AN: I am not really going to be focusing on any pairings for quite a few chapters yet, but I have finally decided who the final pairing is going to be.
AN:I know Professor McGonagall was in 'Fantastic Beast Crimes of Grindelwald' movie teaching at Hogwarts in the late nineteen-twenties, but in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the pheonix' she tells Umbridge that she had been teaching at Hogwarts thirty-nine years as of December of nineteen-ninety-five. And I go by the books.
Disclaimer: See chapter One.
Gryffindor Boy's dorm, Hogwarts School, Scotland, 6/15/1997, 07:30
Harry's eyes snapped open, he had very little sleep, his mind was all over the place after returning to the boys dorm early this morning.
He kept seeing her lifeless eyes staring at him, when he closed his own.
Strangely he felt nothing for having killed Nott, neither joy or remorse, it was just like swatting a fly, nothing more. A few months ago his lack of remorse would have terrified him, now he just didn't care.
He sighed heavily and rose from his bed and grabbed some fresh clothes and headed to the bathroom to wash up for the day.
He had entered the bathroom, and started undressing, when his thoughts had landed on her again. He could see the love bite she had left on his neck last night reflected back at him in the mirror.
The events of last night hit him like a train all over again, she was gone and he had seen her struck by the killing curse and he had been unable to stop it.
He had at first felt a wave of sorrow when the events of last night came back, but by the time he had stepped into the shower and mechanically started washing himself, his sorrow was replaced with a burning vengeful anger.
He hadn't felt like this when Sirius had fallen through the veil, the truth be told he had blamed Sirius for not taking the fight seriously (No pun intended) as much as he did himself for falling for the trap laid for him by Voldemort. But Sirius had died fighting, he knew the possible consequences of going to the Ministry and went anyway.
Sirius' death had hurt Harry a lot, but he was able to understand that death happens in war, and he would not have let Harry go into that trap without trying to save him.
When Tracey was killed, she wasn't fighting a battle or involved in either side of the war. She was killed simply to hurt him, that thought alone really pissed him off, though strangely he didn't feel any blame or somehow try to make this out to be his fault. He would have been wallowing in guilt a month ago, Now he was placing the blame where it belonged, On Voldemort.
Harry had seriously considered saying the hell with Britain and leaving for somewhere he could live peacefully. But after last night, he wanted to destroy everyone that bore that cocksucking skull mark on their forearm, and permanently remove their leader from the face of the Earth.
Finishing his shower and pulling on a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt, he left the bathroom to find his trainers and go to the great hall, he wasn't hungry but he couldn't stay here stewing in his thoughts any longer.
Entering the hall he saw three of the heads of house looking rather grim the fourth was conspicuously absent (but certainly not missed), the hall was about half full, it being Sunday a Lot of the students chose to sleep in.
Taking his seat he was Surprised to see Hannah sitting with a very upset Susan Bones, her eyes were red and she looked like she had been crying for some time, Harry didn't know what happened but going by the look on her face it wasn't good.
He sighed and just let his thoughts wander for a bit he was just debating heading outside when Professor McGonagall stood from her chair and cleared her throat.
"I have a few announcements to make, they are very serious so I suggest you pay close attention." She spoke and paused for the few students who were muttering to become quiet.
"Last night we had two Slytherin students lose their lives. Tracey Davis and Theodore Nott.
Mr. Nott murdered Ms. Davis in the entry hall killed himself shortly thereafter by a student who was escorting Ms. Davis back to her common room."
At this statement many eyes widened and the few that were aware of his and Tracey's date last night looked in Harry's direction with shock.
"That student was cleared of any charges and deemed to be acting in self-defense, seeing as how this is the fourth violent attack between students this school year, the board of governors has decided that Hogwarts will close effective immediately."
Again McGonagall had to pause to let the room settle down before continuing.
"The train will be leaving for London tomorrow morning at nine, make sure you are packed and ready to go, the school will be sealed up by noon tomorrow.
The hall exploded in muttering and when McGonagall ' patience wore thin she cast a spell that sounded like a cannon blast and the hall fell silent once more.
"Now, one the final annoucement last night the headmaster was murdered on top of the astronomy tower in the early hours of this morning, the dark mark was cast over the scene so death eater involvement is obvious. The aurors spent the morning investigating the scene and removing the mark from our school. Professor Snape is suspected of of his murder, but the aurors will be questioning random students throughout the day, to find out anything they can, please cooperate with them to the best of your abilities.
The headmaster has taught at this school for over eighty years and will be sorely missed by many myself included, he was a friend and colleague of mine since I started teaching here in nineteen-fifty-six and my transfiguration teacher when I started Hogwarts in nineteen-fourty-seven.
There will be a memorial ceremony this evening down by the lake for all students, his funeral will take place in three days time here at Hogwarts where he will be laid to rest near the lake, and you and your families are welcome to attend."
Professor McGonagall finished her speech and took her seat looking deeply troubled.
Harry had been listening with rapt attention, and when he heard the news of Dumbledore's death he wasn't as upset as he thought he would be. He was not Dumbledore's biggest fan lately, the way he tried to handle Malfoy all year had left a bitter taste in his mouth. That being said it surprised how little sadness Dumbledore's passing had caused him.He felt worried now that such a big piece was removed from their side of the chessboard and slightly reeve he wouldn't not have around to dictate his life for him anymore, but no feelings of true sadness at the news of Dumbledore's death.
Then another thing came to mind, during McGonagall's speech he had remembered something his mother had told him that he had forgotten after waking in the hospital wing weeks ago
"Dumbledore will he here in a months time, he carries a fatal withering curse from the ring horcrux." His mother's voice had told him.
He wondered why now he could remember what she had told him in the in between. The same thing happened during his final exam with Snape the other day, the memory suddenly came to the front of his mind and he remembered the message his mother wished for him to pass along. He didn't really understand why that happened and at the moment he really wasn't concerned with the why of it.
Dumbledore was already going to die, so this event would have happened regardless, glancing along the staff table he noticed an empty space. Snape was missing, at least now he knew why, Snape had returned to Voldemort, and after offing Dumbledore Snape probably got himself a promotion. His thoughts were interrupted by a bleary eyed Neville plopping down.
"Mornin" Neville croaked out, before pouring himself some breakfast tea and taking a deep gulp.
"Good morning." Harry said tonelessly.
Neville looked up at him more awake now and his eyes widdened. "What happened?" he asked concerned.
"Why do you think something happened?" Harry asked.
"Because you got the same look in your eyes as you did when we came back from the D.o.M." Neville stated bluntly.
"Tracey was murdered last night, Nott killed her on her way back to the Slytherin common room." Harry stated with a shaky voice.
"Did they catch Nott?" Neville asked shocked.
"He's dead, I cut the fuckers throat open with a diffindo." Harry said, and many people in their area gasped in shock, Ron Weasley being the most notable.
"You were there then?" Neville asked sympathetically.
"Yeah, I was walking her back to the common room after our date, he hit her with the killing curse from behind a suit of armor leading to the dungeons." Harry said sadly.
"Are you okay Neville asked nervously.
"How would you be?" Harry sighed tiredly.
"Right, your a fucking mess." Neville nodded.
"More or less, that sums it up perfectly." Harry agreed.
"What are the teachers doing about it?" Neville asked.
"The board of governors is closing the school, we go home tomorrow." Harry told him.
"Well I'm actually surprised they didn't do that already, to be honest. Wonder why they decided to do it now?" Neville wondered out loud
"Probably because Dumbledore was killed last night, with him gone I bet they're scared senseless right about now." Harry said bluntly.
"He's dead!" Neville exclaimed far louder than he meant to.
"Yeah McGonagall announced it before you came in, I talked to him last night after I was interviewed by the Aurors. I was really to out of it to pay him much attention at the time, but he wasn't happy with me for killing Nott." Harry said quietly.
"Yeah, Gran always said he was far too soft. He was the one that talked the Wizengamot out of having the LeStranges kissed when they attacked my parents." Neville said quietly.
"I saw the memory of that trial in Dumbledore's pensive in my fourth year, and Barty Crouch probably had a lot to do with their lightened sentence. He wouldn't have had his own son kissed, no matter how harsh he wished to appear to the public." Harry told him.
"Gran Never liked Crouch." Neville said.
"He was a fucking hypocrite, he threw my godfather in prison without a trial. Then smuggled his own son out and imprisoned him under the same curse he sent countless other people to Azkaban for using." Harry said in a tone with little emotion.
"Well enough of that talk, what are you doing over the summer?" Neville asked curiously.
"Dumbledore told me I would be staying with 'Mad-Eye' Moody and learning magic." Harry answered.
"Aye, you will be lad." Said a voice directly behind him.
Harry spun around to see the man in question standing behind him.
"Am I leaving today then?" Harry asked.
"Aye, and the first thing you'll be learning from me is situational awareness, I've been standing her for five minutes listening to you two gossip like you were in a knitting circle." Moody barked.
Harry nodded and stood up having already finished his breakfast. "I'll see you mate" said Harry offering Neville his hand.
Neville shook it firmly before saying. "Try and stay out of trouble for once."
Harry snorted "I'll try but it usually finds me anyway." Harry said before turning to Moody.
"I've already had a house elf pack your stuff, we just got to pick up my other charge and then we can leave." Moody explained.
Harry nodded and followed Moody as he headed to the the Hufflepuff table and stopped in front of Susan. "You'll be staying with me Suzie, I'll be taking you home today." Moody told her softly.
Harry was surprised Moody could sound so normal, usually he just barked orders in that gravelly voice of his.
Susan just nodded and stood up and Moody began leading them out of the hall.
"Your parents put me down as one of your possible guardians after Sarah Abbott, they were good friends of mine." Moody told Susan softly.
Again Susan just nodded.
Harry barely understood what was going on but he had a hunch, Susan was an orphan now just like him.
They crossed the grounds in silence and Moody soon led them through the gates, he stopped and spun impossibly fast for a one legged man and drew his wand Harry had seen the rapid movement and drew his own wand having aimed at Moody's face as Moody's wand came to rest pointing at his own.
Moody's normal eye widened for a second before barking out a question "What was I wearing when I taught you the how to defend against the 'imperius' curse in your fourth year.?"
"I have no idea, you were Locked in a trunk. Probably the filthy pajamas we found you wearing in June of ninety-five." Harry answered before asking his own question "Why is it a bad idea to put your wand in your back pocket?"
Moody grinned "You could accidentally blow your own are off, good reflexes by the way Potter." Moody answered and lowered his wand.
"Well after fourth year, I've always had my eye on you." Harry said flatly.
Moody scowled at the memories of being a prisoner in his own trunk and then turned to Susan next and asked "Suzie what did I get you for your fourth birthday?"
"A stuffed pink unicorn." Susan said softly.
Moody looked at her sadly before pulling a three foot section of rope out of his pocket "Grab ahold, we'll be port keying to my families home." he told them offering the rope to them both.
Both Harry and Susan grabbed an end of the rope, Moody took hold of the middle and roared "COSTANT VIGILANCE"
With a flash of blue light and a jerk behind their navels they were all pulled away from Hogwarts.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody Family home, Scotland, Near Strontian Village, 6/15/1997, 11:00
They landed onto soft grassy earth, Moody remained standing but Harry and Susan toppled to the ground. "Welcome to my families home." Moody said pointing out the brick two story home with a slate style roof.
The teens both nodded and followed Moody through the front door of the home and into a rustic style kitchen very much like the kitchen at the Burrow, with an old fashioned wood stove and a hand pump style sink. Moody gestured to an old scrubbed table and said "take a seat this could take a bit."
He then waved his wand and three 'butterbeers' soared to him and he passed them each a bottle, before he began speaking.
"Last night ten homes were attacked by Voldemort's forces, most of which were political opponents of the dark faction or connected to the 'Order of the Pheonix': the Weasleys, Davis', Browns, Greengrass, Boot, Bones, Marchbanks, Ogdens, Grangers and the Lovegoods were all attacked, when you factor in the assination of the Davis girl last night and Albus' Murder, Voldemort struck a huge blow to the British magical community.
He timed the attacks to be almost perfectly synchronized, the Aurors were going spare trying to get thier teams to ten different locations, it was a glorified cluster duck for the D.M.L.E and by the time they arrived most of the attacks were over.
The Aurors were able to get two teams out in time and save the Greengrasses and Lord Ogden and his family.
Old Griselda Marchbanks didn't need any help when the Aurors arrived at her home four were dead and the other six are in the long term care ward at St. Mungos.
The Weasley's as Potter well knows is a headquarters of sorts, had the numbers to easily take down their attackers by the time the Aurors arrived." Moody sighed heavily before continuing.
The Brown family was attacked and injured quite badly, their son died in the attack but the perents will recover in a weeks time.
"The rest were all killed, though Wendell Granger shot two of them with his hunting shotgun, it only held two shots unfortunately and he was was quickly taken down, they killed both Grangers, but that battle was a blow to Voldemort none the less.
Your friend Hermione will receive ten thousand gallons from the Ministry, one of the men Mr. Granger shot was Antonin Dolohov and the other was some kid named Marcus Flint. The Granger girl was moved to some of her relatives in France very early this morning, Voldemort will be after her, Dolohov was his number three in command.
Moody took another long breath before continuing "We believe Albus was murdered by Snape, he has gone missing and he is our prime suspect as of now." Moody finished.
"Yes Mcgonagall told us the aurors believe Snape murderered Dumbledore, this morning. So what happens now? I know you were supposed to be training me but how will that work if I've still got the trace on me?" Harry asked having kept silent as Moody's Moody was giving them information until now.
Moody snorted and waved his wand over Harry and a golden fog came out of his wand, before it settled over Harry and quickly disappeared into his skin. Moody did the same spell over Susan before turning back to Harry.
"I was head of the Aurors department for fifteen years, removing the trace is that simple." Moody answered
Smiling Harry flicked his wand and his leopard 'patronus' bounded around the room before vanishing. Harry smiled happily before looking back at Moody.
"So if Dumbledore is dead who's running the Order?" Harry asked.
"Your looking at him, I'll be having various members running you through different areas of combat magic over the Summer, Tonks will be here early tomorrow to start your physical training." Moody said with a smirk.
Harry didn't like the look Moody was giving him and new he was in for a bad day tomorrow.
"Alright your bedroom is upstairs second door on the left, here is your trunk just unshrink it when you get up there, if you'll excuse us Potter I'd like a word with Susan." Moody said handing him his matchbox sized trunk.
Harry took it and said "Thanks Mad-Eye, no problem." and he left the kitchen and headed up the stairs to his room.
"How are you handling this Suzie?" Moody asked the girl who hadn't spoken since they left Hogwarts.
"Not well, I've already lost my aunt and Hannah's mom who was like a second mother to me, I should be used to this by now." Susan said emotionlessly.
"Lass it won't be like this forever. We will beat him and his lackeys, and when we do you can settle down and have a family of your own." Moody said soothingly.
"Can I ask you a favor Alistor?" Susan asked.
"Whatever you like." Moody answered.
"Teach me to fight. I want in the order." She answered simply.
Moody looked conflicted for a few minutes before he finally sighed in defeat and said. "You can train with Potter, but you can't join the order until your of age which will be mid August, impress me by then and I'll let you in the Order."
Susan's face took on a look of determination and she nodded firmly before speaking "I will."
/A/D/W/F/
Harry entered his bedroom and looked around, it was about the same size as his bedroom at the Dursley's had been except in had a small bathroom with a walk in shower, the walls were covered in old timey plaster and they were painted an off white color, the floors were carpeted in a thread bear brown carpet, and a single sized bed, a nightstand and a wardrobe were the only furnishings, it was definitely spartan and Harry found it suited him just fine.
Opening his trunk that had clearly been packed by house elves, all his clothes were neatly folded and he found the diary sized book he picked up in the entrance hall last night sitting on top of his clothes.
Curiously he opened the book and saw writing, in two different handwritings. As he flipped through there seemed to be two subjects reported on repeatedly.
Harry read about all of the movements he had made that had been observed by Theodore Nott, who he talked to, his class schedule and even his quidditch training schedule. There was also reports of his being at the scene at Katie Bells attack and him saving Ron's life in Slughorns quarters. He had been observed by Nott for ten months and never even noticed, that was definitely unexceptable Moody was right, his situational awareness was awful.
The other individual he monitored was Draco Malfoy: his habits, what time he disappeared, where he was going in the castle frequently, his appearance, his failed attempts to deliver poison and a cursed necklace and the last entry about Malfoy admitted that Nott had failed to notice Malfoy had done a runner. His father had written to inform him that he would be punished upon his return home this summer.
Harry had to grudgingly admit Nott was very thorough in his observations.
As he kept reading and got to a week ago he found an entry that made his blood boil.
June, 7
Father I think I may have found an opportunity to strike at Potter.
He has arranged a date for next Saturday night with Tracey Davis of Slytherin house.
T.N
So he was correct on both counts, the assassination was to target him. And from the reply message he knew he was also correct in Theodore being nothing more than a tool.
June 7.
Watch them for now, you will kill her before you return home.
T.N
Harry seethed as the next week of entries revolved around Tracey's movements, when she left the hospital wing, what route she took to and from and where he could best lay in wait to kill her when commanded to. The final entry was most likely sent by Theodore's father it was easy to tell when he put the message in context even if they had the same initials.
June 14.
Kill the Davis girl tonight, operations were underway to deal with her family as well as others.
T.N
Growling he rose from his seat on the bed and headed down to the kitchen, Moody was reading over some parchment when he entered the room, he looked up and asked "What's pissed you off Potter?"
"When I killed Nott last night, I picked this up from the Entrance hall floor." Harry said tossing the book on the table. and taking a seat.
Moody picked up the diary and read, his normal eye widening the further he went into the book.
When he finished reading he looked at Harry and nodded, "You did the right thing killing the little pick Potter, he was a very good observer. It takes aurors years to be this thorough." Moody told him.
"I want the bastard that was pulling his strings." Harry said in a deadly calm voice.
"That'll be Thaddeus Nott, number eight in the inner circle. He is very skilled with a wand and as it stands he would tear you apart in a fight." Moody said bluntly.
"I know, the only reason we survived the D.o.M was luck and them not taking us seriously." Harry said honestly.
"Aye, at least you know your limitations. Give me three months and we'll see were you stand. I'm going to run you through the wringer though, if you don't give me a hundred percent I ain't putting you into battle." Moody stated in his usual gruff voice.
"No problem." Harry stated seriously.
"Well see, in the meantime, just try and brush up on your spell knowledge, there is a collection of books first door on the right when you exit the kitchen." Moody told him.
Harry nodded and said "On the twentieth I'm starting the 'animagus revealer potion, so every day next month at dawn I have to cast the spells. I don't know how early you were planning on starting physical training, but I figured you should know." Harry told him.
"We can work around that, but you'll be up before dawn I can promise you that." Moody said Gruffly.
"Thank you" Harry said sincerely.
"Well now that we have that sorted out, I've got an important question to ask you." Moody stated mysteriously.
"What's that?" Harry asked curiously.
"Can you cook? I'm pants in the kitchen." Moody asked hopefully.
Harry facepalmed and nodded resigned to cooking the meals around here, like every other summer. 'at least I will get to eat them here though' he thought to himself.
/A/D/W/F/
Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire, England, 6/15/1997, 12:00
"Yaxley what are the figures for our losses last night?" Voldemort asked.
"Well my lord counting the Nott boy twenty-one: Marchbanks dropped the ten men we sent, Dolohov and flint were killed by the muggle father of Potter's friend, the Weasley's numbers were far greater than predicted and all eight were captured and Potter killed Theodore Nott at Hogwarts." Yaxley finished listing off.
Voldemort had been enraged after the loss of one of his best fighters, he would find this Granger girl and she would pay for the sins of the father. Then he would leave her overnight as a reward for whoever captured her, before killing her the next morning.
Still out of twenty one, eight were easily able to be removed from Azkaban. He had already broke his people out twice in less than a two years time.
He had planned on making the men captured at the D.o.M suffer for their failure at the Ministry last June, but after Narcissa's defection he needed Lucius to control Malfoy manor's' wards. So he broke all ten of them out two weeks ago.
If he had his way he would soon control the country within a few months time, so those eight captured could stay there for all he cared.
He was just lucky Nott Sr. was badly injured by the collapsing shelves in the hall of prophecy, and was left behind before the main battle of the D.o.M began. Nott had been able to heal himself enough to evade capture, and had not been sent to prison with the rest, his sons information had bore fruit and he had been initially quite pleased when he found out about Potters romantic interest in the Davis girl.
He had ordered her to be killed, though admittedly Potter had reacted differently than he had predicted. Potter had shattered every rib in young Theodore's chest, ruptured five internal organs punctured his right lung and and inflicted a mild concussion, all from the impact of one spell. Yaxley had already shown him Thea does aurors report.
Potter's strength seems to be growing rapidly, he also seemed to bet getting more dangerous to his enemies. Voldemort shook his head at got back to the matter at hand.
"How many of our targets were killed?" Voldemort asked.
Yaxley retrieved a sheet of parchment and read off the figures"The Davis couple was killed plus their daughterd so three there, The Browns were badly injured and will recover though their eight year old son was killed, the Boot were all killed the parents and four children under the age of eleven , the Bones couple were killed, the Granger couple was killed and Xenophilius Lovegood was also killed. so sixteen my lord" Yaxley listed off.
"You forgot to add Dumbledore." Voldemort pointed out.
"My apologies my lord, seventeen." Yaxley corrected quickly.
Voldemort waved his hand dismissing the mistake."So this was nowhere near a complete success. Twenty -one killed or captured and I lost one of my best Lieutenants. No this will not do." Voldemort said more to himself than Yaxley.
Then speaking directly to Yaxley he asked. "Have you accomplished your task yet Corban?"
"Yes my lord, just this morning in fact." Yaxley stated proudly.
"Good, you know what to do then, also keep an eye out for Potter's trace. I doubt the Ministry will prosecute the 'Chosen-One' if he uses magic outside of Hogwarts, but it would help us locate him easier in the future." Voldemort ordered.
"Yes my lord." Yaxley bowed his head.
"You may leave." Voldemort dismissed.
Once Yaxley had left he pondered what to do next, he was unfortunately blind to the happenings in Hogwarts, though had heard the reports the school was closing. He would wait for Yaxley ' task to be completed, but for the time being he would have to stay in the shadows.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody Family home, Scotland, Near Strontian Village, 6/15/1997, 20:30
Moody had informed them that for the time being they could not leave the property, Harry was really upset by this news but agreed it was a sensible rule.
After dinner Harry had holed up in the study and was looking over the books in Moody's collection.
Two books in particular caught his eye 'Protection Charm Your Mind: A Practical Guide to Counter Legilimency ' by: Franciscus Fieldwake, which went over the basics of occlumency and starting to learn to shield your mind.
Then thete was 'A Guide to Advanced Occlumency' by :Maxwell Barnett', it was as the name suggested focusing on advancing your occlumency skills further. Taking the first book from the shelf he took it to his room and started reading and practicing the mental exercises mentioned in chapter one, the first step was shutting off your emotions and clearing your mind of all thought.
He had found it easier to shut down his emotions since the horcrux was gone, he didn't feel like he was drowning in them any longer which was great, the only emotion that he still had a problem controlling was anger, but even that was getting easier to push aside now after a month of adjusting to not having that thing in his head messing with his insecurities and subtly influencing his thoughts.
Closing the book after reading chapter one he layed back on his pillow and began clearing his mind of first emotions and then thoughts and thought only of the blackness behind his eyelids, his mind became calm and his breathing relaxed. He didn't know when but sometime after he was practicing he drifted into a very peaceful sleep.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody's Home. 6/16/1997, 05:00
The bedroom door burst open, his wand was in his hand from the night before and he was on his feet before his eyes fully opened, wand pointed at the intruder.
"Wotcher Harry." Came the unmistakable voice of Tonks, looking really put out when she stepped into the room.
She was dressed in sweatpants and running shoes with tank top.
"Morning Tonks, I guess this is workout time then?' Harry asked groggily.
"Yep, but your over dressed, put these on." She said as she threw him a pair of athletic shorts and pulled a very small pair of shoes from her pocket before resizing them and tossing them to him as well.
"You've got ten minutes." She said and shut the door behind her.
"Harry quickly took off the jeans he fell asleep in and pulled on the shorts and trainers, stepping into the bathroom he took care of his morning needs and took a large drink from the sink before heading downstairs.
Tonka was sitting at the table drinking coffee when Harry walked in.
"Good your ready now we just have to wait on Bones, and we can get started. Did you purposely sleep fully dressed on top of your covers?" She asked curiously.
"No, I fell asleep practicing occlumency. Why were you wanting to catch me in my underwear?" Harry asked with a smirk.
"Yep, since I had to be up this bloody early to train you, I was at least hoping to see some skin." She admitted unrepentantly.
Harry blushed but was saved from having to think up a reply when a very grumpy Susan Bones entered the kitchen in her own work out clothes sweat pants and a baggy t shirt.
""Okay kiddos let's get sweaty." Tonks said leading them out the door, and away from the house, they started walking out onto the moor and after about ten or so minutes came to a running track that had been formed into the moor. it looked like a repurposed
quidditch pitch and the area inside the track was easily big enough for could have been used for quidditch except it was covered in sand instead of grass.
"Alright give me twenty laps, you two." Tonks barked out.
Harry who had run laps before every quidditch practice since his second year nodded before he started running around the track.
Susan had just stood there looking confused until Tonks started firing off stinging hexes at her and she quickly copied what Harry was doing and started running around the track also.
By lap five she was panting heavily, she noticed Harry had set a pace and seemed to be used to running like this. She felt like like her side was going to split any second now, she had never had to run like this and this was definitely a shock to her system.
She started to slow down when a stinging he hit her bum, looking over her shoulder saw Tonks was running behind her she seemed to be just as comfortable with running as Harry was and barked at her "Pick up the pace Bones."
Susan reluctantly sped back up and by lap fifteen Susan felt like she was going to collapse, her face and body were covered in sweat and she was drawing breaths rather quickly, her sides were in agony and she wanted to shove Tonk's wand up her..
"Ow!" Susan exclaimed as another stinging he hit her bum
"Almost done Bones, no slowing down now." Tonks ordered.
When she finished lap twenty she came to a stop and her legs gave out and she fell to her knees and was panting heavily. Tonks handed her a bottle of water and Susan drank it greedily between ragged breaths of air, she looked over and Harry was also breathing heavily as well, he was leaning ove,r his hands on his knees and his shirt sticking to his frame.
"Alright you have five minutes to catch your breath and hydrate, then we start the calistenics." Tonks barked out and tossed Harry a bottle of water which he snapped out of the air and gulped down.
Susan had no idea what calastenics were, but she knew she wouldn't enjoy them.
She was Right! First Tonks had them do thirty jumping jacks, then twenty situps, twenty five pushups, then the sort of combination between jumping Jacks and pushups called burpees where you had to squat jump straight up, go down to a pushup position and push yourself up to your feet and start over again, the pink haired monster made them do twenty five of them and last but not least they had to do fifty squats by the time they were finish Susan could barely walk back to the house and even Harry looked to be very tired, Tonks who had completed every exercise they had done looked just fine.
"How are you not tired after all that!" Susan demanded.
"I do these every day, part of the requirements of the Auror Corp is keeping up your physical fitness, they test your stamina every six months if you slack off they will pull you from the field until you can pass your physical fitness qualifier." Tonks explained as she led them to the house.
Susan nodded remembering her aut mentioning aurors failing their qualifiers but not really understanding what they were until now.
The three split off split to go shower and change, before breakfast.
When Harry and Susan entered the kitchen it was to find Moody and Remus Lupin sitting at the table, Tonks was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Tonks?" Harry asked ad he entered the kitchen feeling better after a nice hot shower.
"She had to go in today, the Ministry is in complete chaos." Moody answered.
"Moony, are you part of the torture squad as well?" Harry asked.
"Well I guess you could call it that, I guess Tonks was pretty rough this marning?" Lupin asked.
He then flicked his wand and summoned the pot of porridge he had simmering on the stove to the table, along with four bowls, spoons, cups, and a pitcher of juice. The items landed neatly in front of each person with the juice and pot of porridge landing gently in the center of the table.
After filling his bowl and pouring some juice Harry answered. "It wasn't much different then when Oliver Wood was captain of the Gryffindor team and Tonks is much easier on the eyes than he ever was." Harry said with a smirk.
Lupin who had been drinking pumpkin juice sputtered as th pumpkin juice drinking had been sprayed out his nose and onto the table at Harry's statement.
"I'll be sure to pass along your compliments to Tonks." Moody smirked as he watched Lupin trying to cleanup pumpkin juice from the front of his shirt and the table in front of him.
"Your as bad as Sirius." Lupin said with a scowl that that didn't reach his eyes.
Susan had just rolled her eyes at them and asked. "Professor Lupin what will you be teaching us today?"
"It's just Remus Susan, and I will be teaching you the fine art of spell dodging and maybe later on a little spell swatting." Lupin answered dramatically.
"Why do I have the feeling I'm really going to hate spell dodging?" Harry asked.
"Because you have good instincts lad, and you are really going to hate spell dodging." Moody stated with a grin
Spell dodging turned out to be absolutely miserable, Harry and Susan took turns standing in a six foot circle, where they had to dodge spells coming at them without leaving the circle. Harry's habit of diving to the floor kept resulting in him getting multiple stinging hexes to the back as he tried to get back up and he quickly learned to stay on his feet while dodging.
Susan picked up the skill very quickly, her smaller build helped also, she was able to move out of they way of spells easily and Harry would admit he was quite envious having taken multiple hits, when things wrapped up they headed into the house for lunch.
" You two have the afternoon to do as you wish, after dinner Moody Will be teaching you two to fight, Harry can I have a word?" Remus asked.
Nodding Harry stayed behind while Susan went back to the house.
"Mad-eye says your going to start your animagus revealer potion, do you know where to find the other ingredients?" Moony asked curiously.
"Yes, I've already collected them last week at Hogwarts, they are under a stasis charm in my trunk." Harry answered.
"Good your dad and Sirius had a devil of a time finding the moth cocoons." Lupin told him and then chuckled at the memory.
"Yeah I just asked Professor Slughorn where the we're found, and had Hagrid help me find one amongst the potato patch in his garden." Harry replied.
"I'd like to be there when you take the potion, I'll keep my eye on thunderstorms after the full moon next month." Remus told him.
Harry grinned and said. " I've been informed by everyone who knows I'm attempting the potion to not take it without supervision."
"It can be dangerous, but as long as the potion comes out right you'll be fine." Lupin assured him.
"Yeah that's what Slughorn." Harry replied.
"Well we had better go see about making lunch. Moody can't cook anything but sandwiches and I am starving." Moony told him.
That evening Harry walked with Moody and Susan down to the track where they had exercised this morning.
When they arrived Moody walked into the center of the work out area before he barked out orders. "Both of you across from me we will start out with a two on one fight, surely the two of you can beat a one legged man."
Harry had serious doubts about that statement, but got into position none the less, the fight was very short.
Harry fired a nonverbal stunner which Moody swatted back and knocked Susan out with two seconds in, then the old one legged man started firing spells at Harry lightning fast, when Harry could not dodge fast enough to keep up he hastily cast a shield which Moody hammered until it was on the verge of shattering. Harry tried a last ditch attack and dropped his shield and rolled left to fired a stunner he didn't even see the stunner that hit him in the chest fired by Moody before everything went black.
Harry awoke to find himself sprawled on the sand, he didn't even remember being stunned, he heard Moody say the counter over Susan and then Moody asked.
"What was that? Your spell repertoire needs work, you were casting to slow, you stayed in one spot and let me fire at you until your shield about collapsed,. Did you not think to try aparating?"
Harry shook his head still being groggy from the stunner but answered. "No I honestly thought there were anti-aparitions wards over the property."
"There are, but with the exception of Hogwarts, the Ministry and Gringotts, anti-aparition wards prevent people from aparating in or out, they do not prevent aparating inside the wards themselves however." Moody answered as if it was common knowledge.
"How were you able to cast so quickly?" Harry asked curiously.
"It's called spell chaining, and that will be our first lesson." Moody answered before turning to Susan "You messed up early you weren't prepared for me to send Potter's spell back at him or you for that matter." Moody told her bluntly.
"I've never seen anybody do something like that before." She said irritably.
"Well now you have, so be prepared." Moody barked out.
Susan scowled but nodded none the less.
"Alright the basic theory of spell chaining is tying the last wand motion of one spell into the first wand motion of the next, when it comes to non verbal spells you have to use the intent of the spells to cast rather than incantations, right now your both probably at the point where you have think the incantation to cast a spell. You will soon learn that the incantation is meaningless, and you are using the incantation so your brain associates what intent and effect you wish your magic to accomplish.
Over time you won't have to use incantations or wand movements anymore, you just point your wand and will your magic to perform the spell you desire. Now we will start with some basic chains verbally but this is just to get you familiar with the concept after today you will learn your spell chains on your own time." Moody lectured.
Over the next few hours Moody run them through basic spell chains then had them face off with him, to a similar out come as the first two on one fight.
Finally Moody dismissed them and the two exhausted teens made their way to their beds and both were asleep as soon ad their heads hit their pillows.
/A/D/W/F/
Moody's House, 6/20/1997, 21:00
The next few days followed the same routine, physical training with Tonks before breakfast, spell dodging with Remus after breakfast and learning to fight magically in the evening, Harry had been doing his occlumency practice before bed and he slept better than he ever remembered because of that. During his free time of the day he would practice new spells from the books in Moody's library. Two of his favorite had been the bone breaker 'osis fragmen', and the decapitation curse 'drcapitare'.
He wasn't planning on fighting by Dumbledore's rules, they had captured the death eaters in the first war and the we're broken out of prison, some of them twice if Dolohov's presence at Hermione's was any indication. No he would not be taking prisoners, he would be filling graves.
Harry was currently sitting outside after dinner and preparing to place the mandrake leaf in his mouth, Harry held the leave up as the clouds parted and placed the leave on his mouth as soon as he saw the moon completely unobscucred by the clouds, then remembering the advice Lupin gave him, he drew his wand and cast a temporary sticking charm on the roof of his mouth and stuck the leaf there, the leave tasted funny and he was already looking forward to removing the mandrake leaf at the next full moon.
Still he smiled happily and made his way back to his room, 'one more step complete' he thought to himself happily.