"Weasley," a deep voice broke Ron's attention from his paperwork. He looked up and saw Hemera standing in the doorway to his office. "Got a tic?"

Ron put down his quill and pushed the seat back from the antiquated desk. "Sure. Something private?"

"Yeah, I reckon it is." She came in and locked his door before silencing the room. "Have you had a chance to do any further investigating on Cavendish or the sod who was used to murder him?"

"I'm not lead on that case. I've been, ah, busy on a different one."

"And that is?"

Ron sat forward in his chair and regarded the senior Auror across from him. Hemera Jones was one formidable witch, much like Minerva McGonagall, in temperament and tenacity. She was also bloody good at her job and kept her proclivities with Professor Sinistra very private.

"Were you in the training room last week when I put Shafiq on the clock in a hypothetical situation?"

"No, I was following up on my case. I didn't come in until you started the simulation. What's up?"

Ron took a deep breath before continuing. "Harry and I think that we've got a turn-coat in the ranks. We think that someone sold us out and they are the reason that we were almost kidnapped."

"Bollocks." Her eyes turned to slits. "And you thought I might have been the one, even after I denied such an accusation. I bet that you and that twit Potter rowed over me being the sell-out."

"No, Harry and I are in firm agreement." Ron watched her face change some, taking in the information afforded.

Hemera pulled out a tin from her pocket and put a mint in her mouth before pocketing it once more. "Granger, then. She's never trusted me, not since we first met."

"Don't take it personally. She rarely trusts people, especially when it comes to me and Harry. She is fiercely loyal, otherwise."

"Commendable that you got her to see it your way," she smirked. "Too bad I can't earn her trust," she lamented

"I can be persuasive, if you know how to row with her. And you will, eventually, probably. " He saw her frowning. "And it's not cause you've been seeing Aurora for years, if that's what you're thinking."

Jones snorted violently. "So you and Potter think I'm on the up and up."

"We do and we trust you."

Her expression turned fierce. "I'd take a wand to myself before turning face on Kingsley. He's my best mate. And I'll take a wand to the one who is trying to betray the Aurors. I lived through the last nightmare I'll be arsed if some poncy twat tries to harm the Aurors this time."

"That's why we will need your help on the matter of sorting out who the traitor is. Harry refused to hear anything otherwise. I also know that you'd never sell out, not after everything that's happened to your family. You'd kill Gwenog before turn traitor."

"Fucking right you are."

"And Hermione did mention that in that all-call, the cadets went first and we didn't change our plans until after they were gone. They couldn't have known."

"So you think it's either an apprentice or Junior?" She sat down on the edge of his desk, her dark blue boots looking dull in his office.

"We think it's a junior, frankly. Kingsley changed the requirements where anyone getting in after 2001 had to have NEWTS along with clearance from Audrey to be admitted to the program. Those who didn't pass both sets went to MLS as bailiffs. Harry and I caught hell from everyone for coming in without them." Ron fumbled with his quill, trying not to get lost in thought. "The younger ones weren't present to know where we were landing. That's why I think it's a Junior. It doesn't make sense if they are a cadet or even apprentice."

"So you're thinking that one of the juniors slipped through while the Quidditch Tent was wide open?"

"It looks that way. Seven juniors and I didn't notice whether they were still present when we changed our landing plans at the last moment. I know that McKenzie is barely scraping by in his classes but he's tops out in the field. Add in he has a wife and kid at home and he'd blow his own head off before quitting."

"He could be bribed."

"I doubt it. Too much at stake now. There's also Archer. He's a straight shooter and he's never given any lip to anyone, I don't think."

"The quiet ones are the ones you should consider, Weasley. You should know that."

"Carrington went to Beauxbatons and was top of her class. She's proved herself to earn the promotions and goes way above and beyond. Her ambition burns bright and she'd be barmy to throw it aside."

"Get to the point, Weasley."

Ron nattered on. "Mallory proved himself which is why he had the pleasure of letting my wife punch him in the nose. Wellington is middle of the pack in his training scores but he's top-notch on policy and procedure. Edwards will be an excellent field Auror once he earns his last stripes. Brumby will crawl over broken glass to get his Auror badge, way he is in training. His marks at Beauxbatons were almost as good as Carrington was."

"You've still not made your point."

"What I'm saying is that every single one of them has something to lose and everything to gain. Throwing away their career when most of them are this close to promotion to full Auror makes no sense yet it's the only answer I keep coming back to."

"And you think it's focused on you, and not someone else?"

"Why else would they attack the three of us?"

"It still doesn't make sense but for now, I'll go along with it. Now, how do you plan on investigating the Juniors? All of their files are in the department. They'll know."

"I reckon I'll think of something to bait our traitor out into the open."

"That's not good enough, Weasley."

"I know but it's all I have right now. That's why I'm asking for your help."

"You're quiet tonight," Hermione brought Ron a cup of tea to him while he was lost in thought on the couch. "I thought you'd have left work at work today."

"I've been thinking all day,"

"So you're worn out, right?" She cheeked before sitting down next to her husband on the couch.

"Something Jones said has been bothering me."

"And that is?"

"When I ran the hypothetical situation with Shafiq, trying to bait our traitor in the room, Jones wasn't in there. I asked her and she said she came in after I started but she wasn't in the room. After you punched Mallory, she was there, coming from under disillusionment." Ron looked over the room, looking slightly lost. "Why was she hiding in the room instead of making herself known?"

"Maybe she's the one evaluating you for your fitness report? You said that they are given next month, and it also includes promotions. Maybe she didn't want you to know she was evaluating you in class. She did that a couple of times, at Hogwarts, when we weren't supposed to know she was there."

"Maybe you're right."

"You and Harry trust her, even if I don't. But then I don't work with her so I don't know her. You do and I trust your judgement. So I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt on your behalf."

"Alright. I'll take it."

"Now have you thought further on who the turncoat is? And have you come up with any leads on who hired the accidental assassin for Cavendish?"

"I think it's all related, one way or another, and for the life of me, I can't fathom it. None of it makes any damn sense and yet it all fits even if I can't make sense of it."

"Have you spoken with Robards yet?"

"No, just Jones. I think she's related to all of this but for the life of me, I can't figure out how she fits into the situation."

"Maybe she does and maybe she doesn't. Look how often Harry was accused of something and it was either a bad rumor or just terrible circumstances. Maybe that's what is going on with her, too."

"She's not my Senior so it's not like I work with her as often as Harry did, once Kingsley took over the Minister's position. He's worked with her for a long time and he trusts her."

"And he trusted Dumbledore and look at that whole mess."

"I reckon that was mucked up." Ron slowly turned to his wife and saw a gleam in her eyes. "You have a brilliant idea, don't you? Something I've not considered, right?"

"I do. You said that the Aurors gossip worse than women, right? Why not use it to your benefit and possible advantage? I mean, you said there's a traitor among the juniors. Why not flush them out and see if you can get an idea on who it is?"

"If they didn't bite when I had the cadet on the clock, why would they bite on some gossip?"

"If you make it tantalizing, like promotions or fitreps? I bet that can start some tongues a wagging."

"You mean how you get when I start talking dirty to you when we're - "

"RON!" she blushed brilliantly.

Ron grinned. "No, I get what you're saying. But you think I can get them nattering on about promotions and fitreps and see who speaks up about other rubbish? I think I can do that. But what if our traitor doesn't bite? I mean I talk that way long enough while rubbing you, you bite."

She blushed harder before hitting him on the arm. "Ron! You aren't to rub anyone in class!"

"But what if I use words to rub someone the wrong way? I mean, not everyone in there is guaranteed a promotion. Sure, there's openings but the best of the bunch are considered - but if they don't have the recommendation of two seniors, they won't get the promotion. The only two Seniors who would give those recommendations were Jones and Cavendish. But since he's dead now, it's all up to Jones. She's tough as nails when it comes to promotions. If she says that someone's not ready, they aren't up for it for a year, minimum. Kingsley supports her completely, which is why I'm boggled that I got the promotion so fast from Auror to Senior, at least unofficially."

"So none of the others will sign off on recommendations?"

"Robards won't consider it unless he tapped Williamson. But then the Director might not even promote someone to Auror from the Juniors."

"You could rub that in the faces of the students, reminding them they have to earn their promotions, not get it just by being present and doing the bare minimum."

"I reckon that even if there is an opening that doesn't mean the Minister is required to fill it. He could leave it open a year or three, depending on the budget."

"Has he left positions open?"

"Yeah, they have. Jones mentioned one time that they didn't promote a soul for five years, because there wasn't the budget or the need for additional Aurors."

"So tell them that, that they aren't entitled to a promotion and that to even be considered, they have to work very hard to distinguish themselves."

"You know? That just might work. Fitreps are due next month and the juniors will try to prove themselves the next couple of weeks. And if there is a slot open, they might get cutthroat. I bet that we can push them hard enough that they will either reveal themselves, or mouth off enough that we can pinpoint our turncoat."

"How?"

"I think it's time for a training exercise all of my own."

"You've not been cleared by a Healer yet. There's no way you can handle a training mission."

"Oh, they aren't coming after me. Oh no. I've got a better idea."

"And that is?"

"Remember when you had me read up on that grotty ancient history?"

"I don't make you read anything, Ron." Hermione pouted.

"You said it would be prudent to read that particular book, since I was going to be going into the Aurors and you were still off at Hogwarts for another month. So I did."

"And?"

"I think I can put it to use for next class."

"Will Robards sign off on it?"

"If it unmasks our rat, I don't think he'll mind at all."

"You're running the risk of turning the entire department against you if it fails, if you're planning what I think you're planning."

"And if I sit on my arse, something worse will happen. Everything I plan has a risk. I rather make a mistake in my plans than waiting on the fucker to attack again 'cause if anything happened to you again, I'd probably burn the bastard." Ron saw her face and tried to soften his expression. "I can't lose you or get my arse tossed in Azkaban."

Ron checked his wand a third time since he came into the office. His broom was stashed at the training ground where he would apparate once the portkeys were sent off. Jones was also present, to be the official Senior on the training hop while he and Harry ambushed the 7 other juniors cadets. The numbers made it work. Three man teams working against an unknown force.

He just had to bring them all back in the same shape as they were when they leave.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. You go on out there. I'll apparate to my assigned point and get started. You just watch where you point that wand of yours."

"I'm not intentionally trying to hit you."

"Speccy git!"

"Gormless prat!" Harry left the office and Ron put his wand in the holster on his arm.

"Time to get started," he muttered to himself before leaving his office to walk downstairs. He almost ran over Ms. Blunt who was walking towards his office in a hurry. "Senior Weasley, this came in a few minutes ago for you."

"From a particular source?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes, it seems so. I took the liberty of removing the outer envelope to protect your source." She handed over the wax sealed parchment and saw the particular signet embossed into it. "It is. Thank you for bringing it to my attention."

"Yes, sir."

"Please let Ms. Granger know privately," he smirked a little, "that my owls are being held until I return from the field today." He leaned in closer yet not touching her at all. "And that when I get home, we'll have takeaway from the place downstairs."

Ms. Blunt's eyes danced with mirth while the rest of her face stayed stoic. "I'll gladly relay the message, privately, sir." She departed, turning right to head towards the MLS offices.

Ron opened the sealed parchment and scanned the contents. "Bugger," he muttered to himself before stashing the parchment inside his jacket. He saw the door to the classroom and decided to make his move. He walked into the classroom and stood quietly, waiting for the class to settle down.

"Quick announcement before we get started. There's some nattering going on in the department about promotions coming up. Until Kingsley signs off on your particular parchment, it's a load of bunk. So you harpies running your yap, stop. All it's gonna do is get people pissed off if there isn't one, and get the rest of you sods prattling on, distracted from what we're here for. Got it?"

Many faces nodded in understanding.

"Now, change in plans for today, class. Cadets, you have a free day. Go enjoy it. Don't get arrested. Apprentices and Juniors, you're to take the portkeys provided for today's unannounced field training day."

Groans erupted in the class.

"Quit your griping and sort out. Juniors, you're lead on this training exercise. Apprentices, two each with a Junior. It'll be three man teams today for this hop."

Ron watched most of the cadets depart and the apprentices gather around the 7 juniors in their class. He spied Smythe and Shafiq staying at the doorway, patiently awaiting him. He nodded and smiles erupted on their faces.

"Now that the rest of the cadets have left, Shafiq and Smythe are going to assist me on our hop today. They have top marks and earned their place. Now, for the rest of you sods, there are seven books hidden in this room. Each one is a portkey. They won't activate for seven minutes. I'm taking my minions to get ready. Find the books and you'll be on the hop." Ron went to the door and stopped. "Oh, and if you think it's an easy accio, think again. Each book is magically affixed to their hiding place, courtesy of my wife. Any group not present at today's training gets zero marks for the week, Junior and apprentice. Further, anyone missing today's hop probably won't be considered for any promotions in rank, regardless of how you've done until this point."

The remaining students groaned again.

"Six minutes and counting."

Ron left the room with two cadets in tow, hearing the rest scrambling around the room.

"Did hide them?"

Ron walked ahead of the other two, smiling. "Nah. But I did make them invisible and used a sticking charm on them to keep them from being magically accio'd. Harry taught me that sometimes, you have to get on your hands and knees to find the important stuff. But I wonder if they will work together or individually?" he said to himself.

Ron turned the corner with the other two and stopped.

"Now, I know both of you are talented wizards and witch, but to get where we are going, I'm going to side-along apparition. Otherwise, you'd never know where we are going."

"And that is?"

"My family's farm, out in Devon. It's about fifty acres now, and since the house is protected, we use the remaining property for our training drills." Ron smiled. "Once the training mission is finished, the group of students will interview Mrs. Weasley. See, she's a crime victim. And I want you guys talking with one who lived through her ordeal. And once we're done, Mum will feed us late lunch."

"Um, sir, I don't know if - " Shafiq bungled what she was going to say.

"Cadet, I took the liberty of picking up some halal meat yesterday from a particular butcher just off Diagon Alley. The meal will not violate your faith."

Cadet Shafiq lowered her head, whispering for a second. "Thank you, Captain Weasley, for your foresight."

"But make sure you eat your weight today. Mum won't hear otherwise."

"Yes, sir."

Ron put his arms out. "Ready to take on the juniors? I'll explain when we land."

They each held onto his arms and he disapparated them to the huge field back behind the Burrow's orchard. They landed deftly, with Ron looking up into the air and saluting. Two red sparks flew above his head before they disappeared.

"Now, let's get you cloaked," he pulled his wand and made the two cadets disappear. "You will be taught that particular charm after today's lesson. That's your prize for being top of the class so far. The others won't learn it until they are apprentices. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" both barked back even though Ron couldn't see them now.

"Now, there's three brooms. The Cleansweep 2002 model is mine. The Legacys are for you to use today. The object is to stun your opponents only. Use your brooms or hide and apparate. I don't want to know. But the object is to take everyone out that you can. I want to test the juniors on their leadership skills with an inexperienced team."

"And if we stun them?"

"Keep a tally. If either one of you stun more than any of the seniors, you'll get something. But no one's ever stunned more than Hemera doing this."

"Yes, sir."

Ron watched the two brooms disappear and heard them take off. He turned towards the landing area and waited. Sure enough, three groups fell slowly to the earth, each of the juniors landing gracefully while the apprentices were a little wobbly on their feet. Brumby, McKenzie and Mallory landed easily and helped their team.

"Anyone else?"

"There might be one more coming, sir. Three groups hadn't found their book when our portkey activated." Brumby brushed the dirt off his trousers while McKenzie helped his two teammates up from the ground. Ron looked up and saw one more floating down before landing in a heap. Archer landed awkwardly with two others on top of him. "Sorry, sir. I saw the portkey activate and we flew off, barely attached. It's a wonder we made it all in one piece. I do know that we left behind Carrington, Edwards, and Wellington.

"Well they'll be in a spot of bother, I reckon." Ron waited 2 more minutes before three books appeared without Aurors attached. "Well, that's it then. Four groups. Then for the apprentices, you'll have top marks for today, for showing up. Anything past this is extra credit. For the four juniors," Ron saw Mallory present before him, along with their team. "The object is to locate the unknown number of Aurors along with Smythe and Shafiq, and to capture them. Incarcerous only, along with stunners. No fiendfyre and no bombada. This is my family home, including the orchard, so no torching the damn thing. Got it? Now, there's four teams of you, going up against an unknown number of assailants. Finally, there's a time limit. You've got 3 hours to track and capture everyone."

"Why the time limit, sir?"

Ron looked at his gathering. "The time limit is that once your mission is completed, you're to interview Mrs. Weasley who is a kidnapping victim. You're to interview her without getting hexed and if you do a well enough job, she'll feed you a hot meal. Finally, my Mum gets beastly when people aren't there when dinner is ready. She's willing to talk to you, so you can know what it's like to survive those circumstances.

"Now, stunners only. The top of Stoatshead Hill is the boundary for our training exercise. Be mindful and work together as best as you can."

"Are you participating, sir?"

"Not today. I'm the observer today. Auror Jones, though, is out there somewhere, ready to take you guys down with a stunner, too."

The three groups looked at one another and grimaced.

Ron pointed his wand skyward and sent red sparks up into the air. Six sets were returned.

"Three hours, Aurors. Go."

The groups ran for the orchard and some cover while Ron went to collect his broom so he could observe today.

He glanced at his watch. A little past 10. He felt the galleons clinking inside his moleskin pouch in his jacket - a friendly wager between Harry and Jones and himself on how many would get caught. Ron said that 2 of them would last the duration. Harry said all of them would. Jones plunked over her five galleons and said she would be the only one to not get caught.

Ron happily took his broom up above the trees to watch what was happening below. Somewhere below him, among the trees, were Two senior Aurors, and 2 cadets. He'd disillusion himself once the first one went down and quietly help the downed Auror. That was what he wanted to prove to the juniors and apprentices - that the rules in a situation could change in a heartbeat and you had to adapt and overcome. Marquess of Queensbury rules became obsolete the day that the sodding Death Eaters gave no quarter to women and children. He'd teach his students that this was street rules and there was no such thing as cheating by the bad guys.

He shifted on his broom after a while and glanced at his watch. It'd been an hour and hadn't see a bloody thing from above the treetops. He had two more hours before he'd be sitting on the bench in the kitchen, getting a bite of something Mum made while listening to her talk about her kidnapping to the students.

A bright red light went up from the other side of the orchard. He pointed his broom towards the magical sparks in the air until he was over the location. He dropped down into a clearing and saw Smythe was stunned and trussed up with rope.

Ron pointed his wand at the young man's face and waited until the cadet was sitting upright. "How'd they get you?"

"I tripped on a root and made a noise. They were on me immediately and hit me with a stunner to the back. Next thing I know, I see your face."

"Then here," Ron handed over his broom. "Go on up and observe from above the treetops. I'm changing the rules."

"Sir?"

"Criminals never follow the rules. So why should training be equally regimented? No, the rules change and the students have to adapt. So observe above the trees and when someone sends up Periculum, fly to their location and wake them straightaway."

"And you, sir?"

"I'm going to go chase down my objective." Ron handed over his broom before tapping his wand on top of his head.

He disappeared from view and disapparated from that spot to the other side of the orchard, next to Fred's Oak Tree. He stayed low and looked around for anyone who could be hiding. Sure enough, he spotted some shimmering outlining one particular tree, about 10 meters away. He crouched low and silently cast Immobulus and watched 2 more shimmer next to the tree. He cast the same spell towards the other two and froze them too.

He moved with stealth under the disillusionment charms before kneeling down next to the three. He removed the cover and saw Mallory's face. "You were sloppy, Mallory. You're better than this." He pointed his wand skyward and fired off his own spell before disapparating again to another clearing in the orchard. He landed behind a copse of trees and saw spells firing back and forth. As fast as the spells were firing from one side, he knew it was Jones. No one else could spellcast as fast as she could. Only Harry was faster but he'd do such as a last resort.

He watched to gauge their position but before he could start the incantation, she'd picked off all three. He stayed in position and saw the next group uncovered. Jones worked quickly to secure them before firing off periculum into the sky.

"Stand down. Misson completed. All four sets of Aurors have been captured. I repeat, all four sets of Aurors have been captured. Stand down," Harry's voice boomed.

"Bugger, that was an ninety minutes." Ron disapparated again to the Oak tree where he saw the Juniors and their apprentices looking sheepish. He removed his own disillusionment and watched Harry and Hemera remove theirs, along with Shafiq. Smythe landed his broom and handed it back to Ron.

"What happened? I expected the groups to last at least 2 hours."

"Sorry sir," Brumby refused to look up from his boots. "I didn't listen to my apprentices who knew better and got us trapped on the edge of the clearing. We were stuck in no-man's land and were picked off one by one. I know we took out one but I only know I got caught out. There must have been three of you throwing spells our way."

"I finished them off," Harry spoke up first.

"Archer?"

"We were hunkered down and the next thing I knew, I woke up here." Archer looked at his two trainees, looking sheepish. "I got my team captured and I don't have a sodding clue why we were picked off."

"I can answer that," Shafiq spoke up. "They stumbled upon me via apparition. I had taken up position in a tree, about 8 meters up. One of them slipped in a stream and got mud all over themselves. I saw a shimmer of the other two and stunned them in succession."

"I'm not going to bother asking you since I picked all of you off. I'll explain later why you were an easy target." Ron turned towards the last group.

"And you three?"

McKenzie looked defiant. "We had a good position and I saw someone. I fired off a stunner and then it was like we were set upon by six people. Then another person took out the apprentices before I woke up here."

Ron saw Jones smirking. "Sorry McKenzie but it was just me. There weren't six of us to take you on."

"And what else did you do, you git? You take a kip up a tree somewhere?"

"I flew around looking and didn't see anyone else 'til the notice sounded."

"You need your eyes checked, mate."

"And I didn't see you. I saw Smythe up a broom but not you."

"I took his place once he was knocked out."

"You changed the rules," Archer yelled. "That's cheating."

Ron stalked up to Dan Archer. "Cheating is Quidditch. Cheating is Chess. Cheating is gobstones. This is a bloody mission, even if it's training. The criminals we're chasing won't follow laws, and rules. They will break every law possible to either get away - or to take you out. They have no qualms ambushing you. They have zero reason to show you mercy. If you do not fight, they will kill you slower. They have no problems using Unforgiveable Curses to kill you. And if you think that you don't have to follow archaic rules in the middle of a wandfight, think again. You are held to Auror standards but get it through your thick skull: Your opponent isn't hindered.

"So you have to think smarter, work harder, work within the framework of the Aurors, and still bring in criminals alive. Got that!"

"Yes, sir," the twelve trainees barked back.

"If you think for one moment that you are going to break laws and rules without consequences, be prepared for one of us," Ron motions to the rest, "or all of us to come hunt you down for breaking the law, too."

"Yes, sir," the apprentices yelped.

"Sir? How was it that all of us who were 'the bad guys' on this mission took out the Aurors so easily? I expected them to put up more of a fight."

"We'll talk about that in the next class session. But your next part is that you have a kidnap victim to interview - and to get through it without either getting your ears twisted off or being hexed into next month. You make it through the interview with Mrs. Weasley and there probably is a meal waiting at the end of it." Ron and Harry took lead, heading towards the Burrow. "And eat up as much as you want. Mum planned on all of the Juniors and apprentices showing up. Since it's just us instead, there should be plenty to tide us over before we return to London."

Ron stepped aside to hold the door open for the rest. Sure enough, Mum was inside, waiting to talk. "Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Anything dodgy today?" Ron watched the group settle into their chairs.

"Not a bloody thing."

"Fuck."

A/N: Now back to semi-hiatus since RL is barmy right now. - DG