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Chapter Twelve

Author's Note: Due to numerous complaints from people who couldn't be arsed to figure it out for themselves; I switch from calling Harry, Harry to calling him Yusuke, depending on his attitude of the moment. Or who he's with.
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Then next morning, Harry woke with a book and a cat on his chest. The book was a bit crumpled and the cat was happily purring away.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu, Neko." He petted Mrs Norris for a moment, then put her on the foot of the bed. He put the book on his night stand and smiled, Mrs Norris had curled up and gone right back to sleep. He couldn't help but note that, despite her scruffy look, her fur was both clean and silky.

"Service, please."

A house elf popped in and Harry said, "Thank you. Mrs Norris requires food, a litter box and a proper bed. Put the bed under mine, or at the foot. Whichever she finds acceptable. The food and water should be put somewhere where she can get to it, but no one will step in it. The litter box, I leave to your discretion. Questions?"

The elf gazed at the cat, who blinked lazily back, all the talking had awakened her. "Yes, please sir. Why is you caring for Grumpyman's kitty cat?"

Harry looked at the elf for a moment, then explained, "Because her master has been petrified. And I'd advise all you elves to be very careful. The same thing might happen to you."

The elf meeped in a squeaky voice and popped out. She, Harry was fairly sure it was a she, returned quickly with food and water dishes, a bed and a litter box. The food and water were placed near the foot of Harry's bed, safe from the clumsy feet of the other boys. The bed was put into a niche that the elf created near the foot of Harry's bed, and the litter box floated itself into the bathroom.

The elf checked for approval with a quick glance. Harry nodded. "Well done. You travel in groups, don't leave anyone alone. Ok?"

"Yes, Miyamoto-sama, elveses will do. Thanking you for your concerns. We is grateful." The elf popped out, waking Neville.

"Yusuke? What's up?" Neville, hair wild from sleep, stuck his head out of the curtains of his bed.

"Not sure. Mrs Norris is here. I'm going to be taking care of her for awhile." Harry pulled on some clothing and left, saying over his shoulder. "I'm off to exercise. Get up soon, or you won't have time."

Neville grumbled half-heartedly, but got up, rubbing at pillow lines on one cheek. He liked the way he felt after a good run, even if it was on a treadmill. He also noticed that he was losing inches, but gaining weight. He wondered if he should see Madam Pomfrey. Then things clicked. "Yusuke-kun! Wait! Mrs Norris? What the hell?" but Harry was already gone.

Neville scrambled out of bed and tugged on some clothing. He was waking up fast. And he had a bad feeling. Something was going on, and it wasn't going to be fun.

That notion kept Neville scrambling to catch up with Harry/Yusuke as he exercised. Neville knew he was uncoordinated and chubby, but he wanted to slim down and learn some of the things Harry knew.

Harry was quite willing to teach Neville anything he liked. He'd gotten his certification last year as a sensei in most of his disciplines. But he was extremely picky in his students. He would teach Neville, Hermione, if she asked politely, but not Ron. He didn't feel that Ron was suitably mature for the arts. He wasn't going to fall into the trap of 'friendship'. The one where the reasoning started, "If you were really my friend, you'd ..." do something really foolish. Like hand Ron Weasley a sword.

Harry realized that Neville was watching him as he worked out. He also realized that he was on the verge of over working himself, he was sweating too much. He stopped, put his sword away and settled in seiza next to Neville.