Harry awoke this time feeling very confused, who were those five women? And why was he dreaming of Bellatrix Lestrange of all people? More important, why did she look like she was under Imperius?
Looking at the clock, he was surprised to find it was only four o'clock. Deciding it was too early for breakfast or Rowena's book, he decided to see what Godric's book had to offer.
He turned to his desk and touched the book to lift it, suddenly, in a flash of light, the book was gone. Looking frantically around the room, he noticed an increasing glow at one corner. He grabbed his wand and went cautiously to investigate the glow which by now reached the size of and adult man. The glowfaded suddenly and in its place was a man. He was tall, may be like Dumbledore, looked like in his forties, with long black hair that reached just past his shoulders and piercing blue eyes. He was dressed in a strange looking shimmering roe in red and gold with a blood red cloak that was fastened with a golden phoenix necklace.
Harry looked at the man in no small amount of fear. He could feel power rolling off him, though it seemed the man was in control.
In a deep voice the man asked, "Who are you child, and how did someone your age come by this book?"
Harry hesitantly replied, "I-I'm Harry Potter, sir. I found this book in a box that was given to me."
The man looked thoughtful, "Given to you, you say? Tell me child, how old are you?"
Harry replied, "Sixteen in about two months sir"
This reply angered the man, "Don't lie child, you don't look a day older than thirteen."
Harry too was getting angry, "I'm not lying, sir, you can be sure of that. If you don't believe me then it is your problem, I'm not the one who stole your book then barged into your room demanding answers left and right. Who are you anyway?"
The man looked deep inside Harry's eyes and was astounded at the amount of determination and maturity displayed in them. He was more astounded that his eyes looked so old, like they had seen what no child his age should have seen ever. He suddenly smiled and said, "That's the spirit, never fear to stand up for your self if you're right. Anyway, I'm Godric Gryffindor, well the projection of him at any rate. In essence, I'm the book. This book was made by the elven warriors, millennia ago to help train the warriors over the time. The projection that trains you is who you subconsciously think of as the ultimate hero. I'm to help teach you the arts of fighting whether unarmed, armed or magical. Before we start anything we have to get you in better shape first. You don't appear a day over thirteen as I said. You don't look anything like what the heir of magic should, and to think you have to marry four women. You'd be lucky that a female Blast Ended Skrewt let you close enough to touch it let alone marry it." He teased Harry and seemed to enjoy it a lot, "give me you hand"
Harry was madly blushing when he gave his hand to Godric, in a flash of light they appeared standing in a large green field.
"We're now inside the book, Harry. Here you'll be trained in the arts of fighting.
For every hour that passes in your room a day will pass here, the only activity you're allowed is to train and nothing else, no reading, sleeping or anything. You'll not age while you're here but you'll retain any physical changes you achieve. Now the peculiar thing about this book is that your energy stores will return to the same level after you leave the book as you entered it with.
That said you can only train for five hours a day, which means five days in here. You'll have to exit the book after every day you spend in here for five minute so you can recharge your body and reassert your mind. Just remember to eat a good dinner before you sleep so you'll be able to perform better. Now let's start getting you in shape."
With that he instructed Harry on some stretching exercises then had him do laps around the field, while teaching him how to breathe properly in order to last longer while exercising.
When Harry had his first break he spent the whole five minute cursing Gryffindor and anything that belonged to him including red and gold colors, even though he got his energy back he was still sore and aching all over. Once the time was up he touched the book which had rematerialized on his disk and was gone in a flash of light. This continued for four more times till it was 9:30, time for breakfast. Harry could barely move from the pain in his body, he thought that all the pain was worth it if it gave him an edge over Voldemort and his followers, the added publicity with the girls won't be amiss either.
Sure that the Dursleys must have finished breakfast and gone on their business for the day by now, he forced himself to go down to the kitchen. He found a large breakfast waiting with a note that said "do the laundry and make lunch" along with a list of what they wanted for lunch. Harry smiled at that. It seemed that Aunt Petunia still hasn't improved her cooking skills which he had surpassed at the age of 7.
So he ate his breakfast, washed the dishes, and then did the laundry. Deciding that such large amount of food needed a long time to prepare, he started setting the ingredients and making the food, he decided he'd make the lunch and heat it when they were ready to eat.
After finishing cooking he headed upstairs and took a shower then went to his room to change. Just then he heard uncle Vernon's car pull up so he went down again to serve the lunch. When his uncle entered the kitchen he had his usual scowl on his face upon seeing Harry even though Harry saw the hidden joy in his eyes at the thought of eating Harry's cooking again.
Harry made himself a plate and made to go to his room to eat, but was stopped as his uncle cleared his throat, "You can sit and eat with us, Boy"
Harry instantly became suspicious but sat down anyway. After lunch Harry washed the dishes while his aunt made tea for uncle Vernon. She said, "Finish what you are doing then join us in the living room."
Harry entered the living room and found his aunt and uncle watching T.V. he cleared his throat to gain their attention, his uncle turned to him and his eyes narrowed, "Sit down, boy. We need to talk"
His aunt said, "Your uncle and I agreed to make a deal with you, if you do yard work every day for two hours besides the normal house work, except for Sundays, I'll take you to the mall to get you new clothes."
Harry's eyes widened, and then narrowed, "Why, what's the catch?"
His uncle answered him, "We have some very important visitors that'll join us for the weekend on the 29th. Unfortunately their daughter knew you from primary school and expects to see you. I will not have you looking like a street gangster in my house"
Harry now understood what they needed; he thought about it for a little then said, "Alright, I agree. But, aunt Petunia, please can we make that trip later on? Like on the 25th, you see I expect to hit a growth spurt soon and it's kind of unpredictable for boys of our kind. So that I won't have to throw them away" he said knowing that the growth spurt was faked, but he couldn't tell her that he'd have spent close to 90 days training physically by then.
She replied, "Fine, you start tomorrow, once you finish, you are free for the rest of the day."
Harry went up to his room intent on finding what Rowena had to say about the mind arts.
The mind arts are not only to make you able to defend your mind, and maybe attack others' minds. They are a whole branch that can help you improve the way you use your mind.
The weakest form of mind arts is Occlumency, which is the art that helps you prevent your external thoughts from being displayed on your face, or to be detected by a Ligilimens. Contrary to popular belief, Occlumency doesn't protect the mind from intentional Ligilimency attacks.
The first step to learn Occlumency is to learn how to clear your mind and hold the clear state for long, like an hour.
Then you should focus on separating your mind into two different layers, the first one is the clear layer, then one should hold no thoughts at all; or at most, the thoughts you want detected by the Ligilimens. The inner layer will hold your real thoughts.
No one was ever able to learn Occlumency through direct Ligilimency attacks, only after they lose hope and start training by themselves, should they be able to master Occlumency.
That said; it's only natural to assume that those who teach Occlumency by attacking the student are only intent on Mind raping them. This means they search for their worst memories for their own sick pleasure. That's why it's a must to learn Occlumency from someone you completely trust or from a book.
Harry felt like breaking something. Snape and Dumbledore had caused him more damage and grief with the lessons than Voldemort ever did.
He didn't know what to think anymore. Harry felt completely betrayed; he wondered how much more he will discover along the way. One thing for sure, he'll put Salazar's book to full use even if it meant being marked as a dark wizard.
He definitely was light sided, but fighting fire with fire didn't mean he was evil. If killing a Death Eater meant saving the lives he would have taken otherwise, then what was wrong about it?
He heard a hoot and saw Hedwig giving him a look akin to approval, he wondered about her and how they seemed to understand each other so well, maybe she was magical. He'd ask the owl shop owner for a book about her species next time he went to the alley. He went back to Rowena's book.
After you mastered clearing your mind, you need to start this next exercise.
Take a piece of clothes and hold it in your right hand, once you reach the clear mind state, start feeling the fabric with your thumb.
This will take you back to almost square one for it'll break your concentration, try it again till you can memorize the feeling of the fabric while still holding a clear mind state. You can move to the next exercise after this is completed.
Harry closed the book intent in mastering what he read so far in the books before going any further.
(A.N. sorry for the delay, i'm having my final exams these days.)
next chapter: how was your week?
cj-cold: i think you misinterpretted my meaning, i meant that he'd have to have an idea about the contents, not finish them all.