Damien had been awake early this morning. Since the rules had changed for him as a "Special Exception", he was to take the this exam at the school. Since they had one other special exception, the officiates had brought someone else with them. A young man with ashen red hair, whose hands looked like they'd seen enough of someone else's face to be as hard as rocks by now. Damien stood at attention next to the boy in a dress uniform provided by Minsk; black suit with a slight flare at the hem on the bottom, and a wrap around collared black blazer that Damien purposefully had left open. On his hip sat a small leather hip pouch, holding the Book of Elements and some other odds and ends needed for the test.

He hadn't tried to wake Ashley up this early, since the first 2 hours of the test were strictly paper and quill. He just asked that Minsk go get her at the start of the next test, which was just after breakfast. The officiate, a scrawny, balding man, squeaked out the rules and regulations and the demands of the test that was to be given. Once that was over with, then they began the grueling task of finishing the test

The test was being taken in the Divinations tower, where no other student could get access into to sneak in. It was almost time for the test to end, so Minsk excused himself from the Testing Room to go grab Ashley. He wasn't sure she'd want to watch the next portion of the test, but it was what Damien wanted, so he agreed to it. There was a quick 30 minute potioneering demonstration, then came combat application.

Damien finished his written test about 10 minutes before the start of the next test, as did the boy next to him. The officiate took their tests from them and handed them a box, each containing the ingredients they needed for the demonstration and the name of the potion they needed to make. Damien moved away from the other boy, looking around for something to use as a cauldron, as one was not provided. He watched his opponent sift through everything before stomping on the ground, forming a basin out of the stone. Damien picked up a candle from the corner and took out some chalk from his satchel, drawing a seal on the floor, placing the candle in the center. With a quick snap of the fingers, the candle melted into a small pit. Damien cracked his knuckles and dropped to a knee, striking the ground with his fist. The basin he formed wasn't as crude looking as the one that the other boy had, which in this part of the test was a big deal, but he wasn't sure how practical it was to be able to get the heating down. Instead of worrying about it, he went to work immediately.

Minsk walked into the Great Hall, dressed in the Vanguard uniform, getting looks from all the students, who had never seen him in it. He walked to the Ravenclaw table, looking for Ashley.

"So, I told her that-" Meghan paused, midsentence, her eyes going wide. "What in Merlin's name is Professor Minsk wearing?"

Ashley turned, and found the Professor in question. She stood. "I have to go," she said quickly. "Damien's doing some sort of testing today. Not sure what it's for, but it's important. See you later, 'kay?"

Meghan pouted, but nodded her head nonetheless.

Ashley hurried to Minsk's side, and followed him along the corridors, until they reached the Divinations Tower. She slipped inside with the man, looking around until she'd spotted Damien hunched over a cauldron. She smiled briefly, remaining silent so she wouldn't distract him.

It had taken Damien a good minute to realize that Ashley had returned with Minsk. He shot her the briefest smile before returning to his bubbling brew. He checked the ingredients list once more and ran through the preparation through his head to make sure it was in working order then stepped back with his hands up to show he was done.

The officiate walked over and checked the potion, taking a vial for later sampling. He waved Damien away so that the boy could wait on his opponent. The red haired boy grunted in frustration as he stirred the potion again, but not getting the effect he wanted. He finally gave in and backed away from his potion, heading back towards his teacher with an angered look in his eye. Damien turned back to Ashley and gave her a hug and a kiss, "almost done... Just one more portion left."

"you think you're ready, lad?"

"going to have to be. Is it being held in here?"

"what? Hell no... They want to give you guys enough room to go at it without hurting everyone else. It'll be held outside."

"weapon limitations?"

"only what you can carry. You can borrow my machete if you need something."

Damien nodded, having forgotten that Ashley was in his arms, "crap, you going to be ok watching me fight? The next test is a combat demonstration."

Ashley squeezed Damien softly. "Of course I'll be okay. I've seen some intense wizarding duels before, and I've watched Unforgiveables and Dark magic used. Alchemy is just another battle form." She smiled, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Good luck. I'll stand at a distance, if that will help you concentrate more. You'll do great."

Damien's attention was called back to the officiate, snapping his fingers, "there will be a short recess to allow the testers to get organized. Meet in the front courtyard in half an hour. Young miss, alongside Mr. Kelmore. If you are to be a witness of these preceding's, you can sit with the instructors."

Damien had taken off his jacket and started stretching, feeling the cold tingle of the snow onto his skin. He draped his jacket around Ashley's shoulder's to keep her warm, giving her a quick kiss, "Wish me luck, you might want to kiss these lips before they're too fat to kiss for a while."

Ashley gave him a grateful smile as he draped his jacket around her. She put her arms around Damien, to hold him close. "Good luck," she whispered, giving him a return kiss. "I'll be rooting for you. I'm sure you'll do amazing. I've seen you use alchemy before; it's impressive. So go defeat your opponent, okay? I don't want to have to save your pride and beat him up myself." She giggled and gave him one last kiss.

Minsk came up from behind Damien and attached a machete sheath to the back strap of the satchel on his hip, "focus boy. You're fighting him." he looked over to the red haired boy being handed a massive war hammer. Damien inhaled sharply, taking a moment to collect himself.

The officiate stepped between the two boys and read off a list of rules, looking around for the High General, as this was the match she wanted to judge. It wasn't long after he was finished that Damien's father and the High General herself stepped up. The officiate stepped back, "k then. State your names and proficiencies, starting with you.

The red headed boy stepped forward and stood the hammer down head first, "Ryan Nathaniel McTavish. Earth and steel."

Damien took a short bow from where he was standing, "Damien Eric Kelmore, elements."

"which ones, Mr. Kelmore?"

"all of them."

the officiate looked slightly surprised, "well then. Let the match begin." Damien turned to find McTavish already taking a swing at him. He weaved out of the way only to have to jump out of the way of the war hammer to keep his face from being torn off. As the hammer connected with the ground, the earth splintered and shattered in every direction.

Ashley watched from where she had been told to stay, as the fight began. She gasped softly as Damien dodged the first blow. She clenched her fists tightly, silently cheering him on. The way the earth trembled and split was nothing to her, after what she had seen him perform. She knew he could handle it, as long as he proved proficient in hand-to-hand combat.

"Come on, Damien," she whispered.

Damien watched the floor crackle for the last little moment before reaching back to grab the machete. McTavish lead in again with another wild swing, forcing Damien to move off to the side. Damien drew the machete and aimed at the base where the hammer and the staff met and chopped a chunk of wood out of the staff. He followed this with a rush of wind, breaking off the hammer head; the other boy was angered and crossed his arms over his chest, sending his opponent flying backwards as a wall of spear-like rocks shot from the ground. Damien landed on one foot, not bothering to gain footing as he twisted to fire off a wave of superheated air towards its victim. McTavish pulled back, using the spikes as a wall that absorbed the impact, but sent it crumbling down.

Damien ran back towards McTavish, taking backhanded swings with the machete. Every swing lead to another block and a punch or a kick. At this rate, the two would have to fight each other for a while. McTavish finally moved out of the swinging blades path and head-butted Damien's hand to disarm him.

Minsk leaned into Ashley, "This'll take forever. The rules are that one of them must knockout the other or get them to submit."

Ashley held in a cheer as Damien disarmed the other boy, but she grimaced as he too was soon disarmed. She looked up at Minsk. "How long do you think it'll take for that to happen?" she asked in a low voice. She hoped it would be soon; the longer it went on, the more likely Damien would get hurt in some way.

"A little while lass, a little while..."

(an hour later)

Damien and McTavish had been attacking each other for too long now. Both boys were bloodied and barely standing, yet some driving force had kept the two from giving in. The two had backed away for a moment to catch a rest the wobbled towards each other. Both led in with a solid right hook, each connecting each other at the same time. They backed up and tried again with a left hook, only producing the same ending result. Both of them grabbed the others lapel and reached back with their heads, storming in to head-butt each other. A loud crack made everyone wince as the two boys stood motionless against one another before they fell over with a soft thud.

The officiate took a few unsteady step through the maze of broken earth and bloodstained snow, checking each boy, "they're both out. I declare this match a..." Before he could finish, the boys both shuffled in place, both equally battered and angry. As Damien shifted through the snow to lift himself up to continue fighting, so did McTavish.

Ashley had lost track of when exactly her hands had gone numb from being too tightly clenched. Her jaw ached as well from gritting her teeth. It killed her to watch Damien become bloodied, and with her unable to help. Nor could she say anything, for fear of distracting him. She winced as a loud crack split the air, and both boys collapsed. She sucked in a sharp breath, however, as both struggled to their feet. Her eyes shone with admiration; he was stronger than he looked, to be able to take such a beating. "C'mon," she whispered, "Knock him out."

Ian Kelmore was whispering with the High General, finally getting the go ahead to stop the boys. "enough! The High General feels that this is a waste of talent if this test ends with one or both of you dying. You both pass."

Damien let out an exhausted breath and fell to his knees. McTavish tried to keep himself upright, but like Damien, he gave into his pain and fell to the floor. Damien's father treaded lightly on the broken earth, repairing it as his foot fell on it, "congratulations boys. Catch your breaths, we'll begin the oath ceremony in an hour or two when you've recovered a bit from your fight. If we have to, we'll carry you up to the hospital wing. Dismissed." McTavish's teacher and one other gentleman lifted the boy from his perch, dragging him away. Ian reached down and offered Damien a hand. Damien, in turn, took the gauntleted hand and pulled himself to his unstable feet. "Happy Birthday, Damien."

"thanks... Great way to spend my birthday isn't it?" Ian waved down Ashley to join them. Ashley watched as the fight was finally ended. She ran forward, carefully picking her way across the damaged area, until she'd reached Damien's side. Gently, she put an arm around him, lending her support if needed. She planted a soft kiss on his cheek. "You did brilliantly," she exclaimed, a small smile on her otherwise concerned face. "But we'd better get you to the Hospital Wing...I only know the basic healing spells, and I'm no Healer. I daresay Pomfrey will want to look at you anyhow."

Minsk shook his head and put his other arm around Damien, "I'm not sure he's going to make the trip. Madame Pomfrey is on her way already, as is the Headmaster. We have to get him out of the main section of courtyard so we can repair it. As it is, we are having a hard time keeping students from watching." He led Ashley and Damien off to the side and gently set the boy in the snow. "did a good job, ya did."

"whooo... Now I think I feel everything hurting. Once again, this was EXACTLY the way I wanted to spend my birthday. Debilitated, in pain in a pool of my own blood and sweat."

Ian smirked, "quit your griping. At least you earned your way in. The officiate has given me your test scores along with your alchemy rating. You are officially a class 4 alchemist with the Vanguard. You should be proud. I have something for you, but it'll have to wait"

Ashley smoothed a bit of blood-soaked hair back from Damien's forehead, a small smile on her lips. "Maybe it's not the best way to spend a birthday," she laughed. "But it sure is a good way to impress the ladies. I'm proud of you." She gently kissed his forehead. "Happy birthday, Damien."

"The only lady I wish to impress is sitting here, trying to clean me up because I just got the shit kicked out of me… Oh look. It's the Doctor… Hello Doctor…"

She looked up as Pomfrey finally made an appearance, bustling over with her usual levitated supply kit. "Alright, how much damage this time? I swear, between the two of you, I feel like I'm always bandaging someone up," the Mediwitch complained good-naturedly. Ashley grinned.

"Trouble just seems to follow us, hm?"

"Right you are, Ms. Vale."

Damien chuckled through his pain, trying to lift up his hand to put onto Ashley's, "I guess we're just a pair of troublemakers... not much we can do about that. If you think this is bad, you should see the other guy." He felt some liquid well up in his lungs, forcing him onto his side to cough it up and spit it out, "Its not so bad really. I've had worse."

Minsk shook his head, "No you haven't... this is the worst its been. You're still just numb from the snow and the pain."

Ashley forced herself to continue remaining calm. But when Minsk muttered something about it being worse than any other time, her face registered worry.

Madame Pomfrey laid a comforting on her shoulder. "Don't worry, dear. I'll get him all patched up and right as rain." She moved over to Damien, and looked him over with pursed lips. "I'd really appreciate it if you would avoid injuries like this in the future, Mr. Kelmore, Ms. Vale," she sighed, beginning to wave her wand over Damien, scanning for injuries. "Internal bleeding, major injuries all over, broken ribs, a fractured skull...this is ridiculous."

Damien once again chuckled, "fractured skull, huh... probably why I have such a bloomin' headache." He laughed to himself, knowing everyone else would probably give him an evil glare for making fun of his situation. He reached up to tug on Ashley's hand, looking up and smiling, "think you could get me some water... or fire whiskey."

"You don't need fire whiskey. You need something stronger."

Ashley resisted the urge to swat him for joking about the situation She settled for a soft glare instead. Her glare softened further. "I-"

"No, Mr. Kelmore, firewhiskey is not the thing to be drinking at the moment. After I have finished with you, then I suppose we will allow an exception to the no alcohol rule, and find you something. But first," here, Pomfrey produced a few potions, "drink this. This will numb your pain. After that, this bone growth potion will repair the fracture and broken bones. Then this blood replenishing potion. I've already stopped the internal bleeding."

Ashley smirked. "I can get you that water though." She glanced around, then picked up a rock, hidden in the snow. A quick incantation, and she'd Transfigured it into a glass, which she promptly filled with water. "Augmenti." She held out the glass of water. "I'll get you the firewhiskey as soon as Pomfrey allows me to."

He watched Ashley perform brilliant transfiguration, wanting to smile, but the bone growth juice was forced down his throat. He felt the bitter liquid slide down his throat, where it immediately started working. "a chaser woulda been nice..." he grabbed the glass from Ashley and opened his mouth, dumping the glass on his face in the hopes of getting some in. What little did get in, he managed to drink, the rest washed away the blood that had dried into his hair and skin.

Ashley grimaced. She knew how foul those potions tasted, and she did not envy him. She took the glass back and refilled it with water, before holding it out again. She looked up as Headmaster Dippet appeared behind the crouched adults.

Ashley watched as Dippet first went over to the McTavish boy, speaking to his mentor and the second Mediwitch that had been called in to check him over. There was a short conversation, then McTavish said something with a weak smile, before Dippet headed towards Damien.

"How is he doing?" he asked Ashley, not quite meeting her gaze. He had been oddly quiet around her, avoiding her and making eye contact, ever since the Bloodline's Fidelity ceremony. She had tried to convince him that she didn't blame him, and that he had actually done her a favor by chaperoning the ceremony, but the guilt was obvious in his eyes still. She sighed.

"He'll live," she murmured. "Madame Pomfrey is doing marvelous job patching him up."

"How do you feel, Mr. Kelmore?" Dippet turned to look at Damien. "By the way, I believe congratulations are in order. From what I hear, it was a good fight."

Damien was hurting too much to glare at him, but he had still carried a deep seated dislike for the man. Ashley and Minsk both had explained it to him, but no matter what could have been said, Damien hated him. Yet this time he tried to play nice, "thanks. I'm just overcome with joy to see the school's finest Headmaster supporting the ultraviolent. Makes me all warm and fuzzy all over." he felt a sharp kick into his ribs as Minsk nudged him to behave.

"Just because you're hurt doesn't mean I wont hit you, Kelmore. It wasn't his fault."

"Right... Sorry Headmaster. Thank you... And sorry about the courtyard. I think the High General was going to repair it."

Ashley swatted Damien lightly. "I won't refrain from smacking you too," she snapped. "You could be a bit more cordial. I already told you, the man practically saved my life. If I can forgive him, I should think you could too."

Dippet waved a hand sadly. "Let him be, Ms. Vale. His dislike of me is understandable."

Ashley glared at him. "No, it's not," she insisted. "I was the one who was tortured. I was the one who had her family turn their backs on her. And if I can forgive you for whatever part you played, especially since you were the only thing keeping my father from 'accidentally' going too far, then Damien should be able to as well." She huffed, as Madame Pomfrey shook her head, amused.

"You certainly haven't lost your spirit," she chuckled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Headmaster, I must continue working on Damien here."

"I understand." Dippet backed away slowly, meeting Ashley's eyes for the first time. For a moment, gratefulness shone in his eyes, before he left. Ashley watched him go.

it had been a few hours since the fight had ended, but not the pain. The bone grown juice ruined his palette as well as created more of a headache as the bone grew back to make it whole once again. Since he had finally given up on staying awake, he just passed right out, waiting for someone to wake him up in for the swearing in. Minsk shook the boy awake, looking over the now mostly recovered boy. "wake up you lazy arse... Quit sleeping on the job."

Ashley kissed Damien's cheek. "Wake up, sleepyhead," she murmured. "Time for you to become a full alchemist." She looked up at Minsk. "Not sure what that all entails, nor am I sure about what a level 4 alchemist is, but it sounds important. And you're gonna miss it if you don't wake up..." She grinned down at him.

"Out of technicality, the ceremony cant start without him."

Damien slowly opened his eyes and tried to sit up, letting out a big yawn, "wake me up when I was having a good dream. Lets go then..." he reached out to Minsk to help him out.

Minsk turned to Ashley as he lifted the boy to his feet, "the classification system of alchemy is kind of like a rank in how much power you have the potential to use. Goes from one to six."

Ashley grinned. "Maybe you can go back to that dream later. Right now, you have a ceremony." She glanced at him curiously. "A class four alchemist, huh? Is that good?"

Damien nodded, "the highest ranking alchemist alive, as of current, is the High General. Class five alchemist capable of leveling a city by herself, which I might add she did do. Two hundred years ago. Class four is pretty damned good, comparatively. Thing is, there hasn't been a class 6 alchemist since before the High General. Last one was her predecessor , 400 years ago."

Ashley's eyes widened. "Capable of leveling an entire city?" she whispered in shock. "Are there limits, to keep people in check? What happens if something goes wrong? Someone with that much power would be unstoppable if angry. It would take dozens of Aurors to stop them."

"more than a dozen. Why do you think that she's in charge. The man before her wanted too much and decided to stray from the Oath. What Damien here is about to take. That is why she isn't Queen. Its because she only reserves that title in a time of war. She takes on students to teach them the secrets to becoming powerful and to be able to keep herself in check. Her students are under orders to kill her immediately should she deviate from her limitations of power," said Minsk as he freed his watch from his pocket, "we have to move. Come on." Damien's teacher lead the way back inside, followed by the rest of the spectators from the fight and McTavish.

Ashley let out a sigh of relief. "I feel safer now," she laughed. "Well, that's impressive, that you get to be a class four alchemist."

She kissed his cheek again. "I'll see you after the ceremony, Mr. Kelmore." She smiled, as Minsk led him off, and she moved towards the spectators.

Minsk gave her a strange look, "where do you think you're going. You're staying next to him." Damien turned around and held out his hand for her to take. It was time to head to the Headmaster's office.

Ashley blanched. "Me, in front of people? No-" She was cut off as Minsk dragged her along, before she finally took Damien's hand.

it wasn't long before everyone made it into the office. Damien and McTavish were standing next to each other in a strict military attention. He could see Ashley standing next to Dippet and a woman dressed in white, who could only be the High General. Damien's father and the boy's teacher stood before them.

Now, she held her head high, as her Pureblood family had trained her. High and proud, demanding respect. But her heart was pounding. She hated being in front of people. Even if the attention was focused on the two boys, she still hated being towards the front.

She smiled proudly, however, fighting the urge to give Damien a thumbs up. It probably wouldn't be proper. Damien's father spoke up and the clamoring had died down, "well. Both of you displayed your skills, your knowledge and your ability to fight. Take a knee." Damien and McTavish both did as ordered, looking up to their instructors, "Minsk, Reynard, state the Oath of the Vanguard."

In unison, the two men moved closer to their students, "Let my blade be the cause of change for the just and right. Stay my blade from the flesh of innocence as they are the sole reason we exist. Let my actions reflect well of my brothers and sisters as they are there from birth till death. Let my loyalty be rewarded by service and betrayal be punished in blood. I hereby swear my loyalty to the Alchemist Vanguard. With them I shall serve and through them, I shall live. We are alchemist. We are eternal."

There was a moment of silence as the other alchemists bowed their heads and thought on the days they took this vow. Ian stepped between the two men and drew his sword, stabbing it into the ground between the boys, "with this Oath, you swear yourselves to the service of the Vanguard. If you accept this, then recite this vow."

Both boys looked up to their teachers, reciting the Oath with no hesitation, "Let my blade be the cause of change for the just and right. Stay my blade from the flesh of innocence as they are the sole reason we exist. Let my actions reflect well of my brothers and sisters as they are there from birth till death. Let my loyalty be rewarded by service and betrayal be punished in blood. I hereby swear my loyalty to the Alchemist Vanguard. With them I shall serve and through them, I shall live. We are alchemist. We are eternal."

When they were done, the teachers reached out their arms to help the boys and as each one grabbed the other's for arm, the teachers reached back and brought a heavy blow with their fist into their faces. Both boys fell over, tired and aching from combat as it was, but held a high head as Ian looked down upon them, "the blood spilt on the field outside and right here is the drippings of mere boys. The pain you feel is how you will remember this Oath you have taken today and by pain of death shall you hold to them. This sword represents the solidarity that you boys will gain from your brothers and sisters in the Vanguard. Take hold and rise to your feet; only then have you truly made your way into our fold."

Ashley watched as the Oath was recited, first by teacher, then by student. It sent a strange sort of chill through her. What was it like, she wondered, to belong to such a group? The Alchemist Vanguard was like a brotherhood, or so it appeared to her. She smiled slightly, happy for Damien. She tensed slightly, caught off guard as Minsk and the other man each punched their student, but she kept calm. It was part of the ceremony. Granted, it seemed a bit brutal, but it was a sight better than some ceremonies she knew of. In fact, it struck her as a noble symbolism, something she could respect.

Damien and McTavish both struggled to their knees to try and crawl. Damien made it to the sword first, using the hilt to lift himself onto a knee. He offered the other boy a hand, which was gratefully taken as he pulled himself onto it and both boys rose to their feet. Ian smirked and lifted a hand to the boys to shake it, " congratulations, lads. You are officially the elite soldiers of the Alchemist Vanguard.

Ashley smiled. "I knew he would do well," she murmured. She winced in sympathy; the poor boys were exhausted and in pain. The pain potions hadn't worked as well as they had hoped. It took enough pain away for them to function, but they were obviously still hurting. She'd have to make sure Damien slept after this...that would hopefully help him recover.

If she recalled correctly, there was a good incantation that helped ease the effects of the Cruciatus...maybe it would help relieve more of the pain. She could always try it later.