Chapter 10: Summer Training, Inheritance, Pride
"Too slow." Severus Snape said as he apparated behind Harry and sent a fast stunner at his godson's back. Snape sighed as he then walked over and revived Harry, who just scowled.
"I know you hate hearing this Harry…" Snape said while Harry stared darkly at him. "Your form is perfect but by standing your ground, your agility and reactions slow down when your opponent decides to not attack you indirectly."
Harry said nothing but merely nodded as he took his place at one end of the dueling room in Black Manor and got into his favorite dueling stance, wand directed at Snape. Knowing that using magic in the summer was illegal, Harry had to resort to using Lily's wand; which didn't cooperate with him too well when he tried casting his own specially invented spells.
"Prepare yourself….Expelliarmus!" Snape cried
"Everto!" Harry shouted, a silver shield was erected in front of him and absorbed the disarming spell before sending it back to Snape who cursed and quickly dodged it.
"Diffindo!" Harry sent a cutting curse at Snape who merely deflected it with a flick of his hand.
Harry grinned widely and then shouted, "Legillimens, Confundus, Expelliarmus, Stupefy, Confringo!"
Snape growled in frustration, once Harry got comfortable, it was basically impossible to stop him except to drop back to defending. He felt his mind getting probed, curse the boy for being a natural Legilimens. Snape batted the confounding charm, casted a shield against the disarming charm and conjured a slab of marble, which absorbed the stunner, causing it to blow up.
Then with the gracefulness of a dancer, Snape somersaulted away from the blasting curse and threw back a bludgeoning curse as he did so, the greasy haired potion's master couldn't help but chuckle when he heard his godson curse loudly and he then heard a pop. Harry then materialized in front of him and before Snape could process what just happened, he lost all consciousness.
"Clap, clap, clap" Harry turned around and saw a beaming Bella and Professor Sinistra clapping at him.
"Well done Harry, its been so long since anyone's been able to floor Severus down." Professor Sinistra said, smirking at the said man who was still on the floor, out cold. She sighed and then quickly walked over and casted an enervate and helped him on his feet.
"You're getting slow, old man." Harry said cheekily.
Snape growled but grudgingly said, "Acceptable work, Brat."
Sinistra just chuckled at her former housemate while holding on his arm, "Sev, quit being a big baby, Harry beat you fairly..."
Snape groaned, pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Meet me in the backyard after you've had a bite." With that he walked out of the dueling room, his robes billowing as he swept off.
"I would love to stay longer but it seems that I have a sulking greasy git to comfort." Sinistra said and then hugged Harry tightly and gave Bella a sisterly embrace before sweeping after the potion's master.
"I would have never thought….Aurora and Severus." Bella said to herself and then turned to Harry.
"What? I don't know what you're thinking about but I got nothing to do with it." Harry said 'innocently'
Bella just chuckled as she saw her son playing the innocent game. Harry was always so serious and cold but when he smiled, it could light up the whole world.
After a quick shower, Harry came down and had a quick lunch.
"Kreacher, I missed your pot pies so much." Harry said as he dug in furiously.
"Young master likes Kreacher's cooking. Young master is too kind, Kreacher does not deserve a master like young master." Kreacher said with a bow, his bat like ears drooping down.
"Nonsense, our family, I am honored to have you by our side." Harry said kindly as the old house elf was reduced to tears of happiness and pride. After he finished his lunch, Harry wandlessly summoned his sword from his room and went into the back yard, where Snape was waiting with a scowl on his face.
"Alright, let's see if you've been working on your swordsmanship. Defend yourself." With that Snape drew out a steel long straight sword. Harry smirked and pulled out his own sword, it was a beautiful creation, a hand and a half sword; the blade was an iridescent blue, the cross guard had a sapphire at each end as with the pommel. It was one that was forged by the goblins centuries ago. Harry still remembered the day he first laid eyes on it.
Flashback, seven years ago
Birds were chirping in the warm summer sun as a five-year-old Harry was standing in the cold study of his grandfather, Cyrus Alexander Black, staring at a foe glass. Ever since his grandfather had explained the purpose of the detector, he was always disturbingly fascinated about it.
"Staring at the foe glass again Harry?" Cyrus asked his grandson, who immediately turned around and blushed at being caught. Cyrus was not a big man by all means but yet he commanded respect and fear. He still carried with him his years of war with the Dark Wizard, Gellert Grindelwald. They were evident in his close cut iron-grey hair, his hawk like, piercing emerald green eyes and his emotionless face. He was flawlessly poised, relaxed, and alert at the same time, with the figure of a dancer.
"Hello Grandpa, I finished all my lessons already…and I saw the door was unlocked so I figured that I….err.." Harry said timidly, rubbing his neck uncomfortably under his grandfather's watchful gaze.
Cyrus smiled lightly and beckoned for Harry to carry on as he took his seat behind his glamorous desk made from imported Maple Trees from Canada.
Harry continued looking at various artifacts under the gaze of his grandfather, often pressing his face against the display case.
It pained Cyrus a lot to see so much of his daughter in Harry, Harry inherited much more than just his mother's eyes, they even thought alike and were always above the exceptional. How he regret placing his trust in Albus Dumbledore, he did have his doubts but Lily had assured him that the Fidelius is unbreakable. But what did trusting Dumbledore lead to? His wife was never the same after that night on October 1981, she died shortly afterwards from regret and depression. Luckily Harry's curious and cheerful attitude managed to keep Black Manor filled with laughter and happiness. But what had enraged Cyrus the most was that Dumbledore openly announced to the wizard world that Sirius Black, his nephew was responsible for James and Lily Potter's deaths. The Black family had never been so insulted and hurt, sure, Sirius was placed into Gryffindor, but he was genuinely respected in Slytherin House, whether he knew it or not. Bella and Cissy were tempted to storm the ministry and punished the bastards who had torn their family apart, but were only stopped when he pleaded with them that Lily would not want her two elder sisters to join their cousin in Azkaban simply because of their rashness and to think about Harry's future. Needless to say, the Wizegamot refused their pleas for a trial and Sirius was thrown into Azkaban, not even Veriterserum questioning was made. After the event, Cyrus saw Albus Dumbledore in a new light and vowed on his life that as long as he lived, He would never allow Dumbledore attempt to manipulate his grandson, he would have to train him to be on guard; keeping his mind closed no matter the circumstance, to use logic instead of emotions, able to fend for himself with a wand and without one, and swordsmanship.
"Harry?" Cyrus said gently
Harry turned away from the jar of Basilisk fangs and looked up.
"I want to show you something." Cyrus said, standing up and walking towards what seemed to be a pile of books, with a flick of his hand, the pile of books dissolved into the thin air as a large, vertical display case replaced it.
Harry widened his eyes in surprise, inside the case was the most beautiful sword he had ever seen, it was a hand and a half sword, with a sharp straight blade. The color was iridescent blue, with a sapphire gemstone at each end of the cross blade and pommel.
Looking at Harry's gobsmack face, Cyrus chuckled softly
"The Black family blade. Forged by Goblins eight hundred years ago…" Cyrus whispered.
"But don't Goblins hate us, grandfather?" Harry said, his huge green eyes staring at his grandfather with confusion them.
With a wary sigh, Cyrus said, "The relationship between Goblins and Wizards has never been friendly. I'm sure you remember from your lessons with Lucius that there has been many wars between the wizard kind and the goblins, with many casualties for both sides."
Harry nodded
"They are not entirely at fault, we must also shoulder the scars left behind from our predecessors. Our family recognized that long ago and since then, we have had a friendly relationship with the goblins, whenever they are in need of aid; we give it to them willingly. Same thing when we are in need of help. This sword was created for our family to represent the unity of the goblin nation and the Noble House of Black. It is a symbol of equality for all races." Cyrus lectured.
"I think I understand." Harry said in a small voice.
Cyrus smiled and after waving his hand in a series of complex motion, the display door gently swung opened. Taking the aqua blue sword out from its holder, Cyrus handed the sword to Harry. Immediately, upon touching Harry's skin, the blade started glowing, blinding blue light bathing the study in an unnatural eerie glow of blue. The light subsided shortly, leaving the sword gleaming as it was before.
Harry only looked up at his grandfather.
"It seems that the sword has chosen you to be its next holder." Cyrus said proudly.
"I can't, this sword means too much, it represents too much. It's too special to be with someone as unordinary as me." Harry started.
Cyrus slowly bent down on one knee and gently grasped his grandson's shoulders and said soothingly. "You are special Harry, don't ever think otherwise. You're a natural Occlumens, you can summon things to you hand just by opening your hand. Not even the great, almighty Dumbledore." Cyrus spat the word Dumbledore as though it were filth. "could achieve what you achieved at your age. The sword will only bond with a Black worthy of it, there has been only five previous owners including myself…now its your moment. Make our ancestors proud."
Harry nodded, his grandfather rarely praised him, due to his icy exterior but when he did, Harry couldn't remember feeling better.
"Now, Harry, shall we?" Cyrus said, walking to the doorway and glancing back at the little boy.
Harry, holding his sword tightly, walked out of the study behind his grandfather.
Flashback end.
Clashes of metal could be heard as the iridescent blue sword clashed with the long steel sword. Harry raised his hand and a half sword with both hands and swung it over his head at Snape who lifted his own polished steel sword and stopped the blow.
Snape then started a series of complex blows. Both contestants parried and stabbed, both dancing dangerously. Harry had an expressionless face as he parried each blow, Cyrus had drilled it into him that emotions and frustration would only disrupt the perfect harmony while fighting.
Snape was not an amateur by all means at the art of sword fighting; he had won three consecutive fencing championship tittles in Spain, however, his godson, despite his age, had technical skills that rivaled or were higher than his.
From all their practice, Snape concluded that Harry would never give it his all his true potential remained unknown, soon, Harry stopped moving altogether, simply parrying the blows Snape threw at him.
Snape was feeling heavy after numerous blows and alternating different series of complex strikes but Harry remained rooted to the ground, parrying the blows as if nothing had changed at all.
Then Harry struck with a well placed strike at the cross guard of Snape's sword, Snape's gleaming steel sword dropped to the grass, Harry flourished his sword, spinning it in a quick circle by his side. Snape looked like he was half sneering and half smiling which was just awkward.
"Good work, Harry." Snape said, panting.
Harry grinned and sheathed his sword. Kreacher appeared with a pop and handed him and Snape a glass of coke before disappearing with a bow. Both godfather and godson laid on the fluffy grass, tired from the sparring session and merely gazed up at the clear blue sky.
"Harry, your exam results are here." Bella called out from the manor.
"Who cares, its not like I failed anything." Harry murmured from his place on the soft grass.
Snape scowled and pulled his godson up from the ground who groaned immediately.
Unwillingly, Harry and Snape got up from their place on the grass and walked slowly back inside the cool manor.
Harry took the envelope from Bella, broke the seal and took out a piece of parchment, which contained his grades.
Student: Harry James Potter
Year: First Year
House: Slytherin
Head Of House: Severus S. Snape
Grading System
Outstanding
Exceeds Expectations
Acceptable
Poor
Dreadful
Troll
Honors
+++ = Master
++= Scholar
+= Exceptional
Results
Astronomy: Outstanding+++
Charms: Outstanding+++
Defense Against The Dark Arts: Outstanding+++
History Of Magic: Outstanding++
Herbology: Outstanding++
Transfiguration: Outstanding+++
Potions: Outstanding+++
OVERALL RANK: 1
Top 10 Highest Scorers
1)Harry Potter-Black
2)Hermione Granger
3)Draco Malfoy
4)Daphne Greengrass
5)Blaise Zabini
6)Su Li
7)Tracey Davis
8)Michael Corner
9)Susan Bones
10)Padma Patil
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry chuckled; all those history lessons with Lucius and Narcissa had paid off. He much rather them teach the subject than boring Binns whom literally bored him to death. Harry wondered how Draco would react about being beaten by Granger, no doubt jumping up like an angry sissy girl. Granger surprised him, a muggle born was second only to him which made him feel conflicted, he didn't know whether to feel amused or angry about it.
"Harry?" Harry snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at Bella, Snape and Professor Aurora who were waiting.
"Sorry, just thinking." Harry said and handed his results to Bella, whose eyes widened when she glanced at the results.
"I'm so proud of you sweetheart, they would be proud. He would be proud." Bella said, tears misting up her eyes.
When Bella mentioned his grandfather, Harry's hands curled into his fist and his shoulders begin to shake slightly. Cyrus' death had hit him the hardest of all people who were close to him. Harry then excused himself and walked up to his room.
He walked slowly towards his king sized four-poster bed and fell down hard on the mattress. It has been two years since Cyrus had passed, but it still hurt immensely.
Harry tilted his head sideways and saw the huge portrait of himself in a black tuxedo and Cyrus Alexander Black on the wall. His grandfather was dressed in elegant black robes, standing behind him with an arm wrapped around his shoulder.
Harry sighed, then summoned his guitar from its case and started strumming a hopeful tune, and then he heard a tapping noise coming from his windows and saw his owl, Selena with a crossed look on her face. Harry quickly opened the window and was mauled by the angry owl.
"Not the face." Harry shouted, while protecting his face from his friend's talons.
Once Selena was calmed down with owl treats and many apologies, Harry took the letter from her beak, she was still mad at him for not playing with her but she allowed it to pass…for now. Harry opened the letter and smiled when he saw it was from Daphne, he still remembered their farewell on King's Cross.
Dear Harry,
How've you been? Astoria's been bugging me nonstop ever since we left King's Cross the other day. I swear the day she comes to Hogwarts will be the beginning of no sleep for me. Have you gotten your exam results yet? I got them not long ago and its no surprise that you're rank first in our class. I bet Draco's acting like a little girl right now, being directly below Granger. I'm leaving for France in a couple days and I want to know if you can come around to my place and we hangout. I've sent an invitation to Draco also so poor Harry wouldn't have to be stuck in a house with only women in it (my father's went off on a trip to Germany).
Love,
Daphne
P.S- I missed you
Harry chuckled silently to himself when he remembered the younger Greengrass, of all his friends, he missed Daphne the most; he missed everything about her, her voice, her beautiful blue eyes, her long blonde hair, her scent of roses, the cute expression she made whenever she was focused on making a potion. Draco would probably throw a fit if he heard this but there was just something unique about Daphne, it had been so ever since Harry laid his eyes on her back in Diagon Alley before first year. Harry begin writing a reply, his head filled with images and thoughts of a beautiful blonde.
