"Very well let me give you the details then..."

Professor McGonagall said, glancing about at the anxious faces that sat before her and then down to a piece of parchment that rested in her hands.

"Miss Granger, you have been assigned to Research & Development, something that I'm sure you will find quite interesting." She said this with a subtle nod and the swiftest hint of a smile before she continued. "You will have the privilege of working under Senior Director Fortisku Dawlish, one of the heads of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and without a doubt one of the most brilliant minds of our time."

Hermione grinned with excitement to discover that she would be learning under a wizard the likes of Senior Director Dawlish, an acclaimed wizard whom Hermione had read about in the Daily Profit hundreds of times before swearing off the publication.

Ron, who smirked at Hermione's enthusiasm of getting what sounded like a boring Ministry bookworm, flinched when Professor McGonagall said his name in her sharp tone.

"Mr. Weasley, you will be working under Mr. Abelard Williamson, the Chief of Strategic Planning for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Ron immediately perked up; he had been rather grumpy at the fact that Professor Dumbledor had not chosen him to apprentice to an Auror like Draco and Harry, but hearing that he too would be working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement caused a spark of interest to ignite in him. He hadn't a clue as to what exactly a Chief of Strategic Planning did, but he had heard his father speak of Mr. Williamson many times with a great deal of respect, noting that he was a very straight forward man and also one of the youngest to hold such a high ranking position within the Ministry.

Harry, noticing Ron's lifted spirits, breathed a silent sigh of relief as he began to feel more comfortable about this strange assignment, forcing him not only from the security of his two best friends but pairing him with his archenemy Draco Malfoy. Harry shot a sideways glance at Draco who was looking fidgety and nervous to hear who he would be apprenticed to; for the first time Harry realized that he himself was not nervous at all, not even slightly. He had met several Aurors that worked for the Ministry of Magic already and he knew that the thought of becoming an Auror himself stirred in him the same feelings that Quidditch and flying did.

Draco, on the other hand, was being forced to face witches and wizards that he would have only mixed words with in battle if he had not renounced his father and abandoned his future as a Death Eater. The witch or wizard training Draco could possibly be one of the very Aurors that had faced his father in the Department of Mysteries, or had a hand at escorting him and his cohorts to Azkaban Prison. Harry suddenly felt very sorry for Draco, shifting his eyes to the floor; they were not so different anymore.

"Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said, snapping Harry to attention. "You two will be apprenticed to Ministry Aurors. Now I needn't tell you that this form of Apprenticeship is not only an honor and a privilege, but a responsibility. These positions were chosen for you both not only for the purposes of the mission, but also because Professor Dumbledore feels that you will be able to learn some important skills of awareness and defense that may one day...save your lives."

Professor McGonagall's voice had gone slightly weak and breathy as she said this, taking a moment to compose herself and then continuing as though she were giving a Transfiguration lecture.

"Harry, you will be working under Lieutenant Ministry Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt, while you, Draco will work with Senior Commanding Auror Alastor Moody..."

"Mad Eye? That lunatic?!" Draco barked in shocked disgust as he leapt to his feet, then noticed Professor McGonagall's raised brow at the outburst. He flushed a mix of frustration and embarrassment as Harry, Hermione, and Ron stared over at him.

"Sorry Professor...it's just that..." Draco furrowed his brow and pursed his lips in dissatisfaction, suddenly baring a striking resemblance to his father. "After what he did to me fourth year...well, I just don't feel as though I can be in the same room with him, or speak anything of work with him on a constant basis."

"Draco, that wasn't Professor Moody it was..." But Hermione was quickly cut off as Draco turned his attention on her, scowling as he spoke.

"Listen Granger, until you've been turned into a rodent and tossed about in front of the entire school..."

"That will be quite enough, Mr. Malfoy!" Professor McGonagall commanded tapping her wand lightly on her desk to serve as a makeshift gavel.

"Can't I trade with Potter? I'm sure he's best friends with that madman after what he did to me," Draco bargained, his eyes darkening with his annoyance.

Harry sensed fear in Draco through his facade of anger and snobbery, and wondered to himself if anyone else had noticed this. Harry thought again of how nerve racking it must be for Draco to face any Auror, especially Mad-Eye.

"Professor, if Draco isn't comfortable with Professor Moody I will study under him," Harry said without a trace of smugness so as not to make Draco anymore upset.

Draco looked back at Harry a hint of gratefulness in his expression.

"I'm sorry boys, but Professor Dumbledore was the one who assigned your apprenticeships and I'm sure, Draco..." Professor McGonagall looked understandingly into Draco's stressed eyes, "that he had his reasons for pairing the two of you together."

"Yeah..." answered Draco in a low dark tone, "because he doesn't trust me...even after everything that I have done." Harry could hear Ron mutter under his breath.

"Huh...more like he doesn't trust you because of everything you've done."

Harry and Hermione both turned to shoot warning glares at Ron who sank in his chair a bit, shrugging his shoulders and glowering in return. Ron's hushed remarks went unnoticed by Draco and Professor McGonagall who remained locked at the eyes.

"I can assure you that Professor Dumbledore would not have chosen you for this mission had he not had complete faith in you, Mr. Malfoy."

Looking unconvinced, Draco took his seat again, his eyes downcast and his jaw set in frustration.

"Now that you have your Ministry assignments, it is time for me to entrust you with the deeper purpose of this undertaking. I must be sure I have your vow that, no matter what happens, you four will uphold the highest level of secrecy concerning this mission."

Professor McGonagall eyed each of them in turn, lastly Draco whose frustrated look had transformed into a smug grin.

"A vow?" Draco raised his brow in mock surprise. "You are more like your enemies than you realize," he said loftily, causing Ron's ears to go pink with pent up anger at any of them being compared to Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

Harry and Hermione readied themselves to subdue Ron whose temper was steadily rising to boiling point, his pinking skin offering no disguise for his feelings. Professor McGonagall did not seem upset by Draco's comment though, she only gave him a steady concerned gaze.

"Our vow is our word, Mr. Malfoy. You'll learn that it actually means a great deal to everyone in this room, including yourself as you will, I'm sure, be dealing with many witches and wizards who have had...encounters...with your family. Also, with Voldemort and his followers on the loose, I believe that you will find yourself depending on the protection of Harry, Ron, and Hermione...perhaps more than they will need to depend on you."

Draco's face had gone soft and despondent as he stared lifelessly at the desk.

"You can trust us Professor," Hermione said in a strong dignified voice. "All of us." She turned her gaze to rest on Draco who glanced up, furrowing his brow.

"You have my word," he whispered, finally seeming slightly ill since the mention of Voldemort.

Appearing satisfied, Professor McGonagall continued.
"We have reason to believe that Voldemort has infiltrated the Ministry of Magic."

Hermione gasped bringing her small hand to her lips as Ron swallowed hard, thinking immediately of the possible danger that his father might be exposed to.

"Please, it is nothing to be too alarmed about. We suspect that he has planted a spy or a network of spies who are feeding him information that could only come from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Now the difficult thing is that we do not yet know who or why, in fact there is not one person in the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement who is not a suspect, including your very own mentors, making it very important that you do not disclose any information about this mission to any of them."

Professor McGonagall gave them all a moment to digest the information as the group looked concernedly between themselves, including Draco.

"Does this mean that even Professor Moody...um I mean Senior Commanding Auror Moody, does not know of our true purpose at the Ministry?" questioned Hermione, looking a bit shocked.

"Your purpose, Miss Granger, is to learn as much as possible in your time spent within the walls of the Ministry...that is not a secret," Professor McGonagall said convincingly but frowned as she spoke. "You will need to be clever and convincing with your words so as not to attract suspicion from any of the officials that you will be working with...especially Alastor Moody."

"Surely you know that it couldn't be Moody!" Ron interjected in a tone of utter disbelief.

"The only thing that I can assure you of Mr. Weasley is that we do not know who we can trust any longer, and we will not know until we have pinpointed the spy."

It seemed to pain Professor McGonagall to be suspicious of such important Order members and Harry could see the lines of stress deepening on her face making her look tired and worn.

"We will need you as our eyes and ears at the Ministry. I cannot impress upon you all the importance of finding and exposing this traitor, for until we do the Dark Lord knows every move we make rendering the Ministry harmless and vulnerable."

There was silence for a moment when Professor McGonagall glanced down at the small silver clock on her desk.

"Oh my! Professor Snape is likely to be extremely cross if you are late to his first Potions class of the year, so you had better be off. If you have any questions you may come and speak with me here."

They all remained seated in stunned silence just staring at their Professor.

"I suggest you all get going before it is too late," she urged, looking over her glasses causing the group to jump to their feet clumsily, making their way from their seats towards the door, but before Harry had touched his hand to the latch, he stopped when he heard Ron's voice.

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and the jigsaw piece...

"Professor, you didn't say when we are to start..."

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This piece was written by... Bellatrix