Chapter twenty nine

Harry woke on the morning of the first day the new recruits would be starting at the Auror office. He was excited and couldn't wait to get started. He showered, dressed, then went and got Teddy out of bed, changed him and sat down to have some breakfast.

'Morning love, so you ready to start training all the new Aurors?' Tonks asked as she sat down next to him, kissing him fiercely before kissing Teddy.

'Yeah, I am. It's going to be a lot of hard work, but I'm really looking forward to it.'

'Well, just remember I'll be there to help, at least for the next couple of weeks.'

'Are you sure you're up to it Tonks?' Harry asked looking a little worried.

'I'll be fine. I'm not doing any of the full on training, you won't let me. I'm just going to be taking them through the law, that way you can do the main training,' Tonks leaned over and kissed his cheek. 'I knew the moment I fell pregnant you were going to be overprotective.'

'Yeah, sorry, but at least you'll still be there for a little while.' Harry put his hand down on his wife's stomach, feeling the slight bulge. 'When they start moving, I think Teddy might start to understand.'

'Yes, he's just too young yet.' Tonks said kissing her son on his head.

'Morning all,' Andromeda said as she stepped out of the fire, giving all three a kiss.

'Morning,' Harry and Tonks said together. 'We better get going Tonks. I've got a feeling a few of the new recruits will turn up early due to nerves.'

'I think you're right Harry.' Tonks kissed her son, 'We'll see you later Teddy.' then she kissed her mother's cheek.

'Love you Teddy.' Harry said kissing the small boy, then kissed his mother-in-law. 'See you later Mum.

Harry and Tonks walked over to the fireplace, took each other's hands and flooed straight into the Ministry. They walked through the atrium and spotted a couple of the new recruits.

'Morning,' Harry said and they all said morning back and Harry saw they looked at little nervous. 'We just have to wait for the rest of the recruits, then we'll get started. Why don't we all sit until they turn up?' Harry pointed over to some seat and they all went and sat down. Over the next half hour the rest turned up. 'Right, we'll go straight in to get your security badges. Now just remember, you'll need to keep them on at all times until you've finished you're training, everyone ready?' Harry asked and got nods from all. Harry led them into a room off the atrium and one by one, they received their badges and information in regards to what it means to be an employee of the Ministry of Magic, 'All right, if you follow us, we'll go up to the Auror rooms.' Harry smiled and they all followed Harry and Tonks into two different lifts and got off on their floor. Harry led them down to the Auror offices, then into the training room, which he had changed for the day.

'Right, I want to welcome all of you. Now over the next few months, you'll learn the law, what you can and can't do. You'll learn how to interrogate prisoners. You'll be taught how to control your emotions while you're working. Now that will be a very difficult time for some of you. People react differently to different situations. When you are questioning someone, say in regards to child abuse, you will need to learn not to get angry. It's hard but in time you will all learn how to control yourselves. You will also learn infiltration and stealth. You will all need to learn how to gain access to somewhere that might be guarded. Auror Potter will be taking you through the law every morning for the next month. Every afternoon, I will be taking you through duelling with the Aurors you see behind me. So for now, let's get you you're robes and all the information you will need to become an Auror.' Harry smiled at them all and led them over to another part of the room.

Tonks stood to the side of the room watching her husband with the new recruits when Kingsley stepped up beside her.

'I knew he would be perfect for this job. He's a natural, telling them everything they will learn without being intimidating.' Kingsley smiled down at Tonks.

'Yes Kingsley, he is. He knows what he's talking about and has made everyone feel comfortable. When we first walked over to them, you could see the nerves, but now, some are actually smiling.'

'If I gave Harry the job now, I think there would have been some questions since I'm now he's father-in-law.'

'You're probably right Kingsley. But all anyone has to do is watch and they can see Harry fits this job like it was made for him. Anyway, I need to get into the other room and start teaching them the law. I'll see you later…dad.' Tonks smiled at the shocked look on Kingsley's face, then started laughing. 'Sorry, couldn't help it.'

'Wow, you're right though. I am your step-father. Are you alright with that Tonks?'

'I'm perfectly all right with it. I loved my father Kingsley, but I'm happy for you and Mum and I see how much you love her.'

'I do, very much.'

'What were you just laughing about love?' Harry asked walking over to them.

'She called me dad.' Kingsley said, then saw the shocked look on Harry's face. 'Yeah, that's what I looked like.'

'Well, she is right, isn't she…Dad,' Harry said and started laughing.

'Excuse me, but did I hear you just call the Minister Dad?' Seamus asked Harry.

'Yes, you did.' Harry turned to face all the new recruits. 'Now, just so everyone knows, Auror Potter is my wife and the Minister here, just married her mother. So technically, he is my father-in-law.' Harry said and couldn't stop the grin coming to his face. 'Anyway, why don't you follow Auror Potter into the other room and she'll get you started on the law.' Harry said and watched as the new recruits followed his wife before turning back to Kingsley. 'So Dad, what do you think of the new recruits?' Harry said still grinning.

'Alright Harry, Kingsley will do just fine.' He laughed. 'They look good, really good, how many from the DA?'

'Nine, Hermione would have been the tenth, but she wants to do something else. She just hasn't decided what yet.'

'At least now you can spend all the time with training, without having to do guard duty. What are you going to do from September, are you going to keep Aurors at Hogwarts apart from with Ginny Weasley?'

'I think I'll leave one on Ginny and one just around the grounds. That way they can give each other a break as well. I know it's safe, but I just can't help wanting to make sure nothing happens there again and with Aurors there, I noticed the Slytherin's didn't play up as much.' Harry smiled.

'So how do you think Ron will go when he has to guard his own sister?'

'He said he'll be fine, but I might put Martin with him on those days just to make sure. If I think he'll have too much trouble, I'll keep him away. But I think he'll be alright.'

'Well, I'll let you get back to it Harry. I know you're going to be busy for a while.'

'Yeah I will, but I'm also enjoying myself Kingsley. It's the first time I've done that, enjoyed what I was doing instead of just putting up with everything that was happening around me.'

'Yes, I know Harry and everyone that knows you can see the difference. You're happy, content now.' Kingsley put a hand on Harry's shoulder.

'Yeah, I am. I'll let you go and I need to get everything organised for their first duelling session.' Harry smiled at his father-in-law and watched as he walked out of the room, then went over to the four Aurors left in the room. 'Okay, since there are only five of us, we'll have to pair some of them with the others. Now until I can assess them, find out which ones needs more duelling than others, we'll just pair them up in no particular order,' Harry kept going over things with the Aurors for a while, then walked into the other room and watched his wife until it was lunch time.

'Okay, you can all go and have lunch now and be back here in one hour, then we'll start duelling practice. So when you come back, go straight into the training room.' Harry said and watched as they all filed out apart from Ron. 'So, how was it Ron?'

'Great Harry, sorry, Mr. Potter.' Ron shook his head. 'Tonks explained some of the law and I went through the booklet she gave me.'

'Well, you sound happy Ron.'

'Yeah, I am. Well, I better go have lunch, I'm starved.' Ron said and Harry laughed and watched as his friend walked out of the room.

'Let's go have lunch love. We've still got a full day ahead of us.' Harry said and put his arm around his wife and they walked to the lifts, then got out and walked into the cafeteria. Harry couldn't help smiling as he saw all the new recruits had pushed tables together so they so with each other, including Draco Malfoy. Harry and Tonks sat at another table and ordered their lunch.

'So, do you think any of them will have any problems Tonks?'

'No, they all listened really carefully after I explained how important knowing what they could and couldn't do. I don't see a problem with any of them Harry.' Tonks leaned over and kissed Harry. 'You were really good talking to them before. You were made for this job.'

'Thanks Tonks, I think I'm doing alright. But how are you feeling at the moment?'

'I'm fine Harry. I never got morning sickness or anything with Teddy, so I don't think I will this time either.'

Harry and Tonks ate their lunch, but never took their eyes from each other the whole time they sat there. Then they both put their arms around each other as they went back to the Auror offices and into the training room. Harry and Tonks had removed their robes and waited for the new Aurors to come back. As soon as they did Harry walked over and stood in front of them.

'Now, since there is only six Aurors, including me that can train you, some of you will be teamed up with other recruits until I assess everyone. Tonks, will you sort them all into pairs please.' Harry said to his wife. Harry walked over to Ron and Draco. 'Can you two come over here for a moment?'

Harry walked over to the side as Ron and Draco followed him. 'Now, we all know we never really cared for each other, but that will need to change. Draco, Ron, you will both be partnered for a while. You have to learn to get on and like I said to Draco, you don't have to be friends, but you will need to learn to trust each other. That's a big thing with Aurors, trust. So do you two think you could partner up and practice for a while without hurting each other?'

'I'm fine with it Harry, sorry. Mr. Potter.' Ron said shaking his head again as Harry grinned. 'We spoke a little while we ate lunch.'

'Yes, we'll be okay Mr. Potter.' Draco said.

'Okay, as soon as Tonks pairs up the others, you two join them.' Harry smiled at them and they walked back into the middle of the room. 'Now, I'll take each pair through a few duels, see how you go. After that, you go to a separate area and practice, but please remember, only stinging hexes, nothing else. We don't need any injuries.' Harry said and they all nodded. 'Okay, let's start with Liam and William. Liam you first,' Harry called him into the middle of the room and they both pulled their wands. Harry knew they'd all be nervous, but that didn't worry him. He just wanted to see what they could do.

Harry put them all through a few minutes of duelling and found that most were pretty good.

'Alright Ron, you next,' Harry called his friend over and they both started circling and Harry thought Ron was one of the best so far. He was able to hit Harry with one stinging hex, even though Harry was able to get him a lot more. 'So far, you're the only one that's hit me. Good job Ron, okay Draco, you next,' Harry and Draco duelled and almost the same thing happened. Harry got Draco with a far few stinging hexes but Draco only got Harry once.' Good,' Harry said shaking his hand out.

'Well, I can understand Ron and Malfoy getting you. You trained Ron and Malfoy was a Death Eater.' Barry Dawson said looking over at them.

'Mr. Malfoy was not a Death Eater. He was forced by Voldemort, so if you have a problem with working with him, then you might not be suited to being an Auror. Just think, could you have survived if Voldemort had threatened you and your family, because that's what he did, threatened to kill Draco if he didn't do what he wanted and threatened to kill his parents. Now it might not matter that his father was a Death Eater, it was still his father. And just like any of you, you would protect your parents if you could. Now, I'm sure most of you know, Draco and I never got on at all at Hogwarts. But he was under the influence of his father, now he's his own man, so I expect him to be treated as you would like to be treated.' Harry said all this angrily. 'Now Mr. Dawson, do you have a problem working beside Mr. Malfoy?'

'No Sir,' he said quietly.

'Good, now I hope that's the last I hear about this. Draco, Ron, you pair up and start practicing,' Harry said giving Draco a small smile and Ron put his hand on his shoulder and led him away. 'Right everyone pair up and start. I'll be walking around, mainly watching, along with the other Aurors in this room.' Harry said trying to bring his temper under control.

'You okay love?' Tonks asked quietly as she slipped her arms around her husband.

'Yeah I'm fine love. I had a feeling someone would say something about Draco. You don't think I went a bit hard on him, do you?'

'No, you were honest Harry. They all need to know that Draco wouldn't be here if he wasn't a different person than he used to be.'

'Yeah, I suppose. Let's get to work and see who needs more training than the others.' Harry leaned over and kissed his wife, then they both started walking around all the recruits. Harry noticed that Barry Dawson looked very nervous when he got close to them. Harry decided to stand and watch, see if he could handle the pressure of being watched by his boss. After a few minutes he seemed to pull it together so Harry walked off. He kept them at it for a couple of hours, then had them work with the training wizards. 'Okay, that's it for today. I'll see you all tomorrow.' Harry said and watched as they all left except for Ron and Draco.

'Thanks for saying all that Mr. Potter.' Draco said as he walked over to him.

'Just saying the truth Draco, but you're welcome. You both did good, apart from Seamus, Dean, Michael, Padma and Cho. The rest need a bit more training. So are you two happy still being paired at the moment?'

'We're fine Harry, sorry. Mr. Potter.' Ron said.

'It's fine Ron, you'll get used to it, and once you're fully trained, that changes. Well, if you think you'll be fine together, then I'll keep you paired up for now. But like with all of them, I'll have to change everyone around, get everyone used to working with everyone else. Why don't you both head home and we'll see you tomorrow.'

They both left the training room and Harry sat down. 'It's been a long day love.' Harry said leaning back and closing his eyes. Then felt Tonks sit on his lap.

'Yes, it has. Why don't we go home, see our son, then soak in a bath?'

'Now, that's a great idea. Let me just go see the others.' Harry kissed Tonks and let her up and he walked over to speak with the other Aurors. After a few minutes, he walked back and put his arm around his wife. 'Let's go home love,' they both walked out and got into the lifts, then stepped into the fireplace and flooed home. They both got out of their robes and sat down to play with Teddy until dinner, then gave him a bath before putting him to bed. Harry and Tonks cuddled up in the bath together, just happy and content to hold each other.