Chapter 15: Testing and Spies

Harry knew he did well on most of the second year trials, and also managed to do feel good about the third year trials he had been forced to take in the battle-focused areas. He was relieved to have confirmation that his position was earned, and not simply a product of his name.

For his part, regular occlumency practice and very specific dosage of Dreamless Sleep kept Harry from experiencing anymore visions, though sometimes his scar ached when he awoke. He had largely not thought about his scar in several days.

However, the afternoon after he had finished his final tests, Harry had stopped in his dorm to relax for a half hour before he left for the library to plan until dinner time, and laid back on his pillows.

Harry startled to realize he was in a dark room, surrounded by Death Eaters. Harry glanced down to realize that, having not practiced occlumency before drifting off to sleep, he'd inadvertently returned to Voldemort's mind again.

"Malfoy," it was eerie, to feel as though Voldemort's evil pitch was coming from him. "What has Pettigrew found out?"

"They are still amassing an army, Sir, and Potter has taken the lead. He's gotten quite strong, as we learned last weekend in Hogsmeade. They are very angry at the other boy's death. He and the traitor are not at Hogwarts right now, however. There is no telling when they may come back…" Voldemort didn't respond, heavy in thought. Malfoy continued, "Now might be a time to strike fear into the pitiful students, Sir."

Malfoy cowered. Harry realized Voldemort must be glaring at the man. "I will make those decisions, Lucius. We need to send somebody expendable. This will not be the large-scale battle, but a test to see what we can learn about their methods."

"Lord, if I may. We can activate our agents. They are both ready to strike. The fools will have no idea what hit them."

Silence. Then. "If they are unsuccessful? We've lost our spies in Hogwarts."

"They are children, Sir, hardly valuable to your cause, Sir. They've shared no valuable information so far, and they know no valuable information of our cause."

"Very well. Use them. I expect reports from them as to any attempts they are making to cause a disturbance."

Dismissed, Malfoy left, feeling lucky to have escaped without feeling the Dark Lord's wrath. Harry, as though in recognition of the meeting's end, suddenly found himself breathing heavily in his own bed at Headquarters.

"You okay, Mate?" Terran asked. "I was about to get someone. You wouldn't wake. Another vision?"

Harry nodded. "I need… can you send you patronus for our masters? It's urgent."

When the three men arrived, they gestured the two boys toward a conference room, as there was hardly any space to sit comfortably in the small dorm room.

"We should get back to Hogwarts," Harry announced, once everybody was seated. "Wormtail has been there. And there are spies. Two students, I think. Voldemort wants to see what he can find out about our defenses."

The adults exchanged looks. "You had another vision?" Saldor asked.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep, so hadn't practiced occlumency," Harry admitted. "I'm not sure how long we have before he makes a move."

Snape looked downright upset. "We take care of it, this weekend, Dominic, I don't care what the damn Board says." For his part, Saldor looked to be in total agreement with the younger man.

Silverwood glanced at the other two. "I definitely need to return with the Guard. Aeter, you-"

"Bullocks," Harry cursed loudly. "I'm an idiot! Pettigrew never should've been able to get into the castle. Accio Marauder's Map." After a moment of terse silence, the map came flying into the room, from Harry's trunk. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Harry said, tapping the map with his wand.

"You do know how to make it work!" Snape cried, clearly recognizing the old parchment that had insulted him in Harry's third year. "It insulted me, you insolent-"

Harry glanced up at the man. "I was not compelled to be honest with you in third year." He returned his gaze to the map, searching for Pettigrew's name. "There!"

Silverwood studied the map. "You've had this all this time?"

Harry shrugged. "I forgot. The last time I even opened it, I knelt by the Black Lake all night as punishment for my head being in Hogwarts, when it was forbidden. My dad and Remus and Sirius made it when they were kids."

Saldor was peering at the map, too, ignoring Harry's meandering explanation. "This is fine magic. I'll see if we can't replicate it. Reg, you head back with a few members of the Guard, see if you can't catch Pettigrew quietly. Sev, I think Dumbledore will be very interested. Be prepared if Reg needs assistance. Aeter, you can go with Reg. Be prepared to be his eyes and ears. Terran, I'd like you to stay here with Pandora. I'm not sure I trust her with some of the animals here, alone, and it will give you both some time before the feast to start thinking about strategies for our interlopers. I will brief Sterling."

Silverwood raised an eyebrow. "Who is the Commander here?" Saldor merely stared. "Right. It's what I would have suggested anyway. Somebody will bring Aeter back before the feast, if all goes as smoothly as I hope."

As they crept up the Astronomy Tower, Harry anxious behind Silverwood, he considered how desperately he wanted Pettigrew caught. He had been strictly ordered that he would be on hand near the doorway, should Pettigrew attempt an escape.

As soon as Silverwood and he entered, Harry saw the rat beneath a bay window. Before he could make a break for it, a shimmering gold cage was dropped on him. The rat, frantic, began running to and fro as a floor was conjured for the cage. The cage shimmered again.

"You see that shimmer, Aeter?" Harry nodded. "That means he was trying to transform. He's using up all that energy, exhausting himself. Sorry, Pettigrew, but you're mine."

When all was said and done, Harry was a little disappointed to realize that the entire event, travel time included, took less than five minutes, though he was thrilled to finally have Peter in custody.

He did, in fact, return to London just in time for the feast, which given the extraordinary circumstances, had been set up as a formal event. Harry squeezed into the table across from Ginny and Terran just as the banquet started. Most apprentices sat with their masters for the feast, but as theirs were handling a rodent problem, they were quite alone.

"Hey," he murmured. Both waited and looked at him, questions in their eyes. "We got him. He's in the custody of the aurors now."

The two whooped. "Sirius and Remus will be happy!" Ginny grinned, as Sterling stood at his podium in the dining hall. Harry was surprised to see him already present. Although, if they were keeping Pettigrew's capture quiet, it would be suspicious for him to not be present.

"Thank you all for your attendance this last week and a half. As many of you will be leaving in the morning, I did want to share with you some important announcements.

"First of all, those of you who have chosen to volunteer for the Guard, will be receiving schedules for when you are to floo to Hogwarts. Your masters will communicate these to you.

"Secondly, some of you may recall Master Grey. Master Grey knowingly and willingly committed fraud against an apprentice, and then attacked him in front of me. While Apprentice Aeternus and Master Shadowman were invited to assign retributive justice, as per the Mastery's traditions, both have elected to allow the Board to decide the case. After several days of deliberations, the Board has declared Master Grey a persona non grata, and he has been stripped of his Mastery.

"May it be known that while we have allowed punishments to be left up to masters, we will not stand for child abuse to be justified in these halls. Consider, wisely, what punishments you choose and why you are issuing punishment in the future."

He paused allowing some masters to look angry and share whispers before he spoke again. "Finally, it is my great pleasure to share with you the success we saw this week. While we did not permit any first years to test out of their levels, we did showcase many of them over the week. First year Guard activities will remain based here, in London in order to not disrupt their training. Select second years, who passed their dueling and combat exams will be invited to attend at Hogwarts, as will third years. There are a total of ten second years who are eligible.

"However, there are several second year apprentices who ought to be recognized tonight. Apprentice Tier passed four of his second year exams; Apprentices Marcus, Strider,and Lim passed five. Apprentice Terran passed seven of his second year exams. And finally, Apprentice Aeternus passed not only seven of his second year exams, but an additional three of his third year exams. Well done, all of you!"

The hall broke out in chatter and applause for the students and many of Harry's peers and superiors began looking at him in surprise.

Harry began blushing. "I don't know how this happened," Harry muttered. "It's just the stuff Master Shadowman and I have gone through."

"You know, for somebody who just aced all their exams, you're pretty stupid." Harry glared at Ginny. "Well, isn't it obvious? You've been working ahead all along. Snape- Master Shadowman knew, or at least suspected, you'd be forced to fight Voldemort. I suspect your training that we witnessed was much more rigorous than even Terran's."

"Well done, Pandora," Snape replied silkily, seating himself beside Harry at the table. "I anticipate you could have passed all of the second year exams, but as you indicated a desire to retake your exams after the war, I did not see the point in having you take them all twice.

"Pandora, Terran, your masters are finishing up with Atwater now. They will be along shortly. Congratulations, Terran, you've done well."

"Thank you, Sir," Terran grinned, not bothering to hide his pleasure at being praised. "Master Atwater, Sir."

"We have need of an expert in healing, to consult," Snape replied calmly. "You three are all anyone is talking about now. In the morning, we'll be returning to Hogwarts. We all have duties to attend to there, and I daresay, a week and a half has been long enough to be gone. And I cannot wait to see how you explain to Mr. Weasley all of the things you've gotten into."

"Sir?" Ginny asked.

"Ah, well, for one, you're an apprentice now. Two, these two have performed academically remarkable feats. I'm not sure your brother knows where the library is. Finally, and most excitingly, will be his response that the two of you are, apparently, a couple."

Harry and Ginny's faces both turned red. Terran looked positively gleeful. "I- Sir! I only agreed to one date!" Ginny cried in disbelief. "How do you even know?"

"It's best not to ask, Pandora," Terran pointed outs. "Do you really want to know all the embarrassing things they know about us?"

Ginny's face contorted into a remarkable mix of anger and curiosity. "And it's none of Ron's business!"

Snape smirked. "Well, if that Map is accurate, I daresay you can hold it over his head. It seems like he and Miss Granger were in a cupboard for a far longer amount of time than is normal," he sneered.

"EXCUSE ME?" Ginny asked, entirely nonplussed now. "How has Hermione not told me?"

"You? What about me? I know I haven't seen Ron recently, but this is important!"

Terran sat back, smiling at the byplay. "They don't know that you know…" he trailed off. "You could have a lot of fun…"

As the four continued to eat, sometimes in silence, and sometimes in conversation, they found themselves interrupted several times. They were joined partway in the meal by Saldor and Silverwood. Masters had stopped to congratulate the two boys, and a handful chose only to congratulate Ginny on her groundbreaking opportunity. Others ignored her completely, or cast furitive glances at her, as though mistrustful of her presence.

Harry was careful to note who these might be, and noticing the others at his table doing the same.

Finally, as the feast began to wind down, Harry noticed the well-wishers slowly petering off. He yawned, when he noticed Sterling making his way toward the group.

"Ah, Junior Commander," Sterling said loudly, surprising Harry with the new title, "Congratulations are in order. You have done well."

"Thank you, Master Sterling," Harry was uncomfortable and straightened out his dress uniform, knowing Terran wanted to berate his fidgeting. "It has been a very interesting two weeks, Sir. I hope I will make the Board proud."

Sterling smiled. "The Board is an institution. I, however, am already proud of you. We have put enormous pressure on you and you have performed admirably. You return to Hogwarts tomorrow, but I'm sure you and I will speak plenty more in the weeks to come. You will do well.

"Now, I believe it is custom for Apprentices to party after long, stuffy weeks here at Headquarters."

Several apprentices around them stared at Sterling in surprise. "Why, Master Sterling," Saldor drawled, "if they knew the things we do know, perhaps they would explode."

Harry nearly laughed out loud at the expression on the boys' faces. He imagined it echoed his own just a few weeks ago when somebody said something similar.

Snape leaned in toward Harry, Pandora, and Terran, casting a privacy spell around the group, including . "According to the Mastery, you are now perfectly legal to enjoy a beverage of your choice, a toast perhaps. If I hear any wind of any of you making a fool of yourself tonight, you will all be preparing Potions ingredients tomorrow morning. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir," the three agreed, not anxious to repeat earlier mistakes.

Silverwood rolled his eyes. "Dramatic, Sev. But true. Give them something to rally around. We are only authority, but you are their leader. Remember that these are boys who have been learning to fight for over a year. But they, like you, are still boys. Give them courage, but show them that we don't let go of our humanity to fight."

"I—thank you, all," Harry glanced at the four masters in the privacy bubble, "for still trusting me. When I meet Voldemort, I will win."

Dispelling the bubble, the adults began to gather themselves. "Of that, we have no doubt. Good night, Junior Commander, Junior Lieutenants," Sterling said, bowing ever so slightly toward the three.

Harry looked at Terran and Ginny, "I think the world has turned upside down." At Ginny's slight confusion, Harry explained further. "Pandora, that was. Well. That was definitely a bow, and I have never known the Head of the Board to bow to anybody, most certainly not apprentices."

Ginny looked nonplussed for a moment. "I believe a party was mentioned. Let's worry on this later. We need to have some fun."

Harry briefly wondered how Ginny could be so unconcerned, before forcing himself to get up with her.

This party was much different to the last, because as Harry rounded the room, talking to apprentices he knew, and some he didn't, he smiled and made small talk, never once trying to be somebody he wasn't.

For the most part, Ginny and Terran stayed with them. All three, still in their Junior Guard dress robes, cut intimidating figures for any who might dare to break social norms and confront them out of jealousy, though Harry was certain he could feel it in some of his interactions.

As it neared ten in the evening, they began to say their goodbyes. He stopped by Strider, an apprentice shorter and stockier than he, with dirty blonde hair, neatly trimmed. "Congratulations, Strider," Harry smiled. He had met Strider only a handful of times, but liked the boy's bubbly personality.

"And you, Aeter, Terran. Wish you guys stayed here, would be wonderful to see what trouble you all stir up personally, instead of hearing about it at these kinds of events."

Harry laughed. "Well, you'll see a lot more of us now, either here or at Hogwarts. Glad to have you on our team."

Strider beamed. "The pleasure is all mine. Master Atwater came to the feast somewhat grim, after speaking with Saldor Silverwood. Any clue what that's about?"

Harry shook his head. "Not entirely. Have a good night, Strider."

"And you, Commander Aeter," Strider acknowledged, lowering his head in a slight bow.

Around them, several other apprentices did the same, though Harry noted several who looked stubbornly away. "Strider…" Harry began to protest, suddenly noticing Ginny and Terran facing him, doing the same. He straightened himself a small but, glancing around the room. "Thank you, Strider, Thank you, all. It is my honor to serve you all. I look forward to working with you." With that, he returned their token of respect, and swept from the room, careful to stand tall. Ginny and Terran followed him from the room.

"Good night, Gin," Harry leaned in and pecked her cheek, before moving into his and Terran's room.