Chapter six: Hunter Vesey and the test.
(Sensei Chase PoV)
Chase nodded his head to the last student to walk through the door – Francis – and then stood to greet the class in the joined room from his office. He couldn't believe that this was the last lesson before Christmas and the Tests were today too to see if anyone would move up a belt.
Currently:
Blaise Zabini – Blue
Marcus Turner – Blue
Natalie Junes – Green
Francis Kai – Orange
Carl Green – Orange
Jasmine Quinn – Yellow
Ann Peterson – Yellow
Benjamin Stones – White
Harry Potter – White
Obviously it was rare to see a lot of them at Green belt since it were rather easy to skip stages to get into the class that held the Purple and Red belts and then the final class he held – Brown and Black, though that was mainly adults at the moment and only four.
To be honest he'd be shocked is Harry didn't jump to at least Orange Belt with today's tests – the lad spent a lot of time working on his skills since he didn't have school and had finished all of the work that had been set for him to do apparently. Blaise also spent a lot of time with the boy who'd been with them nearly four weeks – a month – now meaning that when Harry wasn't in lesson he could usually be found either running or exercising, or with Blaise and Marcus (when the latter wasn't at school) training.
Chase had even seen Harry have a fight with Natalie, a green belt, and win. He hadn't pushed his luck just yet in the classes and placed the small boy against either of the blue belts but he couldn't be sure if they had outside of the lessons or not.
Today the rather large studio was filled with not only his students but an official from the judging board to give belts out as they earned them, parents and family members, two of his purple-belt students from the other class for Blaise and Marcus to face and then his brother,
Hunter had arrived the day before very critical about his words on young Harry nut now his brother was staring at the small thirteen year old almost hungrily. He'd been reluctant to let Blaise switch from the Italian studio to this one and Chase accepted that they might be one and the same in contest and name but they constantly tested their students against the sister one studio when they could.
A friendly test to see who the best teacher was.
"He's mine Hunter," Chase whispered in his brother's ear making the older man of 27 jump and cuss out loud, earning disapproving looks from the mothers in the room. "Now, today is the last lesson before Christmas. Is there anyone who wishes to try to earn their next belt?"
All of them nodded. These chances only came about four times a year – March, June, September and December. Once every three months – it was ample time to reach the next level if they put the time and effort in.
Techniqually you could reach black belt within six months and Chase didn't have a doubt that Harry Potter would. Brown belt at least! With him there Marcus and Blaise would probably push themselves as well – though he had a feeling they weren't ready just yet to move up to Purple.
The largest jump that he'd seen was from White to Green – it often happened that way because of past/previous experience that hadn't been official or because of natural talent in karate.
"We'll start with the blue belts," Alan said stepping out of the corner; Chase gave the judge/official a welcoming smile and a slight nod. "You shall be facing someone from the next band."
"Yes sir." Both boys shouted.
Chase could only watch as Blaise and Marcus did they best to defeat their opponent only losing each by the smallest amount. He could see their disappointment but not too much – once they were done he walked over and whispered that they would get it next time if they worked hard enough.
Blaise Zabini – Blue
Marcus Turner – Blue
Natalie Junes – Blue
Francis Kai – Green
Carl Green – Orange
Jasmine Quinn – Yellow
Ann Peterson – Orange
Benjamin Stones – Orange
Harry Potter –
Finally it was the one he had been anxious to watch all day and clearly everyone else in the class had as well since they had stuck around to watch, despite family protests that they wanted to go and celebrate.
"Harry against Jasmine," Chase instructed nodding to the centre of the mats that was the reason they did this way – if that person would go to the next level it wasn't fair on those below them being tested.
Young Harry took a deep breath before jumping easily to his feet from where he had been sat on his knees at the edge between Blaise and Marcus; it was one fluent move that even Chase wasn't able to pull off.
The youngest Wizard in the room was wearing the white tournament-style karate gi as he was told to do so during their last lesson. With Hunter visiting his brother had wanted to see how it looked personally and not just in a photography.
Even within this first month the child had built himself up a bit – still too thin but the signs of previously malnutrition were all but gone. His thin slightly-toned arms were now practically solid muscle instead of mostly skin and bone – hell he even looked happier than when Chase had first met him! Clearly his life hadn't been as good as it was now, the sensei was just glad to play a part in that no matter how big or small.
"Harry vs. Carl." Chase barked out hiding the pleased smile when Harry beat his opponent within the first minute if not less. He turned to glance at Hunter who was watching intently, then to the boys aunt and cousin who looked especially proud when he was able to beat Francis too.
"Would you like to go for Green Belt?" Alan asked looking at Harry knowingly, the boy who was breathing slightly heavy nodded instantly – Alan shot Chase a look that clearly asked if the boy was ready.
"Harry vs. Francis."
Once again Harry was on the floor bowing to them and the audience before his opponent who looked rather nervous. Ever since two weeks before on their trip to Morecambe the pair had been working together in the lessons, Chase wasn't too sure if they knew each other outside of class however.
Carl took the first move and Harry blocked the hit easily before reacting with his own move, that Carl managed to block but only just – it all ended when Harry managed to get a kick to the stomach of the older boy,
"Harry vs. Blaise," Chase ordered before Alan could even say anything this time, Blaise was one of the most experienced students here not to mention the eldest – Hunter shot him an incredulous look, "They train together brother. I honestly have only taught Harry for the past month in normal lesson time – Blaise and Harry don't attend school,"
"They spend most of the time like this," Bethany Zabini, Blaise' cousin, added hearing them from the other side of the room – her attention never wavering from the pair who looked pretty evenly match.
Which was just shocking since Harry had just fought three others by this point whilst Blaise had only faced one opponent at the very start over an hour ago. Watching was like seeing a deadly dance, deadly but graceful, in action. They seemed to be perfect partners, always able to predict the others move and get out of the way before the other was able to strike – Chase had to wonder if it was something to do with magic. That was the reason he had Harry facing Blaise instead of Marcus.
It was a half-an-hour later that Harry finally managed to catch Blaise off guard and knock him to the ground after another of his round-house kicks that he seemed to be so good at but rarely used.
Well that had to be a new record – White to Blue belt within a month of starting to train in the arts.