Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter do you honestly think I'd be sitting here writing this?
Authors Note: I'm sorry a thousand times and another thousand. I can't believe it took me so long to update. I'm begging forgiveness. I swear that I will get quicker with my updates and that you will never have to wait that long again. Also Mandarb means blade. Congrads for all you people who got it right. Some people mistook my meaning and thought I meant what she was going to do in the kitchen. I apologize for that being unclear. I actually wanted to find out how many of you have read or heard of The Wheel of Time series. They are really good I recommend them to anyone and everyone but don't be put off by there size.
Maddy: That has got to be one of the most confusing reviews that I have ever read. Wow. What about dodge ball now?
Never Odd Or eveN : Glad you love it and I would be honored if you added it to you c2. Thanks.
Warlord Harrsk: I'm updating now. Sorry but I've been under a lot of stress. Don't worry I wont give up on this story. Your review made me blush. Thanks so much for your creativity comment.
liz: Glad you like it.
beauty0102: I'm so sorry it took so long. I've been under a lot of pressure from school.
silverbluenchantress: Here it is.
me'shell: Sorry no blue cheese in this chapter. Give me something to do with it. For example having some one eat it or make a prank including it and I'll include as soon as possible.
Queen Victoria: I thank you for your complements and I agree updating is my one weekness that I definitely need to work on.
IamSiriusgrl: So sorry that I didn't make myself clear about that.
abernaith: Glad that you like it so much. Out of curiosity why do you think it awkward? As for her purpose, you'll just have to wait and find out.
Kaaera: Oh my gosh I didn't even remember about his trunk! Ahhh! For now just pretend that it got sent with him. I don't know how I'm going to fix that.
Neo-Queen Serenity: I'm glad that you like her.
musicalmonk17: Glad you think so. Sorry it took so long.
beauty78900102: Cringes, sorry it took so long.
Pleione: Glad you enjoy it.
queen-of-monkey-magic: Very good suggestion and I used it. Your review made me crack up too.
Sadistic Assasin: I wonder why you got censored! Shut up you get to read the storys before anyone else does anyway. Whats wrong with your stories! I'll tell you whats wrong with them! 'goes of muttering to herself'
chica91: I hope you think it's appropriate and I'm sorry it took so long.
Timra : I'm glad you like it but out of curiosity why so you think its weird?
Georgie Gryffindor: Lan is a king, sort of, you'd have to read the books. Anyway for the point of the story James is a little slow and I don't quite know what you mean about Remus and Harry.
Serindipity9: You're wish is my command. However they wont be mad at Harry for long because they just became friends with him. Your suggestion will be the main focus of my next chapter.
pinkharry( ) : Glad you like it.
Time Reveals AllChapter 9
Remus heard Lily and Mary call Harry's name and sighed. Girls were dense sometimes. True most of the time they handled these kinds of issues easily, but sometimes they just didn't get it.
He watched Harry turn toward them hoping against all hope that Harry would stay, but as Lily and Mary started towards them his hopes were dashed. Helplessly he saw Harry's gaze directed at James and saw the death glare that he received.
Shock filled him as he watched a tear slip down Harry's cheek. Rooted to the floor he watched helplessly as Harry ran out of the hall.
He shook his head. Lily and Mary had reached him now and he glared at them.
"What?" Lily asked
"What! I make progress, got him to talk to me. He was taking me to where he has been sleeping so we could talk more and you just have to go and ruin it! I might never get another chance."
Lily and Mary at least had the sense to look abashed.
"Sorry Remus, I guess we should have known," Lily said.
"Yes, you should have," said Remus still slightly upset.
"Look Remus we are really sorry, but right now what we want to know is what is wrong with him," Mary said.
"I don't know yet," Remus admitted, "Other than what James said I don't know."
Mary sighed, "Come on guys, lets go back to the dorm. I've got homework to finish. Maybe we can talk to Harry tomorrow."
"Al much as I hate to admit it, Mary is right Remus. We'll never find him now. He has only been here a couple months, but he seems to know this castle and the grounds better than we do. We just have to wait until morning." Lily said.
Remus sighed reluctantly, but nodded. "Alright, lets go."
Remus woke up to find the dorm already empty. He quickly got ready and then rushed down stairs to meet Mary and Lily.
"Lets go, if we hurry we might be able to catch him."
They entered the Great Hall and froze in shock. Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table and was calmly talking to James and Sirius.
Slowly Remus walked over to the table followed by Lily and Mary.
"…So have you ever played Quidditch before? You're really good. You know our seeker just graduated and the position is open if you want to join the team." James was saying as Remus approached and sat next to him.
"What's going on?" said Lily from behind him.
"Well," James said, "I realized that I was being an idiot basically and I apologized to Harry and he accepted."
"Just like that? I'm surprised you even got a chance to talk to him." Remus commented, "With the rate that he goes through here."
"Well he was practically forced to sit down be some girl," Said Sirius putting in his two cents.
"Don't let her hear you. Trust me, the last thing you want is her mad at you," Harry said.
"I'm not afraid of no sissy girl. She can't do anything to me!" Sirius said laughing.
"Oh can't I?" said a voice from behind Remus.
Remus turned around to be confronted with the most intimidating person he had ever seen.
She glared at Sirius and the turned to Harry, "They said they would change the food for you."
Harry groaned, "How much did they change it? Please don't make me eat something horrible! Please Mandarb, please!"
"Sorry Harry, but it's all health food. That's what you need anyway if you want to keep up with me. You were lagging behind today."
"Lagging behind? In what?" Lily asked curious.
"Running, he couldn't keep up." Mandarb stated simply.
This caused James and Sirius to roar with laughter.
"Yeah you try waking up at 5:30 and running around the grounds on her path at her pace. Trust me you won't be laughing then," Harry told them.
"Oh come on Harry be realistic. You probably woke up at 7 and went for a jog around the castle. You're exaggerating." Lily said sitting down next to James.
At this Mandarb laughed, "He's not exaggerating Lily. In fact he's putting on a brave face. What I had him do today was hard. In comparison to me when I started training he's doing exceptionally well," she turned to Harry, "Don't let that you to your head. You have a long way to go before you can beat me."
"Don't worry, it wont," Harry replied.
The rest of them starred at Mandarb in shock.
"H-how do you know my name?" Lily asked, shaken.
"Harry told me. Actually he told me all about all of you." Mandarb said ignoring the curious look Harry shot her way. "Now James, I know you are the captain of the Quidditch team, you wouldn't happen to have a position open that Harry could fill could you? Maybe seeker?"
"I do and I was wondering if Harry would like to take that position." James replied
"Perfect, he would love to. Well that's settled. Now I'm sure you're all wondering who I am so I'm going to make this quick. My name is Mandarb. I'm going to be the assistant teacher for Professor Moody only I will not only be getting Harry into shape, but also teaching him the muggle part of his training. I will be teaching him staff fighting, how to handle and throw knives, how to use a gun and, if he is interested how to use a bow and arrow. I will also be handling his hand-to-hand combat training."
The table occupants stared at her, "Why on earth does he have to learn that stuff? I mean I know he has to fight in a war or something, but it's not like he's going to be a one-man army!" Sirius stated while the others nodded in agreement.
"Harry," Lily tried, "you're taking on to much between Moody and Mandarb, you'll kill yourself from working too much."
"Don't worry about it Lily, I'm only here for a year and I don need all this anyway I'll get my rest while playing Quidditch." Harry said trying to console her.
James looked worried, "Harry I don't know if you should play. You have so much going on you really shouldn't stress yourself with more work such as Quidditch. Don't get me wrong I want you to play, but I don't want you to do too much and stress yourself. I can always find someone else."
"No!" Harry almost shouted, "Please James, please. I can do it. I have to do it! Please."
Harry looked so frantic that James felt sorry for him. "Alright Harry, but if you fell the stress is getting to you and you can't handle it promise to tell me?"
"I promise. Thank you James."
"You know what, I have a free period first, are you and Mandarb going jogging? If so would you mind if I joined you?" James said hopefully.
"Sorry James. I'm with Moody, but if you want I'm moving back to the dorm on Mandarb's insistence and cam wake you up tomorrow to come with us. If it's okay that I'm moving back that is." Harry offered.
"Harry that's fine that you're moving back in fact I'm glad you are. After all you're a Gryffindor like the rest of us. You belong in the dorms and in the common room with us. And I'd love to come jogging with you." James replied smiling.
"Count me in on the jogging too," Sirius said, "I won't miss it."
"Me too!"
"Don't forget about me!"
"Mind if I join?"
Harry laughed. "I don't mind if you guys come, but I've got to ask my coach. What do you say Mandarb?"
"I say, the more the merrier. Do you guys want to learn combat training too? You could always stop if it gets too much or too hard. Plus it might come in handy. I can talk to Dumbledore about it and have you're schedules changed by afternoon," Mandarb said.
"Yes!" they all coursed.
"That would be great Mandarb, thanks so much," Lily said.
The others called their thanks as wall as she headed off towards the teachers table.
"You better get going Harry. You don't want to be late. I'll be there ASAP," Mandarb called over her shoulder.
The other exchanged looks, "ASAP?" Remus questioned.
"As soon as possible," Harry replied, "I'll teach you guys other abbreviations later. I got to go to class. I'll see you at lunch."
They watched as Harry left the Great Hall.
"Yikes," Lily yelped, "hurry up guys, were going to be late for class." The five of them grabbed there bags and rushed off.
Worried when Harry didn't show up at lunch the five of them, now accompanied by Peter who had turned up late during their first class, went to their first afternoon class, Transfiguration.
Halfway through the class there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," called Professor McGonagall from the front of the room.
The door swung open to show a sweaty and panting Harry.
"Ahh, Mr. Prezorski, I assume you are here for Lily, Mary, Sirius, Remus, and James?"
"Quite right professor," Harry said, "their classes have been changed. They now have class in the morning and training in the afternoon. Here is a copy of there now schedule for you." He walked to the front and handed it to her.
"Very well," said Professor McGonagall peering at the schedule, "you may go."
"Hurry up," Harry hissed, "move it, sharp like."
He hustled them out of the classroom.
"Come on we're going to have to run. Hurry."
The five of them sprinted after him and ran all the way out of the castle.
They reached the front lawn where Mandarb was standing waiting, tapping her foot.
"You're late," she said peering at Harry.
"I'm sorry," said Harry.
"I'll let it go because McGonagall probably held you up, but don't let it happen again."
She turned to view the others who were panting.
"Ahh, the new recruits, well here are your clothes. Go change I want you back here in 15 minutes. Understand? Good." Mandarb said handing them their training clothes.
As they started off back towards the castle to go change she turned to Harry.
"Lets go, one lap around to castle. I want to be back before they are so you'd better be able to keep up."
The five of them returned to see Harry sitting on the grass panting.
"You hag, you said 1 lap." Harry accused
" Oh did I?" Mandarb replied smiling, "I must have forgotten and just kept on going. Now start stretching. I don't want you to pull a muscle because you didn't stretch.
Harry groaned, but started stretching motioning to the others to do the same.
5 minutes later Mandarb stood up. "All right now that we've stretched we need to warm up. I want each of you to do a lap of the castle. Go at your own pace. Ready, get set go!"
With Harry sitting beside her she watched them start with a critical eye. James and Sirius took off like bullets. They were out of sight quickly, racing around the castle. Lily, Mary, and Remus started out at a slower pace. While they weren't going extremely fast they weren't lagging. Instead they were going at a steady ground-eating pace.
7 minutes later Sirius appeared around the corner. He was breathing hard and had slowed considerably. He looked as if it was all he could do to keep going. Seconds later James appeared behind him.
Seeing Mandarb and Harry the two of them stopped and walked to rest of the way towards them causing Mandarb to frown.
Sirius and James reached them just as Lily, Mary, and Remus were coming around the corner. While looking out of breath they maintained their same steady pace and continued running until they reached the group. They then stopped to collect their breath.
By now Sirius had gotten his breath back and had started to brag. James however didn't join him.
"That was too easy! You call that training? I could do that in my sleep. Did you clock us?
How fast was I?" He turned to the other three, "You slowpokes. James and I whipped your butts! What do you think Mandarb? Think I could beat you now? Now that you've seen me run? All that talk about that stuff that you know. You probably don't know any of it and are just bluffing. It would probably take you an hour to run around the castle."
Mandarb had been staring out across the grounds, clearly deep in thought. Now however she turned around eyes flashing with anger. Sirius had no warning. One second he was standing on the ground bragging the next he was hanging in mid-air.
Out of seemingly nowhere a black wooden staff appeared. Twirling it until all you could see was a black blur she suddenly swung it at him. Sirius only had time to yelp before it stopped millimeters from splitting his skull.
Just as suddenly as it appeared the staff vanished. This time Sirius only had time to sigh in relief and stiffen when two daggers appeared in her hands. With black hilts and silver blades she threw them at him. They passed him only a hairbreadth away from cutting him open. As soon as the daggers left her hands new ones were there to replace them. These she threw as well with the same result. Sirius could feel them passing by him.
Summoning the daggers back with a wave of her hand they disappeared up her sleeves.
A bow appeared in her hands and a quiver of arrows on her back. In her hand she conjured a pack of cards.
She motioned to Harry to come and pick a card.
"It's the King of Hearts," He told her.
"Toss them up," she said.
Harry did. She aimed an arrow and shot. The arrow shot through the air in a smooth arch bringing down a card and pinning it to the ground. It was the King of Hearts.
Like the others the bow and arrows disappeared, but were not replaced. Instead Mandarb let out a piercing whistle and turned to look in the direction of the forest.
Sirius tried to look, but couldn't move from his position.
Minute's later hooves were heard galloping towards them.
Out of the trees appeared the black stallion that Harry had seen the night of Mandarb's arrival.
It galloped out of the trees straight towards her and stopped dead. Without a pause Mandarb vaulted onto it's back. Using her legs she expertly maneuvered her horse to stand right in front of Sirius so she could look him right in the eye.
"Still think I'm bluffing?" She asked.
"N-no definitely not."
"Good, ok first things first. You two," She pointed at James and Sirius in turn, "Need to learn to slow down and pace yourselves. Speed is important, but endurance more so. You three," she pointed at Remus, Mary, and Lily, "had the right idea. With a little work you'll be very good long distance runners. We'll do more running the mornings. I just wanted to see what I'm dealing with. Now follow me."
They did, and much to their surprise, Mandarb led them straight into the forbidden forest. Following silently Lily and Mary looked around nervously while the Marauders looked only a little anxious. Only Harry and Mandarb looked calm. However when Mandarb started to leave to path Harry stopped dead.
"No." He said bluntly.
"Harry's right," Lily said, "It's not safe to wander off the paths if it's even safe for us to be here at all."
"That's not what I mean," Harry directed at Lily and then turned to Mandarb, "And you know it."
"O come on. You've faced them before and you were only twelve. Now your almost and adult. Anyway you got out of it fine last time," Mandarb consoled.
"Yeah, and only lived because of a car with a mind of it's own that I flew to school. I don't think that flying car is here fight now, plus the last time I went they had taken one of my best friends to Azkaban, another friend was petrified, and I was afraid someone was going to die. I think that gave me enough reason to go visit man-eating spiders for a cup of tea. I'm not going there for no bloody training!" By the time Harry finished he realized he had been shouting and the forest echoed with his voice.
"All right Harry," Mandarb said giving him a concerned look. However he avoided meeting her eyes. "I think that's enough for today." She said to the rest of them.
They walked in uncomfortable silence all the way back to the castle. Outside Mandarb stopped to address them, but Harry just kept walking.
"Harry," Mandarb called.
"No, Mandarb, just no. Only three times have I brought friends into peril with me and had them actually fight. Lets list them shall we? How bout 3rd year? Me and two others get caught by who we think is a deranged mass murderer who wants to kill me, and was the reason my parents are dead. I was scared, but I wanted revenge. My companions had to stop me from killing him, not him me. 5th year me and 5 friends go to the Ministry of Magic to save the man who we thought was a murderer. Yes I was scared, but guess what? A bunch of Aurors showed up and saved us. 2nd year, the only time I felt completely scared out of my wits, couldn't do anything and was helpless with a friend with me who I had dragged unwillingly into that situation. Do you know how that feels? To be completely helpless and know you are causing another pain? All the times I've faced danger and the one time I felt useless. But that doesn't matter. He got out safe and didn't join the list of people that I got killed." Harry turned and kept walking. He didn't hear Lily call after him nor hear Mandarb's comment.
"Yes Harry. I do know how that feels."
Authors Note: I don't deserve reviews but if you do review don't flame please. I promise the next chapter will not take very long.