DISCLAIMER:- HP belongs to J.K.R. nad this is a work of fanfiction.
AN:- Thnx for all your reviews and favorites. Keep it up, plz. Longest chapter up until now. Enjoy.
Chapter 12:- A Day On The Beach
Harry followed Bella as she made her way out the main door of the mansion. He realized that he hadn't really seen anything else on the island except the house.
Bella took him through the gardens outside to the forests which surrounded the place in all directions. The forests seemed to be eerily similar to the Forbidden Forests guarding Hogwarts. The trees looked magical, as though they would jump and start speaking any time. Beech, oak, pine, sycamore, yew, as well thorns and bushes, all were there. Harry felt that some eyes were always following them, no doubt belonging to the wild animals. He only wished that there weren't any Acromantulas or Centaurs here.
There was no sunlight at the moment since it was fairly early in the morning. Only moonlight was present to guide their way through the thick woods. It would have been a little romantic if not for the random sounds emanating at odd intervals. Moreover, Bella had not uttered a word on their way up until now.
Harry hadn't a clue what was Bella planning, but he wished their trek would end soon.
As if his request was granted, he soon saw the end of the trees and they emerged in a wide open space. It was a beach. He could see rising and falling tides of water in front of him. Wave after wave, the water seemed to jump at him and then retreat, leaving the sands yet again dry. Sands. Harry had never been to a beach before this. His aunt and uncle never felt the need to take him for a vacation. And the one time he had been to any form of an island, it was before his first year at Hogwarts when Hagrid had to rescue him. That too was horrible.
But this. This felt nice, and peaceful. Beautiful and safe. Harry felt as if he could get used to it. He was only wondering what would it look like when the sun would rise.
Bella watched the wondrous expression on Harry's face and a smile lit up on her own visage. She knew he would like it here. It was easy to deduce how much times Harry had seen a beach by having just a look at him. She would have to deal with those vile muggles sometime. But that could wait.
She let Harry have a view before he finally turned towards her and said one word. "Wow."
"I know." She smiled.
He came forward and kissed her deeply. The cold wind intensified their hold on each other but before it could become any more romantic and Bella loose her senses, she pulled away.
"Harry, we are here for a reason." She said finally.
Harry raised an eyebrow at her. "Really. I kind of deduced that myself. I thought it was to see the sunrise."
Bella grinned. "Well, that too. But we have almost an hour before the Surya rises."
"Surya?"
"Yep. Come with me." And Bella took hold of his hand and dragged him towards the waves. She stopped halfway through the sands and sat down cross-legged. Harry looked confused but he too sat down beside her.
She didn't speak for a few moments but then started. "Surya means The Sun in India, Harry. The Sun God."
"India? Bella, are we here to study Geography?" Harry asked her playfully.
"No, Harry. I just referred to their name because what we are about to learn here was derived there." She explained. "Yoga and meditation."
Harry was boggled. He had thought Bella would show him some curses or something that would make him stronger magically and they would duel. And he would be soundly defeated. He hadn't expected this.
Seeing Harry's incredulous expression, Bella sighed. "I thought you would react like this."
He realized something must have shown on his face and schooled his expression. "Bella-"
"Listen, Harry. I'll have to explain it all to you." She began. "Do you know what magic is?"
Harry was confused. Of course he knew what magic was. Why would Bella ask him such a question.
"Magic is…magic." Harry had an unbelievable expression on his face when he realized he couldn't explain it. Hell, he never even thought of this before. Magic seemed so appropriate, so real and natural to him before that he always thought what it could do, not what it was.
Bella smiled that beautiful smile up at him and he grinned and excepted what would have been too embarrassing to except for any magical folk, Harry was sure of it. "I don't know Bella. Tell me, what is magic?"
"Magic, my dear Harry, is a sense. Given to only a few."
Harry was still confused. "I don't understand. How can magic be a sense?"
Bella scrunched her nose cutely and began her detailed explanation. "Muggles and Wizards are born alike with five senses. Sight, smell, sound, taste and touch. These are all born with the birth of the human. There are some organisms which can't see or hear what we can. Similarly, muggles lack the sixth sense, that is, magic. This particular sense gives us the ability to manipulate our environment upto a certain extent. Think of transfiguration and charms. Everything we do with magic, from a simple levitation to a cruciatus is simply us changing the environment to our needs. Whether it be a feather or the brain of a victim."
Bella stopped to gauge Harry's reaction but when he seemed unperturbed, she continued. "There is energy everywhere. In each and every particle of nature, energy is stored. Magic gives us the strength to use that energy for our cause. The one with the better sense of handling his or her 'sense' wins in the duel."
Harry processed what was told to him and decided that it made…sense. A lot of it, actually. "I understand. But what does that have to do with this beach and meditation, etc.?"
"Harry, Yoga and meditation was created thousands of years ago with the main aim of familiarizing ourselves with our bodies. That is, our senses. So, it will help us to better understand and control our magic as well." Bella replied calmly.
Harry yawned a little but nodded his consent.
"So, how did you learn all this? I mean, I don't think it is something all purebloods teach." Harry said while looking up for the first signs of sunrise.
Bella too looked up and remained quiet for a while. They both saw how the sky gradually turned crimson and the dawn broke. The Sun revealed himself in the form of a yellow disc full of warmth and peace. Surya. It felt as if the nature itself was embracing them and giving them hope and saying, All will be right, children.
Harry could see some small birds pecking in the soft sand and a few seagulls in flight not too far away, filling the scene with life and wonder. It couldn't be more beautiful, or mesmerizing.
They enjoyed the silence for quite some time before Bella finally answered. "My Uncle Orion, Sirius's father, was a smart man. He was a pureblood to boot but never disregarded muggle ways or their culture, whether it be in any part of the world. He always found something which was beneficial for us. This, is something he taught all of us cousins." She stopped for a moment to reminisce her childhood. She missed those days but wouldn't trade her current life with Harry for anything. Yes, it was filled with all that pureblood tripe and the reason she lost so many years of her life, but it seemed it was worth it for this bliss, this beauty she was experiencing with her Harry. "It won't make you all powerful or something like that but Merlin knows how long this war would get. I think its worth it. Besides, I will teach you some proper mind arts once you reach your meditative state."
"Meditative state?" Harry asked
"Yes, for a few days you'll find it sleepy while meditating but eventually you'll start relaxing. Magic helps us in reaching that state much quicker than muggles. You'll experience nature while your eyes closed. You'll find peace, like never before, which is almost impossible to achieve without this."
Harry nodded. It would be good getting a little peace in his chaotic life. With Bella at his side, of course. But...
"Mind Arts?"
"Don't think about Snape. He can't teach something even after seven births. I won't ask you to 'Clear Your Mind'. I bet he never clears his body, let alone mind." Harry grimaced at the thought of Snape 'clearing' his body and pushed that image out of his mind. Ugh, he'll have to 'brainwash'. "My approach is simple. We'll use your meditative state as a medium to your mind. But that's for later. Write now-"
"Sirius did Yoga, too?" Harry asked suddenly.
"Yes, up until he was free, I suppose." Bella said sadly.
But Harry had another question. "And you?"
Bella unexpectedly laughed but it was a mirthless, dry one. "There wasn't any peace to find there, Harry, neither with Tom nor in Azkaban. There was only madness."
Harry moved forward and pulled Bella in his lap. Bella laid her head on his shoulders and snuggled into him. He then whispered softly in her ear. "Don't worry, love. Nothing will take away this peace from us. Not now. I will take care of you and our family." He could feel Bella smiling. It was as though she had forgotten about the reason of their little trek for a moment. But only for a moment.
She suddenly jumped back and pushed him away with a laugh. "Time to do something else now, Mr. Potter."
Well, she was back to Teacher mode.
Harry merely smiled and said, "How do we start, then?"
Bella made Harry aware of several different asanas, breathing exercises called Pranayama and Meditation. She postponed their breakfast a little, since it was their first class and she was just giving a basic outline of everything she knew to him. Which he would practice in future.
Bella finally called Kreature at a little over nine and they did a nice little picnic breakfast on the beach.
Bella had made up a habit of feeding Harry using her hands since they had first called Kreacher. Some would call it blatant pampering or even embarrassing for being treated like a child by your wife, but Harry enjoyed it immensely and never stopped her. She smiled sweetly every time she put a piece in his mouth and Harry was left with a goofy grin at the end of the meal.
This was no different.
Harry wasn't even as angry with the elf as the morning for what he'd done.
After the breakfast, he asked Bella. "What now?"
Bella smiled and put her hands around his neck. "Now its time to do whatever you wish, Husband. This much time is sufficient for my role as a teacher. I am not going to bore you to death and as I told you, I won't prepare a regimen for you. We'll learn slowly but surely."
Harry took her slim waist in his hands and pulled her close. "What we wish, Bella, we." He planted a kiss on her neck and continued. "But I want you to teach me a little more. You are a brilliant teacher. I am not bored with you but I quite enjoy it."
Bella pulled back and asked, "Really?"
"Yes. Really. I understand that it doesn't matter how much I wish it was someone else but eventually I'll have to end this frenzy." Seeing Bella's blank look, he amended. "With you by my side, of course."
She smiled and kissed him deeply. They pulled apart a few moments later and Bella resumed her teaching mode.
"All right, what you need to learn first is how to get away from a sticky situation."
"How?" Harry asked thoughtfully.
"There are several ways, but the best one is Apparition." She answered.
Harry groaned. "What we did to come here? Isn't it a tad too, uncomfortable."
"It is, but you'll get used to it. And remember its uses. It can also be used in a duel if you get a hang of it and there aren't any wards preventing it." She explained patiently.
"But can't it be traced? I know the Ministry can trace a portkey. Why not Apparition?"
"No, Harry. The Ministry cannot trace a portkey. They just regulate its use and it is illegal to create one without prior permission. They do it because not anyone can Apparate but a single portkey can take a lot of people if they can just touch it."
"Then isn't it better than Apparition. Why aren't you teaching me that first."
"Because, my dear student, it takes atleast three minutes to enchant an object into a portkey but apparition is instantaneous." She grinned crookedly. "But I'll teach you that too, later."
She started explaining the process of Apparition how she was taught including the three D's, i.e., Destination, Determination and Deliberation. Harry just thought they were long words. But he tried. Tried and failed but no squeezing sensation occurred.
He was quickly becoming irritated and angry.
"Ohhhh…what the fuck? It isn't happening, Bella." He yelled.
Bella was lying a short distance away on the beach observing his performance. That is to say, seeing him standing like a fool making weird faces under the now hot sun, with a pair of conjured sunglasses and a lemon drink prepared by Kreacher.
"Keeeepppp Tryyyiiinng." She yelled back while her head down. Harry wasn't even sure if her eyes were opened or close. He wished she could have at the least wore a bikini and kept him in high spirits.
He tried a few more times but put his hands up when nothing, absolutely nothing happened even after working his ass off for five hours and shouted, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Bella merely pulled her glasses up once and when she saw that nothing was amiss, settled back.
Harry was pissed. He never had so much trouble doing any kind of magic. Atleast when he really tried.
But this. This was an insult, an outrage.
He walked furiously towards Bella and stood in front of her. He wasn't angry at her. Never at her. Just this bloody stupid ability of Apparition.
"Bella, I can't do this."
"You can." She said this with such conviction that Harry felt ashamed of himself. He had failed Bella. On his first day of classes.
"No, I can't." He said sadly.
Bella finally pulled off her sunglasses and patted the spot beside her. He sat down with a weary sigh.
"Harry, what were you thinking when trying to Apparate?"
"Nothing."
She raised an eyebrow. "Not even a destination."
Harry reddened. "Sorry, I was just trying to apparate…somewhere."
Bella smiled kindly. "That happens sometimes. After trying for a while, you just stop thinking of a place and just try to force the sensation." She sighed. "I knew the three D's taught by the Ministry cannot be of any use."
Harry's eyes widened. "What?"
"Yes. Yes. Harry. Not even I could do that using that that D theory."
"Then why did you…"
"Keep you like that for hours." She smiled. "I was just having some fun. I liked the view."
Harry was mad. How dare she. She would pay for this. And for the third time in his life, Harry Potter lunged at Bellatrix. And Bella didn't move or dodge this time, curious to know what Harry would do.
Harry came on top of her and stranded her. "You will pay woman." He snarled.
For a second, Bella was truly intimidated but only for a second since she knew her Harry wouldn't hit her. She smirked. "And how would I do that, Harry."
Harry grinned evilly and poked a finger on the left side of her stomach, then right. When she let out a giggle, she understood what he was planning and she was horrified.
Harry madly and mercilessly tickled her and she laughed and laughed so much that her eyes became moist. Harry too joined her laughter but he resolutely continued to ignore her pleas to stop. After some time, when Bella was sure she would die, he finally stopped.
Bella took several moments to get control of her senses and when she finally opened her eyes, she saw Harry, still on top of her looking at her with adoration filled in his green orbs.
"You are so beautiful when you laugh. More so than a hundred sunrises." Bella took his head in her hands and pulled him down. She kissed him slowly, softly sharing her own adoration and love for him. But she stopped when the kiss gained a little pace.
Harry looked at her questioningly but she pushed him to the side.
"Harry, go back where you were practicing."
"But Bella-" He began but she cut him off by putting a finger on his lips.
"Trust me. Just go there and think of me and your position above me as it was a second ago. Think of how you want to be near me. With me. I know you'll be able to do it this time." She gently pushed him away.
Harry nodded and went back to his assigned place. He tried and thought of the moment he shared with Bella, their kiss, how she felt below him, how he'd want to go their again. He tried. And tried. And closed his eyes. And tried. And finally, a squeezing sensation gripped him. It was a lot better than what he had experienced with Bella side alonging him, so he couldn't be sure.
He slowly pried open his eyes and grinned when he saw Bella's face staring up at him lovingly. She traced a finger down his jaw and said, "You did it."
And then she laughed. Laughed as strongly as she did when he was tickling her just a little time ago. Harry couldn't quite decipher her reaction.
Bella finally took pity on him. "You ARE a powerful wizard Harry Potter."
Harry was confused. He was sure lots of people could Apparate. He had seen the whole lot of order and death eaters doing it last year. Even the twins. What was so special when he did it?
"Your wand Harry. You didn't use a wand." Bella said .
He finally realized his stupidity. He hadn't even brought his wand with him to the beach. And he was thinking about dueling her. Bloody brilliant. But he had performed Apparition wandlessly. He couldn't quite believe it. He might have a chance, then.
Bella read his thoughts correctly this time as well. She placed her hand on his face yet again and said softly, "You'll defeat them, Harry. I know you will."
Harry placed his own palm on Bella's cheek and answered just as well. "We'll defeat them, Bella. Together."
Bella smiled softly and pulled him on top of her. "I quite like this position Mr. Potter."
Harry didn't answer. He resumed his hold on her lips and wouldn't stop this time until going all the way with her. He had waited long enough today for what they usually did first thing in the morning. And then, all day afterwards. Also, these clothes seemed too tight.
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