Chapter 23: What's a Wonka?

"No, don't hold the blade at such a high angle," Harry said, swatting the sword from Ginny's grasp. "You want to be able to smoothly follow through with the strike."

He demonstrated the move again, going slowly through each position, as Ginny watched, eyes studying the blade in his hands.

It was early, their breath visible in the early chill, the students of the castle in who's shadow they now stood still sleeping silently in their beds. The dawn sun had only barely begun to peak out above the horizon when the duo had emerged from the castle, carrying only their swords, and wearing simple sparring clothes. Him in just a pair of loose pants, topless despite the cold, and her in a form-fitting leather vest, leaving her arms bare, and a pair of tight leather pants.When she had begun her training, she had been concerned about the cold. He had quickly told her it wouldn't be a problem.

Ginny nodded, wiping sweat from her forehead, as she held her blade at the ready. He had been right. The workout made her not even notice the chill.Nodding once, she launched into the attack.

The blade swung upward, cutting across, clanging with Harry's own, which was quickly raised to block, and deflecting upwards. She quickly turned the blade, letting it's own momentum carry it around, flowing into a slash, aimed for his throat. Harry stepped back quickly, the blade passing by harmlessly, and ducked, swinging his leg out, trying to knock her from her feet. She managed to avoid his sweeping leg, jumping to dodge it, and reversed her blade, stabbing downwards at him again. She felt a surge of glee as her blade nicked him in the cheek before being knocked aside by his own once more.

However, her glee quickly turned to nervousness as he rolled sideways, out of the reach of her sword, and stood.

"Well done," he said simply, then a slow smile began to spread across his face.

"Eep," was all she had time for, before he had launched into the offensive, his blade flashing forward. She raised hers quickly, frantically blocking the first blow, and the second. She stumbled backwards as the rain of blows continued, noticing several that she failed to block, but he kept from striking her skin. In one quick move, he swatted the sword from her hand once more, before bringing his to her throat, holding it there long for just a moment, before smoothly dropping it, and returning it to its sheath on his back.

"Your getting better," he said, smiling.

Her chest heaved, trying to catch her breath. "Really?"

"Yes, actually. You lasted longer then I expected, not to mention this," he said, bringing his hand up to the nick on his face, touching it lightly. It quickly healed as he pushed a touch of magic to it. Then he grinned. "I must say though...you look quite good like that."

She looked down in surprise, and her eyes widened as she saw one of the straps of her vest had been cut, and it was now dangled low on her shoulder, showing a fair bit of skin. She looked back up at him and saw him smirking slightly.

She blushed a little, hiding her hands behind her back, as she dropped her head, her hair falling across her eyes.

Harry smiled briefly, and quickly dodged the throwing knife that passed by his chest a moment later. Gin pouted sadly as she looked up at him, eyes sparkling.

"Aww...how'd you know?" she asked sadly.

"Firstly, I gave you those daggers you've so cleverly concealed in those hidden pockets of yours," he said, stepping forward, and catching her wrist before she could throw the other. "And secondly," he continued, looking down into her eyes. "I know you too well for that to work m'dear."

She pouted again, as he let go of her wrist, and ran a hand up her bare arm, to play with the broken strap of her vest.

"You are quite good with those though, I'll admit," he said, smiling at her, pride evident in his eyes. "You're a natural with them."

She smiled happily, shivering slightly as goose bumps followed the trial his fingers traced in her arm.

"Thanks," she whispered, lightly brushing her lips to his.

He smiled, and returned the kiss, lightly at first, but slowly deepening it.

"Harry?"

Harry sighed softly, turning his head towards the voice.

"Yes Cedric?" He asked, looking at the tall boy-no, man, before him. The elven healers had said all four of those returned would be weak, magically and physically, and so Cedric remained at Hogwarts, under the watchful eye of old Melnan, the healer.

"Umm...I was wondering," Cedric said, looking nervous, and awkward at having interrupted.

"Hmm?" Harry gestured for him to continue, while Ginny smiled softly, and picked up her sword, returning it to the sheath at her side.

"Could you-could you train me? Like that...how to fight?" Cedric blurted out.

Harry smiled. "Of course. If your willing of course."

Cedric nodded happily. "Definitely. I don't want to let the bastard," he spat out the word. "Get me again."

"No problem Ced, we'll start your training tomorrow morning, an hour before dawn. You'll train with Gin." Harry said, looking at Ginny briefly, who nodded, not objecting.

"Thanks Harry!" Cedric said excitedly. "One thing though..."

"Hmm?" Harry asked.

"Can we skip that last part? I mean, not that I don't like you, but not like that, and Cho would probably not appreciate it." Cedric said, laughingly.

Harry mock glared. "You'll pay for that one you will."

Ginny laughed, watching as Cedric swallowed nervously.

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A month had passed since their eventful return to Hogwarts. It had been...interesting. The had returned right in the middle of the Great Hall. Harry smirked as he remembered.

They arrived in the centre of the Hall. The tables had been cleared from the centre of the room by the elves, who had been alerted to their return. Professors Snape and McGonagall immediately began moving towards them.

"Albus, about time you got back, I-" Snape stopped, eyes widening briefly in horror as he caught sight of who stood behind Dumbledore. He then promptly fainted.

McGonagall stopped as well, looking from James, to Lily, to Sirius, to Cedric, then back again.

"What-how?" She stuttered.

"Its rather complicated Minerva," Dumbledore said, projecting his voice so all the nearby teachers, standing in shock, could hear him clearly. "But suffice it to say, thanks to Elven Magic, the Potters, Mr. Black, and Mister Diggory have safely returned to us."

"Minny!" James exclaimed, striding forward and giving her a hug, grinning wickedly. "How absolutely wonderful to see you again! Its been ages!"

McGonagall's eyes were wet with tears of happiness, but she still managed to look stern.

"Hmm...yes...I DO hope your stay in the castle will be a bit less interesting then it was last time, Mr. Potter?"

James' grin widened. "Professor, you wound me. Less interesting?" He said, looking back at Sirius and laughing. "Don't be silly! I may not be exactly what you though before, but I'm still a Marauder!"

"Hmmph, that's what I was afraid of." McGonagall said.

As all the others gathered, talking quickly, Harry's eyes went to one of the elves standing silently near the door. Their eyes met, and Harry nodded once, and the elf turned, and strode out of the room. A moment later, Harry excused himself from the others, and followed.

"Well?" He asked, once they were outside, away from any watching eyes, or listening ears.

"The Captain wants to talk to you, as soon as possible." Elain, one of the elves Harry had trained with, said.

Harry nodded. "I'll slip away this evening. Anything else?"

Elain shook his head. "No sir, the castle is secure."

Harry smiled his thanks, and returned to the Great Hall. Looking around quickly, he saw that Arthur had already flooed out, heading to the Ministry immediately.

The next morning, the Daily Prophet's headline would announce the return of the Potter's. It would have been too hard to conceal, and with the Minister's word to back it up, it would be quickly accepted.

"Albus, the Diggory's arrived about half an hour ago, they're waiting in your office." McGonagall said.

"Excellent. Cedric, if you'll come with me then?" Dumbledore said, and led Cedric out of the Hall.

"So, what happened to Snape?" James asked, grinning, as he looked down at the Potions Master, who's eyes fluttered open at just that moment.

"Merlin save us," Snape muttered.

James' grin only widened.

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Harry moved silently through the trees, passing by the hidden sentries and entering the outer edge of the war party's camp. The trees themselves seemed to conceal the camp's location, because until he entered the glade itself, there was no sign it was even there. The flickering light of the campfires didn't seem to pierce the outer boundaries of the camp.

As he entered, several elves saluted quickly, before silently moving into the forest behind him, trading off with the sentries already posted.

A flutter of wings to his left drew his attention, and he smiled faintly. The rest of the Windrunner's had arrived.

The Pegasi ruffled their feathered wings, as their riders, some of the best archers among the elves, tended their mounts. Carried into battle upon their winged steeds, the Windrunner's could reach the castle grounds considerably quicker then the rest of the war party. They would be raining feathered death upon the enemy within ten minutes of a Call being sounded.

"My Prince," one of the captain's aides called, jogging over to him. "Captain Seerin it waiting in the Command Tent."

Nodding his thanks, Harry followed the aide to the tent, and pushed aside the flaps as he ducked in.

"Report Captain," he said. There would be time for small talk later, Seerin wouldn't have wanted to speak with him if it weren't urgent.

"A force of 20 vampires tried to pass through the forest Christmas Eve. They were making for the castle. They were armed, and moving in an obviously hostile manner," the captain said curtly.

"You took them out I'm assuming?" Harry asked, concerned. "Was anyone injured?"

"Not seriously, no. We were warned earlier enough, and ambushed them before they neared the castle. Few injuries, a few cuts and scrapes is all," Seerin answered. "That's not the problem."

Harry's eyebrow raised in question, and Seerin answered by dropping a handful of dark black leather patches

"Valendi." Harry said, pursing his lips in annoyance, as he picked up one of the black patches, and ran his thumb over the blood red insignia on the front.

The Valendi were the largest, and most dangerous of the Vampire Clans. The ones involved in earlier attacks had been rogues. Weak, Clanless vampires. The addition of the Valendi to the Dark Lord's forces would greatly increase his available attack power.

"Alright. Keep everyone training, and ready to come if Called. Remember, do not leave this position unless ordered. The Dark Lord will come. With the extra forces available from the Valendi, he'll be growing more and more confident. The attack will come, and when it does, I want to crush his forces between you, and the walls."

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"Alright," Harry said, pacing back and forth in the Lair. "We need something big. Something unexpected.

"Something to make them regret EVER doing this to my hair," Ginny grumbled, looking at her bright green curls with distaste. She'd been so happy when her hair had become long, straight and silky.

"Ya, I don't like blue hair!" Ron yelled.

"I don't like this blonde any more then you do Swift," Harry replied.

"So we need to do something to retaliate," Hermione said quietly, thinking hard. Then a slow grin lit her face, and her eyes danced with mischief. "I've got it!"

"What?" Ron asked impatiently.

"Bolt," Hermione said, turning to the only other to have been raised by muggles. "Did you ever read Willy Wonka?"

"Yes, but what does that-" He paused, before a wicked look came over him. "You Feathers, are a genius."

Hermione smiled.

"I know."

Ron looked confused.

"What's a Wonka?"