Chapter 4.
Harry could not believe his eyes, he blinked them twice but the mark of lightning on his chest would not go away, it sat there mocking at him.
Suddenly Harry felt strangled, confined as though he couldn't breath he had to go out of this room of this house, in a daze he put on his shoes and shirt and ran, away from the mirror, the room away from everything. He ran as hard as he could allowing no room for thoughts in his head. Harry ran until he could feel his lungs on fire, until he felt a thousand burning needles in his side and until his legs screamed at him to stop but he did not stop running he couldn't.
However at last he was forced to stop he stood for a while trying to order his breathing, he concentrated on nothing but the pace of his breathing but at last even that refuge was taken from him as his breathing was regulated and thoughts resurfaced.
//it was real!!!// He thought to himself // but how could it have been real it was just a dream wasn't it? // He though hesitatingly // and I died! I remember my death// he tried again to convince himself that it was a dream but he failed as with a sob he remembered something else //Reeni! No// he told himself //I cannot think about it I will go mad, but then maybe I'm already insane// he almost started laughing but his hand stole to his chest to his mark and the green was wiped of his face, it was no allusion the mark was still there. Nor was it madness or a dream it was something else entirely he was not sure what exactly. He moved his hands from his chest and he touched something cold and with a jolt he remembered // the necklace! //.
There was something in the inscription about remembrance and soul he could not remember the exact wording so he pulled the necklace from his shirt for a better look and for the second time that day he froze.
The inscription was gone, in it's place was a single lightning bolt looking suspiciously like the mark on his chest. He turned the emblem; the swirling patterns on the other side had remained unchanged. // This is just too weird, even for me // he thought moodily to himself // and started walking back to the house, he was late.
* * *
"Boy! Where have you been?! What were you doing outside? Why haven't you done your cooking and your chores, you ungrateful child and to think about everything I have done for you…"
With a ease brought with years of training Harry tuned his aunt's voice off waiting for her to finish so he could wash and eat, however as his aunt soon made it clear to him it was not to happen at least not yet.
However as he waited for her to finish his thoughts kept coming back to the dream, the necklace and the letter he got he was sure it was all connected somehow he just didn't know how, yet anyhow. // If anyone would know it's Hermione// he thought absently, //I could write to her I guess…// except he didn't want to worry his friends which he would certainly do if he will write to Hermione. //No, I will figure this out by myself// sounding fierce and determine in his mind. "… And start working at the garden now or there will be no lunch for you" startled from his thoughts Harry sighed and went outside after all he didn't have much choice.
There was a lot of work ahead of him as the new rave among the ladies in Privet drive was a well-groomed garden and of course Petunia insisted that she should have the best. However he didn't mind the work distracted him preventing him from falling back to his gloomy thoughts. Unfortunately gloominess returned when he took his much-needed break. All the thoughts he had repressed all day came crushing back and Harry knew without a shred of doubt that if he didn't distract himself or deal with it he would go mad. And so instinctively he fell into the pattern of the kata (a/n: if I'm not mistaken it's a pattern of training for martial arts) and as he had done before he lost himself in his motions. Swinging up and down, left and right, a twirl followed by a kick the movements growing steadily in speed and complexity it was really astonishing until of course when Harry tried a high jump and a kick and ended splat on his back…
//Ah // he wondered //how did that happen// and then with a start he remembered what he had just done and had to wonder even more. // How did I do that, where did I learn it, I have never done something like this before// and then it hit him he had done it before, in the dream. A slow grin appeared on Harry's face as he contemplated the options this new knowledge presented him with // I can't wait to meet Malfoy // he thought evilly to himself. And then of course there was Voldemort this new knowledge gave him an edge and he was going to need all the edges he could get with Voldemort back in power. // Maybe this dream thing isn't so bad after all // he mused to himself however there was another problem: the kick for some reason he had failed it he couldn't afford to fail in it again in other riskier situations. So he tried it again this time this time reviewing his action before yet still he found himself back on the floor. //How could I fail it again// he thought angrily to himself // I remember doing this kick and others like it or much more complex countless times before, I must be doing something wrong// so he tried again, and again and again. It wasn't until his seventh failure that he realized his problem. He wasn't strong enough, that move required a certain amount of muscle strength and agility both of which he no longer had at least not in this body. // Well than I will simply have to build my strength again // he thought determinably // if I want to reach my maximum ability I will simply have too start working at it, like with the run today I should do it everyday. After all// he thought // I need to be prepared when Voldemort will come for me, I will not let any more innocent die just because I wasn't ready or was too lazy to be ready//. And with that in mind he went back to his work with full strength and determination.
* * *
It was evening when Harry finally returned to his room, all he wanted to do was lie on his bad and sleep like the dead. However his bad was occupied, a pile of letters and packages was piled on his bad and with a start Harry remembered it was his birthday he had almost forgotten about it unlike his friends apparently.
He sat on his bad and took out the first package it was long and heavy looking and it was from Hagrid. Harry opened it and was astonished when inside he found a sword, a long-sword to be precise he quickly looked for the letter in his pile found it and opened it.
Hello Harry!
Happy birthday! How have you been doing?
I'm on a mission for professor Dumbeldore and I ran across this sword which I though you would like it could probably be very useful this year with the new lessons
//new lessons? // Harry mused // and what mission?! //
I'm terribly sorry that I couldn't send you some of my cakes as I didn't have the time to make them I hope you don't mind.
// Thank god // he thought to himself with a chuckle
Anyway I will see you at Hogwarts
Happy birthday
Hagrid
P.S.
Watch yourself with that sword…
// Good old Hagrid // Harry thought with a laugh // you could always count on him to provide you with something dangerous and life threatening. He lifted the sword and took a careful swing at the air and nearly dropped it on his legs it was too heavy especially with his aching arms // I will need to build my strength with the sword as well // after all he could not loose this opportunity.
The next package was from Sirius, this time he opened the letter first
Harry,
Happy birthday! The items in the package belonged to your father, he used them during his time as an auror I though you would like them, not to mention the fact that you could find them useful especially now. Be careful and contact Dumbeldore if your scar hurts. I will be out of touch for sometime, as I will be doing something for Dumbeldore.
Happy birthday again
Love Snuffles
// His father's? // Harry quickly opened the package and found inside a pair of knives made of a strange metal he didn't recognize. The hilts were engraved with a code of arms: a dragon warped around a shield in the center of which was a phoenix in flames behind it was a sword crossed with a wand and beneath it was an inscription he couldn't make out. It was all very strange the knives came with sheaths to be worn on the arms or in the boots so Harry slipped them on his arms. // I wander why everyone seem to be buying me weapons// he though to himself feeling amused. There was a note with the knives, which explained that the knives were made with magic and so could be used to channel magic, or to bloke cretin hexes when used correctly.
The next gift he opened was from Hermione and was unsurprisingly a book called: From the Dawn of Magic; magical legends, myths and stories actually it didn't sound so bad and Harry was determined to read it for Hermione sake at least. He found her letter and opened it.
Dear Harry!
How have you been doing? I hope they have been treating well and you didn't have any dreams about you know who if you do you should owl Dumbeldore immediately.
I didn't go to see Victor this summer mum wouldn't let me, said I was too young and I guess I agree but don't tell Ron He had been bugging me with it all summer and I just enjoy torturing him for now. I guess you two are a bad influence on me.
Guess what I have been made a prefect and so did Ron how about you?
We are all meeting in Deagon's (a/n sorry about the spelling) in the 28th could you come?
Owl me soon
Love Hermione
Harry laughed at his friends it was so like them to keep fighting even through the summer. He looked for Ron's letter sure there will be something there about Hermione and wasn't disappointed
Hello mate!
How is your summer are the muggels treating you well?
Have you heard that Hermione and me made prefect? Who would have thought?
The twins flipped on it threatening to disown me and stuff, which made Mum yell at them and well you can guess the rest… Hermione is still planing on seeing that, that Krum guy, how can she? He is older than her and stuff. Anyway about your present I'm really sorry but Hermione made me promise to bye you a book (not about quidditch) as one of her terms for not going to Bulgaria you wouldn't believe how many terms she has I think I'm going nuts. We are all planning to go to Deagon's alley on the 28th and dad's hoping he could get Dumbeldore approval to taking you home afterwards I hope it will work. If not than I'll see you there or at the train.
Ron
Harry laughed at his friend it looked like Hermione was really torturing him, however he really wanted to know what Ron had gotten him. It was a book all right but he was pretty sure it was not what Hermione had though of it was called The Art of War: the perfect tactical guide for battles, skirmishes and chess games. It looks like Ron was trying to make Harry into a worthier opponent for him; interestingly enough it went with the whole war theme of his presents this year.
He continued opening his letters and packages he found that the Weaslly family had sent him a magical watch to replace the one he had lost as long with some foods and sweats some of them looking distinctively suspicious. Professor Lupin had also sent him a present he obviously didn't really know how to shop as he sent him a voucher for clothes in a muggle store. He also found his Hogwarts letter with a frefect badge enclose inside he also found out that a new lesson – dueling had been added to the scheduled Harry hoped it will go better than the last time they had dueling.
At last there was only one letter and a package left, Harry opened the package inside were two armbands in red and gold with a bit of white thrown in. It was of substance that felt like leather and something else unidentifiable there was a pattern of dragons and phoenixes on it. Without a thought Harry slipped it on and immediately a sense of calm such had he hadn't had since he woke from the dream this morning fell on him. He stared at the armband for a while and then he opened the letter wondering who was it from.
Harry,
Happy Birthday, I hope you liked the armband I made it myself, I started doing it ever since my first year as a way of thank you and this seem like the appropriate time to give it. It is in memory of your steady hand during that fight and for the fights in the future.
Love Ginny
It was from Ginny, funny he didn't think she'd send him a present but he was oddly happy that she did. He wondered why was that but unfortunately that was all he could think about as the events of the day finally caught up with him and he fell back on his back closed his eyes, and slept.
Author's note:
First of all I would like to thank everyone who reviewed:
Invincible, kat, Lord Orion (I love your stories), Vyingquii (I went and read your 5th year story it's really good as you could see from my reaction in the review), Shura, The red dragon order (thanks again and let me just say again how I love your stories).
Okay first of all I have a confession to make, I suck at buying presents it takes me ages before I can find one for my friends so I kinda stole other peoples ideas and I'm truly sorry.
My second request is that please, please review you have no idea how it keeps me going (well actually you do so that's another reason to review J ).
That's all folks
~Namwolf