The Bonding of Warriors.
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Author's Note - Thanks to my Beta, "Discussion group", the reviewers, and, of course, the readers.
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Ron grabbed the first thing he touched, a pudding bowl, and launched it at Malfoy. About a foot away from the young Malfoy the bowl was hit by a streaking bolt of lightning and it crashed to the ground. Ron pulled out his wand but Snape stepped in front of Malfoy and raised his hand, his wand held firmly in it.
"Weasley." Snape hissed. "How dare you. You stupid little fat arse."
"How dare you, you slimy filthy git. I will not allow scum like that to be anywhere near this house." Ron roared.
"Fine, Weasley, don't calm down but this isn't your house." Snape turned and pushed Malfoy up the stairs.
"Yeah well it's my best mate's house and that makes it like mine, you traitorous scum," roared Ron at Snape's retreating back.
Mrs. Weasley moved to pop him but Harry's hand on her arm stopped her. "Ron might have acted rash, but Snape had no right to bring Malfoy here, as Ron said this is my house." Harry glared and then looked towards Ron and Hermione. Immediately he stood and followed Snape up the stairs.
They went all the way up the stairs without seeing any sight of Snape or Malfoy, pausing at each door to listen. At one of the doors, nearing the top of the house, they heard a soft cooing and paused, giving each other questioning looks.
"Harry, we shouldn't." Hermione began but he was already pushing open the door and stepping in. Inside a strange sight greeted them. A young man sat in a chair in the back and a hippogriff sat resting with its head in his lap. "Can I help you?" a familiar
voice asked and the man looked up. It was Shadow.
"Oh no, we were just looking to see where Snape and Malfoy had disappeared to, and we heard something behind the door." Harry answered.
"And let me guess, you decided to investigate?" Shadow countered with a smirk on his face.
"Well, yeah, apparently." Harry replied, stepping forward slowly and petting Buckbeak. "So how long has he been up here?"
"Since last year, I think everybody kind of forgot about him and I found him and
have been taking care of him. He has been a good friend." Shadow said, scratching Buckbeak's head.
"Yeah, well it's really good to know he's being taken care of." Harry said, looking around.
"Well, Potter, if you have some time, there're some things I'd like to work with you on, see if you're improving." Shadow said, standing and stretching.
Harry nodded and told Hermione and Ron to go back down to the kitchen. After they had left, he shut the door and immediately assumed a defensive stance. Shadow gave a bark of laughter and struck almost instantly. Harry ducked to the side and swung a fist towards Shadow's side. The older man slipped out of reach and brought his leg sweeping around, knocking Harry's legs from beneath him. Harry rolled back up and threw out his leg, connecting it with Shadow's stomach. Shadow groaned, dropped to the floor and connected a fist with Harry's knee, causing him to drop to the floor as well. Shadow leaped up and put his booted foot over Harry's exposed throat.
"Masurao has taught you well," he said, moving his foot and extending his hand.
Harry nodded, taking his hand, applying leverage, and pulling him to the floor. He rolled up into a standing position and grinned. He pulled Shadow up and rested in the chair. Shadow growled, whipped out his wand and conjured a chair for himself then sat down.
"Indeed he has taught you very well in defense at least. Now what of fencing?" He asked as a pair of fencing sabers appeared, one in either of his hands.
He passed one to Harry and stood taking a defensive stance. Harry grinned moving into an offensive stance and striking out against Shadow. At first their movment was a little rough but soon they had both fallen into a well practiced dance their swords slinking together harmoniously, revealing the true art of sword fighting. They moved like dancers, their blades coming together and moving apart like they had minds of their own until finally one quick, almost unnoticable, flick of Shadow's blade sent Harry's sword flying into the wall across the room. Shadow smirked, setting
his blade on the floor and pulling Harry's out of the wall.
"You are getting better, soon you will have mastered the art of the blade." He informed Harry, waving his wand at the swords and causing them to disappear.
Suddenly something clicked in Harry's mind. "Wait! How did you know about Kage Masurao training me in my dreams?" he asked, staring at Shadow.
"I know because I'm a close friend of Kage's. You see, Harry, Kage is a dream wanderer, he comes from an ancient race of magical beings who had the ability to control the dream world and use it to aid them. Over time they learned to do everything in the dream realm and they would wander the realm of dreams, searching for someone they could aid. This someone was always a person of the Light who needed help and training for a dark event in their destiny. Sadly, over thousands of years, their people became fewer and fewer until only a few were left. Kage is one of the last and he has chosen to train you.
"Before you, however, he had the pleasure of training another young warrior destined for greatness like yourself yet who never fell into the fame like you. That warrior was me. Instead of taking the glorified path, I chose to fight in the shadows, using stealth and secrecy to take out large numbers of enemies with small teams. Now I know I've probably bored you to death, so I'll let you get back to your friends. But Harry, if anyone asks, I've been working with you, okay? Keep Kage a secret for now."
And with that, the strange young man disappeared out the door and when Harry made his way to the kitchen, he was nowhere in sight.
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Not so far away a group of four people stood looking at the spot between numbers Eleven and Thirteen. Three of them had experience of what was going to happen, but the fourth was new. The oldest of the three handed the fourth person a strip of parchment.
"Think about what you just read," said the oldest and soon the familiar shape of number Twelve appeared. They walked into the house and down into the basement that served as the kitchen. Four hoods fell down at once and the oldest of the three spoke.
"Everyone I would like you to meet the newest member of the Order of the Phoenix." The man, now revealed as Arthur, nodded to the woman. She was a broad, square-jawed woman with short gray hair; she wore a monocle in her eye and looked strict but fair. "Madame..."
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Author's Note - Well I rewrote this chapter and I hope you all liked it. Hopefully I'll get the next one out before too long. Later days.