CHAPTER4 The Test

As the sun started to rise, Harry decided that he'd get up and take a walk around the lake, until everybody else got up. He slowly got dressed and headed down the stairs. It was quiet and all Harry could hear was the chirping of small birds. He slowly opened the white door and the sun shone brightly in his eyes as he looked at the transformation the wedding planners had done.

The yard was unrecognizable.There wererows ofpink andwhite rosescovering the little white fences that surrounded the area. At the end of the yard, there was a freshly painted white alter covered in with the same pink and white roses that covered the small fences. Pink and white roses were also magically dangling above the yard. Every very minutes or so it would drop some of the small petals and fall on top of the chair. Then, it would magically disappear and go back onto the rose it fell off of.

There was a small coblestone path that separated the bride's side from the groom's.Thewhite fold-up chairs had two pink doves that looked like they were kissing, painted on the back of the chair. On thewall of the house, they were pictures of Bill and Fleur waving at theguests and giving each other a quick kiss.

Harry didn't even have to see the side yard where the reception was going to be held, to agree with Ron. He didn't see the point of having all of these decorations. "Women," Harry thought, "They need everything, don't they?" But a part of him had a giddy feeling about all this. It was a feeling Harry had never felt before.

"Harry." He quickly turned around and saw his beautiful girlfriend standing in the threshold. She was still in her pjs but boy was she hot. Her flaming red hair was in a high ponytail and swong as she ran toward, Harry. She smelled great. Ginny smelled like lilies. He loved it.

"Hi Ginny." He gave her a quick good morning kiss. Even her breath smelled great. "I didn't hear you get up." She giggled.

"What are you doing out here?" asked Ginny as she gripped her arms around his waist.

"Just walking. You want to come with me?"

"You know I do." The took each other's hand and walked out of the backyard toward the lake.

The two walked around the crystal clear lake and Harry started to tell Ginny about his dream. She listened to him intently and by the end of the story she was in shock.

"Oh my God. I can't believe I'd ever be sorry for Malfoy. But more importantly, why did you see this Harry?"

"I don't know Gin. That's the problem. Just like once I get into it I can't get out until it's over."

"When's the last time you saw this type of dream?"

"Since the time when hetrickedmewith the one withSirius getting tortured." At the mention of Sirius's name, Harry gave a little shiver. He missed his godfather dearly and wished he listened to his friends when they told him that it might be a trick. But he would get his revenge sooner of later.

"Harry, are you alright?" asked Ginny as she rubbed his hand.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just I miss Sirius a lot, you know." She rubbed his hand even harder.

"I know, Harry. But you'll get your revenge. We'll take down Voldemort together and then we'll take Bellatrix on the way down." Harry felt a weight get lifted off his shoulder.

"You're right, Ginny. I don't what I did without you. You know more about me than I do."

"Neither do I. But Harry, you have to tell someone about the dream. Who knows what other things he might let you see."

"No, Ginny. I'm sure it's just a one time thing. It'll never happen again. Ron and me talked about it last night and thought this would be best, for now any way. Promise me you won't tell your mum and dad about this."

"Okay, Harry I promise. I don't agree with you but I promise.But you have to promise me, thatifyou have another one of thesedreams again,that you'll tell someone."

"I promise."

"Good."Ginny grabbed her boyfriend and theygave each other aquick, passionate kiss.

"Now Harry, why don't we get some breakfast? You can't take an apparation test with an empty stomach."The couplewalked slowly back toward the house. He could smell one of Mrs. Weasley's famous breakfasts from the front yard.

Mr. Weasley ran out of the house with Ron at his side. He quickly spotted Harry and Ginny and ran toward them. "Sorry Harry, but you have to skip breakfast today.Theyare starting thetests earlier than usually. We've got to get to the Ministry as quickly as possible."

"Okay, Mr. Weasley. See you later Gin." Harryfollowed Mr. Weasley and Ronback into the house. Ron took out the pot of floo powder and grabbed a handful of the dirt like substance. He stepped into the fireplace and stood still.

"Ministry of Magic," said Ron. Just then a big emerald fire appeared and Ron was gone.

"You go first, Harry."

"Okay, Mr. Weasley." Harry stepped into the fireplace with his hand full of floo powder. "Ministry of Magic." Suddenly the room was spinning of control. He couldn't see anything and his mouth was filling with soot. Harry hated this more than apparating. He closed his eyes wishing for it to stop.

Harry opened his eyes when the spinning feeling disappeared. He saw Ron standing in front of him. Harry stepped out of the fireplace making sure not to drag the dirt out with him. He thought he must be in an office.

Mr. Weasley appeared a few seconds later. "Let's go boys. We only have a few minutes to get you get there. It's only a floor above this one so we'll take the stairs," yelled Mr. Weasley as they started running out of the room and toward the stairs. They reached the stairs and climbed them two at a time until they finally reached the next floor. Mr. Weasley lead them to the end of the hallway and took a right. He stopped at a wood door.

"This is where you boys will be tested. I'll be in my office when you're done. Meet me in there when you're done. Good luck." Mr. Weasley quickly headed toward the elevator and left the boysoutside the room.

Nervously, Harry and Ron entered the room. Butterflies were in their stomaches, fluttering all over and up into their legs and arms. It may have been Harry's first attempt but it was Ron's second. He knew if he didn't pass he would be mocked more than before. They turned toward the young witch at the front desk.

"You boys are just in time," said the witch with long brown hair. "Write your names down on the list and I'll call you when an assistant is available." The boys nodded and wrote their name down.They found a small couch available in the corner of the room andsat down.They tried to pick up one of the magizines on the tablebut their fingers weren't listening to them.

"Kayla Micheals," yelled the witch. The girl walked up. She seem confident until she let out a big scream as she approuched the white door next to the witch with the long brown hair.

"Greg Hall."

"Linda Smithe." Name after name was being called and the boys began to get more nervious as more names were called. They knew their names were approaching.

"Ronald Weasley." called the woman.

"Good luck, man."

"Thanks. I'll need it." Ron gulp as he headed toward the door.

"Hey, don't lose your eyebrow over it," shouted Harry from across the room.

Ron gave him a scared look. "Don't remind me." Ron took a deep breathe and entered the door not knowing what laid ahead.

After a few minutes the woman called Harry's name. He stood up and walked into the door. It was a small, light blue room with one smalllight in the right corner of the room.

"Hello, Mr. Potter! The Harry Potter?" squeaked the old wizard with a short grey beard. His face seemed to light up.

"Yeah, pleasure to meet you, sir," responded Harry with a little attitude which the wizard did not pick up on. Harry was sick of people acting funny around him. It was a big pain in the butt.

"Well, lets begin shall we."

"Okay."

"You're going to apparateoutside theelevator and back. You leave any piece of yourself behindyou don't your license, but I highly doubt that will happen."

"Okay." He thought about about the outside of the elevator. Then he got that feeling of being sucked into a tube, but he still thought about his destination. Harry closed his eyes hoping he would getit right.

Finally, the feeling stopped and he was outside the elevator. Hehadn't lost a piece of himself either.Onepart down, one more to go. The wizard popped next to him a few seconds later.

"Very good, Mr. Potter.Now, when you're ready apparate back to the room and you'll get your license."

Harry nodded and thought about the little blue room. He got that horrible feeling again but this time he didn't close his eyes. Harry saw that he was in the room again and he felt whole. He did it! He passed his apparation test! The wizard popped next to him.

"Wonderful, Mr. Potter. I knew you could do it.Here isyour license.I just need you to sign here and here." The man pointedat two lines and handedHarry a ballpoint pen. Harry signed thetwo lines. The man ripped the bottom of the paper off the top.

"This ismy copy and here is yours. Congradulations Mr. Potter." He handed the bottom paper with a smile.Harry was so relieved. Heran out of the room and headedtoward Mr. Weasley's office. He opened the door and saw Ron standing there with a piece of paper in his hand.

"Congrates man," said Harry as he entered the room.

"You too. Look I didn't lose an eyebrow this time. You want to go to the Burrow? Dad said we could apparate there."

"Okay, lets go. Everybody will want to congraduate us."

They both apparated to the hill near theBurrow. They walked down it in silence. Both were still in shock that they passed. Harry was so proud of himself and Ron he didn't even think about Voldemort or his nightmare.

"So have you talked to Hermione since the snogging incident?" asked Harry as they finished walking down the large hill.

"No. I don't know what to say," replied Ron. And apparently Harry didn't either. He was never good at giving advice. Luckily though they were already at the Burrow and everyone was inside excited to hear weather or not they got their licenses.

Ginny ran out of the house. "Did you guys get your license?"

"Yeah!" The both said at the same time and took the pieces of paper out.

"Great job, Harry!" She pulled him into her chest and kissed him with all her might. Her tongue slipped into his mouth and he slipped his tongue in hers. Harry didn't want to break apart and Ginny didn't either.

"Hey! Hey, you two break it up." Sadly, they let go. "I passed too."

"Great job, Ron. I'm not kissing you though." The three young teenswalked into the house and where everyone congratulated them. But things were different when they ran into Hermione near the stairs.

"Good job guys. I see no one lost an eyebrow this time." They all laughed. Now Harry remembered he hadn't told Hermione about his dream.

"Hermione, I have to tell you something," Harry told her.

"Okay. Is something wrong?"

"I'll tellyou when we get to Ron's room."

He beckoned the other two to follow.They ran up the stairs and entered Ron's bedroom. Hermione put a locking charm on the door and silencing charms all over the room.

Harry started to tell her about the dream. She looked from shocked to surprised to tears. "I know he was a spoiled little prat, but for that to happen," cried Hermione. "I never likedhim but still."

"I know Hermione, but what about the fact that I actually saw this."

Hermione rubbed her eyes and cleared her tears. She focused on him. "I wouldn't worry about too much. Maybe he just forgot to do occulemency that night. Don't worry about it unless it happens again."

"I guess you're right. It's not like I saw anything important."

"Harry, why are you so worried about this dream?" askedGinny as she sat next to him on his bed and rubbed his hand.

"I don't know, Gin. Its just an instict, I guess. But I'll try not to worry aboutit."Ginny smiled and inched toward him a little.Hermione also started inching a little closer toRon.

"Come on Harry, I have surprise for you. Consider it a present for passing your apparation test," said Ginny with a twinkle in her eye.

"Okay, Ginny," Harry replied with a large grin on his face. He grabbed her hand and they ran down toward her room.Only Hermione and Ron were in the room. There was a long period of silence. No one knew who should talk first.

"So, how was your day so far?" asked Ron

"Ron, can't we at least talk about it?"

"Talk about what?"

"You know, the kiss we had yesterday. I felt something between us.Something I've felt for a long time but..." By that time Ron had ran out of the room Hermione just stood there shocked. Then she began to cry. She sat onto the bed and cried intoone of Ron'spillow. Ginny heard her and ran into the room and shut the door. She could tell what happened.

"Don't cry, Hermione. He's such a prat. I don't even know why you like him?"

"I don't know either. But I wish I could just stop, you know. But still, I thought he liked me back."

"He does, and you know he does. You just have to wait and fight your battles. Look at me. I went through the same thing with Harry. Trust me, it'll work out in the end. Boys are stupid, they just need us to help them realize their feelings." Hermione laughed. "Trust me when the time is right, he'll come to you."

Just then, an two owls flew into the window.They had theirHogwarts letters.Hermione hadjust remembered that she, Harry, and Ron weren't going back this year. She quickly dried her eyes and looked up at Ginny. "Thanks, Ginny, but I have to find the guys. I have to tell them something." Hermione immediately jumped up and ran to find Harry and Ron.