5 years before…

Harry found himself standing in front of a telephone booth. He had been here before and knew it was the entrance to the ministry of magic. He smiled to his best friend, which Ron returned. Shortly after they were standing in front of a desk waiting for the young witch behind it to look up from the papers she was reading, so they would be able to talk to her. Finally she finished and looked up at them with an impatient look. "Erm, we're here for the Auror training programme," Ron said nervously.

"First time?" She asked. They both nodded, "Right then. Please fill out these forms." She got out two pieces of parchment along with quills. Harry and Ron quickly did as they were told. She quickly glanced down on the forms, then looked back up, and then back down. "Ronald Weasley?" Ron nodded again, "You wouldn't happen to be related to Charlie Weasley would you?"

"Sure, he's my brother," Ron answered the witch.

"Is he still in Romania?" She asked again.

"As far as I know, yes."

"Right," She looked rather sad. "When you see him again, tell him Eva Jacob says hello."

"I will."

She looked down again sadly. For a moment nothing happened, until Harry let out a fake cough. Eva looked up again. "Oh sorry. Here you go Mr. Weasley and – Mr. Potter." She gave them a piece of parchment. "The elevator will take you to the Auror headquarters. Show this parchment to the grey statue and he will let you through. Welcome to the training program."

They thanked her and went over to an elevator. Inside the elevator was a sign with all the floors:

Level 10: Courtrooms
Level 9: Department of Mysteries
Level 8: The Atrium
Level 7: Department of Magical Games and Sports
Level 6: Department of Magical Transport
Level 5: Department of International Magical Cooperation
Level 4: Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
Level 3: Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes
Level 2: Department of Magical Law Enforcement

They read it through and Harry decided that they would probably be going to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He pressed a button and shortly after the doors opened and they walked out into a small chamber. All the walls were painted grey, and in the middle was standing a big grey statue of a wizard. He was looked straight at Harry and Ron. Harry quickly glanced at his friend, whose mouth had hit the floor. Harry rolled his eyes and took another step towards the statue. Its eyes followed him.

"Well do you have something to show me or what?" the statue suddenly said, making run jump.

"Yes," Harry said showing it the two pieces of parchment. "We were told to show you these."

The statue glanced at them quickly. "Very well." It moved to slightly to the left, and behind him was a great oak door. Harry and Ron walked through it. On the other side was a long corridor with great oak doors on each side.

As they walked down the corridor Ron suddenly spoke. "Did you realise that the woman in the reception did not comment on your name, Harry." Sure he had noticed this. Still when he had reached the age of eighteen people would come up to him and ask to see his scar. If they didn't do this, they would be whispering behind his back. "I mean they normally notice your name, but today it was my name."

"Sounded like she knew Charlie," Harry said.

"Well yes," Ron said. "Oh I think it's in here." True enough. They had reached an oak door with the sign Auror Headquarters on it. In there witches and wizards were working in cubicles. They walked passed all of these until they came to a desk with yet another reception witch. She seemed to be busy with reading something. "Excuse me, miss," Ron said, "We are here for -"

"Harry! Ron!" A voice called them, interrupting Ron.

Both Harry and Ron turned to see who it was. "Tonks?" Harry asked, suddenly recognising her.

"Hello," she said when she finally came over to them. "It's good to see you two again. What brings you to the ministry of magic?"

"We are here for the Auror training programme."

"Oh really.? Well that sounds nice. Then I guess you are going to spend a lot of time with me over the next three years." They both gave her a questionable look. "I'm leading. Well along with Kingsley Shacklebolt of course. Come with me, you are here just in time."

They followed Tonks back down the corridor with all the cubicles, through another oak door and into a small chamber. Here were already gathered some other witches and wizards about the same age as Ron and Harry. Harry recognised a few of them from Hogwarts. One of these was the Ravenclaw Stephen Cornfoot. Or well he used to be a Ravenclaw, back at Hogwarts.

Everyone in the chamber was facing in the same direction. Harry followed their eyes and saw that they were all staring at Kingston Shacklebolt. "Found these two wandering around, Kingsley," Tonks spoke up. She showed Ron and Harry to a seat and walked up to stand next to Kingsley. "Should we begin?"

"Yes we should." Kingsley agreed. "All right witches and wizards. Welcome to the Auror training programme. You have all been select based on your grades and results of the test you took over the summer. We believe you are the best for this job." He stopped to breathe quickly then continued, "Now you have all probably been studying over the summer about what it really takes to be an Auror, but the ministry have told us to clear everything with you. This is not an easy job and never will be. It is dangerous and we have seen people die in the past while they were on duty. When the war breaks out – and mark my words it will – you are the ones who will have to fight it." A few people let out a gasp, but Harry believed they were all aware of this already.

"Through out this programme, you will learn everything you need to know to be ready for such a battle," Tonks continued for Kingsley. "We will also teach you how you can walk around unnoticed in case you will have to go on a secret mission or undercover. Over the past years Kingsley here has worked as a double agent, so you will all be learning from the best." A few clapped their hands. "Naturally by becoming an Auror you will all be joining the Order of the Phoenix."

"Finally before we get on with the training," Kingsley took over, "you will need a partner. This partner should be someone you trust, because he might be the one saving your life one day. We don't let any Auror work alone, especially not during training. So pair up now." Fortunately there was no problem there. Everyone seemed to have someone to pair up with. Harry send Ron a smile. He was glad he was able to have his best friend as partner.

5 years later…

Harry and Ron arrived at number 12 Grimmauld Place where they found Remus Lupin and Ron's brother Bill. Harry was always shocked when he saw Bill. Ever since the battle of Hogwarts his face had been scarred badly. This was no exception, but Harry calmed himself quickly. "Ron," Bill said with a smile and greeted his brother. "Good to see you again, little brother. And you too Harry."

"It's good to see you too." Ron said. "I take it you have heard about George."

"I came as soon as I heard. Don't worry Ron, we'll find him," Bill assured his brother.

Harry noticed a trace of sadness in both Ron and Bill's eyes. "I know we will." Harry had never seen his best friend this determined. "You just let Fred know the same thing." Ron turned and spoke to Lupin for the first time. "What does the ministry want us to do? I wasn't really told much other than three people were kidnapped."

Lupin thought about it for a while, "Of course all Aurors are prepared to go look for them, but I'm afraid the ministry isn't going to do much about it. They are just too protective of everyone else."

"That's ridiculous!" Ron said angrily.

"Calm down, Ron!" Bill demanded. "You are not doing any good to George or anyone by loosing you temper!"

"My brother – yours too I might add – is missing and you are telling me to calm down!" Ron's face turned even redder, matching his red hair. "I am going to find him whether the ministry likes it or not."

"And we will help you, Ron," Lupin spoke calmly, "But remember you Auror training as you do so. We wouldn't want anything to go wrong." Remus thought about it for a while. "For the sake of the order we should act quickly. Angelina, Fred and Alicia are all very important to the order, so if the Death Eaters puts the imperius curse on them, who knows what power the dark Lord will get.

Ron took a deep breath. "What must we do first?"

"I think we better visit the Burrow before we do anything else," Bill suggested.

For the first time Harry spoke up. "I agree," he stated, "Besides Ginny will kill me if we don't do so."

"I don't even want to think about what Hermione would do," Ron said, suddenly realising that Harry was right. Bill nodded as well, his wife would not be too keen if he didn't report back to her every now and then.

Lupin let out a laugh, "then we better go." The all walked out on the street, and with a crack they apparated.

Harry landed hard in the garden in front of the Burrow. Every time he apparated, he swore he would never do it again. He sighed. Perhaps he would never get used to this way of travelling. Call him old fashioned, but Harry really did prefer flying. Ron landed next to him, and didn't look like he had enjoyed the ride either. Lupin and Bill on the other hand didn't seem to mind, but they of course had been doing it longer than Ron and Harry. Harry hoped it wouldn't take too long before he could feel the same comfort when apparating.

The four of them walked up to the back door to the Weasleys' home. Lupin knock three times on the door followed by three knocks on the window. Harry could hear noise from inside before someone finally came to the door. "Who is there?" a manly voice asked.

"It's us dad," Ron said tiredly.

"Who are us?" Mr. Weasley asked again.

"It's me, Ron. Harry, Lupin and Bill are here as well."

"Then you know the question."

"I thought mom told you to stop with the password thing."

"Ron!"

"Really dad -"

"RON!"

"Fine, fine, what did you do in 1974, dad?" Ron asked tiredly.

"Ah," Mr. Weasley's voice sounded satisfied and as though he was getting ready to tell a long story. "It was two years after we had Charlie. You know with two small children in the house there wasn't really a lot of money on the hand, so I decided to get a second job. At the time I wasn't working as much for the ministry, so I got a part time job in a small shop in Diagon Alley. To bad that store isn't there today. It was a sweet little store where they sold -"

"Dad we got it," Bill cut Mr. Weasley off. "We are freezing our butt off out here, can we enter please." It was true; the mid-December weather was never enjoyable.

"Oh fine." Mr. Weasley gave in and opened the door. "One day you will thank me for this. That will be the day, where a Death Eater might be standing behind the door." Lupin, Bill, Ron and Harry all entered the small kitchen. It looked unusually clean, even for Mrs. Weasley. "It's good to see you are all right. Well, as you probably noticed, Molly hasn't really had a lot to do the past few days, so she has been cleaning quite a lot. Of course since the news about George reached us, she hasn't really been cleaning." This didn't come as a surprise to Harry. Naturally Mrs. Weasley would be upset. "Now where is my hospitality? They are all waiting for you in the living room."

Harry followed Mr. Weasley into the living room where he was greeted by a certain red head. He pulled his wife into a hug. He hadn't been gone for long but he always missed holding her, when she wasn't around. He looked up and saw his two best friends sharing a close hug as well. Thankfully for him they hadn't ended up like he and Cho did, not speaking to one another. Harry had feared that the first time he noticed something between Ron and Hermione in their sixth year.

Ginny showed Harry over to two empty spots on the couch. All the Weasleys were sitting around the fire in the small living room, except for George of course, and Percy. Even Charlie had arrived from Romania. Harry glanced around the room. He always enjoyed spending time with all the Weasleys, but this time was different. The atmosphere in the room was awkward and no one spoke. Ron had found a spot next to Hermione, and seemed to feel just as uncomfortable as Harry. Bill had found his wife Fleur, and Lupin tried to calm Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley was sitting next to Charlie, clearly thinking really hard of something to talk about. Fred was sitting on the floor, staring into the flames.

"So how long are you boys staying?" Mrs. Weasley asked still sobbing loudly.

No one answered. The silence was pouring painfully into Harry. He looked at Ron, then Bill and finally Lupin. They were all facing the ground, fearing what would happen when they answered the question. Harry coughed lightly before answering, "I suppose we should get going soon." Most of the people in the room nodded. "I mean, the sooner the better, right?" He glanced quickly down at Ginny, but she was facing the fireplace with an emotionless face. The flames were dancing on her nose, and the light from them seemed to make her hair look even redder.

"Right," Mrs. Weasley sobbed again. "That is best."

Again there was silence. They sat like that for a while. Harry glanced slightly at Lupin, who was facing him. Lupin send him a nod, which Harry passed on to Ron. They knew they should get going. Harry got up and walked upstairs. He had something he needed to see before he left the Burrow. He walked into the first room on the right. It was the room, which used to belong to Ginny. The door stood slightly open, and inside the room it was all dark. He opened the door a little further, just enough for the light and he could enter.

There, on the bed, which was only made to fit one person, lay two small children. They weren't much older than two years. It seemed years since the last time he saw them. They had both grown very much, and started to look more and more like their parents. They both had black hair, though when the light hit it perfectly, you could see some red hair as well on the girl. Harry knew that if they opened their eyes, they would both have their mothers beautiful blue eyes. Harry smiled to himself.

Suddenly Ginny appeared beside him. He scooped her into his arms, still looking at the two children, who were sleeping peacefully on the bed. "They asked for you when I accidentally woke them up, when I arrived a few hours ago. They miss you very much," She whispered, not wanting to wake them up.

Again Harry smiled. "I missed them too," he said honestly. He wished this moment would last forever. There he stood with the most beautiful woman in his arms. A woman who had actually agreed to be his wife a few years ago. For that he was forever grateful. And the two of them were just standing there in the doorway, only listening to the sounds of their own breathing, and the breathing of the two toddlers lying on the bed.

When his mind came back to reality he let out a sigh, which Ginny clearly heard. She bored her head into his chest, and murmured, "So you really have to go then?"

Harry nodded, "I really do."

"And how long will you be gone?"

"I don't know."

"Is this the climax of the war? Is this when you have to finish off Voldemort?"

"I don't know," he answered again truthfully.

He felt her take a deep breath before looking up at him. "Be careful." Be careful? Was that really the only thing she would say to him? Where was the usual You-better-contact-me-soon speech, or the I-will-personally-kill-you-if-you-get-hurt speech she usually made. She seemed to read his mind, so before he could say anything she send him a warm grin, "I already gave you the rest of that speech. Do you remember, or do I have to repeat it?"

"I believe it was something like, 'You promise me to be careful Harry Potter! And you hurry back to the Burrow. Don't make me worry more than necessary,'" Harry answered, quoting Ginny. By the smile she send him, he knew he was probably right. He returned it. In the beginning it started out as a happy smile, but it turned more mechanic and sad. He pulled Ginny into a hug. He could feel her squeeze back, tightening the hug. "Don't worry," He said when they pulled apart. "I will be back before you know it." He leaned down for a kiss, which turned out to last longer than he had planned, but certainly something he did not mind. He walked silently into the room and placed a kiss on each of the toddlers' forehead.

With one last kiss on Ginny's lips, he walked downstairs again, leaving Ginny in her room. Ron had just finished saying goodbye to Hermione and Bill to Fleur. The two of them were waiting for him in the kitchen along with Lupin. They said their last goodbyes, promising they would do everything they could to find George, Alicia and Angelina. Before Harry walked out of the backdoor of the Burrow, he saw Ginny on the stairs. He smiled slightly, before pulling his scarf up so it covered the lower part of his face. It had started snowing during the night, putting a final answer to anyone who still had the doubt whether the winter was coming this year.

"Off to the ministry, I suppose?" Bill yelled once they got outside. The snowing was turning into a snow storm, so in order for everyone to hear, he had to yell.

"I believe we have too," Lupin said, "Harry, Ron, ready?" Both Harry and Ron nodded. "Right then, I will see you there." The usual crack when someone apparated was not heard this time, because of the strong winds. Bill disappeared shortly after Lupin.

Soon Harry was standing next to Ron in the middle of London. Clearly no one would be out at this hour at night, and secondly no one would dare to go out in such a terrible weather. The four of them entered the phone booth and dialled the number, which would take them into the ministry of magic. They went directly to level 2, where the Aurors had their headquarters.

Almost the second they entered the door, a woman with a very odd looking pink hair ran towards them. She gave Lupin a quick hug, before the expression on her face turned very serious. "Any news, Nymphadora?" Remus asked.

"Only bad ones I'm afraid," Tonks said in a sad voice. "We paid a visit to George and Alicia's apartment again, but there was no sign whatsoever. Normally magic leaves a trail but we weren't able to locate anything." She seemed frustrated and upset, as if she had failed to do something she was set to do. Of course Tonks had always been a bit sensitive. Harry remembered how she had thought it was her fault Sirius was killed.

"Has any Dark Marks been set lately?" Bill asked.

"Not that I know," Tonks answered. "Not since that muggle family was killed." She shook her head sadly. "That cost the ministry so much trouble. Took them ages to calm the muggles down."

"We read about that in the Prophet," Ron said.

There was a silence for a few seconds. Everyone seemed to be thinking hard on what their next move should be. "Have they searched Fred's apartment?" Harry asked suddenly.

"Should we?" Tonks asked confused.

"His girlfriend, Angelina Johnson, is missing as well," Lupin said calmly, "by the look of you reaction, I take it the ministry hasn't heard of that yet."

"They haven't. It's good you tell us that, Harry. Well someone should definitely search the place."

"Harry and I will do it," Ron said without having asked Harry. He didn't mind though, he wanted to see the mess himself. "We will go there." Bill and Lupin both opened their mouth to say something, but Ron cut them off, "we can handle it. You two stay here and found out anything the ministry knows." Finally they nodded, and Ron turned to Harry. "Ready?"

"Ready." Harry repeated. The two of them left the ministry and apparated to Fred and Angelina's apartment.