Chapter 12: The Newest Apprentice

In the days that followed Ferrral's death, Harry often wandered the hallways alone. He and Silverwood were due in London to introduce the Junior Guard to the Apprentices housed at Headquarters later in the week. While Saldor insisted that they not put the visit off, he himself had left for Headquarter to begin making arrangements for Ferral's funeral. The funeral would be held at Headquarters that weekend, giving Ferral the honors due any Master. The Order was not accustomed to burying Apprentices.

But Harry fully threw himself into his training, rising at four and issuing no complaints when he was asked to give more. He became more intense in his training with the Hogwarts students, often demanding that they stay up after curfew to practice, his intensity falling most heavily on his Lieutenants. He didn't seem to notice the worried glances that his friends exchanged when his head was turned, or the furrowed brow the Hogwarts staff used when they found him constantly in the library or in the training room.

On Wednesday, Harry was holed up in the library, drawing up the remarks he would make for the Apprentices to join the Junior Guard, and laying out plans how he might integrate them with the Hogwarts students that had already volunteered. Logistically, this would be a mess, as the Apprentices would stay at Headquarters with their Masters, and the Hogwarts students had to stay at Hogwarts.

He felt someone sit beside him, but ignored the presence as he continued to furiously scratch away at his parchment. ""You know," a voice began somewhat irritably, "I understand your determination, but your focus cannot be lacking when we get to Headquarters."

Harry finally stood and bowed in greeting. "I apologize Master Silverwood. It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't. Sit down. How are your remarks?"

A heavy groan. "I hate this part. They just aren't right yet. I was hoping Terran would look at them tonight. He knows some of the Apprentices better than I. We leave tomorrow?"

"After the morning session. Fletcher will be working on conditioning with the Guard that is here. Sterling would like to know if Miss Weasley will be joining us?"

Harry looked startled at this. "She's not affiliated though. Would that even be allowed? I mean, she is a lieutenant, so perhaps it would go more smoothly if she went into the fire right away… I don't know, Sir, what do you recommend?"

Silverwood shrugged. "She's going to have a tough run of it at first, regardless. It's up to you, but I think she might appreciate it if you do not treat her like porcelain. The Apprentices who join will need to deal with her role, regardless."

Harry resolved to ask Ginny what she preferred that night, and shook his head. "I'll ask her. Is Master Shadowman coming?"

"He's decided to join us after classes end here on Friday afternoon. He's also decided that your load is too heavy. You will no longer be assisting with Potions or DADA classes, to focus on your role with the war effort. He was going to tell you himself, but he's currently interviewing senior students to find a handful of teaching assistants for both classes."

Harry nodded absentmindedly, somewhat pleased at this development. "What can I help you with, Sir?" Harry prompted, knowing that Silverwood must have been looking specifically for him.

"Aeter," Silverwood paused for a moment. "I haven't seen you at meals at all this week?"

"I've been working, Sir. There's a lot to do."

"You need to eat, Aeter."

"Dobby brings my meals," Silverwood appeared surprised by this news.

"You've been up past curfew, and your teams seem exhausted. It's only been two days."

"There's a lot for them, us, to learn, Sir, and not a lot of time. We can't afford rest."

A sigh. "You all need rest, Aeter. You all need time to grieve this loss."

"After."

"No, Aeter," Silverwood's voice hardened. "You, and your teams, will not function if you do not allow time for rest. I understand your pain-"

Harry's laugh was hollow. "I don't think anybody understands. I asked Ferral to take the students. He could have-"

"Let your Miss Weasley die? Ferraldin was not perfect. Ferraldin was many things. But Ferral also proved himself to be a loyal, fearless, and selfless friend to you. Ferral decided to save a friend, a choice that very few are willing, or able to make.

"I understand more than you think. I've been General of the Guard for five years now. Before that, I climbed the ranks, supervising members of the Guard in a variety of positions. I served during the last two years of the war, and was liaison, serving as both Captain of the Guard and Senior Auror at that time.

"I have lost people in every role. I have written their names down and keep them in a nightstand. A reminder to me that even though I led these men into battle, I get to come home at night. They no longer get to hug and kiss their children on Platform 9 ¾, or send owls to their wives when they are away from home. They will never bask in the sunlight of a warm summer day, or complain about how cold it is outside.

"I know the ache you feel, Aeter. It will never go away. I should have told you, warned you, that this role would be a responsibility and a yoke, not a privilege."

Harry sighed. He was quiet for a moment. "I knew, logically, that this would likely happen. I didn't expect it so soon. Ferral was an Apprentice and better trained. But the rest… the Hogwarts students? Can we be responsible for their deaths, too? I don't know how to explain, but can they ever be ready for war?"

"If we don't train them to be a part of this war, Aeter, they will be a casualty of this war."

Harry thought about that for a moment. He pictured Hermione and Ginny and the Creevey brothers lying lifeless in Hogwarts. He saw Neville lying under the wand of Voldemort, and Parvati Patil, and knew he couldn't let them be casualties. "I'm not sure I'm the right person…"

"Aeter, you are. The Board has faith in you. And you have a whole host of mentors ready to help you. There is nobody but you who can do this."

Harry nodded dumbly, returning to thought. "What do I do?"

Silverwood stared at Harry. "You relax, a little. Not completely. But your people will not be able to fight if they are too exhausted to walk. I propose Ron and Hermione can join your Master for the funeral this weekend, as they were friends with Ferral. Terran and Miss Weasley, perhaps, should be joining us tomorrow morning when you leave, so the three of you can present a singular message. Your friends will have an uphill battle, certainly, but you and Terran can minimize that, a small bit.

"And then, we work our asses off, but respect our need for rest, when it is needed. We recognize that we cannot do anything if our bodies do not have time to heal. And then we make that bastard pay."

Harry smiled at the other man. "Understood, Sir."

The next morning, the three teens left with Silverwood to London. Ginny's face looked around the Entrance Hall to Headquarters in awe. "I meet with the Board immediately," Silverwood interrupted as they came to a stop. "Miss Weasley, as we rarely have guests here, you'll be bunking in the quarters next door to Terran and Aeter's usual rooms. You will meet with the Board before the meeting, as they will have an interview to conduct before official approval is given. Be honest, be humble, but be bold. Miss Weasley, we have assured the Board of your potential, but they will need to see your character.

"You should each wear your Guard Formal Dress Robes, as they will look imposing. Be prompt for the appointment, at ten am. Until then, I believe Miss Weasley may appreciate a tour. Aeter, be on your guard: the Board felt that Grey's required attendance would be timely for his trial and sentencing. He is supposed to be on house arrest, but, he's hardly an obedient man."

Harry's eyes narrowed. "This weekend?"

Silverwood shook his head. "I don't make the decisions. I have to go. Please, behave yourselves."

The three grinned and affirmed that they would, Harry and Terran bowing. As Harry glanced at Ginny, he realized that she, too, had made a small bow toward Silverwood. Silverwood noticed too, as he was holding back a slight grin, and wondered if this was purposeful on Ginny's part.

As luck would have it, the three did not run into Grey, but there were several introductions made, and Harry was relieved that they had all worn semi-formal robes, even on the tour. There seemed to be more Apprentices on premise than Harry had expected, and several that even Terran had never met before.

Ginny was suitably impressed, even with magical heritage, by the size of the Headquarters that were hidden in the middle of London. "But," Terran reminded her, "Diagon Alley is hidden right in the middle of London."

Ginny blushed. "But we never take the Muggle way! We always floo or portkey in, so as far as I know, it could be in the middle of nowhere. Of course, I know it's in London, but I don't think about it!"

They were waiting outside of the Board's chamber, and had been for fifteen minutes already. While Ginny seemed somewhat irritated, Harry and Terran had been forced to wait for the Board before.

When they were first called into the room, Harry was surprised by how light it was. In his memory of his visit last year, the Chamber was dark and dim, and filled with mystery and uncertainty. Had that changed? Looking at Ginny's anxious face, it was clear that there was still some suspense in this room.

Harry bowed deeply, as did Terran. "Good morning, Esteemed Masters," Harry greeted for them all, holding his bow, his eyes toward the ground for longer than he normally would. "It is an honor to be here again. You know Apprentice Terran. This is Miss Generva Weasley, of Hogwarts," Harry gestured to her, noting that she was also rising from a modest bow.

Master Sterling nodded in approval. "Miss Weasley, it is good to see you again. While I have gotten to know each of you a bit, the Board has some clarifications and questions. Please have a seat," he gestured to three seats at the square table, directly across from himself. Each of the three remaining sides, had three Board members, totalling nine.

"Thank you, Sir," Harry's friends echoed.

"Miss Weasley, I believe Aeter and Terran were giving you a tour. How did you find Headquarters?" Harry recognized the master as Aurelius, though he'd never interacted with him much before.

"Yes, Sir, Headquarters are stunning. I am appreciative of your willingness to host me."

"Yes, well, we'll see about that," a nasally voice cautioned. Harry forced himself not to roll his eyes, recognizing the arrogance of Master Welch. Harry didn't dislike him, per se, but found him to be a bit pompous.

"Aeternus, can you explain to us why you chose a Hogwarts student as a Lieutenant," Sterling asked bluntly.

Harry smiled, happy to be getting down to business. "Yes, Sir. Ginny is a bright witch of her year. She is intelligent and passionately curious, earning top marks in many of her classes. She is also fierce, and willing to learn to do anything. Before the Guard was announced at Hogwarts, she had already approached our Masters to learn how to fight and defend herself and her family. Further, she is already a leader at Hogwarts, earning her spot as Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She is still untrained, but has already made great strides and can already hold her own against older students, and continues to work extremely hard."

"Terran, do you verify?"

"Yes, Sir."

"The remainder of this interview will be for Miss Weasley, as we are already familiar with each of your accolades and strengths. Please remain silent unless either of you are asked to speak."

Harry and Terran nodded. Harry was surprised to find himself anxious for his friend.

The interview then picked up intensity. After asking seemingly unrelated questions, Master Sterling finally leaned back. "Miss Weasley, why do you deserve to be a Lieutenant in the defense of Hogwarts?"

Ginny smiled, she had prepared for this one since the beginning. "The easiest answer is that Aeter trusts me with the job. But the truth is, I will work for it. I believe that we must fight, at all costs, to defend this evil. I am ferocious, but I have the spirit of a fighter. I can be stubborn when I need to, but patient as the occasion calls. I know that sometimes, I still have a lot to learn, but I am confident in my ability to lead when Aeter needs me to. I am fully willing to abide by all rules, expectations, and policies that Aeter and Terran abide by. I trust Aeter to follow him into battle. Ferraldin stepped into that curse to protect me, and I will honor his sacrifice by making sure that I can protect people in the same way he did."

Harry smiled as Ginny finished. He knew that invoking Ferral's sacrifice would be seen favorably. The Board was furious that an apprentice was killed in the attack, and it had justified their decision to be more active in this war than the last.

He glanced up at Sterling to see the man smiling, though the others looked somewhat uncertain yet. "In the matter of Miss Weasley serving in this role in the Junior Guard, I vote Aye. How do you vote Master Aurelius?"

After all nine masters voted aye, though some added notes of caution or concern, Sterling continued. "Miss Weasley, it is my pleasure to affirm your position. While some masters and apprentices may contest, it has officially been certified here. We noted in your willingness to obey Apprentice policies and rules, and we have noticed that you have followed greeting and deference to master protocol already. This is not an easy step to make, and we applaud you. Therefore, in the matter of your senior role in the Junior Guard, you are acceptable.

"Furthermore, we would like to offer you an apprenticeship. We have never had a female apprentice before, so this is brand new to all of us. But it is time to break those barriers. If you are in agreement, Master Aurelius and I will be visiting your parents' house. You will be assigned a Master, though you will remain stationed at Hogwarts."

"I-" Ginny was stumped. She glanced at Harry, who shrugged. He hadn't a clue that this would happen. "I accept, Master Sterling," Ginny ducked her head.

Master Aurelius stared at her sharply. "You will face a great deal of discrimination by people who do not like change, Miss Weasley. And we will assign you a master we are certain will not go easy on you. You will, unfortunately, need to give up Quidditch."

Harry saw Ginny's eyes widen, and her jaw tremor for a moment. This had never crossed her mind, and perhaps was the truest test of all. After a moment, she lowered her eyes, and acquiesced, "Well, Ron will be pleased to be made Captain, anyway," she said quietly, though Harry could still hear the slight shake in her voice.

The three students were dismissed, and found Silverwood waiting for them outside the Hall. He smiled lightly at their awed faces, and gestured for them to follow him. "So, I gather the offer was made, Ginny?" She nodded dumbly in response. "Congratulations, though once you begin the lifestyle, I'm not sure you'll agree."

Harry laughed lightly, ignoring Ginny's glare. "She already kind of started, at least, so it won't be as shocking for her?"