The Boy Who Lived

Chapter 7: A Cause Worth Fighting For


Dear Mister Potter,

It is our delight to accept you as a participant in our Auror Aprenticemanship. Your application has been reviewed and approved, more then two Aurors, as is customary, have stood up to claim that they find it acceptable for you to be educated, and your background check has gone through without any disqualifying problems. We are currently investigating a few rumors surrounding your past; however, we would like to take this moment to warmly welcome you into the Auror Apprenticemanship Training Program.

If you flip to the next page you will find a list of books that will be required for you for both of the two years this Apprenticemanship will last as well as the Tuition. If you are in need of any financial help, you may able for Wizarding Scholarships or directly to the Auror Department for financial aid.

Otherwise, we are delighted to have you in our program.

Sincerely,
Graham Proudfoot


Harry read the letter not once or twice, but no less then six times. He had been waiting for this letter all summer and when it had been flown into his room one morning, heavy and somewhat wet from the morning's dew he had tore it open quickly and without much thought. It was his dream and it was going to happen! He knew he should be excited, but he couldn't quite bring himself to jump to his feet with joy. Hermione, despite anything he had confided in her, had filled him with doubts about why he wanted to become an Auror. Was it just his "saving people thing," which she had once pointed out to him to his chagrin? Or was this more...did he actually want this?

He perused over the list of books that he would need and decided that he wanted to get them right away rather then wait for the afternoon when someone could go with him. He put on his cloak, made sure not to disturb Ron, who was still snoring in his bed, and left the house. Mrs. Weasley was the only person up yet, since it wasn't even eight, and he slipped by her without causing her any alarm.

Sometimes he wished he still had his invisibility cloak, but he had left it at Hogwarts with the wand. He knew he would be back for it and until that moment McGonagal would keep it safe. Why did he feel so homesick when he thought of that place? He shook off his uneasy feeling as best as he could as he walked down Diagonally, having apparated there as soon as he left the house.

He still had about twenty minutes before he could even hope that the bookstore was open, but he went there anyway and was surprised to see the owner outside, washing the windows with his wand.

"Hello," Harry said and the man jumped. He turned quickly to look at Harry and then pulled himself upright.

"Hello," he said suspiciously. "It's a might early to be down here, isn't it?" He leaned close to Harry as if he were judging what was going on through staring at his eyes.

"Yes, well, I just really wanted to buy these books," Harry said, holding out his list to the man. "I can wait until you open of course: I just wasn't sure, but I can take a walk and come back..."

"Are you...Harry Potter?" The wizard asked, sounding surprised. He peered up at Harry, trying to see through his bangs to the scar and then glanced down at the book list. He seemed not to need any more confirmation on whom Harry was. "Harry Potter's going to be an Auror! Well, I shouldn't be surprised should I?"

Harry let the man babble as he led Harry back into his shop. Harry tried to protest and say he could come back, but the man would hear none of it. No less then twenty minutes later he was back out the door and laden with books. He was about to apparate back to the Burrow, but stopped himself before he actually left. When he and Ginny had gone to Diagonally a few weeks ago neither had suggested going to Weasley's Wizard Wheazy's.

After Fred's funeral, George had been inconsolable. No one in the family wanted to talk about Fred's death. Instead, when they thought about their lost family member a heavy rain descended on each of them that no one had the fortitude to breach. No one had taken the death worse then George. Even Percy, now reunited with his family permanently and blaming himself for his brother's death, had taken it hard, but no where near as hard as the twin. Harry couldn't imagine loosing someone who had shared practically every experience with him throughout his entire life. He didn't know if he could take it as well as George was and a shudder ran through him at the thought.

The Dark Lord's death had cost them so much... Harry could only try his best not to dwell on it.

"Hello Harry," George said, sounding surprised when Harry entered his shop. There were two workers Harry had never seen before stocking shelves behind him. "It's a bit early for you to be out, isn't it?"

"I just had to pick up some books," Harry said. He was still holding onto them now and George grinned and gestured he could put them on the counter. "I just thought I'd stop by to say hi and see how things are going."

"Auror training?" George questioned, nodding to the books.

"I just got my acceptance letter this morning," Harry found himself saying. A thick silence reigned over them.

"Mr. Weasley," the girl Harry had met when he first visited the shop was behind George now, smiling at him. "We just got a new shipment in. Would you like to make sure all of the ingredients are in?"

"Sorry Harry," George said, sounding a little weary. "How about you go sit in the office and I'll be there in a minute?"

"Oh," Harry said, surprised. He didn't even know there was an office. "I'll just look around while you're busy."

George looked like he was about to protest, but nodded and left. The same items before the war were being sold at the Weasley's shop. There looked like there had been no new inventions since, which made Harry's heart ache. Harry was surprised George hadn't closed the shop down, but in truth he had no idea what else he would do with his life.

"So tell me Harry," George said, with a ghost of his old smile. Harry jumped in surprise, not expecting him to reappear so quickly. "Why do you want to be an Auror?"

Harry shrugged. "Why do you ask? Hermione asked the same thing."

"Well, Voldemort's gone and all so it just seems surprising you're still at it," George said with a lopsided grin. Harry's eyes couldn't help but linger on George's missing ear as he said the name "Voldemort."

"I've just never thought of an alternative worthwhile I guess," Harry shrugged. He felt himself growing exceedingly more uncomfortable each time he had this conversation. It wasn't as if he was bloodthirsty or enjoyed the fighting... He just was comfortable with it...good at it.

"Well, you could always stay here and help me," George said. Harry's eyes shot up from the Edible Dark Marks he had just been looking at. Did George just ask him...?

"I'm flattered that you would ask," Harry said, not able to keep the surprise out of his voice. "But I don't really think I'd be good at it!"

George smiled. "You would be amazing at it Harry! Just think of it! We would be a grand pair!"

Harry sighed. He didn't think he could ever live up to Fred and he knew he wasn't the person George was really looking for. "What about Lee Jordan? What's he up to these days?"

"He's a bore," George said dismissively. "Actually, I was considering you friend Dean Thomas or Seamus Finnigan, but thought I'd ask you first. Sure you won't do it?"

"Seamus," Harry grinned. "Though Dean would be good too."

"Maybe both then," George pondered.

As Harry left the shop, his heart felt heavy. He hated not seeing George laughing. He hated more not seeing Fred beside him. Lost in thought, he strolled down Diagonally. More people were out now and Harry found it easy to blend in with the crowd as another nameless face. He pulled the hood of his cloak up and enjoyed the anonymity. Peering down the street he recognized many faces, but said nothing to any one.

He returned to the Burrow four hours after he had left to Mrs. Weasley's fussing.

"I didn't know where you were dear!" She said, in a titter. "I was going to have Ron search the whole house! Ginny was so upset she was half an hour late in going over to Andromeda's."

Harry's heart sank. He hadn't thought that they would worry about him. "I went to Diagonally to pick up some books for next year. Sorry to make you worry Mrs. Weasley."

"Don't worry about it dear. Though I should send an owl to Ginny to tell her you're fine," Mrs. Weasley said and ushered him inside. Ron was in the middle of eating breakfast with his brother Percy. Harry gave him a curious look as he sat down at the table.

"Do you think I could ask Bill to get money out for me from Gringotts? I think they're still a little angry with me..." Harry asked Mrs. Weasley as she set down a steaming muffin and glass of orange juice in front of him. He had wanted to change the subject from the fact that he had caused her so much worry and had no idea what else to say. His money was running low though and unfortunately he did need to send in the tuition. He wondered for a moment if Ron had to pay for the Department of Mysteries. Why hadn't he said anything to Harry anyway?

"I'm sure he would," Mrs. Weasley said easily and disappeared back into the kitchen probably to send that owl.

"So Harry," Percy said, putting down his fork and staring at him easily. Harry still wasn't used to the fact that Percy was part of the family again. Percy had been joining them for practically every meal, trying to get back into their good graces. "I heard that you've been accepted into Auror training. Everyone's making a fuss out of it at the Ministry you know."

Ron stared at him. "You didn't tell me they accepted you!"

"I just got my letter this morning," Harry found himself saying defensively. Ron was one to talk anyway.

"Well, all of them stood up and nominated you I heard," Percy said with a grin that suited his brother Bill's face better. "They have you pegged for head."

Harry stared at him. "I haven't even gone to the school yet," he protested. "Who'd they replace Mad Eye with?"

"No one yet," Percy said. "Though Proudfoot is acting as head until someone can be elected. The Ministry is still pretty chaotic. I mean, I didn't even get fired and I should have. Ron was pushed into the Department of Mysteries... Hermione, well, that's what I got sent here to do today. She wants to be in Muggle Law?"

"Yes she does," Ron said, sounding very defensive. "And she already got her acceptance letter so I don't know what you're pratting on about."

"We need her Ron," Percy said, looking very serious. "We need all three of you. Don't you get it? Everything in the Ministry is being started over from scratch by Kingsley and he wants you three to have a big part in it. I have another acceptance letter for her." He pulled a letter out of his jacket pocket as he said this and flashed it to Ron and Harry. In bold letters on the front cover they could both make out the words "Department of Law Enforcement." "Kingsley has a vision for a new world and it's important that we all support him with it."

"You just like him because he's Minister of Magic now," Ron said, glaring at his brother.

Percy actually smiled. "I promise you Ron this isn't just because he's Minister this time. This is a cause worthy to fight for."


I'm too tired to be able to tell if this is any good... I also just can't respond to any reviews right now: I just really wanted to get this out, because I'm already a day late. Although, I much appreciate all reviews at this time. I'm still trying to figure out how I want to write the next part, but I'll try my best to get it written for tomorrow night.

I also don't know what I'm going to do about the ring still so I hope HP-lexicon puts something up about it soon haha. Cuz I think everyone's split half and half on whether its in the ring or not.

Regardless, thanks guys for sticking with this story and I hope it's still enjoyable :)