A/N: Sorry I have taken so long to update, but I've been so busy lately! I
got accepted into a whole bunch of AP classes at school for next year and
I'm getting more work than ever before. But here is chapter 5 for you.
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Me don't own, please don't sue.
Chapter 5:
At around six thirty the next morning, Lupin burst into Harry's dormitory and woke him up. He forced Harry to get dressed and cheerfully led him downstairs, much to Harry's chagrin. They walked into the empty common, and Harry saw Tonks dragging Ginny down the girl's staircase. She looked sleepy and annoyed. He frowned at the fact that the two adults were happy and wide awake, while he and Ginny only wanted to go back to bed.
"All right," said Tonks. "We're gonna go out and start training you in dueling. Later on, we're going to add Twai-Kan Do, and kickboxing. First, though we want to see how you two duel and what you know so far, so we're going to go to the grounds and duel each other. Any questions?"
"How much coffee have you had this morning?" asked Ginny annoyed.
"A whole bunch of it," answered Lupin, shaking his head slightly. He then led the way to the grounds.
Harry and Lupin dueled first. Harry knew a lot of spells from his fourth year while he was preparing for the Third Task, but he was afraid to use any of them against Lupin, who had been his professor and friend. He didn't want to hurt him. Lupin threw him a disarming spell, and he quickly blocked it and threw another disarming spell. Lupin easily blocked it and cast Rictusempra. It made contact with Harry's chest and he was flung back at least ten feet. Harry stood up with some effort then cast a stunning spell. Lupin dodged it, but Harry had cast the Portaio spell. It hit Lupin and his wand flew out of his hand as he thrown a yard from his dueling spot. He landed roughly on the ground.
"Remus!" exclaimed Tonks. "Are you okay?" She, Harry, and Ginny rushed over to where he had landed.
"I'm fine," Lupin stood gingerly. "But that was a weak spell, Harry."
"What do you mean weak?" asked Ginny, her eyebrow arching gracefully.
"Portaio is meant to throw your opponent up to three yards from your dueling spot," explained Tonks calmly as she checked for herself that Lupin was okay.
"Oh."
"You know what," said Tonks. "We've already seen you two in action, in June and a few days ago. So let's move on." She looked concernedly at the two teens. She really didn't want to be on the receiving end of either one's curses and hexes. Lupin understood that look and almost laughed out loud.
"Okay then," he said. "Let's move on to Rictusempra then."
The kids took turns casting the spell on the adults. They studied it for an hour before moving on to Skourge, a spell to make your opponent mispronounce their next spell, then Captivum, which made ropes appear and tie up your opponent.
By lunchtime, Harry and Ginny were wiped. They sat slumped in their chairs, ready to collapse at any moment. "These two weeks can't possibly end soon enough," groaned Harry. Ginny nodded before putting her head on the table.
"And I have Snape's class next," she mumbled. "Why does Dumbledore want me to learn to USE my dark powers?" That made no sense to her.
"I don't know," answered Harry honestly. "But he did say that he wanted use to use them for good."
"But what difference will make it?" she argued. "Dark magic is still Dark magic no matter what its used for."
Harry shrugged as he piled up his plate with food. That workout had made him hungry. "Well, it's hopeless to get anything out of Dumbledore unless he's ready to talk about it himself." He looked at Ginny's empty plate. "And you should eat something if you're going face Snape."
Ginny nodded and started eating as well.
~*~
As Ginny made her way down to the dungeons fifteen minutes later, Harry walked up to Dumbledore's office. He wondered what kind of lesson he had planned. The only word that came to mind was eccentric.
Dumbledore was waiting for him sitting at his desk. "Hello, Harry," he greeted warmly. "How was your morning?"
"Exhausting," answered Harry.
Dumbledore hid a smile. "Well," he began. "Let's start working on Occlumency. Now, the whole idea is for you to be able to clear your mind completely. Have you ever heard of chakras?" Harry shook his head. "Chakras are the body's energy vortexes. They are seven of them, and they are used widely for meditation."
Dumbledore then made Harry remove his robe, so that he was comfortable in his jeans and his shirt. He instructed Harry to close his eyes and imagine he was a fountain of blue light. Harry had raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He thought the process childish, but he trusted Dumbledore knew what he what doing.
They continued the meditation for a half hour, Dumbledore's gentle voice whispering instructions to Harry. Harry felt weird making believe, and he kept wondering how long he would have to be a fountain of blue light.
"All right, now," the headmaster's soft voice called out. "Open your eyes." Harry did so slowly, surprised to feel somewhat energized. "The point of this exercise," Dumbledore explained, "is for you to learn to clear your mind, but focus on any one given thing. This way you can subconsciously block Voldemort out of your mind at all times, but still be able to go about your daily activities." He allowed a second to pass. "Are you ready to try it?"
Harry nodded, somewhat hesitantly. He stood and took a deep breathe. Dumbledore wasn't about to hurt him, he reasoned. 'It'll be fine.' "Relax, Harry," the headmaster told him. "If you're tense then it won't work. Clear your mind, but try to focus on an object of some sort. Try and hold that picture in your mind as long as you can."
Harry nodded again, and focused on Godric Gryffindor's sword, which lay on a display case behind Dumbledore.
"One, two, three," counted Dumbledore. "Legilimens!"
Harry felt an odd sensation. He looked intently at the sword, trying not to break contact. It felt as if someone was looking around his brain, searching it for something. Finally, he couldn't keep the sword in his focus and he started to see memories of his past: ron being knocked unconscious by a giant chess piece, Hermione being stunned by a Death Eater at the Department of Mysteries, Ginny impaling herself with a shiny knife and the wound disappering instantly.
Dumbledore broke contact then. "That last memory? The one with Ginny, when did it happen?"
"About two, three weeks ago," answered Harry.
Dumbledore nodded. "That was a very good first attempt, Harry. You held me off for a total of nine minutes. With patience and practice, I'm sure you will learn to master Occlumency in no time." Harry nodded and put on his robe as Dumbledore walked him to the door.
"You do know Ginny's condition must not be discussed with anyone," whispered the age professor. "She holds a very powerful secret, one that, in the wrong hands, could very well assure we lose this war."
Harry looked at the man for a second before silently proceeding to Gryffindor tower. Of course, Voldemort would love to get his hands on Ginny to try to discover the secret to her immortality. That was what he wanted the most. Harry felt a new wave of fear for his girlfriend surge through him.
A/N: So what did you think? Please review.
Next Chapter: Ginny's Lesson.
Disclaimer: Me don't own, please don't sue.
Chapter 5:
At around six thirty the next morning, Lupin burst into Harry's dormitory and woke him up. He forced Harry to get dressed and cheerfully led him downstairs, much to Harry's chagrin. They walked into the empty common, and Harry saw Tonks dragging Ginny down the girl's staircase. She looked sleepy and annoyed. He frowned at the fact that the two adults were happy and wide awake, while he and Ginny only wanted to go back to bed.
"All right," said Tonks. "We're gonna go out and start training you in dueling. Later on, we're going to add Twai-Kan Do, and kickboxing. First, though we want to see how you two duel and what you know so far, so we're going to go to the grounds and duel each other. Any questions?"
"How much coffee have you had this morning?" asked Ginny annoyed.
"A whole bunch of it," answered Lupin, shaking his head slightly. He then led the way to the grounds.
Harry and Lupin dueled first. Harry knew a lot of spells from his fourth year while he was preparing for the Third Task, but he was afraid to use any of them against Lupin, who had been his professor and friend. He didn't want to hurt him. Lupin threw him a disarming spell, and he quickly blocked it and threw another disarming spell. Lupin easily blocked it and cast Rictusempra. It made contact with Harry's chest and he was flung back at least ten feet. Harry stood up with some effort then cast a stunning spell. Lupin dodged it, but Harry had cast the Portaio spell. It hit Lupin and his wand flew out of his hand as he thrown a yard from his dueling spot. He landed roughly on the ground.
"Remus!" exclaimed Tonks. "Are you okay?" She, Harry, and Ginny rushed over to where he had landed.
"I'm fine," Lupin stood gingerly. "But that was a weak spell, Harry."
"What do you mean weak?" asked Ginny, her eyebrow arching gracefully.
"Portaio is meant to throw your opponent up to three yards from your dueling spot," explained Tonks calmly as she checked for herself that Lupin was okay.
"Oh."
"You know what," said Tonks. "We've already seen you two in action, in June and a few days ago. So let's move on." She looked concernedly at the two teens. She really didn't want to be on the receiving end of either one's curses and hexes. Lupin understood that look and almost laughed out loud.
"Okay then," he said. "Let's move on to Rictusempra then."
The kids took turns casting the spell on the adults. They studied it for an hour before moving on to Skourge, a spell to make your opponent mispronounce their next spell, then Captivum, which made ropes appear and tie up your opponent.
By lunchtime, Harry and Ginny were wiped. They sat slumped in their chairs, ready to collapse at any moment. "These two weeks can't possibly end soon enough," groaned Harry. Ginny nodded before putting her head on the table.
"And I have Snape's class next," she mumbled. "Why does Dumbledore want me to learn to USE my dark powers?" That made no sense to her.
"I don't know," answered Harry honestly. "But he did say that he wanted use to use them for good."
"But what difference will make it?" she argued. "Dark magic is still Dark magic no matter what its used for."
Harry shrugged as he piled up his plate with food. That workout had made him hungry. "Well, it's hopeless to get anything out of Dumbledore unless he's ready to talk about it himself." He looked at Ginny's empty plate. "And you should eat something if you're going face Snape."
Ginny nodded and started eating as well.
~*~
As Ginny made her way down to the dungeons fifteen minutes later, Harry walked up to Dumbledore's office. He wondered what kind of lesson he had planned. The only word that came to mind was eccentric.
Dumbledore was waiting for him sitting at his desk. "Hello, Harry," he greeted warmly. "How was your morning?"
"Exhausting," answered Harry.
Dumbledore hid a smile. "Well," he began. "Let's start working on Occlumency. Now, the whole idea is for you to be able to clear your mind completely. Have you ever heard of chakras?" Harry shook his head. "Chakras are the body's energy vortexes. They are seven of them, and they are used widely for meditation."
Dumbledore then made Harry remove his robe, so that he was comfortable in his jeans and his shirt. He instructed Harry to close his eyes and imagine he was a fountain of blue light. Harry had raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He thought the process childish, but he trusted Dumbledore knew what he what doing.
They continued the meditation for a half hour, Dumbledore's gentle voice whispering instructions to Harry. Harry felt weird making believe, and he kept wondering how long he would have to be a fountain of blue light.
"All right, now," the headmaster's soft voice called out. "Open your eyes." Harry did so slowly, surprised to feel somewhat energized. "The point of this exercise," Dumbledore explained, "is for you to learn to clear your mind, but focus on any one given thing. This way you can subconsciously block Voldemort out of your mind at all times, but still be able to go about your daily activities." He allowed a second to pass. "Are you ready to try it?"
Harry nodded, somewhat hesitantly. He stood and took a deep breathe. Dumbledore wasn't about to hurt him, he reasoned. 'It'll be fine.' "Relax, Harry," the headmaster told him. "If you're tense then it won't work. Clear your mind, but try to focus on an object of some sort. Try and hold that picture in your mind as long as you can."
Harry nodded again, and focused on Godric Gryffindor's sword, which lay on a display case behind Dumbledore.
"One, two, three," counted Dumbledore. "Legilimens!"
Harry felt an odd sensation. He looked intently at the sword, trying not to break contact. It felt as if someone was looking around his brain, searching it for something. Finally, he couldn't keep the sword in his focus and he started to see memories of his past: ron being knocked unconscious by a giant chess piece, Hermione being stunned by a Death Eater at the Department of Mysteries, Ginny impaling herself with a shiny knife and the wound disappering instantly.
Dumbledore broke contact then. "That last memory? The one with Ginny, when did it happen?"
"About two, three weeks ago," answered Harry.
Dumbledore nodded. "That was a very good first attempt, Harry. You held me off for a total of nine minutes. With patience and practice, I'm sure you will learn to master Occlumency in no time." Harry nodded and put on his robe as Dumbledore walked him to the door.
"You do know Ginny's condition must not be discussed with anyone," whispered the age professor. "She holds a very powerful secret, one that, in the wrong hands, could very well assure we lose this war."
Harry looked at the man for a second before silently proceeding to Gryffindor tower. Of course, Voldemort would love to get his hands on Ginny to try to discover the secret to her immortality. That was what he wanted the most. Harry felt a new wave of fear for his girlfriend surge through him.
A/N: So what did you think? Please review.
Next Chapter: Ginny's Lesson.