A/N: Here's chapter 21. I'm feeling a strong urge to write today, so I'm probably gonna go ahead and post a couple to a few chapters right now. Enjoy!
Zarroc: We'll see. Keep reading to find out!
the two-way mirror: Thanks. Dumbledore training Harry just flows a lot better to me. Nice predictions about Ron's reaction; especially since the two haven't been on such great terms. Sorry about the length last time, but there was reasons I couldn't write. Anyway, keep reading
The ORIGINAL Meathead: Thanks. Glad you liked it. Keep reading and lemme know what you think!
disclaimer: i do not own Harry Potter or any characters. the made up spells in this chapter, however, i did create.
0-0-0
Harry rounded a corner, hurriedly, hoping to reach Dumbledore's office soon. He checked his watch and noticed he was already 5 minutes late. Of course, it wasn't his fault. He'd been held up by Ron and Hermione after explaining his previous discussion with teh headmaster.
-FLASHBACK-
"You're doing what?" Hermione had exclaimed. "I can't believe Dumbledore's actually supporting this decision! It's completely barbaric."
"It's something I have to do, Hermione," Harry had replied firmly, trying to meet her eyes without feeling guilty from causing her pain.
"I'm all for you doing what you feel is right, but Harry, this is dangerous-" Hermione was interrupted.
"My whole life has been dangerous, Hermione!" Harry blurted out, finally losing his temper. "It's dangerous for me every day to even be here! For the past 16 years it's been dangerous for me to wake up in the morning, or to go outside, or to be anywhere in the world by myself because anywhere I was at, he could show up at any time!"
"Harry-" Hermione had tried to begin, tears rimming her eyes, but Harry continued.
"You have no idea what it's like to never know your parents," he screamed. "To grow up in a family who didn't want you, who didn't care if you lived or died! You don't have the slightest idea how it feels to be unwanted everywhere you turn and have to worry about being beaten up whenever you're alone with your cousin because he outweighs you by 200 pounds!"
The tears were, by now, starting to escape from Hermione's eyes.
"And you don't know what it's like to be cursed with bearing this scar every day of your life; to be loved and hated, worshiped and despised, all at the same time just because of something that happened before you were old enough to talk!" Harry continued screaming, unable to stop now, even seeing the pain he was causing Hermione. "Do you have any idea how it feels to be famous for surviving the killing curse? The curse that killed your own parents and was meant to kill you? No! I'm famous because someone attempted to murder me! That's dangerous in itself! You think I don't know that?"
"Harry, please-"
"Hermione, you don't understand!" he continued. "You never will! I've been through more in the last 6 years than anyone else could bear! I've taken on Lord Voldemort countless times. I've faced dementors in an alleyway in a Muggle town! And then gotten hit for saving the life of a member of the family who hates me.I coulda let him die, Hermione. I could have gotten back at the Dursleys for everything they've ever done to me by letting their pride and joy die, but I didn't. Why didn't I? I don't know. But I know that after everything I've done, people still think I can't handle anything."
"Harry that's not what I meant, I-"
"After every time I've encountered Voldemort or when I faced those dementors back at the Dursleys', I got 'that was risky', 'that was dangerous', 'stay inside', 'be careful'!" Harry went on. "No matter what I do, no one ever respects me or has any faith in me at all! It's like people think I'll break if I'm not careful. I've been through so much and it still hasn't proved to people that I can handle it! No one's ever wanted me or believed I could do anything."
"Harry, calm down, please," Hermione said. Harry sighed and looked at the ground.
"Hermione, I just want people to understand I have to do this," Harry said quietly.
"But you can't let all this emotion bottle up inside you Harry," Hermione said, putting an arm around his shoulders, as he had just sat down on the couch beside her.
"I know," he admitted. "But I couldn't talk to you about any of this. You wouldn't understand."
"How could I?" Hermione asked.
"The only way you could understand is if you actually went through it yourself," Harry looked her straight in the eyes. "And you have no idea how fortunate you are that you didn't. I wouldn't wish this life on anybody. Especially you."
"Why especially me?" Hermione asked. Harry sat silent for a moment, staring deep into Hermione's big brown eyes. He had to tell her the truth, but knew he couldn't; not right before he was going to leave to fight Voldemort. But what if he never came back? Then Hermione would never know how he truly felt about her- "Harry?" Harry was taken out of his thoughts.
"Why especially you? Because, Hermione, I lo-" Harry stopped himself. He couldn't. Sighing, he said, "Because I care about you too much." Without another word, he'd gotten up and left the common room, headed for his first lesson.
-END FLASHBACK-
Now, Harry felt as if he could kick himself for saying so much to Hermione. Why hadn't he stopped when he'd seen the pain in her eyes? Looking at his watch, Harry noticed there was no time to think about that. He was now ten minutes late to the lesson and was wondering how Professor Dumbledore would react. Finally, he reached the gargoyles, stated the password, and began up the staircase. When he reached the door, he knocked twice.
"Come in, Harry!" Dumbledore called from inside. Harry obeyed.
"Professor, I'm sorry I'm late," Harry apologized. "I got held up when I was explaining my situation to Hermione."
"It's ok, Harry," Dumbledore replied. "I understand she means a lot to you." He looked at Harry over the rim of his glasses and smiled oddly at him. "Anyway, all that aside, shall we begin?"
"Um, I guess," Harry said, unsure. Suddenly, Dumbledore pointed his wand and muttered something Harry couldn't hear. A gold strip fired from the tip of his wand and smashed into a glass cup that had been sitting on a table next to Harry. Harry jumped, surprised.
"What would you have done had that curse been directed at you?" Dumbledore asked.
"Um," Harry stuttered. "Blocked it?"
"With what?" Dumbledore asked, smiling.
"The blocking curse we were taught in Charms class?" Harry guessed. Dumbledore chuckled.
"No, no, Harry," he said. "The curses and charms you are taught here at Hogwarts are relatively useless put up against Lord Voldemort. That is why I'm teaching you."
"You're teaching me a different type of magic?" Harry asked, confused slightly.
"In a way," Dumbledore replied. "I'm teaching you dark magic. It's nearly the same as modern magic, but 50,000 times stronger."
"Ok," Harry said slowly. "Where do we start?"
"All of these curses are going to be curses you've never heard in you life," Dumbledore began. "Curses you didn't even know existed, but will be quite useful on your journey."
"I'm ready," Harry said. Dumbledore nodded.
"Let's start with the blocking curse," he said. "Repeat after me. Boldario."
"Boldario!," Harry repeated.
"Correct," Dumbledore replied. "Now, I'm going to throw a simple spell at you and let's see you use the blocking spell." Harry nodded. Once again, Dumbledore muttered a spell and shot it at Harry.
"Boldario!" Harry yelled, and the curse was blocked.
"Good, Harry," Dumbledore praised him. "I think it bets we should move on to more damaging spells now. I know it may seem like we're moving quickly, but we have to make sure you know all you need before you leave."
For the next few hours, Dumbledore trained Harry, teaching him different types of blocks, charms, and curses. Harry had had no idea that there was so much he didn't know about magic. Finally, Dumbledore decided to call it a night.
"Well, Harry," he said. "You did good tonight. Better than I thought you would."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry replied.
"You're ambitious, Harry, just like your dad," Dumbledore smiled. Harry returned the smile, feeling glad to be compared to his dad about something other than his messy hair. "It's one of the things I admired most about James."
"Thanks, Professor," Harry repeated.
"Well, anyway, we should probably schedule the next lesson," Dumbledore said. "How about tomorrow at 3?"
"That works perfectly," Harry agreed and, after saying goodbye, left the office to return to the Gryffindor common room.
0-0-0
A/N: So, there's Harry's first training session. How'd you like it? Let me know. I'll post chapter 22 next. RR!