Chapter 4
Training
It was Christmas Eve. Harry was with Faith learning to defend himself in the event of a another attack.
"It has been drilled into your head over and over by the teachers at this school that a wizard is only as strong as his ability to use a wand."
"You don't use a wand"
"Exactly. You can be a powerful wizard without a wand. It is a little more difficult, I'm afraid. You must learn to trust your senses. Your sight, your smell, our hearing…these are all key elements. Now close your eyes. Vision a grassy plain far from England somewhere on the other side of the earth. The air is clean and fresh as if no one alive has yet to breathe in it. You hear it. There is water running near you. A small river. A bird sings overhead you, a deer roams to your left. You hear the soft padding of hooves and the gentle tearing of grass as it eats.
"You hear a herd of horses running in the distance. There are a dozen of them, all running together. Hear the hooves, feel the beat, the rhythmic pounding of hooves on grass. Feel the heartbeat. Feel the horse's heart beating inside its chest." Faith paused. She looked at the wide smile of Harry's face. "Open your eyes." He did so, slowly.
The world looked different to Harry, it was serene now, civil. For once in his life, he saw the world through different eyes.
"Unexplainable?" asked Faith.
"Exactly! I don't know how to say it, but I feel…free"
"Remember the emotion you have now. Remember what makes you feel this way. And remember your state of mind. This is important. Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"You must become one with the running horses. You need to become like them, wild, and you must rely on your sense to react. Can you do that?
"Yes."
"Close your eyes." Faith walked around Harry, softly. She suddenly jumped and threw her fist at his thigh. "OW! Why did you hit me?!"
"Listen. Follow the footsteps like deer. Listen to every small detail. React to movement." Faith walked slowly around Harry. She aimed a punch on the other side, but he blocked it.
"You are learning."
Harry smiled. Off guard, she threw a soft punch at his jaw.
"You hit me again!"
"You weren't ready! Do you want me to try again?"
"Okay, but if you hit me, it's over."
Faith walked and this time Harry's body followed her movement. She jumped ahead a few steps and aimed for his stomach. He blocked. She moved for his jaw. He blocked. She moved for his shoulder. He blocked. She walked around again and aimed for the same places. Each time he blocked.
"You are learning very fast Harry. That is all I need to teach you tonight. You can go and sleep now."
"Happy Christmas Faith." He said as he was walking out the door. When no response came, he turned around. Faith had disappeared.
