Disclaimer: I don't own nobody of the characters, they are property of JK Rowling
A/N: Thank you guys for your reviews! I really need your support!
Coolone007: Well, it was not a dream coming from Voldemort…it was a dream coming from his fears…so, old Tom didn't really come to push him to be a mage.
KypDurron: Yeah, I think Harry had understood that…
Antone: Well, I tried my best to not make them out of character…so, thanks for your compliment! I think that having read five books helped a little to understand their personalities…
eMeRaLd EyEz: Well, I hope you'll like the rest of the plot, too…
Chapter Four
"At Work"
Next morning, Harry wrote a letter to Dumbledore, explaining his change of heart:
"Professor,
I have decided to accept your offer
to train me as a mage. Last night I had
a dream about Voldemort killing Hermione
in front of my eyes. I had no wand and
I could do nothing. I was completely helpless.
I need to know how to control and use my
powers, to protect her…and Ron, too.
Harry"
Dumbledore read the letter and smiled, happy with Harry's decision. He decided that if Harry had only accepted the training to defend Hermione, he should not find out yet that she was a mage too.
They would have to train separately.
He called Professor McGonagall, and asked her to go and get Hermione and take her to Grimmauld Place, where she would be trained.
Dumbledore would fetch Harry himself and take him directly to Hogwarts, so the two would be separate.
*********************
"Well, Harry, go and settle your things in the sixth year's dorm. I'll meet you in the Great Hall." Dumbledore said. Harry nodded and headed for the dorm.
At Grimmauld Place, the Order of the Phoenix members were astonished to see Hermione with them so early. McGonagall sent her to her room, to unpack her belongings. Then she explained the situation to everyone.
"She's here because from today she will start her mage training. Dumbledore is training Harry. Harry is not to know that Hermione is a mage at the moment, until he recovers his trust in Dumbledore. It seems that another late revelation from Dumbledore has upset him very much."
"I should have known that they would be mages,' said Remus. `But I think they are getting trained very early. They still have two school years to attend! I honestly don't think they are ready,' he added. The other members agreed with him.
"Dumbledore thinks they can do this now, so we have to trust him" McGonagall said. "Molly, I have here a letter for you, asking you to return to the Burrow. Albus doesn't want Ron knows about Hermione being a mage. He is Harry's friend, too, and there is a risk he tells him the truth" she added.
Molly seemed a little hurt by this. However, she went to call Ron and the others without replying.
While this was going on, Ron was speaking to Hermione.
"So, what are you doing here, so early?" he asked
"I can't tell you" she replied, abruptly
"Well, maybe with a little bit of tickling…" he teased, then started tickling her. She didn't take this very well.
"Leave me alone, Ron. I can't tell you. Just leave me alone!" she yelled
Ron was surprised, but thought: "Give her a little of time to forget Harry. Maybe he has already started to treat her badly, and she feels hurt. Maybe I can comfort her and then…"
"Ok, I'll stop. Have you heard from Harry? He never owled me, this summer"
"Of course I've been in contact with him," she replied briefly.
**********************
At Hogwarts, Harry had started his training. With his wand raised, he followed Dumbledore's instructions to modify the spells.
"Cast a "Lumos", Harry and then concentrate and try to change it into a heating spell" the Headmaster said.
Harry cried: "Lumos!" and his wand lit up. He then concentrated very hard on the heating spell, trying to make the change. The light decreased, and a little heat could be felt around the wand.
However, the transformation was not complete.
"Try again, Harry. You can do it. Think about the structure of the spell and concentrate on it."
Harry tried many times, but each time the transformation was not complete. After almost an hour, he could finally change a "Lumos" spell into a heating one.
"Harry…now, let's try to change the heating spell into a "Rictosempra"
The Headmaster explained to him the difference in the structure of the two spells with the help of a chalkboard. Harry started to try it.
This time, he needed only three attempts to reach his aim. He felt a little relieved, but also tired.
"Let's have a break, Harry. We'll have lunch, then work again in the afternoon."
Harry nodded, too tired to speak.
*******************************
At Grimmauld Place, after the Weasleys had left, Hermione and McGonagall started to work in the living room.
"Now, Hermione, let's start changing the spell's structure. As you know, a spell has an its own structure, which gives it its characteristics…"
After a long explanation, they started practising; "Now cast a Floating Charm on this feather and then, try to change the spell into a Summoning one"
Hermione cried: "Wingardium Leviosa!" and the feather started to float in the air then she concentrated hard on modifying the spell but it failed. She tried again, and this one she succeeded: the feather flew into her hand.
"Well done, Hermione! You have always been an outstanding student, but I'm amazed! This is very difficult to learn quickly."
Hermione smiled about the Professor's compliment, but she couldn't help wondering how Harry was doing.
"I'm usually with him when he has to learn difficult things" she thought.
After lunch, Hermione went to rest a little in her room. All what she was able to do was thinking about Harry.
In the meanwhile, Harry was lying on his bed in the dorm, thinking.
"I'm doing this for you, Mione. You are so important to me…I can't risk to loosing you." he thought before he fell asleep.