CHAPTER 7: Solutions Bring Problems
Harry dragged himself out of bed the next morning and hauled his weary body down the stairs to where Draco was waiting for him, unresponsive on a couch. They hauled themselves to the field outside and did their daily routine of laps and push-ups and other cartio-warm ups.
Moring Prodigy Harry glared at Vexation as he pranced down the stairs, tail swishing elegantly behind him.
Morning Vexation. Harry answered before returning to his sparing with Draco.
Higher Prodigy! Your stance is too close together and you hands to low.
Harry growled but obayed.
Much better. Now work on bring your whole body into the punch, you're only using half the power of your punch.
And so it went like every other morning. As they went through the hand-to-hand exercises, Vexation coaching Harry and Sage drilling Draco till both hauled their weary bodies up to the Common Room for a shower before heading off to the hospital wing, promising Ron they'd catch him up in the Great Hall.
Madam Pomfery was checking Dante over before she released him. "Mr. Potter." She started menacingly after turning to see who had entered her ward. "Where exactly did you manage to get that claw mark on your arm?" Harry looked down surprised. He hadn't known the three-headed dog had gotten him. Shuffling his feet he looked to Dante for help.
"That's not a claw mark Madam." Dante suddenly improvised, though still obviously confused.
"See, Harry's had really bad nightmares for as long as we're known him. He's pretty good at keeping them quiet but at a risk to himself. That's just what he does." When the medi-witch turned to look at Harry, Dante shot him a look that said "Tell me everything or die." Harry shuffled his feet. Before any more could be said Dante had lead Harry and Draco to the Great Hall. On their way Draco and Harry explained what had happened on their way back.
"It must be here for a reason." Dante reasoned as they sat down.
"Morning guys!" A cheery voice called cutting off their conversation. "Feeling better Dante?"
"Fine thanks!" He turned back to Draco asking "Who was that?"
Draco shrugged and Harry laughed. "We appear to be quiet popular." The blonde brushed off the greeting. Harry snorted at the understatement and raised an eyebrow at the length of the table, which seemed to be shifting to the center as if the benches were bowed inwards. Harry looked up at the screech of owls before glancing down again.
You need to write Evangeline, Prodigy. Harry spazed for a moment before realizing the voice had come from Vexation.
Where did you come from? I thought I left you in the room.
You will never be rid of me Prodigy. Now pass downs some bacon. Vex said almost sadly as he leapt into Harry's arms. Harry stroked the immortal and let the cat snag bacon from his plate. Just then Dante's snowy owl Hedwig landed in front of them, a long thin parcel in her mouth.
"Happy belated birthdays Harry. For all the ones I missed. I told your Godfather he could buy you the next one. Love Bella and Eva." Harry read the note perplexed then joy light up his face and he hugged the parcel to himself.
"She didn't!" Draco cried.
Harry snuck a look into the brown paper, glee lighting his features as well as his words as he sang, "She did!"
He exposed the handle of a Nimbus Two-Thousand to Draco, Dante and Ron all of whom ogled the broom as if it where a new dagger.
"Oh, Harry this is so cool. We got to go try it out!" Dante said standing up fast, wobbling a bit. "I don't think we'll be doing that today." Harry laughed. He patted his broom happily and tucked it out of the reach of the students around him.
That day, the four boys lounged out under trees enjoying the last cold breaths of summer. They had a go on Harry's Nimbus after much mind wandering from the papers they were supposed to be writing. Harry hadn't felt so free in his life. The minimal space at the safe house had allowed on the most cautious of flying, but here he was in open air without rules or limitations.
He naturally took full advantage of the fact and spent most of the time after that in the air. They were still on the pitch when Wood came out with the rest of his team to evaluate Harry. Dante, Draco and Ron took seats in the stands with Fred and George and watched as Harry caught everything Wood threw at him.
Whoops and cheers filled the stadium as Harry became a bit more confident and tried out complex dives and raced after rogue balls, exploring into faints and rolls, his dives getting steeper and steeper till he was almost parallel to the stands during them.
After that he days flew past, with practice three times a week and sometimes on Saturdays, not to mention homework and tutoring, Halloween approached Harry quickly.