Chapter 20:

Dueling Tonks

On Monday, Harry woke early and grinned to himself as he thought about what he had planned for the Dueling Club that evening. He was also grinning about what he had planned for Ginny after dinner as well. The day passed by extremely slowly considering the fact that Harry was anticipating the evening so much. Finally, however, he was walking onto the platform in front of the Dueling Club. He noticed that everyone had their swords and appeared ready.

"Tonight, we are going to change pace just a little. We are going to continue to practice sword and wand combination fighting on Thursdays. On Mondays, we are going to begin working on what to do when you don't have a wand. Many witches and wizards scoff at physical combat, but the martial arts techniques that are highly prized by Muggles can be quite effective. Never underestimate what someone can do without a wand. Professor Tonks, choose your army while I fix up the platform."

Tonks looked at him in bewilderment, "What are you talking about? What am I supposed to choose an army for?"

Harry grinned over his shoulder at her as he drew his wand, "To defeat me, of course. Get three volunteers. Your choice." Harry began conjuring a living room suit including a couch, chair, two end tables, and an ottoman. He then proceeded to drop his wand and kick it under the couch.

Hermione raised her hand, "Harry, what are you doing?"

"Setting the stage. I want this to be like it would if you were attacked in your sitting room." answered Harry. He turned to Tonks, "Professor, have you chosen your troops yet?"

Tonks hurriedly looked over the students and said, "Mr. Finch-Fletchley, Mr. Longbottom, and Mr. Boot." The three boys stepped onto the edge of the platform. Tonks looked at Harry, "Well, Mr. Potter, exactly what do you want us to do?"

"Well, choose one of the three boys to be the brute. They will use a sword only. Choose one to be the dueling expert. He will use both sword and wand. Professor Tonks, I want you and the remaining boy to use wands only. Your objective is to either stun me, catch me in a Full Body Bind, or land a blow to my torso or head with one of the practice blades. We are going to pretend that you surprised me and disarmed me. My wand is under the couch, and will remain there unless you allow me to get to it. My objective is to defeat my opponents without being hit. My apologies in advance if I break any bones during this exercise. I have informed Madam Pomfrey to be ready in case of injuries. Whenever the four of you are ready, you may begin." Harry assumed a defensive stance and waited for the four of them to attack.

Tonks looked over the three boys under her command. "Neville, you will be the dueling expert. Justin, you take the brute job. Terry, you and I will use wands only. Spread out." Terry dropped his sword off the edge of the platform, while Neville steadied himself, and Justin put his wand back into the pocket of his robes. Tonks cast the first curse at Harry, "Stupefy."

Harry flipped backwards over the back of the couch as the curse passed over him. He landed behind the couch and leaped toward Justin as Neville sent a Leg Locker curse at him. Terry fired off a stunner as Justin swung his sword at Harry. Harry sidestepped the swing by Justin and slapped the flat of the blade with his hand to knock the sword into the way of the Stunning Spell fired by Terry, and deflected it. Harry snapped a kick into Justin's knee, which caused him to go down. Harry flipped over him, and used Justin's body to block the stunner from Tonks, and the Full Body Bind from Neville. Neville threw his sword at Harry and yelled, "Wingardium Leviosa." He directed the blade right at where Harry had been. Harry dove behind the chair and then launched it at Terry. The chair hit Terry head on, and knocked him off the platform. Harry rolled sideways to dodge two more stunners. Then, he leaped towards the couch and pushed it over so that his wand was exposed. Tonks continued to fire stunners at Harry while Neville retrieved his sword and then chanted, "Accio wand." Harry's wand sailed towards Neville, but it was too little too late. Harry flipped Justin's sword up into his hand and hurled it with pinpoint accuracy at Neville's arm. It knocked his wand from his hand, and Harry's wand dropped to the floor. Harry dove to retrieve it, and rolled up casting a Shield Charm to block the Stunning Spell that was fired by Tonks. Harry spun around and yelled, "Stupefy." The stunner caught Neville right in the chest, and Harry rose to his feet and spun back towards Tonks just in time to dodge the Stunning Spell that she was sending his way. Harry and Tonks began to exchange curses quickly, but it was only a matter of moments before Harry caught Tonks with a Stunning Spell. Harry grinned, and said, "Evervate."

Tonks blinked and then enervated Justin while Harry did the same to Neville. Terry stepped back onto the stage to retrieve his wand. Harry smiled at them all. "You all performed admirably, but you made one major mistake."

Terry Boot looked a little surly, "What was that?"

Harry replied simply, "You underestimated what I was capable of without a wand. Do any of you need to go to Madam Pomfrey?"

Justin winced as he put weight on his leg, "I might. I think you cracked my kneecap or something."

Harry grinned slightly, "Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, if you would, escort Mr. Finch-Fletchley to the hospital wing."

Ron and Neville took Justin out of the Dueling room, and headed for Madam Pomfrey and the Hospital Wing.

Harry returned his gaze to the rest of the class once the three boys left the room. "As you can see, weapons are not the only way to win a duel. I want everyone to sit on the floor, and spread their legs like this." He demonstrated. "Now, stretch your arms towards your right ankle like this." Harry continued to take the club through various stretching exercises. At the end of class he stood up and proclaimed, "I expect all of you to perform a rudimentary stretching routine every day." The students groaned. Harry grinned, "If you don't, you'll never be able to keep up with the things that we are going to be doing on Monday nights from now on. Dismissed."

Everyone filed out but Ginny. Once they were gone, Harry looked at her expectantly, "So, are you ready?"

She looked at him quizzically, "Ready for what?"

Harry grinned, "Your training."

"What training?" asked Ginny.

"To be an Animagus."

"Harry, it takes years to become an Animagus." Ginny stated.

Harry chuckled, "I didn't take years. I think that I did it in an afternoon."

Ginny shook her head, "That's you, Harry. Not everyone can do something like that."

Harry nodded, "I agree. Not everyone can. However, you can."

"What are you talking about? There's no way that I can accomplish half the things that you have." shouted Ginny in exasperation.

"That isn't true. You can do anything that I have done thus far. It might take you longer to do it than it has me, but you can accomplish it. The Animagus transformation blueprints are in your head, however. I made sure that I transferred them to you."

Ginny's eyes widened, "You made it so that I can become an Animagus?"

Harry nodded, "Yes. I figured that we would start your training after dinner. It's going to take some hard work," Harry stopped and checked his watch, "for about two hours."

Ginny's jaw dropped. After several moments of impending silence, she finally asked, "Do you really think that I can become an Animagus in a couple of hours?"

"Of course. It might take you a little longer than that if you try to work it out on your own, but with my help it should be a piece of cake. Now, let's go eat so that we can get to work." Harry grabbed Ginny by the hand, and led her from the dueling chamber.

The two sat down at the Gryffindor table for dinner a few minutes later. Neville and Luna were already sitting with Ron and Hermione. Harry started to spoon mashed potatoes onto his plate when he noticed that Professor Dumbledore was absent from the hall. "Hey, have any of you seen Dumbledore?" Harry asked.

The other five shook their heads, and Hermione said, "He hasn't been here since we came in. Neither has Professor McGonagall."

Harry stroked his chin thoughtfully, "I wonder."

Professor McGonagall entered the Great Hall a moment later and strode straight over to the Gryffindor table. "Mr. Potter, I have a message for you from the Headmaster." She handed him the note and swept up towards the staff table without a second glance or another word.

Harry opened the letter. His eyes widened in surprise as he read what the note said.

Harry,

The Aurors have caught a Death Eater trying to infiltrate the ministry. We are questioning him now. I will need to speak with you upon my return to the school. Meet me in my office at eleven o'clock. The password is now Cauldron Cakes.

Dumbledore

Hermione and Ron caught the widening of Harry's eyes as he quickly scanned the note and then set fire to it with his wand. Hermione almost squealed in impatience, "Well, Harry, what did Professor Dumbledore want?"

"He wants me to meet him in his office when he gets back to the school later this evening." Harry answered simply.

Ron asked, "Why?"

Harry replied evasively, "Order business."

Hermione huffed, "So, in other words, you aren't going to tell us."

Harry nodded, "Basically."

Ron looked at Harry and asked quietly, "Don't you trust us?"

Harry sighed, "Yes, Ron, I trust you and Hermione and Neville and Luna and Ginny. I trust all of you with my life. However, I do not see a reason to give you information that the Death Eaters and Voldemort would torture you endlessly to get their hands on."

Ron gulped, "I could take torture."

Harry raised his eyebrows in disbelief, "Have you ever had the Cruciatus Curse cast on you, Ron? Can you withstand the effects of full strength Veritaserum, can you resist the Imperious Curse, have you mastered Occlumency, could you stand and watch a Death Eater torture Hermione without giving them the information that they wanted?"

Ron looked down at his feet, "No." Then, he looked up defiantly, "Can you?"

Harry stared straight into Ron's eyes and said evenly, "Yes."

Ron paled under the steely eyed gaze of the boy in front of him. "You've changed, Harry."

"Yes, Ron, I have. It's impossible to have seen the things that I have, and know the things that I know without experiencing some changes." Harry replied with a note of hardness in his voice.

Hermione asked shakily, "Harry, could you really watch someone torture Ginny or me or Luna or Ron or Neville, and not tell them what they wanted to know?"

"Yes, Hermione, I could. There wouldn't be an alternative." answered Harry wearily.

Hermione said indignantly, "You could tell them what they wanted to know and end it."

Harry shook his head, "You really just don't get how evil some people are, Hermione. If we were in that situation, and I told them what they wanted to know, they would just kill us. After they got what they wanted, we would be of no more use to them, and they would dispose of us just like household garbage. If I didn't give them what they wanted, they would continue to torture us, but at least we would still be alive to try and escape. It would be the only choice that could be made. When the two of you get to where you see that, you will have grown beyond childhood and accepted some true responsibility. This war is for keeps. The losing side won't live to watch the winner celebrate."

Harry finished his dinner quickly and in silence. He refused to speak to any of the other students for the remainder of the dinner. Harry waited until Ginny finished eating and then the two of them left the hall together. They walked through several corridors before Ginny asked, "Where are we going, Harry?"

"Room of Requirement." Harry replied. The two of them reached the corridor and Harry walked back and forth in front of the space of wall thinking of a large room where they would have plenty of space for Ginny to practice her transformation.

The door appeared and the two Gryffindors entered it quickly. Harry locked the door behind him and then looked pointedly at Ginny, "So, how long are you going to wait to ask?"

Ginny shrugged, "I wasn't sure that I should after the speech that you just gave Hermione and Ron."

Harry snorted, "You are already in danger. Voldemort thinks that you hold the key to defeating me. As long as I don't give you that information, then it doesn't hurt for you to have knowledge."

"Are you saying that you know how Voldemort can beat you?"

Harry snorted, "Of course, I know how he can beat me, just as he knows how I can beat him. The first one of us to obtain the knowledge that the other one has is going to win. We both guard that information very carefully, however. None of Voldemort's Death Eaters know his secret, just as none of the members of the Order know mine. That is the way it will remain for the time being."

Ginny nodded, "Okay, I'll bite. Why does Dumbledore want to see you later?"

"They caught a Death Eater. They're questioning him now. Dumbledore wants to speak with me after they have finished interrogating him. I guess he figures that I can try and find out how accurate the information is. Voldemort could very well have infiltrated a spy with false information just to mislead us. I wouldn't put it past the slime ball."

Ginny snickered, "Alright. Enough talking about old, evil wizards. I believe, Mr. Potter, that you are supposed to be teaching me how to transform into an Animagus."

Harry smiled, "To begin, we need to go through some basic exercises. Follow my lead." Harry coached Ginny through altering different parts of her body, ranging from lengthening her fingers to changing the shape of her face.

"Now, comes the hard part. What animal do you want to change into?" asked Harry.

Ginny's face lit up in anticipation, "Do you think that I could become a magical creature like you?"

Harry shrugged, "I don't know. There aren't many who can pull off such a feat. We can try though. Just don't be disappointed if it doesn't work."

Ginny nodded, "I won't. I want to try to become a phoenix."

Harry nodded, "Okay, you have to visualize yourself as a phoenix in your mind. That is the first step. Then, you have to will your body to change into that shape. In much the same you were just controlling the alteration of your body. I'm going to transform into my phoenix form so that you can look at it while you form the picture in your mind." Harry transformed and Ginny was looking down at a magnificent golden phoenix once again.

Ginny formed the picture of a phoenix in her mind and then closed her eyes and began to will her body to change. She felt nothing.

Harry laid a hand on her shoulder, and said gently, "I'm sorry, Ginny. You're going to have to pick a different animal."

Ginny sighed in disappointment, "Well, it was worth a try. I still want to be able to fly. How about a falcon?"

Harry nodded in agreement, "A good choice. Imagine the falcon."

Ginny formed the picture of a falcon soaring through the clouds and then began to will her body to change into that form. After several minutes she opened her eyes to look at what appeared to be a much larger Harry than she remembered. She started to walk towards him when she realized that she was a falcon. She spread her wings and then flew around the room a couple of times. It was tricky trying to use her wings. She landed unsteadily and then transformed back into her human form. "That was amazing. I feel like I just ran around the entire Forbidden Forest, though."

Harry laughed, "It will the first couple of times that you transform. It becomes much easier, though. Soon enough it will be as second nature as breathing. Come on, I'll help you back to the tower. I am impressed, Miss Weasley."

Ginny smiled back at him, "Let's not go back to the tower, yet. Conjure us a sofa. I think that since I have you all to myself, I'm going to snog you senseless."

Harry grinned, "That I could get used to, but don't you have homework to do?"

Ginny smiled, "Nothing that I have is due tomorrow. I can catch up tomorrow night. I need a bit of a break anyway. I've been pushing too hard anyway."

Harry relented, "Alright, we'll stay here for awhile. Not too long, though. I want you safely tucked into bed by the time that I go to talk to Professor Dumbledore." Harry waved his wand and a sofa appeared in the middle of the room.

The two of them curled up on the couch and lay in each other's arms contentedly for awhile. Ginny finally twisted around and began kissing Harry forcefully. Harry returned the kiss with an equal amount of passion.

A/N: I want to thank all of my reviewers. I love to read any comments that people have for the book. For my new reviewers, I answer every review personally as long as you leave some way for me to refer to you.

Athena kitty: No, I have no intention of killing off Fudge. It's entirely too much fun to have Harry one-up him. As to the Malfoys, you will have to wait for the sequel.

Lord Agamus: Thanks for the review.

Lourdes1: I may not have been specific enough when I was writing about the charm. It does not give Ginny a constant link into Harry's brain, it was a one-shot deal. The idea behind it is that Harry could have taught her everything that she gained through the charm, but this was a lot faster. The two of them are so close that one's success is the other's success, so I don't think that the idea of cheating even comes into play.

Blip-dragon: The story will be thirty chapters, and so will the sequel. There is little to no time lost between this one and my alternate Book Seven plan, so it will almost seem like one really long story. Updating will be on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday barring the unforeseen.

GillyLovesSmut: I agree. Most fanfic authors have run Harry feeling sorry for himself into the ground. Thanks for the review.

Captuniv: Sorry to disappoint, but Malfoy will not be trying to abduct Ginny. Voldemort may be desperate, but he's not stupid. If a team of Death Eaters couldn't even get close to her, sending Draco would be like a lamb to the slaughter. That would lose Voldemort his spy from within the castle, and that is the last thing that he wants.

John: Thanks for the review. Updating will be on the schedule outlined above. I have to wait on my Beta reader.

Jeanga057: Thanks for the review.

Solar1: I always try to please. Thanks.

MatureImmaturity: As long as you don't go overboard, and start making a list of my typos, then we're cool. Thanks for the review.

Dragonclawz54: Thanks for the review. You have to steer the story in a completely different direction for there to be no romance.

Cur03: Its perfectly fair to leave you hanging. The suspense makes the next chapter that much better when you actually get it. Thanks for the review.