The Ministry hadn't changed since Serena had been there last, nearly a year ago when Voldemort lured Harry there to retrieve a prophecy. The gold fountain still stood in the middle, making wizards out to be better then any other creature in the magical world. Serena was ashamed that even the statue of the witch was looking up at the wizard like he was the most impressive thing. She felt Adhara's eyes on her and looked away from the fountain.

"Come on," said Adhara leading Serena to the lifts. "This way."

They stepped into the lifts and Serena watched as paper airplanes flew in with them and the other ministry workers. The witches and wizards glanced at Serena, but said nothing and reverted their eyes when they realized she was standing next to Adhara. No one seemed to dare look at Adhara as she stood in the back of the lift next to Serena. Serena glanced at her Aunt and wondered if Adhara noticed this too.

When the lift reached level six, Adhara stepped forward, muttering a bitter sounding "Excuse me," and squeezed her way off the lift. Serena followed quickly, apologizing as she stepped on a man's foot.

Adhara took a sharp left out of the lift and Serena turned to follow. She didn't get the chance to look at the large open office space with some desk. There was a sign hanging by the largest desk of them all that said Floo Network Authority. Serena moved quickly behind her Aunt, who marched down a hall to the end where glass windows and doors waited. A sign hung in the large window that said Apparation Test Center and Serena felt her stomach fall inside of her. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this.

Adhara opened the door for her and they stepped into the test center. There were two other boys sitting on seats reading magazines with their parents next to them. Serena wondered if they were waiting to take their test, or for the results? She swallowed and hoped that the examiner would be able to pass her right away. Adhara walked straight over to the desk and looked at the bubbly looking witch behind it with an annoyed expression.

"Serena Surry Black is here for her examination," said Adhara.

The blonde haired witch smiled and blinked.

"Is Miss Black ready for her test?"

Adhara looked at the woman like it was a stupid question, which Serena agreed, it was.

"She wouldn't be here if she wasn't."

The witch pulled out a notebook and looked down a long list of names and times.

"Right on time," she said standing up. "Miss Black, you'll have to wait out here. Serena, why don't you come this way."

"Good luck," said Adhara with a nod to Serena. She moved past her niece and took a seat farthest away from the others in the test center. Serena said nothing and followed the blonde haired witch to a door behind the desk. The witch opened the door and allowed Serena into a long hallway.

"You'll want to go down to room seven," she said. "Good luck."

"Thanks," Serena whispered stepping into the hallway. The witch closed the door behind her and Serena looked down the hallway with a frown. The silence of the hall made her more nervous then she already was. She made sure her cloak was tucked tightly around her and walked slowly. Suddenly, one of the doors opened and slammed violently. Serena was shocked as a girl came running down the hall crying. She dashed by Serena sobbing and Serena frowned. The girl obviously hadn't passed her test…Serena reached number seven and realized it was the room the girl had just come running out of. She took a long breath, then knocked on the door.

"Enter," said a male voice behind the door.

Serena frowned and entered the room.

"Hello," she said softly closing the door behind her. The room was a small office, with an older man sitting behind a desk, and four rings on the ground of the room. Serena wasn't surprised by how empty the room was. She forced a smile at the examiner, who was an old man with graying black hair, and a mustache.

"You must be Serena Black?"

"Yes, sir," Serena said folding her arms over her chest.

"Alright," he said checking something off on the paper in front of him. "Step into the first ring please."

Serena looked at the rings and saw that they were labeled one through four.

"Now, if you please, Apparate into ring number three," the examiner said. Serena nodded her head and closed her eyes, focusing all of her energy on sending her body to ring number three. There was a loud crack and she felt her whole body being squished through a small tub. Her eyes popped, and when she appeared inside of ring number three she took a long breath.

"Very good," said the examiner standing up and looking at ring number one to make sure that Serena hadn't left anything behind. "Alright, to ring number two then."

In the blink of an eye Serena was standing in ring number two.

"Now, one."

Crack! She was inside ring number one where she started.

"Four then two," he said watching her as he leaned against the desk writing on his clipboard. Serena nodded her head and closed her eyes again. Two cracks later she was standing in ring number two. "Very nice."

He signed his name to the piece of paper on his clipboard and smiled at Serena.

"Here you are," he said. "Give this to Lilac at the front. Congratulations, you passed your Apparation test."

Serena smiled.

"Thank you very much."

"You're welcome Miss Black," he said. "Much better then your Aunt ever did…I tested her three times before she passed."

Serena nodded surprised that the same man had tested her and Adhara.

"Thank you again, sir," she said going to the door.

"Have a good day."

As Serena left the office she saw one of the boys that was in the waiting room walking down the hall slowly. He looked really nervous.

"How was it?" he asked looking at her as they reached each other.

"Fine," she said. "Easier then you would think."

"I saw the girl before you come dashing out crying," he said with a nervous laugh. "Made me even more nervous."

Serena shook her head.

"No, I'm sure you'll be fine."

"Thanks," he said. "Well bye then."

"Good luck."

Adhara stood up when Serena entered the waiting room. Lilac, the witch behind the counter beamed at Serena as she approached the desk.

"He told me to give this to you," she said holding out the paper.

"Thank you," Lilac said. "Congratulations on passing your test. You can now Apparate anywhere you wish. Have a nice day."

Lilac took the paper and signed it, then turned to file it into her large filing cabinet. Serena looked at Adhara who opened the door for her, then walked out of the Apparation Test Center quickly.

"That was easy," Serena whispered.

"It is for some people."

"Why'd it take you three times?"

Adhara shrugged. "Just did."

Serena didn't push the subject further.

"I have to go to my office, then we'll be off," she said. "Come on."

They were back in the lift and it was moving down, farther into the ground slowly. When they reached the second floor, they stepped out and walked down a long hall towards two large oak doors. A sign over the doors read 'Auror Headquarters'. Adhara pushed open the large doors and Serena followed her into a room full of cubicles. Paper airplanes were dashing all over the place, people were moving around talking and working. Serena smiled at the business of the room. So this is where Parrish came to work everyday.

"Keep up Serena," said Adhara looking over her shoulder. Serena picked up her speed and followed her Aunt as she weaved through the cubicles.

Adhara turned into a cubicle and Serena looked into it.

"Hello Cathan," said Adhara going to her desk. Her cubicle was shared with Cathan. Serena was surprised to see him, and he seemed surprised to see her because as she entered he stood up in front of the woman that was sitting on his desk. Serena had caught a glance of the woman's long tanned legs and frowned slightly. As she looked at Cathan a puzzling emotion entered her. He seemed ashamed of the woman, and embarrassed that he had been caught with her by Serena.

"Busy at work?" Adhara asked sitting down at her desk and open a few drawers with a tap of her wand.

"As usual," said Cathan. "Rebecca," he said turning to the woman, who hopped off his desk. Serena got a full look of her and frowned slightly. She was tall, with long black hair, big red lips and batty black lashes over her blue eyes. She was wearing a short skirt and red halter top under her long black robe. Serena was given the impression that the woman was asking for it.

"Can I take you to lunch some other time, I have some work to do with my partner," he said pointing over his shoulder at Adhara.

Partner? Serena raised her eyebrows and leaned against Adhara's desk.

"Are you guys really partners?" she whispered to her Aunt.

"No," Adhara said shaking her head. "Cathan just needs a good lie sometimes…"

"Does he womanize often?"

Serena looked at Cathan as him and Rebecca kissed good bye. Serena frowned and looked away slightly shocked by the sight. Wasn't it only two days ago that she had felt Cathan's passionate emotions for Kendra? She recalled what she had heard him say in her head…that Kendra deserved more and he should have been there to protect her from the cruelty of the Death Eaters that tortured her.

"Serena?"

Serena blinked and looked at Adhara.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes," Serena said. "What are you looking for?"

"Nothing special," Adhara said pealing through some files in her drawer.

Serena nodded and looked at the walls of the cubicle. There were pictures of vicious looking witches and wizards on them. Serena figured them to be Death Eaters. Some pictures had large red Xs through them, and other were just black and white pictures moving around. Serena looked closely at one of the pictures and recognized it as Darren, Cathan's brother. There was an X through his picture and Serena glanced at Cathan who was walking back into the cubicle. Serena hadn't realized he was gone.

"I'm not your partner," said Adhara the moment he came back.

"Sorry," he said. "Hi Serena, how are you doing?"

Serena shrugged and looked back at the pictures.

"These are the people you've caught?" she asked pointing to Darren's picture and the red X.

Cathan glanced at Adhara who gave him a hard look and then looked at Serena.

"Yes," he said. "How's Kendra?"

Serena stood up straight and looked at Cathan.

"Why do you care?"

Cathan raised his eyebrows and leaned against his desk.

"Because she's a nice girl who was hurt brutally," he whispered. His arms were crossed over his strong chest and he was beginning to glare at Serena. Again, she felt the pulsing passionate feelings coming from him and frowned slightly. She was very confused—how come she could feel only Cathan's feelings? And why did he have such a strong love for Kendra yet he was romanticizing another woman?

"She's alright," said Adhara glancing at Serena oddly. Adhara kicked two of the drawers shut and stood up straight. "Alright Serena, we're off."

"Where are you heading?" Cathan asked quietly.

Adhara smiled.

"This is why I work alone," Adhara said to him. "Don't have to tell anyone anything that they don't need to know."

"You're not going to tell me?" Serena asked.

"No," Adhara said. "We could be overheard…especially here."

"You know about tonight?" Cathan looked directly at Adhara.

"Yes," she said. "But Serena and I have business else where. Alex said he'd let me know how all goes."

Cathan nodded.

"What are you guys talking about?" Serena had heard her Father's alias mentioned and wondered what it was all about.

"Nothing," said Cathan with a smile to Serena. "Have fun hunting with your Aunt."

"We're not hunting," Serena said sternly. "We're tracking."

"Right," he said pinching her cheek. "Keep telling yourself that's what it is, kid."

"See you Cathan," said Adhara as they walked out of the cubicle.

"Bye," Cathan said back. Serena didn't say anything. Adhara looked at her with raised eyebrows when they reached the lift.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"What?"

"The way you were talking to Cathan like he was the bad guy."

"He is a bad guy."

Adhara lifted her eyebrows more but said nothing else.

"Do you think it's possible to love someone and not even know it?" Serena asked.

"No," said Adhara. "If you don't know you love someone then it's not love."

Serena nodded her head slowly.

"Why?"

"Cathan loves Kendra," she whispered. "They're going to be married in about six years."

Adhara was staring at Serena. She blinked and turned away from her niece as the lift doors open and they stepped out into the atrium.

"Cathan doesn't love Kendra yet," Adhara said. "He doesn't know the love because he hasn't felt it yet."

"He's felt it."

Adhara looked at Serena oddly.

"Adhara," she said very quietly. "I can feel his love for her. I hear his thoughts about her and how much he cares for her…I can sense it."

"Have you felt anyone else's feelings?"

"No," Serena whispered. "Not the way I've felt his anyways. It's like I enter his head and I don't even mean to or know that I'm doing it. And he doesn't know either…when we were on our way home after saving her I fell over the pain in my heart was so great. He loved her so much that it hurt."

"If there is one thing I know about Cathan," said Adhara as they stepped outside into the bright London sunlight. "It's that he doesn't like younger women."

"I saw them get engaged," Serena said.

"Engaged doesn't mean you get married," Adhara said. "Look at me…I've been engaged many times and I've never been married."

"He loves her."

"Maybe someday he will."

Serena took her Aunt's firm tone as an end to the conversation. She followed as Adhara turned down a side alley.

"Where are we going?"

"Hold on," said Adhara holding out her arm.

"What was the point of me taking my Apparation test if you were still going to make me side-apparate?"

"You don't know where we're going, do you?"

"If you told me I would."

"We don't have time for this," said Adhara. "Hold on."

Serena rolled her eyes and took hold of Adhara's out stretched arm. Adhara closed her eyes as Serena held tight and then their bodies moved through space. Serena felt somewhat sick and then her feet hit the ground. She looked around her—they were in a wide open field that looked like it had just been burned to the ground. There was a grim look on Adhara's face as she looked around.

"Damn," she muttered. "We're too late—"

"Adhara watch out!" Serena said grabbing her Aunt's collar and pulling her to the ground as two red beams came flying towards them. The Black women hit the ground and Adhara cursed loudly, whipping out her wand. Serena grabbed her wand, not sure what to expect.