Training – Monday

As soon as Dumbledore left, Snape took charge of the situation, as usual. Both Tonks and Snape removed their robes, to reveal their training wear. Tonks was wearing pink track pants and a black-and-white sports bra. She changed her hair again, this time to support the house colors. Her hair was a whirlwind of red, yellow, blue and green. What surprised the girls was Snape's attire. Their normally greasy professor actually looked good out of his robes. He was wearing black sweatpants, along with a black wife beater. The material clung to him like a second layer of skin, showing off his lean muscles. He pulled his thick, silky black hair into a rubber band. The sight of their now-hot professor was causing all the girls to drool and the guys to turn their heads in disgust. Even Tonks, who was used to seeing him in these clothes, stared openly. Draco and Blaise were the only ones unaffected. They were used to seeing their Head of House in his training gear. Every summer, they used to train with him, even during some free periods at school.

"Dora!" Draco exclaimed, finally recognizing the woman with the colorful hair.

"Drakie!" she shrieked, making Harry and Ron snort with amusement.

"Don't call me that!"

"Why not?" she asked slyly.

"Because I said so, Nymphadora!" Draco warned sternly. He had used his cousin's full name on purpose, because he knew that she detested it.

"Don't you call me that! Seriously, I do not know what my fool of a mother was thinking when she named me." Tonks groaned.

"Fine, if you stop calling me that stupid childhood nickname."

"Drake?"

"Dora?"

"Deal!" they said in unison, a grin etching on their faces. They walked up to each other and embraced tightly.

"Good to see you, little cousin." Tonks smiled affectionately.

"Good to see you too, Dora." Was Draco's reply.

"Wait-" Ron put his hand out, his eyes showing confusion. "-you know each other?" Hermione rolled her eyes at her best friend's cluelessness.

"Honestly, Ronald. Don't you ever pay attention to anything? Tonk's moher was Andromeda Black, right?"

"Right." Ron nodded.

"Draco's mother is Narcissa Black, Andromeda's sister. Therefore, Tonks and Draco are first cousins. Simple enough for you?" Hermione asked, a teasing tone to her voice.

"Are we through with the family reunions? Because I would like to start our lesson, if you don't mind." Snape said sarcastically. Tonks gave him a scathing glare, but said nothing.

"First, we will look over your attire." Snape said. He made everyone get into a straight line and evaluated their clothes. First was Hermione. She wore bright pink board shorts, trainers and a white, sleeveless, midriff top that showed off her pierced bellybutton.

"Remove the navel ring, Granger." Snape told her. Luna was next. Luna was next to her, wearing a light-blue sleeveless top and black capris with trainers.

"Fine." Was Snape's curt remark. Harry stood next, wearing a plain black T-shirt, white and blue basketball shorts and battered trainers. Snape just moved on to the next person, who happened to be Ron. Ron wore a white T-shirt, grey track pants and white trainers.

"Acceptable."

Ginny was next in line, wearing a lilac halter top and dark purple sweats with bell bottoms.

"Fold up your trousers. We don't want you tripping on them." Snape instructed as he watched the pretty red-head do as she was told. Next was Neville. He wore a red T-shirt and black sweats with trainers. Snape gave an approving nod. Pansy was the next to be assessed. She wore a purple sports bra and matching short-shorts. Snape raised a brow at her attire.

"Hmmph. Must we always wear the most revealing clothes, Ms. Parkinson?" he asked, and moved on to Blaise and Draco without waiting for a reply. Draco was wearing a black wife beater that contrasted with his skin and matching drawstring trousers. Blaise wore the same thing, except his clothes were in white. Both boys looked extremely good-looking. Snape gave both boys and approving nod and moved to the front.

"Right. Today, we are going to teach you how to defend yourself by muggle means. Tonks and I will give you a demonstration." Snape said. He and Tonks made the students sit, and the professors stood facing each other in the centre of the room. They bowed and assumed a fighting stance.

"Start!" Snape bellowed. The two adults jumped about, punching, kicking and blocking. It was like a synchronized dance, in a way. After 5 minutes, Tonks was behind Snape, about to jump him. Snape grabbed Tonks' arm and flipped her over his shoulder, tossing her to the ground.

"I yield!" Tonks cried sitting up with a groan, cursing . Smirking, Snape faced the students.

"Now that is what I want all of you to achieve." He eyed each of them individually. "I want you all to form 3 rows. First, who here has learned Martial Arts?" Harry, Hermione, Blaise and Draco raised their hands. Snape nodded in acknowledgement.

"You four, stand in the front. Weasel, stand behind Draco. Pansy, behind Granger. Luna behind Blaise. Longbottom, behind Potter. Ginny will be placed behind Draco." He ordered. They stood in their given positions.

"Let's start with some taekwando. Potter! What belt did you get to?" Snape barked.

"Red-black, Sir"

"Granger?"

"Senior black 3, Sir"

"Blaise?"

"Senior black 1, Sir"

"Malfoy?"

"Senior black 4, sir"

"Very well. Zabini! Teach the rest of your classmates patterns 1,4 and 8. Potter, practice with Granger. Draco, you will be showing me how much you've practiced over the summer. Begin!"

"I'll be on the punching bag." Tonks said as they dispersed.

Snape and Draco bowed to each other and assumed their stances.

"START!" The rest of their movements were blurs. Every punch or kicked that Draco sent was blocked. At one point, they were face to face.

"Come on, Malfoy! Stop trying to hit me , and hit me!" Snape yelled. Draco's blood boiled. He pushed Snape away and leaped into a flying-side kick, hitting his mentor in the chest. Snape fell against the wall from the force of the kick. Draco walked over to him, and held his hand out in front of the professors face. Both stood for a moment to catch their breath. Snape gave Draco a half-smile.

"Well done Draco. You've improved." Draco smirked.

Meanwhile Harry and Hermione were still going strong. Harry had Hermione in a headlock.

"You gonna yield?" He grunted.

"No…I'm gonna…SING" She cried. She used her elbow to hit him in the solar plexus, her foot to stomp in his foot, her fist went back to hit his nose. She turned and used her knee to hit his groin.. AS she stepped away, Harry doubled up in pain. He fell on the floor clutching his crotch and started to roll on his back.

"You yield?" Hermione smirked. Harry nodded.

Blaise was getting some progress. Neville and Ginny had mastered all the patterns. Luna and Pansy had mastered two, and Ron…well, he'd only got the first one, which was better than most at a first attempt.

"Right. Neville, Ginny, go see Tonks. She'll help you get the hang of combat fighting skills. Luna, teach Ron the second pattern. Pansy, I'll help you with the last one, before I send you to Tonks." Blaise instructed. They did as they were told. After 10 minutes, pansy joined Neville and Ginny, Luna and Ron were learning the last pattern. After Ron got it, Blaise reported to Snape.

"They've got it, Sir"

"Very good ,Blaise. Now I want you to go and fight with Potter. Granger,-" he called to Hermione as Blaise walked to fetch Harry. She turned to him. "I would like you to fight with Draco. He is more up to your standards." He told her. She nodded and walked over to Draco, who overheard Snape's command. They bowed and assumed their stances. Blaise and Harry did the same.

"Begin!" Snape's voice called out. Harry and Blaise began. Their fight lasted for 10minutes, and ended with Harry pinned to the wall with a side-kick from Blaise.

"I yield!" Harry called. Blaise grinned.

"Good fight, Potter." They shook hands.

"Let's watch the other's. They are watching 'Mione." Harry suggested.They joined their friends on the floor to watch Draco and Hermione fight. Punch-Block-Fly Kick- Dodge-Kick-Roundhouse Kick, one after another. Hermione's long hair was escaping from her hair tie, and Draco's shirt was soaked in sweat. The crowd on the floor was watching in anticipation. Eventually, Hermione let her guard down for only a second, but that was all Draco needed. With one swift movement, he pinned her onto the ground. They stayed like that for a minute gasping for air.

"Malfoy?"

"Yes, Granger?"

"Get-off-of-me-NOW." She groaned, still short of her breath. Malfoy simply smirked. He bent his head down towards hers, and pressed his lips to a shocked Hermione's. For a few seconds, she was stunned, but eventually gave in to her urges. When Draco started to pull away, she grabbed a hold of him and gave him another passionate kiss. After finally breaking away, Draco helped her to her feet. She heard applause, and saw her friends grinning at her, clapping. All accept one. Ron was red in the face and fuming after witnessing her little spectacle.

'Okay, that is enough for today. Hermione, good for you." Tonks winked.

"Very interesting." Snape drawled, his tenor voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Oh, go on to lunch. Don't mind what Sev says. He's just jealous that his girl is out of town and ain't gonna be givin' him some, if you get my meaning. Am I right, or am I right, Sev?" Tonks asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. The comment caused Severus Snape to do the unthinkable. He…blushed! Nobody, at least, not the students, had ever seen him blush before today.

"I would appreciate not knowing about Uncle Sev's sex life with my mum, thanks." Draco requested of Tonks, a look of distinct disgust on his face.

"Wait. Professor Snape is screwing your mum?" Hermione asked. All of Hermione's friends had their jaws falling. No-one had ever heard her speak so crudely before.

"That's enough. Lunch. Now." Snape said through gritted teeth.

"Yes." Draco said, answering Hermione's question.

"OUT!" bellowed Snape. All the students scampered, not willing to face Snape's wrath any more.

"Don't you think that was a bit harsh?" Tonks asked tentatively, after the door shut behind Blaise. Snape sent her a truly venomous glare. If looks could kill, Tonks would be dead, twenty times over. "Never mind."

"It was none of their business as to whom I court. Only Draco's. There was no need for you to publicize my relationship with Narcissa. Especially to the other students. I suppose that it should only be fair if I told them about a certain Metamorphamagus' passionate affair with a werewolf, who is also an ex-Marauder?" Snape spat. With that, he donned his robes and strode out of the room, leaving a rather bewildered Nymphadora Tonks.

In the Great Hall, the students were already eating their lunch. They were all exhausted from all the training they had just done.

"Whew! That was tiring!" Ginny groaned.

"I think my muscles have grown muscles." Luna moaned with her head in her hands.

"I can't move my arms at all." Neville whined. Pansy just sat with her head on the table.

"Oh, stop being such wimps." Blaise scoffed.

"Easy for you to say, Mr.Blackbelt." Pansy complained

"You didn't seem to mind when we were doing a one-on-one." Blaise said suggestively. His comment made the blood rush to her cheeks.

"No fair! WE made a pact. No bedroom talk outside of the bedroom." Pansy shot back.

"Who said anything about bedroom talk?" Blaise asked slyly. Pansy's face turned into a darker shade of red, if that was even possible, as she had nothing to say in her defense.

"He's got you there Panse. You just proved a point, you know." Draco said to her.

"Oh, and what's that?"

"Girls have even more crude thoughts than us guys do!" Draco laughed. The other males on the table joined in with him.

"Well… if I'm not mistaken, I thought Hermione proved that one." Pansy retorted. Hermione looked up.

"Hey! Don't you bring me into this." She warned.

"Or what?" Pansy replied. "-You'll snog Draco? Because if if you do, he'd love that. He is getting sick and tired of one night stands. To tell you the truth, so am i! All those girls seem to fall at his feet and worship him. He does look god-like doesn't he? I don't blame them. I used to be like that till i started going out with Blaise." Pansy sighed.

"Right. That's enough blabbering for you. Who slipped you the Veritaserum? No time. WE have to go to Transfiguration now." Draco said looking at his watch. He was purposely ignoring the conversation they were having.

"Did McGonagall say what we need to bring?' Hermione asked. Her boring looks may have magically changed to exotic and mystical, but her love for studying and learning still remained the same.

"Nope, doesn't say." Harry said, after he quickly scanned the letter.

"Whatever. Let's just go." Neville shrugged and they rose. As they were about to head upstairs, Harry caught sight of Ron, still seated at the Gryffindor table.

"Ron? You coming?" Harry called. Ron jumped and turned.

"Huh? What'd you say?"

"We have Transfiguration now." Harry reminded him.

"Oh, yeah." Ron shook his head, as if to clear fog from it. He got up and followed Harry. When they arrived, Professor McGonagall was waiting for them.

"I shall put you in assigned seats." She said firmly. Draco was put with Hermione in front, Harry with Neville behind them, Ron and Luna behind them, and Blaise with Pansy at the back.

"Professor? What about me?" Ginny inquired, confused.

"This class is not for you, Miss Weasley."

"Why? Am I not good enough?' Ginny asked, looking highly offended.

"Miss Weasley, you misunderstood me. I meant that you have no need for Transfiguration, as you are well above the required level for your age. Also, your power is healing, and so, we have decided that you would be better suited for Madam Pomfrey. You will only need Transfiguration during the school year. Your power does not require what I will teach here. Now, will you please escort yourself to the Hospital Wing?" McGonagall asked. Ginny gave the other students a little wave as she stalked out of the classroom.

"Right. Now, today we will be focusing on the Animagi transformation." McGonagall started.

"Wicked." Ron muttered to Harry, who was in front of him. Harry personally agreed with him.

"The animal you transform into will be the one most sited to your character. You are to research on different animals, characteristics, behavior and how an animal is chosen. I want two rolls of parchment on the subject on these, to be handed to me next week. If you have any queries, you may see me later. If you will follow me, we shall head to the library where we will spend the rest of the lesson researching." With that, The professor led the 8 students out of the room. No one noticed Draco and Blaise smirking. The twoboys exchanged glances as the students were walking along the corridors. They stayed behind the rest to have a quick talk.

"Should we tell them?" Blaise asked.