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So, Professor, shall we go hand to hand? Or shall we take up arms?" Harry asked. Professor Flitwick had transfigured an empty classroom into a large slightly padded room. Weapons lined the wall, and Harry was dressed in a kung fu shirt, and a hakama. Flitwick was in a long flowing robe, with padded knee's.

"Let's just go with hand to hand. We don't want to end up in the infirmary in the first week do we?" Flitwick smiled.

"Of course not." Harry said, smiling as well. He slipped into a loose front stance. Flitwick followed suit, leaning heavily on his back foot, his arms raised, one over his head, the other at his chest. "I hope you know you have an advantage already Professor."

"How so Mr. Thornwood?" Flitwick asked.

"You're much more experienced than me, and much smaller, even with my age." Harry said. Flitwick nodded. Neither said anything, waiting for the other to make a move. A bird flew past the window, and both shot off at each other. Harry sent a knife hand at the Professor's eye's. He flipped over the punch, sending a foot into Harry's face. He stumbled back, gaining his balance back. "It seems your style is very much like the way of the Monkey." Harry said.

"Indeed, my personal style is very much monkey like. The way of the Snake will not help you here. Now, show me you're strength!" Flitwick said.

"Very well then." A shadow passed over Harry's face, and he assumed a new pose. His legs deep in the stance, his feet far apart. His fist's in an open palm hand, one over his head, the other parallel to his eyes. A look of recognition passed Flitwick's eye. He charged, jumping from place to place, using his speed and size to his advantage. Harry tried to follow the pattern with his eye, not moving from his position. Flitwick flipped high into the air, before throwing an axe kick straight at Harry.

He placed his weight on the ball of his foot, twirling around, using his great flexibility to dodge the kick. He punched with his claw like hand straight into Flitwick's chest. Flitwick flipped back, landing on his feet and his left palm. "A little pay back I see. Let's go all the way to our most powerful style's." Flitwick said. He placed his fist's onto the floor, his weight on the balls of his feet. "This is my style! The path of the gorilla!" Flitwick said.

Harry assumed a similar position. His hands were on the floor, in open palms. His back was more relaxed, and one of his legs closer to his body. "This is the Wolf palm." Harry said. They charged once more. Flitwick jumping straight forward, leaving heavy damage to the floor as he went. Harry summersaulted to the side, running on all fours. "This is your ultimate style? Doesn't seem all that strong." Flitwick said, backhanding Harry's leg.

"It's not meant to be powerful." Harry said. He started channeling magic to his limbs. He started to circle around Flitwick, who stood still observing Harry, tried to break down the purpose of this style. Harry stopped mid circle, and flipped over Flitwick, kicking him as he flew over him. Flitwick blocked with his arm, being thrown back a bit by the speed. Flitwick charged again, slamming his fist into the ground next to Harry, who narrowly dodged. Harry circled once again, this time cutting threw his circle, slamming his fist into Flitwick's back.

"I see, your style is focused on Flexibility, and Speed. While mine is Strength and jumping." Flitwick analyzed. "I believe if we were to continue, we would end up in the infirmary." Flitwick said, standing up. Harry joined him, while limping slightly.

"You are quite strong Professor. And Agile." Harry said with a smile.

"Don't count yourself out yet Mr. Thornwood. You are quite powerful for your age. As well as strong, and fast, not to mention flexible." Flitwick said, rubbing his forearm.

"Thank you Professor. My Sensei trained me quite well." Harry said, as they slowly made their way to the Great hall. "Are you able to tell me a bit about the goblin style?" Harry asked.

"Sure. It's a lot like the path of the Tiger. The only problem is, there is no defence in the style, pure offense only." Flitwick explained. "Very dangerous to both parties. If you aren't strong enough, or quick enough to strike, you leave yourself wide open." Flitwick said.

"But your style is different. It mixes the Goblin style with the path of the monkey. A very devistating style, made for breaking bones." Harry said.

"Indeed. Yours is quite different as well. By moving on all fours, you open up your back, sides and head for attack. Yet this i believe is a ploy, to get your enemy up close to deal a devastating attack, that at the time, doesnt seem to do much damage. Your speed and flexibility just add to this." Flitwick theorised. He looked at his wrist, seeing a bruise starting to form.

"Thank you Professor." Harry said as they arrived at the Great hall. Harry limped his way to the slytherin table, getting confused looks. He eventually sat down nexg to Daphne. "Mornin."

"Have you bathed yet today?' Daphne asked. Harry smiled guiltily, before shaking his head. Daphne scolded before saying "Scourgify." The smell that followed Harry let up. "Finally, I can breath." Daphne said with a smirk.

"Well sorry I smell after sparring. I didn't get the chance to limp my way down to the dungeons yet." Harry said in mock anger.

"Well don't lean on me when you have to go down the stairs. I don't want your boy scent rubbing off on me." Daphne said, raising her nose.

Harry smirked while raising an eyebrow.

He stayed quiet though, before loading his plate with food.

"So, how did it actually go?" Daphne asked, tired of the silence.

"It could have been better. Had Flitwick not been pulling his punches, I would have ended up in the infirmary. I did manage to land a few hits on him though." Harry said.

"He's that powerful?" Daphne asked.

"His personal style is very dangerous. I bet he's feeling his arm though." Harry said with a grin. Daphne glanced over at the Professor's table. Indeed, Flitwick was rubbing his forearm quite frequently. "Mhm, I almost forgot to ask. Do you want to go with me to Hagrids later? I'm going to evaluate his umbrella." Harry asked.

Daphne was puzzled at this. "Why do you want me to go with you?" She asked.

"I'd like you to see me at my craft. Besides, Hagrid's not that bad a giant. He's just, a bit slow sometimes." Harry said. Daphne thought for a moment.

"Sure, why not. I already finished my homework."

Knock knock. "Ah, 'Arry! How are ya?" Hagrid asked, opening his large door.

"I'm a bit sore, but otherwise quite well. This is Daphne Greengrass, a good friend of mine." Harry said. Daphne blushed at the good friend part.

"Nice ta meet ya Daphne. Come in, come in." Hagrid said. "I take it yer here to look at me umbrella." Hagrid said, grabbing said accessory.

"Indeed. I've never seen such a focus before." Harry said, taking out his loupe. He looked it up and down. "Hagrid. This focus was snapped at one point." Harry said seriously. Daphne's eye's widened. Hagrid huffed before sitting down.

"I was hopein you'd miss tha'." Hagrid said.

"Why was it snapped Hagrid?" Daphne asked.

"Way back in me third year of Hogwarts, I was framed for killing a student. I supposedly opened the Chamber of Secrets, a mysterous place built by Salazar Slytherin, that houses a monster. They expelled me and snapped my wand." Hagrid explained.

"And how were you framed?" Harry asked.

"The monster petrifies people, I had smuggled a friend into Hogwarts. I was protectin him. Aragog can't petrify people. That's not his species ability." Hagrid said. "I should not have told you that." Hagrid said.

"What is Aragog's species Hagrid? If not something that causes paralysis then what?" Harry asked.

"This stays between the three of us. Ya hear?" Hagrid asked. Daphne and Harry nodded. "Aragog is an acromantula. He lives deep in the Forbidden Forest." Hagrid said.

"An acromantula. Quite a dangerous species yes. But not one that causes paralysis. Did he spawn children?" Harry asked.

"Aye, but the Centaurs keep their numbers in check, else Dumbledore would kill 'em." Hagrid explained. Daphne visibly relaxed at this.

"Hagrid, I've studied your umbrella, and I think the best thing for you to do is get a new focci. Yours was not properly fixed, and it causes you to expell quite a bit of extra magic when you cast a spell, and the powdered pixey wings used in the wand are near disintegrated." Harry explained.

"But where would I get a new one. I'm not allowed to get one 'ere in Britain." Hagrid said.

"Well, I'm not sure if it would work, but I could craft you a focus. And not necessarily a wand. Would that work?" Harry asked. Hagrid stuttered in shock for a moment.

"You'd do that? Fer me?" Hagrid asked. "Sure. I need a few more materials, and you'd have to wait till the years over, but I could use this for my mark of Adept test." Harry said with a smile.

"Thank ya 'Arry! Ye don't know how much this means to me. Do you need anything from me to complete the test?" Hagrid asked.

"Hm, well, if you could get two vials of venom from Aragog, there very well could be a connection you have to it for your focci." Harry explained.

"I'll do it. Next time I go t' see him." Hagrid said, now in tears. Harry gave him an awkward side hug, before going back to Daphne.

"Well, Hagrid, before the years up, just come see me, and I'll give you the location of the shop." Harry said with a smile. Hagrid nodded before blowing his nose. "We better be off Hagrid. See ya later." Harry said. Daphne uttered a goodbye before they left the hut.

"He seems... nice, in a sort of slow way." Daphne said. "That was very nice of you to offer up your services to him."

"What are friends for. you can't help but like the guy." Harry said as they entered the castle. "Hem hem." Came a voice from behind them. They turned around, hands on their wands, just in case. It was Rose Potter, awkwardly standing there.

"Um... Mr. Thornwood, can we talk?" She asked. Harrh raised an eyebrow.

"Depends on the topic of our discussion." Harry said.

"I just wanted... to apologise. I know it was Mom and Dad's decision to send you away, but I didn't know until after it happened. I'm also sorry to say I don't have a lot of memories of us together. If you wouldn't mind, do you think we can start fresh?" Rose asked. Harry weighed the options in his mind. On one hand, he could use some more friends. On the other, the adult Potters might use this as a way to try and control him.

"Hm. I can be civil towards you. You definitely seem much more level headed than the rest of your family. I can't say anything beyond that." Harry said.

"That's all I ask. Thank you." Rose said, turning away to head up to the Racenclaw tower. "Oh, Damien might not be as calm when you meet up." Rose said before walking off.

Daphne looked at Harry pointedly. "What?"

"You can act civil to her? That's it?" Daphne asked.

"Look, I don't want to have this conversation right now. What happend between me and the Potter family will never be erased. I am happy that miss Potter handed out an olive branch, but I cannot be too sure of the rest of the family." Harry said. A deep cold pain settled in his eyes.

"I hope one day you can tell me the full story Harry, I really do."