Chapter 9: Training Days

Ever since the fearful day at the Qudditch field, the trio has been watching theirs and each other's backs even more careful then before. With their lacking in the power training department, they are now worried that the school will be caught off guard by an unknown and powerful force. As usual, Hermione as be throwing her "I told you so's" all around the school. Harry and Ron have heard enough of Hermione's talking, but Ron hasn't pushed it really far since after all, she is his girlfriend. As the School went on, the days seem to go quicker "without trouble" that is. Before anyone knew it, it was almost Christmas and Ron was stressing out about one key component he had forgotten.

"Oh God no! I have forgotten to get Hermione something for Christmas! I am so dead, Harry please help me!" Ron hollered with extreme depression.

As Ron was running around, Harry was watching him closely and decided to do the best thing possible to help his troubled best friend. He elevated his hand slowly and slapped the hell out of him very fast and hard. That was the only he could think of at the moment and he waited upon him for a reaction.

"Harry, that hurt so much! Thanks man I needed that a lot. Now I need to buy Hermione a present before Christmas comes." Ron explained.

"It's ok Ron; anytime you want a slap in the face I am here for you man." Harry said with a chuckle.

"I think that I will stay away from the slaps from now on. It was great while it lasted but I think you just gave me a little brain damage." Ron replied.

Both boys laughed loudly at the image of giving Ron brain damage. As the loud laughter began to quiet down, Ron started thinking about what he could afford and wish to get for Hermione. He sat down at desk within the common room, he kept thinking about what would best describe his feelings for Hermione. At that moment an idea struck his head as fast as lighting.

"I have an idea for the present Harry! Lets roll down to Hogsmeade as soon as possible." Expressed Ron
"When is the next trip there before I go running off"?

"It is tomorrow, so we have to be ready to go after D.A.D.A" replied Harry.

As the two boys made a silent agreement Hermione came strolling into the common room as if she was on q.
She walked along quietly with a little hint of a smile upon her face. She kissed the now stunned Ron and walked up to her dorm as slow as possible (enjoying this site). When she was out of the room, Ron snapped out of his trance and began to talk about what just happened along with Harry.

"It seems that she knows what we were thinking or she has been talking to Prof McGonagal again. I hope she hasn't done both of those things." Said a now worried Ron.

"Calm down Ron, you are going to go bald before you know it with all that stress going on." Said Harry with a smirk on his face.

When Ron "finally" calmed down, Harry waited for Hermione to come down as Ron screamed up her dorm for her to walk with him down to Breakfast. After the fight the couple had, they all went down stairs to have some breakfast. When Harry turned the corner, he saw someone unexpected that was now smiling at him from afar.

It was Ms. Cho Chang herself. She seemed to be smiling at Harry like there was no tomorrow, while her little friends were whispering and giggling in the background. She slowly walked up to Harry to make conversation. Harry looked to his friends for help as they themselves walked away with a look of "your on your own buddy". As she began to walk over, Harry became immensely nervous. He knew that she was closing in and that he couldn't act like a moron and run away, he figured he had to take this challenge head on.

"H-H-H-ello Harry, how are you doing today?" Asked an obviously nervous Ms. Chang.

As Cho spoke those few words, Harry's heart felt like it was going to drop down towards his feet at that very second. He was looking at the ground as she spoke; he looked up at her and slowly opened his mouth to speak.

"How are you doing today Cho?" Harry asked in a higher tone then intended.

"I am rather sulky, but I was just wondering maybe...Do you want to maybe "hang out" one day?" Asked a shy Cho Chang.

As this question, Harry's whole body froze at the thought of Ms. Cho Chang asking him to "hang out" sometime. Harry tried to think very fast on how to act "cool" and not a geek in front of Cho.

"That would be good, when do you think we should hang out?" Harry replied.

"Anytime you would like to, I have to get going Harry but I am glad that we could talk" Cho shyly said.

As she walked away to discuss the details of that event, Harry felt like a new man, ready to take on everything that was thrown at him. As he started on his journey to meet up with Ron and Hermione, he saw Prof Dumbledore looking at him. He smiled at Harry; he walked to the teacher's table as he and Harry parted ways. As Harry arrived at the table, he saw all of the guys smiling at him in appration; all of the girls at the table were giggling and winking at him.

"Stop that you all! It is making me very nervous." Shouted Harry.

"Don't worry Harry, it will be over maybe in a month. But you have some thinking to do about some unnamed girl around here." Said Ron as he also winked at Harry.

"Stop it all of you, Harry is just talking to a girl is that a big deal!?!" Loudly announced Hermione.

At this point the whole table was in silence over what was just said. The only person to laugh now was Harry himself as he carefully sat down at the table. As everyone came out of his or her shocked glances, Harry was still smiling at the mean Hermione. Before you knew it the table now attracted attention at the Slytherins, they started yelling at one another. Back and forth they went, all times with wands at the ready. Harry and Ron knew what time it was "Again" and decided to kill the argument once and for all.

Harry and Ron proudly rose from their seats and looked at Dumbledore. He gave them the signal to end this before it became anymore dangerous. As they friends jumped up, they spells started flying from table to table. Ron started at the Gryffindor table but something wasn't right about his powers either...

Hermione could see that something was wrong with Ron and tried to rush into the light blazing battle to help him. At this point Dumbledore rushed over to the Gryffindor table to stop her. He put one hand on her shoulder and just gave these few words...

"There is no need for you to help, they both need to learn and lesson in training. You will learn a lesson from this also." Dumbledore quietly said to Hermione.

As Harry and Ron jumped into action the firepower started up like clockwork. Blasts came from 2 different directions. Harry and Ron started canceling the blasts but as soon as Harry peered over to Ron he looked like he was about to pass out. Ron picked up the pace and decided to take out his wand. He started using both his guardian powers and his regular powers. This only offered little defensive powers. As he was fading he launched out one more defense spell and passed out flat on his face.

At this point Harry knew he and his friend should get back to his table. Strangely enough, Harry didn't feel weaken at all but he didn't want to take the chance of getting blasted from 10 different spells at one time. Dumbledore slowly made his way through the chaos and said one spell very fast and all of the lights stopped. He started yelling at the 2 feuding tables and took away 50 points from each. He then proceeded to walk over to Ron and start speaking very slowly so that the dazed and highly weaken Ron could understand.

"Ron I am sorry that you had to learn this way, but you had to learn your lesson about training these powers." Said Dumbledore in a fatherly voice.

"Meet me in my office after Ron recovers. He will recover very fast, so it shouldn't take you long at all." Dumbledore said as he walked off towards his office.

Dumbledore was right of course. Ron recovered within an hour he was back to normal with only his pride badly hurt. He wouldn't even talk to Hermione about his problems, he just headed up towards Dumbledore's office and entered the amazing room.

"Professor, I would like to start training again and as soon as possible if that is good with you." Ron said.

"Harry and Hermione would you please excuse Ron and me for a moment we would like to talk in private?" Dumbledore requested before responding to Ron.

As he spoke Harry and Hermione got the idea very quickly and exited the room very quickly.

"Now that they have left, Ron it is clear that you are the one who has the hardest responsibility within the group. You guard Harry and his life and of course Hermione. It would be the best interest that we get you training with Harry and Hermione again. You can either agree or I can force you too, either way we are going to start this back up again." Requested Dumbledore in a stern voice.

"I do agree to start training again, I do not want Hermione or Harry to worry about my personal heath. I just don't want to pass out again, I felt weak and helpless to Harry when that happened, it was a strange feeling. I will not go into details but lets just say this, I don't want that happening again." Said Ron understandingly.

As this little conversation was completed, Ron slowly walked out of the amazing room and walked down towards the common room. As he continued walking down the stairs he ignored everyone that was around, asking him questions. He went right pass Harry and Hermione who were now playing wizards chess. As he passed, their eyes followed his movements until he came to the boy's dorm door and proceeded to enter...

This was new and strange to Hermione and Harry, they had never seen their friend acting in this manner. As Harry looked back at Hermione from the recent event, she gave him the signal to find out what was wrong with Ron. When he quickly arose he went right up to the dorm was targeted Ron and started blasting questions at him as if there was no tomorrow.

"Ron, what is wrong with you?" Asked a concerned Harry.

"Nothing is wrong with my Harry, I just had to have a one on one conversation with Dumbledore." muttered Ron.

Harry could see that something was wrong even though Ron was giving him the old "shove off" trick. He decided to not push the conversation anymore that night. After the question and answer session, Harry quickly jumped into bed and was almost sleep when a sudden voice awoke him.

"We are starting training tomorrow bright and early, after classes. We are not fooling around anymore, the thought of myself passing out while I am protecting you scares me, I am ordering this of you Harry you can try and tell me no all you want but it will get you know where. I am not saying this as your friend...I am saying this as your protector ." Ron announced with great leadership.

As Harry heard this we quite understood the circumstands of the night. He gave a rather large amount of thought to this subject until the night got the best of him and he fell asleep.

The next morning Harry woke up a lot earlier then usual and looked around at Ron's bed to see if he was still snoring. He was absent in his slumber, and at this fact Harry started searching around for Ron down in the common room, he was also absent from there. Harry could only think of 2 places that Ron would be.

"There only leaves the Great Hall and the Qudditch field, I don't know what he would be doing there." Harry pondered to himself.

He soon as Harry finished his thought he heard footsteps coming slowly towards the common room of Gryffindor hall. Ron appeared as though he has been in a major battle. He had battle scars everyone along the surface of his face and arms. Harry rushed toward his side and automatically started asking him questions.

What happened to you Ron!?! You look like you barely escaped from death!" Harry roared throughout the common room.

"Please quiet down Harry, I have just been doing a little training with Dumbledore and let's say I wanted things to get a little extreme and he agreed with me." Rom explained while stretching his arms and neck.

As the two best friends started talking about what happened in the training, Hermione came down stairs (hearing the noise) and looked around for Ron like there was no tomorrow. The instant she found Ron, she rushed over to him kissing him vigorously. She only stopped when he pulled her off of him. He took one look at her crying eyes and started to explain to her and Harry what happened.

"You should sit down because this will take a while." Ron warned.