Chapter 7- End of the third year
Harry apparated to the front gates of the castle. He had a great time yesterday. He, Bellatrix and Sirius had spent talking well until midnight. Harry had laughed heartily at the embarrassing moments of Sirius and his father. The pranks they had tried to pull, the detentions they had received.
Then Sirius had spent his time teasing Bellatrix when she had had a crush on James for which she had hexed him blushing all the while.
Harry had smiled at the pair's antics. This is how a family would be. He finally had a family.
He then sat them down and told them to go and get themselves checked and corrected in St Mungo's.
They had protested highly, but Harry managed to convince them.
" You will need to be there till the end of July next year. It will be fine. I will see you at least twice or thrice a week. I want you to be free of all those horrors.
No more.
I will be fine. I will kick Moony on his arse and send him to see you guys.
I have a job to do as well at the end of the year and till the end of October.
It's better for you guys to recover." He had told them and they had finally relented.
Harry made his way to the great hall for breakfast and sat down at the Gryffindor table. He was earlier than the others and was reading a book.
He felt someone approach him and he saw that it was Neville.
" Hey Neville. Morning." He greeted the boy who just nodded. The boy sat in front of him and piled some food for breakfast.
" You have put me in a very difficult position Harry. All these years, she was the woman who had tortured my parents to insanity. Now, the woman was innocent but also managed to put me away to safety.
I am currently in the middle ground and I don't know if I should do anything at all.
I can't hate a woman who helped me keep safe. But at the same time, how the hell are you supposed to forgive a woman who has been guilty in my eyes all this time." He spoke as he sat in front of his food.
Harry shook his head. He gestured to the plate in front of the boy. " Eat." He said to the boy.
Neville nodded and took a bite.
" It's up to you Neville. You may want to forgive her. You may not forgive her. It's totally up to you.
I won't try to convince you otherwise.
I can promise you one thing though. I will surely help you. I will find a cure for your parents.
Damn if I can survive a killing curse and still live, we can help out your parents as well. Trust me on that and give me some time. That is all I ask of you." He said to the boy who nodded in agreement and gratitude.
" Thank you." He said to Harry.
Harry shook his head.
" Tell those words when I do something that truly means something to you. Right now, you don't need to thank me." He said seriously.
Neville nodded and went back to his breakfast.
Harry was looking around the hall when he caught sight of Daphne staring at him. Harry raised an eyebrow and the girl blushed and looked away. Harry shook his head and grinned.
" Harry??" He groaned softly. He turned to see Hermione and Ron.
" Hey guys. " He greeted them.
" How are you mate?? You are living with Bellatrix Lestrange of all people. Mate what is wrong with you. They are evil. She was the right hand of you know who. What lies did she tell you??" He asked. Harry felt the tell tale signs of anger. But he held himself in.
" She was innocent, Ron. She was being controlled by another person. And other than that she is my godmother. I had to help her and I did." He said to Ron.
Ron looked like he was going to complain but was stopped by a nudge from Hermione.
" It's fine Harry. You know Ron, he talks before he can think. I am happy you found a family, Harry." She said with a small smile that seemed a bit forced to Harry.
" Hello Harry." He heard a voice and he smiled softly. He turned to see Astoria standing behind him.
" Hello, Astoria. Come on, sit down." He said pointing to the place next to him.
Astoria smiled and sat next to him.
Harry noticed Hermione nudging Ron when he was about to speak.
" How are you studying??" He asked Astoria.
Astoria lit up in excitement.
" I am doing extremely well, thanks to you. The books you have given have been very helpful." She told Harry who smiled.
" Ah, but there is no need to thank me. It was your effort. I just gave you some materials. That's it." He said.
" Don't forget to ask for help if you need it. I will always be available." He told the girl.
" Actually, there is something I wanted to ask right now." She told him.
Harry mock sighed.
" And here I thought that you liked spending time with me because of my good looks. It seems that it was the homework you needed after all.
You have broken my heart today, dear Astoria." He put a hand on his heart and wiped fake tears from his eyes.
Astoria blushed brightly. But when she saw Harry laughing behind his hand, she swatted his arm.
" You prat!!" She exclaimed.
Harry smiled and motioned for her to continue.
" Well, I was trying the disarming charm. But I got caught in the middle of nowhere.
It's not coming out properly." She said with a bit of disappointment.
Harry smiled.
" Ok. I want you to forget about all your attempts till now. Just concentrate on my words." He told her and she nodded.
" Close your eyes. Now, you will think about the theory of the spell. Can you do that??" He asked.
She slowly nodded.
" You know that the disarming charm is used to disarm a person of anything in his hand. So the main focus here is you must need finesse. Precision. High Power isn't required." He told the girl who was still listening.
" Visualise what the spell will do. Its purpose is to disarm and so you will now visualise that you are disarming me with your wand." He told the girl.
" Take a deep breath. Relax. Now open your eyes." He told the girl who slowly opened her eyes.
" Wave your wand and think of the process." He told her.
Astoria just thought about what Harry had thought and just flicked her wand.
A brilliant blue beam struck Harry on his hand and the goblet in his hand flew out of his hand towards Astoria who fumbled but caught it. Her eyes went wide in shock and surprise.
The other students who had watched her try the spell were shocked, not because of a first year doing the disarming charm perfectly, but because she did so silently!!!
Harry smiled and clapped his hand.
" That, my dear Astoria, is how you get a hundred points to your house." He told of the shock of the other houses.
" Because you managed a spell silently while many adults struggled to do it. Brilliant. " He told the shocked girl.
" And Mr Potter is right, Miss Greengrass. Hundred points to Slytherin for a perfect execution of a disarming spell, for doing it silently. That was a very good disarming charm that I will remember for a long time." It was Professor Flitwick.
" And Mr Potter, fifty points to Gryffindor for helping a fellow student and for that perfectly thought theory and execution." He said with a smile to Harry and went to his table.
Harry smiled at that.
" Thank you Harry." She said with happiness.
" You don't have to thank me. It's nothing." He said with a smile and went back to his plate.
Astoria watched Harry for a little while longer and smiled at him. 'He is a very good friend to have. He would be a great family man. No wonder Daphne likes him.' she thought.
&&&&--
Harry walked to the Black lake after his classes. He held the Potter Grimoire in his hand. He sat down near a tree and started to read the book.
Every time he read it, he was fascinated. He would feel the adrenaline course through him. He had a hell lot of attachment to that grimoire.
He heard footsteps and saw his Slytherin friends approaching him.
He smiled at them. They were different from the rest. Good people.
" Hey guys." He greeted the three.
" Hello." They said in unison.
They got comfortable in the silence. Harry just breezed through the book turning page after page.
" You told us that we will be starting our training today, Harry." Daphne reminded him.
Harry nodded.
" Well, I will teach you. I think that you guys know stunning, disarming and petrifying spells??" He asked them.
They nodded. " Good. Now, I will be teaching you how to multiplicate spells. It's a good spell to have and it will do good if you don't teach it to a lot of them. This spell will multiply any medium level curse or hex into at least ten." He told the others.
" The spell is pretty much simple. Just put the number of spells you need from a single spell. But at the last moment, twirl your wand in just a few turns." He instructed.
He took his wand and twirled his wand.
" Triplecto Stupefy." He incanted and a brilliant red beam which came out of his wand split into three different beams and struck a tree.
The others were surprised by this spell.
" It is brilliant," Tracy exclaimed.
" It is." Nodded Harry.
The three started to practice the spell with help from Harry. And very soon, they were able to do it effectively.
" Well done. Now, another spell. Disillusionment spell. It renders you invisible but be careful, it will not erase your footprints or stuff. It makes you invisible. That's it.
The incantation is 'fallacia' with a tap on your head." He said and disappeared from view suddenly.
" Effective, but if you observe closely or if the surrounding is very clear, then you will be seen as a ripple or distortion. Safe to make a getaway." He said and suddenly appeared next to Daphne.
The three of them took another twenty minutes to learn with prompting and help from Harry.
" Excellent. Now, I know that you have a good grasp on occlumency. I want you guys to further it and study more. It helps in silent casting." He told the three.
He took out three books from his bag and duplicated them and gave it to the three.
" Read those. Everyday. At least twenty pages. It's very good and helps a lot. Take your time with it as it helps with your studies as well. " He told them.
" Thanks Harry." Daphne said as she smiled at him.
" No problem." He said,
" I have an appointment elsewhere. Excuse me. " He said and disappeared with a flash.
The three Slytherins smiled at the Gryffindor's antics.
" Let's get going. We will have dinner soon." Said Blaise.
&&&&--
The next three months passed on similarly, with Harry visiting his godparents two or three times a week. He also taught Daphne, Tracy and Blaise almost once every two days. They were wonderful and quick learners.
Harry had asked to talk to Dumbledore on some matter and that was where we find Harry, sitting in the Headmaster's office and staring right at him.
" Mr Potter. You wanted to talk to me??" He questioned the boy.
Dumbledore was very much proud of the boy. He had watched Harry this entire year and he had changed. But this change was never better. He was ruthless, scary and dangerous. At the same time, fair, just, understanding, compassionate,loving, caring and true to ethics.
He never felt at ease as he found himself now.
The way he spoke for his godparents was something that Dumbledore admired very much. Saving two innocents from such a worse fate was very much admirable. He cursed himself for mistakes like these.
He then witnessed him dressing down Fudge like he was a kid caught stealing candy. Dumbledore tried very much to keep his composure and had almost failed and laughed at the look on the man's face.
Then came his speech in the wizengamot. Merlin the boy was impressive.
He had also seen the boy teach young Ms Greengrass. He would be a very good teacher according to him.
He was bought out of his musings when Harry began to speak.
" Professor, I won't be able to attend Hogwarts for the first two month of the new academic year. I have some Potter family business to take care of and I need your permission for this absence." Harry told the headmaster.
" I expected as much , Harry. I knew it would be very soon. Let me tell you that despite all my failed ideas and plans, I am proud of the man you are becoming my boy. I blundered your life for the past twelve years and for that I can beg no forgiveness. I only want you to give this old man a chance to redeem himself, Harry." He told the boy with a sigh.
Harry sat still looking at the Headmaster.
He shook his head.
" Professor, if there is anyone I respect in this world presently, it is only you. There is no need for you to ask forgiveness. Yes it was a mistake but that was the best you could do at that time.
If you want to redeem yourself, then I have the perfect solution." He told the man who sat up with expectation.
" Stand with me, and help me end that bastard." He said coldly.
" He took away everything from me. I won't let him get away. I only want your support and word that you will give information to me , anything and everything that requires to end him. Just stand by me Professor. That's all I ask. " He told the man.
Dumbledore nodded and smiled.
" Of that you can have no doubt Harry. I will stand by you. Without any hesitation." He promised the boy.
Harry nodded.
Dumbledore then frowned thoughtfully.
" Is this leave by any chance for the same reason that James and Baron Potter took the leave as well??" He asked and Harry grinned before he nodded.
Dumbledore smiled.
" I will sanction the leave. We cannot interfere with Ancient family matters. Good luck my boy." He wished Harry and the boy got up and left the office and a relieved headmaster.
&&&&&--
As time passed Harry spent more and more time studying and training. He was rarely seen outside. They had won the quidditch cup this year and thus all the other activities were coming to a close.
His skills had gone up to the skies.
His spell knowledge had increased so much that he could literally perform countless of them. He still had loads to learn but his knowledge surpassed those of many.
He was becoming a true Potter. A person to be proud of. A warrior. A fighter.
An entire year of studying and practicing made a hell lot of difference to Harry. His knowledge, abilities had taken a rise.
The Potter Grimoire along with the Black grimoire was something that had helped him a lot.
His grandfather's portrait had told him about both him and Arcturus reading both the family magics.
The Potters were extremely well known for their battling and fighting abilities. You put a Potter in a fight between twenty men and the Potter would win with one hand tied at the back.
Their spells were something that is special. Battle magicks, warding, destructive magic are their strong points.
The Blacks are someone who you don't take on in a duel. It will end painfully for you.
They were specialists in a variety of curses that would leave you wishing you were dead instead.
This combined with the Peverell Grimoire that is composed of knowledge of enchanting and spell crafting through which you can make enemies shiver in fear, Harry was becoming a true Potter.
And he would be taking the next step in the quest of him taking his house to glory.
This was the true test of determining the ability of a Potter.
There is a doorway enchanted to be invisible to anyone but a Potter. This doorway is the ultimate test that should be taken by a Potter at least once in his or her lifetime.
"The Trial Of the Dragon."
Beyond the doorway is a magical forest that is charmed in such a way that two years pass in the forest but outside, it only will be four or five months.
The test consists of different kinds of challenges and training. A true Potter would be challenged till the end and will face it like a man and win it.
By the time the person is done with the trial, he would come out as a perfect lord of the house. A man of Steel. A Potter of Potters.
Almost all the Potters completed the trail until the last challenge. There has been no one other than his grandfather and William Potter who have completed the last challenge and hence the Potter of Potters.
The grimoires and journals say that it is a road to becoming a man. Every Potter must take this trail by the time of two years of becoming the Lord of the House. Harry decided to do it now.
But first he had his exams to concentrate. His parents, his grandparents, his godparents were model students. They were all extremely intelligent and dedicated to their studies and had done well.
Harry had performed sub par for the past two years. He wanted to correct that. He would make his family proud of him.
&&&&--
Daphne wiped the sweat off her face as she stopped casting to catch a break. She had been practicing magic very hard from the day Harry started teaching her. He was an excellent teacher. Another talent of Harry Potter.
She smiled in the memory of the boy. He was different. He was special. He was perfect for Daphne. Daphne knew that she needed to act quickly. Starting from next year, she would try to catch Harry's attention as something more than a friend.
She was no slouch in magic but ever since Harry started to teach them, she felt more stronger. Her spell power had increased and also her spell range. She will work more this summer in her Manor.
She will ask her father to train her. She knows that Harry will notice her more if she becomes better skilled at dueling. She would work on it.
&&&&--
The exams were on. The students had been stressed out with the preparations and the assignments received from the professors. The most hit were the fifth and seventh year students. They were taking the OWLS and NEWTS respectively which were very much hectic and difficult.
Harry and Daphne sat studying in the library. Harry was going over some of the notes he had made and Daphne was going over the transfiguration material for the exams.
Daphne frowned in curiosity.
" Harry??" She called the boy. Harry looked up from the book. He smiled at her. That made Daphne flush slightly but she continued.
" What branch of magic appeals to you the most??" She asked him.
Harry smiled.
" Battle magicks. They appeal to me the most. I like spell crafting as well. But I am a fighter. So that kind of magic is what appeals to me." He said to the girl.
He then grinned ferally.
" But there is one more, dangerous and special branch of magic that I like. Illusions." He told her.
Daphne frowned in confusion.
" Illusions seem very small, very easy but are probably the most dangerous branch of magic that will ever exist apart from battle magic." He said to Daphne.
"Many people think that illusions are used for fun and to pass time. They, when used in battle, take the fight to an entirely new level. Battle illusions." He said and suddenly Daphne felt something tap her shoulder. She turned and her eyes widened when she saw Harry behind her smiling at her casually.
She turned forward to see him sitting there itself. She turned back again and he sat there as well.
The Harry behind her suddenly became a green smoke and covered her totally and when the fog cleared, there were ten different Harry's in front of her.
One Harry snapped his fingers and there were ten Astoria Greengrass in front of her. Now Daphne's jaw hit the floor. It was a good thing that there was no one else sitting near them. She would have looked extremely funny.
There was a slight pop and suddenly it was only Harry sitting in front of her.
She saw him smile that damn grin of his.
" How did you do that??" She asked in wonder.
Harry shrugged his shoulders casually.
" Magic." He told the girl who sighed in exasperation.
" I will teach that theory soon enough. But it will take a hell lot of power and understanding to do it. So you will be able to do it when you are ready. I doubt you guys can do what I did until and unless you have enough grasp of it and training towards it. Don't worry." He said to the girl.
She nodded and turned back to her book.
Harry watched her read. He smiled softly at her.
He had begun to notice her a lot recently. She was a very beautiful girl. She was on her way to become a wonderful woman and very powerful from the way she practices. Her shiny golden blonde hair, her cold blue eyes. Her soft smile. It appealed very much to Harry but he truly didn't understand why. Only that the girl is extremely pretty.
He went back to his book. Those thoughts were unwanted right now. He had other things to worry about right now.
&&&&--
The exams according to Harry were like spelling the alphabet. It may be because of his work ethics or due to his mental abilities, he didn't know but he was extremely happy with his exams.
He sat outside near the Black lake near his favourite tree. He was reading a book.
Only this time it was not something related to magic or studying. ' As the crow flies' is a work of the famous British author Jeffrey Archer. Harry admired the man's works very much. He had completed the other books of his at least two or three times.
He heard noise and looked up to see his friends approaching him.
" Do you always have to keep your head in a book, Potter?? God you are such a Ravenclaw. " Tracy said to Harry as she smirked at the boy. Harry just shook his head and grinned.
" Which book is that Harry??" Daphne asked with interest. She had read the War and Peace that he had given and enjoyed that very much.
Harry showed her the cover of the book.
" Archer is an extremely good author. I love his works." Harry said to the three.
" Well let's do something different today. You always study Harry and for god's sake, we just completed our exam today." Blaise complained.
Harry nodded.
" Alright then. Do you guys know how to play chinlone??" He asked.
Harry was told by his martial arts master that this game increases coordination with your team and gives excellent conditioning and balance to the body. He used to practice with him for at least two hours a day.
Harry practices this game himself for at least half an hour every day while training.
He looked to see the girls looking at him in confusion.
Blaise showed a hint of recognition but still kept quiet.
Harry rolled his eyes.
" Zabini, I know for a fact that you play football. Why the hell are you behaving otherwise??" He asked the dark skinned boy.
Balise was surprised. Then he nodded. Of course the guy knows. He knows everything.
He then got up.
" Ok fine. What about that ball??" He asked Harry who conjured it with a flick of his wand.
" Well there it is. Let's play." He said and motioned for Harry to start. Harry juggled the ball and started to pass it to Blaise in the air. He caught the ball on top of his head and controlled it beautifully on his chest and sent it back to Harry. Harry juggled the ball and passed it back with a reverse kick.
This went on for some time and neither boy noticed the crowd that had formed watching the game with excitement.
They performed different moves that made the crowd go mad in excitement.
After about forty five minutes, Harry observed the fatigue on Blaise's face. He then called for Daphne.
" Hey Daphne. Put a hole in that tree."
The girl nodded and blasted a hole through the trunk of the tree. Harry then spoke to Blaise.
" Finish it." He called.
Blaise miscalculated slightly and the ball flew over Harry's head and behind him.
" Ah, shit!!" He exclaimed.
Harry watched the ball and sprinted towards it. Just as the ball was about to touch the ground, he extended his leg forward in a dive and bought the ball up. He then juggled the ball on his off leg and lifted it up to a height of seven feet.
He then used his hand to propel himself around and rotated completely on his hand and tapped the ball to a height of five feet. He then kicked the ball with a spinning kick and the ball swirled inwards and hit the hole perfectly.
The audience cheered loudly. It was then that Harry and Blaise noticed all of them with a hint of surprise and embarrassment. The professors too had stopped to watch the game as well.
" An excellent display of Chinlone gentlemen. It was truly a wonderful match." Dumbledore said with twinkling eyes and a smile.
" I had witnessed this when I had been to Myanmar once. I thought of playing the game but alas I am an old man and I fear that I may break something in my body." He said with a grin as the other students snickered.
Harry was bombarded by the other students about this game. It took another hour to answer many of their questions.
A tired Harry Potter went back to his dorm. They will be leaving tomorrow and he had a job to complete.
&&&&--
Harry sat in a compartment in the Hogwarts Express. He let out a deep sigh. Another year gone. He had done well. Execution in classes, top of the ranking in marks and his training was paying off and he had grown more powerful. He knew he had a long way to go before fighting someone like a Tom Riddle. He would get there eventually. But until then he will work hard for it.
He felt his lordship ring ping a little but stopped suddenly. He didn't pay much mind to it. If it was something of danger, he would have received the alert.
He would first go to the Hospital first and then get back to Potter Manor.
He was about to lay down and go to sleep when he heard the compartment open and Ron and Hermione walk in.
" Harry. I just wanted to ask if you are coming to the quidditch world cup this summer. Mum told me to ask when to get you to the Burrow so that we could go to the match together." Ron said in a single breath.
Harry smiled at him. " It's fine Ron. I can't go with you guys. Please convey Mrs Weasley my thanks." He said to the boy.
" But Harry, you love Quidditch. Why aren't you going??" Asked Hermione.
" I have some things to do. I am a bit busy and hence can't attend the cup." He said with a shrug.
" But mate, what is wrong with you??" Ron asked his friend.
" Nothing. I have some responsibility right now. I must fulfill them. It is the both of you who have stopped talking and joining me, just because I have friends from another house and I scored good marks this year." He said coldly to the two who flinched.
Hermione responded back.
" But, can you blame us?? You were not like this last year. You were an average student. You were not studying so much. You needed me to keep you guys up with your work." She said and Harry snapped with anger.
" Yes. There you have it. I needed you then as a friend and even now if you want as a friend, but I have never asked you to tell me what to do. I never asked you guys to be a part of those two death traps. I never wanted you both to be anything other than friends to me but no. You lied to McGonagall the first year. The other prat used to bad mouth you all the time but I got caught up between you. You use every matter to show that you are superior to us. To show that you are more intelligent to us.
And don't get me started on you at all Ron. You came into a compartment of a new kid and the moment you get the name of the boy, the first question you ask is ' Do you have the scar??'" he questioned, irritated.
" I mean are you stupid?? Who asks the person if he has a scar and he needs to remember his bad times. And then you are prejudiced against anything Slytherin. You are no better than a death eater." He told the boy coldly.
" How dare you?? I am never like those evil men. I am not a Slytherin, I don't follow you know who." He shouted in outrage.
Hermione looked shocked at Harry.
" You are prejudiced like them. They hate everything muggles and you hate everything Slytherin. What's the difference between you and them if this is the case??" He asked the boy.
" It's better if you both leave now. Hermione, I expected better of you. If you still think that you are superior to us, then by all means please go. I won't stop you.
Be whatever the hell you want. Remember that whoever it may be, me or Dumbledore or even Voldemort, there will always be someone better than them. If you have this superiority complex, you will be very much disappointed in your journey. Try to change. It will help you some day." He said and with a wave of his wand, banished the two of them and locked the compartment.
&&&&&--
The train came to a stop and Daphne got off the train with her sister and Tracy in tow. Blaise followed them.
Daphne eagerly looked around searching for Harry. She wanted to see him one more time.
Ana Greengrass watched her daughter closely. She smiled. Her daughter had fallen for the young Potter deeply. A mother always knows and here she knew what her daughter was thinking.
" Waiting for someone are we??" She asked her daughter in amusement. The girl was startled by the voice but blushed after what her mother was saying.
" I don't know what you're talking about." She tried to deny it.
Her mother raised a delicate eyebrow.
" Sure. Pull the other one. Don't lie to me, daughter." She spoke sternly but there was amusement in her eyes.
" Well Daphne has not stopped dreaming about his prince charming for some time now. But I expected her to be subtle about it." Blaise piped from the side.
Daphne growled in a bit of anger and embarrassment.
" Shut up Zabini." She said to the boy who smiled cheekily at her.
" What are you going to do, Greengrass??" He asked. " Curse me??" He questioned and was rewarded with a stinging hex from Daphne. He yelped in fright and pain. Tracy just rolled her eyes at the two of them.
" They are always fighting like small kids. I don't know when the hell they will grow up." She said with a smirk.
Marcus and Angela made to stop them when they saw Astoria disarming the two of them with a silent expelliarmus.
The Greengrass parents, Davis parents and Angela were shocked by what they witnessed. " You just did that silently??" Asked a shocked Maria Davis.
Astoria smiled smugly.
" Well, when your teacher is Harry Potter, you pick up certain things." She said casually as she shrugged her shoulders.
" Harry Potter teaches you??" Robert asked his friend's daughter.
" Yes. Not only me. These three as well." She told the parents.
The other three third years nodded.
" Yes, he is teaching a few things to us." Blaise said to the elders.
" He is amazing." Astoria spoke happily.
" I am not much. I only taught an amazing group of wizards and witches." A voice came from behind and Harry Potter walked towards them.
" You must give yourself some credit. You have worked hard and we'll." He told them with a smile.
" Lord Potter." The other elders greeted him.
Harry greeted them back.
He turned towards his friend.
" I will see you guys soon. Take care." He said and smiled at Daphne and disappeared with a flash.
Daphne smiled. She shook her head and grinned again. She had it bad and she knew it.
Her mother put a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her.
" Well he seems to be interested in you too. Let it run its course. Stop holding back and express it. He is a gem. A rare gem. One that many will try to get their hands on." She told her daughter.
&&&&&--
Harry apparated back to Potter Manor after meeting Sirius and his mother. They were pleased to see him. They were always pleased to see him.
They had spent an hour talking. Harry had talked about his exams and his training. He also spoke about his new group of friends. He then sat and told the two about the test he was taking.
They had been a little apprehensive at first, but had eventually relented.
Harry walked into the Manor and was about to go upstairs when he felt some spell approaching him. He instinctively put up a shield and the spell was shielded.
He looked around to find who it was and he felt another spell attack him. He swatted it back in the same direction and it was suddenly stopped by a shield and a man appeared.
He was an aged man. He had a stump for his leg. He held a staff which was probably used for both magic and walking. His face contained a duplicate eye that whirled around. His face was also decorated with scars along with his hands too.
' Alastor Mad Eye Moody.' He thought.
The man nodded at Harry.
" Very good lad. You did well there. Constant vigilance!!" He snapped.
" Silent magic at your age and good agility. It will be wonderful to work with you." He growled.
Harry was confused.
" Mr Moody. What are you doing here??" He asked.
The man gestured to the portrait of Harry's Grandfather.
" I told Tippy to write to Alastor, son. I taught Moody when he was young and he was an excellent fighter. I wanted you to learn from someone who has experience with fighting. Your father and Bella should have taught you this but it was not to be so. I want you to learn from him. You have the ability. You only need experience." His grandfather said.
" Oh and Alastor. If something happens to my grandson, I will make sure to haunt you for the rest of your life.
And I will kill you for this idea, Charlus Potter." She said to the two men with a glare that Charlus winces slightly.
" Use that time turner. For this entire month. Practice as much as you can. Then, you can take the trail." His grandfather said seriously.
Harry nodded.
He turned to the grizzly man.
" How the hell am I going to know if you are truly Alastor Moody? My grandfather could identify you but how can I if I meet you in some place of urgent need?" He asked the man.
Alastor stared at the boy and then barked a laugh.
" That's good lad. My first lesson. Always be vigilant. Always know that you will never be safe anywhere. Be as alert and ready as possible.
I taught your father and Godfather. They were damn good aurors. I hope that you live up to the reputation of your family." He said to the boy.
Harry just smirked.
" You will see, old man. You will see." He replied.
&&&&&--
And hence began Harry's training. He was trained till he couldn't stand. His injuries had become more and more but he was excellent according to Moody. The man tried literally everything he knew. Yes gave a hell of a fight to the boy. Somedays , they would fight for hours and he would be worse for wear but the boy did not tire.
Moody had seen the boy training in the morning and the evening. He was pleased. This was how his aurors should have been. Intelligent, ruthless and fit.
He was impressed by the knowledge of the boy. The boy won most of the time but didn't slack a single day.
Alastor had beaten the boy every time for the first ten days but after that, the boy ran circles around him. If he didn't know better, the man thought that the boy was out to get him.
He would report everyday to Charlus and the man looked damn proud listening to his grandson's routine.
Dorea used to threaten Moody but the woman looked every bit proud as her husband when Moody tells them about the beating he receives from Harry.
It took a hell lot to impress Moody but this kid did it. He was fast, careful, knowledgeable, and had an ever ready attitude.
The month had come to an end. There was nobody who he was more proud of than this boy who made things interesting.
It was time for him to leave.
Harry stood in front of Moody. The last month had been very trying for him but he loved every minute of it. He had learnt a lot from the old man. He truly was a warrior wizard. Harry was truly pleased to have learnt from the man.
" You have impressed me, kid. I never thought that was possible but you did. You are outstanding." He told Harry. "Keep doing this and keep fighting. It will help you somewhere. We must do this again when we have some time. I myself have enjoyed this very much." He told the boy with a scary grin.
" Thank you for everything Alastor. It was a pleasure and an honor to learn from you." He told the man with a bow.
The man shrugged his shoulders.
" It was your effort Potter. It was you that put in the effort to try and become something and that is what counts. You should be proud of yourself lad.
I must be going. I have some business to take care of. Take care kid. I think I will be seeing you soon enough. And remember.
Constant vigilance!!!!" He shouted to which Harry just nodded and grinned.
The man walked out of the house and disappeared with a gentle pop.
Harry went to take a shower and freshen himself up. He looked into the mirror to see the changes that he had gone through. He had grown more tall and now stood somewhere around six feet. His muscle mass had increased and he looked in peak condition. His body had hardened and his hair had grown a bit longer till his shoulders. His jawline had set in and gave a distinctive and rugged look to his face. He exited the bathroom and made his way to the portraits.
He approached the portraits of his grandfather and stood in front of it.
" I am ready. " He said. Charlus nodded.
" Tippy." The elf popped in.
" Show Harry the way to the doorway." He told the elf. The elf nodded somberly.
" Good luck son. You have made us proud." He said to Harry as he walked away and Harry smiled at that.
The elf led Harry to a clearing behind the Potter Manor and approached two identical Redwood trees.
" Yous should be placing your hand on the tree that is on the left side, Master. " She said and disappeared.
Harry steeled himself.
He placed his hand on the tree and a doorway opened up in between the two majestic trees.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
" Let the game begin." He muttered as he entered the door.
TBC--
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