Chapter 17 – Training Starts
Ron wandered over to the table and started picking at the food left from Harry and Ginny's lunch with Professor Slughorn. "What was that all about?" he asked.
"We were trying to learn what my mother and Snape worked on in her seventh year," Harry answered. "Ginny suggested this would be a good way to get him to talk to us. He likes to talk about his former favorites."
Hermione came out of her room and started down the stairs. "Harry, what did you do to your door?"
Harry looked up. "What do you mean?"
Harry and Ron walked to the bottom of the stairs leading to Harry's room. Emblazoned on the door was the Potter crest with the motto "Age. Fac ut gaudeam"
A sarcastic voice came up behind the trio. "Very nice Potter. Making sure everyone bows down to your greatness?"
Harry faced Draco with a faint smile. "This was a gift from a friend. I leave the ego trips to you."
Draco sneered and left the room with his books for his next class.
Ron shook his head. "McGonagall told you he changed? I don't see it."
"Last night I heard him crying in his sleep," Hermione said. "Did you know he watched Riddle kill his mother after being under a Crucio Curse?"
"Draco is trying to maintain his reputation. It is his security. A lot of his real arrogance was scared out of him when his parents were murdered," Harry confirmed.
Ron grimaced, "I believe it when he starts acting it. To me he is the same git he has always been."
Dobby appeared as soon as Malfoy left the common room. "Does Harry Potter like my surprise?"
Harry nodded, "Thank you Dobby. It is very nice. What made you think of it?"
The little elf excitedly bobbed his head. "When your Bookie used her magic on your door it made it your front door!"
Hermione said, "Oh, when I set up the Portal here I used your door, Harry. Dobby is right. If you activate it, this will take you into your entry hall at your house."
"That is wicked!" Ron said. "So we can leave whenever we want and no one will know!"
Harry asked, "Have you tested it yet?"
"Go ahead," she invited.
Harry turned to the doorway and said "Godric's Hollow!"
The Portal formed and soon it's silvery light filled the door. The entry hall in Harry's house could be seen beyond to door.
"That really is incredible, Hermione," Harry commented. "I am very impressed you came up with this."
Ron grunted, "I am more impressed it doesn't spin you around, throw you out or make you feel like you have been pulled inside out by your navel."
Hermione suddenly caught sight of the time and screamed, "We are going to be late for class!" Then she went running out of the room.
Ron laughed and shook his head. "Hermione will never change. We better get to class also."
Now Harry laughed, "Now that is a change! We may have been a bad influence on her but she has been a good one on you!"
Ron scowled at his friend but it warred with the smile that played around his lips. "Oh, shut up! Let's get to class."
The remainder of Harry's classes went smoothly for the afternoon. Harry's only class was Charms with Professor Flitwick. The diminutive professor reviewed their previous charms and started explaining the charms that would be worked on to prepare for their N.E.W.T exams in May. Many of the new charms focused on protection and long-term effects.
After class, Harry showed his ring to Professor Flitwick. As Hermione predicted, the professor was very impressed with the charms involved in linking the two pieces of jewelry. He was most impressed with Harry's use of charms from class in new and supporting ways.
"Most impressive Mr. Potter." Professor Flitwick said, "You used standard charms but your layering and structure are most ingenious. I have to wonder why we did not see this level of performance out of you before."
Harry smiled and thanked the professor. Then he slipped out of the room. Harry did not want to discuss his changing motivations for studying with anyone.
Harry spent his afternoon and after dinner revising in the Heads' common room. Ginny, Ron and Hermione worked on their various homework assignments. Hermione was already acting slightly stressed over the prospect of studying for N.E.W.T.s.
Ron teased her, "Maybe if Harry can stop Riddle before May they will just give us all O's for our grades. Then all of your studying will be wasted."
A voice interrupted from behind the studying students. "Look what we have here Fred, four good little Hogwart's students!"
"We really need to be a better influence on them, George!"
Harry and the others turned to find the Weasley twins walking down the steps from Harry's room. Each of them had a box in their hands.
"We really should have had those Portals when we were in school…" Fred said.
"…the opportunities would have been limitless!" George finished.
"What are you two doing here?" Ron asked.
"Just checking on you, ickle Ron-Ron!" Fred answered.
"And making sure this Potter character is treating our Favorite sister right." George added.
"Only sister you mean, and what gives you the right to check up on me?" Ginny asked, going a little red in the face.
Fred held his hands up. With a fake tremor in his voice, George said, "Easy little sister, we wouldn't want to have you explain to Mum why you murdered us in a fit of temper."
"At least you admit I would kick your tails." Ginny said with a small smile on her lips.
"Prudence, dear Ginny." Fred told her. "Even if you didn't your boyfriend would finish the job."
"Hmm, yes, he would, wouldn't he." She almost purred at the twins.
Fred turned to George, "I think we were too much of an influence on her."
George answered, "Probably."
Before the Weasley Wars could erupt anew, Harry asked, "What is in the boxes, guys?"
"The Head Girl requested this delivery." Fred said in courtier's tone.
"It is a project I started working on this summer. I want to finish it up." Hermione supplied.
"What is the project?" Harry asked
"Let's just say it may be your Christmas present," Hermione said evasively.
Recognizing that Hermione did not want to talk about the contents of the boxes, Harry let the issue drop. Instead, he turned back to the twins and asked how things were going with the business.
Fred and George's faces took on unusually serious expressions. Fred said, "The Hogsmeade shop is scheduled to open on the first Hogsmeade weekend. We are going to announce a grand opening event next week. The expanded production area in the warehouse helped up to stock the store. The Paris shop should open by December."
George added, "We are having problems with the Salem shop. The US Department of Magic's Magical Import Division is attempting to list our products as hazardous materials."
"I was afraid of that," said Ron. "I exchanged several letters with them to get this cleared up but I guess they went back on their decision."
Fred sighed, "Our biggest problem Harry is running the larger operation. I am afraid George and I are stretched too thin." Fred looked at his youngest brother and asked, "Why not skip your N.E.W.T.s and come join up with us?"
Before Ron could answer, Hermione grabbed his hand and said, "No! Ron is going to stay here with me and finish school!"
Ron looked torn between pleasing his girlfriend and getting away from the dreaded exams. After a second, he squeezed Hermione's hand back and asked, "Have you added any other help?"
Fred said, "Just people to work the shop counters. We are nervous trusting anyone else with some of our secrets, especially with the "special work" Harry has us doing at the warehouse."
Ron and the others knew Fred was referring to the proposed new headquarters for the Order. "What about Fleur? She is family now. Her time at Gringotts should help you out and you can always send her over to negotiate with the American wizards," Ron proposed with a grin.
Fred turned and said to George, "I think that would work. She and Charlie are in the Order already."
George agreed, "I think our Ron-Ron is growing up."
A small bell sound rang in the room. Ron asked, "What is that noise?"
Hermione stood up quickly, "Fred and George hide in Harry's room! Quickly, Malfoy will be here any second.
The twins ran into Harry's room just as the portrait swung open to reveal the scowling form of Harry's long time rival.
Seeing the four at the table, he mumbled, "My day just gets better and better." Then he walked directly into his room and shut the door.
Hermione waited until the door closed, then said, "I put a charm on the hall outside. Whenever Malfoy is within thirty seconds of the portrait, the bell rings."
"Brilliant," said Ron. "We should do that on my door at the Burrow for Mum!"
"What do you have to hide from Mum?" Ginny asked in an innocent voice.
Ron started to turn pink and pointedly avoided looking at Hermione.
Harry grinned at the subtle wink Ginny threw at him. Taking pity on his best friend, Harry stood up and said, "Ron, go tell your brothers it is clear for them to use the Portal to go home." Harry bent over next to the table and picked up his katana that was laying on top of his bag. "I need to go talk with Hagrid before meeting Professor Ioshi. I will see you after my session." Harry leaned over to kiss Ginny and then left the common room.
Harry slipped the katana inside his robe. He held it in place with a spare belt. Harry did not want to walk through the school with a sword in his hands. Too many of the students were nervous around him already.
Harry walked casually through the halls and out into the courtyard. Once out of the school and into the cool evening air, Harry allowed the sword to shift into a more comfortable position for the rest of his walk.
Reaching Hagrid's hut, Harry heard a low murmur of voices within followed by Hagrid's booming laugh. Harry knocked on the door and after a brief pause the door opened to reveal Hagrid.
"-Arry! You're here by yourself! I thought you and Ginny were attached at the hip now."
"Hi, Hagrid. Just wanted to stop by to see how your summer was."
"Come in. I have a friend of yours here," Hagrid waved Harry into the hut.
Harry stepped into the hut to the smells of whiskey and tobacco smoke. Glancing at one of Hagrid's oversized chairs, Harry recognized a short, ugly man with a thick cigar in his mouth.
Mike pulled the cigar from his mouth and grinned, "Is that a sword under your robe or are you just happy to see me?"
Hagrid roared with laughter as Harry turned red at Mike's question. Holding the robe aside to reveal the hilt, Harry replied, "You a re not that good looking."
Mike grinned at Harry's comment and leaned back in his chair puffing on his cigar.
Hagrid calmed down a bit and said, "Harry, I like 'im. He has had me laughing all day. Did you hear about the fourth year students caught setting an ambush for Filch?"
Harry smiled at the thought and said he had not heard.
Hagrid's grin grew. "Mike caught them and then Filch came and started threatening them. Mike started making additional suggestions about how to punish them. Filch was so happy he turned them over to Mike. As soon as Filch was out of sight Mike started explaining to them the right way to set up an ambush."
"Those poor kids thought they were going to be expelled by that nut. They were just having fun." Mike said around his cigar. "They just needed help to do it right."
Harry laughed, "I am glad you were not here with the Weasley twins. The castle would not be standing."
Mike eyes glowed with his amusement, "We have talked about the missed opportunities for fun."
"I expect you will start being the target of their pranks soon," Harry commented.
Mike smiled around his cigar, "They are welcome to try. It will be fun when their spells all fail and they can't figure out what happened."
Mike took a sip of his drink and asked, "Are you ready for your training to begin?"
"I have to meet Professor Ioshi in twenty minutes," Harry answered.
"No, I mean tomorrow morning" Mike said. "Remember me? Think of me as your own personal torturer. Meet me at 5:30 in your workout clothes tomorrow morning. Bring your friends along too."
Harry groaned internally. Although he always planned in staying in shape after the past summer, he knew Mike would push him harder then he would have pushed himself.
Hagrid smiled at the look on Harry's face. "You best be going, -Arry. I don't think you want to keep your new professor waiting."
Bidding goodbye to Mike and Hagrid, Harry started jogging back to the castle. The thought of Hagrid and Mike teaming up scared the seventeen year-old.
A couple minutes later, Harry reached the DADA classroom. Harry opened the heavy oak door and peered into the dark classroom.
"Come in, Harry-san," a voice called from the center of the room. "Please sit down."
Harry entered the room and closed the door. Harry could vaguely make out the shape of his teacher sitting on the floor in the center of the dueling mat. Harry pulled the katana from his robe and kneeled down across from the old Auror. He laid the sword down in front of him.
"Harry-san, we have much to cover in the coming year. Professor McGonagall informed me of your desire to become an Auror after leaving school. As I told you before, I am here to give you much of the training you would receive in such a program. We will focus on combat, strategy, and survival skills."
"The combat skills will cover both magical and Muggle. I will teach you to meld the two into one seamless whole. You must learn to fight with wand, sword, and mind."
Harry felt twin shivers of excitement and fear run down his spine. The daunting task in from of him seemed immense. Could he possible learn enough to stand up to Voldemort in an open fight?
"You are afraid. This is good. Overconfidence is the first step to failure," Harry's teacher said. "Remove the blade from its sheath. I must tell you its history."
Harry drew the katana and held it lightly across his lap.
"My ancestor was a supremely gifted sword-maker. He came from a family famous for it's skill and pursuit of perfection in its craft. He apprenticed to a wizard and who introduced him to the magical world. Upon completion of his training, my ancestor returned to the heritage of his family. There he combined his love of steel and magic into pieces of art."
"The sword you hold in front of you was his final art. A seer in the village came to him and gave him a prophecy. The words of the prophecy stayed between them. My ancestor created this blade and charged the family to protect it and keep it in trust. He said one day we would find a warrior who would face the Darkness from the cradle and we would know him as a bolt from Heaven."
Harry shifted uncomfortably at this mention of another prophecy with him as a focus. Why did it have to be him all of the time? Couldn't it be someone else's responsibility for once?"
"Harry-san, I see this bothers you. I understand. You have been forced to bear the weight of the mountain on your shoulders. You never asked for this. But I must ask, who else would you trust to bear this burden for you? And, could you sit back and watch while they did so?"
These questions struck Harry like a slap in the face. It sounded too much like the type of question Dumbledore would have asked. Harry considered his past six years since learning of the magical world. Living with the Dursleys left Harry with a deep need to fight back against anyone who would suppress him or those he loved.
"Please meditate on this question," the old Auror requested.
"Yes, sensei. Please continue telling me about this sword," Harry asked.
"Each of my ancestor's weapons contained different abilities. They grew with the wielder's ability and personality. This one is similar but unique. Please look at the gem on the bottom of the hilt."
Harry turned the sword to consider the hilt. The small emerald on a gold disk capped the end of the hilt.
"Touch the gem," Professor Ioshi instructed.
Harry did as instructed. The disk with the gem slid aside revealing an open hole leading into the hilt. The hole was fairly narrow, thinner then a finger-width.
"I asked you to bring your parents' wands. Please take them out."
Pulling the wands out of his robe, Harry let them balance in his palm.
"Part of what makes this weapon unique is the hollow core you just revealed. You are the only person to open it since my ancestor completed the sword. You must now choose which wand will go into the weapon. Once you place the wand inside, you will not be able to remove it."
The pair sat in darkness for half an hour while Harry struggled to choose which wand to use. Why should he choose any particular wand? Would it make a difference which wand he used?
Setting the sword back onto the mat, Harry weighed each wand in his hand. His first impulse was to use his father's wand. Looking like James, and meeting the other Marauders, Harry sought to emulate his father ever since learning about him. Also the fact Aunt Petunia was his mother's sister pushed him away from that side of his heritage.
Yet, as Harry sat and considered, he started to change his mind. Lily Potter sacrificed her life for her baby son. James died fighting, but Lily could have lived if she sacrificed Harry. Her sacrifice allowed Harry to live and protected Harry until just this past summer.
Closing his eyes, Harry ignored whose wand was in what hand. Harry reached out with his magic into each wand. The magical energy within each wand responded to his power. One wand felt the most … balanced was the only word Harry could come up with.
With his eyes still closed, Harry set the one wand down and picked up the sword. Harry carefully slid the wand into the core. Harry found himself standing as a surge of magic flowed from him into the sword and back again. Harry held the sword in both hands as he felt the magic flowing.
After what seemed an hour, the magic pulled back. Harry opened his eyes and looked at his sword. The gem had returned to its place on the pommel. At Harry's feet lay James Potter's wand.
Harry sat once more in front of his teacher. He asked, "Did I choose correctly?"
"I do not know," was his answer. "That is for you to decide."
The Japanese professor rose to his feet. "We will now move to the Room of Requirement to start your training. Please sheath your weapon and follow me."
Harry placed his father's wand into a pocket of his robe. Then he picked up the sheath and replaced the katana. As it slid home, the weapon changed into a dagger-sized weapon.
"Professor!" Harry yelled.
The Auror turned to see the morphed blade. "Interesting. Please pull the weapon back out."
Harry drew the dagger from the sheath and it returned to its former size.
"The blade responds to your need to blend in. I do not think any of its brethren ever developed such ability. Please follow me."
Harry re-sheathed the katana and placed the now dagger sized weapon on his hip under his robes. Following his professor out of the classroom, Harry thought, "At least now I will not get any more comments from Mike!"
Harry realized that their destination was the Room of Requirement. Following the professor up the stairs, Harry considered the decision to use his mother's wand for the katana. The decision felt right on an instinctual level, but Harry could not have explained why to anyone.
After performing the ritual to open the Room, Harry and Professor Ioshi entered a large room with a padded floor. The floor had several circles drawn, one inside another. The professor led the way into the Room.
Standing in the center of the Room, he gestured to indicate the area around him. "We will use this room to train you in combat magic. Auror trainees are taught to fight several opponents at once and as a team. Here I will summon opponents from the past and present for you to practice against in various situations and numbers."
The old Auror turned and considered Harry for a moment. "Harry-san, you are being molded as a weapon to use against a specific target. I must wonder if you will one day hate us for driving you to one purpose when that purpose is complete."
A quick answer of denial formed on Harry's lips but he held it back. Harry considered his professor's words. Dumbledore seemed to have some of the same concerns since Harry became the Boy-Who-Lived. Would he resent those who focused him to that one purpose?
"I cannot say, professor," Harry replied. "First I have to defeat Riddle and survive. Then we will have to see what the result is."
The Auror turned professor nodded. Then he gestured and the figure of a masked Death Eater appeared before them. The conjured Death Eater drew his wand and prepared to attack, but then froze.
"We will start with a warm-up contest with a single opponent. Obviously we will not be using the Unforgivable Curses here. For this warm up, the Death Eater will not use them. In future battles if you are hit by one it will act as a Stunner. You must learn to anticipate and avoid since they cannot be blocked. Now prepare yourself. Fight!"
Harry fought several different opponents over the next hour. The single anonymous Death Eater was joined by three additional figures.
Four Death Eaters together stretched Harry to a balance point. Harry was able to defend against them but not able to attack them. It was a stalemate. The stalemate ended when a tired Harry stepped on the hem of his robe. Momentarily tangled, the Death Eaters struck with multiple Stunners.
The professor woke Harry shortly afterwards with a flick of his wand. "You have just learned an important lesson. In a Wizard Duel, robes are not that important a consideration. In combat anything that can trip you up or bind your movements is to be avoided at all costs."
Harry lay on the floor for a second catching his breath. He sat up and shook his head to clear his thoughts. Then he asked, "Then why do Aurors where robes?"
Professor Ioshi answered, "Few Aurors ever really experience true combat. Most act as a special law enforcement squad over the normal law breaking one gets in any community. The robes give them an air of intimidation."
"Do they remove their robes if they are going into battle?" Harry asked.
"Some do," his professor replied, "Some have charmed their robes with Anti-Tangle Charms or Fitting Charms. Fitting Charms shrink the robes to become form fitting."
Harry stood up and removed his school robe. After folding it and placing it in the corner, Harry turned to resume his training. Then Harry noticed that only one of the simulated Death Eaters remained.
"Professor?" Harry said in a questioning tone.
"It is time for you to return to your quarters, Harry-san. First, I would like to introduce a new fighting style to you. Please draw your sword, but keep your wand out."
Harry switched his wand over to his left hand. Then he drew his sword. The wand felt slightly awkward held this way. Harry had occasionally used his wand left-handed (usually due to a Quidditch or Riddle related injury), but not often enough for it to feel natural.
"You must learn to use your wand and sword together. In battle you do not have to stay a polite distance away from your opponents. Also, remember what your sword contains. Your mother's wand will allow you to cast spells through it."
Harry nodded, remembering Hagrid's umbrella with the remains of his wand concealed inside.
"You must learn the different abilities of your sword. You seamlessly merge your magical combat style with the physical. There is no difference in striking your opponent down magically or physically. Concern for the honor of one method or another is foolish. Once you are committed to battle, you must use whatever tactic necessary to survive and win. Once the battle is joined you must act instinctually and without hesitation."
"Now, Harry-san, prepare yourself. We will fight one final battle tonight."
Harry turned towards the frozen Death Eater and prepared for the command. Out of the corner of his right eye, Harry saw the light of a stunner. With no time to react, Harry brought the sword up to intercept the spell. Harry knew that the blade would at most slow the spell, but it was the only thing he could do.
The red ball of light stuck the side of the blade. For a split second, the blade itself turned a shade of red from the spell. Harry relaxed his guard to look at the katana in amazement.
"Your katana is able to absorb much of the spell energy that it blocks. It allows you to draw on that energy to help power your spells. But be warned, if you absorb too much in a short period of time, it will destroy your weapon and possibly you."
Harry considered all he had been told tonight. When Harry simply trained, it all seemed like a game. Harry truly enjoyed the battle of wits and magic involved in dueling. Ron was his superior in developing strategies, but once in a fight Harry came into his own. Then a moment like this comes along and drives home the bitter truth. This is a fight to the death, not a game.
"Thank you, sensei. I will work on what you have shown me tonight." Harry said while bowing to his teacher.
Professor Ioshi returned the bow. "Thank you, Harry-san, for being willing to accept a burden thrust on you by fate."
Harry picked up his robe and walked quietly out of the Room of Requirement.
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