It was now Saturday at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry which meant one thing, and one thing only for Harry and Katie. Training day. They may run every weekday morning and squeeze in a bit of practice after doing their homework, but Saturday was the day solely dedicated to training. With Katie wanting to become a professional quidditch player, and Harry wanted to still be an international duelist after reaching his majority, they had come up with a workout that would benefit them both.
Before breakfast, they would do two laps of the lake, thirty push up, then thirty sit-ups. A Chaser needed a strong build to keep hold of their broom and be able to throw the quaffle as far as they needed to, duelists exerted a large amount of magic that strained the body, so exercising helped build up a resistance, and helped improve their speed. After that, they would get breakfast and grab their brooms and headed back outside. They would fly around firing stinging hexes at each other, improving their aim and reflexes. They would keep this up until lunch when they would eat and put their brooms away. After that, they would go to the room of requirement and ask for a swimming pool and two changing cubicles. They would spend the next hour doing lengths of the pool, before drying off and changing back out of their swimwear and heading to the library. There they would find a book on their respective sports and read it while leaned against each other. After two hours they would head back to the room of requirement with their brooms and ask for three hoops and a quaffle, Harry acts as a keeper while Katie practiced her shots and catches. after a brief break, they would duel with Harry testing out and practicing spells and spell chains, seeing what counters what, and if they were of any use. After that, they would do two more laps around the lake, before heading to dinner. Finally, they would have a hot shower to soothe their sore muscles before heading to bed exhausted.
This weekly ritual had hardly changed since it first began regardless of the weather at the castle, and for good reason. Katie and Harry forces to be reconded within both their own respective fields as well as each others. Harry was one of the best underage duelists in the world and Katie had been approached by multiple scouts from various clubs. She was also apart of the under 17 team called the Hell Kats, who were partnered with Puddlemere United, due to the Potters owning both teams. The only students who were on par with them were those that had their own strenuous routines such as Cedric Digory, Angelina Johnson, and Terry Boot.
Sunday was a more relaxed day for the pair. Starting with the fact it was the only day they didn't run. Harry was the first one to enter the common room in the morning. Well, the first one awake. As he had looked over the balcony between the boys' dormitory and the stairs leading to the common room, he saw a bundle of dirty blond hair, naturally curled like his mother's and sister's hanging off of the arm of one of the couches. When Harry got closer he could see that she was still wearing her clothes from the day before. In front of her was some parchment and a quill sat in a pot of ink.
Harry grinned as he saw his first victim of the day. First, he threw up a silencing ward around the couch and other seats facing the fireplace, and then placed his wand next to her ear.
HHHHOOOOOOOONNNNNNNKKKK!
The girl awoke with a shriek, and Harry burst out laughing.
"Harry!" The girl shrieked in annoyance, which did nothing to quell his laughter.
"Sorry Lavender, but you make it so easy." Harry cackled. Lavender continued to scowl at Harry until she realized that the sun was coming up and swore. "Want me to give that a quick look while you get changed?" Harry asked gesturing to her writtings.
"Please." Lavender answered, before rushing up to the girls' dormitory to get ready for the day. Meanwhile, Harry lifted the silencing wart with a flick of his wand and leaned over to grabbed the pieces of parchment, as well as the photos underneath, and began to look through.
The writings and photos gave a good description of the first week back at Hogwarts. It showed that Gryffindor had the most firsties this year, that Fred and George had been caught dropping dung bombs from the seventh floor, Harry's warning about the Triwizard tournament, some gossip about students Harry didn't know or care about, there were small pieces on the various clubs but nothing of note. It was not long before Katie came down the stairs leading to the girls' rooms. She walked over to Harry and smiled at him when their eyes met. Katie gave Harry a quick kiss before sitting down next to him.
"Lavender fall asleep on the couch again?" Katie asked as she read over his shoulder.
"Yep." Harry answered as he changed another word red to show it had been misspelled. "So what're your plans for the day?"
Katie shrugged. "I'm going to hang out with a few friends for the day, play a friendly game of quidditch. How 'bout you?" She responded.
"I'm going to try and get these to work." Harry answered as he showed her the two platinum disks he had bought during summer. Both he and Bellatrix had studied them and had come to the same conclusion. Someone had tried to make what could only be described as summoning coins. They were supposed to work like port-keys with one side calling the other coin, and the opposite side was used to go to the other coin. At least that was the idea. They worked but not very well.
More left their rooms for breakfast before Lavender finally re-emerged. She was in a different outfit than the one she had woken up in. She smiled at the couple as she approached. Without a word, Harry offered her back the parchment and photos, along with seven sickles for his copy. Lavender took them with a cheery thank you before leaving, with Harry and Katie following her out.
Later.
After the breakfast period had ended and the students had dispersed, the Hogwarts professors gathered for their weekly meeting. Once everyone was sat around a circler table (who ever's idea that was must think themselves fucking clever), Dumbledore spoke. "Now that we are all seated. I would like to know how the first year are settling in."
Nothing out of the ordinary Albus, it's too early to properly judge them." McGonagall answered with all the core teachers agreeing.
"Very well. Is there anything other than every student of age asking to look at the monster-hunting books?" The Headmaster asked.
"Miss Johnson asked me to grant her access to a book on Elemental magic." Sirius answered evenly. "I told her to not practice it until I had a room prepared for her."
"Sirius, surly you could not be so reckless." McGonagall chastised.
Sirius glared at McGonagall, which surprised his former head of house. She had scolded him many times in the past and he always accepted it, either happily or begrudgingly. Never before had he responded with simple anger. "I know what I'm doing Minerva." Sirius responded coldly, surprising the other professors. "Miss Johnson is well aware of the dangers of elemental magic and has assured me that she will not practice alone until she feels comfortable with the magic." McGonagall looked gobsmacked, while Sirius felt a hand slip into his own. Sirius looked at Arura and smiled. "Thank Merlin I agreed to teach Nym and the others defence."
Meanwhile.
Harry was in The Room of Requirement with two wooden mannequins dress in jeans and t-shirts. One of them was missing its right arm which had been stretched out, while the other mannequin was intact, apart from it having the severed hand of the other buried in its crotch, with only the wrist showing.
"Well that's one way to cop a feel." Harry muttered to himself as he began to write notes in his paper notebook with his pencil. When Harry looked up from his notebook and saw the severed hand begin to vibrate. Harry's eyes widened and he quickly raised a magical shield.
BANG!
Wooden splinters flew from the mannequin, hitting the other mannequin and Harry's shield. The two coins hit the ground with a clatter. Harry summoned the two coins and the mannequins faded away, replaced with a desk and a small stack of books on top of it. Now he had seen where the person who made these got up to, it was time to decipher the ruins.
Later.
Katie walked to the quidditch pitch's changing rooms with an eager smile. It wasn't every day she got a chance to go up against her teammate Angelina Johnson. The girls had a friendly rivalry between them. They were always trying to outdo each other. Who could score the most goals? Who could make the most interceptions? Who could dodge the bludgers better? So when an opportunity came to face off against each other, they took it. Katie quickly changed into her kit and moved over to were her team for the game was gathered for the game.
Katie and Rodger Davis were the only members of the team to also play in a house's team such was the rule so other students could get a chance to play. She was pleasently surprised to find that Capella was one of the team's beaters. Madam Hooch's whistle blew calling an end to the current game, and Katie's team headed out onto the pitch. Each game last half an hour, regardless of whether the snitch was caught or not.
They walked onto the pitch alongside Angelina's team. Angelina's team only had her as a house player, but it also had Cormac McLaggen as a chaser and Ginny Weasley as a seeker.
"Good morning everyone and welcome to the sixth quidditch game of the day!" The announcer's voice boomed throughout the stadium. The voice surprised half of the players. "My name's Hadrian Potter, and I'll be your commentator for this final game before lunch. And I'll also be embarrassing my girlfriend and sister while I'm at it." Harry then looked at the mentioned girls through his binoculars. "Most of you can't see it right now but there both scowling at me." This caused some laughter among the small crowd.
"This morning's final game team captains are the current captain of Ravenclaw facing off against the unofficial captain of Gryffindor!"
"On Davis' team, we have the lovely Kathrine Bell, the not so lovely Capella Potter, Raymond Hart, Samantha Hart, Alexander Grayson, and Adam Abbott."
"On Johnson's team, we have Cormac McLaggen, tough luck their Angie, Liam Smith, Tina Meddows, Conner Chambers, Hadrian Paige, nice name, and Ginevra Weasley."
The two teams lined up and faced each other. Katie had the unfortunate luck of being lined up with McLaggen. "What will it take for you to finally dump Potter for me?" He asked.
"Let me put it this way. If you were the last man alive, I'd study necromancy." Katie responded with a glare. Kathrine Bell dispised Cormac McLaggen. He was an egotistical idiot, who was only chasing after Katie because she was with Harry. Before that, he never gave her the time of day, but now she was his true love according to him. Needless to say, the couple wasn't impressed.
Capella caught Ginny scowling at Katie and glared at her. "If you know what's good for you, you will leave her alone." Ella snarled, startling the youngest Weasley.
Ginny returned the glare with one of her own. "What's it to you?" She shot back.
"You want to break up her and my brother. That makes it my business. And I'm warning you Weasly if I find out about any attempt to do so, you'll be left to rot in the chamber of secrets. Understand?" Capella responded venomously. A pale Ginny rapidly nodded her head in agreement.
Soon everyone was on their brooms. Madam Hooch released the snitch first, then the bludgers, and then the quaffle.
"And they're off! Johnson goes for an early goal! She passes to Medows, but Bell intercepts and makes a break for it! She shoots... oo, saved by McLaggen, unlucky. What the hell is McLaggen doing!? He's abandoning the goals! Hahaha! Potter's hit him with a bludger, and Davis catches the quaffle! Davis is making a break for it. Grayson blocks a bludger. Goal! Davis' team takes an early lead against Johnson's and Angie doesn't look happy with McLaggon. Not, at, all!" Angelina could be seen yelling at McLeggan who was nursing his arm, but it was broken, thanks to his padding so he went to fetch the quaffle.
"Mcleggan passes to Johnson this time. Johnson rushes the goal again. Dodges a Bludger. Dodges the other bludger! She shoots, she scores! What a throw by Johnson! The scores ten-ten!" Abbot scowled at letting one get passed him as he got back into position with the quaffle.
"Abbot passes to boy Hart. Boy Hart passes to Davis. Davis dodges a bludger and passes to Bell. Bell swerves 'round Paige. Gets ready to shoot. She passes to boy Hart and he scores! A lovely bit of baiting by Bell! And boy Hart made a good shot too." Most of the audience and players rolled their eyes at Harry, while McLeggan looked incredibly flustered. "Davis' team lead twenty-ten!"
McLeggan passes to Paige. Paige passes to- oh Paige just knocked off of his broom and is on the ground! He made a pass to Meddows just in time! Potter strikes again!" The game stopped while Paige's injuries were examined. "If she's not a Hufflepuff beater next year, the captain's an idiot."
"The entire right side of Mister Paige's pelvis is shattered, he is unable to continue!" Hooch's voice rang out.
"The entire right side? Ouch. Johnson's team will either have to paly with a man down or forfeit. Captain's call." Angelina gathered the remaining members of her team for a moment before firing green sparks into the air. "They're going to continue and it looks like they've pulled Weasley from finding the snitch to act as Paige's replacement." As everyone got back into position no one noticed Capella's predatory grin. When Hooch blew her whistle again and the game resumed.
"Meddows makes a break for it. Smith deflects a bludger. Meddows shoots... oh! Saved by Abbot! We're over halfway now."
"Abbot passes to girl Hart? Girl Hart passes to boy Hart. Boy Hart passes to Davis! Davis to Bell! She scores! Davis' team holds a firm lead of thirty-ten! Firm like Katie's..."
"MISTER POTTER!" McGonigal cried out from next to him.
"...Nevermind!" The audience laughed and so did Angelina, while Katie tried to shake off her blush.
"McLeggan passes to Johnson. Johnson to Weasley. Weasley dodges a bludger to the head! Hang on, girl Hart's chacing the snitch! She's found the snitch! Weasley's lost the quaffle and is going for the snitch!"
Ginny managed to catch up with Samantha, but the snitch wasn't making it easy for either of them. It began to weave in between the other players and moved erratically. The girls are forced to dodge a bludger and Ginny manages to take the lead. Just as she reached out to snatch it, the snitch dived, and Ginny and Samantha followed. The snitch suddenly shot back up, past the seekers. Just as they began to fly back up the whistle blew.
"Time! Davis' team wins!" Harry cried out and the mixture cheers and applause rang out from the audience, the final scores were 60-20. "Looks like Kat's won this time Angie."
Soon.
Harry was leaned against the wall next to the entrance to the girls changing rooms waiting for Capella, Kathrine, and Angelina. The three girls soon came out together critiquing how they did themselves as well as each other. Harry hugged Katie and kissed her on the mouth. "Not gonna lie, you all did really good out there." Harry said.
"Where's my hug?" Ella pouted playfully.
Harry rolled his eyes as he broke off from Katie, and gave his sister a hug and kissed her forehead. "Happy Princess?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"Satisfied, yes." Ella responded just as sarcastically.
"How 'bout you Angie? You want a hug and a kiss too?" Harry joked.
"Wouldn't say no to a hug." Angelina responded. To which Harry gave her a brief hug, before the girls mounted their brooms, and Harry got on the back of Katie's and they flew back to the castle for lunch.
Meanwhile at the ministry.
Nymphadora Black walked into the ministry cafeteria with an easy smile. She had just come back from patroling Diagon Ally. She took a seat at an empty table and took out her plastic lunch box and water bottle out of a magically expanded pocket. As she prepared to take a bite out of her sandwich, a voice that never failed to make her uncomfortable interrupted her. "Auror Black, it nice to see you again." The voice of Adin Yaxley greeted.
"Heir Yaxley." Tonks greeted him curtly as she begrudgingly offered him her hand.
Yaxley kissed her knuckles, and Tonks hid her displeasure and remembered her mother's words. "Never give an enemy any ammunition, no matter how small, it can be used against you." Yaxley was a member of Fudge's private security detail who had failed Auror training but had managed to get a place in the DMLE anyway thanks to who his daddy is. Every chance he got he would try and get close to Tonks in an attempt to whoo her. But while she did not know what his plan was exactly, she was no idiot. She knew what he acted like when he thought that she, or anyone close to her wasn't watching. "May I join you?"
Tonks was quickly scrambling for a valid reason to say no, but thankfully, she didn't have to. "I'm afraid you will have to catch with my niece some other time Heir Yaxley. Orders have just come in and she's needed back at the office." James' voice cut in.
Adin and Tonks looked behind the Metamorph and found both James Potter, and Kingsley Shacklebolt stood there. "Of course Lord Potter." Yaxley replied with a slight bow to the Senior Auror. "Excuse me, I must get something to eat before my break is over." with that he left.
Tonks' shoulders sagged in relief. "Thanks for that."
"Come on, we can eat in a conference room." James said before leading his fellow Auror's out of the cafeteria.
"Surprised you're not with Trixie." Tonks commented.
"She's mentoring someone. No idea who." James answered.
Once they entered, James activated the privacy wards. "Wait, you do have something to tell me?"
"Yeah, but I would've said that even if I didn't." James shrugged. "Mad-eye's managed to get Dumbledore to agree to have six Auror's posted at Hogwart, form the twenty-fourth of October 'till the day after the final task, whenever that is. Amelia wants Me, you, Mad-eye, Shack, Connie, and Jacob. We're to keep an eye out for anyone medaling with the tournament, and try and get students interested in joining the Aurors."
"Why are we going a week early?" Tonks asked.
"This is Mad-eye's op." Kingsley answered bluntly.
"Fair enough."