Chapter 6

"Ah, Ronald. Just the Weasley I wanted to see!"

"Ah!" Ron spun around as the head of Hogwarts called his name from right behind him, and in the process tripped over the shoelace he had been bent over tying and tumbled to the floor. He felt his book bag digging into his shoulder as he looked up into the eyes of Dumbledore, which were dancing in merriment at surprising him so effectively. "Headmaster!" He let the title stumble out of mouth and felt his face burn in embarrassment. It had been so long since someone could sneak up on him that it had scared the red out of his hair, he was sure of it.

"Right you are young master Weasley, and might I add that your reflexes are impressive!" There was an approving glint in his stormy eyes and Ron was confused for a moment, seeing as he was sprawled on his backside due to his apparently ingrained clumsiness. Then he noticed the eyes flicker to his right hand and he realized that he had somehow managed to pull out his wand as he fell. Huh, he supposed that must have been impressive, but still he felt his ears flame with embarrassment. It had to be Dumbledore, of all wizards, to catch him unawares and shock him into falling on his face. He must look like quite the arse.

"Impressive if I ever need to duck I suppose." Ron muttered and quickly hustled to his feet, ignoring the burning on his back where he had landed. His too short robes fluttered about as he stood and met the grinning wizard, who seemed to not mind his ineptness in the least.

"Ducking is a skill that is not practiced nearly enough at this school." He replied and looked at Ron thoughtfully. Ron began wondering what was going on. It was the first time that Dumbledore had ever approached him in the six years that he had been coming to this school. There was always Harry or Hermione, or his parents or another member of the order present when they spoke before. It wasn't that Ron resented that fact, just that he was baffled as to why this great wizard might be looking for him in particular.

"Is there something you needed sir?" They were standing in the middle of the hallway, and any minute students would be swarming the halls, rushing to their classes. Ron had been on his way to meet Harry and Hermione in the court yard so they could head to Hagrid's class together, he had actually planned on being there first, but that wasn't going to happen now.

"No, nothing in particular. I saw you and decided that it was the perfect time to say hello." Okay, it seemed that Dumbledore was up to his old antics, but Ron was pretty sure that the wizard never did anything without reason, despite his oddness. Something was up. Ron felt the other students begin to approach and he looked around his headmaster just as the first door burst open and third year Hufflepuffs began bouncing into the halls. Ron stood taller, trying to not appear as awkward as he felt standing next to Dumbledore, the only ones in the hallway. He was almost as tall as the great man, and though he suspected he would never grow to match him in height, he was very close. It was odd. No one seemed to notice though, as they happily walked around them. He looked back at Dumbledore and shifted on his feet as the wizard looked at him as though he was a particularly interesting oddity.

"Umm" Merlin, could he sound anymore idiotic? "If you're sure there's nothing I can help you with, then I suppose I should get to class."

"Of course, of course. Do say hello to your parents the next time you speak." And with that Dumbledore was walking lightly down the hall, humming a Weird Sisters song under his breath and saying hello to every student who looked at him. Ron shook his head and quickly tied his shoelace. He rushed the rest of the way to the court yard and pulled up to his friends. Hermione glared at him for being late and he glared back for the sport of it.

"Dumbledore is the strangest wizard I'll ever meet." He greeted them and recounted their brief conversation as they headed down the hill. It was another interesting class as they learned how to read the weather due to the colours of a climadillo's shell and Ron forgot all about his little encounter with Dumbledore. It wasn't until that evening when he and Harry trudged to their beds that he was reminded of it, and that was only because of the thick note addressed to him that lay on his pillow. He picked it up and examined it carefully, looking for any signs that it would explode upon being opened. His brothers sometimes sent him letters just for that purpose.

"What's that?" Harry asked as he shrugged out of his robes and into his pyjama shirt.

"Dunno." He muttered and opened it carefully, holding it away from his face. He immediately looked to the bottom of the note and saw the headmaster's name and title politely written out. "It's from Dumbledore." He said, and Neville, who was the only other boy in the room at that moment looked over in interest.

"What's it say?" Harry came over and waited for Ron to read it out loud and he went to the top of the short note.

Dear Mr. Weasley

Congratulations on your new gift. Aura interpretation and identification is a skill that not many wizards are able to master. You will find that several creatures in the magical world and the non-magical world are also adept with this skill, though it is instinct that drives them. Mad-eye Moody would be quite pleased to know of how quickly you honed your sharp senses. However, I feel the need to warn you that, while it truly is a gift, it can lead you into a false sense of security. Beware that those who share your gift will remain hidden from your senses, as you will remain hidden from theirs. I trust Harry and Neville are doing well.

Headmaster of Hogwarts,

A. Dumbledore

As he finished reading out loud the thick parchment began to crumble in his hands and he dropped it to the floor as it turned into a pile of dust. He kicked the pile and scattered its remains.

"You're an aura interpreter?" Neville's shocked exclamation had Ron whirling in surprise. He had completely forgotten that Neville was in the room as he'd read it out loud. Now his friend was looking at him with an odd expression in his face, like he was trying to remember something important. He looked at Harry in horror at his slip and Harry shrugged at him, at a loss for what to do. They couldn't right deny it now that Ron had so stupidly read the letter out loud. Honestly, you'd think he was subconsciously trying to get other peoples attention.

"Umm, apparently." Ron answered, and Neville grinned suddenly, as if it was completely normal.

"Brilliant! I knew something was up with you, other then ambidextrous magic that is." He paused a moment in thought and then beamed at Ron as though he was the solution to a huge problem he was having. "You can warn me when Millecent from Ravenclaw is coming! That third year has been following me around since the beginning of term and it's right unnerving. It's also good to know that ol' Dumbledore can sense people around him without seeing them." Then Neville punched Ron on the arm rather painfully.

"Ow!" He complained and glared at his friend.

"That was for leaving me out of the loop." He explained. It was amazing how easily this boy could adapt and forgive. Then Harry got both their attentions after watching their encounter with amusement.

"Well, that answers for a lot about Dumbledore doesn't it? Now we know how he knows we're around when hidden under my invisibility cloak." Harry grinned, and then frowned, no doubt thinking of all the other times Dumbledore must have been aware of their presence. Bloody hell.

"I guess this explains why he was speaking to me this afternoon. He must have been investigating. What if he tells mum and dad!" Ron felt a bit of panic jump into his stomach and felt Neville look at him as though startled.

"You haven't told your parents about this?"

"I haven't been able to work it into a conversation yet." He groaned and sat on his bed. Harry laughed at him and went to finish changing as Neville decided that watering his various plants was more important than Ron's sudden panic. He didn't want his family finding out from Dumbledore, though he suspected the great wizard wouldn't say anything unless it was necessary. Now he just had to make sure that they knew before he had a run in with Mad-eye Moody. His mum would throw a fit if she didn't find out from him, and his dad would no doubt be upset at being left out. But still, despite this turn of events, it was a bit comforting that an adult (and by adult he meant an older individual that he looked up to, seeing as he considered himself and his friends adults now) knew and accepted it. It was kind of cool that he shared a skill with Dumbledore.

He changed quickly and climbed into bed, stretching out under the blankets. He could hear the rain outside their window as it pelted down heavily. It had started shortly after dinner and didn't show any sign of letting up soon. He fell asleep to its soothing rhythm, and didn't wake up until three in the morning, getting a good four and a half hours sleep and feeling energetic.

000

"Bloody hell." Ron muttered tiredly as he slumped under the tree with Harry and Hermione. Harry looked at his book bag, which was in a heap on the ground. It had been repaired with spells three times this week. They'd tried conjuring a new one, but after only two hours it dissolved into nothing and Ron was left picking up all his things and using his robe as a basket until he got back to his room. Harry had figured that if it was possible to conjure things into permanence, then Ron's family wouldn't want for anything in the first place, which was really too bad. Harry grinned, despite how miserable Ron appeared, and Hermione pet him soothingly on his leg. They had just finished their sixth year potions final.

"Don't worry Ron, I'm sure you did fine." Hermione comforted and Ron glared at her grumpily. They were all tired, drained and utterly exhausted. Though Ron did look better then they did at the moment, and Harry supposed that he could just hide his exhaustion that much better. It had been a gruelling two weeks of revising, practicing, and not sleeping as they prepared for all of their finals. Even Hagrid's examination had been more trying then normal, but Harry knew that none of them had any problems passing that one. Ron had been particularly worried about potions.

"Well, if I didn't do fine then I can kiss my career as an auror good bye." He grumpily glared at the ground. "Of course, I could always take remedial in the summer…I don't think Snape teaches that one!" He played with the grass at his feet and seemed to suddenly re-energize, despite his foul mood. He threw some grass at Hermione who swatted at him hopelessly and resorted to plucking the bits out of her jumper.

The weather was warm and sunny, but there was a cool breeze that was no doubt the last bit of spring holding on. Students of all age groups and houses were littered about the yard, some desperately cramming for their exam that afternoon, others playing various sports. Other older students were marching happily off into Hogsmeade to celebrate their end of examinations, since this was allowed on the last two days at school.

"You didn't fail Ron. You stayed up later then both of us these last three days and were awake earlier studying. If I didn't know better I'd say you hadn't slept at all, except that you wouldn't be so awake right now if that were the case." Ron looked away at that, suddenly finding the trees in the distance very interesting for a moment until he looked back and grinned.

"Well, whatever. At least now I don't have to think about studying again until after summer hols."

"Honestly Ron, you'd think it was painful to learn anything new the way you gripe about it." Hermione scoffed, and then pulled out a piece of parchment and leaning forward suddenly in earnest. "Listen though, I've found a new spell I think we ought to try, especially you Harry." Her voice dropped quietly and Ron pulled his wand out and discreetly muttered their garbling curse.

"What is it?" Harry asked in interest but Ron looked at her with worry, as was expected. Over the past few months he had been the practice target for a few of Hermione's spells, and while they hadn't been anything bad it was no doubt unnerving to be on the receiving end of any person's wand, even if you trusted them implicitly: Trust had no right to be incorporated with the words 'spell' and 'learning.'

"It's a bubble shield. I read about it last year but couldn't find the proper spell until last week. It's not typically used because of the amount of energy it requires from whoever casts it."

"A bubble shield? What is Harry gonna do with that, get soap in everyone's eyes?"

"Don't be daft, it has nothing to do with soap." Hermione brushed Ron off and looked hopefully at Harry. "It works like those shields that Kowalskelli has been teaching you to generate, but it can form all around an object, not just in front of it." Harry frowned. He was finding shields useful to learn, but they took a lot of energy to cast. He had been practicing them because, if cast correctly and with enough strength, they could deflect the unforgivable curses, such as avada kedavra. However, he doubted that a shield like that would be able to come close to blocking such a curse from Voldemort, he was simply too powerful. He hadn't been able to cast one nearly as strong as he would need it to be to block an average wizard and his teacher (though she tried not to show it) was rather discouraged. He supposed she expected more from the great Harry Potter he thought bitterly.

"Hermione, I don't really think it's going to make a huge difference…" he trailed off as she began to shake her head animatedly.

"It would Harry! Just think, if you could put yourself into a bubble shield you wouldn't need to worry about anyone attacking you from any side!" Ron seemed to suddenly like this idea as he pursed his lips in thought.

"Can it surround others as well? Like a cage?" Hermione beamed at him.

"Yes. It can act as a barrier to spells, but also to people. What's trapped in can't get out and vice versa." Harry was seeing the logic behind this, though he doubted very much if it would be useful at all when needed. It would take loads more energy to conjure, at least as much as a full fledged patronous, and that sapped him of a great deal of magical energy. Yet, with Hermione looking at him so encouragingly, trying to help him as best she could to prepare for his battle, he couldn't turn her down.

"All right, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try. But not here, let's go somewhere a bit more private."

"Hagrid's?" Ron suggested and they all headed over there promptly. The half giant wasn't home, but they sat comfortably at a picnic table he had set up outside his yard. There were several gardening tools leaning against it.

"Okay." Hermione demanded their attention when she finished tying her hair back, as she sometimes preferred to do when working with new material. "Harry, it is a very slight change in wording from what your normal shield requires. That's actually how I determined where to find the spell, you see-"

"Hermione, just tell us the spell already, we already know you were clever enough to figure it out in the first place." Ron cut her off, halting her no doubt long winded version of discovery. She glared at him but continued with the spell anyway. Sometimes, if Ron wasn't around to cut her off, Harry was sure she'd go on for hours about her research methods. Harry normally just didn't have the heart to be so rude, and fortunately Ron and Hermione had gotten over getting truly mad at each other in their fifth year.

"Fine. Harry, the spell you use is Bufferso right?" He nodded in agreement. "The bubble shield spell is almost the same, but it's pronounced Buffersuro." He nodded, taking it in as Ron read her notes on the subject. It made sense, a lot of spells could be altered with only two new letters, rendering them slightly changed or completely different depending on what they were. Of course, that was a whole other area of study.

"It says here the wand work is different too." Ron piped in and looked up. "Show us your normal shield Harry." He demanded more then asked and Harry stood, reluctantly.

"I'm warning you two, it's a dodgy spell for me to cast."

"Quit with the excuses and do it already." Ron ordered again, but there was a twinkle in his eye that had Harry rolling his own in response.

"Yes sir, whatever you say sir, I'll get right on it sir."

"Good boy." Harry resisted the urge to throw his wand at his insufferable friend, but his engrained need to have it with him at all times prevented him from doing so. He took a breath and held his wand out, flicking his wrist sharply. "Bufferso" he ordered and a burgundy stream of light flew from the end of his wand until, ten feet away, it halted in the air and spread out in a circle a meter in diameter. It shimmered as he held it there, completely transparent. It looked as though it would shatter if a mere bird flew into it. Then he lowered his wand and it disappeared in a small, unremarkable poof of red dust. He looked at where it had been for a moment, feeling the drain it caused on his magic. It had been the biggest shield he'd produced yet.

"That was excellent Harry! You've got to teach me that!" Ron enthused as he headed over to him. Harry didn't know where he got his energy from, he was utterly exhausted from their finals and Ron was practically bouncing. He wondered if his extra sense gave him extra energy.

"That was really good Harry. Now, the book said that when you cast the bubble shield, you need to flick your wand in a circle, but how big you wave it, and how you point it has everything to do with where it forms and how large it is. I guessed that it went something like this." She demonstrated and he watched closely. Then all three of them proceeded to practice this new spell. They must have been at it for a good hour, Ron was getting the hang of the wrist action and was getting a wisp of blue from the tip of his wand, but that was it. Hermione's was a very deep green, and she was just starting to get a decent amount from her wand to form a basic shield when Harry, feeling completely exhausted, managed to create a bubble the size of a bludger. It floated in the air only a meter from his reach, and he was staring at it. He dropped his wand and it remained, floating there.

"You did it!" Hermione exclaimed happily and Ron grinned for a moment before picking up a rock and throwing it at it. It bounced off and the orb shimmered in retaliation. He threw another one and it shimmered, then disappeared with a pop. Harry frowned. It wasn't very strong, but at least he understood the basics of the spell now. He turned to Find Hermione yelling at Ron for throwing things at it.

"What! It has to be tested!" Ron defended, though he did look a bit guilty, until he tilted his head slightly and looked like he was listening for something. "Hagrid's coming." He said and sure enough, a moment later their friend came around from the back of his house, whistling a jaunty tune and not looking at all like he'd been testing students all morning. He stopped in surprise at seeing them and then grinned happily.

"Allo Harry, 'Ermione, Ron. Enjoying a bit o' sun before yer last test then eh? Though I s'pose you three have nothin' te worry about, being the top in yer class as I hear." His grin seemed to become even bigger, though with his beard in the way it was hard for Harry to really tell. He usually went by the crinkle around his friends eyes. He noticed Harmione suddenly looked horrified with herself as she began pushing her notes back in her bag.

"Oh! How could I forget that the exam is so soon! I can't believe we've spent the last hour…talking!" All three men raised their eyebrows in astonishment at her outburst. She must have been waiting for a while to try that new spell if she actually 'forgot' about their last exam! That was so un-Hermione like that Harry was a bit worried. They were all run down lately, but still… "We need to go study, right now!" She looked as though the simple hour away from studying was going to get her expelled from school.

"Hermione, we know it all backwards to front already. Honestly, yer a few chips short of a meal if you think you need to study." Ron said incredulously. This was the first time the three of them had ever all been this ready for a test. She glared at them, their previous practice session at the back of her mind now.

"If you two want to risk not doing well then fine, but I am not going to waste another minute! I'll see you all later." And she hurried off back to the castle, her bushy pony tail bouncing along with her.

"Honestly, she's mad. Why waste a perfectly good afternoon revising when you already know it all." Ron huffed. Harry just shrugged his shoulders. Hermione would be Hermione. Suddenly Harry's exhaustion hit him full on and he looked at Ron, who seemed to be on his last legs as well.

"You two look like ye need to sleep fer a year." Hagrid charitably pointed out and Harry agreed. They trudged back to their dorm room and fell into bed. They would get a few hours rest, revise a bit to be safe, and then get a good nights sleep. Tomorrow would be a long day, what with the end of exams, a trip to Hogsmeade and the closing ceremonies. He wanted to be full of energy.

000

"Squidpeks! She used squidpeks! Of all the creatures to cast deflector spells against she chose squidpeks!" Ron was raving off to Hermione's right and Harry was on her left. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him, because such a response could be deemed immature. "It was bloody brilliant!" Ron grinned and then he suddenly started searching through his robes pockets distractedly. Harry was grinning beside her and she met his green eyes with a laugh of her own. Kawolskelli was a good teacher, and she liked throwing twists into her tests. The squidpeks had been a surprise, though if one was prepared properly they weren't a problem at all.

"Malfoy's hair will be blue for a week." Harry happily sang and Hermione laughed. The look of surprise on his face when Goyle had sent his own squidpek (accidentally of course) flying into the back of the Slytherin had been priceless. Draco had been far from amused as he tried to wipe the dye from his face with dignity. "Watcha doin there Ron?"

"I'm just looking for…wait a sec…ah yes, here it is." He pulled a dark blue envelop from his pocket and grinned evilly as he looked it over. "I was afraid it might have been damaged during our exam." Hermione instantly knew that it was some kind of prank from the way he smiled. His lips quirked just slightly higher on the right and he got a glint in his eye that was identical to his twin brothers. She took a step closer to Harry just incase it decided to blow up with her so close by, but she couldn't help the familiar rise of excitement at being let in on a prank. They trusted her with so much, but still tended to leave her out of some of their jokes, simply because she tried to stop them every time. Not this time though. They all deserved to have a little fun after that gruelling term.

"What is it?" She tried to make her voice sound more sceptical than curious, but knew she hadn't quite pulled it off when Harry nudged her closer to Ron.

"Take a closer look Hermie."

"No thank you, I rather like myself the way I am." She glared at him.

"No worries It only explodes once opened." Ron informed her gravely and then grinned at her sudden worry. Really, that was just dangerous! "Relax Hermione, it's completely harmless. Seamus helped me rig it up, and I got some dried squidpek dye from Pomfrey and put it in here. It's to get Fred and George back for all those ridiculous letters they send me!"

"Ron! You really shouldn't stoop to their level! If you retaliate then they are going to come back twice as hard."

"It's all about the sport of it." He grinned proudly and let Harry examine it, passing it off in front of her. Now she stood closer to Ron, just in case.

"You didn't seem too happy about that last one they sent you. Where was your sportsmanship then?" He looked at her, horrified!

"Hermione! It turned into a spider and landed on my breakfast! If that doesn't deserve retaliation than nothing will! The ink will wash off after three days, and besides, if they like it they might want to market it in their shop, and I'll be able to sign some agreement with them and maybe make a bit of money. So it's not just sport, it's a demonstration of a business proposal."

"I suppose I'm not the one who has to live with them this summer." The spider thing had set Ron off his food for the rest of the day, and really, she hated to see her friends upset about something. Harry handed the envelop back and then stopped as Ron ducked into the owlry. She supposed he didn't want to send Pig because he was afraid they'd retaliate on his owl (and this way they could pay for the delivery). She took a seat beside Harry and he smiled at her.

It was really a lovely afternoon, if a bit wet from the rain the previous night. The people of Hogsmeade bustled about their business and every now and then a student from Hogwarts would wave a quick hello. She hadn't been here in a month, choosing to stay at the school with Harry and Ron, and it was nice to be around a mixed age group again. She loved her school, but the students could be so immature that it sometimes came close to driving her nuts. Adults were so much more practical. She noticed a wizard and witch pause across the street and look in their direction briefly before grinning and talking animatedly to each other. They had just spotted Harry. She glared at them but they didn't notice as they bustled off excitedly. Okay, so maybe not all adults were mature. Harry sighed beside her but didn't comment. They were all so tired of everyone reacting this way to him.

"Let's go then. I do believe Harry owes me several butterbeers." Ron called as he practically burst through the owlry's doors. She looked up at him as he waited, all six feet of him. He'd been so…energetic lately. She let him pull her to her feet and laughed as he completely ignored Harry, who was batting his eyes and holding his hand out for help.

"You tricked me into that bet! I don't owe you anything." Harry argued as he joined them and they began walking down the street.

"You agreed to the bet, fair and square. Neville will back me up."

"I'd just woken up! I hadn't even registered it was morning yet when you had me agreeing to it."

"Then you'll just have to work on that alertness of yours. Honestly Harry, we've been best friends for six years, you'd think you'd know when to not answer my questions by now." Ah, so Ron had tricked Harry into the bet. Harry had been grumbling about it since the end of their victorious match against Slytherin, though good naturedly.

"I do know that you used to sleep in later then everyone else and now you're the first up every morning. It's not fair really, you're changing the rules of engagement."

"It's all about adapting. Isn't it Hermione?" He turned his pleading blue eyes on her and she couldn't refuse answering his gaze. Really, she was becoming so soft around these two it was a wonder she hadn't turned sticky.

"Survival of the fittest, as Darwin proclaimed. Although-"

"See, the fittest, who is obviously me in this instance." Ron cut her off before she could continue and for once she didn't feel like barking back at him. The sun was out, there was a pleasant breeze and she was with her boys, celebrating the end of another year. This summer might be the worst yet, so she was determined to enjoy her time with them now as much as she could. Oh, now Harry was looking at her in mock betrayal and she could only smile back.

"Hermione, what time is it?" Ron suddenly asked and she looked at him piercingly. His tone had been sharp and he'd become stiff beside her, walking with a sudden tenseness that oozed from him. She quickly glanced at her watch.

"Two thirty-nine. Why?" She demanded and Harry was watching them carefully. Ron had tilted his head, as he always did when he was feeling something with his sense. She felt her stomach knot in apprehension as his face seemed to pale and he looked over at her and Harry grimly. Ron never looked like this unless something was really wrong.

"They're early. Arm yourselves." Without question, ignoring Harry's sharp intake of breath and Ron's suddenly darting eyes, she pulled her wand.

TBC

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