Amelia was absolutely exhausted. She had been put through the mill with everyone else and she was absolutely sure that they were taking the piss now. It was the last day and they'd has spells thrown at them while they were running the obstacle course, they'd needed to show the ability to keep projecting a bubble. She'd needed to run through every single spell she'd learnt at Hogwarts and in the Aurors training program wandlessly. She'd also been carrying a sword in her hand the entire day. Finally, there had been that damnable sewing, if she let it stop or slow down at all she got hit with a spell even when she was sure she was alone. She wouldn't be surprised if she did it in her sleep now.

Now they'd been told that it was all of them against the Karen, Minerva, and Azaria. They would be starting in the Armoury and as each layer of the dream opened up the battle would spread to there, restricted to the outside spaces of the other two levels. Their goal, not a defence, or an attack, survive until 8am. They said they'd make it fair by not teleporting, as if that would even come close to evening the battlefield.

"How do we want to play this? As after the last two weeks I doubt any of us think we're not outnumbered." She asked.

Flitwick just laughed, "If they were coming at us seriously, I don't think there are enough magic users in Britain to inconvenience Karen."

"That's what I thought. We have to assume that they're playing to our level, so we aren't going to just get flattened."

Babbling ventured, "I think we're going to have to pace ourselves but not hold anything back. Morrigan's tears, before this week I didn't know it was possible to carve runes without any tools. Not only have they been expecting me to do so, I've also needed to keep up this blasted sewing. I swear I've almost made it explode accidentally by sewing runes instead of carving them."

Flitwick interrupted her tirade, "Well that's one thing we can do, buy you time to setup constructs that will provide us sheltered places to fight from, anyone else?"

Tonks breaks in, "Rather than trying to make plans, just nominate roles. Babbling, you're on support, we will be trying to protect you so that you can lay down your runes. Flitwick you're on long range offence and defence as you are the charms master. Amelia and I will be close combat. Who's good with transfiguration, no-one? I need at least two that are confident with their battle transfiguration to be with Babbling, as you'll be providing our army. We know we're going to be facing an army because Minerva is there, and if she doesn't field an army I'll eat a hat. Everyone else, join one of the 3 groups, but be prepared to switch it up."

All of a sudden there was war, total war. At the end of it Amelia wasn't sure how she'd managed to keep up, but she'd found some reserves that she didn't know she had. She'd lost her wand early on, as she'd instinctively tried to use it, but it was too slow, and it had been broken by one of the constructs. They'd all had no other choice; they had to refine their techniques or be overwhelmed. Traversing two then three layers of the dream added a layer of tactical thinking that was also hammered into them through the crucible of a simulated war. Now they were going around repairing everything, and suddenly the simplicity of doing her sewing was soothing rather than infuriating.

She abruptly stopped and called out to everyone else, "Hey everyone! Has anyone else found that their sewing is less irritating now than it was before the war?"

Most of them shook their heads, but Tonks replied, "Sure, but I think that it's because it's become easier."

With a sense of understanding Flitwick walked over, "What you've forgotten is that you're the only one of us that has been learning to sew and do this course at the same time. Tonks has been doing it since she got together with Azaria. We've all been doing it since we first accessed our magic through the meditation, and I've been trying to do it all year, but it's much harder with a wand. This battle pushed us all past our comfort levels for how to deal with multiple things happening at once. Even on the duelling circuit I didn't have to face anything like this.

"I'm slightly too young to have been part of the Grindelwald war, but I've spoken to people that were. From what they've told me this was a pretty close approximation to it. The difference being that in a real war we'd have lethal spells coming at us, not just constructs. But that doesn't matter to our minds, as we still felt the pressure of being in the situation, of not being able to concentrate on everything, and how important those things they've been trying to make automatic are.

"I guess we now know why warlock is the word it is, no matter what job we choose to follow, we are trained to lock down a war until reinforcements arrive. Given that Petunia was kidnapped by Sidhe, I can't help but think that maybe it's not such a bad thing."

"What? They're training an army?" she asked slightly alarmed.

"No, more like the old idea of warriors, where it was something that most people could do so that if they were called on to fight they could. But there's no tactics, discipline, or any of the other things that you see in armies. Consider this, if we taught duelling as a mandatory subject in the nest, would you say we were training an army?"

"No, probably not, as I know there are dedicated duelling schools around the world."

"It's the same with being trained as a Warlock. In five years time, how many of them do you think will still remember the lessons they learnt today? Probably none of them, but all of them will keep the skills they've learnt. They'll all remember what it felt like, and if something goes wrong they'll be able to escape or rise to the occasion. We've got a public demonstration coming up. That was almost certainly set up to mirror old rites of passage, you'd need to talk to Irma over there if you want to know for certain, as she's been pouring over the old histories recently. Penelope over there also might know, as I know she was researching dark wizards.

"If it is, then it's basically saying that we're stepping up to be part of our community as it's leaders and defenders. Which is telling given that all of the old leaderships used to be Warlocks."

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With the interest in warlock training coming from the Ottoman Empire, the public demonstrations happening in a few days time had become even more public. Azaria was very much aware of this while she was at the blacksmith in Diagon Alley looking for some good metal to make a sword that would be comparable to the steel that they used. Given that they could use magic to rough shape the blade they'd settled on a titanium alloyed with Niobium and a small percentage of iron, apparently there was still a small community of enthusiasts that experimented with newly discovered metals, and they'd had success with those. She stuck with the leaf blade design she was familiar with as that was the style that she'd taught them to use. Though she ensured that it was etched with an ornate patten along the spine that could then have some mithril inlaid into it, the pattern itself included some basic maintenance runes that would clean and resharpen the blade when magic was passed through it. With it being a fairly short blade compared to what she'd seen from human history, at 22" it would make a good focus for them too. She decided to make one for herself too to replace the bronze sword that she was using before. They were the only ones that she felt needed a new focus being more of a warrior bent than everyone else. While the blacksmith heat treated the blades she'd formed she made ornate scabbards for them.

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Christopher Lancaster was nervous, he'd known that he would need to do a public display since he'd signed up for this, but this was so much more than just doing it in front of the school. He'd taken a peek and he could see robes from different nations out there, as well as multiple cameras. He was sure that he could see someone talking into a microphone.

"Lancaster!" Madam Bones said from behind him.

He turned around sharply.

"Look, you've not even finished your NEWTS, so they're not going to expect the same level of display as they are for your professors. Think back to what we went through a few days ago, what were you good at, what NEWTS are you taking, what do you want to do with your life. One thing that I will say is that if you want a job as an Auror, you've got one, you've done really well over the last two weeks and I'm impressed. All of your class mates have impressed me too. What ever careers you choose to pursue I have no doubt that you will succeed at."

She raised her voice, "I'll give you all the same advice, don't think too hard about what you're going to do as your display. Just go with something that you are good at, and reflects your capabilities. If you're struggling, think back to the final test and what you did during the end and reproduce some of it, as having gone through it, it sounds like that's exactly what Minerva did at the beginning of the year. It doesn't need to be elaborate to be awe inspiring, as what we have learnt will do that on it's own. There's also nothing that says we have to do it individually as far as I know. I'm sure that Hogwarts would be happy to answer that one if one of you wants to head to the library. The point is that you've already passed. This isn't about passing or failing, it's about showing them that you've passed.

"I would be happy to have any of you working with me in the DMLE."

Christopher was the first one out, being the youngest of those that had taken part. To his dying day he would never remember what he did to show off, but whatever it was impressed the crowd.

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While everyone else was going through their displays Azaria walked into the changing area with the two swords.

"Amelia, Dora, as you are considered to be the closest to warriors that you have in your culture we had these made for you. They are to be your new focuses and replace the wands that you've broken. You will both be going last, so I have one last thing to teach you for the course, and I want you both to use it in your display. Where I come from we call this technique stepping, and it's a short range teleportation that allows you to skip through space and appear facing any direction you choose. Once you master it you will be unparalleled amongst your people. I ask that you don't teach this to anyone that hasn't attained the rank of warrior over and above the Warlock training, as it's scope for abuse here is so high.

"Extend your magic and feel what I'm doing. When you think you've got it, try it yourself. You'll either succeed or fail until you succeed."

She then proceeded to show them a technique that was actually fairly simple, far simpler than apparition, and obscenely quick. Once they'd done it a few times they were given their new swords and left to wait.

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Azeria strode to the centre of the arena where she turned around rising into the air effortlessly.

"These next two participants have not just qualified as Warlocks, I have also named them Warrior. Amelia Bones and Nymphadora Tonks, please enter the arena. Not only have they completed the same training as the previous candidates, they took to my teaching of the sword as a true warrior should. That they have already shown their warriors heart by their choice to be Aurors, and place their lives on the line to defend you and your people, and see that your laws are upheld, it was an easy decision to make."

She then watched as they both drew their new swords and started to test each other, extending their bubbles so that they had some sense of what was going on. Dora was the first one to step, and was soon followed by Amelia as the tactical disadvantage of not doing so hit home. She could see their movements smoothing out as the stress of learning to step under pressure forced their magic to conform to their desires. The spells and transfigurations going on were acceptable as well. She'd rate them as very good novices.

Once she felt the spar had gone on long enough she called out, "End, you have both done well."

Laughing both Amelia and Dora hugged each other, both of them breathing hard from the exertion.

"Magi Minerva, would you join me with the other graduates. I now present to you Journeyman Magi Karen to present the insignia that everyone here has earned by becoming fully qualified Warlocks."

Minerva joined Azaria in the air before Karen faded into being floating in the air with an amazing display of magical control that was probably lost on the crowd below. Together they lowered themselves to the floor of the Arena.

Floating a signet ring out in front of each person Karen addressed the crowd, "These rings signify that the holder has passed the trials to become a full Warlock. While they may look simple, they are made from a material that can only be gathered by Magi. This material has the almost unsurpassed ability to channel magic through it. The swords that the warriors are carrying have also been inlaid with the same material. Just pushing some magic into this metal will cause it to glow with a pale silver light.

"Please take these symbols of your achievements and place them on your right hand ring fingers. There they will stay until you remove them."

"Everyone, I present to you your new warlocks. May they serve and guide with wisdom and honour."

The applause from the stands was deafening, although Amelia could see some very pale faces in the crowd that she recognised.

Karen continued once the applause died down, "As this is a school, we can only offer the accelerated program during the summer holidays. As we all have lives as well, we will be offering one class every summer that will have a maximum of 20 participants. Preference will be shown to existing students until the incoming third years have reached their NEWTS. So if we are over subscribed we may ask to interview some of you before instructing you on what you need to know before you start. I am given to understand that one of our novices has already allocated 8 of next years spots.

"Thank you for coming to watch our students display their skills and I hope that they never have need to put most of them to use outside their chosen careers."

Without the magical amplification she spoke to the class, "If you would like to join us in the Library, we have a party laid out for you, and Hogwarts has some things she'd like to say to each of you individually. Also, if any of you want to go for Magi training, you need to wait for at least 8 months while your magic adjusts to the new levels that you've reached. Also be aware that if you do you will need to give up your family name and your national affiliation, so it's not something that should be entered into lightly."

The party that night was loud, raucous and long. Hogwarts had some words of encouragement for most of them, and advice for a few. She privately told Amelia that Azaria was going to push Tonks to go for the Magi training so that their relationship wasn't so uneven.

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Beth sat in her office at Hogwarts, different materials laid out in front of her. A swipe of her hand and the first one was filled with a runic array that should have taken weeks to produce. Pushing a small bit of magic in an image of the solar system appeared above the disk. She picked up a circle of glass and with a thought it was filled with layers of runes that would automatically detect some one's prescription and correct for it. Setting it on the table she buried her head in her hands and started to cry.

A short time later she felt arms hug her from behind and Septima's breath by her ear as she spoke, "What's wrong Beth?"

"This, all of this, it's just trivialised my mastery."

"Why?"

"I can just wave my hand now and it's there."

"What is your mastery test?"

"To make a pensive."

"Why is it so much harder than anything you've just made here?"

"Because there's 100,000's individual runes that have to be placed perfectly in multiple layers, and if one of them is out of alignment the whole thing will fail, possibly explosively."

"Do you not see how much of an achievement that is, even if you don't have to carve them individually? You can visualise and place all of those runes perfectly, with no mistakes. The only thing that you're doing now is saving time. You've taught me some runes over the time that we've worked together, could I make a pensive with a wave of my hand?"

"No!"

"Then why are you so upset?"

"Because I forgot that carving is only the smallest part of rune craft, even though it's a vitally important one." She turns her head and kisses Septima, before blushing to her roots.