Unofficial Portkey Archive

Chapter Fifteen

The next morning, Mad Eye came to help Harry train because Remus had something he needed to do for the Order. Harry showed him the binding spell that he had just learned.

"Very good, very good," he growled at Harry. "Now I'm going to show you how to perform the Disillusionment Charm."

Harry nodded and walked closer to Moody. Soon he was able to make Moody and then himself blend into their backgrounds.

"Nice, Potter," Moody said approvingly. "Now, another spell that's very useful to know is the Anti-Disapparating jinx. The incantation is Chordateah! The wand movement is this…" and he demonstrated for Harry. "You try it, Harry."

Harry practiced the jinx until Moody said, "That's right…okay, now try it on me…"

"Chordateah!" Harry said but Moody was no longer there.

"You've got to go a bit faster, Potter," Mad Eye chuckled from behind him. "The bad guys aren't going to just stand there waiting for you to catch them,"

Harry swung around to see Moody now standing on the other side of the room.

"Chordateah!" Again, no Moody.

"Almost…" came from behind Harry again.

Harry laughed. "This is pretty hard…I don't know if I can-" he began but then pivoted, aimed quickly and shouted, "Chordateah!"

"Well, bloody hell…" Moody had to grin in spite of himself. "Y'got me you sneaky little bas- Er, I mean, well done."

"Finite Incantatum," Harry released him, grinning back.

"All right then, fancy a little duel, Potter? Let's see what you can do."

Harry shrugged, "Okay…" then began walking toward Moody ready to bow.

"No, that's not what I had in mind…" Moody growled with a gleam in his eye. "Expelliaramus!"

"Protego!" Harry shouted just in time and Mad Eye had to duck his own spell but then added a stunner that Harry had to dive to the floor to miss.

As Harry rolled over, he pointed his wand and yelled, "Impedimenta!" Moody blocked this one and Harry had to scramble to avoid the rebounding jet of light. He got to his feet just in time to block the Body Bind spell and then Apparated across the room behind Moody.

"Oh, you can't hide like that from me…" Moody turned swiftly around and fired off a hex but Harry was gone again. "You're quick," he called, "but I can still see you…"

"Damn that eye…" Harry said under his breath as he walked back through the dining room door from the entry hall.

"Heard that…" Moody aimed his electric blue eye at Harry.

"What, is one of your ears magical, too?"

"You just never know, now, do you?" Moody chuckled with a lopsided grin. "I have to say, that was pretty good, Potter. This is what you need to practice on a daily basis as I'm sure you know from past experience."

Harry nodded. "Remus and I are working everyday and when Ron and Hermione get back, they'll work with me like they were before."

"So when are they getting back?"

"I think I'll see them on my birthday…" Harry's heart swelled at that thought.

"Not too long, then."

"Yes, only about six more days…" He hoped the time would pass quickly but knew that it wouldn't go as quickly as he wanted.

"Be nice to spend time with people your own age, I guess."

"Well, yes, but I've pretty much enjoyed all my time here-I'm just glad to be away from the Dursley's at any rate."

Moody shook his head and snorted, "Those are some of the worst people I've ever had to deal with and that's saying something. The nastiest thing about people like that is that they somehow manage to present a respectable face to most people while underneath it all is pure ugliness."

Harry shrugged. "I'm just glad to be here."

"Hmmpf…well, there's one more spell I wanted us to go over today-the Screening charm. It will put up a barrier that will hide whomever is behind it. The observer will see the environment just as it is except without the persons hiding behind the barrier."

"Sounds pretty useful."

"I've used it many times and been thankful for it," Moody said. "The incantation is `Celareous!' and you move your wand like this…okay you try it."

Harry practiced a few times until he had the proper technique. "By the way," he asked, "can you see through these barriers?"

"Most of the time…depends on the power of the wizard casting it."

"How long will the barrier stay up?"

"Again, depends on the power of the wizard…ready to give it a try?"

Harry nodded and lifted his wand.

"Whenever you're ready, then."

"Celareous!"

"Very good, Harry! See how long you can keep it going."

Harry poured his concentration into maintaining the barrier. Finally in fatigue, he broke the spell.

"Not bad, Harry, not bad…about three minutes there and I couldn't see you until you began to tire."

"Thanks." Harry mopped the sweat off his face with the hem of his T-shirt. He hadn't been this tired in a while.

"Well, that's enough for today…good work, Harry." Moody clapped Harry on the back.

"Thanks, I really appreciate your help," Harry shook Mad-Eye's hand as they walked into the entry hall.

"You're quite welcome."

Just then Remus came through the front door. "Hello, Harry, Alastor. How did everything go today?"

"Really well-Harry's a quick study, let me tell you," Moody said with a grin. "He caught me in the Anti-Disapparation jinx after only three tries."

"Really?" Remus looked proudly at Harry and chuckled. "Nice work!"

"And," Moody went on, "he learned to perform the Screening charm, too."

"I'm impressed," Remus nodded. "Sounds like you had a very productive morning…speaking of which, Alastor, could I see you back in the dining room for just a moment? Please excuse us, Harry."

"I was just heading to the shower anyway. I'll see you in a bit for lunch?"

Remus nodded.

"Can you stay for lunch, too?" Harry looked hopefully at Moody.

"Thanks, I'd like to but I've got to meet up with Tonks. Maybe another time soon?"

"All right, then. Tell her I said, hello, okay? See you later." Harry gave a parting smile and walked toward the steps.

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

In the next several days, quite a few members of the Order dropped by to speak with Remus. He told Harry that the other three Death Eaters had recently been sighted in the Wiltshire area but none had been apprehended as of yet. Dumbledore called a meeting of the entire group. Harry did not attend this meeting as Snape was giving a report. Dumbledore and Harry had privately agreed that Harry would not attend meetings where Professor Snape was in attendance so that if Voldemort were to see into Harry's mind, Snape's position wouldn't be compromised. Harry had no desire to see him anyway and always tried to be in another part of the house when he knew his least favorite professor was coming.

Harry had received another owl, this one from Ron, happily informing him that he had received 7 O.W.L.s and letting Harry know that he would be seeing him on his birthday. Harry began to grow very anxious for the last day of July to arrive. He had certainly enjoyed his time with Remus, Tonks, Moody, and Dumbledore but needed a little break from the training schedule. He was proud of what he had accomplished and was impatient to show what he had learned to Ron and Hermione. Dumbledore had said that he was doing much better with his Occlumency but the Headmaster had still been able to break through Harry's defenses. Dumbledore encouraged him to keep on working at it and he was. Harry wasn't going to let anyone else fall into danger because his mind was an open book to Voldemort.

On the day before his birthday, he woke up a little early and decided to go on down to the dining room to train. He stopped by the drawing room to check the sky. A few clouds so far but that could change quickly. When he reached the dining room, he turned on the wireless and got himself a set of weights. He had been gradually increasing the heaviness of the sets he used and was pleased to see the results that were starting to show from his work. He was by no means bulking up but his muscles were becoming more defined and he noticed more range of motion, control, and quickness in his movements when he was dodging spells. Hermione's idea to add weights and exercise to their training regimen had been a very good one.

Harry had been working for a while when the door opened and in walked Remus.

"Making an early day of it?" Remus asked.

"Yeah, I woke up early and decided to just come on down. I didn't wake you, did I?"

"Nope." Remus picked up a set of weights and began to lift along with Harry. "So tomorrow's the big day, huh?"

"It'll be my first birthday totally away from the Dursley's…can't think of a better present," Harry grinned.

"I hope you have the best day you've ever had, Harry."

"Thanks, but I'm not sure what could top finding out that I was a wizard and then seeing Diagon Alley for the first time."

Remus shook his head with a short laugh. "I'm not sure that anything could top that. But maybe something will come in a close second."

Harry smiled. "We'll see."

After they had finished with the weights, they practiced their spell work. By the time they had finished with a duel, they were both tired and dripping with sweat but laughing.

"You're doing very well, Harry. You've really come a long way."

"Thanks, Remus…couldn't have done it without you."

"This has been good for me, too-especially the exercise and dueling. One thing you're getting really good at is distracting your opponent-shows how smart you are." Remus smiled and clapped Harry on the back. "You think very quickly in situations where most people would freeze up. Then you have the element of surprise on your side, which nearly always gives you the upper hand in a dangerous situation."

They headed down to the kitchen as they usually did to get a cold drink.

"Much better…" Harry sighed after he had downed his water. "I'm heading up to take a shower. See you in a bit for lunch."

"Sounds good, then. Oh, hang on. I forgot to tell you that the first of August is the full moon. Molly, Ron and Ginny are coming to stay with you for a few days after your birthday while I'm…ill-hope that's okay." Remus nodded and finished his drink.

"Sure-that's fine with me. I'm glad the full moon's not until after my birthday. Are you still taking the Wolfsbane potion?"

"Yeah," Remus grimaced. "Dumbledore sends it over."

"Will you stay here during full moon?" Harry asked.

"Yes, but I'll be in a safe place…Harry, I'll ask you not to look for me." Remus met Harry's eyes.

"Don't worry, Remus, I won't." Harry shook his head.

Remus nodded. "All right, then-go on and take a shower before Dobby hexes us out of the kitchen."

Harry showered quickly and was getting dressed in his room when he heard the doorbell. Wondering who it was, he shoved his feet into his trainers that he never untied and finished buttoning the last buttons on his shirt as he hurried down the stairs to the entry hall. Dobby was just opening the front door as he reached the hall. The light from outside speared into the dark entry and Harry's heart leapt as he made out the silhouette of…

"HERMIONE!" Before Harry knew it, he raced to her and, engulfing her in his arms, pulled her inside and then proceeded to swing her around saying, "It's so good to see you! You're back early!"

"Harry!" Hermione laughed trying to catch her breath as she hugged him back and then held on tight as he swung her round.

Grinning, he pulled back a bit and their eyes met. Harry experienced a strange swooping feeling in his stomach along with a sudden shyness and quickly put her down. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, our trip ended just a bit earlier than we had planned and so I owled Remus to ask if I could come a day earlier to surprise you-I hope that's okay." Hermione smiled.

"Are you kidding? That's great!" he said a little breathlessly, mentally shaking off his odd feelings. "You're just in time for lunch. Let me help you with your things."

Harry picked up her bags. "So how was your trip?"

"Wonderful," Hermione glowed. "I liked all of Austria that I saw but I loved Vienna best with the hills and the Danube River running through it. Absolutely beautiful! I loved the Opera House and the Cathedral of Saint Stephen but the best thing of all was the Imperial Library," her voice grew wistful. "I could've stayed there much longer."

"I'm glad you had a good time," Harry smiled at her obvious enjoyment of her holiday. "How are your parents?"

"Very well, thanks. They said to tell you hello."

As they made it to the landing, Crookshanks came scurrying out of the drawing room to Hermione. "Crookshanks!" She dropped to her knees and scratched him between the ears as she crooned to him.

"Did you miss me? Looks like Harry took good care of you." Crookshanks lay down on the floor beside Hermione's feet and stretched and purred.

"He did really well. Hang on." Harry carried the bags into Hermione's bedroom and put them by the armoire then came back to the landing as Remus walked down the stairs. "Well, Hermione! Good to see you. How was your trip?" Remus gave her a quick hug then smiled at Harry. "Surprise. Here's your first gift."

"Best one so far." Harry grinned and Hermione laughed and punched him lightly on the arm.

"Thanks so much," she returned sarcastically then said to Remus, "My trip was great."

Remus looked at Hermione. "You'll have to show us your pictures when you get them developed."

"You may be sorry you said that-I took loads of them and they are being developed as we speak."

"Sounds good. Are you hungry? Let's go down and get some lunch."

~>^<~>^<~>^<~>^<~

After lunch, they went up to the drawing room. Hermione lay down on the ottoman to look up at the sky. "I really missed this…" Crookshanks jumped up beside Hermione and purred as she absentmindedly smoothed the fur on his back.

"We missed you, too. Glad you're back." Harry replied sitting on the couch across from her.

"Oh!" Hermione sat up suddenly and looked at Harry. "I can't believe I forgot to ask until now…how many O.W.L.s did you get?"

Harry cast a furtive glance at Remus then looked down at his feet. "I was kind of hoping you wouldn't remember to ask..."

"What do you mean?" Hermione's voice became guarded.

"Well…it wasn't what I expected…"

"And…"

"And…you remember how hard those tests were…don't you?"

"Yes…"

"And I couldn't finish my History of Magic exam…"

"Harry…"

"Well…I didn't get as many as you did."

"Well, you couldn't have-I had more classes than you did."

"True…but even if I had, I still probably wouldn't have gotten as many as you did…"

"Harry would you just tell me?"

"At least I didn't get "Troll" in any subjects…I'm proud of that." Harry wanted to burst out laughing at the look on Hermione's face but kept up the façade.

Hermione looked at Remus who was now shaking with silent mirth and then back to Harry who was still managing to look quite serious. "Harry James Potter! You tell me right this minute how many O.W.L.s you got or I'm taking my bags and getting back on the Knight Bus."

"Oh, all right!" Harry said finally grinning at her impatient face. "I got eight of nine possible-all subjects except history. Happy?"

"Very." Hermione jumped up and hugged him. "I'm proud of you!"

"Well, what about twelve! I'm really proud of you," came Harry's muffled voice. "Um, Hermione, I'm not breathing really well right now…"

"Oh, sorry," Hermione quickly untangled herself from Harry and sat on the couch beside him. "But, see? All that studying paid off, didn't it? This year will really be good if we keep that up. "

Harry sighed and looked at Remus. "I can tell the study nagging is going to be in high gear again this year…"

"Well we do have to think about N.E.W.T.s," Hermione said. "They're just two years away…"

"Aaaaagghh!" Harry covered his face as he fell over into the pillows in mock suffering and didn't see Hermione wink at Remus.

A/N: The next chapter will be the one you've been waiting so patiently for-promise! xxCFFB

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