A/N: Sorry it's taken me longer than usual but i've been sorting things out. There's only two more chapters of Training planned and then off to Hogwarts. i hope you enjoy. tell me what you think, like? don't like? Tell me please please o please. :)
But You're a Monk
1989 New York City, USA
Harry sat perched on a bar stool nursing a pint of coke in his hand. On either side of him Remus and Sirius were sat nursing drinks that were considerably stronger than coke. They were both edgy and Harry had no idea why. He was certain that no one could be able to take all three of them down in a fair fight unless it was someone on the power levels of Dumbledore, Voldemort or Grindlewald. Over the two years since they had found the Grindlewald sisters Harry was certain he could pass Hogwarts NEWTs with Acceptable's and Exceeds Expectations and was positive he'd be able to pass the Muggle secondary exams or GCSE's as they had recently been renamed, in all areas that mattered. The Grindlewald sisters, along with books liberated from the Castle Grindlewald had been helping to train him on the side in areas of magic neither Remus, nor Sirius understood or wanted to understand considering the Darker origins of it.
They had told Harry they were here to help advance his studies, though what that meant for Harry he didn't know. His inner wolf senses prickled as a bald old man dressed in an orange robe and toga styled clothes walked in, his wolfen instincts were trying to decide upon the fight or flight options, he had just moved to his feet when Remus but a hand on Harry's shoulder. The man walked over to them, his body moving fluidly and agilely. "He's who we're here to see." Remus muttered. "Harry this is Master Taiphis."
"He's a monk?" Harry questioned.
The man smiled. "I am more than that Mr Potter. I felt your fear of me as I approached and your indecision as your inner beast battle for the right to control your movements." The Monk gave a crooked smile. "I am a werewolf, and I lead a Monastery in Tibet that takes in young werewolves and teaches them how to reign in and control the animal inside."
"What's this got to do with me?" Harry asked, looking from Remus to Sirius.
Sirius sighed. "Harry, don't get angry at us-"
"What's this got to do with me?" Harry growled again, his agitation shining through.
"Harry," Remus started. "Since you have such a strong animal inside you, we're scared the animal spirit and instinct could take over your rational human thought. We've asked that Master Taiphis take you to his place for a time to get your animal fully under your control, it's our fault for helping you master it at such a young age."
"Mr Potter, don't be angry at your guardians." Taiphis said. "You'll not only learn to master your beast, but it will help you become at peace with yourself and like the true Buddhist Monks we will also teach you the way of defensive arts." He sighed. "When you return you should be a more efficient warrior and our practices will help you immerse yourself with your magic as well as allowing to imbue your human form with attributes of your Canine form."
"What about you two?" Harry asked Sirius and Remus. "Surely you could get something from coming with me? Remus could control his wolf as well."
"It's too late for Remus, Harry." Taiphis informed the young boy. "He has looked upon his beast as a curse for so long it will take many year for him to see it as anything but-, there is no way I can train someone within that frame of mind."
"I would come, Harry." Sirius said. "But while you're away this is the perfect time for me to take care of a few things, it won't be more than a few months, and we'll visit I promise."
"I'm afraid to say," Taiphis interjected. "That it will take at least two years, and we do not allow visitors who are not students or potential students. You two are neither. Sorry."
Harry sighed, his eyes narrowed at Sirius and Remus. "Fine, Tibet, here I come."
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1989 Tibet
Harry glanced around the barren room. It was so Spartan it would make the Spartan warriors gasp. The stone walls and rough wooden floor boards made Harry wish for his room at home. The bed was nothing more than a wooden frame with a bag of straw and a blanket made out of course wool. There was a small set of drawers and a desk with a hard backed chair. Harry hadn't been allowed to take anything with him except his journal, a few books, his wand and the clothes on his back. Fewer distractions meant more learning.
Harry had been given tonight to get settled in and then his introduction and training started at five thirty the next morning. He arranged his books then placed his journal on the desk. Finally he stripped down to his jeans and keeping his wand holstered on his forearm he lay on the rough bed and pulled the blanket over himself. He cursed Sirius and Remus for making him do this, he understood why, but he was nine he could afford to be petty and blame his guardians.
He stared up to the wooden ceiling and started counting the knots in the wooden planks slowly drifting off to sleep.
He was awoken in what seemed to be no time at all, the sound of a loud gong going off outside his room. He muttered a few choice swear words and sat up grudgingly. Running a hand through his hair he pulled himself off of the bed and stretched his back and shoulders making loud cracks of protest. He picked his shirt up off of the floor where he had dropped it the night before and pulled it on, he looked at his shoes and socks longingly, but they weren't allowed to be worn around the monastery.
The monastery was set on a large ledge three quarters up a mountain, guarded by dragons and at the base surrounded by a large forest infested with so many magical creatures if was the second most magical forest in the world, second only to a magical reserve in Australia. And it was the only magical reserve that had free roaming yeti. The forest was also used as a final exam for the students of the monastery.
The monastery itself was surrounded by perimeter walls made out of solid Moonstone. Inside were five buildings and four towers at each corner each with ten bedrooms in each for the students, while the Masters lived in one of the five buildings. The remaining four buildings was a mess hall, a church, a dojo and a non-heated swimming pool. In the middle of the courtyard that was at the centre of the complex was a column made out of Moonstone and crystal reaching towards the skies which, when a Full Moon bathed the courtyard in a ghostly light.
As Harry walked from his room to the courtyard he was bustled by several people, all of which sent his inner wolf wild, from this he could tell two things, they were werewolves and they were hostile towards him, though why remained a mystery. As he walked into the courtyard all eyes turned to him, he kept his eyes ahead and fixed upon the person stood directly in front of the column. Master Taiphis. The elderly werewolf beckoned him forwards.
"Students, this is young Novice Black." the Master told the mass. "I know all of you can tell he is no werewolf, but I hope you will treat him with the same respect you would any member of our Clan."
There was silence apart from the sound of Harry's footsteps walking steadily towards the Master. The looks of disdain, rage and hate were almost burning the young boy, he was finding hard not to growl or lash out with his Animagus instincts. He noticed as he walked that there were both boys and girls surrounding him, all the boys wore short hair while all the girls had their tied back into French plaits hanging to various lengths. He noticed that a few of the boys had lines of silver running through their hair, he remembered from Remus that this was the mark of a future Alpha or the potential to be an Alpha. It was these boys that were looking the most hostile towards him.
"I'm sure we will all make him welcome within the fold. Please remember that he is a human and not as durable as we are, so if some of you do feel the need to show your dominance be gentle to him." Taiphis told the Clan. The elder then looked towards Harry. "Come to me after breakfast, Novice Black and I will explain how things work here among your timetable, do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir." Harry spoke strongly, wanting to show the elder teens surrounding him that he wasn't a push over.
"Very good. Now breakfast, all of you." Taiphis told them.
The congregation surged to the Mess Hall, with Harry following behind fingering the release catch on his holster, something told him things would get worse for him before they got better, but what was he if not adaptable. Sirius had always told him he was a survivor; it was time for him to prove it.
The mess hall was made out of wood and stone. There were wooden tables and benches running up and down five in total with about thirty to forty students to each table. There was a separate table where five elders were eating, Taiphis included and in one corner sat another elder werewolf behind a large cauldron, it was she that was dishing out the hot grey porridge they were eating.
As Harry entered all eyes fell upon him and silence descended onto the hall. Keeping his chin up and eyes forward Harry walked down the hall towards the cauldron and the she-wolf behind it. His wand was ready to slip into his hand at a moment's notice, though he knew he would be expected to fend off any attack unarmed or be labelled a coward. A few legs stuck out to trip him, but he lengthened his stride, the stride causing him to be able to step over the extended legs, though his animal side was begging him to stamp heavily on one hoping to break it or at least cause the owner some pain.
Finally Harry got to the cauldron and picked up one of the bowls from the pile next to the cauldron, he handed it to the woman behind the cauldron who scooped in some of the gruel like porridge. He nodded his thanks and made his way to the table with the least number of occupants, though as soon as he sat down they moved as far away from him as possible. He was not surprised, he was new, he was also different to them, their whole lives they had suffered from prejudice and mistreatment as the hands of bigoted judgemental scum who avoided them because of what they were, and now one of the people they saw as the enemy was sitting amongst them. He may have only been nine, but he still knew it would be a long time before any of the accepted him for who he was instead of what he was.
After twenty minutes of eating and hearing friendly conversation take place around him, most of it discussing him or making fun of him the students started to leave, finishing his food, Harry stood up and walked up to the Master's table. He did an exaggerated nod, which was a cross between a nod and bow he addressed Master Taiphis.
"Master, you requested my company?"
"Yes, Harry. Now first I will explain why we are calling you Novice Black. Novice is self-explanatory, we are calling you Black because even in the werewolf circles, Harry Potter is a legend, so we have given you your Godfather name, for now. Understand?" Taiphis asked.
"Yes, Sir." Harry replied
"Good, now let me introduce you to some of the Masters you'll be learning under." Taiphis told him. "Thankfully we are far more accepting than the students." He smiled kindly at Harry. "Do not worry, both Remus and Sirius tell me you are more than capable of looking after yourself, you'll be fine."
Harry smiled. "I hope so. "
"Anyway, this brick out house of a man is Master Janos." Taiphis told Harry pointing to a man next to him who looked to be bordering seven foot and had the width and body build of a professional wrestler. "He teaches the Offence side of the Martial Arts."
Janos nodded and shook Harry's hand. "Pleased to meet you young, Potter." He said with a European accent. "I meet with your Father once, he was very nice man."
"Thank you, Sir." Harry told the man. "It's always nice to hear things about my parents."
Janos nodded sympathetically. "I understand. I too am orphan. My Family was Jewish, World War was not kind to mine."
"Sorry." Harry muttered, before realising he had said the one thing he hated people saying to him when they discovered he was an orphan. "Sorry for saying sorry, I hate people apologising to me for mine."
Janos smiled at the young boy's awkwardness. "Nonsense young man, do not worry. I and you will be good friends, no?" he grinned. "To help with other pups I teach you extra?"
"It would be appreciated; I don't want to get my head ripped off."
The table laughed apart from one younger man who looked to be in his late teens. He had a handsome face though he had a rough scar running over his left eye which was a milky white. His hair was snow white apart from a stripe of silver that went down it through the centre. When he noticed Harry looking at his he curled his lips back in a snarl and a low growling sound issued from his throat.
"Pay Patrick no attention." Taiphis told Harry, "At least not at the moment. He is the Alpha amongst the students and my son. He sees your presence as a sacrilege, he is what you might call a Head Boy, until he is defeated in combat he has to stay to fulfil his duty. Isn't that right, Patrick?" the boy snarled, stood up and marched out, as he marched out of the door he scraped his fingers along the door frame leaving four deep claw marks. He gazed at Harry threateningly and left.
Taiphis roared with laughter. "He also sees you as a threat. He saw how you showed no fear both in the courtyard and in here. Keep that up, it's not the fights that you win or lose, it's your pride and confidence between the fights. Show them you aren't afraid and they will soon leave you alone."
"Ignore the bullies and they'll go away?" Harry asked.
Taiphis grinned. "Essentially, yes." He nodded. "Now this beautiful She-Wolf is Giselle and my wife." The woman he indicated was blonde and willowy. She exhaled an aurora of beauty and danger rolled into one. "She teaches the females how to cope within mating season and how to fight back in a way that only women can."
"Hello Harry." Giselle's voice was soft and delicate, with the potential to become loud and destructive if angered. "I hope you do enjoy your stay with us. I feel you will do well."
"She also has a small touch of seer blood in her. It's like woman's intuition but stronger and far more accurate." Taiphis explained.
"Wait, you're married and have a son? But you're a Monk?" Harry pointed out.
The table roared with laughter. "Just because we are under a guise of a monastery doesn't mean we practice the same things. Werewolves are expected to find a mate, it is a part of our natural bodily drive. You notice we have female students, they had just the same amount of right to learn as males, unless you are sexist?"
"No, I was just curious." Harry corrected, blushing as he thought of mating and of the mistake he had made.
Taiphis meanwhile seemed to have forgotten about Harry's questions and the brief subject change as he pointed to another man who looked small and skinny, but obviously had muscles. "This is Gideon Prewett. He's from England like you. He teaches the Defensive side of the martial Arts."
"Wait, Sirius told me Gideon and Fabian Prewett were killed by Death Eaters." Harry said before he could stop himself.
Gideon nodded. "Fabian was. I was bitten by Greyback. My mother and father were ashamed of having a werewolf in the family. A half blood or Muggle-born marrying in fine, but a werewolf. They delicately asked me to leave then told everyone I was dead." Gideon told Harry. "I should have stayed to see the war to the end, but after being abandoned by my family I'm afraid I couldn't."
Harry nodded. "Okay. Sorry for bringing up bad memories."
Gideon shrugged. "I'm over it, they did right by them I suppose. Though one day I'll return if nothing just to see my little sister again and her kids." Gideon sighed. "She thinks I'm dead, so do her kids. Poor Molly."
"Well, nice walk down memory lane." Taiphis said, clapping his hands and rubbing them together. "And you'll be learning how to harness and adapt your animal from me. Now let me give you the grand tour."
Harry was shown the individual class rooms, all of which looked exactly the same, wooden and stone interiors. With floorboards covered in black gym mats. He was shown the dorms and told the rules of the dorms. He was instructed on the four rules of the training facility under the guise of a monastery.
No killing or permanently maiming other students
Respect pack structure and your place in the pack and sub-packs
If you cannot yet control your animal secure yourself until you can
No magic unless in protection of life
Harry gulped at the last rule, without his magic he was certain he was going to be a sitting duck here or at least a crippled sheep among the wolves.
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Harry had been at the monastery for a little over a month and it had been the worse month of his life, including the time he could remember he spent at the Dursleys. He had been isolated, belittled and rejected numerous times, and he knew it was only a matter of time until the mental and emotional abuse escalated to physical. His tormentors were merely testing him to see what they could get away with, but yet he knew if he threw the first punch he would be set upon by the rest of the pack. If one of them went for him first and he defended himself the others would back down.
He was excelling at the mental exercises and martial arts, combining the moves he was learning with the basic street fighting and brawling techniques Sirius had taught him. He had knocked Master Janos down multiple times, making the man roar with laughter, though that was only in the private session, Janos had advised him to downplay his skills in front of the other students so they would underestimate his skills. He had also handed Harry a knife with a thin slither of silver running down the blade. If he cut a werewolf with it the cut would burn as if salt or acid had been poured into the wound, but only to be used in absolutely necessary.
Harry had adapted to the routine and everyday followed the same cycle, apart from weekends, when on Saturday there was a weekly barbeque and bonfire, but on these occasions Harry would either watch from a distance or stay in his room reading and studying his mind and getting to know his inner animal. On week days Harry woke at five thirty, did a lap of the compound and several lengths of the pool, then he would joining the others for meditation and reflection in the courtyard. It was then breakfast, which Harry ate and quickly as possible. He would then attend his various classes until lunch at one, he would then practice sparring with Janos and Gideon.
He then meditated trying to find peace with his animal, that seemed to have retreated into him, not wanting to be called forth. Harry could rarely turn into his wolf Animagus form anymore, it was scared of the surrounding threat of numerous werewolves. It was tea after Harry's meditation and then he retreated to his room until eleven when he left for the deserted courtyard to practice his tai-chi and calming exercises.
It was as he was walking from the shower block back to his room after a sparring session that Patrick along with five other Alphas and potential Alphas surrounded him, emerging from the shadows, dropping from roofs and out in adjoining windows.
"Well, well, if it isn't the little human pup." Patrick sneered. "my father talks about you as if you were a messiah, the first human ever to come here, you don't look so special." His lips curled revealing sharper than usual teeth.
"I don't want trouble." Harry said backing away, but backing into a boy with a broad chest and a chiselled six pack.
Patrick grinned. "Tough shit, kid. Cause trouble wants you." The boy behind Harry grabbed his arms and secured them behind his back. "Now we're going to show you how to play like wolves." Patrick pulled back his fist and swung.
In the second Harry had for the punch to connect something happened. Something inside the nine year old welled up. He recognised it as the fear and anger of the wolf the fight or flight response. The punch connected, it made Harry's jaw click and his inner cheek to cut against his teeth. He spat out a little blood and he hung his head, looking down at the drops of blood mixed with saliva. The fight or flight response urged him even more, but he was trapped cornered. He would need both his form and himself to get out of this situation intact.
Something clicked inside Harry. The howl of a wolf echoed in his ears not the recognizable gravely rough sound of a werewolf, but the smooth baleful tones of a wolf. It filled Harry's heart and soul, like the music of a phoenix would, hidden under his curtain of hair the boys surrounding him did not see the smile of determination settle over Harry's face.
Patrick pulled back to punch again, but Harry was ready, he flung his head back, jumping slightly at the same time. The back of his head smashed into the boy behind him, impacting his face, mouth and nose, a satisfying crack sounded as the boys grip loosened as Harry twirled, watching as Patrick already swinging fist smashed his own friend in his already damaged face. The force of the two blows so close together laid the boy out flat on his back.
The remaining five including Patrick looked around, Harry was gone, faded into the shadows. That was when a rock hurtled towards them, cracking one boy with dark hair and a tribal tattoo in the temple, he feel to all fours rubbing the point of impact, from a totally different direction than the stone had come Harry hurtled out, placing a foot on the downed boy's back he launched himself into the air, only to place his fist securely into the face of a Caribbean werewolf, who reeled away, only stopping himself from falling by leaning against the wall of the closest building, the other looked around urgently, again Harry was gone.
They ran, pulling the fallen boys to their feet they ran to the courtyard, pushing through a crowd of girls who looked at them strangely. They stood back to back in fighting stances, the ones who had already taken blows dazed and unsteady, the surrounding students looked confused. Was this a demonstration?
Master Taiphis and the other Masters had just entered the square when Harry made himself known. He was perched on the tiled corner of one of the one story buildings, a low growl coming from his throat, not a human sound, but animal. Taiphis smiled mysteriously, he had been waiting for this.
"I should thank you, Patrick." Harry's voice had a rumbled undertone, one which made the hair on all of the students necks rise. "You helped me, for a month I've been trying to get into contact with my animal. And now thanks to you-" he snarled ferociously and jumped, transforming into his form. Only this time he was big, bigger than even his human self. He was covered in thick black hair that shimmered under the sun and it blew in the wind, his eyes were a bright green tinged with yellow and his teeth were long sharp and extremely dangerous looking. He threw back his head and let out a mournful, terrifying yet beautiful howl which resonated around the mountain, from the forest below a series of other howls could be heard, the sound of wolves accepting one of their own.
Master Janos whispered to Taiphis. "Sir, he a Nox noctis Lupus. If he wanted to he could take your son apart."
Taiphis smiled. "I know. I had a suspicion he would be more than just a wolf, that's why he was having such a hard time accepting it."
The wolf stepped forwards towards the six teens, another stepped and it morphed back into Harry, but it was a different Harry. Though the same size, he was more muscular, he was dressed only in jeans, his glasses were gone, his hair was longer and he radiated of power, physical and magical. He also had a streak of solid silver running from just above his right ear and following the growth and flow of his hair.
The five boys ran, leaving only Patrick who had backed up against the monolith of Moonstone. Harry drew the knife from the sheath attached to his belt loops and threw it hard. It nicked Patricks ear as it buried itself half way into the Moonstone, it's blade sitting snugly on Patricks skin, the blood from the cut in his ear trickling down his neck. He watched as Harry advanced. Patrick tried to pull the knife from the rock. Then Harry pushed him into it, making him face collide with the hilt of the knife. Harry pulled the knife out easily and bent down, running the flat of the blade along Patricks skin.
"Next time you try something like that I will end you. Alpha or not." Then in three quick swipes of his unarmed hand he cut a lightning bolt into Patrick's forehead, just where Harry's own resided. He then held the hand up to the light, four inch long black claws protruded from the knuckles just above the beginning of each finger. He smiled. He and his animal were one.
Nox noctis Lupus: Night Wolf