The Spy Who Came In From the Cold
By
Mystical Witch
Chapter 21: "Basic Training"
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters from the Harry Potter Series. They are owned by J.K. Rowlings, Scholastic Publishing, Warner Bros, et al... If you find elements in this story that is similar to other peoples' stories, that is a coincidence.
This story is dedicated to all those men and women who serve their countries in the cause of freedom by using the ancient art of espionage and secrecy.
Kudos to everyone who can spot the Monty Python references. For there will be many.
Detention that evening was an interesting affair. While Harry got to polish the trophies (without the use of magic), Ron was informed that he would spend the detention with Professor Snape. A groan went up from him as he went down to the dungeons at 8 pm. There both Severus and Kate started to teach him the subtle art of espionage.
"There is more to espionage than just spying on someone." Kate started. "There are many things for you to learn before we can let you go out on an assignment. There are codes to learn, weapon skills to develop, ways to overcome questioning, ways to question a suspect..."
"Plus there are some advantages." Severus interrupted. Kate glared at him. "The ability to learn spells more advanced than the rest of your classmates, knowledge of exactly what is happening in the world, going to interesting and exciting places."
"How long am I gonna have to study all this?" Ron asked while wondering how he was going to study all that they wanted him to learn plus his regular classes.
Kate smiled. "Normally an agent is trained for two years before we let him or her out into the field. We don't have that luxury with you. You will have to be ready by the summer."
Ron blanched. "What about my regular school work? I can't do both?"
Kate and Severus smiled at each other. "Normally you couldn't, but, and I don't believe I'm saying this to you," Severus said. "I'll help you out there. I have already cleared it with Dumbledore what we spells we teach you will count towards you O.W.L.'s, and you will get a decent grade in Potions if you learn the lessons here with equal proficiency."
Ron stared at Severus. Then turned to Kate. "Are you sure that this is Professor Snape?"
Kate laughed. "A good spy is a good actor. And Professor Snape is one of the best. Do you really think he is that horrible?" Ron nodded. "He has to maintain a certain distaste for the other houses, or he would be considered a traitor. As for the way that he treats you and your friends, that is between the two of you."
Ron smiled. "Does being a spy mean that the girls all will crowd around me wanting me to...well you know...?"
Kate turned to Severus, "Why does everyone assume that the word spy is synonymous with sex manic? No Ron, that you will have to discover how to do that on your own."
"But Harry said that in the Muggle movies the spies were always having sex with sexy partners."
"That is fiction. I can assure you that doesn't happen in real life." Kate said firmly. "Since time is short, and we've lost the month of September, I do hope that you will be staying here over the Christmas vacation since every day counts."
"I always do. That way Harry won't be alone." Ron said.
"Good then lets get started." Kate said while removing a gun from her holster. "Tonight is the basics, in the next few weeks I'll be teaching you how to defend yourself with a weapon and without. This is a gun. It expels a projectile out of the barrel using gunpowder for it to ..."
Ron's head was spinning and ears were ringing as he left the Potions classroom. He had never fired a gun before in his life (never even thought he would ever have to). Kate wasn't gonna let him at first, but changed her mind after trying to explain to him how fast it fired. Ron had a little understanding of why guns were controlled by most Muggle governments. He worried how he was going to learn everything he needed to, and how he would ever learn how to defend himself from a gun when he bumped into Harry.
"How did it go?" Harry asked him.
"Had to clean out cauldrons, yuck! And you?"
"Trophies. I did ok. At least I didn't have to be with Snape."
"Yeah! You were the lucky one." Ron said. "Four hours alone with him is creepy."
"How did you stand it?" Harry asked.
"Carpis Draconis." Ron said to the Fat Lady who opened up to the Gryffindor tower. "Easy. I just kept the latest pictures from the Hoot Owl running through my head." Both boy laughed.
Weeks passed. There was no sign of a small beetle anywhere in the school (although Kate was gathering a fair collection of them), Death Eater incidents increased, and a number of students were suddenly orphaned. Almost no student had not lost a family member (except for the students in Slytherin), and Ronald Weasley's lessons were progressing nicely. Since the first night Kate had started him on hand-to-hand fighting techniques, Severus had begun to teach him some interesting techniques to overcome The Imperio and Dumbledore started to teach him some defenses against Dementors, Werewolves and Giants. But people were starting to wonder. Ronald Weasley always seemed to be getting into trouble. He was on almost permanent detention no matter what he did. It was frustrating Minerva to no end. At least he hadn't lost any points. That was the only good sign. Actually he did gain quite a few from Kate. Every time he did a maneuver right, he gained points. Did one that he was suppose to know wrongly, and a loss of points. He was starting to make more points than he lost. Especially one evening in early November.
"Not bad Ron. But next time don't let your guard down." Kate corrected as she moved over to the center of an empty classroom. She commandeered a rather large, unused classroom and turned it into a dojo. In that room she then started training Ron in the subtle art of self-defense. "Never let down your guard and don't be afraid to go on the attack."
Ron nodded as he kept his eyes on her. He once let them wonder around the room during practice and ended up hard on his bum. He assumed a defensive stance as they started again. Kate circled around him, faking an attack when he reached up, grabbed her pants and threw her hard across the room.
"Better Ron. 10 points to Gryffindor." Kate said as she went to her feet. "Now bow, and we'll call it a night." Ron bowed to her, still not taking his eyes off of her. "Password will be changed, tomorrow it will be: Spanish Inquisition."
"Spanish Inquisition? Where do you get these from?" Ron asked her as they left the dojo.
"Monty Python." Kate said as Ron gave her a questioning glance. "It's an old Muggle show. For the rest of the week Snape will train you but you will need to do at least an hour practice here in the dojo." Ron nodded as he headed off to the Gryffindor tower.
Kate groaned as she staggered up the stairs toward the staff chambers. She didn't want to show pain in front of Ron, but she really took a hard fall. Her lower back felt like flames were shooting up and down it, and she wondered if she should head out to the Hospital Wing instead of her chambers. But the thought of a hot bath and long sleep made her keep going (no matter how much pain she was in). She had pretty much reached her chambers when she spied Sirius Black heading down the corridor to her. 'Please let me get into the room before he gets near.' she silently thought as a prayer. She was in no mood to handle Sirius and his advances to her that night. She straightened up and walked as normally as she could.
"Evening Kate. Everything all right?" Sirius asked, noticing how stiffly she held herself.
"Fine, why?"
"Then why haven't you stopped any of the attacks? There was another one tonight. The Macmillans." Sirius told her.
"Anyone hurt?" Kate asked.
"Thankfully they weren't home. But you said that you'd help get them stopped. It was all talk wasn't it? You can't do anything!" Sirius demanded.
"Fine! I can't do anything!" Kate exploded at him. "Happy! Good. Now can I go home?" She turned towards her chambers.
Sirus grabbed her arm, "Not so fast. You have a lot of..."
That was all he was able to get out until he found himself flying (without the aid of magic or a broom) down the corridor and into a wall. Kate let out a groan as she realized the fire she felt was from her aching back. She turned towards the statue guarding her door, "Bicycle Repair Man!" entered her room and promptly fell over her footstool.
Sirius groaned as he watched her enter the room. "She did it to me again!" he roared as he picked himself up and dusted his clothes off. As he started down the hall he noticed that he was limping, as did Severus who opened his door to see what was the commotion.
"What did you do this time, Black?" Severus asked suppressing a snicker.
"Tried to get some answers from her. The Macmillans were attacked." Sirius said as he limped down the hall towards Severus. "Nobody was hurt, but she hasn't stopped them."
"No she hasn't." Severus agreed. "I'm sure she's doing her best."
Sirius growled at him as he limped down the hall to the room that he and Remus shared.
Severus smiled at him as he watch him limp. He actually saw the whole thing and wondered how long it would be before she really hurt him. Sirius was a loose cannon and not a very reliable agent. He knocked upon her door, but only got a groan from inside. He then turned to the statue, uttered "Bicycle Repair Man" and entered.
The room was dark and the fire unlit. Severus took out his wand, "Lumos". Then he saw Kate laying over the footstool and partially on the floor. "Kate!" he cried out as he ran to her. He checked her pulse and turned her over. She stirred a bit as he saw a bit of blood run down the side of her head from a cut in her scalp. He gently laid her down as he lit the fire. A groan came from her lips as the room turned bright. "What did he do to you?" Severus demanded.
Kate groaned as she blinked her eyes. "That's it! As soon as I can, I'm getting the fucking flashlight!" She then noticed Severus. "How did you get in here?"
"Never mind. What happened?" he again demanded. "If Black hit you, I'll..."
"I fell over the footstool, again." Kate explained. "Sirius didn't do anything. But Ron gave me quite a spill earlier tonight." A tinge of pride filled her voice.
"That's it? You had me worried."
Kate looked at him. "Why?" A groan came out of her as she attempted to stand.
Severus gently pushed her back down to the ground. "Because I've gotten used to you, and having to send for a new agent would mean that I would have to get used to another Muggle. And..."
Kate didn't really register what he said. All she wanted was a hot bath. "And I have a sore back." she said hoping he would leave so she could soak in the tub.
Severus smiled as he went into her bathroom and started to run a bath, then he gently lifted her, while carefully peeling off her robes. His lips met hers as they gently kissed and the room filled with the sounds of Buddy Holly songs. "And I'm falling for you." he whispered as he carried her to the bathroom.
Author's Notes:
As for Ron's training, there are some ways to speed up Martial Arts training. Most Sensei's don't like to tell their student that so they do it the correct way (long, slowly and painfully), but the military and most agency do train with a quick study. But it does take years (many of them) to master the arts.
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