Disclaimer: HP belongs to J K Rowling; OCs belong to me

Chapter 25: British Auror Division

Harry and Ron's first day at BritAD began with Amelia taking them into the Ministry and then into her office, where Harry looked around with interest. There was a large walnut desk in the room, and five matching walnut filing cabinets. A half-filled in-tray stood at the edge of the desk but the out-tray was completely bare. And apart from an ink-well and a blotter, there was little else to clutter the desk.

Amelia noticed Harry's interest. "I don't like untidiness, and I have a tendency to stay late to deal with everything in my in-tray. My assistant, Daniel, is usually here at five in the morning to deal with the incoming post, and he also deals with whatever I've placed in my outgoing tray from the previous night."

Harry had wondered what happened to the stuff that went in there. "Does he stay as late as you?"

"No, he leaves at around three o'clock in the afternoon unless there's something I really need him here for." As she spoke, Amelia opened her desk and withdrew a pass.

Harry could see that the pass had 'Trainee Auror Harry Potter' printed on it. "Is that for me?"

"It is." Amelia handed it over. "Clip it to your shirt and make certain you're wearing it at all times. I've authorized it so that you can gain access to almost anywhere in the Ministry but I would prefer it if you would only venture into the secure areas either with me or someone else in authority. Obviously in general areas you can go about freely as you wish." She handed a similar pass to Ron. "And the same goes for you, Mr. Weasley."

Ron wondered what the 'secure areas' were but he guessed he would find out eventually. "Okay."

"Auror Valeris will be here shortly, and she'll be introducing you to your first class," Amelia informed the boys. "Do you have your notebook, parchment, and quills?"

Harry patted his leather book bag. "Yes, thanks."

Ron smiled a little shyly. "And thank you for the letting me do this."

Amelia peered at the two boys over her half-moon glasses. "You're my test subjects."

Harry was a little puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Amelia began to explain her comment. "If things go smoothly with this trial run, I may allow future students who profess an interest in the training to also attend BritAD for a short period to see what it's about."

Harry was glad that his run-in with Quirrell might have some benefit for others, rather than just for himself. "What will we be learning?"

Amelia had changed the curriculum, and she relayed this to Harry.

"I've asked the instructors to review the seventh year curriculum during the first week of training. It isn't something that's normally done but after reviewing the training in general, I believe it'll be of use to everyone, and it'll help the new students gain a steady footing before we throw them in at the deep end."

"What used to happen?" Ron asked, curious to find out what they might have been in for if Amelia had not changed the curriculum.

"Previous trainees spent the first week in August learning new spells and the like," Amelia told him. "But after speaking to some of the course instructors, I decided that, since the students have had five free weeks since leaving school, or even longer than that in some cases, it would be better to conduct a refresher course first."

Harry told Amelia what he had originally believed. "Until Tonks told me more about the training, I thought the new students would start in September."

Amelia was not surprised by Harry's belief; most of the trainees usually expected the training year to run from September. "That's the start of the school year. Here we start our first year of training in August, and the year ends in July. The trainees then have a month off before they start their second year."

"And it usually takes three years to complete the training?" Harry had taken out his notebook and a Muggle pen, and was writing down everything that Amelia was saying.

After giving him this opportunity, Amelia was glad to see that Harry was truly interested, although Ron was making no apparent effort to take notes. Amelia had no idea that Ron was too nervous to do so, and his failure to imitate Harry did not necessarily stem from a lack of interest. Unfortunately Amelia did not perceive this and so focused her response entirely on Harry.

"Yes, unless a trainee fails their final assessment. In that case, dependent upon how poorly they did, they will either re-sit the entire third year, or just concentrate on the part in which they didn't do so well."

Not exactly happy with Amelia seemingly ignoring him, Ron tried to push aside his nerves and jumped in with a question when Amelia took a moment to catch her breath. "If I wanted to become an Auror, how old would I have to be to begin my training?"

Amelia now turned her attention back to Ron, noting that even though he was writing nothing down, he was obviously interested in what she had to say.

"If you decide to become an Auror, then you'll start about five weeks after you finish your seventh year at Hogwarts, or, if you're an exceptional student, you'll be allowed to take your NEWTS in sixth year and join us one year earlier, and, like Auror Tonks, you may be eligible for the accelerated program, which takes between 18 and 30 months, dependent upon your skill level."

Harry looked up from his hurried scribbling, asking about something Amelia had failed to mention. "When would I have to submit an application?"

"At the start of your sixth year if you intend to finish your schooling early, otherwise at the start of your seventh year," Amelia informed him. "But I hope to see you here again at the end of your fifth year."

"Is that the age when other students will be allowed to do what we're doing?" Harry asked with interest.

"Exactly." Amelia had made an exception for Harry and Ron, but she was unlikely to do so for any of the younger students in future. "So if you enjoy this, you may return then."

Ron used the opportunity in the conversation to ask yet another question, this one filled with hope. "Wouldn't we be able to return every year because we've already done it?"

"Let's just see how you get along this time." Amelia was not going to say yes without seeing how well both boys performed.

"We'll do our best," Harry promised for both him and Ron, now as optimistic as his friend that they might be able to come back well before their fifth year.

"I believe you will," Amelia said, smiling warmly, before turning away from the boys at the sound of a knock on her door, and upon being bidden 'enter', a tall woman with black hair, and even blacker eyes, came in.

"Good morning, Ma'am." The woman nodded her head at her superior.

"Good morning, Auror Valeris." Amelia stood up. "This is Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Gentlemen, this is Auror Suki Valeris. She teaches Defense, and she'll be your first tutor for today."

After shaking hands with Amelia, Harry and Ron were led out of the office and along the corridor. "Thank you for coming to get us."

"It's my pleasure, Trainee Potter." Auror Valeris thought Harry looked rather adorable clutching his book bag and wearing an earnest expression. "During my class you'll be learning some of the seventh year Defense spells that they teach at Hogwarts, and then you'll both be demonstrating them at the end of the lesson."

Even though Snape had been his teacher during the prior school year for Defense, it was still Harry's favorite subject, and since Minerva had taken over marking his essays, he usually got 'Outstanding' in his homework assignments. However, in spite of doing well in the subject, he was still rather nervous at the thought of having to try seventh year spells.

Harry still, however, repeated what he had said to Amelia a few moments earlier. "We'll do our best."

"That's all I ask." Valeris opened a door. "In you go."

Once inside, she turned to the trainees who were already seated.

"Good morning. I'm Auror Valeris, and I'll be your Defense tutor for your first year. I'll learn your names as we go along. However, I am familiar with two of you already." She placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "As you probably all know, this is Harry Potter."

She scowled at the whispering that sprung up. "There will be no talking while I'm speaking." The class immediately quieted down. "Accompanying Trainee Potter is Ronald Weasley. The boys will be spending this week with us as an experiment to see whether it will be of benefit for other students, who may wish to become Aurors, to experience firsthand the start of the training."

A girl Harry recognized held up her hand and identified herself when Valeris nodded. "Trainee Annabelle Jameson, Ma'am. Will Harry be expected to do the same work as us?"

"He will, Trainee Jameson," Valeris confirmed, and a show of hands materialized, which she ignored in favor of explaining what the trainees should expect during their first lesson. "We will initially be conducting a review of seventh year defense spells. And even though I expect you all to know what I'm going to ask you to perform, due to their age and inexperience, I'll be showing Trainees Potter and Weasley the wand movements when we reach the practical section of this class. For the moment, please be prepared to begin taking notes."

At Valeris' warning, the hands all lowered, and Valeris smiled down at the two boys, and in turn tapped their clothing, transforming them into the same trainee uniform the other students were wearing.

"Take a seat, Trainees. At lunchtime, Trainee Jameson can take you to be outfitted correctly."

Harry chose the spare seat next to Annabelle Jameson and Ron sat next to him. Both boys then took out their things, Harry's Muggle ballpoint pen poised anxiously above the Muggle notepad he had also placed on the desk.

Annabelle stifled an indulgent smile at Harry's already obvious enthusiasm, before turning her attention to Auror Valeris. It was a good thing she did; Valeris swept swiftly over the subject matter, and all of the students, particularly Ron and Harry, were hard-pushed to get down what she was saying.

After the theoretical portion of the lesson was over, the practical part began, and Harry watched nervously as each student went up to the front of the classroom and then performed a spell or hex. Several of them flunked their spells, earning them a demerit mark.

Harry thought that they looked rather concerned over a demerit mark but at that point he had no idea that twenty demerit marks meant that a student had to leave the program, unless of course they earned enough merit marks to expunge any demerits that they had incurred. And, because the last student had performed their spell correctly, it meant that it was now Harry's turn, and he headed to the front of the class, his hands shaking slightly.

Valeris pulled out her wand and, as she had promised, she demonstrated the correct wand movement. She then repeated it, this time aiming her wand at a trainee and uttering, 'Ut Exsisto Occultus'. Annabelle Jameson vanished from her desk.

Harry had not meant to gasp but he had been unable to help it; Annabelle disappearing had been the last thing he had expected. "Where has she gone, Auror Valeris?"

Valeris noted that Harry included her name in the question, something one of the trainees had failed to do, earning her a demerit mark. "I've placed her under an invisibility spell. She's still at her desk – you just can't see her." She then uttered the counterspell, and Annabelle reappeared, a smile playing on her lips at the look on Harry's face.

Valeris then turned to Harry. "Your turn, Trainee Potter. If you would first practice the wand movement, and then aim your wand at me."

Harry's astonished look disappeared as he pulled out his wand and closed his eyes in order to concentrate. He then replayed the wand movement in his head that Valeris had just shown him and tried to imitate it. "I think I have it, Ma'am."

"That was good, Trainee Potter," Valeris gently encouraged Harry. "Now try the spell."

Harry aimed his wand at the teacher, and then again closed his eyes. "Ut Exsisto Occultus ".

The class gasped in surprise much as Harry had done earlier, and Harry hurriedly opened his eyes to discover his teacher had vanished. "I did it!"

Valeris reappeared. "Well done. A merit mark for you, Trainee Potter, for an excellent effort."

The class knew that Valeris had given Harry one of the easier spells, but it was still quite an achievement for a student of his age to manage such a spell, and they had all expected Harry to fail. So had Harry, and he was more than a little excited that he had not only accomplished his goal but had also obviously been rewarded, even though he had no idea what a merit mark was.

"Thank you, Auror Valeris."

"Now I want you to try it again, Trainee Potter, but with your eyes open." Valeris wanted Harry to be able to see what he was doing.

Harry thought over the wand movement once more, kept his eyes firmly on his teacher, and repeated the spell.

Once again Valeris disappeared, and, as before, she reappeared moments later. "In future I want you to keep your eyes open, Trainee Potter. I was standing in front of you but another time your target might well not be."

"Yes, Ma'am." Harry acknowledged his teacher's demand, and then on slightly shaky legs returned to his seat, glad that his moment in the spotlight was over.

Now it was Ron's turn and he was terrified, and it showed on his pale face, his freckles standing out vividly against his pale skin. Watching him move to the front of the class, Harry just hoped that his friend would be able to calm down enough to repeat the spell that Valeris would be showing him. Instead Ron completely blanked.

"Um, I can't remember what the spell was."

Valeris once again ran through the spell but Ron's nerves by now were at breaking point and he totally messed the spell up three times, earning him a demerit.

Ron was understandably glum as the class was dismissed. "I'm rubbish. I don't know why Mum made me come."

"Because she knew I wouldn't want to come alone," Harry said, before trying to console Ron. "And you're not rubbish. That was a seventh year spell, and we're not as powerful as they are, nor have we ever practiced them."

"But you managed," Ron pointed out.

"My spell was easier," Harry argued. "And you were just nervous."

Ron blew out a long breath. "I suppose."

Their conversation came to an end as Annabelle Jameson grabbed Ron's arm. "Don't let one failure get you down, Ronald. At least you kept trying, and that spell is really hard. I still have problems with it, even now." She then reminded the boys of Valeris' edict about their clothes. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about Defense again until Friday, but we still need to get you two to be outfitted, and then you can keep me company at lunch."

"Thanks," Ron said, cheering up a little, and deciding that he rather liked the cheerful former Hufflepuff student.

Over lunch, he and Harry discovered that Annabelle was the only Hogwarts graduate there from her year. Of the other ten students there, one had failed the previous year and so was re-sitting the first year again, two had been privately tutored, two had attended Durmstrang, and the remaining five came from smaller schools dotted around the country.

They also discovered that all of them, including Annabelle, were pure-bloods. After what Tonks had told him about her being the only half-blood, Harry had deliberately asked about this point, particularly given that Justin, being Muggle-born, also wanted to go into Auror training. Annabelle had informed Harry that very few Muggle-borns ever joined BritAD. After asking a few more questions, Annabelle announced that if they wanted to be on time they needed to head off to their next class, which was Combat, where they would be reviewing seventh year offensive spells.

Although both boys enjoyed the class, in Ron's case more so than the Defense class of the morning, they also quickly discovered that in spite of the padded floors, it hurt when your opponent hit you with a spell hard enough to send you flying. After his successful morning, it was Harry's turn to become rather despondent about his efforts in the afternoon, Ron not actually minding that he was being thrown through the air time and time again.

Their instructor, a small man, who was conversely named Auror Large, told Harry it was to be expected; he was not familiar with seventh year spells, nor was he as powerful as those students who were in his class. As Large backed up what Annabelle had said after Defense to Ron, Harry cheered up a little after hearing this.

When they arrived back at the Bones house with Amelia, both boys ate dinner and fell asleep on the sofa, much to Susan's chagrin but not to Amelia's surprise. Harry and Ron followed this routine all week, with combat and surveillance lessons in the afternoons, and varying subjects in the mornings: Tuesday was Charms, Wednesday was Potions, Thursday was Transfiguration, and Friday was Defense again. The two boys discovered that this would change as the year progressed with additional subjects being added in, and both of them wished they could stay for the entire course.

Harry and Ron's second week was to cement this wish even more, even though it was to be very different from their first, as they were to spend it with a qualified Auror who would be taking them out on patrol with him or her.

Ron was assigned to help an Auror Basil, a middle-aged man. Ron was beyond thrilled to discover that he would be visiting Azkaban with Auror Basil in order to collect some papers, a fact that Harry made jealous when Ron told him at the end of the day.

Unfortunately for Harry, he was assigned to an Auror Canton, a young woman who was determined to do everything she could to climb the career ladder, the result of which was that she was extremely sycophantic, and Harry found this more than a little nauseating. Because of Harry's celebrity, Amelia had wanted to keep Harry close by, and so Canton had been assigned to remain within the vicinity of the Ministry, and Canton seemed to know everyone there, at least anyone who was somebody of import.

Poor Harry had found himself cringing at the young woman's obsequious behavior, and he had tried to spend most of the time fading into the background. Regrettably, however, Canton had not hesitated to introduce Harry, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and informing anyone who would listen to her that she had been specially chosen to take care of him.

Canton had been given permission to take Harry out on to Diagon Alley at the end of the second day, and by lunchtime on the third one, Harry wished he was back in the combat rooms, even if he had spent most of his time flat on his back.

Just as she had been within the Ministry, Canton was at her toadying best on Diagon Alley, and coming into the Liaison Center to begin their fourth day together, she wrapped an arm around Harry's shoulders. "Are you ready for another day, Trainee Potter?"

Harry wanted to run screaming from the room at her sickly friendliness, but instead he forced a smile, and responded with a lackluster, "Yeah."

Wrapped up in herself, Canton failed to notice Harry's lack of enthusiasm. "Then let's be on our way."

Their departure was, however, halted when a cloaked man moved into their path and informed Canton that he was relieving her of her burden.

"Good morning, I'd like to steal Trainee Potter from you."

Canton was not about to let Harry leave with anyone without the proper credentials, not even if he looked and sounded like an Unspeakable, and she therefore held out her hand.

"Before I can release Trainee Potter, I'll need to see some ID please."

Harry watched curiously and more than a little hopefully as the cloaked man handed over a badge similar to the one that Harry had been given by Remus. It obviously checked out, as Canton handed it back, and her expression changed from severe to fawning.

"Will Trainee Potter be back today, Sir?"

The man shook his head. "No, Auror Canton."

"In that case, I'd like to say that it's been a pleasure taking Trainee Potter under my wing so far this week," Canton said, almost quivering with excitement that this Unspeakable knew who she was.

"I'm in no doubt it has, Canton. You may return to your normal duties for the rest of the day."

Canton turned to Harry. "Trainee Potter, this is Unspeakable Amicus. You should treat him with the utmost respect."

"I will," Harry said brightly, delighted that he was about to released from Canton's clutches to spend some time with Remus.

"Then we'll be off." Remus knew only too well what this woman was like, and he was going to be having words with whoever had been in charge of assigning Harry to her. "This way, Trainee Potter."

Harry followed the man out and then into a private elevator. "Where are we going, Amicus?"

"I thought you might like a change of scenery, Harry."

Harry broke out into a grin. "Thanks for rescuing me."

"No problem. This way." Remus led the way to a familiar door, which Harry knew led into the spinning room, and once inside Remus called out, "Amicus, Unspeakable. Harry Potter, Temporary Trainee Auror. Access Corridor Gamma One."

Harry was thankful when the room stopped spinning and they were able to head towards Remus' office. "Why did you come for me?"

Remus closed the door once inside of his office and took down his hood. "I wanted to see what you've been learning, and to see if you wanted to take things a little further in your training with me."

Harry's face brightened as he sat down. "In here?"

"No, we have a training room," Remus explained as he handed Harry his Unspeakable's cloak and badge, having collected them from Molly's before arriving at BritAD. "But you'll need these as I don't want to have to answer any questions as to what a Trainee Auror was doing in there."

After putting on his cloak, Harry followed Remus out of his office and for a day of training. When it ended, Harry returned to Remus' office, where he dropped tiredly on to a chair.

"I wouldn't have thought doing the same spell over and over again would be so tiring. I didn't feel this tired when I first did it in Auror Valeris' class."

"Like all spells, casting the vanishing spell sucks power from you, albeit in this case a small amount," Remus told him, passing Harry a large glass of chocolate milk. "Therefore casting it a few times wouldn't affect you, but repeating it time and time again would."

"But I was doing it okay without having to do it over and over," Harry said, and he took a large gulp of the milk before continuing, "so why did you make me keep repeating it?"

"Because casting a spell in conditions where there's no pressure is one thing," Remus said, taking a mouthful of the tea he had made for himself, "and casting it when your life may depend on it is another. I want you to be able to cast any of the spells I'm going to teach you as if they're second nature."

Harry recalled what Remus said about addiction. "But you said that I'd become addicted if I did lots of Dark Magic, and we spent all day on the invisibility spell."

"That spell was a Light spell but when you begin using the Dark Arts you'll only be casting those spells for short periods every two weeks or so," Remus said, having no intention of exposing Harry for too long to Dark Magic. "You'll eventually learn to the master the spell but you won't be affected by the pull of Dark Magic."

"Is that how you learnt?" Harry asked.

Remus shook his head. "I plunged in and practiced continually, but as I'm already a Dark creature I had no problem resisting the urge to continue using Dark Magic after my training was over, and my trainer knew this."

"Okay then," Harry said, "so does everyone else learn it like you're going to be teaching me?"

Remus had to admit that they did not. "No, but they still have to take breaks between days of casting Dark Magic spells so that they can recover." He took another mouthful of tea as he watched Harry frown. "I told you I won't be forcing you to do anything you don't want to, and I'll be doing everything I can to ensure your safety, Harry. I know you think I'm being overly cautious but it's better this way."

Harry's annoyance at being treated differently vanished as he realized Remus was right. He therefore moved on to another subject, and asked about a subject he had meant to bring up earlier that day after being collected by Remus.

"Remus, do you rank above the Aurors?"

Remus was well aware that Harry was asking because of how deferential Canton had been towards him. "I do, except for Bones and Aditi Nessa."

Harry's frown returned. "Nessa? I've heard that name before."

"Probably because she's Bones' second in command," Remus said, before he also frowned. "Are you all right?"

Harry nodded, his frown still marring his forehead. "Yeah." He then shook himself and looked hopefully at Remus. "Am I going to be doing this tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid not. I hadn't even had any intention of beginning your training yet but given how miserable I know you were feeling, having come across you yesterday…" At Harry's surprised look, Remus explained, "I was finishing up a job when you and Auror Canton came into the store I was working in."

Harry tried and failed to recall Remus. "Were you in disguise?"

"Yes," Remus said, smiling. "As the job ended sooner than I expected and I had some spare time, I decided that we should make a start. Unfortunately I have other business to attend to tomorrow."

"What about when I come to stay with you?" Harry asked, wanting to continue with his training even though he had found it boring repeating the same spell over and over again.

"We'll do something a little different then," Remus said. He got to his feet. "I'd better return you to the Auror Liaison Center. I have no doubt you'll want to tell Ron what you were up to, and you can but..."

Harry interrupted, "He didn't do so well the first week, and he'd be upset if he thought that I was getting special treatment."

Remus offered him an alternative explanation. "Tell him then that you did receive special treatment but only because it was felt that you needed the extra training so that you didn't flunk the training session. It'll make him feel better."

"I'm not sure he'll believe me," Harry said, having already done well. "I've got four merits and he's got two demerits."

Not being privy to the boys' results, Remus winced. "Ron must be feeling a little downhearted then."

"He thinks he's rubbish," Harry revealed.

"In that case, I think you'd better just tell him that I asked a friend of mine to check in with you, and he took you off Auror Canton's hands as he was bored and wanted to see what you could do," Remus decided.

Harry agreed, but in the end he did not have to tell Ron anything. Ron had had a great day helping Auror Basil to escort prisoners into the courtroom. Ron had not known that the prisoners had all been accused of very minor crimes, and believing they were rather dangerous, it had consequently made him feel important. Harry had therefore said quite truthfully that his day had been boring.

The next day, Harry was relieved when, instead of going to the Liaison Center to meet up with Canton, he and Ron, together with all of the other first year trainees, were summoned to a room with a golden globe in it. The room was similar to the one he had been before in with Remus, only this one was bigger; it had two rows of chairs in it, and Amelia Bones was waiting for them at the front of the room.

Amelia dismissed the Auror who had escorted the trainees in, before beginning her address. "As you all probably know, I'm Amelia Bones, Head of British Auror Division, and I always oversee this part of the training. Please sit down."

Everyone sat down, most of them a little nervous at dealing with the Head of Auror Division, and Amelia knew that. "Let's get the unpleasant part over with first."

Harry wondered what she was talking about, but he guessed from their worried looks that the trainees clearly knew what it was.

Amelia continued, "As you know, each and every one of your tutors, and this includes your mentors, have assessed you during this two week period. Accordingly, I've reviewed what they have to say," Amelia broke out into a big smile, "and I'm pleased to announce that all of you have passed your induction period."

Happy murmurs and smiles were exchanged amongst the students. Amelia had not finished though. "Now that you've been accepted on the program as full trainees, I'll be using the Magus scale to measure your magical levels."

She then went on to explain how the Magus scale worked, mostly for Harry and Ron's benefit, having no idea that Harry already knew. During her speech worried looks had begun to appear again until Amelia continued, "These levels, however, will only be seen by me, and in no way will they influence your right to remain in the program."

Amelia could see relief amongst the group. Moving things along, she began by choosing the highest ranked trainee over the two week period. "I'll start with Trainee Jameson. Please move over to the scale and place your hands on it."

Annabelle did as she was bidden, and after a few moments, a small golden square lit up in front of her telling her that she had scored exactly two hundred. A similar figure appeared on the square that was in front of Amelia, and she noted down Annabelle's test results before clearing the scale. "Trainee Dunn, you're next."

Dunn stepped on to the scale, and he was a little disappointed by his reading of one hundred & seventy, but he hid this when he got off by smiling as though he had gone off the scale. One by one the remaining trainees went through the motions until it was Harry's turn.

This time, aware of what to expect, Harry was not as nervous as the first time he had been tested by Remus. "I'm ready."

Amelia checked the reading, her eyes widening somewhat. "Thank you, Trainee Potter. Trainee Weasley, you're up next."

Ron closed his eyes, rather nervous that he would not measure up to his friend. His thoughts were interrupted by Amelia.

"You can open your eyes now, Trainee Weasley."

Ron opened his eyes to see that the readout was much better than he had expected. "Thank Merlin!"

The class burst out laughing at Ron's apparent relief. Ron glanced over at Amelia and apologized. "Sorry, Ma'am, but I was really nervous."

"I can see that, Trainee Weasley." Amelia was rather amused by Ron's half-embarrassed, half-worried expression. "Please rejoin your classmates."

Ron did so, and then the entire group was promptly dismissed. As they walked out, Harry fell into step with Ron. "So are you going to share, Ron?"

"One hundred & thirty-two." Ron looked anxiously at Harry. "How about you?"

Having been surprised at how much his power level had jumped in the space of a year, Harry was a little reluctant to tell Ron his score, but he did not want to lie to his friend. "One hundred & seventy-one."

"Wicked!" Although he was pleased for his friend, Ron was a little jealous. "I'll never be that powerful."

"I'm sure you will," Harry said confidently. "You're not that far behind me, and you heard Madam Bones say that above average pure-bloods usually register higher than that."

Ron shook his head, Amelia also having explained that wizards of his and Harry's age would probably register at about one hundred & twenty-five. "I'm only just above average now."

"But the important thing is that you were above average, Ron." Annabelle Jameson, who had been listening to the two boys' conversation, refuted Ron's claim. "And you've got a lot of growing to do yet."

Ron still did not believe he would one day rank as high as Harry. "I still won't ever be as powerful as Harry."

Annabelle, who had overheard Harry sharing his test result, had to agree with Ron. "Maybe not, but I have the feeling you'll still be powerful in your own right."

Ron wavered. "Do you really think so?"

Annabelle nodded. "I do, and if it makes you feel any better, I also have the feeling that Harry is eventually going to easily surpass me."

Not feeling quite so down now, Ron had another question. "What did you get?"

Annabelle did not want Ron feeling downhearted and so she lied. "One hundred & eighty."

Ron had a sneaking suspicion that the girl was lying, and he was about to call her on it when Trainee Dunn joined in the conversation. "Thank goodness for that. I was really worried when I only scored a hundred & seventy."

Glad that she had inadvertently been able to bolster two people's confidences, Annabelle smiled at Ron, who had revised his opinion that Annabelle was lying. "See, I told you." She then stopped at the Liaison Center. "This is where I have to leave you. I hope to see you both again."

Ron was surprised to be hugged by Annabelle, before she did the same to Harry and went on her way. Ron then headed off to join his mentor, who had just walked in, and Harry began to look around for Auror Canton. He was both surprised and pleased when a voice said, "Wotcha, Harry."

"Tonks!" Harry exclaimed in delight. "Have you seen Auror Canton?"

"She's been reassigned." Tonks led Harry off.

"Oh! Do you know why?" Harry asked, although he suspected that Remus had had something to do with it.

"No, but at least you have me now." Tonks had been surprised when she had been ordered to act as Harry's mentor for the day.

"I'm glad," Harry admitted. "She reminded me a little of Percy Weasley."

Tonks snorted out a laugh. "She does, doesn't she? But don't tell anyone I agreed with you."

"You know I won't." Harry smiled at the girl he had grown close to during his stay at Susan's home. "What are we doing today?"

"A quick scan of the foyer, and then out on to Diagon Alley," Tonks said as she led Harry out to the main foyer.

On entering the foyer, Harry glanced around in shock. There had to be at least two hundred witches and wizards in the area. "Why are there so many people here?"

"That's what I'm about to find out." Tonks raised her voice. "This is official BritAD business. Please clear the way."

Even with the authority she possessed, Tonks found it difficult to make her way through the crowd, which mostly seemed to be made up of women. When she reached the front of the melee, she discovered the reason for it.

"Mr. Lockhart, I need you to move along."

"It's Professor Lockhart, dear girl." Gilderoy stopped signing a smiling picture of himself, and he pulled out a certificate that authenticated his new title and position.

"Professor Lockhart," Tonks said in a firm voice, "I still need you to move along. You're blocking a public right of passage."

"Mitchell Cosgrove, Daily Prophet. Can I get a picture of you, Professor, and one of our finest?" a tall, greasy-haired man asked, having shouldered his way through the crowd, using his large camera as a battering ram.

"No, you may not!" Tonks snapped. She was about to touch her wand to her throat to tell everyone to move along when Lockhart spied her companion.

"Well, I never." Gilderoy stepped over to Harry. "It's Harry Potter."

Mitchell Cosgrove knew a photo opportunity when he saw one. "Get a little closer."

Gilderoy did not need telling twice, and he immediately put a firm arm around Harry's shoulder, pulling him tightly against his side. "Smile, Harry."

Harry blinked rapidly as a blinding light made him unable to see for a moment, and then a hand grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from the pink-clad Professor.

"Harry, are you all right?"

Harry recognized the voice of Amelia Bones, and after blinking several more times, he was able to see her properly. "Yes, thank you, Ma'am."

"Madam Bones," said a skinny, vulture-like reporter, who went by the name of Rita Skeeter, "is it true that Harry Potter has joined British Auror Division?"

Amelia would have normally said 'no comment' but in Harry's case this would have caused more trouble for the boy than it was worth. "No, it is not." She put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Mr. Potter has merely been given an opportunity to experience what it's like to begin Auror training."

"Is this special treatment for the Boy Who Lived or is it open to anyone?" Rita asked, her quill poised ready to take down Amelia's answer.

Amelia had not yet planned to reveal her idea, but she was now forced to do so. "Mr. Potter was not alone in his training, as he was joined by a classmate, and their successful experience will open the doors to six students per year to sit in for a fortnight at the start of first year training."

"And what do they have to do to get in?" Rita pressed, realizing that even though Harry had not been given special treatment, this was still a good story, and she intended to get the exclusive on it.

Amelia set out what she had decided. "They have to be academically successful, have a bona fide interest in becoming an Auror, and they will have to be at least a fifth year at Hogwarts."

"So Harry Potter or his classmate aren't really eligible to be here, are they?" Rita asked in a sly voice.

"Mr. Potter is one of the brightest students in his year, and he made the request directly to me," Amelia said, not quite truthfully, as she had been the one to approach Harry. "After reviewing his school record, and that of his classmate, already having the student program in mind, I decided that it would be an opportunity to test how someone even younger than those I'm willing to accept would deal with the course. If such young students could complete the two week trial successfully, as they both have, then I was certain that fifth years and above would be able to cope."

"So the fact that Harry Potter is good friends with your daughter has nothing to do with it?" Rita questioned the woman, not in the slightest bit interested in who Harry's classmate was that had attended BritAD with him.

"Not at all." Amelia turned to face the crowd, who had almost forgotten about Lockhart in the excitement of seeing the Boy Who Lived in person. "And if anyone else other than Mr. Potter had asked, they would have received exactly the same scrutiny and consideration that he did."

Lockhart had gotten fed up with no longer being the center of attention, and he shifted his position so that he was standing next to Harry again. "Well, I for one, as a professor and a member of the Dark Force Defense League, think that it's a most excellent idea."

"Why, thank you, Gilderoy." Amelia's tone was somewhat frosty. "Now that I have your seal of approval, perhaps we can move things along."

Harry found himself being led away by Amelia, while Tonks, and several Aurors who had joined her, began to disperse the crowd. Only once they were in Amelia's office, did Harry ask, "Who was that woman?"

"Rita Skeeter." Amelia's tone indicated how she felt about the woman. "She's a nasty gossip and has a tendency to twist things around to suit her. Be warned, Harry. You may not like what she writes about you."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked.

"You'll see." Amelia did not have time to tell him. "Harry, I'm sorry but I'm due in a meeting. Wait here, I should be back shortly. I'll send Daniel in to check on you."

Harry found that Amelia was as good as her word, and Daniel, a tall black haired young man, had provided Harry with not only beverages and a snack, but also books and magazines to read while he waited. He did not have to wait long though, for Amelia was back within an hour.

"I'm sorry about that, Harry."

"I wasn't supposed to be here, anyway," Harry reminded Amelia. "I should have been out with Tonks."

"After this morning, I decided you were better off away from the newspaper hounds." Amelia knew that Skeeter would not have left if Harry had remained in the vicinity.

Harry was not that interested in the reporter, but he was interested in the possibility of returning. His face red and his voice a little hesitant, Harry therefore made a request. "Amelia, is there any chance I can come back again next year? You sort of said that I'd done well to that reporter, and so I was hoping…"

Amelia picked up a packet that was in her in-tray. "Let me just read this and I'll answer you."

Harry waited patiently, wondering what was in the packet. He soon found out, when Amelia laid the packet down.

"None of the tutors had handed in a report on you, but I asked them to do so last night so that I could decide on whether the program was going to be a viable option or not," Amelia revealed.

Harry was a little surprised. "But you told that Skeeter woman that I'd been successful."

"I wasn't going to tell her that I had no idea what your tutors thought about you." Amelia was not surprised though by Harry asking. "And you'll be pleased to hear that they all had nothing but good things to say about you, Harry, especially Auror Valeris."

"I really liked her." Harry went redder, having developed a bit of a crush on the Auror.

Amelia kept her smile under control. "She's a very capable Auror, Harry, and I'm glad that you liked her." She now had a decision to make, and she fell silent while she debated Harry's earlier request. "In the light of your outstanding performance, I'm willing to allow you to return for one week each year, up until fifth year, when you'll have to apply like everybody else."

Harry's face lit up. "Thank you." He then asked after his friend. "What about Ron?"

"I'm afraid that is something I'll have to discuss with Mr. Weasley," Amelia said, Ron not having done nearly as well as Harry academically, although his mentor had only good things to say about Ron's conduct during the week, and had indicated that Ron had the right temperament and attitude for the job. Amelia looked at her watch. "I'm going to turn you over to Arthur Weasley now. I'll collect you at six, then we'll collect Ron and go home to fetch Susan, and we can all go out to dinner."

"Thank you, Amelia," Harry said, getting to his feet. "I've really enjoyed the last two weeks."

"I'm glad to hear it, Harry." Amelia sealed the packet containing Harry's assessment back up. "Come on, I'll take you to see Arthur."

Harry's head shot up when Amelia came walking into Arthur's office at four. Ron's did the same, having been delivered into his father's care by his mentor a few minutes earlier. "Good afternoon, Ma'am."

Arthur echoed the boys' greeting, before asking, "Is everything all right?"

Amelia shook her head. "I have to attend an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot, and I therefore won't be able to take Harry and Ron out to dinner tonight."

"I do have something on but I can take them home before that," Arthur offered. "They were supposed to be coming home tomorrow anyway, so one day sooner won't hurt."

"That would be perfect." Amelia turned to Harry and held out her hand. "It's been a pleasure, Harry."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Harry found himself wondering about his clothing.

Ron shook hands as well, and he asked what Harry was thinking about. "What about our stuff?"

"I'll arrange for your things to be sent over to your home." Amelia put both boys' concerns to bed. "And I'll tell Susan that you'll see her on the Express." Amelia then turned and left, the two boys sitting back down to wait for Arthur to finish what he was doing.