The Second Star
7
Trials
"Wake up lazy ass," Harry heard a distant voice yelled as a pillow hit him full in the face. He yelped and sat bolt up right.
"Adhara, what are you doing in here," Harry asked with a yawn. He noticed the other boys were now awake and staring at Adhara.
"We get to skip school today," she said happily jumping on his bed. Dean and Seamas gave Harry envois looks while Ron and Neville looked curious.
"Why are we skipping school," Harry asked as Adhara continued to jump up and down on the bed. "Did you buy a Skiving Snackbox or something?"
"Nope," Adhara said and with a huge grin she did a double back flip of off Harry's bed and then sat on Ron's.
"Then what? Must be brilliant if you're in such a mood," Harry said.
"Oh it is, ready for the thing you forgot? The end of the month has come!" Harry looked clueless. "The trails set by the Ministry are today!" Harry's stomach dropped.
"Oh, that's great," Harry said glumly.
"Come on Harry, we have to eat something before we go, we can change on the way," Adhara said ignoring his tone and anxious face.
She grabbed his hand and literally dragged him into The Great Hall. Adhara tore into her steak and eggs while Harry just sat there. "
Eat something will you?" She casually waved her hand and scrambled eggs hurtled at Harry's face. "Whoops, sorry."
"You can't control it can you," Harry said wiping some egg from his eyes.
"Not completely. God, I'm so excited that my stomach feels twisted. I love challenges," Adhara said happily.
"My stomach feels the same way, only it's nerves," Harry grumbled.
"You'll be fine, Mr. Boy-Who-Lived," Adhara teased.
"Come on, we'll be late," Harry groaned. They left the hall silently. Harry veered towards the stairs but Adhara went outside instead to Dumbledor's office. "How are we getting to the Ministry?"
"We're taking the train back to London and after that," Adhara giggled, "you don't mind the back do you?"
"The back? The back of what," Harry questioned nervously. From what he knew of her it was probably something horrible.
"You'll see Harry," she said with a big grin.
A few hours later Harry got off Platform 9¾ alone and dressed in Muggle clothes. Adhara had walked by his compartment as he was changing to tell him to meet her in the station parking lot. Harry was just about to step off the curb to go find her when a sleek motorcycle pulled up next to him.
"A-Adhara," Harry gasped. He realized that she was wearing motorcycle leathers and sunglasses.
"Get on," Adhara ordered.
"Is this yours," Harry gaped. Written on the side in tiny letters was 'Honda'; underneath that in larger letters was 'SHADOW'.
"No I stole it, of course it's mine. It doesn't normally have a back seat but I stretched it for you. Last thing I need in you sitting in my lap while I'm driving," Adhara grinned. Hurry flushed and climbed onto the motorcycle.
Within half an hour they had reached the guest entrance. Harry and Adhara crammed inside of the small booth.
"Harry Potter and Adhara Black here to take trails for Defense Against the Dark Arts," Harry said into the phone. The phone did its bit and they were soon in the Atrium. Harry had his wand checked in first. Adhara said she deeply distrusted the Ministry and didn't want her spells repeated to the hall.
"Cedar, dragon heartstring, used for six years," the guard asked. Adhara nodded and snatched her wand back before he could say anymore.
"We're in courtroom ten again Harry," Adhara said. "I hate it down there. Fuggy Boy keeps treating me like a damned Death Eater."
"Your family does have a erm strange reputation," Harry said.
"Strange be damned. The lot of them seemed to be a bunch of nutcases from what Remus said! Well most, from what I've heard of my father and uncle they seemed decent," Adhara said.
'Regulas Black decent! What does Lupin know that he's not telling us? Why is he her godfather anyway?'
"Almost there, we should change into our robes," Adhara said.
"I didn't bring any robes," Harry gasped. He scanned her. "Neither did you!" Adhara just rolled her eyes.
She made a slapping motion at Harry and threw her other hand downwards with a sharp jerk in front of herself. Harry's clothes instantly switched to jet-black robes. He looked wildly at Adhara who was also in black robes. She gave him a quick smile and pushed open the doors to courtroom ten.
"I hope you did not run amok in those robes Miss Black," Fudge said coldly to Adhara. Adhara gave him a quick glare.
"We changed outside Mr. Fudge," Adhara replied. "Can we please start? I wish to show my loyalty."
"Very well. You are only armed with knowledge and your wands...for now," Fudge said looking nastily at Adhara. "Trained wizards are established around the area. The darkest creatures, the foulest beings, and the most dangerous curses and hexes will be tested on you. We may also do some poison tests on you."
"Where are we going sir," Harry asked. Fudge smiled at him.
"An old field a few miles away. Portus, you will take my hat and I of course will be coming. Ready? Touch the hat."
Harry felt the jerk behind his naval and saw the whirl of color. They soon landed in an open field. Harry noticed wizards standing in a square behind a gold line. Fudge hurried behind the line.
"TEST NUMBER ONE, DEMENTORS," a voice boomed. A dozen or so dementors glided towards them. Harry thought of being able to evaporate on the spot.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM," Harry and Adhara boomed together. The dog and stag destroyed the dementors.
'Padfoot and Prongs, side by side. I wish you were here Sirius.'
"TEST TWO-."
They went through dozens of dark creatures. Harry was surprised at how well he did. He did have some trouble with a Manticore while Adhara had just gotten down right mad and jumped it, knocking it out cold.
'No need to kick yourself Harry, you're not super strong like she is.'
"TEST TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX, CURSES AND HEXES!"
"They didn't say what kind," Harry said in a panic to Adhara. She too looked nervous but a steeling look came to her eye and she knocked Harry to the ground. Adhara's wand flew from her hand and stuck into the ground some twenty feet away.
"Well Miss Black I guess your trail is over. You've lost you wand," Fudge said silkily.
"I don't need a wand. The wizard may be invisible but only to you normal wizards."
Adhara triangled her hands high over her head and stood her full length. She twirled three times clockwise and two counter clockwise. Then she brought her hands swishing in a separate arch each. Invisibility Cloaks flew into the air everywhere.
"STUPIFY, STUPIFY, STUPIFY, STUPIFY," Harry bellowed coming to his senses and stunning the attackers. Adhara ran over and got her wand and turned to face a very shocked Fudge with Harry.
"Well done Mr. Potter, Miss Black. Let's go to my office," Fudge said.