Auror Training

March 15, 1999

Harry sat crouched behind a rock with spells flying all around him. Through the smoke and dust he could see Ron about 100 yards away giving orders tothe team. Harry noticed that Ron was motioning for them to move forward. The "package" they were supposed to capture was inside an abandon building at the end of the town. Ron was their team leader and had spent the last month mapping out the area and planning their attack.

"Potter, take Longbottom and Smith around the fence line and cover the back." Ron said."Once we get inside, I'll give the signal and you guys bust in and go straight for the package."

"Check." Harry replied

Harry motioned for the two fellow aurors to follow him. They crept around the iron fence, wands at the ready. They hopped the fence and headed for the back of the house. Harry was suddenly aware that he was being watched. He glanced around, and was amazed at what he saw. He closed his eyes, his heart was pounding. When he opened them, the face was gone. Must have been my imagination, Harry thought. He turned his mind back to the task at hand. No sooner had they began to advance, Harry was struck with a binding spell. He fell to the ground and cursed loudly. He looked up into the face of Tonks who stood shaking her head.

"Gotcha Potter" she smirked as she knelt over him."Welcome to Auror Field Training."

Then she shoved a small brass ring in his hand and felt that familiar hook behind his navel as he was transported back to head quarters.

Harry was leaving the showers when Ron and the rest of the team made it back. They all looked very somber. The out come of their first field training was obvious. They lost.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

Ron sighed, "Just as we were going through the front door, Tonks and her team over took us."

"Still, for our first day, we didn't do too bad."

"I planned that mission for weeks. It was full proof. I don't understand what happened."

Harry quickly changed the subject.

"So dinner at the Burrow tonight still on.""

"Yeah. Mum is very excited that all of us will be there. By the way, Tonks has asked to see you in her office before you leave." Ron said.

"Thanks." Harry replied. "I'll see you tonight."

"Seven o'clock. Don't be late." Ron yelled after him.

Harry waved back to Ron and proceeded down the hall to Tonks' office. He knocked lightly and opened the door. Tonks was sitting at her desk sorting through paperwork. She looked up and smiled. Her hair was shocking pink today and hung to her shoulders.

"Harry, have a seat." She gestured toward the chair in front of her desk. Harry sat down and looked around. The office was small and the walls were plastered with wanted posters and maps. The desk was cluttered with papers and files. Harry smiled at the small picture frame that held a picture of Tonks and Lupin on their wedding day last spring.

"What the hell is wrong with you." She yelled.

Harry looked at her puzzled and amazed at the anger in her eyes.

"I caught you today because you were off in la-la land daydreaming. You have been very distant these past few weeks. What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing, I've just been tired lately. I guess my mind is just somewhere else today."

Harry looked up into Tonks's face. She was not convinced. But she knew that pressure would only drive Harry farther away.

"Don't let it happen again. If you want to be an auror, you have to be the best. The past few weeks your work has been slacking." Her voice was all business now. "I expect better from you. You better straighten up or you'll find yourself doing paper work in the Ministry Planning Office."

Harry nodded in response.

"Now, get your ass out of my office. I have work to do."Her eyes sparkled with laughter although her face was very serious.

As he stood to walk out, Tonks put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Harry just remember that these field exercises are just that. Exercises. Next week we start the hard stuff. So rest up, you'll need it." She turned and went back into her office leaving a very nervous Harry to wonder just exactly what he had gotten himself into.

Harry apparated to his balcony. He threw himself onto the bed and sighed. He lied to Tonks. The truth wasdreams had plagued himthe past few weeks.Dreams of dark, dustyrooms and pyramids. Flashes ofyellow light and flooding. And of course, there was the girl. A beautiful girl.He didn't know who she was, but she seemed so familiar to him. Everytime he awoke from a dream with her in it he had an overwhelming feeling of protection and love. He felt that he had left half of him self in his dream.

'Who is she', he thought.

He had been so sure that it was her he saw in the field today. But with a blink she was gone. If he wasn't careful he was going to find himself on desk duty, or worse, kicked out of the Auror Program.

Harry shook his head and pushed himself off the bed. He slipped out of his auror robes and looked in the mirror. Long gone was the skinny boy who just found out he was a wizard. Harry had grown into a man. His arms and chest were well defined. His stomach was perfectly sculpted. The only things that remained were his untidy black hair and his glasses that covered his emerald green eyes.

It had been almost5 years since Professor Dumbledoor had told Harry about the prophecy in which he would be killed or turn murderer. He had yet to tell anyone about it. He just continued to let it eat him alive. In his final year at Hogwarts there had been a huge battle. Many had lost their lives including Ron's younger sister and Harry's girlfriend Ginny. Harry had been unconsolable for a long time. Harry and Ginny had only been together a short time, and Harry blamed himself for her death. If only he could have saved her theycould have a lifetime to get to knowone another.

Harryhad been so sure that would be the end. However, Voldemort had other plans. He disapperated before he and Harry could share their final battle. All these years later and Harry was still at a loss for why Voldemort left.

Over the past few years the order had kept close tabs on Voldemort. He wasn't making any sudden moves as of now. But everyone knew it was only a matter of time.

Harry's friends had come to his rescue. Helping him to accept Ginny's death and move on. Even Ron, who was dealing with his own grief at not being able to save his little sister, helped Harry to see that it was not Harry's fault, but Voldemort. It always came back to him...

Harry threw on some clothes and prepared to apparate to the Burrow where Molly Weasley's excellent cooking awaited him. He pushed all thoughts of dreams, beautiful girls and Voldemort out of him mind.

'Tonight I'm going to enjoy being in the company of my friends and family', he thought. With a pop he was gone.