101 Chapter 101: "Sword Fighting and Apparition"

As summer rolled in, Harry was spending his days at the Black Castle, ready to dive into learning new things. His usual busy lifestyle didn't let him sit still for long. Harry was especially excited to start learning sword fighting.

It took a couple of days before Arcturus came to Harry with some encouraging news. They had thought finding a sword-fighting instructor in Britain would be easy, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. After guns became popular in the muggle world, it seemed like almost no one practiced sword fighting anymore. But Arcturus, using all his contacts in the muggle world, had managed to find someone who might be able to teach Harry.

"I've found someone who might teach you sword fighting," Arcturus told him. "He's part of a group trying to revive sword fighting in the muggle world. They call it Historical European Martial Arts, or HEMA. It's still quite new, but it might be worth giving it a shot. Just don't get too excited yet; it's all quite new and untested."

Harry, curious and hopeful, was quick to accept. "Let's give it a go," he said eagerly.

Later that day, he and Sirius went together, both curious about this potential sword-fighting teacher.

Their journey led them to a humble training ground where they were greeted by a young man with a passion for the revival of HEMA. The instructor, full of enthusiasm but clearly a novice, shared his vision of building a community around traditional European swordsmanship. He admitted to being mostly self-taught, relying heavily on old texts to master the art.

As the lesson went on, Harry realized that he might not be as fortunate in finding a skilled instructor in sword fighting as he had been with other disciplines like martial arts, gym, potions, and dueling. Despite his high hopes, it became apparent that this instructor's abilities were quite basic.

The young man was enthusiastic but clearly just beginning his own journey in mastering sword fighting. He frequently stopped to consult worn, old books he'd brought with him. While Harry respected his dedication, he could see that the instruction wouldn't meet his needs.

Feeling let down, Harry made up his mind not to come back after that first day.

"If I'm going to learn from books, I might as well use the ones from the Gryffindor inheritance," he told Sirius on their way back. "They're likely to be far more detailed and specific to the style I need to master."

"Why exactly are you interested in sword fighting, though?" Sirius asked curiously as they made their way back. "It's not exactly practical against a wand."

Harry laughed. "Maybe it's not the most practical skill for a wizard, but I think it's cool. Besides, who knows? Maybe one day I'll find myself fighting dragons or exploring ancient ruins. It could come in handy."

Back at Black Castle, Harry began to develop his own sword training routine. He discovered several detailed books in the Gryffindor inheritance that taught various sword fighting techniques and stances. The instructions in these books were very clear, and the illustrations detailed, offering a strong basis for learning on his own.

Eager to use his summer productively, Harry spent the following days constructing a durable practice dummy on the castle's vast grounds. He used magic to strengthen the dummy, making sure it could handle his strongest hits. Every morning, armed with a wooden training sword he had gotten for himself, Harry practiced the techniques he had studied the day before.

Over time, as days turned into weeks, Harry's skill with the sword improved. He progressed from basic stances and cuts to more intricate combinations and defensive moves. This physical training not only honed his sword skills but also complemented his Knight breathing exercises, boosting both his strength and flexibility.

Since Harry hadn't picked up any new magical subjects to study during the vacation, he had plenty of time to dedicate to his Knight breathing and sword training. The only magic he practiced was dueling with Arcturus and Sirius, where they used more complex spells and combinations. Dueling was one magic training he never thought of pausing. 

Midway through the summer, Harry decided to learn another important wizarding skill—Apparition. He thought it would be useful to have a quick way to escape if necessary, especially since no one would expect a 12-year-old to know how to Apparate.

Harry went to Cordelia's place for safety, accompanied by Sirius. If he made a mistake and hurt himself during practice, Cordelia would be there to heal him right away. Under Sirius's guidance, Harry began to learn the technique.

Apparition required a lot of concentration, similar to casting spells. Harry had to remember the three D's of Apparition: Destination, Determination, and Deliberation, which reminded him of the three D's of spellcasting: Direction, Determination, and Discipline.

Harry focused intensely on his chosen destination, using his magic to try and transport himself there. Learning to Apparate turned out to be easier than he expected. After a few successful attempts, he stayed at Cordelia's place and practiced for the entire day to make sure he could do it well enough.

As the summer days passed, Harry enjoyed some leisure time, taking a memorable trip to France with his close ones. It was a much-needed break from his intense training and studies, filled with laughter and the joy of exploring new places.

Before he knew it, summer had ended, and it was time to head back to Hogwarts for his second year. Harry hoped for a quieter year but knew well that adventure always seemed to find him. Still, one could hope for some peace.

With his trunk packed and eager for whatever new adventures awaited him at Hogwarts, Harry made his way to King's Cross Station on his own this time. He had managed to convince all the adults that he could handle the trip by himself, and they didn't need to take time off work just to say goodbye to him at the station.