As always this was beta'd by OrnateDragon, and she did a fantastic job, as usual. Hope you enjoy the new chapter, and drop a review at the end :D On the subject of reviews, I'd just like to thank everyone who has reviewed, because it really makes my day, and I really wish I had the time to reply to them. Just know that I really do appreciate it :)
Harry watched closely as the mock up battle continued. They had been at it about twenty minutes, and around half of the people taking part were out already. The rules had been simple, nothing life threatening, no Unforgivables. Apart from that, anything goes.
All around the battle ground they had marked out, Harry, Severus, Remus, Sirius, Alex, Tonks, Minerva, Moody, Kingsley and Filius were spread out, all taking notes on strengths and weaknesses.
Harry was surprised at how well some of the students from his year were doing. He hadn't been keen to let them enter at all, they technically wouldn't be of age when they returned to Britain, but they had all pointed out that after the fourteen months on the island, they would have lived more than seventeen years, making them of age.
Blaise Zabini was doing brilliantly. Harry had never paid much attention to the half Italian before, and he wondered now if that was a choice on Blaise's behalf. He seemed exceedingly good at blending in to the background, only firing a spell when he was sure he had a clear shot.
There was a lot of shoddy work as well. Many of them were leaving themselves open to attack. They were sending the spells well enough, and even shielding themselves well, but they kept leaving their backs open to attack.
Severus, go to the other side, and fire stunning spells on their backs. Cast a Disillusion charm on yourself. I'll go this side.
You noticed too, did you?
Yep.
Getting into place, Harry did a countdown in his head and opened fire, sending stunning charms at random. He took down eight of the fourteen people on his side, and he noticed Severus had taken down nine of sixteen left on the other side.
Alex shot the firecracker from his wand, and the people on the edges started to wake those stunned.
"What did you do that for?" Lee Jordan asked, rubbing his head as Harry pulled him to his feet.
Harry looked around, making sure everyone was awake.
"Do you all think that the Death Eaters will stay on their own side of the battle area and not come at you from behind? Do you think they won't use any trick in the book to take you out. We used stunning spells to make a point, they'll be using Unforgivables. Seventeen people would have just died, all because they weren't watching their backs while they fought. Take a break, sit around the edges and we'll show you what we mean."
Pulling Severus, Sirius, Alex and Neville to a corner of the battle field, he explained what he wanted them to do.
xxxxx
Harry stood in the middle of the battle area, alone, waiting on an attack. The students and adults watching were all looking a little confused, when out of nowhere, a green light flashed across the area, heading directly towards Harry's back.
Gasps and screams sounded, but Harry merely stepped out of the way, already casting a shield to block two more green lights, this time coming at his front.
Out of nowhere, four masked men in black cloaks appeared at each of the four corners. There was silence for a couple of seconds before Harry jumped into action, spinning on the battle field as he shot spell after spell, blocking the oncoming spells as he did. Neville was the first to go down, but the other three weren't so easy. They battled for fifteen minutes, and Harry could find nowhere to take advantage.
Gathering his magic, he created a whip of fire with his spare hand, still firing stunning spells as he did. Waving his hand, his fire whip became a lasso, one Sirius found himself trapped in then thrown aside, taking a stunning spell in mid-air.
Next Harry used wind, creating a whirlwind around Alex, leaving him disorientated enough to take a stunner to the back. Severus was harder, he knew all of Harry's elemental tricks, having been the one to work on them with him.
After another ten minutes of firing at each other, Severus nailed Harry with a stunner.
When Severus had awakened them all, Harry asked if anyone had any questions.
"How did you do the wind and fire tricks?" Katie Bell asked, looking at him with awe.
"I'm an elemental. I can control all of the elements."
"Why didn't you get Professor Snape with Water or something?" Blaise asked with a frown.
"Because Severus is the one who worked on my gift with me. He knows all of my tricks and he knows how to avoid them. Severus has been training me, and as you can see, I still can't beat him. He's an extremely talented man, and we are very, very lucky to have him on our side."
"Can we learn how to be an elemental?" Lavender asked.
"No, sorry. You have to be born with the gift I'm afraid, much like Metamorphagus. Now, everyone on your feet."
Harry turned and conjured five large targets.
"I want you to all to practice your aim. If I shoot from here, I can hit the bulls eye every time. It's one of the things I've been working on. You lot need to be able to do the same thing. Five shots, one at each target then go to the back of the line. Remus, will you chart how everyone does please?"
xxxxx
That night, after everyone had long since gone to bed, Harry decided to go for a walk on the beach. He had been tossing and turning for well over an hour, and he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, even if he stayed in bed for another hour doing the same thing.
Pulling on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, and his trainers, he made his way onto the beach and down to the waters edge. Everything was so peaceful at night, barely a sound to be heard. As he looked up at the stars, he had trouble believing that somewhere in Britain, Voldemort sat planning a war.
Of course, Harry knew he too was planning a war, but he was hoping for less casualties. He was hoping for it to be over quickly, although he knew life wasn't that simple. Even when they managed to get rid of Voldemort, Harry knew they would then have Dumbledore to deal with and that could possibly be an even harder job.
Dumbledore had an image, and even though they had managed to shake the foundations of that, many in the wizarding world still saw the benign Light Leader, the man of many talents, the man who turned down the Minister's job so he could teach children.
Harry knew why Dumbledore had turned down the position, and it wasn't any of this greater good crap that the old man like to waffle every time he opened his mouth. No, it was because he knew that journalists loved digging up bad business for politicians.
Harry didn't hear Severus approach, he was so deep in thought, but he recognised the hands that rested on his shoulders as soon as they appeared there.
"Hey you," he said, looking up with a smile.
"Hey yourself. What are you doing out here?"
"Just thinking. I couldn't sleep. Why are you out here?"
"Same. I can't sleep. I was just thinking about the battle we're going to have with Dumbledore after we get rid of Voldemort."
"Strange. That's what I was thinking about. Walk with me?" Harry asked, holding out his hand, which Severus took.
They walked along the beach in silence for a while, both sunk in their own thoughts. Harry was rudely jolted out of his thoughts when, out of nowhere, Severus pushed him into the water with a laugh.
Harry glared at the laughing man for a moment, before he smirked. With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind knocked Severus into the water beside him.
"Mr Potter, that wasn't very...nice!" Severus said, splashing water at Harry as he did. They spent the next half an hour splashing each other, before they moved further out into the water, swimming side by side.
Harry moved so he was in front of Severus, stopping him from swimming any further. Treading water, he pulled the older man into a steamy kiss. As they parted, Severus caught Harry by the waist, holding him close.
"I don't know why you decided you wanted me, out of the many others that would clearly be better for you, I find myself hoping that you never change that decision."
"You don't need to worry, Severus. I'm with you, because I want to be. Come on, lets swim back to shore."
xxxxx
As Harry climbed into bed a while later, he found himself facing another problem. How soon is too soon to tell someone you love them?