Okay thankies to everyone who reviewed and please under no circumstances some reviewing.
Sorry that this took so long but with school, karate, helping my sis move out of home, work, homework, etc everything just piled up. And I was unable to reread this and make some small changes. But it's here now.
Also I'm looking for another beta reader if neone intrested.
Chapter 7 - New Situations
***##***##***##***
The next two days passed uneventfully for Harry. He spent most of his time by the fire in the common room trying to make sense of the books Dumbledore had given him. For once he couldn't wait for classes to start! He even had time to visit Hogsmeade and practice Quidditch.
However Harry felt empty, he was alone. There were only teachers around as Hagrid was still on Order business and he had no desire to spend quality time with Snape. He ate his meals alone, normally going to the kitchens first, then down to the lake to eat in peace. Dumbledore had talked to him on his first day, then disappeared to 'make arrangements'. Essentially Harry was alone. So he waited for Hermione to join him.
Monday morning, Harry woke and jumped out of bed, checking the time along the way.
8.45 am
He'd over slept.
Again.
Silently Harry cursed him self for sleeping in once again, then slowly a smile came to his face. Hermione would be arriving today. In 1 hour and 15 minutes Harry would no longer be alone and that afternoon their training would start.
***##***##***##***
At precisely 9.45 Dumbledore opened the door to the Gryffindor common
room
and walked towards Harry with a smile on his face.
"I hope you are well rested, Harry. This afternoon you start your training."
Smiling Dumbledore walked over to the now roaring fire and pulled a black velvet pouch from his robes, "I'll be back soon with Miss Granger… as long as Molly doesn't try to keep me too long." He glanced at Harry once more before disappearing into the flames.
Harry sat down in one of the large chairs facing the fire and waited, staring at the clock watching the hands move. Counting down the time until ten o'clock.
Fifteen minutes…
Ten minutes…
Five minutes…
Three minutes…
Two minutes…
One minute…
The clock chimed ten but still there was no Hermione. Harry turned and stared expectantly at the fire, as if expecting Hermione to pop out of thin air.
Five past….
Harry waited. She probably forgot her copy of 'Hogwarts, A History.' he reasoned.
Ten past…
She's probably being bombarded by Mrs Weasley but as Harry stared at the fire a flicker of doubt starting to rise in him.
Twenty past…
Where is she? Harry was getting nervous; she was never late.
Half past…
"What if someth…" Before Harry could finish his thought, Hermione burst through the door panting, her trunk floating behind her.
"Harry I'm so sorry we're late, I just ran all the way from Hogsmeade. You'll never believe wh…"
Hermione never got a chance to finish what she was saying as Harry had wrapped her in a bone crushing hug and was busy holding her tightly reassuring himself that she was indeed there.
After what felt like hours, Harry finally released Hermione and stared at her intently.
"I was so worried. Don't you ever do that again!" Harry smiled trying to decide whether to scream with joy, run around the room, or yell at her for taking so long.
"Harry I'm sorry but you'll never guess what happened." Suddenly Harry realized that her eyes were alight with joy and she was shaking from excitement.
Harry smiled to himself, She looks so adorable, he thought, Hold on, since when did I think of Hermione as adorable?
Harry smiled again as he pushed the annoying thoughts aside, then did the first thing that came to mind.
He picked Hermione up and carried her to her favourite chair by the fire. Proceeding to sit down, he pulled her into his lap.
"I missed you so much." he whispered into her ear, "You have no idea how boring it's been."
"I missed you too." she replied sincerely, "But guess what happened."
Harry finally realized that she had been trying to tell him why she was
late.
"I dunno" he shrugged his shoulders.
Hermione looked as though she had just been given a library of books for Christmas, "Well, Dumbledore came to get me and when I was finally able to go, I got into the fire and tried flooing here but for some reason I couldn't. I tried like ten times but every time the fire wouldn't let me go or something." Hermione smiled at Harry then went on, "Anyway, so we ended up apparating to Hogsmeade then I ran all the way here cause I just knew how worried you'd be… I wonder where Dumbledore is?" she added after a moment, panting slightly from lack of breath.
"Right here." A soft voice echoed from the door, "I see you found Harry, and as I assured you he is still quite all right."
A flush of red appeared on Hermione cheeks, "I wasn't that worried," she mumbled.
"Miss Granger here seemed to be under the impression that you would do something drastic if you didn't know what had happened." Dumbledore continued, smiling.
Harry forced a smile onto his face.
God she knows me too well, he thought to himself, never noticing Hermione grin at him as she removed herself from his lap and sat down on one of the seats next to him.
"Now I'm sure our last meeting left you with many questions." He paused as both of the children nodded.
He removed two pieces of paper from within his robes and let them rest in his lap,
"Harry, this year you will be required to take on Ancient Runes and Arithmancy, I have spoken to both Professor Vector and Professor Artemis and they have both agreed to give you lessons during the holidays so that you can catch up and join their classes at the beginning of the school year." Harry groaned inwardly but smiled politely at the professor, "You will have to drop Divination however as it will clash with your new subjects, and I think you will have enough on your plate with out having to use a timeturner as Ms Granger did in your third year."
"You will also be learning how to perform spells without your wand as well as changing a spell so that it can do your bidding, along with several other things that are directly related to you own power. Most of these lessons will be with myself and occasionally with Professor McGonagall."
Dumbledore smiled, knowing this would cheer Harry up a bit.
"Miss Granger, you will be studying the elements with several different teachers over the holidays. You need to understand not only how but also why they are as they are. Without this knowledge, your power will be diminished. You will also be learning how to control these elements."
Harry and Hermione both gave nods of understanding.
"You will both be studying enchantments, healing, mind power, apparation and learn how to become animagi. You will also be trained in physical combat, such as martial arts and weapons. Miss Granger you will learn how to use scythes," Dumbledore then turned to Harry, "Harry, you will be learning swordsmanship, I believe you know what your weapon will be."
Harry gave a small nod while Hermione looked on in interest, "The sword of Gryffindor." he whispered.
Dumbledore gave an affirming nod, "Harry, there is something you should know about this sword. Its name is the Yammka Suncrusher, I'm sorry that I am unable to tell you what this means, as it is an ancient weapon that was believed to come here from somewhere far away. It was a gift to Godric Gryffindor by a man called Kyp Durron. From what is remembered of this man you do bear a remarkable resemblance to him... what with your eyes, your hair, your power, your... "
Dumbledore smiled slightly.
"...Penchant for rash decisions. There is no proof this man ever existed, though it was believed that when he presented this sword to Godric, he spoke three words that are etched into the blade.
'Who are you?'
Alas, I am getting off track. The blade is made of the hardest substance known and the craftsmanship is said to rival that of the ancient races. It is rumoured that, when used by the correct person, the weapon is like an extension of the body. Harry, what I am about to tell you must not be repeated to anyone, not even Mr. Weasley. Do you understand?"
Harry gave a deft nod silently swearing to tell Ron everything.
"Harry, I mean it! No one can know what I'm about to tell you. If the information got out then it would be dangerous. The only reason I am letting Miss Granger in on this is because you will both be trained in Occlumency and it is important that you have at least one person you can talk to everything about. I will know if you have told Mr. Weasley and trust me when I say that the punishment you would suffer will be terrible."
There was a dangerous fire in Dumbledore's eyes that Harry had no wish to see, so he nodded silently, mentally apologizing to Ron.
"Good."
The fire diminished and after a moments pause, Dumbledore spoke.
"Godric Gryffindor is your father's ancestor and it is believed by a few people that Lily is the descendant of his best friend, Kyp. Harry, you must understand only a few people in the world believe in the Durron legend."
Harry was sitting in shock. Both he and Hermione had been too engrossed in the professor's words to even move.
"Now I must be going. I have much to organize before your training starts and I believe that I have overloaded your thoughts more than enough already."
Dumbledore stood and walked to a painting in the far corner of the room. After whispering something to the occupants who smiled and glanced at Harry and Hermione before swinging open, he walked back to them.
"As your training requires extensive study and a large amount of room to practise, you will be moving to a private room, your things have already been moved up there along with several other objects you will find useful, your password is 'Marauder'. Oh, and please be in the Great Hall at two o'clock sharp."
With that Dumbledore left the two teenagers alone, staring at the two pieces of paper he had left on the table in front of them… their timetables for the holidays.
Slowly Harry came out of his trance-like state and scooped the two bits of paper into his hand, folding Hermione's and placing it in her pocket before standing up.
"Well, let's go see our new rooms." he suggested, still amazed at what he had learnt.
Hermione nodded at him and stood up, taking his hand as they walked towards the painting. As Harry drew nearer he saw the painting was of two people wearing strange black robes. The male was of a strong build and it was easy to see he was rippling with muscle. He had black hair and greenish-brown eyes that seemed to change from one colour to the other as you stared at them. The other person was a female with brown hair and deep hazel eyes. She had a small frame and stood a full head shorter than the male though she too seemed to be strong. The two people smiled at him and waited for them to enter.
Harry paused at the door and looked at Hermione, waiting for her to enter. She smiled softly at him then walked through the door. Harry followed in her wake.
The room they entered was like a smaller version of the common room. There was a large desk in one corner, big enough for both of them to study and work at. Next to this was a bookshelf that Harry knew Hermione was dying to look at. In the opposite corner from the desk, there was a fire place surrounded by two chairs and a sofa that looked very comfortable. Harry took all of this in and noticed that there was a staircase in the middle of the opposite wall that split in two, he took this as leading to their bedrooms. Lastly, Harry noticed a small door to his right.
"It's perfect," he heard Hermione whisper next to him and he had to agree with her, the room was very comfortable.
"I wonder what's through here," Harry asked, pushing open the door
next to
him and pulling Hermione in after him.
Harry found himself standing in a large room. The floor had a strange material over it that looked as if it were made of reeds. There was a bench along one wall that looked like it would make a comfortable seat but also a useful place to put stuff. The room was wide and airy. Harry's eyes came to rest on a punching bag and several gloves and bags that looked as if they could be used for partners to practice karate on.
"It's a training room," he stated, half-way between shock and understanding.
"Obviously," Hermione replied with a shake of her head, "I guess this is where we are going to practice."
Harry nodded his head, "I'm going to head up to my room and take a look around there," He pulled Hermione into a tight hug, "Come and see me when you are settled in?" he asked.
"Sure," Hermione laughed, returning the hug just as energetically.
Harry let go of his friend and walked away to head up to his room turning around
at the last minute.
"It's good to have you back Hermione, I really missed you," he said without thinking, before heading up to his room.
Harry slowly climbed the stair case that led to his room after only a few meters he came face to face with a mark-less Jarrah door. Carefully, he reached a hand out and pushed the door open. As it swung, not even a creak could be heard. Harry was slightly surprised when the surface of the door changed to reveal a man standing whith a wand and sword in his hands, a bolt of lightning was striking the ground next to him and behind him stood a girl with windswept hair and a stag, only briefly wondering what it meant Harry stepped through the door and found himself in a spacious bedroom.
In the centre of the far wall was a four poster bed that looked comfortable, in one corner there was a small desk that could easily be used for study. Next to this sat a small bookshelf that contained books on sorcery, Defense Against the Dark Arts and swordsmanship. There were also a few books on the extra subjects Harry would be taking this year. However what surprised Harry the most was the glass faced rectangular cabinet that sat in the centre of the bookshelf. Curiously,Harry inched closer until he could see what was inside.
It was a sword.
Slowly Harry reached out a hand and opened the glass. Just as he was about to remove the sword, Hermione burst through a door to his left. Quickly Harry's arm dropped as if caught doing something he shouldn't be.
"Hermione?" he asked. In response, she smiled at him and Harry felt his gut clench, she really was beautiful.
'Where did that come from?' Harry suddenly asked himself when he realized where his thoughts were going.
"What are you doing here?"
She just continued smiling at him, "Looks like we share a bathroom," she said happily, her voice now returning.
"Isn't this place great!" she exclaimed, "I never knew a place like this existed, it isn't even on the map."
Harry smiled at her nodding his head once in agreement.
"I see you found your voice, you barely spoke before." he pointed out, glad that even in amongst change, Hermione could still be the same girl he knew five years ago.
Hermione blushed, slightly embarrassed at how well Harry knew her.
"Well it was a lot to take in." she stated simply, "So this is your room. I guess mine's a bit larger but my desk and bookshelf are about twice the size." Once again a blush crept onto her face as she admitted it.
"Well, you do live in a book." Harry said out loud.
'Though we both know that there is more to you then that.' he thought to himself.
The raven-haired wizard smiled at this thought. Hermione thought he was smiling about her obsession with books and smiled back at him.
'She's cute when she smiles,' Harry concluded, mentally berating himself for noticing so much about his best friend.
"So what's your room like?" he questioned, trying to divert her attention from himself.
Hermione grinned at him, "Perfect. Come on I'll show you."
Before Harry could protest, she grabbed his hand and proceeded to lead him to her own room before setting off to explore the rest of their new sanctuary.
***##***