SORRY! My computer has been getting repaired for the past ten days, and when it came back, the first six pages of this chapter were gone, meaning I had to rewrite it. Evil mothers and their need for 'a faster computer.'
A/N Everyone seems gung-ho on this whole it's Ginevra, not Virginia thing. But since I've called her Virginia throughout this story, Virginia she will remain. However, in the future, I will use her correct name.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Harry stared blankly at the ceiling in his room. The thought dismally of his dormitory, wishing he was lying in that bed, or even his bed at Grimmauld Place. Turning onto his side, he remembered the ball he had returned from an hour ago. They had gotten through it without mishaps, but Harry couldn't shake the feeling he had. A feeling of distance and loneliness.
Sighing, he turned to his other side. He concentrated on clearing his mind, though he knew he was safe in the Elvin Realm"€ for now, and if only from Voldemort's mind probing. But after a while, he let himself get lost in memory, knowing it was his best shot at sleep.
But half an hour later, when he had yet to accomplish anything, Harry got out of bed. It had become a habit of his to sleep in naught but his boxers, which had occasional led to embarrassing incidents.
Silently he slipped into a simple Elvin outfit in plain brown and grabbed his heavy black cloak, hearing the storm rattling his window and pound into the castle. He loved rain. Thinking longingly of the storm he was about to go out in, Harry grabbed a Royal Guard medallion and slipped the plain leather strand around his neck. Without making any noise, Harry slipped out of his room and out of the castle, throwing the cloak on.
Once his face was covered, he knew he would have no trouble getting to the stables. He stopped right inside the doors. The elf on guard was not one Harry was familiar with. He silently thanked Mertiku that he was asleep, though he knew he'd have to have a chat with him later.
Finding the horse he wanted was easy. It was a plain brown horse, rugged looking. What no one knew was that it was a pure stallion, roughened by years of warfare. Saddling him up, Harry murmured into her ear. He swiftly mounted.
"Go on, Wicker," he said softly. The horse was soon trotting out of the castle gates and towards a pub. It was only one in the morning, and Harry knew things would be in full swing.
As he neared his destination, the Red Thorn, Harry performed multiple charms on himself. His hair turned from black to silver, his eyes from emerald to a stormy grey (unmistakably Sirius's eyes), and his skin paled. Suddenly, his ears were pointed. His hair was straight to his shoulders and Harry absently brushed in behind his ears as he slid off Wicker.
Noise burst to his ears as he opened the door to the pub. A few people turned to look at him, but as soon as he pushed his hood down and shook out his hair, they turned away, uninterested.
All but one.
"Leo?!" cried a man who looked rather pissed. Harry grinned. (These conversations are in Elvish!)
"In a right state, aren't you Wiften?" His voice now carried a heavy Norwegian accent. "A shot of Blazer, if you would, Kiri?" The stunningly beautiful bartender smiled and handed it over, as well as a glass filled with a slightly less red drink.
"Where've you been?" asked Kiri.
"Yes, kind sir, where have you been? It's been ages, and you used to be here at least twice a week!" Wiften announced loudly.
"Still as drunk as can be," Harry murmured. "I've been on duty for our prince." He felt his stomach twist with the familiar sensation he had with lying.
"Well then, welcome back!" cried a voice on Harry's left. He smiled.
"Goyin!" The two men clapped backs. "I saw your cousin up at the palace. She's grown up quite nicely." Harry was greatly amused by the growl that Goyin gave him.
"I haven't had enough rum to let that comment slide, Leo," threatened Goyin.
"I'm only teasing you," Harry said, rolling his eyes. He quickly took his shot. "Let me buy you a drink in apology. Besides, I have my eye on the red haired human." Harry's friends chuckled.
"You're all dirty, nasty men," Kiri said loudly. Harry grinned and raised his glass to her.
"So it is," he said, tipping it back and taking a long drink.
"Leo!" cried woman's voice. Harry turned and had just enough time to see deep purple hair before he was engulfed in a hug.
"Hello, Veranine," Harry choked out. "Mind getting off." She giggled and pulled away.
"It's been too long, darling," she said brightly. Easily, she jumped up onto the counter and reached down, pulling out a bottle of dark green liquid and taking the top off.
"I thought you'd taken up barkeep at the Skipping Stone," Harry said. "I also heard that you and Goyin were doing a little mating dance."
"Jealous?" asked Goyin, pulling a squealing Veranine into his lap.
"That you have my leftovers? Not in the slightest." Veranine slapped Harry's shoulder.
"Oh, so I'm just your leftovers now, eh, Leo?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Harry smiled serenely and took another sip of his drink.
He sat for an hour, content to listen to their conversation and add a comment or two. Harry was comfortable in this façade, for all but the twinge of guilt that came with lying to his friends. He was just a lowly soldier for the prince. No one expected him to do anything but buy his usual drink and shot.
After Harry had finished his glass, he stood up, pulling his cloak on. "I'd better get up to the castle," he said. "You never know when Ricatone will come around, checking for all her little men. That's the one thing that you don't miss when you're on a mission." He put some money on the counter, but quickly drew it back, realizing it was his wizarding money.
"Leo?"
"Sorry, forgot about that," he said. Harry was a bit flustered. "I think one of the humans dropped it at the ball. I'll be giving it to Ricatone in the morning. She'll find its owner. Here." Harry quickly placed Elvish money out.
"Don't be a stranger, Leo!" Wiften yelled when Harry stood up. He smiled at the drunk elf. "Ah! Kiri! Come here, why don't ya, sweet thang!" Harry laughed outright and Kiri glared at him as he left.
Harry awoke the next morning with a slight buzz in his head, though not enough of one to even bother him in the slightest. "Good old Elvish whisky," Harry murmured as he swung himself out of bed. He quickly dressed and knocked on Ginny's door.
"Gin? Are you ready for breakfast?" Harry jumped a bit in surprise when she opened the door quickly. She grinned, looking wide-awake and excited. She was wearing a simple pale blue cotton dress with funnel sleeves and a long skirt. Her curls were pulled back with a blue ribbon.
"Of course, Prince Laohan!" she cried. Grabbing his arm, she yanked him into the hall and towards the dining hall. Harry shook his head.
"We have to wait for the others. I told them to meet us here in the hall. We're not eating in the Grashia today. We're going to the Mess Hall to eat with the Royal Guard trainees, seeing as you five are technically trainees." Ginny sighed impatiently. "What are you so anxious about?"
"Dance lessons!" she cried, throwing her arms up as though he were stupid. Harry laughed.
"That's not until this afternoon. And besides, after that dancing you saw last night, I would have thought you would've realized how boring this is going to be," Harry said. Ginny just grinned and pounded on Hermione's door. After a few moments, the six were headed to a new part of the castle.
Harry stopped them before a simple set of oak doors and pulled them open without ceremony. Immediately, without pausing in the slightest, Harry walked through them and over to a line. His friends hurried after him. They looked around the hall, uncomfortably aware of all the prying eyes that Harry seemed oblivious to.
He did not notice the younger looking elves who had frozen, some with food halfway to their mouth. He didn't even flinch when a male elf in a squires outfit let his eggs drop from the fork in front of his mouth, staring transfixed at Harry. Some of the older elves had immediately lost interest in him after bowing quickly.
"Lightning," Ron said timidly. Harry glanced back at him, waving a hand.
"You'll get used to it. It's not like Diagon Alley will be much better, as of late. Do you have any idea what will happen when The Prophet gets wind of this?" Harry laughed and grabbed a tray as the line moved forward. Imitating him, his friends filled their trays as they went though what seemed to be a buffet line.
They proceeded to a table full of young elves"€ about the age of a first year"€ and sat down. By now, everyone was bowing at Harry. He simply flicked his wrist and called something in Elvish. It immediately stopped.
A boy, about twelve, was staring wide eyed and nervous at him. "Yes?" The boy jumped at being addressed by Harry.
"M-may I have the-the honey, Your Highness?" he stuttered. Harry smiled and handed it to him.
"What's your name?" The small boy swallowed and took the honey. He responded while his shaking fingers put the honey on his eggs.
"Kirtain of Landerbeau, son of Zen Akji and Zenra Kiratanin." (I don't remember what I made be the words for a noble man and woman, so these are the new ones, if someone would tell me what chapter I had previously named such things in, I will revise it.) Hermione and Neville blanched slightly as Kirtain took a big bite of egg-covered honey. Harry laughed at them.
"You get used to it," Harry said to them, still chuckling. "Besides, we eat mint burgers. Every culture has its own foods. But the eggs and honey is found mainly in the south. Now, Kirtain, you're a page, correct?" The boy nodded. "Is your brother, by any chance, Zen Raddan?"
"Yes, he is, Your Highness," Kirtain whispered, looking fixatedly at the table. "He...."
"Yes?" prompted Harry. Kiratin took a deep breath.
"Whenever he came back to Landerbeau, he told us about you. How he was proud to fight at the side of such a great elf. I know he died happy," Kirtain said, looking up at Harry.
Harry felt as though ice water had been dumped on him. A shudder shook his body. Images of blood flashed through his mind. Swords clashing, elves screaming as they fell into a pool of red that surrounded them.
"I'm nothing special," Harry said quietly. "Just a kid who got lucky a few times more than he deserved." The humans sitting with them exchanged glances. They had come to the assumption that Zen Raddan had died fighting the Dimukai with Harry. The prince in question shook himself. "What's you strong point?"
"Staff," he said immediately. "I'm better at single bladed but I'm a fair shot with double."
"Fair shot?" came the voice the girl across form him. She spoke in Elvish. "You can beat pages three years older than you with double. And when you've got a single, you're leathal. Oh, sorry, Your Highness. I'm Sishari of The Hollow." Harry nodded to her.
"And your point?" he asked in easy Elvish. (Not as in the nasty do- you-have-a-meaning way, but like, what is your strongest ability? Stressing your.)
"I'm rather dubious at everything, but I can hold my own with a Bakki," she said, naming the curved blade preferred by the elves from the isles. Harry raised his eyebrows. Training with a Bakki was optional, as was training with the Satit and Jungyu.
"Impressive. Few pages choose to learn any of the extra weapons favored to the more secluded parts of the realm. Many of those who do know how to wield them only know so because their squire masters made them. Knowing your ways with Bakki will come in handy, trust me, Sishari." She nodded, blushing.
"Harry?" Ron ground out. Harry quickly turned slightly red.
"Sorry guys," he muttered, and relayed the conversation in rushed English.
"I think we should learn some Elvish," Luna said lightly, buttering a roll. She was hardly paying attention to the others, and the elves looked quite taken aback with her airy nature. Harry had also noticed a few hostile looking elves.
"We'll to that after dancing lessons. Besides, the whole mornings are for combat training," Harry said. "By the time Christmas break is over, you're all going to be able to teach the basics to the DA." Harry rubbed his scar as it prickled.
"Harry?" Ginny said timidly, lightly touching his shoulder.
"I have this horrible feeling something bad is going on back home. Voldemort's emotions don't come through the realm dividers very well. He has to be feeling it very strongly. And this is happiness. We'd better finish up quick and get to training." Heeding his words and exchanging a few furtive glances, they quickly finished and left the hall, along with most of the squires and pages.
"Where are they going?" Ginny asked s Harry led them towards their rooms, the opposite direction of the pages and squires.
"You'll see in a minute," Harry said.
When they reached the doors to their rooms, Harry stopped them. "Where the simplest training clothes you can find, alright. Meet out here in a few minutes. Don't bring any of your weapons, we'll use the practice ones."
Harry walked into his own room and pulled a trunk out from under his bed. Opening it, he pulled out a pair of dark blue breeches, a cream colored shirt, and a brown tunic. He quickly dressed and took his ringlet off of his head. Putting on his Royal Guard medallion, Harry saw the door to Ginny's room was ajar.
When he went to close it he caught a glimpse of Ginny slipping on an Elvish breast band and turned a brilliant shade of red as his blood rushed southward. Silently shutting the door, he took a few deep breaths and calmed himself. He fingered his shoulder-length hair for a moment before making it return to its normal state.
Absently running a hand through it, Harry pushed his trunk under his bed and moved to another door. On the other side was a large sitting room. Quickly crossing it, he muttered a few chosen words in Elvish. A door appeared next to the one that led to the servants' passages.
Opening it, Harry revealed a small armory. He located a cherry wood box and pulled several daggers from the sapphire silk inside. Pulling a pair of plain leather boots from a shelf, Harry stuffed them on his feet and shoved two daggers into each. Then he slipped a dagger in each of his sleeves, shaking his arms to make sure they stay put. The final two daggers were tucked into the waste band of his trousers, hilts covered by his tunic, though he knew he'd have to remove them when he put on his sword belt.
His sharp Elvish ears picked up on Ginny in his room and he quickly passed through the sitting room into his own, hiding the door again.
"There you are!" Ginny said happily. She kissed his mouth lightly and began to pull away. Harry pulled her against him and deepened their kiss. A few moments later, he pulled back, grinning happily as well.
"What is it?"
"We're waiting," she said in a whining voice. He laughed and pulled her out through his door.
We should tell them tonight, Harry thought to Ginny. She sent a nod back.
"Luna, Neville, the three of them have been training in specialized points for a while now. Hermione is an archer, Ron a double ended staffsman, and Ginny a double edged swordsman. We'll find both of your special points and train you the most in that, but all of you will learn the same things a member of the Royal Guard learns."
He led them through the castle, giving them a list of things they'd learn to do. From the look on Neville's face, it was clear Neville was quite certain he couldn't do any of it.
"Nev," Harry said as they pushed through the back doors of the large castle ten minutes later. "You'll do fine. I think you're going to surprise yourself. Anyways, on top of the Royal Guard training, you'll learn Elvish, Elvish dancing, street fighting, horse back riding, and the spells that don't require Elvish magic. And we may have to add more to that list. Oh, yes, and I've gotten Grandfather to make Tonks teach us to Apparate. I know a few wards to use that the Ministry won't be able to detect. And we can work on it here over breaks, we just need to bring Tonks next time."
His friends just exchanged looks, Harry seemingly oblivious to their dumbfounded faces.
"Harry," Luna said after a few moments. He turned to look at them. "O.W.L.s." He shrugged.
"You and Ginny can always use an Elvish time turner to study."
"Harry! That's completely ridiculous!" Hermione cried, throwing her arms around. "You can't just go around giving out time turners, Elvish prince or not! It's against wizarding law!" Harry sighed.
"Hermione, they need to study for their tests, and besides that, being prepared for this war is a life and death situation. It will be alright to let them use a time turner to balance everything," Harry said calmly. Hermione sniffed and glared. He sighed for the second time in a minute. "Hermione! Listen to me! It will be alright!"
With that, Harry began heading towards a small wooden building ornately decorated with wooden carvings of weapons. The other followed, Hermione in the back, still brooding.
"This!" Harry called over his shoulder, elves stopped and bowed to him, though he pointedly ignored it. "Is the practice armory!" He threw open the doors and led the other five inside.
"Cool," Neville whispered, running his hands along the bade of a single edged sword.
"There are wooden staffs," Harry said, gesturing around. "Arrows, bows, dull swords, sharp swords, padding, armor, everything you need! And all of it is easily replaceable and repairable. Unlike the stuff in the other armory, which is very nice and expensive. Most of it is Shakki Anit, meaning Water Armor."
"This is beautiful," Hermione said, her fingers tracing an ornately carved bow on the open doors. Harry smiled.
"Elves think that everything needs to be beautiful and elegant, even the practice armory. Today, my pages, is going to be for staff training. Ron will be more advanced at this than you, probably a second or third year page's level. I'll send him over to train with them. The rest of you, will come with me. Ron, grab a double and single bladed practice staff. Everyone else, just a single."
After they all had one selected, Harry summoned one for himself and motioned for them to follow him. They did so and stopped at a large fenced- in area.
"This is where second- and third-year pages to practice. The next one over is for fourth-year pages, the one after that is for squires, and the furthest is for first-year pages. The largest one, right by the lancing area, is for Royal Guards and next to that is for knights, or Royal Guard members of noble blood, who are the pages and squires. The basic suit of Royal Guards are from peasant families. Tradition, as you've seen, dictates the highest of civilizations. Old prejudices are stronger in this realm than in ours."
The others took a few moments to contemplate Harry's words.
"Master Garvic!" Harry called. The elves all stopped, surprised at hearing English, which all pages learned. "I would like to introduce you to my friend Ron. He's been studying double bladed staffsmenship for a while now, and he's up to the second-year pages level. I promise he'll cooperate. Unless, of course, someone flares his temper about money or blood or anything. Other than that he's, er, level-headed."
When Hermione gave a loud snort Ron glared at her and the two were soon engaged in a row. Harry shook his head and watched with admiration as Luna let her odd ways diffuse it. "Impressive, Loony," Harry whispered.
"I'll see what he can do," Master Garvic said after a few moments. He motioned Harry and Ron closer. "Boy, keep an eye on those lot on the left. They're pretty nasty fellows. I'll keep my eyes open, but watch what you do around them, alright?" Ron nodded with uncharacteristic obedience and Harry couldn't help but smile. Master Garvic was rather intimidating with his size, but reminded him a lot of Hagrid. Only he was quite stern and tough when he needed to be.
"Have fun, Ronald," Harry called teasingly over his shoulder. Ron followed this up with a very rude statement that the elves didn't understand and made Hermione tell Ron off. Harry just laughed and pulled the rest of his friends away.
"Ron is so... so immature sometimes!" Hermione ranted. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I think they're having a lover's spat," Ginny muttered. But she said it loud enough that Hermione heard.
"We aren't lovers!" Her face had gone very red and Harry was trying very hard not to laugh. He swallowed and used his highly effective techniques of becoming a stone mask.
"Not yet, though the way you two carry on," Harry said suggestively. "And don't think that Ron doesn't talk to me and Nev the same as you talk to Ginny and Luna. We all know what the two of you have on the brain." While Hermione sputtered with embarrassment, Ginny clapped.
"Touché," Luna said, smiling with the left side of her mouth. Neville wisely refrained from commenting but, when Hermione was occupied with glaring at her two friends, he snickered to Harry.
Due to their conversation, Harry was the only one who noticed that when they went past the practice fields, the elves all stopped and watched the humans with either interest or contempt. He was rather relieved, in fact, that his friends had not yet noticed. He knew Ron didn't either, from the resounding noise of wood on wood coming from his training field.
Harry halted the small fellowship at their destination. Immediately, all of the first-year pages ceased movement and stared, openly at the humans and their prince. Only two of the elves, both boys, seemed used to the prince's presence, though they eyes the humans with interest. Both, Harry knew, were natives to the castle, their parents on the Council.
"Master Findley!" Harry said joyously. The man grinned brightly at him, before turning to his students and yelling something in Elvish for quite a while. When he was finished, practice resumed immediately.
"Kana's been going on and on about that school of yours, Highness," Master Findley said conversationally.
"So you've finally started to court her then?" Harry taunted. Findley went extremely red, especially for an elf.
"Yes," he mumbled. A girl giggled nearby, but promptly stopped as her partner smashed her fingers with his staff. "Serves you right, Yashtia of Benai," he scolded in Elvish. "Twenty laps around the stables after dinner. So, what can I do for you, Prince Laohan?"
"We're here to train," Harry said in English. The others looked nervous at the sight of the first-year pages, they went back and forth with two moves, tuned to perfection.
"They any good?" he asked, eyeing up Neville, who blushed, knowing that the man was studying his weight.
"They'll get good if they aren't," Harry said firmly. Findley looked at Hermione's slim, but obviously not athletic, build and Luna's wiry, fly away appearance. "Ron's a killer with a staff, or soon to be, anyways, and he's over with the older pages. Hermione's got the potential to be a great archer, and Ginny's going to be lethal with a blade. I haven't tested Luna and Neville yet. We're going to do that after training, before lunch."
Findley was circling Ginny, obviously thinking her small frame and fragile looking body would brake under pressure from anything. She glared at him, knowing exactly what he was thinking. "Good things come in small packages," she snapped. "I grew up with six brothers, I'm not a ninny." Findley held his hands up in defense.
"Gazinan, give me forgiveness," he muttered in Elvish. Harry laughed and Ginny glared at him, which sobered him rather effectively.
"Sorry, Gin. He's asking the God of Surprise for forgiveness from you."
"Listen up!" Findley cried in Elvish. "These four are going to be starting to learn everything we are! And so will the male red-haired human, but right now he's with the second- and third-year pages. Be polite, or you'll all get what's coming to you! Daveterr, Jarretsin, Benai, and Noxivar, you're partnering up with them. Meaning your partners should square off. NOW!"
Four elves came over immediately, three boys and the girl who had been given twenty laps. "Master Findley," she ventured in Elvish. "You already have me cleaning the stables after dinner."
"You'll do them both, Yashtia," he said sweetly. Harry laughed. "You're going to take the boy." He turned and spoke in English. "Neville, this is Yashtia of Benai, she'll be working with you for everything but whatever it is that you're point is. The same goes for all of you. Hermione, you'll work with Jarryen of Noxivar, though he prefers to go by his lands. Luna, this is Gortimere, or Gorti, of Jarretsin, and Ginny, this is Ravquin of Daveterr. He is what we like to call Riggi (R i j ee), or the Serpent." Ginny blanched slightly. Harry laughed a little, but was quieted once again by her loathsome gaze.
"Sorry?" he offered, shrugging. Ginny opened her mouth to snap, but Riggi put a hand on her shoulder. Smiling sweetly at him – too sweetly, thought Harry – Ginny let him lead her to a corner. The others split up as well.
"Okay," Findley called, at his side, Harry mentally translated for his friends, causing Luna to blink five times in fast recession and Neville to jump about a mile. "We're going to review today. First block and attack. Get to it. Oh, and Prongs quel Agin (the sequel) you and I can... catch up... a bit." Harry groaned but summoned up staffs for them anyways, and they were quickly engaged in a fierce battle, ignoring the others as they practiced, too well trained to stare with hours of punishment and smashed fingers as experience.
Eventually, Findley and Harry stopped, hearing a squeal from a page Harry as Rafilicon of Contetre, who had grown up at the palace. While Master Findley went to yell at them and send the boy to the healers, Harry went to check on his friends.
Luna was more focused than usual, though she still seemed to be frightening Gorti. Her hands often slipped form the correct grip positions, which Harry noticed was frustrating her. Gorti often got past her defenses of accidentally knocked her staff away, due to Luna's grip. Harry frowned.
"Luna, come here for a second." She did so without question. Harry took no note of this, too concerned with thinking of a way to help her. Gorti, however, was looking a bit impressed. "Your hands keep changing grip, that's messing you up."
"It feels unnatural." Luna's voice was a bit harder than usual, taken down a notch from her usual mystic and airy voice. Her eyes looked sharper with the slight frown that graced her lips. Harry also frowned, deciding he didn't like a frustrated Luna Lovegood.
""Then try this," Harry suggested. He took her hands in his and rearranged them on the wood. She blinked, smiling slightly. "Better, Loony?"
"Thanks," she said. Suddenly, she turned to Gotri and did the offensive swing. Gorti's well trained reflexes were easily able to block it, but this time, Luna's grip didn't falter – even though her hands did shake a little – and the sound of the two connecting was louder.
Harry nodded, smiling. He moved over to Hermione. She was continually ducking or squealing, not using the defense position she was supposed to be. Noxivar looked rather fed up, with his forehead wrinkled. "Hermione," Noxivar said, straining is agrivated voice to make it sound patient. "Just use the defense position. I won't hurt you!" Hermione just squeaked. Harry watched in a sick fascination as the most prominent witch of his year failed miserably to do the set task.
"Quill," Harry said after a few moments. She looked at him, going red. "What's the most painful curse you've been put under?" She rolled her eyes.
"You were there," she snapped, obviously in a bitter mood at her lack of skill. "The Department of Mysteries? Remember, evil psycho Death Eater hitting me with that infernal spell that confined me to a bed in that bloody Hospital Wing for an extensive amount of time?! Bloody idiot," she mumbled as an afterthought.
Noxivar's jaw dropped at her disrespect to his prince, and he looked at Harry for his reaction. Much to the elf's surprise, Harry laughed.
"There are probably only three things that are worse than that. One, the cruciartus curse, which I can say with complete authority, hurts like hell and a thousand worse places. Two, probably the killing curse in its rightful effect. I however, would not know, even though I am the most likely wizard. Third, and finally, is not, as you may assume, getting hit with a wooden staff. It is, however, getting run through with a sword.
"It's a simple matter of logic, Hermione. Just break it down. He attacks, you block. It's really is that simple," Harry concluded, crossing his fingers behind his back. She scowled but as Harry wandered over to Neville, he saw her blocking and attacking much better.
Much to Harry's shock, Neville was doing much better than the first two girls. He'd fumble every once in a while, but for the most part he could block Yashtia's fierce blows. Neville's attacks were weaker, without as much confidence as his blocks, making Harry frown and halt them. Neville blushed slightly.
"You're defensive block is really good, Neville," Harry complimented. Neville's skin turned a darker shade of red. "Why don't your attacks have that same... enthusiasm, confidence?"
Neville shrugged, looking very insecure. "I've always been rather good at ignoring people's attacks, I've gotten a lot of practice with Malfoy – Draco, sorry – and Professor Snape especially. But I'm not very good at attacking back, really defending myself." Harry nodded, his eyebrows drawn together in contemplation.
"Try thinking – no...." Harry bit his lip, trying to come up with a solution. Suddenly, it hit him. "Neville, when I taught you guys the Patronus charm last year, what memory did you choose?"
"I never conjured one; I hardly got a mist." Harry shook his head.
"That doesn't matter. What memory did you choose?"
"That time I stood up to you, Hermione, and Ron in first year," Neville said, going a lovely shade of red Harry thought only Uncle Vernon's anger could make. Harry smiled.
"That's an excellent memory, Nev," Harry said with a silent reassurance hidden it in, telling Neville it was okay. "When you attack, think of that. Positive memories – happy memories – not only help to conjure defenses against a dementor, but can help you in any situation. Emotion is an excellent thing."
"And the pain?" Neville muttered. He of course had not remembered the fact he was among elves, with extremely good hearing. Yashtia's face didn't change at all, like a well-trained noble's. Harry blinked and turned around, eyeing Neville carefully. The boy shifted uncomfortably under Harry's unblocked gaze, as Harry's glasses were no longer of any need.
But Harry didn't respond, simply turned back around and walked over to Ginny, thinking on what Neville had said.
Harry smiled at the girl he had, after so many years, fallen so fast for. Ginny's face was glistening with sweat, more so than the others. Her face looked more sure, her moves more fluent, but there was no denying that Ginny was, in fact, a beginner. Riggi had no trouble with her attacks, but he put more force into his own attacks than the other elves were. Ginny struggled to keep pace with him, but was trying none the less.
Harry watched for a while, taking in everything, thinking of things to tell her. Riggi would call out things, feet in the wrong place, hands turned slightly wrong. Riggi, in Harry's opinion, was the best of the elves around him – not only at staffsmenship in general, but at teaching, instructing.
Eventually they halted, Ginny panting heavily, Riggi smiling.
"Here," Harry said, conjuring as canteen with a wave of his hand. Riggi's eyes widened while Ginny blissfully ignored the advanced display.
"They said you could do magic without reciting spells," Riggi said, eyeing Harry. Harry sighed and waved his hand.
"They say a lot of things," he said bitterly. Riggi smiled. "Anyways, Ginny, one reason you're so tired is that your body wasn't built for this." He flinched slightly when she glowered at him. "I didn't say you COULDN'T do this, I simply said your body wasn't made for it. You're going to have a pretty rough time, but all you have to do is work hard at it; your body will get used to it, then it will all be second nature. And try breathing like this." Harry quickly taught her an easier way to breath. Ginny's main problem was that she needed to better conserve her energy.
Harry grinned at her and strolled away, moving among the elves, not saying anything, but watching them tense as he passed. He rubbed his eyes tiredly, missing the feeling of his glasses on his nose.
The staff training progressed through most of the morning. Then, when Master Findley called it to halt and sent the pages to saddle up their horses and get ready for lancing, Harry motioned his friends to follow him to the first practice rfield, where Ron was just finishing up as well.
It was easy to see, as they reached their friend, that he had had a much harder work out. Ron's clothes looked as if he had been swimming and had been letting them sun-dry for about half an hour. His hair was sticking to his forehead, and this time, when he ran a hand through it, Harry saw he bore no resemblance to James Potter and Sirius Black.
"You smell," Luna said as she glided over, passing Harry. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Gee, thanks Luna. You're like a field of daisies yourself," he snapped. Luna paid him no mind and studied the footprints in the dirt in the practice field. The others shook their heads.
"Ron, you really do need to wash up," Harry said. "I'd steer clear of Remus and Sirius. They both have enhanced smell for obvious reasons, but especially Remus since he's in control of the Wolf. Everyone can shower quickly. Meet at the stables in forty-five minutes, okay?" They all nodded and as the other five headed to the castle, Harry transformed into a sparrow and headed for an area far away.
As the air rushed past him, Harry transformed back into his rightful state, the wind whipping against his shirt, blowing his hair back. As Harry flew with the elegance of a royal elf, he felt a jab of longing for the feeling of his broom. Harry loved flying on his own, with nothing but wind and body – but there was always something right when he flew on a broomstick. And later, as he headed back, once again as a sparrow, Harry realized what.
Flying on a broomstick was the first time Harry had felt sure of himself – felt free. No matter what changed in his life, that would stay the same. That first instant when Harry had felt capable of something. Flying.
A/N Sorry it's so short! Sissy's graduation party is tomorrow, I've been cooking like mad!