Chapter six: Marcus Granger and Birthday gifts
July 31st was just another day for Harry James Potter, even after the past few years of celebrating his birthday he never counted it as anything except getting another year older – though this year he was expecting to get his school letter.
Not that he wanted to attend…then again what could he do? After researching some he had found out that Dumbledore was his legal magic guardian until the age of 17 and not only that but the old coot was very powerful…politely and magically speaking.
Currently Sensei Lucas had him working on the files in the office up-dating and checking to see if everything was needed for them to still attend, everything up to payments and drop-outs.
Harry didn't truly care though and he sat quietly doing it, it was much better than the alternative – helping out in the elder-classes (aka 14+) and used as a demonstration tool or way to practice without anyone getting hurt…much. Sensei Lucas was great except for the fact he pushed so hard that sometimes the now-eleven year old wondered why he agreed those years ago, it wasn't a bad thing just – annoying? Nah, more irritating because the things he was learning were harder now and more advanced levels before he could be entered into tournaments, meaning that he pushed himself to get everything right.
87% of the time he fell into bed on a night after school and practice and didn't even last a few measly minutes before passing out into unconsciousness, especially when Petunia and Vernon decided that he was slacking around the house and gave him extra chores to do – they were away again though at the moment like every year and Harry was staying alone.
Again.
POTENIAL CLIENT
Granger, Marcus.
Date of Birth: 19th September 1995
Staring level: beginner's class.
Other? Invited to boarding school in Scotland along with twin sister, only available to take lessons during holidays but the Granger family would be great people to have contact with and Marcus seems like a natural fighter. He is willing to give up school placement if this is not possible.
Harry raised an eyebrow at the paper in front of him; sure there were odd stories before – but why not just getting a teacher somewhere closer to the school? They lived in Surrey though not Little Whinging, more the 'rich(er)' area…Granger, Harry knew, was the name of Dudley's dentist as well as someone that Vernon worked with closely at work though higher-rank.
"RAVEN I NEED…oh, you looking at Marcus's file?" Sensei Lucas asked coming into the office, Harry looked up and nodded absently with a thoughtful expression – Scotland boarding school? Hogwarts…though it could be a coincidence. "That lad wants to learn nearly as much as you did…his parents have picked me out of the other masters they could have hired privately – I was thinking of turning it down because of the school."
"Sensei, I think he might be attending the same school I will be." Harry said slowly and deliberately, knowing that there was someone at the door probably listening in on them being nosy. Lucas had found out about the wizarding world the day after Raven had found the letter from Dumble-dork and his aunt, it was kind of obvious that something had been bothering him because of the foul mood that he had been in and the amount of mistakes he had kept making on kata's that he had previously been able to complete perfectly.
"You mean…why would anyone give up that place? Lucas asked flabbergast, Harry shrugged though did know that it would be easier if they were muggle-born/raised since they wouldn't be missing anything anyway because they hadn't known about it prior, a reason why a lot didn't attend. "Anyway you can go and see them later…"
"ME?!"
"…And tell them I'll accept him as a student but you, as my apprentice, will do most of the teaching or mentoring and Marcus will come back with you to the lessons." Lucas finished as though he hadn't heard the eleven year olds exclamation of shock and…maybe some horror. "I was due to go today anyway, which I was just going to tell you – I was going to have you induct the other new student, Liam Craig, but I can do that."
"Right…er I best get going then." Harry bemoaned slightly, he didn't want to muck this up and he wasn't going in his karate Gi that was for sure. "Do we need anything else doing today?"
"No, that's all!" Lucas called as he walked out of the office, Harry picked up the folder he had been looking at and slipped out of the office and into the changing rooms, he and Lucas had a Privet one each, and swapped his cloths.
Just as he was about to leave his own letter arrived, ah that would make things that much easier – now just hope that it hadn't been a coincidence and the twins were attending Hogwarts too.
The Granger family were out in the garden relaxing like a normal family on a nice sunny day, the adults were sat on the porch of the house speaking about their children's choice to attend school – they were a little upset that they wouldn't be attending a 'normal' school and yet proud that their kids were so special.
Hermione Granger was sat under a tree reading one of her new books that Professor McGonagall had provided during the visit to inform them of their status as witch/wizard and to attend the school, they would be getting escorted any day now to Diagon Alley. Hermione's only brother, and twin, Marcus Granger was scowling as he attempted to teach himself the basic stances of karate from the internet.
"One leg forward slightly and the other behind," a voice suddenly said from the gateway, the full family turned to see a boy the twins age smirking slightly in amusement, "Marcus I presume? Sensei Lucas sent me with some news of your request – I am Raven Valdesi, Sensei Lucas's apprentice."
"Oh! Do come in," Mrs Granger offered, the lad stepped into the garden shuddering as he felt wards wash over him – hmmm, secrecy wards and those to stop muggles seeing anything out of the ordinary. Smart. "You look rather young to be an apprentice…"
"I was seven, nearly eight, when he gave me the honour." The boy informed them proudly. He was wearing a pair of blood-red tracksuit bottoms with a double black line down the side, a tight-fitting vest top and finally a tracksuit top with the Dragon Studio crest though with 'Raven Valdesi – Apprentice', "Now, I was given the oh-so-fun job of sorting the files this morning and came across Mr Grangers, Sensei Lucas and I noticed that the notes correspond with my own."
"Meaning…?"
"I shall be attending a Private boarding school in Scotland come September." Raven replied, Marcus gasped in understanding and looked hopeful but the other seemed concerned. "Hogwarts correct? Sensei Lucas sends the message that he will take Mr Granger as a student so long as he doesn't mind being mentored by me during the school time, though we will be returning twice a week, four for myself, for lessons."
"What belt are you?!" Marcus demanded seriously considering the offer, though he wouldn't be trained by an amateur! Nope, then again the boy did say he had been seven when he was accepted as an apprentice – not a student but an apprentice of a martial arts master.
"Blue, I'm going for my Purple end of August." Raven answered, Marcus's eyes had widened while, once again, the rest of them looked confused. "There are 10 Kyu's and Dan…Blue is the 5th Kyu, while Purple is 4th. Brown is 3rd, 2nd then 1st. lower the number the more experience the student has, a Dan is a master – black belt."
"Do you just learn Karate?" Mr Granger wanted to know,
"Nah, I'm also trained with bo-staff." Raven grinned, they ended up in side where he explained his past in the martial arts, including why he had started in the first place – and how he spent every Christmas and Easter over in Italy with the Valdesi family, and even three weeks at the start of summer too.
He had only returned along with Sensei Lucas a week before.
Hermione had stormed off when he had refused to answer any questions on his blood-status, he was a pureblood (his mother, Lily, and his aunt Petunia's mother was actually a squilb as was their father. Both disowned from their families at a young age.) But he didn't want her to know that, he had also refused to answer if he had been taught anything magic yet or what his favourite topic/subject was.
He agreed to meet them on the 3rd when they were due to go to Diagon alley though so that he could arrange with McGonagall for the two of them to come back Tuesday and Friday for their lessons – he could do this because it was in his right as a high-family heir and an official apprentice.
When harry finally got home for once he wasn't tired but actually full of energy, as expected the house was empty beside an owl waiting for a reply from the school – quickly writing that down he went into the kitchen and grabbed a sandwich to eat, chicken-mayo, looking around he spotted a package on the table that defiantly hadn't been there before.
Four packages actually.
"Wha…?"
the first turned out to be from Rebecca and Jay (who still attended the classes, they were going to attend Dumgstang or Beautaboux – honestly it was a coincidence that there were so many muggleborns in Surrey! The two were cousins though) who he kept in contact with even during the holidays, they had left him a box of celebrations chocolates and a card.
The second package was from Sensei Lucas – why he hadn't gave it earlier, Harry didn't know – and that turned out to be…a new bo-staff?! Harry looked at it with wide-eyes and trailed his hands along the super-strong metal staff with smooth oak in the centre to hold, the metal wasn't dull but shiny incurved with runes, Harry didn't even recognise some of them, that made it look beautiful – Raven was etched elegantly into the wood too. There was a short note with it like the others…Raven, happy birthday! Wanted to surprise you – you know that the Valdesi family has many connections including some wizards. Sorry I didn't tell you before…they had the staff engraved with runes and magic so that it will not break (at least easily) it can be used for practice or tournaments – Sensei Lucas. Well that was certainly nice – and so typically Lucas for you.
The first gift was sent him the Valdesi family as a whole, the usual sweets and journal – because his was full, he'd had three so far, and pen to go with it. Sensei Valdesi had also sent him some new gloves, these ones black with silver trimmings and the Valdesi crest on the Velcro-straps at each wrist along with 'Raven.'
Finally a gift from Blaise Zabini…yea he was still writing to him , the Italian-wizard was still asking his real identity but Harry merely promised he would find out in September. He had sent a book on wizarding traditions, laws and customs along with some wizarding-world chocolates and every-flavour-beans.
At least the Dursley family weren't here to ruin his day.
