Chapter 21:

Apparition and Stalking

The sixth years workload increased after the holidays; if that was even possible, and if that wasn't enough they were to start their apparition lessons. It cost twelve galleons; a cost that no one complained about – they were all too excited.

"So apparition, should be fun," Sirius told the other sixth years on day in the library.

"When can we take the test?" Lily asked.

"As soon as you turn seventeen," James explained.

"Well, my birthday is at the end of the month," Lily grinned.

"If I'm honest, I'm slightly jealous," James admitted, "I have to wait until March 27th."

"Whatever," Sirius smirked, "I could take my test today if I wanted."

"Shame you wouldn't be able to apparate," Marlene laughed.

Apparition was all the sixth year students were talking about, much to the younger students' irritation. Rebecca Kerr was sat in the library a small distance away from the Gryffindor sixth years. She tuned out their conversation. She heard another conversation behind her, "Reg, you have to," a voice was saying.

"Why?" another voice replied. They were stood in a deserted corner; two Slytherins.

"He's asked for you by name," the first voice said.

"I don't care," Regulus Black responded.

"You should," the taller, first Slytherin said, "you do want to be a death eater, don't you?"

"Yeah…" Regulus looked over at the Gryffindors, "but not at the expense of my br…"

"He's not your brother. He's disowned your family…"

"That's not the…"

"Yes it is! He's irrelevant. Don't throw this opportunity away for scum!" with that the somewhat older Slytherin left. Regulus slumped into a chair. Rebecca picked up a book, any book, and made her way over to him.

"What do you want?" he said harshly as she approached.

"I'm just putting my book away," she said shyly.

"That's a Herbology book – wrong section – don't lie Gryffindor," Regulus replied coldly.

Now that she was stood opposite him, she really didn't know what to say to him. "I… I just wanted you to know that you don't have to do it," Rebecca whispered.

"You don't even know what it is," Regulus laughed, "and if I told you, you'd go straight to Dumbledore like a good little Gryffindor."

"You don't know me," Rebecca glared at him.

"What but you know me?"

"No I don't; but I know that whatever it is, you don't want to do it," she told him.

"Well… no duh… go along little girl," Regulus laughed bitterly, "life is full of things we don't want to do." With that he walked away.

Over the next few days, Regulus watched his brother and his friends. He couldn't understand how they always looked so happy; so relaxed – they were at war for Merlin's sake, they were supposed to look miserable, terrified… like everyone else. What Regulus didn't realise was that as he was watching Sirius, he himself was being watched. Rebecca Kerr had developed a new little project so to speak. She was going to save Regulus from Voldemort. She didn't know how but she would.

Regulus was sat in an empty classroom, trying to avoid the rest of the student body when Rebecca found him, "What the hell! Are you stalking me now, is that it?"

"No… I just want to help you," she told him.

"I can't be helped… I'll never be the sort of person, a Gryffindor like you would be happy with."

"I don't believe that," Rebecca replied.

"You don't know me," Regulus retaliated.

"I know… I don't need to…"

"Whatever; I'm out of here," Regulus went to leave.

"I just want you to talk to me," Rebecca tried.

"There's nothing to say… and even if there was I wouldn't pour out my heart to a Gryffindor stalker girl I only met yesterday… call me traditional but I kind of like being arch-nemeses with Gryffindor."

"That's not true," Rebecca challenged, "you love your brother and he's a Gryffindor."

"I don't have a brother – not anymore."

"That's not true," with that Rebecca left the room.

The sixth years had started work on antidotes in potions. James was incredibly grateful that he was sat next to Lily. She seemed to be the only one besides Remus who understood what was going on. By the time the lesson was over James had a slightly better understanding of how to create the perfect antidote, although he still hadn't succeeded in creating one anywhere near close. Slughorn had moved around the room, examining the various antidotes. Lily was the only one in the room who had finished the task.

Slughorn grinned at Lily's potion, "beautifully done… you've got such an intuitive grasp of potion-making… very good Miss Evans, 20 points to Gryffindor!"

January went quickly and before the students knew it, February had arrived and the last of the snow had gone leaving in its place cold harsh winds and chilly rain. The sixth years first apparition lesson was scheduled for the first Saturday in February so the students were becoming more excited than ever before about the prospect of apparating.

When the marauders arrived in the grounds on the morning of their first lesson, there was a large group of students already waiting. They found the other Gryffindors huddled together. A ministry wizard cleared his throat, "good morning. My name is Wilkie Twycross and I shall be your Ministry-Apparition Instructor for the next twelve weeks. I hope to be able to prepare you for your apparition test in this time… I am pretty sure that by that time, many of you will be ready to take your test."

"As you may know, it is usually impossible to Apparate or Disapparate within Hogwarts. The Headmaster has lifted this enchantment, purely within this area, for one hour, so as to enable you to practise. May I emphasise that you will not be able to Apparate outside of the boundaries of the Hogwarts Grounds, and that you would be unwise to try."

"I would like each of you to place yourselves now so that you have a clear five feet of space in front of you."

The students scrambled to find space, "the important thing to remember when Apparating are the three Ds! Destination, Determination and Deliberation!"

"Step one: fix your mind firmly upon the desired destination," said Twycross. "In this case, the interior of your hoop. Kindly concentrate upon that destination now."

Everybody looked around furtively, to check that everyone else was staring into their hoop, then hastily did as they were told.

"Step two," said Twycross, "focus your determination to occupy the visualised space! Let your yearning to enter it flood from your mind to every particle of your body!"

"Step three," called Twycross, "and only when I give the command ... turn on the spot, feeling your way into nothingness, moving with deliberation. On my command, now ... one-"

James was terrified, "two…"

"THREE!"

James spun on the spot, lost his balance and nearly fell over. He was not the only one. Everyone was either on the floor or struggling to keep upright.

"Let's try again."

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