Chapter 3 Training
Author Notes: Hope this chapter is good, always try to make a good chapter. Not sure why reviewer 'Tenjo' thought the Godric introduction scene where he talks of Harry's feats as 'ass-kissing', but I can promise it wasn't. Sadly I can't please everyone, so yep. This chapter is mostly going to be filler and training, so be prepared for a rather slow chapter, but it must be done. And just so everyone knows, I wrote off Hermione. Just have too much aggression towards her character to not bash her, and not in the mood to bash characters anymore, so if you wanted Hermione or forgot to read my last author notes, you know now. Also, if I forgot to explain, the reason I had everyone, meaning Ron, Twins, and Neville, join Harry on the training is because it means I don't have a jealous Ron to write, which is like bashing, so yeah. Also, not sure if I pointed this out in last notes, but Harry's reasoning for not forgiving Hermione is because she showed, at least that was my intention for her to show, a rather Draco-ish attitude, and Harry doesn't like Draco and his attitude, so yeah. On with the story.
Monday
Harry panted as he finished his morning jog. Two bloody hours was killer. Behind him and panting just as much were the Twins, Ron, and Neville. Looking up at the smirking face of Godric, Harry swore that his eyes gleamed with mirth at their suffering.
"Now off to breakfast while I find you a sword" said Godric, and shooed them away
He walked out of the borderline of the wards and Apparated to Gringotts.
With Harry
Harry sat between Ron and Neville, the three were chugging cups of water repeatedly. After drinking their fill they each piled their plates up with food. Harry went heavy on the eggs and bacon, mostly because Hedwig came in every morning for her share of bacon. He slowly ate his food, as did Ron and Neville. Godric had drilled into Ron's head proper table manners, which Mrs. Weasley seemingly failed to do or simply ignored his previous horrid table manners. Which made Ron much more well liked in Gryffindor House.
Taking a fleeting look at the No-House Table, Harry noticed that it had shrunk to the size and shape of a circular table like his preschool used to have. Hermione looked fine as she ate and read a thick book. She seemed to be once again taking the dislike of the populace of Hogwarts in stride like she had in First Year before Ron pushed her too far and she had fallen prey to her emotions. Shaking his head, he wouldn't allow himself to pity her. Her stubbornness and unquenchable desire to know everything had brought her to where she was now and she must rest in the bed she had made. It was no longer his problem.
"Harry, mate, Godric is killing us" groaned Ron as he massaged his swore ribs
"It's worse than Wood's training, but not by a lot. See it this way. You'll be ready for Quidditch next year" said Harry, and Ron nodded in agreement and returned to eating his food
"Why does he call you Hadrian?" asked Ron through bites of food
"That would probably be Harry's birth name and the name we know him as is his public name" said Neville, speaking up for the first time
"Seriously? I didn't know that" asked Harry in surprise
"Most, if not all, pureblood heirs and heiresses have magical, legal birth names and then their own public names. It only really happens when one parent wants to name their child a new name to society, not an old, pureblood name, while the other wants it to be a pureblood name. Ancient and Noble Houses kinda have to follow the tradition of naming their heirs and heiresses pureblood names and 'Hadrian' is an old pureblood name. My name is neither really old or new, kinda borderline. Ron's full name is Ronald, which is like mine, not really old but not new either. Draco, well he is Draconis. Before you ask, we met at some pureblood functions when we were young" said Neville before returning to his breakfast
"Yeah, makes sense. Dad taught us proper pureblood etiquette but also told us that it wouldn't change how others looked down at our family, so to be proud with what we've got and stand up for what we believe in and all that" said Ron as he waved his fork around
"I never knew that. Well I kinda like both my names" said Harry not sure which one he should use openly
"If you're worried about using one name over the other, don't. The public name is the only your parents both agreed on, while the magical, legal one is the one your father picked. Nothing wrong with either, but seeing as everyone knows you as Harry, just stick with that one unless you get invited to a formal occasion" said Neville, and Harry nodded
"Well, I'm stuffed, and I got Politics & Etiquette next, so I'll be heading off" said Harry, but as he made to stand up, a Seventh Year Gryffindor blocked his path. He looked vaguely familiar.
"Sorry, Potter, about not having actually talked to you before and I haven't actually been a good Housemate, especially in your Second Year. Just wanted to tell you that now that Godric Gryffindor is training you and your friends, you've a thousand years of beliefs that our House has tried following to uphold. And that Gryffindor House stands behind you as we do the rest of our own. Names Chad Jonelston" said the now named Chad, and held out his hand
"Thanks, and you can call me Harry, none of that Potter stuff. Sounds a lot like Draco" said Harry with a small grin, and Chad nodded with his own grin
"If you need help with anything, just give me a holler" said Chad, and he walked away back to his seat. Harry took this opportunity to leave before someone else tried talking to him.
The Staff Table
"Well well, seems the Gryffindors are finally showing some unity" said Pomona Sprout, and Minerva McGonagall nodded in agreement
"And they've stopped bullying my Slytherins, so that's a plus" ground out Snape begrudgingly
"Oh put a sock in it, Severus. Your Slytherins are at the front of all bullying in this castle" said Poppy Pomfrey
"No House is technically innocent in the bullying factor. I quite remember all Houses turning on young Harry, and am deeply ashamed of my Claws for participating in such behavior. Still rooting out the last remaining bad Claws" said Flitwick, and each Head of House nodded, Snape begrudgingly so. He had to watch his step around Godric Gryffindor. The man held more power than Dumbledore, which wasn't good for him if he continued to provoke the Gryffindors.
"Yes, and having our proud Founder root out the bullies in my House and my less than adequate actions to protect my Lions has changed the House dynamics of Gryffindor House" said Minerva as she ate her food
"It is amazing that the Goblet of Fire holds the Founders in another plane of existence. Simply fascinating" mused Dumbledore to himself, not really paying attention to the table talk. He smiled warmly at Madame Maxime and Igor Karkaroff, but the two were still miffed that Hogwarts had two Champions, so they gave him the cold shoulder.
"You know you could show your host a bit of respect, especially in his own school" said Septima Vector in annoyance, but the two just gave her the cold shoulder
With Harry
Harry sat in an unused classroom on the fourth floor with Godric writing on a chalkboard. The words *Politics & Etiquette* were written in a manly scrawl on the chalkboard. On his desk was two thick tomes on the topics of their current session.
Waving his wand, one of the tomes floated over to Harry, who sat behind a desk all by his lonesome. The book was called *Proper Pureblood Etiquette by Balderdash Gryffindor*.
"Open the book to page 1. This was written by one of my ancestors, Balderdash Gryffindor. He was alive during the first time pureblood etiquette saw a downturn in importance. He wrote and published this book to see that all purebloods acted properly in the presence of others and held their family names with honor and pride. Even Muggleborns read this book and transitioned quite well into our society. The first chapter is self-explanatory" said Godric, and Harry did as instructed
*Chapter 1 Proper Stance; Page 1*
The proper stance for a pureblood heir or heiress differs to the House to which they hail from. For the Potters, an heir stands tall and proud, feet parallel to each other at two feet apart in the presence of a Lord or Lady. Back straight, chin up, mouth closed, and eyes drawn to the face of the Lord or Lady they are addressing. Arms are to either be folded behind their back or clasped to their side. This stance is meant to symbolize the militaristic heritage of the House of Potter.
"I see that you've read the first paragraph. Now practice it" said Godric, and Harry stood up and began to practice the stance so he had it down twenty minutes later. Not perfect but good enough.
"Now, keep reading" said Godric
Sitting back down, Harry continued reading the thick book. For what felt like an hour but was only forty minutes, Harry read the increasingly demanding book. He was on, what, Chapter 5, and he wanted to bang his head on the table. Was this how all purebloods felt when they went through this training? Merlin, if so, he understood their pain just a little bit more now.
"Enough of the stuffy reading. Time to teach you sword-fighting" said Godric, and led Harry outside to the Quidditch Pitch, where a stuffed dummy in a chain mail suit stood in the center and the Sword of Godric Gryffindor lay embedded in the ground
Upon further inspection, what he thought was the Sword of Godric Gryffindor was in fact a near replica but with a blood ruby and a emerald embedded in the hilt with the words *Sword of Hadrian Potter* carved into the blade in what seemed like solidified melted down sapphire.
Godric came up beside him, and set a hand on his right shoulder.
"I went to Gringotts and cashed in a favor they owed me. Well, two favors. One got them to masterfully craft this blade for you. Just had some blood to the blade's point and it'll be attuned to you and those of your bloodline, leaving painful consequences for those not of your bloodline who try to wield it. The second favor was for the Goblin Nation to relinquish all rights and ownership of my sword to me. Seems they've thought I'd stolen it for centuries because they use a loan policy when one purchases a goblin made weapon. Greedy scrubs" said Godric, and Harry touched the hilt of the sword with an intense longing and familiarity that he wasn't sure was normal. He never noticed the red hue glow surrounding him.
"I see that some form of a dormant Potter bloodline has awakened. Now let's fine tune it" said Godric, and got into a stance, while Harry followed suite if more by instinct than conscious thought
Matching his stance, Harry grinned challengingly at Godric, who merely smirked. Then with a fiery intensity, the two began to trade simple, yet powerful strikes with their respective swords.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
They parried and striked, hitting their swords against each other with enough force behind each thrust and strike to emit a loud *Clang!*
But Harry was inexperienced and was going mostly off instinct, while Godric was a master swordsmen, and knew each move he did ten moves before and like the back of his hand. To him fighting with a sword was like Ron Weasley at chess, it was his element. And he would be damned if he lost to a fourteen year old Potter who just merely unlocked a previously dormant bloodline. He had more self-respect than that.
With a quick thrust, he got his blade beyond Harry's defenses and with but a twist Harry's sword was flung into the air and onto the ground. He saw Harry come out of his state of euphoria after having come into his own in a way, and look at his sword, Godric, back to his sword, and back to Godric in shock.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Godric bowed respectfully to Harry.
"After a well fought battle, we bow to each other as a sign of respect to our opponent's skills" said Godric, and Harry quickly bowed in respect to Godric
"Good, now time for physical workouts. The lads should be coming down anytime now" said Godric, and right as he said that Harry turned to see Ron, Neville, and the Twins coming down from the castle
Once they were all down at the Pitch with Harry and Godric, Godric took charge.
"Now, I have no clue why wizards and witches have stopped doing physical exercise, as it strengthens our cores and makes it so we can last longer in duels and do more powerful magic, but I will not bother trying to change the hearts of the lazy and the self-absorbed. You will train with me in these physical workouts to show all the fruits of our labor. Now. Fifty push-ups followed by one hundred squats and ten laps around the pitch!" said Godric before shouting out his orders like a drill sergeant, mused Harry as he quickly dropped to the ground and began his fifty push-ups
Godric smirked as he quickly joined in on the workouts.
Saturday
Harry found himself relaxing in the Seventh Year baths, courtesy of Chad, who told him about it so he may relax after a strenuous week of Godric's strict training regime. He had the big bath *Similar to the bath in Book Four* set on hot with some soapy bubbles going about. It was truly relaxing. He placed a hand on his sore stomach, where his abs were beginning to develop. Just a budding four-pack, but hey, he wasn't going to complain. He heard the door open, and looked up to see Fleur dressed in a silver one-piece bikini.
"Mes excuses, I did not know that this bath was busy" apologized Fleur
"No, no, go ahead and join. It's big enough for two. And don't worry, I won't perv" said Harry, and Fleur nodded before shutting the door behind her and setting her towel down by the opposite wall
She stretched, and he swore to Merlin she was purposely giving him a view of her perfect arse at just the right angle. She then gracefully and seemingly glided into water with a smile on her face. She sunk into the water fully before coming back up. Harry's breath hitched at the sight of her wet hair slicked back from the wetness of the water and how the limited lighting of the room shined on her wet skin.
"Thank you, 'Arry, for not, as you say, perving. A girl likes a nice bath" said Fleur with a smile, and Harry just nodded and muttered "Yep, totally not perving"
"I also wanted to apologize for my rude behavior on the Selection Night. It was most unsavory and unbecoming of me. I will just say that the mere thought that 'The Harry Potter' had gotten into the Triwizard Tournament, cheating or not, had me most upset. You are renowned across the world, and I've trained for two years for this Tournament. But that does not excuse my behavior, so I again apologize. I waited until now as it is a wonderful opportunity, though I had planned on doing it tomorrow, and because I knew had I done it too soon it wouldn't have meant anything and it would have come off as me not truly being sorry, which is incorrect" apologized Fleur
"No problem. I can't fault you for being upset, and I appreciate the apology. How about this, for ruining your night is my typical Potter Luck, let me take you out to Hogsmeade tomorrow. See this as my apology" said Harry, and Fleur giggled
"Is this your way of asking me out, Monsieur Potter?" asked Fleur with a grin
"Why it could be seen as such, but this is but me being a gentleman" said Harry, and Fleur smirked
'Well played, well played indeed' thought Fleur
"Three o'clock. Not a minute later. And dress casual" said Fleur, and Harry smirked and the two just lounged in the bath for awhile before heading off to bed
Author Notes: Hope that was good. Not going to bother with the French accent. Don't know what is heavy and what isn't, so yeah. Give reviews and all that jazz. Updates should be at most once a week, maybe sooner if I feel like it. Don't wanna burn out. Again, I hope it was good.
P.S. This is April 21st, and I quite saddened by the fact that this fanfic isn't that popular. Sadly that kinda affects my motivation to write it. Doesn't mean I will stop, but it does mean I won't be keeping to the once a week update thing. If I am being honest 4th Year Harry Potter fanfiction almost always end as duds for me, sorry. I will try to update and keep up with the motivation for this story, but don't expect it to go through 4th Year. Beyond that is up for the taking by any writer who wants to see an end to it. Though maybe by then I'll be really into it again. Who knows? If I do decide to go through 4th Year, I will notify you, my faithful readers, through the wondrous Author Notes. Cheerio