Chapter 97: Chapter 97: "The Path of the Knight"
The day after discovering Godric Gryffindor's treasure, Harry set out to learn more about knights, delving into the depths of the library's numerous books. The concept of Knights that Godric Gryffindor had left in his inheritance seemed to be a forgotten path, lost to the sands of time.
Long before the rise of wizards in the world, a mystery that remains unsolved to the Britsh wizarding world, knights were beings of immense strength. Revered for their strength and held high positions in their kingdom. They were so powerful that a single knight could face an entire army alone and come back victorious.
The ranks of knighthood included Apprentice Knights, who were just starting their journey, followed by Knights, Great Knights, Earth Knights, and the esteemed Sky Knights. There is said to be a Holy knight about Sky Knughts, but no knight has ever reached that height in their cultivation in known history.
The hierarchy of Knights represented a form of human evolution accessible to all, not limited by the presence of a magical core. Furthermore, through rigorous training, knights could significantly extend their lifespan, with Sky Knights living beyond 150 years.
Harry learned that the emergence of wizards diminished the knights' prominence. Training to become a formidable knight took decades, while wizards were born with magic and could achieve comparable power in just a few years of training. Additionally, knights found themselves vulnerable to wizard spells. When a knight tries to get close enough to a wizard to fight in close combat and kill them, they'd likely be stopped by a dangerous spell before they could even reach their target.
The key to becoming a knight lay in mastering a unique breathing technique that unlocked "Life Energy" within a person's body. Through the practice of breathing method over time, not only does a person's body become stronger, but they increase the chance of awakening a "Seed of Life" in their body. Only the people who have a seed of life can be called knights. But the qualification of awakening the seed of life is rare and requires many years of training to awaken, thus most people who practice to become a knight fail to become one in their lifetime.
When a knight reaches the level of a Great Knight, they gain the ability to create shields out of their own life energy. These shields could protect them from certain spells cast by wizards. As knights grew stronger and their life energy increased, they became even better at resisting spells. But becoming a Great Knight takes a lot of time, about 30 years for a Knight with average talent. By the time Knights reach that level, most wizards are already at their strongest. This gap between the training periods of wizards and Great Knights was vast, leading to the gradual dominance of wizards and the decline of knights.
The decline of knights was also hastened by the personalized nature of the Knight breathing exercises, many of which were tailored to specific family bloodlines. For example, the breathing method that Godric Gryffindor left behind was meant just for his family line, which meant not just anyone could learn it.
The people who designed these special breathing techniques for top families were very respected individuals at that time. But during fights between wizards and knights, these creators were often targeted first. This led to the knowledge and practice of Knights dwindling and eventually fading into obscurity.
Today, it's not very clear if there are any knights around. But Harry found the idea of the Knight Breathing Technique really interesting, especially because it could make him much stronger physically.
Here's how the strength of knights works: a regular knight is about five times stronger than an average person. A Great Knight is ten times stronger, an Earth Knight twenty times stronger, and a Sky Knight can be up to fifty times stronger. Harry wasn't sure if he had what it takes to be really good at this knight training, but even just becoming a regular knight and being five times stronger seemed pretty good to him. Having that kind of strength along with his magic would make him very powerful.
Since Harry was already doing well with his magic studies and was curious about the benefits he could get from Knight training, he decided to spend some of his time learning this forgotten practice.
After finishing his research and making up his mind, Harry began to delve into the Knight Breathing Technique passed down by the Gryffindor family.
Harry turned to the first page of the book, ready to begin his training.
The text began, "Everyone knows how to breathe from the moment they're born. But the Knight Breathing Technique? It's special. It teaches you a way to breathe that fills your body with a type of energy called 'life energy.' This energy follows a specific path through your body, gradually making your muscles and bones stronger..."
This technique wasn't simple; it demanded precise coordination. The movements, each paired with a unique pattern of breaths, were challenging for a beginner. Mastering the rhythm and motions was the first hurdle.
Harry, committed to learning, started practicing the twenty distinct movements described in the technique, each associated with a particular breathing pattern.
"For the first step, I need to hold my breath for 35 seconds, lift my arms as high as they can go, then breathe in deeply three times and once shortly, followed by changing the position of my hands..."
Despite being in good physical shape, Harry found the sequence tough to execute. The exercises appeared straightforward, but the mix of specific movements and controlled breathing quickly drained his stamina. Completing the routine left him breathless and a bit shaky.
Finishing the routine, Harry wasn't immediately sure if it made any difference. There might've been a slight improvement, but it was so minor that he couldn't really feel it. Perhaps after repeating the exercises many times, the benefits would become more noticeable.
Right after, Harry felt a strong wave of hunger. It seemed the exercise not only consumed a lot of stamina but also increased his need for food.
After eating well, Harry began to plan out his schedule. Considering his current energy levels and daily routine, he figured he could fit the breathing exercises in twice a day. He was cautious, though, not wanting to overdo it before confirming there weren't any adverse effects on his body from this new training.
Harry planned to start slowly, seeking advice from Arcturus and Cordelia on the potential risks and rewards of continuing the exercises.
In theory, becoming a knight seemed impressive, but Harry wanted to be sure of the actual benefits before fully committing to the path.
Additionally, there was the matter of learning swordsmanship. Until he found Gryffindor's letter, Harry believed he could face the basilisk with the spells he knew. However, the letter made him reconsider. If, in three years, his magic proved ineffective against the basilisk, he'd be in real danger. Heeding Gryffindor's advice, Harry decided to also learn how to wield a sword from the books left in the inheritance.
With his future path clearer, Harry returned to his daily life. The days flew by as he juggled his studies, knight training, and the anticipation of learning swordplay. Hogwarts life continued, bustling and full as the academic year marched towards its close.
Chapter 98: Chapter 98: "End of First Year"
Months flew by, and before Harry knew it, his first year at Hogwarts was almost over. He had managed to achieve the goals he had set for himself at the start of the year.
Harry had advanced his studies to the point where he felt confident enough to tackle the final NEWT exams while securing high grades, a feat not typical for a first-year.
One clear indication of Harry's advanced magical abilities was his mastery of the highly complex Fiendfyre Curse. Though this spell wasn't part of the Hogwarts curriculum, Harry had taken a particular liking to it. He enjoyed shaping the magical fire into various forms, playfully manipulating the dangerous flames. If any of the adults or even Sirius knew how casually he was handling Fiendfyre, they would be deeply concerned, if not outright frightened. For Harry, however, it had become a fascinating toy.
In terms of Knight training, Harry had been diligently practicing the Knight Breathing Technique, a regimen that had begun to show tangible benefits. Over the past three months, he had observed an 8% increase in his strength and other physical capabilities.
While this might not seem like a significant improvement, it was a positive change that Harry welcomed. However, before he decided to continue this rigorous training, he planned to have a thorough physical check-up with Cordelia and Emma. He wanted to ensure that his intense physical exercises hadn't caused any unseen damage to his body.
As the school year at Hogwarts drew to a close, several memorable events marked the occasion. One of the most exciting was the final Quidditch match of the season, where Gryffindor faced off against Hufflepuff. Gryffindor emerged victorious with a resounding score of 400-60, securing the Quidditch Cup. This triumph brought immense pride and joy to both the Gryffindor team and their enthusiastic supporters, filling the Gryffindor common room with celebrations.
The end-of-term exams soon followed, with Harry excelling in both the theoretical and practical components. While Harry sailed through the exams with ease, his classmates found them challenging but manageable, maintaining hopes of passing successfully.
The professors, particularly those who had closely monitored Harry's progress, were astonished by his flawless theoretical papers and his adeptness in the practical tests. Even Professor Snape, who was often reluctant to award high marks to Harry, found himself unable to justify any deductions when faced with Harry's near-perfect potion concoctions.
With exams out of the way, a sense of relief and celebration permeated the castle. The fear and tension that had gripped Hogwarts due to the mysterious attacks earlier in the year had dissipated, and students began to reclaim the joy and fun of their Hogwarts experience.
The castle, once shadowed by anxiety, slowly buzzed back to life with laughter and lighthearted activities, allowing everyone to enjoy their newfound freedom and the pleasant weather that graced the end of the school year.
When the exam results were announced, it came as no surprise that Harry topped his year. Cedric finished in second place, and Elvinia took third. The rest of Harry's study group also performed exceptionally well, appearing at the top of the list before any other students were mentioned. Thanks to Harry's last-minute tutoring, especially in practical spells, his group's performance in the practical exams outshone their peers, leading them to dominate the rankings.
The group took some time to celebrate their impressive academic achievements, but not everyone in the school was happy.
For instance, Warrington, the group's old friend, watched them from a distance filled with jealousy and frustration. It had been a particularly tough year for him. He was frequently the target of pranks, which caused him to miss classes and lose points, making him somewhat of an outcast within Slytherin House. He was dreading the thought of going home and narrating everything to his father. His father, Lord Warrington had expected him to excel and increase the family's influence at Hogwarts. Instead, he had done the opposite and was now worried about his father's reaction, given that he was the family's sole heir.
Warrington's attempts to disrupt the lives of the two Slytherin girls in Harry's group had consistently backfired. Whenever he confronted them, or even when he enlisted the help of a few older students who still associated with him, their schemes always mysteriously ended embarrassingly, turning them into the laughing stock of the school.
Eventually, Warrington had no choice but to give up. He resolved to learn some protective spells over the holidays to guard against pranks before making another attempt to assert himself. He was determined to become the leader of Slytherin House in his year by the next term.
Meanwhile, Harry and his group were oblivious to Warrington's troubles and thoughts. They were focused on enjoying the end-of-term feast in the Great Hall. Everyone was excited about the prospect of going home after a particularly eventful and sometimes frightening second half of the school year. Despite the challenges, they were relieved that their caution and limited outings had kept them safe from any attacks.
At the Great Hall, Harry's group reluctantly dispersed to join their respective house tables. Today, the hall was adorned in the vibrant yellow and black colors of Hufflepuff to celebrate their first house cup victory in many years. A large banner featuring the Hufflepuff badger was prominently displayed behind the High Table, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Hufflepuff's unexpected win was largely influenced by Harry's behind-the-scenes actions. His relentless pranking of the bullies often led them to cause disturbances, be late, or retaliate mistakenly in front of professors, resulting in significant point deductions for their houses. Since the majority of these bullies were from Slytherin and Ravenclaw, these houses saw the most point losses. Gryffindor, known for being troublemakers, regularly lost points as well. Consequently, these circumstances paved the way for Hufflepuff to clinch the house cup.
Harry was indifferent to which house won the cup. To him, the pursuit of house glory seemed trivial and detached from real-world concerns. Therefore, he continued his efforts to discipline the bullies, regardless of the potential point losses to his own house, Ravenclaw. He was actually pleased to see the often-overlooked Hufflepuff house win.
This year, the Hufflepuff table was a scene of jubilation, whereas the Slytherin table was marked by gloom. The Slytherins were dealing with the disappointment of breaking their five-year winning streak, compounded by their loss of the Quidditch Cup to their arch-rival, Gryffindor. Even Snape, the head of Slytherin House, was visibly upset with his students.
Meanwhile, the students at the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables seemed less concerned with the house cup standings. The Gryffindors, in particular, were eagerly anticipating the start of the feast.
Dumbledore soon made his entrance, adding to the anticipation.
"Another year gone!" exclaimed Dumbledore with his usual cheerfulness. "And now, I must burden you with an old man's ramblings before we can enjoy our wonderful feast... What a year it has been!"
He continued, "Now, it's time to award the house cup, and the points are as follows: In fourth place, Gryffindor with two hundred and ten points; in third, Slytherin with two hundred and forty-two; Ravenclaw is in second with two hundred and forty-six; and Hufflepuff leads with two hundred and seventy-two points. Congratulations to Hufflepuff for winning this year's house cup and for bringing a new look to our decorations!"
A loud cheer erupted from the Hufflepuff table, filling the Great Hall with noise and excitement as the students from three Hogwarts houses celebrated the unexpected loss of the Slytherin house.
After enjoying a delightful feast, all the students returned to their dormitories, where the air was filled with the sounds of wardrobes being emptied and trunks being packed. The first-year students received a stern reminder from their professors: no magic was to be used outside the castle's walls.
The next day, everyone boarded the Hogwarts Express for a long, enjoyable journey filled with laughter and shared memories of the year. As the train pulled into King's Cross Station, the atmosphere was bittersweet. Students said their goodbyes, making promises to keep in touch through letters sent by owl.
Harry found Sirius waiting for him among the crowd, a reassuring sight. After exchanging final farewells with his friends, Harry joined Sirius, and together they left the bustling station, heading towards the comfort and solitude of the Black castle.
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