Chapter 36
The summer had been a lot more fun than either Harry or Hermione had expected. Though they had spent a good amount of the time study spells, and other magical, and non-magical things; they had also spent a great deal of time learning doing things other preteens did during the summer. For Harry this meant learning how to actually ride a bike, and working on swimming lessons, both of which he was rapidly getting better at. Though personally, Harry felt that being on a broom was a lot safer than a bike, which made Hermione begin question his sanity and logic, which of course got a laugh out of Hermione's parents.
As they neared Harry's birthday, they were finally able to get Luna over and meet her dad. A person in many ways made Luna look completely sane when she began talking about weird creatures. This was not to say that Luna's dad was insane, it just he did not seem to think or act like most normal people, and had a very, very different way of looking at things and events.
It was during the birthday itself that they were able to meet back up with the twins and Veronica. And after a rather enjoyable party, and some begging from Harry and Hermione the twins and Veronica were willing to stay at least one night. Harry gave up his room, and slept on the couch downing in the living room while Hermione and the twins slept in her own room.
The next day Harry got down to business and asked about learning wandless magic, while they still had a chance. He also checked to see if it would be possible to set up lessons over the weekend when they went back to Hogwarts at the end of the summer. Veronica said she could have them come over till the end of the summer, and work on learning wandless magic, but during the school year it would not be possible for them to learn wandless magic from her, unless she got some kind of pass for year round visits.
Harry nodded in understanding, and soon the details were hammered out for the rest of the summer. The only part left was to ask all their parents if it would be okay for them to stay at Veronica's for the rest of the summer. Luna's dad agreed easily enough, as did Hermione's owns, and since Harry was living with Hermione that meant he could go as well.
So not even three days later, they were packed and ready to go. Then packing rather tightly into Veronica's car, they were waving goodbye and off to their new place for the rest of the summer. They soon found themselves outside the city, and were moving rapidly through the country side. Then about an hour later they reached Veronica's home, much to Hermione's joy as she was feeling rather cramped with her tail unable to find stay.
She was the first out of the car, stretching and shaking her body as she got all the kinks out. Harry chuckled a little bit and got out afterwards followed by everyone else. They quickly unpacked and made their way into what looked to be small house that had been built into the side of the hill. But the moment they entered the house Harry began realizing the house was anything but small.
For one the first floor was which was the highest did not have any bed rooms. But it had a garage, a living room, kitchen, dining room, pantries, a two bathrooms, and two studies and storage room. The next floor down went into another smaller living room, but it did not have any TV like the top one, off it of it led six rooms, one of which was the master bedroom, the other ones were small guess bedrooms, and a bathroom.
One room was already taken over by the twins, who quickly began cleaning up, as they had not been expecting guest. Hermione and Luna then each took one of their own rooms, while Harry took the final one. Once they had unpacked Harry wondering around ran into Veronica cooking up some food for lunch. He decided that maybe it was time to ask some questions again, as he joined her cooking.
"So… Veronica could I ask you something," Harry asked.
"You already did, but sure, what is on your mind," Veronica said.
"Well, you have such a huge house, and know about magic. But you never told us what you do for a living," Harry said.
"Well, that is because I don't work very much anymore." Veronica said.
"What, then how can you afford a house like this," Harry asked in surprise.
"Because, I had this house paid off a long time ago, also my old job paid very well," Veronica explained.
"So, so you worked for a while then retired," Harry said as he turned off the heat to let the food cool.
"Forced retirement, but yes, you see raising those girls is a full time job, but don't tell them I said that," Veronica said.
Harry nodded, "So, what did you do for a job before now?"
"I did work for a design company," Veronica said.
"Well that is cool," Harry said.
"Sometimes yes, I worked on big projects most of the time. And still do design work on and off, but if Aelita and Aelira had not been forced into my life like they had… well I might have wasted much of my time," Veronica said, with a slightly sad smile.
Harry nodded, not really getting quite what she was meaning, as he asked, "So when do you think we might actually be able to use wandless magic?"
"About two years, if not longer if you work constantly at it," Veronica said.
"And no shortcuts I bet," Harry said.
"None that I know of," Veronica said.
"Well then I will have to make one," Harry said.
"Really? You think you can make an easier way than my own methods?" Veronica asked, giving him a look of slight annoyance.
"Nope, but that will not stop me from trying," Harry said, with a smirk.
Veronica looked at him closely, for a few minutes, her violet colored eyes, staring down Harry's own green ones. This was unspoken fight of wills to see who would give first under the gaze of the other. Harry's own will to try and do anything, verse Veronica own will to teach him correctly. It seemed to last for nearly an hour though it was less than a minute before Harry finally looked away, no longer able to stare her down.
Veronica looked away smirking, "Well then I wish you luck. But remember you cannot reinvent something without knowing how it works to begin with."
Harry sighed, "Thank you, and we shall see."
"Yes we shall, also Harry, I would like to offer you something," Veronica said.
Harry stopped and looked back over at her semi surprised, "What, would that be?"
"Well I know a lot about your exploits over the last three years, and I would like to train you in combat," Veronica explained.
"Okay but why?" Harry asked confused.
"We both know you would do anything for your friends. But there might come a point when what you can do, just learning by yourself will not be enough. So I wish to teach you how to actually fight other wizards, and Muggles and come out on top. Wither they be wielding a sword, wand, or even a gun," Veronica said.
"You make it seem like I am going to be in a war," Harry said.
"You are, if you really think about it. Voldemort forces are on the move, you have seen signs I am sure. My own information shows that it will before your even out of school." Veronica said before tossing Harry a news paper.
Harry caught it, and before he even needed to ask the page his eyes caught the headlines. Deatheater Attack at the World Cup. He quickly began reading surprised that such a thing had happened, and silently thankful that Hermione and himself had completely forgotten about the cup, and as such had not gone.
"How… accurate is the information," Harry asked.
"Complete accurate I am afraid to say," Veronica said, sounding annoyed.
Harry nodded before sitting the paper back down, "Well, in that case I would love to take your offer for combat training, would it be possible for Hermione and Luna to learn as well."
"Yes, though they might find harder to do it than yourself," Veronica said.
"Why is that, they had not problems outdoing me when biking or swimming," Harry pointed out defending them.
"Yes true, but you are still learning, and I can tell that unlike most witches or wizards while they are in shape. You are in even better shape still, to the point if you had the same experience you would have left them behind easily," Veronica explained.
Harry did not look so sure of this, but he could not defend them as he was better shape than most others he knew in the wizarding world. For that matter there were only a few people he knew that could outlast him in psychical activates and that was Wood, the former head of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. And even then that was because Wood would work out days on end to get better at the sport.
"Well okay, but still I would like them to learn as well, if possible," Harry said.
"They can if they wish, but for now let's worry about lunch," Veronica said as she dusted off her hands and looked about the kitchen at the food they had cooked to near perfection.
It was later that day that they began their work with wandless magic. Veronica explained all the aspects of how wandless magic worked, and how it could be used. She then set them to one task, one this task was completed they could move on to learning the basics. The first and hardest task was also the simplest. Summon their wand from a spot on the table to their hand.
"But how will this help us learn wandless magic," Hermione asked confused.
"Wandless magic is all about focus as I told you before, so your job is simply to focus on using your magic to bring your wand to your hand. This is the first thing any wizard or witch does for wandless magic, plus you can practice this anywhere," Veronica said smirking.
"I have ten on Harry getting it down first," Aelira said.
"Nah I think Luna will get it first," Aelira said.
"What about me?" Hermione asked.
"Don't worry dear, I got ten on you," Veronica said with a wink.
Harry chucked as Hermione gave a little jump for joy that she had the teachers favor for winning. But as he looked at his wand and tried to bring it to him with magic, he realized one thing that he already knew but never quite truly believed. This was going to take a very long time.