Hermione had left the next morning after a lengthy round of goodbyes which included constant reminders from Mrs Weasley to be careful and many long kisses with Ron. Ron had been persisting with her until the very last moment to let him go with her, but he had finally relented when Hermione promised him she would spend extra time with him when she got back and also introduce him to her parents. Hermione had actually almost relented and agreed to let him come with her, but she knew that if her parents found out about both her using magic on them without permission and that she had a new boyfriend, their anger would be ten times worse. So with a heavy heart and a final goodbye kiss for Ron, she left for the Ministry to take the portkey to Australia.
Harry and Ron knew that they would have to start on their Auror training as soon as possible, so once Hermione had left, and Harry had consoled Ron about her finding another man in Australia during breakfast they took out the large pile of books and got started on reading the first one, which was the thickest and was the size of Hogwarts, a History, taking up almost half the pile. The rest of the books were much smaller, which Harry guessed taught about laws, interrogation, concealment and worst of all, potions.
However, they soon found out that Kingsley had been right. Along with all the stuff Hermione had taught them in the way of charms, and Ron and her helping Harry practice for the TriWizard tournament, they knew most of the stuff in the first book already. However, there were quite a couple of new spells, like the Anti- Apparition Jinx and many types of advanced shields. After a few hours of reading, Ron suggested, "You want to try out some of these new spells? They are pretty cool"
"Sure. What do you suggest?" asked Harry, since he was clearly getting bored of all the reading. They had gotten a quarter of the huge book done with and Harry thought it was time for some practical application.
"A duel" said Ron simply. "Ginny can make sure none of us get hurt". Ginny looked, up hearing her name and asked what was going on. Apparently, she had been too engrossed in studying for her exams that she had not heard the conversation. After Harry had filled her in she looked apprehensive but said "You think Mum will allow?"
"If we say it's for Auror training and you are being sort of a referee, I don't think she will mind" countered Ron, eager to finally get a chance to have a duel where their lives were not at stake.
"Let's go ask her" said Harry, before helping Ginny up and walking towards the kitchen where Mrs Weasley was working on lunch.
"Mum, is it okay if Harry and I have a few mock duels out in the yard?" asked Ron apprehensively. "We've read about the spells and want to practise. We promise to be careful and Ginny will be there to break things up if things get too rough"
Mr Weasley looked t the three of them for a few moments, and then with a resigned huff she replied "Very well. But please be careful. I don't even understand why the two of you want to be Aurors."
"Mum, can you just imagine Harry or me sitting at a Ministry desk?" asked Ron with a mischievous grin.
Mrs Weasley had to try and keep her serious demeanour, but they knew Ron had gotten through to her. She started showing them out the door into the yard telling them to be back in time for lunch.
"Like we would miss your lunches" replied Harry, showing her a thumbs up, hoping it would assure her that they would be safe.
Once outside, Harry and Ron took out their wands before Ron said "I reckon we should test out some of those new shields first. I'll put up a shield, you try to blast past it with Reducto. How's that?"
"Yeah ok" replied Harry "But we have to make sure all spells we do are non- verbal. Can't let the enemy know what they are dealing with"
That being said, Ron put up his shield and Harry got into position before thinking Reducto. What happened next amazed him. As the spell hit the shield, instead of blocking it, it was blown to pieces and Ron was thrown back several feet before he landed on his bottom with a thud. While Ginny went to make sure that Ron was ok, Harry just stood there, speechless. He had never been able to achieve that much power with a Reducto spell before, and definitely not with an advanced shield infront of him.
Ron's groan of pain snapped him back to reality as he headed over and pulled Ron up before saying "You alright, mate? Sorry about that. I've never been able to achieve that much power with a non- verbal, you know"
"Yeah I'm fine" replied Ron, dusting himself off. "But how the bloody hell did you manage to blow apart that shield? The manual said it would take quite a few hits from a very powerful wizard to do that"
"I know. You reckon it could be because Voldemort's soul in no longer in me?" asked Harry, bewildered by the sudden increase in his powers.
"Only one way to find out. See if you can speak Parseltongue. If you can't his soul is gone for real. I reckon it could not have been good carrying around all that dark magic in you. It probably hindered your powers a little bit" replied Ginny, thinking hard. With Hermione not around, Harry and Ron had to rely on her for academic guidance, because as Harry had found out earlier, she had gotten O's and E's in all her OWLs except Divination and History of Magic.
Thinking it may be a good way to confirm if there was any part of Voldemort left in him, Harry pictured a snake in front of him and tried to talk to it. Since Harry could never tell if he was speaking Parseltongue or not, Ron tod him "That was English, mate"
"Let me try again" Harry replied before repeating the same process. But instead of the hissing sounds, all that came out was normal English.
"Looks like we've gotten rid of Riddle once and for all" said Ron, looking deliriously happy.
"So you're the only one in the world who can speak Parseltongue mate" said Harry smugly. Ron's grin suddenly disappeared but before he could come up with a witty reply, Ginny intervened and said "What do you mean Ron can speak Parseltongue?"
Realising her confusion, Harry replied "Ron heard me speak Parseltongue to open the locket before he stabbed it. He then used it to open the Chamber of Secrets so we could get basilisk fangs to destroy the cup"
"Oh. I hope they seal up the chamber when they are doing the repairs" said Ginny with a shudder.
"Getting back to the point, it looks like the power of your spells is much higher now. If I practise with you for theses few months, I don't think I'll have any problem with the Aurors" said Ron with a laugh.
Harry just gave one of his customary shrugs before motioning for Ron to get back into duelling position. As the two best friends duelled, Harry started to notice that it was much easier for him to cast spells and even if he used minimal power, the effect was better than expected. Harry felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from chest. As they continued to duel, Ron began to adapt to Harry's new abilities and along with his shield and counter- attacking spells, he began to throw the many rocks that littered the yard in the way of incoming spells. Harry gave him a thumbs up for that and after a while, Ginny broke them up.
"That's was some duelling mate" said Ron, panting.
"If you two keep this up, I don't think you'll have any problem with the Aurors" praised Ginny, before giving Harry a heartfelt kiss and Ron a huge hug.
"When did you two get so good" came a voice from behind them. When they turned around, they saw Mrs Weasley standing there, a look of admiration and pride on her face.
"We've been duelling Death Eaters for at least the past three years Mum. And the last nine months on the run gave us plenty of time to practise. Besides, almost everyone in the DA is this good" replied Ron with an impish grin.
"And here I was thinking I could persuade you two to not join the Aurors said Mrs Weasley with a sigh, leading them inside for dinner.
"Do you not want Ron and me to join the Aurors?" asked Harry. Although he really wanted to fulfil his ambition, Harry did not want to do anything to upset Mrs Weasley.
"I just think it's too dangerous. You're only boys after all" replied Mrs Weasley, a concerned expression on her face as she ladled out onion soup.
"Mum, you have to understand that Harry, Ron and Hermione stopped being kids a long time ago. They grew up too fast" replied Ginny, smiling.
"Alas, I'm afraid so. Well, as long as you keep up with your training and be careful…" she trailed off.
While he ate his lunch, Harry had let his mind wander to the party he had wanted to organise for everyone. He had a preliminary plan in his mind, but first, he needed Mrs Weasley's approval.
"Mrs Weasley, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, dear what is it?" she replied, curious as to what Harry wanted.
"Would it be ok to organise a sort of party at The Burrow once Hermione gets back? I have something to give all of you for helping me throughout the years" asked Harry sheepishly.
"Don't be silly Harry. You don't have to give us anything. Arthur already told me about what you did with Ron's, Ginny's, Hermione's and our vaults."
"I know. But I want to have sort of a gathering to thank all of you" pleaded Harry. He had indeed had a talk with Mr Weasley about the money he had transferred to his vault, but after some persuasion on Harry's part, he had reluctantly agreed to take it, but not before thanking him profusely.
"Very well Harry. I'll call the whole family over."
"Would it be ok to invite Neville and Luna as well?" asked Harry, elated at the fact that his plan was coming along nicely.
"Of course dear. Now if you're finished with your lunch, how about the three of you wash up and go play some Quidditch in the yard."
"Great idea, Mum" said Ginny, running out to grab her broomstick. The boys gave chase, and the three of them were soon flying around the yard, passing around the battered quaffle. Ginny was easily the best chaser and it could be seen that she was literally flying circles around them. Wanting to have some fun with her, Harry threw the quaffle straight at the ground before shouting o Ginny below him "If you're so good, catch it!"
Ginny just took off without a word after the quaffle, and caught it almost vertically about twenty metres above the ground. However, as she caught the quaffle, her grip slipped and she did a front flip while falling off the broom
Harry reacted instinctively, and not even bothering to take out his wand, suck out his right arm and yelled "ARRESTO MOMENTO". As Harry realised his mistake, his fear turned to shock as Ginny slowed down and hit the floor with a soft thud. Harry sped down towards his girlfriend, but he was worried for no reason as she was already up on her feet and smiling. Ron was standing beside her, open- mouthed and wide eyed.
"Did you just perform wandless magic, ate?" asked Ron, bewildered.
"I guess" replied Harry as calmly as possible, though inwardly he was extremely shocked. "Are you ok Ginny?"
"I'm fine, thanks to you. How many times is it you've saved my life now?" she asked before leaning in to give him a kiss. She could feel the relief flow from Harry as they kissed, before they were rudely interrupted by Ron shouting "Oi, stop snogging you two. We have much important matters to discuss" Harry and Ginny broke apart reluctantly and Ginny just glared at Ron while he and Harry discussed how and why he was able to perform wandless magic.
"Why don't you just try a simple levitating charm?" interrupted Ginny. Ron and Harry just stared at her, both of them wondering why they hadn't thought of that. Harry, sticking out his right arm at one of the broomsticks on the floor, shouted "Wingardium Leviosa!" and to Harry's bewilderment, the broomstick slowly floated upwards before it started to twitch in the air and fell onto the floor. Since both Ginny and Ron were watching the broom, none of them had noticed, that a few seconds after Harry had done the spell, he had begun to feel light- headed and had needed let go of the spell before falling onto one knee, panting loudly.
When they saw what had happened, Ginny rushed to his side to help him up, while Ron looked worried.
"I don't think I can do a lot of wandless magic. I was able to perform the Cushioning Charm because Ginny was in danger. My power may have increased, but I think it's best if I use a wand, unless it's an emergency" said Harry, still breathless.
"I agree completely" came a voice from ahead of them, and they were surprised to see Mr Weasley walking up towards them. "I saw the whole thing Harry, but wandless magic is not something even Dumbledore did very frequently. So I suggest you use a wand. And you might want to have a talk with Dumbledore sometime in the future about your advanced capabilities. I know you are training, but be careful and don't use too much power"
"I won't Mr Weasley. I know a lot about wizards who misused their powers, and I'm not about to follow in their footsteps" replied Harry.
"That's good to hear" said Mr Weasley, a smile reappearing on his face. "Now come on, dinner will be served soon. I managed to get released early today since Kingsley has been working so hard. While Molly prepares dinner, the two of you can tell me all about your Auror training"
As Ron began to narrate all that had happened on this very exciting day, Harry began to think of all the possibilities that were now open to him. He could do a lot of good in the world. But a small part of his mind was warning him not to get too ahead of himself, and that he had much to learn. But all in all, Harry felt as if the ghost of Voldemort that had been following him around for his entire life had been lifted, and he felt much lighter. He was free to do whatever he wanted, and not something he had to do because of a prophecy. The path ahead was uncertain, but the possibilities were endless, and Harry looked forward to facing all the challenges ahead with courage, faith and hope.