This is a nice long chapter. For me it is anyway, lol. I've been at my ranch this weekend so I had some time to write. Hope you like!
Chapter 33
Harry Potter was dying. Not from a deadly spell from a Death Eater or Voldemort for that matter. No, Harry was dying and it was all Tanner Jacobs fault. Harry was going to kill him if he told him to do one more. He vowed to himself he would.
"Come on, Harry one more…push it."
Harry growled in anger as he pressed the heavy bench press up above his head glaring at Tanner's face which was looming over him. "There, well done," he said as he took the heavy metal bar from Harry.
Harry sat up from the bench completely exhausted as Tanner handed him a towel to cool off. "Are you trying to kill me today, Tanner?" Harry asked as he looked up at the older blonde headed man who was now flashing a grin at him.
"No not yet, Harry. We're just getting started. Let's do some cardio."
Harry groaned but followed his orders. Tanner Jacobs was one of the best trainers from the Auror Training Program and Harry had been training with him since right after the holidays. Tanner's specialty was the physical aspect of the training. He mixed basic Muggle training with a bit of magic in them, for example instead of a treadmill he invented the groundmill. Similar to the treadmill you can control it's speed and incline, but instead of flat ground it was bewitched as grass, hills and rocks passed through so it would be more realistic.
"We'll do a couple of miles on the treadmill," Tanner said as he activated the speed with his wand starting Harry out to a nice trot. "Then we'll work on sparring."
One of Tanner's strong beliefs was that sometimes just a wand wasn't going to cut it. "Any wizard who thinks all he needs is a wand is foolish," he had told him on the first day. "I'm going to teach you some basic kickboxing techniques so you can be prepared just incase you loose your wand."
Out of all the training he threw at him he enjoyed his kickboxing lessons it was a big relief to know that he was going to be prepared in all areas. He taught him different kinds of punches and high kicks along with defensive blocks.
"All right, Harry I'm going to speed it up a little bit," Tanner said as he tapped the groundmill three times with his wand.
Harry kept up with the pace as he leapt over rocks and trudged up a slight hill. He had come a long way, a few weeks ago he would have already been panting but he was doing fine. He knew though that Tanner would push him to the limit until he was about to collapse in sheer exhaustion. "That a boy, Harry keep it up. Give it all you got."
Harry gritted his teeth when Tanner steepened the hill making it even more difficult for him. "You're a…really good guy, Tanner," Harry panted as he kept up with the pace. "But you…realize…I'm going to hurt you."
Tanner chuckled. "You can get back at me during our sparing."
"Promise?" he asked with a grin looking over at him.
Tanner barked out a laugh. "Damn if you're not going to make a good Auror, Harry. Okay, let's do a sprint for twenty seconds and then your done."
"Bring it on," he grunted and felt his legs burning as he pushed it as hard as he could. It was in flat land now but the speed was as fast as it's ever been.
Tanner could see that Harry was hurting but he pumped him up best he could. "Ten more seconds…that's it. Think about Voldemort. Think about kicking his ass!"
Harry couldn't help but laugh at that but never stopped his pace. "Five, four, three, two one….good job, Harry."
Harry walked off the ground mill and bent down as he caught his breath. Harry took the bottle of water Tanner provided and chugged it down gratefully. "Have a seat, we'll take a break before sparring."
He nodded as he sat down on the exercise bench and Tanner stood standing. "So, how's school going?"
"It's going okay," he said as he capped his water bottle.
"Been studying for your NEWTS?"
"Yeah, Hermione is making me."
He smiled. "Don't worry it's not as scary as everyone says."
"Really?" he asked hopefully.
"No."
Harry narrowed his eyes and threw his towel at him. "Very funny."
He just laughed as he caught the towel. "So, how are things with you and Hermione."
Over the last few weeks spending so many grueling hours with Tanner, Harry found himself making a new friend. He was still young enough to be almost like a big brother rather than a superior. "Good," he said and then saw Tanner lift a brow. "Okay, really good."
"Was it weird making the transition from best friend to girlfriend?"
"You know you think it would have but not at all. It was weird, like we've always been together."
Tanner let out a breath. "I wish it was that easy with Veronica and I."
"You two were friends first?" Harry asked at the mention of Tanner's fiance. "You never told me that."
"Yeah, we were friends all throughout Hogwarts. Didn't get together till about a year ago."
"And it was awkward?"
"Very," he said with a chuckle. "Of course we didn't gradually take it slow like you two, we went from being best friends to lovers overnight."
"Ohhh," Harry said in understanding. "That must have been…interesting."
"Sure was. We both ignored each other for a good week or so, but in the end worked it out." Tanner then tossed his towel back to Harry. "Okay, enough chit chat. We need to get back to work. I have a promise to uphold."
"That's right," he said standing up. "Let the ass kicking begin."
XXX
Harry was grinning all the way back to the common room. Granted, he still had a lot of work to do, but he still got a few good hits in there. Overall, though Tanner kicked his ass. It was good practice though and he secretly hoped that a chance arose to where he could use these new moves on any bastard that stood in his way.
The training sessions were doing him some good and felt the confidence in himself begin to grow. His sessions with Tanner was every Tuesday and Thursday and then the other three nights of the week were with either Tonks or Lupin who trained him on helpful defensive spells that would help him in the final battle. One lesson he didn't have anymore was Occlumecy with Snape and nothing surprised him more when Snape told him he was done.
"I think we're done here," Snape said as Harry helped him up from the floor after he had successfully fought his mind from sneaking into his own.
"Okay, next time then?" Harry asked.
He shook his head. "There won't be a next time. We're done here."
Harry blinked. "Huh?"
"I've done everything I can, Potter. You've mastered the art of Occlumecy the best you can. The rest is up to you."
Harry was still smiling as he walked through the portrait hole where all his friends were studying and seeing his friends only heightened his mood. Ron and Luna were sitting closely at the table, Ginny was sitting on the floor with her back up against the couch while Draco was lying down with his head in her lap. He smiled when he saw Hermione stretched out on the couch studying her notes she took during class. "Hey guys," he said finally making his presence known.
Everyone looked up at the sound of his voice but Hermione was the first to respond. "Harry!" she shrieked as she started to get up.
He smiled and made his way to the back of the couch meeting her when she stood up and flung herself over the couch and into his arms. "Oof," he grunted as he stumbled back a bit. "Geez, Hermione miss me much?"
"Yes, I hardly ever see you anymore," she said and gave him a quick kiss.
"How was training, mate?" Ron asked.
"Ooo, did you have a session with, Tanner?" Ginny asked. "He's hot."
"Um, hi…right here," Draco said lifting his hand. "You're boyfriend?"
Harry laughed as he carried Hermione back to the couch and sat down. "He worked me hard today," he told them as Hermione got situated on his lap.
"Did you have to do that groundmill?" Ron asked. "From what you've told me it sounds dreadful."
"It's not fun but it's good for me. Going to be pretty sore tomorrow."
"Aww, well maybe I'll give you a massage then," Hermione said sympathizing with him.
"Really? You haven't given me one since that day in the cave."
"Well, then I definitely owe you one," she said and then kissed him on the mouth.
Ron waited for his two friends to stop snogging but it never happened so he started to pack up. "Okay, that's are cue to go."
Luna giggled as she stood up. "You want to come to my room and so some snogging of our own?"
Ron winked at her. "What do you think?" He grabbed her hand and walked her out of the common room saying a quick good bye to Harry and Hermione who were still glued to each others lips.
"Let's go, too," Ginny said to Draco as she stood up. "I'm tired of studying."
"Can't argue with that. My room or yours?"
"Yours, mine is going to be too crowded tonight. Bye Harry, bye Hermione."
"Huh?" Harry asked long enough to pull away. "Oh, yeah…bye."
Hermione sighed as she leaned her forehead against his. "I've really missed you."
"I know," he said he framed her face with his hands. "But these sessions are important and…"
"Shh, I know they are. I'm not being one of those girlfriends that complains about not getting enough attention or anything, but I'm still allowed to miss you, aren't I?"
He grinned. "Of course you are." He linked a hand with hers and kissed her fingers. "I've missed you, too."
Hermione gazed into his tired face as she ran her fingers through his hair. "You look so worn out."
He closed his eyes at the feel of her fingers running through his hair which was still damp from the quick shower he took at the Prefect bathroom after his workout. "Everything is starting to catch up to me I guess."
Hermione kissed his forehead then his temple. "Poor thing," she whispered running kisses all over his face. 'Maybe I can help." She took off his glasses and set it aside before cupping his face with her delicate fingers and kissed him softly over and over again. Her fingers then fiddled with the hem of his shirt before yanking it up and over his head. "Wow," she whispered as her hands traveled over his well defined chest and flat stomach. "I guess I have Tanner to thank for this."
"I'll pass along the message," he told her as she guided him down on his back. "Hermione…"
"Shh, I want you to relax," she murmured against his mouth before giving it a quick nip.
His eyes fluttered close once more as he felt her lips start to move downwards and over his chest. His fingers got lost in her hair as he let her continue to rain kisses along his naked skin. He hissed out a breath when her tongue reached out to touch one of his nipples causing him to grip his fingers tightly in her hair. "Hermione," he sighed as he felt his whole body start to relax. "You're ama…" Harry's eyes flew open and his body froze when he felt her unsnap the fly of his jeans while her lips moved down to his stomach. Surely, she wasn't going to do what he thought she was going to do. Then he heard the sound of his zipper and felt the room start to spin. Bloody hell.
"You're abs are so sexy, Harry," she said as she ran her tongue along his brand new six pack.
"Hermione."
"Just relax, Harry and lift your hips up for me," she murmured as she gazed up at him.
Their eyes locked as he did what she was told and Harry watched in amazement as she tugged his jeans and underwear over his hips exposing himself to her. From what he could see she didn't seem to phased by the sight of him naked she just ran her lips up his thigh and gradually took him in her mouth as if she had done it all the time. His jaw dropped at the sight of watching her giving him head and it was so incredibly erotic he couldn't help but lift his hips up to her. She put her hands on his hips and pinned him to the couch, silently telling him to be still and let her do the work. He groaned as he collapsed his head on the back of the couch closing his eyes as he concentrated on the feel of her wonderful mouth stroking him over and over again.
It felt so good. So incredibly good and he knew he wasn't going to last. When he finally climaxed he didn't remember much that went through his mind, the sheer pleasure coursing through him was all that filled his brain. And Hermione. Ah, sweet Hermione who was now pulling his jeans back up over his hips as she kissed her way back up his chest. "I can't…believe…you did that…for me," he said breathlessly as he looked up at her in a daze.
She smiled and bit her lip nervously. "I've never done that before."
"Well, you could have fooled me," he said with a lopsided grin and then cupped the back of her neck and brought her down for a kiss.
She smiled with pleasure and gave him one last kiss. "Let's head upstairs, you need your sleep."
Harry watched her as she got up from the couch and made her way to the stairs. She didn't even make it to the first step by the time he got to her and spun her around. "Not quite," he said backing her up to the wall.
"Harry," she gasped when he buried his face against her neck. "What are you…" She gasped again when she felt his hand disappear under her skirt and then felt her underwear disappear. She looked at him in wonder. "I see you've mastered wandless magic."
He grinned and gave her a playful shrug. "I'm getting better at it." He gripped the hem of her skirt and yanked it over her hips. "Now if you'd let me…I'd like to return the favor."
Hermione groaned in shock when Harry felt to his knees in front of her. Oh my.