A/N: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much as always for all your wonderful reviews and comments. Mum and I talk about them on the phone and via email almost every day! We adore you all! I'm happy to say I'll be heading home for spring break the day after tomorrow (thank heavens, semester's only half-over and I'm already thoroughly exhausted!) during which time, Mum and I are going to be scrambling to get this fic as close to finished as possible.

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Mystic Kettle of Nackledirk

Even though the days were consumed by increasingly rigorous Defense training and the evenings consumed with studying Defense books (or in Harry's case, Occlumency) no one was particularly anxious to return to Hogwarts. In the two years they'd been using it, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place had gone from the proverbial haunted mansion to empty house of memories to the one remaining sanctuary in a world flying apart at the seams. It was now the one place where everyone Harry cared about could safely be together.

He was curled up on the sofa in the upstairs parlor (the downstairs parlor was too noisy) reading The Magics of Emotion and Instinct when Ginny found him. "Honestly, Harry, you're as bad as Hermione these days."

Harry shrugged, resting the book on his knees. Ginny sat down next to him and picked it up. "I never know when I'm going to need this stuff," he told her.

"You're certainly good at the wandless magic," she mused, carefully turning pages. "Did you hear about George using it?"

"I saw him once," said Harry. "During the Hogsmeade attack. He set off a crate of fireworks with his bare hand. His eyes...I wonder if I look like that when I blast something."

Ginny grimaced. "He's certainly been a bit emotional since Fred was hurt. I guess that makes sense. It's really a double-edged sword, isn't it?" She handed the book back to him, and Harry studied the cover.

"I was hoping I could learn to control it better—harness it, I guess. Maybe that could be something I could use that Voldemort and the others wouldn't expect. Assuming I'm more emotional than Voldemort," he sighed.

"He doesn't feel very many emotions, just power-lust and malice," Ginny said coldly, in a voice of authority. "In that at least, you've got an advantage."

Harry sighed. "I need every one I can get."

Ginny raised her eyebrows at him. "We all do. You're not fighting him alone, Harry. I know people in the Prophet are speculating about you being some kind of walking weapon, but you're not."

With a droll smile, Harry murmured, "Yeah, Sirius and Remus keep reminding me."

"You do believe them, don't you?"

"I guess," he said. "Even Snape agrees with them. I just..."

"What?"

"I wonder if maybe they're the ones letting their emotions get in the way. Maybe a walking weapon's what I'm supposed to be."

Ginny sat up so quickly that the sofa creaked loudly. "It is not! You're not just some thing being sent against Voldemort. You're a person with...with...feelings and—and—rights, and—things, and—people who love you!"

Sitting back from the force of her words, Harry hastily raised his hands. "Okay, okay! I'm not a weapon! Got it!" Ginny glared at him, so he relented and said, "Really. I know I'm not like that, but...I still have to fight him."

"Is that what the prophecy said?" Ginny asked. He nodded. "You know, you still won't be alone. If you're the one destined to go up against him, that's all the more reason for us to fight with you. Voldemort's got all his Death Eaters, after all."

Harry raised his eyebrows at her. "Are you saying you want to be my Death Eater?" She cuffed him, but they both grinned. "Snape did say something about that. How having friends was an advantage for me."

"After all we've been through, you're far more than a friend," Ginny told him sincerely. "You're family. You, Hermione, Sirius, and Remus, and my brothers and my parents."

She reached out and took his hand and held it. Harry stared down at his hand gripping her smaller one, and thought, Emotional magic...love...the Pillar of Storgé...the power the Dark Lord knows not. Maybe Snape's right.

He let go absently and opened the book again, but Ginny stayed in the parlor, sitting next to him so she could read along over his shoulder. They were mostly quiet other than to point out interesting or potentially helpful things, and time rolled by without notice. Harry didn't really notice that Ginny was sitting right against his side, and didn't really care anyway—it was rather comfortable, and felt perfectly normal.

So he had no idea what the matter was when Remus came to call them for another lesson and shot Harry a very odd look as they went out the parlor door.

Harry had thought last year's departure for Hogwarts was bad, but he bloody near lost it saying goodbye to Sirius and the others who were staying behind. Fortunately, no one noticed because Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were a bit on the emotional side as well.

Hermione and her parents seemed to have the worst time, all visibly holding back tears, and they hugged their daughter quickly and fiercely before hurriedly departing the entrance hall. Only then did Hermione let a few tears fall as she fingered the charm bracelet her parents had given her for Christmas, adorned with little silver cauldrons, broomsticks, and pointed hats. Ron's Pearl Pea string was just visible under the collar of her school uniform. This time, Sirius didn't threaten to hex her when she sniffled into his shoulder while hugging him goodbye.

Harry was determined that he would get a chance to do this year what he hadn't managed to do last year. When it was obvious that all the hustle and bustle of the impending departure for the Knight Bus was not going to give him a quiet minute with Sirius, he resolved to make one himself and unceremoniously grabbed Sirius by the arm and pulled him away from the ruckus.

Fortunately, Sirius seemed to realize what was up, and needed no additional urging to slip away with Harry down the stairs to the basement kitchen. "All right, Harry?" he asked softly.

Swallowing hard, Harry said quickly, "Ijustwantedtosaybecareful. I mean...just don't...you know, get hurt, or...caught."

Sirius gripped his shoulders. "I'll keep my nose clean, don't worry. I have told Dumbledore that I'm not letting him lock me up here again, and he's agreed, but I'll watch my back. I promise." He gave Harry's shoulders a squeeze, then pulled him into his arms. "You take care of yourself too, hear me? No more getting captured."

There were footsteps at the top of the stairs. "I will," Harry muttered into his godfather's shoulder, trying to memorize the feeling of being hugged by Sirius—the Sirius who was alive here and now, in spite of all that had happened.

Then someone called their names, and Harry and Sirius stepped quickly apart. "Come on. Better hurry," Sirius muttered and steered Harry by the shoulder back out to the others.

The last farewells to Hermione's parents and the elder Weasleys were not nearly so painful, then Tonks led the way out onto the steps. Remus and Harry brought up the rear, and Harry couldn't help looking back over his shoulder at Sirius in the entrance hall until the front door finally closed and Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place vanished from sight.

The first couple of days at Hogwarts in January brought the new experience of homesickness to Harry—an emotion he'd prefer to never have felt even if he relished the chance to have a home outside school—but once term started, he was thankfully too busy to miss Sirius too much.

There was quite a bit going on at Hogwarts. The twins finally got around to taking their N.E.W.T.s and spent much of the month of January staggering around looking tense and aggravated. They did their studying and preparing at Hogwarts, then went to the Ministry for each exam. Hermione peppered them with questions until they threatened her with several rounds of Wheeze experimenting to make her stop urging them to relive those nightmarish tests.

Speaking of nightmarish tests, in Specialized Defense, Professor Smythe-Wellington announced that throughout the spring term the students would be preparing their preliminary applications to the Magical Law Enforcement programs.

"Most careers in Magical Law Enforcement follow a standardized application process here at Hogwarts to even be considered for admission," she told them in class. "The majority of the weight in the application centers upon two things: your application essay, and the evaluation/recommendation of your principal Defense professor—namely myself."

Harry felt his heart sink to the floor, and judging by the stifled moans around the room, his wasn't the only one. Ernie MacMillian even went so far as to raise his hand and ask, "But ma'am, isn't Professor Lupin the main Defense professor here at Hogwarts?"

Smythe-Wellington smiled thinly. "Professor Lupin is the general Defense professor for Hogwarts, but your principal teacher in matters of Defense relating to your chosen career path is me. Therefore, yes, ladies and gentlemen, at the end of this year, I will be submitting the primary evaluation of your capabilities for a career in Magical Law Enforcement. Evaluations and recommendations will be submitted by all your professors, but it is mine which will carry the most weight."

"Buggeration," someone muttered from somewhere behind Harry. Harry heartily agreed.

Before returning to Hogwarts, Harry had talked to Remus, Sirius, and Snape at length about how much of their extra training should also be taught to the D.A. "Wouldn't it be a good idea for all of them to learn wandless magic?"

"Perhaps," Snape had said, "but there is also the question of whether it is advisable for them to be aware that you are learning wandless magic, Potter."

Remus had nodded. "I have to agree. You've had secrets spilled by members before, and now the D.A. is an open club. We'll do our best to give them good Defense practice, but it might be best if you keep some of the more advanced training to yourself."

"Maybe Hermione could come up with some way to make sure they're trustworthy again," Ron had suggested.

"But that would only alert you after the fact," Snape had pointed out (though Harry was certain he'd seen the Potions Master smirking.) "It would not prevent the damage being done."

"After all, there's plenty of regular Defense for the main body of the D.A. to learn that would be harmless for outsiders to know about," Sirius had pointed out.

So Harry concentrated on working everyone in the D.A. with the group exercises they'd been learning the previous term, first in pairs, then larger groups. He and Ron, when they weren't discussing Quidditch strategies, spent several hours devising different ways the D.A. members could learn to work together and back each other up.

One of the wildest sessions so far involved one of those exercises:

"Okay, everyone, we're going to do something a little different today," said Harry. "This is something Ron and I cooked up so we can learn to back each other in a sort of...I guess...well...a battle."

"Cool!" said Seamus Finnegan, rubbing his hands together. "Do we get to really fight each other, then?"

"Well, sort of," Harry said sheepishly. "It's a bit complicated. What's going to happen is we're going to be split into two teams, then all the team members will be in pairs. You've got to work with your partner—just your partner—to keep yourselves 'alive.'"

By now, everyone was stirring with excitement. Ron added, "But here's the kicker: no one will be able to speak to anyone but their partner!"

"Eh?" said Ernie MacMillian in confusion.

The twins, having just finished their last N.E.W.T. with much rejoicing, stepped to the front. "We've designed these special earplugs. You can only hear your partner. The object, Harry and Ron inform us, is for you to back up your partner and tune out distractions," said Fred, holding up the little green plugs. "You won't be able to hear your other teammates, or what curses are being shouted at you. Just like it might be in a big, chaotic fight."

"Like the one in Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade," mused someone.

George pulled a face. "Exactly. Who knows when we may need to do this for real. But you've got to listen for your partner. The earplugs blur out the other voices so you can't hear or distinguish them, but if you're not careful, your partner'll get lost in the chaos. The winning team is the one who doesn't lose all its members to Kills or Captures."

"What are we waiting for?" demanded Terry Boot. "Let's do it!"

"Right!" Harry aimed his wand at a chalkboard on the wall and said, "Effingiugum!" The names appeared, organized into the two teams and smaller pairings, and the D.A. crowded around it.

Once they were all paired off and issued red or blue armbands, Harry continued, "You get to use three hexes: Stinger, Stunner, and Body Bind. Stinger is a wound, Stunner is fatal, Body Bind means capture—which is pretty much the same as dead. Three Stings, and you're dead. All shields and blocks are legal." He concentrated on the group's need for a wider practice space and a suitable setting, and the room expanded at once, causing many of the combatants to groan dizzily. The now-empty floor softened to a mat, and fog rolled in from the walls.

"Excellent," chuckled someone.

"Earplugs in!" Harry ordered. His partner, Hannah Abbot, moved closer to him. "Ready...three...two...one...GO!"

Hannah launched off a hex at Anthony Goldstein, and Harry conjured a Double Shield around them as they sprinted into the fog. Soon the Room of Requirement was a chaotic mob of students, stumbling around through the haze wildly hexing each other and trying to shout instructions and acknowledgments to their partners.

"On your left, Harry!" Hannah shrieked, aiming a Stunner at Ron, who dodged it and vanished with Terry Boot at his heels.

Harry raised a Reflecting Shield for Hannah when she didn't see Neville aiming a Body Bind at her back, then managed to Sting Ernie MacMillian. Hermione and Susan Bones dashed by, pursued by Cho Chang and Fred, then Harry got Stung by George.

"Cover me!" he hissed at Hannah, and heard her incanting a Shield as he launched a Stunner back at George. George ducked, returned fire, the hex bounced off Hannah's shield, then the two of them let off jinxes at once, and George went down, Petrified.

"YES!" Hannah squealed, only to get Stung by George's partner, Eloise Midgen.

"I got her," Harry said, firing off three Stunners in a row (one of which managed to hit her), and heard Hannah raising a Shield that reflected two Body Binds from Anthony Goldstein and Lavender Brown.

Hannah took out Lavender and Padma Patil, then Harry saw Parvati appear with Andrew Kirke. "Stupefy!" They chorused, one at Harry and one at Hannah.

Hannah shielded herself while Harry tried throwing up a Double Shield—but a Double was too weak to stop a Stunner, and he went down. Partnerless, Hannah panicked and got her third Stinging Hex a few moments later and joined him on the sidelines. "I guess we need some practice," she said wryly.

"Yeah. Or at least a quicker way of communicating," Harry mused, watching the battle carry on.

The Blue Team eventually triumphed when Padma Patil and Justin Finch-Fletchley were taken out, and Harry and Ron vanished away the "battleground" to be replaced by a floor full of cushions. "Well...that was useful, I think."

Neville was nodding. "You know, I think it was. In a real battle, there can't be any hesitating or misunderstandings, or you're dead."

Hermione made a face. "Really. There's barely even time to say what you're doing or what you want the other person to do. You just have to act."

"And hope the people on your side back you the way you need them to," added Ron dryly.

Everyone nodded. "Still," said Justin brightly. "It was fun!"

"You're not discouraged, are you?" Hermione asked Harry as they all headed down to dinner.

Harry shook his head. "No, I thought it would take us some practice. Can't expect to be perfect the first time."

"Yeah," added Ron. "After all, if learning combat skills was easy, we wouldn't have this honking great application process to get into the Auror program."

Everyone chuckled. "Right about that," Harry groaned as they came into the Great Hall.

There was a marked increase in the appetites of all members of the D.A. after that mad hour of running about and hexing each other. Ginny and Hermione got into a friendly argument with Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein about the connection between Smythe-Wellington's logic puzzles and strategic battle planning that lasted all through dessert with Harry and many of the other D.A. members listening with interest.

At the end of dinner, Professor Dumbledore tapped his goblet and rose. "I am pleased to see everyone off to an excellent start this new term, however, tonight I am proud to announce that two of our number have at last completed their education at Hogwarts."

Murmurs of surprise rippled through the Great Hall.

"As many of you know, Messrs. Fred and George Weasley have today completed the last of their N.E.W.T.s. Therefore, this is the last evening that we will be graced with their presence as Hogwarts students, and I thought there were those among you who would like to give these gentlemen a fond farewell as they depart."

The twins actually looked a little sheepish as Professor McGonagall abruptly beckoned them to the Head Table to shake her hand and the hands of Hagrid and the other Professors. Harry could hear the teachers whispering "Good luck," and "well done," and at least one, "be off with you!"

Then he started to applaud. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione joined in, as well as the D.A., then it seemed the entire student body rose to their feet, applauding and cheering wildly as the twins began to make their way back down. As they started to pass the tables, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Seamus Finnegan drew their wands and shot red sparks in a bright arch over the twins. Padma and Parvati Patil followed, and soon the twins found themselves in the midst of a grand send-off beneath a sparkling red arch.

Harry and one of the Ravenclaws did the same as the twins passed, pausing to embrace their remaining siblings, and they reached the end of the tables to a massive ovation.

Fred waved and yelled, "Thanks, you lot! Well, you all know where to find our products now, so you know who to come to if you ever need to make a little mischief!"

George was blowing kisses at random and shouted, "So long, friends! We're off to raise hell in the whole wizarding world!"

And thus Fred and George Weasley departed Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry amid a chorus of cheers, laughter, and even a few tears. But everyone thought that this exit surpassed their first.

Dear Snuffles,

How are you? I'm doing all right, but we all really miss you. Remus came to lecture in Professor McGonagall's class today about Animagi, and he said you had to register as soon as you became one, and Ron and I started laughing. Then McGonagall got on us, of course. I'm way behind on the Human Transfiguration practice because of when I was sick, but Ron and Hermione are trying to help me catch up. They really want to become Animagi.

Did the twins stop by to visit? They said they would. We miss them at the D.A. and Quidditch, but they had to leave eventually I guess. You should have seen the show we put on when they left. They probably told you about it.

Malfoy's looking a bit ragged lately. Well, tired at least. Probably sneaking out at night, even though Snape's giving him detention for a lot of stuff. Don't know that it's going to do any good, but at least if he's in detention he's not out torturing people.

Something really funny happened last night: Ron and Hermione got caught snogging! Ha ha ha! I was in the common room with Ginny reading about the you-know-what we've been working on since the hols, and Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil came running in saying Weasley and Granger were snogging in a broom closet! HA HA HA! You should have seen them when they got in, they wouldn't look at ANYONE! I wish the twins had been here for that (but it's probably lucky they weren't. Hermione hexed Lavender's lips off.)

Anyway, there's nothing much else going on. Nothing weird or anything (you know what I mean.) How are you and all the visitors? We're starting to work on our application essays for Magical Law Enforcement, so Smythe-Wellington says we have to "examine our reasons for our chosen career." I can't think of a bloody thing!

Write me back if you can (be careful.)

Best,

Harry.

"Oh, honestly, you two, there's no point in trying to hide your relationship now that the gossip chain's got it!" Ginny told Ron and Hermione. "Just go to Madam Puddifoot's or the Three Broomsticks and have your dates!"

The happy couple in question exchanged dubious glances. Harry put down his Defense book and backed Ginny. "Yeah, it won't be so bad. They'll get bored with the news pretty quick. Even the Slytherins laid off me and Cho after the first day."

"Mmmm," Hermione mused. Ron was cherry red, but looking speculative.

Ginny continued, "And I know how the gossips operate. Trust me, you're not the couple of the year. They'll whisper and nudge each other and say, 'Oy, look who's sharing a booth,' then they'll be off goggling at someone else."

Finally, Ron shrugged. "I guess so. Puddifoot's, then?" he asked Hermione, then abruptly realized these weren't the ideal circumstances for asking his girlfriend for a first date. Harry could see his reddened skin in the part of his hair.

Ginny caught his eye and cleared her throat. She and Harry quickly got to their feet and departed on a mutual unspoken decision to take their self-imposed homework to the library. They managed to wait until they were out the portrait hole and halfway down the stairs before bursting into laughter. Ginny poked him as they walked and mused, "I wonder if we could persuade Dean or Seamus to send a singing dwarf to serenade them at Puddifoot's?"

That had them laughing all the way to the library, where they found Luna Lovegood studying for her O.W.L.s at an empty table. "Hi, Luna," Harry said.

She raised her wide eyes from her textbook and smiled vacantly. "You're in a good mood. I guess Lord Voldemort hasn't possessed you in awhile."

"Er, no," Harry replied, as Ginny winced.

"How come you're not in Hogsmeade?" Ginny asked hastily.

"Studying. Why aren't you?" Luna tilted her head as she looked from Ginny to Harry, who still wasn't allowed to go.

Ginny shrugged. "I need to study too. And Ron and Hermione would want me to go with them if I went. In denial, those two."

Luna nodded solemnly. "Some people never want to admit they've been dipping into the Kettle of Nackledirk."

Harry blinked. So did Ginny. "What?"

"The Kettle of Nackledirk. Nackledirk was the wizard who invented Love Potions," Luna said.

"What are you talking about?" Harry began. "The wizard who invented Love Potions was Augie Amorous—"

Luna shook her head and said matter-of-factly, "Oh, he's credited, but Nackledirk was first. He just didn't get the official credit because his Love Potion was too realistic. No one could distinuish it from real love."

Ginny caught Harry's eye and grinned, and he shrugged inwardly. "Whatever you say, Luna." He opened his Specialized Defense book.

"Any luck?" Ginny asked him.

"Luck with what?" said Luna.

"My essay," Harry muttered, "for the Auror Program. I have to say why I want to be an Auror."

"You don't know why?" Luna asked.

Harry mulled over the list of Auror's duties and shook his head. "Not really. Not enough to write an essay about, apparently." He shoved the book away in disgust. "I know it is what I want, and when I think about doing it, it makes sense...just when it comes down to saying why, I can't."

"Because you're Harry Potter?" Luna offered, studying the tip of her quill.

"That is not a good reason," Harry said firmly. "There has to be another. From all Smythe-Wellington says about not letting your emotions affect your judgment, I get the feeling that writing 'a dark wizard killed my parents and I want to off as many of them as I can' won't go over very well."

Ginny wrinkled her nose. "Good point, I guess. Well...oh, honestly, come on, there must be something." She shoved her own book away and pulled his toward her, drumming her fingers on the cover. "Okay. When Mum's trying to figure out something complicated, she always says, 'go back to basics.'"

"Basics. Right. The most basic reason why I want to be an Auror," Harry murmured, rubbing his chin.

"Yeah. Why do you, Harry Pot—on second thought, why do you, Harry, want to be in the Auror program? What's the very first, simplest thing that comes to your mind?"

Harry answered, "To fight dark wizards."

"And why would you want to fight dark wizards?" asked Luna, though whether she was helping with the essay or asking rhetorically was anyone's guess.

"Well, because...because...I guess..." Harry pulled a face. "It just seems like the right thing to do."

Luna smiled at them, then packed up her books and walked off, waving at them.

Ginny waved back, then pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and wrote it down. "One: fight dark wizards. Two: right thing. Three?" she looked at him. "Why's it the right thing to do?"

"Because dark wizards are bad," said Harry sarcastically, but he grinned. Ginny giggled and wrote it down. 3. Dark wizards bad.

"Four," Harry mused, chewing on his lower lip. "Someone has to fight the bad guys."

4. Somebody's gotta do it.

Grinning now, Harry continued. "Otherwise, who'll be safe from them?"

5. Save the world.

"That's NOT what I said!" Harry laughed, and Ginny joined him as she scratched it out. "You could compete with Rita Skeeter."

"Hardly," Ginny snorted, even as she wrote out, Bump off Voldemort and grinned at him.

Harry shook his head. "I think I'd prefer to off Voldemort before I start the Auror Program. Otherwise it'll be hard to concentrate on training."

"Ah. Right, then." Ginny crossed it out, but then her face turned serious. "Well?"

Slowly, Harry pointed to Number Four. "I guess this is what I think the most. Someone has to do it."

Ginny set her quill down and examined it. "That's something, then." She looked up at him. "Then why you?"

"Hm?"

"Well," she tapped the paper. "We know why dark wizards should be fought in general: someone has to. But why should you yourself fight them?"

"Because..." Harry thought hard. "My—no. I guess I have seen a lot...a lot of..." he shook his head. "I've seen the damage," he sighed. Ginny met his eyes but said nothing. He murmured, "I've seen the...the suffering they cause. You can't...I can't imagine seeing those things and not...trying to stop it."

Ginny still said nothing, but put a hand lightly over his. Then with the other hand, she passed the quill to him. Harry gave her a sad smile and took it.

5. Save lives.

They both stared at the parchment for a few minutes before Harry reached for it again.

6. Peace.

"Any other reasons?" Ginny asked softly, looking over his shoulder.

"Yeah, but..." he smiled wryly. "Somehow I don't think they're quite what the Aurors have in mind."

"But they're still your reasons. Might be a good idea to know them. It's not as if you have to give this to the Aurors."

Harry rested his chin on his hand, the quill tip hovering over the parchment. "Is it...is it wrong to want them...punished?"

Ginny was silent until he met her eyes again, and then said, in a tone of absolute conviction. "No."

Then she took the quill from him and wrote:

7. Justice.

Harry let out his breath in a rush, and smiled ironically. "I guess when you put it like that. But sometimes...what I want..." he sighed and grimaced at her. "It goes way beyond justice."

"I know. And you're not the only one." Ginny's normally soft brown eyes went very hard, and he nodded, understanding.

"So do you think justice covers it?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I don't know. I wish I did. I've got Career Advice coming up too, and I've thought about Law Enforcement. But...I just don't know."

Harry picked up the parchment and stared at the list. "I guess this is a start." He smiled at Ginny.

She smiled back. "Yes, it is."

"Professor," Harry said to Snape during Occlumency that night. "Can I ask you something?"

Snape eyed him. "Is this about Draco Malfoy?"

"No, sir, but..." Harry tilted his head, sensing something was up.

Snape noticed and sighed, pacing along the wall. "Would it interest you to know that I exchanged words with Mr. Malfoy shortly after the term began?"

Honestly, Harry replied, "It depends on what the words were."

Snape actually looked amused at the reply. "I told him...he has a choice."

The two of them were quiet for several minutes, then Harry said, "I guess that's all anyone can do."

"Precisely, Mr. Potter." Snape shook himself out of the apparent confiding mood and asked, "What was your question?"

"You know we're writing our essays for Specialized Defense, to apply for Magical Law Enforcement work?" Snape nodded. "I'm having a little trouble with mine. I wondered if...I could ask you about it."

Snape returned to his desk and sat down behind it. Harry recognized the pose suddenly as Snape returning to "teacher" mode instead of Order member. He waited. Snape rubbed his chin for a moment and then said, "While you are prudent to seek the assistance of your professors, I do not think I would be the best advisor regarding your particular career choice."

Harry frowned, puzzled. "But you've been fighting Voldemort for a long time. You're an Order member."

"There is an Order member teaching you Defense here," Snape pointed out. "Why have you not consulted Lupin?"

"I have," Harry said wryly. "He can't really explain why any more than I can."

Snape snorted. "No, I suppose not. Why do you imagine that I could?"

Harry glanced at the chair facing the desk, and Snape waved irritably at it. Once he sat, he said, "The choice. The one you made and the one you told Malfoy about. You understand it. You must know why you made it."

He managed to sit still as Snape digested this. The Potions Master said slowly, "You make a valid point, Mr. Potter. However there is a certain flaw in your thinking. The choice you have made, to depart your childhood and spend your adulthood defending decent people against dark wizards, is quite different from the choice that I made."

Harry nodded. "To switch sides. You mean that I've always been on one side." Snape's black eyes glittered at him. "But why—"

Snape held up a hand. "I cannot explain the reasons behind my choice to change sides without first explaining the reasons behind the side I initially chose. And that is a discussion I do not wish to have with you."

Harry blinked, then realized he would be asking Snape to admit to some highly personal—and undoubtedly very nasty—things. "Oh. Okay, I guess I understand that."

"However," Snape went on. "That is not to say your questions regarding your own choice are not valid. In this instance..." he stared into space for a moment. "I would suggest consulting your godfather."

"Sirius?" Harry asked in surprise. Even if Snape had agreed to bury that hatchet, Harry hadn't expected him to ever speak to or mention Sirius voluntarily.

Snape nodded. "Black's experiences may provide him with insight useful to you. Now, if you're finished wasting time, we should begin."

Harry quickly got up, smiling to himself. Same old Snape.

Dear Harry,

Got your letter and had a good laugh. Tell Ron and Hermione not to worry; if Wormtail could manage the transformation, it may be easier than McGonagall thinks to become an Animagus! Oh, and do congratulate them for me. Caught snogging in a broom closet at age sixteen, they're right on schedule!

Speaking of which, what's this I hear about you cuddling with Ginny Weasley on the sofa during the last week of holidays!

I'm doing fine. Actually getting out of the house now and then, if you know what I mean, and plenty of visitors these days.

Take care,

Sirius

Sirius,

I was NOT cuddling with Ginny! We were both reading the same book! That's all it was!

There's something I want your help with, actually, speaking of Ginny. I was talking to her and Luna about my Auror essay, and we made a list of reasons to become an Auror. That's the other paper with this letter. What do you think? I still feel like there's something I'm missing, something important. I know I really want to fight dark wizards, just not exactly WHY, if that makes sense. Bloody hell, this is frustrating.

Luna says Ron and Hermione have been dipping into the Kettle of Nackledirk—that means falling in love, apparently (dunno where she got it, but that is Luna, after all.) But it's kind of funny. We got them to go on a date for the last Hogsmeade weekend, and they're going again for Valentine's Day this weekend. Ginny and I are trying to arrange a singing Valentine for them, somewhere in public.

Let me know what you think about the list. One other thing: why did YOU decide to join the Order and fight dark wizards?

Best,

Harry

Harry and Ginny spent the first half of Valentine's Day at Hogwarts practicing wandless magic in the Room of Requirement—after they worked out a little gift to send on to Ron and Hermione in Hogsmeade.

"Fred and George are doing great at the joke shop," Ginny told him as they projected weak wandless Shields against the dummies' Stinging Hexes. "And they're also working on some things for the Order."

"Ow!" Harry rubbed his hand and concentrated on making a stronger Shield. "I saw what they did with the fireworks in the Hogsmeade attack. Incredible. What are they cooking up now?"

"They couldn't tell me by owl, of course—ouch! Damn. I imagine there's a lot of things the twins could get away with making in the laboratory under the shop that no one would even suspect," Ginny said. "Bother, I'm never going to get this! But with all the weird smoke and explosions they set off every week, nobody'd notice a few extra while they're making some sort of weapon or potion for the Order to use."

"Every little bit helps, I guess—aha. Got it!" Harry crowed when a hex bounced off his Shield. "One more thing that can help protect people. The casualties at Hogsmeade that day probably would've been a lot worse but for the fireworks."

"Maybe that's something you should put in your essay. The need to protect people. Protect...you know...people and their homes and things," said Ginny, wincing as she was stung again. "Oh, for heaven's sake—Hold!" she snapped at the dummy. To Harry, she complained, "How ARE you doing that?" Harry now had a solid Shield conjured wandlessly.

"Emotion, remember?" Harry laughed. "I'm channeling my desire to stop getting Stung."

"Oh." Ginny looked chagrinned. "I guess that makes sense. Resume."

After a few more Stings, she got it, and they switched to a battle scene like the one from the D.A. meeting, with themselves partnered against the dummies.

And they won. Twice.

"I think we're getting the hang of this!" Ginny crowed as they strolled down to dinner to meet Ron and Hermione.

As suspected, the two were late, and Harry and Ginny were in conversation with Luna about their triumph against the Dummies of Doom (Ginny's term) when Ron and Hermione arrived. Red to his hairline, Ron demanded, "Who sent that bloody Singing Cupid? He followed us around for half the day!"

"Gee, Ron, I've no idea!" said Harry, as Ginny batted her eyes innocently.

Ron growled at them and stomped to a seat next to Hermione as Ginny and Harry giggled hysterically at each other. Luna smiled at them, "I see people are still dipping into the Kettle of Nackledirk!"

Harry,

Your list is excellent. Deciding why you want to do anything that just feels "right" to you is bound to be a bit difficult. Especially for you, it's a complicated choice.

But I don't think you're as far off the mark on your reasons as you fear. I don't want to be accused of giving you TOO much guidance or usurping the role of your proper advisor by a certain professor who shall remain nameless but whose name is spelled R-E-M-U-S, but here are my thoughts.

Your career should have two important effects: the effects on you and the effects on others. So ask yourself why of all the careers out there, you think the Auror program is the best way for you to affect yourself and other people. (Okay, here's another hint: start broad, then narrow it down.)

Oh, and in answer to your question about why I chose to fight, it's really quite simple:

Because I can.

Good luck on your essay.

Take care,

Sirius

PS—Are you SURE you and Ginny weren't cuddling?

Harry hastily folded up the letter and glanced nervously at Ginny, who was sitting right next to him reading his book about emotional magic as they sat in the Common Room after dinner. Ron and Hermione were off who-knew-where.

"Sirius said something interesting about the essay," he told Ginny.

She glanced at him. "Oh?"

"I asked him why he chose to fight. He said, 'Because I can.'" Harry put the letter in his pocket and leaned against the sofa cushions, thinking hard.

Ginny closed the book thoughtfully. "You know...maybe we've been making it too complicated."

"Or maybe we've got something too: because someone has to."

"Because someone has to, and because I can," Ginny mused, nodding. "Yeah."

Harry heard a Singing Cupid sending a Valentine to Parvati from her boyfriend at Beaxbatons and grinned. But then something clicked in his head. "Ginny, how come you didn't go to Hogsmeade today?"

She shrugged. "Didn't feel like it, I guess. Today was a couples day at all the shops, and most of my friends had dates."

Harry could feel his mind slowly processing it as the blood rushed to his face. "I just...I'm sorry if you missed out—"

"I didn't," she said firmly, but Harry wasn't finished.

"But I was going to say I'm glad you were here. For me, it was kind of a nice day."

Ginny grinned at him and re-opened the book, putting in her lap so he could keep reading it, although in truth, his mind wasn't really on emotional magic. At least not of that type. He spent nearly a chapter agonizing over one single movement he thought might be nice—it was Valentine's Day after all—but he wasn't sure he should, and lord, if anyone happened into the Common Room they'd never hear the end of it...

But no one did. All the couples were still off having final Valentine's Day snogs, so no one happened by to see Harry and Ginny reading on the sofa together, when Harry cautiously slipped an arm around Ginny's shoulders.

Why I Want To Enter The Auror Program by Harry Potter

Fighting dark wizards is a dangerous and grueling job where you have to have a lot of patience and logic and skill, but someone has to do it. Every day in the Daily Prophet we see the damage that dark wizards do on our world, destroying people's homes, businesses, and lives. Someone has to stop them. I want to do it because I can.

Being an Auror is about control, controlling magic and controlling dangerous situations, and most of all, controlling yourself. Especially when I see the pain and suffering dark wizards cause, the first thing I think of sometimes is making them pay for it. But that's wrong and against the law, and that would be no better than them. As an Auror, my job would be bringing dark wizards to justice, and that's a solution I could live with. That's the right thing to do. When I see the damage they do, the only thing I can do is the right thing.

There are so many people in danger from wizards like that, innocent people who aren't trained to defend themselves so well. If they're lucky, they only lose their houses or their jobs or their money in an attack, but at worst, they can lose their lives just because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Someone has to protect them. I want to be able to do that.

Being an Auror is about power, the power to enforce the laws, and about control, so people are protected, and criminals are brought to justice. When I think about the kind of career I want for myself, I know I don't want to be powerless. And when I think about what I want my career to do for the world, I want to do something that helps people, because I know I can.

To be continued...

Coming next weekend: Smythe-Wellington evaluates Harry's chances of getting into the Auror Program (uh-oh!), Harry evaluates Smythe-Wellington (ouch!), Snape evaluates Harry and his relationship with others (wince!), Sirius evaluates Snape (yikes!), and Remus evaluates Sirius (#&!). Lots of evaluating going on and interpersonal relations among the good guys start getting messy in Chapter Thirty-Five: Pride!

PLEASE don't forget to review!