Hogwarts Forrest, 12:25

Kiritsugu was standing in his workshop carefully measuring the ingredients for the small boiling pot in front of him. He was hoping to find a way to track the magical signature the hair he found. If he was lucky, the procedure would give him something like a sense for this particular trail. Kinda like training a dog on a scent.

As he was fixing the final things needed, he heard a grunt and something drop. Looking up, he saw Harry lying flat on his back (exhausted, sweaty and, more than likely, hating his life right now... Well, more than usual anyways). Maiya stood over him with one hand stretched out and the other literally tied behind her back.

"Left leg was too forward and out, throwing off your balance. Focus on the full frontal assault left your midsection and sides completely exposed." Maiya's ever monotone voice giving a all too mechanical diagnosis.

They had moved on to fight training a few sessions ago. This was the last full day for a week. The first quidditch match was coming up.

Normally Kiritsugu would be watching the spar and correct mid fight. It was a much more efficient than giving corrections at the end of the lesson. He, however, had more pressing issues to attend to. Which included the hunt for Sirius Black. He would admit it brought a sense of familiarity with it, resembling his old profession as it did.

Harry absolutely hated the fight training. No simple sense of dislike, just pure loathing.

He had long grown use the mechanical nature of the two teaching him. Hell, he'd prefer this to the bitterness of Snape (not to mention the flaws of the previous two people in that seat). His friends were the only two to notice any differences in him. Ron said something about paranoia that he simply brushed off.

He looked up from his position on the floor and simply said, "Are we done?"

Maiya turned her head to her mentor who gave a nod in return.

"It's about time for lunch anyway. That's enough sparring for today."

With that, Harry slowly picked himself off the mat that had been set up and went up to the second floor to shower and change. He already knew that his exercise clothing would be no good for whatever lesson they'd go over after eating. He would've been looking forward to it if wasn't for his feeling like he just went through the wringer.

He liked the other lessons. They were always neat and useful in a lot of ways. Who knew that paying attention to a fast slide show then being told to write the details of certain pictures would be helpful in a classroom? He most certainly didn't. He was told that was for something called, "Attention to Detail" which was a useful tool in a confrontation.

Things like that he enjoyed. Things like being tossed around like ragdoll he didn't. Though he would admit it had been useful and he was improving.

The "independence from magic" training was a bit annoying. Simply put: unless he was told he could, he wasn't allowed to use his magic during these lessons. Just because it made sense didn't means it was any less irritating. Oh well, still better than the Dursley's. Plus, it meant all his progress was on his own merit.

When he was done with getting cleaned and changed, he went downstairs and into the kitchen. He was mildly surprised to see that seventh year helping teach his class cooking. It had become known to him that Professor Emiya's culinary skill beyond anything with the word 'instant' was non-existant.

"Oh, hey. The Professor asked me to help you with some of your training today. So, I thought I'd get here a little early and make sure you eat something proper. I know what he eats and you will need a good meal for what's planned."

"Oh," was all he could manage. It was surprising and a little joyful that he'd be learning new spells and things. He wondered what brought this on as sat at the table. It was as simple meal, just some veggies and Mac and cheese mixed with cut up hotdog.

"It's not much, seeing as I didn't have a lot to work with. It is good enough to hold you off till dinner, unlike the stuff professor eats all the time. I swear I'm not sure how he survives. Oh well, eat up, we've got an afternoon of things to go over!" The guy sure was enthusiastic.

Harry started to eat fast, eager to know what they where learning.

Kiritsugu had asked Henry to take over in the afternoon because he needed all hands on deck to help with his investigation of Black. He couldn't just cancel Harry's training either, seeing as he might need it.

He was a little hesitant to ask Henry, that he'd admit. The kid was almost obsessed with combing magecraft and wizardry. He was creative enough to get a few ideas off the ground but they all busted. No wizard known had enough control to do the things Mages did. A mage's control and efficiency was made due to necessity, seeing they had a limited amount of mana but could manipulate it with unrivaled level of detail.

However, Henry was adamant that they could be reconciled. If he could get it to work, it would be a massive breakthrough.

Today, they'd just going over some rudimentary protection spells and some of Henry's basic theories. He'd gotten it into his head that formalcraft (the use of mathematics, precise geometric patterns and circles, and a bit of rune work) could be used by either type of magic user. The only problem was any wizard trying to use the craft would usually overload the circles.

As soon as Kiritsugu had that thought, it was exactly what they where going over.

"Okay, I've explained the basics. You understand what we just went over?"

"I think I understand but, I don't think I will ever be able to accomplish it. I'm not so got at math... Too many numbers." Harry replied. "Wait, are you American? You seem American." Harry had been having this suspension for a while. His accent didn't sound right. The mannerisms also seemed a bit off.

With that, Henry stiffened up and started rubbing the back of his neck. "Figured it out did ya? Hehe, you're um, the first one to do that. So, yes I am not totally British." He fidgeted nervously but remained in his cross-legged position on the ground.

Waving his hand he continued, "I'm not expecting you to ever master it, just get it enough to do the basic things. Or at least enough to take the spare parts and slap something together... So to speak. Here's a book that covers the simple stuff." He then leaned in and whispered, "don't tell the professor i took it."

"Anyways, enough of that for today. Next topic: 'Casting A Barrier!"

"Eh? What?"

"Oh yeah, thats right, it's kinda a forgotten thing since the rise of all those defensive charms and such. My family still kept teaching it for some kinda rite of passage or something. I think it can be useful anyways, a wordless, chantless defense? Could come in handy if you can master it."

Sounded like a dream right? Well, there was this tiny little problem of needing to project pure, unmolded, unpurposed magic. Harder than you think. As soon as Harry knew the mechanics, he knew this one wasn't coming easily.

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AN: Look who's back! Yeah, sorry this took so long, had a lot of real life crap to take care of. Plus all planning and re-planning is taking a bit of time. I might have to rely on a quarter and Y/N questions... maybe.

Anyways if you have any opinions on Harry x Iri and HAVEN'T said anything, feel free to do so now. I'm still on the fence (I won't tell you which way I'm leaning, that changes day-to-day). I would like some input... Although, I have a bit of a mischievous/prankster side be weary.

... UNTIL NEXT TIME!