A/N: Sorry for the previous confusion in the pairings.
Warnings: AU after GoF. Pairing: Harry/Sally-Anne. This fic has many parts and any romance involved won't come along until much later in the story.
Rated: M for violence, language, adult content, original characters
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or concepts of the Harry Potter verse. All rights belong to proper owners and no profit is made from this writing.
Summary: With the Ministry of Magic against him and Voldemort seeking his death, Harry Potter knew his only hope was to leave everything he had come to love and seek sanctuary in another land.
What he found went beyond anything he could have imagined.
What he found would help him win a war.
10
Naked
The alarm charm awakened an unhappy teenager at five on Monday morning.
As Evan took in the glimpse of darkened sky revealed from his window, he had to resist the urge to roll over and stuff a pillow down on his head to block out its annoying tones. Instead, he reached over to the stand by his bed and used his wand to cancel the persistent noise.
The night before ended a lot later than he had intended. After the opening feast, students retired to their Houses for the remainder of the evening. It was there he and Alexei were introduced to the rest of the Intermediate students of their year.
Valerian Fournier was from France, a muggle-born from just outside Paris to be precise, whose mother was a French model and father worked in the publishing world. He was wealthy, conceited and handsome, standing at a height of almost six feet with blond hair and grey eyes. Of which he was quick to assure them he was quite aware. In short, he was the muggle-born version of Draco Malfoy without the prejudice.
Evan found it hilarious. Alexei, not so much, as soon as he figured out why Evan couldn't stop cackling like a hyena for two minutes straight.
Valerian was the only other student besides Marisol who wasn't originally from the village.
Quanna Maguire had skin the color of warm caramel, hazel eyes, and black hair worn shorn low and curly. Her father was a farmer who was born in Swansea but had traveled to MacKay, Queensland on business where he met her mother, an Aboriginal witch. Quanna was an avid rider and president of the riding club and had invited them to come see what they were about next week.
At hearing he had only ever ridden a hippogriff, she jokingly pronounced him her best friend. The others thought it hilarious because it was the one animal she hadn't managed to ride here at Valmont.
Ellis Llewellyn's family owned one of the most prosperous farms of Swansea, having the major contract with Valmont to supply all of their livestock products. He had an older brother who was Apprenticing under the Charms Master here at Valmont and a little sister who just started this year as a Novice. Ellis was a little conceited but Evan was familiar with middle child syndrome, given Ron was his best friend. So he paid the teen little attention.
Owen Pritchard, a quiet unassuming boy with dark hair and eyes, was closely related to the ruling Lord and Lady of Swansea. He didn't have much to say but when he did the others listened. Owen had the highest marks in most of their classes and ran the study group here in their common room on Mondays, Thursdays and occasional Fridays and Saturdays when exams were coming up.
The biggest surprise of the evening was when Sally-Anne Perks stood from where she had been partially concealed by shadows and the large chair she sat in by the fireplace. Obviously she had matured since the last time Evan remembered seeing her. Hair the color of rich dark chocolate was pinned up but tendrils had escaped to frame her face and against her nape. The black velvet of her medieval dress heightened the way that shock drained the color from her skin.
She had taken one look at them and barely stuttered out her name. It was then he knew that she had recognized them. The disguises might work on strangers but they were fellow students with Sally-Anne for an entire year. Factor in his infamy as The-Boy-Who-Lived and Alexei's Malfoy heritage, her discovery was inconvenient but not necessarily unexpected.
Sally-Anne had been one of the mysteries of Gryffindor at the start of second year. Evan could remember she had been sorted right before him and into Gryffindor. As he had his own troubles and adventures that first year, he hadn't paid much attention to the dark haired girl who lived in the girls dorms with Hermione. Frankly, he hadn't paid much attention to any of the girls in their year during that time.
It was only when it was mentioned near the start of the next year that Sally-Anne was missing that anyone paid attention. The mystery lasted until the whole Chamber of Secrets fiasco began. Afterwards, it was simply assumed that she either went to a different school or her family just couldn't afford to send her back to Hogwarts for another year.
The last thing he expected was to have her show up here. Sally-Anne revealed was originally from Swansea. Yet for some reason she had chosen to go to Hogwarts and was now back home attending Valmont. He had to wonder if Dumbledore knew she was here. Her family owned the Toss It Back tavern and invited them all down on Friday night when there would be live music and free food and drinks for her classmates just as they had each year she attended.
It turned out that they all had pretty much the same class schedules. Arithmancy was offered in the evenings on the same day as those who weren't in Divination. Unfortunately for him, none of them were in Divination. He would still need to be tested by the Professor for admittance to her class but Evan thought he would be struggling through Arithmancy as well as Ancient Runes soon enough.
It was long past midnight by the time he went to bed and that's why he was in desperate need of rolling over to go back to sleep here at five and not preparing to clean stables.
It's not that he wasn't accustomed to doing chores, most of his life at the Dursleys had been dedicated to some task he had to finish with the threat of punishment looming over his head. He had simply come to separate that part of his life from Hogwarts over the last years. Not only would his two worlds merge, they would do so at an uncomfortable hour of the morning. He couldn't imagine getting up at this Merlin forsaken hour for the next year. It would be worse when it was time to revise for OWLS.
For the first time he could be grateful to the Dursleys for something, at least his body had learned to function without total brain activity years ago.
Before he was fully aware, he had slipped into an old faded pair of jeans and an old long sleeved t-shirt and his oldest shoes. He hadn't intended to keep the remainders of Dudley's old castoffs but If the others were correct, they would be in the stables three times a week. The girls would be in the greenhouses. They all would have kitchen duty during lunch hour. It was an ideal schedule because it left their afternoons and evenings free.
The night before, Alexei asked what he should wear and Evan had told him to pick something old that he would not mind if it was ruined by dirt and wear. Though Evan couldn't imagine what that translated to in Alexei's wardrobe.
He tapped on the other's door and surprisingly the former Slytherin opened it and was ready to go. "Morning," Alexei drawled sleepily.
"Morning." He swallowed before cautiously asking, "You're wearing that shirt?"
The heavy trousers were okay, as he couldn't imagine Alexei having a pair of denims in his expansive collection of clothes. Even the boots were fine. They were better than what he wore but were sturdy and looked comfortable which was most important. He just knew from experience that the long sleeved button shirt would ruined be when they started working.
"You said something old," Alexei told him.
"Wait a minute."
He rushed back to his room and returned with another t-shirt like his, in a dark green. Alexei wasn't much taller, but Evan was broader through the shoulders so the shirt should fit. "You can wear this and save that shirt for this afternoon during kitchen chores."
Alexei looked at the t-shirt for a long time, as if he wasn't sure he wanted to touch something that a muggle created. This really was a make or break moment between them. Alexei said he would keep an open mind and this was the time to see if he was being truthful.
Merlin, it was too early for such deep thinking.
As he started to pull away, Alexei reached out to snatch it from his hand. They stood that way for a long time, a simple green t-shirt stretched between them, eyes connected as perhaps they each understood something important was occurring. Teaching Alexei to reach beyond the prejudices of his childhood wouldn't be easy. It would have been impossible if Alexei wasn't willing.
This was such a tentative truce, with each slipping into the personas created for their year of schooling here at Valmont. The past was never far away, always ready to leap forward and remind them of the fights and harsh words shouted at each other. Evan opened his fingers.
In this moment, Potter and Malfoy slipped away and became Evan and Alexei. Perhaps he could learn to trust Alexei Prince. The Alexei who had turned aside a lifetime of beliefs and proved he was willing to try. That's all Evan could ever ask for, really.
Hermione and Ron would never understand his willingness to extend Alexei a hand in friendship. They would insist he didn't deserve a chance for redemption. Hurtful words aside, and being a menace, nothing Alexei had done was near the cruelty of a Death Eater. He had faced Death Eaters and this boy wasn't a Death Eater. He was simply a product of his environment.
Slowly a grin curved his mouth, "Come on. We don't want to be late for our first day."
"Don't remind me," Alexei grimaced with disgust but he quickly shed his shirt for the other.
"It won't be horrible," he reminded the other. "Not easy but not horrible either. At least I hope."
"You Gryffindors do seem to have a lot of that."
"What?"
"Hope. Jumping in and hoping for the best? That's more your style."
"Well, you can scheme to do the least amount of work on your own time."
STS
Their assignment wasn't as bad as it could have been. Mucking out the stalls was strenuous and his muscles would be feeling the ache tomorrow. Feeding the animals was fun because he had the opportunity to see the vast array Valmont kept. Llewellyn told them this was only the first stable used mostly for equestrian animals. They would eventually work in all four.
There wasn't much opportunity for talking with their new classmates but when they did, it was just the usual joking around teenage boys got up to. A lot was aimed at Alexei but Valerian had commiserated. Before Valerian came to Valmont he hadn't done more than hang up a robe.
The time passed quickly and Alexei was good natured enough not to mind their humor at his expense. Evan had to admit, he expected Alexei to lose his temper at one point but he didn't. He did aim several well placed digs in return, proving there was still a lot of the old Slytherin there.
After a quick breakfast of hot porridge, rashers of bacon, warm buttery scones slavered with fruit preserves and glasses of cold milk, a very dirty Alexei followed him back to their rooms, so they could quickly shower and change into their uniforms for morning classes.
Their day started with a double of History of the World with Professor Randall, a portly wizard with graying hair and a cheerful disposition. It was obvious that he loved his subject, eagerly drawing the students into the discussion. Throughout the year they would be covering the events of the 17th and the early 18th century in both magical and muggle societies and if and how either were affected.
It promised to be very interesting. Evan knew the Statute of Secrecy went into effect in the 17th century as well as the Werewolf code of conduct but syllabus included events he hadn't heard of. What he really liked was that Professor Randall included the history of Quidditch in his lectures.
So Evan didn't mind when they were sent off with a report due the next week on Elfrida Clagg, the Chieftainess of the Warlock's Council and the contributions she made to their society.
Double HPH was next and Professor MacGregor was a nice enough witch. She had the no-nonsense attitude of Professor McGonagall but the energy of Professor Sprout. Their first project of the year would be on Chinese Chomping Cabbages. They would grow them, research it and the types of potions it is used in and eventually brew several potions using them.
Kitchen Duty that afternoon was pretty interesting, again due to Alexei's inexperience. After a brief quizzing, it was decided that Alexei would be responsible for chopping vegetables in set up, as there could be few mistakes made in such a simple chore. Alexei was understandably relieved.
"It isn't potions, Prince," Llewellyn said before clapping Alexei on the shoulder hard enough to jar his smooth knife movements. "It's just a lamb stew."
The kitchen ran like a well oiled machine and probably could have done so without their help. The Matron in charge, Madam Kerns, had six House Elves for helpers. Evidently, she planned the meals for the day and the Elves did a lot of the labor. The students did menial chores like Alexei with his vegetables and measuring, others did a lot of clean up, like Steffon who had proven the year before to be absolutely pants at anything that had to do with food and cooking. Some however were lucky enough to be included in the cooking process.
"So Mr. Hawthorne, have you any experience cooking?"
Alexei's eyes were instantly drawn to their discussion. Snape had called him so many names over the years, the Slytherins probably believed their head of house. He was tempted to lie and spend his time doing menial tasks with Alexei. It just wasn't worth the effort, as the truth had a way of coming out in the end.
"Yes, ma'am. I've cooked for my family for many years but nothing on this scale." Not even preparing food for the occasional dinner party was the same as cooking lunch for an entire school.
"Aye, tis a bit different cooking for a family, of how many now?"
"Four. Well, they loved their food, so probably best to say eight."
"Ah, a family with large appetites. You'll find it's all essentially the same. There are recipe cards over in each section of the kitchen. Misty keeps an eye on the stews while they're simmering."
There wasn't a normal stove but three huge cauldrons like pots that were probably even larger on the inside that were waiting for a flame.
"Binky, she's our youngest Brownie, takes care of our fruits and beverages. Trinket is in charge of slicing meat and cheeses for sandwiches. Nippy's group makes the bread, as there will be lots of that. Penny's charges are responsible for pudding. This afternoon we'll have an assortment of biscuits and fruit tarts. Cricket does the vegetables. Today will have some roasted roots."
"Roots?"
"Carrots, potatoes, parsnips and such," she explained. "Mashed peas and field greens round out the meal. It's not as much as the evening meal but generally enough to satisfy everyone."
The variety wasn't as expansive as Hogwarts but that didn't make it smell any less delicious. Valmont was a small school and such grand meals as were served at Hogwarts would have been wasteful here.
"Think you can handle a station?" She gave him a slow penetrating stare as if knowing if he told a lie.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'll start you with something simple then. Eventually you'll try your hand at them all. You'll work with Cricket today."
There wasn't much talking as the cooking wasn't easy as cleaning a stable. They were allowed to use magic on some things but not always. Evan could see where magic could be handy but a deft hand was always better.
They were allowed to join the others in the Hall near the end of lunch. Alexei actually looked a little proud that he had played a hand in creating the meal for everyone. It was a humbling experience that Evan didn't expect the other to appreciate this soon. Maybe Alexei's pride had taken enough knocks that morning that it knocked him off stride.
It also made him wonder how much of Malfoy from Hogwarts was real and how much a façade was put on to impress the other Slytherins and keep his father happy.
STS
Afternoon classes began with the Preparatory class that Headmistress Yvaine told them about. It was located on the first level in a room with a huge U-shaped table. In front of each chair was a small packet, as well as a place card with their name on it. The boys were situated on one side of the room with girls on the other. When everyone was seated, the Professors stood to introduce themselves.
"Good afternoon," the woman with short curly black hair spoke up, after she was standing behind her chair. There was nothing about her that stood out. Over all she was rather average in appearance, height and dress. So that didn't explain the strong authoritative presence she had.
"I am Professor Rousseau and this is Professor Pontecorvo, and we are here to instruct you on life skills and knowledge of the Wizarding world you will need to help you be successful. Our students here at Valmont are often the representatives of Swansea to the rest of the world. You will learn it is important to put forth a positive first and lasting impression."
Professor Pontecorvo was a tall well groomed man who had a substantial self-confident presence. Everything about him seemed to scream that he was comfortable with himself without having to be arrogant or posturing. From his neatly styled light brown hair and beard, to the classically tailored robes in navy.
"In this class we will be covering many subjects, from Wizarding and Muggle Laws and how they conflict and compliment each other, to personal growth skills and leadership development including time management, conflict resolution and problem solving skills." The rich timbre of Pontecorvo's voice revealed his Slavic heritage. "There are some subjects where the class will be divided for our ladies and gentlemen to receive instruction."
"Near the end of the year," Professor Rousseau took over. "There will be time available for individual instruction."
"You are at a critical time in your development. These are the years where you shape the adult you will grow to be. These are the years where you develop the proper habits and etiquette that guide you through not only Wizarding society but the Muggle one as well."
Professor Rousseau picked up the packet that was similar to the students, showing the cover page to the class. "This is your class syllabus. Here you find each topic we will cover over the course of the year. There will be no excuses, for being unprepared. A tentative schedule is also included but be aware that it is tentative. Some subjects may require more instruction than others."
"If you will open your packet to the first section: The Art of the Introduction."
By the time class ended, he felt like he had been rode hard and put away wet. He had no idea how important something as simple as a first impression could be. Not just in meeting people for the first time but how he was perceived by all around him. That wasn't even to mention the magical creatures that would be offended by so many things that humans took for granted.
Part of him knew this, look at how Hagrid had instructed them to greet a Hippogriff. Yet he really hadn't internalized the fact that other magical creatures and beings might require that same care and forethought.
Professor Pontecorvo had corrected his posture, his voice, his nervous habit of scratching the back of his head, everything. They had to learn when it was proper to maintain direct eye contact and when it wasn't. They had to learn when it was proper to extend a hand in a handshake, when it was appropriate to kiss a woman's hand and when it was best to simply bow.
Don't get him started on the bowing. There were head bows, and waist bows and partial bows and full bows. Most of all, they were expected to know the proper occasion for each.
Not even Alexei, who he had expected to be well skilled in all of this had been correct on every occasion. Professor Rousseau had pointed out several instances when he might appear to be insulting someone, not only with an incorrect greeting but his attitude as well.
It seemed Malfoy pretentiousness wasn't proper after all.
"There is a fine line between confident and conceited, Mr. Prince," she had warned Alexei. "Be heedful of which side of that line you stand on."
Homework was a short autobiography. Their names, a bit about their family, their favorite subjects even their aspirations for the future. There were to identify their positive attributes and the things they excelled in as well as those things that needed work and they weren't so good at. Finally they were to state who in their lives made the largest impression upon them, whether positive or negative and how he or she helped shaped their ideals and beliefs.
They would be tested on this Introduction theme during the Lord and Lady feast in the coming weeks. There would be the Royal family and other important citizens of Swansea and that included various races of magical beings that made Swansea their home.
No pressure there.
STS
The last class of the afternoon was a double of Transfiguration. Gratefully, they were right on track with the rest of the class. It seemed Professor McGonagall had taught them well. They were given an OWL revision guide for things they would need to be aware of for the Spring exams. A practice exam would be offered just before winter break so they would all know what they needed to pay more attention to and if they were on schedule for the OWLs.
What surprised him and Alexei was the final year project of a write-up on the animagus transformation with extra credit given for anyone who successfully completed the transformation.
Typically that type of transfiguration wasn't taught until NEWT years but the professor had been remarkably relaxed about the whole thing. The entire class was for that matter. He had to wonder what he was missing that everyone else seemed to know.
He and Alexei had looked knowingly at each other. This was project they would definitely strive to complete. It would be bloody useful to be an animagus with a war approaching.
11
Missing
Classes had ended for the summer and he and his best friend had rushed back to the Citadel excited about the lessons to come. He dragged Tynan to his father's private chambers, their laughter echoing through the hall . This was one of his favorite rooms. Large and decorated in black and blue with high vaulted ceilings and glass windows that stretched the length of the entire wall. The furnishings were heavy and masculine, and their air smelled of sandalwood and leather, scents he would always associate with being cuddled on his Da's lap as a child. Behind them was the royal standard, a noble cobalt and bore the symbol of a Wyvern in flight.
Two large doors parted in a section of the wall, making it look like it just folded back. They made a splendid couple his parents, Faelan's dark handsome strength and Imogene's golden beauty. His mother stepped forward enveloping him in a hug, then kissed both of his cheeks, "You've returned!" A smile of welcome spread across her face to include them both, "And you've brought Tynan. My, you've both grown so."
His father clasped his arm tightly and nodded once. His mouth curved with tenderness just a moment before he was pulled into a solid hug. "It's good to have you home, Son."
"It's good to be back. Thank you for allowing Tynan to join us during training, Da." He only wished he could have captured the look on his best friend's face when he had extended the invitation. It wasn't everyday that a student was invited to be trained under a Lord. They had been the best of friends almost from their first week at Valmont over five years ago and it was only natural to want to include Tynan.
His mother stepped forward and gave Tynan a hug, thoroughly disconcerting him and then kissed his cheek. "It's wonderful to see you again."
"Thank you for welcoming me into your home, Your Excellencies," Tynan bowed respectfully.
Imogene chuckled, waving away the formality. "Well, you are certainly welcome here in our home." Then she looped an arm through Evan's, leading them through the room. "Your sister is most upset with you, Hagan, though I'm sure you are aware."
"I played a small prank on Eamon!" Compared to some of his other pranks, this one was harmless. Eamon had even laughed at finding his bed in the stables with the livestock. To prove the joke had been in good humor, Hagan had restored Eamon's things right away. "Goodness, Mum, he took it better than she did." He hated the flicker of disappointment in her eyes, but she covered it well with a smile.
"Your sister cares for Eamon very much and the betrothal between them means a great deal to her, you know this Hagan. You should be more understanding of her worries."
"Eamon is just as excited," he grumbled, not liking the idea of his sister marrying anyone, even if Eamon was nice enough. "She doesn't have to worry about him trying to break the contract."
"Just the same, I believe an apology might smooth things over between you. Then we can have a pleasant summer." The look she gave him said he would be seeking forgiveness whether he liked it or not.
"Yes, Mum."
His father wrapped a sympathetic arm around his shoulder, and squeezed. He understood what it was like being trapped under the weight of offended women. "You should probably see Aricin as well."
"Has he been causing a rumpus again?"
"Well, you did leave him at home just after Beltane."
"He was injured!" He threw up his hands in defeat, knowing that it would have made no difference to the irritant in question.
There was a loud commotion out in the front yard before he could answer. Men started yelling and then came a loud earsplitting roar. Hagan shook his head. "Silly beast," he muttered and his father burst into laughter.
"I was trying to tell you," Faelan warned him but didn't bother to hide his amusement.
"Yes, I know. I should see Aricin." He watched his mother walk over to the window, mentally counted off the seconds before she started laughing at him. "It had not been so long since the last time I was home."
"You're the one who insisted on bonding with him. The only reason he remained here at the Citadel was because you ordered him to. Otherwise you know he would have found his way back to Valmont."
"And reinjured himself in the process."
"He loves you Hagan. They all love you. You'll be a grand Lord when the time comes."
STS
The next morning he was grateful he didn't have to crawl out of bed until a more decent hour. The younger Intermediate years had stable and lunch duties on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays. So he took advantage of the fact that he was awake earlier than Alexei and indulged in a long soak in the bath to ease some of the aches in his muscles.
His dreams left him unsettled again, filled with unfamiliar faces and things that he felt as though he should know. He expected nightmares of Voldemort. Even comfortable at Grimmauld, he still had the occasional glimpse at Death Eater meetings and murder. Here at Valmont, it was almost like a thick veil had been laid over his connection with Voldemort and though he could still sense the madman, Evan's dreams had been free of him.
Only now he had to contend with dreams about a boy and a life that beckoned sweetly but just out of reach.
The first thing Hermione would do was insist he tell Dumbledore. It wasn't that he didn't trust the great wizard but it didn't necessarily mean the man had answers for everything. Then she would have them knuckled down under research to discover the source of his dreaming phenomenon.
Ron would think the dreams were bizarre and worry they might just be from Voldemort. He would insist that nothing about them could be trusted, no matter the good Evan could feel in them. Evan just couldn't see Voldemort sending him dreams about a boy who had a family who clearly loved him. The images he was more likely to see would involve torture and death.
He had written about the first dream in a letter to Remus because if there was something Dark or unnatural about it, then Remus would likely know about it. It was too bad the man wouldn't actually be able to read the thing until he returned home at the end of the year.
"Morning."
Thirty minutes had passed when Evan glanced up to see a sleep rumpled Alexei enter the bathroom. He looked even worse than Evan had felt when he woke up this morning. "Good morning." He said quietly. "Are you looking to take a bath as well? I'm about done here. "
Alexei stopped just in front of the sinks, frown still in place but seemed to be considering the question. "I think I'll just take a hot shower instead. That might help with the strain in my back," he decided. After grabbing some bottles from his cabinet, he turned on the shower, stripped and then stepped under the spray. Less than two minutes later, the steam began filling the room, proving his shower was probably scalding rather than a mere hot.
"What do you think of Perks being here?"
At first he didn't think Alexei heard him but then the other grunted and replied, "It's probably just a coincidence. While I'm certain the Headmaster was aware of her presence here, she wasn't at school long enough to be much of a threat to our secret."
"So you don't believe she will say anything?"
"We'll discover that soon enough," was all Alexei would concede to. "It was rather strange how she disappeared right after our second year. She was a Gryffindor, right? Did anyone know why she didn't return?"
"Not really," he sighed and started to climb from the cooling water. "I'm a little ashamed to admit that we kind of forgot about her that year."
"It isn't surprising. There were Chambers of Secrets opening and Heirs of Slytherin attacking students after all. Besides, she didn't make much of an impression on me either."
"And you're not just saying that because she was a Gryffindor?"
"Evan," Alexei paused, "Lucius was very strict in teaching me about accumulating allies and connections. I may have been an annoying prat at eleven and twelve but that didn't mean I was incapable of noting the qualities of students who could benefit me in the future. Sally-Anne Perks at eleven wasn't worth noting."
"When you make statements like that, I remember why I didn't much like you," Evan pointed out.
"Yes, well, I'm finding that not all of Lucius' teachings are worth holding on to."
They were dressed in fitted dark gray tunics and breeches for class when they went down for breakfast. They joined the table with the other boys of their year for breakfast. The girls were chattering away at the other table but managed to give them a wave in greeting. Sally-Anne's wasn't as easy. She had given both him and Alexei a wide berth since that first night. Alexei would eventually force a confrontation to see where she stood. He preferred to just leave her alone for the time being. No one had said anything and he didn't want to antagonize her and cause her to reveal something if she hadn't.
"You're looking pretty good for your second day, Prince," Llewellyn was a snide and Evan was starting to wonder if he would be a problem. Alexei just gave him one of those long dark looks that Evan could remember Snape giving someone he thought was an idiot. Perhaps that was a Slytherin thing.
"A simple muscle relaxant scrub does wonders. I'm sure you've heard of them. Besides, the work wasn't that strenuous," Alexei told him but not before cutting blue eyes at him to ensure Evan didn't reveal that Alexei had looked just as bad as Llewellyn implied when he woke up that morning.
"Which physical component did you choose, Evan?"
"Swordsmanship," he told Owen, who was still holding a spoon of porridge in the air as he waited for a response. "What about you?"
"I'm in Riding. Valerian is the only other who decided to take Swordsmanship. Ellis and Steffon are in Archery."
"What about the girls?"
"Quanna's in riding."
"Of course," was echoed by the other three boys at the table. Evan merely smiled; he recalled how they all had teased the girl who loved riding.
"Marisol and Rhosyn chose Archery as well."
"And Sally-Anne, she's in Swordsmanship?"
"Quite alarming with her daggers she is too," Valerian said, giving a visible shudder. "Imagine a lithe thing like her being so vicious."
"Don't tell me you're truly frightened of a little slip of a witch, Fournier," Alexei drawled, clearly amused at the other's discomfort.
"We each excel at our chosen talents. I'm deft with a rapier; she's deadly with her dual Tonfa blades."
The three of them made their way over to the hall where class would be held as the others went to their own classes. They would all meet up again for a double of Defense Against the Dark Arts right before lunch. He and Alexei wouldn't join the regular Ancient Runes class until after the Winter break.
They weren't the only students with Swordsmanship this hour, Evan noted as he glanced around the room to each group that had already arrived and were talking amongst themselves. "I should go introduce myself to the Professor."
"Come join us before the warm-up," Valerian told him before following Sally-Anne who was making her way to a spot just in front of an open window.
Evan found his eyes drawn to Sally-Anne for one of the numerous times this morning. She slipped out of the dark brown Haori styled jacket she wore over her clothes, folded it neatly, and set it on a bench. He had never seen anything like her bodysuit. A flare of heat rushed across his cheeks as he realized he was staring a little to closely at how the burgundy material hugged tightly across her body before ending in a slight flare in the legs over her dark brown ankle high moccasins.
She wasn't as slim as Alexei had intimated, her arms and legs had definite muscle tone. He looked away as she started braiding her high ponytail, feeling guilty. Almost immediately his eyes found the Professor he was searching for and quick strides took him to that direction, pushing any unsuitable thoughts out of his mind.
"Good morning. You must be my new student, Mr. Hawthorne. I'm Professor Raul Bazán."
Professor Bazan looked like man who was extremely competent in his chosen field. Tall, with an athletic physique and a quiet grace, the dark skinned man quickly put him at ease despite the strong hand shake.
"Come. We have a few minutes before class begins. We can discuss what type of weapon you would like to claim."
Evan's mind went right to something similar to the Sword of Gryffindor, as he followed the Professor into a heavily warded room where all kinds of weapons lined the walls and lay on top of tables. He took his time exploring the area that smelled of oil, metal and leather. The Professor waited patiently for him to reach a decision.
"I notice you're looking at the arming swords. You have some experience with them?"
There was one on the wall that was almost an exact replica of the ruby encrusted sword he had used to kill the basilisk. "Yes. No, not really," he amended not wanting the Professor to believe he was more capable than he truly was.
"Overall, it's a very versatile weapon, capable of both cutting and thrusting combat. It boasts excellent balance for a short sword. You have good instincts."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's a good choice for someone who wishes to duel with both sword and wand." Evan knew he wasn't very tall and was also aware his strengths were found in his good hand to eye coordination and swift reflexes. "I'd suggest learning to work with an arming dagger as well to compliment the style."
Evan reached up to grasp the sword that had caught his eye but the Professor laughed and stopped him. "Not so fast, Mr. Hawthorne. We have a long way to go before you're ready for that point. Now that we've agreed upon the style you'll be learning, we take a couple of steps back to the basics."
That made sense, though he was anxious to get started on the real stuff. "Where do we begin?"
They went back to the main room over to a desk that sat in the corner where the Professor gave him three different scrolls. "For the first six weeks you'll be working on basic skills. Class begins essentially the same: a combined warm-up, followed by guard skills, turning skills, footwork combination skills and of course falling skills. When you're proficient, we'll move on to some unarmed pairing exercises, then dagger skills and eventually armed pairing exercises."
"How long do you think it will take to get to the armed pairing exercises?"
"Honestly, if you're dedicated and work hard, and join the dueling club, you would be ready for armed pairing exercises in the early Spring."
Devastated didn't even begin to describe his disappointment. He knew it wasn't to be easy but he wouldn't be handling a sword until Spring at the earliest.
"You have to remember Mr. Hawthorne, inexperience in this instance is a great hindrance. The students your age and older have been working since age eleven and even younger in some cases. They've had years to develop the muscle memory necessary for armed dueling."
And he was basically taking a crash course that he wouldn't see through to fruition because he would return home next year. "I understand."
"Don't sound so glum, I'm sure you'll progress quickly. Your classmates are a good resource to take advantage of and again, join the dueling club. You'll appreciate the results."