On Wednesday at Noon, the senior years and teachers arrived.
There were things among the returning students that held Harry and Hermione in awe. There were a set of human looking beings that were covered in Runic Tattoos. A trio of Lizards, like the Hertasi, only larger. Another five that were more tail than body. Six Snake-like people with four arms ending in three fingered hands as opposed to Harry's four.
Kyra coiled so that her human torso was between the two Brits. "Those are Lizardmen. Think Bipedal Crocodile. Slow to anger, but you piss them off… and while they are gruff, almost arragrent, they are good people. The Viashino, more tail than brains, but loyal as a Kyree. The Snakeheaded group are Naga. They are like me in many ways… only they see themselves as the true rulers of the world…and one day they will reclaim it… but they are too busy with their games of intrigue to be much of a threat to the Mundane world."
"So… a cross between you and Crookshanks." Harry nodded.
Kyra swatted the back of his head.
"One would think either he likes that, or is getting brain damage." Soran smirked.
: I think it's a bit of both.: Tish doggy grinned.
"Oh Shit." Soran hissed. Three people entered the room, looking like a cross of his two forms in a ruddy reddish brown. "Dragon blooded."
"A dark ritual to turn a babe into a dragon." Kyra hissed as well. "Instead it made them. You think the others are arragrent… take it to the max and you might be close to them."
"Look at the entertainment they provided for us this year." A female by her smaller crest crown and heavier chest.
"Okay. She dies." Kyra hissed.
"Now that everyone has arrived," the Headmistress appeared at the Podium again. "Take the night, get settled, and in the morning, you can begin testing for the courses you have chosen. "Mister Potter, my office please. A Hertasi will show you the way." She was gone.
Harry sighed. "And now it begins. Come on Hermione, she needs to see, means that she sees you… unless you want Lefa or Chapa to watch me this morning."
Hermione sighed. "But you are carrying me." And jumped at him, as she embraced Mynx, and landed in his arms.
At the door to the Dinning hall, a Dark Greenish Gray Hertasi was waiting. Harry followed the short lizard through the maze that was the Academy.
At the open office, Harry looked around. Five Arches around the desk showed different sections of the school, changing every five seconds.
"So… that's how you get around so fast." Harry nodded. Cool."
"Your Kyree has chosen to take Shamanic courses before she finished her bond to you." The Headmistress looked at the Lad. "So …"
"Could she sit those classes when I am in potions, Necromancy, and Blood Magics…" Harry asked. "She will be watching me in Combat classes if not doing something similar. As for Heartstone… She will need to see what I do so that others will know what to do and not do."
"Because she didn't meet you until you got here, I think I can let her off the six course minimum."
Suddenly Hermione was in her Mao form. "Six Minimum? You mean I could have taken more?"
Harry reached out and swatted her crown. "Third year and you don't have a time-turner now."
Hermione flattened her ears, but bowed her head.
"Something just occurred to me." Harry frowned at the Headmistress. How is all of this being paid for? The brochure didn't say."
"Our alumni." The pale woman smiled. "Provided that you complete your courses, and leave our Academy, you are expected to tithe ten to twenty percent of your yearly income to the academy."
"Forgive me for prying." Hermione took a step to the side. "But what are you?"
The woman's smile grew more pronounced. Her eyes turned red, as her glamour fell away. "I am a Vampire. Not like those half breeds in Europe, but a True Blood. Now while I like live blood, I make do with the animal blood that the Hertasi provide for me. Plus those who break our very few rules."
Harry nodded. "Wicked." He cocked his head. "Is Legal in? I have some business to do with them."
"Yes, your War-Mage status." The now normally pale woman nodded. She waved her hand at an arch, causing it to show an Archive Room. "She will meet you there."
Harry pulled Hermione along to and through the arch. When the three of them were across, he turned to look back…
And saw a long dark hallway.
"The longer I stand, the shorter I grow."
"Candle." Harry turned to look at a bare breasted Sphinx. "A lit candle to be precise."
The massive beast leaned forward. "And the reason you disturb me?"
"I was declared a War Mage or War Wizard the other day. I was told to talk to Legal about it."
"And the reason you are here?" The large face grinned at Harry as she noticed that he was looking at her face and not her chest.
"This is where the Headmistress sent us." Harry smiled. "By that Logic, you must be Legal…then again only one of your kind could know everything there is to know about Law in the World."
"Are you flattering me?" She sneered at him.
"More like placating you, if you take it as flattery… yeah me."
"And do you know that your companion has not stopped staring at my breasts?"
"Well they are next to Perfection." Harry shrugged. "They are just attached to a female that can swallow me whole. Had you been more my size… then I would have to at least struggle to look you in the face. Once she gets over your tits swinging in her face, she will want to talk your pretty ear off. And that is flattery."
"Jim-nob. The file for a new War Mage. I will need the Testing orb and…"
A glass orb, the size of a football(soccer ball) was tossed out of the dark at Harry, and he caught it with both hands.
It filled with gray fog… swirling manically, as it rotated through the colours of the rainbow… then cleared up.
She peered into the orb. "That's unusual. Something must be interfering with it. We will try again on the Solstice. We will just classify you as High Master." The Hertasi at her elbow scratched out the page. "Now do you have a Commander? And how do they control you?"
"Hermione here. Hermione Granger. Years of training and imprinting. I don't Act until she gives me the command, but you attack me and I will put you on the ground. You attack her, and I will put you in the ground."
"Noted." The Hertasi grunted. "Will see you on the Solstice.
She flicked her tail and Harry and Hermione were back in the Dining Hall.
Hermione grabbed his arm. "Was that a…"
"Yes." Harry grinned at her.
"And was she…"
"Yes. While she was older than the one I met in the Maze, hers were just as full and firm." Harry patted the hand clutching him. "While quite pleasing to the eye, I find them inferior to yours."
Hermione blinked at him, "So, you were looking." She slugged him in the shoulder.
A Minotaur in a kilt and weapons harness clapped his massive hands. "Alright. All Combat Studies… these include Arts and Magics. You're with me."
Harry, Trogg, and Hermione, moved to follow the Horned Brute. Tish walked in Harry's shadow.
They arrived at a massive Arena… on par with the Coliseum.
Hermione whistled. "They did a damn good reproduction."
Harry ignored her, as something had caught his attention.
In the centre of the arena was a woman in what looked like a chainmail bikini. She was leaning on staff with an emerald the size of his fist.
"Combat Arts, you are with me. Combat Magic, you are with her. I will get to you later."
Harry fist bumped Hermione, and strolled off. Trogg grunted, and nodded as he moved off.
Hermione sighed as she watched the guys head out to cause destruction, before she moved to join the others of her Class.
The Minotaur curled his lip in a bovine grin, only to reveal that his teeth were not those of an herbivore. "Now I will be splitting you up again. Melee to my right, ranged to my left."
Hermione joined six range fighters. Three Archers with a range of bows, A sniper and a crossbow.
Two of the Archers, Naga Males, sneered. "A female Oo-mon. Where is your bow?"
Hermione smiled as her ears popped up. "I don't use a bow."
The Sniper, a Simian four feet tall, nodded. "Mundane based or …"
"Yes… and no. I have yet to rebuild my primary piece." Hermione patted the pistol that hung on her hip.
Her Boots, with her vine wand, coming to her knees, her dragonhide yoga pants and sports bra, with a wide leather belt running from her right shoulder to her left hip. The buckle, a transfigured plate debossed with the Potter Crest. At the hip, a Pouch that she had enchanted to the limit of her ability, hung, concealing the holster for her Gun-wand. Her peacekeeper holstered in the broad belt.
"What makes you think that you have what it takes to join us?" The crossbow welding Viashino sneered.
"Who says I do?" Hermione spoke calmly. "That's why I am here. I make the cut, yeah. If I don't… I find something else to learn."
"Wisdom in one so young." The third Bow, a Centaur.
Hermione smiled at him. "How Read the Stars?"
The Centaur's eyebrow rose. "Mars and Venus are approaching a conjunction. It is unsettling." He smiled at her. "How do you know…"
"Whenever Harry spoke to a Centaur, they either greeted him with a reading of the Stars or a threat. As you are not threatening me, I thought to ask."
If you are done postering…" A Female approached from… where did she come from? Her braided hair and silk robes named her Tale'edras. The bow in her hand named her a Hunter.
The next hour they spent shooting at targets with mundane munitions. One at a time.
Hermione ranked third of seven.
Then they were allowed to switch to enhanced munitions. Both Naga fired bolts of energy into their targets. The Viashino fired first a bolt of energy, then fired a standard bolt that exploded on impact. The Sniper fired bullets of different elements.
Hermione was impressed with what was displayed. When it was her turn, she exchanged her peacekeeper for her big baby.
First it was just the standard nine millimetre round… that shocked the group then she cast a piercing spell. The effects were the same as when she tested it in the Craft Hall.
"Okay good news." The woman stepped up. "You all qualify for my class…" she was interrupted by a loud boom and shaking of the room.
"Damn it Harry!" Hermione was already running.
SPRB
Harry fist bumped Hermione and headed into the centre of the arena.
Today he had dressed in his Yoga togs, consisting of Leggings and Vest. The Saddle bag Harness that allowed him to hold the Battle-staff on his back pouch, while the front Pouch had his Holly wand and knife. Around his hips, a sash of gold silk held the Blackthorn in wand mode.
"Greetings." The woman grinned at the Assembled. "My name is Zena, and I am a War Mage, Adept class. There are only two Classes taught in Snow Point that are more regulated than Battle Magic. Necromancy and Blood Sorcery." She sneered at the group. "Present your Focus."
Harry looked at Trogg. "Witness, our instructor told me to pull out my Focus." He pulled out the ironwood and Ruby staff.
Trogg's grunt was matched with his grin and his gloves rippling along his arms… the side tooth blades igniting in black flames.
Six members drew swords, five had axes, seven had staffs of vereis lengths two had metal gauntlets like Soran had. Two others had daggers. One thing that the weapons all had were gem stones in them. Only Trogg didn't sport a gem of some kind.
Zena had everyone, one at a time, throw a blast at a target on the far side of the arena. Trogg and Harry fell back to allow the others go first. Everyone managed to hit the target… if only.
Trogg knuckled up to the line, squatted, blew across his left hand knuckles and threw a heavy punch… disintegrating the target.
"Not bad. You have power, but do you have control."
Trogg grunted, "Trogg Working on it." He knuckled back to beside Harry.
Zena reconstructed the target, as Harry strolled up. He casually pointed one end at the target. [Bombarda] He held everything he could from the spell.
The spell hit the target, disintegrating it too, and splashed over the shield along the wall.
"Same."
"And Same." Harry bowed his head. "I just crafted this last week. I tested it for usability… nothing else."
She left her staff sticking in the ground as she approached the lad, and gripping the haft, tried to lift the staff when Harry let go. It would not move.
"You put a Mjolnir Enchantment on it?" She turned to look at Harry.
Harry turned to walk to stand beside Trogg, turned about and extended his hand. The Staff jumped from her grip to his.
"That would be a yes… how?" Zena frowned at him.
"Might be a result of using a Thunderbird Feather in the Core." Harry spun the staff and laid it across his shoulders.
"I think I will be liking you two." She returned to her Staff and twisted it. "Okay, in the same order… Give me a sample of your spell catalogue.
Harry watched as the sword users lined up. The first two had to use both hands and focus before the spell burst would flash along the blade to splash across the target.
"Sword-mage." Trogg grunted. "Puny."
The third was using a Katana. The slash cleaved the target in twain…and only the target.
Harry and Trogg applauded.
"Samurai." Trogg grunted. "Hermy rank."
The fourth was using an épée. She filled the target with 'pin-holes' of vereis sizes caused by many spells.
"Sword-dancer" Trogg 'golf-clapped'. "You should see if she can teach you something."
The last guy was using a cutlass, but dressed kind of like Harry, tight pants, sash belt, and a tri-corner hat.
"Him, unknown."
"He is a Pirate." Harry smiled. "If I was using a longer blade…"
The Pirate drew his cutlass and inverting the blade, cast from the hilt and the stone embedded there.
Harry stroked the dagger on his chest. "Now that style I want to learn."
Next was the other staff users. They were similar to the wand users just with bigger sticks.
Next were axes with stones in either the butt of the weapon, or topping the blade. Most were similar to the staff users… greater power, not as varied in selection.
Then the other three gauntlet wearing stepped up… they put on a nice show… no real power.
Then it was Trogg's turn. He knuckled up, squatted, and threw off a lot of orbs of energy… all damaging the target.
Then he grinned, and reached out and did his triple nozzled flamethrower trick… and burned the target.
"Where did you learn that last one?" Zena asked.
"Harr." Trogg pointed at Harry.
"Harr?" She turned to look at him.
"Harry. My name is Harry. He just can't pronounce it." Harry stepped up, bumping fists with Trogg as they passed.
From the firing line, he began with the basics. Disarming, piercing, cutting, etcetera.
Then he grinned at Zena, and began to spin the Staff. Every time one of the Rubies rose above his head, a bolt of energy was released. He fired as many as one hundred bolts in under a minute.
"Okay. I know that I am going to regret this, but give me your best shot. Your biggest boom."
Harry stopped. He turned to look at her. "Please repeat that. I need to cover my ass when Ward gets here."
"Your Biggest Boom." She grinned.
Harry squared up, rubbed his hands together, and swung the Staff around before pointing one end at the target… and letting go… the staff released all the pent up energy that he had denied her using… and the plasma beam was a foot across, cut through the target, the shield wall, and into the stone wall only to explode after reaching the six foot mark.
Harry, using the staff, cast a shield around the group to protect them from the flying stones.
"Harr Togg Equal." Trogg grunted.
Once the dust cleared, Harry dropped the shield… thumped his staff twice, and pointed at the damaged section, Focused, [Reparo]
Slowly at first, but slowly gathering speed, the bits and pieces of stone began to return to where they were to begin with.
"Harry James Potter!" A well known female voice yelled from behind him. "What did you do this Time!"
Harry looked at Trogg. "You are my Witness."
"With Ward. Not Her!" The Grunn moved to hide behind the Wizard.
The whole class got to see the great destroyer get reamed by a female that was smaller and most definitely weaker than him. And he just stood there waiting for her to catch her breath.
"... And another thing…."
"I was just obeying my Instructor." Harry spoke softly to her.
"Oh… Well then, I guess that I can forgive you for this time. But watch it Mister. Because I am watching you."
"Are you going to take that from her?" One of the Broadsword users sneered.
Without looking away from Hermione's brown eyes, Harry smiled. From the top ruby, a stinging hex was fired into the guy's chest… knocking him flying as a welt formed across his breastplate.
The Headmistress appeared with Ward at her side. "Report."
The chainmail bikini wearing Mage grinned at the Headmistress. "I found my apprentice."
"Smythe already claimed him." Ward glared at Harry. "And by our Bi-laws, an apprentice may only have one Master at a time."
"And now you are the Teacher's pet." Hermione grumped. But her ears and purring gave lie to her dislike.
Harry stepped close to whisper in her ear, "And you are my pet."
Zena frowned. "The Grunn and Harry. I don't think the current class will do you any good. They will just hold you back. I have a few advanced students returning, not enough for a full class… so… her eyes fell to the Kyree. "I didn't see you…"
: I was only here for my Dhorisha'ke'a'char. I have a few classes that I won't be at his side… but this I needed to see."
Zena shook her head. "Get."
Harry and Trogg followed Hermione to the Combat Arts section. Where they joined the melee group.
SPRB
That night after dinner, Trogg sat beside Harry with Hermione and Chapa on the couch, and tried to learn the art of the Foot-rub. While he was not as good as Harry, Chapa found relief from her stressful day.
Star watched the session. "Is it really that good?"
"It can be." Harry shifted his hand to press his thumb on a spot on Hermione's left foot, "It mostly depends on the Foot. Like with Trogg, What Chapa likes might not be what Lefa likes… or needs. I do know that there are books and diagrams for this, and how to achieve the best results." He turned to look at the man, "With how hedonistic your lifestyle is… I would have thought that you would know…"
"I am sure that some of us do… like a Kestra'chern, but for the rest of us… we learn by what is shared with the ones we are with." Star sighed.
"When Lotus is not in a mood for activities, give her feet a bit of a massage." Hermione groaned out. "If done right, it can even lessen her cramping."
Steel-lotus entered the common room. "Isn't that a bit too… for the common room?"
"Not by our culture." Harry stretched the ball of her foot. "While more intimate than kissing, it's not on the level of petting… or Dogging.
:Dogging?: Tish perked up from where she was gnawing on a bone joint.
Hermione rolled her head and looked the Kyree in the eye…
:Oh… They call it something else.: Uninterested, she returned to her bone.
Harry and Hermione snorted at the implied joke.
"Why do I feel that I missed something?" Kyra walked in, looking tired.
The two High Elves stepped out of their Quarters. "Which one is the Master of Death?"*
Everyone turned to look at the pair, a male, and a female. Only her small modest cleavage gave away the difference.
Tish had perked up.
After a full minute of silence, the male tried again. "Does anyone know what I am talking about?"
"The Oracle is never wrong. She said that He would be here." The female tried to talk to the male. "Maybe he has not been Named yet."
"She also said that it was in his Bloodline." He hissed back at her.
"Oracle… that's Divination… isn't it." Harry asked Hermione.
"The Greatest of Seers are so named." She sat up, her feet now under her. "What's your nickname in Trelawney's class?"
Harry hung his head. "Fate's Bitch." He stood slowly and turned to face the duo. "I have a… complicated relationship with Fate and Seers."
The male nodded. Before he lunged across the room, a dagger, a jagged blade designed to punch into its target and not come out easily. It was aimed at Harry's throat.
It stopped half an inch away.
The male elf looked at his wrist, and the white haired mitt wrapped around it. As everyone watched, the Grunn's grip rippled as the Bone gauntlets showed themselves.
"Trogg." Harry placed a hand on the Grunn's shoulder. "First, thank you. Second. The Headmistress is watching. Either release him, or take him outside. Either way, Dobby will take care of the blood."
"You will destroy the World!" The male raged. "You must Die or the Earth will Burn!" The foam on his lips and blood in his eyes showed that something was not right.
Hermione spoke from behind the Female Elf, "And your plans for him?"
"I was sent to advise and guide him, not to kill him. Mother never agreed with Father… this is enough for her to kill him."
"I always did love fresh Elf. Warrior Trogg, may I have him?" The Headmistress had arrived. "And you my dear… I am sending you home. If you can find him during the Summer break… you can return as a member of his Entourage. I'll see you off in the morning." She vanished with the male Elf clawing at her hand that clutched his throat.
"Scary Bitch."
"And I do believe that she can do that with you in her grip. I am talking about dragging your hairy ass from the room by your throat…single handed." Harry patted the Grunn's shoulder again. "Come, we have Females to see to."
Trogg grunted as he turned to Chapa. He bumped foreheads with her before following her to their quarters.
"Hey Harry. Got a minute?" Star stepped up close. "With the help of the little guy, I found your Tree's heart. I can show you a trick or two if you got the time."
"Go. I'm going to bathe, then turn in. Kyra… I could use a back scrub."
Steel-lotus raised an eyebrow.
Hermione's ears twitched an affirmative.
"That can't be good." Soran huffed.
SPRB
Harry and Tish followed Star down three levels before ducking into a Goblin sized door.
The centre of the room, a pedestal of woven wood held an orb of gray stone. It would have been easily overlooked and dismissed as unimportant by how plain it was…
But just by being in the room with it, Harry could feel the power within it. He touched it, closing his hand on the stone…
:NO!: Two voices screamed in his head before it all went green.
TBC