Lessons of Life

James woke up when someone put a hand on his head. Neville Longbottom smiled down at him. "Good morning. You have been asleep for a bit. How are you feeling? Do you have any headaches?"

"Is my father still hunting the thief?" James asked.

Neville stared at him. "Amazing. How much have seen?"

"Marcus Walker told dad where to find the thief. I expect him and mom are still hunting him. They called you to watch over me."

Neville nodded. "Indeed. I am here to watch over you for now until they come to pick you up."

James started to raise from his bed but froze. "Pick up. We're not at my family home?"

Neville shook his head. "No. Your at Hogwarts of course. Your father and mother decided it was best to have you out of the country while they handle matters regarding the wizard attempting to invade your mind."

James frowned looking around at his surrounding to see he was in a bed room. Books lined the walls around them in the bedroom of the head master. "Is this your room?"

"Yes. A time space for me and my companion to have for sleep and private time. How was your sleep?"

James shook his head and brushed Neville's attempt to help him out of bed aside as he rolled out of the bed to his feet. "Professor-"

Neville held up his hand. "You are not in school any longer James. Neville will do. Are you ready for breakfast?"

"I need you to train me in Occlumency. I have to learn how to protect myself. Now."

Neville sighed and held up a finger. "First breakfast. Then we'll talk about possible training methods we can try to help you along to defending your mind from attacks." He said walked to the door grabbing the door knob and giving it a twist he pulled it open.

The outside was the main office of the headmaster office. James saw the house elf Tan Tan was dressed in a blue dress standing next to a breakfast table with two plates prepared with an English Breakfast.

James stomach growled as he walked over quickly to sit down picking up a fork and dug into sausage, bacon and eggs. Neville took his seat as well with Tan Tan standing close beside him.

Neville ate quietly with a small smile on his face. "Besides the recent events how has your new profession and apprenticeship gone with your father?"

James covered his mouth as he finished his food and smiled at Neville. "It's gone good. We've had a couple of minor cases and I've learned a lot from Dad about looking at things differently. There is a lot of knowledge I've been learning that I didn't learn in school." He said and then went quiet.

Neville nodded his head slowly. "What's on your mind? You have question."

James stared at him. "Why didn't you teach us about the different factions in the magical world? The Wuxia. Do we even have the complete knowledge about them? Dad says we only have what they have allowed us to learn from them."

"Your father is being very gracious when he says we only have what the far eastern wizards allow for us to know. Wand lore used to channel magic energy is a new invention but the far eastern wizard are a culture that has been around sense the beginning using magic without it for many centuries before wands came to be and they have never shared all of the knowledge how they channeled magic with the western wizards. Very few outsiders even know about the temple in their enchanted forest."

James nodded. "Dad went there. He says he learned the ancient ways of magic from the masters of The Wuxia. He says if I do well and improve myself he wants to to take me to see his teachers there."

"Indeed. If it is possible for you to meet them and train with the masters I think would further your education."

James sat back. "I completed my educated at Hogwarts. How am I still so weak in my craft and Occlumency. I studied hard. I got top marks."

Neville nodded and took up his cup to sip his tea. "So?"

"So? What does that mean? I was a top student for my last years at Hogwarts." He said.

"You completed your formal basic education in magical studies here but as I told you time and time again this the place you learn to fail and succeed in protected environment. There is no end to educating yourself or improving your position in this world but the limits and hold you put on yourself." Neville calmly.

Silence hung between them for a few moments. James stared at Neville as he sipped his tea quietly. Neville smiled.

"Do you wish to be a great wizard?" He asked.

"It is the reason I came to Hogwarts. I am a descendant of Harry Potter. I wanted to learn how to become as great as him and my father. It is my destiny to become the best wizard I can be. I can not fail my father and mother. I can't allow myself to."

"Where are failing what do you need to do?"

James sighed closing his eyes for second. "I haven't mastered my studies. I've been able to improve in my Apparition with my dad's help but I still don't have as big a foundational grasp on Occlumency as my dad. My dad is incredible."

Neville chuckled. "Oh yes. I would say so indeed. Though he wasn't as a good as student as his father the wealth of knowledge and skills he gained over the course of a few decades is amazing."

"Neville." James spoke.

Neville looked up frowning. "Yes."

"Dad was hit with Avada Kedavra in the back and he didn't even fall. He look the killing spell and shook it off. How is that possible? Only one person was able to take contact of that spell twice."

Neville leaned back in his seat a moment his eyes looking up to the ceiling as he rocked back in his seat. Tan Tan rubbed his leg. He stopped suddenly after a few minutes and a slow smile spread across his lips. "That is wickedly brilliant."

"What do you mean? Did you figure it out already?" James asked.

Neville shook his head. "I have an idea for how Angus survived but it is not for me to explain or reveal. That is for another time and place but not now. Now are you and your parents wish me to help you find the right method of instruction in Occlumency. Are you ready to jump into it or would you like to finish your breakfast first?"

James looked down at plate. He sighed. "I'm ready to get to it." He said got up from his seat.