Chapter 2
By the time he starts classes Monday, George has met the other three guys.
There's nothing wrong with them, they're good blokes, but they're the studious type, always having their noses in books. Hermione would like them. Alex, Topher, Kaila, and George hang out all day Sunday and George slowly becomes accustomed to Dublin. He learns that he likes going to bars and that American hip-hop actually isn't half bad to dance to after a beer or three.
Monday morning rolls around, and George is nervous, again. This is ridiculous, George, he tells himself. Since Stealth and Tracking doesn't start until one, he keeps himself busy all morning, going for a run and then showering, dressing carefully in jeans and a t-shirt, with a button-up blue shirt over top, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, of course. When in doubt, look good.
And, in any case, George found out this weekend that Kaila is single.
He shows up ten minutes early to the room that classes are held in. Looking, around, its basically just a conference room, one big table with squashy desk chairs around it. The three studious boys, Blake, Danny, and Julian are already there. George sits next to Blake, leaving an open chair on his other side, which Topher fills a few seconds later. Kaila comes in next, then finally Alex, with only two minutes to spare. At exactly one o'clock, Nolan walks in, looks around at everyone, satisfied that they're all there, and begins the lesson.
Lessons are like nothing that George has ever experienced. In his first week, he learns more than he ever had before in such a short time frame, and he learns it all so easily! Everything is hands on, if they are learning to blend into the culture, they go out into unfamiliar places and blend in. If they are learning to intercept owl post or listen to floo conversations, they do it. George puts a Trace on the Burrow's floo just for a day, just for the heck of it. Harry and Ginny visit, Percy (still living at home) leaves and comes back no fewer than six times. In Stealth and Tracking next week, they're going to be tracking someone, and George decides he's going to follow Percy around. Where on earth does he have to go SIX times in one day? Sheesh.
Bottom line, George loves school. How odd, George Weasley, enjoying school.
Saturday, before his first practical, George apparates to Diagon Alley and checks in with the joke shop. Business is still booming, he's pleased to see. He thinks about stopping into the Burrow for the first time sinceā¦.no, I cant think about the last time we were both there, when Fred was still alive. No, best not go to the Burrow.
Besides, his mother would dither over him too much.
George doesn't know what to expect for the Practical Saturday, but he does expect to enjoy it. He walks into the conference room early, as usual, and take what has become "his" seat between Blake and Topher and across from Kaila. Nolan joins them, and unlike in lessons where he paces and demonstrates and wanders the room, he actually sits down.
"Hello everyone!" This semester, we are going to be doing our Practicals a little differently than usual. George, in the past, we have had competitions on different aspects of your Auror training. But, guys,"
"And girl!" Kaila pipes up. I laugh aloud. Oops.
"Yes, guys and girl." Nolan amends, "this term we actually have work to do. The Ministry of Magic believes there is a significant threat to the Wizarding world in the form of an underground cult that seeks to purify the wizarding race. They believe that this cult embodies many of the same beliefs that Voldemort and his Death Eaters did in the past. Our job is to find out if such a cult exists, and report our findings to the Ministry. For now, we will only be using this time on Saturdays and the Reconnaissance class period on Wednesdays to look into this. Only the Minister, his cabinet, and the eight of us know of this task, so I am officially forbidding anyone to speak of the matter outside school grounds or to anyone but those in this room and the Minister. This isn't a matter of grave importance yet, but it may become so." Nolan pauses to look at each of us, we are plastered to our seats in nervous anticipation. Satisfied, apparently, with our shocked faces, he claps his hands cheerfully and says "Lets begin!"
And so, we begin.
