When Harry arrived at greenhouse three, Ginny was again saving him a seat. She was already working on harvesting some large brownish pods from a particularly ugly and aggressive plant. Harry pulled on his gloves and started to help immediately. As he did, he told her about the conversation he'd just had with McGonagall.
"So, we can now get into each other's room but Ron and Hermione still can't?" Ginny whispered, "Ron'll be pleased. We have to keep it a secret. The first time he sees one of us go into the other's room he will try again and end up flat on his arse like before. That is an image I can't get enough of." Harry grinned at her and agreed not to say anything even though he felt a little bad for Ron.
"What are you two whispering about over there?" Ron hissed across the table from where he and Hermione were harvesting their plant.
"Nothing," they said in unison.
Ron rolled his eyes at them and said, "More alike every day"
When Herbology was dismissed, they went into the Great Hall for lunch. Ron and Hermione sat across the table from Harry and Ginny and they compared schedules.
"I'm done for the day." Ron said cheerfully, "How about you lot?"
"I'm done too," Ginny said.
"I just have Muggle Studies," Hermione said, checking her schedule.
"I have my first auror training," Harry said.
"Who is your instructor for that?" Hermione asked with interest.
"I have no idea," Harry said.
"Is it in a classroom?" Ron asked.
"I don't know," Harry replied.
"What do you do in auror training anyway?" Ginny asked.
"Haven't a clue," Harry said, "But I imagine that it has something to do with training me to be an auror."
"Ha ha smarty pants," Ginny said as she swatted his arm playfully.
"So you know nothing about this training?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," Harry agreed, "I figured if something doesn't become apparent I will go ask McGonagall what I'm missing."
"Can we have a Head meeting later tonight?" Hermione asked changing the subject, "We need to start working on the patrol schedule for the next month and decide when we want to schedule the first Hogsmeade trip for." The other three nodded in agreement as they chewed their sandwiches.
With a mouth still full of food Ron asked, "When are you two planning to hold Quidditch tryouts?"
"Charming Ronald," Hermione scolded.
"Maybe this weekend?" Harry asked Ginny.
"Maybe," Ginny agreed.
"Potter," a familiar voice called from across the hall.
Harry spun around and saw Noah walking up the aisle between the tables carrying a large bag over his shoulder. "Noah, what are you doing here?"
"I'm your instructor, for today at least," Noah said as he settled in the empty seat on the other side of Harry and began filling a plate with sandwiches. "Finish your lunch and then we'll get started."
Harry introduced Ron and Hermione to Noah before returning to his sandwich. Noah said hello to Ginny as well and congratulated her on their engagement. The five of them ate in silence until Neville settled into the seat beside Ron.
"Hi Neville," Ginny said, "Great job in Defense class today, your lion patronus is very impressive."
"Thanks Ginny," Neville replied happily, "I can't believe that I finally cast a patronus. Harry you're a great teacher."
"Thanks Neville," Harry said.
"Teacher?" Noah asked.
"Neville," Harry interrupted, "This is Noah Irvine. He is also an auror and is here today to start me on my auror training."
The two shook hands across the table before Noah asked again, "Harry, a teacher?"
"Harry is the professor for the seventh year Defense Against the Dark Arts class," Hermione explained, "They couldn't get anyone to take the class full time so six of the teachers and Harry are all teaching a year."
"Impressive," Noah said, "I am constantly learning surprising things about you Potter, any other secrets I should know about?"
"It wasn't a secret," Harry said, "I just didn't mention it before."
"So, your first day as a teacher and you covered the patronus charm?" Noah asked, "Very ambitious of you."
"Not really," Hermione said, "Back in our fifth year Harry headed up a group called Dumbledore's Army to help teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to fellow students because Umbridge was our professor that year and didn't allow us to learn more than the theory behind the spells. A lot of us learned the patronus charm back then. Today in class a girl who wasn't in DA with us but knew about Harry teaching all of us the charm asked to learn it too,"
"What had you planned to cover in your first lesson?" Noah asked.
"I didn't have a plan," Harry said, "I decided to run my class like I ran the DA, whatever people wanted or needed to learn I would teach them."
"You were teaching fellow students how to do the patronus charm in your fifth year? Wow. How old were you when you learned how to do it?" Noah asked.
"Professor Lupin taught it to me third year to ward off the dementors that were stationed around the school then," Harry said.
"I struggled with casting a patronus until my first day of auror training," Noah confessed, "Yet here I am today intending for your first lesson to be some pointers on casting a patronus and using it to deliver messages."
"But you already knew I could do that," Harry said, "I did both those things on the missions we were out on together."
"I know but I figured that as young as you are you might do with some extra tips and refining," Noah said with a smile, "You are going to make me feel like a rubbish teacher. Do you have to be good at everything?"
Ron chuckled and said, "Try being his best mate, that'll make you feel like less than nothing and that's on a good day."
Harry scowled at Ron before rising from the table and asking, "Ready, Noah?"
Noah rose from the table as well and asked, "Does he always get this testy when you discuss how talented he is?"
"Yes," they all chorused in unison.
Noah laughed and waved to them as he followed Harry out of the hall.
"Where to?" Harry asked when Noah caught up with him in the entryway.
"The Quidditch locker rooms," Noah said.
Harry hadn't expected that answer but rather than questioning it headed out of the front doors and said, "Thanks for helping me yesterday with Reed. I hope you didn't have to sit through much more of that after Kingsley sprung me."
Noah grinned and said, "No problem, I've learned all the right responses when it comes to Reed's lectures over the last couple months. Kingsley came and sprung me too after a bit, pretending to need some extra explanation on one of my mission reports."
"Kingsley is the man," Harry said.
Noah nodded and asked, "So, you're an auror, a professor, Head Boy…anything else?"
"Co-Quidditch captain," Harry said.
"Seriously?" Noah exclaimed, "What aren't you good at? Wait, co-captain?"
"I was captain my sixth year but someone else was last year while I was out hunting horcruxes. We both have a claim to the position and so I suggested we share it," Harry said with a shrug.
"Who is it?" Noah asked.
"Ginny," Harry said with a smile, already anticipating what Noah's response would be.
"No way," he said with a laugh, "Are you guys any good?"
"We won the cup my sixth year," Harry said, "Ginny is the best player I've ever seen here at Hogwarts. If she doesn't end up playing professionally I'll be surprised."
"I'll have to come watch a game sometime," Noah said.
By this time, they had reached the Gryffindor locker room. Noah set his duffle bag on one of the benches and from it pulled a smaller duffle bag with 'Potter' emblazoned on the side and handed it to Harry, "Your training gear."
"Gear?" Harry asked, "For what? Can you explain to me what happens in auror training? I honestly have no idea."
"There are two parts," Noah said, "Mental and Physical. The mental part deals with teaching you all the rules, regulations and protocol in the handbooks as well as all the magical knowledge you will use as an auror. The Physical part deals with getting you into prime physical condition."
"I thought I was already in pretty good physical condition," Harry said, "Why do I need to be in prime physical condition."
"Aurors need to be prepared for the possibility that they will need to rely on their on own personal strength, stamina and speed to get them out of a situation should they find themselves without their wand," Noah said, "Not to mention that being in top physical condition could be the one thing that gives us an edge over our target."
"Does that happen often?" Harry asked, "Finding oneself without their wand, I mean."
"No," Noah said, "Never the less, the physical training is very important. Each lesson you have will include some of both mental and physical training. The gear is for the physical part. Get changed."
From the bag Harry pulled a black and silver uniform that reminded him of what the muggle football players wore in Dean's poster in their old dorm. There were other items in the bag but as Noah was nearly changed into an identical uniform Harry didn't take time to sift through the rest of it now. He quickly changed into the uniform and pulled the black trainers he also found in the bag onto his feet. He mimicked the stretches that Noah was doing and was horribly reminded of games during his days of muggle education.
"Ready, Potter?" Noah asked with a grin. Harry nodded and Noah added, "Just try to keep up with me."
Harry slid his wand into the long narrow built in pocket along the right thigh of his uniform shorts and jogged out of the locker room after Noah. Harry had no difficulties keeping up with Noah as they jogged twice around the Quidditch pitch. As they neared the point where they had started Noah veered off toward the lake and increased the speed considerably. Harry fell a few paces behind almost at once and it didn't take long until he had a stitch in his side and his lungs felt like they were on fire.
Ahead of him he heard Noah chuckle, "Keep up Potter."
Harry pushed himself to close the gap between himself and Noah and tried to remember if there were any tricks to running from his days in games. Remembering something about breathing deeply and evenly through only his nose registered and he tried that. His breathing came easier and eventually the stitch subsided too. As they reached the lake Harry had nearly closed the gap just in time to screech to a halt to avoid running into Noah, who had stopped beside the lake. Harry watched in surprise as Noah removed his trainers and socks before running into the lake, "Coming Potter?" Noah yelled back to him. Harry quickly removed his trainers and socks as well and splashed out into the chilly water. Having no time to hesitate he dove into the water and swam to the best of his ability behind Noah. Harry had never learned how to swim properly but ever since swimming to the bottom of the lake with the help of gilly weed back in fourth year he had kind of a natural ability. When they reached the dead center of the lake Noah stopped and began treading water.
"What are we doing?" Harry asked.
"Treading water," Noah said.
"I get that, but why?" Harry asked.
"Part of the regimen," Noah explained, "Ten minutes of treading and we can head back to shore. Then we run back to the Quidditch pitch and work on some other training exercises."
"Are we doing any mental training today?" Harry asked.
"We were going to work on the patronus charm but you ruined that for me," Noah said, "I will probably have you cast your patronus for me and we'll call it good. Then I'll want you to study the handbooks before your next auror lesson in two days. There will be a quiz on the first two chapters of the rules."
When Harry followed Noah out of the lake twenty minutes later he saw Ron and Ginny sitting under a tree many yards away. They waved and Ron yelled, "What are you doing?"
"Training," Harry yelled back as he quickly tried to pull his socks and trainers back onto his wet feet and keep up with Noah who was already running back toward the Quidditch pitch.
When they finally arrived back at the pitch Harry was out of breath. He sprawled on the grass next to where Noah was standing. "Well, you kept up with me better than I expected you to Potter. Well done," he said.
"I have to do this every class?" Harry gasped.
"Yes, but it will vary depending on who is here to work with you," Noah said, "It won't always be me."
"Are you harder or easier than the others?" Harry asked anxiously.
"Harder than most, I think." Noah said, "Why don't you run to the other end of the pitch and send me a message via your patronus."
Slowly Harry got back to his feet and lazily jogged to the other end of the field. Once there he thought of a happy memory and sent his patronus across the field to Noah. He knew when the message had been received because Noah burst out laughing. Harry jogged back and when he was within ear shot Noah said, "I hate you too. Just wait until no one but Reed is available to come; I think he is toughest of all."
Noah gave Harry a few more minutes to catch his breath and drink some water before asking, "Have you ever fenced before?"
"I think we did a unit on it in games when I was ten," Harry said, "So, technically yes, but you might as well explain it to me as if I haven't."
"Alright," Noah said, "We are going to be fencing with foils, or swords. Fencing is an excellent exercise in agility and coordination. Our swords have a protective tip; the aim is not to hurt one another, just to touch each other with the tip of the sword. When fencing with a foil your touches can only occur on the trunk of the body, collar bone down to the groin. One bout of fencing, or a round, lasts for nine minutes. In those nine minutes you want to be the first to touch your opponent with your sword fifteen times. Before the bout I will say, 'en garde,' and that is like, 'get ready,' then when I say, 'allez,' we begin. If there is a foul I will say, 'halt,' and you must stop."
"What constitutes a foul?" Harry asked.
"Let's head back into the locker room and I will explain them as we change into our fencing costumes," Noah said.
Ten minutes later they emerged both in white costumes including a mask, gloves and undervest. Noah had explained the fouls and they were ready to begin. Harry noticed as he took his mark on one of the lines Noah had put down on the field that Ron and Ginny were now sitting high above them in the Quidditch stands watching them. Harry lowered his mask and waited for his cue as Noah set a small clock to mark nine minutes.
"En garde," Noah said as he also toed his line, then, "Allez."
Each moved forward and raised their foil to strike. Noah's sword swooshed quickly toward Harry's chest but he blocked it with his own sword. As Noah swung his foil around to strike again Harry jabbed at Noah's chest but was also blocked. Harry found the sound of the clashing swords immensely satisfying. He was pleased that he seemed to have a knack for it as he leapt out of the way of Noah's sword and prepared to jab back. It was over two minutes into the match when Noah's foil finally managed to touch a spot on high on Harry's chest. "That's one Potter," Noah cried joyously as he moved deftly to avoid Harry's return jab.
Less than thirty seconds after Noah's first touch Harry got his and said, "One, all." The two continued to weave and bob around each other jabbing and blocking the strikes of their opponent. The rush of adrenaline that was coursing through Harry's body was nearly as good as the one he got from playing Quidditch.
When the nine minutes were up Noah had only scored seven touches and Harry six. From where they sat Ron and Ginny applauded. "Potter," Noah said, barely out of breath, "You are much better at that than I expected you to be. Especially if the only experience you ever had with it was eight years ago."
"Thanks," Harry said, "That was fun."
"Want to go again?" Noah asked.
"Absolutely," Harry grinned.
"I went a little easy on you the first time," Noah said, "This time I'm going full throttle."
"Bring it on," Harry said.
The second bout was more intense, but it just made it even more enjoyable, as far as Harry was concerned. Noah reached fifteen touches after just eight minutes but Harry wasn't far behind with twelve and insisted that they go one more bout. Harry pulled ahead easily in the third bout and won with fifteen touches after just seven minutes when Noah only had nine touches.
"Seriously Potter," Noah said, the most out of breath Harry had seen him all day, "Why do you have to be good at everything?"
"I'm not," Harry countered, "I'm rubbish at divination."
Noah laughed loudly and said, "Was that the first thing to pop into your head?"
"Pretty much," Harry grinned back, "I'm also pretty lousy at potions."
"You seem to excel at everything athletic though," Noah said, "Which is a bonus in this line of work."
"What's next?" Harry asked.
"We're done," Noah laughed, "You wore me out. If you still have energy though, maybe you should run around the pitch a few more times."
"Nah," Harry said, "I'm done in too, just putting on a tough face. I want nothing more than to take a shower and a nap."
"Lucky," Noah said, "I have to go back to the ministry and write a report about how training is going with you."
"Will you be back in two days?" Harry asked.
"Unofficially I have been named your main trainer. To have some consistency to your training I will always be the one to come if I'm not out on a mission. But they aren't going to keep me off missions just to be available to train you," Noah explained, "So, we'll see."
"Any particular reason why you were named my main trainer?" Harry asked.
"I requested it," Noah said.
"Really?" Harry asked, stunned.
"Are you kidding, we were all fighting over who would get this assignment. Everyone wanted to be Potter's trainer," Noah revealed, "I think I got it because Reed and Kingsley have seen how well we work together on a mission and it makes sense for someone who you work well with and will probably work a lot with in the future to spend time training you."
"Makes sense," Harry agreed.
"I do have my own personal reason for wanting to do this though," Noah added.
"Yeah?" Harry replied, sure that it would have something to do with Harry having saved his life twice before and this being the only way he could think of to repay him.
"I've come to think of you as a friend," Noah said simply.
Harry smiled, the hard-arse auror who had been so sure that Harry would be a liability to the team just called him a friend, "Me too," he replied.
Back in the locker room Harry removed his fencing costume and jammed it into the duffle bag. He piled his school robes, shirt, tie and trousers on top of that and slung it over his shoulder. He picked up his extra pair of shoes, foil and mask and headed back toward the school with Noah who was planning to use the showers at the ministry when he apparated back there. As they approached the front door Harry could see Ron and Ginny waiting for him on the front steps.
"I'm off then" Noah said as he started to head toward the gates, "I'll maybe see you later this week; good work today Harry."
"Thanks Noah," Harry replied as he waved.
Noah waved to Ron and Ginny before he started jogging toward the gates to disapparate. Ron and Ginny came down the steps and took some of what he was carrying from him and led him back toward their dorm.
"What was all that?" Ron asked, "I thought you were going to be learning all sorts of spells and stuff to be an auror, not bloody running around."
"There is going to be both mental and physical training," Harry explained, "You witnessed the physical. Aurors have to be in peak physical condition to give us an edge over our target."
"What was the mental part you learned today then?" Ginny asked.
Harry grinned and said, "He was going to give me some tips and tricks to casting a patronus."
The three of them laughed heartily at this as they filed through the door into Ron and Harry's dorm. Harry dumped his duffle bag and clothing onto his bed. He took the mask and foil from Ginny and hung them on a hook on the back of his door. Removing his trainers he moved to close his bedroom door saying, "I need a shower."
Ginny blocked the door's progress and said, "Just a moment, I'm not quite done ogling you in this uniform yet."
A smirk appeared on Harry's lips as he took her hand in his own and pulled her to him, "By all means, let me give you a closer look then."
Ron's groan of disgust was cut short when Harry pulled Ginny into his bedroom, "Hey," he said, "How did you do that?"
Ginny's eyes brightened with excitement before saying, "I don't know, go see if you can get into Hermione's room."
As Ron opened the panel and jogged into the girls' dorm Ginny followed. Harry settled on his bed where he began to remove his socks. He heard the thud of Ron hitting the barrier and then the floor before hearing Ginny's laughter. Ron yelled something that was unintelligible from this distance. Ginny's laughter grew louder and a moment later she reappeared in his door way and pulled his door shut behind her. "That was mean," Harry said.
"I know," Ginny said mischievously, "But you don't understand, you didn't grow up with six older brothers, you get them back with any chances you are given."
Harry shrugged and pulled her back toward him, "So you like my training gear?"
Ginny nodded as she took in the way the sleek black material hugged his body leaving both arms and legs mostly bare. "It looked ever better when it was plastered to you after you came out of the lake," she whispered as her hands began running up his arms to his shoulders and chest.
Harry kissed her lips lightly before saying, "Do you know how hard you make it sometimes for me not to just throw you down and take you right now?"
Ginny groaned a little as their mouths reconnected and she moved her hands to his thighs. She slipped her hands beneath the silky material up his naked thighs. One finger slipped beneath the hem of his boxer shorts and brushed against his hardness.
"Merlin, Ginny," Harry choked, "That's not helping. I need to go take a shower, now." He rose from his seated position on the bed and escorted her to the door. He opened it and pushed her through it. Before thinking twice he shut the door behind her and locked it. He groaned in frustration as he grabbed a towel and opened the door that led from his room directly into the bathroom. He thought he heard her laughing outside his door and scowled slightly as he turned the shower on.
He stepped into the warm spray and for a moment just let the warm water wash the sweaty residue left over from training off his skin. He shampooed his hair before deciding that he was going to have to take things into his own hands. He built up a lather of soap in his hands before moving them downward. He stroked himself to climax as he thought about her body and all the wonderful things they would do once they were married. It was times like this that he wondered why they were waiting. But once he was finished and the blood was returning to his brain he remembered that they had agreed to wait and three months wasn't that long. He scrubbed and rinsed his body before turning the water off. He wrapped a towel around his waist before combing his hair and brushing his teeth in front of the mirror.
Once dressed again in his shirt, trousers, tie and school robes he padded barefoot, with socks in hands, through the panel to outside Ginny's room. He knocked and called, "Ginny?" A moment later after receiving no response he tried the door knob. The door opened and revealed that Ginny wasn't inside. Feeling remorseful for hurrying her out of his room so quickly before, he went back to his own dorm and lay down on the bed. He would just rest for a minute or two before going to find her. Maybe she had gone to dinner already, he thought as he let his eyes slid closed, it was starting in just a few minutes.
"Harry," Ginny said as she ran her hand along his cheek, "Wake up Harry."
"What?" He asked as he sat up, confused, "What's going on?"
"You must have fallen asleep after your shower," Ginny explained.
"I came to find you to say I was sorry but you were gone," Harry said, remembering, "Where did you go?"
"Luna contacted me on my mirror with a problem," Ginny said, "Some little Ravenclaw fourth year tried to hex off her acne. Luna couldn't get her to come out of the bathroom so she could escort her down to Madame Pomfrey. When I came back I found you here asleep."
"I was just going to rest for a minute before coming to find you," Harry said.
Ginny smiled softly at him and said, "I'd be tired if I was you too."
"I'm sorry about before," Harry said sheepishly, "When I pushed you out of here."
Ginny blushed and said, "That's okay, it was my own fault for touching you like that."
"It is just too much if we are going to last for another three months," Harry said blushing slightly too as he remembered his resulting wank in the shower.
"I understand, completely," Ginny said, "I'm sorry. It is kind of intoxicating knowing that I have that kind of power though."
"You have no idea, Gin. That one little touch led me to…you know, in the shower," Harry confessed, blushing furiously.
"Touching yourself," Ginny supplied with a satisfied smirk.
"Yeah," Harry said.
"Don't be embarrassed," Ginny said, "It makes me feel better. I took matters into my own hands the morning of your second mission when I was having those dreams."
"Really?" Harry asked, feeling his body react as he tried to picture it.
"Really," Ginny whispered as her lips moved toward his. She kissed him gently then asked, "Dinner?"
As they walked hand in hand to the Great Hall Ginny turned to him and said, "So Dean apologized to me today for being an idiot. What did you say to him?"
"I just asked him why he was so angry," Harry said, "He admitted that while a part of him is still in love with you he always knew that the two of you wouldn't work out because of how you looked at me."
"So what was all of his anger about?" Ginny asked.
"He said the last good times in his life were when he was dating you. After that everything started to fall apart. He got it in his head that if he got back with you things might go back to how they used to be," Harry said, "I told him that we are all struggling with everything that has happened and it will take us some time to heal and get back to normal. He seemed to feel better after that."
"He's really okay with us then?" Ginny asked.
"I think so, he swore he would leave us alone from now on," Harry said.
Ginny sighed and said, "Poor Dean. But thank goodness you talked to him; that was the last thing we needed to deal with right now. Hopefully we can all be friends again eventually."
"Yeah," Harry agreed, "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Ginny said, "Anything."
"Why didn't you tell me that your patronus changed?" Harry asked.
Ginny sighed and said, "Don't take this the wrong way but it kind of embarrassed me. I know it is really rare and means that I really and truly love you; but it also kind of made me feel like I wasn't my own person. That the thing that defines me the most is that I love you and that bugged the very independent part of me."
"Well, I think it is amazing," Harry said, "And I have no intention of forgetting all the wonderful things that make you who you are, you know that."
"I do, which is why I decided not to let it bother me," Ginny said, "I think it changed when I thought you were dead. While I was devastated and horrified I was already promising myself that I would never ever forget you and so my patronus changed to always remind me of you."
"You are amazing and I love you," Harry said as the entered the Great Hall.
The rest of the evening was busy. After dinner Hermione conducted a Head meeting in their study area before they all moved onto their homework. Then as they all prepared to head off to bed Hermione asked Harry and Ginny why they could get into each other's room but she and Ron still couldn't. Unsure if what Headmistress McGonagall had told him was a secret or not he invited her to ask McGonagall herself. He could tell by the expression on her face that there was no way she would be asking that question. Once in his pajamas Harry headed through the panel and let himself into Ginny's room. She was sitting on her bed in her nightgown knitting on a sock.
"So, good first day back?" Harry asked as he settled beside her.
"Excellent first day back," Ginny said with a smile.
"Mine too," Harry agreed.
Author's Note: Thanks to my beta lessxthan3maggie for taking the time to read this and deal with my utter impatience – she is a saint.
So, there it is…their first day back. Let me know what you thought. And if there are things you want to see. I am going to ramp up the pace of this for a while at least. What things from school do you want to see so I don't skip over them? I have some ideas in the works that I'm looking forward to writing but as always I love to hear from all of you! Do you like the friendship forming between Harry and Noah? No worries – he will never replace Ron.
Thanks to everyone who had a suggestion for Neville's patronus. Lion was the most suggested…and to think that one wasn't on my list. It trumped my best idea though by a mile. Thanks again!!
Anyway, thanks for reading – please review, it spurs me to get the next chapter out that much more quickly!
Best,
Tinkerbell