Chapter Eight: Training:
Harry stood before the small goblin warrior wondering just what he had got himself into. He was clad in breeches and a loose tunic in gray just like the goblin before him. Harry had a Katana in hand and was facing the goblin who had a goblin made Katana of his own. Harry had been working on building up physical stamina and had, in the last year become very strong and in shape. Or so he thought as he faced off against the little goblin. Yet in a very few minutes Harry was disarmed and on the floor with a goblin standing on him sword at his throat.
"Guess I need a bit more training?" Harry said trying for a grin, which was hard with a sword near his jugular. "Ah master Natick that sword is a bit uncomfortable near the jugular."
"Indeed, it would be worst if I removed your head." Natick replied, "you are not as weak as most humans but you have a long way to go. You are not a physical being only, more than this you are."
"Yes, you are right master, luminous beings are we, not just crude matter cobbled from dust and clay." Harry said recalling a quote from a certain movie and tweaking it to make it his own. "I still have to fully tap my core."
"That you do, you are but young and it will come with time."
"I wish I had that time." Harry sighed, "anyway for me to tap it sooner?"
"Well yes but you will not like it, it will not be pleasant." Natick said grinning toothily.
"Well, we better start then." Harry said. "No pain no gain right master?"
Later Harry limped down the stairs at Grimmauld place after taking the portkey from Gringotts. He was sore all over though, he knew what Severus would say about him, his Gryffindor tendencies and all. He sat at the table wincing slightly getting Sirius to look up at him sharply. Molly frowned as she took her seat and watched in awe as a very sour Draco and Ron served dinner. Just what had these two done to earn this punishment of serving? Kreacher was watching them arms folded clearly not happy, it was his job after all to serve but he was instead supervising these two boys.
Harry knew that Kreacher and Molly got on quite well. In fact when Molly learned he had seen his master Regulus die she had apologized to the little elf for how she had treated him. From that day forward he would work with her, letting her cook when she wanted but he still managed to serve and cook some meals. Right now he was not happy to not get to serve but then the two boys had been fighting and this was a punishment for them. Magical humans needed house elves Kreacher knew and house elves needed magical humans. Kreacher would let these boys be punished taking his work but only for this one meal and that was it.
"You look sore Harry, Natick did not over work you did he?" Sirius asked.
"Oh I have no doubt that Harry here would have asked to for help to tap his magical core fully." Severus said getting Sirius to glare at him, "normally full access to the magical core comes years after the magical stability , this is different than magical stability and the ability to use a wand you understand."
"Harry would not do that, I mean that would really hurt." Sirius said.
"Yes he would, Harry you didn't ask to access your core fully?" Hermione asked, "you could end up hurt or a squib if it is done wrong!"
"Well master Natick did say that there were others who needed this done and well seemed safe enough." Harry said, "though I am bloody sore."
"Typical Gryffindor bravery." Severus snorted.
Sirius stabbed his roast beef a bit harder than needed but he remained quiet. After all Severus was a tiny bit right, not as right as Hermione of course as she was really smart and Severus was just a greasy git. He dared not say anything, Narcissa would hex him to the next week if he started a fight, there had been one that day between Ron and Draco and both she and Molly were not going to put up with any other fights. There yelling in stereo at both boys had got him to run and hide whimpering for hours. He may be brave but even he knew to get out of the way of a witch on the warpath. Harry looked up as Draco put dessert before him sulkily, a nice treacle tart with real whipped cream.
"Alright what do I want to know what you two did?" Harry asked.
"They were fighting." Narcissa said coldly and the temperature dropped a few degrees in the room as she spoke, "they were warned."
"He started it!" Both boys said at once.
"I don't care if Albus Dumbledore had started it you both know better!" Severus snarled.
"Yes you do, now you should be ashamed, as you are not a Hogwarts I had to take work from poor Kreacher here!" Molly snapped, "all because you two had to fight!"
"You still have lines to do." Severus said coldly.
"Yes and I do need the library cleaned as well." Sirius said and with a look at Kreacher, "you can clean the bathrooms tomorrow I don't want you complaining I am unfair to you!"
"Master is unfair to Kreacher." Kreacher muttered.
"I cannot get any respect!" Sirius muttered.
"As if you earned any." Severus said softly.
"I will add you to the cleaning detail tomorrow." Molly warned them.
Harry did his best not to snort at this comment and concentrated on his dessert. After dinner he headed up and let Kreacher draw him a very hot bath getting Kreacher on his side as all house elves loved to work and to take that away would put them in a deep depression. Harry stayed in the tub for as long as he could before he dressed in clean PJs and went to bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow and he would go through this routine during his training for many, many more days as Natick was only too happy to wear him out in his training.
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A special thanks to WhiteElfElder for the punishment for Draco and Ron. I just could not come up with anything that did not involve spanking and I did not want to go that route. So give it up for WhiteElfElder!
