Disclaimer: I own no part of this story except for the plot and spell work. J. K. Rowling owns everything else, including dozens of hours of my life that I am dedicating to this story.

Chapter 6: Innocence Retained

"Well that went well," Hermione said with a smile while glancing at Harry.

"Of course it did," Harry said with a cocky grin that resembled his father in so many ways. "I always get my way."

Hermione tried to bite back a laugh at the smug look on Harry's face but failed miserably. Before she could get in a word edgewise, she was interrupted as Mr. Weasley walked up behind the two.

"How'd it go with Fudge?"

"Well, let's just say today isn't really Fudge's day." Harry said with a lopsided grin.

"Ah…I imagine that went over about as well as a herd of stampeding hippogriffs."

"Or a wave of dissatisfied house elves," Harry said with a significant look Hermione.

"Don't start on me about S.P.E.W. again Harry Potter. Just because they don't know any better doesn't mean that I am going to give up."

Harry, sensing a new wave of elf rights coming on again, replied, "Why no Hermione, thoughts of 'spew' never crossed my mind."

Hermione yelled after the quickly fleeing Harry, "For the last time, it's S.P.E.W.!" before chasing after him through the crowded halls of the Ministry of Magic.

Mr. Weasley only smiled and shook his head in disbelief at the innocence that the two young kids still retained.

"So Harry, when will you and Hermione be leaving?" Dumbledore asked after the group had eaten dinner. Dumbledore, Remus, and Severus had arrived back at Grimmauld Place for an Order of the Phoenix meeting. Mr. Weasley was working late and Mrs. Weasley was currently out doing work for the Order.

"We'll review the basics starting three days from now and will go to the training facility next Monday."

"Well, if that's the case, you two will need to pass your apparition test sometime in the next two days. I'd recommend taking it tomorrow afternoon, right after lunch."

Hermione looked shocked at having to take a test tomorrow without having studied at all.

"But—Professor Dumbledore—I haven't studied at all yet. We don't even have any of the materials. I haven't had any time to prepare for a test so soon…"

Hermione seemed close to tears at her lack of preparation and Harry couldn't help but laugh at her distress.

As Hermione rounded to start on Harry, Dumbledore quickly cut her off. "However, I did take the liberty of picking up the information that the Ministry hands out on apparation—along with an extra study guide for you Miss Granger."

Hermione looked taken aback by Dumbledore's abounding knowledge but Harry just smiled. He'd given up trying to understand how Dumbledore knew the things he did and just accepted the fact that Dumbledore would never cease to amaze him.

"Well…uh…I guess that will be fine Professor. Can I get that guide now? I have some studying to do."

Dumbledore just chuckled and conjured the guide out of mid-air. He also placed a few pamphlets down in front of Harry and gave him a wink.

"For five minutes before the test Harry."

"Of course!"

Harry smiled as the two seemed to share a private joke. Few knew how developed Harry and Dumbledore's relationship was, but Harry had been relying on Dumbledore for support for the past few years

Harry had quickly learned that Dumbledore was not just a source of information in regards to magic, but also knew much about his past students. After Sirius' death, Harry had learned much about his father and the rest of the Marauders, as well as some of their more noticeable pranks the four had successfully pulled off, from the mischievous headmaster that had generally turned a blind eye towards the Marauders' "less than perfect" behavior.

Harry smiled as he remembered all of the trouble the Marauders used to get to during their school years. Harry had also displayed a certain "initiative" similar to his father's school days, but, like his father, he had to grow up after he became Head Boy his final year at Hogwarts.

However, this didn't mean that Harry's mischievous streak was completely gone. "Well, I can see that I won't need this for a while, and neither will you Hermione."

With a quick swish of his wand, Harry disillusioned Hermione's study guide and banished it across the room. The now chameleon-like guide blended in nicely with the floor of Grimmauld Place and Hermione let out a slight whimper as she shot across the room in search of it.

Harry was about to snicker with pride at foiling Hermione's attempts at studying for the next twenty-four hours before something sharp was jabbed into his chest. Harry winced as he rubbed his chest where the corner of the invisible book had hit. After hiding the book on the couch opposite where Hermione was looking, Harry looked up at who had given the book back to him. Dumbledore's eyes held an all too familiar twinkle in them and the slight smile on his face told Harry all that he needed to know. Harry nearly burst out laughing at the bemused look the rest of the group had as well as Hermione's loud scream of frustration at being unable to find the guide.

While Hermione was busy tearing the room apart, Harry tried to summon up all the courage he could.

"It'll be alright Harry, Albus isn't going to just say no. Just ask him now before you lose the chance."

Harry took a deep breath and turned his attention back to Albus.

"Uh…Albus?" Harry began in a nervous voice.

"Yes Harry?"

"Is there any way…would it be possible…could I visit Hogwarts before I go back into training?"

All members of the room, aside from a panicking Hermione, exchanged knowing looks and Dumbledore replied quietly, "I'm sure it could be arranged Harry. Talk to me after you finish the basics and we'll see what we can work out."

Dumbledore stood and said in a much louder voice, "I trust you two will keep out of trouble." The familiar grin began creeping across his face and Harry couldn't help but smile. "Severus, would you and Remus like to accompany me back to Hogwarts? I believe that we have classes tomorrow."

Harry gave Dumbledore a quick smile and a wink as he walked out the door. He said a hurried goodbye to Remus and even exchanged a nod with Snape before the two exited the room, following Dumbledore.

"Goodbye Hermione," Remus called over his shoulder.

All he got in response was a loud growl followed by "Petrificus Totalus!" Remus' eyes widened in surprise as he heard a loud thump echo from the quickly emptying dining room; a thump that was much to loud to have been Hermione. However, Remus left the two at it and disapparated without a word.

"Where is it?" Hermione growled as Harry struggled against the full body bind.

Harry struggled a bit more and then finally gave up. When Hermione was determined, there was no way you were going to break free of her grasp. He moved his eyes toward a slight distortion on the couch.

Hermione nodded and walked silently towards the couch. She picked up her book and undid the charm concealing it. Instead of releasing Harry however, she went and sat down next to him and cracked the book open.

Harry struggled as comprehension set in but knew that it was ultimately futile.

Hermione gave him a wicked grin before reading out loud, "Chapter One: The Basics of Apparition."

Nearly two hundred miles away, in the impenetrable fortress of Azkaban, Hermione's same question echoed by a much deeper voice.

"Where is it?" Lord Voldemort rasped, eager for the problem of Harry Potter to be finished once and for all.

"My Lord, we…have run into problems," the hesitant Death Eater replied, trembling with fear. He knew what failure warranted with the Dark Lord.

"Problems Rodolphus?" Voldemort replied in a deathly quite voice. "Did I not express the need to stay on schedule?"

"Yes my Lord! But Lucius Malfoy was the head of the project and he is currently in the hands of the Aurors."

"Yes Rodolphus, this is true. Lucius must be freed. He is, without a doubt, the most resourceful of those loyal to me."

The Death Eater seemed relieved and began to speak quickly trying to avoid his master's wrath. "Yes my Lord, I am sure that with Lucius' help we would be able to proceed much quicker…"

Voldemort cut him off, "However, you have failed me Rodolphus, and failure does not go unpunished."

"My Lord…please…we weren't given enough time…"

"Crucio!"

The Death Eater fell to the ground screaming as Voldemort chuckled at the Death Eater's suffering.

"Soon…very soon, Harry Potter will be mine. Lucius must be freed over the next few days. None of the rest of my Death Eaters are intelligent enough to create it. After Lucius is free, Harry Potter will become nothing more than a bad memory."

Voldemort let out a loud, cruel laugh; though loud, the laugh was not loud enough to drown out the screams echoing from the writhing Death Eater and other prisoners of war that were locked up in Azkaban, the Dark Lord's private hell.

Author's Note: Well guys…sorry it's a little shorter than what I usually write but I wanted to write something that had a lighter tone to keep the story from getting too dark. It's not all death, destruction, and despair in the Harry Potter world. Still, it was fun writing this so expect more of these thrown in every now and then. By the way, on an off topic yet happy note, I placed 4th in calculator and 9th in mathematics at the state UIL meet last weekend. Thanks for all of the support and keep reading!

Janangel – thanks for picking the story up and taking the time to review. Keep reading because there's plenty more coming.

Warlord – no problem with the lack of review, I haven't had much time to read lately myself. Keep up the excellent work on your own fic.

Evolmonkey – It's always nice to have a new reviewer and welcome to the story. Sorry 'bout Ron but it was necessary…you'll see…sooner or later. ;-)