Chapter 16
The next morning it had stopped raining, but clouds still hung over
the castle, and a cruel wind blew. The lake had turned from a dark blue to
a deep, disturbed gray over the past few days, reflecting what was in
everyone's mind.
The Guards assembled early, and were soon back into training, this time alongside almost all of the Guardians. The only ones missing were those who had accompanied the Prime Ministers to help with the war preparations.
They worked long and hard until lunch, when they dragged their weary bodies back up to the castle. All were soaked through and freezing. After they had eaten, all changed into their full uniforms, and the Guardians observed how simply looking different, had changed the group.
At two, Harry's group went to the dueling room, where Harry met them. Once again, they were surprised by what they saw. There were ten piles of kit on the floor in front of Harry. Though none of the group knew what it was, sitting on top of each pile was a black revolver. Harry was sitting when they entered, so they just sat, instead of getting ready.
'Good, you're all here. I told you yesterday your role would be different. Today you will see how different. From now on you will be known as Fire. You all have your mark, and if Fire is called, you all go straight to your meeting room. You will be met there. In front of you is everything you will need on a day to day basis. The most important item is this.'
Harry stood, and reached inside his robes. He came out with a revolver identical to those on the piles. He held it lightly, and looked for any reaction. Met with only blank looks, he continued.
'This is your weapon. It can kill as well as any wand but, more importantly, they can be used in the muggle world. However you will also work against wizards and you will have the advantage of surprise. Voldemort is too arrogant to ever consider the use of muggle technology. In a few days you will be experts in its use. But we will come to that later. For now, we will concentrate on blades. Get ready.'
All rose and quickly removed robes, boots, shirts, and socks. All had their blades sheathed expertly around their bodies. Harry slide his own blades free of his wrists, and explained what they had too do.
Two hours later all shone with sweat, and they moved on to hand-to hand. Harry had noticed that Fred and George had a particular aptitude for it, and made a mental note to keep an eye on the two. After drills and free fights, Harry decided to give them a break, and once again called on Jack, Fred and George to try and down him. Once again they failed, but Harry had to admit they were getting far to close for comfort.
Next came the part they had all been waiting for. Harry handed out their revolvers, then began to show them the simple weapon drills for safety, load, unload etc. Finally Harry allowed them to shoot at some targets. All got fairly close, and after a few rounds most were hitting the bull. So they moved on do different targets, some that moved, some smaller, and some different shapes. By late that night, all were getting near perfect scores. As exhausted as they were Harry let them go, before telling them to turn up in their new kit the next day. He stumbled to the Chamber, and was relieved to find no news on Voldemort. He made he mistake of sitting down in the common room, and was soon fast asleep.
Meanwhile, Ginny had started to teach the three she had chosen some healing. She did several hours of practical lesson, before sending them away with a huge volume of the theory behind healing curses, and a warning to have read it all by the next day. Ginny tried to go through the supply book, but realized after spending twenty minutes on the same item that it wasn't going to work. She was soon tracing Harry's steps back to the common room.
There she found him cured up on a sofa, looking more at peace that she had ever seen him. Unable to resist, she went over to him, and blew gently in his ear. After several attempts to wake him gently, Ginny gave up, and simply settled down next to him, her head leaning on his chest, and went to sleep.
Ginny was still like that when Harry woke hours later, very surprised. Tensing slightly at the feel of her face on his chest, Harry silently ordered himself to relax. Having calmed down slightly, and unable to get back to sleep, Harry began to play with her hair, letting it run smoothly over his fingers.
He was till doing this when Ginny gave a sigh and moved slightly, giving Harry the shock of his life. After several minutes Harry started again, thinking that Ginny had not actually woken. He was wrong. As he allowed his hand to move gently downwards and caress he face, she caught his hand in hers and, bringing it to her lips, kissed it lightly. It took Harry a while to get over his shock, before whispering teasingly in her ear.
'Is that your way of saying good morning?'
'Mh-huh.' Replied Ginny, not opening her eyes.
'Oh, Ok then, good morning to you too.'
Harry brought her hand swiftly to his lips, and kissed it in the same was that Ginny had kissed his. Ginny opened her eyes in shock, and stared up into Harry's face in wonderment, before smiling.
'You were very tired last night.' She commented
'You too, obviously.' He grinned.
'Sorry, you looked so peaceful I couldn't resist joining you.'
'No problem. That's the best I've slept in weeks. You must have a good influence.' 'That must be it. You know, you're very comfortable. Like a pillow.' Ginny had not moved, and strangely, Harry didn't want her to.
'And you make a very good blanket.' He said in return.
They lay in silence for several minutes before Ginny sighed and spoke.
'Unfortunately, I think it's about time to get up.' Harry groaned.
'God. I could be perfectly happy like this for hours.'
'Me too. But you know what they say. All good things must come to an end.'
Ginny made to rise, but Harry held her back lightly. She looked back up into his eyes in confusion, and her eyes widened as she realized what he was about to do. Making up his mind suddenly, Harry leant down and kissed her cheek lightly, before lifting her up, smiling, and walking into his room to get ready for a mornings training.
Ginny was left completely stunned, her heart pounding, unsure of what had just happened. She smiled suddenly, and walked into her dorm. Throughout the morning, they were looking at each other, casting smiles through the crowd, trying to look calm and relaxed. In the eyes of the other, neither succeeded.
Eclectic Angel -This is what you've been waiting for, so I expect a good review!
Everyone - hope you like it. I was in the mood for a bit of romance. Not sure what's going to happen in the next chapter. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose.
The Guards assembled early, and were soon back into training, this time alongside almost all of the Guardians. The only ones missing were those who had accompanied the Prime Ministers to help with the war preparations.
They worked long and hard until lunch, when they dragged their weary bodies back up to the castle. All were soaked through and freezing. After they had eaten, all changed into their full uniforms, and the Guardians observed how simply looking different, had changed the group.
At two, Harry's group went to the dueling room, where Harry met them. Once again, they were surprised by what they saw. There were ten piles of kit on the floor in front of Harry. Though none of the group knew what it was, sitting on top of each pile was a black revolver. Harry was sitting when they entered, so they just sat, instead of getting ready.
'Good, you're all here. I told you yesterday your role would be different. Today you will see how different. From now on you will be known as Fire. You all have your mark, and if Fire is called, you all go straight to your meeting room. You will be met there. In front of you is everything you will need on a day to day basis. The most important item is this.'
Harry stood, and reached inside his robes. He came out with a revolver identical to those on the piles. He held it lightly, and looked for any reaction. Met with only blank looks, he continued.
'This is your weapon. It can kill as well as any wand but, more importantly, they can be used in the muggle world. However you will also work against wizards and you will have the advantage of surprise. Voldemort is too arrogant to ever consider the use of muggle technology. In a few days you will be experts in its use. But we will come to that later. For now, we will concentrate on blades. Get ready.'
All rose and quickly removed robes, boots, shirts, and socks. All had their blades sheathed expertly around their bodies. Harry slide his own blades free of his wrists, and explained what they had too do.
Two hours later all shone with sweat, and they moved on to hand-to hand. Harry had noticed that Fred and George had a particular aptitude for it, and made a mental note to keep an eye on the two. After drills and free fights, Harry decided to give them a break, and once again called on Jack, Fred and George to try and down him. Once again they failed, but Harry had to admit they were getting far to close for comfort.
Next came the part they had all been waiting for. Harry handed out their revolvers, then began to show them the simple weapon drills for safety, load, unload etc. Finally Harry allowed them to shoot at some targets. All got fairly close, and after a few rounds most were hitting the bull. So they moved on do different targets, some that moved, some smaller, and some different shapes. By late that night, all were getting near perfect scores. As exhausted as they were Harry let them go, before telling them to turn up in their new kit the next day. He stumbled to the Chamber, and was relieved to find no news on Voldemort. He made he mistake of sitting down in the common room, and was soon fast asleep.
Meanwhile, Ginny had started to teach the three she had chosen some healing. She did several hours of practical lesson, before sending them away with a huge volume of the theory behind healing curses, and a warning to have read it all by the next day. Ginny tried to go through the supply book, but realized after spending twenty minutes on the same item that it wasn't going to work. She was soon tracing Harry's steps back to the common room.
There she found him cured up on a sofa, looking more at peace that she had ever seen him. Unable to resist, she went over to him, and blew gently in his ear. After several attempts to wake him gently, Ginny gave up, and simply settled down next to him, her head leaning on his chest, and went to sleep.
Ginny was still like that when Harry woke hours later, very surprised. Tensing slightly at the feel of her face on his chest, Harry silently ordered himself to relax. Having calmed down slightly, and unable to get back to sleep, Harry began to play with her hair, letting it run smoothly over his fingers.
He was till doing this when Ginny gave a sigh and moved slightly, giving Harry the shock of his life. After several minutes Harry started again, thinking that Ginny had not actually woken. He was wrong. As he allowed his hand to move gently downwards and caress he face, she caught his hand in hers and, bringing it to her lips, kissed it lightly. It took Harry a while to get over his shock, before whispering teasingly in her ear.
'Is that your way of saying good morning?'
'Mh-huh.' Replied Ginny, not opening her eyes.
'Oh, Ok then, good morning to you too.'
Harry brought her hand swiftly to his lips, and kissed it in the same was that Ginny had kissed his. Ginny opened her eyes in shock, and stared up into Harry's face in wonderment, before smiling.
'You were very tired last night.' She commented
'You too, obviously.' He grinned.
'Sorry, you looked so peaceful I couldn't resist joining you.'
'No problem. That's the best I've slept in weeks. You must have a good influence.' 'That must be it. You know, you're very comfortable. Like a pillow.' Ginny had not moved, and strangely, Harry didn't want her to.
'And you make a very good blanket.' He said in return.
They lay in silence for several minutes before Ginny sighed and spoke.
'Unfortunately, I think it's about time to get up.' Harry groaned.
'God. I could be perfectly happy like this for hours.'
'Me too. But you know what they say. All good things must come to an end.'
Ginny made to rise, but Harry held her back lightly. She looked back up into his eyes in confusion, and her eyes widened as she realized what he was about to do. Making up his mind suddenly, Harry leant down and kissed her cheek lightly, before lifting her up, smiling, and walking into his room to get ready for a mornings training.
Ginny was left completely stunned, her heart pounding, unsure of what had just happened. She smiled suddenly, and walked into her dorm. Throughout the morning, they were looking at each other, casting smiles through the crowd, trying to look calm and relaxed. In the eyes of the other, neither succeeded.
Eclectic Angel -This is what you've been waiting for, so I expect a good review!
Everyone - hope you like it. I was in the mood for a bit of romance. Not sure what's going to happen in the next chapter. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose.