The training has been progressing very well if you ask Lily Potter. Yes, her children were becoming very advanced for their age, some may even say that they are reaching a prodigious level of advancement. So far we have mainly focused on their physical advancement and base knowledge in a variety of subjects. But the most interesting development was the inclusion of some other children. Simon had asked one day if he could have some of his friends join them in his learning as he didn't see them as much as he liked, and so after consulting Dumbledore, they decided that providing each of the kids with their own small 'squad' would be beneficial to their fight against Voldemort. But when they began to offer their friends a place in the training one person remained absent in their request. Harry, none of the three asked for Harry to be in their small group and join the training. So feeling that it was unfair, James and I offered to tutor him in some basic subjects. Then to our utter And complete shock, he declined, even more than that when he did so he, for some strange reason, had a chilling fury that seemed to settle in his eyes. Even worse was that both I and James had been rattled by his furious eyes, we, some of the most accomplished magical beings currently residing in Britain, war veterans, heroes to some, were scared by the eyes of our youngest child. The child that currently lacked any magical training.
Shame, that was the only feeling I felt at that moment. During that conversation, I began to realize something, Harry, despite our efforts to get him to join his siblings, apparently did not wish to be part of the family. And as a mother it caused her to reflect and attempt to see where they had gone wrong. But even after doing this, I couldn't find anything major that we had done to cause this separation between us and him.
But that is not currently important, I remind myself. Simon and Neville are currently in the final duel of this phase in their training. The main reason for this is that their magical abilities and power can no longer be contained and restrained by the lesser training wands that they have received. As such they will soon be taken to ollivanders and provided with the best wand money could buy. Each of their friends will be given their training wands as of today, that is only due to Albus not wishing for them to fall as far behind the chosen three in the practical applications of magic.
So here I am standing off to the side of the warded arena that my son and godson were currently dueling in. James and Frank both remained inside the wards to prevent any mishaps and accidents befalling the two. While Alice stood a little farther down with the others telling them where each of them could do better if it was them inside dueling. Suddenly I realized I was not alone though. Quickly scanning the area I noticed nothing to be around.
"I must be losing my touch," I mutter as I turn back to see Neville throw a sloppy four-spell chain at Simon, who attempted to shield and absorb all the spells before it broke and he was sent scrambling back onto his bum. It was only by the grace of Merlin that he kept a hold of his wand as he sent a weak stunner at the approaching Longbottom while he hastened to his feet.
"Sloppy," A young voice commented, I quickly whipped around to face the unknown voice, wand drawn and a high-powered fire conjugation already beginning to flow from my wand. But there, from where the comment had originated stood a child. My child actually, Harry stood at his lofty 4 '4. Harry had always seemed to be the tallest of the three, even without the rituals to enhance his physical capabilities and minorly accelerate his growth.
"Oh, Harry! Don't startle me like that!" I say as I dissipate the fire before it could reach him. He didn't even turn to face the spell that could have been the end of his young life.
"They are awfully sloppy it seems." He said with a hint of disappointment evident in his tone.
"No need to criticize them, Harry," I admonish him, but silently I agree. Despite the very impressive power that they were putting behind their spells, as impressive as a six-year-old could be, they lacked any basic plan other than run and shoot.
"It is not as easy as it looks, but I am sure they would love to help you learn to duel." I hint at him joining the training yet again hoping to get a new reaction out of him. I do get a new reaction, just not the expected one. Instead of the same anger or maybe a hint of hope. I see something flash across his mesmerizing eyes, disgust and apathy. For a moment the look that he gives the duel tells me something I had never expected to see in his eyes regarding the others. He seemed to genuinely believe that my suggesting he learn from them to be an insult.
How could he believe this? He is a child, just like the ones currently dueling, and even more so had significantly less teaching in both spell casting and actual fighting technique and strategy.
"That look, Harry, It seems like you disagree with me. Now why is that?" I ask with an amused tone, fully expecting him to say that he didn't and that I was correct and ask why I would say this. Instead, he looks fully at me for the first time since his arrival.
"I wouldn't lose to that." He said, almost offended, "I refuse to lose to that."
Refuse to lose? And what exactly did he mean when he said 'that'?
"And what do you refuse to lose to?" I ask, deciding to humor his thoughts of assured victory. He doesn't respond, rather turning back to the arena.
It seemed like we had decided to turn back at the correct time as both of the boys were now in the center of the arena, looking at the other like they only had enough energy for one last burst of magic. Simon said something to Neville but it was muted by the wards, but whatever he had said ignited a fire in his eyes. Both of them then level their practice wands at the other and begin to pronounce their spells.
Even through the wards, the amount of magic being channeled could be felt. Looking over to Alice and the other children. Alice and Eveline were unaffected by the newfound pressure on the environment, but the others? They did not fare as well, all of them had been forced off their feet and were now covered in a layer of sweat. Seeing that Eveline was okay I quickly looked over to make sure that Harry hadn't been hurt by the new pressure. But to my utter shock Harry didn't seem to be affected at all, not a single part of him appeared to change due to the magic saturating the air.
Before I could process this, a screeching and hissing noise echoed throughout the world. For inside the duel the two boys had used two very basic elemental spells in an attempt to outdo the other. Simon had decided upon an Incedio, while Neville had used Glacius. And while the intersection of those two weaker elemental spells was not something to be heralded as impressive. This was an exception. Both boys had unwittingly channeled too much magic into their casting, causing both spells to have disproportionate amounts of power. As the spells met a thick mist covered the arena. And as James and Frank both went to make sure that they hadn't harmed the other badly. And as they banished the flames there stood Simon, wand badly burnt and covered in ash. But there he stood, the victor of this small battle.
"That's why I would win," Harry said, breaking me from my shock, "His spell, had the dunce moved five feet it would have missed. I wouldn't lose to that pathetic amount of finesse." Harry then turned to reenter the manor, uninterested in Simon and his celebration of victory.
"Mum! Mum! Did you see me!" Simon yelled as he rushed over and jumped into my arms. As I hugged him and told him how impressed I was with his performance and how proud I was, sadly that was the last thing on my mind. No, what occupied all of my thoughts was Harry and his observation. He was correct, had Neville done anything to dodge he would have beaten Simon. But how had Harry noticed that small detail? He was a child and on top of that had no training nor should he have the awareness to notice that detail while Neville, who had received training and battle strategy lessons, did not think of this. How? How had Harry so quickly and calmly deduced the easiest path to victory? This small interaction with Harry is causing a lot more thought than I had ever thought it would.
Later that day James and I took the floo over to Longbottom Manor, as Albus had scheduled a meeting, to fine-tune some plans regarding the training. So at seven o'clock, we arrived in the study, greeted by Alice and Frank who sat off to the right. Then looking left there sat Albus, who to my surprise was accompanied by three new people.
"James! Lily! Right on time." Albus said as he stood and offered us the now empty seats. "Before we begin, let me introduce the three guests I have brought with me. First, this is Ivor Petrograd, one of the world's lead charms masters." As he introduced Petrograd, I inspected the appearance of the man. He stood at 5'10 with a beard that reached down to his mid-stomach. He regarded the room with a cold unfeeling expression.
"Next this is Matilda Bogard, who currently is America's and some say the world's greatest healer," The woman was much shorter than Petrograd, standing at 5 '3 with a head of dark green locks that reached just below her shoulder.
"And last but not least, Alistar Moongrave, the world dueling champion!" He announced the last detail with a flourish. This man was quite unlike the others, while they held cool and professional expressions, this Alistars face was marred with complete and utter boredom. It seemed like he wanted nothing more than to be elsewhere.
"As we are here to discuss the next phase in the children's training, I have brought these three to, should you approve, become the teachers of the three squads." As he said this and waved his wand, creating a large board with names and magical specifications for each group of children.
"Why do we need to separate them again?" Frank questioned, as he had long been wanting to keep them all together and create one single force and group.
"You already know the reason Frank," Albus said with a sigh, "It off—"
"No, tell me the real reason, I want to know why you want them separate. As you keep forcing this specific path forward." Frank said as he crossed his arms,
"Competition. He wants competition." Alistar spoke, as he did, all eyes went to him, "Do I have to explain? Fine, he wants them to compete against each other's progress and power. Conflict is always the best stimulus for growth." He said the last part so matter of factly, so simply, that no room for argument was left
"He is correct," Albus said, "I can personally attest to rivalry bringing up the level of magic and competence in a witch or wizard if they find themselves competing with someone of their skill." This part was suspiciously said with what I believe is… regret? Why does he sound regretful about his rivalry? Who could it have been?
"Who was your so-called rival Albus? We need to know it worked both ways, not that only you benefited from it." I say in an attempt to sate my curiosity. He pauses for a brief moment.
"Gellert Grindelwald was the one who pushed my magical capabilities." Albus said with pain evident in his voice.
Shock hits the room like a bucket of ice water. Everyone, including the esteemed guest, was now forced into a shocked silence.
Grindelwald, that's not a name I have thought about for many years. I had like anyone else known about the man and his war that captured and endangered the world. He had and still is the widely regarded most powerful dark wizard of modern times. And while many here in Britain like to think that Voldemort was all powerful and the worst of all time, should they say this to any mainland magical being or one who had fought in the war would laugh them back to our home isle. I had said something similar once to a German wizard at the charms conference when it was held in Munich. His laughter had echoed across the entire venue, it took him a long while to finally explain why he had. I. of course didn't believe the man as Voldemort was, the end all be all when it came to power and magical might, only behind Dumbledore.
I was then shown thirty-five seconds of a memory. Fear was something that Voldemort used in Britain, as a weapon he intentionally caused mass fear and panic in an attempt to take over and kill all who stood in his way. From what I saw in that memory caused more fear than anything but direct combat with Voldemort. Grindelwald had in that fraction of a minute, single-handedly killed forty-five Auors. All were dead, gone, not a single survivor with three waves of his wand he had deflected all the spells, turned the buildings around the attacking force into molten golems, and had them explode killing all those that opposed him.
That's the man who Albus is using as evidence? The mass murderer? How could he dare use that as evidence when it comes to my children and the children of my close friends!
Protests were raised as soon as we found our voices. But after much debate, we all relented to the old man. Albus told us of how he refused to let anything bad influence the rivalry and corrupt our children as it may have when he competed with Grindelwald. And so the teams were assigned a teacher and to be introduced the next day.
Simon's team would include Ronald Weasley and Seamus Finnigan. Being taught to use front-line combat taught by Alistar Moongrave.
Neville's team would be Dean Thomas and Susan Bones. Their focus is on distance combat by the use of charms and runes, taught by Ivor Petrograd.
Eveline's team would be Tracey Davis and Lavender Brown. With a focus on combative transfiguration and applications of healing.
So now that this has all been decided we went home and right to sleep, uncertain of how we thought the training may affect our young children.