Chapter 4

Higher Powers

"Again." Arthurius barked out as Harry came running by. Sweat dripping off his brow. Harry quickly looked at Arthurius, then started running through the Obstacle course in front of him. First the rope ladder to the top, 20 push-up's. then repel down a rope, jump over an assortment of small walls at different height's. 20 crunches. Run through tires laid on the ground, then finally a 50 yard dash to the end where Arthurius awaited him.

Harry was exhausted. For 2 weeks now, he had run obstacle course after obstacle course. His muscles sore on top of sore. He had never worked this hard in his life. He thought for sure that he would die one of these days half way through one of theses bloody obstacle courses. Yet surprising enough, whenever his confidents would waver. An image of a bushy haired Hermione would flash through his mind. Concreting his drive, knowing that if he failed in this, she would suffer. She was becoming more than just a friend, she was becoming a symbol for all that he was fighting for. It was almost as if his body knew that it wasn't strong enough to protect her from Voldermort, He had to get stronger. He had to see her again.

The thing that confused him the most, was whenever these thoughts would plague his mind. He never saw an image of Ron. It was always Hermione. Her face framed behind her bushy, yet over the last few years, more curly hair constantly haunted his mind. For some reason this didn't bother him. His subconscious had excepted it without question. So he held that image, used it almost like a mantra. That image sustained him, through all the physical and mental training Arthurius could muster.

As the weeks grew longer, Harry started to find the training becoming slowly easier and easier. It wasn't as if he wasn't being pushed as hard. On the contrary, his days were becoming longer and longer. His average day now consisted of 5 hours of physical training. 4 hours of sword work. 5 hours of wand and wandless work. Arthurius had taught him how to tap into his wandles magic. Finally to top it off 4 yours of spell theory.

So his 18 hour days really didn't leave too much time for relaxing. As soon as he could, he would drop his sore, weathered body onto his bed and sleep in the position in which fell till mourning. He was developing muscles in places he never new muscles where. He had thought he was in pretty good shape before with all the Quiditch he played. But now he was sculptured like a greek god. He had come along way from that scrawny boy in the cupboard.

Albeit, His body was building, becoming stronger. The thing that was really changing was his ability to use and focus magic. For only truly advanced magic did he need a wand. He could do most with the wave of his hand. Everything he had learned in Hogwarts was child's play to him now. He could levitate, transfigure, and even mould objects without even blinking. No words needed, no wand, just plain old Harry. His focus was outstanding. Even Arthurius was taken back by how fast Harry was developing. His concentration and focus was unheard of in one so young.

"Enough" Arthurius declared. Panting from the exertion of keeping the young Mr Potter at bay. His arms barely able to lift the practice sword he was caring in both hands. Lifting his eyes to make eye contact with Harry, he was shocked to find Harry had not even broken a sweat. Harry remained calm and calculating. His stance was relaxed, yet there was a presence of coiled power, awaiting a chance to strike out. The strength had always been there. It just seemed more prominent now.

"Harry do you feel as if your holding back." Arthurius asked as his eyes finally fell upon his young pupils gaze.

Harry reached up and scratched his chin, a three day stubble showing along his jaw bone.

"It doesn't feel like I'm holding back, per say." Harry stated as he started to walk through the trees of Arthurius's training room. Slowly he began to place his 2 swords into the shoulder straps he was wearing, the rest of his chest naked.

"It's almost as if there is this energy, this power just beyond my grasp. It's like and image I can see in the corner of my vision, yet when I look at it straight on, it's gone."

"Well, Harry" Arthurius started as he walked over to a bench that sat through the tree's. with a wave of his hand a small table appeared with two tall glasses of ice cold water, taking one and sitting down he turned to regard Harry fully.

"It seems you might be exhibiting, what us mages call, a higher power. Only a handful of wizards and witches have ever had the ability to use this gift. Even fewer where able to control it, to harness it, use it at will."

"Merlin was one of these gifted wizards, as was Dumbeldore. Yet Albus could never harness this power like Merlin could. He only demonstrated the usage of this power once to my knowledge, and it was with his final defeat of Grindelwald. It was written that blue flames erupted along his shoulders and his eyes shone blue with untold power.

"And you believe me to have this…….this gift" Harry asked bending down into the squatting position. Drawing his blades and placing them across his knees he tilted back to rest on the tips of his toes. Raising his hand toward the other glass of water, he sent an unspoken command and was rewarded as the glass floated gently into his outstretched palm. Taking a sip he slowly made eye contact with Arthurius, his gaze steady and intense. Patiently he awaited his response.

"Yes, I do believe you do, Harry. I've felt this power radiating off of you since the day we met. Now it's even more Prominent. It's like a raging thunderstorm waiting to be released.

"So how do I release this power" Harry asked feeling a little remorse, that once again he couldn't just be an ordinary teenage boy.

"Well, most with this higher power have said that strong emotions can lead to it's use. I've sensed a change in you since we've begun your training, has anything new happened recently." Arthurius asked with one eye brow raised in and questioning position.

"I've noticed my thoughts have been drifting lately" Harry said looking at the ground.

"What have they been drifting too, Harry" Arthurius asked softly.

"A friend." he raised his eyes to see Arthurius's expression.

"Her name is Hermione. I'm confused as to why I continually see he face and not that of my other friends."

"Intresting" It was Arthurius's time to scratch his chin, a old habit he did whenever he was deep in thought. It seemed Harry had subconsciously picked up the habit, as he found himself doing it whenever he was in deep thought.

"Do you have strong feelings for this girl, maybe even love?" with the last word out of his mouth he turned his sight on Harry to regard his answer.

"I love her like a sister" he stated, almost like a recording you played over and over in your head. A safe way from opening up that chapter of his life he wasn't ready to deal with just yet.

"Could I love her, no it's Hermione" he thought to himself, pushing that thought away.

"She drives me to be better, so I can ensure that nothing will harm her."

"Alright, we have spent enough time chatting" Arthurius declared as he thrust his sword towards Harry as quickly leaped off the bench. Harry was forced to throw his glass away and to roll backwards to avoid Arthurius's blade. Blocking swing after swing, he managed to pull himself upright and get his footing. He turned and caught Arthurius's blade with his left as he drove his right blade forward. Softly he tapped Arthurius on the cheek with the flat of the blade. Smiling at his apparent victory.

"Well done Harry, but you missed something." With that said he poked Harry in the stomach lightly with the dagger he had drawn in his left hand as they fought. Harry had not noticed the 6 inch blade now held pointed at his mid section.

"You must learn to anticipate your enemy's movements. Because of who you are, some enemy's will find it fitting that you kill them, yet kill yourself in the process. The reason we use swords is to teach discipline and restrain while you calculate your next move. They are not a weapon to use when magic is not available. They are a tool to extend your life, nothing more, nothing less.

"Now start, go through the stances again" Arthurius stated as he stepped back and watched Harry go through the movements of the training stances. He marvelled at how fast he had developed in skill, in only a short 4 months. His movements were flawless. His physical strength was superb. His use of magic rivalled that of most of the Brotherhood.

"I should like to meet this Hermione, the one that drives this boy". He thought to himself as he turned to sit on the bench and watch his pupil. His sword lay across his knees, always at the ready. If there was a hint of danger it would instantly return to his hand.

Ready for use.