Ch.2 Apparition Test

Harry woke to someone pounding on his door. An irritated looking witch stuck her head in the door; Harry yanked the covers up to his chin embarrassed.

"Time to get up Harry Potter, you asked for someone to wake you at 9:00, so GET UP!" the witch fairly shouted as she slammed the door.

"What a way to wake up!" Harry said groggily, he slowly got out of bed and started to get dressed.

Hopefully if things went well today he would be at the burrow tonight. He could be with the people he loved like family, the Weasleys. He kept in contact with Ron Weasley, his very best mate by owl. Ron had told him to come out any time so Harry decided to take him up on his offer. He wondered if Hermione was at the burrow yet. Hermione Granger was his other best friend; she and Ron had been dancing around a relationship since Harry had known them. They had finally admitted that they had feelings of the more than "friends" variety. Ron had told Harry that Hermione was crazy for him. Hermione had told him that Ron was terribly romantic, and she thought it was terribly sweet. Harry had thought it would be odd, the two "liking" each other, but the more he considered it the better he liked it. In fact he was kind of jealous that they had found each other without really looking. He wished just once he could meet a girl, who didn't stare at his scar, or find excuses not to be seen with him, for fear of Voldemort.

He looked at the clock on the wall, it was 9:15, he needed breakfast, and to get it the ministry.

Harry pulled on his shoes and then looked in the mirror to tidy his hair, "still no use dear" sighed the mirror.

Harry gave his reflection a nasty look and walk out the door. Harry went down stairs looking for a bit of breakfast; tea and toast would be enough on his nervous stomach. As he munched his toast, he looked around the main room of the inn. This would be his world now, witches tidying without touching a broom, wizards stirring tea without touching the spoon. He would not have to hide who he was anymore and he smiled briefly at the thought of it.

He finished his light breakfast and turned to check the time. Ok thirty minutes to get down town and get to the shabby phone booth at the back of the alley with all the graffiti. He thanked and tipped the witch that picked up his tray, and headed into the city. He walked quickly, running every once and awhile. He finally arrived at the alley and it was still dingy with bright graffiti all over. He walked to the back of the alley were the phone booth stood. Harry looked around to see if anyone was looking. He stepped into the booth; pick up the receiver and dialed 62442. There was a slight hum and a pleasant female voice welcomed Harry to the Ministry of Magic and asked his name and business.

"Harry Potter and I'm here for my apparition test," Harry said to the booth in general.

"Please hold" the voice said, and sliver badge with his name and reason fell through the slot on the phone.

He put it on as the phone booth started to move down like an elevator. As the light at his head started to disappear Harry saw the bright light shine at his feet. The phone booth stopped and Harry stepped out into a hallway. There was a tall man standing by the elevator staring at him.

"Badge," the man said in a stern voice.

Harry handed the man his badge. The man nodded and handed it back to him. Harry looked around and was not surprised to see wizards guarding every entrance to the Ministry. He walked to the registration desk and handed the wizard behind it his wand. The wizard weighed the wand and then gave it back to Harry. Harry thanked the wizard then turned and walked to the atrium. The fireplaces were on one side and elevators on the other. Wizards and witches were walking in and out of the fireplaces going about their daily routines. He walked to the elevator and pushed the number 6. He stepped on the elevator and it began to move. His stomach rolled and he thought it was due more to nerves than the elevator ride. The doors opened on almost every floor then finally stopped on six. Harry stepped out and walked through a door to his right marked Department of Magical Transportation.

As he stepped inside a wizard with a shock of white hair sticking straight up all over his head greeted Harry.

"Harry Potter?"

Harry swallowed a nervous lump, and replied, "Yes sir I'm here for my..."

The wizard interrupted, "yes yes your apparition exam I know, my name is Rollo Roncheta and I will be giving you your exam."

"Nice to meet you Harry, please follow me and we will get started."

Harry said "we sir?"

"Yes a wizard named Norwood Gallfries and myself will be the ones administering the exam."

Harry followed him in to a large room with very high ceilings, the room seemed to be walled off in to different sections, but none of the rooms had ceilings. Harry was lead in to what looked like the first room.

Rollo turned and smiled at Harry "no need to be nervous if you studied you will do fine."

"We had Neville Longbottom in yesterday and if he passed you should have no problem."

Harry smile at this. Rollo asked Harry if he was ready, Harry sent mental thanks to Hermione for helping him study and prayer to who ever was listening. He told Rollo he was ready.

"Ok Harry I need you to visualize a room with blue floors and then apparate."

Harry cleared his mind and thought of a room with dark blue floors, he felt the rush of movement and when he open his eyes, he was looking at a tall black wizard with odd red hair.

"Very well done mister Potter," said the deep rumbling voice of Norwood Gallfries.

"I made it then," Harry looked down at the dark blue floor and smiled.

"Yes but that was just the first part."

"You must next visualize a room with yellow and green checked floors, can you do that Harry?"

Harry replied, "I'll try" and closed his eyes again.

He thought of the floor, he felt the movement and when he opened his eyes he was looking at Rollo once again.

"Very good Harry very good."

And so the exam went on with only one mistake on Harry's part, when someone knocked on the wall Harry appeared out side the department door. Harry stepped in sheepishly and the test continued. When they finished they sent Harry in to a small room to await his score, minutes seems like hours as Harry paced back and forth in the small room.

Rollo came through the door with no expression on his face and Harry swallowed hard, "Yes sir?"

Rollo's face burst into a smile, "you passed with flying colors lad, you should be very proud."

Harry beamed at Rollo there was a flash and Rollo had a small card in his hand. It had Harry's height; weight and wand size on it along with a rather ghastly picture of him self, his license, he finally had his license.

Harry thanked Rollo one last time before leaving. As he took the elevator back up to the atrium he sighed in relief, "I did it."

Harry stepped out into the atrium once again and as he looked around he noticed for the first time that the fountain had been repaired. The wizard stood in the center with the witch, centaur, goblin and house elf surrounding him. It looked as if it was brand new with no hint of the night when it was nearly destroyed; the night the wizarding world opened their eyes to Voldamort's return. Harry stood staring at the fountain and thought of that night. The night he and his friends had almost died and the look on Sirius's Face as he fell through the veil. Harry still blamed himself. If he had only opened the gift that Sirius had given him than he would still be alive. Why did he just put it aside, why hadn't he opened it, why had he listen to that stupid house elf, why had he rushed off to be the hero again, why hadn't he gone to Dumbledore first, why…

"Harry" he heard his name but was lost in thought.

"HARRY" as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Harry spun around to see Arthur Weasley looking at him with a worried look on his face.

"How did your test go?" he asked gently.

"Oh, oh good, good passed," Harry said absently as he held up his license.

Arthur noticed the haunted look in Harry's eyes. He put an arm around Harry's shoulders and turned him from the fountain.

"Will you be coming to the burrow then?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, I need to get my things from the Leaky Caldron first."

"Molly and the boys are anxious to see you."

"You should be there for dinner, yes."

Harry replied, "Yes I'll be there."

Arthur smiled warmly and said "Harry I am proud of you, see you tonight."

Harry forced a smile, turned and walked away.

As Harry walked back to the Leakey Caldron Sirius face shown vividly in his mind. He continued to think of all the questions that had plagued him since that night and he thought of where Sirius would be now. He would have been a free man and Harry would be at his side. As Harry walked into the inn he looked at the clock it was ten till twelve time for lunch and a quick nap before he headed off to the burrow.