. After what felt like an hour Knithsil returned with a boar on his back. He silently started skinning it and half an hour later it was roasting over an open fire. They ate in a comfortable silence, until, as Harry moved to grab some more meat he noticed his clothes were sticking to him.
"Knithsil?" Harry questioned.
"Yes?"
"What am I going to do about clothes?" Harry was surprised when Knithsil chuckled.
"Ah, yes, well I think the best way to start you off is by having you transfigure those you have." Harry gaped at him.
"But you said that my wand couldn't work here."
"And it won't, you must do it through your staff or wandlessly"
"But what if I can't do it?" Harry asked, getting annoyed now.
"Then get used to those clothes." Knithsil said in a tone indicating the conversation was over. Harry was fuming and Knithsil must have sensed it because he spoke again. "It is the best way for you to learn Harry. I am sorry but you will get better results than if I mollycoddle you." Harry nodded, he did agree but he wasn't happy about it.
After dinner Harry tried to transfigure his clothes but to no avail. Uncomfortable and sweaty he went to his straw mat and fell asleep.
Six months later…
The cool night air was still. Beyond a grassy knoll lay the prize Harry had been stalking for the past half hour. A large boar was grazing, apparently oblivious to Harry's presence. Wordlessly Harry called for his staff and tapped a stone, turning it into a large dagger. Very quietly he crept up on the boar but before he could strike the killing blow it smelled him. Damn, he thought. The boar set off at a high speed but Harry kept pace. After about ten minutes of running Harry was close enough to jump on the boar. He leapt into the air but the boar turned when he didn't expect to so he ended up colliding with its side, knocking it over. Harry scrambled to his feet to miss the tusks that were moments away from impaling him. He spun quickly and grabbed both of the boar's tusks, one in each hand, dropping the dagger in the process. He immediately felt the boar try to push him off or overpower him but he planted his feet and every time the boar turned one way he turned the other. Eventually he managed to throw it to the ground where he punched its stomach making it squeal. He quickly reached for the dagger and plunged it into it, holding it fast. Once he was sure it was dead he slung it over his shoulder and made his way back to the camp.
When Knithsil saw him he raised his hand in greeting. Harry staggered over to him and unloaded the boar onto the ground and yanked out the knife. He then picked it up and started to skin the boar in silence. He preferred to work this way. Harry didn't like the idea of killing for his food but once Knithsil had stopped providing it he would have starved otherwise. Knithsil said it was just one of the lessons of war. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want to.
An hour later the companions were eating in a comfortable silence, as was custom at meals, but Harry had a feeling Knithsil wanted to say something. He had become adept at reading Knithsil's movements. If he wanted to talk about something he would usually get a far away look, like the one he had now.
"What is it Knithsil?" Harry asked. If the Elf was surprised he didn't show it.
"Tomorrow I will take you on a trip back to your world." Harry nodded, but this wasn't what he wanted to talk about. They had had many trips back already.
"And…" prompted Harry.
"You may visit your friends, under the conditions of course." Harry nearly choked on his meat. This was the first time he would be able to see them. He had been dreaming of this almost every night since he came here. However he did not like the idea of not being able to talk to them he did want to see them desperately. "Now when you go back you will need to be hidden. So I have made you this…" And Knithsil summoned his scythe and tapped the table. From nowhere a dark red robe appeared with a hood that could easily cover Harry's face. On the right sleeve was an insignia that was made from two scythes that met at the top with the blades so it almost looked like a heart and in the center of the insignia was an hourglass.
"The hourglass is the symbol of the Family of Time while the scythes are my symbol. They make a heart because that is your greatest strength." Knithsil said quietly. Harry was stunned. He knew that this was a precious gift and was shocked that Knithsil had made it for him. It brought tears to his eyes.
"Thank you…" he said softly.
After dinner Knithsil had Harry practice using the Earth as an element. His task was to create a table like Knithsil had done on the first night he arrived. After four attempts he succeeded in making a granite table appear from the ground. Pleased with his efforts he did his press-ups (Which had now risen to 100 every morning and evening) and climbed, exhausted but pleased, onto his straw mat where he instantly fell asleep and his dreams were once again filled with that of a brown haired witch.
A/N: Well two chapters in one day… not too bad. I hope they are both satisfactory. The next one will deal with what Hermione, Ron, Sirius, Dumbledore etc. has done in the past sixth months. Until next time don't forget to review. Bye.
