Ch264- The King of the Lake

Ch264- The King of the Lake

Join my Discord!

After the stretches, Harry led them into some basic exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, and a short jog around the lake. The complaints continued, of course, but Harry ignored them, focusing on keeping everyone moving. He knew that once they got into the rhythm, they’d stop whining. Or at least whine less.

As the group jogged around the lake, Ginny jogged up beside him, her breath coming out in steady puffs. "You really think this will help us in duels?" she asked, half-joking.

Harry nodded, keeping his pace steady. "Absolutely. You can’t rely on magic alone. Physical fitness gives you an edge—faster reflexes, more stamina. You’ll be able to outlast your opponent, even if they’re stronger magically."

Ginny seemed to consider this as they continued their run. Behind them, George was dramatically clutching his side, while Fred pretended to collapse in slow motion. The others weren’t faring much better, but they all kept going, some with more enthusiasm than others.

When they finally completed the circuit, Harry called everyone back to the clearing by the lake. Most of them flopped down onto the grass, panting and groaning, but Harry didn’t let them rest just yet.

"Alright, that’s the warm-up done," he announced, earning a chorus of groans. "Now we move on to some agility drills."

Pansy glared at him from her spot on the ground. "Warm-up? That was torture, Potter."

Harry grinned. "You’ll live. Now, everyone on your feet. We’re doing ladder drills."

The group dragged themselves up, albeit slowly, and followed Harry’s lead as he demonstrated the ladder drills. Despite the initial resistance, they gradually got into it, their competitive sides coming out as they tried to outdo each other in speed and precision.

As they moved through the drills, Harry noticed Astoria struggling a bit. He stepped over to her, offering some quiet encouragement. "You’re doing great, Astoria. Just keep going at your own pace."

Astoria nodded, a determined look on her face as she focused on the drills. Harry stayed with her for a few moments, making sure she was comfortable before moving back to the rest of the group.

The Weasley twins, naturally, turned the drills into a competition, trying to outdo each other with increasingly ridiculous moves. It wasn’t long before they were trying to hop through the ladder on one foot while juggling imaginary Quaffles.

Despite the antics, the drills went smoothly, and Harry could see that everyone was starting to get into the flow. Even Pansy, who had been the most resistant, was moving through the drills with a grudging determination.

After the agility drills, Harry finally called for a break, allowing everyone to collapse onto the grass in relief. He handed out water bottles, which were gratefully accepted by the sweaty and tired group.

"See? That wasn’t so bad," Harry remarked with a grin, standing by the group, who were all catching their breath. He stretched out his legs, casually observing their exhausted faces. With a flick of his wand, Harry transfigured his clothes into swimming trunks, his chest now bare. The boys clicked their tongues in mild annoyance, while the girls glared at him, clearly impressed by his muscular form.

Pansy crossed her arms, scowling. "This is where I draw the line, Harry. I’m not jumping into a freezing lake!"

Harry chuckled, twirling his wand between his fingers. Before Pansy could protest any further, she found herself being lifted off the ground, her clothes transforming into a swimsuit mid-air. "POTTER!" she screamed, flailing as she flew towards the lake. "FUC—" Her words were cut off as she splashed into the cold water with a loud plop.

Harry stood by the shore, a devilish smile on his face. "Anyone else need a little encouragement?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at the rest of the group.

Meanwhile, Fred and George, never ones to miss out on a bit of fun, began conjuring their own snowballs, ready to escalate the snowball fight.

Fred lobbed a snowball at George, who ducked with practiced ease, sending one sailing back with a grin. The chaos escalated as if by some unspoken agreement. The group quickly turned their attention to Harry, conjuring snowballs of their own and pelting him with every icy projectile they could muster.

"Looks like the King of the Lake is about to be dethroned!" George announced with a smirk, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

Harry, calm as ever, didn’t even flinch. Just as the barrage of snowballs closed in, three massive tentacles emerged from the lake, deflecting every single one with precision. The entire group paused, staring in stunned silence.

"Thank you, Krak," Harry said casually, turning to the squid. "How about we return the favor?"

The tentacles waved in agreement, and Harry quickly conjured a pile of snowballs. Krak scooped them up and launched them back at the now-scattering group. Shouts of mock terror filled the air as everyone scrambled to avoid the onslaught, slipping and sliding in their haste.

Fred and George tried to dodge, but the tentacles were faster, pelting them with a barrage of snowballs. Ginny and Luna weren’t spared either, as they squealed in delight while trying to escape the icy attack. Even Pansy, who had been plotting revenge, found herself on the receiving end of Krak's precision throws.

The once orderly snowball fight turned into a full-blown snowball war, with the Giant Squid and Harry firmly holding the upper hand. The lake’s edge became a flurry of activity as the group tried and failed to outmaneuver the giant squid’s many arms. Laughter and shouts echoed across the grounds, blending with the sound of splashing water and snow crunching underfoot.

As the group finally admitted defeat, collapsing in heaps on the ground, soaked and breathless, Harry couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of his friends covered in snow. The Giant Squid, too, seemed satisfied, retreating back into the depths of the lake with a final, playful splash.

"Well, that was fun," Harry said, shaking the snow out of his hair.

"Fun for you, maybe," Pansy muttered, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Did you pour a love potion into the lake or something? Why is the Giant Squid so fond of you?"

Harry chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Look at me, Pansy. Do I look like I need a love potion?"

Pansy found herself staring at him, her gaze lingering longer than she intended on his well-defined form. Realizing what she was doing, she quickly turned away, a blush creeping up her neck. "You’re so full of yourself, Potter."

Harry’s grin widened, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Just stating the obvious," he teased, stretching his arms over his head, deliberately flexing his muscles a bit more than necessary.

Pansy rolled her eyes, trying to hide her flustered state behind a mask of annoyance. "You’re impossible."

--

Please rate and review! Much appreciated! Leave a comment, tell me what you think!

To Read up to 50 advance Chapters (25 for each novel) and support me...

Please drop a comment and like the chapter!