Today marked the end of my first week at my new house in Hogsmead, I have already settled down here after all this time. My neighbours have been a big help in that. A few times Professor Dumbledore would also visit to check up on me. Conversation with each of these times was very enlightening, he would always answer my questions no matter what I asked but I have not asked him much about anything besides some topics of transfiguration and about the current Wizarding world in general.
During this time he even got to know how far I have come in my Studies of transfiguration and that I was already towards the end of second year study material, he would also often quiz me about some of the things he had already taught me to make sure that I wasn't rushing through my studies half heartedly just so I could learn cooler spells. Safe to say I passed in his little tests rather splendidly. These conversations would often take place in the afternoons.
Today had started much like the previous days for me, waking up at 6 as usual. Taking bath and doing other things like such and when I have completed getting fresh for the I would start it by making myself a hearty breakfast with the help of the items in the pantry. But just as I was about to start chopping some vegetables for a soup dish there was a nock on the door. Leaving the things in the kitchen I moved to the front door and opened it.
There was he, professor Dumbledore, standing in front of the now open door, "Professor Dumbledore, welcome, please come in. I was just about to start making my breakfast." I said gesturing him to enter. He seemed a bit bewildered by what I said but got in the house none the less.
"Did I hear you right Marcus? You were preparing you breakfast ?" he asked after taking the seat at one of the couches, still seemed a bit surprised at what I had said which was a bit odd.
"Yes of course, who else would do it for me, weren't you present when headmaster said that I would have to take care of everything else by myself?" I said mirroring his surprise.
A look of realisation appeared on his face before he chuckled and said, "I was there, yes, but we expected you to hire someone to make your meals for you and do all the other chores. We didn't expect you to just do it yourself. By Merlin you are a one good lad, well let's taste what kind of food you have been eating all this time. I myself was here to take you to the nearby pub for the breakfast." He said with a eager smile.
"Of course professor, let me do cook up something for both of us." I said with a some what embarrassed smile as I got to work in the kitchen leaving him in the living room.
As I had to make food for Dumbledore door as well I used magic to cut up the ingredients as there was nothing to worry about magic disturbing anything as this was not a potion. Quickly dicing up all the prepared vegetables and some chicken I took out some chicken broth which I put to boil as I levitated the ingredients as one and took time to measure the spices I would use and add them too. On the side I took out a loaf of bread and a bit of butter as I toasted the loaf of bread with magic and set it aside on a plate which I levitated to the dining table. When the soup was ready I also got it in the serving bowl. Along with all this I had also prepared some tea.
After being done with my preparation I called for Dumbledore to come and sit at the dining table, "Professor! The breakfast is ready!" seeing him take his seat I took mine infront of him and said, "Serve yourself professor even though it is just some chicken soup, toasted bread and tea, I promise you that it will be delicious." He just smiled at my declaration and served himself after which I did the same and we proceeded to take our breakfast in silence.
After a while we were both done with our breakfast and just sat there with a content smile on our faces, first to speak was professor Dumbledore, "Well I can say it is definitely better than anything I could come up with." Causing both of us to laugh. "Well now that we have finished our breakfast, let's move on to our discussions, ask away whatever you have on your mind." He said steering us towards our daily talks.
I took some time to ponder about it before I said anything. After a while of thinking all that I could ask I finally settled on one topic which have been on my mind for a while.
"I don't know if this is the right time to ask what I am about to ask as it is a bit heavy topic many would rather not talk about, but bear with me when I ask, can you tell me about the dangers posed by dark Wizards today? Is there a need for me to be at least be a bit proficient in Magical combat?" this was the thing I was most curios about for now.
He seemed a bit pensive about my question as if debating internally what to say before he opened his mouth, "You are right about this being a topic most of us would rather not speak about to a 12 year old but seeing your position as the last member of your house the threat of dark Wizards is even Greater. With no one to protect you from them, the need for being a bit well versed in magical combat is a must for you. So you are also right about that." He said not giving much more details about the current dark Wizards problems but just stating that my worries about them was indeed correct.
"I see." I answered with a serious face, and with that confirmed more queries appeared in my mind of them the most important being someone to help me train in the art of Magical combat, not just duelling but also real fighting where there were no restriction placed on my opponent, who in most cases would be a person well versed in dark arts with higher experience and all that. Thinking for a bit more I decided to ask Dumbledore if he could somehow help me with this.
Turning to him I saw that he was looking at me as if searching for something on my face, which I ignored and asked him, "Professor, would it be possible for you to some how help me with this problem, could you by any chance train me in Magical combat or if not that help me find someone who could do so?" he was not much surprised about my request as if already expecting it.
"Marcus I myself am of two minds about this whole thing but seeing as I was a friend to your parents, I am obliged to help you in this. So worry not I will prepare you for magical combat against any kind of enemy you could face. I was infact a professor of defence against the dark arts before I learned under Master flamell himself about alchemy and transfiguration." I was over joyed at his answers, after all this was the man who would defeat the dark lord Gellert Grindelwald in a few years.
"Thank you professor I would love to be in your care about this. When would we start?" I asked eager to start just now.
He chuckled at my enthusiasm and said, "Unfortunately not today as I have some work to do, I will come visit the upcoming Saturday and we will train for 4 hours on every Sunday and Saturday, this arrangement will also be in effect when you start your next year at Hogwarts, till your 7th year by then I am sure you will be competent enough to attend least be able to defend your self. Now know this that I won't normally do this for anyone else and I am only doing this because I am sure you will handle it given your massive magical energy reserves." He was a bit stern towards the end clearly stating no one else from my friends will be joining this.
"Rest assured professor Dumbledore, I will do my best." I assured him with a firm nod.
After which he got up and said, "Well now that we are done with this, I will depart. See you at Saturday Marcus." I got up along him to see him off to the gates and from there he disapparated to his destination.
I got back in a bit enthusiastic about it all and went off to do my chores so I would be free for the rest of the day to just read up on the other useful spells I had already come across and had them noted down in my notes. Like this the rest of my day went with me not keeping the track of time till my stomach grumbled and forced me to get up and cook up something for dinner. After eating which I just went back to reading till sleep claimed me in its sweet and motherly embrace.