Alarums and Excursions
Disclaimer: I don't own the Potterverse.
Author's NOTE: Edited on 7/30/2015.
Chapter 14
The next morning as Harry got ready for the day he was worrying what his friends would say. He spent breakfast dreading an explosion of yelling, scolding, or finger pointing but he was pleasantly surprised. The only topic really being discussed was that the NEWT examiners would be there tomorrow.
"So what project did you and Ron do?" Ginny asked Hermione.
"Well, as you know, we did the crystal to block scrying and detect the invisible," Hermione said. "We also created enchanted boots that leave no prints and make no noise. They are also enchanted to assist in climbing."
Ron nodded, "I tested them out in the sand and no matter how hard I stomped the sand remained undisturbed. They also allowed me to climb to the top of a palm tree. I think the examiners will be impressed."
Hermione smiled, "I'm thinking we'll both get all Os. It will be great!"
Harry managed to smile at that, "I'm sure you're right Hermione."
Later at their favorite stretch of beach he asked, "Why wasn't anyone upset or scolding?"
Susan smirked, "Well one good thing about them having assumed we were involved long ago is that this comes as no surprise to them and they used all their best snarky comments already."
Ginny nodded, "We're the only one who know the truth about what happened. Your recklessness in performing all the spellwork at once won't be known to the rest … unless you do something like that again or otherwise give us reason. Then we'll sit on you to keep you still while we have Hermione lecture you on safety in spellcasting."
Harry winced at that; he could imagine that lecture all too well. "I'll be more careful in the future. I promise. After all I'm now a married man right?"
They both hugged him and said, "Exactly!"
That night Harry packed his stuff up and moved in to the same suite as Ginny and Susan. The next morning they turned in their projects and started taking the written tests. Those took three days. Once they were over the head examiner said, "I was told you had done extra projects as well? Would you like to present them as well before we move on with the practical portions of the exams?"
Hermione nodded and presented the boots she had made with Ron. They asked them both technical questions designed to ensure they had done the work themselves. Finally they were satisfied. "This is excellent work," the lead examiner said. "Well thought out and executed, it should last a lifetime. Congratulations."
Neville and Luna then stepped forward and described their staffs. Another examiner grinned at them and said,"It has been awhile since I've seen a student create a staff. I'm glad to see some respect for the old ways still survives." The others nodded and after a few questions Neville and Luna stepped back.
Harry, Ginny, and Susan stepped up next. Susan smiled, "We also have respect for old laws and traditions." Ginny grinned and added, "So we constructed this staff so it works for all three of us." Harry just nodded.
"Really?" the lead examiner said. "How extraordinary!" After a brief, private, conversation he came back and said, "Would you mind if we started the practicals with you three? I'd love to see that staff in operation."
Harry nodded, "Sure, what do you want to see first?"
"Well how about each of you take turns casting the cheering charm first?"
Harry cast it at the older female examiner that was frowning at him and she started grinning and chuckling. Then he passed the staff to Ginny.
After she cast the same spell the lead examiner said, "Thank you Mrs. Potter. Next?"
Ginny handed it to Susan who noticed her spell was much stronger than normal. She made a mental note to ask about that but just smiled when she heard, "And thank you as well Mrs. Potter. Would you now mind charming this teapot to move and sing?"
By Friday afternoon the examiners were gone again and Ginny was staring at the sheepskin in her hand with the official seal of the ICW Education and Examination Authority.
She was hugged from behind and a voice said, "Is it the five outstandings that are making you stare or that we were examiners by the international examiners rather than the British ones?"
"Neither Sue," Ginny replied. "It was seeing Mrs. Ginevra Potter written on an official document. It almost feels like a dream."
Susan smiled and hugged her, "I can relate to that. It does seem like a dream doesn't it? Or a fantasy." Releasing Ginny she came around to face her, "Can I ask you a question?"
"Merlin, I should hope so," Ginny said. "If you can't talk to your wife who can you talk to?"
Susan laughed, "Very true. The spells through the staff seem a lot more powerful than I was expecting. I know using a staff boosts the power level but I was wondering why it was so much?"
"It's because the power of spells cast through a shared staff is the average of all casters linked to it," Ginny explained. "You'll cast stronger through our staff than through one made just for you."
Susan frowned, "Doesn't that mean Harry will cast with less strength than if the staff was just his?"
Ginny nodded, "It's one of the reason I thought he was doing it." She sighed, "You know, to make sure you had the raw power to keep up with us and keep yourself safe. I should have realized...ow!"
Susan giggled as Ginny rubbed her chest, "We agreed not to blame ourselves remember? So I had to stop that train of thought before it left the station. And as for why I pinched you there? Well, I owe you one or two and fair is fair! "
Ginny giggled then blushed, "Ron is watching and his mouth just dropped open."
Susan snorted, "Good! Maybe it'll make him stop watching us so closely."
They heard a chuckle as Harry walked into the sitting room of the suite, "What have you been doing? Ron is shocked and Neville is blushing and has his eyes glued to Luna's."
"We were just looking at my diploma Harry," Ginny said. Then she brightened, "Hey Harry, do you have any good wood left over? I want to make a frame for our diplomas."
Harry nodded, "Sure. Just one though?"
She nodded, "Yup, one frame with spots for all three and charmed impervious. We can hang it on the wall in here."
Hermione smiled, "That sounds like a lovely idea Ginny. Where did you learn to do that?"
"From spending time with in the shed with dad," Ginny replied. "I can do basic woodworking, and some metalcrafting as well."
Harry kissed her cheek, "Well, I'm impressed."
Susan winked at Ron and kissed the other cheek, "Me too! I'll go get my diploma and meet you at Harry's makeshift workshop?"
Ginny nodded and managed to leave before she exploded into giggles at Ron's expression.
NEWTS weren't the end of training for them though. The next day when they had finished with their morning exercises Moody told them, "Today you start apparation practice."
They met with the Charms professor in a large empty room and watched as he created seven circles in the floor at each end."You will start start by apparating from one circle to the other. Once you have mastered that we will move on. Normally they teach what are called the 'three ds' but that is not the best way just the only one the Board of Education approved. The main part of a successful apparation is being able to clearly visualize your destination. For this reason we almost taught Occlumency first as that helps with focus but it also takes the longest to learn. So we are doing this then portkey creation then Occlumency and if we have time Animagery and the Field Medic course."
"Each of stand in a circle and take a look around you," Professor Svenson said."Don't pay too much attention to the people but try to memorize how the room looks from where you are standing. Once you think you have it come over here to me."
One by one they came over and when they were all done she said, "That was one reliable way of getting an image to use when apparating. Most public apparation points have a complex design on the floor to make it easier to focus on. When they register the location as a public apparation point they send in a copy of the design to the Ministry where it gets checked against all the others to be sure it is unique. You don't need a design though. You just need a clear image or memory, your innate magic, the desire to be there, and a short twisting step ."
She stepped into the circle with Harry and smiled, "Watch." She looked at the far side of the room briefly and suddenly turned and stepped. With a small crack she appeared in one of the circles on the other side."That's how you do it. It's quite difficult the first few times but it gets much easier with practice."
They started on a Monday and by Thursday they had all had the basics down. Friday she took them outside and had them do it line of sight along the beach then change of elevation and into closed room variations. She admonished them to practice but not alone and declared them competent. "I'll file the requisite papers after I return to the UK and do the same for portkeys once we covered those. For now enjoy your weekend!"
The next day was Valentine's Day. Harry had found a spell perfect for that holiday and planned to cast it for Ginny, and Susan right after lunch on their favorite stretch of beach. "May I borrow the staff Susan?" he asked. She was usually the one carrying it.
"Sure Harry," Susan said, passing it over. "I'm very curious as to what this Valentine's Day spell you found does."
Harry grinned as with a flourish he cast the spell, "Fiat Cacao!" There was a flash of light and a pink plate appeared filled with heart shaped pieces of chocolate. He bowed and presented it to them, "For my lovely valentines."
The girls giggled and said in unison, "Thank you Harry!" They had all conjured and exchanged cards at breakfast then split up to celebrate in private. They devoured the chocolate then gave him a present all three of them thoroughly enjoyed.
The next week they learned how to make portkeys. There was enough time left in the week to cover the basics of the Floo system. Hermione enchanted her fireplace to connect with Ron's and use regular beach sand for powder.
"We'll probably spend five or six weeks teaching the basics of Occlumency and Legilimency. We prepared the modified pensieves over the weekend so you can get all the theory in your head inside of a week and the rest of the time to practice. Once you've got basic shields you'll practice in teams. One trying to pry and the other one," he looked over at the Potters, "or two trying to defend. Then you'll swap off and the defenders will pry. This will allow you to practice both skills against resistance and move forward faster. Remember to be cautious and courteous in your probing and always stop if anyone is in any sort of pain. Do you all understand that?"
They all replied, "Yes Moody. We understand."
"Good!" he replied. "I'll go then and let you get started."
"Next you'll be learning Healing," Moody said. "Since we are still short on time we'll be using the modified pensieves so you can all train with the Master Healer for what will seem like a year over the next three weeks. In April she'll test you and if you pass you'll get your healing certificates." He looked around, "Any questions?"
"How can we learn healing without learning potions?" Hermione asked.
Moody nodded, "Good question. The Master Healer knows how to create all potions normally used by her profession. She'll show you in the virtual environment but unfortunately you'll not be able to create them for real as we don't have the equipment or the materials. Practical brewing is not required for the basic healing certificate test. If you wish to round out your knowledge later you can arrange tutoring in the subject after you are back in England."
Harry asked, "Are we splitting up into the same groups as before?"
Moody smiled, "No Potter, both your wives will be training with you this time."
Ginny smiled, "Good! We make an awesome team."
Professor Dihn taught them Occlumency. First he had them go into the pensieves for seven hours to learn from him virtually with a lunch break break three hours in. Then he lead them through the beginning exercises they'd just learned before he sent them off to dinner.