Chapter 11 NEWTS and other problems
Harry got away without problems because Dumbledore was also away on business. All the teachers were used to it, that he would be the most of his time in his rooms and often over lunch too. He tended to forget it often enough during his studies.
Remus was covering him for the last bit of risk.
So he arrived together with Rick in the department of mysteries. He used his own portkey this time . He had already learned to make one and he also got the special one which could take him directly down here.
They were greeted by two older wizards, the supervisor of the department and another younger one who seemed to be a kind of assistant.
"Hello Rick, hello Mr. Potter." the supervisor greeted them and led them into another room.
"This are Mr. Wanlur and Mr. Thadius, master of charms and master of transfiguration. They are here under an oath of secrecy about your status. Otherwise they are official testers for the ministry. The young one is Arnold Riley, a recruit and now an assistant to me. He is very eager. The both masters will test you at their branch of magic and Mr. Thadius will also test you in DADA. Tomorrow you will take your test in potions which is going to consist of a theoretical test before noon and the practical in the afternoon. The tests today will be practical. The theory part is covered as you are to explain every spell and answer questions. Now follow me to the testing room and then we will start with charms."
Both days passed in a blur to Harry. The only thing he knew was, that he had impressed Mr. Thadius with his Patronus, the anti-apparition-ward and his Aegis shield which all were very complex and powerful spells and even beyond NEWT-level. He also knew that he had impressed Mr. Wanlur with his animagus-forms and his achievement in advanced apparition. He knew, that he did his potions right but he had no idea about all theoretical tests.
Remus joined him in the evening of the second day of his tests.
"How did it go, Nightwing?" he asked his exhausted student and friend.
"You know the name Nasty Exhausting Wizarding TestS?"
Moony nodded smiling.
"Well, that is an understatement." Harry groaned "I need a drink. How about you?"
Remus nodded and Harry conjured two glasses of Whiskey.
They saluted on the NEWTS and took a sip.
"I think I managed it but it was draining to no end."
"That is why they are called NEWTS. Who tested you?" Moony asked smilingly.
"Mr. Tadius for Charms and DADA, Mr. Wanlur for Transfiguration and Mr. Orunar for Potions."
Remus gaped at him, "I... I know all three of them. They are the best of the best and the hardest testers too in whole Britain. Now I understand what you meant with draining."
"Well at least I know of no error I made. All I can do is wait."
"Then we wait. Tell me about the charms. What did you have to show?"
Harry recounted his tests and thanks to his Occlumency he had memorized them to the tiniest detail and could recount all meticulously.
Remus tried not to stare at him. If he did what he told that he did then there was no way that he didn't pass with flying colors. That was simply awesome, especially for a student who hadn't even finished his sixth year.
It was three days before the school started again. Ron, Hermione and Ginny sat with Harry in his living room and talked as the fire in his fireplace lit up in blue flames and Rick's head looked out.
"Harry, can you talk?" Rick asked.
"My friends are here."
"Could you cast a privacy bubble?" Rick asked.
Harry did it absently with a wave of his hand and his friends stared at the two.
"Well, what do you want to talk about?"
"Now, I wanted to congratulate you to your NEWTS. You passed all four. But I have a request to show up with you tomorrow at the ministry to start your apprenticeship officially. I am sorry that it comes on such short order, but that is one of the few orders, we both have to obey. Your results are going to come in tomorrow with the owl-post along with your release from school back-dated to the end of the last term."
"Wow, that is a bit unexpected. I only have one problem with that. Tonks is not back yet from her assignment and I didn't tell her, that I took the tests. She will be sad, that I had to leave."
"You can visit her, once we started the apprenticeship. You know we will be at Hogsmeade. There has nothing changed in our plan, only the start is earlier than we both thought. I had to tell them about our agreement. I have generally to tell them all about us and your achievements and all other details. As you know by now, it stays in our department though."
"Yes I know. I have no problem with that. Thanks for the warning. Now I have to face the wrath of my friends. Anything else?"
"Yes, I am proud of you. But I don't want to ruin the surprise. Bye then."
"Bye, Rick. I will see you tomorrow."
Harry finished the spell and turned around to his friends.
"Now... what was that?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Well, that was my call to leave the school, so to speak." he said without emotion.
"That was WHAT?" Hermione yelled.
"Well, as I said. I am going to leave the school tomorrow."
"How long?" Hermione asked.
"Forever. I finished it." Harry sighed.
"But... but you have to take your NEWTS first!" Hermione insisted.
"I took them after Christmas. He informed me, that I passed them and from his expression it was not too bad."
"You... you took your NEWTS already?" Ginny stammered.
"Yes."
"Why?" Ron asked stunned.
"Because I had to. It is hard to explain and mostly it is secret too. All I can tell you is, that I entered an apprenticeship this summer. The deal was, that we get really started as soon as I get my NEWTS and it is important, so I did it as fast as I could."
"An... an apprenticeship? That is really rare, Harry." Hermione said in awe.
"As what?" asked Ron.
"That I can not reveal, sorry."
"It has to be something special then." Ron said.
"Yes that it is. And it is helping me to prepare too, but I can't say more."
"We... we understand. But, hell, that is a shock!" Ron said.
"Thanks, Ron. That means much to me. And you both?"
The girls nodded both and Hermione said, "We knew that you have been up to something but that we would have never guessed."
He smiled again, "That means much to me, that you understand. Thank you for that."
"And Dumbledore?" Ron asked.
"Well... he doesn't know anything yet. He has another thing coming as I promised." Harry grinned.
"When will he learn it?" Ron asked eagerly.
"Tomorrow with the post."
"Well then. That is going to be an interesting breakfast then." Ron grinned.
"It is sad, that it is so suddenly though." Ginny said quietly, "I.. I hoped to get to tell you something."
Hermione gasped and Ron looked irritated.
He wanted to say something but Hermione held him back.
"I... I wanted to tell you..." Ginny stammered and blushed.
Harry sat down beside her and lifted her chin gently so that he could look in her eyes.
"I am sorry, but it is not possible." he said quietly.
She blanched, "What... what do you mean." Then she turned to Hermione, "Did you tell him?"
She shook her head sharply, "No."
"Ginny, look at me!" Harry demanded gently.
She did so and he continued.
"Nobody said anything to me but I know that you are in love with me though."
"How? I mean... that was it what I wanted to say but..."
"How I knew that is not important. That I do is. I am really sorry, but I am not in love with you."
"But... not even a bit?" she sobbed now.
"You are like a sister to me, but I do not love you. I am really sorry because I also know that your love for me is real."
"You... you know that? That I really love you?"
"Yes." he nodded sadly.
"I... I told nobody about it. Did you use Legilimancy on me?" she moved away from him.
"No. I would never do that. I am able to sense your emotions. I am partially empathic. But that is a dangerous secret. Please tell no one."
"I... I won't. I promise. Is... is there someone else?" Ginny asked hesitantly.
Harry sighed, "Yes."
They all gasped at this.
"Yes, I am in love. But that is something that is even more dangerous and I only told you now, because you are hurt and I don't want that. That is why I share now my greatest secret with you."
They smiled at him and were happy that he found someone, even Ginny.
They didn't talk another word about it, determined to take his secrets with them in their grave. They parted not too much later, because he had to pack his things.
The real commotion was caused the next day. There were now more students back from the holidays about half of the school.
As promised there was a thick envelope with the owl-post for Harry. He opened it and gasped.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
He handed her only one of the pages, the one with his results. The other was the order to be at the ministry at noon and the third his document to leave the school.
Hermione read it and hugged him proudly.
"Would anyone tell us what this is about?" Ron groaned.
"He got an O in Charms and Transfiguration and another O in DADA. He also got an E in Potions." Hermione explained.
"HE GOT WHAT?" Ron yelled.
Ron was as stunned as Harry but the girls beamed at him and Harry sent a nod at the questioning gaze of Remus. Moony grinned widely at this.
Dumbledore seemed to get a letter too from the same owl but had yet to open it, as the door to the great hall burst open and four aurors stepped in shortly followed by an irritated Tonks in civil robes.
She shot a questioning glance at Harry but he shrugged.
One of the aurors went up to Dumbledore and whispered something to Dumbledore. It was Shacklebolt.
Harry got a feeling of dread as Dumbledore glared at him and then at Tonks and Harry jumped up but it was already to late.
Dumbledore bellowed, "Miss Tonks, is it true that you are in a relationship with Harry Potter?"
She blanched and began to shudder. Gasps were to be heard through the hall.
"Answer me!" Dumbledore demanded.
She looked uncertainly to Harry and he fumed. He stepped before the table and went down to Tonks. He looked her in her face, ignoring the stares of the students and the glare of Dumbledore.
"Hey, what is up?" he asked soothingly, "Has something happened?"
"I got a letter this morning in which was stated to keep our relationship confidential." she stammered.
"Show me!"
He read the letter and yelled, "THESE FUCKING IDIOTS!"
He calmed down and seemed to be relaxed, but to Tonks his flaring green eyes betrayed his feelings... his anger.
"The letter came directly from your supervisor. Who is it?" he asked Tonks gently.
"Kingsley."
"That idiot who has even made our love public?"
She nodded.
"Well I am sorry. I didn't want that, at least not in that way. But now will heads roll!" he was inwardly fuming.
"I AM WAITING MISS TONKS!" Dumbledore bellowed.
Harry stepped coolly between Tonks and Dumbledore.
"Do you want to discuss this in public?" he asked Dumbledore without emotion... outwardly but now his voice was laced with steel and he was surrounded by an aura of power and rage that had yet to be seen.
"I DEMAND THE ANSWER NOW! ... But no, I have it already. You know very well, that I can not allow a teacher to become involved with a student. You are suspended, Miss Tonks." Dumbledore stated with an icy voice.
"She is not." Harry said coolly, "You just revealed our relationship. So be it. But she can date whoever she wants as long it is not a student."
"That I said. Therefore she is suspended." Dumbledore insisted.
"No, because I am not longer a student of Hogwarts. In fact, I finished school on December 20th."
"YOU WHAT?"
"Well, I believe you have just received a letter? Maybe you should read your letters."
Dumbledore ripped the letter open and blanched.
"How is that possible? You... you have already taken your NEWTS?" Dumbledore stammered.
Gasps and whispers were heard through the hall again.
"Now, what about Tonks?"
"She... she can continue." Dumbledore admitted irritated to no end.
"You finished?" Tonks whispered sadly.
He turned around and took her hand reassuringly.
"I'm sorry. I took the NEWTS after you were gone. I didn't expect to be called away so soon though. Here went something badly wrong."
She flung her arms around him with tears in her eyes and he stroked her back.
"Now, now. I only have to report to the ministry today. I will visit you as soon as possible, then we will talk."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Now I have to clear some things. If you excuse me?"
She let him go. And he turned around to Kingsley with a piercing glare.
"Auror Shacklebolt, you just revealed a level Omega secret. Is that right?" Harry asked with a cold voice.
The eyes of the auror widened and he blanched.
He could not deny it because Harry held the proof in his hand. In the letter written from him, Kingsley, to Tonks was clearly stated that their relationship was to be handled as level Omega secret.
"You all know how I do stand up to my friends. But I assure you that is nothing compared to that, what I will do for my love. You Kingsley Shacklebolt have just placed my girlfriend in grave danger and that against the order from the ministry too. And now you will pay for that. Aurors arrest Kingsley Shacklebolt for High Treason!" his voice boomed through the hall.
The three remaining aurors shuddered and turned to him.
One spoke to him, "Bu... but we are here to escort you to the ministry..."
"You will do as I ordered or you will face the same charges. I assure you, I will arrive there safely by a special portkey. NOW FOLLOW MY ORDERS!"
His cold voice tolerated no contradiction anymore and the three aurors drew their wands.
The spokesman demanded now with a confident voice, "Kingsley Shacklebolt hand over your wand! You are arrested under the charges of High Treason."
Shacklebolt handed his wand over with shaking hands. He knew the sentence for this, the kiss. And as they were at war at least in the eyes of the aurors and the magical law enforcement, there would be no lenience. Adding to that, he had just betrayed the hero of the wizarding world and putted the head of his girlfriend on a silver platter. And he hadn't even an idea what was going on and why Potter was ordered to the ministry or why that was under such a high level of secrecy. He was only aware of one thing, he had just made the error of his life. The aurors put magical handcuffs on him and took him out of the hall.
Harry now turned his face back to the teachers and looked in gaping faces.
"Are you satisfied, Professor Dumbledore? You just cost one of your men his life and placed another in life threatening danger."
"Harry... how... how could you?" Dumbledore stammered. He was white as a sheet.
"Me? Well I did nothing but reminded the other aurors of their job. That he has been arrested is your fault alone. I told you earlier that you have no right to meddle with other private affairs but you didn't hear. Now you have to face the consequences... sorry, not you but one of your ... pawns. Well I'll tell you one thing. You were it, who betrayed us. Tonks will stay here. If something happens to her, I will have your head."
Dumbledore looked beaten but wanted to say something.
But Harry continued now with a raised and icy voice: "AND I WILL GET YOU PERSONALLY"
Now a magical surge was surrounding him and the dishes were flying from the tables. The windows shattered and the banners of the four houses lit up in an unreal hot blue flame.
Tonks placed her hand on his shoulder and he calmed down instantly. The surge died away.
"You will protect her!" Harry boomed and Dumbledore nodded.
Harry laid his arm around Tonks' hip and led her out of the hall to his dorms.
There she flung her arms around his neck and sobbed on his shoulder.
"Harry... what had just happened?"
"Let's sit down. I have to get a clear head first."
He stroked her back.
Then he cast the strongest privacy spells he knew and Tonks gasped at the complexity of these charms.
"As I said, something went badly wrong. Now our secret is out and you will have to face it. For me nothing will change but for you all. You may get howlers from fans and hate letters and so on. But that is our least problem. As we were both aware, Voldemort is going to be be after you now. I will provide, that you stay here and go not on another assignment."
"You will... how?"
"Let me start at the beginning. As you may have guessed I have a full clearing for you. I will tell you the most now. As you know, I entered an apprenticeship. It was no ordinary one but as an Unspeakable."
"An Unspeakable? Now I understand some things. Can you tell me what kind?"
"A warlock."
"A warlock?" She whispered in awe, "but the last one retired some time ago."
"Yes and he will be my mentor. He is the one I met in the pub and he decided to help me."
"That is great, Harry. That is the best training you can get."
"I know, that is why I agreed to it. Now, as you know, I underwent some tests. They showed, that I am partially empathic, partially metamorphic, Animagus with two forms and I am also a mage."
"a ... MAGE?"
"Yes. That is why I could put such a powerful charm on your pedant and I got the spell in the department of mysteries."
"Oh that is so nice of you. Please go on!"
"That all is only more reason to go after you to get me. Be aware of that! Well, my deal was NEWTS before the training as you know and I took them over Christmas. I didn't tell you, because I wanted you to have a clear head for your assignment. I wanted to tell you when you were back and here it went all wrong. Someone, I guess from my department, leaked the info out. I think he ordered Kingsley to order you to keep it secret alone to keep me safe. But with that he betrayed us. Kingsley reported it to that old fool and betrayed a level Omega secret. And that old fool yelled it through the whole school. He is such an idiot. And the escort in the first place! Bloody Hell! I have a special portkey for the department. How can one man be so stupid. I will have to kick some ass down there later. I don't know why they press it so hard though. I thought we would have some days together but no! The plan was to start it officially at the ministry and then be around here training. I would be allowed to visit you if I were up to my studies."
"That is ok then."
"Maybe. But I have to talk with Rick, my mentor, about it. That all may change our plans drastically. How I don't know but I have a feeling about this. I don't even know if I will be able to write you if something changes. If you get no message from me in the next three days, you know the plans have changed. But have no worry. I will be safe."
"Are... are you sure?" she was totally distracted now.
"Yes I am honey. Promise me that you will be careful!"
"I will, Harry."
"Thanks. Moony will have an eye on you too. Try to stay in the castle."
"I will."
"I love you, Tonks."
She hugged him and kissed him passionately for some minutes.
"Now, I have to go. Send a message to the head of the department of mysteries if there is something wrong and I can get no message to you. He will know."
"Be careful Harry."
"I will. Keep the password to these rooms to yourself. No one but you and Moony know it. And no word about that all what I just told you, not even to Moony. But tell him and my friends goodbye from me. Keep an eye on Ginny too. I told her yesterday, that I knew she loves me but I her not. Now she knows who my love is... you. Be there for her, please! She is a good friend. I will be back, as soon as I can."
"I know. And I will do as you asked. I have faith in you."
He kissed her a last time and grabbed his trunk before the portkey swirled him away.
AN: I think I got the error with 'putted' fixed in this chap ;-)
I am sorry that this chap is a little bit on the short side, but I believe the content compensated for it. Have no fear, that was not the last confrontation between Harry and old Dumbledore but maybe the hardest, who knows? Thanks again for all reviews! I hope you all aren't mad with me, that I don't write something to every review. I only answer to these where I have more to say than 'Thank you very much'. I try to answer your questions though, soif I did forget someone, don't hesitate and send me a kick in the ass via mail or the next review. I will answer asap.But do believe me, I appreciate every single review of you folks, so keep it up!
Wytil: Thanks for your reassurance! I laughed heartily about your review. I needed that!
uten: Hmm... I can't really explain why Dumbledore didn't use Legilimancy on Remus and I guess if I tell you that is so because I say so doesn't really count? grin Maybe Legilimancy doesn't work on werewolves? I would simply say, Dumbledore believes that Harry is studying harder because he knows of the prophecy now. He doesn't suspect something until now. Further Remus doesn't know anything about Harrys secrets, that Dumbledore isn't going to learn in the near future anyway. So that is not really important. About the closeness between Harry and Tonks, you are right, it ist going to be harder from now on, more than you may think, at least for Harry. I will tell you no more about that now;-)
grookill: You are right about the age difference but don't forget, that Harry has a Slytherin mind if the situation calls for it! I think Harry can be cunning and upstanding to anyone including Dumbledore and Voldy. It is all a matter of confidence. And that he has now in this story because he chose his path for himself now. Also Harry did only small moves with not too much cunning. That were merely some little word games as I love them to read and write grin I believe the next confrontation will be less a matter of cunning and more a matter of might over the other... until then... ;-)