Chapter 8: It Can't Be Done
Thanks to my beta, darrelldeam, for all his help in making this easier to read for you, my readers. All mistakes are still my own.
I always find it funny as hell when Harry goes away one summer and comes back Kung-Fu fighting, even with time dilation that won't happen, unless he goes into a room at the age of 15 and comes out 20. Anyway, here is my take on that.
Hphphp
It was getting to the end of Harry's first year at Hogwarts, the leaving feast as tonight, and he was thinking that along with his extra Muggle studies he might take up karate or something. If what he had to face earlier this week was any indication of what he might have to face in the future, then he needed to learn to fight any way he could.
After he had been kidnapped, he knew that he was in trouble. Because it wasn't Quirrell, well it was, but he had Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head. That meant that Voldemort wasn't dead. And the man thought of Harry as his enemy. That means that his life was in danger. He had felt so helpless, no wand, no physical prowess. Nothing. If his hands hadn't burned Quirrell, and he still didn't know why that happened, then he'd be dead.
Hermione and Millie were going to tutor him in muggle studies over the summer. A mind healer was going to come by once a week to help him get over his trauma. Hopefully that will keep the Dursleys off his back. Maybe his friends could come with him to martial arts. He went to find them to ask.
Harry found them in the Great Hall going over their summer plans. "Hey, guys, ummm I mean gals, I was thinking about going to karate, or something, this summer. You know, so I can learn to fight and maybe protect myself from Voldemort. Then he won't be able to hurt me next year, if he shows up again," he said sitting down next to them and grabbing a biscuit that was on a plate in the middle of the table, for the studying students. It was study hour, which was the time the teachers used for homework marking.
"Ummm, Harry, you know it will take years to get good enough to actually fight someone," Hermione said, looking at him like she didn't want to disappoint him. "The most they will teach you the first few months is how to block and fall correctly, well some defensive moves, but nothing that will take down a full-grown man." She had researched karate. She never actually took it, but she knew that to get really good at the actual fighting took years of study and practice.
"What do you mean? I mean in all the films they show people learning to fight in like a month," Harry questioned, she could see the confusion on his face. The telly made it look like it only took a few weeks, months at the most.
"Well, that's films, isn't it? I mean, they aren't real. No, it takes years of study to be any good," the bushy-haired girl answered. She didn't want to burst his bubble, but she didn't want to see him hurt again.
"Look Harry, we're not saying you can't take the classes. What you learn in the two months you're at home will help. Wizards aren't physical people, so it might give you a bit of an advantage. However, we don't want you to think you're going to come out a pro in that short amount of time, yeah," the seventh-year girl said with a soft smile, she understood what Harry was worried about.
Harry's shoulders slumped. He thought it had been a good idea. He had kept in pretty good shape this year; thanks to the jogging he did all year with all his friends and Millie. He figured since he was in such good physical condition then he would learn to fight faster.
Suddenly, Hermione perked up and nudged her friend. "Harry, there's another way," she said excitedly. "When my mum was mugged a few years ago. She started to take this class for dirty fighting. One of the reasons karate or any martial arts takes so long is because there are forms you have to follow. With this class my mum takes it is all dirty tricks and staying in shape. So maybe we can ask her and see if she can get us into one of those classes. I don't know if they have classes for kids though, but it wouldn't hurt to ask." She started bouncing in her seat she was so excited.
"Yeah, if not then I can take the class and teach it to you guys," Millie said getting motivated. It might just do her good anyway, if rumor was to be believed then there was going to be a war and she was going to be a target, being muggleborn and all. And Merlin knows those purebloods didn't know how to dirty fight. She'd have to get all her friends in on this too. She started going over who was able to join and who would need to be taught by someone taking the class. With the money she was going to make from Harry's tutoring then she should be able to afford it.
This caused her to think about maybe hiring herself out as a tutor for the friends she had in the wizarding world. They would need to protect themselves too. She could work this into her schedule, she was planning on going to the University when summer was over and so she could teach the fighting to her friends at night and on the weekends.
"So, tell me what you know, Hermione," Harry asked, overjoyed that maybe there was a way he could defend himself.
Millie leaned over the table to hear better.
"Well, it's pretty new," Hermione started, tapping her chin in thought. "I think the classes have only been around for a few years here in England, they are very popular across the pond though. Like other martial arts you have to learn to fall first thing. There're loads of exercises so you will be okay there. And a lot of hitting in the right places. Some even teach you how to use weapons or know what you can use as a weapon in the things around you. Most attacks take place in alleys so there's a lot of garbage that can be used," she explained, going over what she knew in her head.
"Hey, if you didn't take the class how did you know all that?" Millie asked with a tilt of her head.
"There was a pamphlet that explained the class." She blushed in embarrassment.
"Figures," Harry said with a teasing smile.
"Prat," Hermione said, playfully pushing her best friend.
"You are you," Millie said, patting her little bookworm friend on the shoulder. "Go ahead and owl your mum for that pamphlet, yeah," she added, giving the girl a wink.
"You can borrow Hedwig," Harry offered, grinning like a fool.
"Great, I'll do that right now," Hermione said, taking out some parchment and scribbling a note.
Hermione owled her mum asking her to look into it so they would know what to expect when she got home. The year ended with Gryffindor winning the cup, only because of Dumbledore giving a large number of points to Harry for bravely fighting off evil or some such rot, which Harry considered unfair. His mind still in conflict over killing a man and he didn't think he should be awarded for that. He griped to his friends about it, but most of them disagreed.
The train ride was exciting, Harry had loads of friends that came by to wish him luck for the summer and hear his plans and tell their own. After he crossed the barrier into the King Cross Station, he was met by a very put out Dursley family. It was okay, Millie was by his side. Hermione had already left with her family after introductions and good-byes were said.
"Well, hurry up, boy. We haven't all day to wait for the likes of you," was the fat man's greeting. He went to grab Harry's shoulder, but the boy ducked out of his reach.
"Oh, Harry, I am so sorry," Millie purred, giving the young boy a hug. She sounded very sincere.
"Are you one of those freaks?" Dudley asked dumbly, not quite understanding that what Hagrid had done to him was minor. It had been painful to have that tail removed, but the pain faded and so did the fear, mostly.
"Why are you sorry, Millie?" Harry asked at the same time.
"Because, I'm going to hurt your family, yeah," Millie said sweetly, smiling a bright smile as if she was happy to meet such fine upstanding citizens and hadn't just threatened them.
"What do you think you can do to us, freak?" Vernon blustered, making his overly bushy mustache twitch.
"Oh, didn't you know? I'm out of school and I live near Surrey. I'm going to be Harry's tutor this summer. So, I'm going to be by almost every day, yeah. And if you think something minor as a pig's tail is the worst we can do to you, well just think again," Millie answered the fat man with that sweet smile still on her face. "Oh, and I know the number to Scotland Yard, have a friend whose Da works there, yeah." She was still smiling that sweet smile that butter wouldn't melt in.
At this the Dursleys paled, for all their flaunting at being normal, they knew if it ever got out how they treated Harry they'd be done for.
"Harry, my favorite ex-firstie, I'll see you at exactly nine in the morning," she said giving the boy a hug and then turned to his family, still smiling. "This means I'll be seeing you as well, yeah. Oh, and by the way, if one hair on his head is mussed and he didn't do it, well I do know how to use a phone and a wand." And with that she turned and went to her own family that had been waiting quietly. They too glared at the Dursleys having been told everything about them by their daughter. They didn't like child abusers either.
Vernon picked up Harry's trunk and waddled quickly to the car, wanting to get away from the people that were looking at him as if he was abnormal. He even carried the trunk up to Harry's room when they got to the house. And for once in Harry's life, he was treated semi-normal in the Dursley household.
Millie showed up bright and early the next day and saw that Harry was just fine. To press her point, she turned their coffee table into a teacup and back. They left Harry alone after that. They went to the library and did his studies. It went on that way for a week. That Saturday, Hermione called.
"Hey, Harry," she said, sounding excited, "can I and Millie come over for a while? I want to talk to you guys about that class we discussed."
"Of course, you can. After that first meeting with Millie the Dursleys don't dare say no to me anymore," Harry said, sounding just as excited as she was to get the news about the self-defense classes.
The mind healer, named Sally Pointier, came by once a week, on Wednesday afternoons, to talk to Harry. This added an extra layer of protection against the Dursleys. Who were out of the loop as to why Harry needed a mind-healer, but they were sure to point out that he did need one. Dudley wanted to pick on him, but his dad told him to leave the loser alone.
"Okay, let me call Millie, and we'll be there around noon. See you then," Hermione said as she hung up the phone.
"See ya," Harry said and then heard the phone disconnect. Shrugging, he hung up and went to his room to do his muggle homework while he waited for his friends. His room was a mess, so he spent the time tidying up.
At noon the doorbell rang, and Harry went down to let them in. The Dursleys were out shopping, so they weren't there. He brought the girls up to his room and they sat on the bed and Harry took the rickety chair.
"Okay, I was right they don't have classes for kids, well not yet anyway. They say there isn't enough interest and the insurance for such a class cost too much. So, if Millie takes the class, she's going to have to figure out what she can teach us and how, because the class is designed for adult women," Hermione started straight away, holding the pamphlets her mum had gathered for her.
"Okay, I'll do that. Maybe I'll have to tone it down until you guys get older, but you can at least get a lecture about what I learn," Millie said thinking over in her head what could possibly be taught that kids couldn't learn.
"I'll pay for you to go," Harry stated, "but I need you to take me to the bank, we'll call it part of your pay." It was argued about and then soon agreed upon.
Hermione gave the name for the class and instructions on how to find one in Millie's area. The three chatted for a while and the girls went home. Millie took Harry to the bank the following Monday.
A week later, they all met back up at the park on a nice warm Sunday. Millie told them about her class, all the while showing what she was talking about.
"We started, as many martial arts classes do, by lining up at the front of the room and taking a bow. Then we went right into jumping jacks then alternated with push-ups and some basic blocks with a partner. After this we moved to the floor for ab-work and then did a little stretching. The instructor yelled a lot, and it made me want to run just to get away from him," Millie said laughing at the kids' shocked faces. "So, if we do this expect me to yell a lot, the man said it was important, because most life-or-death situations aren't quiet, so you need to be able to react when someone is yelling, yeah."
"Uncle Vernon yells a lot," Harry pointed out, making Hermione cringe. She was not used to people yelling at her.
"Next we got with a partner and practiced hitting pads with our palm-heel," Millie continued with a demonstration, thrusting her hand heel first in the air at an invisible opponent. "Next, we moved into some attack scenarios, first watching the instructor and his assistant walk through a frontal choking situation. He showed us how to get out of this and what not to do, then we broke it down into steps and practiced one step at a time with our partners. So, after what happened to you, Harry that might be important for you and Hermione to learn, yeah."
Harry nodded in agreement.
"We started with a block, then added a palm strike, and finally added a knee to the groin," she said, and laughed again as Harry crossed his legs. "You guys are a bit small to do that so you might want to use your head to that area of your attacker, yeah. It's a very important strategy. That is one of the most sensitive areas of the body. Use it."
"Okay, Millie," they both said, though warily.
"Anyway, the order and speed in which we learned this was very easy to understand and really simplified the moves. So, I'll show you that way," Millies said, moving on. "Throughout the class, the instructor came around and offered feedback and criticism on our form and force. So, expect me to bad mouth you if you don't get it right. It is important that you develop thick skin to taunting. Your attacker is going to use that, yeah. There was one Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange, she did weird stuff like that," she said not wanting to frighten them, but letting them know what to expect.
Harry and Hermione nodded, though with trepidation. They were both used to bullies.
Millie went on, "We ended the class the way we started, with jumping-jacks, push-ups, and ab-work, but this time we had to move quickly from the floor into palm strikes and back again. This helped to prepare us for the idea that we may have to get off the ground and fight for our lives at some point, so we should be ready and taught us how to fall correctly."
"Wow, I didn't realize it was so intense," Hermione said when Millie sat down indicating she was finished.
"I think it'll be good for me. I hate being shy all the time, I only really stand up to my relatives when they push," Harry said, getting excited. Maybe he could use it on Dudley and his gang, though they've left him alone this summer. The next words out of Millie's mouth put that notion to rest.
"If I teach you this, I want your word that it'll only be used in self-defense, yeah. And that's it. Nothing else. I mean it guys," she said, her eyes hard. "This type of fighting can really hurt someone. A lot of it I won't even teach you for years because it can kill. I watched a higher class then mine and if you think mine was intense you haven't heard nothing," Millie pierced them with a glare. They could tell she really meant business.
Both kids nodded, and Millie relaxed.
They spent the rest of the summer with their normal muggle studies and learning how to defend themselves some of the other muggleborns joined them in the park and Millie made a bit of money on the side as the instructor.