Chapter Nine

Harry awoke to a faint whispering in the room he shared with Ron. Groggily he put on his glasses to see Ron and Hermione sitting at the edge of his bed.

"Er..'morning?" Harry said yawning.

"Sorry mate, but we have something important to tell you and we'd rather do it before the others wake up. Especially Fleur." Ron said.

Harry gave him an odd look. "Well she has to prepare her wedding. Its only four days away and she's a nervous wreck." Hermione exclaimed.

"Oh…so what is it that you want to tell me."

"It's about the..er..spell you did yesterday." Ron began.

"See, Harry, I told you it wasn't anything unusual. You did wandless magic."

He quirked an eyebrow. "It's actually rare for people to be able to do it. For some people it's genetic or unless they're in an accident which allows to them to procure excess powers."

"They are caused by your emotions, it happens when you least expect it. Eventually you can control it, but to do that you must learn to control your emotions. Though its genetic people can drink a special potion to be able to do it, but it's very dangerous. If you don't learn to contain your powers they can…kill you."

Ron winced and continued for her, " It's harder for people for who have it genetically, but, like you Harry, once you get the hang of it, it wont be. It takes a lot of concentration, almost like apparation. You concentrate on what you want to happen and…well it happens."

Harry sat bewildered. First he's parseltongue, then he's the chosen one, and now this. "So it's like being telekinetic."

"Not exactly," Hermione stood up and moved to the windowsill. "Remember it all depends on your emotion and determination."

"Wait a minute, how come I couldn't use this before? I mean I've been angry before. Even just yesterday, I was concentrating on another spell…but that bubble shield formed."

"Well, that's why its harder to control this power when you have it genetically, because your powers react to your every emotion. Yet, Harry it's easier for you because it isn't genetic. You didn't have any reaction every time because you were unaware of having these powers. Just remember when you let that python on your cousin, you were angry and knew you couldn't do anything. You concentrated on what you wanted to happen."

Now even Ron stood up, " You didn't even know you were a wizard then so you felt hopeless and knew you couldn't do anything. The same happened when you blew up your aunt. You said she was insulting you, of course it made you angry but you couldn't do anything because you want to get your Hogsmede form sign. Just like yesterday when you were going to fight the death eaters-

Harry cut him off"- I knew I couldn't fight them all, I was frustrated. I concentrated on that spell, but I what I really wanted was to create a diversion to block them from throwing spells at me or hurting him enough for me to run and get help. I knew I couldn't fight them!"

"Exactly!" Hermione exclaimed. "That's how you formed that bubble shield and caused the werewolves to burn."

"Each time you wanted something to happen and you knew you couldn't do anything, mainly your feeling of frustration…"

"You subconsciously tapped into that part of your mind where it caused what you wanted to happen."

Harry sat quietly gripping the edge of his bed. "Great, more powers to control, now what good will these do me?" He muttered bitterly.

Hermione sat beside him. "Harry, this may be another responsibility, but cant you see you have an advantage against Voldemort," She shuddered.

"Yeah," Ron cut in. "We'll help you control your powers so you can use it against him."

Harry smiled solemnly at them, "Yeah, that would be nice."

They sat there on his rumpled bed when they heard a knock on the door. They looked up to see Ginny. Harry felt his heart drop.

"Hey, Hermione what are you doing here? I've been looking everywhere. Anyway you guys need to get dressed. Hermione you've got to help me get breakfast started with Flem. Oh and Ron and Harry have to get ready to go."

Hermione followed Ginny out. "Wait get ready to go? For what?" Harry asked Ron who was already getting a clean shirt on.

"Oh," he said sheepishly. "Well our apparation test is today. You were supposed to get your letter yesterday but you came here. And…I forgot to remind you."

"It's okay." He said and searched through his trunk for something to clean to wear.

When both boys were dressed they headed downstairs. Harry's head was still muddled with the information he had just learned. He sat at the table which had been enlarged to fit a couple of extra guests who had decided to stay from Harry's Birthday Party the previous night.

"Wotcher Harry." Tonks said laying a plate of pancakes on the table. "Just got here this mornin'." She continued with a full mouth as she chewed through toast.

She swallowed and noticing his inquisitive look, "Oh, I'm going to escort you Hogsmede for your apparation test."

He nodded and marveled how Hermione and Ron acted as if they didn't know anything. He looked up to see Mrs. Weasley setting more coffee on the table and offering seconds; she smiled at him when she caught his eye.

"Well, Harry, it looks as if the Dursleys have given you enough food this year."

Harry shrugged. "Yeah, maybe they felt bad for treating him so badly." Ron muttered.

When breakfast was done Mr. Weasley led them outside to his car in the driveway. Harry whistled softly at the sight o f the car. It was a brand new black, Lamborghini with, tinted glass, and sleek frame, and leather covering on the seats.

Ron smiled wryly, " Yeah Dad got it from the Ministry when the Minister heard you were coming over. He said he wanted to give us a more "protective car" for the "chosen one"."

Hermione shook her head sadly, "He still want you to be their poster boy."

Harry laughed aloud, "I cant believe he still has hopes. Well at least you got a new ride."

Everyone laughed as they climbed into the new car. Only the twins, Tonks, Mr. Weasley and the trio were going. Hermione was going to support them, and because she didn't want to be near Fleur, when she was going through a hectic phase. Where as the twins were coming to see the second youngest Weasley fail.

They joked lightly and discussed the on coming wedding the whole way through. No one commented the deserted streets as they entered the city, but Harry noticed the drastic change. The car stopped in front of an underground subway station.

They followed Tonks and Mr. Weasley beneath the surface to the old ticket booth, with a bored looking woman filing her nails. There were signs near the entrance saying it was out of order.

"Uh, we'd like seven train tickets to Hogesmede, for the next train that goes there."

The elderly woman handed him the tickets, "Your trains leaves in ten minutes. Have a nice trip."

"Ten minutes! By golly." He ushered everyone to the farthest train." They handed their tickets to the conductor who smiled sadly at them. Once they were inside they looked to find a seat, but didn't need to look further, as the train was empty except for the three people sitting near the back, whispering to each other.

It was a public train, unlike the one they took to Hogwarts, there were no compartements. The ride started abruptly everyone near fell forward from their seats. Harry held tightly to the edge of his seat. He knew the fastest trains were in China, but that fact would change if muggles ever rode this train.

He felt as almost as if face was being pulled back. When the train stopped he banged his head back against his hard seat.

Mr. Weasley got up stiffly form his chair, "Let's go you lot, if you pass, we wont have to ride here again. Ever."

They all got out quickly. Harry rubbed his head to feel for a bump, and didn't find one, but shook his head, to stop the room from spinning. "Another reason to pass this test." Ron grumbled under his breath.

Together they headed towards the stairs leading them out into sunlight. There were very few people, all wandering in tiny packs. Silently they followed Tonks who lead them to a clearing with a huge group.

Harry spotted Neville and others from Hogwarts who still had to do there test or failed. The course was set out almost like a game. There were hoops spread far apart. They were numbered too. There were at least ten instructors dressed bright yellow robes. Oddly standing out.

An elderly man stepped out form the grouped and shot red sparks from his wand to signaling the large group to be quiet. He cleared his throat and put a charm on his voice so it could travel through the crowd. "Welcome, you are all here to take or either watch some one take the Apparation test. Feel free to talk while they are doing their test. It proves whether they can concentrate through a vast amount of noise in a hurry to apparate." Fred and George smiled and elbowed Ron at this comment. Ron gave Harry a withering look.

"There will be re-test for those who do not pass, but you can have only a maximum of three re-tests and then you wait to try again next year." He paused to clear his throat again.

"As you can see the hoops are numbered. You will stand in the center and apparate to the next hoop with the next number. The hoops with the yellow colours, you must land in the middle, the others you must land next to it, on each side. You do each test three times. The first two slowly, taking your time, the third time you will be timed, and at the end you will travel from the last hoop to the first."

Harry realized it wasn't going to be easy as he thought, but he knew he was going to do it.

The man wasn't quite finished though, "There are five groups you have been divided into, we cant obviously have a hundred people take the test one at a time. Once you pass you will receive a license from he instructor in charge of your group." With that he separated them into groups. Each group had two instructors. Harry and Ron were in the first group and their course was were they were standing at in the first place.

There were twenty people in this course. Harry and Ron were near the end. They watched with anticipation. A few had barely gotten past half of the hoops before encountering with a mishap, and leaving a few body parts behind. The twins came behind Ron, at this point, laughing.

"Well, we don't want you to lose half of your eyebrow again now would we."

"Yeah, so make you sure, you have your whole self, who knows-,"

"You, may lose half of-,"

"Something more important."

Hermione rolled her eyes and patted his shoulder comforting him. "Don't listen to him you'll do well." She let her hand rest on his shoulder for a few seconds before taking it away. Ron seemed a bit happier now.

They waited for the next couple to go. Ron went first. Fred and George, came back to give him another pep-talk. Hermione groaned. "Just leave him alone." Ron looked at her appreciatively. Harry smiled at his expression.

"Hey, we only came to say-,"

"Do your best-,"

"Don't get nervous, it's fairly easy-,"

"And you'll pass as easy as we can snap our fingers."

"Really?" Ron asked. They nodded. He smiled and took his place in the first hoop.

"Well, that was unexpected." Harry said, seeing that Hermione was watching Ron, and wasn't listening anymore.

"Yeah," Mr. Weasley cut in, "that was nice of you boys."

They smiled. "Yeah too bad we cant really snap our fingers." They said together. They laughed, but Hermione ignored them.

After waiting tensely, Ron aparated back to them waving a paper in his hand, and a small card. "I passed!"

Hermione laughed and ran up to him congratulate him, Harry followed, but didn't congratulate him in the same way. Hermione hugged him lightly, when she pulled away there was an awkward silence but Harry broke it by grabbing his license.

"Congrats, mate!"

"Thanks." Ron replied. Tonks came to see his license to, but Harry didn't get to hear what she said, because he was called to do his test. After a few good lucks from the others, he went to the first hoop.

"Slowly, so you can get used to the course." The instructor reminded him.

Harry took a deep breath and closed his eyes, and opened to find himself in the second hoop. He smiled, and continued his first two laps easily.

When he started from the beginning again, the instructor gave him more advice. "This one will be timed. Just think of yourself being chased."

Harry narrowed his eyebrows and went to the second hoop and to the third. He realized he was going to slow and took a brief moment to think of himself in a situation where he'd have to apparate quickly. He went on to the fourth and fifth hoop.

Just when Harry felt more confident, the ringing memory of Belatrix's voice came his head. "Aww look at the little baby. Where's your mother now." He shook his head and continued.

Yet, he couldn't stop the flashes of memories coming to him. The dementors swooping down to him. He willed himself to go faster. The brief image of Voldemort raising his wand at him. When he came to this last hoop, he knew he had to go back to the first one. Suddenly it seemed farther. The feeling that he felt when he had to apparate with Dumbledore, from that horrid cave, slowly came back to him.

He breathing grew faster as he closed his eyes and opened them to see the surprised face of the instructor. His head was still spinning a bit from the flashbacks. He regained his composure and went to the instructor to see his time. He knew it was slow, the memories had slowed him down.

The instructor looked at him in awe. "My, that…was the fastest I have ever seen anyone go. Especially, on a course like this. You…. I'm simply amazed. Congratulations young man, you have set and knew record…and have passed." He handed Harry his license. He thanked him and walked away, feeling the instructor's gaze following him.

When he returned to the others, they had obviously heard about this new record. After congratulating him they headed towards the Three Broomsticks. Tonks was going to treat them to butterbeers.

Hermione and Ron pulled him back so they were out of earshot from the others. "Harry, that was unbelievably fast." Haermione began.

"Yeah, Harry, I mean there was this odd look on you face as if you thought of something horrible. It was scary." Hermione agreed.

Harry sighed. "Well I had these flashbacks, you know how he said to act as if someone is chasing you or imagine a situation where you had to apparate quickly. I remembered, the dementors, Voldemort…and when I had to escape from the cave where the locket was hidden."

There was that odd silence again. "I thought I'd go slower because it did take up some of my time."

Hermione tapped her foot lightly. "Maybe…maybe, your wandless magic powers helped you. Maybe the feeling of urgency provoked it to make you go faster. To you it seemed it slower because you didn't realize you were going faster than you should have."

"Yeah maybe-,"

"Hey, are you coming!" Tonks called from ahead of them.

"Yeah, just hang on!" Ron called back. He turned to Harry to continue his sentence.

"Maybe that's true Hermione. We'll have to talk more about this when we get back to the Burrow."

They nodded and headed to the Three Broomsticks in silence.

My sincerest apologies for the delayed update and crappy quality of this update. Between, school, midterms, extracurricular activities, chores and eight others stories I'm working on, only a few of them that I've actually added, it's a little hard. But, I'm forcing myself to update every week. Most likely every Saturday.

Because of the long brink between the updates, I actually wrote around eight pages, to satisfy you. So I hope you enjoyed it. I was going to make it six pages, but I kept going and now its eight.

Also, i tried updating this three days ago, but the sitewouldnt work for me, i couldnt add a chapter, or review, it was crazy, so, the technologyhad abit of a fault too you know. Anyway, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW...etc...

Please review.