"…SO we are using other methods older ones we normally wont use. Come on kiddo it'll be fun." He said with a smile that made Harry feel like someone had walked on his grave."
Chapter 11
Pain
"Ok, kid we are going to teach you everything we know in two weeks. Moreover, I won't lie to you the first bit will hurt, a great deal. Can you handle pain?"
"Four Crucio's, you tell me?" Harry replied looking at the man in front of him.
"Hmm, four eh? By whom some school kid that can't do it right?"
"Two were by DE's. two by Snake face himself two years ago, not to mention five years of pain thru my scar thanks to the headmaster; why ?"
"Voldemort himself, eh? Ok I think you can handle pain this will hurt a lot and will take the better part of two days. You up for it?"
"Will this help me to protect my wife and family?"
"Yeah, it will but it will be long and painful; wait a tic did you just say wife as in your married?"
"Yeah I'm married; why? Is it a problem or you just think I am a damn kid still?" Harry said one hand on his sword.
"No, it's not a problem and as for the second question we'll see if you are one or not."
"How so. And by the way don't think of using my family against me; if you do you won't like what happens."
"You know 'Stor, I like this one, he has a set of stones on him." Doc said to Moody without turning. "Ok lad, you sit here.' He said pointing to a section of the ground near Harry. 'And we sit around you in a ring and we imprint our knowledge of warfare into your mind magically, that's all."
"Umm ok, I thought you said it would hurt?"
"It will hurt quite a bit, more so if you fight it at all, do you know Occulmancy?"
"Yes, why? "
"Lower your shields lad or the pain may drive you insane, to be blunt."
"Fine, I don't really know why; but I trust you for some odd reason. Do you know why that is?"
"Simple you are one of us, had the old man not hidden you we would have found you earlier and you would've been trained the easy way. Lad understand this isn't the way I would have chosen to do this had I any say in the matter but this is the fastest way to do so, I understand from what Moody says you have very little time to train in."
"You could say that I have two weeks in which to finish this and while I am here my wife and family are exposed to what ever manipulations that old coot can come up with I just hope Minerva can hide them well enough is all." At this Moody spoke
"Lad she'll do her best to hide them, she should be able to hide them. If her fear is valid then we have know choice either way you will get the training he denied you."
"Ok then lets do this." As Harry said this he walked over to the spot Doc had pointed to and sat down "So what do I do?"
"Just relax, and lower your shields and hang on. OK?"
"Sure." As soon as the words let his mouth Harry noticed the other people sitting around him in a circle with Moody directly behind him and Doc directly in front of him.
"Let us begin." He said in a soft voice, this made Harry swallow nervously and he hurriedly lowered his mental defences.
"Anrhegwn 'n adnabyddiaeth ato. Anrhegwn 'n celfyddyd ato. E 'n frac daliadau 'r brisio, a 'r brisio ydy eiddo boeni." The group circled around Harry began to chant.
The chanting began to increase in tempo and then there was a flash. Everyone was silent for a moment all stared at Harry; he made to open his mouth to ask who the new people that had just arrived were and why they reminded him of ghosts for some odd reason; when it happened.
"PAIN" screamed Harry…
At the exact moment Harry screamed at the Lions Rest, the home of her favourite teacher Hermione suddenly let out a scream.
"AAAARRRRRRGGGHHHHH"
"Mia honey what's wrong' her mother said running to her daughter 'are you ok?"
"Mummy..." she whimpered slumping into her mother's arms tears streaming down her face. "He hurts Mum and I am not there; but I feel it. Gods the pain he must be in it's muffled to me now. But he must be in agony, I need to see Minerva."
"Hermione dear are you ok? I heard you scream." Said the older witch; as she ran up to her student.
"WH what are they doing to my husband? Where did Moody take him?" she demanded.
"I only know dear that Moody said because of the time frame the training would be painful and hard on Harry. But Alastor would not tell me where they went; he is bound by an oath apparently."
"But why would Moody hurt him like that?' she said turning to her mother 'I want my husband mum, I should be there for him when he's hurting like this."
"Hermione dear, I may know what they did to Harry." The older witches face suddenly softening
"What did they do and who are they?"
"They are the Gargoyles; the most elite wizards our world has ever seen and I think they may have used the rite of ''r Drosglwyddo chan Myrddin' it is a very old Celtic rite meant to pass on the knowledge and skills of a group of people to one person; there is a price that must be paid though."
"And what price has my love paid this time Minerva? A limb perhaps because it cant have been a loved one I am still standing here aren't I? So what pray tell in what manner did my Harry pay this time?"
"There is only one price in this rite dear." The older witch said a tear in her eye
"And that would be what precisely." She said nervously
"Pain child; he paid the price of pain. Alastor and I did not tell you and Harry of the rite; yes. However we felt if we did you would have talked him out of it."
"Your damn right I would have had we known. So Moody sneaks this on Harry while his back was turned? Or did he just wait for him to arrive and do it then?"
"My dear Ms.Gra… I mean Mrs Pot… I mean Hermione, he couldn't have been tricked in to it must be done voluntarily, your love knew what would happen if he did this.
Back at the Gargoyle training grounds…
The six people that Moody had contacted watched in sorrow as he twitched and thrashed in place then Moody noticed something just before the other Gargoyles did
"PAIN." Harry was screaming, his body rigid, he felt as if he was under the Cruciatus curse only it felt as if it had been magnified somewhere on the order of 100 and then cubed. He couldn't think his whole mind was suddenly blank. Then it began the real torture. He saw images begin to fly past him as if in a dream but no dream; save the ones Tom sent him were like this. The images began to speed up faster and faster till they were a blur. He felt rather than saw his body fall back gently and his arms and legs twitching erratically. It was almost as if he were running or something to that effect. As suddenly as it began it was over.
" Wha…" was all he was able to say
"Lad don't try and speak you screamed yourself hoarse. Here drink this." Said Doc. Harry took the vial of purplish liquid and after a quick look at Moody, and seeing him nod he tossed it back, draining the entire contents in one gulp
"H…How long was I out?"
"Three days lad you now know all we know." He said with a small frown.
"What is it? Did something happen to Hermione?" Harry asked panic stricken.
"Hmm, no she's fine as far I as I know; something did happen though… "
What happened? You look as confused as I am; what the hell you did you do to me."
"Lad, what happened has been written of but not seen in nearly millennia." Moody said
"What was it? Was it something bad?"
"No; just unexpected. When we did the transference ritual something very good happened in fact. Let me ask you to look into your mind and tell me how many different ways of protecting someone you know."
"Wha… why?"
"You'll understand in a minute lad; just do it."
"OK ok I'll do it." Harry closed his eyes and began to review the memories he had been given, he noticed there were memories from roughly twelve different people. He reopened his eyes and looked Moody dead in the one real eye he had. "Who were the others, the ones that showed up just before we began? Don't lie to me Mad eye." He said his temper rising.
"They are the ones that came before us lad, we don't use that rite lightly, and what has happened was not supposed to happen. You drew them here; they must have seen the need you would have for their skills."
"Harry? I need to ask before we move forward in the training; do you feel any animal tendencies? We need to know if you are and animagus or not. I'm sorry to cut you off 'Stor but we need to finish this."
"I know Drummond, but damn the kids gonna be powerful when we're done." He said turning to the scarred and tattooed man.
"Yeah, you could say I am feeling slightly animalistic, I feel like I want to wait for you to turn around and then when you don't expect it jump on your bloody back and snap your neck with my teeth. Why?"
"Well I would say you definitely have an animagus form then. Ok for that Jess here will be your instructor, I will do muggle hand to hand and wandless, and Moody will do the rest the others will be your opponents, let me introduce them this is Shade, Michael and well he is Mac, you will get your name later on tonight after we see what you can do."
"Ok then lets get started."
"You like pain huh, kid" Mac said quietly. "I have a good idea what we are going to be calling you though; I think you'll like it."
"What's the name then?"
"Later kid, come on you need to run. Here put this on." He said handing Harry a rucksack. Harry took it and nearly dropped it.
"What the blazes is in here?"
"Eight stone of weight it'll help your stamina, besides we said it would be painful didn't we?"
"Yeah, yeah you all did. Ok a run and then what?"
"Don't know yet, 'Stor didn't say" as they began their run into the surrounding woods.
"Ok I don't suppose he will say anything till we are finished here eh?"
"Nope."
As this was all happening Arthur Weasley had just arrived home with a rather astonished look on his face.
"Hey dad, what's wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost or something?" Asked Ron.
"Harry and Hermione…" He said sitting down on the sofa with a thump, as Ginny walked into the room.
"What happened dad it wasn't him was it? Their not dead right?"
"DEAD! Whose dead Arthur please tell me it wasn't one of our boys or Harry."
"Molly…Please relax no-one's dead. Harry and Hermione are... umm; how do I say this?"
"What is it dad, did Voldemort capture them or something? Are they in danger?" said Ron
"Well I am not sure it's dangerous for them, no not dangerous at all for them."
"Well dad tell me did it have anything to do with the kiss she gave him the other day at Kings Cross?" piped up Ginny
"Kiss? What kiss I didn't see them kiss. I thought she was dating Ron?"
"Mum, we broke up around two months ago; we had tried it and we were horrid together. It felt like I was dating Ginny at the end."
"But Ginny was still dating Harry in October." The Weasley matriarch said with a rather astonished look on her face "when did you two break it off?"
"About three weeks after I wrote you to let you know we were dating it was the same both Harry and I were absolutely miserable. He's like one of my brother's mum it wouldn't work out; no matter how hard we tried."
"Umm… ok I guess I have to accept it but I cant give up hope that you and Hermione might get back together in the future in may just be that it wasn't the right time for you two." She said with a sympathetic look on her face.
"Actually Molly that wont happen either they umm… how do I say this, umm they are married now under the rite of Leo Fidelies Cardia rex"
"WHAATT! They are just kids they can't be married. Not to one another no I refuse to accept it." She said with finality
"MOLLY ELIZABETH! Do you remember which family Harry belongs to? Do you forget my, our families duty to them? I certainly do as I have reaffirmed our pledge again."
"What do you mean reaffirmed our pledge dad?"
"Ron you need to understand something. There is a reason why you and Harry are such close friends."
"Why is that dad? I mean aside from the fact that I consider him my brother, why else would we be friends?"
"For the same reason I was friendly with James and William Potter, our family has been House Gryffindor retainers since the time of Godric…"
"Gryffindor right daddy?" Ginny suddenly said cutting into the conversation.
"No… Potter."
"But dad everyone knows Godric had the last name of Gryffindor. Hell it's in Hermione's favourite book for havens sake."
"No Ron you would have found out eventually but Harry's family from his father is the line of Potter, but is the House of Gryffindor; and before you say anything bad or decide that Harry gets everything I want you to remember one thing."
"What's that Dad?" he said with a slightly put out look on his face.
"Well it's two things really, the first is he has had no-one growing up to tell him he was loved, the second is this.' Arthur took a rather large breath here as if he didn't even want to mention the one fact that had given him so much respect for James. 'Have you ever heard the legend of the Lions throne?"
"No I haven't…"
"I have dad Professor Binns told us about it, why?"
"Well Ginny, Harry's is the heir to it that's why I brought it up."
"You mean he is...is…" Molly stammered
"Yes dear, Harry is the Prince Regent of the Wizarding World." At these words having left his mouth she promptly fainted.
As the Weasleys were having this conversation, Minerva McGonagall was teaching Hermione the most advanced transfiguration she knew; which just happened to be the animagus transformation.
"Well Hermione, do you feel the animal within?" Hermione looked up from the cushion she had been meditating on for the last hour and a half.
"I was in a jungle and a grassland area. I wasn't able to see the animal but I know what it feels like and I know it's a big cat of some kind."
"Ahh I see well welcome to the feline family then my dear."
"Is there any way I can find out which animal it is besides this?" she said waving her hand at the meditation area she was in.
"I do know a spell that will let you see you're animal so you can research it better; but before we go any further, are you planning on registering it?"
"Not just yet maybe once the war is over I will. Will it affect your decision to perform the spell?"
"No my child it won't, and yes I can understand why you would take that path in fact."
"How so Minerva?"
"I was in your position once." The older witch said with a far away look in her eyes.
"Would you tell me about it?"
"I'll tell you a bit. Ok?"
"Ok, I don't mean to bring up bad memories but if you were in my position, you would want to know I think."
"Yes, I would. It was nineteen forty and I was just about to graduate from Hogwarts myself, I had been courted by a man named Angus McGonagall…"
XXXXXxxxxxxx Flash BackxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXX
"Minnie? Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do Angus. Why?"
"Close your eyes my love. Please for me?"
"Angus we need to hurry we're going to be late for our own graduation."
"Minnie please this is a bit more important." She stopped and turned to see him down on one knee with a small ring in his hand.
"Angus… are you…"
"Minerva Catherine Wallace, I know we are in a war that's why I am asking this of you. But would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he said with a shaky voice."
"Yes my heart I will. With my entire heart yes."
XXXXXxxxxxxx end flash backxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXX
"I never knew you had been married. So what happened if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well after we had wed Angus went to fight the Nazi's which were in fact just muggle followers of Grindlewald. He never came back; I became an animagus in order to look for him. I never found him and I had little time to look though."
"Why weren't you able to look for him for as long as it took?"
"Well as the old saying goes once is enough."
"I don't understand Minerva?"
"I was very pregnant at the time." She said this with a tear falling down her cheek
"Ohh Minerva I am sorry, I didn't know."
"Its ok child. I knew my daughter quite well in fact her husband was one of my best pupils before you."
"May I ask what your husband and daughter looked like I mean you must have a painting or a photo?"
"Of Angus yes, my daughter I didn't know till she was eleven though."
"Why no… You placed her up for adoption didn't you?"
"Yes, come I'll show you the painting I have of Angus." She said taking Hermione's hand and leading her in to the library." Here is the only image left of my love Hermione." As the younger witch looked at the painting of Angus McGonagall the thing that grabbed her attention first, was the way that his green eyes glowed with an ethereal light. In fact she knew those eyes she loved a set very similar to them in fact.
"Minerva? I know those eyes. They look just like Harry's and everyone says that he has…"
"His mothers. Yes and she had her fathers, it was a family trait."
"O…oh my then you are his…." She trailed off her mind racing.
"His grandmother, and yours too now, I am sorry. I wasn't able to tell him sooner."
"WHY THE BLAZES NOT?"
"Albus, not only forbid it but many of us believe he managed to place a charm on Harry that prevented us from mentioning anything if his family unless he said it was time for him to learn of it. However, you asked me and for the first time my grandson wasn't present and I was allowed to tell you, I ask… no I beg you to tell him the truth if he knows Albus's ability to hide information will be lessened."
"You realize that Harry may very well be… umm… rather pissed at Albus right."
"My dear Albus has a great many things to answer for where your husband and you are concerned."