Here's chapter 14. Thanks to my reviewers. Thank you Wolfmoon, Death-Demon-
Xero, Amy, Silverwolf, Skaradox, and Coconut-ice-agent h/h. Thanks for
those who actually found a mistake. I said in beginning chapters that Stacy
seemed to be late 20's but that's impossible if she knows Sirius. So I'll
say she looked that age. She could look younger than she really is.
Especially when you can use magic to beautify yourself. Lol.
Disclaimer: Notice how I don't write these anymore? This is because I wrote it once and it gets annoying to write over and over again so I know that all you readers get my drift. I will write no more of these. It's pretty obvious that I don't own what is in those books. I only own what's in my head but that's not even true as my friends yell at me for reading their minds when we say things at the same time.
This is a need for a disclaimer: A few chapters ago, I wrote down a song called "The Little Horses" which Ashley had sung to Harry after he was hurt form Quidditch. No one was able to guess who sang it so I'll say it now. Charlotte Church sang it on her CD Enchantment. Ashley even sung it like her! Lol.
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Harry awoke the next morning to silence. Looking at his alarm clock next to his bed, he saw that it was already 10:30 in the morning. He figured that everyone else had either gone to class or was walking around the school. He quickly took a shower and dressed. He decided to practice today. The rest of the students were starting their training classes today. After all of their tough and tiring classes, Harry didn't know if he wanted to tell them it was his idea or not. Harry also wanted to try to develop new skills. Ever since he found that he could give Jake the power of telepathy for that short amount of time, he wanted to improve that and learn more.
Walking down the stairs to from the dormitories, he headed outside to the Quidditch pitch. He started brushing up on his kicks and punches. He even figured out how to make a figure that will fight back but won't disappear or die until you want it to. It looked like a solid black person but arranged it anyway Harry wanted such as making it taller, fiercer and so on. Harry practiced on the figure, fighting muggle style with a series of punches and kicks and also adding a few flips and dodges in as well. He made his way into the middle of the pitch to practice his telekinesis when his vision changed. He saw Jake come up from behind him. Jake took a long stick and brought it down upon Harry's back. His vision returned but without a second passing, he teleported a sword into his hands and struck where the stick would come down. It made contact with the stick breaking it into two pieces.
Harry turned to look at Jake in confusion. Why did he attack? Jake transformed the stick into a sword before attacking Harry. Harry blocked them easily. He knew instantly that Jake wasn't fighting to hurt. He was fighting to practice and learn. He could tell from the way Jake was fighting and from how hard the blows were. Harry smiled at him.
"You almost had me," he said circling with Jake around the center of the pitch. He changed his clothes to a pair of baggy pants and a long sleeved red shirt. It was easier to move in. Jake changed to jeans and a black shirt.
"I should've tried harder but then again, I don't know what you're capable of anymore," Jake replied back before attacking. He brought his sword up to crash down on Harry's head. Harry blocked it and moved the sword to block his stomach as Jake's sword moved so quick from his head to his stomach, Harry almost didn't see it. Harry took a swipe at Jake's feet. It was jumped over but Jake almost didn't see Harry striking up to his head but saw it in time to block it. They fought on for a while by changing the types of swords they used from long blades to daggers to others.
*****Care of Magical Creatures*****
Hagrid was teaching his class about small, worm like creatures before Dumbledore walked up, interrupting the class. It was the fifth year class.
"Hello Professor," Hagrid putting the worm back in its tank to the relief of the students.
"Hello Hagrid," Professor Dumbledore greeted. "I just wanted to know how the class was doing. The course was changed I presume?"
"Yes professor, I-" They were interrupted by the sound of clashing metal. The class, Dumbledore and Hagrid turned to face where the sound was coming from. They saw two people attacking dodging and near missing sharp blades.
"Is that Harry and Jake?" Hermione asked worried.
"I think so," Ron answered looking in the direction of his friend. He gasped as Harry nearly missed a blow as his back flipped out of harms way.
"What are they doing?" Lavender asked.
"Practicing," Professor Dumbledore replied. They turned to look at him. He had a sparkle in his eyes and an amused look on his face.
"That's practicing?" Ron asked amazed. He turned back to see the weapons change to long sticks instead. Then they changed to wrist blades. A few minutes later they were using their fists and feet. No one seemed to tire.
"They look like they're ready to kill themselves," Hermione remarked putting a hand over her eyes but sometimes looking through her fingers.
"You need to train like that if you want to beat the Dark Lord," Draco replied.
Ron rounded on him. "You would know just how to fight for the Dark Lord," he said.
"I know how to fight," Draco sneered.
"For the Dark Side," Ron completed.
"For the side that I find myself on," Draco clarified. Ron was about to yell at him more before Lavender interrupted their soon-to-be fight.
"Will we have to learn to fight like that?" she asked Dumbledore.
"They learned how to fight like that because it's what they need to do," Dumbledore responded coming up to the group. His eyes were still fixed on Harry and Jake who were exchanging spells to one another.
"Can we learn how to fight?" a Gryffindor asked. Everyone looked at him surprised. "What?" he asked defensively. "You need to be prepared." Others agreed and went back to the two shapeshifters still fighting.
"You can learn if you want to," Dumbledore answered. "I shall ask them to teach those of you who would like to learn. Now, if those of you would like to come, lets go over to them to ask. But that's only if that's okay with Hagrid." Hagrid didn't mind as all of the Gryffindors and some of the Slytherins followed Dumbledore.
Draco was one of the Slytherins and gained many glares from Ron as he followed. Draco just shrugged them off, as he knew Ron would come to his senses when it's a life or death situation and Draco's the only one who can help. The group walked closer and closer to the fighting group just to see them stop fighting and shake hands.
"Well done!" Dumbledore exclaimed clapping his hands. Harry and Jake jumped not knowing they were there.
"That was incredible!" a Gryffindor exclaimed.
"Thanks," Jake replied surprised.
"I was hoping that you would be kind enough to tell the students some pointers to fighting as I know you two are professionals," Dumbledore said, eyes sparkling. Harry and Jake blushed.
"We'd love to," Harry replied embarrassed that he was being watched.
"Let me just get the Herbology class here," Dumbledore said. "Half of the class time should be devoted to fighting. It would be best to do it outside for the open room." He walked off and returned with seventh year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. They were looking confused until Dumbledore mentioned why they were there. Then they looked interested as they, as well as everyone else, took a seat on the grass. Even the teachers looked excited and interested.
Harry looked over to the castle. 'Guys, we need you by the pitch pronto,' he said using telepathy to Ashley, Caroline, Matt, Liz and Stacy.
"They're on their way." He said to Jake who nodded. They waited a few seconds before a few brooms flew over and landed. They were all wearing muggle clothes.
"Why do you have to fly everywhere?" Jake asked disgusted.
"They're faster than walking," Ashley replied before grabbing her broom and walking over to Harry.
"By why brooms?" Jake asked.
"Just because you hate them doesn't mean we can't use them, Earth-boy," Matt said laying his broom off to the side.
"I don't know what you find interesting about being far up in the air where it's possible to fall," he said looking up.
Caroline bent down and picked a dandelion. "Don't diss brooms or this is what you get." She burned the flower. Jake looked at her with his mouth wide before smirking.
"Oh really?" he asked. He grabbed the flower. "It really doesn't matter." He waved his hand over the deceased flower. It slowly regained color as it came back to life.
"I'll burn it again!" Caroline yelled. The students looked at them in amusement. It was interesting when they used their elements. Especially when they have a temper.
"Try! I can do that again," Jake said back. Caroline took out wand ready to hex Jake. He made the ground shake from under her.
"You'll pay for that!" she yelled as she put away her wands. She laid her hands out in front of her, palms up. A huge fireball was created. With a movement with her hands, it soared toward Jake only to be extinguished a foot away for him by a water ball by Matt. Caroline rounded on him.
"Don't help him!" she yelled throwing another fireball at Matt who threw water at it.
"This is what happens when you make them mad," Harry said to the students who were amused by the behavior of Caroline, Jake and Matt.
"Oh stop trying to kill each other already!" a voice yelled from behind them. Caroline, Matt and Jake stopped fighting to turn around. They saw Stacy walking towards them with Snow on her shoulder. "I suppose that you all want to be prepared to fight if you have to?" she asked the seventh and fifth years who nodded their heads.
"That is if you wouldn't mind," Dumbledore said. He had transfigured a stick into a chair that he was now sitting on.
"I wouldn't mind at all Albus," Stacy said smiling. "I was hoping that I would be able to teach new students." She looked around at the students. "Who here as any dueling or fighting experience?" A few raised their hands. "Good. How was your fight?" she asked Jake.
He shrugged. "He knew I was there," he said disappionted.
"He's getting better," Stacy remarked looking at Harry. Harry just looked at her as he raised his eyebrows.
"You knew he was going to attack?" he asked. Stacy shook her head.
"No. I saw you two practicing for a while from my classroom," she said. She turned back to the class. "I take it that most of you saw them practicing?" the fifth years nodded their heads. The Herbology class was inside the greenhouse so they didn't hear anything. "I can teach you how to do some of that. Just not all. Some of that was for only their individual abilities." A few students nodded their heads. The shapeshifters stood to the side of Stacy watching her.
She looked down at the class as she started pacing in front of them. "I can teach you a lot about muggle and magical fighting from professional duels to martial arts. It just takes a lot of dedication and practice to even get close to what my students are capable of. They spent all of their summer and for most a whole year or more to get this far. It will be hard and I'll tell you that right now. I still have to train my students to become the best they can be and then more. "
"You're making them nervous," Liz remarked looking at the faces of the students who were beginning to doubt ever coming to the class.
"You're making us nervous," Matt added. How much more training can they do? They can barley do better than what they can do now. His remark made a few people laugh nervously.
"This is going to be terrible," Harry said quietly so Stacy couldn't hear.
"Say good bye to sleep," Jake whispered back.
"Say good bye to life," Caroline added.
"And free time," Liz said.
"And friends," Matt said.
"And Quidditch," Ashley concluded sadly. Many shook their heads in disgust.
Stacy was oblivious to the whole conversation as she talked to the class. "It's going to start at first hard but as you get used to it, it will come easily. But first, I need to train you physically every day so that you're fit." Se turned to the shapeshifters who smiled innocently at her. "I want you to train with every one else." The shapeshifters thought about what that could be. Sword fighting, punches, kicks, and weren't that hard. Sensing what they were thinking, she quickly added. "Physical training." The shapeshifters groaned. Now they knew what she meant. She meant long running mostly.
"I have trained them for a long time to be very strong yet you wouldn't be able to tell by the way they look. Wolf, come here please." Harry looked at her confused before approaching her.
"Good luck," Ashley whispered in his ear.
"By the way," Stacy added. "For those of you who wish and might be on the battlefield, I suggest getting nicknames." Harry stood next to her awaiting a command. Stacy smiled down at him. "For those of you who knew Harry last year, he still looks the same this year right? And I mean when he had black hair and all." Students nodded. Harry was trying to figure out what she was getting at. "Well, my training makes you faster and stronger but doesn't change your appearance which makes enemies under estimate you." She called Jake and Matt up to her. They came and stood next to Harry equally confused. "I will show you just how fast they are." Stacy looked around before finding what she needed.
"Girls," she said to Caroline, Ashley and Liz. They looked back at her in fear. "I would like you to walk over there for awhile. I'll tell Harry to tell you to stop." They girls looked at her confused before walking away. About the length of a muggle football field and a half, Harry told them to stop on Stacy's order.
"Ok," Stacy said facing the boys. "We're going to play a muggle race. I'm going to hand one of the girls a stick. Once one of the girls runs over here, they will pass it to one of you. Then you will take that stick and run it to the next girl. She will take it and run it over here and so on until you are all moved to the opposite side that you started on."
Harry repeated this to the girls who nodded their heads every so often to confirm that they were hearing them. They then lined up behind themselves. First was Caroline than Liz, then Ashley. The boys lined up as Jake, Matt and Harry. Caroline picked up a stick and held it up so Stacy could see that they were ready. Stacy made a whistle appear in her hands. The boys stood their ready. Stacy blew the whistle and before it was done blowing, Caroline was halfway to them. She moved incredibly fast. She reached them in no time. Jake quickly grabbed the stick before racing to Liz in one smooth move. In a few seconds he had reached Liz and she was laughing as she ran back over.
The students were cheering them on as well as being amazed by how fast they moved.
Liz reached them still laughing. "What's so funny?" Caroline asked as Matt left leaving Harry first in line.
"Its funny that everyone is cheering us on," she said panting and laughing. Harry started to laugh as well.
"Come on!" Stacy yelled. "Keep up to pace!"
Ashley grabbed the stick and ran to Harry. She was laughing. Easily Harry and her were the fastest runners. They were the lightest. Ashley handed Harry the stick and he took off. He ran with all of his might. He could hear everyone cheering him on. He ran as fast as he could and in no time, he had reached the other end. Cheers erupted as Harry came to a stop. He turned and walked back to Jake and Matt, who gave him high fives before heading over to the other side.
"You still didn't get any faster," Stacy remarked as they reached the other side. "You're around the same time."
"It's fine with me," Liz replied.
"And the rest of us," Matt added.
"We have to run that fast?" Ron asked. Stacy laughed.
"You should learn to get pretty fast. Maybe not as fast as them but fast enough to dodge and run," she answered.
"How did they learn to go that fast?" a Slytherin asked.
"They start running at a slow pace for long distances. Then we worry about full speed running." No one else asked a question after that. The shapeshifters caught their breath before sitting down on the ground.
"I believe that class is just about over," Dumbledore said standing up. "You may now all go to lunch." Student rose from their spots and grabbed their stuff as they headed towards the castle. Ron, Lavender, Hermione and Draco stayed behind. Draco was talking to Stacy as Ron, Lavender and Hermione went over to Harry.
"That was some run," Ron said looking down at his friend who was still lying on the ground.
"Yea but I'm used to it," Harry replied before standing up. He quickly brushed off his clothes as he and the others headed up to the castle.
"That's Stacy's favorite running exercise for us to do," Jake commented as they made their way through the doors and down to the Great Hall.
"She makes us do it a lot," Liz added. "It used to be everyday but not that we're in Hogwarts." When they entered the Great Hall, several eyes watched them as they took their seats.
"Word gets around fast doesn't it?" Caroline said looking around at the amount of eyes that were looking at them.
"No not really," Harry said sarcastically. "It's not fast enough."
"Hello dears!" Mrs. Weasley said as they sat down. "How were your classes?"
"Boring," Ron remarked. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"They were very educational just like every class," she said before helping herself to a sandwich.
"That's great," Mrs. Weasley said.
"I heard that Stacy made you run," Remus said coming up to them from behind.
"It was torture!" Jake exclaimed holding his throat as if he was choking. He was receiving some glares off of other tables. "I didn't know if I was going to make it. It lasted forever." He froze in his spot.
"Are you done yet?" Caroline asked without even looking up from her plate.
"Yea pretty much," Jake answered as he sat up. Remus laughed.
"That bad huh?" he asked. Mrs. Weasley looked at them in confusion. Word didn't get around fast enough.
"Nah, it was a piece of cake," Jake replied before picking up a sandwich.
"What did you do this morning?" Mrs. Weasley asked. They explained everything to her. Across from her, Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out a huge, thick book and slammed it down on the table before reading.
"What are you reading Hermione?" Ashley asked.
Hermione looked up. "I'm just reading over old stuff. I'm studying for the O.W.L. 's." Ron stared at her.
"Now? We have months before the tests!" he exclaimed. Harry rolled his eyes. Here we go again.
"Yes we do have months," Hermione agreed. "Months to study! Some of us plan to do well on these tests and they start studying early so they can do that. You should start studying if you want to do well."
"I'll do just fine," Ron said.
"Harry?" Ashley asked. Harry looked up at her. "Do we have to take the O.W.L. 's?" Harry's eyes grew wide.
"I didn't even think about that. I don't know!" Ashley stood and headed toward the staff table. As she passed Harry, he rose and headed over with her. Stacy was enjoying a nice conversation with Professor McGonagall while picking at her food.
"Stacy?" Ashley asked as they stopped in front of the table. She was done with her talk with McGonagall.
"What's the matter?" she asked putting her fork down.
"Do we have to take the O.W.L. 's this year?" Ashley asked. Stacy's face scrunched up as she thought.
"You might have to since you did attend a wizarding school and that you are magical. I wouldn't be worried about it though. Through our practices I've been reviewing with you everything you really need to know and I've already taught you what you need to know for this year. But if you'd like, Tomorrow morning, I'll set up a train schedule where we can travel back home so you can bring any books or supplied you want from home here. It would be easier to do that instead of using magic. It might not work for distances that long."
Ashley looked happy. "Thanks," she said relieved.
"Tell the others that they can return home to pick up things if they'd like," Stacy added.
"Can Hermione and Ron come?" Harry asked. Hermione and Ron had never seen the mansion Harry had lived in over the summer.
"You can definitely bring them. Just tell them that the trip is an hour or so long."
"How long will we be gone?" Ashley asked.
"As long as you want but if Hermione and Ron come, they have to return in time for classes or I can teach them that week so that they can stay at the house and explore the muggle world as well. It would be very educational for Ron although he might not like it," Stacy said laughing. "Let me just clear it with Albus." She stood and walked over to the headmaster's seat. They talked and Dumbledore nodded a few times until Stacy grabbed a sheet of parchment and a quill and started going around to the teachers. She would ask them something and they would respond. What they said, Stacy wrote down. When she reached Snape, he seemed happy.
"She must be writing down what they would be teaching that week because Snape's happy," Harry observed.
"Yea, happy to be loosing two Gryffindors for the week," Ashley added dryly. Stacy finally returned.
"You can ask them if they'd like to spend the week. Tell Ron about the Quidditch pitch and Hermione about our library and classrooms where she can learn. Then you'll know they'll come," Stacy said with a smile. Harry and Ashley smiled back. "I'm just going to ask Sirius and Remus to go too." Ashley and Harry headed back to the table as Stacy left her seat to find Padfoot and Moony.
"Do we have to take the exams?" Liz asked as the two sat in a seat.
"She thinks we do," Ashley responded.
"She said that we can go home for the week to pick up things we need to study from." Harry added.
"Home," Caroline said with a dreamy look in her eyes. "I'm so home sick."
"Home?" Hermione asked. "Where's that?" The shapeshifters looked at each other.
"I really don't know," Matt admitted. "It's called the House for the Gifted. That's where we live."
"So you're going back home for the week?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "Yea but that's not the best part." Ron looked at him confused. "You and Hermione can come with us, if that's alright with your Mum," Ron's eyes opened wide.
"I'd love to go!" he exclaimed. "For the whole week?" Harry and Ashley nodded. "Wow!"
"I'd love to go but I have to study," Hermione said. Ashley turned to her.
"Did you ever get bored looking for information in the library here and getting bored with seeing the same books over and over without any change?" she asked. Hermione thought it over. "We have a library at home bigger than the one here. It has lots more books there than here and you can read any of them. They're are even books there that are probably found in the restricted section here."
Hermione's eyes went wide. She could go and read different books with more information. She was bout to agree before she realized that they would be out the whole week.
"What about school work?" she asked.
"Stacy will teach everything that you need to know for that week to you. You'll get everything easily and remember it too. She has a way to make you remember things. I think it's the way she teaches," Ashley said.
"I get to sleep in my own bed!" Liz exclaimed.
"Yea, in our own rooms," Caroline added.
"That reminds me," Harry said. "Wait till you see our rooms."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Let's just say they're different than the ones here," Matt said mysteriously.
Ron turned to Mrs. Weasley and asked if he could go. As soon as she found out who was going, she let him go.
"When will we leave?" Jake asked.
"Tomorrow morning," Harry answered. "We'll have to start packing tonight."
Lunch was over as the next class began. During the time when everyone had a class, Harry made his way towards Gryffindor tower to begin packing. He gave the Fat Lady the password and entered. He ran up to his dormitory and took out a backpack that he had brought with him. He grabbed things to put inside such as games for the trip and money. He didn't need clothes or supplied like ink, parchment and quills because some were already at home in his desk. He also grabbed some photos that he wanted to frame and put it up on his dresser such as pictures of him and Ashley at the dance. When he was almost done, he went back down to the common room where he picked up a book of strategies for Quidditch.
Finally after the afternoon classes had ended, the common room filled up. The rest of the night was devoted to helping Ron and Hermione pack what was needed. They weren't going to travel as light as Harry, because they didn't have things at the home already such as clothes. It took a few hours until everyone was sure that they had everything that they needed. They talked for the rest of the time, mostly explaining what the house looked like and what they would be doing until they all made their way up to the dormitories to fall asleep.
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I think this is actually my shortest chapter but I can explain and this goes with the whole 'I'm sick' thing. Yes I am sick but I'm still typing. Be happy about that. I stopped it here because then this would go on forever and you wouldn't get it so soon. How's the chapter?
Review ideas! I use all such as events to take place, incidents, attacks, new people, fights, problems, damage to characters like what happened to Harry during Quidditch and so on.
Questions: Should Harry be able to sing well? I think I might make him. I might not go with your response so there!
Should the gang have to go to Muggle School during the summer? They might have to because they don't have proof that they went to school. You can't exactly say, "Oh I went to school IO went to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry." If you say that, say hello to your new therapist.
I need ideas people. . .ok I think I'm done. Oh yeah, Tell your friends about my story because I don't have a lot of reviewers.
Disclaimer: Notice how I don't write these anymore? This is because I wrote it once and it gets annoying to write over and over again so I know that all you readers get my drift. I will write no more of these. It's pretty obvious that I don't own what is in those books. I only own what's in my head but that's not even true as my friends yell at me for reading their minds when we say things at the same time.
This is a need for a disclaimer: A few chapters ago, I wrote down a song called "The Little Horses" which Ashley had sung to Harry after he was hurt form Quidditch. No one was able to guess who sang it so I'll say it now. Charlotte Church sang it on her CD Enchantment. Ashley even sung it like her! Lol.
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Harry awoke the next morning to silence. Looking at his alarm clock next to his bed, he saw that it was already 10:30 in the morning. He figured that everyone else had either gone to class or was walking around the school. He quickly took a shower and dressed. He decided to practice today. The rest of the students were starting their training classes today. After all of their tough and tiring classes, Harry didn't know if he wanted to tell them it was his idea or not. Harry also wanted to try to develop new skills. Ever since he found that he could give Jake the power of telepathy for that short amount of time, he wanted to improve that and learn more.
Walking down the stairs to from the dormitories, he headed outside to the Quidditch pitch. He started brushing up on his kicks and punches. He even figured out how to make a figure that will fight back but won't disappear or die until you want it to. It looked like a solid black person but arranged it anyway Harry wanted such as making it taller, fiercer and so on. Harry practiced on the figure, fighting muggle style with a series of punches and kicks and also adding a few flips and dodges in as well. He made his way into the middle of the pitch to practice his telekinesis when his vision changed. He saw Jake come up from behind him. Jake took a long stick and brought it down upon Harry's back. His vision returned but without a second passing, he teleported a sword into his hands and struck where the stick would come down. It made contact with the stick breaking it into two pieces.
Harry turned to look at Jake in confusion. Why did he attack? Jake transformed the stick into a sword before attacking Harry. Harry blocked them easily. He knew instantly that Jake wasn't fighting to hurt. He was fighting to practice and learn. He could tell from the way Jake was fighting and from how hard the blows were. Harry smiled at him.
"You almost had me," he said circling with Jake around the center of the pitch. He changed his clothes to a pair of baggy pants and a long sleeved red shirt. It was easier to move in. Jake changed to jeans and a black shirt.
"I should've tried harder but then again, I don't know what you're capable of anymore," Jake replied back before attacking. He brought his sword up to crash down on Harry's head. Harry blocked it and moved the sword to block his stomach as Jake's sword moved so quick from his head to his stomach, Harry almost didn't see it. Harry took a swipe at Jake's feet. It was jumped over but Jake almost didn't see Harry striking up to his head but saw it in time to block it. They fought on for a while by changing the types of swords they used from long blades to daggers to others.
*****Care of Magical Creatures*****
Hagrid was teaching his class about small, worm like creatures before Dumbledore walked up, interrupting the class. It was the fifth year class.
"Hello Professor," Hagrid putting the worm back in its tank to the relief of the students.
"Hello Hagrid," Professor Dumbledore greeted. "I just wanted to know how the class was doing. The course was changed I presume?"
"Yes professor, I-" They were interrupted by the sound of clashing metal. The class, Dumbledore and Hagrid turned to face where the sound was coming from. They saw two people attacking dodging and near missing sharp blades.
"Is that Harry and Jake?" Hermione asked worried.
"I think so," Ron answered looking in the direction of his friend. He gasped as Harry nearly missed a blow as his back flipped out of harms way.
"What are they doing?" Lavender asked.
"Practicing," Professor Dumbledore replied. They turned to look at him. He had a sparkle in his eyes and an amused look on his face.
"That's practicing?" Ron asked amazed. He turned back to see the weapons change to long sticks instead. Then they changed to wrist blades. A few minutes later they were using their fists and feet. No one seemed to tire.
"They look like they're ready to kill themselves," Hermione remarked putting a hand over her eyes but sometimes looking through her fingers.
"You need to train like that if you want to beat the Dark Lord," Draco replied.
Ron rounded on him. "You would know just how to fight for the Dark Lord," he said.
"I know how to fight," Draco sneered.
"For the Dark Side," Ron completed.
"For the side that I find myself on," Draco clarified. Ron was about to yell at him more before Lavender interrupted their soon-to-be fight.
"Will we have to learn to fight like that?" she asked Dumbledore.
"They learned how to fight like that because it's what they need to do," Dumbledore responded coming up to the group. His eyes were still fixed on Harry and Jake who were exchanging spells to one another.
"Can we learn how to fight?" a Gryffindor asked. Everyone looked at him surprised. "What?" he asked defensively. "You need to be prepared." Others agreed and went back to the two shapeshifters still fighting.
"You can learn if you want to," Dumbledore answered. "I shall ask them to teach those of you who would like to learn. Now, if those of you would like to come, lets go over to them to ask. But that's only if that's okay with Hagrid." Hagrid didn't mind as all of the Gryffindors and some of the Slytherins followed Dumbledore.
Draco was one of the Slytherins and gained many glares from Ron as he followed. Draco just shrugged them off, as he knew Ron would come to his senses when it's a life or death situation and Draco's the only one who can help. The group walked closer and closer to the fighting group just to see them stop fighting and shake hands.
"Well done!" Dumbledore exclaimed clapping his hands. Harry and Jake jumped not knowing they were there.
"That was incredible!" a Gryffindor exclaimed.
"Thanks," Jake replied surprised.
"I was hoping that you would be kind enough to tell the students some pointers to fighting as I know you two are professionals," Dumbledore said, eyes sparkling. Harry and Jake blushed.
"We'd love to," Harry replied embarrassed that he was being watched.
"Let me just get the Herbology class here," Dumbledore said. "Half of the class time should be devoted to fighting. It would be best to do it outside for the open room." He walked off and returned with seventh year Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors. They were looking confused until Dumbledore mentioned why they were there. Then they looked interested as they, as well as everyone else, took a seat on the grass. Even the teachers looked excited and interested.
Harry looked over to the castle. 'Guys, we need you by the pitch pronto,' he said using telepathy to Ashley, Caroline, Matt, Liz and Stacy.
"They're on their way." He said to Jake who nodded. They waited a few seconds before a few brooms flew over and landed. They were all wearing muggle clothes.
"Why do you have to fly everywhere?" Jake asked disgusted.
"They're faster than walking," Ashley replied before grabbing her broom and walking over to Harry.
"By why brooms?" Jake asked.
"Just because you hate them doesn't mean we can't use them, Earth-boy," Matt said laying his broom off to the side.
"I don't know what you find interesting about being far up in the air where it's possible to fall," he said looking up.
Caroline bent down and picked a dandelion. "Don't diss brooms or this is what you get." She burned the flower. Jake looked at her with his mouth wide before smirking.
"Oh really?" he asked. He grabbed the flower. "It really doesn't matter." He waved his hand over the deceased flower. It slowly regained color as it came back to life.
"I'll burn it again!" Caroline yelled. The students looked at them in amusement. It was interesting when they used their elements. Especially when they have a temper.
"Try! I can do that again," Jake said back. Caroline took out wand ready to hex Jake. He made the ground shake from under her.
"You'll pay for that!" she yelled as she put away her wands. She laid her hands out in front of her, palms up. A huge fireball was created. With a movement with her hands, it soared toward Jake only to be extinguished a foot away for him by a water ball by Matt. Caroline rounded on him.
"Don't help him!" she yelled throwing another fireball at Matt who threw water at it.
"This is what happens when you make them mad," Harry said to the students who were amused by the behavior of Caroline, Jake and Matt.
"Oh stop trying to kill each other already!" a voice yelled from behind them. Caroline, Matt and Jake stopped fighting to turn around. They saw Stacy walking towards them with Snow on her shoulder. "I suppose that you all want to be prepared to fight if you have to?" she asked the seventh and fifth years who nodded their heads.
"That is if you wouldn't mind," Dumbledore said. He had transfigured a stick into a chair that he was now sitting on.
"I wouldn't mind at all Albus," Stacy said smiling. "I was hoping that I would be able to teach new students." She looked around at the students. "Who here as any dueling or fighting experience?" A few raised their hands. "Good. How was your fight?" she asked Jake.
He shrugged. "He knew I was there," he said disappionted.
"He's getting better," Stacy remarked looking at Harry. Harry just looked at her as he raised his eyebrows.
"You knew he was going to attack?" he asked. Stacy shook her head.
"No. I saw you two practicing for a while from my classroom," she said. She turned back to the class. "I take it that most of you saw them practicing?" the fifth years nodded their heads. The Herbology class was inside the greenhouse so they didn't hear anything. "I can teach you how to do some of that. Just not all. Some of that was for only their individual abilities." A few students nodded their heads. The shapeshifters stood to the side of Stacy watching her.
She looked down at the class as she started pacing in front of them. "I can teach you a lot about muggle and magical fighting from professional duels to martial arts. It just takes a lot of dedication and practice to even get close to what my students are capable of. They spent all of their summer and for most a whole year or more to get this far. It will be hard and I'll tell you that right now. I still have to train my students to become the best they can be and then more. "
"You're making them nervous," Liz remarked looking at the faces of the students who were beginning to doubt ever coming to the class.
"You're making us nervous," Matt added. How much more training can they do? They can barley do better than what they can do now. His remark made a few people laugh nervously.
"This is going to be terrible," Harry said quietly so Stacy couldn't hear.
"Say good bye to sleep," Jake whispered back.
"Say good bye to life," Caroline added.
"And free time," Liz said.
"And friends," Matt said.
"And Quidditch," Ashley concluded sadly. Many shook their heads in disgust.
Stacy was oblivious to the whole conversation as she talked to the class. "It's going to start at first hard but as you get used to it, it will come easily. But first, I need to train you physically every day so that you're fit." Se turned to the shapeshifters who smiled innocently at her. "I want you to train with every one else." The shapeshifters thought about what that could be. Sword fighting, punches, kicks, and weren't that hard. Sensing what they were thinking, she quickly added. "Physical training." The shapeshifters groaned. Now they knew what she meant. She meant long running mostly.
"I have trained them for a long time to be very strong yet you wouldn't be able to tell by the way they look. Wolf, come here please." Harry looked at her confused before approaching her.
"Good luck," Ashley whispered in his ear.
"By the way," Stacy added. "For those of you who wish and might be on the battlefield, I suggest getting nicknames." Harry stood next to her awaiting a command. Stacy smiled down at him. "For those of you who knew Harry last year, he still looks the same this year right? And I mean when he had black hair and all." Students nodded. Harry was trying to figure out what she was getting at. "Well, my training makes you faster and stronger but doesn't change your appearance which makes enemies under estimate you." She called Jake and Matt up to her. They came and stood next to Harry equally confused. "I will show you just how fast they are." Stacy looked around before finding what she needed.
"Girls," she said to Caroline, Ashley and Liz. They looked back at her in fear. "I would like you to walk over there for awhile. I'll tell Harry to tell you to stop." They girls looked at her confused before walking away. About the length of a muggle football field and a half, Harry told them to stop on Stacy's order.
"Ok," Stacy said facing the boys. "We're going to play a muggle race. I'm going to hand one of the girls a stick. Once one of the girls runs over here, they will pass it to one of you. Then you will take that stick and run it to the next girl. She will take it and run it over here and so on until you are all moved to the opposite side that you started on."
Harry repeated this to the girls who nodded their heads every so often to confirm that they were hearing them. They then lined up behind themselves. First was Caroline than Liz, then Ashley. The boys lined up as Jake, Matt and Harry. Caroline picked up a stick and held it up so Stacy could see that they were ready. Stacy made a whistle appear in her hands. The boys stood their ready. Stacy blew the whistle and before it was done blowing, Caroline was halfway to them. She moved incredibly fast. She reached them in no time. Jake quickly grabbed the stick before racing to Liz in one smooth move. In a few seconds he had reached Liz and she was laughing as she ran back over.
The students were cheering them on as well as being amazed by how fast they moved.
Liz reached them still laughing. "What's so funny?" Caroline asked as Matt left leaving Harry first in line.
"Its funny that everyone is cheering us on," she said panting and laughing. Harry started to laugh as well.
"Come on!" Stacy yelled. "Keep up to pace!"
Ashley grabbed the stick and ran to Harry. She was laughing. Easily Harry and her were the fastest runners. They were the lightest. Ashley handed Harry the stick and he took off. He ran with all of his might. He could hear everyone cheering him on. He ran as fast as he could and in no time, he had reached the other end. Cheers erupted as Harry came to a stop. He turned and walked back to Jake and Matt, who gave him high fives before heading over to the other side.
"You still didn't get any faster," Stacy remarked as they reached the other side. "You're around the same time."
"It's fine with me," Liz replied.
"And the rest of us," Matt added.
"We have to run that fast?" Ron asked. Stacy laughed.
"You should learn to get pretty fast. Maybe not as fast as them but fast enough to dodge and run," she answered.
"How did they learn to go that fast?" a Slytherin asked.
"They start running at a slow pace for long distances. Then we worry about full speed running." No one else asked a question after that. The shapeshifters caught their breath before sitting down on the ground.
"I believe that class is just about over," Dumbledore said standing up. "You may now all go to lunch." Student rose from their spots and grabbed their stuff as they headed towards the castle. Ron, Lavender, Hermione and Draco stayed behind. Draco was talking to Stacy as Ron, Lavender and Hermione went over to Harry.
"That was some run," Ron said looking down at his friend who was still lying on the ground.
"Yea but I'm used to it," Harry replied before standing up. He quickly brushed off his clothes as he and the others headed up to the castle.
"That's Stacy's favorite running exercise for us to do," Jake commented as they made their way through the doors and down to the Great Hall.
"She makes us do it a lot," Liz added. "It used to be everyday but not that we're in Hogwarts." When they entered the Great Hall, several eyes watched them as they took their seats.
"Word gets around fast doesn't it?" Caroline said looking around at the amount of eyes that were looking at them.
"No not really," Harry said sarcastically. "It's not fast enough."
"Hello dears!" Mrs. Weasley said as they sat down. "How were your classes?"
"Boring," Ron remarked. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"They were very educational just like every class," she said before helping herself to a sandwich.
"That's great," Mrs. Weasley said.
"I heard that Stacy made you run," Remus said coming up to them from behind.
"It was torture!" Jake exclaimed holding his throat as if he was choking. He was receiving some glares off of other tables. "I didn't know if I was going to make it. It lasted forever." He froze in his spot.
"Are you done yet?" Caroline asked without even looking up from her plate.
"Yea pretty much," Jake answered as he sat up. Remus laughed.
"That bad huh?" he asked. Mrs. Weasley looked at them in confusion. Word didn't get around fast enough.
"Nah, it was a piece of cake," Jake replied before picking up a sandwich.
"What did you do this morning?" Mrs. Weasley asked. They explained everything to her. Across from her, Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out a huge, thick book and slammed it down on the table before reading.
"What are you reading Hermione?" Ashley asked.
Hermione looked up. "I'm just reading over old stuff. I'm studying for the O.W.L. 's." Ron stared at her.
"Now? We have months before the tests!" he exclaimed. Harry rolled his eyes. Here we go again.
"Yes we do have months," Hermione agreed. "Months to study! Some of us plan to do well on these tests and they start studying early so they can do that. You should start studying if you want to do well."
"I'll do just fine," Ron said.
"Harry?" Ashley asked. Harry looked up at her. "Do we have to take the O.W.L. 's?" Harry's eyes grew wide.
"I didn't even think about that. I don't know!" Ashley stood and headed toward the staff table. As she passed Harry, he rose and headed over with her. Stacy was enjoying a nice conversation with Professor McGonagall while picking at her food.
"Stacy?" Ashley asked as they stopped in front of the table. She was done with her talk with McGonagall.
"What's the matter?" she asked putting her fork down.
"Do we have to take the O.W.L. 's this year?" Ashley asked. Stacy's face scrunched up as she thought.
"You might have to since you did attend a wizarding school and that you are magical. I wouldn't be worried about it though. Through our practices I've been reviewing with you everything you really need to know and I've already taught you what you need to know for this year. But if you'd like, Tomorrow morning, I'll set up a train schedule where we can travel back home so you can bring any books or supplied you want from home here. It would be easier to do that instead of using magic. It might not work for distances that long."
Ashley looked happy. "Thanks," she said relieved.
"Tell the others that they can return home to pick up things if they'd like," Stacy added.
"Can Hermione and Ron come?" Harry asked. Hermione and Ron had never seen the mansion Harry had lived in over the summer.
"You can definitely bring them. Just tell them that the trip is an hour or so long."
"How long will we be gone?" Ashley asked.
"As long as you want but if Hermione and Ron come, they have to return in time for classes or I can teach them that week so that they can stay at the house and explore the muggle world as well. It would be very educational for Ron although he might not like it," Stacy said laughing. "Let me just clear it with Albus." She stood and walked over to the headmaster's seat. They talked and Dumbledore nodded a few times until Stacy grabbed a sheet of parchment and a quill and started going around to the teachers. She would ask them something and they would respond. What they said, Stacy wrote down. When she reached Snape, he seemed happy.
"She must be writing down what they would be teaching that week because Snape's happy," Harry observed.
"Yea, happy to be loosing two Gryffindors for the week," Ashley added dryly. Stacy finally returned.
"You can ask them if they'd like to spend the week. Tell Ron about the Quidditch pitch and Hermione about our library and classrooms where she can learn. Then you'll know they'll come," Stacy said with a smile. Harry and Ashley smiled back. "I'm just going to ask Sirius and Remus to go too." Ashley and Harry headed back to the table as Stacy left her seat to find Padfoot and Moony.
"Do we have to take the exams?" Liz asked as the two sat in a seat.
"She thinks we do," Ashley responded.
"She said that we can go home for the week to pick up things we need to study from." Harry added.
"Home," Caroline said with a dreamy look in her eyes. "I'm so home sick."
"Home?" Hermione asked. "Where's that?" The shapeshifters looked at each other.
"I really don't know," Matt admitted. "It's called the House for the Gifted. That's where we live."
"So you're going back home for the week?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "Yea but that's not the best part." Ron looked at him confused. "You and Hermione can come with us, if that's alright with your Mum," Ron's eyes opened wide.
"I'd love to go!" he exclaimed. "For the whole week?" Harry and Ashley nodded. "Wow!"
"I'd love to go but I have to study," Hermione said. Ashley turned to her.
"Did you ever get bored looking for information in the library here and getting bored with seeing the same books over and over without any change?" she asked. Hermione thought it over. "We have a library at home bigger than the one here. It has lots more books there than here and you can read any of them. They're are even books there that are probably found in the restricted section here."
Hermione's eyes went wide. She could go and read different books with more information. She was bout to agree before she realized that they would be out the whole week.
"What about school work?" she asked.
"Stacy will teach everything that you need to know for that week to you. You'll get everything easily and remember it too. She has a way to make you remember things. I think it's the way she teaches," Ashley said.
"I get to sleep in my own bed!" Liz exclaimed.
"Yea, in our own rooms," Caroline added.
"That reminds me," Harry said. "Wait till you see our rooms."
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Let's just say they're different than the ones here," Matt said mysteriously.
Ron turned to Mrs. Weasley and asked if he could go. As soon as she found out who was going, she let him go.
"When will we leave?" Jake asked.
"Tomorrow morning," Harry answered. "We'll have to start packing tonight."
Lunch was over as the next class began. During the time when everyone had a class, Harry made his way towards Gryffindor tower to begin packing. He gave the Fat Lady the password and entered. He ran up to his dormitory and took out a backpack that he had brought with him. He grabbed things to put inside such as games for the trip and money. He didn't need clothes or supplied like ink, parchment and quills because some were already at home in his desk. He also grabbed some photos that he wanted to frame and put it up on his dresser such as pictures of him and Ashley at the dance. When he was almost done, he went back down to the common room where he picked up a book of strategies for Quidditch.
Finally after the afternoon classes had ended, the common room filled up. The rest of the night was devoted to helping Ron and Hermione pack what was needed. They weren't going to travel as light as Harry, because they didn't have things at the home already such as clothes. It took a few hours until everyone was sure that they had everything that they needed. They talked for the rest of the time, mostly explaining what the house looked like and what they would be doing until they all made their way up to the dormitories to fall asleep.
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I think this is actually my shortest chapter but I can explain and this goes with the whole 'I'm sick' thing. Yes I am sick but I'm still typing. Be happy about that. I stopped it here because then this would go on forever and you wouldn't get it so soon. How's the chapter?
Review ideas! I use all such as events to take place, incidents, attacks, new people, fights, problems, damage to characters like what happened to Harry during Quidditch and so on.
Questions: Should Harry be able to sing well? I think I might make him. I might not go with your response so there!
Should the gang have to go to Muggle School during the summer? They might have to because they don't have proof that they went to school. You can't exactly say, "Oh I went to school IO went to Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry." If you say that, say hello to your new therapist.
I need ideas people. . .ok I think I'm done. Oh yeah, Tell your friends about my story because I don't have a lot of reviewers.