~~~~~~Author's Notes:~~~~~~
Yep. A new chappie. Rejoice all you people.
~~~~~~Author's Notes:~~~~~~
The Mutated Animagi Chronicles
Chapter II: Rehabilitation
It was only after he had convinced Hermirone that he could walk for himself that 5tR4N63r could take a look at his surroundings. The entire base suggested that they were underground, as the smell of rotting plants and permeated throughout the passageways. Tiny trinkets enchanted with light spells decorated the cavern walls, allotting barely enough light to see by. Hermirone still gripped his arm forcefully, though she had loosed her grasp from a minute before. Her face was flushed as she led 5tR4N63r to whatever she wanted him to see.
As they continued down that dank cavern, 5tR4N63r began to pick up various strange sounds. A clang, as if two metal objects clashed with each other here. A muffled shout, immediately followed by another clang there. What was going on?
"Excuse me, Ms. Granger." 5tR4N63r finally decided to interrupt the noise, which had gotten louder as they advanced, "Are we under attack?" He inquired, scanning the area for thermal energy.
"Actually, pardon my last comment." 5tR4N63r smiled, as he saw the source of all the commotion. Hermirone had led him to what his database termed as a salle, or sparring arena, though not as clean and well equipped as the picture in the database, it had all the ferocity that a normal arena would have. The contenders were fully equipped, armed with sparring sabers and armored from head to toe. Their identities were almost impossible to establish, as their masks obscured their faces. Several gatherings of people were watching from a safe distance away, whispering frantically with each move that was dealt, but the ones that stood out the most from the crowd were Sirius Black and Madam Yi, who were having a heated argument, undoubtedly on who the victor of this contest would be. Ronald Weasley sat right beside them, shouting his lungs out. Strangely, 5tR4N63r could not find Harry Potter anywhere…
"Go Harry!" 5tR4N63r's mind suddenly clicked, as he grasped the significance of Ron's bellow. Inwardly chuckling at his unawareness, he whirled around to take a better look at the duel.
Yes, one of the fencers had the right build for Harry Potter, and for a moment, his mask slipped, revealing his proud, confident countenance. With his steely determination shining through, Harry successfully pulled off a compound riposte while adjusting his mask.
However, his opponent, considerably taller and substantially cooler in composure, managed to block the impressive attack with a diagonal parry that was almost too fast to detect. He then recovered, and before Harry Potter could even gather his wits once more, lunged and forced Harry Potter to desperately parry a successive six times. Just as Harry was about to evade a strike aimed at his head with a circular parry, however, the opponent suddenly changed his beat and took Harry's blade by neatly enveloping it. Before the epee had even landed, the opponent had helped Harry up, caught the epee, and handed it back to him.
"That was the most incompetent use of the riposte that I have ever seen, Potter." 5tR4N63r's gasped, as he recognized the voice of Harry Potter's opponent. "I left you those invitations for you to attack me properly, not to embarrass yourself! Now, again!" Severus Snape barely left enough time between removing and reattaching his mask to wipe his forehead, now beaded with perspiration, as he and Harry faced off once more. With a cry of "En Garde!" or 'Present Arms', Snape began the duel once more.
5tR4N63r turned attention from the duel and noticed without surprise that Hermirone had joined her comrades in the benches. Taking one last glance at the duel, he ambled towards his "family".
As he reached the benches, 5tR4N63r was gratified when Ron and Hermirone immediately scooted to make room for his ponderous form. Sirius barely noticed him, still too involved in the flamewar that he was having with Madam Yi. Finally, Sirius caved and handed a couple Silver Sickles to Madam Yi. Curiosity getting the best of him, 5tR4N63r whispered to Hermirone, "Pardon me, but what has Mr. Black and Madam Yi so edgy?"
Confused by Hermirone's giggle, he was immediately enlightened and entertained when she explained, "Oh, that… They've got bets on who will win each round, even though Snape is instructing Harry… Wait, Harry's attacking…"
After the 3 consecutive bouts afterwards (Snape: 2, Harry: 1), Harry Potter collapsed on the mats. Snape, after checking him for any injuries, left him on the mat, and bid his leave. Ron and Hermirone rushed forward to check on Harry, as the rest of the crowd dispersed to find more productive things to occupy themselves with. Behind him, 5tR4N63r heard a delighted Sirius Black chuckling as he demands, "Ok, you've had your fun, Hilary. Now pay up." A disgruntled Madam Yi gruffly muttered, "Stupid, stupid, stupid…" as she reimbursed Sirius for all the times he had lost to her. Still smirking merrily, Sirius reached over and tapped 5tR4N63r on the shoulder.
"Glad to see you're finally awake, Seymour." Sirius chuckled as he busily acquainted himself with his winnings.
"Greetings, Sirius." 5tR4N63r answered, unconsciously edging himself away from Madam Yi, who was staring holes into the back of Sirius's cloak.
"'Afternoon to you, too. Oh yeah, before I forget…" Sirius fetched something from his pocket. Grimacing uncomfortably as he felt the freezing metal, he handed 5tR4N63r his robotic hand. "We tried re-installing it, but… Your body just wouldn't accept it while you were unconscious…"
5tR4N63r barely had time to insert his hand into his stump before a snarling Sirius, tore after Madam Yi, who had "reimbursed" herself of her losses…
Sighing deeply in exasperation, 5tR4N63r sauntered out of the sparring area and wandered around aimlessly, mapping out the caverns in his mind as he explored their new encampment. The sheer size of the caverns was testament to how many magic-users were situated in this area. In his mind, 5tR4N63r absently wondered how many other squads were positioned here, and what his next assignment would be… Of course, Snape's squad would be here… and from what he saw, Krum might be, too. How much had he missed? What are they meeting for? 5tR4N63r let his mind drift, and put the evanescent questions on the back burner as he continued his self-guided tour of the caverns.
That night, 5tR4N63r forced his recovering body to rest itself, but because of his late awakening, his body struggled to obey with his commands. Finally, his eyes closed themselves, and he drifted off to an uneasy slumber, weary mind unwilling to come to a hiatus.
Three rooms away, Harry Potter plopped his exhausted body onto his cot. After fencing for an entire afternoon, his body had finally caved in. Of course, the fact that Snape was his instructor had made the lessons much more interesting. How Sirius got the usually insipid and uncooperative former potions master to instruct him in mastering the sword, he'll never know. After the recent encounter, he had seen how he was far from ever using the Sword at full power, and seen how being unprepared could cost him his life. He had begged for instructors to teach him in the art of fencing, and after inquiring everywhere he could think of, he heard that Snape was a master of the sword, as well as his potions.
The truth was, he doubted much that knowing how to fence would let him use the Sword any better. Sure, he had felt surges of power flowing through him at times, but could it be that they were just coincidences? Would he be prepared next time? Where would he be then? And will he ever encounter that monster again? Did it even survive?
With those questions buzzing in his subconscious like so many stinging hornets, Harry Potter stayed on the brink of consciousness, mind drifting yet still hounded by his unanswered questions.
~~~~~~Author's Notes:~~~~~~
I don't hear any rejoicing...
Anyways, so sorry for this late chapter... Expect the others to be a bit overdue, as well. I've got my summer jammed full of stuff (glares at parents) and I'm gonna be busy for quite a while... Not to mention I'm being haunted by a post-testing writers block (I swear, that stuff squashes creativity)
And if anyone will be so kind to check my fencing vocabulary... I'm not sure that I have the right terms... ^^U
~~~~~~Author's Notes:~~~~~~
