Chapter 12: Martial Arts Class : CIA Part 2
Mike parked the car that he and Harry were riding in expertly. He explained that underaged CIA drivers were only allowed to park cars by themselves while in total control of the highly-advanced vehicles, and he had become extremely good at it. Harry nodded approvingly. The two already good friends were going to their first classes for the day,and first classes ever for Harry. Harry was nervous; sweat poured down his head like bullets from a machine gun. Mike noticed his nervousness, although Harry had tried hard to cover it up. Then again, Mike rarely never notices nothing. Harry just assumed that it was an effect of Mike's CIA training. Harry couldn't wait to be as good as Mike, and he was practically itching to go on a mission.
"Don't be nervous, young learner," he said, smiling. "When you are through training, a mission you will take." Harry was surprised at how he said the sentence and voiced his opinion about it, saying it was weird and that he didn't know Mike was into philosophy. Mike sighed. After hearing about the way Harry was treated at his 'home', he wasn't surprised to find that Harry had never heard of the 'Muggle' movie Star Wars, and any of the associated books. That meant he didn't know who Yoda was, and Mike didn't try to explain it to him. Harry would probably mistake it for yoga and question how yoga, which is an exercise, could talk. "Forget about it," Mike said. "It's a Muggle joke." He had liked the word 'Muggle' and was now using it many times, much to the displeasure of Harry, who had to countlessly tell him not to use the word in the presence of Muggles, who chances are didn't know what 'Muggle' meant and would probably suspect Mike of calling them a mugger.
"Can't you stop using the word 'Muggle'," Harry said impatiently. "I've told you a countless amount of times. It's important enough to keep on stressing. If the Ministry of Magic got any, and I mean any, gist of me being here, I could kiss my CIA training and your friendship goodbye. They don't know you are magical, so they would probably put a Memory Charm on you."
"Fine. Whatever you say, Master," Mike stated sarcastically, rolling his eyes and cracking another of his Star Wars jokes. "I'll stop using the word 'Muggle' in the presence of Muggles because then the Ministry of Magic might here about us and think I'm a Muggle and put a Memory Charm on poor me, the Muggle and fine you for telling the wizarding world to a supposed Muggle, me, who just got his memory erased..."
"I get your point. I get your point," Harry hurriedly interrupted, glancing around them to make sure there was no one there. "You could've blown our cover," he hissed at Mike, still glancing warily around. Then, seeing that no one had overheard their conversation, Harry smiled at Mike and said,"You still have much to learn, my young Padawan." Before Mike could say anything, Harry added quickly and defensively, "What? It was a Star Wars joke. I heard about Dudley, did I tell you about Dudley," and when Mike had assured Harry that he indeed did tell him about his fat, porky cousin Dudley who was wider than he was tall, Harry continued. "Anyways, I heard Dudley talking about it to his friend Piers. What can I say? I love eavesdropping." Harry finished grinning stupidly at Mike, reminent of what Ron would be expected to do. At the thought of his old friends, Harry saddened even more.
Mike seemed not to notice anything out of the ordinary with Harry, and if he did, he didn't show it. "Hmm...," he said quietly, musing. "I didn't know you knew about Star Wars. The joke I cracked earlier was a Star Wars joke." Harry asked Mike if that was anything bad. Mike replied with a simple, "No. Of course not. Just wondering and musing and going into my semi-meditative state." Mike cracked a grin. More cheerfully, he added, "Well, we've been loitering around here for the past fifteen minutes. Not only does that sign over there," and Mike pointed out a sign to Harry,"say 'No loitering', we have only ten minutes to get to class, and I'm sure that you wouldn't want to be late on your first day."
Harry was oblivious to Mike's teasing. He watched as a figure emerged from the sky. From the ground, Mike questioned Harry as to whether or not he knew what it was. As the thing in the sky approached Harry, spiralling lazily in the sky, Harry realized that it was his snowy white owl, Hedwig. He pointed that out to Mike and Mike visibly relaxed. Harry himself let out the breath of air that he didn't know he was holding until that moment. Hedwig gently landed on Harry's shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately. She dropped the bundle that she was carrying into Harry's outstretched arms. He looked at it and realized it to be the Daily Prophet. "Wizarding newspaper," he mouthed silently to Mike. Hedwig took of promptly. Harry had a year's subscription to the Daily Prophet. He had gotten it when Hermione had pushed him to, telling him that it would be worth it and his only connection to the wizarding world other than her and Ron. Now, he glanced at the front page article. The headline caught his eye.
Is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Really Back? Fudge Denies, The Boy-Who-Lived Doesn't
Harry skimmed the article and found it to be interesting. He found that it was written by a certain Maria Lapeod, obviously Rita Skeeter's replacement. Harry vaguely wondered what Hermione had done to her. He proceeded to whisper this article aloud to Mike.
Is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named Really Back? Fudge Denies, The Boy-Who-Lived Doesn't
Written by Maria Lapeod, Daily Prophet Reporter
Who should we trust? The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge? Or the Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter, considered by many to be the downfall of the Dark Lord thirteen, soon to be fourteen, years ago. While Harry Potter accuses present day MoM Cornelius Fudge to be a blumbering fool and an incompetent bastard, Fudge states that Potter is a disturbed child who frequently experiences hallucinations and pains in his scars and is insane and shouldn't be trusted. Potter's explanation? He believes that his scar is directly related to the Dark Lord, quote 'This curse scar connects me to You-Know-Who (although the boy used his feared name. When asked why he does this, he simply replied with a little saying that Albus Dumbledore used to always say: Fear of the name increases fear of the thing itself.) Sometimes I dream about him and know what he is planning. Sometimes I can see what he is doing presently.'
Before jumping to conclusions too quickly, I would also like to remind you that all of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry staff trust Potter on this matter. Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, Transfiguration Teacher, Head of House of Gryffindor House, is quoted saying, quote 'He [Potter] likes to joke around, yes. But he would never ever lie about something as serious as this. You-Know-Who killed his parents. It isn't something he would take lightly.' Also, Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts, Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards, has complete trust in Potter. He is quoted saying 'Harry has my full confidence.'
However, Fudge blatantly disregards anything to do with You-Know-Who. He has even gone as far as threatened to remove Headmaster Albus Dumbledore from office for, quote 'slandering him'. But if Fudge is right, then the wizarding community need not worry about anything. You may regard this article as a joke. If Fudge is right, then Harry Potter would be charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to life inprisonment for the use of at least one Unforgivable Curse, Avada Kedavra, and everything will return to normal.
But if Fudge if wrong... Who knows what horrors would befall the wizarding community?
Harry looked up from this article surprised. Mike looked absolutely horrified. "He's going to press charges against you for murder?" Harry's face was pallid. He told Mike calmly, his voice betraying his inner feelings, that he would face anything that stupid son of a bitch minister would throw at him. An uncomfortable silence settled over them. Mike checked his watch and decided to break the ice. "Well, we have sixty seconds before the first class starts," he said.
It was a miracle that Harry and Mike made it to their first class, Martial Arts, on time. They slid into their seats just as the bell rang and the teacher walked up to the front of the room. He was a strong looking man with a lot of muscles, but was not really large. His pale, white face reminded Harry strangely of the way Draco Malfoy and his father, Lucius Malfoy, looked. Harry hoped that he wouldn't have to judge the new teacher the same way he judged the two Malfoys. It would really be a pity. Martial Arts was a class that he was looking forward to. The teacher had black hair cropped close to the middle of his neck and was fierce looking. He was not someone you would want to mess with.
"Well," he said. "I believe we have a new student among ourselves. Please raise your hand, Harry Potter. Harry did as he was told, and felt the eyes of twenty people boring into his back. He sighed. At least this time, it would only be a one-time thing, or so he hoped. "Now that that's finished," the teacher added, after a brief pause, let's begin our daily practice routine. Mike, will you please fill Harry in. Mike nodded.
"Harry," he called. "Over here." Harry walked up to him. "OK. Now, each class, we begin with a warmup routine. And then Mike attempted to show Harry a series of moves. Harry was surprised at how graceful Mike was. When he was finished, Harry tried his luck with it. Before he was even into the spin, he tripped and landed flat on his face. "Don't worry," Mike said. "You just need to practice. Our senseii, oh that's Japanese for teacher, says that you can practice this routine the whole class. Mike left Harry to his practice and stepped back into the flock of students who were waiting attentively for their senseii, Harry learned that it was Senseii Hera, to give them instructions. By the end of class, Harry had the practice routine pretty well covered, and could do it almost as gracefully as Mike. While Mike waited at the door, the Martial Arts senseii walked up to Harry and asked him to show him the routine. Harry performed it, while Senseii Hera corrected the position of his shoulders and elbows occasionally.
"Good job," he said, finally, nodding approvingly down at Harry. "You learn quickly. Now go to your next class." Harry sighed, relieved. He joined Mike at the door and together, they walked towards their next class: Logic Puzzles.
Well, that's Harry's first class. I'm not too good at describing classes with martial arts, so I just decided include a practice routine for Harry to practice with. Stay tuned for the next chapter, and please R&R with suggestions!