Chapter Twenty-One
Maddy
DEATH EATER ON THE LOSE SIGHTED IN LONDON
Draco Malfoy, a known Dark Lord supporter and son of convicted Death Eater Lucius Malfoy, was sighted yesterday at Knockturn Alley. Two hags positively identified the fugitive coming out of Borgin and Burkes at half-past three in the afternoon, but he disappeared before the authorities arrived.
A handful of Aurors questioned Mr. Borgin, who at first denied seeing Malfoy, but later confessed that he might have sold a cursed packed of cards to a young man with Malfoy's description after Aurors discovered several illegal items in his shop. The shopkeeper was detained for his possession of banned goods but gave no other details to Malfoy's whereabouts.
Ron skipped the next parts of the report detailing Malfoy's criminal history and tossed the Daily Prophet aside. J.D. caught it from behind him and perused through it.
"He's lying," said Harry. His co-trainees all looked up at him. "Borgin knew exactly what Malfoy looked like. Lucius Malfoy's been taking Draco to that shop for years. Bet he even knows where Malfoy's been hiding all this time."
"Do you care to make a statement to the Aurors then?" de Lancre sneered at him. He was leaning against his locker in his impeccable robes and perfect hair. "We did not know we had a witness here in our midst."
Ron glared at him. "Well maybe I will," he said. "Anything to nail down another high-nosed prat is fine with me. The fewer pain-in-the asses in this world, the better."
"Cut it out, you guys!" Padma intervened. "We're going to be late for the ceremony." She cast a longing look on the French boy then began shuffling people out of the locker room.
Harry and Ron turned away from their adversary and checked their hair one last time in the mirror. Ron had to admit, he looked good in these crisp navy blue robes. He felt proud that he and Harry had gotten this far. Today they would be declared Junior Aurors and were privileged to wear the official Auror uniform.
"Come on Ron, let's go, we don't want to be late," Alicia urged. She and J.D. were waiting at the door.
"Okay, I'm coming," Ron replied, giving the top of his head a final pat.
"Wait! Ronald, you cannot go out zhere looking like zat!" Maddy came to him and prodded at the collar of his robes, straightening out the miniscule wrinkles that he and Harry already considered passable. "Go on! We will follow," she added to Alicia and J.D. The older girl gave her friend a smile and tugged at J.D.'s hand.
Ron snickered. "I can't believe those two are dating!" Alicia and J.D. had announced just this morning that they were a couple. It came as a surprise to Ron, Harry and Maddy. In the more than eighteen months they had spent together, Alicia and J.D. didn't even show the slightest hint that they were involved. "Now I understand why they always left us out to team up with Blake these last two weeks. That guy is so dense; he won't see a romance right before his eyes. It's a wonder he's a Junior Auror."
"Are you dizappointed?" Maddy asked.
"Of what? Blake?" said Harry.
"No, not Blake," she shook her head. "Zat we are alwayz left to team up cauze J.D. and Maddy are alwayz togezher?"
"Why would I be disappointed with that? Besides, we make a pretty good team," replied Harry.
"We are getzing permanent partners after ze ceremony," she said. "You zhink zey will assign us togezher?"
"Maybe," shrugged Ron. "Perhaps we could choose partners, just like in every mission."
"I 'ope zo," said Maddy as she gave a last tug. They left in the room and they walked together to the grounds. "Would you be my partner zhen?"
"Of course," both Ron and Harry said together. "Who else would I go with? I'd rather be with you," added Ron.
"I am glad."
They were almost out into the open field to join their co-trainees when Maddy suddenly pulled them back, leaned over and kissed them on the cheek.
"Zat's for… congratulations!" she said almost too quickly. She pushed pass them to join the others.
Ron's eyebrows shot up knowingly.
"What?" asked Harry.
"You think she likes us?"
"Maddy? Well… er… maybe. Do you like her?"
"Yeah, sure I like her as a friend. She's nice and all but she reminds me too much of Ginny. It would be wrong for me. She feels too much like a sister." Ron narrowed his eyes. "Wait, do you like her?"
"No," Harry replied.
"Oh come on Harry, we're mates here. I know you feel like you're stuck here with me, but I don't mind you dating. Just don't go into the intimate stuff until you get a body of your own. I don't want to snog her just because you do."
"Oh bugger off, Ron. I don't even like her that way."
Ron chuckled. He felt pleased with this new idea. Harry had such little love in his life, it certainly wouldn't hurt if he had something to look forward to when he finally divorced from Ron's body. Maddy, Ron knew, would not only be a comfort to his best friend when the time came, she could also assure him Harry would have no feelings whatsoever for Hermione other than friendship.
Ron didn't dwell on the thought too long as the ceremony began. Ron couldn't be prouder when the Chief Atalanta pinned their official Junior Auror badge.
When Ron and Harry glanced down, they realized the Auror Chief had actually pinned two badges, one discreetly tucked under the other. It warmed their heart that at least the Auror Chief acknowledged them both as separate individuals deserving of the ranks.
The ceremonies were followed by lunch, after which they were told to report to Shacklebolt at the Auror headquarters at the Ministry of Magic. They arrived promptly at one and were greeted by the other Aurors, now their own colleagues.
"All right, break it up," Shacklebolt said when the cheers became too loud. "To business. First order is the subject of partners. I will be assigning you permanent partners. You will be working closely with your partner on all tasks assigned to you including regular prison guard duty at the labor camp for convicts and spell reinforcing tasks at Mortis Island where the dementors are kept. In addition, your partner will be your lifetime back-up in all missions and assignments. You will have to learn to trust him or her with your life. Are we clear on this?"
They all responded their assent. Shacklebolt read from a parchment beginning with Blake. He was paired with Padma. She cast a disappointed glance at de Lancre. She was hoping to be paired with him.
"Boot. You're with Dindarte."
Maddy looked sadly at Ron and Harry. They weren't worried. Terry was quite capable as an Auror. Maddy was in good company.
"de Lancre…" The boy strode confidently up near Shacklebolt, well aware of the hopeful glances he was getting from almost all the new Junior Aurors.
"You're with Weasley."
"WHAT!"
"WHAT!"
Shacklebolt raised a transparent eyebrow and looked from Ron and Harry to their new partner. "I said you're with Weasley. Do we have a problem with that?"
"Yes, I do. Why 'im?" de Lancre complained.
For the first time, Ron and Harry completely agreed with him.
"It is not your business to know why. The Auror faculty has already assigned these. You can accept it or leave the force."
The ghost continued pairing everyone up and ignored Harry, Ron and de Lancre's glaring contest. When it was over, he assigned them schedules for prison duty and spell reinforcement for the new dementor prison island. As expected, Ron and Harry's schedule didn't have the latter.
"Damn it, she still doesn't trust us!" Harry raged inwardly. "And what the hell was she thinking assigning us to that French bastard. Does she expect us to be chummy with him all of a sudden?"
"He'll more likely stab us to death, if we weren't looking," Ron agreed.
"Report here tomorrow for your first assignments. Congratulations again. You're dismissed," said Shacklebolt.
The other Aurors began moving towards the exit. But Harry and Ron followed Shacklebolt before he disappeared into ceiling.
"Kingsley, wait!" Harry called softly.
The ghost stopped his ascent. "Mr. Weasley, may I remind you that I—"
"Please, as a friend," Harry said.
Shacklebolt looked around. "Outside, the atrium."
Harry nodded and he and Ron went out to the entrance of the Ministry and waited by the still un-repaired Fountain of Magical Brethren. The ghost soon appeared through the water and hovered beside them.
Ron drove straight to the point. "Kingsley, Harry and I don't need a partner. There're two of us already in one body, Chief knows that!"
"Exactly, you only have one body. That's your liability. It doesn't matter how fast you can cast hexes or send two spells at the same time. If your physical body gets impaired during a mission, that's the end of it. You need someone to back you up."
"But why de Lancre?" asked Harry. "Everybody knows we hate each other."
"Orion de Lancre is the only one among your Auror batch that can go up to par with what you can do together."
"But Maddy—"
"Madeleine Dindarte is good in her own right. She's brilliant at potions and using innovative charms, but she isn't good enough at direct assault, at least not on the level you've shown. She will be given more tasks in areas that will suit her abilities—in a laboratory more likely. You and de Lancre, on the other hand, will be given field investigations. Remember, at this point, you Junior Aurors have to specialize on you strengths. Right now, we can see your potential for tracking and apprehension. Tomorrow, you will be joining the team pursuing the last of the death eaters still at large."
"We get to hunt down Malfoy?" Ron asked excitedly. "Cool. I've always wanted to be the give that ferret what he deserves."
"Yes, and you will be doing it with de Lancre as your partner," said Shacklebolt.
Harry and Ron grumbled.
The senior Auror shook his head. "Look, Ron, Harry, there's nothing I can do about this. I don't set these things. But I do think you should give de Lancre a chance. You can do so much if you work together. You're the best recruits I've seen for the longest time. If it's any consolation, I know for sure that the Auror Chief thinks you both got what it takes. We've been monitoring your separate performances and so far, you've done more than most recruits individually. I'm sure that if Harry gets a body, you'll both still be retained in the Force. You're too good to lose."
"But she still doesn't trust us with the dementors," said Harry scathingly.
"I'm sorry," said Shacklebolt. "I admit I don't agree with the Chief on that decision. I know she doesn't want to lose your abilities. She'd keep you that way if she had her way."
"Well she bloody won't get it," said Ron. "I'll find Harry a body soon then we can show her we're more than she expected."
"I hope so too. Now get out of here. Go on home to Molly and Arthur and show off those badges. You both deserved them."
Harry and Ron thanked him then apparated to the Burrow's kitchen where Molly greeted them with open arms and kisses. Ron turned red yet extremely pleased with his mother's pride.
"Now go to the living room, be dears and entertain the guests," she said. "I'll be finishing up with the feast."
"Guests?" Harry asked. "Who are we expecting?"
"Why the whole family of course," said Molly. "But only Bill and Fleur are here yet with a friend. She said she knows you, Ron."
Ron and Harry headed towards the living room where Bill and Fleur and were chatting by the fire. There was another girl next to Fleur who looked uncomfortably like a fifth wheel.
"Maddy? What are you doing here?"
"Fleur invited me. She wants me to share something special she eez announcing tonight with Bill." She flashed Fleur a knowing glance.
Ron smiled. "They're finally going to do it."
"About time too."
Bill and Fleur had been going out for so long the entire Weasley clan knew they would be married soon. But events seemed to always put it off. After the deaths of loved ones at the final battle, the young couple had to contend with Order duties and monetary problems that made it impossible for them to hold their dream wedding. It took them a year and a half of working and saving to finally regain financial stability.
After Bill and Fleur gave their greetings, they excused themselves with some lame pretext that Bill wanted to give Fleur a tour of the backyard.
"More likely he wants to tour Fleur in the backyard," Ron sniggered. Maddy laughed with him.
"I am glad you are 'ere. I know zhey were dying to get rid of me but were too polite to leave me alone. Where did you go today? You dizappeared after Mr. Shacklebolt dismizzed uz."
"I followed Kingsley," explained Harry. "I wanted to ask about my new partner," he spat the last word harshly.
"Orion ask Moody 'bout zat too. 'e wants anyone else but you. I do not know what Moody said, but I waz sure Orion did not get what 'e wanted. 'e was so angry when 'e left ze 'eadquarters."
"Well, it looks like I'm stuck with the bloody tosser." Ron and Harry added a few more colorful adjectives to describe de Lancre. It felt good just to talk about it to someone who understood and didn't mind if they swore too much.
"You will be fine," she said confidently. "Orion just likes to show off."
Ron thought that was an understatement. "So you're here for the engagement?"
"Yes, I am ze only old friend Fleur 'as 'ere. She cannot resist not telling. She told me zhey are getting married in Easter—just zhree weeks from now. I am to be 'er maid de 'onour. Bill eez making you best man, cauze Fleur zaid 'e cannot decide between your other two bruzzers."
Ron was tempted. "Best man, meaning me and YOU, Harry, get to dance with her."
"Ron, I told you, I'm not interested."
Ron huffed at him and had an idea. "Hey, want a game of chess while waiting for the food?" he offered Maddy. "Let's see if you can beat me this time."
"Oui, let us see," replied Maddy, rising up to the challenge.
Ron summoned his old chess set, but this time he took white, instead of his usual black.
"Uh, Ron, you're letting Maddy take your black."
"Sure, she can play my side. You get to play against her."
"What? You're not helping? She'll pulverize me. You know how competitive she gets with chess, especially since you've never let her won."
"Well she gets to put me down for once. Good luck, Harry!"
"I'll get you for this, Weasley!" Harry threatened, but Ron knew it was futile. Harry played her and despite all pleadings for reinforcement, Ron didn't say one word to help him out.
Maddy was vicious. She took all of Harry's major pieces in twelve moves; on the thirteenth, she checkmated him.
She gave a shriek at her victory and bounced up and down in her chair, her face flushed and her shoulder-length hair flying.
"You know, Harry, she can be pretty when she wants to."
"Oh shut up!"
"Don't be a sore loser. Just think about it. Think about Maddy," he teased.
Harry slammed a pillow at their face.